Thank You Regal!

On By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The following blog is not an advertisement, just an honest review of our experience.

Back in October, my husband took ‘J’ to a Disney Jr event at the movie theater. We thought it would be a great way to test out the movie going experience with our then 3.5 year old. The event was showing Halloween episodes of some of his favorite shows and he’d be able to dress in his Woody costume. Sounds like a win right?

Nope.

Once he turned down the dark hallway to the theater, he ran the other way. After attempting to get him back, including FaceTiming with me, we decided he wasn’t ready. We eventually added this to the list of red flags we had when figuring out his Sensory Processing Difficulties.

Regal Cinemas has a fantastic summer event; Summer Movie Express: $1 Movies all summer long! Every Tuesday and Wednesday, Regal will show previously run/older movies. Both days will offer the same two movies but they change weekly.

SMX

We decided to give the movie theater experience another try. I was talking with a friend and we met up on Wednesday to check it out. Between us we have four kids: two are age 4, one is 2 and one is 1.5. So we definitely didn’t know how this would go!

‘J’ was doing great until we entered the theater. The lights were dim, it was a room he had never been in and he froze. Our friends sat down and we were hanging out in the entryway to the theater as he told me that he wanted to go home. After some time, some reminders of the snack stash I had in my bag and emoji games showing up on the big screen, we slowly made our way to our seats. We were there to see Sing, a current favorite. I did not expect to make it through the movie expecting he might get too overwhelmed or his sister would get way too fussy (after missing her morning nap).

I was amazed that we made it to the credits! All four of them did great. There was some fussiness here and there, some switching seats, but overall, it was a success! I still can’t believe it and it’s two days later.

Thank you Regal for creating an experience where parents feel comfortable in the theater (since its a morning movie filled with other kids) and a price point that eases the pain of possibly needing a quick exit at any moment.

I don’t think ‘J’ is all in on movies just yet, but perhaps a few more summer days at Regal and we may be ready for new releases soon!

Back Into the Writing Groove

On By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

After being way behind on blogging I’m back and getting in the writing groove.

We had a rough June with a crazy virus. That virus turned into blood work and some other tests for ‘J’ and we’re still waiting to hear about one. In the meantime, we have an appointment with a GI next week to make sure there’s nothing else going on with ‘J’s’ stomach. I’m personally wondering if we’re on the brink of another food allergy (he already has a dairy intolerance). But more on all of this over the next couple of weeks!

June was the end of school, speech and OT for the summer. With ‘J’ being sick on top of it, any kind of new schedule goal has gone out the window. Luckily July seems to be getting better so hopefully we can enjoy the rest of the summer!

I also have a part time virtual job teaching English to children in China. More hours are available over the summer which is great money wise, but also an adjustment for me to get back to working nights. I love talking to the kids and in terms of flexibility, this job is perfect.

All this to say, thanks for bearing with me and for following this blog! More posts coming soon (maybe as early as tomorrow 😉 ).

A Summer Potty Party

On By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Two weeks ago was the end of school. Last week was the end of Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy. And now it’s summer.

My biggest goal? Potty training! A Summer Potty Party.

‘J’ is 4 and we have attempted potty training since he turned 2. It’s never gone well. He’s gone on the potty here and there and we’ve celebrated! We’ve tried the three day rule. We’ve tried no pants. We’ve tried underwear. We’ve tried a Paw Patrol Potty Seat, an Elmo Potty and a Mickey Mouse Potty. Bribes big and small. Aiming for Cheerios. You get the idea. We’ve been through it!

Understanding more of his Sensory Processing difficulties also helps us understand why this whole potty thing might not be so easy for him. Things have never progressed past a few hours because he is so overwhelmed, upset and affected by the process. Hesitation and some resistance is one thing. I definitely expect that. I expect accidents and I don’t expect things to go smoothly. But I also don’t want him to feel scared and that’s what I’ve seen in the past. Overwhelming fear.

I haven’t even pushed potty training in awhile, just mention it here and there, letting him know that it’s available. Now that we don’t have a set weekly schedule, which allows for more flexibility, I’m hoping we can come up with a plan he feels comfortable with and we can move on from the diaper days.

And hey, maybe ‘Baby J’ will show interest and I’ll have two potty trained by the end of the summer!

I kid…I don’t actually think that will happen.

Just My MomSense is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

Milestones

On By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

First off, I promised a blog everyday this week and I failed yesterday. But it was for a good reason!

‘J’ turned 4 on June 5th. 4! How did that happen? Remember when High School felt like forever? And college?! And yet you start on an awesome adventure of being a parent and 4 years go by in a blink.

In 4 years he has grown and changed so much. I’ve been lucky enough to witness every milestone: rolling, first steps, the long awaited first words and so much more! Toddler days are over and the personality he’s always had continues to flourish. He’s loving, sweet and funny, strong and smart, cute and full of energy. I see him interact with his friends and have flash forwards to years from now catching a glimpse of who he might be. I want the best for him and hope that when life lets him down, he can use his new strength to navigate out of it and turn it into something positive. His smile and laugh are contagious and I never want to see that fade.

Yesterday, ‘J’ had his closing ceremonies for his first year of school. Much like the first day of school can be more emotional for the parents, I think the same can be said for the last day. After talking with some of the other moms, I’m thankful to know I wasn’t the only one not accepting this change. This has been our routine for the past 9 months. We hit the jackpot with his teachers and the kids in his class. We’re going back to the same school in September but with different teachers and kids. I know it won’t always be as good as it was this year which only adds to not wanting to let go. I’m so thankful he found a safe and happy place in his classroom. He knew if he felt overwhelmed, he could go to his teachers for comfort. I heard about a day he was randomly crying and saying he missed me. His teachers said his friends gathered around him to make him feel better. Hearing that makes my heart explode. Of course I want to be there to scoop him up and make the tears stop. But I love that if I can’t be there, he found comfort in his friends.

I’m so proud of how he did in school this year. We continue to navigate through his speech and sensory difficulties. He works so hard everyday between school and his therapies. He’s insanely smart and blows us away daily. At the same time, he’s only 4 and sees everything as a way to play. And isn’t that the best way to learn?

It’s hard to see time go by so fast. I want my babies to stay babies forever, but I also want them to grow to be healthy, strong, independent adults. This is nothing compared to what I’ll be up against in the coming years. I look forward to all of it!

In the meantime, I’ll try to hide my lack of enjoyment when it comes to change so he’s just as excited for school in September as he was this year (hopefully).

Summer Schedule

On By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Tomorrow is ‘J’s’ closing ceremony for school. Next week is his last week of speech and OT. And then a summer break.

I’ve started coming up with a general schedule for the summer. Planning is great as long as you remain open to changes along the way. You cannot expect things to go perfectly every day or even every minute. But in my experience, kids tend to respond well to consistency and they love having things to look forward to!

I’m looking forward to summer. Not having things you “have” to do, enjoying the outdoors and maybe a few road trips along the way!

 

Doing Disney with Sensory Processing Difficulties

On By justmymomsenseIn Travel1 Comment

If you are someone with Sensory Processing Difficulties, the idea of Disney World can seem very overwhelming. I mean, it’s overwhelming for people that don’t have these difficulties.

‘J’ was born with Disney DNA. I worked there for two years and prior to that had already visited Disney World about 50 times. In my final three months of working there, my husband started working there as well, which is how we met. Years have passed and we’ve taken many trips on our own. However, at this point, ‘J’ has already been 7 times and ‘Baby J’ has been 3 times.

We tend to do Disney a little differently. We don’t try to see everything we possibly can for everyday we’re there. Growing up, it was my family vacation spot and it was treated like a vacation. We would go to the parks in the morning and at night, with a stop at the pool and usually a nap in the afternoon. This made the trip way more relaxing.

Since we’ve been so often, we’re happy with the idea of just being there. Anything we do there, any ride we go on or restaurant we eat in is great. But if things don’t go as planned, that’s ok too. This makes being the parents of a child with SPD a lot easier. Before becoming parents we already knew future trips would probably be on their terms and schedule. That’s even more true now.

IMG_8412

The last two trips have been very eye opening. Things we thought would trigger him, didn’t and things we didn’t see coming, did. On our last trip, he was all about the Magic Kingdom and on the trip we took last week, it was completely overwhelming and he preferred the other parks. We try to get Fast Passes to help with lines and stick to a go with the flow mentality. If he’s not feeling it, we don’t do it and it doesn’t affect our trip because we know we’ll be back.

However, I am well aware that this is not the case for most. People take a trip once or twice while their kids are young and want to make the most out of the experience. I’ve been doing some research since we got back and Disney, being the amazing Guest orientated company they are, are fully prepared to make anyone with SPD (or any type of cognitive or physical disability) as comfortable as possible.

Once you arrive in Disney,  visit Guest Relations. They will be able to assist you with any questions you have and ensure your stay is magical! When traveling with someone with SPD (even if it’s just to a restaurant), there are certain item that may help them, should they feel overwhelmed in a situation. Remember to include that on your Disney trip. You can also visit the Guest Services portion of the Walt Disney World website for helpful tips and information. Click here to view the Services for Guests with Cognitive Disabilities page. If you’re visiting a different Disney Park, you’ll be able to find a similar page on their respective sites.

Meltdowns will happen and those with (and without) SPD will feel overwhelmed by some of Walt Disney World. My advice would be: don’t be too afraid to try. That pixie dust has been known to work wonders. Perhaps you and your child will feel a connection to Disney you didn’t think was possible. Disney Cast Members are there to help, be sure to take it!

P.S. If you read my previous blog titled “Feelings,” than you know this picture with Joy was a big deal!

How We Travel

On By justmymomsenseIn TravelLeave a comment

We have done road trips and taken quite a few flights in the four years we have been parents.

In another life I worked for an airline so we were used to the basics behind air travel. But of course traveling with an infant or toddler and adding more luggage to the mix is a whole other board game. If they freak out on the plane, then it happens. I can’t stress out worrying about that and you just have to deal with it in the moment like you would any other meltdown. Instead I try to prepare as much as I can so that doesn’t happen.

The key to keeping things calm for us has been snacks and activities.

If you’re traveling with an infant, the snack part can be rough. However, having breast milk or formula available (even if that means they may have a little more than normal), a pacifier if they’ll take it and they’re favorite toys can do wonders. If you can plan a flight so it falls in the midst of their nap or bedtime that can help!

As they get older, it’s good to have sippy cups available for water or milk, small snacks (what kid doesn’t love Cheerios?) and having activities can be a huge help.

Having things from home is great, but I know my kids get pretty excited by new “surprises.” I mean, I like to get some new clothes before a vacation so it makes sense they like something new and exciting too, right?

Trust me, I don’t go crazy with these surprises. The dollar section at Target and the kids aisle at The Dollar Tree are my jam. In my garage I have a bucket of surprises. Items I’ve collected during errands that I save for traveling or in some cases…bribing.

35026669_10101857440910685_7185162278239469568_n

We kicked off June with a long weekend trip to Disney. We’re kind of Disney freaks. This was ‘J’s’ 7th trip and ‘Baby J’s’ 3rd. I did “splurge” a bit for this one and got them new backpacks that will hold the surprises. ‘Baby J’ has never had one and ‘J’ normally travelsIMG_7405 with a Dr. Seuss one that I’ve upgraded to his current love of Spider-Man.

Both were a hit! They liked wearing the backpacks and checking out what was inside. They came in handy on both plane rides, time in the airport and in between.

Are all trips painless, care free and tear free? Yes, of course!

Just kidding – not at all! But making a few preparations along the way has helped with any of our road and air trips so I’ll keep that going for as long as I can.

If all else fails, there are always electronics as a backup. But honestly I’ve sometimes made it through a 7 hour car trip without breaking them out until the final hour when they just couldn’t deal anymore. But no judgement to those who use them for the entire trip. You gotta do what you gotta do. I’ve spent many meals with my phone coming out in the first 5 minutes.

Traveling with kids isn’t always easy and normally it’s down right tiring. But I gotta say, the journey to the destination and making memories along the way is completely worth it!

Click here to check out A Few Of My Favorite Things with books, toys and more that may make your next trip a little easier! 

Playing Catch Up

On By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I am way behind on blogging! If you follow my on Twitter, I’ve committed to a new blog everyday starting Monday!

We’ve had a crazy week including a trip to Disney, a birthday, getting back to the daily routine, attempted birthday party and sick kiddos!

Thanks for hanging in there with me and I’ll see you all Monday!

A Nice Long Weekend

On By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Most weekends are crazy. My husband and I will look at our calendar and feel like whatever season we’re in is over because we have so much going on. We’ve had more forced down time in the last 6 months (or more) due to the round-robin of germs in the house. But in a way it’s good. It gets us to slow down, although we’d be happier with no one being sick.

We’re trying to make more time for us. Plans can get so crazy that we don’t leave time for ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, we love our friends and family and the best is when we can combine the two. That’s what we did this weekend.

A 3 day weekend, kicking off summer, what can be better than that? We spent it at the beach, playing in sprinklers in the backyard, barbecuing, being lazy, running errands and getting to see family. It was a great combination weekend and three days feels like a mini vacation even though it’s just an extra day!

Unfortunately this weekend, an old friend passed away.  I am heartbroken for her family, her husband and her two beautiful girls. She fought a hard battle, doing so with strength and a smile on her face. I try my best to appreciate all the little things in life without taking anything for granted. This loss was an extra reminder to do just that.

I hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend with friends and family. Like I’ve said before, don’t forget to stop and smell the Tulips!

When the Student Becomes the Teacher

On By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

‘J’ has been receiving speech therapy for 1 year and 6 months. Prior to speech therapy, he was a big grunter. Grunts took the place of words. To sit here today and see how far he has come amazes me.

Now that his sister has been starting to talk, he has taken on the role of trying to teach her new words. He says them slowly, points to his mouth and tries to get her to repeat them. It’s beyond adorable. Of course it typically happens when my camera is not easily accessible.

Why I haven’t put GoPros on them by now, I have no idea.

We are so thankful for his speech therapist. We hit the jackpot with someone that ‘J’ took to, feels comfortable with and talks about even when she’s not around. He has learned so much from her, which he is now using in his teaching style with his sister.

He’s still working on perfecting words and his sentence structure, but he gets better everyday. Soon enough we will have not one but two chatterboxes in the house.