Tis the Season

Surviving Learning Disabilities — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:33:06 +0000

The holiday season touted as the happiest time of the year, can be anything but especially for families with children with learning disabilties. For many this a stressful and challenging time. A child who has learning disabilities may thrive on routine, quiet and structure. Where do we find these things during the next few weeks? Being able to keep overwhelm to a minimum will provide the best opportunity for a happy holiday. Do your best to provide a plan which includes time for quiet activities such as reading or watching a favorite show. Consider spreading activities over several days. For example, decorate the tree in phases.You can string the lights and then leave a box of ornaments for the kids to add to the tree a little at a time when the mood strikes them. Open presents throughout a day and night to allow time to regroup from the inherent over stimulation of too many gifts. Ask what the kids want to do.

The business world provides us with a strategic lesson we can use at home. Often times business requires tough decisions because resources such as time and money are limited. In order to prioritize and commit to a plan business managers apply the question to each request...is it a "nice to have" or a "need to have." We can apply the same questions to requests for our time and energy during the holidays. We have limited resources so we should carefull analyze each request and decide if it is something we need to have or if it is clearly optional. If there are mandatory things (like a visit to a favorite aunt or a trip to grandmas) make those non-negotiable need to haves. Going to five other holiday open houses may be declines as nice to haves. Have a family discussion about what else the family wants to do. By looking at our choices we can decide how to expend our resources.

Children are stretched to their limits by the time the holiday season arrives. They have battled new teachers, new schedules, and countless challenges just getting through the first three months of a new school year. We as parents have experienced our own battles and struggles to support our kids. Entering the holidays already running on near empty has the potential, if not properly managed, to create emotional meltdowns.

So, plan ahead. Clear the schedule as much as possible. Let everyone sleep more, relax, laugh and take in the splendor of a fresh snowfall or a quiet walk in the sunshine. Long after the gifts are forgotten and pictures languish in a digital camera, there will be memories etched forever in our hearts of a laugh, eyes filled with wonder and a hand that still fits right inside of yours. Finding ways to nurture those most important times are the challenges of all parents. May you have many such timeless memories this holiday season and may the New Year be one of happiness, good health and progress.

Nancy and Danielle