Motherhood Incorporated

This past Sunday I shared with my neighbors and friends the closest Thanksgiving experience I have ever had.  Turkey, cranberry and all the stuffing, the Alouettes football game on tv, funny family stories, some fine wine, Texas holdem’ and great great great hugs and memories with friends and family.  I have these incredible neighbors.  He is American and so his clan came up for the weekend for the celebration.  I feel so thankful for how the concept family keeps getting reinvented and mine keeps on growing.  Written by Dahna Weber

As my business begins to grow it seems that my stress level is also growing with it, which is natural for a new mompreneur.  I have accepted the fact and now I have to  manage it.  People say its simple, get a massage, take a vacation, take a breather from it all. Are they crazy? Leaving is out of the question.  My solution is DON’T PROCRASTINATE AND ATTACK. Yes just slowing deal with work and don’t thing about how much work you have but find a solution. Then you can go and get that massage and really enjoy it knowing that work is complete or at least up to speed.

Everyone getting set?  Set to launch this phenomenal and simple challenge?  I am certain many of you will be making so many people’s day on Thanksgiving  and sure wish I could offer out credits for deeds done prior to the December 1st start date!  That said…..enjoy your delicious meals, kids, husbands, partners, friends, etc. and get in touch with all that love and feel good energy.  The Daymaker Challenge is all about that.  Feeling and sharing that energy.  Monday is the day!  See you then!  by Deb Gillespie and Dahna Weber

So there we were…..doing what I love.  Me and my boy, out there with tons of people, taking on the streets, running and scootering to raise money for Cancers below the waist.  Does it get any better for a running mom?  Running with my boy?  Nope it doesn’t.  Add a few quirks…like having to do this in one’s underware, how to handle coming in first place for women’s 10k run when you really only ran 5k, and explain all the bizarre outfits to an 8 year old boy!  I think the absolute best moment was when I came around the last corner, being the 4th person about to finish, seeing and hearing everyone cheer me on, not understand why I was slowing down and then cheering MADLY when they saw my boy join me.  He collapsed in a total theatrical display as soon as he crossed the finish line.  My little drama clown!  Then to see how I had raised nearly double what I set out as my goal.  What a magical day!  by Dahna Weber

It’s Thanksgiving week and I have much to be thankful for.  I wish Thanksgiving weren’t such a “food” holiday.  Until a few years ago every holiday was a “food” holiday for me.  Then I lost 100 lbs, which you can’t do unless you give up the idea that everything good is accompanied by food.  Trust me I did extensive research on the topic. After I lost the weight I tried to find new associations for Holidays, new traditions to take the place of eating, smelling, tasting.  Then I got pregnant and all bets were off.  5 years later and I still have 25 of the 100 original pounds to loose.  I used to say that you can call it baby weight until they go to preschool, now I’m thinking of changing it to college.      In any case, here I sit 25 more lbs to lose, so obviously I won’t be chowing down on Thanksgiving, I have a child on a gluten free, casien free, soy free, sugar free, yeast free, artificial color and flavor free diet; there’s very little left that’s Thanksgivingy.  My husband is even going sugar -free this year.  I was clinging to the hope of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I think of it as a mini Tony awards with large balloons and marching band interludes.  Someone pointed out to me today that as Broadway is dark, the shows may not be performing in the parade. 

     I’m desperately trying to come up with another way of celebrating Thanksgiving, maybe by actually giving thanks.  So here goes:  I am thankful for my wonderful husband who laughs at my jokes, even when they aren’t funny and who makes me laugh when I need it the most.  I am thankful for my wonderful son who is continuing to kick autism’s butt, I am grateful for his tremendous progress.  We took him to the mall tonight to sit on Santa’s lap and I rehearsed with him the whole way – What are you going to say when you sit on Santa’s lap?  Over and over until I was sure he had his answers down cold, then as we were walking into that mall I asked one more time – What are you going to say to Santa, he looked up at me and said “I wuv you Santa!”, which by the way was not what we rehearsed.  Then after all of that he got on his lap and said “Hey! Where’s you toy bag?”  I truly love that child.  I am thankful for my health and my friends and family.  I’m thankful for the roof over my head and for my ability work from underneath it.  I am thankful for all of the wealth that is coming my way.  I am especially grateful for the Publisher’s Clearing House which has assured me that I am in the final running to win $7 million on Thanksgiving Day.  It could happen!  Now that would make a nice new tradition that had nothing to do with food!

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I can remember being in mom and tot groups when my son was 10 months old.   All the other moms were going on about how lucky I was that I didn’t have to go back to work.   I simply responded- we all make our choices.  Our family of three was living in a one bedroom apartment and had one car that was 7 years old.  Our monthly rent was the equivalent of their car payment for one of the two cars their families owned. 

I chose to live a simpler life style.  I chose to live in a one bedroom home.  I chose to do odd freelance work that I could do with my son on my back, or on overnight erratic shifts at the women’s shelter.  And most importantly, I chose to spend those first two years at home with my incredible son.  Yes I’m biased and believe every parent should be!

Did luck have anything to do with it?  No way!  It was 100% intentional choice followed by lots of planning and MANY compromises.  My suggestion- think about your real priorities.  It’s all too easy in our consumerist world to acquire things we think we need and we think our kids need which in fact steer us away from what most of us need- time to live love laugh and breathe with our loved ones.  But here I am…preaching to the converted! 

By Dahna Weber

I found Twitter a few months ago and it was love at first sight and then hate at second sight. In fact, I even posted a blog entry about how I was going to be a Twitter Quitter, subsequently followed by another blog entry rolling back my quittin’ ways.

Why all the back and forth?

Well, the quick history is that I found Twitter via Andy Sernovitz, author of Word of Mouth Marketing and marketing genius. He did warn in advance that in order to get something out of Twitter, you have to put in a little proverbial elbow grease, before the trick is to follow A TON of people and subsequently have A TON of followers as well. (Of course, if you’re not using Twitter for business and just for sheer pleasure, it doesn’t really matter).  You can Twitter at www.twitter.com

So I quit because I was putting in all this work to follow all these folks and have them follow me, but I just couldn’t get the hang of Twitter-ing (that’s not the official terminology)

 We are all Daymakers.  Each and every one of us.  Especially the moms out there.  What is a Daymaker?  And what is the challenge? 

It may be obvious that a Daymaker is someone who makes your day.  Bingo!  You got it.  And you likely do it many times a day.  But what about doing it with intention?  And setting a target of 30 days?  Would it make you approach everyone you come into contact with differently?  Would it make you realize the impact you have on every person you meet, look at and speak to?

David Wagner, the original owner of Aveda Salonspas knows this to be true.  He coined the term “Daymaker” and relays an incredible experience which brought him this revelation.  He literally saved someone’s life by simply making their day.  Check out www.daymakermovement.org for more details. 

So here is our challenge:

Everyday for the next 30 days one of us will put forth a suggestion on how you can make someone’s day.  Feel free to send in your suggestions, use the same one repeatedly for 30 days on different people, or switch it around to make it work for you.  It can be as simple as smiling brightly at a stranger.  Try to tie it to a daily activity, like your morning cup of coffee to remind yourself, or put it up as an appointment on your calendar and repeat it for 30 days.  If you miss a day, do two the next day.  Whatever works!  It’ll change your mindset- we guarantee it.  Let’s start December 1^st; a perfect day for a fresh start, great way to end the year and start the new one with a great new habit!  Besides, everyone is so stressed in December it’ll be so easy!

By Deb Gillespie and Dahna Weber

I remember when my kids were still at home with me, and I kept telling all my friends I can’t wait for them to be gone.  I am not going to have any of that empty nest syndrome.  I won’t miss them at all.  I have such a full life; my work, my friends and tons of activities.  But to my surprise now that they are both gone out of the house, I find myself missing them both dearly.  Strangely, when I’m walking down the street and I see a little baby, I want to grab it and take it home with me.  Obviously I don’t do that!  I’m now 45 years old and asking myself; am I too old to have another one?  Sometimes I am serious in considering this.  

Although I do have a very full life,  I now finally get this “empty nest thing” even though I never thought it would happen to me.

Here I am……. waiting anxiously for my next call from the kids.  I feel like an addict waiting for my next fix. 

by Deb Gillespie

By: Sonia Nunez 

Ah yes, spring cleaning. To some who love to clean, it can be their second Christmas. To everyone else, it’s a dreaded chore.

Spring cleaning is something that doesn’t necessarily need to be done in the springtime, or even just the spring. However, there are certain cleaning chores that should be addressed at least annually, and it’s usually good to do many of these during a time of year when you can open windows for fresh air, and do some outdoor chores as well.

We’ve listed some here to consider; a good suggestion is to read through this material while considering your own home, and making an actual list of the chores you want to accomplish during your spring cleaning. If necessary, break up this chore over the course of two days or two weekends so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Mattress and box springs. Your mattress and especially your box springs can collect dust and dirt. Use a vacuum cleaner hose and attachment and run them over both items.Refrigerator coils and underside. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall and then, using your brush attachment, vacuum the dust from every crevice you can find. Detach the vent from the front and vacuum there, too. While the fridge is pulled out, clean the floor underneath it.

Air vents. Your air vents collect a lot of dust over the course of a year. Unscrew them from the wall or floor and vacuum when you can.Laundry room floor. Move your washer and dryer out from the wall and clean around and underneath. Wipe down both appliances.

Attic/basement. Both rooms probably need some attention when it comes to cobwebs. Also, take this opportunity to toss out anything you’re storing that you know you don’t need any longer – broken appliances you’re never going to fix, tools that are rusted or unusable, clothes you’ll never wear again, and so on. These types of things are simply cluttering up your home and creating even more dirt.Garage. The garage probably needs some attention when it comes to dirt that’s built up in corners. It’s a good idea to pull all your cars and move equipment – lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc. – out of the garage before cleaning rather than trying to work around them. Get rid of things you’re storing unnecessarily, including tools, sports equipment, and so on. After the garage is swept and shelves are washed, take the time to organize some things while putting them back. Group like with like – sporting goods in one corner, camping equipment in another, and so on. This makes things easier to find and maintain.

Closets. If you do your annual cleaning during the transition of a season, chances are you’re taking out some clothes or linens and preparing to store others. Take this time to dust out any corners of your closets. Toss out unused or expired medicines or other items from where you store your toiletries. Go through your clothes, and get rid of what you know you won’t wear. If they’re in good shape, donate them. Toss out the rest.Ceiling fans. The tops of these blades can get very dirty and dusty, especially ones located close to the kitchen, and especially if you have a smoker in the house. Use a long-handled duster, or pull a chair up to them and use a wet rag to sponge them off.

Corners. All the areas of your home that don’t get cleaned regularly – windowsills, entertainment centers, bar, bookcases, tops of shelves and cabinets, underneath beds, etc. – should be addressed during your spring cleaning.Your cleaning tools. Check your tools, including brooms, mops, scrub brushes, toilet brushes, and so on. Some should just automatically be tossed and replaced (the toilet brush, for example).

www.motherhoodincorporated.com  

By Nicole Perkins 

My daughter’s Kindergarten class is constant chaos, between the walls where you can’t tell where one things ends and another begins, to the desks all over the place, as well as the kids, it makes my head spin after only an hour – no wonder my daughter comes home so hyper and over stimulated. It is the most ridiculous ADD breeding ground I’ve ever seen. 

In a classroom full of rowdy toddlers, some of whom are eager to learn, others who are eager to play, splitting them up into groups where one is always left under-supervised, makes things more hectic than it needs to be.  Wouldn’t working as one big group, where everyone’s on the same page be more conducive to actual learning instead of just completing things? Questions would only need to be answered once instead of 20 times, the kids could have a nice pleasant pace without having to constantly stop in the middle of what they’re doing to switch activities, and there wouldn’t be a batch of 10 five-year olds left to their own devices at all times.  

The other two Kindergarten teachers don’t appear to be like this – I’ve watched and from what I hear, this is not standard operating procedure. I tried to voice some of my concerns at the parent-teacher conference but even then, she appeared totally rushed and flustered – I don’t think she heard a word I said.

So what do I do, switch her to another class? She would be devastated and it would probably cause more emotional harm than good. I’m trying to sign up for as many days as I can to be the parent helper, but I have a two-year old and my own work to do – my time is limited.

Should I talk to the principal? I can’t stand watching some of these poor kids who just sit there with blank stares on their faces until someone comes by to help them – they’ll never learn anything in that environment!

Or do I just watch my own kid, go over everything with her after school and help her make sense of the mayhem she “learned” at school that day? I’ve created a little station by my computer where I can get some work done while she does hers so I’m right here to answer any questions and look over what she’s done. It’s just the other kids I feel so bad for – you can literally watch some of them get left behind.

Has anyone else ever had a teacher they were unsure of and what were some of your solutions?

One of the hardest things I have been struggling with as a parent, a company owner and someone who has a full life is keeping everyone’s schedule straight. From dental appointments, to soccer practice, art class, spanish immersion – the list is endless. Add in my schedule, my husband’s schedule, my parent’s and my assistants – I am ready to go batty. I am looking for any great ideas from those of you who manage multiple schedules. I use Outlook for my company but find that my personal items get messed up with my professional committments and I am rarely with my blackberry at Karate Class. I came across these simple tips that I would like to share -but am open to any new ideas! Sandra Beck

Step 1 – Analyze Your Day

Do a simple, but consistent time study. I did this, but then I forget. I went back and tried to recreate, but forgot even more. They said the easiest way to do this is to print a daily calendar. Here’s a good one from My ParentTime except I don’t need any more paper in my kitchen. Note what each family member is doing at each time of the day. Look for the problem times, and think about how the schedule can be structured to eliminate problems related to behavior, stress, fatigue, hunger, and disorganization.

Step 2 – Brainstorm What You Want

Less confusion in the morning, homework done by dinner, children in bed by a certain hour, family play time, relaxation, a clean house – this is the time to think about what you want in your family life. Focus on a balance of activity and rest for your family. Take an honest look at both parents’ and children’s needs. This was really hard. I kept writing down. I need more sleep. I need more sleep.  An honest look? Ha ha ha…oh.

Step 3 – Write It Down

Follow the example you see in SuperNanny! Get a poster board and a marker, and write it down for all to see. Post it in the kitchen, and tell the kids that you will now be following it. You’re likely to get some opposition, so parents need to stand firm. From whom? The kitchen Nazi?  Like anyone in my house reads or follows my directions.

Step 4 – Follow the Schedule for a Week

Check the schedule often, and let it guide your days for at least one week. Instruct the children to check the schedule and follow it. If you must remind them, do so; but, your goal is for the children to learn to take responsibility for their part of the schedule.  Again, once I stopped laughing about the goal – I sobered up. Okay, I will try.

Step 5 – Tweak the Schedule

After the first week, take a look at what is working and how the schedule need changing. Make changes in the schedule, and write it on a new poster. Now I have gone from wasting paper in my home office, to killing trees in the kitchen with my new posters. Continue to follow your daily family schedule until it is second nature. (This never happened.) In a few weeks, you’ll marvel at how this simple tool has changed your family life for the better. (what?)  Note what each family member is doing at each time of the day. Look for the problem times, and think about how the schedule can be structured to eliminate problems related to behavior, stress, fatigue, hunger, and disorganization.

 Step 6 – Ask your Friends For Help

This is where I am at. Once upon a time when I only had 1 child and 1 dog, a friend told me to cook pasta, rice and a whole chicken and a whole roast beef every Sunday. It has become a habit and gives me the basic to put meals together during the week when I am rushed – throw in a few extra bits and you have soup – roll it into a tortilla it becomes a wrap – toss it in a salad = instant lunch.  So I am looking for some scheduling ideas that you might have that we can share.

Reasonable Working Hours for Self-Employed Parents

As a business owner or rather, an equal partner in a business, I have recently taken some heat for the amount of hours I work in a week. Some in the business world feel one must work an insane amount of hours to grow a business. I disagree. Do the hours of work equal a job well done? If I work more, do I get more done, and done well? Does it matter if I work 5 hours or 50 a day? if I can get the job done in less time isn’t that a good thing?

The business I have help to build is one who’s mission is to support parents in their efforts to work from home so they can spend more time with their children. If I am working 45 plus hours in a week, isn’t that defeating the purpose? I might as well go back to a high paying corporate job. My husband who makes a decent salary only works 40 hours a week and no weekends.

I admit, I am not super-mom. Working over 8 hours in a day is just not possible, if I want to keep balance. Yes, I could do it- but that would mean I would spend no quality time with my 2 small children, they would always see me working. I could stay up all through the night and work, but my health would suffer. I could ignore the laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, and cooking, but my family would suffer. I could skip all fun activities like going to the park, play-dates, swimming and vacationing but how good of a life would that be? Isn’t the purpose of life to enjoy all that it offers. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in hard work. I know that a business can’t survive without it. But can’t we, as working parents find balance? Some weeks might be more work, some less. If we make all deadlines and do a good job, isn’t that a job well done?  

I am taking a step back and reflecting on what really matters in this thing we call life. Committing to an insane number of daily working hours is just a priority. Family comes First…

By Kelli

www.ourmilkmoney.com

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By Nicole Perkins

In my daughter’s Kindergarten classroom, there is a full-time helper, along with a parent and the teacher. Now, the teacher is a mother of three, so I will give her some slack, but her actions are shaping the lives of a lot of children and I’m not sure she’s providing a standard she would find acceptable for her own children.

I will only go by what I have seen first hand which now tells me a lot about why my daughter’s work has come home so sloppy. Twenty kids are separated into four groups and there are three different stations – art, reading and “jobs.” The teacher calls a group to her reading table, the helper’s art table, while the rest are left to their own devices to get through their actual “jobs,” which is where the parent comes in.

We are the ones who wander all over the classroom (because of course the groups are random), to help the kids, one at a time, on the work that really matters - how to sound out their letters and match words to their pictures or something along those lines. At all times. there are 10 kids who are all over the place, have no idea what to do, or are sitting there by themselves, struggling or waiting until the parent helper can come over to help them. And then there are the kids who are advanced, who are done right away and bored out of their minds. On top of that, every 15 minutes, the teacher claps her hands and the kids all get up and move to another activity.

There is no consistency with the thought process constantly going from one thing to another, and with a different parent each day, there’s no consistency with how they’re taught. Everyone is rushing to get things done before the teacher claps her hands and the kids are not getting any real guidance on the things that matter the most in their education. I am even more grateful than ever that I work from home and have the flexibility to go regularly!

And I’ll admit, I may be a little of a control freak and perhaps, I’m just over-sensitive about my daughter’s first forray into school, so before I go crazy looking at everything with a negative eye, does any of this sound familiar or completely different than what other kids experience in Kindergarten? I just can’t imagine this is normal because it seems like such a hectic environment for children to spend their day. 

Check back in the next couple of days for some possible solutions, and any suggestions our wonderful community of moms may have, are greatly appreciated.

It’s bound to happen. Either it’s too hot here or too cold and I have work to do.  And, no baby sitter.  As the owner of Motherhood Incorporated, it gets tough juggling scheduled, kids, clients, dogs and the weather. Somehow I need to get my work done today and its not a day I can blow off work and just play hooky with my kids. Where I live – it can be 110 outside or 33 – neither great temperatures to support outdoor play without huge parental supervision. This reminds me of my childhood days in Buffalo, snowed in and everyone suffering from Cabin Fever.

So when you are stuck inside with the kids – and you want to work or just want to give them something to do – I found twogreat ideas that are easy to do:

1. Have a Sock Puppet Show – take a pair of old light colored socks and one permanent market. Decorate the face and give them to the kids to play. Have them come up with a name, a character and a story. Or just let them run around the house with face on their feet!

2. Build a House – use pillows, blankets, pinic table cloth, towels and help them build a fort, a house or any other kind of shelter. Give them books, a flashlight, and old pot with cheerios to “cook” in their fire and let their imagination take over. A great idea for lunch is hot dog on a roasting stick – even if you roasted in the microwave.

By Nicole Perkins

So my daughter started Kindergarten and loves it. She’s made so many new friends and is constantly singing cute little songs and bringing home the most darling art projects – anyone remember the five little pumpkins sitting on the gate? Anyhow, it’s her actual work that I am a little concerned about.

Now I know this is just kindergarten and I don’t expect her to be writing essays or anything of the sort, but I would at the very least, expect that what she does already know, would be expanded upon. Instead, it has been quite the opposite. The “jobs” are very often wrong and not corrected, not to mention rushed. Things I’ve seen her do at home, are not being done at school and my little perfectionist has turned into a spaz.

So I didn’t panic, at first. She’s still adjusting, probably just not focusing because of all the fun the kids are having and I can’t imagine a room of 20 toddlers – I’m sure it takes some time to establish order!

But it’s been about three months now and I have since spoken with other educaters and moms. I have also had a chance to spend some time in the classroom as the parent helper and what I see is quite disconcerting.

Aside from my own disagreements with how the teacher and helper handle the children (always very rushed, unprepared, flustered and snappy), or the classroom setup (ridiculously clustered walls, desks facing every which way so the kids are constantly moving around to see what’s going on), what concerns me the most is where the teacher’s priorities lie – more on the completion of things instead of the actual learning of things.

Check back to see how our Kindergarten experience is shaping up and please, feel free to share your own stories.

by Sonia Nunez

 Ah yes, spring cleaning. To some who love to clean, it can be their second Christmas. To everyone else, it’s a dreaded chore.

Spring cleaning is something that doesn’t necessarily need to be done in the springtime, or even just the spring. However, there are certain cleaning chores that should be addressed at least annually, and it’s usually good to do many of these during a time of year when you can open windows for fresh air, and do some outdoor chores as well.

We’ve listed some here to consider; a good suggestion is to read through this material while considering your own home, and making an actual list of the chores you want to accomplish during your spring cleaning. If necessary, break up this chore over the course of two days or two weekends so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Mattress and box springs. Your mattress and especially your box springs can collect dust and dirt. Use a vacuum cleaner hose and attachment and run them over both items.Refrigerator coils and underside. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall and then, using your brush attachment, vacuum the dust from every crevice you can find. Detach the vent from the front and vacuum there, too. While the fridge is pulled out, clean the floor underneath it.

Air vents. Your air vents collect a lot of dust over the course of a year. Unscrew them from the wall or floor and vacuum when you can.Laundry room floor. Move your washer and dryer out from the wall and clean around and underneath. Wipe down both appliances.

Attic/basement. Both rooms probably need some attention when it comes to cobwebs. Also, take this opportunity to toss out anything you’re storing that you know you don’t need any longer – broken appliances you’re never going to fix, tools that are rusted or unusable, clothes you’ll never wear again, and so on. These types of things are simply cluttering up your home and creating even more dirt.Garage. The garage probably needs some attention when it comes to dirt that’s built up in corners. It’s a good idea to pull all your cars and move equipment – lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc. – out of the garage before cleaning rather than trying to work around them. Get rid of things you’re storing unnecessarily, including tools, sports equipment, and so on. After the garage is swept and shelves are washed, take the time to organize some things while putting them back. Group like with like – sporting goods in one corner, camping equipment in another, and so on. This makes things easier to find and maintain.

Closets. If you do your annual cleaning during the transition of a season, chances are you’re taking out some clothes or linens and preparing to store others. Take this time to dust out any corners of your closets. Toss out unused or expired medicines or other items from where you store your toiletries. Go through your clothes, and get rid of what you know you won’t wear. If they’re in good shape, donate them. Toss out the rest.Ceiling fans. The tops of these blades can get very dirty and dusty, especially ones located close to the kitchen, and especially if you have a smoker in the house. Use a long-handled duster, or pull a chair up to them and use a wet rag to sponge them off.

Corners. All the areas of your home that don’t get cleaned regularly – windowsills, entertainment centers, bar, bookcases, tops of shelves and cabinets, underneath beds, etc. – should be addressed during your spring cleaning.Your cleaning tools. Check your tools, including brooms, mops, scrub brushes, toilet brushes, and so on. Some should just automatically be tossed and replaced (the toilet brush, for example).

by Shannon Penrod

When you have a child who has been diagnosed with autism your view of miracles changes.  Things that other people overlook on a daily basis become moments of truimph and celebration in my household. 

Today I was sitting at the table with my son working on his homework.  He is in kindergarten and gets a packet of homework every Friday to take home and work on. It isn’t due until Wednesday but after lunch on Friday we sit down and do the entire packet.  You might think that’s very disciplined of me, the truth is that it is the only moment in the week that my son doesn’t have therapy scheduled, so it literally has to get done then. 

The first time we did homework it took over 2 hours and was so painful I cried afterwards.  But both my husband and I have stuck to our committment that there is no getting out of it –for anyone.  I am amazed that 2 short months later it is actually one of my favorite times of the week.  It is an amazing part of my journey with my son.

 Today was extraordinary.  He had a worksheet with six pictures, cartoon drawings, really.  He was supposed to identify the first letter of the word depicted in the picture and if it started with a “B” to write the letter “B”.  The fact that he can do this worksheet at all is exciting and filled me with hope for all of the things to come. 

The third picture was of a bathtub, which he quickly identified as a “B” word as he was writing the letter he said to me, “There’s a boy in the bath, boy starts with “B” too.” 

I was thrilled and praised him.  He looked closer at the cartoon and said, “The boy look mad.” 

I looked at the picture and saw that indeed the boy did look mad and I agreed with my son, thinking how wonderful that he picked up on the boy’s emotion completely unprompted.  Then he said to me “Why he mad?”

I got goosebumps, this was officially huge now – Why questions have come more and more, but this was a why about emotion that someone else was feeling.  I was so excited I could only say, “I don’t know why he’s mad.” 

Without missing a beat my son said “He want to stay dirty?”

I swear to you I heard angels singing.  I grabbed my son and kissed him and told him what a good boy he was.  “Good talking!” I told him.

For those of you who don’t know children on the spectrum, you’re probably thinking, “I don’t get it.”  But this was huge!  Anytime a child with autism can begin to put themselves into the thoughts or emotions of another person, it’s HUGE – dance around the kitchen then get on your knees and thank GOD, HUGE! 

That little conversation that most parents would have taken for granted had been 3 years, dozens of behavioral therapists, two fund raisers, 1,000s of hours of therapy, 100s of gluten free/casein free recipes, one DAN doctor, and endless sleepless nights spent worrying in the making.  And it was all worth it.  It was  a “just everyday miracle”,  the kind I like the best.

Motherhood Incorporated provides this blog forum as a place to post food for thought so we can all be more aware of the struggles many moms face.  Recently, we had a politically charged post that did not reflect the thoughts, opinions and beliefs of all the women who collectively work for this company, but were the beliefs of the author. 

 Motherhood Incorporated is first and foremost a do no harm company.  We would like to apologize for anyone who was offended or hurt by the political statement and this statement has been removed as this is not a political or religious forum.  We are all entitled to our beliefs and opinions and I am here to state that no one on this blog speaks for all people in this organization – including me!

Keep on sending in your comments and posts as we do hear them and we do respond.

 Thank you all for your loyal support and we will continue on our quest to make this world a better place together~!

Sincerely,

Sandra Beck

President

A very dear friend of mine asked me to help a wonderful woman in her fight…and as you all know at Motherhood Incorporated, we are all about change.  So knowing this, I have been asked to support this petition so people who want and need this drug can have access…here’s Tatiana’s story so read on… I supported her, I hope you will to…

Six months ago my husband was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).  There is no known cure or treatment. Once diagnosed, the patient is essentially handed a death sentence.   I would do anything to help him.  I need a huge favor and your help in order to get another chance for my husband and thousands of other people with ALS another chance and hope.  We cannot wait, every week every day counts. In 2006, the FDA approved a drug called IPLEX manufactured by Insmed.  There followed a number of anecdotal claims stating that IPLEX was effective in slowing down progression and possibly reversing some of the effects of ALS, as well as HIV and burn victims..Unfortunately, Genentech took Insmed to court, for patent infringement.  The case was settled in March 2007 causing IPLEX to be pulled off the market world-wide.  Only a small study now exists in Italy because of the involvement of Italian Ministry of Health.  These results are due in the Fall or early winter, and many positive results have been reported in the Italian media. The court system in Italy officially recognizes these positive resultsFrom a statement on Insmed’s website http://www.insmed.com/iplex.php: “As part of this settlement, we are allowed to develop IPLEX™ for specific indications. ALS is not one of the permitted indications.” What can you do?We found this petition on the internet to “Allow IPLEX to be distributed to ALS patients and burn victims”. I’m asking you to sign this petition to help us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures to allow IPLEX to be distributed to ALS patients,The following is the link to this petition.http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/allow-iplex-to-be-distributed-to-als-patients-and-burn-victims-big-pharma-protects-profits-instead

Thank you very much.

So if you have a moment, look at the site or head straight to the petition. If it were my family member or friend, I would want access to every possible treatment that could save my child or my husband’s life. It only takes a minute, but you could make a huge difference in the life of one family — and many others.  Thank you!

Before I begin, I offer this warning to everyone who may read this blog. To say the topic is sensitive and emotional is a gross understatement. If you have any sensitivity towards children, babies, or illnesses, this may not be the blog for you to read.

 If you are still with me, I have one request: remember to say thank you. I will explain.

I found myself facing an unbelievable amount of stress this week. I had work to write, work to grade, classes to teach, and a family that needed me. I was overwhelmed, and I couldn’t find a way to make every large activity fit into one small schedule. On Monday morning, however, I received a video in my email. Despite the large to-do list awaiting me, I chose to open the video. Six minutes and many tears later, I remembered to say thank you.

The video was on YouTube entitled “Ninety-nine Balloons.” It told the story of Elliot, a baby whose family was on The Oprah Winfrey Show last week. Elliot’s unlikely birth came after the doctors discovered a series of genetic disabilities while he was still a fetus. Each moment in the video is a letter from Elliot’s father to his son, celebrating his life, sharing his love, telling him the story of how wonderful he is. Each day that passes in the video is a cause for joy, and each month that passes is another miracle. On the ninety-ninth day of his life, Elliot’s dad discusses how he “went to be with Jesus.” At his funeral, Elliot’s family released one balloon for every day of his life. Ninety-nine ballons in all.

This video was an incredible tribute to a wonderful baby whose life ended all too soon for many viewers. His family, however, was the true miracle. They celebrated his life despite the immense difficulties they faced, and they recognized his death not as a tragedy by itself, but as an opportunity for their baby to be in Heaven. Elliot was a miracle baby, but his parents are also miracles in every sense of the word.

After I finished crying over this amazing story, I realized how long it had been since I stopped to just say thank you for everything wonderful in my life starting with my daughter. It had only been three days, but that was three days too many. Elliot’s family taught me a lesson in six minutes that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. When it comes to our children, we can’t forget to celebrate every single day of their lives as the wonderful gift each day represents.

I left campus early that day, and I thanked the powers that be for my daughter. I didn’t finish all of my work, and I thanked the powers that be for the chance to see my daughter laugh, learn to blow kisses, and cry. After she went to sleep, I thanked the powers that be for my husband and dogs as they are my family too. When I was done with all of this, I thanked the powers that be for Elliot, his family, and the lesson they have offered to the world.

*As a side note, I should add that this family also has a website and blog of their own. They have been through a lot since Elliot died, but they continue to have an amazingly bright outlook on life. Approximately two weeks ago, they were given another gift. Elliot’s mother gave birth to his beautiful, healthy sister.