As I look back on 2016, there were many mountain top highs and quite a few valley lows. The truth is, I didn't always handle the lows very well. In 2017 I hope to embrace the lows instead of letting them get me down. Special Needs Parenting is a roller coaster ride. I don't want the sudden dips to steal my joy. I don't want the long, slow climb to create a hard heart. I want to enjoy the ride - the twists, turns and sudden stops. I want to feel the thrill even when the moment isn't very Continue Reading
Friday Favorites {12.16.16}
My list of favorites just kept growing this week! There were so many good moments and fun finds! After a whirlwind weekend last week, we are looking forward to relaxing and staying bundled up at home. We are in for some crazy cold weather (windchills below zero) and there's a chance for snow! There will be potato soup in the Crockpot and plenty of games, movies and Christmas cookie making. Let the weekend begin!!! Fifth Birthdays We celebrated with family and friends last weekend with a Continue Reading
New Traditions and Lowering My Expectations {A Weekend Recap of Holiday Fun}
This weekend we attended a birthday party and started several new Christmas traditions. It was fun, but stressful. Between the events and the weather, Jackson was completely out of sorts. Saturday night he buried himself under these pillows for a little chill time. I probably needed to bury myself under some pillows, too. While the weekend was fun, it was also a reminder that birthday parties and other fun events are often more stressful for our family than fun. This weekend I pouted Continue Reading
We Rock The Spectrum {The Perfect Place to Play}
Something as simple as going to the park or the Chick-fil-a play place can be difficult when you have a child with special needs. I avoided both (or drove around to find the one with the least amount of people) for many years. I even wrote about a stressful Chick-fil-a experience once and it's been one of my most read posts. Thankfully our trips to the park are problem-free these days, but I still am not a fan of crowded Chick-fil-a. So what's a mama to do when her child needs to burn some Continue Reading
Five Things to Remember During the Holidays {When Your Child Has Special Needs}
Thanksgiving is three days away and then the official countdown to Christmas in on! I've learned the hard way just how stressful and emotional the holidays can be when you have a child with special needs. Plans don't always go smoothly. Picture-perfect holiday memories often become messy meltdowns. Something as simple as going to a Christmas light display can result in sensory overload and unmet expectations. The holidays are hard; but there are so many ways to make them special. Here's five Continue Reading