Amazing Moments

I drove down the winding gravel road toward the white two story farmhouse to pick up Stevie for the day and bring him over to my house.   This car ride would be an adventure in itself.  You see, Stevie has  his share of struggles in life with the cross he bears: autism.   This morning,  he willingly climbed into the front seat of my van,  then turned his body to face the window and away we went. We drove from his house to my house and he began to point out tornado sirens along the way.   As we passed the sirens perched on the top of wooden poles, he began to talk excitedly about the type of siren it was, how sirens are made, how it works, and even who manufactures the siren.   Every time we drew close, he would launch into another energetic talk about tornado sirens. I have to be honest, up until this point, I had never noticed the sirens before, nor had a burning desire to become a siren expert.   Why did I want to keep listening to Stevie?   It was Stevie’s energy and

“Devices down,” Matt shouts.       “I said DD (devices down) everyone!”   Sounding like he was about to melt down, I headed into the kitchen.     “What’s going on everyone?” I asked observing all the bent heads.   “We are playing Clue, but everyone is texting,” ten year old Matt complained.   “It’s like playing a game all by myself.”   Whether they are aware or not, they are sending him the silent message that playing Clue with him is not as engaging as what is going on in their network.   He is quickly annoyed that they are so tuned out , so much they must be prompted when their turn rolls around.   They are drawn into their virtual world to the exclusion of the real live people sitting next to them in the same room.   Being checked out can happen without a device too!   Kids are great judges of people who are present in the present moment and those who are not.   They can spot those who are just going through the motions anywhere.   One of the best places to spo