Saturday, September 14, 2013

And now in iBook format! This is my mom. A story about living with Fibromyalgia

Audrey and Maddie reminded me today that I didn't share the book they helped me write about having a parent with fibromyalgia ... I hopped over to my publishing site and lo and behold, they now have an iBook option! I haven't been able to test this version yet but I'm so happy that my girls encouraged me to share this here.

The writing of this book was a healing process for me. As a person who developed fibro in childhood, I never expected my symptoms to change as dramatically as they did in my 30s. I had particular difficulty dealing with being limited on how I could play with my children, losing my spontaneity and swallowing my pride and buying a cane.

For someone with a knee injury or the like, a cane is no big deal. It's a tool, we use it and then we're healed. For a young mother with a chronic illness, however, a cane is more than just a cane. A cane is a neon light saying, Look at me ... something's wrong here! It's a cumbersome something in a hand that really should be holding a child's hand as you cross the street. A cane is YET another thing to forget places. For the chronically ill, a cane is a visual reminder that now you are weaker than you have ever been ... and yes, you may get better. But what if you don't.

As I fumbled with my canes I tried to continue to help out in my childrens' schools and I loved the questions they asked about it. I have such a strong passion for helping children understand Big Things in ways that aren't so big.

This book came about when my eldest was in first grade and simply couldn't understand why I looked fine when I wasn't. Audrey and Maddie needed more than Mom telling them about fibro. They needed a book.

So I wrote one. I wrote this book and tested it out on my children, edited it some and then tested it out on Audrey's first grade class ... who adored it. Years later, some of those kids still come up to me and hug me or smile when they see my cane.

My Maddie is now in first grade herself and interestingly enough has begun pulling out our copy of this and asking me to reread it.

I still have days where I loathe touching that awful stick - no matter how fancy and cool my canes are, they are and will always be cumbersome awkward devices that I forget places. This book reminds me that I took that pain and frustration and even humilation at being dependent on a cumbersome awkward device (that I forget places - which really isn't usually a big deal until you loose your favorite four hours away from home) ... I took all that and I turned it into a gift for my children. Which, when you think about it, is a pretty awesome thing to have a chance to do.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Guest Post! Scarlett's 30 Things About My Child’s Invisible Illness You May Not Know



As I mentioned in my own 30 Things About My Child's Invisible Illness post I am extremely lucky to have supportive friends to help me navigate the jungles of parenting. Sometimes they are simply amazing friends who understand. Other times they have a child like mine ... and a precious few have a daughter a bit older than mine and can lend an ear as I rip my hair out, parenting my growing girl-children.

This lovely guest author is all of the above. I'm so thankful to Scarlett for sharing her perspective on her daughter's invisible illnesses.

Please join me in learning a bit more about how Invisible Illnesses affect children and their families...



30 Things About My Child’s Invisible Illness You May Not Know


1. The illnesses we live with are ... anxiety, learning disabilities, severe anaphylaxis tree nut allergy, asthma

2. We got a diagnosis at the age of … eight. It feels like it was a very, very long time to get to that diagnosis. I remember when I told Missy about her learning disability. In an instant, she looked like the weight of the world had just been lifted off her little shoulders. The Disney Channel had been airing a public service announcement about Shake It Up’s Bella Thorne and how she dealt with dyslexia growing up. Knowing that there was something Missy could do about it, knowing that this was a beginning instead of the end, took so much stress away from her.

3. But we have observed/experienced symptoms since ... she was a toddler. I have always described Missy as going from 0 to 60 in point-two seconds. For so long I would say, she lives constantly “on edge”, a raw nerve. And because of that, she was libel to melt down or freak out, at the drop of a hat. I had no idea at the time that it was the anxiety causing the raw nerves.

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make as a parent is… learning to advocate for my child. We noticed when Missy was in the first grade that she would mix up her letters. She mixed up b’s and d’s, m’s and w’s. It got increasingly harder for her to study and remember her spelling words. It was difficult for her to even copy words that someone else had written. She was transposing numbers. Instead of writing 302, she’d write 320. We spoke to Missy’s teacher who assured us that Missy was a VERY bright girl and that transposing letters and numbers and writing letters backwards was normal up into the third grade. So we waited. I spoke to the second grade teacher because spelling tests were becoming increasingly difficult. And as the learning disability presented itself more fully, the anxiety also began to make itself more evident. I wrote the second grade teacher a note asking about testing Missy for dyslexia. Her response was that we should continue to wait because, as the first grade teacher said, some of these “symptoms” are normal into the third grade. What I didn’t realize was that by me writing that note, she was required by law to get the process of testing underway. There was SO much I didn’t know at the time.

It took a lot of reading and research and talking with people who knew way more than I did for me to understand what my rights were as a parent. We had Missy tested on our own and through the school. I learned to ask for the services and accommodations Missy needed in school. I learned to follow my own heart (and her doctor’s orders) to determine what those services and accommodations should be. I had to learn that while the school personnel are there to make sure my child succeeds (after all, the better she does, the better scores she gives them on standardized tests, and the better they look), *I* am the person who knows Missy best. Therefore, I am in the unique position of knowing better than anyone else how she will do in different situations and what she needs to thrive. And I have equal say in what happens with my child when she is in school.

5. Most people assume … She’s simply misbehaving. Missy likes rules. Rules help keep her calm. Rules help her to know what is expected. Of course, this means that when people break the rules, she feels chaotic. She gets so stressed out and anxious that she can’t handle it. Additionally, she spends all her energy trying to keep it together during the day that by the time she gets out of school, things tend to go haywire and she fights, argues, or has a meltdown. She’s not trying to fight. And she’s actually much better this year than in previous years. Plus, I’ve learned that if she can run around after school and blow off a little steam, the rest of her afternoon goes much more smoothly. But she’s worked so hard to keep it all together during the day that she’s like an over-inflated balloon. One more breath and she bursts. The other moms at parent pickup look at me sometimes like I’m a horrible mother. Like I’m indulging her and like she’s spoiled and misbehaving. Yes, I know what those facial expressions look like. I’ve been guilty of giving them myself. But she’s none of those things. She’s just a ten year old with anxiety who has a mom doing the best she can.

6. The hardest part about mornings is… sticking to a routine. The routine makes the morning go smoothly (the same way it does in any other household). But not being a morning person by nature, Missy would much rather camp out in front of the tv in the morning and wake up slowly rather than getting ready right away and taking any free time that’s left over when all the necessary stuff is done. This push-back from her occasionally renders up late for school (not so late that she’s “tardy”, but late in that the first bell has already rung to let the kids get to their lockers. This is in complete opposition to Missy’s desire to be on time and follow the rules.

7. The hardest part about nights is ... When Missy gets so anxious that she can’t sleep. The knowledge that she needs to get to sleep only makes her more anxious….which makes her unable to sleep. It’s a horrid cycle for her. And as she gets more and more tired, she gets closer and closer to a melt down. And when she does melt, there are hysterics and hyperventilating and self-loathing and statements like “Why can’t I just sleep at night like everyone else?”

8. Gadgets we couldn't live without are ... The iPod & my phone. Without the iPod we wouldn’t have the audiobooks she clings to. Patience is not a Missy virtue. But playing a game on my phone helps her to have something completely innocuous to concentrate on.

9. A daily routine we can’t live without is ... I wouldn’t say that we *can’t* live without it because we can. But, during the school year, on school nights, my husband or I go upstairs with Missy and read to her. Then she reads to us. Then, when she gets into bed, she’s allowed to read by herself with her flashlight on and the room lights off. She gets instrumental music, a fan, and a number of night lights (she hates the dark). Without the music, noise, & lights, she wouldn’t be able to sleep. And the reading helps her settle and clear her mind before going to bed. We start this process at 8:30, which is early for a 10 year old, but she doesn’t end up with lights off until 9:30 and flashlight off at 10. Thankfully she is able to sleep until 7 a.m. which allows her a full night’s sleep.

10. A children’s book or TV show that helps my child cope is ... Harry Potter. I think it helps her feel safe that she knows the stories so well. It’s something she has read, listened to, and watched over and over so she feels comfortable letting herself just dissolve into that world. Plus, good wins.

11. Regarding alternative treatments … We are open to alternative treatments. My husband and I have agreed that we do not want to give Missy traditional pharmaceuticals unless absolutely necessary. So right now, she sees a counselor once a month. That’s her safe place to be able to unload everything that makes her anxious. Plus, her counselor teaches her deep breathing, meditation, and yoga techniques to use when she’s feeling anxious. Aside from that, we use homeopathic stress relief pills that are all natural, made from flower essence. They make Missy feel proactive about keeping on top of her illness. She also uses gum to relax in school; it helps her focus, and she stashes stress balls in her desk, locker, and bag. And when those things aren’t enough, there’s a punching bag in our living room ready to be any stressor that needs a beating. Regular exercise at taekwondo helps to regulate stress and provide a healthy outlet for her restlessness.

12. My child’s illness affects their friendships/social lives in this way ... She’s great at making friends and being a good friend, however, Missy often gets overwhelmed in social situations. When she goes to a Scout meeting, the chaos of the situation overwhelms her to the point where she sometimes has to remove herself from the group and find some solitude and quiet. Unfortunately, that makes her feel left out (even though it was her choice to leave the group, she doesn’t feel it’s a choice because it’s something she needs to do for her sanity.) She also comes across as a goody two shoes and tattle tale because of her need for rules. I can’t imagine that goes over well with her peers.

13. Regarding school and learning ... It took a lot to get Missy the services she needed at school. But once we did, she truly blossomed. That doesn’t mean that things are perfect, she still has a ways to go. She still writes her b’s and d’s backwards and she still spells like a second/third grader. And she still needs help getting the thoughts from her head onto the paper. But we did discover that she is incredibly bright. If she weren’t, we might not have noticed the learning disability as early as we did. But the progress she made over the course of one school year was astounding. Her teacher thinks that she may not need any additional serves by the seventh grade!

14. People would be surprised to know ... how incredibly sensitive she is. One mistake sends her on a self-esteem downward spiral. Comments that other kids brush off, she takes quite literally and often jumps to the worst case scenario. Once, a teacher told her that she needed to learn her times tables or else she’d fall behind. Missy came home crying about how she was going to have to stay back and repeat 4th grade. This was September. 4th grade had JUST started! And already she was concerned that she was going to have to repeat the grade. She didn’t, by the way. And when she does something she knows is wrong, her guilt eats at her. There is nothing like hearing your own child wailing about how horrible a person she is.

15. The hardest thing to accept about our reality has been ... that not everyone will understand, no matter how many times you explain it to them. Some people just don’t get it. Or they don’t want to get it. And that’s just the reality of life.

16. Something I never thought she could do with this illness that she DID do was ... Well, I never thought I’d see my daughter come home with top marks for a writing assignment. It takes her three times as long to do any writing assignment and it takes all of her energy to be able to focus her writing and spelling. And her learning disability makes it such that she has all of these really amazing ideas in her head, but they get lost between her brain and her fingers whenever she tries to put them down on paper. And I never thought she’d read books with hundreds of pages in them. Tell that to the dog-eared copies of the Percy Jackson series that she devours.

17. Public awareness about this illness is ... Crucial. No one thinks about a child having anxiety. Who thinks that an 8, 9, or 10 year old might have anxiety? I certainly didn’t before we got my child’s diagnosis. They are quick to jump to conclusion about behavior and don’t look to see what’s behind the behavior.

18. Something my child wants to do but is unable to do is ... have a slumber party without tears. Whether at our house or someone else’s house, she usually ends up in tears at some point. She gets overtired and over-stimulated and anxious because she’s not sleeping in her own bed with the sounds and sensations that she’s used to.

19. It was really overwhelming to see my child ... earn her first degree black belt in taekwondo. She was terrified for her test. So terrified, in fact, that she pushed her test off for two months because she couldn’t take the pressure. But she worked hard in class and outside of class and after three years of working her tail off, learning, competing…..she passed her test with flying colors. During her belt ceremony, I was actually in tears. She had worked so hard and that belt was a physical representation of that work. It was something she could be so proud of. Now, I wouldn’t care if she was a lousy martial artist. But the fact is that she’s actually a damn good one. Her success gives her a boost in confidence and self-esteem. And that, by itself makes it all worthwhile.

20. An activity my child loves and succeeds at is ... taekwondo. Watching her perform and compete actually gives me chills. And she’s always so proud of herself when she does well. Although being the perfectionist she is, she’s also just as hard on herself when she messes up. But there are far more successes than mess ups. So in the end, it’s all good.

21. If I could wish for one thing for my child to experience ... Complete and utter joy. She’s such a serious child and I wish she could experience one day without worry, without a self-esteem that sinks thanks to one mistake. Or maybe it would be to be able to walk into a bakery and order whatever her stomach and taste buds desire without fear of what nut it contains or what cross contamination might have occurred.

22. My child’s illness has taught me ... to slow down and explain.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is ... (This goes with #22.) So often, Missy gets anxious because she doesn’t have enough information to make a decision. The more information she has, the less likely she is to panic and get stressed out. For most parents, they tell their kid ‘no’ and that’s all there is to it. One word answers (even if they’re yes) don’t work for Missy. She needs more information. So when people turn around and say, “just tell her no”, it’s so irritating because that doesn’t work for us.

24. But I love it when people ... consider my daughter’s nut allergy when they’re planning an event, snack, etc. People who know where they bought something, who provide me with ingredient labels from packages, they are life savers. They are the people who try to make my life and Missy’s life easier.

25. A phrase/story that my family uses to feel strong and close is... Water off a duck’s back. My daughter loves ducks (some might call it an obsession) so when Missy is feeling particularly sensitive and prickles at everything, I try to remind her to let things roll off like water off a duck’s back.

26. When someone is wondering if their child has an invisible illness I’d like to tell them ... Find out. It’s the first step and learning how to make life better. The more information you have, the easier it is to learn to cope.

27. Something that has surprised me about parenting a child with an invisible illness is ... how horrible a mother I feel like some times. When I lose my temper because my own nerves are shot or because I’ve had such a horrid day/week/month, it’s not just me who suffers. Chances are she, Missy already feels badly about doing whatever it is that drove me nuts. Losing my temper with her only makes her feel worse, which, in turn, makes me feel worse.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me or my child when we were under stress ... One night, Missy had a sleepover at her bff’s house – a horrible anxiety-producing activity that she keeps trying because she desperately wants to have those normal girly experiences. Bff’s mom sat with her, until the wee hours of the morning, with Missy in tears and going back and forth about whether or not she wanted to go home. Together, Bff’s mom and I decided that Missy needed to stay to prove to herself that she could. Bff’s mom (and dad) reassured her over and over that she was safe and that her dad and I were safe and that she was okay to stay. She did make it through the night. Bff’s mom then spent about an hour texting with me to reassure me that Missy was okay and that they love Missy and want to do all they can possibly do to help her feel safe and comfortable at their house because they consider her a part of their family. To have another family care that much about my child and her emotional stability was the most amazing show of friendship. I can never thank her/them enough for that.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because ... like with Missy, people can only make good decisions based on the information they have. I want people to understand what it’s like for kids like Missy. They don’t choose to feel the way they do, but it’s often more difficult for a child to handle because they aren’t always able to adequately explain how they feel or why they react the way they do.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel .... hopeful. .

Sunday, September 8, 2013

My 30 Things About My Child’s Invisible Illness You May Not Know



I began my life as a child with invisible challenges, illnesses. My parents worked with my doctors to make sure that I was able to have as normal, unlimited childhood as possible - despite doctors, surgeries and occasional precautions on sports. I expected to meet adulthood with the same challenges in place.

What I didn't consider was that I could end up in my parents' shoes ... raising a child with invisible challenges, invisible illnesses. When I wrote my first "30 Things..." post a few years ago, my daughter Audrey leaned over my shoulder and read it aloud. When she finished, she turned to me and said, "Mom ... I have an invisible illness too! We're alike!"

Last year I wrote about the stages of grief in relation to invisible illnesses through the eyes of a five year old in Maddie Portrays the Stages of Grief.

I know using the term illness to refer to neurodevelopmental challenges, genetic differences, severe allergies and the like may be offensive to some. And I really do get this. These kids aren't ill ... they are just themselves and they see the world in their own way. But there is a subset of families that have kids with invisible challenges AND parents with invisible illnesses.

When I spoke with parents in a Sensory Processing Disorder support group I was shocked to see how many of the parents there had Fibromyalgia, Crohn's Disease, IBS, severe anaphylaxis allergies, migraines, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety. When my often isolated child reached out to read my Invisible Illness post, Audrey found a connection with me. She was no longer alone ... and she made that connection on her own. Via my Invisible Illness Awareness Week post, my baby found a common language we could share.

Edited to add ... my thoughtful kiddos suggested I share the book we wrote together with you. If you have a moment, take a peek at This is My Mom .


30 Things About My Child’s Invisible Illness You May Not Know

1. The illnesses we live with are ... Sensory Processing Disorder, asthma, allergies, anxiety and neurodevelopmental challenges.

2. We got a diagnosis at the age of … asthma/allergies at 5 years, SPD at age 6, anxiety and neurodevelopmental challenges are still being assessed.

3. But we have observed/experienced symptoms since ... birth. From her very first nursing session she acted like a neurologically premature infant even tho she was born full term. I remember that Audrey arced her tiny body away from me while she nursed, unable to handle too much physical contact at once. We soon learned not to make eye contact AND talk at the same time, and gently got her used to being held, talked to and touched. With the help of lactation consultants we were able to have a long nursing experience but the close contact was not always easy for Audrey. Having worked in the past with former preemies, I was amazed at how well she responded to the same socialization techniques I used with those itty bitties.

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make as a parent is ...finding healthy ways to deal with my own emotions regarding our challenges. It's too easy to eat/shop/drink/over-exercise/read/facebook your pain, grief, exasperation and anger away. Parents need to find healthy ways to cope. We WILL slip into negative habits but it's really important that parent's forgive themselves for those lapses, find support to help pull out of the spiral they find themselves in, give themselves permission to grieve and then find the strength to head back towards healthy coping.

5. Most people assume ... my child is choosing to "throw tantrums". I wish they could see. I wish they could see her grieve after, apologizing, heartbroken, begging me to help her stop feeling this way. I wish they could see the overwhelming pain in her eyes as the sounds and sights and lights and smells and social expectations and excitement just melt her down. I wish they could hear her sobbing, "I ruin every single birthday party! Why can't I be like the other kids?"

Sound familiar? Read this When Do Temper Tantrums Signal Something Serious?

Some people assume I'm helicopter parenting, protecting her needlessly because of my own issues. I wish they could see how free I let her be, climbing trees, riding scooters and bikes in the middle of the street, swinging upside down from the top of the swingset at the playground while other parents cluck at me and shake their heads. I wish they could see me hug her gently but send her back onto the practice mat because she made a commitment to her team. I wish they could see.

6. The hardest part about mornings are... new for us. Suddenly this year Audrey is self-conscious about using her 504 plan accommodations. NOW what? I'm seriously stumped here, people. After being oblivious to the other kids for years, now she won't bring her noise cancelling headphones to school or keep her snack on her desk to prevent hunger-induced meltdowns. Ack.

7. The hardest part about nights are ... when my child melts down right before bedtime. She's asked me not to describe it but it very often ends up with her being physically and emotionally worn out, her father getting completely overwhelmed, her younger sister frightened (and then up til midnight) and me in severe emotional and physical pain. I can handle it well 95% of the times but when I fail her, when I meltdown myself and become the parent I swore I never would be, it breaks my heart and hers. Audrey also gets night terrors after stressful days, changes in routine or growth spurts.

8. Gadgets we couldn't live without are ... our travel sized acupuncture mat is fantastic for dealing with staying away from home. Noise cancelling headphones help not just for her, but for her younger sister when the eldest is melting down loudly. A stretchy jersey twin sheet is stretchy enough to wrap herself up tightly from head to toe, but thin enough that she doesn't get too hot. By saving electronics for extreme situations (car rides over 30 minutes, airline flights, hotel stays, long competition days, waits at the doctors) we're able to keep phones and tablets as novel distractions.

9. A daily routine we can’t live without is ... our bedtime routine. Before bed each child gets to pick a song for me to sing to them and then I sing one of my own choosing (Audrey and her sister share a room). When they are particularly strained or upset about we have a special prayer we sing in Sanskrit that helps them let go and relax. Loosely translated it means, "May all the beings be happy, healthy and free from pain".

10. A children’s book or TV show that helps my child cope is ... anything familiar or repetitive. Audrey deals with stress in a loud, unpredictable world all day long. Shows with repetitive plots (Scooby Doo or Too Cute on the Animal Channel) are comforting and relaxing for her. Audrey also enjoys putting on shows she enjoyed when she was younger that are simple, slower paced and familiar.

11. Regarding alternative treatments … we support our child as best we can using whatever modalities help. Neurofeedback sessions have helped to reduce anxiety and night terrors. Monthly chiropractic visits stimulate her sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Herbal teas and remedies soothe scratchy allergy throats that a child with sensory issues might fixate. We also use Aryuvedic techniques in choosing the seasonings and flavors of what we eat.

12. My child’s illness affects their friendships/social lives in this way ... my child has difficulty making and keeping friends at school. Taking judo classes and competing as part of a team has helped Audrey develop confidence, improve her one-on-one personal interactions and make real friends. My child's teammates love and accept her as the bright, fun child her classmates never get to see. Her judo coaches have provided the team with scripts for introducing themselves and welcoming visiting athletes to the dojo: "Hello, my name is Audrey (handshake), welcome to Pedro's Judo! (bow)." My sister and I were giddy this summer when we saw Audrey walk up to kids on the beach and say, "Hi! My name's Audrey ... what's yours?" Her coaches taught her a script ... and it helped her make friends. Unbelievable!

13. Regarding school and learning ... we struggle to get our child the help she needs to best succeed a school. Since Audrey has such a strong desire to succeed, she uses every bit of energy she has to avoid melting down at school. It's difficult for school staff to see how very miserable she is, and how she falls apart the moment she gets home. Some parents refer to this as "holding it together" or "maintaining". Either way, it ends up with a miserable kiddo, exhausted parents and teachers who are unable to assess the trouble brewing underneath the supposedly happy and quiet facade.

14. People would be surprised to know ... my amazing child can pick up and hold the most fragile bugs with no problem. Since Audrey was a toddler dragonflies have landed on her all the time! We call her the Bug Whisperer. She's also a fierce judo player and loves fighting with her team.

15. The hardest thing to accept about our reality has been ... that we weren't imagining it. That we were right, that this is real. That this is here. It's also hard to accept when people we care about roll their eyes and suggest that what she really needs is a "firmer hand". Criticizing our parenting doesn't help us, folks. It just makes us feel lonely, judged and isolated. Good job.

16. Something I never thought we could do with this illness that we DID do was ... we never thought she would be able to enjoy going to the movies as a family - early attempts were disastrous . Thanks to AMC theaters Sensory Friendly Movie program, we just enjoyed our first family movie in years! Check out this post for more information on this awesome program ... New to Sensory Friendly Movies?

17. Public awareness about this illness is ... well, huh. I'd have to say it varies. Libraries and movie theaters are offering Sensory Friendly experiences. There are sensory playgrounds, sensory toys, sensory accommodations ... but look in the new DSM-V (the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Well, where is it? SPD is still not a recognized diagnosis ... which means that there are no diagnostic codes. A doctor can't send a child to OT for SPD ... they can type in a diagnostic code for movement disorder, ADD/ADHD, fine motor delay or something similar. Assuming the child overlaps those diagnostic codes a bit ... but it's tricky.

18. Something my child wants to do but is unable to do is ... enjoy school, birthday parties, play dates and things like rollerskating and bowling "like the other kids, Mom". Without being overwhelmed and melting down for hours after. A 24 hr camping trip with her Brownie troop was AMAZING ... and she broke down into a horrible painful meltdown for the next 24 hours.

19. It was really overwhelming to see my child ... enjoy her team activities. At Junior Nationals this summer, I cried hard, ugly tears when I looked across the mats and saw her laughing, warming up and playing with her teammates. I never thought I would see her as part of a team, respected and trusted by her peers.

20. An activity my child loves and succeeds at is ... swimming, creative writing, judo and chorus.

21. If I could wish for one thing for my child to experience ... it would be to have a group of close, loyal friends.

22. My child’s illness has taught me ... to try every day forgive myself. Parenting a child with challenges - especially when you are chronically ill yourself - does not always bring out the best in anyone.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is ... "Well, ALL kids have trouble paying attention/get worried/have bad dreams". Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

24. But I love it when people ... see the beauty in Audrey's heart and appreciate how awesome she is - especially after they've seen her at her worst.

25. A phrase/story that my family uses to feel strong and close is... we refer to ourselves as animals. My Audrey is like a hedgehog - prickly and small, unusual, shy and very bright with a tender underbelly, my child needs a patient hand to encourage her to come out and play. My younger child is like a puppy - loud, happy, loyal, loving and bouncy with a good understanding of how to play games, join in with friends and enjoy others. I'm apparently the grumpy mama bear... but that's pretty self explanatory. Using these images helps my daughters understand each other better.

26. When someone is wondering if their child has an invisible illness I’d like to tell them ... where to go to get help and support. It's lonely out there, people. Talk to me, I'm here ... and if I don't have the answers you need I will FIND them for you.

27. Something that has surprised me about parenting a child with an invisible illness is ... how many people second guess my choices, my assertions about how severe her meltdowns are.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me or my child when we were under stress ... listen. hear me. No, REALLY listen ... with the belief that I really do know my child best.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because ... I have my own invisible illness and I am proud to spread awareness with others.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel ... hopeful.

 **I am in no way connected or receive reimbursement/product/kickbacks/magic powers from any of the companies mentioned here.**

Saturday, June 29, 2013

New to Sensory Friendly Movies? Some tips...

A few months ago, an exciting link began circulating on the interwebs. AMC Theaters are now offering a monthly "Sensory Friendly Film". After poking around I've found some other small chains that offer them as well.

It's about time :)

Sensory-friendly refers to making the theater a safer environment for children who are easily overwhelmed and or just may not enjoy the full on impact of today's films. These movie times are also great for kiddos who can't stay seated or quiet for the duration of a film.

Many theaters have offered "mommy movies" for years - daytime movies with lower volumes and brighter theaters, but generally the films chosen have been adult movies, aimed at the parents of infants. These ones are aimed at children ... and the families that love them.

To paraphrase the nifty info sign I saw in the Burlington, MA AMC theater today, the sound is turned half-way down, the lights are turned halfway up and the quiet rules are thrown out the window.

How stinking cool is that??

My eldest daughter tried desperately hard to enjoy standard movie after standard movie in the theaters ... and ended up becoming increasingly terrified by the sensory overload. Too frightened to even consider going to the movies, my kiddo began to include new movies on our home TV in her fears. She was sad to miss out but frozen by her past experiences.

When I found the AMC Sensory Friendly Film schedule, she was excited ... but still frightened by the choices offered. When I saw the recently released Monsters University would be added to this month's schedule, I suggested that Audrey read the detailed reviews on Common Sense Media. For those not familiar with Common Sense Media, this amazing website reviews movies, websites and video games objectively and includes a space for parental reviews as well. Movie reviews include quantifiable ratings on topics such as violence, consumerism, language and more. Rather than saying "this  movie is scary" a review might say, "there are multiple suspenseful scenes where the character might get eaten", "a parent of a characters dies and we see the character mourn", "characters wave guns and threaten another character with a knife". Common Sense Media is also a great resource for parents and educators ... seriously, take some time to poke around.

My very specific nine-year-old read the review of Monsters University and said, "Mom ... I can handle all this. Let's try it!" And so today we were able to take in our first Sensory Friendly Film.

My kiddo brought a special lovey and knew she could sit on my lap if needed. We also made sure she had a crunchy snack and water - which helps her cope. And my baby had FUN! No flinching, no hiding under the seat or begging to leave ... she didn't even hold my hand, let alone sit on my lap! Best thing? My brave girl wants to do it again!

So here are some tips to help you prepare. Even if your child doesn't need the supports listed below, you might want to prepare them that other children might be using them.

  • Read the movie review on Common Sense Media and - no matter how much YOU want to see the movie - consider realistically how well your child will do. A bad experience will mean that it may be a looooong time before your child is willing to try again.
  • If you are not prepared to spend big bucks on food and water, bring what you need. If you don't want to sneak things in, consider asking your child's doctor or therapist to write a letter supporting your child's need to have a specific food/water bottle/etc to support them while enjoying the movie. Bring extra (translation: we ran out.)
  • Consider bringing support objects - a stuffed animal or blanket, or therapeutic tools. Some things you may consider bringing are noise-blocking headphones, wobble seat cushions, chew toys or vibrating pens and flashlights. If your child benefits from wearing a compression shirt or using a weighted vest or lap pad at school, bring it along. I wouldn't recommend going out to buy those items just for the movies but if they are already helping, bring them along!
  • Prepare the children and other adults in your party for what they can expect. In addition to the lights being raised and the sound being lowered, there may be children there who need to move around or vocalize during the show. Let them know that children may be using the tools mentioned above (or others) and ask them to think about why: "Why do you think would a child need earmuffs? Maybe they don't like loud sounds. What do you think about loud sounds?" This is a great opportunity to discuss how everyone needs certain things to feel comfortable at time. Even grownups have a favorite pillow or coffee cup. 
  • I strongly recommend NOT building up this experience in advance to your child. Before we made it to this movie, my kiddo had seen the schedule and we planned to see Little Mermaid in September. She was beyond the moon. Until Little Mermaid disappeared from the schedule and was replaced by a newer, less-desirable-to-my-child movie. I also found out that not all theaters are alike. A friend tried to bring her son to a different Massachusetts AMC and found it sold out. They luckily were able to go to a regular showing of the movie, but that wouldn't have flown in our case. My friend also mentioned that their theater did not offer online ticketing ... while ours did. 
  • Prepare a back up plan. What will you do if the movie is sold out? If the movie is still too intense? 

    Y'all know my physical abilities are limited. I try hard and stretch past my limits but I can't hike or play tag with my children. I can do THIS. For a special treat, this is something we can all enjoy together now. Me with my invisible differences. My sweet girl with hers.


    **I am in no way connected or receive reimbursement/product/kickbacks/magical powers from any of the companies mentioned here. All products mentioned were purchased by me, generally using standard shipping which I immediately regretted as it takes too flipping long.**

    Tuesday, April 16, 2013

    Peanut noodles - a half assed recipe-ish

    I'm now four weeks into being vegan (no cheating, tho I've made a few mistakes). The last two days have been hard so I was NOT up for cooking tonite. I went with mac & cheese for the wee people and was TRYING to order the man a sub but all the sub shops were closed :|

    Fine.

    I took a mason jar, added the following and shook it the hell up. I poured it over instant hokkien noodles and tada, five minute meal. This isn't what I'd call a recipe - it's utter vagueness, even for me, but I'm so bad at remembering things that I need to post it here if I ever intend to recreate it.

    Thai Peanut Noodles
    Noodles of your choice (prepare after sauce is made)

    Add these ingredients to a pint jar and shake up, or you know, mix in a bowl like a normal person...
    Large scoop of chunky peanut butter (about half a cup ish)
    2-4 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce to taste (I used too much)
    1-3 tsp chili garlic sauce
    Lime juice
    Splash of vinegar
    Small splash of oil (I didn't have any - but it needed it)

    Mix it aaaaall up, adding splashes of water to get it the consistancy you want.

    Add in 1/4c amounts to prepared noodles in a large bowl. Mix well, continuing adding sauce in small increments and tossing noodles - too much sauce isn't good.

    Top with your favorite things. All I had was scallions and that was the perfect foil for the noodles.

    Husband loved it tho he agreed the flavor balance was a little off in the proportions.


    **I am in no way connected or receive reimbursement/product/kickbacks/magic powers from any of the companies mentioned here. All products mentioned were purchased by me or by the fabulous chiquita who shared their pics, generally using standard shipping which I immediately regretted as it takes too flipping long.**

    Friday, March 22, 2013

    That's Not a Pizza

    I ran into an unexpected hiccup during my first week of living vegan. Apparently to my eight year old daughter, my "going vegan" (as she puts it) is the end of the world.

    I know. Her teen years are going to fabulous.

    This first week was basically seven days of, "MOM! You can't eat cheezits!! You LOVE cheezits!!", "Oooooh no mom - EASTER! How can you celebrate Easter without eating hard boiled egg?" (it's easy actually) and the shot heard round the world...

    "You can't call that a pizza ... it doesn't have cheese!"

    Sigh. Thanks, Audrey.

    I kept reassuring her as I chopped and sauteed my veggies on our family's make-your-own-pizza night. Of course it's a pizza! You can top your pizza however you want! I brushed my pre-made crust with a nummy bread-dipping olive oil blend and topped it sauteed onions, peppers, kale and herbs and popped it in the oven along with their cheesy delights. The timer dinged, I triumphantly took it out ... and almost cried. I looked at my husband and whimpered (quietly, so the kids wouldn't hear), "She's right. That's not a pizza."

    It was a simply gorgeous, flavorful veggie flatbread. But it absolutely was not a pizza. The week progressed with ups and downs, made more difficult when the kids shared their horrific spring cold with me. All I wanted was chicken soup, man. I was sick as a dog and I couldn't have my darn soup.

    So here I am on the other side and I wanted to make a list of what I did eat, treats I found and how I felt ... because I know that Pizza Night Pout will happen again.

    A note to myself and other folks on a new food restricted diet: make enough dinner to save some for the next day.

    Veggie Pizza
    Premade dairy free pizza crust, bread dipping oil blend, italian spices, kale, onions, peppers

    Tex-Mex Black Beans and chips (this is a staple lunch for me)
    Rinsed beans, coconut oil, chili seasoning, cumin powder, onion powder, scallions, lime juice, salsa, salt, small splash of soy sauce (adds a savory "meaty" note), hot sauce and multigrain dairy-free tortilla chips

    Spinach Gnocchi and Tomato Sauce - OMG so goooood
    Dairy free spinach gnocchi, tomato sauce (I tried a new one for me, Gina Rispolli Tomato & Basil) and seasonings

    White Beans & Pasta
    Canellini beans, egg free pasta, basil, oregano, garlic powder, olive oil and lemon juice. I may have also added some veggies at the last minute. Be sure to add beans at the end or the pasta will get starchy and gummy. Add more water to make it more saucy.

    Ice-cream for Breakfast Day
    So-Delicious Mini's Coconut ice cream sandwiches and fudge bars. These are great but shockingly small. My Maddie's jaw dropped and said, "That's just not FAIR!" It's still worth it to me to have a treat on hand for when my sweet tooth hits but I'd love it if they were just a wee bit larger.

    Chinese Take Out (from Oye's) - this was my substitute for chicken soup
    Veggie Spring rolls, scallion pancakes with extra ginger sauce and veggie chow foon. When ordering noodles be sure to order rice noodles only as yellow noodles have egg. This dish was fairly bland so I added some chili garlic sauce I had on hand to the ginger sauce and doctored up the noodles. A nice treat.

    And on the snack front...
    Tostitos Multigrain scoops (more filling and flavorful than the regular corn), Earth Balance Vegan Aged Cheddar Flavor Puffs (kinda like a slightly more dense, less cheesy Pirate's Booty - it does have the crunch and slight cheese-esque tang I sometimes crave however)

    Wine. What? It's a fruit.

    So we all survived and Audrey is adapting fairly well now that the initial shock has passed. Tomorrow she and I will be going on an overnight camp-out with nine Brownie scouts. Packing my own food will be interesting but I found some vegan, nut free (I have a nut allergy) energy bars and snacks at REI.

    Being ill on a restricted diet was just lousy - there's no way around that. If you are going through a restricted diet, remember that when you are ill, your body needs warm nourishing foods. No matter how pitiful you feel, that is definitely not the time to gorge on vegan treats (cookies, snacks etc) because you feel like you deserve a treat ... nor is it the time to simply avoid eating because preparing a meal makes you depressed. Even if you settle for peanut butter sandwiches, give your body what it needs. Not eating or binging will make your recovery from illness take longer and will put an incredible strain on your adaptation to a restricted diet.

    **I am in no way connected or receive reimbursement/product/kickbacks/magic powers from any of the companies mentioned here. All products mentioned were purchased by me or my mommy and daddy who buy me treats when I'm sick**

    Sunday, March 17, 2013

    And Suddenly I Am Vegan

    So some day I'll get into the details, but long story short, the rheumatologist has put me on a strict vegan diet.


    Have you LOOKED at my blog? To say I whimpered would be an understatement. He also wanted me to quit judo but right now we're all pretending we didn't hear him.

    Shhhhhh. I said we were pretending, dammit.

    Anyway I'm going to stick a few things in here that have worked - and not worked - for me.

    For example, one of my favorites, the Border Cafe? That does not work for vegans. I had a bean burro with a side of beans and rice *sigh*

    I added guac ... it helped a little.

    What DID work? Bertucci's. Create your own individual pizza with grilled onions, roasted peppers, arugula, drizzled with balsamic. Nom nom nom. Seriously.

    Not work? McDonald's. I had fries with that ... actually that was all I had. We rarely hit McD's but when the kids judo tourney runs from post-breakfast til two, parents get a wee bit desperate.

    And then more things worked.
    I had this ready to cook in the freezer but had kept the veggies separate.... Stir Fry Beef with Onions and Peppers. Obviously I modified it a bit - I cooked the veg first, added some of the sauce before removing from pan and didn't add all the veg back to the pan with the cooked beef. The veg over rice were just Nummy. See that capital N? Yeah.

    I was worried about my protein intake since, you know, I'd had none, so I decide to find some sort of filling, easy, decadent dessert that would fill this niche. Dude, I did it.

    I keep this bread in the house for the kids ... it's an easy way to get extra protein into the kids AND it has no high-fructose corn syrup. Win.


    Anywho, I happened to see a recipe on Pinterest for Vegan Chocolate-Nut Spread. I remembered I happened to have half a jar of organic crunchy peanut butter (which the kids hate but I love) in the pantry. I added a wee bit of coconut butter, a slosh of vanilla (and then a slosh more), some confectioners sugar and some cocoa powder. Angels sang ... and I refused to share with the six year old who was STILL AWAKE WELL PAST HER BEDTIME. And then I poured some wine.

    Anyway, there are a million vegan blogs and this one isn't about that, but changing your diet for heath reasons is hard and I needed to post this here for days that aren't so good.

    Now if someone would just come put this kid to sleep, I'd be REALLY happy.

    **I am in no way connected or receive reimbursement/product/kickbacks/magic powers from any of the companies mentioned here. All products mentioned were purchased by me, generally using standard shipping which I immediately regretted as it takes too flipping long.**