So I have made a promise to myself and it is called You will watch the first 20 minutes of a popular national morning show every day!

Not always is there time or am I in front of the TV so I am even taping it to watch later in the morning if I have to.

But I am going to keep this promise.

I made this promise to myself because I have sometimes been the person who goes around saying What happened? When did this happen? …

And I hope the person I am talking to will have the required time and patience to fill me in.

So as I am keeping this promise I am now so very inundated with information about the world. The stresses, challenges and changes each day brings.

The one thing that stands out for me in all this is that the world really does swirl around us. And for most of us, OUR world swirls around as well. So we have these 2 swirling things that affect each other and cause effects to each other.

The topic of school and masks and vaccines is making the return to school probably bigger and more anxiety producing than we ever thought possible.

This is a fact for everyone.

Now add the variable when you have a child with special needs.

Now feel the stress grow.

I can feel stress for Elizabeth and how this all affects her world and she is no longer in school. For those who don’t already know, Elizabeth is my daughter with special needs. She has Dyspraxia and Sensory Processing Disorder ( SPD). Life for her includes managing these disorders all day, everyday. Will her work continue? What we she do if things shut down again? How will she feel? And on and on….

But for those in school, the stress is so different and compounded by the fact that pandemic or not, the IEP meeting needs to happen or the evaluation still must be scheduled. Let alone, the private therapies the need scheduled.

The needs of your special needs child need addressed and items for them put in order, pandemic or not.

I know that when I used to have to hunt for papers or records or remember the last conversation I had with the school, I can feel a wash of slight panic until I find them.

And the papers and forms just keep coming.

So something maybe to consider doing this year is to fine tune your record keeping regime for the sake of peace of mind.

Maybe instead of the pile labeled 2021-2022 school year ( Yes, I did that one year early on and it wasn’t pretty by only the half year mark) It may be the right time to make folders for the following:

School papers (general)

Therapy reports/communications

IEP Records

Communications with teacher

Communications with other school professionals

Medical reports

And more.

Then put them all into a bin to use as a make shift filing cabinet.

Then you will know what to do right away with a paper that arrives home. And sometimes in a world of crazy organizing a small piece of it can do wonders for keeping the clutter down.

Knowing that last year’s school year left holes in records or communications can make doing this organization this year even more important. This way when the school calls and asks a question or needs a letter, you will know right where to find it.

And that can bring you some peace.

And any peace of mind currently is more than welcome.

I wish everyone a peaceful week and please wear a mask. Stay Safe!

Michele Gianetti author of “I Believe In You”

I know there are days that after I wake up and give thanks for the fact that I WOKE up and have my family with me, I take a huge breath and wait for the wash of thoughts and concerns to show themselves again.

These are the same thoughts and concerns I probably left the night before and ones I probably had the day before.

But there they are.

Right back where I left them.

So I begin the morning, half in thought and half in prayer and planning on what I can do to make these situations that worry me better.

I can honestly say that there are days when it seems that everyone I love so much is in my thoughts for one reason or another. I do this thing where I mentally picture the face of the people I love, one by one, and think about what is tugging at my heart about them.

What is my concern?

What is my worry?

What can I do for them?

What comes to mind for me is the analogy of when someone puts something “on the back burner” . This expression can be familiar to many. It means that something doesn’t require immediate attention, that you can come back and revisit it at a later time. It is simmering along, not boiling.

This is kind of how I see the concerns of each person are they simmering or boiling?

Some are simmering along and just need a bit of stirring, some are boiling and need attentions NOW! Some simmer one minute and boil like heck the next.

I know that this is par for the course. Right? It comes with the territory and all the love you feel for your family and friends.

But I have to say that as a mom of a child with special needs these emotions come stronger and more frequently as we navigate our child through life. As we become their advocate and voice. As we try to catch the small issues before they take root and become big ones that are harder to help them with. We know their pots can boil faster and stronger.

I know there are days that seem there are 5 pots boiling for Elizabeth at any one time. She is my daughter with special needs. She has SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) and Global Dyspraxia. Both disorders affect her days, all day, everyday. And the anxiety she feels due to the disorders can boil a pot in no time.

I don’t go looking for the pots to boil. They do that all on their own. But I do have to say, for Elizabeth, I am always keeping one eye on the pots to see just how close to boiling they are getting.

Does she look extra nervous about doing_________?

Why did she shy away from doing this when she loved it before_________?

Always sort of evaluating and always sort of keeping an eye on the pots.

I know that that is what we must do. And I know that I am no different in doing this.

But the one thing I want to share that I have learned on this 24 year journey with Elizabeth is that sometimes, when all the pots for her are simmering or even MOST of the pots for her are simmering……

To enjoy it.

To enjoy the moment.

To enjoy the peace for as long as you are able.

Because you know that you will never not react when the pot boils, you will. And you will do your best to help your child ,as you have always done, to get them back to a simmer. To help them succeed as best as they can in this thing called life.

I had the moments this week when literally all the pots for Elizabeth were just….simmering.

And I was thankful

And I enjoyed them.

I offer this out to those who may need to hear this and who may be smiling at my long running analogy. But the big takeaway is that it is so important to take the peaceful moments and rejoice and enjoy them. Take the good when it comes and let it in fully.

I wish everyone a peaceful week and please stay safe and wear a mask!

Michele Gianetti author of Elizabeth Believes in Herself