Stress Buster: Create a Mental "Happy Place"

http://betterinbulk.net/2010/05/how-to-find-your-happy-place.html

I'm quickly learning how blogging and reading other blog posts is a great way to create and enjoy a mental happy place.
My son and I are 7 weeks into our 12 week summer "break" (not necessarily summer "vacation") and I have to find ways to 
think my own thoughts and not the words of my son (who has autism). I give him lots of credit for inspiring me to see the 
world in new and creative ways; but because he perseverates on his own topics of interests, I find myself feeling like I am 
stuck in a never ending hamster wheel. Luckily my husband encourages me to get out of the house while he cares for our son.But on days when I am locked in to 10 straight hours of caregiving (x5 days a week plus occasional weekends), I take mental breaks. Whether I stare at our front yard and imagine how to improve the landscape, scroll through facebook or twitter, 
or now that I have discovered SeededBuzz, read variety of blog posts, I can improve my ability to remain calm with my son. 
(Even as I write this post my son is sitting next to me and blowing bubbles in my face!)
Do you find that you are able to create peace in any setting?? How do you find/create your happy place?? What about when you are dealing with a challenging person...how do you compose yourself so you can 
avoid reacting to that person's behaviors??

Life With a Possum: Any Soldier

Life With a Possum: Any Soldier

After jumping off my professional/career ladder in order to provide the time and energy my family required, I'm continually struggling with appreciating domesticity. However, this blogger seems to have her priorities set pretty well. She made me consider how I can spend some of my stay-at-home time and energy. For example, instead of just doing crafts with my son just for the sake of improving his fine motor skills, I could work with him on sending something to a soldier. My son admires soldiers so this would be a great activity. Wouldn't it be cool to incorporate sensory integration activities (for our children with special needs) with soldier care package creation? Or, wouldn't it be cool to capitalize on kids' love of and expertise regarding computer/social media and have them help us design a way to recruit helpful ways to support soldiers and their families?? What are your thoughts, ideas and insights?

Soldiers: Our Nation's Caregivers

The beauty of reading other's blogs is that you can be inspired to think of something that might not have come to mind otherwise. Until I read these last 2 blog posts (see links), I hadn't really thought of soldiers as our nations caregivers. But After reading the first link (re: care packages), I buzzed about that blog post and that's when it hit me. Like this link re: supporting soldiers overseas, we need to put aside our political opinions and realize that our safety is being developed and provided by soldiers. Since one of our main needs as humans is to live, we need to thank and support our soldiers for making it possible for us to live...and to live in a free country. How do you support soldiers? Do you consider them to be caregivers?? How can we make life easier for them??

Support/Care Packages for Soldiers

http://insteadofthedishes.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/supporting-a-soldier-or-two-or-three/


When I start to feel tired, overworked, under-appreciated, overheated...I start to think about our soldiers who, despite intense and ever present danger, have it way worse than I do. The blogger who posted about providing care packages for soldiers provided quick and easy tips to follow. So even if you are not married to or related to a soldier, you can still help out. Please consider helping a soldier feel appreciated. Tell us about some items that you have or want to send to a soldier. 

Biomarker for autism discovered

Biomarker for autism discovered

As a mother of one son diagnosed with Autism (chromosome 15 abnormality) and of one son who does not have autism, I find it interesting to read about how scientists can compare brain activity.

Autism Community Magazine Article: Page 15

I have been fortunate to write articles for this incredible magazine and grateful to learn from other contributors and sponsors. The Autism Community Magazine offers caregivers and professionals a wide variety of information, including resources for everyday needs as well as future planning. Please check out this latest issue, both for my Parenting to Your Fullest Potential article and for the other articles.