Okay I just gotta gripe. I live near Chicago and my family and I are regular visitors of the zoo and the many museums around here. And we are so blessed with these experiences! However, in the name of being "environmentally friendly" in the bathroom we are freaking out a whole bunch of people with SPD!
1. Automatic flushers scare the beejezus out of both of my boys. I appreciate that ones that go up for #1 and down for a #2. And I know that some people can't be bothered to flush, and seriously, get over yourself and just flush already! It's gross, nobody wants to see it. Anyway, my boys don't like not knowing when this is gonna go off! It's enough to handle it when they know the flush noise is coming, let alone not knowing! And yes I know the post-it-note trick, I just don't always think to have those in addition to all the other sensory things I already carry!
2. Automatic hand dryers or hand dryers of any sort. Please provide paper towels or my sons will be wildly waving their hands around in the air or better yet wiping them on their pants. I guess I should carry some of those with too.
3. Smells. Yes, body waste smells, however, those nasty deodorizers smell worse. So, now, imagine if you will...my son's are both with me, in the handicapped stall, both have their hands to their ears due to the flushing and hand dryers. I have to help them sit (they both sit still) or hold their ears so they can do it. All the while trying to keep them, and myself from upchucking due to the nasty deodorizer smell, which really just mingles with the body waste smell to make even someone not sensitive to smells wanna vomit :(
So what would I love? A family bathroom with a door/walls around the toilet. Why? Because my BOYS are 3 and 6 and have questions about things on my body. And where do I put them when I go? Anyway, back to my "dream" public bathroom....one with walls/door around the toilet. One with both hand dryers (for those who want) and towels for those who don't. One without an automatic flusher (or one that doesn't go off for 5 minutes!) Some way to vent fresh air into the room rather than the stale air of the building, and throw out the nasty deodorizers! While you are at it can you make it pink or purple? I am the only girl in a house with 3 boys! Thanks ;)
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
The Lethal Combo
A tired, anxious, counting-down-the-days-to-Christmas, SPD child and one tired super PMS momma, do not a good combination make :(
Early bedtimes for all and tomorrow is a new day!
And I did apologize when I put him to bed for yelling. Just wish I would have been able to restrain it better, know it was the SPD and not just him being a "brat". I held back some of what came into my mind to say, just wish I could have stayed calmer. Oh well, I am sure I will be tested similarly again and I hope I do better next time!
Early bedtimes for all and tomorrow is a new day!
And I did apologize when I put him to bed for yelling. Just wish I would have been able to restrain it better, know it was the SPD and not just him being a "brat". I held back some of what came into my mind to say, just wish I could have stayed calmer. Oh well, I am sure I will be tested similarly again and I hope I do better next time!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Vacation Let Down-why they are so important!!!
My husband and I *just* got back tonight from a fantastic 3 day trip to New Orleans. I can't say enough about the city, I could seriously move there tomorrow. We went, sans kiddos, to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We were long overdue for some time for just us. We often send our kids away for a night here and there, but haven't gone away ourselves for over 10 months-and that was just downtown Chicago-only 30 minutes from where we live. About 3 months ago I told my hubby that we needed to GO AWAY for this anniversary. We needed some time off. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my boys and missed them terribly. However, it was awesome to be able to go out together and not be "separated" by the boys. We could converse and hold each other's hands, not our kids. We had the BEST time! I miss NOLA already ;)
Now comes the let down. And while mine is there, and the fun of having my husband all to myself, this is more of my son's. Our 3 year old faired pretty well. He was so excited to see us when we arrived just before bedtime tonight. He had chatted with us on Skype twice this week. He really liked seeing my husband and I and talking with us. Our older son, doesn't not like Skype or the phone. And he is the one with the "let down".
So far he has had two bathroom accidents, one of each variety. And I got a recap of a fire safety movie when we were tucking him into bed-3 times. We tried to keep things as normal as we could but when other people are taking care of them, different things are going to happen. And it's really gonna be okay! He has to learn to "roll" with things on occasion. Life can't always be controlled and predictable. Of the 3 nights, only one was spent in a different house, and he was in school all day, which is the same and fairly predictable. His teacher was well warned of what was going to happen. Thankfully, neither of the bathroom accidents happened at school.
What do you do when your kid has a fairly severe case of SPD? If you are married, you invest in your marriage! You go, and pick up the pieces when you get home! Our job (my husband and I) as parents is to equip these little fledglings to one day fly from our nest. I don't want to look over on that day, and see a stranger married to me. And my sons need to learn to deal with different authority figures. Now I don't think that my husband and I will be able to plan a 14 day vacation anytime soon, nor could we afford it, but 3 days was just perfect. Enough time to reconnect and dream together again. And just enough time for our son to cope with some changes, but not to the point he was overwhelmed.
Now comes the let down. And while mine is there, and the fun of having my husband all to myself, this is more of my son's. Our 3 year old faired pretty well. He was so excited to see us when we arrived just before bedtime tonight. He had chatted with us on Skype twice this week. He really liked seeing my husband and I and talking with us. Our older son, doesn't not like Skype or the phone. And he is the one with the "let down".
So far he has had two bathroom accidents, one of each variety. And I got a recap of a fire safety movie when we were tucking him into bed-3 times. We tried to keep things as normal as we could but when other people are taking care of them, different things are going to happen. And it's really gonna be okay! He has to learn to "roll" with things on occasion. Life can't always be controlled and predictable. Of the 3 nights, only one was spent in a different house, and he was in school all day, which is the same and fairly predictable. His teacher was well warned of what was going to happen. Thankfully, neither of the bathroom accidents happened at school.
What do you do when your kid has a fairly severe case of SPD? If you are married, you invest in your marriage! You go, and pick up the pieces when you get home! Our job (my husband and I) as parents is to equip these little fledglings to one day fly from our nest. I don't want to look over on that day, and see a stranger married to me. And my sons need to learn to deal with different authority figures. Now I don't think that my husband and I will be able to plan a 14 day vacation anytime soon, nor could we afford it, but 3 days was just perfect. Enough time to reconnect and dream together again. And just enough time for our son to cope with some changes, but not to the point he was overwhelmed.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Ideas for older Students
Please comment under this any ideas you have for older, 4th grade and up, students. I am making a presentation for my son's private K-8 school in less than a week. I have a presentation that is geared mainly to Early Childhood, as that is how old my son is, and it was an Early Childhood Conference that I first presented this information too.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Mommy and Daddy Time
The hubby and I are about to embark on a 3 day whirlwind, trip to New Orleans. This is the longest I have been away from the kids in their whole lives. I am so excited to spend 3 days with my husband and start the celebration of 10 years of marriage! However, I am equally scared to leave my boys. They will spend one night at a friend's house and then 2 nights at home, and then we are back. Trying for minimal disruption for the SPD kiddo and his somewhat sensitive brother. All we can do is wait and see......
Friday, September 9, 2011
Our conversation at bedtime tonight :D
I am remembering this the best I can.....I soooo wish I would have had a recording device!!!!
P:"Mom, Carrie died. I miss her". Me, "I know honey, we all do". (Carrie was in his class last year and lost her 6 year battle with a brain tumor this past Saturday at the age of 7 :( We attended her funeral together on Wednesday)
P: "How did she get to Heaven?"; Me:"Jesus came and carried her to Heaven."
P: "How?"; Me:"Well Jesus can do anything, He's amazing. He carried Carrie, like he carried Grandma Schuller and Grandpa Jerry."
P:" And Mrs. Ullman too." (at this point I am crying-Mrs. Ullman was a beloved Sunday School teacher who died of rare bladder cancer at the beginning of June)"I still miss Carrie." Me:"I know, and Jesus knows too. He comes and gives us hugs when we are sad."
P:"He gives us hugs when we are sad with His hands, just like you mom." (momma trying to hold back tears) Me:"Yes, honey, just like that."
P:"Jesus loves us mommy." Me:"Yes, Jesus loves you even more than I do." P:"Jesus loves me like you do, and he takes us to His house in Heaven when we die."
There there was some more conversation about Jesus and prayer and talking to God and Jesus. Then he comes back with:"Church is God's house. Our church in Munster, Indiana-you can see his eye (those of you who have been in our church you know that there is a huge stained glass eye shape above the alter). He doesn't talk there because you can't see his other eye or his nose or mouth." (okay so that had me giggle a bit!)
Then the conversation turned to us on the Earth...worms that live in the Earth.....then to subway trains should be called "earth trains" like worms are called "earth worms".I almost hated to make his little tired brain go to sleep-and still wished I had tape recorded this conversation!
And I also know that I need to not talk like he isn't listening. He hears it all and processes more than I realize.
P:"Mom, Carrie died. I miss her". Me, "I know honey, we all do". (Carrie was in his class last year and lost her 6 year battle with a brain tumor this past Saturday at the age of 7 :( We attended her funeral together on Wednesday)
P: "How did she get to Heaven?"; Me:"Jesus came and carried her to Heaven."
P: "How?"; Me:"Well Jesus can do anything, He's amazing. He carried Carrie, like he carried Grandma Schuller and Grandpa Jerry."
P:" And Mrs. Ullman too." (at this point I am crying-Mrs. Ullman was a beloved Sunday School teacher who died of rare bladder cancer at the beginning of June)"I still miss Carrie." Me:"I know, and Jesus knows too. He comes and gives us hugs when we are sad."
P:"He gives us hugs when we are sad with His hands, just like you mom." (momma trying to hold back tears) Me:"Yes, honey, just like that."
P:"Jesus loves us mommy." Me:"Yes, Jesus loves you even more than I do." P:"Jesus loves me like you do, and he takes us to His house in Heaven when we die."
There there was some more conversation about Jesus and prayer and talking to God and Jesus. Then he comes back with:"Church is God's house. Our church in Munster, Indiana-you can see his eye (those of you who have been in our church you know that there is a huge stained glass eye shape above the alter). He doesn't talk there because you can't see his other eye or his nose or mouth." (okay so that had me giggle a bit!)
Then the conversation turned to us on the Earth...worms that live in the Earth.....then to subway trains should be called "earth trains" like worms are called "earth worms".I almost hated to make his little tired brain go to sleep-and still wished I had tape recorded this conversation!
And I also know that I need to not talk like he isn't listening. He hears it all and processes more than I realize.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
I'll even take the meltdown today....
Heaven gained a dear sweet angel on Saturday morning. Carrie no longer has cancer or pneumonia or a blood infection. God made her perfect and whole once again. :(
My son fell into a futon (of his own clumsiness) and has a huge gash in his lower lip (fully inside, no stitches) and knocked his two upper front (baby) teeth loose-neither of the bottom teeth are loose yet. He is on no gym, recess, or other rambunctious behavior until they heal. :(
Tonight he had an epic meltdown-over not setting the table. Of which when asked he told me he didn't want to. I gave his brother the job and he lost it. Stomping and crying and yelling. Not wanting to eat dinner. It took well over a 1/2 hour and me moving his plate back to the counter for him to set, and get his sticker, before he calmed down.
I'm gonna guess one or both of the above problems is triggering this. Carrie's funeral is tomorrow, we are going. I decided that the wake would be too much for him this week. We are also taking him home 1/2 day, as he is on a soft food diet for 7-10 days. :(
But he's here with me, for better or worse. So is his little brother, who also has been having epic meltdowns-he just got potty trained and started preschool today. Hopefully, we have many more tomorrows. I'm not sure how I would handle it, if there were no more :(
My son fell into a futon (of his own clumsiness) and has a huge gash in his lower lip (fully inside, no stitches) and knocked his two upper front (baby) teeth loose-neither of the bottom teeth are loose yet. He is on no gym, recess, or other rambunctious behavior until they heal. :(
Tonight he had an epic meltdown-over not setting the table. Of which when asked he told me he didn't want to. I gave his brother the job and he lost it. Stomping and crying and yelling. Not wanting to eat dinner. It took well over a 1/2 hour and me moving his plate back to the counter for him to set, and get his sticker, before he calmed down.
I'm gonna guess one or both of the above problems is triggering this. Carrie's funeral is tomorrow, we are going. I decided that the wake would be too much for him this week. We are also taking him home 1/2 day, as he is on a soft food diet for 7-10 days. :(
But he's here with me, for better or worse. So is his little brother, who also has been having epic meltdowns-he just got potty trained and started preschool today. Hopefully, we have many more tomorrows. I'm not sure how I would handle it, if there were no more :(
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