Tag Archives: kids

No Speech Party?!

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A No Speech Party? No….

 

We have rules…not many…but the one’s we have we stick to

~ Parenting – It’s all about consistency ~

Rules such as –

  • Keep hands, feet, and all objects to yourself
  • You MUST wear pants when going outside
  • Etc….

Nothing too major…but one rule is ‘If you don’t finish therapy you get no iPad or computer for the evening’. Fair enough, right? I guess that would depend on who you asked…..

A convo with the Little Man:

Me: If you don’t finish speech you get no iPad

After few minutes of him shenanaginizing….

Me: Okay, no iPad

10 minutes later….and just realizing the consequences of his actions….

Little Man: iPad

Me: No iPad

Little Man: Computer

Me: No computer

Little Man: iPad

Me: No computer, no iPad, no nothing! You didn’t do speech you’re out of luck until tomorrow

Little Man: Party

Me: No party….no speech, no party!

Little Man: Outside

Me: Yes! Go outside…that sounds like a great place to play!

A few minutes later…. Commotion coming from out back….

Me: Whatcha doing?

Little Man: No Speech Party!! (as he throws his confetti in the air)

Something was lost in translation…

I say No Speech, No Party

He hears No Speech Party

I give up!

In The Checkout

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The little man and I are standing in the checkout line at the grocery, there’s a customer ahead of me and I have no cart so I’m trying to put the groceries from my bag onto the conveyor belt and keep an antsy tired boy near me. The little man was leaning with his elbows on the conveyor belt, hands over ears, standing quietly and relatively still, he wasn’t even one foot behind me. The lady behind me was apparently in such a rush to get her groceries on the conveyor that she couldn’t be bothered to tap my shoulder and ask if I could get my son to move. Instead she put 2…yes 2…hands on his back and physically moved him. It took everything I had not to shank her with my keys for even touching my son.

I turned to her and told her ‘Don’t EVER put your hands on my kid again’.
She looked at me with a blank dumbfounded look on her face, like I’m crazy…how dare I say something to her, and said- ‘Well I asked him to move and he wouldn’t so I gently moved him’
Me- ‘He doesn’t speak, he doesn’t understand you, he has autism’
Her- ‘Well I asked him to move’
Me- ‘Again, I don’t care what you asked him, if you have an issue with MY son you can tell me, I’m 2 inches from him’

Just because I look like everyone else, doesn’t mean I am like everyone else!! <3

All she had to do was apologize somewhere in there…or even just stop talking, nope not this lady, she continuously defended her behavior…Apparently special needs or not, parent nearby or not, she feels it’s okay to put her grubby hands on my son. I don’t know about you, but if I have issue with a child or child’s behavior I’ll talk to the parents…it’s not my place to lecture, much less physically move, someone’s child. The thing people fail to realize…other than we are given common sense for a reason…is that an autism kiddo may look just like every other kid but that doesn’t mean they understand the same things other kids their age might understand…and regardless of a child’s level of understanding you take up any issues you have with a child with that child’s parents not with the child.

I’m a pro at ignoring peoples rude stares when we are out and about, ignoring the rude comments they make under their breath. I’m thankful I didn’t flip out, I didn’t raise my voice, I was much calmer than I thought I’d be if ever thrown in a sticky situation…but DON”T EVER PUT YOUR HANDS ON MY KIDS!! So…Am I crazy??? Would you have just let it go?

Our shenanigans were actually caused by a rude adult…which IMO is worse, at least a child can still be taught

This week I’m hanging out at Yeah Write’s hangout grid…have you stopped by and checked out all the awesomeness??

If you can teach a dog to sit…..

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Yes, I did just compare child raising to puppy training, and yes I know some of you are shaking your heads at me as you read this. I’m not comparing your child, or mine, to a dog, all I’m saying is consistency is key. I get tired of all the excuses people make. Any child can learn and as a parent it’s our job to teach them.

Just my two cents ;P

-Sara 

Happy Birthday Loves!

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Guess what today is???? It’s time for a Thursday Throwback….today I’m flashing back 8 years to the day by twins were born…Wow how time has flown!! My monsters were so tiny!! What’s your Thursday Throwback? Think back, take a moment, grab a memory, and smile….oh blog about it while you’re at it :)

Free Autism Apps

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Go to the App store on iTunes (Sorry non iPhone users, I only know iDevices)

Search – Kindergarten.com on iTunes

Not all the apps are free but for April lots of their ABA Flashcards Apps are free for Autism Awareness Month

You can also visit their website Kindergarten.com if you want more info….

Check it out:::
So many free apps….my monsters have learned lots from these, we downloaded some of them last April, and I’m about to download the new ones / ones we don’t already have :)

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Disclaimer::: Kindergarten.com knows nothing of me or this blog, and I am in no way being compensated for these ramblings… I’m just #SharingTheSavings, from one mom to another :)

It’s A Blogoversary Blog Bash!

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It’s Allison & Ado’s Blog Bash – They’re celebrating their Blogoversaries with a fun link-up….and you know I love a link-up!!

Here’s the deal::: You take one of you fav posts, grab a Blogoversary button, and link it up, then read everyone else’s awesome posts…I can do this, it sounds like a plan!!

First up – The linking up….Not to toot my own horn but I’m pretty amused with a lot of my old posts, as I’m sure most of you are with your own old posts…I think it’s more that flipping through old posts is like a mini rewind that that I think I just write that amazingly well lol….The one I’m sharing today is all about Sanity Savers…we all have them, but I hear so many moms who don’t use them…I don’t know why….but I’m hoping you can laugh with me though these ramblings, share your own sanity savers, and take a second to remember that we all have our own little sanity savers and we should use them!! :)

 

 

A post from last summer, during the last few days of #SummerVacayHell:::

 

 

 

Sanity Savers

Sanity Savers…

We all have them, what are yours?? Some of mine you may laugh at, or think is this woman mad, but enjoy…and comment below your sanity savers…I’d love to hear them all!

  • Chocolate – A good piece of chocolate can, maybe not fix, but mask a lot of frustrations

    Sanity Saving Munchies

  • Music – I’m famous for my one eared parenting. One ear on the kids, one ear with an ear bud blasting something awesome. This one’s great for the car too, when all you can think is, ‘If I have to listen to this Barney DVD one more time I’ll pull my own ears off’.
  • The boys iPods – You’d be amazed at how peaceful my house can become when the iPods have been distributed and everyone’s You-Tubing away. Plus, they have actually learned a ton from their YouTube addiction (for those interested in this sanity saving method check out KidsTv123 on YouTube).
  • My iPod – Escaping into a game, the news, or a social media site can be just the break my brain needs.
  • A Drive – On a day filled with whining and fighting sometimes loading everyone up and saying lets go is just what we need. Whether it’s a trip to Happy Hour at Sonic, or Fries and Pies at Mc’D’s, a $5.00 Hot & Ready at Little Caesars, or just a drive thru the old part of town to see something we have never noticed all these years. Staying home gets boring for us and for them, we never get out of the car just drive slow and soak in the scenery.
  • A quick phone call- Step into your room, even if the kids are screaming in the background, those that love you and know your stresses will tolerate your crazy screaming kids to give you a 5 min sanity check, I promise. Call your spouse just to say ‘Hi’, call your mom, sibling, or grandparent, a friend. You don’t have to whine about your problems, just say Hey. Talk about something/anything that’s kid free…clear your mind…distract yourself.
  • Lose yourself in a project – You’d be amazed at how much more motivating cleaning a bathroom can be if you know that if you’re not cleaning you’re refereeing.
  • The TV – I don’t care what the ‘experts’ say…the ‘experts’ don’t have 3 kids with special needs, hell most probably don’t even have 1 kid. No, TV shouldn’t raise you child, but I belive it’s 100% okay to throw a movie on so you can do dishes, take a shower, play with one of your other kids, or just prop your feet up for a few minutes
  • Fresh Air- I know it’s hot, especially in this part of summer, but send the kids out early in the morning or late at night. Let them run in the back yard, splash in the sprinkler, drink from the hose, fill a kiddie pool…you know all that stuff we did as kids that now they say is bad for them ;)
  • A craft – As much as dread the thought of cleaning up after painting or baking with the kids, once we get started, even though it never goes as I planned, we all have a blast. Cover the table or floor with a big piece of butcher paper, or an old sheet, and let them go wild. Then hose them off in the backyard for easy clean-up, and I’m pretty sure, while it’s still summer, being hosed off counts as a ghetto bath (Lazy Mom Win!!!)

  • My Mom Hide Out

    Hide – Yes, I said it; Yes, I do it. No, I don’t lock myself in a room and ignore my kids. But from time to time, on a particularly stressful day I’ve been known to put a movie on and sneak off into my room (door open) and hide out for a few minutes of quiet to unwind before I get busted by the monsters.

  • Laugh – If I didn’t laugh every time I came around the corner to find a child covered head to toe in pancake syrup, peanut butter, dish soap, butter, the list goes on…, I’d lose my mine. I used to stress about the messes, but they don’t matter. Just laugh at the memory your making, have the monster attempt to help with clean up, and hide whatever helped to cause the disaster.

    I’m Glad He Enjoyed The Cake

  • Mommy Juice – there’s nothing wrong with a little spiked OJ or a pina colada every now and then…just remember, “A man’s gotta know his limitations” [Good advice, not only when it comes to drinking, but to life in general...that Clint Eastwood is one wise old man ;) ]
  • Remember ‘They’re only young once” – Make memories, take pictures, focus on the postitives…and on a crap day pull out the pictures and flashback to all the wonderful memories, then go out and make more. They grow up way to fast. I don’t care how overused that saying is, it couldn’t be more true.
  • Take a break to remember all you have- I posted this the other day, but it’s worth repeating, a quote from an old Yaga tee, ‘Too Blessed To Be Stressed”. Even when we feel we are at our wits end we all have something to be grateful for, even if it’s as simple as the air we breathe.
  • Pray

Van Wilder said it best “Worrying’s like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere”

And a final thought on those days where you feel you want to snap and you can’t get a ‘me time’ break, remember my motto, “No matter how much shit the throws at you, it will keep going…so I will keep going…knee deep in dookie and kicking ass the whole way”

–>A quick disclaimer – All the fast food establishments listed above, as well as You Tube, iPod, and KidsTV123 have no idea I’m even writing about them, and everything here is just my two cents. It may or may not work for your family ;)

 

I have to say favorite Sanity Savers are still - Pray, Laugh, and One Eared Parenting

Now for Part 2 – I’m off to blogstalk check out all the other great posts that have already linked up…It’s not too late for you to join in the Blogoversary Fun!! :)

30 Ways To Make A Mom Smile

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There’s a Trending Topic floating around in the online world 30 Ways To Make A Girl Smile, but I think 30 Ways To Make A Mom Smile would be way more amusing…so here we go, in no particular order:

  1. Your kids actually eating what you’ve made for dinner
  2. Your kids not complaining, while they are eating, about what you’ve made for dinner
  3. Everyone in the house remembering where the hamper is
  4. ….and how to use it
  5. Getting to sleep in, even just 15 minutes
  6. Your spouse making kiddo breakfast
  7. Your spouse making any kiddo meal
  8. ….and cleaning up the dishes after
  9. The kids throwing their trash in the trash can instead of hiding it under/in the couch
  10. Curling up on the couch watching Saturday morning cartoons or movies with the kiddos
  11. Little boys remembering to flush
  12. Little boys remembering to put the lid down BEFORE flushing
  13. Caffeine IV’s
  14. Mommy Juice – Yes it’s real…it’s that special juice mommies drink at the end of a long day to avoid ripping someone’s head off during evening shenanagins
  15. Someone inventing a washer/dryer combo, no more mildewey smelling stuff because I forget to switch the laundry for a days
  16. A laundry fairy *Calling the Laundry Fairy…can you hear me???*
  17. Good notes from the teacher saying how spectacularly awesome your kids are doing
  18. A full night’s sleep
  19. Homemade gifts from the children
  20. Family Vacations
  21. Free Family Vacations – Are you listening Disney & SeaWorld?? If you want to spend a special needs family of 5 to your park, all expenses paid, I’d be HAPPY to volunteer my family for the job ;p
  22. Grocery shopping when the store is nearly empty
  23. A kid free dinner out every now and then
  24. People learning not to stare….loud stimmy kids are NOT the same as loud unbehaved kids
  25. Diamonds, flowers, chocolates…really anything that sparkles, smells delish, or tastes sugary good
  26. Someone in the house taking a second to say ‘Hey we really do appreciate all you do’, you’d be amazed at how far a few simple words can go to make ones day
  27. The kids waking up the first time you wake them in the morning….or even the second….but by the fifth time it starts to get a little ridiculous lol
  28. A winning lottery ticket….okay this one isn’t just for moms but it’s be nice either way!
  29. Someone else taking the trash out…before the trash man runs
  30. Plastic Surgery – I know some of you may disagree but I say there’s nothing wrong with a little nip and tuck every now and then…kids can do a number on your body…oh can I add *FREE* to this one too? ;p

What’s on your list?

Wait…You mean you want more?? How about a few pics to make a mom smile :)

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Proper ways NOT to handle a baby

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And finally an old ad from a magazine to make us feel just that much about our parenting….

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Disclaimer****All of these pics were pics I ran across on various sites like FB and across the web. None were taken by me, but I’ve had them so long I can’t be positive where they all originally came from.*****

Breakfast for Dinner…Sort of…

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It’s all about picking your battles…a great rule for life in general, but ESPECIALLY when it comes to raising your kids! In our house we don’t pick many, the few we do pick we stick too, but other than that as you know I’m pretty much the definition of a slacker mom. After a long, but good, first week of getting back to school and getting settled into the routine it was Friday night. I think last night was the first night I cooked more than a grilled cheese or Ramens all week. Roasted chicken and fried potatoes….Yum-O!! Well, I enjoyed it at least.

There are a few dinner rules in our house (That we TRY our best to stick too)

  • You eat what’s been made for you unless, you scavenge make something for yourself
  • I am NOT a short order cook (however if you ask before I start cooking, I’ll make whatever you want)
  • If you don’t want to eat, that’s cool, but you will sit with us while we eat
  • Don’t hit your brothers, throw things, and all that good stuff

Last night when my roasted chicken was on the table and we were all sitting down to eat, Ryan runs to the fridge and gets the cookie dough (not what I mean when I say scavenge  make your own dinner…think PB&J, Chips & Cheese, eggs…). As much as I wanted to pitch a fit, and I’m sure some of you moms are already shaking your head at me, I thought to hell with it. He had a busy first week of school, he wasn’t going to eat the chicken anyways, and for the most part my kids eat relatively well…plus I’m a big believer in the power of a gummie vitamin ;) If Ryan wants cookie dough for dinner I’ll loan him my dieting logic for ONE evening…Cookie dough with a glass of milk, is no worse than cookies and milk, which can’t be worse than the stuffed french toast he’d be eating if we had breakfast for dinner. Also, cookies are in the same family as danishes, donuts, pastries, muffins (which we all know are just cupcakes in disguise), and therefore cookies and milk can easily be called breakfast for dinner….and if you want to really throw in some Sara logic…cookies are made from eggs (protein), milk (dairy), chocolate (antioxidants), flour (whole grains), wow just reading this I’m patting myself on the back already for providing such a well-balanced meal lol!  So for last night, and last night only (or not again for a few weeks at least), my little man picked his own dinner and I didn’t say a word.

PICK YOUR BATTLES – Best parenting tip I’ve EVER received!

Everyone Else's Dinner

Yes, He’s eating it straight from the

tube..I’ts his cookie dough (dont’ judge)

Ryan's Dinner