a time of reflection......

This post is one that's so hard to write, not because I don't want to share it, but because the context in itself is still so hard to fathom and comprehend, even though I'm living it.

The Christmas season is generally a great time to gather family and friends together to celebrate the joys that life has bestowed upon us, rejoicing in all that is good.

Letting go of everything else and allowing ourselves the time to relax and be in the moment while enjoying time with those that matter most.

The best gift to give your child is the gift of LOVE.

A so-called 'simple' word can do 1 of 2 things.........

1/. Lift someone up.

or

2/. Pull someone down.

As an adult the 'later' can be an emotional and daunting experience. So when a child is confronted with this form of negativity, through repeated nagging, verbal harassment, abuse or bullying, we shouldn't expect them to “get over it” and move on.

With so many people being raised under the belief, as the old saying went....

“Sticks and Stones may break your bones, But Names will never hurt you”

Finding Special Moments to share is very important......

A.J. playing with our new little addition Laura,
they are becoming very good friends 

A.J. happily mumbling to himself, caught me off guard today as I prepared our breakfast, when suddenly he was standing directly in my line of movement.

“Hey Nan! I have a quiz for you.........What is the opposite of L.O.L. -laugh out loud?”

Without really thinking about what he had said as I tried to set the food onto the table.

I replied, “sorry hunn I'm not sure?”

A.J. responds - “The answer is C.I.Q. -cry in quietly!!”

“YES you may bask in the brilliance of my knowledge.”

me – “Hmmm...... yes you're very clever”, I reached over and kissed him on the forehead.

Entertaining us with Philosophical conversations are the highlight of A.J.'s mornings.

He delights in being involved in his ritual daily discussion and question time.

special moments and new experiences.

A.J. and little Laura bonding together 

As we begin closing in on the holiday season and our end of year break, most parents will agree at this time of year things can become a little frazzled and draining.

With everything we've been through over the past few years I myself am definitely showing the signs of needing a real break, and I'm looking forward to some down-time.

A.J. has already informed me everything is “boring” at the moment and he needs a new hobby/distraction. Unfortunately what that may be is a mystery to him as well as me.

Coping with the little things

The first thing we need to do as a parent of a special needs child, is to learn about, understand, and accept what lay before us. As we grow together we will adjust with the progress, by gaining knowledge and addressing the situations our little munchkins face; by acknowledging 'all' aspects including 'additional' symptoms, and concerning issues.

Accepting we will struggle with different concepts, we can still maintain a normal lifestyle without needing to “change” who our child is.

We can learn and teach our child to sense any pre-signs of melt-downs or sensory moments, to help them gain and maintain stability within their personal environment.

Giving a little understanding and consideration can help so much......

A.J. with his new best friend Laura, our baby mini-foxy

While thinking of what we have been through as a family and what we still have to face, especially when acknowledging the journey A.J. himself has encountered, I still at times wonder how we came out reasonably unscathed, in the big scheme of things.
While accepting that so much is still ahead for us, we try to focus as much as possible on the positives. I'm so proud of where this year alone has taken A.J. educationally, never giving up, and always willing to try what's placed before him, regardless of his struggles.

Focusing on Emotional Health and giving the right supports to our kids.

Our Backyard, the perfect surrounding, Nature at its best.....

Emotional health is the personal experiences relating to self-esteem, self-respect and resilience. It is the experience of acceptance, and happiness that helps to naturally move you to a state of emotional wellness.

As I begin on this topic I wish to firstly address the fact that everyone in some form or another can, has, or will face one of the many different forms of Mental Health.

Whether it be stress, anxiety, or something more severe; so for this reason we all need to be vigilant in being aware of changes in moods or sudden unusual behaviours of our loved ones, as this could be the early warning signs of underlying issues.