In This Crazy World, Emma Hotard Finds A Way To Brighten Peoples Day

Emma Hotard, age 10, is spreading encouragement in her Canatella Street community one rock at a time.

Although diagnosed with autism at age two, Emma is high functioning, and her mom, Libby Hotard, said Emma needs to have a daily schedule and a daily routine.

Well, that became a challenge when schools closed because of COVID-19 and her mom started working from home.

“We were not accustomed to being together all the time,” Libby said. “We needed something for Emma to do after her schoolwork, something that she could do outdoors.”

Emma looked outside and saw that neighbor Kathleen Canatella had a pile of rocks in her yard, so she asked if she could have a few. Emma painted rainbows, flowers and other happy things on the rocks.

“Then we wondered what to do with them,” Libby said.

Emma decided to write words of encouragement on the rocks and soon had painted enough to leave one at all the houses down the street. With those complete and delivered, Emma continued to paint. She left some near the cars of people who work at the parish courthouse, which is near her house.

Emma and her mom made a very special delivery to her grandmother at the nursing home.

Because of the virus, no one can visit inside of the nursing home, so Emma took her grandmother a blessed palm from Palm Sunday, placed it on her nursing home windowsill and held it there with three of her painted rocks.

The Hotards live in the same subdivision as William Boyd, V and Emma has been leading the morning ritual Will began by saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, singing the National Anthem and praying the Lord’s Prayer.

Both Will and Emma want all residents of Canatella Street to take a turn leading their neighborhood in their daily activity.