Video of independence We all want our children to grow up and be independent. As our children go from newborns through early development, we cherish the milestones they achieve. Whether it is learning to feed themselves, starting to talk, walk, mastering toileting, or dressing themselves, parents are excited when their children gain a new skill. Fast forward almost 9 years, and we are still waiting for some of those skills to be mastered. Although it is exciting when your child learns to ride their bike, masters crossing the monkey bars independently, and picks up skating or skiing quickly, it is also important to learn the basic skills of being independent: taking a bath, brushing teeth, toileting, and getting dressed. This week I am proud to say we have mastered getting completely dressed independently. Kayla has been able to get her clothes on independently for the last two years. Granted her clothes do not entail buttons, … [Read more...]
Another vacation in the books
Okay, so we were gone 13 days and had only 2-3 meltdowns and only 2 falls! That is a major accomplishment. The first six days included travel and the lovely theme park adventure! We spent two days at Universal Studio. The only bump was the first day when we had to upgrade Kayla’s ticket for the meal plan and get her a disability pass. The meal plan is well worth the money! She was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of people and the overall transitions, but once we got in the park...we had a great two days. Kayla went on lots of rides and met a lot of characters, which was fun. My strategy about any theme park or museum we visit is that Kayla leads the way. If she wants to go on the same ride over and over...so be it. If she wants to play in the waterpark at Universal for most of the day, that is what we do. And if she would rather just go back to the hotel and swim, we go. After going to Universal for two consecutive … [Read more...]
Donkey Days
Summer time usually means swimming, camping, biking, and summer camps. With so many summer camp options to choose from, where would one begin? Activities, age range, and cost are just some of the factors, but the biggest challenge: will they take a child with special needs? I will be honest, there are not many camps in our area that are specifically targeted for children with special needs. In fact, you can probably count on one hand the number of camps in Chittenden County that give children with special needs an opportunity to participate in a summer camp. I went outside the box and started looking at summer camps that every other child her age could attend. Through the years, I have been fortunate to find MANY camps and programs that are very accommodating to not only Kayla, but many children with various challenges. This year we hit the jackpot and found a camp that was like no other; Donkey Days at One Mitten Farm in … [Read more...]
And the best theme park is….
Going to a theme park with any young kid can be stressful, overwhelming, and exhausting. In fact, I don’t even enjoy them, but when you have kids, you end up doing a lot of things that you would not normally do. Kelcie kept asking to go to Universal Studios and Kayla really wanted to go to Disney World. Since we vacation in Florida every June, I decided to bite the bullet and go to both parks. We went to Universal Studios for two days. The good thing was that Kelcie’s friend came along so they could enjoy the theme parks together. I was stuck with Kayla. And my husband was smart and stayed home! After doing some research and having experienced Universal previously, I had a game plan for Kayla. Universal Studios offers a “Disability Pass” for individuals who need accommodations for any reason. Although some people think of this pass as a way to “cut” the line, it is not meant for that. For Kayla, the pass was used to access … [Read more...]
As the school year comes to an end…
My friends, many of my colleague, and of course my kids are excited that the school year is about to come to an end. I share some of their enthusiasm, but I am a little hesitant for the summer to approach as well. The professional side wants are excited for summer; the mother in me is a little on the fence! From a professional standpoint, I am ecstatic to finish work! Don’t get me wrong- I love my job and the people I work with. However, I do need a break from refereeing kickball, explaining to kids repeatedly not to go UP the slide, being called stupid or liar daily, and reminding children that I have good hearing and do not need to be yelled at. It will be refreshing to get a long break and see the children’s smiling faces in the fall. From a parent’s standpoint, the summer can tend to have a lot of bumps in the road. Kayla functions better with routine and structure. Although school can be stressful for her at times, the … [Read more...]