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My Job Chart review

By Jenn
27
Apr
2010

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.

Category: Uncategorized, autism, give a way, products  Tags: , , , , , ,  2 Comments

refusal of school today – 11/25/09

By Jenn
25
Nov
2009

Nove doesn’t want to go to school today. She started last night at bed time working herself up over not wanting to go to school today.

I’m  not sure what the change is. We thought it might be that she’s getting ill, or maybe the holiday coming up.

Either way, she’s not going today. It is the day before Thanksgiving break.

 

 

 

This will be a chronical of my child’s issues with school – Is it hard work, social discomfort, or something else?

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Sorry, I’ve been missing

By Jenn
24
Nov
2009

I got to a place where all I could see was darkness. Lack of consistency from my ex husband in his schedule threw me off and, consequently, threw off my girls too.

I lost my grand father a few months back and it dredged up too many memories, both good and bad, that really did me in emotionally. When I realised that I could rarely find the good in situations, and that my misery was blocking out my children, I had to step away from focusing on disability and “special needs” all the time.

If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you’ll know that it isn’t just one of my kids with issues. It is both of my daughters, and my mother, all of whom, I live with. It became less of a home, and more of a prison. Coming home meant having to take over for mom who probably didn’t feel well and may have had her own meltdown, or was in the process of one as I walked in the door. Taking over, means trying to reason with or calm down my youngest with autism and console or reason with my oldest who gets angry when faced with anger thanks to her own ADHD.

I resented everyone of them. I still do a little. It often feels like I’m the only adult in the household and often, that’s not far from the truth.

So, I took some time off from writing and publishing the radio show at special needs kids talk radio.  I may be back on a more regular basis, but don’t count on it with the holidays coming and school schedules changing. Just wish me luck and keep me in your thoughts.

Before I go for today, I wanted to point out that I’ve changed blogging platforms. Mostly because I needed the option to be able to schedule posts. It may well help in getting more writing done.

I’ve also signed up through several places to offer reviews and write sponsored posts, but don’t worry, I’ll do my best to make sure they still fit within the theme of this blog and I promise I won’t tell you I like something if I really don’t. Ever.

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Autism and twins, study proves increased risk

By Jenn
08
Nov
2009

Last year I had the mother of twins with autism on the radio show and while we touched on the rumor that there was a direct link between twins and autism, we didnt get to in depth.

But, recently a new study says “There is a substantially higher risk of autism in identical twins as compared to fraternal twins.” according to Tina Cruz and her article at examiner.com

To view Tina’s whole article, click here: Study confirms higher incidence of autism among identitical twins

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Tactile safe bedding for this holiday

By Jenn
06
Nov
2009
 
One of the things on our Christmas gift list this year is bedding for my girls. Both of them are pretty sensitive to touch, so things like fabric are important to get right or they won’t use their clothing, blankets, or even sit on a chair.  

Kat, the oldest is also very much into the darker things right now, like Twilight and skulls with crossbones. She’s still kinda girly too, so even the sculls have to have some pink. 

Nove, on the other hand, rarely shows much care about what things look like, but the tactile feeling is super important! If it’s itchy, scratchy or a funky texture, she won’t sleep.   

So, when I got the opportunity to shop Kohls Bedding was drawn to the Daisy Fuentes bedding in black and white for Kat with a 300 threadcount. The basic colors will coordinate with anything and the delicate flowers are still girly.  
Nove happens to really like the Transformers right now, so the Transformers bedding and coordinates would be fun for her to get. Even if she just got a throw pillow, she’d be happy. The prices are really good too, I think. It’s been a while since I’ve shopped bedding, but the prices seem pretty reasonable to me. 

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Win a Betty Crocker “Simply Joys” prize pack – Gluten Free!

By Jenn
07
Oct
2009

Register to win before 11/10/09. Follow instructions below to get qualified!

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1 of my readers will get a Betty Crocker “Simple Joys” prize pack mailed direct to you, brought to you by Myblogspark and Special Needs Kids Talk Radio!

Betty Crocker Fruit-Flavored Snacks are a snack choice you can feel good about – they are made with real fruit and each serving is less than 100 calories! Now every kid can enjoy the simple joy of a fun, great tasting gluten free snack.

If you should win, you’ll get a Betty Crocker “Simple Joys” prize pack that includes 2 packages of Betty Crocker Fruit-Flavored Snacks, a retro Pick `em Up Sticks game, a light-up yo-yo and a classic Frisbee.

My girls, 7 and 11, tore through the fruit roll ups in the first couple of days and we have a few of the New Create a Bug fruit flavored snacks left. What’s better than the snaks?

We played with the Pick “em up Sticks game for hours! It can help develope concentration and dexterity for those who have poor motor skills. It also helps kids learn colors and counting when you have to count up each stick’s point value.

When the weather gets nice again (next spring) we’ll use the frisbee too, but my older daughter has been walking around with the yo-yo for a week knocking it into the floor, the wall and almost my head.

For more information on the Betty Crocker Fruit-Flavored Snacks, go to my Wichita Special Needs Kids examiner.com page and then come back here to leave a comment.

Every comment as outlined below will count as one entry to win the prize pack.

1. Sign up to get my examiner.com articles while you are at my page. If you already do, then great. Leave a comment saying you’ve done so.

2. Tell me if you or your kids have tried these Betty Crocker products and what you think of them.

3. Follow me on twitter and leave a comment that you did.

Make sure, you leave a correct email address so I can contact you if you win.
Contest ends October 23, 2009.
Winner will be picked through use of Random.org

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A recent interview with Temple Grandin – autism, animals, and learning

By Jenn
18
Sep
2009

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I’m  not alone in my interest of the work of Temple Grandin. Many parents have learned volumes from her speeches and books about the subject of autism.  

I found this interview from Nation Public Radio with Dr. Grandin where she discusses growing up with autism, designing better working conditions for cattle, and the current state of the autism community. Temple says she had difficulty with language because she thinks in pictures, but when you listen to her, her words ring true and are easy to understand. 

  If you know little about the autistic mind, listen and learn. If you think you know quite a bit, listen and learn some more.  

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The school of hard knocks for an autistic child’s mom

By Jenn
14
Sep
2009

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2nd grade hasn’t been smooth sailing, but so far, it seems less choppy water than last year was for Nove. She got sick and had a break down a couple weeks ago on a Thursday. We didn’t know she was sick yet and she couldn’t really explain why she was low on patience.  

Anyway, with some work, a doctor’s visit, a couple talks with the new Para Teacher and a little more patience on our part, she’s gone back to school without much trouble.   I posted on twitter when we discovered that she’d likely had her melt down because she was coming down with a cold. I asked for feedback from parents about their own child’s reaction to getting a cold or other illness. Only one person responded, but it was in loud agreement that their own son does the same thing. Funny thing is, looking back, I was under the weather at about the same time and was very cranky about everything too.  

Lately everything seems really overwhelming to me. I have stepped back from many former obligations and reduced greatly the amount of things I’m doing. Sleep comes often and at suprising times. Depression? A viral infection? Allergies? Surprisingly though, Nove has improved to a degree that I actually have managed to cope without completely falling apart.  

She came home and told me about an art project they did, along with how her Para Teacher’s 7th grade daughter came to play on the computer with her. It wasn’t in great detail but was more than she ever was able to articulate last year. I’m so very thankful to the work the case management team did with her over the summer because it was their work, the one on one time and effort with her and her camp peers that brought her level of communication to where it is now.     

 And I see now, that the actual reason I sat down to make a post has turned into something else…. so it must be time for bed.   CiaoJenn B

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Free Baby Samples, Free Baby Widgets, Free Baby Products

By Jenn
10
Sep
2009

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If you are expecting and want something to attach to your website, blog, or email, you might check out this site with Free Baby Widgets.  

The widgets they offer come in 3 different styles with a “what color will my baby’s eyes be”, “how many days til delivery”, and a diaper calculator. They would also be fun for friends and relatives to use and share.  

The site also offers free samples and links to free baby products and offers. It’s been 7 years since I  had a baby, but I think it would have been a lot of fun to have access to this information back then.  

You can also follow them on Twitter to keep up to date on their newest offers.

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