May Awareness Month and My Journey to Becoming Aware

Be sure to follow me and my journey! Comment to let me know of any events in your community to raise awareness of children’s issues.

I wasn’t always aware.

I wasn’t always informed.

Having a healthy child made us sheltered from the reality of so many families who have medically fragile children or kids with special needs.

When our son Zack was born, the world changed. Not just our own world, but how we saw the outside world.

Children’s charities, fundraisers and awareness days mean so much more to our family now. With Zack’s medical and developmental needs, we have so many issues that affect our family every day. Each Awareness Month we feel connected to the other parents on the same journey that we are on. Sometimes it is to celebrate, support or even just acknowledge our children and the obstacles that they face every day.

I’m so honoured to be a voice for Special Needs Parents on the Panel of Moms! I’m appreciative of PTPA for allowing me this forum not only for my own healing, but to also pass along the information that I have found so that you can stay informed, feel supported or even just feel thankful for the healthy children in your families.

Be Aware! Check back the first week of each month to stay informed! Find out how you can get involved, learn more or find creative ways to help your child deal with these issues by clicking the links below.

May’s National Awareness Issues
***Don’t forget McHappy Day on May 5th. Proceeds go to Children’s Charities.

Special Mother’s Day Gifts that Reach out to Mothers and Children in Need

Plan Canada has several gift options to help mothers in Developing Nations. Make a donation for a Home Birthing Kit so that a woman can become a mother with clean supplies for herself and her baby. Lots of other ideas to help bring fruit trees, clean water, books and sewing machines to mothers to keep their children healthy.
Donate to The Hospital for Sick Children. Their site offers creative gifts like a rocking chair ($40 donation) will allow a mother to disconnect tubes and wires and just hold their precious baby, as I did over two and a half years ago. I will never forget that moment of pure motherhood- when I could final do as every mother should and hold her precious baby and let him know that I would fight for him and never leave him. Or, make a donation of baking supplies ($15) so that older children can bake with Mom on Mother’s Day. Last year my beautiful boys made Rice Krispies squares in the shape of hearts. I loved how they all worked together to make me feel special (and let me sleep in). So many memories are created in the kitchen and every child, whether at home or in the hospital will want to make something special for their mommy!

North American Speech and Hearing Awareness Month

Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists on Facebook or Twitter!
Check out the signing dictionary or Download iPhone App for baby signs at My Smart Hands like I just did (free mini dictionary, full for $4.99)
SPECIAL OFFER! Know a child with a speech delay or need tools to develop more language with your young child? U-Play Mat from Play This Way is fantastic for language and speech development! Also a great tool for non-verbal children requiring augmentative tools to communicate! I follow its inventor, Dr. Jen on facebook and twitter (a supermommy of two sets of twins!). Purchase the U Play Mat from Play This Way, and download the manual for use with autistic or special needs children. ENTER THE CODE- tjzmommy10 for 10% off plus free shipping valid May 4 – May 11
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has great links for total communication issues, oral motor, etc.