February 6-12 is Feeding Tube awareness week. There are many reasons why kids have feeding tubes. Although my boys may not use them I have friends whose children do.
I would love to honor all the Parent Warriors Mamas whose babies have feeding tubes for whatever reason they may be. Stop by leave me a message. I'd love to start a reader support system!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The winner of Tiny Tim is?
Number 4! Please e-mail me so I can get your info to mail you your felt story!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Stress relief
I find myself snapping lately at everyone. I'm stressed!
We're having medical and physical problems with Matthew that could lead to him having a tethered cord. He's having an MRI tomorrow to find out if he does or not. I believe he has the same syndrome Christopher has and although the bloodwork showed it didn't we learned it isn't always reliable. Some people have this 16p syndrome and it isn't showing up on the bloodwork on the first try.
I have a few stress relievers and have been doing them more and more. I bake when I'm upset. I also eat when I'm upset. I've been baking up a storm lately. I'm sure my kids aren't complaining since they have been asking to help me. Eating my creations hasn't exactly helped my waist-line.
What do you do to relieve your stress?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Do you know Tim?
Felt stories are a great way to aid in language development for all children not just children who have language delays. I've used them before while teaching preschool. We would use felt board stories as resourse to have children respond expressively (through talking) and receptively (through understanding of language).
I found GlitterfulStories while searching on etsy. I ended up buying a felt story to give to Chris' autism teacher and am offering the same one as a giveaway. The song "Tiny Tim" is a simple song that I've used while teaching preschool. This is an adorable felt story. The quality is amazing and I will buy here again for my kids' teachers.
This giveaway will end one week on Friday February 4th. In order to win it you need to do one thing, leave a comment on this page. To get another entry, follow me on facebook, a third entry for following my blog. Following me on twitter will get you a fouth entry. Don't forget to tweet about the giveaway as well!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
And the Winner is
Lucky Number 1! I'm going to be sending it out to you as soon as it stops snowing here.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
25 Things that Make Special Needs Parenting Easier
Thank you to Love That Max for letting me borrow this! Also, don't forget to sign up for the giveaway that ends tomorrow!
1. Your child's smile.
2. Being unafraid to say "no." As in, "No, twice a week of speech therapy is not enough" and "No, I don't think my child can handle that" and "No, I am not Angelina Jolie, though I do bear a striking resemblance to her, I know."
3. Finding doctors who are good but also kind, supportive and non-jerk-like.
4. Trusting your gut.
5. Accepting that you are not a crappy parent if you don't do every single thing the therapists ask you to.
6. The kindness of strangers (but not the pity).
7. Peach Snapple. Or Diet Coke. Or the occasional glass of wine. Or whatever powers you through.
8. Silly time that cracks you both up and helps you remember although your child may have disabilities, he is not at all fun impaired.
9. Knowing that you are not alone. Blog, comment, post on a message board, join an e-loop, start a support group. There's major comfort in connecting.
10. Having at least one babysitter both you and your child are truly comfortable with.
11. Having a good cry as needed, then moving right along.
12. Takeout. Diapers and prescriptions by mail. Not ironing. Whatever you can do to have fewer to-dos.
13. Roping in all the therapists on a conference call at least once a year.
14. Believing—truly believing—that there is something wrong with the people who stare at your child, not your child. That mindshift alone will save you many hours of grief.
15. A looseleaf binder with Important Papers organized in whatever way makes sense to you. Yes, you will need a hole puncher. Bonus: They're good for getting out frustrations.
16. Time for yourself, out of the house. Repeat after me: This is not a luxury—it's a necessity.
17. Going with the flow. So your child won't leave home without his stack of 20 purple paper cups? OK, then! If it makes him comfortable and it won't get you arrested, do it.
18. Not looking too far into the future when your child is very young.
19. The passage of time. Few things give you better perspective.
20. Having a handy catchphrase you can use when people ask questions that unsettle you. Person: "Is he talking yet?" You: "Yes, in his own way!"
21. Making playdates with other kids who have special needs. Good for the kids, good for you.
22. Asking other parents and experts advice for resources and things—the adapted chair for the dining room table, shoes, apps, whatever—that will improve the quality of your child's life, and therefore yours as well. Also, asking therapists to adapt things in your life (like the phone) so your child can better use them.
23. Your child's kiss.
24. Hope.
25. You tell me.
2. Being unafraid to say "no." As in, "No, twice a week of speech therapy is not enough" and "No, I don't think my child can handle that" and "No, I am not Angelina Jolie, though I do bear a striking resemblance to her, I know."
3. Finding doctors who are good but also kind, supportive and non-jerk-like.
4. Trusting your gut.
5. Accepting that you are not a crappy parent if you don't do every single thing the therapists ask you to.
6. The kindness of strangers (but not the pity).
7. Peach Snapple. Or Diet Coke. Or the occasional glass of wine. Or whatever powers you through.
8. Silly time that cracks you both up and helps you remember although your child may have disabilities, he is not at all fun impaired.
9. Knowing that you are not alone. Blog, comment, post on a message board, join an e-loop, start a support group. There's major comfort in connecting.
10. Having at least one babysitter both you and your child are truly comfortable with.
11. Having a good cry as needed, then moving right along.
12. Takeout. Diapers and prescriptions by mail. Not ironing. Whatever you can do to have fewer to-dos.
13. Roping in all the therapists on a conference call at least once a year.
14. Believing—truly believing—that there is something wrong with the people who stare at your child, not your child. That mindshift alone will save you many hours of grief.
15. A looseleaf binder with Important Papers organized in whatever way makes sense to you. Yes, you will need a hole puncher. Bonus: They're good for getting out frustrations.
16. Time for yourself, out of the house. Repeat after me: This is not a luxury—it's a necessity.
17. Going with the flow. So your child won't leave home without his stack of 20 purple paper cups? OK, then! If it makes him comfortable and it won't get you arrested, do it.
18. Not looking too far into the future when your child is very young.
19. The passage of time. Few things give you better perspective.
20. Having a handy catchphrase you can use when people ask questions that unsettle you. Person: "Is he talking yet?" You: "Yes, in his own way!"
21. Making playdates with other kids who have special needs. Good for the kids, good for you.
22. Asking other parents and experts advice for resources and things—the adapted chair for the dining room table, shoes, apps, whatever—that will improve the quality of your child's life, and therefore yours as well. Also, asking therapists to adapt things in your life (like the phone) so your child can better use them.
23. Your child's kiss.
24. Hope.
25. You tell me.
Friday, January 21, 2011
International day of Acceptance-a day late
Today, January 20th is International Day of Acceptance. It is a day to promote differenting-abilities acceptance and understanding. To mark this day I'm going to share a movie and make promises to my children (and children everywhere).
On this day (after) International Day of Acceptance I am asking that we all support each other no matter what the differenting-ability our children may have. I ask that we celebrate our children's gains and chear them on as they work to make those gains.
We should not only be supporting our kiddies but supporting each other. Sometimes moms or dads of differenting-abled kids need some loving as well. Why not ask "What can I do to help?" instead of complaining if their house is a big neglected? Why not show up with a home cooked meal? You can lend an ear as a mom or dad vents/cries/complains about what is going on. And most importantly not judge.
Please don't forget to enter the giveaway for the book "Don't Call Me Disabled" by Pat Thomas! The deadline is Monday!
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