Confessing to be a bonafide Tita is like owning up to your real age, right? Because Aunties are supposed to be old. Hahahaha. My eldest nieces already finished school and are working now, so whatever! 🙂
I continue to be thankful for having the chance to witness my nephews and nieces grow up and become their own persons. I love being able to care for them, spoil them, teach them a lesson or two, and just to be able to be a part of their lives.
That is a gift I will always always treasure.
***Day 3 post for 30 Days of Thankful 2018 series.
We didn’t prepare much for last night’s Halloween Party at 19th Street, yet I still think it went quite well.
The youngest (human) resident of #99 was the star of the show – in these photos she she was trying on the masks that the two competing teams made on-the-spot for her:
Though she may not look like she’s having fun, I really think she was!
A major difference this year – we had no candy! Yup, no sweet treats for everyone though we still had sugar rush thanks to the drinks and donuts.
Today, I am kicking off 30 Days of Thankful 2018 with a big thank you to everyone for indulging me in keeping up with this wonderful tradition that I truly hope we continue for many many many years to come: our annual Halloween party.
Last night was all about coming together and having loads of fun. We didn’t have to proclaim a best in costume winner because it wasn’t about dressing up or putting on scary make-up. There was no prize for the winning team apart from the recognition for a job well done, because it wasn’t about bringing home a prize.
It’s an opportunity to spend time with family and laugh so hard. It’s a chance to play games and be silly. And yes, it also gives us a reason to dress the kids up and take photos that we can blackmail them with for when they grow up. Like this one, my favorite Halloween photo so far, from 10 years ago:
And I already have an idea for next year’s party, one that I’m writing down now so we don’t forget: Favorites. And scavenger hunt.
How did you spend Halloween?
**30 Days of Thankful is an annual album project started by Cathy Zielske. I made an album for last year, and I decided to try to write a daily post for this year. I may also still decide to do a physical album because, why not?
Tantrums and Meltdowns in Kids | Stitches & Words http://verabear.net
Is Your Toddler Having a Tantrum or Suffering from Sensory Processing Disorder?
Do you have a child who seems to act out all the time? Perhaps you chalked it up to a temper tantrum, common behavior for toddlers. Has their behavior has become not only disruptive and embarrassing but potentially harmful and frequent? Though this could very well be nothing more than your tiny tot trying to find their voice and express their emotions, it is also a real possibility that they’re suffering from something else.
Tantrums and emotional meltdowns as a result of sensory processing disorder or lack of self-control may appear to be the same, however, they are very different from each other. Having a clear understanding of these differences can help you learn how to parent in a manner in which supports your child’s growth and development.
What’s a Tantrum?
A tantrum is an emotional outburst that children display when trying to communicate their needs or wants. You might notice this occur if you’re paying attention to your phone and your kid wants your attention, or when they can’t have a treat or play with a toy. A tantrum can manifest through screaming, kicking, crying, and lashing out. They may not be able to fully express themselves in these scenarios and may have a valid reason for trying to communicate with you, however, a toddler who is catching tantrums is on some level able to control their emotions and behavior. You can tell because when provided with what they want, they’re able to quickly stop their negative behavior.
What’s a Meltdown?
Meltdowns are emotional outbursts as a result of feeling overwhelmed. For children suffering from a sensory processing disorder, their meltdowns essentially mean that there’s too much information to be processed. They might start screaming in a crowded grocery store because of all the commotion and bright lights. They may kick and yell to take off their clothes if the seams are causing irritation. In these circumstances, they’re unable to control their responses to feeling overwhelmed. Unlike a tantrum that is often resolved by getting a response, a meltdown can continue to occur even after giving the child what they want or removing them from an environment they’re overly sensitive to.
How to Deal with Tantrums and Meltdowns
Now having a clear understanding of the differences between a tantrum and a meltdown, you can make more effective decisions as a parent. How can you prevent or minimize the likelihood of them occurring? If they do occur, what should your response be? Below are some answers:
Tantrums – To deal with a child who’s catching a tantrum, it is imperative that you don’t give in to what they’re asking for. This reinforces their behavior and makes it harder to stop the next time. Instead, acknowledge their feelings, express to them a better way to communicate with you, and then after they’ve corrected their behavior if you want you can provide them with whatever it is they’re after.
Meltdowns – If your child suffers from meltdowns due to sensory processing disorder the best thing you can do is either remove the triggers or remove them from environments that overstimulate the senses. If they cry every time they have to get dressed you would seamless sensitivity products to soothe their frustrations. If you’re in a crowded space, try to get somewhere you can be alone and help your child to calm down and refocus.
Tantrums are negative displays of emotion to get what they want or need. Meltdowns are often uncontrollable emotional responses to overly stimulating environments or circumstances. Knowing the difference between the two is imperative to your child’s growth and development. It also helps you to understand them in a way that helps you to be a more effective parent. If your child continues to have tantrums and meltdowns, you may want to check with their pediatrician to ensure they don’t have any other developmental issues that could be causing the behavior.
The 100 Day Project for 2017 officially kicked off on April 4th. Everyone is encouraged to participate by choosing an action to undertake and share in the next 100 days. It’s a global art project that anyone can participate in.
My action? I chose two.
#100daysofhandlettering
As a little girl, I admired the way my Auntie Leesah would letter words in big chunky characters. In high school, I would envy classmates who did creative lettering on their notebooks and letters. I’d try my hand at it sometimes, but I never really felt like I did them quite as well. I even bought nibs and ink for calligraphy work but gave up on it after just a weekend running around in my Grandmother’s house trying it out. I wonder where those have ended up?
Now, I still do some lettering but mostly I doodle. Still not as quite as beautiful as others I like looking at. But a hundred days of practice should help me get better, right?
So far, I haven’t been able to post daily but I certainly try my best. Here are my posts so far:
#100daysofyarnprojects
Oooh. I cannot even tell you how many times I have given up on being ‘artistic.’ I’ve given up on drawing or painting. I’ve always thought I just wasn’t good enough at any of those things. But with yarns… there’s something I could really be good at. I’m not an expert, not at all, but I love making stuff with my hands. And it is working on my yarn projects that make me happy, joyful, alive.
My crochet and knit work are nowhere near perfect. I frog many times. But I keep going. I seldom give up on any project although I have abandoned one or two only to return to it with fresh eyes a few months later. I wish I could actually do 100 yarn projects in 100 days but I can only commit to hooking for the same period. I don’t have a target for how many completed works I’ll have after a hundred days, but I sure hope to learn new stitches and challenge myself as a yarn artist.
To no surprise, I am also behind on this project but that’s not a problem. There is freedom in knowing that I can simply take action again the next day, pick up the hook again and carry on. I guess the point of the project isn’t really in posting every day for a hundred days, but to commit to creating something and following through.
If you would like to join in, just choose an action you would like to undertake, create your unique hashtag and announce it on Instagram. Jump in anytime!
The truth is, I could live without watching any of Manny Pacquiao’s matches. I would rather enjoy the traffic free streets of the city (although today was the exception, or so I hear), but when your entire family stays home for the Live show via Pay-Per-View, you stay put.
Oh yes you stay put lest you miss out on this:
Three generations – Grandpa (my Daddy), Amir (aka Beloved Prince), and Vlad (aka brother bear, or Amir’s Daddy). This was before the match started and we were patiently watching the undercard. Or just hanging out. Or singing and dancing to whatever Amir was singing or dancing to.
And then when Pacquiao was finally being introduced to the crowd, Amir had quickly changed into his Manny P shirt, but refused to pose for pictures:
Oh he was playing with us. His dad placed him in front of the TV and he just kept laughing! He then posed with his hand raised showing Number 1, but he was right next to me and I couldn’t get his arm in with the photo.
Though Amir wasn’t watching so much as looking at the TV from time to time, he sure knew how to cheer on with the rest of us – he echoed most every “Oi!,” “Sige pa!” “Go, go, go, Manny!” At the end of the match – he celebrated too. “He’s a winner!”
It was so cute. Haha.
So what I’m trying to say is that, boxing fan or not, I’d still stay home to see the match if it meant bonding time with the family. And I still couldn’t get through a match without thinking of my grandfather who was the certified boxing fan.
