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Home vs Center

I have been working on my autobiography as many of you know. I am trying to not get myself lost in the past. It is a challenge as my emotions surface, and I have to walk away from my story. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at a women's gathering, which focused on Mother Seton. 

Mother Seton is the Saint the Daughters of Charity who raised me follow for their Catholic order. I brought the book Caritas Christi, (the Charity of Christ) which celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Daughters of Charity.

I attended the anniversary event in Detroit and took photos that I plan to incorporate into my book. I had many opportunities with the orphanage that I shared with the group. I will write about these opportunities in my book. You may be asking why I used the title Home vs Center. In my day at St. Vincent Sarah Fisher, the orphanage was called St. Vincent Sarah Fisher Home later it was called St. Vincent Sarah Fisher Center. The name change was significant for me as Sarah Fisher was truly my home.

The gathering about Mother Seton that I attended was in Burton, Michigan. I got a bit choked up when I shared that my going home with my parents was bittersweet because the girls in my cottage went outside with Sr. Helen to say goodbye to me. I didn't know my parents as well as I knew the girls and like one person in the group said they were family to me. I not only lost contact with many of my friends at the orphanage, but I also lost my friends from school.

Facebook has reunited me with some of my friends, but there is still heartache in my story.

Culturally Sensitive

Today I had the privilege to teach at a high school. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to work with special needs students and those from other cultures. I love learning new things and having the chance to discuss about not just my culture, but to listen to other young people's backgrounds and goals.

Lunchtime was the perfect hour to learn about a young person from Yemen. I also met a young lady whose background was Native American.

We had a lovely discussion about how the Native American student desires to work as an orthodontist and wants to specialize in working with special needs.

The young person from Yemen desires to go to college, but she struggles with traditions of Yemen. Her parents will allow her to go to college, but it may be difficult if she tries to have a career.  I would offer that it is not my position to go against cultures. I will never tell you that you are wrong for holding certain beliefs that is not my goal. I desire to try to understand.

I think it is somewhat easier for me because I was raised by nuns. I accepted that they wore the habit, and they firmly believe in Catholicism. I still struggle with my beliefs. I have only traveled to Canada to see family, so I am not well versed in other traditions and customs because I have not had the wonderful experience of traveling.

I am happy for the internet to provide a forum where I have been able to chat with those from different countries. I am able to discuss my thoughts and beliefs with those outside my culture. I often support individuals through change.org, but I am not able to support them monetarily; however, I do share their causes if I believe in them.

I try not to offend people and try to think before I share. I do hold certain political views that I have shared through my blog. I think for anyone to share their beliefs, but perhaps more so for women is a very brave thing to do.

The young lady who has Native American background, but clearly not living on a reservation was able to express freedom in her career choice. Her mother works in the special education department.

The young lady from Yemen was conflicted by what her father wanted for her. Both of her parents would allow her to go to college, but she indicated her father had certain requirements based on tradition in the Islamic faith. I didn't want to unduly influence her, and I told her it is important to listen to her father. 

Having been raised Roman Catholic by nuns who wore habits, I understood the Hijab and the importance to her faith. I fell away from the Church for many years but was drawn back by a wonderful parish I found right down the street from me.

Roman Catholicism is something that I still struggle with in some ways, but I have discovered a way to tell my story and increase my faith in God. I still struggle with Jesus. When I was young and living in the orphanage, I prayed to Jesus all the time. Then life happened.

I believe I need to be sensitive to all faiths as God is my creator and my fellow beings as well, I believe.

My Family

 My Family

By Madeleine Graham

Thank you Lord for my family

We may have disabilities

But with your guidance

Lord I pray 

We will be okay

You’ve shone me the sun

But I’ve seen darkness too

Please keep my family

Close to you

It may rain

And it may pour

But I know with you 

We are safe Lord

And future generations

May have the illness too

But with prayer 

All will survive

None of us will have to hide

You’ll embrace us with your love 

And set the course where we will prevail

No more crying

We can exhale.

P.S.  I am extraordinarily grateful for those who have walked this path with me by showing kindness. 

American Sign Language needs to be taught to all in school

I am a proponent of teaching American Sign Language (ASL) to all students as a second language. I advocate ALS because there are students in regular classrooms who are not diagnosed until later years with some type of mental illness or disability. Many of these students don't like to be touched. Many special needs students learn the basics of ALS in school, but I am also an advocate for teaching the language in regular classrooms as many officers and future firefighters will have a skill which can be used to calm down these individuals, so things don't escalate. Additionally, those with mental illness or other special needs individuals can be peacefully guided through a situation.