Parenting

From the Community…

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  Posted by taleayahjohnson Tue May 13, 2008 3:20pm PDT

  Thanks so much Charlene. ; )

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  Posted by Bbee Tue May 13, 2008 10:05pm PDT

  Ms. Birkeland,

  I wish to thank you for the tips and ideas on how to make my blogs better.

  The time I spend blogging is a serious chunk of time. I often wonder if I am only one reading my own posts. My own vanity makes me go to my blog over and over and back again.

  My problem is that I am not college educated and to be honest I dropped out of high school due to a troubled home life as a youngster.

  The fear I have is that everyone will see from my blog that I am uneducated and that the SHiNE readers will call me out and make me look foolish. I may be uneducated but what I write about is from the heart and very real; sometimes too real for your readers ... example one of my first posts on SHiNE was about 420 and where will your teenager be on that day. This post was about parenting and it never made the chatter page line up; was it too real?

  My life experience has taught me that if you have lived it then it is never too real to write about.

  Would you allow a gal like me to write for your SHiNE?

  If I am a diamond in the rough then so be it; this is best I can do. I feel my topics are relevant and have something to say.

  In conclusion I would ask that you look at my eight pages of blogs and let me know if there is any chance for me.

  I appreciate your time and consideration. I know the time you might spend reading my blog is valuable and I would be most honored if you would give me the once over.

  Wishing You and SHiNE Continued Success,

  Karin Fein

  aka/Bbee

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  Posted by goober Tue May 13, 2008 10:09pm PDT

  Why is it that whenever the subject is "parenting" the only advice given is for babies and toddlers? I have three boys ages 12, 14, and 17, and am in the middle of a divorce after almost 20 years of marriage. This is the toughest time of my life. My mother was always there for advice when the kids were little, but now she's gone......I can't seem to get any advice. It seems like the whole world is ignoring the tweenies! Just because they're not three anymore doesn't mean they don't exist! I even went to the library and looked in the "parenting" section....nothing but baby and toddler stuff!!

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  Posted by Bbee Wed May 14, 2008 6:41am PDT

  Again, I thank you for your time and consideration.

  Please feel free to email me at www.kFeinNicholson@yahoo.com

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  Posted by s v Wed May 14, 2008 12:44pm PDT

  Hi I love this new place for all of us gals to visit. It's a fun site. I would love to be part. Here is my post from todays mommy/recipe blog. I would love to know what you think.

  Thanks

  svoortmeyer.blogspot.com

  My eldest, she doesn't particularly love to eat breakfast. My mom gave me the fantastic advice to make her a smoothie daily. Great idea, I make smoothies pretty much daily (yogurt, fruit, juice) and it solved the problem. Yea! I also partake of the morning boost and I find it quite rewarding to blend up that daily shake and toss my kids a vitamin, knowing they will go to school nourished.

  Soooo...yesterday, I blended up my daily concoction and left the kitchen to perform some mundane morning ritual, leaving my daughter to drink her shake in peace. When I came upstairs again, she informed me that it was an extra delicious smoothie today. I informed her that it must have been the perfectly ripe bananas. I grabbed my smoothie and took a swig just as she sucked up the last sip through her straw...hmmm.... interesting flavor, zesty, sparkly. Sparkly? Why? Orange-banana-strawberry juice, banana, fat free yogurt, frozen berries...there's no sparkle. I checked the expiration on the juice (June 12), I opened it up, tasted it. OOOh yes, sparkly, bad sparkly, fermented sparkly. "See you mom," as she bolts out the door.

  AAAAAgh! I just sent my daughter to school possibly inebriated? Either that or she is going to have a really bad bout of food poisoning in a couple of hours. Well I didn't get the call that she was sick so I figure that she had an extra special "happy" day yesterday. I wonder if the teachers noticed?

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  Posted by Bbee Wed May 14, 2008 2:41pm PDT

  It is too late to save my little boy from autism. And I can tell you first hand that I was crushed when we found out Mitchell had it. We were in denial, then agony and then a deep depression with all the ugly things that go with it. I am no longer married to Mitchell's father. I grieved as if I had lost a child due to an untimely death.

  As Mitchell grew into a tot I knew cryin' in my pillow night after night was not helping him in any way.

  So, I brushed myself off and with very little support from the public school system or insurance or Doctor; I did the only thing I could think of to help him. I literally got down on the floor, eye level with this sweetie of mine and almost forced him to look in my eyes and connect with me. I did this for five long years day after day hour after hour. One day to my surprise he started looking at me first and wanting to play trucks and dolls and what not. I don't think I have ever been more moved or inspired in my entire life as was at that moment. And the great thing was is he knew he had made the connection all on his own. It was different ballgame from that moment on.

  I also invested in PECS for those of you that do not know of what I speak of it is the Picture Exchange Communication System invented by Prof. Andy Bondy and his wonderful wife. And to clarify what PECS are they are little hand size pictures of everyday items like a ball or a puppy. These little pictures helped Mitchell identify all the things around him. IT WORKED ... and I mean to tell you it opened the door to Mitchell's communication skills in a HUGE way.

  Mitchell is nine years old now and he won't stop talking! YEP, you got it *non stop chatter! How wonderful is that?!

  Mitchell and I go through some very *difficult times and our fight will never be over ... tears are streaming down my face as I write this because of how proud I am of Mitchell and how I admire his ability to laugh and smile day after day.

  I could go on and on and on about our *daily struggles and worries and my fear for his *future after I am gone.

  If there is a cure then I think we need to do everything we can to save the next little boy from this awful thing called autism.

  And again, I am so proud of you Jessica Ashley ... you faced your fear and have now have become an educated voice sounding off on autism.

  GREAT POST!

  *I have so many funny stories, heart breaking stories and much more to share about autism and my Mitchell ... I really could go on for days! Prevention, The Cure and The Future! Let's talk about it!

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  Posted by Bbee Wed May 14, 2008 2:58pm PDT

  I have a little boy with autism. Mitchell will be nine years old today!

  We are having his party at the Lisle Lanes. He made his party list of things to do and buy and he helped me decide what cake to order and he has his count down to the big day on our refrigerator. He is ready to party!

  If you were to drop by Mitchell's party this Saturday I can tell you that you won't see any fresh washed little faces running around in their best casual clothes; you won't see any little boys or girls playing chasing games waiting eagerly for birthday cake and goody bags.

  The thing is Mitch does not have any "real" friends; the other kids call him names and taunt him at the local playground.

  The other mothers give me that look of "oh, how sad for you"; they promise to make play dates and then never call. It is no wonder the children are so mean to my boy; monkey see monkey do!

  I am here to say it WAY OUT LOUD; we are not sad nor are we are we having a pity party! WE ARE HAVING A BIRTHDAY PARTY!

  I want everyone to know that he is the most happiest kid in all the land. Mitchell knows that his family will be there to bowl with him and Mitchell knows how much we love him.

  Mitch is my inspiration, he is so strong and brave! He faces challenges that you and I can't imagine; he takes all in stride and smiles and laughs and at the end of the day I smile and laugh with him!

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  Posted by Bbee Wed May 14, 2008 3:04pm PDT

  ARRGG! AWWW, and ARRRGG again!

  My son has autism and watching Toy Story in French!

  Mitchell is singing the song in "You Got A Friend In Me" in French! It is so cute!

  Too bad I have heard it about 10 gazillion times in Spanish, French and English! God Bless him!

  Mitchell speaks French and Spanish. Mitchell will say something to me in Spanish and I say HUH? and smirks on account I have no idea what he is sayin'!

  I think it is a payback because he says stuff to me in English that is out of context and I go HUH?

  What a little pooper! I think he is a genius, I really do!

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  Posted by Bbee Wed May 14, 2008 3:11pm PDT

  Autism and Mental Illness!

  They say children that have autism have parents or family member that suffer from some sort of mental illness.

  I say that is a bunch of hooey!

  Anyways, I will talk you to guys later I have to go give my 68 cats a bath.

  I made a joke. I do that from time to time to mask the pain of our everyday lives.

  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_64207.html

  http://autism.about.com/b/2008/05/05/autism-and-mental-illness-whats-the-connection.htm

  http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=study-links-childs-autism

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  Posted by Bbee Wed May 14, 2008 3:43pm PDT

  Dear Ms. Prince Birkeland,

  Should you enjoy any of these stories and wish to feature them on YAHOO's SHiNE I would ask that we use my real name. My real name is Karin Fein - Nicholson.

  I use Bbee to blog with I am sure you understand why I use a different name when blogging.

  I do not expect to be paid. The writing experience that I will gain is sure to help me in the future. Also if you should decide to use my stories would you please be so kind to have one of the SHiNE staffers contact me so that Mitchell and I can put on our best mixed matched outfits to include policeman hats and ladybug wings and do a happy dance together.

  Here is my contact information.

  Karin Fein - Nicholson

  kFeinNicholson@yahoo.com

  630-241-1625

  Wishing You Joy,

  Karin Fein - Nicholson

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