There have been a few instances over the last month when I have sadly been reminded how short a life-time really is and how quickly time passes. I realized this morning that my maternal grandparents were my current age when I graduated from high school and went off to college (the first time), and I thought they were old - then!

In the 1970s, when I was a teen, I enjoyed looking at old photographs of my grandparents from the 1940s and my parents from the 1960s when they were young and newly married. I was fascinated by how old-fashioned and stylishly formal they appeared—the cars, hairstyles, and their clothing all portrayed in black-and-white photography. I wonder if my adult children see photos of me and their father from the 1990s as antiquated as I viewed those older images.

Thirty years is a blip - when considered from the present.

However, conceptualizing time as transient is inconceivable when you are stuck in a difficult or tedious situation, making it seem like an eternity.

Understanding that these two conflicting notions of time are thoroughly dependent upon circumstances and state of mind influences how intensely conscious I am of my personal choices. This - along with my PDA profile (Persistent Drive for Autonomy, otherwise known as Pathological Demand Avoidance) and my desire to spend my duration focused on all the many things that bring me joy - determine most of my decisions.

So many spend their lives in school or work - watching the clock and wishing their days away. I am beyond fortunate to have the leeway to decide that I would not be tied to a job waiting for someone else to tell me what to do. (Not that I would listen, anyway.)

In my role as founder of Deep Root Center, my mission is to spread awareness that self-direction is innate. We are all born with that persistent drive for autonomy - but many are trained out of it by the cultural and societal need for acceptance and "normalcy."  

When I witness kids taking charge of their education and life - actively choosing the activities and projects they, not an authority figure or society, find interesting and worth their time, I get excited for them and their future.  

On the other side, it is heartbreaking to witness young people internally fight the concept of autonomy, even when given the opportunity, and go back to the safety of a coercive, predictable, and culturally acceptable environment.  

Time is precious but deceptive. Honoring every second doesn't slow it down or make distressing moments easier; however, it does make the tough or unconventional choice to be authentically yourself in a sea of uniformity gratifyingly worth it.

We had a week with low numbers because several kids were out sick. Among other things, those that were at the Center happily embraced winter and our first snow.

Janine reports that the Pop-ups Crew had a great time this week. They focused on project collaborations and self-directed independent pursuits. Thank you to the Massena & Norwood Public Libraries for hosting us.

We have all heard about the laws of attraction - like attracts like. The common understanding is often accompanied by the misguided notion that positive thinking will get you everything you desire. Most forget that the equation first requires gratitude, which must go far beyond affirmations; it is appreciating your current situation without fear or anxiety about the future.

This doesn't mean you can't aspire to change or improved conditions for yourself and your family - it simply means that by expressing thanks, you honor the here and now with a profound knowing that within your gratitude (and intentional, hopeful cultivation) comes the next brilliant opportunity.

Several years ago, I met a woman who soon became a mentor and a second mother. (She was the same age as my mother, only one month older.) She was one of those wise elders who exuded calmness, warmth, kindness, and insight. She habitually declared an "attitude of gratitude" to describe her emotional being. Which, for her, was more than a catchphrase. She lived in deep gratitude every day.

I often wondered how she came to this enlightened place of peace, acceptance, and appreciation. Even though, by most standards, her life had not been easy. She didn't have much materially and was forced to retire early with severe back issues after several surgeries. Additionally, after caring for her mother until her death, she had no biological family except an estranged brother.

I believe, in part, it was because she was brilliantly, insatiably curious, with several advanced degrees, including music, education, and library science. Additionally, beyond her formal education, she explored and researched new things as effortlessly as she breathed. Because of her life-long love of learning, she was regularly engaged with new ideas and innovations, which meant she was an early adopter of scientific advancements including computers and technology. She understood that knowledge is power and her concern was always for the greater good.

Sadly, she developed dementia in her 70s. This diagnosis seemed unfairly devastating for someone with a mind as razor sharp as hers - but even then, though frustrated, she retained her core attitude of thankfulness. As it became clear she could not safely live alone, a lifelong friend packed up her belongings, sold her house, and moved her back to her birthplace on Long Island, where she was one of the many souls who passed from COVID during the early days of the pandemic in a nursing home.

I miss her dearly. She innately understood the philosophy of Deep Root Center and was one of our first champions. However, her lived gratitude, generosity, love for life, and unquenchable curiosity will be the gifts I hold most dear; they will forever guide me through mine. 

DRC News

The DRC Canton crew hosted a Thanksgiving feast for their families on Tuesday, with many of our kids contributing to its preparation. Our kitchen adventures are always tasty.

We live in a world that operates on a “one-size-fits-most” formula. If you do not fall within this narrow range of "normal," the problem is considered to be yours. There is no broader understanding of diversity and no room for disability (and it will soon get even worse).

This ultimately puts all the pressure on the individual, which means that everyone is responsible for advocating for themselves to seek out the required resources and accommodations, which is beyond exhausting for most.

Additionally, to compound these ridiculous expectations, an official diagnosis (often expensive and difficult to get because there are not enough practitioners) is required to receive accommodations. Instead of providing them to whoever needs them, based on the individual - they are withheld because some folks may be "cheating" the system.

A few are fortunate; with little help, they can eventually blunder through the thousands of hoops placed in their way to get what they need. Most are not. They live on the cliff’s edge of survival, barely hanging on - with stress often compounding their issues.

As someone who is neuro-spicy, with many learning disabilities that were never identified when I was young and in school, I am one of the lucky ones who was just stubborn and confident (cocky) enough to push my way through to get things done (with no official accommodations - only the "hacks" I devised for myself). Until recently, I never understood how much extra energy I had to expend to get there and why fatigue has always hovered in the background.

After 60 years, I have (mostly) figured out what works best, personally, to access and comprehend information and learn new things. With that understanding, I try to apply those adaptations (and any others that I think will be helpful) to my daily interactions with my DRC kiddos and to everything I provide for families to help them navigate the homeschooling process.

Do I get frustrated when these modifications are not helpful for some people and they still do not understand the information or can't begin to advocate for themselves? Absolutely!

Do I return to the drawing board and try to invent something different that is accessible for everyone, as new information presents itself --- so they can learn how to stand up for themselves? Again, yes, absolutely!

Leaving folks behind simply because they have different brain neurology, learning, or physical disabilities is unconscionable. No one should be struggling because of inaccessibility. If something isn't working for everyone - go back and fix it. Period!

Accessibility is the first step towards equity. 

This post was inspired by the uncomfortable feeling of bumping up against my failure to provide useful, comprehensible consulting information to some new families. Along with phone calls, texts, and emails, the homeschool guide that I wrote last year - simply wasn't enough. I knew that I had to make a video version - but was struggling with how to do that effectively.

Then, this past week, I realized that I could create a presentation and do a voice over. Hopefully, the combination of pictures, written, & spoken words helps more people understand the concept of self-directed homeschooling with or without DRC's help, and how to advocate for their kids.

If not - it will continue to evolve until everyone can access the info.

Find the YouTube video below.

This week passed in a blur - again. We are happy to welcome a new teen to the crew and discover that he is another chef in training. Several kiddos have also discovered that they thoroughly enjoy the game of LIFE.  It seemed to take over the chill space a few days in a row.

The Pop-ups Crew enjoyed time together at the Massena Public Library and the Nicandri Nature Center. Thanks to both for hosting us again this week.

If you know of a homeschool family, please let them know about our Pop-ups. Anyone is welcome to join in the fun.

You can help us continue our work of making self-directed education accessible to anyone who wishes to participate. Read our Fall '24 Funding Appeal here.

As this season of giving begins, and your inbox is likely crammed with appeals from worthy organizations doing vital work (especially now), we humbly ask for your financial support to provide a safe alternative educational environment for kids with nowhere else to turn.

Our student members and their families seek us out for various reasons - it cannot be distilled into one explanation. However, we can state that our members have interests and goals that were not being met by their school. They have been bored, anxious, or disenfranchised; most had tried to make school work for them in many ways and locations, with similar results. School is not for everyone. Many are seeking a hands-on, interactive, and dynamic environment where they can be creative, imaginative, inventive, and curious, explore and make mistakes, get their feet wet, both figuratively and literally, follow their dreams, and spread their wings - with folks who will accept them as they are and support them, unconditionally, to grow into their authentic self​.

The Funding Appeal below highlights just two of the twenty-eight young people who call DRC their educational home this year. Thank you for taking the time to read their stories and support our mission so we can continue our life's work.

Every contribution has the potential to change a child's life. Thank you!

We had another three day week at DRC Canton - with tons of kitchen fun, board & card games, walks to the Grasse River, and Tuesday skating.

The Pop-up crew had fun at the Massena Library on Thursday and the Nicandri Nature Center on Friday. Janine reports that they worked on collaborative projects and played some games and went for a hike on the trails at Nicandri. Thanks again to our generous hosts. We are deeply grateful that we can use there spaces.

Look for these fundraising postcards out in the community. Fell free to grab one or two to share with folks you think would be excited about supporting DRC. Thank you!

There is no easy way to begin this one except to jump right in. Once again, misogyny, xenophobia, white supremacy, homophobia, transphobia, and all their accompanying lies are being uncovered and brought back out from under their primordial, slime-covered rocks without fear of repercussion.

The notion of the resulting blatant contempt and violence against the 'other' may be utterly overwhelming and numbing, leaving you feeling vulnerable and powerless - if (when) you allow your mind to go there.

Now is the precise moment when hopefulness - grounded in positive, thoughtful action is required.

You can stand up and confront hate head-on - by firmly and calmly announcing, "Rudeness, disrespect, brutality, and rhetoric have no place here.  Not on my watch!"  

In the next breath, you can offer loving support, kindness, compassion, understanding, and hugs to the many people who need it, especially our most defenseless and those at risk.

Your skills, talents, creativity, vision, love, and bright light are what we so desperately need to create the world we want to live in. Shine on! 

We had a short week at DRC Canton that included plenty of kitchen, art room, and outdoor adventures - not to mention tons of card games and some wild and crazy creative energy.

The DRC-POP-UPS crew had a great time this week. At the Massena Library on Thursday their time together included discussions about holiday foods, a late Dio de los Muertos project, a really cool collaboration happened on a comic book project (story line and illustrations) and will be ongoing into next week....and a couple of intense rounds of Battleship also took place! Also very proud of one of our kids who made a big step in self-confidence, successfully negotiating a conversation with someone they were nervous about speaking with.

On Friday they played a variation of Life, made honey mug cakes, worked on projects together and individually, and explored the stacks at the Norwood Library.

Thanks to both libraries for hosting us this week.

Pop-ups postcards will be distributed throughout the NoCo in the next couple of weeks. You can also learn more here. 

Please consider supporting Deep Root Center during this season of giving. Your dollars go directly toward our work - shining our lights, using our talents, skills, and vision to prepare our kiddos to make creative change in the world. 

Digby Doo, the DRC cat, came to us as a seven-year-old because he had a reputation for being an attention hog. The boy demands all the love and cuddles all the time. We were looking for a cat to serve as a mascot and act as a natural medium for folks to safely engage with others in our environment. Two years later, we can say, without hesitation, he is a 'purrfect' match

Digby is the DRC ambassador; he greets everyone who enters and soaks up all the attention that is his due. However, he seems to be particular about who he cuddles with. He currently rotates between three kiddos and spends his days on their laps or snuggled beside them.

Sometimes if he is feeling ignored, he quickly reminds them that their sole job is to attend to him by placing himself between their computer, book, or project and weaving himself in and out in front of them.

I am convinced Mr. Doo recognizes the people who need him most on different days. On Friday afternoon, he spent at least 30 minutes contentedly cradled like an infant in our SLU volunteer's arms while she was sitting next to and talking to one of his favorite kiddos. We are convinced he only pretended to sleep because his tail twitched constantly.

Over these past two years, Digby has become an essential character in our daily story lines. He helps to make transitions easier for kids who struggle with them and provides emotional support to those in need. We all narrate his silly antics and comedy relief bits that he injects at seemingly inappropriate moments yet somehow feel perfectly timed.

Everyone needs a Digby Doo in their lives - a being who loves unconditionally, who will sit with you no matter how long you need their support and comfort, embraces their talents, silliness, sass, and lively spirit, and uses them generously for the greater good. This is especially important now as we all navigate the levels of exhaustion and anxiety of the times, with emotions running just below the surface.

Sending out my very best wishes to you all this coming week. It may be a rough ride; however, I am counting on the fact that we will all come out on the other side even better because of the kindness, grace, generosity, and comfort (and occasional playfulness & cheekiness) we extend to ourselves and one another (with the help of our very own Digby Doo kindred spirits). 

Another week flew by! A crew went skating for the first time this season, we had tons of cooking and art adventures - and a Halloween "Party" DRC style included plenty of homemade snacks and a 16th birthday celebration.

The Pop-up participants had their own version of Halloween - when a cowboy, hockey player, and witch met at the Massena Library to play scrabble.

We are looking for more folks to join the Pop-up Crew every week. Learn more here.  Look for this postcard in community spaces over the next few weeks and please share with your network.

This past week was a bit of a blur - time just keeps speeding up...

The Pop-up Crew had a great time at the Massena Library & the Nicandri Nature Center.

A huge thank you to the SLU Women’s Lax team for coming out for Make a Difference Day and spending their Saturday morning cleaning, organizing, raking, and lifting & hauling.

Freedom and responsibility, to some folks, may feel like polar opposites; however, they are inextricably linked when you live in society or are a part of a community.

Yes, you have the freedom to make choices that are best for you, but within your personal decisions, you also have a responsibility to the whole. Bound by that, your personally held beliefs are yours. Your choices can be based on those convictions; however, you cannot force them or the repercussions on anyone else. It is the very definition of society.

At DRC, we trust each student member with tons of freedom. They are each in charge of their education and, with our mentoring support, get to decide what that looks like. Nevertheless, we also hold them accountable for how their decisions may affect others.

In this diverse environment, we are all reminded daily of how our personalities, needs, wants, and behaviors can bump up against others, and are fodder for conversation when they become a point of conflict, uncomfortable, or unsafe for others.

Oftentimes, all it takes is a quick reminder or a few moments in a quiet place to reset and regulate. Other times, when harmful choices are set on repeat, and dysregulation is the default mode, it involves creating firm (non-punitive) boundaries that, at first glance, may seem restrictive within this environment where freedom is innate - but in the long run, are vital pieces we have put in place to model and teach accountability, collaboration, respect, and kindness.

Freedom, responsibility, and diversity of individuals can coexist when given equal importance and nurtured with loving boundaries. And when everyone is celebrated for who they are and what they bring to the group.

It was a wild energy week full of kitchen and art adventures at DRC Canton. Oh, and we discovered via our porch cam that we have a fairly regular "stinky" visitor. Hopefully, he restricts his visits to nighttime and early, early morning.

The DRC Pop-ups met at the Massena and Norwood Libraries this past week.

Thanks again to the Potsdam Food Co-op for inviting us to collaborate at their Open House last weekend. We had a great time watching kids get creative. We look forward to future opportunities to team up.

This past week, it felt like my only luck would be bad luck. Two things hit, one right after another. The first was learning that someone had been viciously, maliciously, and spitefully cruel with potential repercussions. It felt like a gut punch upon discovery.

The second incident was actually physical. I dislocated my shoulder for the sixth time while lying in bed and reaching for my earbuds from the stand. Yes, it's that easy now — just like a fun 3-D puzzle. Unfortunately, my arm and shoulder muscles seize up, making it harder to put back in. Thankfully, the ER doctor was very experienced in the manipulation that does not require sedation.

On Thursday morning, I woke up anticipating the third thing - the feeling of impending doom was visceral. You all know the cardinal rule: "Bad things happen in threes."

Then I gave myself a stern talking-to, asking - "What if I anticipated three good things instead?" After this many years on earth, I know, without a doubt, that whatever energy I send out will be returned in spades.

I know the Universe can distribute the shitty stuff - but She also delivers the excellent and awe-inspiring, too. And to be clear, I also greatly appreciate all of the 'just' OK stuff - as long as it comes with no drama or sensationalism.

With that insight, Thursday and Friday at DRC were exceedingly pleasant. We had a great time connecting with each other, building relationships, sharing our interests, working quietly on independent academics, creating art, playing outside, and cooking delicious food. Some of us even sorted and organized the toys and the overflowing closet in the Seedlings Room. Also, just to update you, my shoulder is fine (when you dislocate it this many times it is pretty much 'business as usual' with very little pain) - the challenge is keeping it in place.

Here's to all the good stuff coming our (your) way - with the understanding that bad shit does happen -  it just doesn't need to be predestined or expected because of some age-old superstition (sorry, Great Grandma). 

Thank you to the Potsdam Food Co-op for inviting DRC to collaborate this weekend (both Saturday and Sunday from 11 - 2) during their annual Open House. We have pumpkins and gourds for kids to decorate, as well as a table full of arts and crafts supplies for kids of all ages to imagine and create to their heart's content. If you missed us Saturday - come on out and meet me and Janine there today.

The Co-op has also graciously offered to help us fundraise during this two-day event.

Photos this week from DRC-Canton & the Pop-ups

The Pop-up Crew had a great time at the Massena Library & the Nicandri Nature Center this past week. They even met a few reptilian friends.

You will find two fresh designs from a new series in the DRC Printify shop. We will be retiring a few designs over the next month including "Digby of DRC" & "I read the DRC Blog." If you have been waiting to get them - better buy them now - they will be gone by the New Year.

Yesterday was a gorgeous autumn day for our Fall Craft Fair and Family Fun Event. Between vendor fees, the raffle featuring items donated by the vendors, and general donations, we raised $438.00, which directly benefits all of our student members. The DRC Staff & Board would like to offer the following thanks.

Thank you to the thirteen vendors who participated; we are grateful for their support and patience. They committed earlier this summer and then had to endure a rescheduling due to the storm in August.

Thanks to Norwood Village for hosting. The village park provided a perfect venue for our event, and thanks to the firemen who brought tables down the stairs from the municipal building.

The Deep Root Center families who helped cart, carry, set up, run our welcome tent, and clean up are appreciated beyond measure. They are amazing and deeply appreciated!

Thanks to the multi-talented Janine, our DRC Pop-up Mentor, for facilitating all the arts and crafts adventures.

Shouts of gratitude to our fabulous musicians, Galaxy Hitchhiker (AKA Mike Corse) and DRC's own Christopher Raymo, who provided a lively backdrop of sound all day long.

Thank you to Nature's Storehouse, The Potsdam Food Co-op, the Massena Public Library, and the Canton Free Library for letting us borrow your canopy tents. Fortunately, we didn't need them to stay dry - but we were grateful to have some shade from the bright sun.

And finally, a huge thank you to all of the community members from all over St. Lawrence County who came out in support of DRC to enjoy the beautiful day with us. We thoroughly appreciated meeting you and watching your children play and create art. The winners of the raffle items will be contacted tomorrow (Monday).

We look forward to planning our next craft fair & family fun event and the opportunity to connect. Stay tuned for the details!

Today is one of those days when so many thoughts are competing in this noisy and exhausted brain that I cannot focus or get inspired about just one theme for this post. I can only hope that somehow these hyperactive musings will synthesize into something coherent as they tumble through my fingertips and onto the screen.

All this week, I was considering how best to explore two qualities of neurodivergence that have (and continue to) impacted my life substantially.

These include the complexities of PDA - otherwise known as a "persistent drive for autonomy," which has also been pathologized and named "persistent demand avoidance." These two very different ways of thinking about and examining what looks like defiance - have resulted in ODD (opposition defiant disorder) diagnoses exploding in the past few years.

The other is RSD - "rejection sensitivity dysphoria." Broken down as simplistically as possible - this is the constant feeling that I am letting people down or they are upset or angry with me because of something I said or did (or didn't do).

But as I was considering how to present those two interconnected pieces of my personality that affect my every action (reaction), my thoughts were taken over by some of the events this week and how our kiddos are deeply impacted by the severe childhood traumas they endured, their own neurodivergence, and the overall (I would say dangerous) culture of competition perpetuated in nearly every aspect of our children's lives. Which, funnily (interestingly) enough, results in many behaviors that also resemble PDA & RSD.

Therefore, while battling to maintain calmness in my own responses (not always successfully), I am modeling the tools for self-regulation and conflict resolution while engaging in individual and group conversations to help kids navigate the complexities of their emotions and important connecting relationships within this diverse, dynamic (sometimes chaotic) community.

Thank goodness for the other DRC adults, facilitators, and mentors who understand the multitude of nuances and are available to help whenever all the feelings and overwhelming undertones of wild energy erupt and infect everyone's mood - including mine.

As you may have guessed, it was another very full week at DRC Canton.

I realized as the kiddos and our fabulous parent volunteer, Jaclyn, were measuring and determining our property line - it was exactly six years from the day we purchased it. They measured our 33o' x 65' plot with the help of the tax map and a 200ft tape measure and then they went back the next day with the GPS property map app to confirm their original measurements. They were just a bit off because they were measuring around trees and lots of other obstacles.

We welcomed a new teen on Tuesday and had plenty of kitchen adventures all week. Our artists created goth glue drawings that will be completed next week and they painted a "stained glass" window in our front door. Our daily dedicated time of academics included math adventures with Khan Academy and Prodigy, independent reading, GED Prep study, explorations into US history and researching mushrooms.  

As always outside play and visits to the Grasse River were an important part of our week.

Those who know me understand that math - especially Algebra is not one of my strengths. When I talk to kids down on themselves about struggling with higher-level math (or even computational math), I often share the anecdote about taking the Algebra Regents four(!) times before passing, and even then, it was just barely. Yet somehow, despite my challenges with numbers and math concepts (dyscalculia), I have lived a successful, fulfilling life and even built a not-for-profit where I am responsible for all of the financial minutia.

We can't be good at everything - in fact, it is perfectly OK to totally suck at some things. The key is to hone your skills and talents (get really good at the things that you excel in), have a curious mindset including an open mind to new ideas, a commitment to flexibility and problem-solving, and the willingness to create systems (hacks) to assist you with the hard stuff. With all that in place, everything balances out.

Our very full, busy week at DRC Canton included an 18th birthday celebration, lots of cooking,  painting and zoology classes, science experiments, independent study, walks to the Grasse River, hosting 8 SLU CBL volunteers, and plenty of free play.

This week's Pop-ups were hosted by the Massena Library on Thursday afternoon and the Nicandri Nature Center on Friday afternoon.

Janine's report from the Nature Center: "We had a BLAST - used a wildlife ID app, found some really unusual fungi, and dissected owl pellets....and of course got in a lot of exercise."

Meet us at the Norwood Village Park for plenty of Family Fun and live music!

You know those days (weeks, months) when you think to yourself, "What else could possibly go wrong?" or "When is it (life) ever going to get easier?" I am here to remind you that even when you feel like one challenge is quickly eclipsed by another - and you are completely overwhelmed - there are growth opportunities and nuggets of potential buried inside each of those trials. Even when you feel like you can't move forward another step under the weight of disappointment and frustration.

When quitting seems like it might be the answer - ask yourself, "Is this the best way forward for me right now?"  "What are the potential benefits (what opportunities will open up) in quitting?" "Will this 'fix' the issues or make it easier?” (Which is a valid reason, too.)

If the opportunities are hidden inside the challenges, they will make themselves known when you are honest with yourself about the above answers, are open to seeking out new ideas and solutions, and are willing to work hard to make them a reality.

If your answers to the above questions lead you to determine that quitting is the remedy because you feel like the opportunities lay in moving on, don't hesitate - make it clean (be kind and compassionate and leave the drama behind) - and prepare yourself for the next good thing that (absolutely) will present itself.


No matter where you are in this process - understand that you intuitively know the right path for you. Take the time to tune in and pay attention to what your heart is so very desperately trying to tell you.

Our first week was full of adventures and learning opportunities. We brainstormed the points that became our community agreement and listed everything we wanted to explore this year. And we spent plenty of time socializing, playing, and exploring the space. And we wished A. C. a happy 16th Birthday. Thanks to his Grandma for bringing in cupcakes to celebrate.

The DRC Pop-ups began this past Thursday at the Massena Library and Friday at the Nicandri Nature Center. Janine enjoyed meeting some kiddos, engaging in cool conversations, and facilitating art and nature activities. Meet them next week - the Massena Library and the Nicandri Nature Center are both hosting us again. Learn more here.

*note - We are grateful to the Norwood Library for agreeing to host the Pop-ups two Fridays each month beginning Friday, Sept. 27.

Every single one of us is unique - in our neurology, emotions, intellect, and ideology. When we say DRC is individualized, we mean that we are meeting every person where they are - in every one of those attributes - while consciously building a respectful, supportive community.

We expect and encourage every member to be themselves - with the understanding that they have a responsibility to the whole group.

What does that look and feel like in our everyday interactions? Honestly, it is systematic chaos of twenty-six kiddos doing their thing, following their interests, alone and together in groups, while recognizing (being reminded) that everyone else has the same rights.

How do we practice the concepts of community within that three-ring circus? In the past, our community agreement was a generic document that everyone signed off on. This year, we will be more intentional in creating it. On our first day, we will discuss what we want to be included - everyone from the youngest to the oldest can input what they feel is vitally important to our community for them to feel included. Within that contract, we will also have the details for dealing with conflicts that are certain to crop up. Using restorative practices, we will be more deliberate about exercising care for each other, even when we butt heads and disagree.

Is our community perfect? Not by long-shot - we each (adults included) make mistakes and screw up royally. But we also understand that we are all learning and trying our hardest. Sometimes, that means we will fall down in failure. All we can do is give one another (and ourselves) grace, make amends, and ask that we get up and try again the next day.

Growth is tricky. It shows up in leaps and bounds and then sometimes stalls at the most unexpected moments.

We look forward to embracing and celebrating each of those moments while flourishing and thriving together - through all the growing pains - as this new academic year commences.

We will be back in the Canton facility on Monday! It is spiffed up and organized, and ready for all the mayhem of growth and learning.

It is not too late to join us. If you feel like DRC is where your child belongs - get in touch.

The Craft Fair and Family Fun Day is October 5th at the Norwood Village Park. Plan on joining us for some seriously good fun.

Hope is the thing that keeps us moving forward - believing with every fiber of our being that everything will work out the way it is supposed to. However, that hopefulness requires not only patience - but also hard work filled with good intentions.

Hope is not the sustainer, yet it is the thing that gets us through dark moments. It allows us to visualize the dreams that will come our way.

It's the real day-to-day slog and mental resolve (doing all the good work without considering the reward) - brightened by occasional pops of delight (enough to keep us going) - doing the heavy lifting and manifesting our hopes into reality.

After a rough year, DRC is thankfully experiencing one of those bright moments of optimism. I will be able to document the evolving layers of detail here in the next few weeks.

But for now, know that while the "hope is still hoping," we are doing our jobs, maintaining our authenticity and transparency, counting all the blessings with deep gratitude while staying focused on the future to help as many kiddos find a safe, educational home that serves them (and their families) best.

There is still time to register for the last week of the Summer Program 9/26 - 30. Plenty of fun was had this past week!

Our first day back for the 24/25 academic year is Sept. 9th. We are going to be hopping with a full roster of kiddos. If you or your child feel that DRC would fit their needs - please get in touch. We are dedicated to helping any child who needs us.

There is no way I could ever do what I do without all the tricks and strategies I have spent a lifetime developing. At this point in my life, if it weren't for all of those hacks, I would be absolutely and irrevocably lost - a newly identified (acknowledged) neurodivergent, certified  basket-case.

To be clear, I have always been neuro-spicy, but it wasn't until two years ago (at the age of 57 1/2) that I finally learned enough about it to understand that it explained the weird, super creative, hyper-sensory, clumsy, socially awkward, and learning difference (all the "dys's") traits within me - that fought for recognition for all those years.

Back to a few of the hacks -

• Because of my issues with object permanence (if it is not in my line of vision, in my mind, it does not exist), I have open shelving at home, and everything at the Center is either labeled (folks think the labels are for the kids - ha, little do they know...) or in an open file holder on a shelf in my office. The file cabinet is where things go to die - never to be found again.
• Everything, and I mean everything(!), has a home and goes back to it as soon as I am done. If there is a question about where something is, I remember to look in its home first because it has become an unconscious habit to put things away. I usually don’t remember doing it.
• At heart, I am a minimalist - too much "stuff" means it can easily descend into disorganized chaos.
• Deadlines are my friends - I never met one I didn't like. (Artificial ones work great too!)
• And to go along with that, early morning is when I can accomplish a day's worth of tasks in only a few hours - don't get in the way! The afternoon is nap time - my brain turns off for the day - (if only DRC kids were on board).
• To combat time blindness - in my head, I work backward from when I have to be somewhere or do something - to ensure I am always on time, if not early. Being late means someone would have to wait for me. (Cringe!) I also have the memory of a gnat so Google Calendar is a lifesaver on a few counts! As soon as I promise to do something - it goes directly into my calendar.
• I love the challenge of looking at problems from different angles and brainstorming ideas that don't seem obvious at first and quietly implementing them with little fuss -understanding nothing is ever finished - it can always be revised or scrapped altogether.  Because mistakes will be made or another better idea will come along.
  
• Related - when the creative spark strikes - I pounce on it. (That is where the dopamine lives.) Sometimes, I need a jump start. But even then, all it usually takes is sitting in front of the laptop - with an open project on Canva or Grammarly and a random idea.
• I have limited social energy on a good day and even less on a "bad" day. I have learned to say "no" to group activities or functions when I know it will put me over my threshold to a place of being overwhelmed, cranky, and exhausted. Mainly because it is usually loud, there is lots of visual stimulation (which makes me get tunnel vision), so many smells (no one ever really talks about the olfactory deluge), and to top it off, small talk is tortuously awkward, especially when the face-blindness "thing" gets me in trouble.

I now realize that before I understood my brain differences, all of these hacks were developed over time so that I could navigate through the world without tipping people off to my weirdness - my "deficits." It was never an option to fail or be noticed.

The backward part of that thinking is that all my weirdness, in reality, is my superpower. If my Fairy Godmother appeared before me and offered a neurotypical brain - I would refuse and run the other way without hesitation.

My neurodivergence makes it possible for me to be unapologetically my creative, problem-solving, quirky (goofy) self. Instead of hiding, I now use the hacks to highlight all that weird awesomeness and accomplish everything I want to do.  In the process, I am normalizing neuro-spiciness so the young people I work with are comfortable being their authentic selves, too.

Note - This post was written a few days before the devastating remnants of TD Debby and resulting flood waters hit the NoCo. Sending out our best to everyone and hoping you are safe and dry. I have not gone into town yet to see how the DRC house fared.  I will keep you all updated here, in next week's post.

I grew up in the very small town of Brasher Falls, where there was no public library until recently - well past my childhood. My only option was the tiny school library - where I was allowed to check out two books each week. I was one of those kids who devoured a single book in hours - two books covered me for a portion of a day - never mind a whole entire week.

Therefore, all three books I owned as a child were in heavy rotation. One after the other, over and over and over again. (It helped that I don't comprehend anything I read; it has always been about the joy of escape and experiencing a story unfold.) Heidi by Johanna Spyri inspired my dream to visit Switzerland one day (no longer an ambition). The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew corroborated my experience as the eldest child (of 4). And The Bobbsey Twins by the Seashore let me dance with the tension of mystery and intrigue without being scared (too much). That and I remember being fascinated by the possibility of having two sets of twins in one family.

I vowed that if I ever had children - they would have as many books as they desired.

And as fortunate would have it, I had two children who adored books as much as me. As toddlers and preschoolers, they were regulars at the Potsdam Library story-time, and every week, we came home with as many books as we could carry.

At the ripe age of three, Kiddo #1’s ambition was to get his own library card. The librarian told him that as soon as he could sign (write) his own name - he could get one. He practiced and practiced, and by the time his fourth birthday rolled around, he indeed had his very own. Then, around the age of ten or eleven, his card expired. He told us it was because he had read every children's & YA book in the Potsdam Library - honestly, it wasn't much of a stretch. Needless to say his sibling, followed in his footsteps.

As tweens & teens, they frequented the Canton Free Library and developed a passion for graphic novels (Usagi Yojimbo, Copper, & Amulet...), plus in Kiddo #2’s case - any story that involved horses. Additionally, they both built valuable relationships with the folks there.

Besides the bags of books from the library each week - once they started pre-school, we ordered from Scholastic, every trip to Massachusetts to visit their cousins' included a stop at Barnes & Noble, and then came Amazon and the ability to buy books anytime they wanted. It is not an exaggeration to say these kiddos had loads and loads of books - in honor of my long-ago promise, they were the one thing we always indulged in. (Bonus - most of those books now reside at Deep Root Center.)

Yes, books have always been the mainstay of libraries for all of us book lovers - but in today's world, they offer so much more. Libraries have evolved with the times to become the true backbone of each community they serve. They are the media, cultural, educational, & community centers. (You can even borrow tools - or, in DRC's case this week - market tents.) Additionally, libraries are acknowledged safe spaces for everyone.

Our librarians and library workers are actual heroes who imagine and then work tirelessly to orchestrate that beautiful cornucopia of offerings for anyone who wishes to partake. To be clear, these are the folks you want on your side when the going gets rough. They know how to get $h!t done - while smiling at you with encouragement the whole time!

Sending out big love to all the libraries and the folks who keep them running! Thank you for always being there for my family and all the DRC Kiddos.

This is an invitation to share your Library Love stories in the comments or with friends. You can also encourage community support for these amazing people and places who are responsible for helping to raise generations of responsible citizens who are excited about learning.

Sadly, due to Friday's extreme weather event, flooding, and concerns about safe travel, we had to cancel the DRC Craft Fair/Family Fun Event scheduled for yesterday. Watch for the rescheduled date - likely this late summer/fall. 

Thank you to everyone who had a hand in planning, lending us tents, and agreeing to participate - we look forward to seeing everyone soon.

To continue the library love theme - huge shouts of thanks to the Massena Library for agreeing to host the DRC Pop-ups every Thursday afternoon beginning Sept. 12th. Click here for more info about the Pop-ups.

Register for Summer Program here. It begins next week!

We, humans, were designed to make judgment calls - it is what kept our early hominid cousins alive. On the plains of Africa thousands of years ago, anything that appeared different was potentially life-threatening.

In our modern world, that instinct has little practical use. So, instead of saving our lives - our judgments about anything that does not fit our worldview are given derogatory labels to separate 'us' from 'them' - to artificially create the 'other.' Because when someone becomes your enemy, it is OK to hurt (hate) them.

As Illinois Governor JB Pritzker famously said during his Northwestern University commencement speech, "Empathy and compassion are evolved states of being. They require the mental capacity to step past our most primal urges."

We no longer need our base instincts of distrust to keep us safe. Humans have advanced, and if our species is going to survive beyond the next hundred years - we need to lead with compassion - it absolutely is the only way forward.

As JB Pritzker said, "The kindest person in the room is often the smartest."

Leading with openness, love, and acceptance is not a weakness - but full-on strength and brilliance.

I would also say that anyone who can't be kind or find compassion within themselves - their judgments are on them and them alone - not the responsibility of the person or group they are denigrating and certainly not of wider society. No one needs to apologize for who they are because someone is critical of something about them - that they likely can't change anyway (skin color, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurological makeup, etc.).

Go - rock your individuality with a quiet humility & confidence that can only inspire those around you.

Since returning from my month-long adventure earlier this week, I have had trouble getting my head back in the game. I have made silly mistakes and struggled to stay focused (both more than usual).

Everyone I spoke to on Friday had a similar experience when they returned home to their standard routine.

We each have unconscious, established habits that are largely thrown out the window when on vacation. Then, when we return, it is as if our brains and bodies need to get synced back up to our old "normal." For some, it takes a few days - for others (me), it will take longer.

It has not helped my case that after a month of not thinking (obsessing) about DRC (beyond the basics) - I have necessarily been tossed back into the fray.

Therefore, if you see a glazed look on my face and notice that I am having difficulty gathering my words into cohesive sentences over the next few weeks (again, even more than usual, it is only because the shock has not worn off yet. In addition, my brain keeps churning out more and more ideas while I am still catching up with all the many things that need doing this time of year - plus organizing a Craft Fair/Family Fun Day.

For those of you right here with me - I see you.

This one is a quick post at the tail end of my summer adventure to document some observations I made this evening while sitting on the beach in southern Michigan.

I am a people watcher. It has been a favorite pastime since I was young. No matter where I am - I settle in to watch and listen (eavesdrop). The one thing that I have noticed increasingly over the past 15-20 years is that kids are less and less likely allowed to be kids.

While eating a picnic supper, I sat on a rock listening to a parent hassle and berate her children while they climbed on the rock jetty. These kiddos wore life vests, and the rocks were large and flat - like stepping stones. I sat there silently, wishing she would simply hush and let them follow their interests, curiosity, and excitement into the crevices, nooks, and crannies of the giant stones. I was saddened beyond words - in that moment their natural desire for exploration and discovery, along with the unending energy of childhood, was thwarted.

Therefore, I was heartened to see, as I walked back along the lake edge to the parking lot, a young boy (9-10 years old) all by himself, digging a hole and collecting seagull feathers of varying sizes to place very precisely and carefully in his creation as the water lapped at his feet. Was it pure art or some other imaginative creation with a specific purpose? I will never know. But that child will have that experience to call upon his entire life.

Next week, I will be back in the proverbial saddle. I heard that the sewer line project was started. I don't have any details - those will have to wait till next Sunday.

Last Sunday, after a fun day in the sun at the Lincoln Park Zoo and the beach, my son brought me to lunch and nervously approached me about the 4-day drive I had planned from Chicago to Portland.

He presented all the facts - things I had been mulling over silently for a day or so when I realized that each driving day would be at least nine hours. And that I would have to turn around a week later to do it again.

Even though the task seemed daunting - I was not even considering an alternative - until he brought it up. He created the opening for me to say (inside my head) - "What in the hell am I thinking?"

Honestly, I don't think he believed I would capitulate so easily. The flight was booked upon returning to his apartment that afternoon.

Sometimes, we need the options spelled out explicitly before we can see them as possibilities. And occasionally, we need the reminder that there is no harm or shame in pulling back from an original plan and switching gears mid-stream. Thanks for creating that space for me to do all that, "kiddo" #1.
 
*I will be flying back to Chicago next Saturday; therefore, there will likely not be a Blog Post next week - unless I am inspired midweek to write.

Mount Hood as we approached PDX and Luna "the adorable"

Thank you!
We are delighted to announce that the Cloudsplitter Foundation funded one-half of the sewer line repair project from their Rapid Response Grant with a $5000 check.

That, along with the $2000 from the Canton Community Fund and the $650 in donations, allows the project to begin. The contractor is hoping to start this coming week.

Summer Program

We had been holding off on promoting the summer program, not knowing if the sewer line would be fixed. Knowing it will be - we can now accept registrations. Find the sign-up form here.

Craft Fair
We are still looking for vendors and food trucks for our craft fair. Registration is here.

Last weekend, I was with several folks (my Peeps) at the Liberated Learners conference. Even though we all belong to the network and subscribe to the same philosophy, every single Center in the network is unique. The most significant variable determining that difference is that we serve a different demographic. In some cases (DRC), wildly different.

Most Liberated Learners Centers are in urban or suburban communities that encounter challenges that require contrasting solutions to what DRC faces with our rural population. This means our messaging within each of those individual communities needs to vary significantly.

Therefore, when asked what DRC's central message is, I immediately said, "safety."  DRC is a safe place for everyone - no matter your gig. Because I often hear that many kids and their parents do not/did not feel secure in their current/former educational environment, it is the most fundamentally human yet profound benefit we can offer.

To put it plainly - if you do not feel safe (emotionally or physically) - you can not learn.

What other concepts should we include in our future messaging?
I have used - flexibility, kindness, supporting curiosity & creativity, and all-inclusive. What am I missing - what do we offer that is unique to the community we serve?

Comment on this blog post or send your thoughts to me directly.

Thank you!

Summer Travel

I am currently in Chicago with my son and his wife. I will leave for the next part of the adventure next Tuesday to arrive in Portland next Friday. You may receive a post next week - depending on energy levels, time, and inspiration.  Again - no promises...

I went rogue (ignored Google Maps Lady) to find a beach on Lake Erie after spending 6 hours driving and before selecting a place to stay on Monday. Despite being an obviously economically depressed area, the town had a very cool library on the beach. They were hosting a beach play time with pails, shovels, and beach toys that kids signed out.  One small child looked at me and asked "Did you make your hair blue?"  My response was, "Yes, yes I did!" His mom looked mortified - but it totally made my day. Kids - being kids - asking questions cause they are genuinely curious.

Penny Lane was happy to greet me on Tuesday when I arrived at my son and daughter-in-law's place in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago.

The fireworks have been intense - but I always enjoy my time in the city. Something folks are often surprised to hear, considering I regularly spend a good portion of my time off-grid in the woods.

I begin a month of travel this coming Friday when I head down to Langhorne, PA, to meet up with the Liberated Learner Crew at our sister center Bucks Learning Cooperative for our annual conference.

Except for the two pandemic years and last year, I have been traveling to the Liberated Learner conference (generally held near Amherst, MA. at North Star) since 2013 - before LL was even really a network - just a big (good) idea. It is honestly the highlight of my year.

There are new people to meet and old friends to catch up with at every conference. The best part is being with folks who understand on an unparalleled level what I do and the multitude of challenges I experience as the face of an organization that embraces a philosophy so far from "the norm" that we must explain it as a new paradigm. To say that these are "my" Peeps is an understatement.

From the east side of PA, I will head to Chicago to spend time with my son and his wife, and then I will drive across a few big states to Portland, OR, to stay with kiddo number two and their partner for a week before retracing my steps back to Chicago and then home.  

I have not been to their places to stay since 2019 (except for my son's wedding - mid-pandemic). They have come home a few times since then - I am so looking forward to hanging out with them in their environments for an extended time.

And as much as I love and appreciate all "my peeps" here, I am excited to travel alone with no other human or organizational responsibilities - simply enjoying each moment/experience as it comes - (just me and my brain )- allowing all the cool ideas to come forward in the monotony of those thousands of miles.

There will not be a Blog Post next week. I may catch up with you all from Chicago - but I'm not making any promises. Until next time - Happy Summer!

A few weeks ago, I stayed with my mom for two nights. She is in her early 80s, but no one believes her age due to her incredible genetics and determination to continue doing all the things she loves.

My mom is passionate about nature, flowers, and decorating. Though I don't think she would call herself an artist, she has an artistic eye and adores a good aesthetic. During my visit, she spent hours turning a small open lean-to into a beautifully decorated "she-shed" next to her outdoor patio and small water tank swimming pool - where she can hang a curtain for privacy and use it as a changing room to get out of her wet swimsuit. (Oh, yes, she also loves water.) Her yard is a haven for birds and small critters, with a small pond that my brother built long ago. Mom has birdhouses scattered around her yard - occupied by young bird families. She delights in watching their antics.

She recently bought an electric riding lawn mower with a small wagon attached to the back that she uses to do all her own yard work. She had a clear vision of her shed and knew she had all the necessary pieces around the property. While I was working on my weekly blog post at the patio table under the umbrella, she brought out the mower, attached the wagon, gathered all the components onto it, and drove them to the patio.

She wanted a piece of lattice (leftover from a long-ago project) hiding behind the barn, attached to the back wall. Before she loaded it on her wagon and brought it over, she measured the space and then the lattice. She thought it was exact. But when she got it in the shed, she struggled to make it fit - it was a tad too long. Between the two of us, we bent it and forced it to fit into the space - perfectly.

Indeed, I know where my natural perseverance and "can do" attitude come from. My mom is a natural problem solver. If something isn't quite right - she will experiment and find the best solution with what she has.

She then spent a few hours painting half of the lattice (reluctantly saving the rest for another day) after discovering that she had a quart of paint left from another project and a small roller. I have not seen the finished product yet, but I can only imagine it is set up exactly as she had envisioned.

As mentioned, she loves nature and water. She goes camping and kayaking in the mountains all through the summer - sometimes alone and other times with friends or my siblings. (I don't like camping because - BUGS!)

A few years ago, she learned about Hornbeck canoes. They are ultra-lightweight, locally made (in the Adirondacks), and perfect for one person to load onto a car for transport. Before she purchased one, she had been putting her kayak inside her Prius - it fit from back to front diagonally with zero room to spare. (She only cracked her windshield once when she put it in on the wrong angle and pushed it a little too hard. And then there is the hilarious story of her picking up my six-foot-tall son to go camping together forgetting that with the kayak in the car, Ian would have to scooch under it in the back with the seat down - all the way to the camp.) Now, she can put her Hornbeck on top of her Prius - by herself (and have passengers).

In recent years, she (hesitantly and cautiously) has forged (dipped her toes) into the land of technology. She has had success, which has allowed her to Facetime with my siblings almost every day and talk to her grandchildren (who all live out of State). She also knows how to "Google" to seek information and scroll through FaceBook and Instagram. Although she sometimes struggles with her phone and iPad and comes up against things that frustrate her -  she sticks with it and figures things out (or waits until one of us can come and fix or explain it to her) -  I am proud of her for not giving up.  

Staying active through her interests and being curious and open to learning new things has kept her young at heart. Yes, she moves a bit slower, has to take breaks, and has learned (mostly) when to put things away to be picked up another day - so she doesn't exhaust herself (something we should all learn to do) - nonetheless, she is excited about exploring all the possibilities that every day presents. I can only hope that in 20-odd years, folks will be able to say the same about me.

The sewer line debacle continues. I am waiting to hear how much of the total we are responsible for and about the grants I wrote.

Thank you to the American Legion in Massena for the $1000 donation to be used for operations and programs.

Our fundraising thermometer for this year is sitting at $22,500. We have two weeks to the end of this fiscal year - won't you help us reach our goal of $25,000?

Any individual or business - who donates $1000.00+ will have their names/logos added to our "Thank You Tree Mural."

You can contribute to our plumbing fund here or our general donation page here.  Thank You!