I Felt Uncomfortable Around Kids With Special Needs Until I Had My Own

By Richard Kligman for Raising Kvell

I’ll be honest: I used to generally try to avoid kids with special needs if I could. Aside from the awkwardness of not knowing how to react or interact, I also failed to understand how families of kids with severe disabilities stayed sane. Feeding, dressing, washing, and changing older kids’ diapers was not my idea of a good time, and I didn’t know how they did it.

Then I had a kid of my own. We didn’t realize it when Moishy was born, but during routine testing when he was 3 months old, they told us that his head was not growing, among other issues, and further testing was necessary. This news sent us on a crazy whirlwind of doctors, hospitals, cat scans, x-rays, and more. Eventually the diagnosis was clear: Our beautiful boy had cerebral palsy and microcephaly.

I looked myself in the mirror and realized that I had to change. Now I had my very own child with special needs. Avoidance was no longer an option.

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New Things to Do for Rosh Hashanah

By Amy Deutsch for Kveller

Honey tasting

As it turns out, there are lots of different kinds of honey out there. Because bees suck nectar from all types of flowers, the honey can have a very different taste. Assemble your family for a taste test. Go to the local farmer’s market and buy two or three different kinds of honey. (Not only are you supporting local agriculture, but you’re also showing your kids where food comes from.) At home, arrange a smorgasbord of foods to dip into the various kinds of honey—challah, apples, pretzels, bananas, etc. Which honey goes best with which foods? When you find your favorites, you can put them out at your Rosh Hashanah table. (Check with your pediatrician, but generally honey is not recommended for children under the age of 1.)

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Check out Jvillage’s High Holiday+    page.  And while you're at it, check out our High Holidays Holiday Kit 

I Was Juggling Too Much–So the Dog Had to Go

By Naomi Elana Zener for Raising Kvell

After nearly a decade of practicing law, I embarked on a journey to become a writer, causing a 180-degree shift in my life. I had to juggle being a mom to two little humans and a canine, a wife, a lawyer, a daughter, a friend, and now, a writer.

Having no clone to delegate to and not being an octopus myself, something had to give. I’m good at multi-tasking, but I’m no superhero. And, I don’t have a nanny. My husband and my body were telling me to slow down. So, I sat down and looked at the sobering reality of my existence:

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Have you checked out the Jvillage Network High Holiday Spotlight Kit?  It is a wealth of information for all the fall holidays -- when they occur, what they are, customs, blessings, special foods, recipes, books, videos and a whole lotta challah!

This week we want to highlight Gateways High Holiday Resources, which can be found here or on the Spotlight Kit under 'the yamim nora'im."  At Gateways you can browse and download free High Holiday resources for kids, prepared by Gateways' experienced special education teachers: High Holiday Blessings with Visual Supports, High Holiday Social Stories (including customizable Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur social stories), High Holiday Related Social Skills Support, Make Your Own High Holiday File Folder Activity Kits, and High Holiday Crafts with creative ideas for adapting for different types of learners.

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But why stop there?  Check out all the many resources we have on the High Holiday Spotlight kit.  It's your one-stop for everything you need to know on how to celebrate, from Slichot through Simchat Torah.


 

Check out Jvillage’s High Holiday+    page.

After 10 Years, Finally a Diagnosis For My Son

By Samantha Taylor for Raising Kvell

My son Joey is turning 10 this fall. His development has been anything but normal.

Since Joey was 18 months old, we have seen countless professionals who have attempted to evaluate and diagnose him. None of the doctors, therapists, psychologists, or teachers were ever able to satisfactorily define Joey’s behavior. I often wondered if he was autistic, but that didn’t totally fit. He also exhibits a lot of Asperger’s characteristics, but again, not a complete match.

Allow me a moment to give you an idea of what I’m talking about:

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