Tag Archives: Blogging

Free Chapter of my New book The Don’t Freak Out Guide to Parenting Kids with Asperger’s Syndrome

Posted on April 12, 2013 | 1 Comment

DFO-Logo-Purple-196x300There is a very good reason why I have not blogged consistently lately. I have been busy writing my book! I am so happy with the way it is coming out and cannot wait for it to be done, edited and finally released. As of now we are thinking that release should be around August 2013.

I have shared the introduction and first chapter with some folks already and here is what one said…

I loved it! I’ll admit the introduction alone made me cry. Sometimes just knowing someone out there totally gets our situation is just awesome. And I love the tip about thinking how you react. For me physically i get this metal taste in my mouth and I know I’m about to lose it, but I never thought to make that connection to “Hey silly, you feel that, take a second and cool off and then open your big fat mommy mouth.” I cant wait to read the rest!

And this is how I responded to that comment:

Awwww thank you so much for this comment. I am glad I was able to connect with you. That is exactly what I wanted to do. My purpose of this book is to show that we cannot change our kiddos but we CAN change how we react to them.

And that my dear readers is what my book is all about. But go see for yourselves. I want to know what you all think. So I am going to share with you the introduction and first chapter as well. Click HERE to access the text!

Happy reading and don’t forget to come back here, visit me on Facebook or email me at mamasturnnow@hotmail.com with what you thought about the book so far!

 

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The Lean Mean Rice Eating Clean Machine or… How the BISSELL Perfect Sweep Turbo saved my dog from having to join Weight Watchers

Posted on February 6, 2013 | Leave a comment

bissel sweeperEvery week I get at least one email asking if I would like to review a product or book. Most of the time I decline politely. My thinking is that if the product is not really something you all would or could perhaps benefit from learning about, why bother. I was about to do my standard “Thank You But No Thank You” reply to the request to try out BISSELL’s Perfect Sweep Turbo but then I saw how it is supposed to be good for picking up dog hair and that it is QUIET. QUIET… do you see why this caught my attention?

Let me explain. Grace has asthma and allergies. We just found out that one of the things she is allergic to is our DOG! Well I can tell you that Stanley is more like a little brother to the kids then their pet so he was not going anywhere. That just meant that I needed to be extra vigilant about making sure I swept up his hair every day. Now I hate cleaning. YUP I love having a clean house but the actual process … um yeah not so much fun. To make matters worse I cannot use the vacuum around Jay as the sound just kills him. Which means I have to give up perfectly good WRITING hours during the day when the kids are at school to cleaning. Once again not something I like doing. So I thought I would try out this sweeper. If it was quiet perhaps I could actually use it at night. So I said yes!

Before I tell you how this sweeper saved my dog from Weight Watchers (honest to God True story by the way) I want to say that although I did receive my Sweeper for free I was not given any compensation to write this review. In fact I was not even asked to write one. I was just asked to try the product and then contact the marketing person to tell her what I thought about it. But after trying it out I WANTED to write this and tell you all about it.

So what do I think about it… It is pretty friggin awesome that’s what. You see I had an accident. I opened the refrigerator and an entire container of yellow rice fell to the floor. My dog of course thought it was his lucky day. I had two choices. Let the dog think he was at a Chinese Buffet and eat to his heart content then have to drive him to Doggy Weight Watchers meetings not to mention after to suffer cleaning up what would I can guarantee you would have been a much bigger mess later on. OR I could call for the kids have them hold back our Homer Simpson in a donuts shop mouth-watering crazed dog while I grabbed the BISSELL. I choice option 2, although I have to admit I did consider the first one but was to afraid that my dog would label me an enabler when he spoke at his weekly meetings. I have enough guilt you know.

OMG this thing should be renamed and called, “The Lean Mean Rice Eating Clean Machine”. Seriously. (And um BISSELL if you happen to go with that later on I want you to know that I expect credit for that name and that my children and I … and the DOG, would be more than happy to play ourselves in the commercial!)

But wait it gets better… it really is QUIET. photo(121)It makes a very low hum sound that Jay actually found soothing. In fact so much so that he asked to use it. Let me repeat that… My boy, the same kid who would run to his room and bury his head under the pillow when I even just take out the vacuum cleaner asked to sweep. In fact both kids enjoy using it. They actually fight over who gets to sweep up after dinner! Hello SCORE ONE FOR MAMA!

So now you see why I had to tell you about this product. If you have a sensory vacuum sensitive kid like me… you might want to look into this sweeper! And BISSELL about the commercial I suggested… make sure to have your people call my people!

P.S. No dogs or humans were harmed during this incident. The rice well that is another story!

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What I was Going To Tell YOU…

Posted on October 12, 2012 | 2 Comments

It has been so long since I have posted and so many things have been going on that I am almost too overwhelmed to do this. I guess this is my editors note to you all. My warning so to speak that this post will be filled with lots of run on sentences and will skip around and will most likely be very long. So pour a cup of coffee and sit down and stay with me here if you dare.

Glad to see that I did not scare some of you away! LOL Anyway I was already to start telling you about meeting with Jay’s principle and how awesome he is and how I left the room almost dancing but didn’t dare because well you know I had the principle there watching me and all. I left the meeting and immediately typed this status update to my Facebook peeps:

So how awesome is this… Met with Jay’s middle school principal today about the possibility of the school helping us raise money for the Autism Speaks Walk. Not only was the man full of wonderful ideas and willing to help… he said to me, “What I would really like though is for Jay to meet with me and tell me why he wants to raise money. You know advocate for himself. That is of course if you think it would not be too much stress on him. But I would really like him to do it because I think it would be good for him!” OMG Where do I begin with how awesome that is? The fact that this man cares about my boy like that? AWESOME!!!!

Awesome indeed. I don’t think this man has a clue as to how much him saying he wanted Jay to come in and talk to him meant to me. I say all the time the one thing, the real reason that I write this blog and talk about autism to anyone who will listen and to those who are not so willing to listen but have the misfortune of being trapped in a room with me, that all I really want is for people to really SEE my boy. To SEE HIM, not a diagnosis or label… but HIM! By this man saying what he said it showed me how not only does he SEE my Jay, he wants to TALK with him and more importantly LISTEN to him and well that is just too huge for words!

I was then going to tell you how that meeting lead to another meeting with a business owner whom has a heart of gold. A man who in a whim I reached out to and who not only reached back, he threw me a lifesaver, jacket and rope. A gentleman who has never met my boy but is willing to not only help us, but to give up his own profits so that my Jay can reach his fundraising goals for the Autism Walk.  As I listened to this man talk passionately about how much he wanted to help, I had to fight back tears because you know I was supposed to be  all business like and all but I could not help it because what I really am is just a mom trying to do whatever she can for her kids.

Then I was going to tell you about how after the meeting I came home and got busy making flyers and trying to put together stuff and well I forgot all about making dinner and how my awesome husband was  like, “no biggie we will just go out.” And how Jay whom does not like unexpected last-minute changes, especially when it comes to food, was like, “Sure let’s go!”. So we went to Red Robin (YUMMMMM) and were eating our juicy hamburgers when all the sudden the entire place busted into cheers because the local baseball team did something well I guess basebally and everyone was happy and shouting and how my husband and I immediately  with panic on our faces turned towards Jay to see how he was going to react to the loud sudden noise and how he just shrugged his shoulders and kept eating his juicy burger.

Then I was going to tell you about how when we got home and I was taking out the kids clothes for the next day, something we do to save time in the morning, I realized that not only did I forget to make dinner, I forgot to wash the clothes and how now Jay did not have any clean pants with elastic waist bands and only had a pair of jeans and khakis hanging in his closest. I was then going to tell you how in a moment of forgetfulness I took out the jeans thinking it wouldn’t be a big deal and how Jay freaked out because he had PE the next day and was worried about how he was going to change because you see even though he is 11 and in middle school buttons and snaps can still be an issue. I was going to tell how in the middle of doing laundry at 11pm after an hour of trying to calm my boy down how much I hated AUTISM and how once again that feeling of HATING AUTISM left me feeling guilty because I know that is part of who my boy is but I could not help it.

And then I was going to tell you about how my boy innocently said to me as I apologized about not remembering to do his pants, “Sometimes I think you care  more about the other kids with autism then the one Aspie you have at home. ” and how this comment which I know he did not say maliciously cut me to the core. And then after he saw that he had accidentally hurt me how he got angry with himself and well that made me feel worse but of course I did not let him know it because well… you know I was trying to calm him down.

And lastly I was going to tell you about the breakfast conversation with my daughter this morning. About how hard it was to find the right words. You see there is a little boy in second grade at Grace’s school who has Cancer and is very ill. Many families have joined behind this boy’s family to help raise money just to cover all the co payments of treatments and such and to help them out. We were talking about this little boy when Grace asked me about Tucker. Ever since Grace interviewed  a diary of a mom Jess’ daughter Katie for Grace’s new online magazine well she has been following along. You see Katie did a fundraiser for Tucker.

Tucker passed away earlier this week. The news devastated me. Honestly it broke my heart. I had never met this boy but his story and his courage and his strength well it moved me in ways I cannot begin to explain. I ached for this boys family and pray to God that I never know the pain they must be feeling. I had not told my Grace because well… I just did not have the words to do so. But there it was, she had asked me how Tucker was doing. And so I told her. But as I was telling her my phone beeped letting me know I had a new message. Usually I do not check my messages until after the kids are at school, but for some reason I checked. It was letting me know that Jess had a new post on her blog. The name of the post grabbed my attention so I clicked on it! I got goose bumps when I read it and saw the picture. Click HERE and you will see what I mean. I showed my Grace the picture and without me saying anything she said, “MAMA that is Tucker. That shooting star was Tucker wasn’t mama?”  And with tears in my eyes I said yes. And the words that had been lost for several days suddenly came and we sat at the table and talked about how yes sometimes Bad things happen to Good people. We talked about how important it is to be kind to each other and make every day count. We talked about being bucket fillers instead of dumpers. And then we danced. I put on the music as loud as it would go and we danced in the kitchen. Because you see she needed to know, I NEEDED TO REMEMBER, that life goes on.

We laugh, We cry, We hurt, We Love and yes bad things do happen to Good People… but then you get a text and you read a special post and see a special picture and you cannot help but think perhaps, just perhaps there was something bigger that brought that picture to you and helped give you the words back at that time! And then you dance to music in your kitchen because life does go on!

These are things I was going to tell you…

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Back to School CHEERS AND TEARS

Posted on August 19, 2012 | 1 Comment

So by the title of this post you are probably making guesses as to who is shedding the tears and who is screaming the cheers. Well believe it or not they are both ME!!! Yup folks, the same woman who put a countdown clock on her page (Just look over to the top right and you will see it there) to remind her of the beloved day that school starts back… yup the same woman who is longing for the quiet, for the structure and time to actually get her writing and work done. Yes folks now that the time is quickly approaching I am sad! I am also scared out of mind. I am more nervous for Jay to start middle school then he is!

And I am exhausted to cause this trying to be all rose-colored classes and positive so he doesn’t  get more freaked out is well… TIRING! I am not ready for the homework battles and stress that every time the phone rings it is the school calling me. I am not ready for the morning chaos and rush. I don’t want to fight with bed times and schedules. SIGH…

Yet at the same time I am sooooo ready for them to go. I want to start back to my routines of walking in the morning and having a house that stays clean for more than 5 minutes. I want to MISS the kids. (It is hard to miss them when they are constantly here in my face asking for yet another snack or to do this or that.)

Many of your kids have already started back. For you folks I ask that you leave me a comment of reassurance (Lie if you have to.) For those of you who have kids who are not starting yet, you too leave a comment saying whether or not you feel the same. Lets let each other know we are not alone.

In the meantime, I got creative and took the poem I wrote last year this time (See the original post here) and turned it into a cartoon. And yes… it is my actual voice in the movie. Hope this brings a smile to your face! Check it out here:

Mama’s Turn Now’s “Twas the Night Before School Started”
by: MamasTurnNow

***Reminder the Should I or Shouldn’t I Game Giveaway ends Tuesday, August 21st, 2012 at Midnight. Check out the review and enter to win by clicking here.

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Review & GIVEAWAY of “Should I or Shouldn’t I? What Would Others Think?”- A game to encourage Social Thinking and social problem solving!

Posted on August 13, 2012 | 99 Comments

Those that follow me on Facebook know how nervous I have been about Jay starting middle school. Part of my neurosis  comes from the fact that I just don’t think he is socially ready. Academically… no problem, but can he handle all the situations that will be thrown his way?And what can I do as his mother to give him the tools to do so?  These questions have been keeping me up at night.That is why I was so excited when Social Thinking gave me the opportunity to try out this new game created by Dominque Baudry,MS, Ed  and based on the Social Thinking concepts and vocabulary introduced by Michelle Garcia Winner as outlined in her many books and articles on the topic.The game is designed to give pre-teens and teens a fun and motivating way to improve their social sense, practice taking the perspectives of others, and discuss relevant teen issues in a nonjudgmental setting. Sounds interesting doesn’t it?

Well folks it is not only interesting… it is fantastic. The box arrived right before we were about to depart on our 17 hour drive to Florida for vacation. I threw it in the car thinking that if nothing else it would pass a little bit of time. What it did was open up the door to some awesome conversations. It really gave me a realistic idea as to where we stand with my boy. I learned that my Jay does understand the idea of perspective taking – being able to think about others, their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and how this interrelationship plays out in social situations. It’s just that when he gets upset or frustrated, he sometimes is unable to remember where he filed this information so to speak. This game not only helped him with his self esteem you should see how proud he was every time he got a question right, it was a way for us to review what we need to go over more so that when he is faced with these situations… which we all know he will be… even if he is frustrated or upset, he will be able to recall what to do.

The best part about the game is the Behavior Scale that is used to play it. The behavior scale included in this Middle/High School edition has a five point format and was inspired by the work of Kari Dunn Buron and Mitzi Curtis and their book, The Incredible 5 Point Scale (2003).

5 -Behaviors that are against the rules

4- Behaviors that make others feel annoyed

3 -Behaviors that make others have weird thoughts about you

2- Behaviors that are fine or okay

1- Behaviors that make others have good thoughts about you

Players take turns picking a card which provides a situation and behavior such as:

“You decide you already know what your history teacher is talking about.              You pull out a different book and begin to read.”

Then each player votes as to what they believe this behavior is,based on the scale. I was thrilled and yes perhaps shocked to hear Jay say, “Wow mom I have done this before. To the teacher I am sure this was a 4. I must have really frustrated her when I did that.” Do you see what I mean about this being an awesome game!!!He got it folks… he really got it!

In fact the behavior Scale made so much sense to Jay after playing this game a couple of times, that he suggested (YES YOU READ CORRECTLY… HE SUGGESTED) we tell all his teachers about it so they could use it with him in middle school. They could just walk over to him and say ,”Jay number 3″ when he is flapping in excitement or perhaps talking out loud to himself or whatever behavior that could be perceived by other 6th grade kids as odd or that word we all dread hearing… WEIRD. It would cause Jay to stop, think about what he is doing that could seem WEIRD to other students and then try to correct that behavior on his own. HELLO… isn’t that what we are shooting for folks! I told you this is awesome!!!

I could go on and on and on telling you how great this game is… or I can just direct you to go visit the Social Thinking website and order this game yourself! It will be the best $22 you spend!Better yet…

the wonderful folks at Social Thinking have given me a separate NEW game to give away to one of you folks!

How incredible is that? I know pretty incredible! And all you gotta do to win is leave a comment below with your name saying you want to enter to win. Easy peazy lemon squeezy!

Want even more chances to win this game? Do the following and then come back here to this post and leave a separate comment saying you did!

***Like Mama’s Turn Now on Facebook

***Like Social Thinking on Facebook

***Follow Mama’s Turn Now on Twitter

***Follow Social Thinking on Twitter

***Tweet the following message:                                                                                            Enter to win the @mamasturnnow @socialthinking Should I or Shouldn’t I giveaway. Great game for Aspie kids ages 12-18 http://wp.me/p1pu3Q-jl

***Mention this blog post on your Facebook Page or Blog and then come back here and leave the link to it!

One winner will be chosen from the comments left below by Random.org. Contest ends Midnight EST on Tuesday August 21st, 2012.

DISCLOSURE: Social Thinking has provided me with a copy of Should I or Shouldn’t I for purposes of providing a review. I received the game at no charge to me and I am under no obligation to return the product but can keep it for me own personal use. I was not given any monetary amount to review this product. Opinions expressed in this review are my own honest ones and I stand behind them. As with any product, I encourage you to research on your own and then make your own decisions.

 

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The Latest Project from a Hairy Leg Autism Mama…

Posted on July 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

I just sent an email to the publisher of my local community paper that started like this,” I don’t have time to shave my legs let alone write a weekly column”. Honest to God that is what I wrote and continued on the email all about how they should hire me to do a weekly Parenting humor column. Not sure what will come out of it but for some reason I felt compelled to send that email… TODAY! Weird huh?

And the thing is… that line is true. I am so busy and every day I get even more stuff added to my to do list. That is fine because you see I am one of those crazy type A people who totally works better with tons of projects on my plate. It is stressful and chaotic and I love it! Perhaps that explains why I agreed to do the new project that I am doing with my Gracie girl.

For those of you who don’t follow Mama’s Turn Now on Facebook (And why don’t you?) Grace came up with the wonderful idea of starting an online magazine for siblings of kids with autism. SHOUT OUT ONLINE MAGAZINE She actually approached me with the idea a few months back but I sort of pushed it aside. Throughout the summer I have noticed even more jealousy and tension between Grace and Jay, so when she brought up the topic again, well I jumped on it. She was so excited and it really has given her such focus and drive. It is allowing me  to acknowledge the feelings she has but then gives her a constructive outlet for them. Here is what she wrote which in a way is the magazine’s mission statement I guess:

I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have wanted to SHOUT OUT LOUD, ” What about me mom and dad?” To others who don’t get it, I probably just sound like I am being really spoiled. I mean I know my parents have their hands full dealing with my older brother who has autism, but I EXIST TOO! That is what my new online magazine and community Facebook page is all about. A place where we can all Shout Out and be heard. A place for kids like us to come together and just be ourselves. Together we can raise our voices in a good way and Shout Out Autism Awareness to the world. Because after all, the more people who understand, the more people who will see our brothers and sisters for the incredible people they are.
Signed,
Gracie

YUP I am one proud mama! So we started an online Facebook page which is here… please go over and like it! We are also working hard to get the first issue up. We are shooting for an August 20th release date.

But here is the shocker… this little project seems to be taking on a new life of itself. Folks are really getting on board. We have a mental Health Professional who has agreed to do the Ask Dr. T section and answer questions or offer advice, we are working on a special guest , a celebrity really, to be the first Sibling of the Month we feature, we have a another celebrity who has granted Grace an interview and offered to do a feature story for us. Other folks have contacted us offering their talents. I am just floored and thrilled and honored. I really think we might be on to something here.

But to make this project work I need your help. I need you to talk to your kids to get them excited about this to encourage them to submit their artwork, their poems and short essays. We really want this magazine to be a showplace for the siblings. A place where they come first. Where they can gather with other sibs who understand what it is like.  SO please go to the Facebook page with your kids and talk about this project. Help them submit their original work to shoutoutonlinemagazine@yahoo.com. Share this blog post and the Shout Out Online Facebook page on your own Facebook site or blog. Lets work together to make this project work. I think we owe it to our kids. They need this just as much as our children with autism need their therapy, and social stories and IEPs.

If you would like to be apart of this project, please contact me! We would love to her your ideas and suggestions. Besides if I get more people to help out, then I can actually have 5 minutes to shave my legs! LOL

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Mama and No Guile Go to the FARM- Mama’s TURN…

Posted on July 25, 2012 | 1 Comment

Literally it is My Turn to tell you about the fabulous day we all had on the Farm today. You see No Guile : Life and Other Stories from Autism beat me to the punch and already did this POST. Check it and while you there check out her other blog posts and then go HERE and like her Facebook page because she is GREAT! And I can say that now because she is not just some random person I only know from the internet… she is now an official stalker whom I met in person! Just kidding… I stalked her and invited her to go with us!  Oh and for the record if you clicked and read HER blog post you will recognize the same picture of us EXCEPT I am a true friend and I cropped mine! LOL

Okay so we went to a Farm… yes a real farm with stinky animals and crops. Except this farm also has giant slides and cool Bamboo Mazes and a really expensive concession stand. A designer Farm I guess you can call it? Anyway I arranged to have our local Autism Support group get together there. Talk about a great idea. First off any time I can get together with a bunch of other folks who GET IT… HUGE DEAL. But not only are the folks from my group great, the kids are just the most incredible bunch of human beings that ever existed.. (just look at this group shot of us on the hayride.) Putting together this event afforded me the opportunity to invite No Guile and her crew to make the 1 and half hour trek down to play with us. We have been talking for months about how we had to get together and well… FINALLY WE DID IT!

Here is the thing about the internet… you never really know what you are going to get when you really meet the person in REAL LIFE. Thus the reason why I never ever did online dating when I was single oh so many moons ago. I just knew that I would fall in love with someone’s words and the real deal would not live up to it. I have to admit I was a bit nervous of that happening too with my fellow Autism Mommy Blogger friend. I LOVE HER POSTS. But you see I failed to remember one thing… Autism folks who choose to blog about their lives…. well we put it all out there… EVERYTHING! So what you read my friends… is what you will truly get! And that is exactly what No Guile and I both got… the real deal and I LOVED IT!

Our boys seemed to love it to! My Jay and her Roger hit it off. Just look at this picture of the two of them deep into conversation of who knows what. (I could not keep up with them even if I tried!) Although it looks like Jay was doing most of the talking in this picture. Surprise surprise!

So besides meeting wonderful blogger friends, you know what the best thing is about getting together with other Autism families? Well when my boy started screaming at the chickens to “SHUT UP” No one said anything. In fact two minutes later someone else’ kid did the same thing! LOL There were no eyes rolling, no judgments being made, no need to apologize if a kid did not say hello or had a little fit because he did not want to get off the hayride. WE ALL UNDERSTOOD! This hot stinky sweaty 3 hours was probably the most enjoyable and relaxing day I have had all summer!

Okay before I end this post I have to leave you with one more photo. With all there was to do at this place, and there was a lot…this is what my son’s favorite part was… THE STUPID COKE MACHINE! Ahhh… you gotta love our kids!

If you do not already belong to a local autism support group… PLEASE PLEASE  PLEASE do yourself a favor and find one. Do a Google search, ask your school resource teacher,heck do what i did and start a group if you have to… but do it! I love our online community, you all mean the world to me, but to physically get together and have your children play and call another child their friend because this kid gets them like no one else… that my friends is PRICELESS! Old McDonald might have had a farm… but I have a village!!!

 

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Let’s Keep it Going…

Posted on May 11, 2012 | 1 Comment

My head is spinning. Over 31,000 people on Facebook and 20,000 here on my blog viewed A Letter To the Mom Who Rolled Her Eyes At My Son. The comments and emails… well they touched my soul to say the least.

My heart breaks to think how much my story resonates to so many others. Actually it makes me very sad to know that so many of you have had your own “Eyes Rolled” moments and much worse.  Story after story brought me to tears. The mother who wrote to me about the man who yelled at her child who was simply playing in a ball pit that he had no business being in there with the other normal kids. The little girl in a packed store who YELLED, ” look at that boy – he’s a freak because his head is so big”. And the mother who wrote, ” I am embarrassed and ashamed to say that I USED to be that mother…that is until I was blessed with a beautiful autistic son.”

I believe many of us USED to be that mother!

Of course, not everyone agreed with the way I handled the situation… perhaps I should have spoken up, drawn more attention to her. But as I said in the letter… I pick and choose my battles.I did what I thought was best at the time and for us.  That was one I just did not have the energy to deal with. I needed to focus on my boy and his therapy.

And for those of you who think I am some type of angel well guess what…I am not perfect. Sometimes the Mama Bear in me escapes and instead of dealing with things with grace and dignity, I lash out. And yes I do believe in educating people and confronting them. I am not very proud of the way I have acted in the past and am making a conscious effort to take the high road. I am choosing to be happy and not bitter. It is not easy, but at the end of the day I definitely like who I see in the mirror better when I act this way.

I am so glad I wrote that letter. Because of it, I have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people (like you).  I dream of a world filled with love, compassion, empathy and at the very least tolerance. Perhaps that is why it hurts so much when I see the other side. What I have realized from all of your comments and emails is just how much farther we need to go. How much harder we must fight to bring not just awareness but ACCEPTANCE! We owe it to our kids… to ourselves.

I am not sure if the letter I wrote is the answer… but it certainly got some conversations going, and well that is a start. So I ask you to do me a favor… please keep it going. Forward it on not just to the parents of other special need children… but to all. The only way to make the “eye rolling” stop is to educate people. We need to remind  everyone that our children are watching everything we do. If we want to raise a generation of compassionate kids… we too must be compassionate to one another!

To all of you have written to me and/or shared my letter… Thank you! Seriously from the bottom of my heart… THANK YOU! Because of you we are one step closer to the world I dream of!

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Wordless Wednesday- 1,000 FANS MEANS CAKE!

Posted on April 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Things To Do When You Are Home Sick- by my 8 year old daughter Gracie

Posted on March 29, 2012 | 10 Comments

Mama’s Editor’s Note: Okay folks my daughter wrote this and asked that I share it with you all. It is so cute I had too! Feel free to leave Gracie a comment and make sure to check out the story we wrote together (mostly her I just typed) while she was home. It is found under Gracie’s Turn Now Tab above. Okay without further ado… Gracie’s post!

Hey folks, it’s Gracie here. First, I’d like to apologize. I know I haven’t written a post in a while. HEY, girls are busy. O.K. the last couple of days I’ve been sick. YUCK. At first I was a bit bored. But then I decided to make a list of things to do while you are home from school sick.

THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARE HOME SICK

1) Watch T.V.

2) Catch up on some Z’s

3) Draw pictures (that always makes me feel better. Probably because I’m an awesome artist! Judge for yourself.)

4) Watch more T.V.

5) Make sure to take your medicine after lunch, or else your mac & cheese will taste like bubble gum

6) Play with Stanley (a.k.a. my dog!!!)

7) Even MORE T.V.

8) Read a book when you are supposed to be napping

9) Cuddle with mom

10) Do all the makeup work that your teacher sends home with your big brother

Although it sounds like a lot of fun (except the medicine… and the homework packet) I was really excited to go back to school today and see my friends. Gotta go… mom just walked in and she saw number 8! But now she saw number 9 so I am off the hook!

Love, Gracie

P.S. Another thing I did while home sick was write a story with my mom. It is really good too. Check out One Talented Mutt in my Gracie’s Turn section. (It’s all about my dog Stanley and a royal sandwich… oh and by the way, The Evil Wizard was based on my brother Jay! HA HA )

 

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