How have your parents set you up for success? Young as Noah is, I already find myself conscious of how my actions (and words) affect his future. As a parent, I have this innate desire to set him up for success. I do believe that all parents have this heart. It can get physically draining, but in the recent years of my life, I’ve noticed that it’s usually those that drain us by hard work that are most fulfilling.
You guys know how I got the blues attending to Noah’s needs in our earlier days as mother and son. I couldn’t imagine how difficult and more complex it must be for a mom to a child with special needs. Meet mommy Marie, and her son, Calel.
Calel is a six-year old who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the age of four. ASD is a condition that causes social interaction and communication challenges that require costly occupational, speech therapy, and special education classes.
Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. The disorder also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. The term “spectrum” in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity (Mayo Clinic).
Last year, Calel discovered his love for animals and drawing. Once he starts on a sketch pad, he just couldn’t stop! Marie later on started posting his art on social media, when a friend commented that if Calel’s art were printed on tees, he’ll definitely buy. And so it started.
Calel’s Wacky Art Shirts was launched to help with therapy needs, to start up a business that can later on be Calel’s own (talk about setting up children for success!), and to spread autism awareness. The first 100 customers can purchase shirts at introductory price. Follow them on IG and visit their shop on Shopee (shopee.ph/mamaneesshop). I also urge you to share about Calel and his shirts, and use their hashtags: #CalelsWackyArtShirts #AutismAwareness.
