Guest Column

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An Ovation for Laguna Kids

 

By Kimberly O’Brien-Young.

It is with a grateful heart that I put pen to paper. It’s a pleasure to write about an uplifting and positive issue, especially when it pertains to our kids. The youth of Laguna Beach are a special breed.

Let me preface my accolade. April is Autism Awareness month. Recently, the statistics for autism have shifted, offering a sobering and disturbing reality: 1 in every 88 children born will be afflicted by some aspect of the autism spectrum. Once it was 1 in 10,000 kids afflicted. It is considered an epidemic. Hopefully someone will find a cure or at least figure out what the heck went wrong.

Autism is quite personal for me. At 2 years of age, one of my twin sons was diagnosed with autism. He turns 13 soon and attends Thurston Middle School. Previously, he attended El Morro and Top of the World. We have had 10 years of experience in the Laguna Beach school district since Jake started at age 3. In all of those years, I have witnessed only two incidents where my special needs son was bullied. Only two!

I personally was beaten up, or threatened on the school bus or at the bus stop a multiple times a month, for many years. What was my crime? I liked to read, wear dresses and was a bit of a ‘Polly Prissy Pants,’ or so I was ridiculed and told. Somehow those differences were enough for the bullies to target me. One girl put me in a headlock and punched my head, giving me a concussion when I was 15. She was arrested and escorted out of high school.

Why the walk down memory lane?

I’ve watched the children of this town interact with my son and other special needs kids at school, at the playground and at the beach. I have observed compassion and kindness. I have been privy to watching tolerance at its finest. There have been moments that I have been brought to tears with gratitude. There have been countless days while waiting for Jake by Thurston’s front office that I watched kids greet him by name or with a high-five. His face would light up. He would tell me, “That’s my friend!”

Jake’s fraternal twin Sam often has multiple buddies at our house hanging out. His friends always take an interest in Jake, joining him around a computer as he plays his latest “Lego” stop-motion video. Sam’s friends patiently answer any and all of Jakes queries, never rushing him and always understanding Jake’s need for answers.

Most in town are familiar with the high school’s drama program. Jake attends every show and stands at the side door after a performance, with a Sharpie pen and program. As student actors exit they greet him by name. They always write something special in the show program. Last year for his birthday they had me bring him down to the high school as school let out. They all gathered and sang  happy birthday to him. He was over the moon.

No one is telling these kids to do this. They could treat my son as if he is invisible, or with ridicule and cruelty. Some of the kids of my youth were not compassionate, caring or tolerant of anyone that was different. Whether it was a special needs kid or someone with a different skin color, if you were different the bullies would find you.

With a grateful heart I applaud kids who take a moment to discover the gifts of  special needs kids! Instead of focusing on their oddity or being put off by their eccentricities, they instead allow themselves to discover their magic.

Kudos to Laguna’s parents, who have clearly taught their children well.

Kimberly O’Brien-Young is the mother of three sons and married to Ben Young, with whom she owns ADX Apparel Inc.

 

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3 COMMENTS

  1. Just made me cry, great read. I was bullied for yes, one day it was get beat up or fight was to hispanic kids had to fight won pooped the first kid and his broth ran, was not a fighter but they had a bat and hit me in the legs enough was enough! Now on the other had my son was born here we were the have nots and he was picked on and bullied and the school system failed him in Laguna beach and many kids don’t go to the high school because of the upper class kids snoopiness hope parents read this its been a big issue here for years in Laguna the clicks your in or your out! So Laguna Beach sent him to a private school for a year, and he came back and is home schooling him almost done with school sad thing is many kids still judge him and treat him from the past like hes still 12 years old!

  2. ust made me cry, great read. half wy done, I was bullied for years as a kid, did not move to Laguna till I was 17 full-time. One day it was get beat up or fight, was to hispanic kids lived in HB at the time, had to fight did win, pooped the first kid and his brother ran, was not a fighter but they had a bat and hit me in the legs, enough was enough! Now on the other had my son was born here we were the have nots, and he was picked on and bullied from 5 years old till 14! It started because at El Morro they put his seat by the door away from the rest of the kids, how is this helping a child? The school system failed him, in Laguna beach, and many kids don’t go to the high school because of the upper class kids thinking because there parents have money there better than others! I hope parents read this, its been a big issue here for years in Laguna, the clicks your in or your out! So I had Laguna Beach send him to a private school! for a year, He came back and is home schooling,almost done with school sad thing is many kids still judge him and treat him from the past like hes still 12 years old! Hes ok with it and mature and almost 18 in June made him stronger and who he is today! My point is they rather say put your kid on Meds easy fix its the whole school systems if your kid thinks out side the box hes attacked by the system!

  3. Wow! You never cease to amaze me! What a great article from an incredible mother to many of our children in this community. I am just trying the right words to say. April, being Autism Awareness month has hit home for you and your family, I know, for many years now. I see Jake as an absolute beautiful miracle, although his special needs, he is a precious, bright boy and anyone who would ever have the cold heart to ridicule or ever be cruel would be one who has issues from within. And yes, this is a place where people can be very judgemental and opinionated without even knowing or caring to know facts, showing their mentality. I hope that what we try to teach our children, when it comes down to being “different”, continues to be exhibited in the positive way that you see. Obviously you recognize the compassion, kindness and tolerance on a daily basis coming from these children. I must say I am one of those mothers, (as well as my son who feels a part of your beautiful family), that are so very grateful for your compassion and tolerance. A mother who has hands full but somehow you always find the time and seem to take pleasure in loving our children as well, who have their differences.

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