15 Easy New Year’s Resolutions You Can Keep

On January 15, 2022January 9, 2022 By Motivate. Innovate. Relate.In Behavior, goals, Motivate, new years resolution, Special Needs2 Comments

We are halfway through January and (with all the spikes in COVID cases) and the holiday hullabaloo behind us, perhaps you have forgotten about New Year’s Resolutions. It can be easy to get lost in the fast-paced world of life and then feel like you are already behind.

Not to worry. I have compiled some of my top 15 favorite resolutions I have done (and some I continue to do) to help inspire you and your family to live a more animated life. Many of these are simple, measurable goals that won’t leave you feeling guilty at the end of the month (or next year).

1. Read a new book each month: This is a great one to do alone or with your spouse or friend. It is also a measurable goal and easy to do. Find new books that interest you and read them. I like to read with my hubby before bed. This is a great way to be intimate with each out and have a date night for free. Or, I have also enjoyed book clubs. Clubs are a great way to meet new friends and get out of the house.

2. Do something creative each month: This is a fun one. I have found using a subscription service to be helpful. Monthly getting a box of something new and creative to do brings a little more joy to the mailbox and the house. I then use what was created to decorate my house. Cratejoy has a ton of subscriptions for all ages.

3. Discover one new place each month: We all get into the habit of eating at the same places, going to the same places, and doing the same things. This is great for those of us who like routine. But, life is not routine (as much as I wish kit were sometimes). It is good for us to shake things up. So go out and explore your neighborhood or the world for that matter. Try something new and make some new memories.

4. Sleep better: This is one I try to do all the time. Sleep helps us function better during the day, have better relationships, think better, and so much more. Sleep is also what a lot of kids and teenagers struggle with. For some great steps on how to help with this, check out this blog on 10 Steps to a Better Night’s Sleep.

Exercise is good for your health. If a T-Rex can do it with short hands a big head, you can too.

5. Exercise more: I know, this sounds like every other resolution you have heard. And you would be right. But, let’s face it, we all work in front of screens, socialize in front of screens, get entertained in front of screens. Our bodies were not designed to just sit. Our bodies thrive on movement. We get endorphins, are happier, and look nicer in that swimsuit (summer is just around the corner) or jeans. But this doesn’t have to be a do-or-die goal. Make it simple. Just plan to incorporate a walk after work with dogs, or a run in the morning with your son, or just get on YouTube and enjoy a quick 25–60-minute workout. Make it a social thing and do it with a friend.

Eat better. Not less.

6. Eat better: I love food. I also like a healthy family. Gut health affects brain health. Gut health effects are particularly strong for those with neuro and sensory needs. We have learned how to incorporate healthy (on a budget) and enjoy really good food. The more colorful our plate the yummier our food tastes. Many of our daily recipes we use for entertaining as well and hear only “oo’s” and “awes.” Need help getting started? Check out these simple recipes.

Do something new.

7. Do something new each month: Sometimes I feel like I get in a rut. The best way to get me out of a rut is to try something new. Sometimes this is a new experience altogether (new food, new museum, etc.), but it can be as low-key or extreme as you wish. I know someone who used this resolution to give him the guts to go sky diving and another who used it to travel the world. Just recently, I did this by helping replace our stove range. It can be simple and little or something you need to get done on a budget or something big and grand. Enjoy.

Family night – a time for fun and family.

8. Monthly family night: Life gets busy fast. With sports teams, music lessons, study sessions, games, and friends, it can seem like your child is a roommate (who doesn’t help with the bills) the older they get. Take the family back. We like a daily mealtime together. But once a day over dinner (sometimes breakfast) is not enough. We like a monthly family night when we play games, watch movies with popcorn, or roast marshmallows by the fire. This is especially great when hubby is on swing shifts or 14-hour day shifts. We can plan a time together and not feel like it is crammed into the schedule.

9. Self-care: This is a hard one for me. My older sister has been encouraging me to do this for years. As a mom, it is easy to forget to take care of yourself. Truth be told, I haven’t even had a haircut since 2019! It is just easier to ensure my family has what they need and want first. But self-care doesn’t have to be hard or cumbersome. Have a glass of wine with friends on a Friday night. I like working out with friends (making friends and getting healthier). I love going to farmer’s markets and enjoying the sites and smells. Sometimes there is nothing better than snuggling under a blanket and reading. The important thing is that you take the time to plan for it. Because if you do not plan for it, you never will get it.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Gandhi

10. Serve someone else: The season of giving is winding down. But it doesn’t have to end. No matter the season, serving someone else is so good for all involved. Sometimes we just need to get out of our heads and focusing on the negative. The best way to do this is to serve someone else. This might mean teaching Sunday School at your church or volunteering with the babies. Or, it might mean sitting with your elderly neighbor an hour a week and reading to them or learning about their incredible life! Fear has taken hold the last two years, our elders have survived wars, sickness, and so much more. Learn and grow from their strength. Or volunteer at the local elementary school teaching how to read or simply cutting out and printing worksheets for the overworked teacher.

11. 365 days of gratitude: This one is so important to me. It was a resolution I had years ago and practice I continue. Gratitude is so important because it changes our perspective and often calms us down (preventing us from doing something stupid). Being thankful in all circumstances is a great way to not only change your world but the whole world. If we all just found one thing daily to be grateful for, imagine the difference in attitudes we would have.

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

12. Monthly Date Night: I love date night! I covet date night! Having a date night is hard with a special needs kid. It is hard for military families who always move. It is hard for families with multiple kids who just have so much going on. Date night does not have to be a big deal. It is there to build and strengthen a relationship with someone you already love. Here are 12 great date night ideas we use and still keep in budget.

Helping people is right.

13. Service Project/Awareness monthly: There is so much pain in the world and so few people know about it, much less do anything about it. Take 12 months and learn about different issues (local and global). At the end of the year, pick one that you became passionate about and get involved. Serve. Do a campaign of awareness. Donate. Just do something about it. Be the change in the world.

Learn something and better yourself.

14. Take a Class: I know, most adults hate school. That is because we were forced to go to school growing up learning about things we don’t like. Our kids currently hate it for the same reason. But learning doesn’t have to be torture. Take a class with your kids (or just yourself) and learn something new. Always want to learn a new language? Do it. Duolingo is a free way to start and see if you like it. Want to learn a new hobby? Take a class at Hobby Lobby or Lowes. Want to be able to make your car repairs? Take a class at the local community college. Be open to learning more things. Learning new things is fun and healthy – and can help prevent diseases like dementia.

15. Start letter writing: Screen fatigue is a real thing. It is happening more and more often in this post COVID world. Everything is on a screen. Zoom and Google Chat have taken over our lives. We like to take a step back, put out real paper and pen and compose a nice greeting or letter to a family member or friend. This is a great way to keep in touch over a distance and have a keepsake for the kids when they are older. Try just writing to one person. Or write to someone different monthly. It is so wonderful to see what comes back in the mail. Enjoy.

Whatever you pick for your resolution, I hope it helps bring joy and unity to your household. May you be covered in Peace, Love, and Joy this year. May the road rise to meet you and the wind be ever at your back.

7 Steps to Preventing Divorce Before It Starts

On September 22, 2020September 19, 2020 By Motivate. Innovate. Relate.In marriage, Motivate, Special Needs1 Comment

Divorce is messier than investing in your marriage

Marriage is a messy process. Hollywood would have us believe marriage is happily ever after all the time.

“We grew apart.” “We just wanted different things.” “We had irreconcilable differences.”

All of these things are often the reason for divorce. When they are simply saying the same thing – “We just didn’t invest in our marriage anymore; divorce was easier.”

Marriage is a choice. Daily. You must choose to love your spouse daily. Choose to put their needs above your own daily. Choose to see the good in them daily. Choose to work as a team daily.

There is a reason weddings have vows and licenses are needed for marriage. It is a heavy undertaking.

Once the “honeymoon” has worn off (and it will), and life really sets in (death in the family, sickness, special needs, pandemics), that is exactly when the marriage starts.

It is easy to “love” when people agree with you and life is going your way. It is a lot harder to love when you have been months out of work, or your spouse travels for work a lot, or your kids’ doctor’s appointments are never-ending and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

So how do you save your marriage before it fails?

Avoid parenting your partner

1. Avoid parenting your partner: I think this is harder for wives sometimes. Often the comment about kids includes their spouse. When we parent our partner, we are saying we don’t trust them as peers. We actually disrespect them as adult humans. We create a separation between us. Instead, partner parent and see how that deepens your marriage.

Embrace differences

2. Embrace differences: Remember when you were dating and you just loved how different your partner was? Being equally yoked is more than just a faith expression. A yoke was used to pair animals together to work together toward a common goal. It keeps animals moving in the same direction. But, it only works well if you pair the right animals together. A physically strong animal with a mentally strong animal is a great combination. Marriage is no different. You have been yoked together. Where I am weak, my husband is strong and vice versa. We pair well because we are different. Embrace this especially in the hard times (like when one wants to grieve a diagnosis and the other pushes forward or one is fighting post-partum and the other fights PTSD).

Be proactive in communication

3. Be proactive: Don’t let resentment build. I have so many people talk to me about how their partner doesn’t help parent, or clean, or spends too much time in front of the video game and not with their child. But, these same people do not express that to their partner – the person who needs to hear it the most. Ask for help sooner. If the laundry is becoming an issue, ask for help. If mopping is your downfall, ask for help. If you have to reschedule or re-order your schedule, ask for help. The point of marriage is to have a help-partner for life. When we stop being helpmates and instead, become roommates, we invite separation and seeds of divorce to be planted.

Good debate is healthy for a marriage

4. Argue and Debate: Hollywood has ingrained in western society that arguing is wrong and harmful to a romantic relationship. Hollywood is stupid. Healthy arguing leads to creative solutions and stronger bonds. I don’t recommend daily arguing, or insulting, or physically arguing, but a healthy argument and debate can lead to a deeper understanding of your partner, stronger family bonds, and some incredible solutions. Two different people are becoming one unit. Change takes works, time, and is painful. The orange tree doesn’t start with fruit. It must stretch and go through growing pains, fight off insects and strong powerful winds, and more before it has a single fruit. A good harvest is still years off at this point. Marriage is no different. Work. Argue. Learn. Grow.

Stay creative in your dating life

5. Get creative when it comes to romance: My husband and I have been on a handful of dinner and movie dates in the past six years. We have a weekly date night. It is easy to get comfortable and complacent in your date life. Don’t. Be creative. Think about the other person. Take turns planning it. Enjoy being silly or dressing up or just playing a game. Dates do not have to be dinner and a movie. Sitting in front of a movie where you can’t talk with your partner surrounded by a bunch of strangers is the farthest thing from a great date in my mind. I much prefer creating something together or playing a game. Check out these ideas for some creative date nights that won’t break the budget.

Thank you

6. Appreciate each other’s efforts: Share responsibility. Before we married, we discussed the division of duties. I dislike yard work. He dislikes laundry and mopping. We simply divided the chores. His domain is outside and mines inside. He is an excellent cook and I am a great teacher. He does dinner and I do homework. It is about balance, an equal yoke. No one should feel they have all the responsibility all the time. Remember, they are doing work and investing. Thank them. A “thank you, you are appreciated and valued,” goes a long way. Recognize the effort. Give a thank you card, or surprise present for no reason, or simply send an “I appreciate it when…” text to your partner and see how your marriage strengthens. The Love Dare is full of great ideas and resources for this to become a regular practice in your marriage.

Sleep

7. Sleep: Sleep is hard to come by the older you get. The lack of sleep leads to irritability, memory issues, anxiety, lower immune system functions, and so many other effects. When I have not been sleeping well, it shows in how I treat my spouse more than anyone else. Study after study, show the importance of sleep for our health. This translates to the health of our marriage as well. Don’t argue when tired. Table it. Don’t express frustration when tired. Table it. Don’t let yourself become sleep deprived in the first place. Talk about the quality and amount of sleep you are getting with your partner regularly. This will help them better understand you and may lead to some insight into the reason – ultimately leading to solutions that help you, your marriage, and your family completely.

For more ideas on how to strengthen your marriage, take a look at my Facebook page.

10 Steps to Teaching Responsibility and a Peaceful Household

On July 28, 2020July 25, 2020 By Motivate. Innovate. Relate.In homeschool, Independence, inspire, Motivate, motivation, Special Needs3 Comments

I had a very interesting conversation with some parents a little bit ago. They came over for dinner and heard me ask my child to do the dishes. Their jaws dropped!

“You have him do the dishes?!” They asked in astonishment.

“Yes. He has chores around the house.”

“Wait. He has more than doing the dishes? What else does he have to do?”

“Oh, clean his room and bathroom, feed the animals, pick up the dog poop, and fold and put away his laundry.”

“I think that is too much! He is a kid. Kids should be out playing and being creative. Their job is school and that is where it should end.”

To which I graciously responded. “You are right. He is a kid. For this short time, I have him, I am responsible for teaching him how the real world works. I have a full-time job as well. Then I teach him home school and take care of his social and health obligations. My house still needs cleaning, the laundry still needs to be done, and the dishes still need to be cleaned. Simply because I have a job that does not change the responsibilities at home. We have chosen to teach our son that as a family who resides in the same household, we all have responsibilities and must contribute.”

They sat in contemplative silence for the next five minutes and then agreed.

So, how do you teach responsibilities? What is too much? Where is the balance? Here are 10 easy steps to taking the work out of teaching work responsibilities.

1) Whose Responsibility? It is important to not just teach how chores are done but whose responsibility things are. For example, as a kid, I learned multiple instruments. If I forgot my instrument for band practice, I was not allowed to call my parents to bring it for me. They had full-time jobs as well. I remember my mother saying to us when we forgot our homework/backpack/coat/instrument/etc. “Whose homework? Whose responsibility?” Boy, did we hate hearing that! She was right. We do our children no favors when we come in to save the day every time they mess up and forget. This does not mean never be that hero (life circumstance often teaches us we need help from others), but we should not make it the norm. Let them learn and grow.

2) Chores, Chores, Chores: No one likes chores. Don’t fool yourself. You don’t even like chores. They are a part of life, that also teaches us to work ethic, responsibility, and diligence. Check out the downloadable document below on Age Appropriate Chores for Children published in 2013 for a place to start. (Thank you, Pastor Lisa for making this great resource available.). Remember, each child is different and has different needs. This is just a guideline. We also introduced one chore at a time so our son could perfect before he got overwhelmed.

chores-for-children-2 Download

3) Planning: Weekly I try to get some idea of the menu for the week. Or at least when I get the grocery shopping done. Sometimes, I am just out of ideas. This is a great place to have children help and teach responsibility. Let your kids help plan (and cook) a meal. They will love being involved and usually will like to eat what they make (for you picky eaters out there). Let them help at the grocery store. Teach them how to pick produce, how to get the cheapest item or the best quality for your money. Give them a budget for their “impulse buys” they will undoubtedly ask for it. Start the conversation on money and taking care of the groceries – a life skill they will need for the rest of their lives.

4) Kids Help Kids: For those with multiple children, use this opportunity to develop leadership. Let older kids help younger kids learn things like how to tie shoes, or send them on an errand together to pick something up. Kids learn a lot from older siblings and teammates. Use this to teach generationally.

5) Play-dates: I know it is really easy to want to be present at all playdates all the time. But this is just no necessary. It is ok and good to leave your children with a trusted adult. If you trust the parent, and it is age-appropriate, leave your child to have fun without you. This helps build confidence in children. Knowing Mom and Dad trust you to make good choices without them is empowering to them. But more importantly, it gives them real-world experiences. Not one house is the same, not one human is the same. This opens the door to some really wonderful conversations.

6) Volunteer: Generation Z is known for a passion for social justice. But, they are also known for not following through. They were taught the issues and a passion was ignited. But they were not taught the practicality of the hard work, critical thinking, and diligence it takes to make a change. Simply posting a meme on social media does not change make. Teaching volunteering gets to the root of this problem. Volunteering showcases need, teaches work ethic, dependability, and commitment. It also allows the first-hand experience of need, bureaucracy, and politics. All those things play large roles in adult life. Teaching volunteering at a young age starts a healthy foundation for these areas that can easily become toxic later if not healthy discussed.

7) Students keep track of their own work and test: It is great to know about your child’s schoolwork. But their work is not your work. You already went to school. You already know it. Don’t do their work for them. Set them up to succeed. We use this great Student Smart Planner Academic Planner (I use the Wordsworth Goal Setting Planner for myself) for our home school (it has places for long term projects, schedules, grade tracking, and monthly and weekly calendars). For younger kids, this is a great planner as well. For those in school, we used a checklist morning and night for our son to know what was needed each morning and what was completed.

8) Organize your own schedule: Today in America we are socially judged by the number of activities our child is in. We are told kids need perfect grades and extracurriculars out the ears to get to college. Our kids are tired, stressed out, and overwhelmed. A great documentary on this is Race to Nowhere. Let’s give our children the power to decide what extracurriculars they do – if any. Some kids might need extra time for school. Some kids might want three or four a week. Some might just want to do one thing they can learn to do really well. Let’s stop making Jack-of-all-trades-and-masters-of-none.

9) Independent Thinkers: Kids need to learn how to think – not just memorize facts. Set them to succeed in this by encouraging independent and critical thinking. Let them learn about themselves and how they learn. ReadTheory helps kids in reading comprehension, Learning Styles is a great place to learn about how your child learns. When you know how you learn, you equip yourself with the ability to better learn the more difficult skills and academics.

10) Entertain Yourself: You are a parent – not a Hollywood movie star or singer-songwriter. You were charged with raising compassionate, intelligent children into wonderful adults. You were not charged with being your child’s friend, entertainment, and all-around everything. Release yourself of that stress. Teach you, child, to entertain themselves. This is critically important to brain development, social play, and creative and critical thinking. It is also entertaining to you as a parent to see what they come up with.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

On April 21, 2020May 19, 2020 By Motivate. Innovate. Relate.In Autism, Corona Virus, COVID-19, family, Hope, Motivate, Special NeedsLeave a comment

Friendship is forever. Child with stuffed Teddy on a wooden bridge.

Hello from the inside – of the house. It seems to be the same mantra every day these days. Don’t leave the house. Don’t visit friends. Don’t be routine.

It is easy to fall into the habit of leggings and bonbons if you are not careful. But this would be devastating to both health and wellness.

So how do we have a community when we cannot leave the house?

As a parent in the special needs community, I know firsthand how essential it is to have a community – and how hard it is to find. People hear the word special needs, autism, ADHD, blindness, deafness, cancer (take your pick) and give that sappy smile and gracefully bow out of every invitation.

Now we cannot leave the house and we are still supposed to have community? This seems like an impossible task.

But there is hope!

Some simple steps to a strengthened sense of community that will lighten the atmosphere at your home and remind you that your community, neighborhood and good friends are still there…on the other side of the glass.

Zoom call with most the family - spanning three states across the country and 6 cities — Zoom call with most the family – spanning three states across the country and 6 cities

ZOOM Dates – the New Play Date

Over Easter, we usually have a lot of people over for a feast and egg hunt. My son will create some form of costume for everyone. This year he made jackrabbit hare ears for the older kids and snowshoe hare ears for the younger. We had prepped and told him this year there would be no guests at our Easter table – but he did it anyway.

When the time came for feasting, he said, “We can’t. My friends are not sick. They are coming.” To which we had to explain again, thank you #COVID-19, that this year was a celebration with just the family.

But this was eye-opening.

Our normally social only in scheduled events kid was really asking for a play date. So we did what any parent would – Zoom play date with his best friends.

This is an easy way to see faces, hear voices, and laugh with friends. Near and far. It can last as long or as little as you wish.

Make It A Game

During any phone call, it is easy to not want to chat after a few minutes. It is important to make the play date just as fun as you would if it were in your own home.

Play some games. We used dry erase boards and played Pictionary. Some other great games would be Hedbandz, Speak Out, Bingo and good old fashioned Hangman.

Some other great apps are HouseParty and FacebookKidzMessanger. The nice thing about FacebookKidzMessanger is the a parent is in control the whole time, and the kids can text between calls.

Spencer writes letters — Spencer write letters

Old Fashioned Letters

It is so nice to be able to see people’s faces and hear their voices with technology like Zoom, Google Video, and Facebook.

But there is something to be said about getting a letter or card in the mail.

You know when you get mail (that is not a bill or junk mail), your heart skips a beat and you think to yourself, “Someone thought of me! How nice.”

Kids get that feeling times 100! My son sees a piece of junk mail advertising a car and immediately states in excitement, “Guess what!? We are getting a car?!” (Yes, he missed the fine print). But the excitement is real!

Our son writes to those in the hospital, in nursing homes, his aunts, old teachers and pen-pals.

There is nothing like seeing him open his mail and immediately want to write back.

So take a minuet and remember the thrill. And encourage letter writing all around.

I know it seems like a neighbor and community are things of the past right now. I know it feels like you are alone in a new world of parenting never seen before. I know you feel lost, anxious and confused. We all do. But these little changes can really impact your health and wellness. These changes will remind your child (and yourself) you are not alone. You are never alone.

Take a minute this week and try one of these things. See how it changes your perspective. Then let me know how it worked out for you. I would love to hear your stories.

COVID-19 and the Real World or How to Survive Social Distancing

On March 20, 2020 By Motivate. Innovate. Relate.In Corona Virus, COVID-19, Motivate1 Comment

In case you have been living under a rock, COVID-19 is a real thing. More deaths than the average flu. Towns are shut down. Travel shut down. School shut down. In just a few short weeks, the world has discovered the #introvertadvantage.

Fear is rampant. Families separated. Hospitals are overrun. Is there any other story in the media today?

Kids are home, out of routine, lonely and increasingly scared. Being a parent has taken on a new back-breaking load – how to keep your kids calm in the middle of this crazy storm.

Here are some tips on how to help your kids find peace and clarity in this colossal hurricane of COVID-19.

What our first home school schedule looked like

Keep a routine. Humans, by nature, thrive on routine. From getting up and ready to going to bed at night, we operate through a routine. Take out the most central part of a child’s day and you are set up for chaos. School is not just a place to learn about math, science, and literature. It is a place of friendship building, community development, and space. Space from parents and siblings (in some cases). So throughout this time, set a routine where school is apart of the day. Include some breaks from each other. Include some video telecalls to their friends and family. And remember, this too shall pass.

My kiddo doing his part sending some love to the Senior Citizens

Find ways to help. The community is only as strong as its weakest link. There are many ways to help from home. Remember, nonprofits and churches still operate their community funds. They still need income to ensure the homeless have food, the low income can pay the electric bill (which just went up because people are home more), and safe places for an escape from the dangerous. If you already give, keep giving. If you don’t, I encourage you to start. Want to be more hands-on, Neighbors Helping Neighbors is providing training on how to help neighbors safely. Help the truck drivers with a meal (you are still getting deliveries, but their rest stops are closed). Even the smallest act of kindness goes a long way.

Have a sanctuary. Refuge and safety are more important today than ever. When people are crammed together, they have shorter tempers and we humans tend to get a bit crazy. A small space you can call your own, escape to in the chaos of the house, that is simply yours is valuable when there is not a pandemic. It is even more valuable now. Ensure some sanctuary and calming time is a part of your schedule. Outside on the back porch or inside a closet of the house…whatever works for you.

Get outside. Cabin Fever WILL set in and it is a REAL thing. In 1918, the Influenza pandemic swept through the world much like COVID-19. There were two ways to treat patients. Inside and outside. What a Boston, MA hospital discovered was a combination of fresh air, sunlight, scrupulous standards of hygiene, substantially reduced deaths among some patients and infections among medical staff. So go outside. Enjoy the sunshine. Remember that the sky is blue and the sun is bright and the breeze feels so good on your skin.

Being creative with #paintbynumber…I haven’t broken my need for lines and regulations yet. 🙂

Be creative and productive. It is easy to think you are stuck within the cell that is now your home. But you are in a world equipped with so much to be entertained in – without turning on your TV. Plan an instrument? Play it. Have some paper laying around? Write. Legos? Build. Paint. Color. Draw. Or, for those social media addicts, get online and recite poetry, sing, dance, get goofy! We all need a little happier. Depression and loneliness are real things. These get even worse in isolation. So, enjoy being a goof for people to laugh at or sing a song for people to love. It might be the one thing that saves a life. If you are feeling suicidal or depressed, there is help. Call the National Suicide line 1-800-273-8255 for help.

The family that sweats together stays healthy together. Workout run (in safety gear). Quarter miles sprints!

Work Out. Chill Out. Stress is high and endorphins are low. Be sure you are fueling your body and your mind as we walk through this new “normal.” 30 minutes of cardio a day is great. This can be easily accomplished by a walk outside (no neighbors necessary), a run on a treadmill if you have one, or numerous free workouts on YouTube and Amazon Prime. Just search your favorite activity and you will be bombarded with choices from yoga to kickboxing and dance. For those of you on Wii – don’t forget about Wii Fit. There are so many options. Have fun with it. For a special challenge, join the 30 Day #5fitchallenge with #SOFLFit5 (Special Olympics Florida). IT is a great way to hold yourself and your special kiddo accountable to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Use this time to be productive. Whether that means working on those summer abs, catching up on that reading list, finishing those household projects, or whatever, remember, your kids will follow your lead. So, whatever you do, remember this too shall pass. We are more than conquerors. We are the light. Be the light. Be love. Choose joy.

No Showers and Bad Dreams

On February 28, 2019January 9, 2022 By Motivate. Innovate. Relate.In Autism, family, fear, life, Motivate, Special NeedsLeave a comment

There is a scene in Patch Adams when Patch Adams (played by Robin Williams) is helping an in-patient go to the bathroom. The patient had an illogical fear of invisible squirrels that prevent the patient from leaving his bed to use the bathroom. Adams plays into the fear and helps “fight off” the squirrels so his roommate can finally relieve himself.

This is an excellent example of life with children.

Our son has been bathing himself for years. About age eight there was a time he would not go into the shower – hygiene be damned! When he asked him why he was adamant a shark was going to attack him.

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Some Where Over The Rainboots

Tag: creative

15 Easy New Year’s Resolutions You Can Keep

7 Steps to Preventing Divorce Before It Starts

10 Steps to Teaching Responsibility and a Peaceful Household

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

No Showers and Bad Dreams

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