The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny
I read this book for a discussion group at my local Council on Aging. There are over 10,000 Amazon reviews with most being positive. However, I clicked on the negative one star review and have to agree that despite using a professional co-writer -this book is simply not particularly well written. However, co-author, Alex Tresniowski, created a readable and believable book length memoir that serves Laura Schroff’s goal of exploring and explaining what drove her to forge a relationship with a child panhandler. Both “Miss Laura” and Maurice bonded as survivors of dysfunctional families…
Environmentally- at- risk children
My first post-graduate occupational therapist job- was at an inner city early intervention program (serving children ages birth to 3). Many of the children were labeled “Environmentally- At-Risk (EAR). This means that there was no identifiable disability related to genetics, toxicity, prematurity or any other cause of delayed development. EAR children may suffer emotional (i.e.neglect, threats, witnessing violence) and/or physical abuse (ie. victim of violence, malnutrition).
In the case of Maurice, the 11 year old street urchin- he suffered primarily from neglect-living in crowded substandard public shelters, lacking privacy, family members involved in taking and/or dealing drugs, witnessing violence and lack of basic parenting. He was apparently a bright child with grit and a survival instinct to overcome these circumstances…. Laura Schroff, the memoirist also experienced the PTSD that accompanies growing up with an unpredictable, alcoholic and violent father who terrorized his wife and children.
When children lack basic parenting …
they may not only experience malnutrition and lack warm clean clothing and school supplies- they lack routines, consistency and being taught basic daily living skills. This is where occupational therapists can play a major role in helping families.
Educators and therapists understand the importance of routines and structure that are the building blocks for learning . For example,
- Maurice didn’t sit down with a family to eat meals. They didn’t have a dining room table and he was fascinated to learn from the author, Laura, that families typically sit around a table to eat AND communicate. In Maurice’s homes (shelters that frequently changed) he ate whatever was handed to him at any time of the day and that might involve standing in the bathroom eating a hot dog. Laura taught Maurice how to use a fork and knife.
- Children with neglectful and/or low income families lacking money for soap, laundry detergent and toothpaste- often smell bad and miss school due to hygiene challenges such as untreated lice. Actress Viola Davis describes in her memoir Finding Me- how she was afraid of being raped if using a shared bathroom in her shelter during the night . As a result, she smelled like urine despite washing her underwear each morning.
- Educators and therapists may not realize that a child who is chronically late for school, not only faces challenges related to hygiene, transportation and hunger… they simply never had nor learned how to use a clock or timer….
4. Occupational therapists know that sensory experiences are essential in developing fine and gross motor skills! Many low income children living in urban areas stay indoors because their neighborhoods are NOT safe… Laura provided opportunities for Maurice to be a child… with fun skill-building activities such as flying a kite, baking a cake and riding a bicycle.
In conclusion….
I grew up in Queens in a solidly middle class neighborhood and enjoyed an abundance of sensory and social stimulation including camp, dance and art lessons, access to Broadway plays, family vacations and a large dining room table where my father made sculptures of each family member. Laura Schroff was only two years older than me. We were the same age when a parent died and we were faced with our own mortality. I seldom cry when reading or watching entertainment- but the description of her trauma was intense…. I am happy to report that she not only survived- she thrived and An Invisible Thread recently celebrated a 10 year publication anniversary.
