In preparation for a new class I am taking for my renewed commitment to my scrapbooking I have generated a list of words that represents my families holiday values. These are the words that come to mind:
love
peace
harmony
togetherness
family
generosity
teamwork
togetherness
Christ
music
giving
thoughtfulness
sharing
fun
friends
laughter
memorable
reflection
Now to make these values come to life I will need to make some goals for each of them. These goals need to be measurable or how else will I know that I have achieved them and most importantly they need to be achievable.
1. I will write a personal note to each family member to tell them how much they mean to me.
2. I will encourage calm interactions and cooperation in times of conflict.
3.
4. Our family will do 4 Christmas related activities in December.
5. I will ensure to get together with all sides of the family to acknowledge the holidays.
6. The children will donate one toy to a toy drive this Christmas.
7. I will contribute to the planning and organizing of every family get together.
8. I will go to as many of the festive activities at our church as possible to celebrate Christ.
9. I will make a special Christmas album and play often to get me in the spirit.
10. I will try to choose gifts that are made or chosen to Honor specific interests in people.
11. I will send cards of thanks to others.
12. I will bring food for the meals we will share together.
13. I will plan some fun kids activities for the Ormerod Christmas.
14. I will see at least 2 friends for coffee or drinks during the holidays.
15. I will smile often and encourage family to share funny stories of Christmas past.
16. I will take loads of pictures.
17. I will complete the Holiday in Hand project.
Well that's it for Day 1 and because it's on my blog I have saved paper and won't loose my thoughts!!! Loosing paper is a bad habit for me - ask anyone.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Thoughts for Today
As an early childhood educator who specializes in working with children with mild to severe disabilities I am very familiar with a poem called “Welcome to Holland” by Emily Perl Kingsley, written in 1987 http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holland.html . The poem synopsizes a parent’s reality about having a child with a disability and compares it to taking a trip you planned and organized but instead of getting where you planned, you end up in another foreign country that is far different than the place you wanted to go. I have given this poem to several of the parents I work with and it often brings some perspective and some comfort to those that perhaps can’t articulate their feelings.
When I read that poem, and I highly encourage you to do so if you haven’t already, I think it has been written for parents of children with more severe disabilities than the ones my child is experiencing. I read it and I do relate to it to a point, but because my son’s challenges do not compare to those on the more globally delayed end, it just doesn’t exactly fit. I don’t feel like I am in Holland, the destination is not that drastically different, but I do feel like the trip I planned to take has taken a detour. This detour has taken me on a road that is bumpier and definitely more uphill than the route I had planned. I don’t have a GPS to navigate with and the map I am trying to read is out of date. They have added some new roads and towns since this map was written, making it even less familiar than the way I remember it from when I was a child. We have already met adversity – its name is epilepsy – who has delayed our travels, but did not prevent us from forging ahead.
My heart tells me I know we will finally get to our destination – the one I planned for us (or hopefully very close)– but I have no idea how long it will take us to get there, or whether I will have enough gas or even enough money along the way to sustain us if special supplies are needed. I can only hope those we meet will be friendly (much like those we have already met) and that I have packed enough perseverance, patience and humor to get us there. After all, I am the one driving this vehicle and one wrong turn might make our trip that much longer. Regardless this driver (and many more like her) has the responsibility to drive in all kinds of weather. Today the weatherman calls for fear, tomorrow determination, optimism or deep sadness or anger. Thank goodness I have my emergency kit – the love and support of friends and family, some hugs and kind words of encouragement to keep me going. It will be a long ride but we will get there – oh no watch out, there is a little bump ahead. Hold on tight!
When I read that poem, and I highly encourage you to do so if you haven’t already, I think it has been written for parents of children with more severe disabilities than the ones my child is experiencing. I read it and I do relate to it to a point, but because my son’s challenges do not compare to those on the more globally delayed end, it just doesn’t exactly fit. I don’t feel like I am in Holland, the destination is not that drastically different, but I do feel like the trip I planned to take has taken a detour. This detour has taken me on a road that is bumpier and definitely more uphill than the route I had planned. I don’t have a GPS to navigate with and the map I am trying to read is out of date. They have added some new roads and towns since this map was written, making it even less familiar than the way I remember it from when I was a child. We have already met adversity – its name is epilepsy – who has delayed our travels, but did not prevent us from forging ahead.
My heart tells me I know we will finally get to our destination – the one I planned for us (or hopefully very close)– but I have no idea how long it will take us to get there, or whether I will have enough gas or even enough money along the way to sustain us if special supplies are needed. I can only hope those we meet will be friendly (much like those we have already met) and that I have packed enough perseverance, patience and humor to get us there. After all, I am the one driving this vehicle and one wrong turn might make our trip that much longer. Regardless this driver (and many more like her) has the responsibility to drive in all kinds of weather. Today the weatherman calls for fear, tomorrow determination, optimism or deep sadness or anger. Thank goodness I have my emergency kit – the love and support of friends and family, some hugs and kind words of encouragement to keep me going. It will be a long ride but we will get there – oh no watch out, there is a little bump ahead. Hold on tight!
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