Indy’s Child
Co mme n ta ry & PA R E NTIN G
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Publisher’s Note
Celebrating Family and Welcoming Change Why Family and Community Are Our Greatest Gifts
FOUNDING PUBLISHER Barbara Wynne barbara@indyschild.com Publisher & President of Sales & Business Development Mary Wynne Cox publisher@indyschild.com Associate Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Lynette Rowland editor@indyschild.com Art Direction & Design Heather Lipe heather@indyschild.com Business Development and Marketing Coordinator Josie Fine josie@indyschild.com Public Relations and Advertising Coordinator Erin Tulley erin@indyschild.com
This is the month when families start to get stressed about giving and spending. Each of us wants to demonstrate our love and appreciation for special people in our lives by giving them a beautifully wrapped gift.
At Thanksgiving, our family has a secret drawing of names among grandchildren and children. Each gets a special gift from the secret name drawn. This helps everyone on all ends avoid a shopping (and spending) frenzy. I believe poems of love or humor are wonderful gifts. I treasure some of the artistic creations my grandchildren have given me and I put them in my curio-cabinet alongside old antiquities from our families. My son Greg and his wife Nancy have us over for brunch on Sundays and what a treasure it is to see them and enjoy a delicious brunch. This weekly gift is one that keeps giving throughout the year. Celebrating the holidays means celebrating
family and treasures not just a but a maturing experience I honestly few times a year, but every day needed. Material belongings ceased being priority and helped me gain a throughout the year. new perspective of life and what is We should also make time to celebrate most important in the grand scheme with those in the community who of things. truly need a helping hand. So many worthy community organizations The people who came to purchase in Indianapolis help to make the our trash and treasures took a sincere holidays a special time. A variety interest in the story behind the items of churches prepare turkey dinners, they were buying from us and seemed while many service groups give to genuinely care about our move, baskets to families in need—such as our family and the changes we are Toys for Tots. For more information making in our lives. We recently sold on the Toys for Tots program visit our Florida home and as impossible toysfortots.org. Show your children as it is to believe, the two families the gift of volunteerism by going to who purchased our furnishings came volunteermatch.org and finding one by with wine, shrimp and cheese to of dozens of organizations around join us with Irish songs and toasts to Indiana where you and your family help us celebrate our life changes and our final evening in our home. The can spend time volunteering. evening will long be remembered This year, my Christmas gifts to my and appreciated. family will be the treasures I found when moving from two houses into My 2009 Christmas presents will our new condo. In the awkward stage continue to be my many friends who of decision-making and downsizing helped us with packing, moving and (and discovering the benefits of encouraging us with reminders that Craig’s List), I found that this this chapter will close and a new moving process was not life altering passage in our lives would open. One
dear friend actually planned where every piece of furniture should go and exactly where and what should go in our drawers. That’s what I call a gift! I wish each and every reader of Indy’s Child a Happy Holidays, Happy Passages and a Happy New Year. May you be blessed with good health, happiness and hope for the future. And remember to discover your own paradise—it might be right under your nose. If you, your friends, family or acquaintances need assistance throughout the holidays, call Connect2Help at 211 or visit connect2help.org for a variety of assistance organizations. This wonderful organization provides a list of service organizations throughout Indiana, operators are kind and more than helpful in assisting with finding the aid organization that suits your needs.
Accountant Brooke Vance brooke@indyschild.com Cover Photography SB Childs Photography On the cover: Fiona
We Have a New Address! Indy’s Child 921 E. 86th Street, Suite 130 Indianapolis, IN 46240 317.722.8500 (p) 317.722.8510 (f ) indyschild@indyschild.com Copyright: Indy’s Child Parenting Magazine is published monthly. Copyright 2009 by Indy’s Child Inc. and Midwest Parenting Publications, LLC.All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of products, commentary or services herein. For information on subscriptions, editorial guidelines, advertising rates and more visit www.indyschild.com.
Sean, age 13
What does our 96% success rate mean to Sean? It means being able to live with autism and overcome a variety of behavioral challenges. It means communicating with gestures, sign language, and words instead of physical and emotional outbursts. And it means enjoying activities that were once very challenging. For more than 40 years, Damar has served thousands of children and adults, with 96% achieving more independent lives. And Sean is just one shining, smiling example. For volunteer or donor opportunities, please visit damar.org
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