In My Daughter's Eyes

Dear My Toy Garden friends!
     This week I have a treat from you!  A blog from a friend of mine who I used to teach with in Atlanta.  I loved what she had to say and had to share!  Enjoy!
   Ellie writes, "I’m the mother of a beautiful, busy 16 month old.  Everyday SG is trying to do new things and she amazes me each day!  I’ve recently noticed something- something that has made me stop and think.  SG is becoming my little copycat.  She does what I do and she sounds exactly like me!  Sweet, but kind of terrifying.  I’ll explain.
At first when SG said “Yeah” we thought it was the cutest thing in the world.  And then she started saying  “Uh-huh” and “Mm-hmm”.  We cooed and cheered and she used it even more.  Then I tried to get her to say yes and please and it was a no go.  Just yeah, mm-hmm, and uh-huh.  I was puzzled.  My sweet baby refused to say please!  Then one day while talking to the Huzz, I caught myself saying yeah.  Over the next few weeks, I realized I say yeah, uh-huh, and mm-hmm A LOT.  Confession time:  I also realized I hardly ever say yes or please!  How terrible!  Oh, I ask nicely.  I promise I do.  I just forget to say please.  So how can I expect SG to do something I’m not modeling for her?  This has really made me think.  I’m now trying to say please and yes (or because of my Southern roots, yes m’am).
It’s made me think about other things- mainly the way I react to things.  I tend to overreact or screech or just be too loud.  I don’t want SG to pick up my bad habits so I’m trying to be a better example for her.
Not everything she’s picked up from me is “bad”- that isn’t the intention of this post.  But she is a very accurate mirror for me.  She does sweet little things as well- gives lots of hugs and sweet little kisses throughout the day.  She tries to mimic the way I brush my teeth as she attempts to move her tiny hand with her Elmo toothbrush across her little teeth.  She says “Amen!” when we finish praying together.  She pats my back while giving me hugs…all things I do to her, in front of her, or for her.
Whenever I wash my hands, wherever she is, she stops and rubs her little hands together while giving me the biggest cheesy grin in the world.  My baby girl is watching me.  I want to be a good mother, a Godly mother, to my child.  I’m thankful that she has made me reflect on my ways, be they good or bad.  And here’s hoping they are good!
Have you seen yourself mirrored in your children?  Was what you saw in them what you expected to see?  I’d love to hear your stories.  Please share!"
   Can you relate?  I know I can!  Please visit her blog and share your thoughts!

Playfully,
Toylady Janet

The Benefits of Boredom

Dear My Toy Garden friends!
   This week I have a small challenge for you..ready?  Grab your smart phone.  Set a time on it for 10 minutes.  Push Start.  Now do nothing until it goes off.  No cheating.  No checking your email.  No peeking at Facebook.  No playing a quick game of Draw Something.  When is the last time you've given yourself the gift of  doing nothing?  When do the children in your life have true down time?
   My sister and her 3 girls were down recently to visit for a long weekend bringing the total in our home to 10 active bodies and minds.  We had a great time with each other.  I did notice though from most of the beings in the house that the minute conversation lagged or activity lulled, out popped the smart phones.  There were some fun conversations about pictures to guess on Draw Something that required interaction with another person but mostly though it was solitary play surrounded by others in solitary play.
    I invite you this week to ponder the benefits of boredom.  What if the smart phones were locked away for a day..gasp..okay, an afternoon.  What would time be filled with then?  Perhaps a puzzle, a real game you can move pieces you can physically touch,  a conversation to learn something new about someone else.  I'm as guilty as the next person about the need to have my Iphone near.  It needs to be a conscious choice to be more than 5 feet from it.  
  As a classroom teacher, I often said, "As long as you have a brain, you are never bored."  I'd teach them they could always wonder why..wonder how..wonder if.  I wonder how many tiles there are the ceiling?  I wonder how long it'll take that ant to walk the whole length of the classroom?  I wonder if I can bounce a ball 100 times?  Questions build the brain.  Questions connect us to others.  Questions turn boredom into revelations and renewal.
    Take a vacation today...take 10 minutes to do nothing.  Rest, renew, reconnect and wonder away.  

Playfully,
Toylady Janet

1 in 88? 1 in 88! Whoa!

Dear My Toy Garden friends!
    "Tell us more about your child."  
    "Well, he's 5 years old.  Obsessed with the color red.  Nonverbal.  Limited fine motor skills.  No social skills.  Not potty trained."  This is sadly far too common of a conversation we have at My Toy Garden with our special needs families.  There are far too many families out there struggling with how to help their child who has been diagosed with one of the many EIEIO letter combinations created in the last several years.
    From the beginning of my teaching career in 1989 to when I left 6 years ago, I saw a dramatic change in the number of special needs learners in my classroom.  Since I've left I fear it has only escalted even faster.  The Autism rate 6 years ago was 1 in 254.  Recently that number changed to 1 in 88.  Pause please.  1 in 88 children is diagnosed with Autism.  How much lower does that number need to go before we, as a society, take notice and, more importantly, take action!  April is Autism ACTION month!
   The good news is that we can take action.  There is much that can be done to make a difference!  I recently learned about an organization called TACA (Talk about Curing Autism) and they are fantastic!  It's a national organization with tons of information and support. There is a local Indy group that meets once a month in Noblesville.  They offer peer mentors to help new families cope with all the changes. Soo many great things!
  We are very excited to partner with them this month and for months to come!  Next Thursday, April 12, from 7-8 pm one of the coordinators will be here to do a parent workshop titled "Is Autism Treatable?" I've heard her speak before and guarantee tons of helpful info for all special needs families!  You will also get a 1 inch thick resource book for free when you attend that night.  Please rsvp by hitting reply or going to our Facebook page.
   Later,  on Thurs. May 3 from 6:30 - 8 pm we'll be hosting a Special Needs Family Social.  All families are invited to laugh, learn, connect, play and be inspired.  Games, crafts and gluten free snacks are provided.  Hugs to all!  Let's ignite the conversations in our busy world and make that 1 in 88 number go up instead of down for a change!

Playfully,
Toylady Janet