My New Year’s Resolution
As you might imagine, I follow a bunch of facebook pages which relate to Autism. Last year, two separate pages shared things related to Rudolph. It makes sense that this story resonates with our community. It is about a character who embraces his differences and is able to use those qualities to help the broader community. You know what? I also love Hermie, the elf who wants to be ‘independent’ by following his dream to be a dentist. Other characters in the movie don’t always understand, but Hermie and Rudolph do their own thing anyway!
First, let your light shine. Be you. We are all uniquely created and we each have our own gifts. That means we can each contribute something special to the world.
Next, lead by letting that light shine. My resolution for 2024 is to embrace the things about me that are unique and support Mikey in doing the same for himself.
I wish you all a new year filled with joy and peace and a tribe that supports all the cool things about you! And I hope your path isn’t as tough as Hermie and Rudolph’s…but even on those bad days…shine!
Share This Post
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* 
Let's Connect
Subscribe to our newsletter for more updates