Works for Me Wednesday: Fruit, Faith and Fun

Lately, mornings have not been going as well as they could in our home.  In thinking about why, I recognized that I have been slipping with evening and morning routines, so I decided to get back on them!

Part of what we are trying to train Luke and Nina to do is eat healthy.  Simple?  Not with two finicky eaters that seem to protest anything that is not carb nor cheese!  My peaceful attempt at a solution?  I try to get produce in them first thing in the morning when they are very hungry and my patience for their protests is the greatest.  Or, I should say, I had been trying...  Lately, caught up in deadlines for contract work, more often than not, I have been working in our home office first thing as they wake up, sneak out to the kitchen and grab something starchy instead.

So, my fix?  This week, I went back to prepping at night to lay some fruit out on the table first thing in the morning.  Then, the kids are greeted with a welcoming array of fresh fruit to be squeezed, sliced apples and/or pears, defrosted berries and whatnot, along with a faith-based book or two for morning prayer and reading together and, as of yesterday, a bonus (which I will get to in a minute.)

This works!  (Well, to be honest, it works to a degree: Luke still doesn’t eat much whole fruit.)  Nina happily scoffs down some sliced fruit or berries and Luke, despite refusing most whole fruits, loves to juice oranges and will drink what he juices to get his morning fruit vitamin fix.  And, as the kids and I sit together, we share in some Faith First prayers, songs, chats and readings in lieu of morning Mass, which just wasn’t working for us recently.

Now what about the “bonus”?  The photo might give you clue.  It’s a Surprise Toy or Activity of the Day.  By putting out something, on the table or in the living room, that the kids that have not seen in a while, I almost guarantee that after our fruit breakfast (and our subsequent carb one), they will be thoroughly engaged in the toy or activity.  This affords me the time I need to finish up whatever computer contract work I had started on my computer prior to their waking.  And, so our morning start on a more positive note and our rhythm moves along in a way we can march to together.

Will this all continue to work?  Time will tell.  But, it works for us now and that is what is important.

If you’d like to share in what works for you (on any topic) and to read what works for others, please visit the links at We Are THAT Family.  And, also, if you’d like to share your own experiences about morning routines, healthy diet strategies, meeting work and kids’ needs all at once, etc. I would love it if you would leave a comment and/or link below. 

Thanks and have a blessed day!

Gratituesday: Honored Again -- I Am Now Blogging at OJTA Sensational Homeschooling Once a Month

Yesterday, I mentioned how honored I felt to be asked to guest post at Hartley Steiner's wonderful Hartley's Life with 3 Boys blog.  Today, I am thrilled to announce that on the heels of that invitation came another one, from Tiffani Lawton, an incredible homeschooling mom and austism/SPD advocate who is beginning a new blog called OJTA Sensational Homeschooling as a sister site to the established and comprehensive site Our Journey through Autism that she heads up.

The new OJTA Sensational Homeschooling is modeled after OJTA, but with an emphasis on homeschooling children with Sensory Processing Disorder and other "glitches" like Auditory Processing Disorder, ADD/ADHD, fine motor delays, etc.  It is just getting started, but promises to to be a rich resource for those who visit often -- regardless of if you have a child with special needs.  (Sensory activities help all children!)  Both experts and "Sensational Mamas" like me will be posting on it, offering perspective, concrete ideas and all sorts of tid bits related to our similar, yet unique experiences.

You will find my introduction at the site here.  In it, I explain just a bit about Luke's SPD, which is something I guess I have never done much of here at Training Happy Hearts.  And my first official activity post is up today.  Then, from now on, on the 15th of each month, you will find another post by yours truly (life balance allowing), and, in between, helpful posts by other parents and professionals alike.

God sure is leading me into both a supportive and a supported role in the homeschooling -- with SPD -- journey.  I look forward to sharing about it here and on OJTA Sensational Homeschooling as time goes on.

To be inspired by what other folks are grateful for today, please visit the links at Heavenly Homemakers.

Montessori Mondays: Literally Cutting the Grass

Okay, I am the first to admit that I am a very “loose” Montessori Mom.  I have yet to discipline myself to follow the method to the “T” and, to be honest, even though I am making steps to adhere to it more closely, I think I will always blend it with an eclectic set of theories and methods I am attracted to.  That being said, I am all about practical work.  And, today, I mean “practical” in the Montessori sense, the yard work sense and the SPD Lens Sporting Mom sense.  Yes, the other day, I had kids literally cutting the grass as a part of Jammies School!

Now, from a Montessori perspective, “cutting work” is an activity for ages 2.5 and up (perfect!), aims to improve eye-had coordination, concentration, independence and preparation for writing (check!), and incorporates control of error when children cannot open and close scissors, cannot cut as intended or drop the scissors (no problems with any of this, although Nina reverted to a two-hand hold to cut the grass at times!)

From a Mommy-on-a-Mission perspective, literal grass cutting is an activity which tidies the yard where Daddy’s lawn mowing efforts could not reach (all part of my focus on home improvement and organization); provides fun in the sun for kids who were jumping for joy about being allowed to use scissors again after a recent "scissor fast" necessitated when I found Nina had been playing Auntie Jenn the Hairdresser again; and allows me to feel like I am still advancing the kids’ skills and learning even when good weather tempts us to play hookie from regular activities.

Finally, with my SPD Lenses on (and here I mean my new-found perspective as a mom of an SPD child who prefers to provide sensory diet activities as a part of day-to-day life activities rather than now-it’s time-for-a-sensory-break ones), the work provides ample proprioceptive, motor planning and tactile input.  Indeed, all that bending, crawling, kneeling and whatnot to get the best angles on the tall grasses around the garden edges works the muscles and joints.  Using scissors requires motor planning.  And, crawling over lawn and rocks while handling different textures of grass (and weeds!) – not to mention getting sprayed by “water” when cutting into some of the plants, which surprised and delighted Luke – provides tactile stimulation

So, with all this in mind, I cannot recommend literal cutting of the grass with young children enough.  Luke and Nina were entertained by this "work" for a good long while; skills were enhanced; needs were met and, we even worked on the habit of everyone helping around the home.  Score!

To see other folk's Montessori-inspired works this week (most far more traditional than mine!), please visit the links at One Hook Wonder.  Plus, I invite you to check out my prior post for links to Hartley's Life with 3 Boys, a rich SPD-related blog that I am honored to guest post at today!

What an Honor - I am Guest Posting over at Hartley's Life with 3 Boys

Wow! Hartley Steiner, author of This is Gabriel Making Sense of School: A Book About Sensory Processing Disorder, who is and incredible mom, author and blogger, happened upon my Sensory and Skills Spring Activity Bags post, and, after after reading it, asked me to guest post on her blog.

As a new SPD mom and a fairly new blogger, I was both humbled and excited by Hartley's request. And, today, I am thrilled to announce that I am guest posting over at her site.  Go there, to read Homemade Sensory Diet for Summer if you'd like a few ideas for sensory-based outdoor activities to enjoy with your children this spring and summer.  The ones I describe are definitely ones Luke and Nina like!  And, of course, while you are there, take a look around.  Hartley's blog is chock full of great information and ideas.  I feel blessed to share a snippet of our homeschooling and SPD journey on it.

If You Cannot Find It, Make Do: 3-Part Life of Mary Sequencing Cards

Okay, I admit it!  My computer files are in the same shape as the rest of our home right now – in dire need of some purging and organization.  This point was driven home to me the other morning when I spent fruitless time searching for some Life of Mary cards I thought I had downloaded at some prior point, only to realize that not only was I confused (I had actually downloaded some wonderful 3-Part Rosary Cards from The Bookworm), but also that my documents folders are suffering in cluttered disarray.  So, I am adding their organization to my May Focus intent and moving on...

Or trying to move on...You see, I am a Mommy-Educator who gets caught up in ideas and has to bring them to fruition at times so they won't continue to edge out other thoughts (such as, “You have a few minutes, Martianne.  Get purging and organizing!)  So despite the fact that Elaine, from the Creative Kingdom yahoogroup I belong to, made some wonderful Mary Matching cards in response to my question of if anyone else knew of Life of Mary cards online, I still had it in my head that I wanted cards chronicling the events of Mary’s life. Unable find any, during snippets of time here and there this week, I made some. 

Now, I am so excited to use our newly created 3-Part Life of Mary Sequencing Cards with the kids!  And, I am equally excited to be able to share them here, as a small thanks to all the amazing, creative bloggers whose ideas the kids and I have so appreciated benefiting from.

First, the cards themselves.  You'll find images of them throughout this post.  If you click on the images, you should get full-sized ones you can print out.  If you don’t and you want copies  in JEPG or Publisher, simply leave me a request in the comments!  Also, if you find any errors, feel I have left something out or feel I have misconstrued any of Mary's life events, please leave a comment to let me know.  As I explained, I created these cards during small snippets of time - often with kids on my lap - so it is likely there may be something that your careful eyes will catch that my distracted ones did not...

Now, how to use our new cards? 

Of course, first by printing two sets, contact-paper laminating them and, then, cutting them.

Then, for some favorite activities, try out some of the many matching games my kids love:  Concentration, the Slap Game, Go Fish, Who can Find the ~?, etc.  (If you need directions for any of these, just ask!)

Or, how about Card Bingo.  Basically, each child gets a set of 9 (or 16 if they get really good at the game) cards to lay out, face-up, Bingo-grid style.  The caller describes an event or shows a copy of a card.  If the kids have the corresponding card, they turn it over.  When a child has an entire row turned over, that child has Bingo!

And, by printing out an additional copy of each page to use as control cards, you can make a matching-skills file folder game with the cards.

Plus, you can use them as is for sequencing-and-story telling activities – use the cards with clothespins and a line, magnets and the fridge or simply a big area of floor space, to put the cards in order, time-line fashion, retelling the story of Mary’s life.

And, of course, the cards can be used for visual discrimination and picture study activities, including a recent favorite: “I Spy”.  (Need further explanation for these? Just ask!)

Plus, as we hope to do, you can use the cards as inspiration to help the kids each create books of their own artwork depicting Mary’s life.

As for us here at Jammies School, even if we only get to a small portion of these activities this year, we say, "No problem!"  The beauty of the cards (and what made them worth allocating so much time to making them) is that we can use them year after year, every Month of Mary, eventually even using them in the traditional Montessori 3-part cards way once the kids are reading a bit on their own.  With that in mind, I would love to hear about how you use the cards if you print them.  Your ideas are sure to provide inspiration for years of fun and learning to come.  Thank you and enjoy a blessed Month of Mary.

Works for Me Wednesday: May Focus May Bring New Locus of Control, and, Therefore, Freedom in Our Home

What's got me smiling?  Organizing!  Yes, you heard that right.  I am actually thrilled to be on a de-cluttering and organization roll and I want to share about it.  Now, I know that Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family is a day when lots of creative and clever folks link up to share ideas about what works for them with everything from raising kids to keeping home and that most of the linked posts contain brief, handy tips that one might readily apply in their own homes and lives.  I try to make mine follow suit usually, but not today.  Why?  Because today what works for me is a new attitude! And, new attitudes is not necessarily brief to explain nor handy to pass on, but, hopefully, in trying to do both I will offer inspiration for others to join me in a feel-great de-cluttering and organization kick!

So here goes... During Lent, I put blogging on hold for the most part due to my personal fasting promises.  Yet, somehow, despite giving up most of my blogging time to attend to other duties and tasks, my house has only been looking small increments closer to being a home.  Yes, I find I have been merely slogging along with our Order in the Home (and, thus, in the Homeschool) efforts while my belly just keeps getting bigger and bigger, only slowing progress further... 

Thus, it has become an undeniable fact: I must step up my focus on home –and homeschool – organization in the coming weeks before Baby steals all of our focus completely.  And thanks to Mom and Dad and their great Mom's Day gift to me, I have got a new, proactive attitude toward doing just that.  I am confident I can succeed!

Over the weekend, kid-free, I was able to make visible progress on Mike and my bedroom (which was what Luke suggested I do, telling me, "Mommy, it's a mess!).  Now, I seek to do the same thing to a much more daunting area of our home: our basement and one-day family, library and learning room.  Likewise, I want to whip the rest of the house into shape both in terms of order and aesthetics.  Big goal?  Yes!  But, I believe it is attainable, one proactive, PMA (positive mental attitude) step at a time!

So, today, as I set forth to continue the roll I began over the weekend, I recognize, for me, doing so includes two main maneuvers: the Thinking One and the Doing One.  The "Thinking" involves assessing what works and doesn't work, making lists and diagrams for my plan of action, and, then evaluating work in progress.  (Now, I know many can disregard this step, but for me and the way my brain works, it is a non-negotiable one.) The "Doing", of course, involves rolling up my sleeves and digging in to both the heavy work and tedious tasks of de-cluttering, organizing and slowly-but-steadily making cluttered house into livable, lovable home. 

It is with the Thinking step in mind that I am now announcing -- and committing to -- a plan of dedicating the majority of my Training Happy Hearts posts for the remainder of the month to holding myself accountable to creating a locus of control in our home(school).  And here I do not mean a control that is overpowering and stunts creativity and freedom.  Rather, I picture one that is defined by order and discipline, freeing our family up to think breathe, learn, live and, indeed, simply move within a comfortable rhythm, with established routines in a pleasant space.  Wish me luck!  (And focus, of course!)  May the remainder of May bring the locus I seek and whatever you have been longing for as well.

If you have any tips about your successful home and homeschool organization & decluttering efforts, notes about personal order-seeking struggles, or simply want to offer a word of encouragement, please share.  I do love comments!  

And, of course, visit the Works for Me Wednesday links at We Are THAT Family for further sharing and inspiration.

Have a blessed day doing what works for you!

Gratituesday: Lots of Help!

I just posted about the best Mother's Day gift I have ever received over at our family blog, Wonder and Will.  But, here, I wanted to post about a different Mother-related blessing...

It is May - the Month of Mary.  So, I have been focusing lots of our Jammies School activities on learning about and celebrating the Blessed Mother.  Well, yesterday morning, I got side-tracked from what I should have been doing by "taking a few minutes" to find some Mary Matching cards I thought I had somewhere in my computer files.  I knew the kids would love these after the fun we had with the St. Joseph ones I mentioned in this post.

Well, the "few minutes" turned into nearly an hour with me failing to find the cards in my files and, likewise, failing to find them with an online search, I realized I was doing anything but managing my morning time well.  So, I decided to reach out to a wonderful yahoo group I belong to - The Creative Kingdom -  to see if anyone there might have downloaded similar cards.  Well, lo and behold, the generous and talented owner of the group, Elaine from Commotion from the Ocean of Life, saw my post and not only responded to it, but also used her time and talent yesterday to make and share some wonderful Mary cards with ourY-group.

This morning when I pulled up my email to find these cards, I was so humbled and so grateful.  To think, a busy mom, who has never even met me, took time out of her day to make cards I was searching for to help my family observe the liturgical year...  Thank you, Elaine!

Then, this afternoon, as my daughter snoozed on a blanket in the sun while my son and I played Go Fish, Memory and I Spy with the cards, I was filled with smiles.  Truly, I have a grateful heart, as mother who loves the Divine Mother and appreciates so many other mothers.  Together, may we all work to train up our children (and ourselves!) in the way we should go!

To see what others are thankful for, please head over to Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers and check out the links.