“I’m not patient enough to homeschool.”

I usually respond something along the lines of “Me neither!”

While instagram may paint of lovely picture of the homeschool life, the reality of being with your kids 24/7 while also having to teach them phonics and long division is a recipe for testing your patience.

Anger and frustration have long been a struggle of mine, but I have grown in this area. Here are a couple ideas that have helped me be more like the mom I want my kids to have. 

Have a LOOSE Plan 

People tend to fall into two categories when it comes to planning out the day. Some like to assign a task to every minute and become slaves to the clock. Others prefer spontaneity and fly by the seat of their pants, often failing to accomplish much and feeling chaotic. 

When I lean too heavily one way or the other, I’m bound to lose my patience when things go sideways.

I have found that having a rhythm works better than a schedule. I know what subjects were going to cover that day and in what order. I also have a couple benchmark times I shoot for like when we should be wrapping up breakfast, when “elevenses” or morning time should start, etc. 

I also have found that if I were to plan out details of what I want to accomplish that week, I end up frustrated and behind. So instead of writing down what math lessons we will get done the next week, I keep a “doner” not a planner. I write down what we did accomplish that day. It ends the day with victory instead of defeat, which helps me get back in the saddle the next morning. 

I do plan three times a year, but it’s big picture stuff like what books we’ll read in conjunction with our history spine, what composers will deep dive into, which Shakespeare plays we’ll enjoy together and so on. That way I know where we’re headed when we finish a book or an artist and I can just keep going without being derailed. 

Get Your Sensory Needs Met

If you’re a long time reader, you know that I am big on reminding people that everyone has sensory needs.

That includes you homeschool mama!

When our sensory system is out of whack, it can be so easy to lose our cool. 

Let me give you an example from my own life:

I have found that if I am barefoot in my house, and my floors are dirty (which is pretty regularly), the grit on the bottom of my feet is subconsciously annoying and distracting. My body gets more tense, my brain can’t focus, and I get short with my family. I know this about myself now and usually remember to wear something on my feet to avoid this. But when I don’t, it’s funny how long it takes me to realize that the reason I’m being impatient really has nothing to do with these rambunctious kiddos!

Consider these common ways that sensory input influences your patience level.

• The cacophony of kids noises is overwhelming.
• Fluorescent lights make you anxious or on edge. 
• You’re cold or hot.
• You’re all touched out.
• You chew on a pen, tap your foot, twirl your hair.
• The list could be endless.

You don’t necessarily have a sensory processing disorder (though you might), because EVERYONE has sensory needs. 

It’s time to start paying attention to your body and getting those needs met, so you can be fully present and able to exert self control. 

Enlist Others

Sometimes homeschoolers start to think of themselves as an island. If we view ourselves as the only person who can educate our kids in anyway, we’ll be quick to burn out and take it out on our family.

It is not admitting defeat to outsource a subject. Math is a major triggering subject for one of my kids (and myself) so my husband has offered to teach him that subject when he gets home from work. My dyslexic son has gotten tutoring from folks via the internet. 

Make sure you are surrounded by a community of homeschoolers. Having other parents who understand what you’re going through will help immensely! 

We go to a co-op once a week where the kids do the things I’m not so keen on like history projects, science experiments, and writing. (It should be noted that I LOVE writing and teach it to the older kids at the co-op. But it’s wonderful to have someone else besides “mom” give input in these more subjective skills like writing.)

Take Some Time Off

One of the major perks of homeschooling is the flexibility. If you find your schooling is in a rut, use your freedom to break free. Depending on circumstances, you can shake things up in a number of ways.

Here are a couple options:

• Do school in a new location (outside, the park, the library, etc)
• Call it a half day and do something fun together like a game, movie, or just take a nap!
• Go on a field trip for the heck of it.
• Take a day off to get other pressing matters done so that you’re not overwhelmed with housework or errands.
• Take a week off to get perspective and energy.

We do school through the summer (mostly because it’s too hot to do much else) and this gives us LOTS of wiggle room to take time off when we need it. 

When You Blow It

While these ideas can help you reduce your impatience, we need to also have a plan for those times when we lose our patience.

When we get angry and yell or let our frustration out in some other way that hurt our kids, we must be quick to repent and ask our kids for forgiveness.

Our humility and desire to repair relationships will speak volumes to them. And it may very well be the most important lesson of the day. 

The post When You Don’t Have Enough Patience to Homeschool appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

I will never forget the biting words of the crockety pediatrician, as he tried to intimidate me (in front of my mother-in-law nonetheless) into doing things his way with my first born son. 

He belittled my intelligence, he ignored my intuition, he was a jerk, and he lost a customer.

Sadly, it’s not rare for the medical experts to shrug off our sensory concerns and leave us feeling like we’ve hit a dead end. 

What Should You Do When Doctors and Therapists Don’t Listen to Your Sensory Concerns?

Keep a Record

The first piece of advice I always give to parents when they’re seeking a sensory diagnosis or have an additional concern to bring to their medical professional, is to keep a written record. Nothing will get you dismissed more quickly than just have vague hunches and worries without specifics. 

Pay attention for a couple weeks to sensory behavior.

• Record the event and the specifics of the behavior (head banging, throwing things, plugged ears, etc.)
• Write the duration (45 minute meltdowns are far more alarming than a 5 minute one)
• Note any lead up factors (like you had a late night the night before)
• Describe what finally ended the meltdown (only swinging on the swing helped him start to breathe slowly)
• Thankfully not every sensory behavior is a meltdown, so be sure to record the habits and tendencies you see as well. (Hair twirling, chewing shirts, number of foods they will eat, etc.)

I find that when you accumulate this sort of detailed information, most medical experts will take you seriously and will point you in the right direction. 

Insist They Explain Themselves

Most of us don’t have our medical degrees, so it would be wise for us to learn from those who have spent years learning the ins and outs. But don’t let them hide behind those degrees. If your doctor disagrees with you, insist that they explain themselves UNTIL you understand and agree.

My boys have a VERY rare, non-sensory related brain condition. When we first found out there was something wrong, our neurologist had zero patience with my questioning his diagnosis, insisting I just accept his explanation. I reached out to a Facebook group for help in understanding what I was being told. One stranger gave me the courage to continue to pester. She told me that a doctor’s job is to explain the complicated things to parents so that the parents can make informed decisions. She told me to not let it rest until it all made sense and sat well with me. I wish I could find that Facebook stranger and thank her. That advice saved my boys’ lives. 

Find a New Doctor

Don’t be afraid to go a new direction. Remember that unfortunately, the medical field is a business and you’re the customer. If you’re not satisfied, go somewhere else. 

There ARE wonderful medical professionals out there, but it may take some time to find them and build your support team. 

If your doctor doesn’t respect your intelligence and intuition, move on and find one who does!

Get Outside the Box Help

While it has it’s pros and cons, the internet is a wonderful place to learn about sensory issues and be supported by a loving community that “gets it”. While I definitely advise getting local medical experts to oversee your child, you don’t have to twiddle your thumbs in the meantime. 

• Get Educated There are tons of sensory bloggers who write and share their perspectives. Learn from them! Follow them on social media, read their old blog posts, binge on their youtube videos.

  If you’re serious about understanding SPD, check out my course Sensory Parenting 101. (One parent told us “Your course is like a one stop shop of information. It’s so valuable to go to find answers and suggestions to help me be able to understand what my daughter is experiencing. It also helps me not feel crazy! You guys know SPD better than anyone!”)

• Find Your Tribe We have an AWESOME free private facebook group full of parents with loads of experience!

Advocate Like a Mother

The post When Doctors and Therapists Won’t Listen to Your Sensory Concerns appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

After being foster parents in 2021, and having a gut wrenching situation the last week of the year, I knew I needed to prioritize my mental and spiritual health. I have spiraled into depression before and I didn’t want to go there if I could help it.

One tried and true way for me to not be utterly consumed by my own pain and grief, is to read soul enriching books.

When I look back on the last year and the stories that have become a part of me, I have to echo what another reviewer wrote about Tolstoy.

In the end, these are books about life, by people who are profoundly in love with life. Reading them makes me want to live.

Note: Last year I read 35 books, so I decided to challenge myself with a goal of 50 books. When I reached that in July, I decided I might as well shoot for 100 because that will never happen again. Well, I made it. There were some truly life changing books in this list. I’m sharing them in reverse chronological order of when I finished them. These are the reviews I left on my Goodreads profile. Happy Reading!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Please read my full disclosure policy here. 

Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical by Timothy J. Keller

Five Stars: Keller is king at communicating complicated truths simply yet profoundly. This apologetics book tackled topics I hadn’t seen much of, namely six givens in human life, things we can’t live without: Meaning, Satisfaction, Freedom, Identity, Hope and Justice. He presents how someone who only believes in the material world tries to grapple with these things, and how a Christian can. So well done. I’m going to require my kids to read this before they graduate. 

Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

Two Stars: I had much higher expectations for this book. My big beef was how little actual facts were included. This wasn’t a history book as much as an imaginative yet poorly written historical fiction. Nearly every sentence included the words maybe, probably, or perhaps. And then, to be blunt, the plot was so dull, this felt a bit like click bait. “Relentless pursuit “? They knocked on her door twice and asked her to come home. I mean, come on. It also was just poorly written. It felt like one of those childhood papers where the student is desperately trying to reach the word count required. Plus there were word choices that made no sense along with many grammatical errors. I was very disappointed in the whole book. I get that there wasn’t much to go on since Ms. Judge didn’t keep a written record other than two interviews. But still, those were hardly ever mentioned, preferring to make general statements about what the average slave experienced in that time period. I read Washington: A Life and was completely riveted and learned so much more about slavery and Ona and the Washingtons from actual quotes and history. This was just painful.

Until Unity by Francis Chan 

Five Stars: Compelling and convicting. So desperately needed in today’s church and in my own heart. Gave me lots to think about. I really enjoyed listening to Chan narrate his book. His passion is contagious.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Four Stars: Trippy. Very imaginative, but confusing. One of those that when you finish, you need to then re read it so that it will actually all click together.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Five Stars: Some of the most beautiful prose in English literature. Endearing characters. Read this aloud and revel in the precious laughter and bonding this classic is sure to procure. Note: We LOVE this Illustrated edition by Robert Ingpen.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Five Stars: Read this book as a teen and have now read it as a mother. It spoke to me both times, encapsulating mother daughter relationships in a visceral way. This sparked a love of Chinese culture in me. Now that I’m older, I think it’s the wonder, awe, and fear, the belief in the transcendent, that was so alluring and still is.

Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper

Contains two large essays, I only read the first. It was very interesting, yet beyond my intelligence. Lots of Latin! Definitely a new way of looking at and defining much of what it is to be fully human.

Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie

Five Stars: This book changed the trajectory of our homeschool and ultimately our lives when I first read it. This is my third read through of this very short book. Now on this read, I’m realizing how very many of the essential things I believe about how to do education comes from this little gem. I’ve read many books on education and homeschooling, but I think this has got to be the one that every Christian homeschooler must read.
If you have little ones who haven’t started formal education. Read this.
If you’re in the throes of educating your three ring circus. Read this.
If you’re close to launching your students into adulthood. Read this.
It is the perfect combo of encouraging, challenging, practical and inspiring.

Looking for more books about homeschooling? Check out my post about books every homeschool mom should read. 

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 

Five Stars: Oh Tolkien, how are you so epic yet so hospitable? Hilarious and grand. Can be enjoyed on so many levels by all sorts and ages of folks.

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Two Stars: I really enjoyed Woodson’s “Brown Girl Dreaming” So I was really disappointed when the sexual content of this book was too graphic and overshadowed the story.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

Pretty funny! Can definitely see how P.G. Wodehouse and his icon creations of Jeeves and Wooster were inspired by this.

Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow

Five Stars: First off, this book seemed very middle ground and fair politically. GW’s faults weren’t sanitized but neither was he dismissed or raked over the coals. Read this to fill a category in a reading challenge, expecting it to be a slog. Instead, I found myself completely swept up in the life and times of GW. I was constantly pausing the audiobook to narrate to my husband the fascinating insights I was gleaning. TONS of quotations from first person sources and letters left me trusting the information. The interpretation that the author did take was balanced, willing to show inconsistencies, acknowledged GWs humanity, and neither bashed nor worshipped. I now know I gotta read more biographies!

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child’s Heart to the Beauty of Learning by Sally Clarkson

Four Stars: So many of Sally Clarkson’s books are extremely repetitive. Yet somehow, I keep reading them. I think it’s because her idealist vision is contagious but also something I must constantly remind myself of. (See what other Clarkson books made my list of must reads for homeschool moms)

Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow by Jamie Erickson

Five Stars: I think another reviewer put it perfectly. This is a melding of “The Gospel Comes with a House Key” and “The Life Giving Home”. Heavier on the gospel than practical tips. This was a great devotional that was saturated in truths, not guilt trips.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Four Stars: Not what I was expecting. The biblical themes, good versus evil, the band of brothers. It was really lovely. And the epistle form of the writing was well done!

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

3 Stars: I think I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind when I read this. I started the audio over three times, getting confused and giving up. Then finally just finished it. Normally a book I’m sure I’d enjoy. Maybe if I watched the mini series first. P.S. I loved Gaskell’s North and South, so theoretically I should have liked this one too.

Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality: Empowering Your Kids to Understand and Live Out God’s Design by Hillary Morgan Ferrer

Five Stars: I was impressed with the book and it helped me in the ways I was looking for. I found it to be fair, not overly alarmist, practical, and grace filled. She was honest about the ways the world has actually done good in its reforms. She also addressed when the church has gone wrong (I think there was a whole chapter on purity culture.) What I found the most helpful was ways to talk with your kids even at a young age about non sexual things, that will lead to avenues of talking about things later. Matters of identity, authority and more.

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

Three Stars: Pretty darn funny. Even though it was short, it still felt too long for the story arc. Dealt with tough divorce issues.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Five Stars: Readable and engaging. Despite knowing the basic plot, I was still on the edge of my seat. Fascinating look into the human heart.

Start with the Heart: How to Motivate Your Kids to Be Compassionate, Responsible, and Brave (Even When You’re Not Around)
by Kathy Koch

Four Stars: Inspiring and biblically grounded. Not as practical as I would hope.

The Maid by Nita Prose

Two Stars: Ugh. The mystery wasn’t mysterious. I wanted so much more depth in this portrayal of a neurodivergent character. And the author’s diatribe about relative truth was painful as well as terrifyingly false.

Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule by Harriette Gillem Robinet

Four Stars: Really helpful and personal look at life for the black community during the reconstruction period. Used it to supplement our homeschool history.

The Astronaut’s Wife: How Launching My Husband into Outer Space Changed the Way I Live on Earth by Stacey Morgan

Three Stars: Fun look at a unique life and the commonality we all have. Her faith came across as rather hallmarky, full of platitudes that lacked the gospel. Still interesting and plenty to glean.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Five Stars: Beautiful, laugh out loud funny, thrilling and a tear jerker! Such a feel good book and superbly written. Never thought I’d want to remain under “house arrest” but I wasn’t ready for it to end.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Four Stars: Wasn’t expecting to like this one since the subject matter is so different than Ishiguro’s other book I read, “The Remains of the Day”. Sci-Fi and artificial intelligence isn’t really my thing, but I got sucked in. Loved seeing an imagined future not too far distant and easily believable. Little mysteries continued to make me plow through in just two days.

Trust by Hernan Diaz

Three Stars: The four perspectives was fun. Definitely made me think, but was hoping for more. Felt predictable yet left a lot of loose ends that seemed wasted.

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt

Four Stars: Such a great way to learn the history. From the eyes of a growing boy you’ll get to see how this war literally set brother against brother, neighbor versus neighbor. There was also battle news and Generals gossip. Loved the interactions with Lincoln too!

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Four Stars: Thankful for this glimpse into living life as a black woman. Lovely language and memorable scenes of a woman learning about herself and her world.

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Five Stars: ** spoiler alert ** Ugh. I have a serious love/hate relationship with this book.
The characters. Oh the characters! Oh how I believe them to be real. More than real.
But the plot is so so crushing. Like not a single person in the vast cast had anything close to a happy ending. It sucked. It was tragic, EXTREMELY violent and graphic. Yet the writing and the people created will be with me forever. I wanted so much better for them. I think I’ll imagine up a couple redemptive endings for the few left living.

Gunnar’s Daughter by Sigrid Undset

4.5 Stars. Not sure if I loved it because I’ve read Kristin Lavransdatter (which if you haven’t read that trilogy, you must!) and this was like getting to do a quick return to that world that so entranced me before. Without giving spoilers, this was an even heavier book.

The 39 Steps by John Buchan

Three Stars: Couldn’t get into it, but may have been my own lack of attention. I listened to it and kept getting lost.

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World: How One Family Learned That Saying No Can Lead to Life’s Biggest Yes by Kristen Welch

3.5 Stars: Important, relevant truths. Repetitive. Could have been a blog series and I think it was originally. I was encouraged by how her kids still struggle. And convicting to look at our own hearts honestly.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Four Stars: Chilling. Wanted to scream at Dorian to turn his life around. The mantras of Lord Henry terrified me with their occasional plausibility. The whole book is a vivid warning.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Five Stars: I love this book more each time I read it. As a teen, I adored Anne, as a parent, I relate to Marilla. You know you’ve found a gem of a book when you’ve loved it in every stage of life, and your grade school boys can’t get enough of Anne’s antics , while your husband gets choked up during the heartbreaking chapters. It’s just the most beautiful book. If you want to enlarge your soul, read this book.

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders

Four and a Half Stars: What an incredible treat to get to sit in on a George Saunders class in book form. Makes me long to go back to school, wishing I could interact and discuss these short stories with other readers and writers. First of all, the seven actual short stories which are included in this book were sublime. All of them will linger with me, many for the rest of my life. Secondly, Saunders was an insightful and humble teacher. He clearly adores the craft and the consumption.

A couple things that would cause me to take away a half star if I could. He’s gratuitously crass at times. Not a fan. It doesn’t make me think you’re cool and relatable, it just detracts from it all.

I also disagreed with some of his interpretations, mostly of Tolstoy. So much so that, were I present in his class, shy introverted me would have wanted to raise my hand and explain what the scandalous grace of God has secured for believers and how that wraps up the ending of “Alyosha and the Pot” in an entirely different light than the two options he presented. Ah well, I’ll just talk my husband’s ear off about it instead.

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

Two Stars: Like a Chick Flick in book form, but with worse writing. I wanted to just enjoy the sweet plot, but the writing was so on the nose, explaining every little thing, stating the obvious rather silly. Honestly, I felt like it insulted my intelligence. Yes, I know that when the store door chimes that means a customer has entered. I don’t need that spelled out for me every. single. time.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Four Stars: As expected. Not its fault that it’s so popular and has become part of pop culture. Plenty to discuss about what each character represents. As a mother of boys, it was eerily accurate. Ha!

In Defense of Sanity: The Best Essays of G.K. Chesterton by G.K. Chesterton

Chesterton certainly humbles me with his intellect, but is so approachable because of his humor. He can say something profound about the world, or simple crack me up in an essay about the contents of his pocket. Read 11 essays for the Literary Life Reading Challenge

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury

Four Stars: Episodic. Many sweet or cute, then the occasional thriller! Slightly over the top. Made me nostalgic for an era I never had the chance to experience. Perfect summer book!

The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie

Three Stars: Not her best work. The mystery didn’t really grab me. Christie has written far more brilliant plots. The main character was fun, slightly annoying but forgivably so.

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

Five Stars: Excellent, convicting. Felt like the charge to the Ephesians in Revelation to remember your first love. While I didn’t agree with every application, this short book is definitely worth a yearly re-read, which is high praise when my TBR list is so long.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Four Stars: Not sure how much poetic license Gaiman took, but it was highly entertaining! Fun intro to Norse mythology.

Rembrandt Is in the Wind: Learning to Love Art through the Eyes of Faith by Russ Ramsey

Five Stars: Whether you don’t “get” art or you can’t get enough of it, this book will suck you in. Equal parts biographical, informational, and devotional. I wish this author could write a chapter about every work of art I’ve ever been curious about. And I found myself cheering his ideas regarding art and the way they inform our Christian/human experience.

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Four Stars: Made refugee life approachable for my kids. Definitely helped them see how complicated it can be to want to belong in multiple cultures.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Four and a Half Stars: The perfect combo of philosophical and practical. At first I thought I knew the strategies in the book and already practiced them. But it soon became obvious there was a lot of room for improvement. I especially liked the section on avoiding pigeonholing kids and how to dig yourself out of those self fulfilling prophecies we saddle our kids with. I also saw glimmers of Charlotte Mason as they practically insisted that “children are born persons”. I believe speaking this way with my children will also equip them in communication in later relationships.

Songs of Childhood by Walter de la Mare

I knew I was “supposed” to read poetry to my kids, but I was so intimidated. Praise God that I “randomly stumbled” upon “The Listeners” by Walter de la Mare as our very first poem. I was hooked. He does mildly spooky so darn well! Read 11 poems for a reading challenge.

Auden: Poems by W.H. Auden

Auden is often quoted, so I found it very exciting to read quotes I’ve heard through the years, actually in context. Read 11 poems for a reading challenge.

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

Four and a Half Stars: Pretty darn fun with themes that will make literature lovers swoon. The mystery had me flipping those pages long into the night. The characters were well drawn. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a modern novel this much.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Four and a Half Stars: Fantastic. Loved the themes, though found them painful as well. Picks at the terror a parent feels over how their kids will turn out. Some of the most well drawn characters ever. Long I will remember amiable Samuel, and twisted Cathy.

A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr

Three Stars: Easy short read. I don’t know, I think I just wasn’t at the right season of my life to get into this one. May try again some day.

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Four Stars: Loved the movie as a kid, so this felt nostalgic.  Solid. I enjoyed Sarah’s character, humble yet confident.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Three Stars: Didn’t grab me. Maybe I don’t like magic realism?

Jeeves In The Offing by P.G. Wodehouse

Four Stars: Always entertaining and good for a laugh!

Evidence Not Seen: A Woman’s Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II by Darlene Deibler Rose

Five Stars: I’m usually wary of Christian biographies. I often find these giants of the faith a discouragement when I compare them to my limping walk. I started this book with that attitude. Darlene does relate to God “more easily” than I do. And yet. When I finally took my jealous eyes off Darlene’s faith and instead looked at the incredible God we share… how could I not praise Him. Despite my poor initial attitude, this testimony of the Lord has changed how I relate to Him. What could be more worthy of my time?

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Five Stars: Alright Tolstoy, you may have usurped Dostoyevsky in my heart. Maybe. I’ll let you both keep trying to woo me.

I read this as a young adult who didn’t know how to read literature. It took me years and i barely followed the plot. Now, a decade later, I’ve grown. I was ready for Anna, and especially Levin. I was completely swept away and finished in three weeks, wishing for more.

Tolstoy has insight into humanity that seems supernatural. I find myself prone to melancholy, while still wrestling for joy. Tolstoy is a balm to my soul with out any insultingly glib answers.

Another reviewer brought me to tears and sums it up best. “In the end, this is a book about life, by a man who is profoundly in love with life. Reading it makes me want to live.”

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Four Stars: Read with my kids. Such a brilliant way of showcasing how power and sin creep in and spoil everything.

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Four and a Half Stars: Satisfying and unique love story. Kinda prefer it to Austen. There, I said it. Not as witty though!

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

Four Stars: Definitely engaging. My boys were all about it!!! Pretty intense with some gore. But the plot sucked us all in.

The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis

Five Stars: In 2022, I don’t know how anyone could deny that Lewis nailed our culture on the head! Helped me to understand and put words to a frantic drive I see in the world that will eventually end in us destroying our humanity. Prophetic feels like an accurate term.

The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill

Three Stars: Not our favorite. The writing felt a little immature. It was a unique look at Inuit life in Alaska in the mid twentieth century.

Dune by Frank Herbert

Three and a Half Stars: Incredible world building. Unique and immersive. The politics and prophecy was confusing to me and I guess I’m just not invested enough to continue the massive series. I’ll watch the movies and google how the plot continues.

Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley

Four Stars: As a Charlotte Mason fan, of course I’ll appreciate a parenting book that emphasizes habits! But these are habits and rhythms for the home. I also enjoyed it coming from a father’s perspective.

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

Four and a Half Stars: Delight and beauty. Such a happy, lovely book while still having something to say.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Four Stars: Accurate and and more sad than terrifying. Seems we’re pretty much here already. Plot was not as engaging as Fahrenheit 451 or 1984.

On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church by Deepak Reju

Parents, volunteers and ministry leaders alike NEED to read this important and sadly needed book. It shows how vital vigilance is, as well as very practical steps to take. Super helpful for me as we revamped our children’s ministry at our church.

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Four Stars: It’s hard to say what was so beautiful about this book without giving anything away! The characters and the heartache they go through is poignant and haunting. 

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

Four Stars: So well written and easy to read for a play. The stage directions were so crystal clear and well written that it read like a novel and the action seemed to play out before my imagination. The story was compelling and has a lasting quality. Would love to see done live!

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Four Stars: Enjoyable read, believable characters, fun setting. Predictable but still touching.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler

Four and a Half Stars: Really exceptionally helpful. I’m making it a must read for my boys when they’re teenagers. While not from a Christian perspective, it was full of kindness and grace, reminding the reader to play fair and lay down their selfishness. Definitely worth re-reading.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Four Stars: One of those train wrecks you can’t turn away from. This was my second read and it definitely helped to already know whos who and such. Plenty to discuss afterwards.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Five Stars: We are all obsessed with Tom over here. Hilarious and accurate. Convinced this was a precursor to Calvin and Hobbes. Nick Offerman’s audio performance really added to the hilarity!

The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide & Fernette F. Eide

Five Stars: Good stuff. So encouraging! I was fascinated as a mother to see how different dyslexics display strengths in different ways. My son doesn’t fit the stereotypical model, but definitely has many of the strengths discussed in this book. I plan to have him listen to the audio soon.

Triggers: Exchanging Parents’ Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses by Amber Lia

Three and a Half Stars: I enjoyed the break down of different triggers. Not everything is triggering for everyone. And just labeling myself as an angry person isn’t very helpful in fixing the problem. I also found encouragement from the prayers at the end of every chapter. I wasn’t a fan of how everything seemed to boil down to the parent being the problem. I mean, sometimes the kid is the issue too.

A Room with a View by E.M. Forster

Four and a Half Stars: I went into this one blind. It wasn’t what I expected but I did thoroughly enjoy the tone and the romance. Lovely setting too, of course!

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Five Stars: My favorite dystopian thus far. Maybe because I’m a book lover. The ending brought me to tears. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Four Stars: This book was REALLY hyped up by readers who first read it as teens. I think that would have made a difference for me. Still captivating characters and will lead to great discussions.

Emma by Jane Austen

Five Stars: I feel like I finally got into the groove of Austen’s humor with this one. Laugh out loud funny. I still like Persuasion the best, but this story is iconic and the movies are pretty awesome too! 

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Four and a Half Stars: A fantastical trip for the imagination. I will admit to losing interest midway, but got sucked back in and found myself enthralled by the end.

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Three Stars: I felt like the ideas in this book could have been boiled down to be more potent (irony?). I also struggled to apply the ideas to my homeschool mom existence as it seemed mostly geared towards the corporate world.

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

Four and a Half Stars: I was captivated by this tale as a kid and enjoyed get to share it with my boys. I forgot how tragic his life was.

The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

Five Stars: One of my top books of the year! I love Greene and find his floundering, gritty faith relatable. This grace in this book choked me up. “Hatred is a failure of imagination.” I very well may tattoo this on my person.

The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy

Five Stars: Oh man. I knew I had an unhealthy dread of death. I was nervous to tackle this book for that reason. I should have known the Tolstoy would be a great choice to hold my hand through such a complicated human experience. Full of grace.

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

Five Stars: A multi-leveled book to be sure. The plot is fun and engaging, but the beautiful symbolism is where MacDonald really shines. Multiple times my husband and I would make a connection at the same time and just look over at each other with our mouths hanging open. Gives images to the faith and life we live out.

Are Women Human? Astute and Witty Essays on the Role of Women in Society by Dorothy L. Sayers

The Lifegiving Parent: Giving Your Child a Life Worth Living for Christ by Clay Clarkson

Four Stars: The Clarksons are definitely parents to model yourselves after. This book gave me an insight into the planning and teamwork behind how they designed their lives.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Four and a Half Stars: Classic for a reason. Hard not to love Cassie and her family, bound and determined to live and thrive in the south in the 30s.

Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri

Five Stars: Probably my favorite book of the year. I didn’t know what to expect but when he started off with a Dostoevsky quote and some potty humor, I was hooked. I listened to Daniel read his book on the audio and I believe that added a lot to my enamorment. The Persian culture is just so captivating, and I loved seeing it through his eyes as he desperately tried to explain it to some midwestern kids in the nineties. His family was painfully real and believably heroic. I laughed and cried and cried some more. This book made me love life more.

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund

Five Stars: This is a balm for the soul. My mom kept asking/pestering me to read this. Such a beautiful walk through the truths of scripture and how Christ views us. He is FOR us, to the point of death and beyond. This book revealed a lot of subtle untruths I had been buying into that were distancing me from Christ. This is a must read. And I don’t say that often.

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Four Stars: This is one of those books I know deserves a re-read. The first time, I mostly read for the plot. But this book clearly has more insight to offer than just a clever plot. Will be coming back!

Greenglass House by Kate Milford

Three Stars: My kids loved this, I however got bored after a while. I think if it had pared down a bit, I would have enjoyed it much more. Fun premise!

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

Five Stars: Weird in all the right ways. If it were longer, I might has floundered, but this book came to me at the right time and I devoured it in one day. Southern writers know how bring the absurdity of humanity to life.

A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18 by Joseph Loconte

Four Stars: Found it so encouraging to hear that when most people responded to WWI with despair, there was an alternative. From their gritty hope came some of the world’s favorite literary dramas like the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Narnia series.

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Four Stars: Really fun twist on a mystery novel. The book within a book was brilliant. I must say, I prefered the “pretend” book, more than the actual plot. Will probably read more in the series.

Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard A. Swenson

Four Stars: Read this at a time when a lot of my major responsibilities suddenly ceased. I found myself with time, and the temptation is always to fill it up quickly. I’m so glad I read this then and have been able to guard my limits this past year. So good and relieving the guilt we and our culture place on us.

I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

Four Stars: What a role model! Malala was already a world changer before the fateful assault on her occured. I learned more about Pakistani history and culture. Also enjoyed seeing a non-western perspective on the US role in the area.

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Five Stars: One of the top Christie books in my opinion. The settle was so exotic, the characters had more depth that most of her other books. I DID call the killer ahead of time, but couldn’t figure out the method. As usual, the book was better than the movie. (Though the movie sure looked stunning!)

The Double and The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Four Stars: I only read “The Gambler” but it was enjoyable. Knowing Dostoevsky wrote this under a deadline and extreme duress to settle a debt he gained because of his gambling habits made this quite the psychological study. 

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Four Stars: The more mature and thought provoking partner to Tom Sawyer. Twain is the master weaver, making us laugh till our sides hurt, yet after the laughter has faded, our thoughts keep turning over questions raised. The language is painful. I understand why it’s there but it smarts. Could work as a read aloud if you skip those words.

Whew, you made it through my longest post ever by far! What great books did you read this year? Recommend some to me in the comments!

The post The 100+ Books I Read in 2022 appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

Personal update: My son is now so comfortable and competent with his swimming skills that you swam in the ocean at night with manta rays. Never would have dreamed it possible in a million years!

As a lifeguard in high school, I literally taught hundreds of kids to swim.

The tough cases were always given to me. 

I didn’t meet my match until I tried to teach a child who shared my DNA.

My son and his sensory issues seemed to be the one kid who I would fail to teach to swim.

While it did take longer than I ever could have imagined, we are finally at the point where I can declare, “The boy can swim!“

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE. 

Since his sensory issues showed up strong in our learning to swim journey, I wanted to share with you some of what I’ve discovered. I hope you find it helpful!

Sensory Factors that Affect Learning to Swim

Swimming is an essential life skill that demands a lot of the different sensory systems.

There are of course tactile issues, from the suit, to the water temperature, to the chlorine drying out the skin.

There are auditory issues, like the disorienting echos of an indoor pool or the pain of getting water in the ears.

While the pressure of the water on the body does provide some extra proprioceptive input, it can also be very alarming to kids that have poor body awareness.

When you consider that foreign floating feeling also messes with the vestibular system (the inner ear that signals to the body that you’re moving or up high) then it’s easy to understand why kids with sensory issues find swimming to be terrifying.

So here’s some of the things you can do about it!

The Right Location

Temperature

Think through the temperature of the water and air and try to help your child be comfortable. Obviously not everything can be controlled, but if they’re freezing, you’re not likely to have a very compliant child! Trying going indoors, or even work on getting the face underwater in the warm bathtub. Perhaps a wet suit is an option.

Echo

This was a big deal to my son. Because most of his lessons were at indoor pools, the echos caused him to miss most of the instructions from his teachers. The sweet kiddo did so much better when it was just him, outdoors with no other kids around making distracting noises. 

Sun in Eyes

When outdoors and working on back strokes and floats, try and position yourself so that you cast a shadow over your child’s face. Sun glaring in your eyes is no fun for anyone!

Crowd

Try and practice swimming when there are less people around. This will help the noise factor, but also help kids not be as self conscious. My son was older when he learned to swim and was very aware that his fears were only felt by him and little kids. Support their need for privacy as they work through their challenges.

Another reason to avoid crowded pools…less chances of an accidental splash to the face!

Teacher

Find the right teacher. As much as it hurt my homeschooler pride to admit, I was not the best teacher for my son. This was the major turning point for us. 

I had tried hiring teachers at a number of different professional “swim schools” and they all failed because of what I’ll cover in the next paragraph. 

What finally clicked was when I ask one of my dearest friends to teach my kids. We had actually been lifeguards together way back when, so I knew I could trust her methods and my boys knew they could trust her. We also were able to swim nearly every day for two weeks, instead of one lesson a week. I think that was a big factor as well!

The One Thing You MUST Have

While I already alluded to it, the one thing you MUST have to teach a sensory kid to swim is… their trust.

So many of the teachers we had hired used the “trick ’em” method to various degrees. From tossing them in where they couldn’t touch, to dunking their heads to splashing them in the face, they basically were lazy and forced the issue on my son, further causing him to retreat in understandable fear. 

If you’re a long time reader of this blog, you probably know that one of the big reasons sensory kids have behavior issues is because they lack a sense of control due to their sensory needs.

Swimming is already a very frightening prospect for them. If you couple that with an untrustworthy adult who is supposed to protect them, good golly, you’ll only make things so much worse!

Instead, communicate what you’re doing or expecting. Make your “asks” small. Realize it’s going to take 300 million baby steps. Focus more on building trust than building skills. Things will actually go faster once you accept that.

P.S. If you’re wondering what is THE most effective sensory activity to prevent meltdowns with your unique child, take this quick, free, informative quiz. I created it to help you get started in the right direction!

The Right Gear

Swimsuits that aren’t a Tactile Problem

If your child struggles with tactile aversion to clothing, they’re probably going to have similar issues with swimsuits. You’ll have to get creative and think outside the swimsuit box. Often times kids will enjoy rashguard type compression clothes. Consider cutting out the mesh lining of boys trunks as long as the legs are long enough for modesty. 

Techniques for Getting the Face Wet

(If your child struggles to do things on their front because they don’t like to put their face in the water, don’t neglect practicing strokes on their back!)

Chin, Bubbles etc

Like any child getting comfortable with the water, encourage kids to try blowing bubbles. If they’re not ready for that, play a game of “Simon Says” and have fun putting different body parts like ears, cheeks and forehead in the water. 

Goggles

While a lot of people think it’s a bad idea to let a kid become dependent on goggles, I knew that without them, my son wouldn’t ever go near the water. Eliminate one of their major fears, and deal with weaning them from it once they’re strong swimmers. 

Snorkel 

Even with goggles, my son didn’t want to put his face in. It wasn’t until we used the face mask for a snorkel, that covers the nose, that he finally had the courage to put his full face in. Use the snorkel tube as well if you’re child is really needing extra incentive to look underwater. 

Diving Sticks

The thing that convinced my son to fully commit to putting his head underwater was some good old-fashion fun and competition (with a hint of trickery.) I invited my boys to play a game of retrieving diving sticks. I started by throwing them in a location where he could reach the bottom for the pool with his hand while still keeping his head above water. I slowly threw it deeper and deeper until eventually he voluntarily submerged his head so that his younger brother wouldn’t win the game!

Techniques for Getting the Head Back

(If your child doesn’t float well on their back or resists leaning their head back because it bothers their ears or stability, consider working on front strokes more. Most kids have a strong preference and it might surprise you.)

Practice in the Tub

If your child struggles to lean their head back to get their hair washed (you better check out this post about helping a sensory kid with bath time struggles) you can bet the pool will be no different. Yet sometimes the tub is less intimidating than the pool because it’s private, familiar, and the water level can be so low that the child can rest their head on the bottom long before their ears even go underwater. Seriously, just have a inch or two of water in the tub and let your kiddo practice leaning their head back until it touches. It will greatly increase the confidence of a child with gravitational insecurity. 

Practice in a Zero Depth Pool

Same idea here, but it moves the locations a bit closer to where you eventually want to be. Have your child place their legs in the deeper end, while their head is in the shallowest part of the “beach”. 

Techniques for Learning Strokes

Like I already said, many kids with sensory issues have poor body awareness. Often times, they can’t copy what you demonstrate. Kids with poor proprioception often need to see their body positions and movements or they don’t realize what exactly their limbs are doing! Ever asked your child to do the front crawl and they windmill their arms in the wrong direction yet seem clueless as to why they don’t go anywhere? Yeah.

Start with Strokes that are “Symmetrical” 

Thankfully, there are strokes that don’t ask the right and the left side of the body to do opposite things. While the butterfly is pretty hard for everyone, consider teaching a modified breaststroke (use a flutter kick) for a face down stroke. And for a back facing stroke, we’ve had great success with the elementary backstroke. We eventually want them to be strong backstrokers and front strokers so they have a powerful stroke if they were ever having trouble in the ocean or something, but for now, I just want them to be able to stay afloat and get to where they want to go.

Assist Muscle Memory

Since kids struggle with bilateral coordination, help their body to do the strokes. I have to physically remove my kids from the pool and move their arms for them and do it over and over, hoping to create some pathways in the brain of what those movements feel like. It takes time, but be patient. Remember, this is really tough for them.

So those are my tips I’ve gleaned the hard way after spending 7 years trying to teach my son to swim. We’ve still got a ways to go before I’m comfortable with his skills, but we’ve come SO very far and I’m ridiculously proud of him!

Have more questions??? Check out this wildly popular series of Sensory FAQs and become a more confident sensory parent today!

Let me know in the comments what swimming struggles you’ve had in your family and if you have any pointers for me!

The post Teaching a Sensory Kid How to Swim appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

There have been seasons in my son’s life when sensory meltdowns happen more frequently, and we naturally tend towards unhealthy habits because of the turmoil of sensory processing disorder.

Unfortunately, these habits add to worse sensory processing and more meltdowns!

It’s a negative cycle, but it can be broken!

3 Ways to Turn Things Around for Your Sensory Kid

Rhythm

When our family seems to be in an extra rough period, our schedule is usually out of whack, or I’ve been extra lax with our routine.

As you probably know, kids thrive when they know what to expect. Kids with sensory needs especially struggle feeling that the world is out of control, so structuring the day can help immensely.

But if you’re a spontaneous, “Type B” gal like me, a strict schedule can make you bristle. Instead of planning out every minute of your day, work instead towards having a rhythm.

Have an order to your day, a predictable pattern. No need to be a slave to the clock. And remember, every day doesn’t have to be the same either. A weekly rhythm is far more reasonable and realistic for us spur of the moment folks.

Remember to display and talk about this rhythm with your child OFTEN! Even pre-readers can use these FREE printable schedule cards and give their input on how your order your free time!

Get Outside

Have you noticed an uptick in sensory issues during different times of the year? Often times this is due to lack of time outside.

The outdoors is a treasure trove of sensory input opportunities. Tactile input and glorious smells surround us, as well as all the chances to give the body proprioceptive and vestibular input via gross motor activity.

But even beyond the sensory input, the calming effect of nature is undeniable. Studies have consistently shown the benefits to stress levels, heart rates, mood and hormones!

So make it a goal to get outside every day, even if it’s just a five minute walk or sitting in the driveway looking at the clouds!

Do a Sensory Activity

While I know my child needs to get regular sensory input geared towards his particular needs, I often forget to make it a priority during the hecticness of life.

Want to be more consistent with sensory activities?

1. Know how to turn everyday life activities into sensory activities.
2. Have a massive arsenal of sensory activities in your head so you can keep things, fresh, fun, and uncomplicated.

P.S. If you’re wondering what is THE most effective sensory activity to prevent meltdowns with your unique child, take this quick, free, informative quiz. I created it to help you get started in the right direction!

The post Dramatically Improve Sensory Issues with These 3 Changes appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

I’d stay up late at night, immersed in a story. 

I couldn’t eat without a book in hand or at least SOMETHING to read. 

My mom would let me delay doing my other school work if I was really into a novel.

College made reading work, and while I still did plenty of it, a lot of the pleasure was robbed from me. 

When kids came along, it became nearly impossible to pee in peace, nonetheless read a book!

The baby stage was extremely rough on me (read my post partum depression story HERE) 

and I was hanging on to sanity by a thread. I felt like a machine that was being used up and worn out. My intellect was dying a slow death and I felt utterly consumed. 

The idea of adding anything to my to do list, especially something as reading for pleasure, seemed out of the question. 

But about four years ago, I decided that I simply had to make reading a priority.

And I had no idea how much it would impact my life. 

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Read my full disclosure policy HERE.

Why Moms Should Read

Self Care

Every mom is told that she needs to take time for herself. In fact, we feel guilty that we don’t take care of ourselves. UGH! But I didn’t find most people’s idea of self care to be fulfilling. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy bubble baths and massages like the rest, but within 2 minutes of the relaxation being over, I was utterly stressed yet again. 

But when I started to read seriously, I began to feel alive again. My brain had something to mull over during the monotonous parts of the day. My mind had living ideas to contemplate and discuss with other people. Honestly, I felt human again.  

Growth

I had bought into the lie that I was at my intellectual height in college and that I was forever doomed to “mom brain”. Guys, our prefrontal cortex hasn’t even finished developing by the time most of us get out of college! Don’t sell yourself short. 

At first, I was extremely intimidated by lofty, deep classics. I felt stupid. 

Finally I convinced myself that it’s ok to be completely lost and confused when you read a book, just keep at it. Each book will still have something to teach you, another stone in the foundation. 

One of my favorite podcast is called “Close Reads”. When I first started listening to them discuss a book, I was convinced that I was out of my element. So many things went over my head. But I kept at it, and as my arsenal of books kept accumulating, so did my understanding. References started to click. I started making my own connections. I became confident enough to disagree!

Am I some sort of genius? No. Am I well read? Not yet. But my confidence in my ability to learn has grown tremendously. 

I’m so glad I didn’t let my education end in college. Yikes!

Tips for Finding the Time to Read

Overcoming Road Blocks and Lack of Motivation

Have you ever started a book and somewhere around chapter 5, you just start to drag? Your pace and interest slow and reading suddenly becomes a chore?

Have you ever decided to read a book, but when you actually get a chance to read, you’re not in the mood for that type of book?

My answer to these two issues is to read a variety of books at the same time. It might seem chaotic and counterintuitive, but I always have at least four books going at once. 

I picked four genres of books that I often read and at the beginning of every month, I make a selection for each category.

My four topics are:

1. Practical
2. Fun
3. Classic
4. Spiritual

Some days I’m just in a get stuff done mode and can only stomach non-fiction, practical stuff. Other days I just need to chill with a fun book. When my mind is hungry, I dive into classic and spiritual books. They all get done eventually and the variety keeps me eager for more.

(I resisted this idea for a long time, but when I tried it, I was suddenly reading A LOT more.)

Use Your Time Wisely

If you are picturing me reading books with a quiet house and a warm cup of tea with my feet up in a clean home, you got me all wrong. While I wish my life could look like that, it’s very far from reality. Instead, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I will rarely get a big chunk of time to read. I HAVE TO use the little snippets of down time as much as I can. And they will add up. Believe me. I don’t know how I ever finish books when it seems like I only read a page at a time, but somehow, it still gets done!

(Does your phone keep track of how much time you spend on it? What if you replaced half that time with reading. Imagine the growth and mental health you could achieve!)

Prepare yourself to utilize the time you have by having multiple formats and locations for books. I have one of my four books by my bed, another down stairs, usually in the kitchen so I can read at grab a quick bite to eat. The other I keep in my purse for all those times I’m stuck waiting when away from home.

Then my big secret…

I devour audiobooks. When I’m cleaning or walking the dog or driving, I’ve got a book going.

I strongly recommend using Bluetooth Headphones like these that I use so that it doesn’t have to be quiet for you to be able to hear your book.

Many libraries have apps for renting audiobooks. But those are often limited and you have to wait to get a book. So while I use the library when I can, we use Audible for most of our audiobook needs. As homeschoolers, (especially with a student who has dyslexia) getting an Audible membership has been one of the best investments in their education. They have every obscure book on my kids list of books to read aloud. I know I never would have made it through massive books like “The Count of Monte Cristo”, “David Copperfield”, or “Crime and Punishment” without it being read TO me by fantastic narrators.

With Audible, you pay for the equivalent of one audible book a month and get a credit (which will roll over if you don’t use it). But where I really save money is the SIGNIFICANT price cut on all audiobooks when you’re an Audible subscriber (usually at least 50% off what non-members pay). You can also use the app across devices, which makes it much easier for all of us to listen to quality books. 

Try Audible FREE for 30 Days AND Get Two Free Audiobooks through this Link and see if you don’t read substantially more than without it. 

The post How to Find Time to Read as a Busy Mom appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

One new staple in 2020 life is the mask.

While people rage over the politics and science behind masks, parents of kids with sensory issues have an added challenge… Can you even get your child to wear a mask without having a sensory meltdown?

While staying home is safest, it’s not practical to expect sensory kids to never get to go out in public.

And what about school?!?! Not everyone can homeschool (though homeschooling a child with sensory differences has a lot of advantages!) or virtual school.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.

Y’all we’re between a rock and a hard place here. I can’t guarantee that your kids will love masks, but here are a couple ideas based on what I know about sensory processing disorder. 

Mask Types

First, let’s talk about the mask it self. There are lots of different options out there, so try and find the one that’s most comfortable for your kiddo.

Consider the Fabric

Not only will a mask be touching the highly sensitive face and mouth area, but these masks will be hot and mostly likely a little moist after wearing for a while. Try and find a fabric that is least bothersome. If you find a mask that fits well but feels coarse, add another soft layer to lay against the skin. (Please note, follow CDC guidelines and use common sense!)

Let them pick colors and patterns

Sometimes a little pizzazz can help a child overcome their aversion to a mask. Get your child’s input on colors and patterns. Keep them fun and let them show some personality. Masks are the new fashion item! 

Around the Ears or Behind the Head

In general, there are two different ways that masks are secured; either by two loops, one over each ear, or bands that tie behind the head. Many front line workers have found the ear bands to be bothersome over time. That’s why this Ear Saver Clip Extender were invented. They’ll turn an otherwise comfortable mask into a really good option for those that don’t want the straps touching their ears. 

I have noticed with myself and my own kids that the loops over the ears are easier to get on, so they work well for the kids in situations where they need to put them on and off quickly (like when we go on hikes and pass other people.) I also find the ones that tie in the back tend to slip off my head unless I have at least some of my hair up and I can use my ponytail to keep the top strap up. 

Just something to consider since different masks may work better in certain situations. 

These are the masks my kids wear the most often. I like that there’s a slot to add a filter. Conveniently washable, these masks fit my four year old AND my nine year old with adjustable ear straps. I love that they’re less than $20 for 5 masks AND 10 filters!

Use a Shield If Allowable

Some kids are just NOT going to be able to tolerate a mask. As a last resort, see if a shield is an option the authorities will allow. A simple band can hold a clear piece of plastic in front of a child’s face. Or  these creative hats do a good job of shield kids from direct sneezes and such, but I image they could get pretty hot.

Practice

The key to kids feeling comfortable in a mask could boil down to familiarity. Don’t expect a child who’s never worn a mask to keep one on all day for the first day back to school. That’s a recipe for a sensory meltdown!

Try It On a Stuffed Animal Or On a Sibling or Parent

Relieve some apprehension by demonstrating wearing a mask. Or have an older sibling model a mask.

A GREAT way to break the ice is to let your child out a mask on a stuffed animal. The more it’s normal and fun, the easier it will be for your child to get comfortable. 

Take Small Steps

Like many sensory troubles, remember that for your child, this dislike is NOT simply in their head, but a genuine need. But you can help their brain not go into fight or flight from the sensation of the mask by taking things slow. Instead of putting the mask on completely, have a cautious child simply touch the mask with their hand. If that goes well, let them touch it to their cheek. Try letting it hang from just one ear. When they’re comfortable, have them fully put it on. 

Make It Fun

Don’t forget that play helps disarm the sensory “alarm” system. Make silly noises while wear a mask. See if your child can guess your emotions behind a mask (REALLY tough by the way!). And the number one benefit that has my four year old perfectly in love with his mask? Remind them that they can stick their tongue out at you and you won’t even know! He just can’t get enough and giggles hysterically!

Transitions and Choices

Different can be hard for anyone. New can be scary.

A child with sensory difference constantly feels like the world around them is out of control, so they fight hard for anything they CAN control. (We’re all realizing how little control we have these days!)

Remember to treat a mask like any other new thing in your sensory kiddo’s life. Take it slow. Give them choices (would you like to wear the blue or red mask today?) Provide structure and offer a heads up.

Give a five minute warning BEFORE masks have to go on. Count down. Remember to frame it in a positive way with a happy goal in mind. For example: “In five minutes, we’ll be put our masks on so that we can go in the library and pick out some new books!” 

Folks, this year has been hard on ALL of us. Be gracious with kids. Start practicing now and keep it fun! Stay safe!

The post Helping Kids Wear a Mask if They Have Autism or Sensory Processing Disorder appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

The large expanse was full of all sorts of multicolored equipment from floor to ceiling. Not only were my kids eager to play while getting their sensory needs met, I wanted to join in too (that’s how crazy inviting and fun the place was!)

But after a minute or two, my adult sensibilities kicked in and I realized that while this place was impressive, the cost associated with the sensory equipment must be too!

I began to keep a close eye on what equipment my kids LOVED, what equipment was used for LOTS of different activities, and what would give me the most bang for my buck.

Now that we’ve been at this sensory parenting thing for 7 years and I’ve heard from literally thousands of other sensory parents about what works best for their kiddos, I am really excited to share with you what sensory toys are worth saving up for and WHY!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE. 

Sensory Toys that EVERY Home Should Have

1. Trampolines

[Main Use: Regulation Through Proprioception. Secondary Use: Vestibular Input.]

When I asked my private Facebook group of sensory parents “What is the one sensory toy your kids couldn’t live without?” Trampolines were the overwhelming majority. And there’s a scientific reason for that. Trampolines meet two very central sensory needs AT THE SAME TIME!

Jumping on a trampoline provides vestibular input via the inner ear. Seekers in this area crave heights and movement and trampolines are ideal ways to get it! (Even if your child is a vestibular avoider like my son is, consider getting an indoor trampoline with a bar for stabilization. That might be enough to help them grow in confidence. This Indoor Trampoline can be folded up!?! And comes with a removable bar, AND can be turned into a bar pit! Say what?)

The main reason trampolines are a must have in every sensory home is because of the outrageous amount of proprioceptive input they provide. Proprioceptive input is received by the joints and the ligaments of the body and establishes body awareness. It is the key to regulation and when a child is getting enough proprioceptive input, they usually can handle all the other sensory input far better!

Obviously, jumping on a stretchy surface provides plenty of proprioceptive input! Looking for a Large Outdoor Trampoline? Check this one out!

2. Swing

[Main Use: Vestibular Input. Secondary Use: Calming Through Proprioception.]

Another multitasking heavy hitter is the swing! Now there’s a million different types of swings that have different advantages. But they all provide lots of vestibular input through height and movement changes. Many sensory kids could contentedly swing for hours!

It might surprise you, but swings also give some proprioceptive input as well. Without boring you with a physics lesson, whenever a child comes to the top of the arch and changes directions, there’s a pull on their body to continue in the direction they were going already. This “pull” provides all over proprioception that can be extremely calming.

Related: Which Sensory Swing is Best for Your Child

Swings are the go-to essential for calming down in our house. We use a stretchy fabric swing to cocoon our kids and gently rock them back and forth while they recover from a sensory meltdown. It has never failed to work. Never.

Checkout a ton of sensory swing reviews and options by clicking here. You’ll learn which ones work best for each scenario.

3. Wiggle Seat

[Main Use: Helping Wiggly Kids Sit Still. Secondary Use: Vestibular Input.]

These Seemingly Simple Little Disks are awesome in their versatility and affordability! Typically, they are used to assist kids in getting sensory input, while still staying seated. Great for homework time or dinner time, kids can get their wiggles out, while actually being able to focus on the task at hand BETTER!

But wiggle seats are also durable enough to be stood on. So there are hundreds of ways to use them to challenge the vestibular system and engage the brain in tons of beneficial ways! Here are just a few ways we’ve used these wiggle seats. 

4. Weighted Blanket

[Main Use: Calming Proprioception. Secondary Use: Better Sleep.]

Chances are good that you’ve heard about Weighted Blankets are the way they can help with anxiety and insomnia. But maybe you didn’t know that the reason they work is because they provide calming proprioceptive input to the body. While some proprioceptive sensory input takes a lot of energy (like the trampoline) weighted items are ideal for comforting and preparing a body to rest.

We love our weighted blankets around here, myself included! When kids get better sleep, they have less sensory issues, so this is a really good upward spiral to get on! I go into a lot more detail about the benefits of weighted blankets HERE. 

5. Fidget

[Main Use: Better Focus. Secondary Use: Proprioceptive Input.]

There are thousands of varieties of Fidget Toys. But each one basically gives the hands something to do so that the mind can focus on the work it needs to do. While it may seem counter intuitive, fidgets PREVENT kids from getting distracted. If a child has the need to move, the brain will be preoccupied with meeting that need, INSTEAD of listening and staying on task. But give those fingers something to do, and BAM the brain can pay MUCH better attention.

I recently started a sensory needs “program” at our church and have been loaning out fidgets and other sensory toys to aid kids during the service. I can’t tell you how many parents have told me after the service that they ended up using the fidgets themselves and we able to stay engaged during the sermon remarkably better than without the fidgets!

6. Chewy

[Main Use: Oral Sensory Input. Secondary Use: Proprioceptive Input.]

If your child likes to put things in their mouths (well past the baby stage), then it is usually a sensory need the are trying to meet. The mouth is a highly sensitive area of the body where a lot of intense sensations are produced. There are bunches of objects specifically made for helping kids get oral sensory input and they’re generally called “Chewies“. Think of them as fidgets for the mouth.

But a lot of parents make the mistake of thinking that these tools only solve one problem (helping curb the appetite to chew on inappropriate items like clothing or fingernails). The reality is that chewies are fantastic ways of getting the ever prized proprioceptive into as well! How? The jaw is a powerful joint, and the chomping provides great calming and regulating sensations so that the brain is more prepared to organize and respond appropriately to other sensory input.

7. Ear Phones

[Main Use: Prevent Sensory Meltdowns. Secondary Use: Prevent Sensory Meltdowns in Mom.]

All the other sensory toys and equipment listed in this article help a child get the sensory input they need. This last one, helps keep out sensory input that is bothersome and can trigger meltdowns in kids with auditory avoiding needs.

Noise Reduction Ear Phones are a staple in our home. When my son was younger, I always had a pair in my purse (see what sensory toys I still keep with me when we leave the house) Now we have two pair in a central place in our house for anyone to grab when they notice themselves feeling overwhelmed by the noise or frequency of sound. Why two pair? Well, because I’ve started wearing them during the time of day I’m most likely to loose my temper (making dinner!). Surprisingly, when I put them on, I can still hear my kids and converse with them. Yet something about the jarring pitch of dogs barking, cabinets slamming and LEGO crashing is lessened and I find myself far more calm and able to be an adult! Total game changer for our family!

Want MORE sensory tools and content?

• Outdoor Sensory Toys to Make Your Yard a Sensory Heaven
• Sensory Tools to Reduce Anxiety
• The Ultimate List of Sensory Toys for Every Need
• How to Stock a “Calm Down” Bin
• The Pros and Cons of an Official SPD Diagnosis

(Trying to save money?

Needing to buy time before you can afford some of this equipment?

Check out this post about how you can turn normal household furniture into a sensory oasis!)

The post 7 Effective and Versatile Sensory Toys Every Single Home Should Have appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

I cannot tell you how many times I hear this phrase during our new Zoom speech therapy sessions these days.

Therapy used to mean getting my son up 30 minutes earlier than normal for school to get in his speech session before classes start.

Oh how I miss that!

I am so grateful that his speech pathologist is willing to keep up his therapy over Zoom, but it is certainly creating its challenges.

So here’s how we deal…

The Reality

Most of the country is trying to stay safe at home amid this outbreak we like to call “the sickness” in our house. All of us are trying to adapt, create new schedules, and, if you are anything like me, keep our kid’s lives as normal as possible.

But those with children in therapy know that kids can regress if therapy stops. I am so grateful that our speech pathologist has been trying to adapt to all of this and keep up with all her students via online platforms.

Right now we are using Zoom for all our therapy sessions.

She has even figured out how to get game boards up on her screen and let my son roll the dice on our side of the camera so they can still play their speech games. (Which by the way, you know you’ve found a good speech therapist when you walk in their office and it is floor to ceiling board games!)

But this new method requires some work on our end too.

I have to

• Make sure my youngest child is taking a nap during speech sessions so the house is quiet
• Finish schooling in time for therapy
• Figure out how to incorporate his speech practices into his schooling (which his teacher did so well!),
• Check that the internet is working
• Make sure my son is sitting in the right position so his therapist can see his mouth to ensure he’s making the proper sounds and placements.

All these factors create challenges.

Adapting Your Goals

OK, so you are probably going to have to look at what your child’s goals are for therapy (most of you probably have some sort of IEP plan worked out to help you with this) and decide if those goals are still looking realistic.

Be sure to talk with your therapist to see what their thoughts are on current goals and see if they have input (I’m sure they do). I have also realized (through the wonderful world of homeschooling) that maybe I should create some new goals.

Right now, my son is learning to read. Maybe it’s just me, but I am guessing anyone with a child in speech that is learning to read is crying sometimes (you, or your child, or both) because you think, “How can a child READ a sound they have a hard time SAYING?”. That gets exacerbated by the fact that, now, I am his teacher and am the only one working on this with him.

So, guess what? We are adding new sounds into speech goals because we have to figure them out to do our phonics homework.

“TH” sound here we come!

Ideas for Creative Speech Therapy at Home

Reality has hit, I need to be more proactive than ever if my child is going to be hitting the goals he is supposed to. And ideally we could even surpass them.

So we have gotten creative with our speech therapy. Most of you with children in speech therapy know the pattern: learn sounds, put those sounds into words, put those words into sentences, get to the place where those sounds become used correctly in everyday speech.

So here’s some great ways to work on those sounds or words.

Play board games! Kids love to play games, and they will like it even more right now because it will mean individual attention from you. What we do is work on three words. Then, we each take a turn at whatever board game we are playing. It helps break up the process so they don’t get burnt out and allows you to work on speech for longer periods of time because they have something else keeping them excited. If they are like my kids, they want to beat mom!

Go outside and toss a ball around. Ok, I realize I have boys and if you have girls they might not be as into this, but my son loves to play catch with a football (and is always begging to). So every time we throw the ball, we have to say one of our words. As you get better with the words, throw the ball faster to speed it up.

Play a Matching Game or Go Fish. Print out all the words (2 of each word) your child is working on and make them into cards to play matching games, Go Fish, Old Maid, etc… When they flip one card or get a card they have to say the word. When they get a match they have to use that word in a sentence.
The ideas go on and on, but you get the point. Be creative!

Speech Therapy Apps and Websites

Ok, so if you are still overwhelmed, there are some great tools out there that will help. My favorite site to use is www.mommyspeechtherapy.com . There is literally a TON of free resources on there including games, word lists, print out cards, etc… for each sound and combination.

Articulation Station is also an amazing app that has a lot of material. The app is a little bit pricy (about $30 one-time fee for unlimited access), but it has all the sounds, blends, words, phrases, stories, listening comprehension, EVERYTHING! It’s definitely worth the download and has no monthly fees like many apps do.

Another app that is great, especially for young kids that are just working on sounds and easier words, is NACD Speech Therapist Apraxia App. This one is a bundle of about 4 different apps and I think runs about $5 per app.

Remember, take things one day at a time, try to have fun, and you got this momma!

The post Realities of Virtual Therapy While Safe at Home: Speech Therapy Tools and Resources appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

You learned the symptoms of sensory processing disorder and when to be concerned.

You’ve weighed the pros and cons of getting an official SPD diagnosis.

Hopefully, you’ve managed to convince your spouse to take sensory issues seriously. (If not, check out this post my husband wrote to other sensory DADS.)

And now… it’s time to get evaluated.

It’s totally reasonable to be nervous about new situations like an initial visit to the occupational therapist. I hope in this post to give you a sneak peak, so some of those first day jitters can be relieved.

What Happens at an Evaluation for SPD?

Lots of Playing for Them

I’ve got some good news. Your child is going to have a BLAST at occupational therapy. The whole goal of OT is to make sensory input so fun that it’s irresistible! Depending on what your OT is looking for and how well their office is equipped, expect you kid to do a lot of games and playing. They’ll stack blocks, use writing utensils, show their balancing skills and coordination all while having fun. It shouldn’t feel like a test or an ordeal. If it does, start looking for a new OT.

Lots of Paperwork for You

You as the parent will need to fill out a  LONG questionnaire. Hopefully the office will send it to you before the appointment. I remember it taking me over two hours to fill out. It also helps to be asked a question and have a couple days to observe that specific skill in your child, because trust me, they’ll ask you about things you never paid any attention to before.

Gather your child’s baby books or start skimming your social media posts, because you’ll need to know specific milestones in your child’s life! Make a photocopy of your answers so that if you switch practices later down the road, you won’t have to do your research all over again!

How to Explain Occupational Therapy to Your Child

Don’t forget that your child may be nervous about going to the occupational therapist evaluation, especially if they can sense your anxiety. Assure your kiddo that this is going to be fun! They’ll get to play with toys and equipment that most kids would go gaga over! You could describe it as going to a kids gym to play. If they want to know the “why”, tell them that an OT will help them have the tools to handle (Insert Struggle) or that an OT will help YOU and your child learn how your brain works and help them feel more comfortable. My son loved going to the “gym”.

What to Expect Afterwards

After the evaluation, it will probably be a couple days before the offices calls you because they usually have to score tests and such. They probably won’t be able to officially call it SPD because insurances don’t recognize that diagnosis. So they’ll give you a “side” diagnosis to keep the insurance companies happy and paying for services.

They SHOULD tell you which senses are a struggle (auditory, oral, proprioception, tactile, and vestibular) AND whether they are seekers or avoiders in EACH of these areas. Make sure they get specific so that you will be able to research and understand your child’s behavior better. Without that information, it’s incredibly hard to decode your child’s behavior and needs.

They will let you know how often they recommend coming in for occupational therapy. Finances may be shocking, I’ll warn you now. If money is tight, consider some of these ways of getting sensory needs met despite financial struggles. 

And congratulations! This is a crucial step towards getting your child the help they need. You’ve come so far!

Have more questions??? Check out this wildly popular series of Sensory FAQs and become a more confident sensory parent today!

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