Ready to Learn Mom

I have kept a journal of my experiences with my children. Sam and I had a difficult time staying on task with his NACD program today and I went back to reread an entry that helps me to keep things in perspective for days such as these.

The Walk

Today was a beautiful spring day, but someone forgot to tell Sam that news. He woke up in his usual fashion, happy and more than willing to give a morning hug and kiss with an enthusiastic, “Goooood Morrrrning, Mommy”. He even drank his juice (which for Sam consists of vitamins, coconut milk kefir and distilled water) which was requested beautifully with a “Mommy, I want juice please”….but that is where the happiness ended. He didn’t want to get dressed which resulted in a full blown sobbing jag along with throwing his clothes across the room. When he finally got dressed his pants were on backwards and after some subtle prompting and complaining they finally got turned around. He didn’t want to start up his daily NACD program…his vocabulary seemed to only consist of a single word “NNNOOOOO”. I tried to give him choices which he was more than happy to scatter across the table. I tried to reason with him which just made the ever present “NO” even louder. I tried to move our program elements outside for more intensity, Sam instead ran off happily waving “Bye Bye”. I tried to turn his running into a learning game, he quickly figured it out and promptly told me to “Go Away”. I brought out his book and began reading it to myself hoping to lure him in…he simply ignored me. I began to pray…because I know when the morning begins this way I quickly lose my intensity and the negative aspects of raising a child with special needs hit me smack in the face. I asked him what was wrong…as if I expected him to simply tell me what was bothering him. I continued to spiral to that place that no special needs parent likes to go.

Click Here to read more…

1. Empower the kids to be involved in packing, planning and a part of the trip!
2. Purchase those small travel size dry erase boards and plan some activities using them such as: 
   • The Draw Game:  draw a cow, draw an octagon, draw a car, draw the number 48, etc.
   • The True or False Game:  Have the kids put a T for True or an F for False to a series of family questions such as:  Grandma Martha use to drive a motorcycle; Aunt Beth is adopted; You have 4 first cousins; etc.
   • The Person, Place or Thing with 10 clues Game.  Select a category between, person, place or thing and write down the answer and have the kids ask clues to figure out the answer.  For example – for a person, the kids might ask, do I personally know this person or is it someone famous?
   • The Yes or No game:  Ask questions and the kids will write yes or no – Do you like pizza?; Would you like to scuba dive someday?; Might you be a teacher?; Sail the ocean?; Travel to the North Pole?
   • Perfect for Tic-tac-toe and hang man games!
3. Bring books for quiet time reading for the kids to enjoy.  Set the timer and tell the kids it is quiet time to either take a nap or read! I would be happy to send you my books for kid fun or playing school or teacher in the car:  Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten!, the Spanish/English of iA Prepararse Para Kindergarten! or Let’s Get Ready For First Grade!
4. Bring travel size colors and a coloring book with a tray to do activities!
5. Purchase blank books in the dollar bin and create travel journals documenting the trip.  Purchase some vacation themed stickers and allow the kids to either use the camera to take some pictures or get them cheap disposable cameras that they are in charge of using!
6. Print off the computer start and stop maps to where you are going and let them draw points of interest that they have seen along the journey!
7. Bring electronic devises, if they already use and a DVD for movie time!
8. Bring prepacked healthy snacks ready to go to keep the kids happy!
9. Crank up the radio and sign along together to your family favorites!
10. Share family stories about how they will be seeing on the trip or about how mom and dad met, some of the things Grandma and Grandpa use to do and stories when Mom and Dad were kids!
11. Pack travel size cold water for the kids, put them in pull-ups to avoid accidents in the car seat or plane, bring wipes for quick clean ups and toilet paper for emergency stops!
12.  Have an extra change of clothing with easy access as well as favorite stuffed animals and blankets to encourage sleep time.
13. Count to 25 by finding 25 white cars; 25 red cars, trucks, cows, etc.
14. Before you leave home guess the number of VW Bugs you will see along the way or Smart Cars or Windmills or flags and start counting.
15. Play I spy something red, something red, white and blue or something moving, etc.

Smiles – Stacey

Stacey Kannenberg
“Ready To Learn Mom”

I am not sure why I was actually dreading the event.   Yes, I have gained weight since I graduated from High School 25 years ago…whatever! I wasn’t the only one!  I was excited that it was to be an outside picnic with our families invited.  I was always a late bloomer, so it did not seem to surprise many that my kids were 5 and 7 along with a handful of others who had children later in life, but I was overwhelmed by the number of high school classmates who had kids right out of high school and were already grandparents!

My entire family had fun, even my husband.  My kids found a group of older and younger kids and were entertained the entire time.   My husband heard stories that he had never heard and met many new and old faces.  I am so glad I introduced my husband to my first boyfriend and was amazed at how alike they really were: both into hunting, fishing and watching football.  They even made a date to go fishing on Lake Michigan together.  I was happy he married an old school friend of mine so that we could get together while our husbands go fishing.  And we all laughed when we found out that their daughter lived near us and was dating my husband’s cousin!   Fate?

I tried to talk to everyone and was shocked at how many different career paths:  three owners of manufacturing companies, a state patrol sergeant, several plumbers, a nursing home director, several restaurant owners, patent owners and publishers, a few in real estate, banking, entertainment and employees for the airlines.  Since I am always networking this day was no different.  So a promise was made to keep in touch with a handful solely for business purposes.

Many people gained weight.  Two had lost too much weight and looked very sick, pale and washed out.  A few had lost their hair, many wore white and gray proudly.  I did not recognize a few people and would never have done so until they were pointed out to me.  But the majority of people looked very much like the day we all graduated.

Here is what I would recommend to those of you that have the big day looming in the distance.

Remind yourself to put on a big smile and set out to enjoy the event.  It’s just one moment in time.  And sadly it went way too fast!

So if you are trying to lose weight before your big day, make sure you are truly doing it to please yourself, because if you are not, you probably will not stick to it.

If you are using this day as a day to motivate you to get in shape, great!  Make sure you set a realistic and safe goal of a few pounds a week and make exercise and eating right part of your daily plan.

And even if you do not lose the weight, here’s the most important thing:  be a happy and positive person and let your spirit shine, because even with a few extra pounds people seem to gravitate to those people that are happy and fun!   Enjoy!

Are you getting ready for a reunion?  What steps are you taking to prepare?  Are you anxious or apprehensive? Or a little of both?  Please share your thoughts with us.

Smiles – Stacey

Stacey Kannenberg
“Ready To Learn Mom”