Music Boxes
Each year of my life, my mom picked out a music box for me at Christmas. They each had a winter theme and played a Christmas carol. I saved them for a long time, making repairs along the way.
When the boys came along, I decided to let them play with the music boxes. I knew that choice meant that some would get broken…and some did. But here’s the thing. By letting Will and Michael enjoy them, they fulfilled the purpose my mom had intended. I loved them, and her grandkids loved them.
Over the years our collection has gotten smaller, but it is beloved. It’s a happy memory of a Christmas tradition…does it get any better than that?
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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