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I have been writing the DRC weekly blog since October 2013 and maintained a semi-regular blog on various platforms for several years before that. Writing has always served as a way for me to process my emotions, explore new ideas, and reflect on my adventures with my kiddos at DRC. It is one of my many creative outlets.
Over the years, I have explained concepts related to self-directed education, emphasized the importance of supporting and trusting youth to be their authentic selves and treating others with kindness and compassion, dived deeply into anything related to neurodivergence, the challenges and gratification of working with youth in a non-coercive environment, and the importance of embracing creativity, curiosity, and play. Additionally, I have addressed various topics related to experiences that have either frustrated me, made me incredibly sad, or brought me great joy. Yes, there have been a few rants over the years! Transitioning from MailChimp to Substack will not change any of that. It was simply time for a change. MailChimp was becoming irksome - locking me out every two weeks for "security" reasons, etc. It is an example of another good thing being taken over by a large corporation and made less friendly for the average user. In any case, here's to another 11 years of weekly writing about the things that move me and hopefully engage you. Thank you for coming along on the adventure. *If you want to continue accessing the Blog here on our website, it will always be here for you. However, if you would like to subscribe to the Substack, find the registration box below. The DRC Blog will always be free. You can support us with a paid subscription, if you like. Maria DRC News
Help Wanted
We are still looking for volunteers to help with essential repairs and renovations.
Please get in touch if you have the time and skills that you are willing to share with us to complete these important projects. You can also help by contributing to our Capital Improvement Fund. Thank you! 
This old house needs some love this summer!
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Dear Readers,
The Deep Root Center Weekly Blog subscription service is transitioning from MailChimp to Substack. Those who are already subscribed with MailChimp have automatically been moved to Substack. You do not have to do anything. If you would like to sign up to receive the DRC Weekly Blog free via Substack register below. In addition, the DRC Weekly Blog will always be available here on our website. The DRC Weekly Blog is published every Sunday at 8:30AM. Thank you! Maria
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Your words matter whether you are describing something that happened, communicating your thoughts or a wish or desire, answering a question, or explaining a new concept. This is especially true if your words are broadcast to a broad audience, whether on social media, online, at press conferences, or traditional sources. Intentional ambiguity, half-truths (or entire falsehoods), judgment, and "cute" wordplay (including clickbait headlines) are all red herrings for a lack of transparency and straight-up deception. These tactics stem from either fear or calculated manipulation, thuggery, and malice. However, as a "symptom" of being neuro-spicy, some of us honestly don't automatically understand or recognize when something is innuendo, vague, or deliberate duplicity. We take everything literally and at face value, trusting that it is entirely truthful because that is how we communicate. (We even add parenthetical statements to ensure that the reader has all of the information, whether it is actually needed for total understanding or not.) Although it may seem contradictory, this is where my innate skepticism comes into play. And within that, I do recognize outright hypocrisy quite easily. Therefore, I check everything, especially if it feels "off," "judgy," too good to be true, or comes from a dubious source. I have learned that when I don't ask critical questions, I end up being more confused, frustrated, or even dangerously misinformed. There are obviously a hundred different ways that your words matter—but I will keep it simple here and say that honesty and transparency, kindness, respect, and compassion should comprise the one rule that guides all of your communication and interactions. Without these foundational building blocks of society, we crumble into a dystopian, unjust world where integrity, honor, and sincerity are forever lost. DRC NewsYesterday, I had the pleasure of participating in the Potsdam Pride Fest with an info booth and table filled with art and craft materials for free-range hands-on creativity. I had a great time celebrating Pride in our small community and talking to folx about Deep Root Center. Thank you to everyone who stopped by. 
You would think the person who constantly preaches about the vital importance of authenticity would listen to her own advice. Well, in this case, not so much—until it occurred to me that out of fear of staleness due to a lack of imagination and potential disparaging comments, I was hiding my talent and joy under the proverbial bushel basket. Considering my summer is a bit more open this year, without planned travel to see my adult children, I have decided to focus my energy on some creative endeavors during my downtime when I am not concentrating on the many tasks involved in running Deep Root Center. As mentioned in December, I recently rediscovered my love for painting. However, the one thing I am damn good at painting is trees, vines, and generally anything made out of sticks and natural wood. Months ago, someone had donated a box of 4"x4" wooden tiles that each had a letter on one side. There were enough alphabet-type manipulatives in the Seedling's Room, so we designated them for art projects to use as canvases (something that is always in high demand). This week, I brought some home to use. I told myself I would not paint trees on them — based on my above fears, I convinced myself to try to expand my repertoire and do something different. On Wednesday evening, I took out four and painted a blue sky on each. Then, I took one and attempted to create a clump of ferns. It ended up looking like an indistinct clump of green. Next, I tried to paint a clay pot, but the result was lopsided and decidedly unrealistic. The struggle to paint something other than trees, with these disappointing outcomes, left me feeling frustrated and shut down. That was when I gave myself a good mental talking-to. I love painting trees! And it isn't only because I am pretty good at it. I thoroughly enjoy letting my mind drift freely while playing with color and simply allowing my hand to flow into the organic lines that become the bark and branches. The process is honestly therapeutic. The one thing I know without a doubt is that I am my most authentic self when I am deeply immersed in any kind of creative endeavor, including writing and designing media in Canva. It is those quiet moments of pure creativity that yield the ideal conditions to generate a wide variety of even more ideas. The entire process can be perpetual, as long as I am cognizant of setting up the time, space, attitude, and environment for it to reside within me. I needed this internal reminder that I am not making anything for anyone else — creativity is solely about the process and the pure pleasure it gives me. This is all the encouragement I needed to remove the weight of external expectations and the limiting confines of the bushel basket and paint my beloved trees on these four tiles and anything else that strikes my fancy.  DRC NewsWe are still looking for volunteers to help with essential repairs and renovations. Please get in touch if you have the time and skills that you are willing to share with us to complete these important projects. You can also help by contributing to our Capital Improvement Fund. Thank you!   At the beginning of Pride Month, as you can probably imagine, I have a multitude of thoughts. Most are rehashes, but in this current climate of fear-driven vindictive hate and hypocrisy, I feel like much of it bears repeating. Here are a few tips:
The following five pointers are tongue-in-cheek - we know these are not choices; however, those who speak and act out against them seem to believe they are.
And back to our original list:
I will be over here proudly supporting, celebrating, honoring, and learning from any brave human daring to live their authentically beautiful life unapologetically (whether they are doing it loudly or quietly) — this June and every other month of the year. Happy Pride Month!  DRC NewsThe Canton Center at 48 Riverside Drive requires some extra love this summer. Most notably, some structural reinforcement of floor joists and several renovations, including moving the bathroom to another room, updating kitchen appliances, installing open shelving for storage, and maybe even a few coats of paint to freshen up some of the rooms. If you would like to help out with any of these projects either offering your hands-on skills or with a donation towards our capital improvements campaign, please get in touch. We are seeking folx who excel at jumping in and getting things done.  The Pop-ups Peeps celebrated their last week of this academic year at Nicandri Nature Center and the Massena Public Library with pizza and plenty of connections through games and conversations. Thank you to all of our regular participants for a wonderful year. We are proud of all of your growth and accomplishments. And a huge shout of thanks to our Pop-up hosts, Massena Public Library, Norwood Public Library, and Nicandri Nature Center for providing safe, inviting spaces for all of the above. Gratitude to our mentor, Janine, for facilitating all of the awesomeness that transpired this year.   Another year has come to an end at DRC with a cookout and a celebration for all of our members and three graduates. We didn't let the chilly, drizzly day dampen our fun! Thank you to our families for sharing their kids with us this year and joining us on Friday to celebrate them all. We are so very proud of all of our kiddos. Watching them grow and learn over the past nine months has been an honor and pleasure. And congratulations to Holland, Lilly, & Vin and their families. Have a great summer! DRC NewsEnjoy these photos from our celebration.  Our Pop-ups Peeps hosted Jamey and Andy from the SLC Health Initiative's Teen Help on Thursday at the Massena Library. They had a great conversation. Thank you to them both for coming in to share important info with our teens. They also celebrated a new 18 year old - Happy Birthday, Ben! And a couple of teens have joined the summer garden program at the Massena Library. The Pop-ups will meet at Nicandri and Massena Library on Wed. & Thurs. afternoons next week - for their last time this year.    Since joining DRC in November, Charles, one of our fourteen-year-olds, has developed a passion for cooking and experimenting with recipes he finds online. On his first day, finding complete freedom in the kitchen, he made a pitcher of lemonade using bottled lemon juice. His creative endeavors have been diverse over the past six months, extending beyond the kitchen. One of his latest projects was a black and white crocheted cat bed. Initially, he had intended to create a cow-patterned blanket, which he had spent all night designing in his head, but he ran out of yarn before completing it, so he pivoted to make the cat bed. The one thing that has remained true is Charles' comfort level and willingness to jump into new projects and ideas with both feet, and a commitment to problem solving, without hesitation or fear of failing. Now, during our last few days of this academic year, Charles has taken on an even bigger project that neatly circles back to his first day and that pitcher of lemonade, but also includes his keen interest in entrepreneurship. Charles has started a lemonade business. He has upped his game, using real lemons and specially flavored syrups like black raspberry and strawberry. Each cup of lemonade is made to order with freshly cut-up and squeezed lemons while the customer waits. He set up a lemonade stand at his house last Sunday and made $72. This past Monday, he set it up in front of DRC and recruited his friends, who are between the ages of 6 and 16, to hold signs and yell "lemonade" at passing cars. They successfully connected with folx who were happy to support their endeavors, and sold an additional $37 worth of lemonade. Every night this week, he set up the stand again at home and made even more sales (and garnered a few mosquito bites in the process). Charles' Mom is his financial backer. In addition to the ingredients, she purchased 32-ounce containers with lids that serve as cups, a lemon-themed tablecloth, and a small bowl for the lemons. I asked if he wanted to learn some accounting skills to keep track of expenses and income, and he told me that he already had a system devised at home. He also created a personalized logo and made stickers for each cup. His original plan was to make it a fundraiser for DRC. This past week, after paying his Mom for supplies, he donated $103! Yesterday, DRC had the opportunity to set up a craft table for kids to create art at the Potsdam Co-op during a special event for a Canton Apples hard ciders tasting. After clearing it with the Co-op management, I invited Charles to bring his lemonade stand. He had a great afternoon and made an additional $50. He informed me that 75% of the proceeds would go to DRC, and the other 25% would be used to reimburse his Mom, and maybe have enough to start a fund to go to Great Escape. It seems like a fair division to me. Thank you to Jessie and Dustina at the Co-op for inviting us. We look forward to future opportunities. Charles also plans to sell lemonade this summer in front of his house and at the Lisbon Beach. I predict a very successful summer for this kiddo. Our future relies on kids like Charles who are courageous enough to pursue their creativity and passions while developing skills to navigate the world. We need more young people who are unafraid to jump in, follow their interests, make mistakes, and view them as learning opportunities. Unfortunately, our inherently coercive educational systems incentivize convention with rewards and punishment and rarely support the outside-of-the-box innovative potential these kids have to offer. At DRC, we are happy to follow each child's lead, lend support when requested, expect the possibility of messiness and chaos, and then stand back and watch all the incredible learning opportunities ensue. Only this time, we had the added sweet benefit of sampling delicious lemonade through the process, as he developed the recipe. DRC NewsOne week left for our Canton Crew! We spent plenty of time outside this past week.  The Pop-up Peeps enjoyed their time at the Norwood and Massena Libraries. They have two more weeks - finishing on May 29th.  This year's regular participants with their mentor, Janine. Eleven years ago, I was startled to have a man approach my information table at the Canton Farmers Market, without any preliminary conversation, and ask, "What is your agenda?" At that point, I was so utterly out of my element and new to talking about DRC, yet so passionate about what I was creating that I blurted out, "I don't have an agenda." He scoffed, "Yeah, right," and walked away. All these years later, I realize he was right, despite his rudeness and condescension. I do have an agenda, although it probably isn't the one he was thinking about. I want all young people:
It doesn't seem like much to ask, but in today's world, it is everything! DRC NewsAnother week passed in a blur, and the Canton Crew only has two left before we celebrate our graduates and all of our accomplishments, and say goodbye for the summer!  The Pop-Ups Peeps had a fantastic week at the Nicandri Nature Center and the Massena Library. They learned about Hissing Cockroaches, saw a Baltimore Oriole, made jewelry, purchased and taste-tested more weird soda flavors, and had in-depth conversations about a range of topics.  Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Moms and to all of the folx who have lovingly taken on the Mom role in someone’s life.
Every single day, without fail, one particular kid proclaims, "I'm bored!" And everyday I tell him, "That's good! It means your brain is taking the downtime it needs to get creative." He knows the response he will get every time, yet he continues to say it. He also understands I won't give him a list of suggested activities. For him, this statement of boredom seems to have become a ritual of sorts. Boredom and downtime are essential. Full stop—period. Our creativity, ingenuity, and imagination are directly linked to our need for rest and quiet. That is when all of those amazing ideas burst to the forefront. The only way to capture them is to embrace those moments of boredom. Being productive isn't always advantageous. We humans often use busyness to avoid judgment about laziness from others or ourselves. At DRC, we provide ample time and space for daydreaming, as well as opportunities for free play because we know they are all essential for personal growth, curiosity, and discovery. Yes, we actively encourage those moments of boredom because we know that within every single "I'm bored" lies some live sparks of creative energy. We do not dictate what kids should do. Instead, we offer opportunities, support, encouragement, and resources while stepping back to follow their lead. We watch children effectively problem-solve and manage interpersonal relationships, when faced with obstacles, every single day. When kids understand they are trusted with their own thoughts, ideas, and skills those instants of ingenuity arise more frequently, and, most importantly, they gain the confidence to trust themselves. Explore the Possibilities isn't just a tagline, it is our motto and lived experience. DRC News It was an absolute pleasure to meet Dr. Tooley, from England, the author of The Beautiful Tree: A Personal Journey Into How the World's Poorest People Are Educating Themselves. He is working with VELA, an organization that supports alternative education, to gather stories for another book,The Beautiful Tree: in America and stopped in to interview me.. DRC received a $10,000 grant from VELA in 2022. Even though DRC was closed for the last day of Spring Break on Monday, and he didn't get to meet any of our kiddos, we had a great conversation about self-directed education as it pertains to our philosophy and students. Additionally, we discussed how DRC fits into our wider community and the role we play to help young people in the NoCo move forward beyond the confines of the existing educational paradigm. This was a short but busy week for the Canton Crew. Thursday, photographer and DRC Board President Tiffanie Jacob, came to take our annual photos for our memory book. We switched things up and went to Heritage Park for some interesting backgrounds. Then on Friday, we took a field trip to the Cornell Cooperative Extension Farm and had a blast playing with baby animals. Thanks to Carmen for showing us around!  The DRC Pop-ups Peeps had fun at Nicandri on Wednesday afternoon. Then on Thursday, they bought some strange soda and did taste tests, then participated in a sticker-making activity at the Massena Library.  Within my normal levels of internal chaos and processing issues, my brain constantly seeks order—trying to make sense of every little thing it encounters throughout my waking hours. Lately, I have been even more confused, overwhelmed, and exhausted than usual by trying to decipher the never ending stream of hypocrisy and "spin" in response to all the blatant falsehoods I wrote about last week. Yes, I understand that confirmation bias goes a long way in explaining how lies become truth for some. When you do your own "research" to seek information that confirms your established beliefs, you will most likely find it. Then, you can use those distorted stories to explain your position even when seemingly contradictory. Because your allegiance to the "cause" is more important. That is the part that baffles me. I think the one that hits the hardest is all of the propaganda around RFK and his "work." People (mainly certain young mothers) support him because of his defiant stance against vaccines, food additives (processed products), and Big Pharma (all problematic in varying degrees). Yet, in his official role, he has removed most precautions for food and drug (and vaccine) safety. If you proclaim that you want safe food and healthy options for your family, wouldn't you want trained scientists on the job making sure the food is not contaminated and there is properly strict oversight of the food and drug industry? Nonetheless, all of the firings of those professionals and the decimation of governmental agencies have been met with loud stories of celebration, claiming "he is only protecting the children." And don't even get me started on the "finding the cause" of autism absurdity with the conspiracy theorists reconciling it by spinning it to fit their narrative. The thing not discussed is that this is one more person placed in a position of authority who has absolutely no professional education or training in the field and zero desire to protect anything except his own self-interests. As with every other bait-and-switch con game over the past three months, follow the money and the power grab to find the real story! This is why it hurts my brain. The levels of self-deception to "prove" that their side is "right" are painful to wrap my head around. Once again, I am simply left trying to make sense out of nonsense. However, all the contrived nonsense suddenly makes sense once I remember that fear is a powerful tool that exploiters, bullies, and con men (people) will always use to their advantage. DRC NewsThe DRC Canton Crew has been on Spring Break this past week. We will be back in the building on Tuesday. The Pop-up Peeps had fun together after a two-week hiatus. At the Norwood Library, they conducted an impromptu experiment with a piece of rusty metal and soda. And there was an art program at the Massena Library at the same time that they participated in on Thursday. During Spring Break, we revived the "Dare to" Series from a few years ago. This was first created to encourage people to break away from their deeply held fears that ultimately hold them back. The intended message is even more critical in today's world. 
It all begins with lies. Lies about autism. Lies about immigrants. Lies about those living in poverty. Lies about people of color. Lies about Trans folx. Lies about women. Lies about the innocent victims of Gaza. Lies about DEI. Lies about LGBTQIA+. Lies about mental illness. Lies about the humans who are resisting. Lies about absolutely anything that does not fit the narrative of this unlawful regime. Seeing those different from us through the lens of all the lies as the "other" allows them to become the "enemy." Or at least, that is what they would have us believe. It is, after all, one of the oldest forms of propaganda. I can only hope that we (all of us) are smarter than that and that we teach our children, by example, that every person has value and deserves respect no matter who they are. This is your reminder: everything happening right now is by design. Outrage is being played as a distraction—pitting the people who believe the lies against those who don't. Again, I will say - this is not politics; it is about disenfranchising millions by maintaining control of the narrative through bullying and fear-mongering. Atrocities are committed in the name of saving us from the "enemy," and an army of duped followers have been conned into doing all the heavy lifting for them. In the meantime, they direct the flow of dollars to the wealthiest people in the world, shifting the blame and avoiding accountability while staying out of prison. We can't outdo rude and nasty with more rude and nasty. The misguided and misinformed mob and their boss excel at that. On this 250th anniversary of the first revolution against a king, the only way to interrupt and disrupt this storyline is to rise up as a positive force dedicated to ethical soundness to respectfully refute every single lie at every turn with facts, embrace and celebrate all the diversity, goodness, and hopefulness in this world, and send out rays of kindness and compassion that are impossible to ignore. Our young people are intently watching this all play out. In the last few weeks, I have witnessed conversations that included gentle but firm confrontations of inaccuracies and falsehoods — kids sticking up for themselves and the truth — all grounded in patience and thoughtfulness. Based on my observations, I am thrilled to report that our youth have this! DRC NewsThe DRC Canton Crew made the most of our last week before Spring Break with plenty of outside adventures, an informative program about balanced eating with Jackie from GardenShare, and a fun art activity with our favorite guest artist, Kris R, along with our usual fare. Thank you to both of our guests this week for providing new opportunities for us to explore.  Sadly, the Pop-ups were cancelled again this past week. They will be in session next week during Spring Break. Plan on meeting Janine at the Norwood Library on Wednesday and the Massena Library on Thursday.
Last week, I briefly touched on the concept of success and how it looks different for everyone. This week, I will share one success story that has had several years to mature. This particular kiddo joined us during the pandemic. He is diagnosed autistic with pretty severe anxiety - so bad that he experienced chronic stomach issues that could not be resolved despite the doctors' best efforts. During his first weeks, he spent most of his time alone, on the old iMac playing an antiquated version of Minecraft. When not doing that, he was pacing around the backyard. Within a month, he interacted more with the other kids, and by the time the new academic year rolled around, he was an integral part of the crew. Within another year, he was so connected to the group and our mission that I asked him to be our junior apprentice. This is his second year in that roll. This is not to say that his anxiety disappeared. There are still days I find him pacing the backyard or that he stays home with a stomach upset; nonetheless, those episodes are few. However, besides walking the SUNY Canton - Grasse River Trail, he has avoided going off campus with us. Once, he tried to go skating and had to be brought back because his anxiety was through the roof. That is why I was so very proud of him last week. When planning our field trip to Nicandri Nature Center, after explaining that it was 45 minutes from Canton, I asked him to look it up and decide if he wanted to go with us. Within moments, he came back with a huge grin and said, "That place looks awesome! Yes, I want to go!" While there, I checked in with him several times to discover he was visibly having a great time. He is enthralled with anything related to nature and adores walking and hiking. When we returned to the Center that afternoon, I told him how proud I was of him, and he looked back at me with a huge smile and said, "Actually, I am proud of me too!" This is just one of so many success stories from this year alone. By trusting kids and providing them the space and time to grow and learn more about themselves and the world around them, we help them build the confidence to push against their personal boundaries to do the things that feel scary. It is both intensely satisfying and humbling to watch as they emerge on the other side of that fear, feeling deeply proud of themselves. DRC NewsThe Canton crew had a very full week with plenty of outside adventures, including some fishing excursions. They also moved the old couch to the shed in the backyard that they had cleaned up earlier in the week to create another cozy hangout spot. Thank you to Ian Corse for stopping in on his way home to Chicago to install the drawing tablets and programs on our computers.  The Pop-ups were canceled this past week due to illness. Janine hopes to be back with her Peeps next week at the Norwood and Massena Libraries. Summer Program
Monday, a teen and I sat on the porch at pick-up time. (I was their ride home for the day, and we were waiting for other kids to leave.) They asked, "Did you know today is Trans Day of Visibility?" I responded, "Yes, did you see the DRC Social Media post this morning?" After looking at the post and giving me a big thumbs up with a grin, they said, "And April is Autism Awareness Month." I replied, "I know," and then went on to say that for whatever reason I can't quite explain, as someone who is AuDHD, I have a hard time with the language used around autism and, more broadly, around neurodivergence. I don't like to use "awareness," but I don't think the word "acceptance" gets us there either. I am hoping the process of writing about it here will bring me some clarity. Using the word awareness seems disingenuous. I mean, who at this time in our history doesn't know that autistic people exist and are an essential component of our diverse world? And using the word acceptance feels like we are begging others to recognize us as humans. Some would call this semantics, but I believe it surpasses bickering about vocabulary. It goes back to pathologizing autism as a disorder. It is right there in the name - Autism Spectrum Disorder. And, to make things even more problematic, an official diagnosis (something that may take years to attain) is needed to receive many of the recommended supports - which only ingrains the need to pathologize. Science has finally begun to realize that autism is a differently wired brain - neither good nor bad - just different. It is time for practitioners and the rest of the world to catch up. I will not argue that autism often comes with a host of disabilities, including nonspeaking, verbal processing, auditory processing, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, etc. However, with learned life hacks and various therapies such as OT and Speech, as well as all the other positive supports, autistic folks can function successfully in this world. Especially considering that assistive technologies aimed at helping us navigate the world are continuously evolving. Yes, some will need a lifetime of support and won't ever be completely independent, but I maintain that success has a broad range of meanings — feeling happy and fulfilled is just one. To be clear, we should never remediate or try to expunge autism from the individual - instead, we should be teaching them how to work with and around their disabilities. We don't need fixing! This is why I also don't like the term "intervention," often used to talk about therapeutic tactics that try to "fix" an autistic trait. For me, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia (clumsiness), social anxiety, sensory overwhelm, auditory processing, and wrangling all of the contradictions of both autism and ADHD are all things that I have dealt with my entire life without truly understanding until very recently that, indeed, they are all disabilities. I have developed numerous strategies over the years to compensate and maneuver through life and all the tasks required to run an NFP - which then means many are surprised when they learn that I am AuDHD. However, I am consciously working on masking less often and embracing more of the creative energy that is an enormous part of my neurodivergence. Sixty years of hiding my true self is a hard habit to break. I am beyond grateful to all the kiddos I spend my days with for showing me how it is done. Now, back to what this month dedicated to autism should be named — it should definitely include words that celebrate, honor, value, and show respect — not simply accept or acknowledge that we exist. Let me know if you have any ideas. DRC NewsThe Canton Crew had busy but chill week filled with plenty of adventures.  On Friday, the DRC Pop-ups Peeps and the Canton Crew had the opportunity to visit the Nicandri Nature Center together. The two groups finally had the chance to meet after an entire year of being in separate venues. Thanks again to Linda & Lucas, the educators at Nicandri. The kids had a ton of fun learning about owls and then dissecting the owl pellets. We discovered that we have a few bone enthusiasts in the group. BL took home most of the tiny bones the other kids found in their pellets. The guided hike included some obligatory spring mud, to almost everyone's delight.  The Pop-ups Peeps also had a special treat on Thursday. A big thank you to Andy and Jamey from Teens Help at the St Lawrence Health Initiative for coming to the Massena Library to spend time and discuss some important topics with our teens.  Earth Month This Earth month, DRC is focusing its attention on the inspirational voices of young climate activists from around the world  In a world where cruelty and intolerance are amplified, we occasionally find prejudice and unkindness invading even our intentionally safe space, as well. It is to be expected — kids are our canaries in the coal mine — they see, hear, and digest everything and then often repeat it without completely understanding the impact or repercussions of their words. Our central mission at DRC is to support kids in embracing their authentic selves while accepting and respecting others doing the same. This is not an easy task; it certainly is not all rainbows and kittens over here. We undeniably have painful moments when intolerance and hurtful words land direct hits. When called out — the excuses mirror those heard when bigots and bullies everywhere are admonished — "I'm just joking" or "It's my opinion, and I get to have one." As a community, we quickly call out these defenses, as well. Other kids are usually not afraid to jump in and say, "That's not OK." Admittedly, they can get a bit too vehement and rude in their correction. Sometimes, they need an adult's help to explain that bullying, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, xenophobia, and so on are not jokes or opinions and are, in fact, hate speech and behavior. For example, an opinion is saying you don't like green peppers on your pizza or that summer is better than winter, not that you believe an entire group of people should not exist. Modeling respect, encouragement, and acceptance (rather than mere tolerance) is vital. Our children need to witness more examples of kindness and empathy than they do of hate and indifference. When these values impact their lives directly, we can only hope the messages become loud and clear. DRC NewsIt was a chill week at DRC Canton with a pretty small crew. Our vacationers are due back this coming week, so we should have a full house again.  The DRC Little Free Library transformation is complete - a coat of polyurethane was applied on Friday and it will go back out on Monday to be filled with books once again. We are sorry for the hiatus, but think the phenomenal results were definitely worth it! The post still needs to be painted, but that can wait until warmer weather.  The Pop-ups Peeps had a chill week, as well. They met at the Nicandri Nature Center on Wednesday and the Massena Library on Thursday. Janine reports that the participants had plenty of independent and collaborative projects to keep them busy.  Women's History MonthIn solidarity with all women, DRC has honored some inspiring voices this entire month. This last week, we highlighted winners of the Noble Peace Prize with quotes that seem particularly fitting for these times.  Celebrating Earth Month April is Earth Month - stay tuned for inspirational quotes from climate justice warriors every day on our social media.
As you can probably guess, this essay is a companion to last week's post, Presumed Competence, where I talked about trusting kids' creativity, abilities, and natural desire to learn. This week, I will discuss how, in my view, our children are being $cr*wed over by incompetence on the national stage which is then trickling down to local levels. Federal "leadership" (I put it in quotes because nothing about our current administration qualifies it to be called that.) is blatantly and gleefully dismantling and destroying essential departments and services piece by piece based purely on their own petty grudges and obscene greed. They treat our children and vulnerable populations as disposable collateral, with their flagrantly brazen disregard for the rule of law. As I have said before, this is by design - there is nothing accidental or remotely political about it. However, this ineptitude isn't only found nationally; I see the results right here daily. Firstly, our children are being misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed and then put on meds that are not appropriate (and sometimes harmful). This is compounded by our severe lack of healthcare providers (including mental health) in the NoCo, as well as the extreme cost for evaluations, which includes traveling at least three hours for services. (Even if you can get an appointment, it takes months. And when you are dealing with a "right now" problem those months seem like an eternity.) The second issue is the dangerous levels of poverty and trauma many of our NoCo kids are exposed to. This situation will only deteriorate because our existing localized community Social Service and non-profit organizations that work with our youth are overwhelmed and are insufficiently funded and staffed. Thirdly is how the educational system often views neurodivergent and special needs children's behaviors through a punitive lens, which then means these kids (whether correctly diagnosed or not) are labeled "bad," "hard to handle," "violent," or just plain belligerent. In an already coercive, underfunded system, this is a recipe for disaster. They frequently end up on PINS (Persons in Need of Supervision) or expelled altogether - with no support in place. These problems aren’t simply about a lack of dollars - it is about effective training with the most current scientific knowledge about all the levels of neurodivergence, mental health disorders, and all the other special needs. Then, use that knowledge to create safe, welcoming, encouraging, and inspiring spaces for our kids. Sadly, all of these issues are also complicated by overwhelming exhaustion, burnout, attitudes, closed minds, an unwillingness to learn, and a devastating lack of empathy - all symptoms of a broken system. When people judge and blame others instead of naming the situation as the problem - they are utterly blind to any potential solutions. I believe our primary responsibility is to help people recognize that caring for (and taking care of) one another is crucial for healing our society. Empathy is just the beginning, but it is an essential first step toward achieving all the many things we need to not simply survive --- but to thrive. DRC NewsEven though we had a three-day week in Canton (we use local staff development days as staff rest days), it was a full & busy one with lots of outside and creative explorations! Our Little Free Library is still getting a makeover. Our artists are still working on the back and need to come up with and implement the design for the front. It will hopefully be back up by Tuesday.  The Pop-Ups Crew enjoyed their time at the Norwood and Massena Libraries this week. Janine reported that there was plenty of collaboration on projects, they played their favorite - mum ball, as well as a game one kid created, some took a walk both days, and Janine helped another study his brown belt information.  Women's History Month In solidarity with all women, including the courageous women of the Ukraine, DRC is honoring several inspiring voices to Celebrate Women's History Month.  Homeschool Guide In response to all of the questions that come our way - this guide has been refined for those who have already jumped in and begun the process but are seeking guidance in pursuing self-directed learning (unschooling). Please share this with anyone you feel would benefit from the info. Every time DRC attends a community-centered event, like the Kid Expo this past weekend, we have a table filled with arts and crafts materials that children can use to create to their heart's content. There are no examples or instructions, just a bunch of art supplies and an open invitation for kids to use them in whatever way they want. It never ceases to amaze me how, in most cases, their adults try to take over (control the artistic process) or rush them along to get to the next activity. My other observation is as concerning and definitely related - many kids by a certain age (9, 10, or 11) say they are bad at art and refuse to try. They have internalized the broader message that their creativity isn't good enough or acceptable or that it isn't valuable in the larger scheme of life. Or even more worrying are their attempts to hide (bury) their authentic selves by denying their artistic abilities to fit in. Peter Gray, the developmental psychologist and author of Free to Learn, comes at this conundrum from the perspective that parents feel obligated to over-protect and manage their children because of societal norms and fear. Read one of his Substack letters that directly addresses this - here. I firmly believe that creativity, curiosity, and a desire for autonomy are fundamental components of childhood (indeed, our whole lives) and need to be honored. Kids are born with the compulsion to create - put a crayon, marker, or paintbrush in a toddler's hand, let them sit down in the mud puddle or sandbox, give them a ball of dough, a pile of Lego (DUPLO), or wooden blocks and stand back and watch the magic. Their end products might not look like what you think they should - but through play and experimentation, they are making essential connections and learning about themselves and the world through the materials and the process, which is the whole point. This leads me to the first of seven truths (principles) in our foundational philosophy of self-directed learning, brilliantly expressed by Ken Danford and his team at North Star.
Yes! Kids are competent! With available tools, materials, and enthusiastic support - they can accomplish whatever they want to. It may not be perfect, finished, or even "pretty," but it is theirs, and they have learned how to persist through the inherent mistakes, mess, and frustration found during the creative process. This is the "grit" that detractors are so fond of pronouncing is missing in our youth. The pure joy of imagining, exploring, playing, creating, making a mess, and learning should persist for our entire lives - but is often cut short by criticism, the demand to get "serious," or the incessant messages that bombard us to appear "normal." That is just one of many reasons you will find me out here modeling playfulness, celebrating my "weirdness" and innate ability to get messy, all the while cheering on "my" DRC kiddos as they explore the boundaries of their creativity and authentic selves. DRC NewsThe Canton Crew had another busy week, and we actually got some photographic evidence! Among many activities and projects, our writer's workshop peeps met with Abhainn, our SLU volunteer, for the last time on Monday to firm up the story part of their Digby Picture book. Then, they met on their own to develop the storyboard (combining the components of the written story with the planned drawing for each page). Stay tuned as the creative team produces the art and begins to compile the book. Some of our die-hard winter lovers went sledding (probably for the last time) on the little bit of ice and snow left in our front yard. Our Little Free Library is getting a much-needed makeover. Our artists will narrow down the themes they brainstormed and get it painted this coming week. We hope to have it back up by Thursday. We also welcomed a new teen to our crew on Tuesday, and on Thursday, reporter Tom Graser came out to hang with us for a bit and interview us for a story for the Plain Dealer and WDT. Keep an eye out for those.  Janine reports that the Pop-up Peeps had a great time at the Norwood and Massena Libraries this past week. Two of them went out on Wednesday and purchased baked treats from the Norwood News Cafe for everyone, and they had some deep and thoughtful discussions covering a variety of topics each day. Next week they will be at both libraries again - Norwood on Wednesday (3/16) and Massena Thursday (3/17). We cannot begin to express how grateful we are for our Pop-up Hosts. They are the only reason we can continue this program! Thank you!  Women’s History In solidarity with all women, including the courageous women of the Ukraine, DRC is honoring several inspiring voices to Celebrate Women's History Month.  Grant News Thank you to the Stewart's shops for two recent donations. The first was a $300 check supporting DRC's Healing Through Mentoring & Creative Expression Project. And the second was a $250 check from their Annual Holiday Match to support purchasing food for our cooking classes and daily lunch program.
Slash-and-burn is a traditional agricultural method used by indigenous peoples in rain forests around the world. This technique involves girdling trees (slashing) and burning them once they have died. It was an effective tool for small-scale food production, allowing families or villages to grow their own food. It created space, enriched the soil sustainably, allowed for forest regeneration, and worked for centuries. ...Until, in very simplistic terms, big companies took over the land to overproduce cash crops for international sales, effectively raping the land (destroying rain forests by the thousands of acres a day) and forcing previous landowners into servitude - farming mono-cultures to survive, then exporting it all - making obscene profits for the corporations. Meanwhile, the farmers must rely on imports of lesser-quality food to feed their families. The parallels to what is happening in real-time are undeniable and truly vile - which is utterly beyond my comprehension. But then, I guess that is the point. Nonetheless, I will continue to provide "my" kiddos with a safe, open educational environment where they will find all the kindness, trust, and respect they deserve. I will continue supporting all the folks who reach out for assistance. Additionally, I will continue to highlight our dedication to things like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion --- because I refuse to let a slash-and-burn strategy and a sheer lack of integrity influence my values or destroy the community we have built. The one and only thought that gets me through the days is that I know a majority of folks are right there with me. DRC NewsThe Canton Crew had a busy week - however, we forgot to take photos.  The Pop-Ups Peeps enjoyed their time at the Nicandri Nature Center and the Massena Library this week.  Women's History In solidarity with all women, including the courageous women of the Ukraine, DRC is honoring several inspiring voices to Celebrate Women's History Month.  We had a great time meeting folks at the Kid Expo yesterday! Thanks to everyone who stopped by to talk and create art.  Lotto Raffle - One week left to buy your chances!  It infuriates me when folks refer to adults who are badly behaved as children or toddlers. Just No! Instead, let's name the dreadful behavior - bullying, disrespecting, antagonizing, throwing a tantrum, belligerence, hostility, narcissism, playing the victim, sabotaging, gaslighting, greediness, manipulation, and all the endless versions of disgusting a$$holery. None of these should be equated with the word childish. Yes, children misbehave sometimes; however, it is usually not premeditated or vindictive. Children are growing and learning beings who get angry, frustrated, sad, disappointed, and generally dysregulated and act out. With loving guidance, they can discover how to respectfully and safely negotiate their emotions and behavior without hurting themselves or others. Badly behaved adults are just that, with no excuses or equivalencies. DRC NewsThe DRC Canton Crew had a great week!  The Pop-Ups Peeps met at Nicandri and the Massena Public Library this past week. They will be at Nicandri again this Wednesday and the Massena Library on Thursday. Janine suggests kiddos bring snow gear on the days they are at Nicandri so they can access the skis, snowshoes, and outdoor fun. She also encourages participants to bring their laptops/devices, snacks, and projects or games they want to share/work on with others.  Black History Month We finished the month with moving quotes from these six influential black women.  Women's History Month In solidarity with all women, DRC is honoring several inspiring voices to celebrate Women's History Month in March. Stay tuned to our social media accounts for daily quotes. Kid Expo
Fundraisers Fifteen days left to purchase your chance to win the $100 worth of pictured Lotto Tickets. Must be 18+ to participate. Drawing is March 17th. get your raffle tickets from DRC families or online by clicking below.  As the NoCo is hit by the latest winter storm, your friends at DRC are sending out summer vibes as we begin planning our second annual Craft Fair/Family Fun event Saturday, Aug. 9th at the Norwood Village Park. Vendors can find the link to the registration form. Save the date! We hope to see you there! Please share this info with any vendors in your network. Thank you!  I have always thought that the frequent discomfort and anxiety I feel while watching something or reading a book are related to suspense. Until now, I haven't honestly examined why I want to crawl out of my skin in certain situations. Then, the other night, I was reading Water Finds a Way by Meghan Perry and realized I was getting antsy and uncomfortable. I wanted to skip ahead to find safety or resolution for the protagonists - the way I typically do. Instead, I put the book (phone) aside and sat with the feelings to think about what was happening in the story that was triggering me. That is when I realized I wasn't bothered by the suspense of wondering what would happen. I was viscerally reacting to an unlikable character who had just been introduced. No, he wasn't necessarily portrayed as obnoxious or sinister; I just knew the guy would cause trouble as the story progressed. Broadening this investigation to my over-arching feelings of unease, irritation, malaise, and apprehension since last summer, I now recognize that it isn't caused by suspense either - because I already subconsciously know the results. Instead, like in the book, I have been experiencing all these deep-seated emotions in response to an untrustworthy, purely evil character and his entire corrupt cast (of puppet masters). I often perceive what happens in a story (or real life) well before any tangible clues or foreshadowing are presented. I can also immediately assess whether I should trust someone and get to know them better within seconds of meeting them (again, whether in a story or real life). First impressions are all I need. Some would call this skill - intuition (or maybe too quick to judge). But whatever you label it - it is definitely connected to my neuro-spiciness. However, as a people-pleasing problem solver, I sometimes ignore my spidey senses, open myself up, and offer requested support and help - to my detriment and peace of mind. Yet, even given the occasional heartbreak and angst, my instinct toward kindness, fairness, and empathy will constantly guide me. To be clear, I will confront misinformation and rudeness, but always with an underlying gentleness and care that allows for that human connection we all seek. (Unless I need to break contact entirely for my and others' emotional or physical safety.) I want "my" DRC kids to witness respect in action and understand that building a thoughtful, diverse, inclusive, and supportive community together is the basis for positive societal change. DRC NewsThe Canton Crew had the week off for midwinter break. The Pop-ups Peeps had fun at the Massena & Norwood libraries on Thursday & Friday. They will return to their Wednesday and Thursday schedule this coming week. They will be at Nicandri on Wednesday and the Massena Library on Thursday. All homeschool families are welcome to participate.  Celebrating Black HistoryTo celebrate Black History Month, DRC will be honoring the voices of just a few of the many inspiring black women throughout our history on our social media. Below are the posts from this past week.  Fundraising The DRC raffle is live! Win the $100 worth of pictured Lotto Tickets. (Thanks to Robert at the Seven-Eleven, 71 E. Main St. in Canton for choosing the tickets for us!) Must be 18+ to participate. Drawing is March 17th. Purchase raffle tickets from DRC families or online by clicking below.  As the NoCo clears up the latest snow, your friends at DRC are sending out summer vibes as we begin planning our second annual Craft Fair/Family Fun event Saturday, Aug. 9th at the Norwood Village Park. Vendors can find the link to the registration form. Save the date! We hope to see you there! Please share this info with any vendors in your network. Thank you!
I firmly believe that the world cannot be divided into good or bad, black or white, and evil or sainted. When I see (hear) an absolute, I understand there is little room for the beautiful and varied shades of gray in that person's perceptions on that particular topic. The concept of moderation gives us the grace to live authentically without judgment or taking sides. But what does this mean in real life? One of the things I see most frequently is the absolutes around diet and food - junk food versus healthy, conventional versus organic, and all the "diets" (keto, paleo, intermittent fasting) versus the other "diets." We often forget the variables regarding food choices within those debates - income levels, availability, illness and disease, ARFID and other disorders related to neurodivergence, and personal preferences, including the simple and pure joy of eating something delicious. Moderation is the key. The definitions of schoolwork, learning, and play are some other absolutes that drive me a little crazy. We have been conditioned to understand that schoolwork and learning are synonymous and play is frivolous. When, in fact, authentic learning is a combination that is active, self-directed and influenced by individual interests, and frequently looks a lot like play. Because enjoyment, engagement, and having fun are how our brains absorb new information. Some memes that pop up on social media follow this same trope of absolutism - including the one I saw this morning: "go to trade school and pay your own way." What? Why can't we promote the trades without denigrating other paths to success? This goes for every message that presents an either-or, good-or-bad rigidity without acknowledging the excellence found within the balance of the middle ground. Finding that sweet spot of moderation often leads to pleasure; we forget that, as humans, we are fundamentally driven by the things that delight us. At this moment, our world feels frightening, chaotic, and unpredictable. We can counter these feelings by exploring what brings us peace., joy, and grace within ourselves. By projecting these qualities, as well as our values of respect, empathy, and kindness, we can send messages about the beauty of authenticity, moderation, and open-mindedness into the universe. DRC NewsWe had another short week with a snow day on Thursday. That didn't stop our Canton crew from having cool adventures and exploring all the possibilities. The Canton Center is on mid-winter break this coming week and will return on Monday the 24th.  Our Pop-Ups Peeps were affected by the Thursday storm too. They met on Friday at the Norwood library and had a great time. The Pop-ups will be meeting this coming week. Janine will meet everyone on Thursday 2/20 at the Massena Library, 1-4:15 and Friday at the Norwood Library, 1-4.  Black History To celebrate Black History Month, DRC will be honoring the voices of just a few of the inspiring black woman throughout our history on our social media. Below are the posts from this past week. FundraisersThe DRC raffle is live! Win the $100 worth of pictured Lotto Tickets. (Thanks to Robert at the Seven-Eleven, 71 E. Main St. in Canton for choosing the tickets for us!) Must be 18+ to participate. Drawing is March 17th. Purchase raffle tickets from DRC families or purchase online by clicking below.  Craft Fair As the NoCo anticipates even more snow, your friends at DRC are sending out summer vibes as we begin planning our second annual Craft Fair/Family Fun event Saturday, Aug. 9th at the Norwood Village Park. Vendors can find the link to the registration form. Save the date! We hope to see you there! Man, this has been a tough one to write. This is the third or maybe fourth major revision. I 'm really not sure, I lost track a few hours ago. I do now that way more has been deleted than written in an attempt to get these thoughts that have been swirling around my head for a while now - out with a modicum of coherence and sensitivity. Sometimes, as much as we may want to have a protected space for our kiddos - current events and viewpoints find their way into our community dialogue, and we have to find a way to talk about them respectfully. To be clear, we will not ignore disrespect, hyperbole involving inequity and exclusion of people from diverse backgrounds, and general blatant disregard for others. However, I do try to meet mean-spiritedness with kindness and gentleness - no matter how frustrated or disappointed I feel. At DRC, we manage all of this through conversations. When I invite kids to talk, most, when asked why they like DRC, will say they appreciate feeling safe and welcome. We then discuss the concept of inclusion, why it is imperative that everyone feels secure and comfortable being their authentic selves at DRC, and how they can help achieve that. I make it plain that respect and kindness are non-negotiable here, and I hope they can carry those ideals with them into the broader world. Outside these individual and group conversations and our day-to-day activities, I model acceptance and curiosity by embracing and highlighting things like Black History (see below), LGBTQ+ and disability rights, and my openness to learn more about all levels of diversity. Because I have firm belief that lived experiences can help people stand up for the values that should be universal. DRC NewsIt was a weird week with one winter storm after another. We had two snow days that bracketed our regular Wednesday off. Monday and Friday were filled with tons of cooking, art, and outdoor adventures. PS - We are still looking for X-C ski boots sizes 5-8 adult.  Pop-Ups The Pop-ups Peeps had fun at the Nicandri Nature Center on Wednesday. They, too, had to cancel on Thursday because of snowy conditions. Notice that this coming week's meet-ups are shifted a bit again because of scheduling conflicts: Thursday - 2/13 - 1 -4:15 - Massena Public Library Friday - 2/14 - 1-4 - Norwood Public Library. Fundraiser The DRC fundraising raffle is going through March 17th. You could win $100 worth of NYS scratch Lotto tickets. (Must be 18 to participate.) All of the proceeds help us keep our promise to accept any child who needs our help no matter their family's financial situation. Purchase your tickets from any DRC family or online by following this link: https://omella.com/qsptc  Black History To celebrate Black History Month, DRC will be honoring the voices of just a few of the inspiring black woman throughout our history on our social media. Below are the first four. DRC Swag Find these two latest designs in the DRC Printify shop. The vicious attacks on DEI over the past months have increased exponentially over the last two weeks. Protecting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has become a full-blown battle based solely on misinformation, lies, and propaganda. I reiterate this is not politics - through the calculated use of deception, propagandists (oligarchs) sow hate, division, fear, and agitation. The despicable misogynistic, homophobic, racist, and ableist narrative they spin is that women, LGBTQ, black and brown, and disabled folks are incompetent and lazy and are taking up the places meant for their audience in society. They are intentionally using the poor, ignorant (manipulated), and disenfranchised to do the heavy lifting and dirty work behind their smear campaign against equity. What most don't understand is that DEI is specifically designed to promote fair and beneficial treatment for everyone - not just "the other" - those who are underrepresented, or discriminated against. I would like to believe that even though the Oligarchs may strip away DEI, Civil Rights, ADA, or other legal protective programs; they will not erase the concepts of common decency, empathy, and integrity. Unfortunately, our systems promote unregulated competition and greed instead of embracing the concept of equity and human connectedness, which is why so many heroes have fought long and hard for these needed protections - in the first place. Nonetheless, we can model compassion, honesty, and ethics and promote diversity while calling out the many levels of propaganda and misinformation in our everyday encounters. As I stated in last week's piece, our children are watching and learning. They will notice and remember when they see decency, empathy, and integrity in action. This is just one more reason why DRC's below-stated policy will always stand: Deep Root Center will not discriminate based on ethnicity, gender or gender identity, sexual preference, income level, religious affiliation, disability, or any other factors that make you and your child awesomely unique individuals. To say it more simply -Everyone is welcome and celebrated at Deep Root Center as a beautifully unique individual. Our policy of radical inclusion gives us the freedom to accept, support, respect, and trust every young person on their learning journey. Because - diversity is our strength. *Note - Yes, I recognize how ridiculous it is that we have to state explicitly that our policy of inclusion is radical. But - here we are! DRC News The Canton Crew had a snow day on Tuesday - but made up for it with lots of action the remaining three days.  We also have a request - we are looking for x-country ski boots US sizes adult - 5, 6, 7, & 8. We will happily take any old boots you have laying around as long as they are functional. Right now we have a limited selection of either small or large boots. We have some kiddos who are excited about learning to ski and would like to get them some boots that actually fit.  The Pop-Ups Peeps had a great time this week at the Massena and Norwood Public Libraries this week. Next week they will be at the Nicandri Nature Center on Wednesday and the Massena Library on Thursday. All Homeschool families in the NoCo are welcome.  As the NoCo dusts off another layer of snow, your friends at DRC are sending out summer vibes as we begin planning our second annual Craft Fair/Family Fun event Saturday, Aug. 9th at the Norwood Village Park. Vendors can find the link to the registration form here: https://omella.com/ysvjs Save the date! We hope to see you there!  In other fundraising news - we are holding our scratch ticket raffle again this year with the drawing on St. Patrick's Day. The winner takes $100 worth of Lotto Tickets. (18 and up to participate). You can purchase your tickets from any DRC family or online. When you complete the online form we will fill out the raffle tickets for you and send you a photo of the completed tickets. https://omella.com/qsptc  Catch our Early Bird Special for this year's Summer Program!
Thanks for taking the time to read this very long edition of DRC News. I have one final request this week - We are looking for someone with a plow truck to quickly do a couple of swipes to remove the big banks at the end of our driveway after big(ish) snow events. (Maybe if you are going by anyway.)
We have a snow blower to clear the rest of the driveway - but it doesn't get done until after folks are already there. Which means I have to park on the side of the road and shovel it when I get there at 7:15. Thanks to DRC parent, VK, for shoveling it out this Thursday. She totally saved me and my shoulder! Please let us know if you can help with this. Thank you! This past week has been a roller-coaster ride with never-ending run-away stomach-flopping downhill sections without any slow uphill climbs of temporary relief before the next terrifying descent. To be clear, I have never been on an actual roller-coaster, but I have a vivid enough imagination to know that there are multiple reasons why. My inclination for motion sickness is just one. Unfortunately, the nausea-inducing, heart-stopping 24-hour news cycle since Monday is an excellent replication and is sadly our new normal. Thus, my perpetual unease and bafflement ensue, and persistent questions arise. Starting with all the whys:
DRC News Yay! We remembered to take a few more photos this week. Thanks to Jaclyn for capturing some cool moments. We had plenty of inside adventures - apparently it was mostly too cold for even our hard-core kiddos to play outside. We did have a few moments of sledding in the front yard and a small group went to the SUNY Canton hill for a few quick runs on Fri. We happily welcomed a new member to the crew on Thurs. Welcome JM!  The Pop-ups Peeps had fun at the Nicandri Nature Center on Wednesday and the Massena Library on Thursday. Thanks to both for hosting us. BH captured some photos from the trails on Wed. This coming week the Pop-ups meeting days will shift a bit because of scheduling conflicts. Thursday they will be at the Massena Library as usual but the Norwood Library will move to Friday.  In our society, sending our children to school when they are 3, 4, or 5 is the default. Every town (or city neighborhood) has a public school with busses that pick up children early in the day and then deliver them back home in the afternoon. Parents can then get on with their day - work and earn money to sustain the household and manage the unending duties related to caring for a home. The system is (mostly) easy --- until it isn’t. When kids begin to struggle - whether academically, emotionally, or because of bullying, are newly diagnosed neurodivergent (or seeking a diagnosis), or straight-up refuse to go. This is when families begin exploring alternatives because the ease of school has disappeared. Self-directed learning environments like Deep Root Center are designed to support, nurture, and trust every child to follow their interests and aspirations. Because we understand that every individual is a brilliant natural learner with strengths, challenges, curiosity, and their own internal timeline, the artificial developmental schedule - based on age and grade level - makes zero sense. Neither does the pedagogy that utilizes rote memorization, reward and punishment, competition, and standardized testing. Simply put, the human brain shuts down when it is under stress. One of the most common statements I hear from parents seeking my help is that they are worried or have been told their child is behind. I can't stress this enough, no child can ever be behind (an artificial timeline) - only on their own unique schedule. When kids are allowed to seek out accommodations (create their own hacks), take the lead in their education, and make choices built on the things that light their fire - they are happier and make immense strides in understanding their own learning style and accumulating knowledge that is pertinent to their needs and goals. We know that learning happens when we are engaged and feel safe, secure in ourselves, and connected. The disheartening part of this is that occasionally, once kids get beyond the levels of distress that sent parents frantically searching for alternatives in the first place, they default back to the ease and comfort of public school. Yes, I get it! It seems much more difficult to manage the multiple details of the alternative - whether homeschooling at home or with a self-directed learning center. Navigating a new paradigm (explaining it to family and friends and dealing with their potential disapproval), travel (drop off and pick up), accessing resources, technology, and devices, and seeking social opportunities can add to an already seemingly impossible load. I will argue, however, that the ease of the default may be deceptive. Having happy, fulfilled, and engaged kiddos - as opposed to just OK or even compliant, stressed out, and miserable - makes all the difference in how a family unit functions. This concept applies to anything that we take on; easy isn’t necessarily always the best option. Growth happens when we are challenged out of our comfort zone to do the “hard stuff.” Nonetheless, I understand that ease can only be defined individually, or as the saying goes, you get to "choose your hard." DRC News We totally forgot to take photos - again this week. Here's hoping we will do better next week! Three DRC kiddos had an adventure at the SLU Volunteer Fair on Thursday. We set up a table in the Student Center and talked to students about volunteering at DRC. They also navigated the Pub after asking some helpful folks how to order our lunch. Turns out there's an app for that. Thank you, @sluserves, for organizing this opportunity. The Center will be closed on Monday in observance of MLK day.  The DRC Pop-Ups Crew had a great time on Wednesday & Thursday at the Norwood and Massena Libraries. They worked on individual projects, invented games, and spent time learning a coding app.  These two resources were designed to help families new to self-directed learning navigate this paradigm shift. I am reading Ina Garten’s Memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, which is notable for two reasons. Firstly, I was known as a voracious reader (often finishing a book a day when I had the time) until the pandemic hit. This is the first physical book I have picked up since then (I even bought it). I had only begun to read a few eBooks this past year. Secondly, I typically do not enjoy memoirs, biographies, or nonfiction in general. As explained in previous posts, even though I have been reading since a very early age and read constantly as a child, I typically do not remember anything, which means it is not a vehicle for learning. I skip through books looking for the story and tend to get bored easily if the narrative is hard to find or follow. This book has truly captured my attention. Ina's writing brings her fascinating story to life and clearly reflects her personality. She is someone who pursues her desires with determination. Whenever someone told Ina she could not do something, she doubled down and found a way to achieve what she believed was right for herself. Ina is full of ideas; she dives into her latest adventure without fear of getting messy or making mistakes. She is very hands-on and works through the process to find solutions. Additionally, Ina is willing to follow her latest ideas wherever they lead her - because she too tends to get bored easily. The title, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, emphasizes that you must do the hard work before success can find you. She has certainly put in the effort. However, the most important aspect of her story is that it is all rooted in following her ideas and passions. Ina effectively embodies the key principles of self-directed learning. She recognizes that having an open mind, creativity, a willingness to take risks, and the ability to learn from mistakes, while being playful and having fun are crucial for personal success. Additionally, she understands that the motivation to tackle challenging tasks is essential for achieving goals. Through Ina's narrative, the reader discovers that they not only can - but are absolutely responsible for writing (creating) their own life stories. This is why in my role at Deep Root Center I cannot, and will not, (ever) dictate what a young person should do. I will offer unlimited support and mentorship, but ultimately, they are each free to choose their paths based on their interests, passions, dreams, aspirations, and having fun. DRC News We were happy to be back from Holiday Break this past week. The snowy weather was responsible for a smallish crew on Tuesday and closing altogether on Thursday. We also forgot to take more photos...  The Pop-ups Peeps had fun at Nicandri Nature Center on Wednesday and the Massena Public Library on Thursday. Any homeschool family in the NoCo is welcome to join in the fun every Wednesday & Thursday. Learn more about the Pop-ups here.  |
