Walking more awkwardly than usual...

7:30 am: call from my daughter's staff that a family member was in a serious accident and she would not be able to come cover the day while I was working. So packed up the dog, the girl and off to work! Luckily working at PHP, bringing your children to work is not frowned upon. LG is very able to keep herself busy between the ipad, making lists and DVD's.

In the morning I watched her awkward gait and noticed it worse worse than usual. I checked her shoes and tightened up the Velcro.  We proceeded to the car and I offered my arm for her to hold onto, which she readily took.

When leaving today I noticed that the left foot kept rocking as he planted her foot on the the ground.  Only the left.  The right seemed okay.  So, I asked if she was having pain in her foot. 

Her immediate relief was obvious.  She said it was her right toe. I told her "when we get to the car show me what hurts.  She removed her left shoe and sock and ouch!  It made me cringe when I saw her big toe, which was the right toe on that foot :).  Infected, self pedicuring when no one was looking!

Aside from her DYI nail polish that is half peeled off, it appears that she cut her nails down resulting in an inflammation.  We went right in, soaked her toe, polysporin and will watch to see if clearing before Monday. At which time she will go to their doctor if not to significant improvement.  

Solution? Pedicure, every two weeks. Rain or shine!  Putting on her calendar next.  My poor girl - questions I ask myself. When I am gone will anyone else notice? Will she be in so much pain that she acts out and no one knows it is a result of pain?  It tears at me. So, I can I document and hope that it is heard.

It's Puzzling

The 6 piece puzzle completed with dates on each piece.

It's Easy, Cheap and Fun!

Yet it took me years to try it.  

The puzzle is done! Up before 10am 6 out of 7 days!  Now to move it to 9:30 with a new puzzle.  

The DVD cost me only $.50 cents plus $4.95 for shipping off Amazon.  It was waiting for her yesterday morning and she was THRILLED!

Tonight will be spent selecting a new goal target, making the puzzle and starting again!  

If your person in need of a change can't wait 7 days, start with a lower number of pieces that they can earn in a day or even an hour! 

This is all about creating success.  I would never take a puzzle piece away, which may result in the loss of a positive association with the “earning” puzzles.  

How could you use this puzzling fun with your son, daughter, or client?

Sunday... 4 pieces earned

Waiting is such an evil concept for those living in the present.  Yesterday is any day before today and tomorrow is anytime beyond the now.

Lauren missed one day so far. She was mad! and I am relieved to say it wasn't on my watch.  The concept of "try again tomorrow" is hard for her to grasp.  One thing we can learn from our children that live in the present is that the present is the most important and squeeze every drop of life out of it!

She called me this morning at 9:30. I suppose to announce that she was up, so I immediately got excited about her receiving the next puzzle piece.  She has only two more days to go!

Then what? A new puzzle of course!  We will move the time to 9:30am!  Woo Hoo!

Enjoy every minute!

Creating Change in Patterns with Positive Approaches

Gluing on piece #2!

What does it take to get my daughter out of bed in the morning?

MOTIVATION!

Pondering how to get my nearly 30 year old daughter awake before noon or later after being up and busy a good deal of the night, I remembered a strategy offered up by Nathan Ory, my favorite behavior guy . 

My Girl has a team of support! She is in her own home with supported living so "choice" is a priority.  Creativity is Key in providing choice!  LG has different relationships with the different staff members so one person's approach works and another's doesn't.  Some of them can get her moving in a heartbeat and some can't.  

NEEDED A STRATEGY

To circumvent a melt down at lunch last Wednesday, I started drawing Arthur - yes that PBS aardvark on the back of the placemat.  It looked nothing like Arthur, so we searched google for a pic.  It hit me!  Make a puzzle out of the picture of a book that she wants.  "Arthur's Big Hit"  and have her earn her way awake in the mornings! 

I printed in color, glued to a piece of construction paper and cut into 6 pieces.  

She earns a piece for each day that she awakens and gets out of bed before 10 am.  We will keep moving the target earlier but need to set a realistic goal to begin. 

WE WANT HER TO SUCCEED

Yesterday, she got the first piece. This morning #2.  

I'll let you know how many days it takes!  And then... what we do next!

Hope you see the light show in the sky tonight. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/05/23/315130886/tonight-s-new-meteor-shower-could-be-a-great-one-nasa-says 

Trudy

Where would I Start?

Today, I receieved an email an in it I was asked " If you were to re-educate yourself on choices for your adult children where would you start?"

You ask a very interesting question. I am going to really think about that before I reply. I think my first response is to know that whatever I did, I did the best I could with the information and experience I had when those decisions were made. Knowing that life is fluid, assures me that change is always possible.

Meaningful Writing

I have never been much of a writer. I do feel that I gather and share so much information that it is a waste not to share it with the community at large.

I am going to stir my creative juices and see if I can't get some posts that matter on this blog.

You'll hear from me soon.

New Inspiration

I have been AWOL from the blog for some time now, a little over a year. I have decided that instead of wasting time of FB, I will now commit to blogging something that could be of value to someone, if not only me :)

Let's see how I do.