Welcome to special words for special needs. I hope you had a great week!  The snow is flying here and the kids are thrilled.  I thought we would discuss what happens when all the "right", and by the book things fail.

This past summer my family and I began reworking the garden to enlarge it. As the weekends past I felt more and more tired. At first I though I was just over doing the heavy work. Then my hands and ankle began swelling and worst of all my hair began falling out in large handfuls.  There was something wrong. 

I went to the Dr. and talked it over. I took basic blood tests. Nothing came back as a problem so I was told relax, get outside and soak up some sunshine. My problems stayed for weeks. Finally I went back to the Dr. with chest pains and saw a floating Dr. I was told that I was "that age to lose my hair and get swollen painful joints".  

I had followed all the rules. I had gone to the Dr. and taken their tests and advice, but I was not being healed. Has your homeschooling hit such a point. You take your child to the Dr. and you follow what they say. Or you read the newest homeschooling book eager for answers but you are still left flat?

What exactly is the problem? Are you upset your child is not sitting for their work? Or are you more upset they don't listen to you when you ask them to sit? Look to the core of the behaviors. Treating the symptoms such as bad words doesn't fix the heart issues.  

Is your child's learning style different from yours?  If you are a reader and like to have your information given to you in a book. A child that has to touch, feel and dance to what they are experiencing and learning can seem too energetic. After all you learn best with a quiet concentration. This one I am finding to be tough, but once I realized that my daughter was a kinetic learner and had to touch everything, I was better able to reach her on her level. 
 
Here are some great TOS articles on learning styles:
Learning Styles-Auditory Learners "Tell Me"
Learning Styles-Kinesthetic/Tactile "Let Me"
Learning Styles-Visual Learners "Show Me"

Check the schedule, do we have time to home school? I, like many other SAHM, tend to get asked to help out here and there. Throw in some Dr. appointments, therapy sessions, and general fun days with the local homeschooling group. The schedule can become highly problematic. When we get to the point my three year old says "Where are we going today?" instead of "Good Morning" It is time to put on the brakes. Which has the priority? Homeschooling or the other things we allow to clutter our life? Set your family priorities and stick to them.
   
Ask a friend.  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend Proverbs 27:17

Use the resources the Lord has made available to you. 

Locate the problem. Is it learning style or is it a problem in time management? Ask a friend. Don't except just making it by. Set a goal to soar! 

I decided that I would not accept feeling ill. The thought that I should just accept falling apart was absurd enough to send me to a specialist. I found out that I have Lupus. Ladies are particularly affected by it. It is an autoimmune disease that gets worse with the sun exposure and hard work I had been doing in the garden. As it turned out the Dr.'s advice to get out in the sun was actually harming my health.  I was right to question. I was right to keep seeking an answer. I am now being treated for Lupus and plan on staying healthy and soaring!   

God Bless! Until next week, or stop over at my Site and say hello you are welcome!

Heather lives in West Virginia. She and her husband have been homeschooling their 5 children for 7 years.  Due to a genetic disorder their children have multiple special needs. Living life to the fullest for the glory of God is their goal!  Visit Heather's page at  www.homeschoolblogger.com/gfcfmomofmany/

Posted in specialneeds, 0 comments, Link
Leave a Comment