Asperger Mom

In December I am meeting with a consultant to talk about my plans to launch a nonprofit foundation for youth with Aspergers, Tourettes, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

A strange mix of disorders you might ask? Well, these are the mix of disorders my two children have.

Both my children can grab a colored pencil and drawing pad and go into a world of safety and serenity and understanding. It is in times of anxiety that I go to this method and it has been a life saver. It is therefore my belief that art is not an amazing finished piece, but the process of being creative.

My goal for my foundation is to “Open the Door to Creativity for at-risk youth.

I have always enjoyed museums and galleries of both classical and modern art. My oldest grew up learning about and loving Monet. She always had a picture of the Japanese Bridge or Lily pads in her room. She and I have always dreamed of visiting Giverny. We are saving for a family trip to Europe.

Just this morning my little guy and I were creating at the kitchen table and he said, “Mom, someday I want to be an artist.”

I looked at him and said, “You already are!”

My plan is to have a large art studio where I may continue to do my artwork and then have Spring or Summer art retreats for youth. My daughter also suggested an art contest once a year for graduating seniors for scholarship money. These are our plans … who knows maybe some day we will be able to take a group of teens to Europe to experience some of the museums and towns were the classical artists worked.

How about your Aspie kids … are they artists and creative sorts?