Curve Balls

This particular curve ball, last week, hit the strike zone high and inside - where I never saw it coming. I didn't have a chance to swing or react preemptively. (Now, before you get all impressed with the usage of that baseball metaphor. I will confess that I know just enough about some sports to sound knowledgeable. But honestly, it is all just superior observation skills.) As a side note, these talents are enormously helpful when you wear as many hats as I do.

I won't go into detail (today) - however, I wanted to use this incident to showcase our ability to (literally and figuratively) turn on a dime. To say I am proud of this reputation is an understatement.

Many parents find us because they are overwhelmingly frustrated that no one ever listens to their child or them. And to go even further, the system is so rigid in their stance of "this is the way we do things" that these kids are traumatized by their methodology.

When families sit in my office and tell their stories - I listen. No matter how long it takes. Then, often, through many interruptions of more heartbreaking tales, I tell them about DRC - our philosophy and mission -  and what we do here on any given day. As you can imagine, it is usually the polar opposite of their experience, and they are blown away.  

Everything that we do hinges on one thing - flexibility. If something isn't quite right - we will figure it out together. If a kid wants to explore something that seems impossible - we will find a way (eventually).  

At DRC, we are constantly modeling problem-solving skills (otherwise known as the scientific method). Learn as much as possible about the situation, ask questions, brainstorm and think outside every box ever created, play and experiment with the ideas, fail, reject early drafts, and find the answer.  

These kids are learning that curve balls are an inevitable part of life - and we will all get blindsided occasionally. The lesson here is to get up (bandage your cuts, scrapes, and bruised ego), explore all the possibilities and (most importantly) the potential buried within the fallout, and move, although sometimes clumsily, with as much grace and gratitude as you can muster - toward the solution.

Weekly Creative Meditation

This week's creative meditation is actually a definition.

DRC News

Thank you to the Foster/Peet crew for taking care of some of the maintenance issues at the Canton Center last Sunday.  There is plenty more to do... If you are a handy person with "fix it" skills, please get in touch. We will gratefully accept your offer to help.

Yay! Finally a new screen door!

An old starling nest evicted and a few rotten boards replaced.

Summer Program - begins in two weeks. There are a few spaces left - register today.