Category Archives: Uncategorized

May29

Parenting Children with Special Medical Needs

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Parenting Children with Special Medical Needs

Through the years I have worked with families who have been put to a great parenting test –  raising a child with difficult health needs. Whether it is a child with a disease that is most often treatable, such as asthma to the disabling and terminal diseases, such as Tay-Sachs, the worry, fear and fatigue of dealing with medical jargon and doctors is daunting.  As a Psychologist, I never seemed to have at my finger tips a good reference to help  parents that they could digest in the quiet of their own home.  That is why I was pleased to receive and view Parenting Children with Special Medical Needs: Love and Logic Tools for Raising Resilient Kids.  This two DVD series by Foster Cline, MD, Lisa Green and Charles Fay, PhD – is full of practical tips and solid information for parents who find themselves with a chronically ill child.

There are no bells and whistles with this DVD.  You won’t see a fancy video montages nor will you see a glossed over approach to the topics presented.  Some sections are heart wrenching, such as hearing a parent talk about learning to love again after the death of their child.  Others parts include very timely issues – such as when a child is bullied because of their disease.

This video will help to provide parents with resources and some “food for thought”.  Also, there is complimentary information available at the end of the video.

I plan on donating this video to a local library in order to make it available to any parent who is searching for any and all information to help negotiate the difficulties of parenting a child with special medical needs.

To order the DVD yourself, please go to www.loveandlogic.com

May27

THANK YOU!

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THANK YOU!
To all those who have served in the military, past and present,  thank you.  Without your service and acts of bravery, people like me wouldn’t have the freedom to write this blog.
 

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Apr16

MAP SKILLS

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MAP SKILLS

Map skills.  Yep, that is the topic of this new blog.  Plain. Simple. Basic map skills. The kind you learn in third grade when the teacher points to a place on the wall sized classroom map .  Remember?  She/he then will ask where  is your school located? This then proceeds to a lively interactive lesson where each student takes turn pointing to where they were born, traveled and more!   Some lucky kids may even get to point outside of the contiguous United States.  Some teachers even asked kids to use all their colored pencils to draw maps and more! Gosh I loved map skills day!

Now keep in mind… many of the maps looked like the one above. How many third graders grew up thinking that Alaska and Hawaii were so close together and near Texas or even Mexico? Isn’t Alaska close to Russia?

Now you may be wondering why I am perseverating on map skills .  Well, quite simply it all started with a conversation between hubby, a sales clerk from a box store and myself. You see hubby and I are in the throes of moving from metro DC to metro LA. (What can I say- we like the metro- life…sorta).  Anyway- we decided to go shopping for a washer and dryer since the new digs doesn’t come equipped and I am long past laundry mat days.  While in the box store the nice sales clerk told us all about the “in store specials”. However, when we pointed out that our items were probably going to be purchased in our new home state of CALIFORNIA this was how the rest of the conversation continued:

Sales clerk:  ”Electric across country may be different than we use here in Maryland.”
Hubby:   “We are only going to California“

Sales clerk:” They may use a different kind of electric, like you know voltage.“

Me: (Using my inside my head voice)… Seriously, we need to pull out a map and have a bit of a lesson about what constitutes the United States!

Now just in case you are wondering here are a few helpful facts….

California has been part of the United States since September 1850

Electric in New York, Maryland, Iowa and even California is the SAME.

According to the CA.gov website… More than 13,000 of California’s wind turbines, or 95 percent of all of California’s wind generating capacity and output, are located in three primary regions: Altamont Pass , Tehachapi (south east of Bakersfield) and San Gorgonio (near Palm Springs, east of Los Angeles).  

And… according to an educational website 37% of United States citizens failed to find the United States on a basic world map.

Obviously, map skills need to continue beyond the third grade.  Next week maybe we will discuss basic life skills, like balancing a check book or knowing how to sew a basic hem.

Apr2

RESOURCES for FAMILIES with AUTISTIC CHILDREN

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RESOURCES for FAMILIES with AUTISTIC CHILDREN

April 2nd is now recognized as WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY.  Last week statistics hit the news that cited that one of every 88 children born in the United States will be diagnosed with Autism prior to their eighth birthday.  Seriously, this fact took my breath away.  I clearly recall the first time I ever heard the word, AUTISM.  It was back in the 1970′s and not many people knew what it meant.  Fewer had ever seen or worked with a child with Autism.  Talking with phrases “On the Spectrum” or “Having mild autism- Asperger’s- was never heard.

Years later I now not only understand what Autism means but have worked in the trenches with children with Autism for over two decades.  Many of them have secondary disorders, such as Deaf AND Autistic.  I also have acquired a very deep and heartfelt respect for the parents who give to their children unconditionally and would sell their souls to find ways to make their child’s lives easier.  In addition, I cannot give enough Kudos to the educators, therapists and other professionals who work tirelessly to help children “on the spectrum”.

Since my work is “all about education”, I am listing some of my most favorite resources. Not all are dedicated solely to Autism, but if you click on them perhaps you will find information, assistance or some value to the company or organization listed. My apologies in advance for forgetting to mention sites that may have slipped my  mind.  I will be sure to add to the list as the days go on.  AND.. PLEASE  feel free to add to the list in the comments section below of your favorite Autism related materials/ websites/ resources, too. 

As always, thank you for reading!

SPIRIT of AUTISM  - Founded by a mom of a child with Autism and who is a paramedic, Debi Taylor developed the AUTISM TIPS CARD to be used by First Responders in the field.  The goal- keeping children with Autism SAFE and ALIVE.  (Signing Families offers this card at every workshop now)

AUTISM SPEAKS- This is what many consider as the “FACE” of Autism organizations.  Their website is full of great information. Although for some it may be very overhwhelming.

EDUCATION.com  - This website is packed full of information about Autism and much, much more.  From A-Z you can receive information and assistance. I am proud to be a member of Education.com as one of their JustAsk contributors!

AUTISABLE - Blogs, info and more

 THE COFFEE KLATCH - I first followed this group on TWITTER (#TCK) and now am a huge fan of all their work, including the TCK website and radio programs.

THE AUTISM NEWS / ZAC BROWSER and more – this is a set of websites constructed by a dad and his teen son with Autism.  Filled with no nonsenese information, as well as games that are helpful for kids on the spectrum.

KABONGO - Interactive methods to teach reading skills. Great for kids who relate virtually. I love this site and you will, too!

KIBOOMU and LISTEN TO ME PLEASE - Music can be a great force to help children learn who have language and social-emotional challenges. These websites are great! Kiboomu offers apps as well.  Listen to me Please has corresponding reading materials, such as their award winning books. Both sites are exceptional and worth more than a glance.

AMAILIA STARR , author of RAISING BRANDON.  So much is written about children who have Autism.  However, not much is scribed about adults with Autism. Here is a book that will tug at your heart strings and give you hope at the same time. I know Amalia personally and am proud to list her here!

AUTISM at LONG BEACH  Soon I will be making the greater Long Beach, California area my home.  I am over the top excited to be working in conjunction with this amazing group of parents, professionals and kids! There model of cooperative education to benefit the children and support parents is exceptional. Check them out! (Bravo to Jane Tipton for creating this group)

KYLES TREEHOUSE  For parents, by parents. This website is full of amazing resources, especially for those searching for information about treatments and accommodations. Love this site! (Note- Jen Westphal went to great lengths to make a resource page that is outstanding. Please peruse it for loads more resources. )

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS  and  WRIGHTS LAW - These two websites are premiere for understanding the IEP process and the laws regarding Special Education.

I could be here for hours more typing more resources for you. Instead, I will let you comment below with YOUR favorites.

Thank you, in advance, for contributing to our “community”

Mar27

Four Actors, Four Stories

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Four Actors, Four Stories

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Today I have the privilege to interview four up and coming talent who are represented by THE LINICOMN AGENCY.  Not newbies. Not seasoned. These up and coming actors are savvy, smart, full of acting chops and raring to go! Listen to their stories and perhaps consider them for your next casting. (Connect via TheLinicomnAgency.com)

 

LISTEN HERE at 11 am EST or via PODCAST /iTUNES:  BLOG TALK RADIO 411 VOICES NETWORK

Without further adieu.. meet Erica Taylor, Alex Ortiz, Britanni Johnson and Allison Victoria!

Mar22

Guest Post by Wendy Young of Kidlutions

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Guest Post by Wendy Young of Kidlutions

Next week I will finally get to meet and greet my friend and colleague from 411 VOICES – Wendy Young. This dynamo founded one of the premiere mental health sites for families- KIDLUTIONS.  This week I snatched from Kidlutions.com blog this article Wendy wrote about our joint presentation at the  Michigan Associaiton for the Education of Young Children’s 2012 Conference, 

Thanks to Wendy for a great article!  

Also, feel free to check out SIGNING FAMILIES  for our I WANT, I FEEL CHART to help children express their feelings with sign language

Calming the Angry Child

If you happen to be in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area for the Michigan Associaiton for the Education of Young Children’s 2012 Conference, I hope you will drop by and see Louise Sattler, of Signing Families, and me.  We will be presenting an engaging workshop about calming the angry child.  Louise is one of my BFFs on twitter/facebook and 411 Voices, and we finally get to meet each other for this one-time only training!  Laugh and learn in this unprecedented event!
It will be a workshop event unlike any other you have been part of!
If you are unable to join us, be sure to check out Kidlution’s resources in our Anger Toolbox for Kids!
Articles that help kids deal with feelings:
Feb16

Peacock Pottery is PERFECT for Empty Nesters!

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Peacock Pottery is PERFECT for Empty Nesters!

Ok- after nearly two years of denial I will admit that hubby and I are officially empty nesters.  I know this to be true as I am busy packing up our DC area house to head west to a new residence and opportunity in California.  When one packs up nearly 20 years of “life” it is hard not to keep everything and anything.  I managed to toss and donate a fair amount, but one thing that was non-negotiable was my pottery collection.

My most recent edition was a great baking dish from the collection of  Peacock Pottery.  They specialize in pottery imported from Poland and it is BEAUTIFUL!  They sent me a great sample of their amazing pottery and asked me to use it in a very practical and day to day manner.  So, I made a lot of “meals for two” using this fun size pottery. I loved that it was small enough for our larger sized toaster oven and didn’t need to have me fire up the big oven for our dinner. But, make no mistake, this is a great piece of pottery and certainly not for “easy bake ovens”!

What did I make? The first night I made a combo of chicken, stuffing, vegetables and CRAISINS. ( I really do love the “craisin”).  It baked up like a charm! I was able to put all the ingredients together in to the single dish and bake for about 30 minutes. (I used precooked chicken- yes I “cheat” when I am busy packing).

Secondly, I used the dish for some homemade brownies with white chocolate chips.  YUMMY!!  (Also, I found that the dish was great for reheating, too!)

Best of all this quality pottery is easy to wash, microwave, put in the fridge and even use as a decorative piece. I have given several other Peacock Pottery pieces as gifts. The serving bowls were a hit with my daughter and the Christmas ornaments made for lovely gifts for friends.

To see for yourself all the great Peacock Pottery offerings click HERE

Read the fun blog by owner Leah HERE

Have a great day or as they say in Polish: Mieć wielki dzień

~Louise

Jan27

DARE to DREAM

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DARE to DREAM

THIS TUESDAY- MY GUEST ON ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT and THE BUSINESS OF IT ALL!  Debbi Dachinger, Author of DARE to Dream

Listen here TUESDAY, January 31st at 11 am EST

 
This week I am super excited to have on my radio show as a guest- Debbi Dachinger. I have known this amazing media personality and now author for several years. She never fails to impress. Always one of those who is on the know and so empowering with her deeds and words.
 
When I first talked to Debbi I was duly impressed with her ability to motivate people. She could lift anyone from a case of self-doubt and send them charging in to the land of  ”I CAN DO IT!”
 
So, if you are one of those people who may feel the need to have a “life – boost” or to get past any mid-life- anything crisis then go ahead and get DARE TO DREAM. Available on her website DeborahDachinger.com or AMAZON.
 
Here is an excerpt…
 

Forgiveness Sets You Free

Once upon a time, I convinced myself that not forgiving others meant they couldn ̳t hurt me again. I believed my holding a grudge would remind them they couldn ̳t do that to me without repercussions. I told myself it was for the better, it was self- protection and I thought it was self–caring. But, the truth is, it was sucking the life out of me. I carried each person and each situation around like an energetic garbage bag, slung heavily over my shoulder through each step in my life.
 
All the reasons I held onto grudges worked against me. Bitterness did not protect me, it burdened me. Grudges did not separate me from anyone harmful; they kept me married to them through my various colors of judgment, condemnation and hate. This behavior didn ̳t allow me to love myself because I was busy destroying others with my thoughts and emotions. Bitterness was a bitter pill I swallowed over and over again and then blamed others for making me gulp. Withholding forgiveness did not end the terrible hurt I felt, it kept the hurt cemented and brought the hurt forward into each day, month and year.
 
Then I learned there was another way. Engaging in the act of forgiveness changed my life. I learned through doing inner healing work to forgive meant to dissipate and end the actual anger and hurt. Forgiving others took me off the bitter hook, and forgiving made me free.
 
Also appearing on ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT and THE BUSINESS OF IT ALL! is ABSOLUTELY ABBY-  she will help bring down the hour with her sage advice about getting a job, including in the entertainment industry.  CALL IN your questions here: (619) 639-4656
 
 
Jan4

Sometimes a picture can say it so much better!

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Sometimes a picture can say it so much better!

I wish I knew who to give credit to for these photos or posters in my slideshow. They came to me via various sources through emails and Facebook.  In my opinion, all are worth sharing because they are just too wonderful to read or view.  Enjoy your new year and may it be full of beauty and wisdom, as well.

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Oct3

TOYconomy- Renting Toys for Kids

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TOYconomy- Renting Toys for Kids

I am a believer that the toys you buy your kids should have either good educational value and/or be “old fashioned” – like Leggos and Tinker Toys.  Yet, despite my “philosophy” I have been known to indulge many a child with toys and games that are for the “here and now”.  How many Power Rangers and Polly Pockets does one kid need?  Is it possible that my family has actually purchased  not one, not two but three versions of MONOLPOLY? (Well, the Star Wars version was really cool!)  It is because of the excess of toys and games that now are hiding out in the closets of my “empty nest” basement, that I was overjoyed to have discovered TOYconomy.  This idea is nothing short of brilliant.  Simply enroll in their very reasonable and inexpensive membership for the  TOYconomy club and “rent” away.  Love it!

I was so fascinated that I asked to do an interview with TOYconomy owner, Shannon MacAfee. She not only gave me great insight in to her business, but also asked me to make this great offer to my readers:

Sign up to become a TOYMember for $1.00 and get your next two months free OR get 25% off a NON-Member order. Email orders@toyconomy.com  with Louise’s Blog in the subject line.

Here is the interview with Shannon – great info for anyone starting their own business.

Louise: How and why did you decide to start your own business, TOYconomy?

Shannon: I am a mom of three girls. My oldest is 8 years old. As you can imagine, over the span of 8 years, we accumulated a LOT of toys in our house. We had an entire room (our living room) reserved as a “play room”. It was so cluttered that you could barely walk through it. One thing I observed  over the years was, even with all of  these toys at my kids’ disposal, they had a tendency to play with only a few things at a time. Some toys that they received as gifts, they never played with at all. I just felt like I was surrounded by waste. We held on to toys thinking that our younger kids would at some point play with them. But, what I realized was that we rarely ever pulled them back out once they made it into our storage! I just thought there had to be a better way to provide our kids with the toys they need and want, without the frustrations that many parents feel from the clutter and the high prices of toys that kids grow bored with very quickly. Toy rental seemed like the perfect solution to me.

I initially created my own website to get the idea out there and see what kind of response I would get. I launched my first website in May 2010. The response was very positive, but there were three main factors I had to address: 1. sanitation, 2. parents’ fear that their child will break a “rented” toy, 3. cost/convenience of the service. I did a lot of research (and continue to do so!) to figure out exactly how to create a toy rental program that would address these three main factors. TOYconomy has and will continue to change to ensure that we’re addressing the needs of our customers. TOYconomy is about providing the most convenient and cost-effective service for families who believe in the concept of renting for the benefit of their wallet, space, and the environment – I believe we are on the right path and am excited about the growth of this business.  Read how it actually works here:  Shannon: I have a lot of requests for wooden and “green” toys. The most popular rentals so far:

1. VTech Sit to Stand Dance Tower
2. LeapFrog handheld game systems
3. Discovery House
4. Melissa & Doug Classic Bead Maze
5. iPlay Super Spiral Play Tower
6. Rody Horse
7. Melissa & Doug wooden puzzles
8. iPlay Build A Road
9. Fisher-Price baby toys

There you have it.. great and green information for parents who wish to save money, get good product for their dollar and help the environment. Thanks for sharing, Shannon!

Visit TOYconomy online, FACEBOOK and TWITTER