Tag: Parenthood

Milestones

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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‘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.

No Sleep Till….Well I’m Not Sure

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‘J’ was always a good sleeper. Well, once he was a few months old and out of the eat, sleep, poop, repeat mode. He was the baby you could put in the crib awake, he’d fall asleep on his own and if he woke up, it was solved with retrieving his binky. When he turned 1, he started going to sleep anywhere between 5:30 and 6:30 at night. Not as a nap, that’s just when he went to bed. In a way, it was great. It became a little more difficult if we had family dinner plans but he always adjusted well.

We knew that whenever we had another, we would not get as lucky in the sleep department. And we didn’t. ‘Baby J’ is adorable, happy, we are so lucky to be her parents. But the girl does not stay asleep. To her credit, she can also be put in her crib awake and fall asleep on her own. But she will wake up many times during the night. Most are quick and solved with a binky retrieval….but it still happens…alot.

Days before I found out I was pregnant with #2, ‘J’ decided it would be a good time to climb out of his crib. Convenient right? I mean we’d need the crib 9 months later anyway! With his new big boy bed came the realization that he could get out of his bed on his own. And so began the process of laying with him until he fell asleep. Two years later we’re still doing it for nap time and bed time.

Now throw in teething for ‘Baby J” and ‘Big J’ starting to have bad dreams and you get two zombie parents. I think we’re back to the days of appreciating a “good stretch of 4 hours” at night. I feel for both of them. ‘Baby J’ is in so much pain when she gets new teeth it’s heartbreaking. We know that ‘J’ is starting to have bad dreams even if he can’t fully comprehend or always communicate that which is horrible.

‘Baby J’ will still nap twice during the day which definitely helps for the nights where she is waking often. ‘J’ has been waking up extra early and sometimes during the night too which makes him more sensitive to his surroundings. I definitely get that. As adults, we’re not in a very good mood when we haven’t had much rest. I just want them to get a good night sleep, feel well rested and be happy when they wake up in the morning. In return, we’ll feel the same!

All I’m saying is as a collective unit, I look forward to us all sleeping through the night and feeling well rested the next day. At the same time, this is all a phase and it will pass. Once we are all sleeping through the night it will mean that they are growing up and soon enough will be in their teen years when I’ll be waking them up at noon. So even in this zombie mode, I will appreciate the tiredness (or at least try to) since I will (somewhat) miss it when it’s gone.

P.S. I love this post on Facebook from Parents Magazine:

Thankful to be a Mom

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When you’re little, you dream of what you want to be when you grow up.

A doctor. A movie star. A singer. An astronaut. A Firefighter.

There were a few things on my list and they have changed throughout the years. The one constant is that I wanted to be a mom.

I had a whole plan of having 3 kids by the time I was 30. Since plans never actually go as…planned….I started at 32 and have two amazing kids today. Although financially stressful, I am fortunate enough to be home with them everyday. Watching them change and grow – mentally, emotionally and physically – has been the biggest joy of my life.

I’m only (a few weeks shy of) 4 years into mommyhood and I have learned so much about love, life and myself. There are a million stressful and tiring moments but I wouldn’t change them for anything. I am thankful everyday, appreciate all the ups and downs and can’t believe I get to experience my dream “job” and do what I feel I was meant to do. How many people get that lucky?

To all the moms out there (and dads) you’re doing an amazing job! If we can work hard to help these little people become kind, considerate, respectful, happy adults – we have succeeded! Keep learning and growing with them. One day when they’re adults with families of their own you’ll wonder with the time went and miss even the craziest of moments. Embrace the changes and don’t forget to cut yourself a break once in awhile.

You got this. You’re rocking it. And we’re in it together! Let’s help these little world changers as they embark on their own crazy journey. I can’t wait to see who they become!

Happy Mother’s Day 💕

Stop and Smell the Tulips

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Every May, our local park becomes so colorful thanks to beautiful Tulips.

When the kids woke up from naps on Monday, we went to check them out and of course stop by the playground. It had been a long week with ‘Baby J’ being sick, a few rainy days and another cancelled Chicago trip.

‘J’ has really been into Spiderman for the last month or two. He likes the Spiderman merchandise and books but he’s not that into the cartoons. On the way to the park he said he wanted to get a BIG Spiderman comic book. Then he started a conversation with his sister asking which comic book she wanted. He decided she wanted Minnie. We couldn’t resist the cuteness and after the park we headed over to the comic book store where he did indeed find a BIG Spiderman comic book, a Disney Princess comic book for his sister and the store through in some freebies along the way (including another Spiderman comic and Star Wars).

We came home and barbecued dinner. Being outside meant playing soccer, T-ball, chalk and bubbles. Once ‘Baby J’ went to sleep, we decided to make s’mores in our table fire pit. This was ‘J’s’ first time roasting marshmallows and since he can’t do dairy, it was more like a marshmallow sandwich. He loved every second of it. The night ended with his normal bath and movie routine.

All of these things happened in about 3-4 hours. Seems like a week’s worth of activities! We had so much fun and it was a great reminder that sometimes you have to just stop and go with the flow. It’s so easy to get caught up in the normal routine. We finally have some beautiful weather and we need to take advantage.

I highly recommend stopping, taking a deep breath and enjoying all the fun moments with your kids. It’s cliche but they really do change and grow so fast. The normal daily routine won’t make many memories, but days like Monday will.

It’s Spring! Don’t forget to stop and smell the….Tulips!

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