Praying for Parker

Empathetic Kids with Special Needs

I just put my grandson down for a nap in his pack and play. He’s not too thrilled with the idea and is letting all of us know by screaming at the top of his lungs each and every one of his objections. It’s rough when all you want to do is...

Published Tue, Nov 17 2015 9:27 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs, Life With Special Needs, teaching kids empathy, intellectual delays, empathy

Buying toys for my kid with special needs.

We celebrated Parker’s birthday on Sunday. His actual birthday isn’t until Thursday, but Sunday was the only day everyone could be here. The cake was white, trimmed with blue frosting. Since Parker is allowed small (very small) bites of frosting...

Published Mon, Nov 16 2015 9:46 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Life With Special Needs, kids with special needs, toys for kids with special needs, learning how to play

Using Sticker Books to Increase Reading Vocabulary Words

Using sticker books to increase reading vocabulary words is brilliant. Seriously. Parker loves sticker books. He needs help with his fine motor skills. Kids with Down syndrome rely on repetition in their learning technique. With a little bit of prep,...

Published Sun, Nov 15 2015 8:47 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs Homeschooling, homeschooling, Life With Special Needs, SN Homeschooling, reading skills, vocabluary words

A Simple, Giftable, Fall Craft for Kids

I often work my way through a few online Facebook yard sale groups each day. Oh, the stuff that you can get for cheap that you never knew you needed. Sometimes, though, you can score a steal on something you’ve been hoping for but couldn’t...

Published Fri, Nov 13 2015 7:24 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: homeschooling, Life With Special Needs, Art Activities, sensory activities, occupational therapy, SN Homeschooling, fall craft, kid craft, simple fall craft

I’m going to carpe the hell out of this diem.

I’ve been trying to work my way through a recent experience. In the beginning there was excitement. I felt I had made my way to a Tribe committed to working together for the good of a local cause and together would take a stand and make a difference...

Published Thu, Nov 12 2015 7:51 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, Life With Special Needs, carpe diem, life lessons

Special Needs on One Income: What’s in your Dehydrator?

I am a HUGE fan of dehydrating all the lovely goodness my garden produces each season. When I run out of that, you’ll find my beloved dehydrator chugging away with in season fruits and veggies picked up on sale. Bananas. Pineapples. Mangos. Kale...

Published Tue, Nov 10 2015 9:15 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: From Scratch, frugal living, prepping for hard times, Excalibur food dehydrator, frugal budget, one income

Meanness at the expense of my child with special needs.

What do you see when you see Parker? Last week, during a quick run in to Target, I overheard what a few women thought when they saw my son. Look! one woman exclaimed as Parker and I rolled our cart by. It’s a ret*rd! I’ll admit, it took a...

Published Tue, Nov 10 2015 9:22 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, down syndrome, Life With Special Needs, Target, end the r-word, bullying

Fine Motor Skills: Teaching Boundaries

I continue the quest of perfecting Parker’s fine motor skills. Strengthening his fingers so that holding a pencil isn’t as hard of a task for him. Perfecting his grasp so that coloring and painting are more enjoyable. There’s a long...

Published Mon, Nov 09 2015 7:46 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Special Needs Homeschooling, Life With Special Needs, sensory activities, SN Homeschooling, teaching fine motor skills, pre-writing skills

Questions to ask when orienting a new nurse.

We are orienting a new nurse. We’ve done this before. Several times actually. Through this process we have secured some excellent nurses, such as Parker’s current nurse, Chris. We’ve also met with potential employees that simply weren’t...

Published Mon, Nov 02 2015 6:03 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Life With Special Needs, trachs, home nursing, trached kids, new nurse orientation

Siblings and kids with special needs.

They’d been planning this for the longest time, my Blue-Eyed Girl and Parker. Halloween would find her as Batman, and her little brother, Robin. Kind of fitting considering the Brave Hero theme that runs through our lives. Looking deeper, you’ll...

Published Mon, Nov 02 2015 7:57 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Life With Special Needs

When special needs kids grow up: Tree House Museum of Utah

Recently I was part of a discussion about a local children’s museum and a woman with special needs, who while 28, is mentally about 6. This woman and her sister went to visit the Tree House Museum in Ogden, Utah. When they arrived they were told...

Published Wed, Oct 28 2015 10:49 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Life With Special Needs, Neurotypical, Americans with Disabilities Act, Tree House Museum of Utah

Overprotective Special Needs Parent Society

For the past, almost ELEVEN years now, my focus has mainly been on Parker’s health. Keeping this Brave Hero of ours alive has always been priority number one. Parker’s health has been known to turn on a dime. We never know what his next echo...

Published Sun, Oct 25 2015 8:31 PM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Advocacy, Life With Special Needs, kid chores, presume competence, helicopter parents

Inclusion, Acceptance and Respect

Because, Inclusion, Acceptance and Respect. I know many within the Down syndrome community are posting each day in October to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness month. Never being one to color within the usual lines, I decided to teach myself how to make...

Published Thu, Oct 22 2015 11:13 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Life With Special Needs, ndss, Inclusion, assume compentance

How to survive a breathing treatment

Parker receives a breathing treatment 4 times a day, morning, afternoon, before bed, and once during the night. That’s a lot of sitting and waiting for a Brave Hero with better things to do! We often bring all the breathing treatment stuff into...

Published Wed, Oct 21 2015 8:37 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: Life With Special Needs, raising a child with special needs, breathing treatments, children and medical needs

Special Needs Guilt

Parental guilt isn’t something you have to go looking for. Like the extra pounds that seemingly sneak up overnight, guilt has a way of sticking to you and wrecking havoc with your self esteem. Special needs guilt is even more insidious. As we try...

Published Mon, Oct 19 2015 8:07 AM by Praying For Parker

Filed under: down syndrome, Life With Special Needs, special needs blog, special needs resources, special needs guilt, guilt

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