Wow, another block of Ordinary time is gone again. The Sundays after Pentecost went from around Memorial Day weekend, until yesterday, the first Sunday in Advent. The fact that this was called "Ordinary" time in the liturgical church calendar floors me because the "Page" calendar from Memorial Day weekend until last week was anything and everything but ordinary.
Perhaps that is why it is God's calendar and not my calendar that matters?
No matter whose calendar you choose to follow, it's that time before Christmas again. Some people call this the shopping crunch time. Some people dread the travel time. Some families do a Christmas tree and Santa Claus. Some families do the Nativity and the birth of Christ. Some families celebrate the "other" seasonal holidays. Some families roll their eyes at all of it. No matter what, it is "that time." And you need to embrace it-even if it means planning your shopping trips accordingly so you can park.
I thought after last year I couldn't have twenty five more posts in my head to reflect on the holiday season and my life in general.
I was wrong, and I can always admit when I am wrong.
I'm going to blog again for the 25 days of Advent quacks. They will officially start on Thursday but since the first day of Advent was yesterday I thought I would go ahead and get this up today. Calendars are made up by people anyway. According to Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th street, "Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind."
If you have it, even a Grinch can't steal it.
I'll see you on the first!
P.S.-You can always go back an re-read Advent 2010
Monday, November 28, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
One bag of Oreos
When one of my kids has a tantrum or refuses to follow directions, or even more creatively does the opposite of what I say just because I said it, I have to remain calm. I don't always. Girl, every mother loses it every now and then, but if I want results, I need serenity. I need to wait out the rebellion and then they will do what I asked.
I simply say, "Go ahead, I'll wait." I'll wait until you pick up the Legos. I'll wait until the stuffed animals are in the cabinet. I'll wait for you to brush your teeth. I am in no hurry, especially now that I'm back in town. All three reluctantly, eventually, do what I say. The more I keep this up, the quicker they catch on that mom means it.
Sometimes I think when we are called "Children of God." This is what they mean. God keeps telling me to do something and I keep throwing a fit or doing the opposite of what he wants for me and he says, "Go ahead Page, make the bad choice, I'll wait, then you're going to do what I asked you to do in the first place."
Whatever....anyway, what I would tell a mom when she first hears her child is on the autism spectrum is...
I give you permission to eat one entire bag of Oreos-here is a box from me to you:
What was it like for me? I was relieved the first time that I had a name for it. PDD-NOS sounds a lot better than, "She is just going at her own pace." I had been told for a couple of years not to worry. Don't worry at the twelve month check up, don't worry at 15, don't worry at 18. Hello pediatricians, exactly when should I worry?
But with my son I was devastated. You can read that post here. It is true, I went home from that parent team conference and I downed a bag of Oreos. I give you permission to do the same. Do something sad and unhappy. Oreos, ice cream, M&Ms, Doritos...eat a whole thing by yourself and wash it down with a soda that isn't diet. You just won the anti-lottery.
I know some women like me that were relieved to finally have answer, but I have talked to lots of women who were destroyed with the diagnosis. I know women in denial. I know women that locked themselves away and cried. You may do this for a day or a weekend if you must-get your anger out, get your anguish out, and then move it along. Intervention means just that-jumping in and shifting the way things are going and it isn't passive. You are going to be surrounded by a lot of people with opinions and you will need to focus on what is best for you and your child.
One bag of Oreos is acceptable to express your disappointment in the situation. It is not going to turn you into a blimp unless you do it three times a day for a month. Which you won't be having time for because you have a lot of work to do now girlfriend...
If you aren't ready, fine...I'll wait.
I simply say, "Go ahead, I'll wait." I'll wait until you pick up the Legos. I'll wait until the stuffed animals are in the cabinet. I'll wait for you to brush your teeth. I am in no hurry, especially now that I'm back in town. All three reluctantly, eventually, do what I say. The more I keep this up, the quicker they catch on that mom means it.
Sometimes I think when we are called "Children of God." This is what they mean. God keeps telling me to do something and I keep throwing a fit or doing the opposite of what he wants for me and he says, "Go ahead Page, make the bad choice, I'll wait, then you're going to do what I asked you to do in the first place."
Whatever....anyway, what I would tell a mom when she first hears her child is on the autism spectrum is...
I give you permission to eat one entire bag of Oreos-here is a box from me to you:
What was it like for me? I was relieved the first time that I had a name for it. PDD-NOS sounds a lot better than, "She is just going at her own pace." I had been told for a couple of years not to worry. Don't worry at the twelve month check up, don't worry at 15, don't worry at 18. Hello pediatricians, exactly when should I worry?
But with my son I was devastated. You can read that post here. It is true, I went home from that parent team conference and I downed a bag of Oreos. I give you permission to do the same. Do something sad and unhappy. Oreos, ice cream, M&Ms, Doritos...eat a whole thing by yourself and wash it down with a soda that isn't diet. You just won the anti-lottery.
I know some women like me that were relieved to finally have answer, but I have talked to lots of women who were destroyed with the diagnosis. I know women in denial. I know women that locked themselves away and cried. You may do this for a day or a weekend if you must-get your anger out, get your anguish out, and then move it along. Intervention means just that-jumping in and shifting the way things are going and it isn't passive. You are going to be surrounded by a lot of people with opinions and you will need to focus on what is best for you and your child.
One bag of Oreos is acceptable to express your disappointment in the situation. It is not going to turn you into a blimp unless you do it three times a day for a month. Which you won't be having time for because you have a lot of work to do now girlfriend...
If you aren't ready, fine...I'll wait.
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