Hanging with Hartley Steiner

On the battle field that is being a special needs parent it is both reassuring and inspirational to see a warrior mom and author like Hartley Steiner on the front lines.

Hartley is doing her part as a mother and an advocate to raise awareness and increase understanding of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Bipolar Disorder (BP), and Autism (Autism). She is reaching out to families in so many ways; be it through her book “This is Gabriel Making Sense of School” or her work with the SPD Bloggers Network and  The Coffee Klatch, she is a go to resource for so many of us. 

On any given day you can find Hartley:

On her blog, Hartley’s Life with 3 Boys, where she shares the chaos that is life along with some other great women.

On Twitter sharing peeks into her life and voting reminders 140 characters at a time.

On Facebook interacting with her fans. Be sure to pop into the discussion board for additional support from other parents.

 Be sure to pop over and cast your vote for Best Special Needs Blog for Hartley’s Life with 3 Boys. 

Hartley’s Recommended Reading: A Bipolar Daughter and the Family that Loves Her“.

Pssst…Did you RSVP for my Twitter party??

Feeling Beautiful Inside and Out!

Is there anyone who doesn’t love Avon? Is that even possible?

I didn’t think so. So now that that’s settled who wants to buy some Avon and help some great causes?

From now until March 6th you are invited to my Avon eParty! You can shop for all your favorite items, from home, in your jammies!

On my side of the His & Her sinks, I have bottle after bottle of Avon fragrances and lotions. In my Pamper Me basket I have tons of Avon nail polishes and in my make up drawer, well you get the idea! Some of my favorite Avon items include:

 

Every Thursday I give myself a mani/pedi and I always use Avon Nail Experts polish!

 

My secret to baby soft skin!

 

I love the Avon Naturals Line, this Cucumber-Melon is my favorite scent!

So, how is Avon going to help us feel even more beautiful on the outside during this eParty event?

I will receive 15% comission on all party sales. I will be using 10% this money to team up my parent support group, My Kid’s Bipolar, Now What??, with Bipolar Angels to help purchase therapeutic items for children with bipolar disorder and resources for their parents.

The other 5% I will be putting towards prizes for YOU!

Join me and my lovely Rep, Candace plus our wonderful guest hosts at our Twitter party on Saturday March 5th from 8-9pm EST for you chance to win Avon products and great books from our special guests! Leave a comment below to RSVP and then follow along using the hashtag #Amkbnw!

#Amkbnw Twitter Party Details:

Your Host: Mommylebron (moi)

Sponsor: Candace Avon Representative

Expert Guest: Tracy Anglada author of Brandon and the Bipolar Bear, among other titles

Special Guest: Hartley Steiner of Hartley’s Life with 3 Boys and SPD Bloggers Network

On top of that, once party sales reach $500, 5% of the profits will be donated to CABF.

So, all you need to do ,is go to my Avon eParty website and click on the eparty tab to enter the store, place your order. When you check out be sure to use the code RAGERS!

Now go! Be beautiful with your awesome selves!!

Wordless Wednesday (late but worth it)

Out to lunch! That smile warms my heart!

LeBella had a great day today! The best day she’s had in months actually. We got all her lessons done early so I took her out to lunch and we went to the dollar theater. We watched the first 1/2 of Harry Potter and that was enough for her!

 

 

Bipolar Tuesday: Books for Kids

Ladies, here is a list of books about pediatric bipolar disorder found on Amazon that are ideal for sharing with your kids.

(Please note: I receive a small commission on purchases made through these links. Profits are split between overhead costs and a fund that will be used to benefit member families as needed for resource materials.)

Darcy Daisy and the Firefly Festival: Learning About Bipolar Disorder and Community by Lisa M. Lewandowski

 

Darcy Daisy is upset and confused after hearing rumors about Ms. Zinnia, a community member who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She shares her concerns with her mother, who helps Darcy get answers to her questions about the illness. This book is intended to help children understand what bipolar disorder is, the importance of community acceptance, the need to alleviate fear by collecting good information and the harm that can result from rumors and gossip. With whimsical illustrations by Kimberly Shaw-Peterson.

 

My Bipolar, Roller Coaster, Feelings Book by Bryna Herbert

Pediatric Bipolar Disorder is a neurobiological disorder that requires medical treatment. Even with successful medical treatment, however, both children and adults with bipolar disorder usually need coping skillls to manage and live with this challenging illness.

The purpose of this book is to help the child with bipolar disorder better understand his or her feelings, and feel less alone in this world. This book is written for elementary school age children, but may be of use for those younger or older.

Children with bipolar disorder usually have strong emotional responses to their world. The first step to treating this illness is proper medical attention. Once these children receive treatment, it is important to help them identify, understand, cope with and manage these feelings. In order to give children a sense of control over these strong feelings, a caring adult can first learn how to label their feelings. Next, guide the child to strategize appropriate responses and practice or role play the strategies.

Our hope is that this book facilitates discussions with your child to help in that process. In using this book, help the child understand that feelings are an emotional response to stimulus, and it’s very hard, if not impossible, to change those initial feelings. What a healthy and stable child can learn to do, however, is manage the resulting behavior and choose how much control feelings have over their lives. In other words, while it is acceptable to be angry, it is not acceptable to act destructively because of that anger. That doesn’t mean, however, that an unstable child should be expected to control their illness through sheer willpower.

 

Brandon and the Bipolar Bear: A Story for Children with Bipolar Disorder (Revised Edition) by Tracy D. Anglada

By reading the pages of this book, children and adults alike will get a rare glimpse into the private feelings and fears of a bipolar child. Children with bipolar disorder will be able to identify with Brandon’s moods as he cycles between depression and mania. They will be comforted along with Brandon as he learns that he is not the only one who struggles with this inner turmoil. They will be educated as he learns what the illness is, how people get it and why there is hope for him to feel better. This story is appropriate for children between 4 and 11 years of age. However it will also be indispensable to parents, health care workers, teachers, grandparents and anyone else who cares about a child with bipolar disorder. It will increase understanding and awareness of this serious illness.

Turbo Max: A Story for Siblings and Friends of Children with Bipolar Disorder by Tracy D. Anglada

There is one thing that Rick wants this summer, a Turbo Max remote control car. When his parents buy him a diary instead, Rick knows it’s going to be a long summer. A contest at the hobby shop gives him hope that he can win the remote control car of his dreams. Just when the new car seems within grasp, Rick’s sister is hospitalized with bipolar disorder. As Rick struggles to understand Mandy’s illness and cope with its effects on his life, his hopes of winning are broken. But with some creative helpers and the advice from Mandy’s doctor, Rick just might have one last chance. Turbo Max is much more than a journey through one boy’s summer as recorded in his diary. It’s a journey from confusion to understanding, from embarrassment to advocacy, from anger and guilt to acceptance. It’s a journey that all siblings of children with bipolar disorder need to make in their own way and time. It is hoped that Turbo Max will be an important step in this journey. Recommended for ages 8-12.

 

Here are a few other that might also be helpful:

What to Do When You’re Scared and Worried: A Guide for Kids by James J. Crist

From a dread of spiders to panic attacks, kids have worries and fears, just like adults. This is a book kids can turn to when they need advice, reassurance, and ideas. They’ll find out where fears and worries come from, practice Fear Chasers and Worry Erasers, and learn to seek help for hard-to-handle fears they can’t manage on their own.

How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger (Laugh And Learn) by Elizabeth Verdick, Marjorie Lisovskis
 

Anger is a part of life. We can’t avoid it, we shouldn’t stuff it, and we can’t make it go away. Kids need help learning how to manage their anger. This book speaks directly to kids and offers strategies they can start using immediately. Blending tips and ideas with jokes and funny cartoons, it guides kids to understand that anger is normal and can be expressed in many ways—some healthy, some not. It teaches them how to recognize anger in themselves and others, how to deal with situations and emotions (loneliness, guilt, frustration, fear) that lead to or mask anger, and how to deal with the anger they feel. Young readers learn that violence is not acceptable and there are better, safer ways to resolve conflicts. They also discover what to do when people around them are angry, how to get help, and how to locate other resources (books, hotlines, school groups) when they need more support.

A Boy and a Bear: The Children’s Relaxation Book by Lori Lite, Meg Hartigan

Written for children, this book tells the story of a young boy who encounters a polar bear while they are both climbing a snow covered mountain. The boy and bear become friends and learn an important lesson. Young readers will enjoy the story and benefit from learning calming techniques to reduce stress, prepare for sleep, and improve self-confidence.

 

I would also like to share with you this online edition of  The Storm in My Brain.

 

I hope you find these books to be helpful with your family. The first time we read My Bipolar, Roller Coaster Feelings Book was a very emotional moment for us.

 

If you have any suggestions you would like to add, please leave them in the comments!

 

Giveaway: CSN Stores

Way back in December I was approached by a representative from CNS stores to do a giveaway. Of course I was excited, but the timing wasn’t right then. No problem! We’ll push it back a few weeks! I had actually intended to host the giveaway last month but with all that was going on with LeBella I forgot! Who does that! I want to give y’all stuff! You know, because I love you!

Then yesterday I was out shopping for my new lap top (YAY!) and I came across a display for TV stands for flat screens. And it hit me! I want to give you a $30 gift certificate from CNS! Well, not all of you, of course! But one lucky winner!

I won’t make you jump through hoops (this time-ahem) so to enter please visit this CSN store that carries TV stands for flatscreens then come back and tell me your favorite model!

That’s it! I will use Random.org at midnight on Sunday March 6th to choose a winner!

Good luck, Ragers!