We live just a few blocks away from my daughter’s elementary school, so (despite her sometimes very loud objections) we walk to class every day. I feel fortunate that we can do that, and realize not every one can. But nearly every day, I witness things that make me cringe: drivers speeding through the neighborhood, talking on cell phones, ignoring pedestrians. And what really gets me is, most of these careless drivers are parents with children in the back seat.

Imagine this: You have a small child, and you naturally want that child to be a good reader. To accomplish this goal, you keep all books and reading materials away from the child until he turns 4 1/2 and you deem him ready. Make sense? Of course not! You start early, let the child develop an interest in books, then slowly introduce new concepts and let your child soak it all in. I firmly believe that the same is true of driving. Good driving behavior is learned early and must be reinforced often! If you weave in and out of traffic, run red lights, speed, yell at fellow drivers and are a general hazard on the road, you can’t expect your child to ignore your behavior until he’s 16 and you’re ready to set a good example.

Adults, including mothers, seem to be forgetting their place as role models when it comes to driving. A scary statistic was recently released: the number of women arrested for drunk driving has increased almost 30% in the past 10 years. (Interestingly, the number of men arrested for the same crime decreased by 7.5% over the same period.) This was sadly illustrated in July of this year when Diane Schuler of New York drove 2 miles on the wrong side of the road on Taconic State Parkway, then crashed her minivan killing her 2 year old daughter, three nieces and three men in the other vehicle. Her blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, and she had marijuana in her bloodstream. (To be fair, Schuler’s husband is denying that alcohol was involved and thinks she suffered a stroke of some kind. Tests are still being done.) It makes me wonder how many children are watching their parents drink and drive (without a tragic crash) and are picking up on the message that it’s okay.

Even if we aren’t drunk drivers, as parents we need to realize that our children are not oblivious to our behavior. If we are cautious, focused people who take driving seriously, they will learn that driving is a BIG DEAL.- important enough to do all by itself without phones and text messages, mascara wands and newspapers (we’ve all seen it!). If, however, we believe that our children will do as we say, not as we do, then we are contributing to the next generation of careless, reckless drivers. Let’s all give that some thought the next time we get behind the wheel with our little ones.

Many of us have experienced needing a softer or firmer mattress than our partner.  One sleeps soundly (perhaps even snoring, as if to rub it in), the other does not.  My rooster and I have gone through numerous beds the past eight years, trying to find one that works for both of us.  Eventually, it felt like neither of us got any sleep.

Finally, we found a great solution: an organic mattress with layers of latex foam, split in the middle so we can customize how soft or firm we each want “our side” of the bed to be.   It has three layers of natural latex on each side that are interchangeable, allowing versatility in the firmness.  We ordered ours from The Natural Sleep Store, which had great options for natural beds, bedding and pillows.  Although we did not initially seek it, we really appreciate that the materials are organic and natural, and still fire resistant per federal regulations despite not having chemical retardants in more common mattresses.   We like our bed so much, that after a year, we also added an organic latex topper to our chick’s bed.  She loves it.  She sleeps more comfortably and soundly through the night, and we feel good about the product.

So to those of you tossing and turning at night (unless you are the lucky one who sleeps soundly), think about a change that is natural, safe and comfortable for everyone.

Wherever you are, whether an office, classroom or social event, count the number of women in the room – and one in eight will have breast cancer in their lifetime.  If you don’t know anyone who has had breast cancer, the statistic may not mean so much, but it should.  Although it is linked to genetics, like any disease it does not know the boundaries of a genetic line.  It could be you, or someone close.

The great news is that there are things you can actively do to limit your chances of breast cancer.  This month is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it is a great time to learn more and take steps to reduce your risk.  Following are some key things you can do, according to the American Cancer Society:

• Catch it before it catches you.  Do monthly self exams.  Get annual mammograms.  This is especially important for women over 40.  For women in their 20s and 30s, clinical breast exams should be done at least every 3 years.
• Eat right.  Eat a healthy diet, and try to control your weight.  Obesity raises breast cancer risk.
• Get up and Move.  Regular exercise, at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, helps reduce the risk.
• Talk to you doctor.  Perhaps most important, be sure to talk to your doctor if you notice any changes in your breasts or have any other concerns.  Err on the side of caution.

Also, don’t forget to support those that support breast cancer research, education and prevention.  For example, at REI this weekend I grabbed a pair of my favorite Smartwool cycling socks, and Smartwool is giving 2% of its sales to breast cancer research.  Thanks Smartwool!

If any of you have any stories to share, or companies you know that supporting breast cancer research, be sure to let us know.

FREE Dazzled by Hope Pink Ribbon Pin

Not only does the Breast Cancer Site do great things by funding FREE mammograms for women in need, but they’ll give you something free for helping out too. All you have to do is sign up forTThe Breast Cancer Site’s FREE Daily Reminder Service, and to say thank you, they’ll give you a FREE Dazzled by Hope Pink Ribbon Pin! Better still, they’ll give extra funding toward mammograms for women in need if you are a brand-new registrant!

FREE Breast Cancer Survivor Pink Ribbon Pin or Bracelet

If you or someone you love is a breast cancer survivor and you would like to share your story in the hope that it will inform and inspire others, email The Pink Ribbon Shop your narrative at survivors@pinkribbonshop.com.   If they post your story on their blog, www.thepinkribbonshop.blogspot.com, they’ll send you your choice of a pink ribbon pin or breast cancer band bracelet.

FREE Pink Ink!

If a Pink Ribbon Pin or bracelet just doesn’t show your tremendous level of commitment to the breast cancer awareness cause or to your survivorship, you can go extreme. If you live near or around Aurora, CO, 5280 Tattoo is permanently painting pink ribbons, at no charge, for breast cancer survivors and the loved-ones of breast cancer victims this October! Now that’s commitment! And if you get inked at 5280, let us know or send a picture…we’d love to see it and share your complete commitment.

FREE Breast Cancer Screenings

There are many free breast cancer screenings nationwide that are based on income levels and your insurance status.  Just Google “Free Breast Cancer Screenings” and you’re sure to find a program in your area.  However, if you live in or near San Antonio, DITI Imaging will be giving free breast cancer screenings to anyone all month long.  The free screenings will take place all this month at the DITI Imaging office at 1931 Northwest Military Highway, Suite 203, about a half mile outside Loop 410 on the North Side.

FREE Women’s Health Calendar

WomensHealth.gov has put together a very informative and useful women’s health calendar for 2010. Calendars are available in both English and Spanish. Get yours today right here.

Other Cool Freebies Today

• We know at least three of the Hens’ little guys will love this: FREE GeoTrax DVD from Mattell. Sammy and Steamer Save the Day and 3 other episodes. Click here to get onboard with this FREE offer. (And no shipping & handling charges either!)
• Get FREE breakfast Saturday through Monday (10/10-10/12) at IKEA stores nationwide. Offer includes one small breakfast and one small coffee. This breakfast offer is not valid at IKEA stores in Hicksville, Houston or at IKEA Direct.
• One of the Hens is from Wisconsin and highly recommends this one: Get two FREE weekday admission tickets to next year’s Milwaukee Summerfest 2010. To receive your two FREE weekday admission tickets, just complete the short Summerfest 2010 Survey here.
• From Eat, Drink, and Be Fair: FREE Green Mountain Roaster’s Coffee but you’ll have to be quick…and smart: The first 100 respondents to a daily question will receive a special Fair Trade coffee care package. Not in the first 100? Don’t worry, you’ll still be entered into the Fairest Trade Prize drawing at the end of the month to receive 12 blissful months of Green Mountain Coffee’s Fair Trade Certified^™ Coffees. Test your Fair Trade coffee knowledge daily right here.

Imagine being on a Disneyland vacation.  You have planned, waited and anticipated.  After a whirlwind first day in the Magical Kingdom, you tuck in the kids and hit the sack.  Two hours later, the fire alarm goes off. Loud and startling, we quickly grab the kids and head outside.  After an hour outside, assuming it was a false alarm, it turned out it was not.  It was real.  Smoke filled a hallway, and someone had a fire in their personal suite.

While wiling our time away outside in the California night, it reminded us of a prior, similar experience at the YMCA of the Rockies (a FANTASTIC family destination in the heart of the Rocky Mountains).  We happened to be staying in a lodge instead of a cabin, and in the middle of the night, off goes the fire alarm.  Same thing, only much colder than the California sky.

So what did these experiences teach us? First, assume its real, not a prank.  Two, move fast.  Don’t think about changing clothes and grabbing all your personal belongings.  Grab a blanket and the kids, and move.  Once you get outside, you can wrap up and be safe.

You may have had similar experiences, or you may sometime in the future.  To learn more about the important issue of fire safety, take a look at the National Fire Prevention Association website for great tips and information. Scholastic also has a page with great teaching resources for Fire Prevention Week.

Guest Post by Cat Lichtenbelt

When dealing with a child’s behavior that is less than ideal in the Kindergarten world, there are a few ways to respond. I choked down the denial, and went head first into appointments, web searches, talking with parents, meetings with the Principal. I don’t regret a moment of it. Your best friends are those who guide you without lecturing you. I have one of those and I will always be thankful for her and what she gave me, a name and phone number!

Our son was the child who was unable to sit still at circle time.  He was the one who got so focused on a project he would melt down when torn away from it. His social skills were way behind his peers at times and other times he was adored by his classmates. The opinions of the educators did not match our opinions of him. He was always fixated on details of mechanical workings, recited information as if he was reading a script, yet I said his name more times each day then I had hairs on my head!  I say he thinks like an Engineer, with all the quirks and personality! He destroyed school property and built the Lincoln Memorial out of blocks from memory all in the same day. I cried out of confusion.

Smart? Yes, very smart. Bored? A little. His own world is where we found him most of the time. We worried even before the school meetings and the teacher’s phone calls. Our second son was easier; he was sweet and cuddly and the one I enjoyed taking to the store. So, was it our parenting? I went to the Love and Logic conference with friends. We did the suggestions and still use “uh-oh”. It was not enough!

One late night when I was at my wits end, I found “Pocket Parenting” on a web search; we turned a corner with that. It is a parenting guide for kids with ADHD and Autism. Based on what I read there, I could not commit to self diagnosing my child with either of those.  In fact, I found more similarities in my son with Gifted and Talented traits. So for now, we called them “quirks”! Finally, he’d been professionally ruled out for ADHD and Aspersers Syndrome.  The doctors said, “he is a smart kid”.  Is that an official diagnosis?

It was a gift I got from a friend that made our world seem right and open the skies for him living to his potential. The gift was the name and number of a Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT). He conducted an hour long evaluation of our son. We met the following week to discuss the results, and this is when I met a person who ‘gets’ these kids. The diagnosis was Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Our son was showing symptoms of a neurological system that was out of sync. He was seeking out ways to meet his stimulation needs for his vestibular system; your balance sense or where you are in space. He could do a perfect cartwheel, but would not pass the roadside sobriety test. When he was stressed, he needed a lot of physical stimulation, tight hugs, loud sounds, spinning. He was numb to normal sensation, and needed the same input to be more intense; the pat on the shoulder needed to be a squeeze on the shoulder. At the same time small details were bright and important to him which caused severe distractions.

We committed to a therapy schedule of once a week. Each session incorporated a cocktail of stimulation. The sessions were child led and OT guided.  A typical session would include some spinning on a hanging board, chewing sour gum, listening to music, and reading flashcards all while wearing a tight shirt.  Other days he was rolled in a mat or hung in a sling. Our son loved the sessions and left drunk from stimulation. This was a child who never got dizzy, now my child gets dizzy! The sessions also included some quieter stimulation and were consistent each time, bringing his stimulation threshold lower and lower. This is where I saw the changes appear slowly and progressively and I cheered inside when he could complete a task that was once too difficult.

We have installed therapy swings in our house so he has access to the motions when he needs them. We do the “infinity walk” before reading books. We’ve scheduled meals to prevent sugar dips. The payoff has been worth all of it. Our son is thriving in 1^st grade thanks to a combination of parent knowledge, therapy, scheduling and an awesome teacher who has mastered compassion. And, our 2^nd son is also benefiting from making it all a family routine. Thank you KW for our greatest gift!

Now, I’m helping to give the gift that was given to me, just on a bigger scale. The SPD Foundation is a great resource for parents and has an international campaign to bring awareness to SPD and its therapies. A wonderful film, “Autistic-Like: Graham’s Story” is being shown all over the country and abroad. Autistic-Like is a film that parents can relate to on a basic level of love of a child. The dad, Erik, searches for the right therapies for his son, and in the process, educates the audience about the terminology and theories of therapy, while not being overwhelming. I’m excited to expose parents, educators and other professionals to what SPD is. I’ve gotten to know more people today than I’ve known in the last 8 months because I am willing to talk about our experience. I give you this gift, I hope you embrace it and it gives you, and those around you, years of happiness as it has for us!

For more basic information and other resources on Sensory Processing Disorder click here.

Today, our good friend Cat Lichtenbelt shared her very personal story with us about her struggles and triumphs with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Cat mentioned how many doctors she had to go through before she finally discovered an occupational therapist who was able to properly diagnose her son’s disorder as SPD. So, to hopefully help others out there who may be wondering if their child has SPD, here’s a quick summary of what SPD is. Technically, SPD can be described as a neurological disorder causing difficulties with processing information from the five senses (vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste), the sense of movement (the vestibular system) and/or the positional sense (proprioception).

Sensory processing disorders can vary widely between individuals both in their characteristics and in how intense the disorder is. Kids can also be affected in only one sense or multiple senses. To make it even more confusing, SPD can manifest itself in two different ways:

• Hypersensitivity: Kids may feel pain from simple things like clothes rubbing against their skin, their inability to tolerate a normal lighting level, dislike of being touched (even lightly), or they may be unable to tolerate loud sounds like household appliances.
• Hyposensitivity: Kids may show an usually high tolerance to stimulation. According to The SPD Foundation, hyposensitive kids “exhibit an appetite for sensation that is in perpetual overdrive“.

There is a lot more to SPD than we can really write about here, and we’re no experts on the topic. But, if you’re looking for more information about SPD, The SPD Foundation Website should be your first stop. The site is packed with information about SPD, it’s treatment, help in finding services, SPD events, news, and advocacy programs. It also features a good checklist of symptoms called The Red Flags of Sensory Processing Disorder to help you determine if you should consult a doctor or occupational therapist about SPD in your child. They also offer Sensations – a quarterly newsletter with helpful strategies, useful resources, research updates, and other information for individuals and families living with SPD. Here are some other SPD resources worth checking into:

• STAR Center: STAR Center is the premier clinic for multidisciplinary assessment and research-based treatment of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and other sensory challenges in children, adolescents, and adults. The site has plenty of helpful information.
• Two recommended books on the topic of SPD are Sensational Kids by Lucy Jane Miller, Ph.D., OTR and The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Kranowitz

To read Cat’s entire story about her experiences with SPD click here.