Holiday Tips for Children with Fetal Alcohol

Tool Tips from The Trenches

Holiday Tips by Liz Kulp  

I prefer my life stable... every day I have a plan I can maintain. It keeps me on track. When the world moves so fast around me it is important that I take care of myself.

1. Make appointments on the same day and the same time. Taking a break from an appointment may be a break for you, but for me it messes up my consistency.

2. Shop during quiet times when the lines are the shortest. For me this is late afternoon when I have eaten and am rested. When many people are still at work and before they "stop" at the store to get supper food. I still hate standing in line. I get anxious. I impulse buy. If it is going to be busy - I take someone along to stand in line while I go to the bathroom and regroup.

3. Be respectful of my understanding "I don't do sarcasm" Words can hurt. When I have been hurt enough times I lash out. The problem is I don't always know when I don't understand. Most times I understand "EXACTLY" what you said - just not what you meant.

4. Even as an adult I have sensory issues. Fluorescent lights still make my world move around me and give me headaches. It is hard for me to sit for long periods of time without getting up. I still need to move often to remain calm.

5. Wrap my gifts simply. All the tape and ribbons frustrate me and by the time I have opened the gift - I am less appreciative. Seriously gift bags or a filled stocking is great!

6. Provide some of my comfort foods. There are certain things I like to eat and though I am willing to try most things my teeth and mouth still do not do carrots, celery or nuts. For me it's the crunch I can't munch. The texture I can't do. The temperature of the food also can be irritating. I know it is a sensory thing and I have tried to overcome it, but those two things still remain. Let me substitute some of my choices - I try to pick two new - and then stay with my tried and true.

7. Let me use a flat bowl instead of a fancy dinner plate. I will not be embarrassed because I am using a bowl, but I will feel bad if I spill food on your fancy tablecloth. My coordination is not always on task and it is easier for me to pick up my food. Give me the option of plastic glasses without stemware. Understand that if I leave the table during the meal - I may be getting overwhelmed.

8. Know that it takes me longer to understand new events, new places and new people. When all of these things happen at the same time if can be over-stimulating.

9. Don't speak down to me. Use normal language and stick to the facts. I love people. I love to laugh and I am a good friend to others. Take time to get to know who I really am - not by appearances or mistaken actions.

10. Have a Happy Holiday - find something to take care of you. We need resource people who are calm, friendly and honest in a kind way with us. Have a good year - Liz.

Click book to purchase - Thanks, Liz!

Excerpt from BRAIDED CORD - This could be a good present for someone you love (Liz)


WINNER 

2012 USA BEST BOOKS - HEALTH ADDICTIONS AND RECOVERY 

GOLD MOM'S CHOICE LIFE CHALLENGES

Together we grew... we changed... we learned. (Liz)
(Excerpt page 19)
"People underestimate me. They believe I cannot do things and what they don't get is when I believe, I can do whatever I need to. It is a matter of choice and focus. It is a matter of feeling safe and capable. Oh yeah, and hard, hard work."

We hope our disastrous journey-which has ended in joy -fills your family or practice with ideas to help others with FASDs. - Jodee

The Kulp Family congratulates our daughter, Liz, on her

independence and over FOUR FULL years of sobriety.

Braided Cord was compiled from her 8 years of journals.  

Visit Liz's Website at www.BraidedCord.net 

How to keep squirrels from eating garden tomatoes!

Squirrel terrorist will not feast this year on my produce!

I love my garden and last year I battled squirrels stealing my produce before I could pick it. There were tomatoes with bites on tree stumps, there was actually a line of tomatoes down my neighbors driveway - all with one bite each and there were tomatoes left on my walking trail. The smaller tomatoes where seen in trees - bright red orbs waiting for later feasting.

One again this year, squirrel terrorists raided my garden sometime when no one was watching. They got my first tomato and they ate my first green pepper - I was tired of battles - 

I was going to win this squirrel war and I DID for less than $20.00 and a trip to the sporting good store, the hardware store and the dollar store!

Here's the strategy:

 

38 fluorescent ping pong balls, one can of red plastic spray

paint, a jar of cayenne pepper, tongs and an old bowl

 1. Pour Cayenne pepper in bowl

2. Holding a ball with the tongs spray with paind

  

3. Using a tong roll wet painted
ping pong balls in Cayenne Pepper

DO NOT HANDLE THESE with your hands

USE CAUTION in coating the balls 

4. Using the tongs place the cayenne coated balls 

at the base of your plants

It has been two months and at first the balls moved a bit from
place to place. They seem to now never move and in addition I have loads
of tomatoes and produce without squirrel bites!

PLEASE USE CAUTION when doing this
but it WORKED!

 

FASD Think Tank - Premiers Blog with Holiday Strategies.

Enjoy our first FASD Think Tank article

  

Holiday Strategies

www.fasdthinktank.blogspot.com 

to help families 

live, laugh and love

 throughout the holidays. 

May your celebrations be filled 

with love and peace. 

Jodee, Liz and Karl Kulp

Sleep Strategies for Children With Fetal Alcohol

Wear them out - wear them out I repeat - fun and laughter and sunshine and water and dirt and play. Running and jumping and fun after school or being overwhelmed in learning new things. A healthy meal and then begin to build in household peace.

Bringing calm to a household of atypical children can be difficult. By developing a sleep transition system you provide your children a lifetime strategy to learn to calm, rest and gain sleep.

We found over the years that the following things made a difference:

1. Begin shutting off blue light (cell phones, television, computers) two hours before going to bed and change sounds in the home to quiet music or soft nature. Move to a warmer spectrum of lighting. Blue light (which is the light we have during most of the day limits our production of melatonin, in the absence of blue light, melatonin production increases and we get sleepier. 
2. Shake the "zingys" off - we found rapidly waving the hands, kicking the feet or shaking the whole body helped move energy. "We cast off the troubles of the day." All the yuck fell off... or at least we tried.  If you have night lights this is the time to engage the children to tip toe and slowly turn them all on while turning house lights off or dimming them mouse quiet.
3. Prepare a warm bath with a chamomile, lavender, sandalwood scent and let the child soak while you write your to do list for the morning and then leave it! 
4. Dim the lights.  We had a BETA FIGHTING FISH in a night lighted tank in the bathroom that was always alert to protect children padding in to go potty in the middle of the night. If you are staying in the bathroom while the children bathe, use a scented candle and dim the lights. I put the candle away when I am done and hide it.
5. Tumble the towels and pajamas in the dryer to warm and wrap a child. Drying with a warm towels helps in the transition of leaving the bathtub and warm pajamas help in the transition from towel to bed clothes. 
6. Practice some gentle slow stretching - help your child find stretches that are soothing.
7. Read a kind, happy story with child in bed (Goodnight Moon and Nuzzle: Love Between a Boy and His Service Dog). We found a number of gentle reading places - the hammock in the summer, the porch swing or rocking glider, a snuggly day bed, bean bags and puppies, a tent bed or into their room. Settle in the critters - stuffed animals, service dog or pet dogs, dolls, cats - into proper places. Click to see children's tent and trundle beds | some great hammocks
8. Soft circle touches or brushes from knee to toes, elbows to fingers and on face - clockwork circles beginning at the 6 o'clock help to soothe (children with sensory issues may need different kinds of touches - some days our daughter wants light friction or deep pressure - she usually has an idea of what will help her best.)
9. Mist the monsters. We use a spritzer with lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, or sage to scare out whatever might be in the closet or under the bed. 
10. Give a day of thanks. We say prayers. This final quiet time is for remembering all the good things in the day and being thankful and asking for protection for all the people we love - prayers in our house could take a while because even neighbors dogs or the tree squirrels could be added.

Now it's mom and dad's turn. Depending on the rules in your home - ours was unless you need to potty after prayers you wait until the sun comes up to get out of bed - in the summer THAT could be early! This is the time I write in my journal or read before I fall asleep or at least quietly eyes closed rest.

Read more about blue light

Following are some fun bedtime sleep tents and trundles - some children need very empty rooms - for others these are marvelous.