When We Listen, We Change Ourselves

Many times in my adult life I have had people tell me that I am a really good listener.  At times I have been and I am certainly a better listener in my 50's than I was in my 20's. 

I have many regrets in my life when it comes to listening.  There are times I should have been more attentive to my husband telling me how his day was.  I should have listened more to my children as they were going through the teen years instead of worrying about being the perfect parent and keeping my attention there.  I should have been a better listener when I met new people, especially people that have lived a different life than I have.

A few years ago I started thinking about how to be a better listener and it has changed my life and my perspective on people.  I want to consider myself inclusive, but I am constantly reminded of the walls I still build up.  So I challenge myself periodically.  I challenge myself to find someone I don't understand and just sit down and listen to their journey. 

Over the last few years I have been blessed by the company of a variety of people and the more I listened to their story, the more I see what we have in common.  The more I listened to their heart, the more my heart changed. 

Over the last few years:

• I have visited with a young man affected by schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder. 
• I have played with a child with autism and listened to his laughter.
• I have asked a concentration camp survivor to share her story with me.
• I have spent an afternoon with a young man living with a traumatic brain injury.
• I have had a lovely conversation with someone that speaks a different language.
• I have listened to the perspectives of a democrat.
• I have listened to the perspectives of a republican.
• I have asked for advice from a child.
• I have asked someone that uses a wheelchair what are the most hurtful things people do as they interact with him.
• I have bought a meal for a stranger and asked them to tell me their story.

When we listen to others, the barriers are erased.  When we listen to someone else's story, they become a real person with real hurts and feelings.  When we listen, we change ourselves.

Who are you going to listen to this week?

12 More Days Until

Valentine's Day!

I love Valentine's Day!  Over the years Bill and I have often made Valentine's Day a little more like Christmas.    For years at Christmas time we sacrificed presents to each other to allow more budget to spoil the kids.  That meant Valentine's Day was all about spoiling each other!

A number of years have passed and more people have been added to the family.  I have a little more budget and a  little more time so my gift list in February has expanded over the years.

Remember grandma! I no longer have a living grandmother but I revived many memories as I wrote a book about grandmothers.  In the book I share stories and ask questions that will bring back memories for those that read it.  I also offer ideas on things to do with your grandchildren to create a lifelong imprint on their lives.

Give a special gift to your grandmother this Valentine's Day!  

1.  Buy a book and have each of the grandchildren write a note or letter to their grandmother in the front.  They can write what they love about her or a special memory they have.

2.  If you are expecting, buy your mother a book and write a letter in the front telling her why she will be an incredible grandmother or the special imprint she is already making.  

I have copies in my home and would be happy to bring you one or get it shipped off to you.  Email at gracewithoutmargins@aol.com.  You can also order through Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Teaching Children About The Dream

Last week I have the privilege of visiting a friend's 3rd grade classroom to speak on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  I hope to have the opportunity to honor him every year, especially as the children get farther away in history from the incredible impact he made.

I find history and people fascinating.  I loved sharing the power of history if we touch both the generations before us and those after us.  If I join hands with the children and tell them my stories they can touch history all the way back to the early 1960's.  When I share the stories of my parents, we can go back to the 1930's and if I tell them about my great-grandfather that I knew and loved, they can link to history from the late 1800's. 

The prejudice and cruelty of the 60's is not so long ago.  I can reach back and touch it.  I vaguely remember separate water fountains and restrooms but I vividly remember the rioting I witnessed in Washington, DC.  I remember the pressure to not talk to blacks when I was in school.  I remember the meetings that were held in our neighborhood trying to force our family out because we let people of all races into our home.  I remember participating in the March on Washington and seeing my dad weep the day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was shot.

I am grateful for the changes I have seen in my lifetime.  They are huge.  There aren't separate restrooms and water fountains.  People have the right to vote.  They have the right to an education and great opportunities of employment.  We need to celebrate the advancements that have happened due to Dr. King's sacrifice and the sacrifices of many others.  

However, we still have a long way to go!  Our children and grandchildren need to know the pain of the past and the realities of the present.  After I spoke to the 3rd grade class, they had to complete the sentence, "I have a dream..." for themselves.  There were some very honest and vulnerable responses.

What struck me though was the racial tension that exists today was rarely mentioned.  This was a very multi-cultural class so I expected them to say more about it.  In some respects, I am glad racial tension is not huge on their radar, but in other respects, I am saddened.  Do they know that we have a long way to go?  Are we sharing and teaching enough about it?

I guess part of my dream is to never forget the past, to recognize the issues and pain of the present, and to commit to Dr. Martin Luther King's dreams for the future.  We still have so much to do.

Aging Parents and Loss

Bill and I finished teaching our "Aging Parents and Loss" class in December. We love sharing our experiences and the things we have learned.  Our hope is that we can give encouragement and make the journey a little easier for others.

Walking through the journey of aging parents can be hard.  Seeing our parents, the roles in relationships, and the future change can be difficult, but walking right through the middle of those challenges can make the road a little easier.

A couple of weeks ago two people from our class shared the results of using the suggestions we gave in class.  The honest conversations we had gave them permission, in a sense, to go ahead and have the awkward conversations with their parents.  Their conversations went well.  Oftentimes we are all thinking the same thing but are afraid to bring them up.

Another friend shared that he used our tips on "Communicating With Your Hard-of-Hearing Grandparents" and "Communicating With Your Grandchildren."  He sat down with his grandchildren and said, "This is me."  They talked over the suggestions and even had a few laughs along the way.
He also shared that he and his wife wrote a schedule on a chalkboard each day so one of his guests for the holidays would be more comfortable and less anxious about what the day might bring.

Bill and I love teaching this class because we have seen how much easier it is when you have friends that understand the challenges and are walking the road with you.  If you are interested in attending a class or just have some questions, please feel free to contact us.

Bill and Deana Boggess

gracewithoutmargins@aim.com

512-673-0187

Today has been an exciting day as we launched, 

"A Grandmother to Remember."  

What I love the most is hearing people share stories about their grandmothers and the impact they had on their lives.

Whether you are about to be a first-time grandmother or you are well seasoned, this book will give you ideas for leaving an imprint that will last for generations.  

Books are now available on Amazon!

https://www.amazon.com/Grandmother-Remember-Deana-Boggess/dp/0999420828/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544489567&sr=8-1&keywords=a+grandmother+to+remember+by+deana+boggess

7 More Days!

2 shipments of books will arrive TODAY!

7 more days until the official launch of...

This book is for a very special group of women—grandmothers. If you are about to embark on the wonderful adventure of grandmothering, consider this book your guide to being intentional about leaving a meaningful imprint on the lives of your grandchildren. If you’re already a grandmother, this book offers ideas for creating memories with your grandchildren, sharing your faith, and leaving an imprint that will last for generations.

A Grandmother to Remember is the perfect gift for a grandmother-to-be and would be an ideal selection for a grandmother book club. The Questions for the Grandmother will prompt meaningful discussion, and the Making Memories sections will jump- start the fun.

December 10 is our official launch date.  

Buy one for the grandmothers on your Christmas list!

Books may be purchased on Amazon and Barnes&Noble!

If you are local, I have some at my home.

Teachers Judged With Greater Strictness, Reason II

As teachers, not only are we going to leave lasting imprints on our students, but we are representing Jesus Christ.  We cannot forget that many of the students entrusted to us have never heard the name of Jesus.  We are ambassadors for Christ.

And Jesus came and said to them, 

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

You are a chosen people.  You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.  As a result, you can show the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  I Peter 2:9

Out of the 165 students I had at FFP, one of my favorites things said about me by a student was, “I love when she plays with God.”  My other favorite is, “Mrs. Boggess is always appropriate.”  If they knew me very well they would know that is not true but I am glad he thinks so.  I would love it if my students saw me as appropriate in my relationship with God because then I am taking my role as ambassador seriously.  At the same time, I want them to see me playing with God because that means I enjoy Him.

Yes, teachers are held to a greater strictness but what an honor!

Teachers Judged With Greater Stictness

 In James 3:1 it says,

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.  

But why are we held to a greater strictness?  I think there are three main reasons.  Today I will talk about the first one.

Lasting Imprints, Good or Bad

For a long time it scared me that teachers would be judged with greater strictness.  I felt like I barely had a prayer as it was.  Now I look at that verse with an understanding of what a powerful statement that is.  Teachers will be judged with a greater strictness because we have the potential of tremendous impact.  Teachers are shaping a generation of kids and giving kids their first impression of education, of teachers, and of themselves.  Teachers have the ability to impact students and how they see themselves and their abilities.  

I remember someone sharing a confession with me one day.  He had a patient that told him she was a preschool teacher.  

He said, “To be honest, I wasn't impressed.”  

I said, “Oh it isn't as prestigious as a high school teacher or a college professor?”  

He said, “Right, but then I realized how much more important the preschool teacher is because everything in high school and college is dependent on the preschool or kindergarten teacher.  They teach them the skills they need to learn everything else.”  Of course, I agreed with him.  Teachers are judged with greater strictness because they have great impact!

I had been tutoring a former student over the summer.  I think it was already an adjustment for him to come into my home, meet my husband and see pictures of my children and grandchildren all over the walls.  He was kind of nervous the first time he came over.  After our first session his mom texted me to let me know how he felt about our time together.  His response was, “I wish she could be my grandmother!”  At first, I was taken aback.  To be honest it made me feel old that that was what he shared, but then I was flattered.  I would be honored to be his grandmother!  Then a few weeks later I sort of blew it!

Every week Noah and I each brought a word to start off our session.  It could be a word that we thought was interesting or funny or taught us something new.  Well, on that particular day he didn’t have a word so I said, “You know you can play with words, too.”  He gave me a confused look.  

I told him that when I was young one of my aunts used to always say, “You have freckles on you, but you're pretty” or you could say, “You have freckles on your butt, you're pretty.”  As soon as it came out of my mouth, I knew I shouldn’t have said it!  I grew up thinking it was funny.  My grandchildren think it is hilarious but this little guy looked at me like, I can’t believe Mrs. Boggess just said that!

When his mom came to the door, I sent my student on to the car and I said, “I have a confession to make to you.  I think of Noah as one of my grandchildren and I crossed a line today.  I shared what had happened and the look that was on his face and she busted up laughing.  She hugged me and said, “You are so ok!” and then she laughed some more.

In the whole scheme of things, that was nothing but it reminded me of the impression I can make and how careful I have to be.  I will make lastly imprints no matter what so I need to make sure they are good ones.  One of my favorite verses is, 

Remember those who led you

who spoke the word of God to you;

and considering the result of their conduct, 

imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:7 (NASB)

My faith needs to be worthy of being imitated.  I try to remember that when I walk into a classroom, when I talk on the phone to my daughters and when I spend time with my grandchildren.  Is my faith worthy of being imitated?

In Luke 6:40, we are reminded of our responsibility,

A disciple is not above his teacher, 

but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

I have to ask myself, "Do I want my students to be like me?"  This strictness I am held to is an honor and an honor I take seriously.

The Final Goodbye

We said goodbye when Mom no longer could understand driving, money, or how to get out of her apartment.  We said goodbye when she left adulthood, young adulthood, the teenage years and  even childhood.  We said goodbye when she no longer knew us or the grandchildren or the great-grandchildren.  We have said many goodbyes as we have walked the road of dementia with my mother-in-law but this last goodbye leaves me speechless.

Over the last twelve years we have been called to run to Mom's bedside to say goodbye but she remained strong.  For a number of years we made certain decisions based on being afraid to leave town because we wanted to be there for her if she passed.  After three years of end stage dementia, the time has now come and it just doesn't seem real.

When my father-in-law died suddenly in a car accident, the emotions were overwhelming.  When my father died nine days after a diagnosis of cancer, I didn't think I would ever stop crying or feel "normal" again.  This loss is different and hard to work through the feelings.  It feels like Mom passed away three years ago and we went to the funeral home several days a week to make preparations and it is only now that we can have her memorial.  She was in a fetal position, weighing between 65 and 70 pounds for the last three years, unable to speak.  

It will take me weeks, months or possibly years to process this goodbye.  I have not cried as much as I thought I would but my stomach is all in knots.  I am glad she is no longer suffering but I sure will miss her presence on this earth and in our lives.  She added so much love and laughter.

Bill and I have been through a number of scenarios with aging parents and loss.  Each of them have been hard in different ways.  We will be teaching our course, "Aging Parents and Loss" at the end of October and early November at our church.  We look forward to sharing the things we have learned along the way and the opportunity to come alongside others walking the same road.  There are many sorrows to walk through but many joys to embrace.  If you are on this journey and need someone to listen, feel free to reach out to us at gracewithoutmargins@aol.com.

The Love Chair

Doodling has been part of my life for many years and when a good friend of mine introduced me to Zentangling, I was ecstatic!  It added sophistication to my otherwise random drawings.  Doodling and Zentangling help me to stay focused, pay attention, and enjoy sitting still.

As I looked for ideas on the internet, I came across shoes, dresses and even furniture that had a variety of writings and drawings on them.  I bought a simple cloth chair and had family and friends draw and write wedding blessings on it for my daughter.  And a few years later I bought a chair for our grandchildren.

I want our grandchildren to feel like their artwork, their letters, and their thoughts are masterpieces in our home.  I have a wall of tiles painted by our grandchildren, accompanied by a 6" x 4" piece of cardboard carefully painted by my two-year-old grandson.  And in the library, resides my sweet Love Chair.  The back of it is covered with drawings and handprints from our grandchildren, as well as examples of English and Spanish by my oldest grandson.  The front of the chair is currently being designed with famous quotes and a beautiful mosaic.  You will probably never see this work of art in a museum or fine arts store, but it will always have a place of honor in our home.

There are hundreds of ways to include people and honor their creativity and talents.  As my grandchildren look back on the memories memorialized on The Love Chair, may they feel empowered to share their creativity with the world.

I Don't Know, Have You Figured It Out?

It seems that the older I get, the less I know and the more willing I am to admit it!  Today I had some time to kill so I went to the school where I taught for many years.  As I sat in the teacher workroom cutting out laminating projects, I was able to share life with a group of ladies I greatly respect, ranging in age from 35 to 58.  We are all at different places in life and I love it!

What intrigues me about women is that we often think another age group has it made.  In our teens, we think the twenty-year-olds have it made.  In our thirties we think the forty-year olds have it made and on up the ladder until society puts that admiration to a stop and we are just perceived as old.

I want to let you in on a little secret, there is no "golden age."  Every stage of life has its challenges and its blessings.  There is no magic formula to follow.  We will never be able to anticipate the challenges each of our children will have or the blessings that will be bestowed on them.  We will never be able to predict how our parents will age or how we will for that matter.  It is all a journey of faith and a journey of grace.

Just as I love storytelling, I love listening to stories as well!  Every woman I meet has a story worth telling and a story worth hearing.  You may have a single mom living on one side of you and a grandmother raising her grandchildren on the other.  Both are trying to figure life out.  They need your grace just as much as you need theirs.

I have to say, I haven't figured much out but I do have a survival bag filled with some pretty great tools at this stage of life.  I can share them, I can lend them and I can borrow some from you.  Life is a constant blend of challenges and blessings.  

As women we need to...

 Share together.  Dream together.  Cry together
Laugh together. Pray together.

The truth is, none of us really have it figured out, but walking the journey together makes the challenges a little easier and the blessings even greater.

Let Me Introduce You to Marti

Fortunately for me, I have had numerous mentors and super heroes cross my path over the years and I am so grateful for the skills they have taught me.  One of my mentors has been Marti Smith.  

A number of years ago I was blessed to have each of her children in my classroom.  Hopefully they learned a few things while being in my classroom but the lessons I have learned from their sweet momma have been invaluable.

Marti Smith, OTR/L is an amazing occupational therapist and Fellow for Child Trauma Academy.  She is able to assess a child's needs so quickly.  Her love, compassion, knowledge and experience offer support not only to the child, but the entire family.  Visit her website, www.creativetherapies.com.  You will find free trauma tips that can be beneficial to children from a variety of backgrounds.

Below is an interview Marti did with me on, How to Respond to People with Love and Help Them Share Their Story.  http://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-v77iy-9050e6 and an interview with Bill on Sound and Auditory Sense.

We are so thankful for Marti, her skills and experience, and her desire to make a difference in the lives of children and their families.

A Difficult Conversation

We often say that parenting doesn't come with a manual.  It is rather amazing we mostly rely on, "On The Job Training" for parenting.  We try to absorb all we can and make the best decisions we can at the time, based on the knowledge we have.  We often feel inadequate and unprepared.  

Ironically, we often think that stage of bewilderment is over when our kids are grown, but then we move into the new stage of aging parents.  Once again we feel like there is no manual, our "on the job training" is inadequate, and we feel terribly unprepared.  The truth is, there are resources available to us.   We just have to look for them.

Over the last few years we have walked through the sudden loss of a parent, the diagnosis of cancer with a short battle, the diagnosis of vascular dementia, and the typical progression of aging with our parents.  Each situation has presented a variety of issues and challenges.  

We have also walked alongside family and friends that have faced additional challenges because financial and emotional issues had not been addressed.  For example, in some states, a spouse can be forced to sell their home because a will was not prepared.  "Squatter's Rights" can get a little tricky in some states.  It is important to know the laws of the state you live in and how to protect your family's assets.  

Make a commitment to get your affairs in order for your parents, yourself, and your children:

• Is there a will?
• Is there a living will?
• Does someone have Power of Attorney?
• Does someone have Medical Power of Attorney?
• Do you have life insurance?
• Is more than one person on all bank accounts?
• Is there a listed beneficiary for life insurance, trusts, etc.?
• Does a DNR need to be in place?
• Have you planned your funeral?
• Are all important papers in one location and does someone know where they are located?
• Have you gone through your house to minimize what a loved one will have to deal with?
• Have you kept on top of paper piles, both discarding what is not needed and filing what is essential?
• Have you made a list of what you want to be given to certain people?
• Have you written letters to close loved ones?
• Have you asked or extended forgiveness to loved ones?
• Have you established a relationship with a lawyer and an accountant to see what else might need to be prepared?

It is hard to have these conversations but it is a relief to get them behind you.  If we can help you answer any questions on aging parent issues (financial, emotional, or spiritual) please feel free to contact us at gracewithoutmargins@aol.com.

Love In The Margins

Oh course, I loved her the moment I laid eyes on her, but one of the moments when I realized how special she was occurred when she was five-years-old.  I found her in the bathtub with the shower curtain closed, reading a book, in the middle of the night.  Bethany had a tremendous love for learning and still does. She has three degrees and is working on her PhD in Epidemiology.  

I love her love for learning, but I especially love her love for people.  Bethany has never been one to enjoy the spotlight.  Most of the time you will find her in the margins looking for someone to help, someone to learn from, someone to befriend.  I know that love has been painful at times, but her desire to extend it continues to grow.

We often consider what we need to teach our children, never realizing how much they will teach us.  Bethany has taught me to challenge all of my convictions, making some of them stronger and some of them more pliable.  She has brought people to me from the margins that I may not have known otherwise and I am grateful.  She has influenced me to want to live with less and with greater gratitude.

Happy Birthday, Bethany!  

Your love and your countenance are more beautiful every year!

Much love,

Mom

The Journey Will Be Amazing!

Do you have a heart for people living in the margins?  Do you want to better understand the person affected by a disability?  We would love to share our journey with you.

In Grace Without Margins, we share our story of serving in disability ministry, but more importantly, we share the story of how our lives and our perceptions of people changed as we became friends with the people the ministry brought into our lives.  We would never be the same people because our perceptions had changed!

You can purchase, Grace Without Margins, on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Without-Margins-Journey-Through/dp/0578106744/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1533264866&sr=1&keywords=grace+without+margins&dpID=413XLNbCo0L&preST=_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_QL70_&dpSrc=srch.

"Maybe there is a child that will come through the door of your church this week and you will look at them differently.  Hopefully, you will not look at them with the fears of starting a new ministry, but with a heart of compassion that simply wants to embrace them and all that God has made them to be. I promise you the journey will be amazing and you will be both changed and blessed!"

Are You Living In the Margin?

When we named our business and ministry Grace Without Margins years ago we were largely considering people with disabilities and how they were walking in the margins of our culture.  They were often walking along the edge of society and not being accepted into it.  This can be heart-breaking for the individual, as well as the friends and family that love them.

It has been encouraging to me to see the changes that have occurred in our society over the last 20 years.  There have been advancements in accessibility, accommodations, mobility, education, and employment for those living with a disability.  Sometimes it is good to take a few moments and reflect on the improvements that have been made so we can energize for the tasks that still lie ahead.

What intrigues me is to think about people who continually have to battle the margins of society and those that come in and out of the margins based on circumstances.  I think we all stumble into the margins at times.  We feel lonely, isolated, misunderstood and even rejected into the margins.  We may feel like no one understands or cares.

Think about the woman who is physically abused by her husband.

Think about the child that is sexually abused on a regular basis.

What about the person struggling with alcohol or drug addiction?

What about the friend battling a mental health issue?

What about the parent whose child committed a serious crime?

The teenager struggling with an eating disorder.

The child battling cancer.

Many challenges in life can leave us in the margins.  The beautiful part of that is, through those challenges in the margins, we can learn greater compassion and understand grace.  We may not have walked the same journey but we have a better understanding of what it feels like to be alone, to be limited by our circumstances, to feel like no one cares.  Look for those that are in the margins around you and help pull them into community.  Who knows?  It may help the margin you are living in get a little smaller.

Words - Proceed with Caution

I have had a romantic relationship with words for probably ten years now.  I collect them.  I dress them up.  I simplify them.  I take them on outings to see what it is like to be around them.  I add some.  I loose some.  I find out what works best for me.  But most of all, I think about how they affect the people around me.

I must say I fail miserably sometimes.  They often come out of my mouth way too quickly without a thought of how they will be received.

It has saddened me that we are all becoming too sensitive about words but in the last couple of years I have heard stories that have helped me understand why.  When someone finds a word soul-piercing there is usually a reason.  A reason that I would never care to experience.

I must love someone enough to look for words that give hope, that diminish the hurt and extend the possibilities.

Words -

Proceed with caution.

I have two beautiful and amazing daughters and I couldn't be more proud of them.  I consider it a tremendous privilege to be their momma.  I truly don't deserve such precious gifts.

My oldest daughter will be celebrating a birthday soon and I will share more about her in August when it is her special day.  Today is my youngest daughter's birthday and I have been reminiscing about the joy she has brought to our family all these years.

As a child Sarah was very quiet, had a great wit about her, and loved to play and imagine.  I loved watching her play with her sister and use her imagination.

As she was growing up she was often mistreated by peers and it overwhelms my heart to even think about it.  As a momma I wish I could have shielded and protected her more.  I wish I had more answers than questions as a mother.  As a young woman she endured even more trials and they, too, broke my heart.  

The storms she weathered have made her such an incredible person, however.  Sarah is the epitome of "grace without margins."  She has learned the meaning of grace and continually extends it to a variety of people.  Those that are in the margins have been gifted with a beautiful advocate that will help them out of those margins.  Sarah continually reaches out to a variety of people that have felt left out or wounded or need a voice.  I couldn't be more proud of the strength and beauty she possesses.  

Happy Birthday, Sarah!  

You are an amazing young woman.  

I love you!  Mom

Hug Somebody!

It has been a great summer so far.  I have truly enjoyed having time with each of my grandchildren.  They all bring out something different in me and help me to be a better person.  

My oldest grandson is such an encourager.   He often sees me practicing my Spanish lessons and always has an encouraging word, even if I can't roll my R's very well.  I love what he said to me yesterday, "Meme, I know why you are learning Spanish.  You don't want anyone to feel left out."  What a beautiful thing to say.  He is incredibly tender-hearted.

My oldest granddaughter wants to talk about literature with me.  We talk about all kinds of books and our love for reading.  She is my challenger.  She challenges me to read a variety of books and to expand my interests.  I love that about her.  She also has a joy about her that is contagious.

My little grandson makes me smile all day long.  I love listening to his vocabulary expand.  I love seeing the world through his eyes.  He is always full of excitement and adventure.  

And my little granddaughter is my symbol of hope and drive.  In our crazy little world these days, she reminds me to try harder to make this world a better place.  The beauty in her eyes continues to give me hope.

Being a parent, and now a grandparent, is a blessing that I never want to take for granted.  I have spent the last couple of months working on a book about grandmothers.  The words just poured out of my heart.  The book is with my editor right now and I look forward to sharing it with you soon.

In the meantime, hug your kids!  Hug your grandkids!  And if you don't have any, find some other kids to hug that need it.  This world could use a lot more hugging :)

Explaining Autism to Children

I am excited to share this great video on autism.  Summer is a great time to talk to your children about a variety of topics and have the time to discuss them.  Thankfully our children are getting the opportunity to be with children with autism but often they don't build relationships because so many questions are left unanswered.  This is a great tool to help them build relationships.


https://www.facebook.com/SPEDPH/videos/1670887129605859/?autoplay_reason=gatekeeper&video_container_type=0&video_creator_product_type=2&app_id=2392950137&live_video_guests=0

Here are some discussion questions you may want to use:

What things are you good at?
What things are difficult for you?
Isn't it great that God made us all different?
Do you know anyone in your school with autism?
Have you ever talked to him/her?
Do you have any questions?  (Don't be afraid of questions because you can research and learn together if you don't know the answer)
What could you and your classmates do to help him/her feel more comfortable and more included?

For more information you may want to visit:  https://www.facebook.com/SPEDPH/?hc_ref=ARQpjeb0dVn2ojlHMuMBchumDcTNTP2_1h3oSQOGlQDzekjxGakHfEO2ddNbD8rdkeI&fref=nf