Team J - Positive Change Through Teamwork

It's been a little over a year since we received the news J was "on The Spectrum". The good news: he is on the high functioning end of The Spectrum and we're working a plan. The bad news: it was an extremely frustrating and long journey to reach this point. Normally Autistism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is diagnosed around ages 3 to 5; J was 8. It is estimated to effect 1 in nearly every 110 people.

Autism is defined by the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development as:

Autism is a complex developmental disability that causes problems with social interaction and communication. Symptoms usually start before age three and can cause delays or problems in many different skills that develop from infancy to adulthood.

J's combination of signs and symptoms tend to throw everyone for a loop. Short term memory deficit. Expressive language disorder. Slow motor skills. Extreme mood swings. Inability to read other's emotions from verbal and visual ques.

You're eyes are getting glassy from information overload right? So were ours.

Simply stated:

• J has a hard time remembering new information (reading, phonegrams, math facts, stories, rules of a game etc).
• He could not properly express his emotions with a solid verbal base. 
• His motor skills are a bit slower than his peers.  
• He has trouble reading people's expressions and gestures as many of us do in normal day to day conversation.  

An example of how this effects his daily life: J does not remember the rules of a PE ball game. He does not have the dexterity to keep up with his friends during the game. He lacks the ability to read his friend's facial and verbal gestures. This results in extreme mood swings.

One year later, I have a MUCH better understanding of what all this means. Better yet, I have a better ability to help J learn the skills he needs to be an independent person.

I have Team J to thank.

Team J consists of me and hubster plus his team of school teachers and specialists. In total, J works with about 10 different people on a weekly basis. Everyone provides a different piece to J's puzzle. There are teachers and paras who work solely on academics. The Occupational Therapist helps improve his motor skills. The Autism Specialist works with him to develop his social skills. His Speech and Language Therapist help with vocabulary and language skills.

J is not quite at par with his classmate's academics, but he's getting there. We anticipate his Occupational Therapy will end with the close of the school year. His progress in this area has been monumental. I credit the weekly therapy sessions plus the twice weekly Taekwondo lessons. He will always have to work hard on social and language skills but again, he has made great leaps. His confidence builds with each new accomplishment.

Our home life has drastically improved too. His shocking outburst are rarely a problem. He smiles more and maintains eye contact more than before. J gets along with everyone better and is able to communicate his emotions, wants, and needs more clearly. He's made great strides this year but there's still more hard work ahead.

Who's on your child's team?

J's team has worked closely to ensure J's achievements. I hope to share some strategies with you in the month of April - Autism Awareness Month. Many not only apply to Autistic children but all children at varying development stages. Until then, who's on your child's team?

Playpen Controversy???

The new video from Juice Box Jungle is all about the playpen controversy. I never realized this was such a hot button in the parenting community. One side of the playpen controversy believes it is a great parental asset and tool while others...well lets just say they don't like the use of playpens. Me? I fall in between the two extremes. I use a portable playpen in various circumstances.

I find it easier to simply make the common areas of my home (living room, dining room, and kiddo's room) toddler friendly. I've been fortunate enough to live in houses with a floor plan I can conveniently and easily secure these areas of the home for my kids. Baby gates and latched doors have provided enough containment for my little ones! If I had large open doorways and over-sized rooms then I'd probably rely more on the playpen.

All three of my children have spent time in a playpen. Usually during travel. It's a 'me' thing. I feel they will sleep better on their own sheets with the familiar scents of home...not to mention the peace of mind knowing my sheets and playpen are germ and pest free-maybe not totally germ free but at least it's OUR germs! I definitely use the playpen when we go camping or fishing to keep them safe while the adults are busy with other things. Like freeing fishing line from the tree they just caught or setting up a campfire to roast marshmallows!!!

The key ingredient for me: Balance. Playpen use. TV time. Video game play. Pretend play. Outdoor time. Food choices. It's all about moderation and balance. I believe too much of any one thing can be bad. Too much of one food throws your diet and health into a tailspin. Too much TV and video games leads to increased violence and agitation. Balance and moderation.

More parenting videos on JuiceBoxJungle

The Bragging Wars

There's a new parenting video in the Juice Box Jungle widget on my right sidebar, Mommy Competition. It's a cute video about the bragging wars between moms. Go ahead, watch. I'll wait...

(Notice the new widget allows you to send tweets, ecards, and update facebook right from my blog. Pretty cool!)

Are you in the middle of the bragging wars? It can be a turn off when you're bombarded with constant mommy bragging. Little Johnny's latest art masterpiece-crayon scribbled construction paper. Suzie Q's new modeling career as the latest contestant in the county fair's beauty pageant. You got the biggest birthday cake, best school snacks, etc. Do you move onto another, less boastful, mom or do you just listen to mom brag on and on and on and on?

I try not to over-do it BUT when a REAL accomplishment occurs, I like to tell EVERYONE. I blog it. Tweet it. Facebook it. You get the idea! So whether you tell everyone about every crayon scribble, blown nose, or base hit this is the official BRAG ZONE! Comment away with all the great things your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, or even the dog has done lately. No offense taken!

Juice Box Jungle also has a cool new sponsor, Paper Culture, a modern, eco-friendly premium stationary company that will actually address, message and mail your cards for free. PERFECT for bragging to distant family and friends! AND, Paper Culture is offering 30% off to my readers for a limited time (promo code SAVE30NOW).

Safe Seat Check Twitter Party

Installing a child safety seat looks easy enough right? According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 3 out of 4 parents aren't using child safety restraints properly. To help educate parents and caregivers on proper installation and use of safety restraints, NHTSA's is hosting "Seat Check Saturday" this Saturday, September 12. Find an official inspection location with certified specialists to inspect your child's car seat and show you how to properly install and use it.

Can't make it this Saturday? Look for Seat Check events throughout next week which is National Child Passenger Safety Week!

Want to learn more about keeping your kids safe while in the car? Check out the Sitewarming Twitter Party (#ChildSeatSafety) happening Wednesday night hosted by Resourceful Mommy.

Back to School Savings Tips

Back to School Sales are in full swing in many areas. Some are already in school while others, like us, don't start school till after Labor Day. After speaking to friends who've already began school, I'm reminded of a few tips to help prepare my kids for starting school without crushing my budget.



Get the teacher's supply list as early as you can. Many teachers have a specific supplies required for their classrooms outside the normal markers, crayons, pens, pencils, & notebook requirement. Knowing your child's complete school supply list will aid in your hunt for the lowest priced items.

Tip: Try calling or emailing the school's secretary or principal a month before school starts to find out who your child's assigned to. If student/teacher assignments have not been made then ask when the assignments will be completed so you can get an early copy of the teacher's supply list.

Reuse last year's supplies. If last year's scissors, rulers, pencil sharpeners, etc aren't worn out then reuse them for this school year.

Tip: I combine several bottles of unused white glue into one bottle. Instead of buying two or three bottles of glue, I buy just one!

Buy regular school supplies year round. You know you're student son/daughter will need notebooks, pencils, markers, crayons, glue, a ruler & pencil sharpener. Buy those items when they're on sale at the office supply store, yard sales, thrift stores, etc. What ever is not used for school will surely come in handy for home craft projects or even in a classmate's birthday gift bag.

Tip: Don't forget dry erase markers, red pens, etc for teachers. Teachers go through lots of supplies they pay for directly out of their pockets. If you find a 2-for-1 on dry erase markers, chalk, or some other teacher-esq supply, pick it up. You're child's teacher will appreciate it!

Get THRIFTY! Check out all the local consignment and thrift stores for the back to school wardrobe. Goodwill, Plato's Closet, Salvation Army, and Once Upon A Child are great places to search for bargains on clothes. Hit the mall during killer sales and save even more by shopping during your county or state's Tax Free Weekend.

Tip: Routinely buy a size bigger when you shop to stay ahead of the last minute back to school shopping rush.

Stock up on Freebies!!! Many county fairs, conventions, and businesses give pencils, pens, and other office/school supply items as promotional gifts. Snag as many as you can to avoid buying those items for school. Check for online freebies and promotions too!

I've shared my tips. Now it's time to share your back to school savings strategies.

Conquering Fears in an ASD Son

This week marked the beginning of swimming lessons for my oldest son. J-Man's 8 years old and barely floats. He loves lake activities: fishing, boating, etc. but HATES (yes, I mean HATES) the water! Makes great sense right? {she says sarcastically} He doesn't want anything to do with swimming pools, beaches, or any other swimming activities. My biggest fear is one of the kids falling in the lake when we're fishing so teaching them to swim is a priority.

J-Man has had a fear of water for several years. Ironically enough, it was during free play after a swim class a few years ago, he nearly drowned. He and some other kids from class were playing near a rope divider. The rope was at his waist. He was teetering back and forth over it being careful not to go too far to flip over the rope. (He didn't like water on his face) He somehow got into a position with his head under water, his feet partially out of water with the rope still at his waist. He couldn't flip himself over the rope to come up for air and the lifeguards didn't seem to notice him in trouble. After watching his body squirm for what felt like a lifetime, I dropped my video camera and trudged into the water for a quick rescue. After a little coughing and sputtering he was fine. He wasn't under water long enough to need resuscitation or anything of the like but it was still very scary. Needless to say, it was an emotional event for both of us. Ever since then, he's had a great fear of swimming pools.

Last year he wouldn't get near the water. I literally couldn't drag him near the pool house so forget getting INTO the water. This year however has been slightly better. The first day of class he sat on the side of the pool with feet dangling but wouldn't do anything else. This alone took lots of coaxing. The following day was a TREMENDOUS improvement. He got into the water, did as the instructors asked but I had to be nearby and watch EVERYTHING. By the end of the first week, he was in the water and even trying to go under and jumping in the shallow end. What a difference a week makes.

Here's a few of the strategies I used to turn J-Man into a willing swimming lesson participant.

1. Talk about it A LOT! We've talked about swimming lessons since before the pool opened this summer. We talk about it during dinner, on the way to Tae Kwon Do, while riding bikes, anytime he's in a chatty mood. I try not to make into a big ordeal so he's not overwhelmed but at the same time is fully aware of what to expect.
   
2. Mark the calendar. As soon as I received the dates for his lessons, the calendar has been marked so J-Man has a visual time line. This helps him prepare himself with a visual countdown to the big day.
   
3. Bargain, Bargain, Bargain. I want him to actively and willingly participate in swimming lessons so it's fair to give him something he wants in return. We've negotiated for small daily treats costing less than $1.00 as well as a weekly treat (movie rental) and a slightly bigger treat for when he completes the 2 week course (new video game). I repeat our bargain many times throughout the week-not just on the way to class.
   
4. Boost his confidence. I try to use ego boosting phrases whenever he starts to complain or say he's afraid of drowning. "You're so brave when you try to do something that scares you" "I'm afraid of drowning too but that's why I learned to swim-so I could be smart in the water" "You're doing a great job with everything so far, so I'm sure you'll be great at this if you just TRY" "All I ask is for you to TRY what you teacher asks. Your teacher will help you and with practice you'll get even better." "Nobody does it perfect the first time they try anything so keep up the great work."
5. Express my gratitude and pride. I tell him how proud of him I am after each class and throughout the rest of the day. During class, I'll give him thumbs up or clap when he looks over at me. I always tell him thank you for being cooperative.

J-Man responds very well to these strategies. I feel like I've tried every trick in the book to help him over come his fears. I've learned it's easier to work with your situation than against it.

What's your method to getting cooperation from an unwilling participant?

25 Cheap Ideas for Summer Fun

If you're like me you're wondering what to do now the kids are out of school. Maybe a big vacation isn't in the budget this year! Even if it is you still need something for the kids to do the remaining 18+ weeks of summer! Here's a list of free or almost free activities to get your summer off to a fun start.

1. Summer reading program. Our local library conducts a Summer Reading Program every summer. Goals are set and prizes are awarded to each child who reaches them. The program is free if you borrow the books and return them on time.
   
2. Story time. Most libraries and major bookstores also conduct weekly story hours. Larger cities may even have a daily story hour. Check with your local library or bookstore for details.
3. Visit a bookstore. Major bookstores have a variety of services you can utilize for free...as long as you stay away from the coffee bar! The bookstore in my hometown even has a small movie screening room where classic/educational movies are shown at no cost.
4. Biking and hiking. Many state, city, and community parks offer free biking/hiking trails. Remember to put trash in the designated areas to help preserve nature's beauty.
   
5. Museums tours. While large museums can charge a hefty price for entry, many small community based museums operate on a donation basis. Also check with the larger museums for discount days and special events targeted for summer activities.
6. Pitch a tent. Camping doesn't have to cost anything. Pitching a tent in your back yard or living room can be a special treat for even the biggest of kids. The convenience of a bathroom and your own groceries makes this a virtually free activity. If you camp in an RV, here's a listing of places to camp for FREE or almost free.
   
7. Hit the playground. Playgrounds are free and there's usually one in every community.
8. Go to school. Many schools open their gym doors during the summer months to encourage youth activity in the summer. Check with your local school for details.
9. Watch a movie. While going to a movie theater can easily break the bank, there are great ways to significantly reduce the cost. AMC theaters offer special promotions on food, showtimes, and bulk ticket buying. Drive-ins, matinee's, and theater specials are a great way to enjoy a movie at a low cost. If the theater isn't in the budget, renting movies can be much cheaper with the many $1 rental options these days. Be sure to check for free rental codes for Red Box online.
10. Hunt for Geocache. This is a relatively new sport utilizing GPS coordinates to hunt for treasure. If you're cell phone is already equipped with GPS then you're ready to go. Many state parks (including all Minnesota State Parks) are getting in on the sport. They provide free handheld GPS units for use on park premisis. Check with your state's park website for details.
    
11. Search for benchmarks. If geocaching is a little intimidating for you or you don't have access to GPS unit then benchmarking may be for you. Simply stated, it's a hunt for survey markers and/or landmarks. We did this last year after moving to Hallock to help get to know the area better. It worked!
12. Fun at festivals. Summer time is the time for festivals but be forewarned some charge at hefty price while others are totally free so be sure to call ahead for pricing.
13. Go swimming. Lots of community pools are free (or nearly free) to it's residents. Our local pool offers FREE swimming classes courtesy of the Red Cross and the school district.
    
14. Visit your state's parks. Summer is when state park's kick things into high gear. There's special programs from hiking to swimming to camping to fishing to horse back riding. Most of these programs are low to no cost and family friendly. Minnesota helps pay for park improvements and maintenance through parking passes. A daily pass is around $5 while an annual pass is $25 which is well worth it if you plan to visit a park several times. Be sure to check with your state's park website for schedules, pricing, and details.
15. Get in the garden. Grab some seeds and dirt then get dirty. We're growing watermelon seedlings on the counter till their big enough to put in the garden but you can plant any seed to see what happens. Grow them in the garden, pots, vases, or any container you have lying around the house.
16. Make music. Pull out pots, pans, cereal boxes, empty flower pots, shoe boxes, or whatever you have around the house and beat the tune of a different kind of drummer! Try filling wine glasses with different levels of water to see if you and your kiddo can make music by rubbing the rim of the glass.
    
17. Get artsy. Take art outside with sidewalk chalk. Paint a flower pot, bench, or section of wood for a decorative addition to your front porch. Grab leaves, flowers or twigs to paint with or make a nature collage.
    
18. Bike Rodeo. Organize a bike rodeo or neighborhood ride with the neighbors and their kids. Make sure everyone's knows to wear the proper safety equipment when riding. If you're organizing a rodeo then you'll need a liability waiver.
19. Sew something. If you need a break from the great outdoors then, organize an indoor sewing activity. Yarn, carboard cereal box, and a hole punch can make for hours of fun for a little one. For older kids, sew up a nifty drawstring bag.
20. Get cooking. Kids are ALWAYS hungry during the summer months so make it easier to feed them by getting their help in the kitchen. Here are some fun snack ideas kids can make with a little help from you!
21. Take a tour. Many businesses, factories, farms, etc offer free tours to the public. Check online or call for details.
22. Go on a bug hunt. Grab a magnifying glass, camera, bug book, and a journal for a fun backyard activity guaranteed to keep the kids busy all summer.
23. Bird watch. If birds are your thing, then have the kids put out a few bird feeders and identify birds that visit your yard. A cheap bird feeder can be made with wood or a pinecone smothered in peanut butter and coated with birdseed. Make sure to hang them near windows so you can enjoy the view.
24. Water Water everywhere. Grab a sprinker or water guns for some water fun to beat the summer heat. To avoid increasing your water bill, use collected rain water to refill water guns.
25. Get sporty. Join in a football scrimmage, soccer game, baseball team, tennis, volleyball, etc to keep the kids active all summer long. Make sure everyone stays properly hydrated and check for pricing before signing up.

What are a few of the things you have planned this summer?

Getting Dirty with the Kids

I'm fairly new to gardening since growing up in a small neighborhood, my parents didn't have the time, space or energy to put into a garden. I never had the opportunity to learn first hand what it meant to grow something from a tiny seed into something to nourish your body. Now that I'm grown with children of my own, I wanted to teach them the amazing lessons gleaned from growing something in the garden. Getting the kids in the garden provides a number of positive benefits.

1. A child is more likely to eat a new food if they have a hand in growing it.
2. Increase quality time (and your invaluable influence) with you kid by gardening together.
3. Teach them responsibility by giving them a portion of the garden only they tend.
4. Give them a skill they'll be able to use regardless of the economic status.

As for me and my kids, we're learning together. All of us were amazed when we saw green beans ready for picking last year. The squash from our garden was even tastier than any we've ever eaten. And we were all slightly disappointed the garden didn't produce bushels of produce! I wish I knew about the National Gardening Association when I started my garden last year.

I received their Spring newsletter today. It's full of great stories focused on getting kids in the garden. I really enjoyed the article on "Kid Friendly" plants for the garden. After reading this article, I'm definitely getting Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantine), Ground Cherry (Physalis pruinosa), and the Tickle Me (Mimosa pudica) plants.

The National Gardening Association is a non profit organization focusing on plant-based education. They give grants and awards to schools and youth across the country to teach kids about the wonders of gardening. I'm hoping we can find a little extra in our budget this month to contribute to this great organization.

I'm so glad I can teach MY children these wonderful lessons. After reading the newsletter, I was inspired to get J-Man to help start some watermelon seeds for transplanting when the weather warms a bit more. I can hardly wait till our produce is ready to harvest!

Toys for Baby + Discount Code

Have a new baby in the family? Need a toy for the littlest one of the bunch but you're just not sure WHAT to choose? Look no further, Ebeanstalk is dedicated to a baby's development. And they select the best baby toys matched to a baby's development. To see great information on how a baby grows up, check out the info on their baby toys page.

Picking toys for a baby is not as simple as it sounds. Here are some quick baby facts:

• Toys for a newborn baby: A newborn baby is briefly looking at objects and attempting to imitate facial expressions. They can follow objects with their eyes and usually quiet down, when they are picked up.
• Toys for a three month old: They will enjoy ‘frolic play', reaching for objects and will repeat enjoyable activities. Believe it or not, they will respond to ‘no' (about half the time) and will start babbling.


• Toys for a six month old: They'll search for hidden objects (object permanence). They'll reach for themselves in the mirror, play peekaboo, crumple paper, roll from their stomach to their back and even respond to their name.
• Toys for a nine month old: They are pushing toy cars, playing pat-a-cake and looking for hidden sounds. The baby toys they are playing with are also getting more fun.

Whether you're looking for toys and gifts for infants, toddlers, or bigger kids, Ebeanstalk is a great resource to find the perfect item for the special kid in your life.

Just for you-my lovely readers-here is a 15% discount on your first purchase at ebeanstalk — TGS345 — just enter the code at the shopping cart.

Happy toy hunting!

April is Autism Awareness Month

April is National Autism Awareness Month. Throughout the entire month I will either post or link up to other posts to help acquaint you with Autism: what it is, who is effected, and how people cope. Today we'll start with some of the basics.

Autism comes in many shapes, sizes, and manifests in a thousand different ways. For some, it can be crippling thrusting them into a world unknown to the rest of us. For others, it can be mildly intrusive requiring specialized techniques to cope with social or dietary deficiencies. Then there's all those who fall in between. No two people with Autism are alike. This alone is what makes diagnosing Autism extremely difficult.

Although no single definitive cause has been discovered, it is widely accepted that Autism is caused by abnormalities in the brain. There's much controversy surrounding all the theories that may cause the brain abnormality but scientists and researchers are working diligently to uncover the root cause of this disability in order to discover a cure. In the meantime, those afflicted with Autism and their families are left to work with doctors, care givers, and teachers to devise therapies and coping techniques to improve their lifestyle.

This issue is especially important to me since we live with it each and every day. My son, J-Man, is eight years old and is on the spectrum. I've written about this before and will dive into it a little deeper throughout the month.

All throughout the month of April, Blissfully Domestic's Special Needs channel will be featuring articles and library giveaways in recognition of Autism Awareness Month. There are also many sites to get more information about Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Society of America is a wonderfully resourceful site who is also running an online art exhibit and plans an annual summer conference to raise money and awareness. Autism Speaks is another great resource full of helpful information.

There will be a special Twitter Party April 1st 9pm EST using #mmk to discuss Autism with a panel of four expert panelist. Sitewarming Parties and Model Me Kids are co-hosting the party offering up some great door prizes but you must RSVP to be eligible. This is the first of several Twitter Parties planned for this special month.

March is Disabilty Awareness Month

In addition to Daylight Savings and Saint Patrick's Day, March is also Disability Awareness Month. Disabilities come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Some are physical while others fall in to the sensory, developmental, or mental classifications. Disabilities are non discriminatory. They can hit anyone at any age of any race, creed, religion or sexual orientation.

Twittermoms and CVS are promoting tolerance and inclusion of the disabled among children. They've asked mom bloggers to share how we teach our children these qualities. As a parent of a child with a special 'ability', this issue is more important to me than ever before. I'm proud to say, J-Man hasn't experienced any intolerance since receiving his ASD classification. Children are loving and caring by nature and as long as those traits are encouraged, teaching them tolerance and inclusion will also come naturally.

We don't sit down for a formal discussion about this. My kids don't respond well to this method and it creates an awkward situation. We approach the attitude of inclusion and tolerance much like bullying, drugs, alcohol, stealing, and everything in between. When there's an opportunity, we seize it. Then I keep it simple, short and age appropriate. Opportunities can be presented in multitude of places.

• Book characters
• Cartoons or other TV shows
• Movies
• Magazine ads
• Pictures
• Commercials
• Injured Animals (especially the disfigured animals with missing limbs)
  
• Shopping Mall
• Playground
• Library

Here's a few ideas to help you discuss tolerance and inclusion once you've found your opportunity.

• Keep it short. Kids have short attentions spans. Smaller children lack it and the bigger one's just want to do something else with someone else.
• Keep it age appropriate. Use simple small words your kids completely understand. Don't assume they know what your words mean. Even everyday words you use they might not have a full understanding of the meaning. I discovered this a few years back with J-man. If it's not a word they use regularly then ask them if they know what that word means and have them tell you what they think it means! You'd be surprised at what they come up with!
• Use real life scenerios if possible. If you have a friend, classmate, neighbor, or relative that's disabled, involve them in your discussion. Was there someone in a wheelchair at the supermarket or doctor's office? Did you see a cat with a missing tail or a three legged dog at the park? Kids can relate much better when they can put faces with the situation.
  
• Let them ask questions. Children are naturally inquisitive. Many people are glad to answer a child's questions about their disability. If you feel embarrased by their questions or feel they're being too intrusive then perhaps you can take the lead by asking one or two questions on your child's behalf then politely move onto the next topic. Afterwards you can talk to your little one about HOW to ask questions without hurting anyones feelings or making anyone feel uncomfortable. If you have one of those kids with gazillions of never-ending questions, you might tell them they can only ask two, three or four of their most important questions so they don't tire out the other person.
• Go online together. The internet is a great place to learn about specific disabilities and the different things people with various disabilities can do!
  
• Don't skip an opportunity. You never know how long it will be before another one comes along.
• Don't make a big deal out of it. The trick is for you as a parent to be comfortable with the topic before taking it to your kids. They'll see if you're not and will pick up on your subconscious cues.
  

Children are empathetic and curious about their surroundings. They have a great capacity for tolerance, kindness, and love. It's up to us to nurture those traits instead of repressing them. As long as we teach love instead of hate, children will naturally find it easy to talk and play with others with any disability.

CVS has a special charitable division called CVS Caremark All Kids Can who's purpose it to help make life easier for children with disabilities. They partner with organizations like the Easter Seals, VSArts, Meeting Street, and National Center for Boundless Playgrounds. You can learn more about their program here.

Sexting & Teens: Is Your Child Safe?

Another teen trend, was one of yesterday's top stories on The Today Show. I discovered the new term used when teens send sexually explicit texts or picture messages via their cell phones. Sexting. The shocking new trend is causing some unexpected effects. There are several cases where teenagers are being charged and CONVICTED with creating and/or distributing pornogrophy or child pornography. A typical scenerio involves a teenage girl sending self-taken nude or semi nude photos to her boyfriend's cell. From there, it can go a myriad of ways. There's instances of the girl being charged with child pornogrophy for sending the image. Another situation involves a ex-boyfriend sending the photos to everyone in his cell phone as a result of a bad break up. Of course the teen girl is endlessly ridiculed by her peers. There's just so many ways sexting can go terribly, horribly wrong. Apparently one girl killed herself last week as the result of her sexy image being sent to several kids in school by a former boyfriend.

It appears there's quite a debate over how to deal with teens who sext. Should the young person sending sexy images be criminally charged with distributing pornogrophy or child pornogrophy? If so, then this crime forces them to register as a sex offender. Is that a fair punishment? Should this be classified as criminal intent or social problem? Here's the basic argument as I understand it:

Young people are simply expressing themselves in a normal fashion using the technology available. The "outdated" sex offender's law hasn't caught up with today's technology.

Personally, I think kids are getting cell phones way too early in life along without any usage guidelines. My eight year old son has friends with cell phones! Why does an eight year old need a cell phone? Of course my son wants one since his friends have one but right now he doesn't need one. Cell phones have a place in our society and even in our children's lives but we, as parents, have to be responsible. You simply cannot give a child or teen any sort of interactive technology and NOT teach them how to properly and safely use it. It would be like putting them behind the wheel of the car without teaching them how to stop the vehicle!

I don't condone anyone's behavior in the scenerio's I described above by any stretch. I wouldn't send a racy picture of myself to my husband for fear of internet hackers plastering my very embarrassing photo across the internet for GAZILLIONS of people to see. HORROR! SHAME! As a woman, I will not make myself vulnerable to that type of ridcule. If I don't snap it and send it, or say it and text it, then no one can use it against me! On the other hand, there should be no toleration for sending a letter, text, sext, picture, whatever to a group contact list simply because your mad, upset, or hurt. We need to teach our youth realistic and adequate ways to deal with their passions and desires as well as the pain and anger. After all, they're just nothing more than raging hormones at this stage which can be dangerous without the proper guidance!

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Pot Tarts, Toka Cola & other Teen Drug Dangers

I normally post a foodie recipe on Tuesday (which I'll get to later) but I feel compelled to write about what I've learned the last few days about the new dangers to our children.

Yesterday, I watched The Doctor's television show which exposed a new wave of drug and alcohol abuse by our youth. I know kids have experimented with these things for as long as they've been around but this 'new wave' is really scary. According to the show, teens are inhaling Vodka-that's right, I said INHALING vodka-using dry ice and pouring the alcohol over it, snapping a lid on the cup and breathing deeply. Apparently the drunken effects are more immediate than through normal ingestion. Scientists and doctors believe the fumes secret through the sinuses going directly to the brain. As if this weren't bad enough, doctors say there's no way to know 100% for certain but they suspect a high level of C02 from the dry ice is being inhaled which may cause other brain and lung problems later on.

PLEASE take a few minutes to read about these new drug dangers to our children here. Topics covered are Vodka Bongs, how easily Dr Travis learned how to make homemade meth using the internet, heroin addiction, vaginal and rectal drug use, and kids even getting high off HAND SANITIZERS and huffing compressed gas used to clean your keyboard! For complete details of the show including a links for advice if you suspect your teen is on drugs, click here. Want to start the drug conversation with your kid? Check out The Partnership for a Drug Free America's website at www.drugfree.org.

Another scary lesson I learned was how drug dealers are now targeting our children. Our YOUNG children. They disguise marijuana in candy bars, bubble gum, and other popular snack foods. If this weren't bad enough, drug dealers cleverly package them to look like the products we buy our kids at the grocery stores. I had to look twice at the drug laced products Dr Travis showed to see the slight difference in name or logo. What parent would think twice about seeing POP Tarts, Kit Kat, or Butter Finger candy bars in their kid's back packs? The drug laced substitutes are not only packaged to camouflage a parent's watchful eye, they're designed to market to a YOUNGER crowd since teen drug use is on the decline. Drug dealers are now trying to hook our young children so they'll have a stronger 'customer base'. Here's an ABC story from last year's DEA raid of a California based "Marijuana Candy Factory". I find this incredible and now more than ever am convinced we must educate our children from diapers to diploma on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. No child is too young to be targeted. If we teach our kids about drug dangers like we teach them to walk, talk, read and write then perhaps we can finally win the War on Drugs once and for all!

Kid-Friendly Healthy Eating Tricks

My youngest boy will eat anything. My oldest son will eat almost anything. Then there's my oldest daughter who eats mainly chicken, fries, baked potatoes, burgers, steak, pizza, milk, tea, mac n cheese, and a few other entrees. Most veggies and fruits she won't consider touching-it's the eeewwwww factor and she's almost eleven! {shrugs} I've tried covering it in cheese or adding a dipping sauce like ranch, BBQ sauce, or ketchup with no luck. Everyone knows how important it is for kids to form healthy eating habits early on. Proper nutrition equals healthy bone growth and development, great adult eating habits, extended life expectancy, reduced health risks...I could go on but will spare you since you already most of this! As many of you know, it can be quite difficult to get a child to eat properly, especially as they get older. Here's a few of the tricks I've used over the years to get my kids to eat well (many times without them even knowing it).

Get covert!

• Boil the heck out of cauliflower and mash it into mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or blend in pizza or spaghetti sauce.
• Puree veggies and/or fruits into a creamy soup by adding cream, and tomato sauce. Pureed mixed veggie soup with an apple or banana for a dash of sweetness will offer better nutrition than canned ravioli.
• Try blending pureed veggies/fruits into the canned soups they already love and eat. Chances are they won't notice it and a little bit is better than none!
• Serve pureed fruit blended in oatmeal. Add a spoonful of powdered milk for a cream based oatmeal.
  
• Skip the store bought juices as much as possible. Most are diluted with water and have added sugars negating the nutrition you get from them. Plus more vitamins are absorbed when eating the fruit or veggies rather than drinking the extracted juice.
• Use pureed veggies and/or fruits in baked muffins, pancakes, cakes, breads, etc. Many times the kids won't know they're even there.
  
• Take left overs from the night before, puree and blend into your meatloaf mixture.
  
• Nuke Spaghetti Squash, string it out with a fork and top with pasta sauce. Serve just like it's traditional spaghetti!
• Most kids, teens, and adults don't get enough Vitamin D and Calcium in their diets. Blend yogurt, cream, powdered milk, even shredded cheese in just about any dish for an easy Calcium and Vitamin D boost! (A bit of trivia for you: Exposure to sunlight in ANY amount triggers the body to create it's own Vitamin D but don't forget to use your sunscreen!)
  

Make it pretty. Presentation can impact a kids opinion about what they eat!

• Try adding unusual bite-sized fruit or veggies to salads. Some kids love salads but don't like eating the stuff by itself. Bite sized apples, bananas, grapes, nuts, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, and mandarin oranges are great additions to salads.
  
• Turn it into a pizza. Make a fruit pizza by using jam instead of pizza sauce and top with sliced fruit, and drizzle with yogurt, chocolate or caramel sauce. Create a raw veggie pizza by spreading a thin layer of ranch dressing over toast, top with bite sized chopped raw veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, etc. Dust the top with toasted fine bread crumbs or Parmesan cheese.
  
• Try making funny faces or pictures using their food. Broccoli for hair, cauliflower nose, cheesy smiles, olive or grapes for eyes!
  
• Cut cheeses with a mini cookie cutter or cut into a circle and use a toothpick to poke holes in the shape of eyes, nose and cut out a smile for a fun smiley face. They'll get a boost of calcium and vitamin D while eating a fun shape.
  

Get them involved. Their involvement in the meal usually translates into a more willing eater!

• Have you kid help in the kitchen. They can help pick out the menu, measure ingredients, stir, and add ingredients. The older kids can help plate the food and even serve it.
• Read about different foods or watch food programs or find fun food website especially programs aimed at kids. Knowledge is power. Sometimes a child will be likely to eat something new after seeing another kid eat it.
  
• Get down and dirty in the garden! If a child can help grow or harvest it then, they'll be more likely to try it when it hits their plate. My oldest daughter found she LOVES garden fresh green beans but can't stand canned or frozen beans!

Present kids with PLENTY of opportunities to develop a taste for an item!

• Many folks use the 1 bite rule at every meal. I use the 2 bite rule since my kids are usually so emotional during the first bite they have no idea what the food actually tastes like. The second bite gives them an opportunity to see what the food tastes like without the emotional baggage.
• Don't fill their plate with things you know they don't like! Try one at a time over several days or even weeks.
• Try not to present the same food the same way every time. Kids like variety as much, if not more, than adults. Maybe your kids just doesn't like steamed broccoli but loves it raw with ranch dressing. Maybe they prefer it chopped broccoli mixed in mac n cheese or with Italian flavored rice. If at you first don't succeed, Try Try Again!

Lead by example!

• Don't expect your child to eat something you aren't willing to eat either. Take the bull by the horns and try a new food along with your child. You never know, maybe you both will find a new favorite food!
• Be aware of your own reactions and facial expressions when served a new food (especially in a restaurant or dinner party). Small children especially like to emulate their parents. If your youngster grimaces every time he's served peas, make sure he's not copying your behavior!
  

No matter what tricks you try to get your kids to eat better, don't make a big deal out of it. Your stress levels goes through the roof, your kid's throwing a fit, dinner's now an official disaster and all your hard work in the kitchen is overshadowed by the drama at the dinner table. If all else fails, you child simply may not like a particular food and that's okay. Until they day she decides she loves all veggies and fruits, you can ensure they get adequate nutrition through a multi-vitamin.

Wellesse has challenged all Twittermoms to share our creative tips to ensure our kids are getting the proper nutrition for healthy and strong bone development. I've showed your mine now show me yours! What are your healthy eating tricks?

You wanna play what kind of tag?

Have you ever had one of your kids ask to play one of their games with you only to forget the rules or the words? Well, rest easy, there's a site you can visit to refresh what your weary overworked mind has forgotten!

http://www.gameskidsplay.net/

Bookmark it, stumble it, twitter it, delicious, technorati it, do whatever you have to in order to keep up with this gem of a site! My yahoo buddy, Jessie Ann, emailed this to me today and I immediately fell in love with it! There's jump rope rhymes, hand clapping rhymes, playground games like Heads Up 7 Up, Ghost in the Graveyard, Popcorn, and so many others. They also answer questions about the various games (like Where did Red Rover come from?) It's a VERY cool site! (and no I'm not being paid to say it-I am relieved to find a place to fill in the missing pieces the next time my kids want to play Cinderella jump rope or Red Rover)

The site was created by Geof Niober in 1995 and the page has won many awards. I'm amazed no one's done this before or since!

Easy Room Decor Ideas-Girly Edition

Here's a few things I've done in my daughter's room inexpensively and without too much time involved. Michaela's room was already painted pink when we moved into the house last April so that part was done.  I converted curtains I made for the home we live in before into the canopy you see in the photo. A white full sized sheet, cut in half, stitched hem, then dyed with one bottle of purple RIT per bottle instructions. Two six inch long pieces of ribbon were sewn at one end evenly spaced apart and then tied in a square knot to form a loop. The hoop is an old embroidery hoop spray painted hot pink and hung from the ceiling using eye hooks and S hooks. The white bed side drawers needed a little punching up so I added painted wooden knobs!   The cork board in the second picture was salvaged from a thrift store for $1. Tape off and paint the frame hot pink, the cork gray, paint the butterfly and flower using a homemade stencil and your done! The shelf was an old book case with the cardboard backing removed, shelves screwed into place, and again tape it off and paint. I do recommend sanding the veneer so the paint doesn't peel! Her dresser was painted to match using the handle hardware I bought years ago for the bedside table pictured above but discovered was the wrong size after I got it home! These photos were taken last summer and everything still looks great!

Some other easy decorating ideas: String old Christmas lights around the doorway, ceiling, behind a room partition or curtains for a cool effect. Use calendar photos or magazine pictures in painted picture frames to keep up with the ever changing pop star idols. Hot glue ribbon, jewels, etc around frames, dressers, book cases, etc to jazz it up. Create a window valance using old jeans cut into 2" wide strips looped around a curtain rod (plain or fancy) and tied like a necktie. Trim it with sequins, hem it or fray it for the look that matches your child's personality. Decorating a girls room is much easier for me than it is for my boys. Their's is a continual work in progress and will be posted next! What are your decorating ideas?

Custom Stenciled Shirts

There's no need to buy a new clothes when you can update any fabric with an original custom print. It's easy to do and takes no time at all.

You'll need the following supplies: Freezer paper or large printable labels, a copy of the image you wish to use, pencil, Xacto knife or cuticle scissors, fabric paint, paper plate, wedge sponge or small paint brush, iron, clothing you want to paint (shirts, shorts, denim, etc-I chose one of my son's plain T-shirts.), piece of thin cardboard (pizza box, T-shirt box, heavy card stock, etc)

1. Wash and dry the T-shirt using NO fabric softener.
2. While your shirt's in the wash, print out the image you want on your shirt. If it is a small image, you can print directly to the printable labels and go to step 4.
3. If using a larger image, trace it onto the freezer paper's dull side.
4. Create the stencil by cutting out the image using either an Xacto knife or cuticle scissors from a manicure kit (I used the cuticle scissors). Remember the white parts will remain unpainted!
5. Iron on your stencil taking extra care to make sure all the edges and corners are stuck well to the material. (If using the printable labels, peel off the backing and stick to the material. Again, make sure the edges and corners are secure.) The paint can seep under the edges or corners if not properly secure! 
6. Insert the thin cardboard inside the T-shirt to prevent the paint from seeping to the other side. Alternatively you can iron on a larger section of freezer paper.
7. Squirt some paint on a paper plate and using your sponge, paint the exposed parts. Follow the manufacturer's directions for drying times and washing instructions. You may need to apply more than one coat. (I had to do three coats of white paint on this blue shirt)
8. After the paint has dried, peel away the freezer paper and Whala, you're done! Experimenting with different paints will give you different looks. This one was done with a white velveteen paint so it gave the shirt a professional appearance.

Kitty Buttons has TONS of free stencils, by far the most I found in one place. Here's a site for the Star War's fans out there which will be my next project! If you're feeling especially creative, try incorporating different fonts or drawing your own stencil for a one of a kind item. Stencil bags, jeans, shirts, hats, anything you want to put your unique creative stamp on! Just remember you can't sell it if it's a copyrighted image but you can use it for your own personal use or give as a gift! So go ahead and get your craft on!

Inexpensive & Original Infant Gift

So there's a new bundle of joy you wish to welcome into the world but have no idea how to celebrate other than the traditional diaper bag gifts. Well ponder no more! I have a completely unique, original, & totally frugal gift idea to offer the new blessing: Decorative Print Art

The idea came to me after my third child, Daniel, was born. I wanted to decorate his crib area with something that was original, tasteful, & inexpensive (let's face it-after three children, money gets tight). His crib was in a common area of the house, a dining room converted to nursery (not only was money tight, so was space). I surfed the net a little, where I found tons of information on infant visual stimuli (don't bother asking me how I stumbled on it, I just remember finding the images & having that "WOW what a great idea" moment). There was tons of medical jargon & research (boring, right?), but then I hit the jackpot. There were tons of images designed & published for parents to use. I had the images I wanted to use now, I needed a way to display them where they looked nice but were in a place Daniel could see them. I didn't want the room to be over-powered by the strongly contrasting images since his nursery was in a common area. I chose a 3x3 print out of the image inserted into clear photo corners (typically used in scrapbooks) which was placed on a slightly larger piece of cardstock. The clear photo corners allow me to change out the print when Daniel got older & found different types of images interesting. A couple of holes punched at the top of each corner with some raffia threaded through & tied into a nice bow finished the item. My card stock backing was cut at 4x4 1/2. (1/2" wider than my print except at the top which was 1" wider than the image to allow for the ribbon)

Now to figure out how to display them. We already had a nice mobile a family member had given us during a baby shower so I chose to use the clear 3M hooks & hang them by his crib area. If you prefer to make a mobile, you may want to put an image on both sides of the card stock. Additionally, this would look wonderful printed as an 8x10, matted & framed.

The possiblities are endless and limited only to the creativity of the person taking on the project. This project idea is easily customizable with different images and applications. Additionally this would make a great baby shower, birthday, Christmas, or even a christening gift.

Here is a pdf from http://baby.zorger.com of the 20 different free images that can be used for a project like this or feel free to find your own online.

Happy Crafting!