Hello, friends! Are you checking in to read the second half of guest blogger, Christine Lester‘s post about why she almost missed EA/TEF Awareness Month? Or are you here to discover who won the book give away in honor of EA/TEF Month? Whatever reason you have for visiting DifferentDream.com today,, I’m glad you’re here.

At the end of yesterday’s post, Christine had her fingers in her ears and was singing “La La La, La La” to drown out her children’s prayers for snow. Since it wouldn’t be nice to leave her in such a precarious position, she’s going to finish the story before the give away winners are announced. Take it away, Christine!

Why I Almost Missed EA/TEF Awareness Week

My Mom Wish

I am pulling rank. Here is my mom wish. I wish that the bitter cold would take a vacation.  NOW! The barrage of croupy coughs is interrupting my sleep and more importantly my ability to function.  I bargain that yes, it can snow but again, I have rules:

1. It cannot interrupt our power as we rely heavily on our medical equipment.
2. It cannot alter our ability to grab bags and run to the doctor or hospital in a moment’s notice. This includes being snowed in or preventing emergency staff from reaching us if need be. This is a MUST…even if these little doe eyed children wish to be snowed in.
3. It should be noted that just because it snows it does NOT need to be so cold that my little one can’t breathe. Pretty please?

How I Celebrated EA/TEF Awareness Week

This is how I celebrated Esophageal Atresia & Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula Awareness month:

• A few times a week I force myself to write 2012 on that dwindling stack of checks made payable to our favorite Children’s Hospital or specialist.
• We go through our tour of waiting rooms and patient rooms waiting for the doctors to make an appearance. They gleefully ask how our break was and if we had a happy New Year. Before they depart they hand me a stack of prescriptions for yearly test, blood draws and the names of few other specialist they think we should see.
• This week I found humor when they asked what items they should do for a blood draw and I pulled out last year’s lab form (still uncompleted) to reference. When they shot me an evil glance I reminded them that there was ‘no rush’ and they wanted it done in my ‘free time’. Frankly, 2011 did not allow us much free time for unnecessary blood work. Especially since every admission and primary appointment results in a blood draw.
• Oh and the sleep studies and appointments with even more specialist just kept getting pushed aside for more pressing issues. “What was more pressing and important?” they ask.  How about GI bleed’s and not being able to eat solid food without choking or turning blue for starters.

Fun huh?

My New Year’s Resolution

I’m going to attempt to do better today. Consider it my New Year’s Resolution. Well, that and trying to spread the word about our Awareness Month before January ends!  So before the month is gone, here goes:

• For more information about EA/TEF Awareness month please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/161537773936267/ and click attend.
• Additional resources can be found on our national Bridging the Gap of EA/TEF website http://bridgingthegapofea-tef.com/home  or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bridging-the-Gap-of-Eatef-US/134886699886413?ref=ts.

Now, I need to schedule some more appointments, fill up a few more voice mail boxes, plead for a mental health day, and order checks. Hopefully, I can complete this all before the kids invite a blizzard to our doorstep! Let me wish you all a very healthy & happy New Year and an uneventful last day of EA/TEF Awareness Month.

Jolene’s note: Thanks, Christine, for so beautifully expressing what it’s like to be the parent of a child with EA/TEF. Now that my boy is grown up and on his own, I can smile about those days. But for those of you in the thick of things, including Christine and her family, you are often in my thoughts and prayers.

And the Winners Are…

And now, to top off DifferentDream.com’s EA/TEF Awareness festivities, here are the winners of this month’s book give way.

Amy Peedle is the winner of  Different Dream Parenting: A Practical Guide to Raising a Child with Special Needs.
Alisha Hauber is the winner of A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically or Chronically Ill Children.

Amy and Alisha, please send your mailing addresses via email, and your books will go out asap!

Thanks again, Christine, for ending EA/TEF month with a bang by sharing your story yesterday and today. I am praying for Billy, your family, and the doctors as you work together to solve your little boy’s esophageal issues.

Blessings to you friend,
Jolene

Well, the last two days of EA/TEF Awareness Month have arrived. And just in the nick of time Christine Lester managed to bang out a guest post in honor of the occasion. She’s been trying to write something since November, but life as the mom of a little boy with EA/TEF kept getting in the way.

Why I Almost Missed EA/TEF Awareness Month

I’ve been a bit overwhelmed in my life as lead superhero, advocate, and personal assistant for my child. My intention was to blog all month about everything EA/TEF related. But this year, having our awareness month in January when my child is battling EA/TEF complications seems a bit ironic to me. These same January days that we are trying to spread awareness are filled with the obligatory onslaught of yearly appointments and test. Any free time I have is used to hunker down and research new things to hand to the next doctor I see.

GPS Set for Local Children’s Hospital

I feel like lately my trusty vehicle’s navigation is set on the local children’s hospital. Try as I might I can’t alter its course.  I can’t even assume it’s just me, as all my other EA/TEF & VACTERL family is doing the exact same thing right now. The onslaught of January appointments has filled nearly every day on our brand new calendar. So much so, it’s now trickling into February and March. I pity our referral specialist as I fill her voicemail. When the voicemail box gets filled to capacity, I resort to emailing her. I’m sure she is considering taking a mental health day now.  Ah, a mental health day sure sounds divine. As I’m on the brink of a meltdown, all I can think of is that I have to order checks or I will be unable to pay all these copays!

Seriously, that’s how my mind works.
Order checks.
Then have meltdown.

Life in an EA/TEF Household

January in any EA/TEF household is hectic, including ours. I’m going warp speed through my to-do list and then I see my children trying to thwart my attempts to check some of these items off.  I watch my children gaze out the window willing it to snow. Instead of dreaming of a completed to-do list, they dream of multiple snow days, sledding, snowboarding, snowball fights, snow angels, igloo’s and lots and lots of hot chocolate! I even heard a rumbling that they wished we got snowed in!

Forgive me as I place my fingers in my ears and sing “La La La” loudly!

Does Christine lose her mind?
Have a meltdown?
Remember to order the checks?
Ever take her fingers out of her ears?
Tune in tomorrow for the rest of the story…and for the announcement of the winners of the book give away.
In the meantime…

Can You Relate?

Okay parents, can you relate to Christine’s experiences over the last few months? (Not just EA/TEF parents, but all parents of kids with special needs.)  How often do you feel like you’re losing your mind? What do you do to find it again? Leave a comment to show new parents they’re in good company!

And come back tomorrow for the rest of Christine’s story and to learn who won the book give away in honor of EA/TEF Awareness Month.

Trying not to lose my mind,
Jolene

Whoa, it seem like EA/TEF Awareness Month just started, but only a little more than a week of January remains.

Win a Free Book!

Though the end of the month is drawing nearer, you still have time to enter the drawing for one of my books for parents of kids with special needs. To enter the drawing so you have a chance to win either A Different Dream for My Child or Different Dream Parenting, go to this link. Read the article and leave a comment and, voila, you are entered. But hurry! Only comments left before midnight on January 29, 2012 to enter the drawing. The book winners will be announced in next Tuesday’s blog post at DifferentDream.com.

EA/TEF Community, Unite!

But wait! That’s not all! You can join in more EA/TEF Awareness Month fun here at DifferentDream.com. Go to last Tuesday’s post and check out the fascinating history of the development of EA/TEF in the United States. You’ll read about the pioneering surgeons and other doctors who created the surgeries that save EA/TEF babies now. If you’re the parent of a child alive because of EA/TEF surgery, leave a comment about the doctors, nurses, surgeons, and other health care workers you know who are pioneers in the field. Not only will they receive the public recognition they deserve, but also your information may help other parents find treatment for their kids.

Leave a Comment

With all that comment leaving, you may be too tired to leave another one here. Then again, maybe you have something important to say. In that case, leave a comment.

Jolene

Hey everybody, welcome to this week’s EA/TEF Awareness Month Tuesday feature! As you many recall, in the January 4th post, you learned 10 reasons to mark EA/TEF Awareness Month. Last Tuesday, you learned how being the parent of a child with EA/TEF inspired me to do what I do. You were invited to leave a comment at the end of that post to be entered into a drawing for a free book. (If you haven’t done that yet, do it now before the drawing closes at midnight on January 29, 2012.)

Guest Blogger Christine Lester to the Rescue

For this week’s post, I’d hoped one of DifferentDream.com’s EA/TEF guest blogger moms, Lori McGahan or Christine Lester would guest post. But their EA/TEF Awareness Month has been consumed with EA/TEF complications in their kids. So keep them in your prayers as they advocate for effective treatments.

Even though Christine is preoccupied with Billy’s concerns, she found time to send a link she recently found. It gives the most complete summary of modern medical history of EA/TEF treatment either of us have found. After poking around at the site and trying to contact it’s creators, I’ve concluded that they are no longer actively tending it. Still, it is worth reading. My gratitude for several generations of surgeons and for parents who consented to experimental surgeries and autopsies on their EA/TEF babies (long before the condition was named and abbreviated) grew with each paragraph read. Our children are alive because of these medical pioneers and grieving, gracious parents.

A Personal Connection to Dr. Keith Ashcraft

In the introduction to the history, two surgeons are given credit for compiling much of the background information: Dr. Nate Myers and Dr. Keith Ashcraft. My jaw dropped when Dr. Ashcraft’s name popped up. In 1997, he removed two-thirds of our son’s lower esophagus because it was believed to be pre-cancerous. His skill, compassion, and manner with our then 15 year-old-son were impressive. So impressive that in 2007, I asked Dr. Ashcraft for an interview while researching what became my first book, A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically and Chronically Ill Children. Many of his insights are included in the book. He’s also the fellow in the picture above.

The History of EA/TEF Medical Treatment

Without further ado, here’s the link to the page titled Esophageal Atresia and Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula…the Journey. Once you’re done reading that, you might want to check out this link about Dr. Keith Ashcraft. He retired from medicine in the early 2000s. He now spends his time painting and volunteering in Kansas City area elementary schools.

Would You Like to Say Thank You?

Our family is so grateful to the surgeons who gave our son a second chance to live: Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Pinch at the University of Nebraska Hospital in Omaha, Dr. James Hopkins at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, and of course, Dr. Keith Ashcraft at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

Is there a surgeon, GI doctor, nurse, therapist, or other health care professional you would like to thank? If so, leave a comment in the box below. Think of it as a chance to recognize those who gave your child the gift of life and to add your personal twist to the history of EA/TEF medical treatment. I can’t wait to hear about the people who helped your family.

Thanks again, docs,
Jolene

January is EA/TEF Awareness Month.Therefore, each Tuesday post at DifferentDream.com in January is dedicated to raising awareness of the birth anomaly that affects our first child and approximately 1 in every 4000 babies born.

10 Reasons to Mark EA/TEF Awareness Month in January

Last week’s Tuesday post listed 10 reasons to mark EA/TEF Awareness Month. Many of you listed your children (and some EA/TEF survivors listed themselves) as more reasons to mark the month. Thank you so much for sharing your stories and reminding all of us that the EA/TEF family is wide and deep.

Why I Write What I Write

This week’s post gets up close and personal. (Anybody else out there old enough to remember that slogan from the news coverage from the Winter Olympics way back when?) It’s a piece I wrote in December for a guest post for an author friend of mine, Melissa Tagg, an up and coming fiction writer who is on the verge of publication. (When you read her first book, remember you heard about her at DifferentDream.com first!) She asked me to blog about how my past experiences influence my writing. The resulting post, altered slightly, is a perfect fit for EA/TEF Awareness Month. See what you think.

Helping Faith Take Root

My husband came home from work a few weeks before Christmas with good news and bad news. The good news was that a co-worker had just become a grandfather. The bad news was that the newborn boy had a heart anomaly and wasn’t doing well.

“Can I give the family copies of your books?” my husband asked.

Now, you would think my answer must have been an immediate yes. But it wasn’t. I didn’t say a thing because I was busy thinking, “I have given so many books away already. Will anybody ever buy them? Will my writing income ever be greater than the expenses?”

A shocking internal reaction, don’t you think?

Thankfully, dollar signs didn’t hold my thoughts hostage for long. I remembered our son’s first December. Allen was seven months old by then and had endured two Lifeflight helicopter rides, two major surgeries, three hospitalizations, and dozens of medical tests and treatments to correct a type C EA/TEF. He’d recently transitioned from tube feeding to using a bottle to take in the breast milk I pumped for him four times a day. My husband and I were exhausted by lack of sleep, constant worry, and frequent trips to the hospital, a 240 mile round trip from the remote South Dakota town where we lived.

What kept us going?

The encouragement of friends and neighbors in the tiny town where we lived. While Allen was hospitalized for three weeks after his birth, they cleaned our house, cared for our garden, and sent notes. Once we brought Allen home, a pastor and his wife came every week to do a Bible study with us and answer our questions about why a loving God would allow a little baby to endure so much. A local fundraiser in November netted over $1500.

For a town with a population of 92 in a county of about 1500, it was big money!

As Christmas drew closer, the familiar story of a baby in a manger held new meaning to me. For the first time, as the parent of a precious child who had experienced great pain, I understood the magnitude of God’s gift to mankind. He sent his Son to a world stained by sin and evil, even though he knew the pain Jesus our Savior would bear. What joy to be loved by a God willing to sacrifice so much to save us from our sin.

My faith and gratitude grew deep roots that Christmas.

Roots that waited more than two decades to bear fruit. The fruit took the form of two books full of resources and encouragement and answers for parents facing the same exhaustion and doubts we once did. Two books for families like the man who works with my husband.

“Of course,” I said. “Take both books to them.”

The little baby had surgery a few days after that. Today we received word that he’s not getting better. The family is stricken, not up to reading anything. But one day they will start looking for encouragement. One day they will ask hard questions. Depending on the answers they find, their faith will either shrivel and die or take root and grow.

I’m praying that these books will help their roots to grow.

Let’s Keep Those Dollar Signs from Holding Me Hostage Again

Now you know where EA/TEF and my faith intersect. So in honor of EA/TEF Awareness Month and in an effort to keep those dollar signs from taking me hostage again, I’m giving away one copy of each of my books on the last day of January. To enter the drawing, leave a comment below about how your child’s special need has changed you. Or if you are an adult living with a special need diagnosed in childhood, leave a comment about how it affected your life. You must leave your comments between today and midnight on January 29 to be entered in the drawing.

Ready, set, go!
Jolene

Most people in the northern hemisphere associate January with breaking resolutions made with the best of intentions, making the best of cold and dark and snow, and spending three weeks forgetting to record the day’s date with the number of the new year instead of the old one. But some parents associate January with EA/TEF Awareness Week because we’re the parents of kids born with esophageal atresia, also known as tracheoesophageal fistula. Why is it important to raise awareness of EA/TEF each January? Here are 10 good reasons:

#10: Most People Haven’t Heard of EA/TEF

It’s hard to believe this condition is relatively unknown when 1 in 4000 newborns are diagnosed with it.

#9: About One-Half of Babies Born wit EA/TEF Will Have Trouble with GERD

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is most often associated with adults who have chronic heartburn. But EA/TEF babies often deal with GERD (our son did and still does) because the esophageal sphincter valve into the stomach is not formed correctly or is missing. Untreated GERD can result in Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition.

#8: Children with EA/TEF Tend to Vomit Often

We’d like you to know our kids don’t have the stomach flu when they throw up in the restaurant. A EA/TEF esophagus has strictures that sometimes won’t let the food go down, especially if something gets stuck. So our kids sometimes have to throw up.

#7: Children with EA/TEF Are Born with Some Form of Tracheomalcia

Our doctor described tracheomalcia as a trachea without the cartilage fully developed. Therefore, the trachea walls are floppy, and the baby’s breathing sounds wheezy and asthmatic. Our doctor said the cartilage would eventually form, and our son’s did. But his breathing was wheezy and his cough very barky until about age 5. By then, we were all pretty tired of the nasty looks and comments from strangers when they heard his croupy sounding cough.

#6: Because Treatment of EA/TEF Hasn’t Improved by Leaps and Bounds

Our son was born in 1982 when pediatric surgery was just emerging from the dark ages. In the 30 years since, treatment hasn’t changed very much, at least not when compared to treatment for kids with pediatric cancers and other, better known childhood ailments. With greater awareness comes a greater push for change.

#5: Because EA/TEF Is Rarely Prenatally Diagnose

The prenatal clues to EA/TEF are a small stomach or no stomach bubble, high levels of amniotic fluid, and vessel cord anomalies (2 vessel cords). If a mother has any of those conditions, she could ask her doctor to move her delivery to a hospital with a high level NICU. Then the baby won’t be separated from the mother if surgery is required.

#4: Grey’s Anatomy Recently Featured EA/TEF in an Episode

Hey, we’re on an awareness roll. Let’s keep it going! Click here to view Dark Is the Night.
Click here to see the Grey’s Anatomy Dark Is the Night Case File, which does a pretty good job of explaining EA/TEF.

#3: Guest Blogger Christine Lester’s Son Billy Was Born with EA/TEF Complications

BTW, Billy has been struggling with EA/TEF complications since before Thanksgiving this year. Keep the family in your prayers!

#2: Guest Blogger Lori McGahan’s Son Brandon Is an EA/TEF Kid, Too

Lori is passionate about raising awareness concerning EA/TEF. Check out Bridging the Gap of EA/TEF the website she created. It is packed with information.

#1:My Son Allen Was an EA/TEF Baby, Too

No parent can forget the moment of diagnosis, sending a precious baby off to surgery instead of taking him home. Those who have walked that road want to accompany other parents who are still on the journey. We want to help them bridge the gap between their dreams and reality.

More Reasons?

What reasons do you have for marking EA/TEF Awareness Month this January? Leave a comment!

Jolene

This month, www.DifferentDream.com is tackling some heavy issues: grief during the holidays, medical debt, the Easter Seal’s report about the lack of early intervention services in many states. So today we’re taking a break from the doom and gloom to focus on a success story.

Meet Susan and Eytan Nisinzweig

Susan is the mother of Eytan her son who experiences autism. Eytan, at 25, is gainfully employed, earning a steady pay check, despite his limited social and language skills. He leads sing alongs at local preschools, churches, and senior centers.

Steps to Success

In an article at www.abilitypath.org, Susan explains three steps leading to Eytan’s success:

• The Happiness Factor: Answering the question, “What puts a smile on your child’s face?” helped Susan focus on Eytan’s strengths rather than his weaknesses.
• Picture the Possibilites: Once she’d identified what Eytan could do, she thought about how to translate that into a job.
• Pave the Way to Success: Before Eytan led his first sing along, Susan taught him appropriate social behaviors so he could succeed.

What Puts a Smile on Your Child’s Face?

But don’t take my word for it. Read the entire article at www.abilitypath.org. It’ll put a smile on your face. Then come back and complete step one. Leave a comment about what puts a smile on your child’s face. This could be the start of something big!

Jolene

To answer the second question first, April Brownlee is a new guest blogger at DifferentDream.com. Scroll to the very bottom of the guest blogger page to read her bio. To answer the second question, read April’s first blog post.

Warning: Those with squeamish stomachs are advised to get a bucket before reading further

Random Acts of Vomit

“You know, If she were a dog, we’d probably get rid of her. Or at least make her go outside for the day,” I told my husband not so long ago after cleaning up a variety of various excretions my daughter, Catie, left in my home and car. Of course I was kidding. I love my Catie more than anything. Humor is just how I get by. Especially, when raising a child whose GI issues mean lots of “presents” to be cleaned.

I like to call it Random Acts of Vomit. I never know when it’s coming. When she was a toddler, Catie would barf in some random place in our house and go on about her business. It might be hours before I would walk by and discover her unsavory deposit. Catie is just used to it. And now, so are we.

The Importance of Be Prepared

We’ve learned to carry barf bags, paper towels and other such supplies in our car. We know when Catie says she has to “go,” she really, really means it. Really. When we travel, we pack twice as many outifts as she will need. It’s kind of funny how methodical we’ve become about it. Restaurants seem to be a popular place for one of Catie’s Random Acts of Vomit. I can almost sense when it’s about to happen.  I feel like a medical alert dog sensing an impending seizure. I was so proud of myself during a recent meal at On the Border. I looked at Catie and something about her prompted me to grab my napkin and head for her mouth. I could not have been more precise in my timing. She did her business in the napkin.I disposed of it. And no one else had a clue. It was truly a shining moment for this mom. I have been well trained.

The Consequences of Being Unprepared

This incident, of course, follows one particularly mortifying occurrance at the American Girl Bistro where I wasn’t nearly as on cue. If you’ve never been to an American Girl Store, let me tell you… it is wall to wall pink and red and as girly as a place can be. It is a poofy paradise of little girls, their look-a-like dolls and their moms, all dressed to the nines. As we sat in our posh, pink seats in the middle of the restaurant, Catie shot her business across the table with no warning. “Wow! That was like something out of The Exorcist,” my best friend, Delpha, remarked.

Yeah.

The Importance of a Strong Stomach

I guess every parent learns to get over themselves and develop a strong stomach. But some of us get more than our fair share. And I like to be acknowledged for it. I have my hands full.  I’m not always great at juggling it all, but I keep on, because that’s what parents do. And when you have a child with special needs, there’s not many opportunitites to take a break and pat yourself on the back. But I should. And so should you. Being acknowledged for your contributions as a parent is always important. Even more so when you’re challenged daily by extremes.

Which Camp Are You In?

I’m guessing readers of this post will fall into one of two camps. Those who think this post is disgusting because they don’t have kids who commit random acts of vomit and think the post is disgusting. And those who are falling off their chairs laughing because they do have kids who commit random acts of vomit. For your information, I fall into the second camp. And I can’t stop laughing. Leave a comment about which of the two camps you’re in. Or come up with a new camp and tell us about it, too.

Giggling myself silly,
Jolene

Today, guest blogger Amy Stout wraps up her series about what triggers meltdowns in kids with sensory issues and strategies parents can use to help them cope. In this final post, she addresses issues that didn’t fit in Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3. Hopefully, you’ll find this post as full of practical information as the other three!

Childhood Meltdowns: Triggers and Coping Strategies,
Part 4

Strategies that Work in Numerous Scenarios and Situations

• Deep Joint Pressure Many children crave or need deep joint pressure. After experiencing this kind of stimulation, they are able to focus, concentrate, and cope much better. A great way to obtain joint pressure is by jumping (a mini tramp with handle works great), chewing on a chewy tube, trapeze swinging, climbing and “heavy work” (pushing a wagon or pulling a wagon of heavy toys or books, helping to carry in groceries, etc).
• For children who crave sensory textures: sand play, Play Dough, water play, popcorn box (Rubbermaid box full of popcorn kernels to scoop and pour), Moon Sand play, Bubber play, Bath foam, Shaving Gel, Orbeez, Theraputty and etc.
• Chomping and Sucking: My daughter usually calms quickly if she can suck on a lollipop or chew on ice.
• Squeezing or Sandwiching: My daughter loves to be squeezed between cushions or pillows. We also do a family hug that she calls “Hug Hide” (because you can’t see her when my husband and I hug with her between us). She also loves when we sit really close on the couch and she is in between (being squeezed).
• Regulate Temperature: We love Cherry Pit Packs as they can be cooled or heated (you can even select the fabric). My daughter will often hold one or sleep with one.

When your child starts to “lose it” in, what I call, a “Grand Mal” Meltdown, it is very difficult to step back and try to analyze what the triggers could be. But if you do, you will start to realize patterns in their behavior and what led up to the meltdown. You will also learn techniques and ways to anticipate the meltdown so that you can hopefully avoid many of them in the future.

When Meltdowns Occur, Remember the Following

• Safety should be the utmost priority. If your child is thrashing, move your child to the center of the room away from furniture or toys that can hurt.
• Ensure safety of other children or adults.
• Assure your child that it is okay to be angry or upset, but it is NOT okay to lash out at others. We need to be kind to our friends. (I often empathize with my daughter and tell her that I am so sorry that she is sad/hurting/upset – I really think she knows that I am genuine and instead of viewing me as an enemy, she sees that I care about her.)
• Remain calm. Speak quietly or don’t speak at all. Sometimes, just stepping outside the room helps to calm things very quickly. Stay close so you can monitor safety though.
• Turn down lights, Turn off sounds, and dig into your treasure chest of experience to offer chewy tubes, sensory items, or ice for calming.
• Try not to worry about what others are thinking, but if you need to, simply tell them that your child is having a hard time and that you apologize if you are disturbing them. Most people will be understanding, and for those who are not, maybe they will read this article and realize that there is more to good parenting than meets the eye. Some of our jobs are a tad bit more difficult than others.
• When this occurs in our home, sometimes, I will stop what I am doing and pray aloud for my daughter. I want to reinforce that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us, who cares and who will help if we but ask.

When it is all over, make sure your child knows you are not angry, but that you want to help them through this very difficult time. Embrace your child (if she will allow it) and assure her of your unconditional love and your willingness to walk through this challenge with her.

What Can You Add?

Guest blogger Amy Stout’s series covered a lot of ground. But perhaps you’ve dealt with a meltdown caused by a trigger she didn’t mention. If so, leave a comment about what happened and how you helped your child cope. And be sure to visit Amy’s site at http://histreasuredprincess.blogspot.com for more information, humor, and inspiration.

Jolene

Today’s post is the third in a four part series about childhood meltdowns, their triggers, and strategies parents can use to help their children cope with them. In this entry, guest blogger Amy Stout talks about how to evaluate triggers in the external environment, your child, and the temperature to locate and cope with triggers. Click on these links to read Part 1 and Part 2.

Childhood Meltdowns: Triggers and Coping Strategies,
Part 3

Evaluate the External Environment

There might be something outside of your home that is causing your child significant anxiety.

• Do you live near an airport?
• Do you live near a military base?
• Do you live near railroad tracks?
• Do you live near a police or fire station?
• Are there dogs barking quite often in your neighborhood?
• Does someone play music loudly outside your home?
• Is there a tornado siren station near your home?

Strategy: Setting your child’s expectations is key to your child being able to cope with these types of public services that can catch your child off guard.

• Show your child a picture of what the item is. Explain what or why the thing is important. Chart the expected time that your child might hear the sound. Give your child coping strategies and permission to use them. (Example: It’s okay if you want to cover your ears or put your headphones on.)
• Role play with toys. (Example: A fire truck siren goes off, because the fireman wants to keep us safe and take care of our house.)
• Assure your children they are safe. (Examples: Dogs are behind fences. Policemen will take care of you. Trains are just passing through. Airplanes are taking people to vacation.)

Evaluate Your Child

Take a look at your child.

• Eliminate the possibility that they are hurt.
• Eliminate the possibility that they are hungry or thirsty.
• Are they trying to communicate something to you?
• Take notice of their toys. What kind of play were they involved in? Does it tell you anything?
• Have they recently read a book or watched a TV show or news that may have frightened them and they are continually replaying it over in their mind?
• Does your child have any phobias?

Strategy: Be aware of your children and their surroundings. Meet their physical needs to eliminate those from the checklist of things that could be causing discomfort.

Evaluate Your Schedule

• Do you possibly have too many activities scheduled?
• Does your child get enough time with you?
• Is there enough time between activities to ensure you are not rushing your child?
• Does your child WANT to be involved in external activities?
• Are the activities a good fit for your child’s talents and gifts?
• Are other children at the activities supportive of your child?
• Is the activity an emotional “safe place” for your child?

Strategy: Many children have difficulty with transition. They have difficulty processing the unknown. It is very important that you allow enough time for things to be as unrushed as possible. You will need to let your child know what to expect and give them many reminders that you will be leaving soon, time to get shoes on, etc. If your child needs a transitional/comfort item, allow it and do not belittle for having one.

What Can You Add?

Do you have some strategies to add in these categories? If so, leave a comment. If you have the time, mosey on over to Amy’s website, http://histreasuredprincess.blogspot.com, to read more posts about life with a child who has autism. And come back tomorrow for the final post in this series.

Jolene