Dreading all the gifts you’ll receive this holiday season that are probably just going to collect dust on a shelf? Why not start a new tradition with your family and friends while also teaching your children the importance and joy of giving? * Donate money to a cause. Instead of spending your money on gifts for each other, pick a charity or organization that you all believe in and donate the money to them. This time of year, shelters for both people and animals could use an increase in donations as the weather becomes colder. * Go through your old … Continue reading →

Bullying in this country has been out of control for years. For many children it is an everyday occurrence. So who are these bullies and how did they learn to behave this way? Many bullies are just insecure children trying to fit in at school while others are just plain mean with no compassion for others. How do you keep your child from being the kid who other kids fear? Teach Your Child Compassion Children learn by example. If you make fun of people who are different, your child will learn to do the same. Encourage your child to be … Continue reading →

As a parent of a child with a chronic, life-threatening condition, I know how hard it can be when she fights her treatments or medication. It is frustrating, because you know she needs it. It is heart breaking because you hate that she needs it. In addition, you feel torn between forcing her and just giving in this one time. But it is never just one time. Children with chronic conditions go through a lot of stress and grown-up issues, more than most people can imagine. And they deal with this illness every single day of their lives. Treatments often … Continue reading →

Last night my daughter had the meltdown of all meltdowns. It was time to sit down to dinner and while she wanted to eat, she didn’t want to sit in her chair in the kitchen. Now, she’s not even two. So while she does understand most of what I say, I don’t think she was getting the whole concept of sitting down at the table and eating, since on occasion she has had a snack in the living room. The screaming was so intense that I took her out of the chair but she kept trying to grab food off … Continue reading →

One of the best things about CF is you can eat whatever you want. The diet of a CFer is high fat, high salt. With the trouble that a person with CF can have in gaining weight, the plan is to load up on calories and build body mass. The only problem so far for my family is that you can’t force a toddler to eat! Just like any other toddler, my daughter has her days of eating everything and then her days of not wanting to touch even her favorite foods. Yesterday she flat out refused to eat dinner … Continue reading →

Children with autism spectrum disorders, behavioral disorders, and Sensory Integration Disorders often develop rigid thinking. They want certain things done at a certain times, in a certain order, and in a certain way. Otherwise, a tantrum ensues. That’s because these special kids often feel a loss of control over important aspects of their lives. What is normal and routine for the rest of us can be difficult and frustrating for them. Imagine having your body respond clumsily when you’re trying to do work or play. Or imagine being dragged from place to place by a parent and not having the … Continue reading →

My husband and I were having dinner recently with friends, and we began to discuss our similar experiences with having a child who thrives on negative attention. As our friends talked about their situation, we nodded and could definitely relate. We have a child just like theirs–one who seems to be in trouble all the time, whose noise volume is three decibels louder than everyone else’s in the room, and who always wants to cause conflict. This got me thinking. What are the positive aspects of negative attention? Why would any child WANT it? Here’s what I came up with: … Continue reading →

Many children with behavior problems continue to get into trouble because they aren’t able to “own” their conduct. Everything is somebody else’s fault, and they feel picked on and victimized. “She made me hit her because she was laughing at me,” or “I called him a bad name because he wouldn’t let me have a turn.” “I don’t listen to my teacher because she doesn’t like me.” “My room is messy because my little brother keeps going in there and messing it up.” And my favorite: “I can never find my shoes! Somebody keeps stealing them!” “It’s Not My Fault.” … Continue reading →