AWESOME VOLUNTEERS WANTED!
When I replied to an inconspicuous kijiji ad last summer, I never realized the impact it might have on my life. I had just graduated from Laurier where I was heavily involved in volunteering. After moving back home, I felt a void in my life and knew I wanted to get back into a long-term and fullfilling involvement, but had no idea what that might be.
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| In training... "we all fall down!" |
"I knew I had stumbled upon something incredible"
From my first contact with Kim (Remy's mom), I could FEEL the love that was in their household, and I knew I had stumbled upon something incredible. My initial hesitation about not being an autism expert or formally trained in treatment of special individuals vanished the more I corresponded with Kim, and after meeting Remy for the first time, I was thoroughly excited to start to get to know this litte (*ahem* I mean, BIG) guy.
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| Remy loves hugs... and looking at himself in the mirror. |
Kim is such a welcoming, loving, and warm volunteer coordinator and has made my time with Remy fabulous. She opened her home to me and trained me passionately and enthusiastically! I felt listened to, and valued. Although I knew very little about Autism, I felt fully prepared to enter the playroom with Remy....
What a special place!! walking into the playroom is like walking into another world where anything you may have previously known is thrown away, and a whole new attitude and approach is adopted. One of love, and fun and seeing possibilities instead of disabilities. One of no-inhibitions and anything-goes.
Questions and Uncertainty
My first few sessions with Remy were full of questions and uncertainty, this was all foreign territory to me, uncharted waters. Although there were so many unknowns- what was Remy doing? what is he trying to say? is what we are doing OK? what are we going to do next? how will I fill 2 whole hours!?!? what if I don't do a good job?- it felt good, and I knew it could only get better. I started with only a few minutes at a time in the playroom (just about all I could handle as it was initially very physically and mentally draining), and gradually built my way up to a full session length of 2 hours. Kim not only offered constructive critisim, but also praised me and sought out my feelings on the session, I was an important part of Remy's team, his family, just as all volunteers are!
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| Rip... rip...rip... |
Attitude
The longer I volunteered with Remy, the more I realized, its not WHAT we do for our time together, but the ATTITUDE with which we enjoy each others company. The longer I stayed with the Son-Rise Program®, the more I let my guarrds down (dropping all the inhibitions I had built up over 22 years!) and learned to let myself enjoy the session in whatever way Remy may want to lead us in. Sometimes we have crazy sessions filled with running, spinning, and jumping, one activity to the next, other times we happily sit in silence for most of the session, just loving each others presence.
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| Reach! |
Working with Remy and his family has been an INCREDIBLE thing in my life, in so many ways. I see progress in Remy in many areas, and knowing I have had the privelge of being involved in that warms my heart. The converse is also true, Remy has helped me grow in so many ways and learn so much about myself. Finally, I have become part of his family and truley cherish the relationship I have with the Laurins.
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| I love you! |
Remy is Special
Remy is the SMARTEST little guy I know, so ingenious in getting what he wants, so liberated in doing exactly what he wants and what makes him happiest. He smiles and laughes and stares are so genuine and pure of heart. He has only the best intentions and no matter what he does in life, he will be amazing at it! Remy never ceases to bring a smile to my face, from his little quirks to his full delightful laugh that I so LOVE to hear! He has been the reason I get out bed on a bad day, and walk around with thoroughly MESSED UP HAIR, beacuse when I am with Remy, nothing else matters, and when I am not with him, the lessons I have learned remain.
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| Hanging out outside the Play Room |
Life-Changing Program
I can not speak highly enough of getting invovled in this life-changing program. Take the first step and get involved, you will not regret it. One things leads to another. Before volunteering with Remy I struggled with depression. Since meeting his family and being involved in their Son-Rise Program, I was also introduced to The Option Institute where I was fortunate to attend a 2 week long retreat where I built upon some of the foundations I learned in the Son-Rise Program. That in itself was a life changing event, and since then I have been so happy and joyful, and so many positive changes have occured in my life. Like I started with, who knew all the wonderful things that were to come when I replied to that ad almost a year ago
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| Looking through the two way mirror. |
with much everlasting love,
TaraThank you, Tara, for your love, dedication, inspiration and 3Es!
