We live in a world of too much "stuff" and not enough of the stuff that is free like love, compassion, empathy, tolerance and friendship. This holiday season I am asking anyone who would normally think about getting any material items for my family (including the kids) please donate that money to my friend Matt Houde's page for the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics.
My family does not need "things". We are actually looking to go extreme minimizing in 2017 for goals we are looking at for our future. I have been blessed with a roof over my head in this little house by the sea for fifteen years, a happy marriage for twenty and two beautiful healthy children. Tony Ward Jr. and I want to support Matt and his craziness to go plunging into the bay and freeze his *#% off and his support for Special Olympics. As you know, Hunter has been involved with Special Olympics in the past and it is an awesome organization. And Hailey is looking to be involved in the future (she is thinking about soccer)
Let me tell you about Matt who you will be supporting. Matt is one of my sweetest friends. We have known one another since high school. He has seen some hard times. During these times when things were rough, I have never known him to faulter, give up or not try harder to be the best he can be. He is always smiling and never negative. He is a phenomenal father to his daughter, Nancy, who he is plunging for. She is a great kid , who despite her own obstacles, is always smiling. I assure you that your donation could not support a more deserving family and organization.
Just sharing this will help too!
In a time where it's all about things, things, things ... please consider a non-materialistic gift. I would love for him to be able to CRUSH his goal of $200 in record breaking time and show him that there are gifts that are greater than materialistic items and they come in the form of support, friendship, kindness and love.
Blessings to you all and let us all be blessed with good health and love in this upcoming holiday season!
PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
http://www.firstgiving.com/team/338289
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Burdening of the Young
Let's all just step back and take a breather.
Our kids are listening to our words and how WE are handling things. They are bringing their stresses with them to school. They are worrying.
These are grown up problems people.
It is one thing to inform your kids but to BURDEN them is not necessary.
Things have NOT happened yet. It is our job to reassure them we are here to keep them safe, love them, educate them, empower them.
Stress that your family is safe.
Be together
Carefully consider your child's maturity and temperament
Consider your own reactions. Your kids will look to the way you handle the news to determine their own approach. If you stay calm and rational, they will, too.
I work in a therapeutic school and today was rough. I was there with reassurance for my students that these ARE grown up problems and I hear their voice but humans are resilient and often in the most bleakest of times we have shown time and time again that we can always find hope and fight for what is right.
ITS OKAY people to not have an opinion around your kids/students about this election so as to help quell their fears. And as an educator I absolutely have NO opinion to share with my students.
You can reassure your kids that life will go on and the world is NOT ending.
I feel PRETTY STRONGLY that we need to make sure this message gets in.
With all the fear and anxiety running wild the last few months, we need to proactively reassure them that they are safe and they are loved.
Kids feel it, and their anxiety is real, said Lori Edelson, owner and director of the Birmingham Maple Clinic, who also is a therapist.
"The most damaging situations are when the parents communicate their own anxiety and fear, that’s when the child’s own anxiety and fear are amplified even more," she said. "But if mom and dad look like they get what’s going on — and it’s not a big deal, like a kid in school throwing a temper tantrum — it doesn’t have the same traumatic effect. ... We have to remember as parents that even if it makes us anxious and scared we have to communicate calm.
http://neatoday.org/2016/11/09/talking-to-students-about-election/
“I’m also going to tell them that nothing is going to change overnight,” Ellis says. “I want them to feel safe. As educators, that’s what we do in difficult times.”
In the end, we all know what a good sport looks like. We all have to be good sports, and we can’t win all the time. That’s what a democracy is really all about. It’s the majority rules. There’s always a minority. There’s always a loser.
http://wtop.com/parenting/2016/11/wondering-tell-kids-election/
Our kids are listening to our words and how WE are handling things. They are bringing their stresses with them to school. They are worrying.
These are grown up problems people.
It is one thing to inform your kids but to BURDEN them is not necessary.
Things have NOT happened yet. It is our job to reassure them we are here to keep them safe, love them, educate them, empower them.
Stress that your family is safe.
Be together
Carefully consider your child's maturity and temperament
Consider your own reactions. Your kids will look to the way you handle the news to determine their own approach. If you stay calm and rational, they will, too.
I work in a therapeutic school and today was rough. I was there with reassurance for my students that these ARE grown up problems and I hear their voice but humans are resilient and often in the most bleakest of times we have shown time and time again that we can always find hope and fight for what is right.
ITS OKAY people to not have an opinion around your kids/students about this election so as to help quell their fears. And as an educator I absolutely have NO opinion to share with my students.
You can reassure your kids that life will go on and the world is NOT ending.
I feel PRETTY STRONGLY that we need to make sure this message gets in.
With all the fear and anxiety running wild the last few months, we need to proactively reassure them that they are safe and they are loved.
Kids feel it, and their anxiety is real, said Lori Edelson, owner and director of the Birmingham Maple Clinic, who also is a therapist.
"The most damaging situations are when the parents communicate their own anxiety and fear, that’s when the child’s own anxiety and fear are amplified even more," she said. "But if mom and dad look like they get what’s going on — and it’s not a big deal, like a kid in school throwing a temper tantrum — it doesn’t have the same traumatic effect. ... We have to remember as parents that even if it makes us anxious and scared we have to communicate calm.
http://neatoday.org/2016/11/09/talking-to-students-about-election/
“I’m also going to tell them that nothing is going to change overnight,” Ellis says. “I want them to feel safe. As educators, that’s what we do in difficult times.”
In the end, we all know what a good sport looks like. We all have to be good sports, and we can’t win all the time. That’s what a democracy is really all about. It’s the majority rules. There’s always a minority. There’s always a loser.
http://wtop.com/parenting/2016/11/wondering-tell-kids-election/
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