A Little Help from my Friends
Helping others is something I have always done, it is part of my nature, part of who I am. Through the years, I would come to realize I was not a reader or researcher of information, I was a people person. I would talk to as many people as I could and listen to their stories and their experiences. I could learn so much from feeling someone’s energy and emotion. It touched me more than reading an article or a book.
After we received Caden’s diagnosis of Autism, I become a sponge, absorbing any bit of information I could whether it be a therapy I had to try, or a strategy to use with my son at home, I wanted to hear it all. I knew I was fortunate to have a village of people around me that supported me. Having both my husband and myself being locals in our town, we knew a lot of people. I knew families who had gone through the journey we were about to take. I knew how lucky I was to be able to sit and talk to other moms that were miles ahead of me, wise from their trials and errors. I could learn so much from them. I was also very aware that there were so many other families that were not so fortunate. Families who would never know what could be provided for their child, if they only asked. Families who had no one to turn to to ask for advice and show them light at the end of a long tunnel.
I began Velcro Shoes as a way to get my feelings out and to remember everything I have been through. It was a place for me to slow down and pause, reflecting on the road I had been down and how far I had come, both myself and my family. It was therapy. Velcro Shoes is a place to share, to connect, to feel understood. It is a safe place, with no judgement. It is a place to learn and grow and to help others and to be helped when needed. I have learned so much in the past two years and have connected with some of the most amazing women and moms. Moms that have kids with special needs, no matter what the diagnosis, have an unspoken understanding and bond. We are a family.
I will continue to share all the amazingness that I discover on my journey. Sharing my story, and all that I know, I hope to help others by giving them knowledge, insight, perspective and hope. If I could help one person by speaking my truth, it is all worth it.
I am sharing with you what two amazing moms have created. I have connected with these women, and they are in one word, AWESOME… They are helping so many ,and like myself, want to share with others who are on a similar journey.
Wolf and Friends was started by two moms, Carissa and Gena. Carissa has a son who has Sensory Processing Disorder and Gena has two boys on the Autism Spectrum. That pretty much covers my family :). Obviously I was drawn to both of them immediately. They are doers, go getters, ball jugglers as I call us multitasking moms. Carissa and Gena created an app that connects moms with kids who have special needs. It allows you to find all kinds of resources in your area that could help you and your child. It is an amazing support system right at your fingertips.
Do yourself a favor and check them out! It still amazes me all the resources that are out there, and they are unknown to most. Wolf and Friends app is a wealth of information and is my new best friend! Keeping us moms inspired and motivated, they have some art prints (and more) that I now have plastered all over my kid playroom walls.
I am always looking for new tools I can use to help my boys learn new material and concepts. Because I have kids who learn differently, this has been difficult. Most learning materials are for a typical child who learns in a typical mainstream classroom. There are many different ways to teach - not just one. Education.com thinks outside the box and I am loving the material they have to offer…
Education.com is an online resource for parents and teachers to find the best tools to help their kids learn. “With thousands of teacher-crafted learning activities that sync up with the school year, we empower parents and teachers so each child’s needs and potential can take center stage.” Worksheets, games, activities, songs, stories and exercises, there are limitless options for your child to grasp concepts and understand the material they way they learn. The lessons are fun and engaging, with animated characters that will keep your child entertained.
I have one of their word searches below, but make sure you visit them and check out all they have to offer!
It's batter up for who can find all the hidden words in this baseball-themed word search! For more fun and educational activities, visit Education.com.
