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As the mother of four wonderful teenage boys Tsara spends a lot of time figuring out who she is so she can teach her sons to do the same. She also hears herself holler, "Stop Eating!" an awful lot! As her boys get older, she gets louder while sharing her beliefs and ideas. Again, as a way to comfortably ask them to do the same. Being the sister, daughter and mom of autism, much of what she has to say comes from what the challenges of living surrounded by so much difference taught her. Though her posts are rarely specifically about autism or parenting, they are always stories grown from the fertile and organic thinking soil that can be found where the two come together. Tsara is the author of the new book Spinning In Circles And Learning From Myself: A Collection of Stories that Slowly Grow Up.
Tsara Shelton is also a volunteer photo editor here on OEN.
She had the honor of being interviewed on the Envision This! podcast, hosted by Burl Hall (a contributor to OEN) and his wife, Merry. Follow this link to listen: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/envision-this/2015/07/08/tsara-shelton--the-trials-and-triumphs-of-a-life-lived-on-the-edge-of-society
(1 comments) SHARE Saturday, April 4, 2020 Short Story: Dirty old Town
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. With that in mind, I'm sharing this short story. Though the story is fiction, people who know me will recognize how true it also is. NOTE: I have included helpful links for people wanting more Sexual Assault information or seeking help.
(2 comments) SHARE Friday, July 20, 2018 The Men Who Found Me
I wrote this piece several years ago as a reminder to see the value of men and women as teammates. As equals. It was an issue for me because of a childhood trauma, and a lesson I learned with the help of my husband and our four sons.
(1 comments) SHARE Monday, March 5, 2018 Inclusion Rider (and Other Oscar Night Insights)
At the Oscars last night there was a bit of diversity. That was nice. But it wasn't until Frances McDormand gave her Oscar-winning acceptance speech that I learned the term "Inclusion Rider" and discovered the power and necessity of this contract clause.
(9 comments) SHARE Friday, November 24, 2017 No Means No - And Even More You Need Permission
"No means no. Even if you think it's a game, even if nobody is screaming, no means no. Every time. Not only that, you need to get permission. You need to be told yes. Every time."
That was the thing a judge said to me and my rapist.
It was an important thing. Because, you see, I hadn't known. My rapist hadn't known. We were equally surprised to learn it.
(3 comments) SHARE Sunday, January 15, 2017 When Our Uncles And Our Stories Are Murdered
Stories are powerful. The freedom to be who we are, to share our cultures, to tell tales to new generation, is necessary. When my uncle was murdered so were his stories. How many stories will we murder? Either at our own hands or by standing by and allowing it. I hope: No more.
(10 comments) SHARE Tuesday, November 1, 2016 For Our Youth - Not Clinton Or Trump
The things that have been said about Clinton and Trump, the memes that have been shared, the jokes that have been abused, are too cruel. At this point if either one of them wins our children will have seen that winner - the next president - abused and represented in unprecedented ways.
(6 comments) SHARE Friday, August 12, 2016 We Create (Story Poem)
A short story/poem about the power of stories. Video included.
(5 comments) SHARE Thursday, April 7, 2016 Walk A Mile In Their Shoes But Tell A Good Story
You can walk a mile in my shoes but you'll get more joy out of the journey if you tell a good story. It's up to you. Either way, you walked a mile.
Some thoughts about learning from experience via intentional storytelling.
(2 comments) SHARE Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Choosing a Leader
I have a permanent resident card and love my life here in the United States. I cannot vote, so I tend to engage in the election seasons a little bit differently.
I debate concepts, I have conversations with my sons, and I write articles.
In this article I share my thoughts on choosing a leader. Highlighting the value of taking the time to define for ourselves what we expect from them.
(5 comments) SHARE Thursday, September 17, 2015 We Talked About Trump (plus, My Son Votes for Soda)
My seventeen year old son bought himself a soda, "voting" with his money. Then he compared the soda to Donald Trump in insightful and hilarious and important ways.
(6 comments) SHARE Thursday, August 20, 2015 Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee -- A Personal Book Review
I spent the last two days reading Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. This article highlights a few of my feelings and thoughts, personal in nature. In a nutshell: I loved the book, it made me angry, like Jean Louise, I want all of us to grow up a notch.
(8 comments) SHARE Friday, July 17, 2015 Learning To Live Together: Lessons Learned When I Moved In With My Husband
My husband and I have been happily married for fifteen years. For thirteen of those years we lived in separate homes. Eventually, the children and I moved in with my husband. We learned a few things about living together. Things that are helpful when living together with the world.
(5 comments) SHARE Friday, July 3, 2015 Parenting Propaganda - Recognizing Complicity and Celebrating Independence
I had no idea when I drove to the grocery store today that I'd be swallowed up by this truth of parenting propaganda; how it can come from a place of absolute love and even encourage beautiful things while also having the power to taint absolutely.
(5 comments) SHARE Saturday, May 23, 2015 Thought Seeds and Insights from The Flower Project
My youngest son turned in The Flower Project yesterday. After helping three of my four sons discover and name up to sixty different Texas wildflowers, I have also learned a few things thanks to this school assignment. Here I share some wildflower seeds of thought with you.
(1 comments) SHARE Thursday, April 23, 2015 They're so Big, These Small Silly Things
In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month I share a memory. The time my abuser gave me his apology scribbled on the inside of a drug store greeting card. It seemed like a silly small thing. And yet, it really wasn't.
(1 comments) SHARE Sunday, December 7, 2014 Talk About Issues With Your Children (Not At Them) #BlackLivesMatter
When there are big things happening in our communities and in our world we sometimes wonder how to discuss them with our kids. I think the magic lies in following our child's interest and ability to understand, a willingness to play with the edges, and the important skill of talking with, not at.