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.