Making a Change

Hey everyone,

I know blogs aren’t usually the best way to update people but I wanted to catch as many people as I could.  Things have been very crazy busy the past few years with everything going on with the boys and now with our adoption. The boys are doing great, but they certainly keep us busy.  Staying on top of Ethan’s needs is fairly time consuming, but he is really excelling beyond our beliefs.  Our home study report has finally been written for our adoption. We have been waiting since January to begin the adoption process so we are ecstatic that we can finally be matched!

Over the years, my focus has always been my kids and my family. My own health was the last thing on my mind. Life came first (and fast), and my weight has kept creeping up. Even though I still teach six Zumba classes as week I haven’t managed to lose the weight. I knew that exercise was not enough and that I needed to make a lifestyle change.  After months of research I decided to take the leap of faith and start Take Shape for Life.  I am so happy I did. I am feeling amazing. I still have a long way to go on my journey, but I am passionate about creating habits of health for not only myself, but my family and friends.  If I can do it, I know you can too!  If you are interested in learning more or perhaps you have a loved one in your life who needs the gift of health please contact me. I would love to walk the path with you! 

I am sharing my story because it will help me to be accountable for my own health and because if my successes can help someone else, that would be even more amazing. Thanks for all the love and support!

 

Proof that what you say and do does in fact make a difference ~

 

I know I posted last week about Ethan’s experiences at school this year and how he was having a pretty rough go of it. I am going into his class tomorrow and am going to talk to the kids a little bit about Ethan and his medical diagnosis. Working with our private speech therapist we made a simple book talking about being different and that it is ok.

Now on to a positive incident and proof that your children DO listen to what you say!  Another Mom contacted me via facebook and her child is in class with Ethan.  She said she had a long talk with her child about being nice to everyone, including everyone, and perhaps going out of their way to include Ethan, even if it is just saying “hi” or giving him a nice smile. 

Guess who my spies told me was playing on the playground yesterday with Ethan at recess? This child! Who before might not have thought about reaching out or asking Ethan to play. It made me smile and want to give that Mom a big giant hug.  See!! Our kids do listen.  That one child made a difference in Ethan’s outlook that day, and on mine as well!

Making a Difference

An open letter to my friends;

Parents ~ it starts with us. 

Ethan has had an increasingly difficult couple of weeks at school this year. Yes, I know the year just started, but when you have a child who doesn’t want to attend class, it seems infinitely longer.  For the last few weeks (and even prior to school starting) we have had several painful conversations with Ethan where he has said that the children at school “make fun of him, are mean to him, tell him he has a tiny head, laugh at him, and hurt his feelings.”  It is absolutely heartbreaking dialogue to have with your child.

Before I had Ethan I only knew a handful of people with disabilities.  I wasn’t exposed to it growing up. Very much like Sherwood, I grew up in a community, which albeit wonderful, was not very diverse.  We are afraid of what we don’t understand.  When we received Ethan’s diagnosis of microcephaly I was afraid. When we took him to his medical appointments and under the section reason for visit it listed “mental retardation” I was afraid.  But knowledge is power.

We have all been teased or ridiculed at some point in our lives. Maybe because you were poor and didn’t have a lot of clothes (a painful memory for me,) perhaps you had glasses, or braces, or freckles.  It hurt and it cut deep.  Multiply that times one hundred when it comes to your own child. Worse than having a plethora of medical appointments where your child is constantly poked and prodded, worse than therapy several times a week, worse than not knowing your child’s future.   As parents, you know that seeing your child upset and not being able to do anything is pure agony.  However, in this case, we can do something.

Talk to you kids. It begins with us. Tell your children it is okay to be different. Discuss inclusion and empathy with them.  Encourage them to have a diverse group of friends, to be independent thinkers, to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.  Lead by example.  Start with a simple conversation. Start young.  And repeat.

Your child could be the one to make a difference in another child’s outlook on school or even on life.  Have a question… ask! Need help starting the conversation? I will assist you. Let’s begin to spread the knowledge to our children now!

Thank you, on behalf of Ethan, and all the other children that I know feel the same.