Winning The Heart of Your Child

This blog has been silent for over a year. Sometimes writing helps process life. Sometimes life can't be processed in words. I do know that cancer changed the trajectory of my life forever. Just as disability did before cancer. Just as adoption did before disability.  Just as infertility did before adoption. Life happens in the blink of an eye.

In the blink of an eye, Boy Wonder entered high school and Rockstar Kid became a teen.  At 5, I was their world. They wouldn't dream of heading into school at morning drop off without a hug, a kiss, a verbal "I love you mom".  Now as teens, they barely acknowledge I'm in the car. And it would be their worst nightmare if drop off included a hug or a kiss on the cheek.

What happened to my little boys? I blinked and they are tweens, growing into teens, heading for manhood. Hormones have taken over their bodies...I often wonder, do I still have their hearts?

Over the years, I've read so many parenting books: books on discipline, books on scheduling, books on emotions, books for neuro-typical kids, books for children with trauma, books for a child on the spectrum, books for strong-willed boys. Every book had its niche, and I could glean one or two things from each book, but needed to toss the rest of the chapters because it didn't fit my child.  Then puberty hit and, wow!, did I feel hopeless and confused with parenting.  What do I read for the strong-willed, hyperactive, hormone-engulfed, I-love-you-just-kidding-I-hate-you-emotionally-charged, adventurous, I-want-independence, I-need-you, phase of my boys life?

Big sigh.  Lots of prayers. Lots of do-overs. Enter Mike & Kristen Berry. Cue the music. Carve out a moment of your day because Winning The Heart of Your Child is going to be released February 5, 2019, and I was given a pre-release copy to read and review.

Pour yourself a drink, find a quiet spot, and dig into this book.
Whatever season of life you are in...childhood, tween, teen...this book is one you'll turn to over and over. It's practical. It's straightforward. It's honest.

Whether your child is typical or on the spectrum, biological or adopted, boy or girl, you will find encouragement and wisdom from an author who's been there/done that. This is practical, smart parenting.

The first portion of the book is about The Great Misunderstanding in parenting.  For me, this provided real insight into why my reactions and my approaches haven't worked. And boy did it hit home!

The second portion of the book is Parenting for the Win, with 9 keys to building a lifelong relationship with my kids. Nine ways you can begin or continue to connect with your kids or teens.  Let's just say that I underlined so many points in these chapters, you're going to want to get the book!

The final portion of the book is Moving Forward. It's where you get practical and daily. It's the part I'll need to write about later, because, honestly, I'm still moving forward. My little boys are growing young men. They don't need me, but they desperately need me. They don't want to talk, but they want me to listen. They don't want me involved, but they want to know I care.

My biggest critique of the book....Key 5: stay involved with your child..." be ready to set aside what you are doing when your children want to talk".  Whaaaa! but I just want to keep reading this chapter of this book.  I'm supposed to put what I read into action, so I take a deep breath and close the book and make eye contact and I listen.

Now it's your turn.
Go to this website to grab your own copy of the book:  http://www.winningtheheartbook.com/
If you pre-order from the website before Feb 5 you will receive :
    Access to Exclusive Winning The Heart Book VIP Facebook Group
    A Special 3-Part Video Series on Understanding Your Influence
    A Downloadable PDF Library Of Extra Content
    An Entire Library Of Colorful Images for Your Phone, Tablet, or Computer
    A Special 3-Part Audio Series on Parenting On Purpose
    A 16-Week Facebook Video Study Series


(*Here's where I need to disclose that I did receive a complimentary copy of this book, in exchange for writing a review. The opinions about the book are 100% my own. I also do NOT receive any compensation when you click on the links and/or purchase a book. I'm recommending it because I actually really like the book.)

Fitness Bands

At Christmas my wonderful husband gifted me with a Garmin fitness band. It's a handy little gadget for tracking daily steps, whether on walks with kids and dog or running household executive duties (indoor cardio, aka, hauling laundry up & down stairs, unloading groceries).  It's also connected me with others so I can be challenged to keep up my efforts and raise my goals.  How did I ever live without it???

This past month I've noticed how incredibly useful and motivating my fitness band has been in keeping me on track with my steps each day. Those annoying inspiring red dots flashing, reminding me I haven't moved enough in the past hour.

As parents caring for loved ones with disabilities, we are constantly on the go: kids that live on minuscule hours of sleep, therapist appointments, allergy appointments, healthy meals to cook, houses to clean, more therapy visits, juggling calendars for the rest of the family.  Whew! Some days we can rack up steps without too much effort.

Have you noticed, as caretakers, we too often place our needs at the bottom of the list? Sometimes, intentionally, as a servant; sometimes, with a tired, woe-is-me if-only-you-knew attitude.  Which ever the reason may be, we need to stop. We need to take a deep breath and just breathe. 

Try it right now. 

Oh, you thought I was just writing, not speaking to you...  At your desk, on your smart phone, wherever you are reading this: inhale slowly through your nostrils, 1-2-3-4-5; exhale, gently push air out of your mouth, 1-2-3-4-5.  BREATHE.  This time (if you're not on an airplane) stand up and raise your arms above your head as you slowly inhale, filling an imaginary balloon in your stomach.  Now push the air out as your arms fall to your side, releasing the tension.  When is the last time you did this?  Really?!? That long ago!

I came to the realization that I needed a spiritual "fitness band" on my wrist too: something that will remind me while my life is constantly on the move physically, I need to "slow down" spiritually; telling me that I needed to stop and pray, or sit and be quiet with Gods Word.

It is imperative as a caretaker that our tanks be refueled on a daily basis.  Our feet should never hit the floor in the morning without recharging our emotional and spiritual tank for the day.  Place a Bible next to your bedside stand so you see it first thing in the morning. Make a good choice with that smart device you own and download a free app such as the YouVersion Bible or Truth For Life devotional.  She Reads Truth is one of my favorite free apps!

Here's sage advice from Joel Belz of World Magazine: "The “mind of Christ” doesn’t get formed in an instant. It comes through lifelong disciplines. That’s why all of us need to be infused frequently—maybe even constantly—with the life-giving discernment of God’s special revelation in the Bible. Better to try to keep up your physical well-being without eating every day than to keep up your powers of godly discernment without daily recourse to God’s very words and instruction for His children. "

I challenge you to get your spiritual fitness band activated with me each morning. I'd love to hear how you are staying activated spiritually.

The 12th Man

The 12th man.

If you live on the west coast, particularly the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, an image immediately popped into your head when you read those words: the 12th man.

A certain friend of mine (whose identity shall remain nameless as they mourn loss in Wisconsin) said this weekend, “I’m sick of hearing the hokey 12th man garbage”.  However, if you’re a Seattle Seahawks fan, you know you ARE the 12th man. As the 12th man, YOU are part of the team. 

Follow all the social media posts and hashtags such #12thman, #weare12 or #12manstrong and you'll see its a real phenomena.  Get this: on Instagram alone there were 474,320 posts with the hashtag #12thman.

An article in USA Today quoted the coach as saying, “When you have 12’s behind us like this today, and you have the belief these guys have in one another, there ain’t nothing you can’t do,” Carroll said. “And as crazy as that sounds, they pulled it together. They pulled off a great comeback victory.”

In case you're still unclear about all the 12th man hype, Wikipedia says this, “The 12th man or 12th player is a term for fans of teams playing American football or association football. As most football leagues allow a maximum of eleven players per team on the playing field at a time, referring to a team's fans as the 12th man implies that they have a potentially helpful role in the game. Infrequently, the term has referred to individuals having a notable connection to their football team...”

A few nights ago I lay awake thinking about the 12th man. Raising a child with disabilities requires an incredible amount of endless energy. There isn’t much down time and it often feels like life is throwing endless yellow flags at you. You learn to make the most of every yard you gain.

When emotions run high in your child, joy overflows: there is constant singing, babbling in their own happy language, whistling contended tunes, telling you over & over & over & over how much they love you. Yet emotions can take a quick turnover where it often gets physical: arms start flying, holes appear in walls, clothing gets torn, toys destruct, tears are shed, Legos are broken, dreams are tackled and the wind is knocked clear out of you.

It's when you feel defeated, discouraged and unable to make another move, at that very moment ... the 12th man becomes invaluable.

As a parent, I need my 12th man!  I need to know there is someone out there cheering me on, someone telling me to get up and try again, someone encouraging me to press on for another day.  My child can have tremendous swings in mood and in physical health which means I’m on a direct text line with the school; the 12th man is the one who doesn’t give up on me in spite of my seemingly unpredictableness.

I need a 12th man cheering on my behalf, after having my child screaming for hours. I need a 12th man who dresses up and says “let’s go!”, after spending the day telling my child “please just let it go”. I need a 12th man team who stays for the long haul when my child has just entered the hospital for the 3rd time this month. I need to be 12 man strong when there is yet another IEP battle to wage against a principal who just doesn’t get it, still.

If you’re raising a child with disabilities, who is your 12th man? 

Here’s a few ideas to get your own cheering squad started:

• Reach out to other parents in your child's Lifeskill/ERC class; they need to be 12 man strong just like you!
• Ask your pediatrician if there's a local support group. I’m in a closed Facebook group for other moms in my city who are raising kids with autism.
• Call local churches or Joni & Friends to find a support group.
• Can’t find a local group: ask another mom of an exceptional child to meet you at the park...you’ll be surprised how fast word will spread & others will join you.
• Join a closed or secret Facebook group where you can safely vent to other caregivers who understand your childs unique needs.
• Follow blogs of others who are on this journey with you.  Jolene Philo, who writes Different Dream for my child, has a great link up every Tuesday where you can follow the blogs some exceptional families.
• Special Needs Parenting.net reminds you that you are Not Alone, providing resources from amazing writers who are caregivers too.
• Forward this post so others can learn to be your 12th man.

On the other end of the playing field...are YOU a 12th man?

Here’s how you can be a 12th man for a family raising an exceptional child:

1. Call and just say, hi.
2. Meet them at the park for fresh air & coffee.
3. Offer to watch their child for 1 hour so they can do laundry or nap.
4. Offer to do their laundry.
5. Write a simple note of encouragement.
6. Tell them you are praying for them.
7. Ask how can you pray specifically.
8. Ask how they are doing...then stop to listen without offering advice.
9. Call and just say hi.
10. Invite some or all of their children for a play-date.
11. Take a meal...don’t wait for a crisis. Take a meal tomorrow.
12. Don’t give up on them, remember their life is exceptionally stressful.

Perhaps God had a #12strongteam in mind when writing Hebrews 12:12-13  So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. (NLT)

I challenge you today: thank your #12strongteam, find a #12thman, BECOME a #weare12 for a family.