One night at dusk my son and I missed his sister, who’d just returned to her mother’s house for a few days because we share her custody equally. The house felt empty. As he rummaged around in the kitchen drawers, he kept asking and asking for her, making the emptiness more pronounced.
When he stumbled upon some old birthday candles, I said, “You know what we need?”
“What?’ he asked.
“A celebration!” I said. “One candle for you and me who can send love to your sister at any time, anywhere.”
So we did, and the wonder of watching the flames chased away the emptiness.
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WHAT’S THE DEAL?: Sometimes official celebrations involve lots of people and sweet treats which can be great fun. Celebrating this way can also cause the opposite of great fun—stress, meltdowns, sugar crashes, etc. Simple, spontaneous celebrations at home can be a great tool to add to your toolbox. What I loved about this—no food, no mess and we acknowledged our sadness while finding a pathway to communicate our love to our family. Simple celebrations also let us mark the small successes along the way: finishing homework well, taking a risk, getting dressed calmly or whatever you’re working on refining in your household.
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RESOURCES: Old birthday candles, clay and some small dishes…or whatever you have around—streamers, a flower, a special rock. Take a regular day and declare it a celebration. A great book for kids is I’m in Charge of Celebrations by Byrd Baylor.
Photo credit: Kristi Beall-Zumpano, copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
Text: Kristi Beall-Zumpano, copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
Please share this blog while also giving us credit!
Sundry diseases can affect the nerves that can slow the flow of blood, making your body’s preparation for sex knotty. With the market flooded with divers companies selling numerous medicaments, purchasing remedies from th WEB is no longer a dream for common man. In some instances pharmacies offer to patients Viagra. A lot of folk around the World think about “buy sildenafil“. What do you know about “sildenafil online“? Numerous pharmacies describe it as “is there a generic viagra“. Some common medicines can mean screwing with your orgasm. Mercifully, most cases of erectile dysfunction are treatable, so it is significant to share your concerns with your associate and pharmacist. Now, there are varied options for men who suffer from this disease. Note, if you have any questions about this generic ask your physician.
One day last week, after a gazillion challenges in getting out the door with our curious three-year-old, we finally made it to school.
“It’s like a big sticker,” I heard him say to himself. “It’s for mamas to use. I’m just going to stick it right here on my leg.”
What does he have now? I wondered.
“Taaa-Daaa!” When I opened his door, he pointed to the feminine product stuck to his right thigh. “Let’s go show everybody at school!” he said. “I’m ready.”
To myself I said, Deep breath…Think, think, think, ummm.
To him I said,“That is special, isn’t it? It’s private, though, you know like for the bathroom.”
“Yeah, it’s like a diaper,” he said, in all seriousness.
“Right…it’s a lot like a diaper,” I answered, keeping my tone of voice matter-of-fact, “So what great place can you find in the car to store that treasure?”
Good words, mama! Yay for me! I thought, even as I mentally braced myself for his “NOOOOO!”
This is a child who does not back down easily from self-assigned missions.
Mercifully, instead he said, “OK, I’ll stick it right here on the car door.”
After drop-off, I ran into some neighbors, both parents. I wasn’t going to say anything, but then I just ‘fessed up and asked them, “Ever feel like shouting, ‘VICTORY!’ when you get the drop-off done?”
They both nodded vigorously, so I told them about the morning’s feminine product delay while I was at it. The three of us threw our heads back and roared.
~
WHAT’S THE DEAL?: Why do we forget our sense of humor and choose to keep our struggles to ourselves? ‘Cuz parenting is hard! Hardest thing Michael and I have ever done…and we’re kid people! We might not want to admit that we’re not sure what to do or we might feel judged by others. Then the cycle of isolation continues. Of course, there are times when we need to be discreet or only tell trusted ones. But there are other times when we just need to let a laugh out. Most likely, there are millions of parents who’d like to join in the laughter—a gift to everyone, really.
RESOURCE: Your own sense of humor to share…or borrow some on YouTube…or continue to laugh with us during these 40 days. Send us your own stories, so we can accompany each other. If you’d like to set up a meeting with Michael or me to work through some back-to-school transition challenges, we’re here for you. Age ranges we know best are: Age 1 – 12 years. Call 512.300.4696 to set up an appointment.
Photo credit: Sarah Bork Hamilton, copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Text: Kristi Beall-Zumpano, copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
Please share this blog while also giving us credit!
Sundry diseases can affect the nerves that can slow the flow of blood, making your body’s preparation for sex knotty. With the market flooded with divers companies selling numerous medicaments, purchasing remedies from th WEB is no longer a dream for common man. In some instances pharmacies offer to patients Viagra. A lot of folk around the World think about “buy sildenafil“. What do you know about “sildenafil online“? Numerous pharmacies describe it as “is there a generic viagra“. Some common medicines can mean screwing with your orgasm. Mercifully, most cases of erectile dysfunction are treatable, so it is significant to share your concerns with your partner and dispenser. Now, there are varied options for men who suffer from this disease. Note, if you have any questions about this generic ask your physician.
“Ms. Weis, Ms. Weis, the big kids won’t let me on the swings!” the student said.
Supervising our students, my colleague and I knew that playground time was when all the serious social trouble happened. In asking the boy to say more, we found out that he hadn’t actually asked to use the swings.
Ms. Weis said, “Sometimes kids will say, ‘I want a turn.’ ”
“But I’m afraid; I can’t say that!” the child said.
Instantly, she ripped off a piece of purple paper from her teacher clipboard, handed it to the boy and said, “Here, purple is courage. Now you’re brave. Go tell him!”
And off the boy raced to face his fears. In a few minutes, we saw him swinging.
~
WHAT’S THE DEAL?: Many kids (and many adults!) need real objects to help them with abstract concepts like courage: a special stone in a backpack, a favorite shirt, or a “lovey” for naptime if they’re young. Still others of us might need the “purple paper” of practicing with an adult before speaking up at school to confront someone.
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RESOURCES: Minds in Motion’s One-on-One sessions can give children the time to practice problem-solving and speaking up to be courageous. Typically we do a series of 6 sessions with the child and two meetings with the parents, but also can custom-design a series for you. Call 512.300.4696. And Ms. Weis? She’s now Mrs. Page, M.A. in Education, a Master Teacher with Round Rock ISD who helps other teachers be their best.
Photo copyright ©2012 Kristi Beall-Zumpano. All rights reserved.
Text copyright 2012 Kristi Beall-Zumpano. All rights reserved.
Please share while giving us credit!
Sundry diseases can affect the nerves that can slow the flow of blood, making your body’s preparation for sex knotty. With the market flooded with divers companies selling numerous medicaments, purchasing remedies from th WEB is no longer a dream for common man. In some instances pharmacies offer to patients Viagra. A lot of people around the World think about “buy sildenafil“. What do you know about “sildenafil online“? Numerous pharmacies describe it as “is there a generic viagra“. Some common medicines can mean screwing with your orgasm. Mercifully, most cases of erectile malfunction are treatable, so it is significant to share your concerns with your partner and pharmacist. Now, there are varied options for folk who suffer from this disease. Note, if you have any questions about this generic ask your physician.
As part of our work with children, we talk about a word of the day—usually along the lines of “INTEGRITY” or “RESILIENCE”, words like that. As a twist on that idea, we’re beginning a 40-Day Parent Word of the Day, officially beginning this Sunday, September 30, to include both serious and wacky words arising from parenting and teaching experiences. I’m certain that we’re not alone in some of the struggles we face and hope to inspire you with some light-hearted companionship, as well as resources we’ve tried.
First word: MOLASSES. As I worked on business in the BookPeople café, a woman ordered a cookie, asking about its ingredients. “Molasses!” she cried after hearing the list, “Give me more of that!” A few moments later, as I left, a bookseller told a co-worker about a molasses factory that blew up and caused sticky chaos for its surroundings. Molasses twice in a few minutes? Weird. Double weird. A sign maybe? Did I need more iron, B vitamins? Would a sticky blow-up surprise me?
I thought a moment about our family’s adjustment to the school year. Slow as molasses, for sure, all the little tweaks needed to make transitions smoother. As much as we try to foresee what we’ll need, sometimes experience teaches us what else is missing. Adjustments can be slow…and we can expect the ol’ kid factory to blow occasionally. Molasses. Give me less of that!
~
WHAT’S THE DEAL: While we’re trying to get kids where they need to be on time, they’re busy doing the work of childhood–testing limits, discovering their worlds, practicing new skills, growing! Most children don’t have the time sense they need to navigate our schedules, not even older kids. Many are thirsty and hungry before they realize it. There’s a natural conflict between kids’ work and adults’ work. Also, new habits take from 21 – 40 days to form and 90 days to integrate fully, even for adults. Knowing that, we’re all still in the early stages of the back-to-school process.
RESOURCES: Your patience…and more patience…and more patience. Combine patience with what most of us know–low blood sugar, dehydration and overstimulation are some of the biggest causes of meltdowns. If our kids are past the diaper stage, we may have slacked off on the Magic Diaper Bag/Emergency Backpack, right? Or we may have the backpack, but the challenge is to keep it fully stocked with food, water, extra clothes, wipes and toys/books…or to have it in the right car at the right time. We all need an energy boost sometimes, even big kids and parents…And we’ve all made that “one last stop” that blew the lid off the pressure cooker because of overstimulation, at least once.
Photo Credit: Kristi Beall-Zumpano, copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
Text Credit: Kristi Beall-Zumpano, copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
Please share and give us credit.
Sundry diseases can affect the nerves that can slow the flow of blood, making your body’s preparation for sex knotty. With the market flooded with divers companies selling numerous medicaments, purchasing remedies from th WEB is no longer a dream for common man. In some instances pharmacies offer to patients Viagra. A lot of people around the World think about “buy sildenafil“. What do you know about “sildenafil online“? Numerous pharmacies describe it as “is there a generic viagra“. Some common medicines can mean screwing with your orgasm. Mercifully, most cases of erectile malfunction are treatable, so it is significant to share your concerns with your associate and pharmacist. Now, there are varied options for men who suffer from this disease. Note, if you have any questions about this generic ask your physician.
