Last year, my kiddo (age 7), freaked out just going house to house and we couldn’t drive by our local Walgreens without her being scared of the monsters hanging in their windows.
So, how do you combat the scary holiday?
With these awesome Ideas from Soft Clothing!
Plus, their new prints have free shipping!
A while back, I was asked to participate in a review of the online tool called My Job Chart. Marketing with Moms was offering a $10 gift card to anyone who participated and I figured we could use a new tool to keep our crazy household on track, plus, we love Target.
Well, anyone who is familiar with our family knows that plans often don’t work out. I want to thank MWM because I got the gift card right away. However we just didn’t find the time or find that the job chart program was going to work for us.
My youngest could care less about doing chores or the rewards that can come with doing them. She did not get excited about this new tool at any point. Despite the fact that she can have her own photo attached to her tasks in our account, she didn’t care. She’s a camera hound, so this surprised me some. But keep reading to see our Target shopping trip photos.
My oldest thinks she too good for this kind of stuff and to be honest, getting her to do something on a schedule is like pulling teeth. She’ll take the trash out when asked, but other than that, forget about it.
So, let me just list some of the benefits of the program that I was hopeful about even though we didn’t get to use them.
As the mom(or dad) you get a log in to the entire account and can set up profiles for everyone in the household. I could see this being used a group or work account as well.
Each profile (your kids, hubby, ect) get their own login and can update the tasks as they get done. This seems good becaus they can update their own jobs while you aren’t there to do it. Lets say you are at work, you’ll get an email when they update their session.
Each profile gets their own photo. You can assign whatever points value you want for each task and you decide what rewards each person gets for tasks done.
There are video tutorials that help you figure out how to use each tool.
Here’s the best part. It’s FREE!
So, while we didn’t get much use out of the My Job Chart site, I think most other people could. It did provide a fun shopping trip for my daughter and I and I have funny photos to prove it. So, once again, thanks to Marketing with Moms for the gift card.
I’m sitting here because the girls’ dad never picked them up. first it was Friday afternoon, then it was early Saturday morning, then it was this morning, and he called about a half hour ago to say he was finally back in town and would be here soon. He went back to truck driving cross country several months ago and it has been a disaster ever since. Between 3 different companies, no one could get him home when they said they would. He hasn’t been here to help with the girls or give my mom and I a break that we both need.
I feel a little tiny bit guilty here, because I know there are a ton of other parents out there who do not get a break. But this is about me and my family. they can vent on their own blogs, right?
Anyway, as much as it annoys the hell out of me to get screwed out of my weekend plans, it is harder on Nove Mber. She feels her emotions on a much more base level and instead of getting angry or disappointed over him not being here when he says he will, she just doesn’t want anything to do with him.
Can’t blame her. It’s how I feel too. However, I know this is a reaction to the schedule being so chaotic for several months, because before this, she loved going with her dad on the weekends. He was the fun one, the playful one. He got to be super dad. Yeah, that pissed me off too. He got all the fun and I had to be the one with discipline and rules and schedules to meet. Not fair. and I’m feeling it. and so is she.
I think I will end this before he gets here and I tear him a new…. well, you know. I’m so angry and hurt for Nove, that I could just cry. Not to mention my own feelings.
We found these helpful resources last year that are worth looking at again. They may offer help and information for you and your special needs child.
Games:
Mouse Trail Fun animated online exercises to help kids with autism (likely for any child)
Exercises:
Fernridge Press Therapy for Behavior Problems, Learning Problems, ADD and Autism.
General Help:
Patient Advocate The National Financial Resources Guidebook for Patients: A State by State Directory of information for patients seeking financial relief for a broad range of needs including housing, utilities, food, transportation to medical treatment, and children’s resources.
Here is a case in point;
Last Thursday, Nove had a meltdown at the end of the day when she couldn’t or wouldn’t complete some work before playing with her new found friend (the para teacher’s daughter). It turned into a kicking, screaming, walk down the hallway. Nove couldn’t explain to us at home what had happened until the next morning after she refused to go to school. Then, she could only explain a little bit of the issue.
So, yesterday (monday) she came home from her dad’s house with a stuffy nose and big bad cold. Now, normally, I wouldn’t attribute the cold with the meltdown since they were several days apart, but I don’t know for certain when she actually presented with the physical symptoms since she was with her dad for a few days and I didn’t see her.
But, we saw the same behaviors several times throughout the year last year and had back up from one of the case managers who was made aware of the situations. He was able to see it happen several times before school was out though none of us usually “see” it until she actually presents with a runny nose, fever, or other physical symptom.
Think about it this way, when you get a cold, you feel tired, achey, run down. You can tell someone what you feel. Kids with Autism or other special needs probably can’t. They often have verbal or communications delays or impairments, so when they feel run down, they may not be able to tell anyone what that feeling is. They may not even be aware that they don’t feel good, but only notice their frustration and anger levels are pretty low.
So, do your kids act out, melt down, or otherwize fall apart when they first begin to get sick?
Last year, I had Erik and Jeanie on my radio show to talk about their journey through getting the medical diagnosis for their son, Graham.
Autism Like; Graham’s Story Interview with Erik Linthorst
So many of their son’s behaviors are like my own daughter’s behaviors and we have struggled to put a definite name to her disorders. Grahams story outlines Autism and Autistic Like symptoms that are not firmly in the realm of Autism. I wanted to share a note from Erik to me about World Autism Awareness Day and give everyone a link to listen in to our recorded interview.
Dear Jenn,
Next Friday, April 2, is World Autism Awareness Day. To me, it seems like the
perfect day to remind parents: It’s Not Always Autism. Your radio program
is an important grassroots source of information, inspiration and comfort for
parents trying to help their children. Thank you for telling your own stories,
and spreading the word about Autistic Like: Graham’s Story.
Every week I get email and traffic from your website, so I thought I
would send this update about our year with Graham, the issues and the
movie- -I hope you will pass it along, post this note or give me a call to
get some info for a fresh post on April 2.
THE MINI SEQUEL IS COMING! Please check our website www.autisticlike.com
this summer, when I plan to post a short movie showing Graham’s progress
over the past couple of years. Many moms, dads and professionals write to
ask how Graham is doing, so I wanted to let you see for yourself!
THE ISSUES ARE ADVANCING The push to have Sensory Processing Disorder
Recognized in the DSM-5 is moving forward. An interesting development:
While Asperger’s Syndrome will likely be folded into the Autism diagnosis,
there is still a chance that SPD will be defined discretely, which could help
many families get coverage for therapy. You can add your voice at
spdfoundation.net/dsmvcomments.html
AUTISTIC-LIKE:GRAHAM’S STORY has had a wonderful year screening
around the world. The film has won two awards, was selected for nine
film festivals and has been seen by audiences on every continent in over
125 venues! I have traveled with the film to an international child welfare
conference in Ireland and later this month I will present the film to a University
in Monterrey, Mexico. Every week I hear from parents and professionals who
screen the film in schools, clinics, teleconferences and homes. Later this
year I will present the film to special educators in Alberta, Canada and I
continue to travel all around the US to professional conferences and parent
gatherings, screening the movie and talking with people about the issues.
We are still searching for a broadcast outlet and talking with distributors and
welcome any ideas you have for getting on your local PBS stations. Thanks to
Bahamian Television for being our first broadcast!
Again, many, many thanks to you for your support of the film and the many good
wishes sent to me, Graham and Jennie. Here’s to another year of making a difference
for kids who are Autistic-Like. Please stay in touch.
Erik
Hi. I will not state the obvious.
Okay, I guess I have to. It’s been a while since I wrote. I have my reasons. Don’t we all?
I’m back because I haven’t written about Nove’s progress in a while and since the school seems to have hit another wall with her, it’s time to dump my fear and frustrations again. 
School is nearly over. We have, what, 3 or 4 months left? It has flown by mostly because I don’t spend every day dreading that I will get a call from the school to come get my child. This is worlds better than last year. We have watched her work papers come home and can actually read Nove’s handwriting now. It is possibly neater than her 12 year old sister’s handwriting.
She knows her right and left and can accurately name them. She “gets” money even if she still isn’t sure of which coin is which. She goes the bathroom unassisted when reminded, and often all on her own without a reminder.
So, what’s gone wrong? Her teacher writes that Nove has been refusing to do her work. They have taken away her option to go spend time with the home room class, music and ……… well, whatever else they thought would work. Apparently nothing has. Welcome to the wonderful, wacky world of Nove.
They ask that we reinforce their efforts by denying Nove fun things at home when she hasn’t done her work at school. They started sending home daily sheets with her behaviors and accomplishments (or lack thereof). Just this week the papers came home. It took a few days to discuss and decide what to try at home, because, just like at the school, Nove doesn’t always care about what she is allowed or not allowed to do at home.
We’ve decided that she’ll get reduced time on the computer because that seems to be what she most enjoys. Last night she did not care. Tonight, the timer was set and she got off when it rang. No argument, no hissy fit.
She’s not fighting going to school. She gets ready, seems happy, and even smiles and waves from her bus seat on some days.
The teacher said she doesn’t think anything has changed at school to set this off. We’ve shared what has changed at home, but I don’t believe it is the cause. The more I think about it, it seems to be an event, or person, or some thing at school that has set this off.
Nove isn’t talking. I’m left hanging.
I want to pass along this opportunity for professionals to help do an important product review and offer feedback for a line of clothing geared for kids with sensory differences. Here’s the info, please feel free to keep passing this on.
Greetings!
Feedback is very important to us at Soft. We have been testing samples of our adaptive clothing line for children with tactile sensitivity for over 2 years–surveying parents and kids on what works and what doesn’t. We continue to do this for each new round of design and production.
This time, before we go into production again for our next collection, we are hoping to get specific feedback from professionals in the field: Occupational therapists, physicians, special educators and more. Since you see such a range of sensitivity, and make recommendations to parents on therapeutic programs and approaches–your input will help us to be as inclusive as possible in our design.
If you are a professional in the field of Sensory Disorders, and wish to fill out a short survey on our clothing–we will send you a few samples to look at (and keep), and give us your feedback on. Participants will also receive a 10% off coupon on any Soft purchase. Please respond to this email, with the below information, and your package will go out today!!
Regards,
Jessica Ralli,
Director, Soft
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The movie was hard to watch for me. I lost too many family members to cancer and have no idea how to explain disease to my own child any better than it is done in the movie.
THE BOYS ARE BACK offers the moving tale of a single father suddenly responsible for raising two sons alone. Directed by Scott Hicks (Shine) and starring Clive Owen, the film is inspired by a true story of Australian Simon Carr. Bonus material includes a pictorial tour of the making of the film using Scott Hicks’ own photos, and a set visit with memoirist Simon Carr and his two sons.
While Clive and his younger son are so darn cute, I can’t forget they are actors, the storey is heart wrenching. It won’t be for a child to watch and unless you just really like to beat yourself over the head, I’m not sure I can say this is good for adults either.
I’d rather watch something happy. This movie, is not happy. Even in the end, when everyone decides they are better as a family even without a mom, both sons have lost their own mothers. One through death and one through choice.
The movie went to stores this last week and if you should so choose to induce tears non-stop, please go buy the darn thing. Make sure you buy a bonus pack of tissues though and don’t say I didn’t warn you.
MyBlogSpark.com and General Mills sent me coupons to try out their breakfast cereals recently. Thanks you two! Keep reading to see information on why breakfast is important and then to see what we got with our coupons.
General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.
Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children’s diets.
Other cereal benefits:
Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children’s diets.
Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child’s diet today.
More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.
While General Mills does make some Gluten Free products, I didn’t see one specifically in the cereal isle, but you can visit their gluten free links here to find out more.
You can get $1.00 off any General Mills Cereal by going here to print it on your own computer.
By future father in law’s doctor told him recently that she’s been losing weight by eating something first thing after waking up, so keep that mind and have a bowl for yourself!
We bought these with our coupons and suprise, suprise, the healthy one is for my soon to be 12 year old. She chose it!
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