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by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Holidays in the Hospital

November 16, 2011 in From the Hospital, Insider Insight by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

By Ginger Tuminello

Child Life Specialist for Heart, Kidney and Liver Transplant Patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

The holidays can be stressful, especially if your child is in the hospital. Here are some tips on making the holidays in the hospital a little more bearable.

Acknowledge your feelings and the feelings of your child.

Being in the hospital, especially over the holidays, stinks. Recognize those feelings and say them out loud to your child. Once you’ve established that you’re both sad/upset/frustrated, focus on the things that can make being in the hospital over the holidays better. Just think, one day you may be telling stories that start, “Remember that Thanksgiving we spent in the hospital and had to eat turkey from the cafeteria…”

Continue established family traditions, or some variation of them.

As a family, identify what family traditions are most important to you and find ways to continue them. If your family always goes to church on Christmas morning, find out if the hospital chapel is having a service. If you always make holiday cookies, try making holiday ornaments instead. If your child’s favorite Thanksgiving treat is pumpkin pie, have someone make and bring it to her (if dietary restrictions allow). Or simply postpone Thanksgiving dinner until your child is feeling better and out of the hospital. There are no rules that say you must eat Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving.

Create new family traditions.

Talk to your family about starting new holiday traditions. Make holiday ornaments to put on the hospital tree. Plan a holiday game night using either board games you love or finding new holiday games to play (check out http://www.coolest-christmas-holidays.com for some ideas). Make small gifts for the nursing staff. Organize a toy drive or fundraiser for hospital or organization. Your hospitalized child could always help design a flyer and plan other details.

Find out about special events and visitors offered by the hospital.

During the holidays, lots of folks enjoy volunteering and putting on special events for the hospital. Even though the local nursing home group playing hand bells may not sound very exciting, you might be surprised. Think of these events as opportunities to get out of the room, socialize, and make new holiday memories.

Start a special project with your child.

Take pictures and create a holiday scrapbook. Make holiday cards for other patients. Make gifts for family members. There are lots of inexpensive craft projects that you could do with your child that would provide hours of entertainment and bring a smile to many faces. Check out www.familyfun.com or www.craftbits.com for some great ideas.

Decorate.

Nothing says holidays like decorations. Bring a holiday blanket and pillowcases from home. Create holiday pictures and hang them on the walls. Get a small fake tree, decorate it, and put it on display. Get washable window paint and paint your windows. Wear festive clothing. If the room looks festive, you may find yourself in the holiday spirit. Just be sure to check with the hospital staff about policies regarding lights, hanging pictures, live plants/flowers, and window painting. And don’t forget to bring pictures of your loved ones at home.

Plan one small thing to look forward to each day.

The trouble with being in the hospital is that it gets boring and redundant. Plan something each day that you and your child can look forward to. Pick out an interesting location (i.e., gift shop, outdoor garden area) and plan for an afternoon walk there. Rent or borrow a new movie and plan for a movie night. Borrow a game you’ve never played and have a game night.

Create a schedule for visitors.

Hospital rooms can be tight quarters and too many visitors at once can be overwhelming. Creating a schedule for visitors can help limit the number of visitors and also allow you to schedule some quiet/alone time, which is important.

Find out the visitor policies.

During cold and flu season, some hospitals don’t allow siblings to visit. Find out these policies and ways to work around them. Is there a common area that the siblings can come to, like the cafeteria, so that you have time as a family? Could you use technology like Skype to communicate when you can’t be together? Try playing a game using Skype, making sure there’s a board on each end. Have your children at home and your hospitalized child write letters, send pictures, or record messages/stories often. Getting mail or email can really light up someone’s day.

Make time for yourself.

If someone offers to play with your child so that you can take a break, let them! Go for a walk, get a cup of coffee, or take a shower. Make sure that you are taking time to decompress and focus on yourself.

Use your team.

Your child life specialist, social worker, and chaplain are all great resources to help you and your family cope with hospitalized holidays. Be sure to let them know when you need something or just need to talk. They can be a great source of comfort and support.

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by Admin Dawn

Ten Coping Strategies for Crisis

April 11, 2011 in Book Reviews, Featured by Admin Dawn

By Linda Cole, author of Resurrecting Anthony: A True Story of Courage and Destination

1.      Recruit and accept help and emotional support through family and friends.  Do not try to weather the crisis alone.

2.      Confide in your primary physician.

3.      Be positive.  Be proactive.  Your attitude will contribute greatly to the outcome.  Educate yourself and be involved as much as possible.

4.      Recognize that “This too shall pass.”  You will have a “normal” life again, although it may never be as it was.

5.      Find your mental “get-away” for particularly traumatic moments.  Example: Envision yourself floating on calm water.  Block out all distractions and center yourself.

6.      Focus on others.  Do not internalize.  Who else needs your help during this crisis?  How can you help those around you?

7.      Stay busy.  This is a bad time to be idle.  Don’t sit home alone.

8.      Exercise regularly.  Walk, run, bicycle thirty minutes every other day.  The endorphins released will help you mentally and emotionally.  Your sleep will improve.  Your body will be stronger and you will feel more in control.

9.      Sleep.  Get a good night’s sleep.  Your body and brain need the recuperation times.  If you are exhausted, you will be less effective at a critical time.

10.  Eat well.  Eat well-balanced meals, lots of fruits and vegetables, good proteins and complex carbohydrates.  Your body and mind are in a state of hyper-stress.  They need useful nutrients, not chemicals, processes and additives that sap your strength.

Finally, you will have moments that you can’t avoid.  Find a place; mine was in the closet, where you can really cry.  Let it come.  But set a limit, perhaps 4-5 minutes.  Afterward move on.  Do not dwell.

Linda co-authored her first book, Resurrecting Anthony: A True Story of Courage & Destination, which tells the story of her 12-year-old son’s heart attack and brain injury. A look back over the decade since the event helps the reader see how her once perfect family survived the devastating loss of a child and how a new family has come to be. Linda is also CFO of Anthony Cole Training Group, a successful company that builds sales cultures within organizations nationwide.

Tony graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Education. A scholarship athlete, upon graduation Tony leveraged his experience to coach Iowa State University and University of Cincinnati athletic teams. He then spent more than 15 years in sales and sales management positions in the exercise equipment and insurance industries.

This unique combination of coaching and selling led Tony and Linda to launch Anthony Cole Training in 1991. An immediate success, by the end of 1998, the little company of two grossed half a million dollars. However, when their twelve-year-old son became severely brain injured the company down shifted for several years. In 2003, having adjusted to a new life and family, the company began to grow once again. Tony is CEO and President of Anthony Cole Training Group, which serves companies nationwide, bringing new life to sales organizations.

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Avatar of Holly M. Adams M.Ed.

by Holly M. Adams M.Ed.

How to make it through Spring Break without tearing your hair out

April 4, 2011 in Ask the Behaviorist, Featured, Insider Insight by Holly M. Adams M.Ed.

If spring break is bearing down on you, you might be thinking 5 more days of school and…THEN WHAT. Perhaps you are worried about the vacation to the beach you have planned with your family, or about the “staycation” you are planning. You and your child might even be using the week off to try some new therapies, or have a medical procedure that requires too much time off from school. Well I am here to tell you all of the above scenarios can be completed seamlessly, yes seamlessly, without meltdowns and tantrums using only a few simple tricks.

Trick number 1

Start talking to them about it NOW. Waiting until the weekend of the big trip does not allow your child enough time to process the information you are giving them.

Trick number 2

Peace comes in the details. If you are prepared, they will be prepared. Make sure you have thought through all of the activities you have planned and that you are taking or have access to all the necessary equipment. You have the ability to stop most anxiety outbursts by planning ahead and sharing the details with your child.

Trick number 3

A calendar can be your best friend. Use a weekly calendar with pictures to show your child what to expect each day. A calendar can also help them count down the days until they can return to school and see their friends.

Trick number 4

A stopwatch or a visual timer will help to make foreign transitions easier. There are a variety of timers that a can be downloaded onto almost any smart phone to help with transitions. ( I recommend Time Timer) Often on vacation, you are doing things that highly preferred and are followed by a non preferred activity. i.e. play in the ocean, then shower. A portable timer will help your child anticipate transitions and cut down on meltdowns.

A vacation is meant to be just that, a break from all the stresses of daily routines and structure. You only need to take a few tools from your daily life to make your vacation life fun and relaxing for everyone.

I have provided a social story to read with your child to prepare them. You can download it in PDF format by clicking here.

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Avatar of Michelle Howard

by Michelle Howard

Four Things That Stifle Caregivers and Kill Their Dreams

March 28, 2011 in Community Wisdom, Featured by Michelle Howard

Oftentimes caregivers view their lives with tunnel vision. Questions like “Who are you?” is met with the common response of “I’m a caregiver of a special needs child.”

While that statement is true, it’s also incomplete. Just because you have the huge responsibility of meeting and supporting the special needs of another, does not mean that’s what defines you.

Caregivers have dreams too. Sometimes those dreams are related to being a caregiver. Many times, they are not.

Being a caregiver birthed a dream of me becoming a physical therapist. I wanted to help children like my child to become more mobile. That dream has since fizzled out. Not because I’m no longer interested but because I allowed situations and circumstances to stifle it.

What is it that you are allowing to kill your personal dreams? Are you allowing circumstances unique to care giving, stop you from fulfilling them?

There are four enemies to your dream becoming a reality. They will stifle hault, thwart or whatever you want to call it.

Lack of Self Confidence

Just because you are caregiver, doesn’t mean that’s the only thing you can or should do well. What were you passionate about before you became a caregiver? Reach back to that point in time and refocus on what it was that made you good enough back then to accomplish those goals.

Lack of Resources

Don’t allow money to be the determining factor for not pursuing a dream. There are a ton of resources at your disposal. You just may not be aware of them. It will take some research but you CAN find financial help. As a matter of fact, you may find help that others are not privy to BECAUSE you are a caregiver.

Allowing Other People’s Opinions to Matter

Sure, you don’t want to disregard others around you – especially those close to you. Yet, you don’t want to allow other people’s opinions to weigh in heavier than your own (unless their name is 3 letters, begins with G and ends with D :-)

Sometimes people can’t catch your vision. That’s OK. Just don’t allow their negativity or ignorance to stop you from doing what you know in your heart you were born to do.

Fear

This is a powerful word and can stop anybody cold in their tracks. If you find that you are not following your dreams because you fear the outcome or even fear success, you must find a way to push on – even in the face of fear. Otherwise, your dreams will die.
Being a caregiver doesn’t have to be the be all and end all of your existence. If you have dreams, don’t let these 4 things keep you from reaching them. Do what you are good at, have passion for and long to do. You just may change someone else’s life.

About Michelle: Michelle H Smith is a mom of a child with multiple special needs. She helps other caregivers find ways to balance their lives by sharing stress reduction tips and resources on her blog Stress Relief for Caregivers. She also offers a line of pain and stress management products in her online store, http://www.antistressandpain.com

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Avatar of Julia Roberts

by Julia Roberts

Wikki Stix Giveaway!

March 23, 2011 in Featured, Giveaways by Julia Roberts

I get a lot of press releases that come to Support for Special Needs.com because they may (or honestly may not and the press person is taking a long shot) be related to kids or special needs. I saw this one about Wikki Stix™ and had a flashback about them helping my son while he was fighting with anxiety.

I could tell you  what their press release said…”Wikki Stix, the first-ever line of colorful, moldable sticks that can be used to create anything a child can dream up.  Made and manufactured in the USA, the unique food grade, non-toxic wax and acrylic yarn formula was designed to stimulate a child’s imagination without parental concern over safety or clean-up.”

But I really want to tell you that they helped my son get through the day. We sent many packages to school with him to be pulled, bent, twisted and well, lost. Many, many packages because he isn’t so well organized. They are a little waxy and bendable and they offer hours of finger play to keep kids like my son occupied. For him it kept him from chewing his clothes or ripping up his shoes at school when it seemed he was most stressed out. Now that he’s gotten proper treatment for anxiety, we can play with them for how they were intended! Just for fun!

The press release continues to say “Simple to peel up and reposition, Wikki Stix foster a play environment that is mistake-proof and endless – there is no right or wrong way to play and the sky is the limit on what can be created.  If a child is not happy with the end result, simply unroll and start again.” I like that because my kids struggle with self-esteem and these aren’t hard to use with their abilities.

We’re giving away an activity set! Simply go to this topic in the Anything Goes Group and let us know what something your little one (or big one) busy when they (or we) need them to focus for a few minutes (or 15)!

We’re going to keep this open through Sunday, March 27 at midnight. Go! Share!

Wikki Stix products are sold at hundreds of retailers in every U.S. state and consumers can do a search by state on the website. The products are available internationally in Canada, Spain, Japan, Italy, England, Australia and France and online at www.wikkistix.com They do not contain lead, latex, peanut or nut oils. Unlike imitators in the marketplace, which are mostly made overseas, top-ranked Wikki Stix have always been proudly made in America.

 

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Avatar of Carolyn Dalgliesh

by Carolyn Dalgliesh

Supporting your Sensory Child through Spring Break

March 14, 2011 in Featured, Insider Insight by Carolyn Dalgliesh

For “Sensory” kids – those with anxiety disorder, sensory integration dysfunction, learning challenges, ADD/ADHD, obsessive/compulsive disorder, high- functioning autism, Asperger’s syndrome, or other sensory challenges – this can be a time for year filled with uncomfortable experiences like changes in routines, lots of people visiting, and travel to unfamiliar places full of unfamiliar faces. As a professional home organizer and the parent of a sensory and a typical child, I know the importance of coming up with a few simple ways to provide extra support during the holidays to help your “sensory” child and the whole family enjoy the season. Pick the one or two things that are the hardest for your “sensory” child and create extra support to target those challenges.

Preparing for Changes in Routines

Preparing our “sensory” child for what is coming is a one way to support them in their day-to-day experiences all year round. This is especially true this time of year when there are frequent changes in their regular schedule. Create a visual support whenever possible before the change is coming. Explain in pictures and/or words the new schedule making sure to highlight what they have done before successfully or people that will see that they enjoy. Make sure to include a few options of what can be done when your child is overwhelmed or needs an break.

Visits and Interactions with New People

Spontaneous visits can happen very frequently this time of year. Try to set the expectation of more visits and social interactions. For younger “sensory” kids, try making a story about “People we see during the spring break and the holidays”. You can also talk about the social expectations of these visits in the book – saying “hi” and introducing yourself to the visitor. For older “sensory” kids, make a laminated sheet that explains what you expect them to do socially with visitors, how long they need to stay and “visit” and when they can go do their own thing.

Make Travel Easier

Again, preparation ahead of time is key to making holiday travel easy on yourself, your family and your “sensory” child. Give your “sensory” child a visual of where you are going via online sites, pictures of the family home you will be staying and the people you will be seeing. For younger sensory kids, make a trip book that explains what will happen during your travels. During your visit, set-up a space for your child that is their “escape and regulate” spot. It can hold the toys or things that are calming and relaxing for your “sensory” child.

Creating Routines during Vacation Week

The lack of regular structure during the holiday vacation time can also be a challenge for most “sensory” kids. Create a special calendar for vacation week and write in a loose schedule of what is happening. Have a list to the side of the calendar that will give your “sensory” child options of what you might do when during your free time. Be sure to write in the things that will hard for your child so the expectation is set and they will be prepared to be successful.

Take some of the stress out of the holidays for you, your family and your “sensory” child. Create a few simple supports to prepare them for new routines, to set expectations for frequent visitors and more social interactions, and to make holiday travel successful. Happy Holidays!

Carolyn Dalgliesh is the owner of Simple Organizing Strategies and Systems for Sensory Kids. She can be reached at Carolyn@simpleorganizingstrategies.com or (401)413-2811.

 

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Avatar of Susan N. Schriber Orloff, OTR/L

by Susan N. Schriber Orloff, OTR/L

Doodling: bane to teachers but a boost to the brain

January 31, 2011 in Ask the Occupational Therapist, Featured, Insider Insight by Susan N. Schriber Orloff, OTR/L

I went to “teacher school”; even was one for a while. And I have to say unequivocally that there was no information about how a child learns — just what they should learn.

I guess that is why I became an occupational therapist. I needed to know what was going on “inside” not just the outside — as they say, can be deceiving.

And so it is the case of “doodlers”. Admonished for “not paying attention” they are often made to feel belittled and self-conscious about something they really do on “auto-pilot”.

Recent research has shown that doodling actually helps learning!! The child may not look like he or she is paying attention but science says otherwise. In findings published in Applied Cognitive Psychology (2009) test subjects who doodled while listening to recorded messages had a 29% better recall than those who didn’t.

The article goes no to state that, “If someone is doing a boring task, like listening to a dull telephone conversation, they may start to daydream,” study researcher Professor Jackie Andrade, of the School of Psychology at the University of Plymouth, said in a news release issued by the journal’s publisher. “Daydreaming distracts them from the task, resulting in poorer performance. A simple task, like doodling, may be sufficient to stop daydreaming without affecting performance on the main task.”

Various articles on associative memory contend that doodling can boost retention up to 50% for immediate recall. In other articles there is information that doodling actually helps the learner “opt-IN” to discussions by enhancing recall invigorating multiple neural pathways.

Science is giving a new slant on doodlers, fidgeters, and, Heaven forbid – whisperers!! Reprimands from teachers (and even bosses) may soon be a thing of shame to them NOT to the “culprit”. “Pay attention”, “Are you listening, I will not repeat myself” and “Am I bothering you?” and similar phrases are more than inappropriate, demeaning and harsh – they scientifically wrong.

TIME Magazine (Feb. 2009) states a study that defines the benefits of doodling very simply. It prevents daydreaming. Daydreaming tends to trigger the brain to recruit other networks that shift your attention to other things so you cannot focus on the tasks at hand. Doodling does just the opposite; it keeps the motor running so the brain can focus. And historically we have had some rather impressive doodlers: Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Franklin D Roosevelt, John Keats and Bill Gates to name a few.

Other studies support that doodlers tend to be more organized than their non-doodler counterparts. Doodling, it is reported, actually helps clear the mind by relieving stress and aiding in relaxation. So what is the problem? Obviously with the people that doodling seems to upset. (Teachers??) “Paying attention” in class usually means sitting up straight, feet on the floor, not touching anyone else and eyes on your work or the teacher.

Research has a different slant on doodling. Similar to the analysis of dreams, the inspection of doodles can actually create a better understanding of how a mind works. It is the connection between the conscious and unconscious and that is where we learn. Rather than a distraction, doodling can assist in triggering many major routes for us to store information into long-term memory.

Margaret Livingstone, a Harvard University neurophysiologist writes in her book, Vision and Art: the Biology of Seeing that art is a “spin-off” of our brains visual system and this connection cues neurons. Not only does it help us pay attention, it also helps our mind wander into unimagined areas stimulating associative thinking aiding in symbolic expression.

What is known about doodling is that it increases arousal in the brain and forces it to use up just enough energy to STOP it from daydreaming. Doodling seems to stimulate the right side of the brain that mediates visualizations (reading and writing) leaving the left side (information gathering) to relax and absorb information more readily. Both sides together allow the person to synthesize the total concept being presented.

Encouraging doodling may be a route to increasing attention in class. Wouldn’t it be amazing if “Increase doodling while listening” became an IEP goal?

Susan N. Schriber Orloff, OTR/L, is the author of Learning Re-enabled, a guide for parents, teachers and therapists and Write Incredibly Now™ 12 hours to better handwriting. She is the Executive Director of Children’s Special Services, LLC, in Atlanta, GA. She can be reached on the Web at www.childrens-services.com Her WIN™ program is available through YourTherapySource.com.

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Avatar of Admin Dawn

by Admin Dawn

Happy new year everyone!

January 7, 2011 in Around the Site by Admin Dawn

Here’s what’s been happening around our community since we last updated:

Are you in Atlanta?

Join us on March 5th for our first (but definitely not last) In Real Life Connect event! We will be adding details over the next month as we finalize speakers but you can get a head start on registration here! Keep an eye out for our updates!

On the Forums

Julia is looking for tips on helping her son with his confidence issues. Have ideas for her? Please share them here.

Andy asked for (and got!) some tips on getting a new digital camera. (Did you know you can share pictures in your profile? Get more info on that here!)

Siobhan is offering a New Year’s discount on Creative Memories scrapbooking supplies! Go here for details — offer ends January 31st!

Melanie would like to hear from community members with experience changing a child’s behavior meds over here.

We have lots of new members! Welcome!

Vicky: “I am a mom to two dtrs who are my world. I am a nurse who currently works in a childcare center.”

Karen Yaughn: “I am a 48 year old single mom of a 7 year old daughter diagnosed with Freeman Sheldon Syndrome with Arthrogryposis, glenoid hypoplasia, midline cleft in the soft palate (repaired).”

The Domestic Goddess: “I am a Domestic Engineer, Total Babe and SAHM to two boys with autism, ADHD, OCD and a variety of other acronyms. I was a band geek in high school, live vicariously through computers and prefer dogs to people, which means I have STELLAR social skills.”

Renee Pratt: “I am a 29 yr old single mom. I have little boys who are my world. My 6 yr old has several disabilities. We currently live in Gwinett & are trying to build a support network with other social need families. My son attends Kanoheda. He is in 1st grade. He has trouble being social but does well doing one on one with a similar diagnosed child.”

Cheneespeaks

Julie Tutwiler: “mom of 2 kids – son has Down syndrome, ADHD and AV Canal defect; daughter has some ADHD and mostly LOTS of attitude”

Sadie

Laura LaPlante: “My name is Laura and I have 3 wonderful kids! My oldest who is 10, has Lyme’s disease, my middle who is 4 has moderate Sensory Integration Disorder along with Lyme’s which was passed through via pregnancy and my youngest who is now 18mths has severe “intolerances” to all Dairy and Soy products (both food and non food items). We remain active to the best of our ability. I have a wonderful, supportive Husband who tries his best. My jobs as both Mother, Wife and Employee to Sprint make my life non-stop.”

Jennifer: “Mother to 4. 2 That are differently-abled. My oldest is nearly 20, my 2nd(ASD-PDD-Nos) 15, my 3rd (severe verbal childhood apraxia, global) is 7 and my 4th is almost 4!”

Jennifer Giroux: “Mom and advocate of 3 children, the oldest of whom has hydrocephalus/strabismus/amblyopia and all the LDs that go with it: NVLD, apraxia, cognitive delay.”

Dana Sears: “I am a Blog designer and a Mom of three boys under five. My second son Mason has been diagnosed with Smith-Magenis Syndrome and PDD-NOS.”

Rachela

Carolyn Dagliesh: “My husband and I are the parents of two wonderful children. I have a home organizing business – Simple Organizing Strategies and I offer in home organizing support for general organizing, paperwork management and closet design. The larger part of my business is my Systems for Sensory Kids business – http://www.systemsforsensorykids.com. As the parent of a “sensory” child, I have learned the importance of organizing supports for “Sensory” Kids in the home. Sensory kids—like those with anxiety disorder, sensory integration dysfunction, learning challenges, ADD/ADHD, obsessive/compulsive disorder, high-functioning autism, Asperger’s syndrome, or other sensory challenges—often look at the world through a different lens. It can be challenging to connect with them, and little things can often turn into major stress points. Learning simple ways to create structure and routines as well as ways to connect and communicate can be life changing in your day-to-day living experience – something that can make the whole family more successful!”

Nicole

Mary

Stacy

Nicole Gutrich

Meagan Watts: “I am the mother of a 3 yr old with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and Sensory Processing Disorder. He’s making tremendous strides and working hard, but we have longer to go before he’s actually able to communicate with others.”

Christie Roberts: “I have two special needs grandchildren. I am a grandmother to ten children.”

Charity

I know we’ve missed a lot of new members since our Great Big Wish List giveaway derailed our community updates! If you would like a special shout-out for your intro, please contact me so I can add you to our list for our next update.

Meanwhile, did you know you can search member profiles? Just go to our members page and put your search term in the search box at the top of the list. You can also list members by new registrations, too, to see who has joined us recently.

We’re looking for your input!

What do you want to see on the site in 2011? So far we’re hearing you’d like more livechats! Michelle Howard has stepped up to volunteer to host a Rant Chat Thursdays at 8pm EST. Just drop in! You can check out Michelle’s blog including her Ranting Sessions for Stress Relief here!

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Avatar of Michelle Howard

by Michelle Howard

Release The Guilt & Just…Rest

December 2, 2010 in Inspiration by Michelle Howard

Michelle Howard and her son

Michelle Howard and her son

His hands were clammy and sweaty. He was also a little jittery.

Otherwise, CJ seemed just fine. After all, he was always a bit shaky so off to school he went.

Later in the day, the school nurse called with her concerns of CJ’s physical demeanor.

Could it be his blood sugar? His thyroid? Was it neurological?

According to the nurse, he’d been quite jittery for the past two weeks. “TWO WEEKS?? Really? How could I not have seen this? “

Because of the cerebral palsy, he’s always shaky but I had not noticed an uptick.

Fast forward to that evening and CJ is not eating, not drinking, not playing nor sleeping. I rushed him to the ER and by that evening he was seizing something fierce.

What Kind of Mother Am I?

Moms are expected to know what’s going on with their children at all times. So, why didn’t I (super mom or so I thought) pick up on CJ’s increased jitteriness?

At first I felt really guilty but experiences like these have taught me. Sometimes I miss things. Does that make me a bad mom? No. It makes me human.

The reason the nurse picked up on CJ’s increased shakiness is because she doesn’t see him every day. She’s able to notice the slightest change much easier. I can accept that and thank God, there are others in our limited circle that has the ability to notice when something’s just not right.

Give Yourself a Break

There will be times when circumstances will flow out of your control. Your child may experience a health crisis and you’re not there. You may not receive the response you desired from a medical professional or educational authority.

The obvious reaction is to feel guilt or fear. You may even question if you could have done more. Sometimes you could have and sometimes not. That’s not the point.

Either way, allowing a negative emotion like guilt to rest within you does nothing to help the situation. It also doesn’t help you to prepare for future trials and challenges. So, give yourself a break for simply being human.

Rest is Good

After CJ’s grand mal seizure (apparently the increased jitteriness was paving the way), he was exhausted and so was I. We both slept.

Taking time out to rest after a health crisis is extremely helpful – physically and mentally.

So, the moral of the story is just because you’re a caregiver, doesn’t mean you will always make the best choices for your child. You are human so release the guilt, forgive yourself and just…Rest.

About the Author: Michelle Howard Smith helps other caregivers to find ways to prevent and relieve stress through her blog, Stress Relief for Caregivers. She’s also created the Stress Less Recipe, a compilation of tips and advice to help caregivers keep it all together.

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Avatar of Admin Dawn

by Admin Dawn

Schleich Wish List Giveaway

November 22, 2010 in Giveaways by Admin Dawn

If you’re a parent of a certain age you may best know Schleich as the creator of the Smurf figurines. Remember how fun those were? But they also make a whole world of other super-detailed, super-playful figures from the natural world and the imaginary one. These are playthings that go way beyond the generic “action figure” label. These are true works of art, heavy and sculpted with terrific attention to every little limb and ever tiny toe. When you hold one of these sturdy figurines in your hand, you know why they are so collectible. You will get lost in the carefully executed details and they are sure to open up your child’s imagination.

We have five sets to give away today.

Here are the Schleich figures and sets we will be giving away. Please click through so you can see more images of these truly amazing toys:

Gigantosaurus — Researched and reproduced in close co-operation with the Natural History Museum, Berlin, this 1:40 scale version of the Giganotosaurus looks fierce with its sharp teeth and scaly skin. He was the largest carnivore to have lived with a 6 foot skull and razor sharp teeth. He comes complete with a booklet containing scientific data plus a figure of a human in the same scale, helping children to imagine what it would be like to come face to face with one of these magnificent creatures. Ages 3 and up. SRP: $33.99

The New Bayala Tribe of Arelan – there are four elves in this new tribe, each have taken on characteristics of their animal companions:

·        Apricum, meaning sunlight, is a striking figure with antlers protruding from his shoulders just like his Stag companion. They sit across his shoulders, go down his back and rest on his hips. He also holds an amazing sword around his waist in a scabbard. The deer stands tall and is true to life. Ages 3 and up. SRP: $16.49
·        Arelan: Thin tapered wings enable this duo to fly at high speeds and to change direction rapidly. The figure stands tall holding his falcon companion on his arm, showing off the beautiful detailed feathers which are spread out ready to fly off into the sky! Ages 3 and up. SRP: $16.49
·        Gregis, meaning pride, is an impressive looking hybrid and will certainly stand out from the pack. With fur growing all over his back, arms and large feet he resembles his companion, the wolf. Swords are strapped across his back and he stands in a slightly crouched posture ready to jump! Ages 3 and up. SRP: $16.49
·        Noctis, meaning night, reflects the features of his companion, the panther. He stands strong with a lit torch stretched out in front of him and carries a bow and arrows on his back. The panther stands closely to demonstrate the common strength, power and similarity. Ages 3 and up. SRP: $16.49

A Show Jumping Course (SRP: $43.99)and Show Jumping Set ($16.99) plus a Lipizzaner Stallion (SRP: $6.99). All are for ages 3 and up.
·        Great practice for the big day, the show jumping course is a challenging lineup of obstacles. The set of obstacles in the show jumping course are perfect practice for your Schleich stallions. Think of the countless ways you can set up routines for your equine friends! Until practice makes perfect, your show jumping course will be durable and dependable.
·        Show Jumping Set Proudly seated in the saddle, the rider is mounted atop her bridled, strapping show Lipizzaner Stallion: From black to white, Lipizzaner horses are found throughout the spectrum. During the reign of the Hapsburgs, the nobility and the military in Europe were interested in a strong but flexible breed of horses to suit their purposes. In the late sixteenth century, Archduke Charles II founded a farm at Lipizza where horses were bred very selectively to become the breed we know and love today. The Spanish Riding School, located in Vienna, Austria, has showcased Lipizzaners in performances of classical dressage movements and training since the interest in these horses began. There are approximately only 2,000 Lipizzan horses in the world today.

Marween and Florindel
·        Part of Schleich’s Fantasy Bayala world, Marween is a playful elf who is having fun with her raccoon while lying back on her beautiful grey horse. Marween wears a pixie-like outfit with striking red and white tights and a funky green skirt. Her delicate wings lay either side of the horse glistening in the sun. Marween lifts off of her horse, providing even greater play value. Ages 3 and up. SRP: $16.49
·        Florindel – SRP: $6.49 – Ages: 3 and up.  Also from Bayala, this bright-looking elf is stunning from head to toe. With her yellow gerbera like wings and beautiful clothes, Florindel will definitely light up any dark places. Curly brunette hair falls past Florindel’s shoulders, which compliments her pretty face. She is joined by a grey fluffy kitten which she is holding lovingly in her arms.

Moose Family
The Moose is one of the largest species in the deer family. The bull is distinguished by large antlers while the cow doesn’t grow them; the calf completes the family. All are hand-painted, durable and modeled on nature, making them realistic representations. Add imagination for a forest full of fun! For ages 3 and up. SRP: Moose Bull – $8.49; Moose Cow – $6.99; Moose Calf – $3.49

How you can win

Today’s contest is over at the Caregiver Stress forum. We’re talking about YOU today! Let’s talk about coping mechanisms. What do you do that works? What do you do that works but you wish you could quit because it’s maybe not the best thing for you?

Let’s talk about it!

P.S. We’re tracking down winners who haven’t sent their snail mail addresses for earlier giveaways but we need help! We can’t find information about two of our giveaway winners! (Our system broke down — argh!) We’re looking for the winner of the Chicalookate set and one of the flock of birds. I’ve heard from Colleen, Melanie, Kristen and Lisa but I don’t have the name of the fifth winner. If you got a private message and haven’t responded, please let me know ASAP! If we don’t hear from our winners within 14 days of the contest closing, we will have to give the set away to a new winner! Thanks!)

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