“Protection or Perfection?”

Welcome to your bi-monthly autism wake-up call. There is a decision that must be made nearly every year after _____________ (insert your non-denominational holiday of choice into the un-biased blank provided to you on the left). A decision that must not be ignored, circumvented or made in haste. Conventional wisdom states that, not only is this decision subjective, but is also guaranteed to be highly scrutinized if the end result is epic failure. Many have pondered their fate and wondered aloud if the pundits should be pacified or if one should stay true to mission at all costs. Our beloved Green Bay Packers are the latest institution to face this challenge. Do we sit our superstars and play for protection or stacked the field and fight for perfection? Well, thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs we may never know. Still, the dilemma remains, sit your starters and play is safe or maintain mission and go for broke?

Now before you sit staring at the screen trying to figure out what in the holy holly I am talking about I will tell you. In a minute that is. First I want to see a show of hands. Protection or Perfection? You must make a choice, no middle ground here. Once you have it write it down. I am anxious to see if your decision holds up through the remainder of my message.

Many of you have been with my families’ struggle with autism since day one. Some have recently learned of our journey, and a few could care less. That’s cool; no matter I hope this message finds you well regardless. You see, I write not only for your enjoyment, amusement and sometimes annoyance but for mine as well. Many times I start a piece heading in a certain direction and close it in a completely different mindset that I began. Doing this allows me to vent, process and think about life in general out loud.

Back on task now, my wife Lisa and I are now challenged with the decision to play it safe with our daughter or stretch out and keep growing her beyond what society dictates as “normal”. When we began her recovery our options very limited. Now they are limitless. It would be very easy to put Maggie’s education on cruise control and let the Fayette Co BoE deal with her. But that is not how this family was built. Many kids fall through the cracks, all the while wearing the label of a “good kid”. Check the glossary, good kid = quiet kid. When it comes time to lay out her path, we will make decisions based on Maggie’s best interest, period. That means more questions, more meetings, more un-comfortable interactions and hopefully more success. We are playing for perfection, in fact we are betting the farm on it.

I wish time and the censors would allow me to elaborate further, however that is another post for another day. If you want to know more check out the attached link.

http://celebratecalm.com/adhd-kids-confidence/

Get it, sit down, shut up and hang on. This is going to be one wild ride. Thanks for reading, peace.

Rickey Scarbrough

ACEStrikeTeam: Special Needs Operative