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Showing posts with label park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label park. Show all posts

Friday, 18 June 2010

Cell Phones: Luxury or Need?

Posted on 06:26 by tripal h

We are changing cell phone plans and I had this great idea... close the first and post pone the second as long as I can to see how long we can go.

Yes, my primary motive was saving money... We are still recouping from hubby being out of work for 6 months after being downsized right before the holidays.

But, as I thought about it, I started wondering if the controversial frequencies they emit really affect our health & well-being and do they pollute our air & environment? As you know these are the thoughts that keep me up at night.

Then I started wondering, if the cell phone tower or the "phone company" building that was next to the building I worked when pregnant with Sahara, could have contributed to the infantile autism? Purely based on the energy model... it most certainly is probable.

Of course there is also my consideration that the age of industrialization is doing more global harm then good. And I am talking on a spiritual, physical and emotional level.

Industrialization has introduced more pollutants in our environment than ever before (BP oil spill case in point). It has torn families apart as they moved away from family farming to the city life. We have left our elders who helped us raise and guide our young children... now strangers turned childcare providers are caring for our kids.

I could go on... but you get the point.

Back to the cell-phone issue... My big question was can we do without this modern day luxury that is now viewed as a need?? Is it possible in the 21st century to forfeit something that we have created the construct of necessity for?

After all, this is precisely the experiment I did with cable TV 5 years ago. And, yes, we still are cable free... Instead of television, we now play games, go to parks, read books, and nurture our bodies, minds and relationships naturally.

Well, 4 weeks is a far cry from 5 years... but, we are on week 4 of no cell phones and I don't miss it (other than the Long Distance calling). I miss calling my mom anytime. Especially since I can't just hop in the car and drive to her house... she lives 3 hours away.

Of course my IT hubby is probably going insane. He has had phones attached to the hip for years... I would think not being at the beckon call of others would be refreshing to him. He says he misses not being in touch with me and the girls. That is valid. If there is an emergency we are no longer connected like we were with the phone.

I presume that that is our biggest hurdle. What if Sahara gets lost in a crowd or what if there is an emergency when we are in the community... what do I do?

And now that we are in the height of tween-dom with Emily, we have promised her that when we order our new phones, she is to get her own. Not because we want her to be hip, but for the same reasons I think we need one. Remember the dime our mothers used to give us when we went out with our friends, "If you need anything call me!"

Have you noticed phone booths are a thing of the past?

So, I am on the line... now pun intended. Do we go another 4 weeks of my experiment or do we bite the bullet of the industrialization age and buy the new phones and plans.?
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Posted in autism, cell phones, child's health, decision making, earth, Economy, Energy, industrialization, park, Radiation, self empowerment, Toxins, tweens | No comments

Thursday, 24 September 2009

A Reflection of Us...

Posted on 04:51 by tripal h

We met when we were just 18 and 20 years old; like most other young adults we were young and full of ambitious dreams. One of our favorite past times was camping; we spent many clear nights under the stars and moon laughing and chattering about our future together.

Never once did the word “Autism” enter our starlit dreams and midnight conversations.

No, instead we painted an ideal about our life together and our future children… They would be perfect, a combination of the two of us. They would have their father’s wit and my compassion splashed with our analytical natures.

…In the shadow of our youth, our relationship would be challenged as we faced autism together, but like anything else lay in our path we faced it together and became stronger than before it existed.

We no longer go camping in nature as there are too many obstacles that threaten our daughter’s safety. Instead, we pitch the tent in our backyard, with the comfort of home at our finger tips. Just this past Labor Day weekend, we lay awake under the moon in our backyard with our youngest daughter obsessively reciting scenes from Dora the Explorer.

I laid there listening to the non-stop chattering that has become comforting to me, thinking about how we have had to redefine our dreams and plan for an uncertain future. I am certain there are other couples who have been drafted into the autism journey that are no longer able to identify with the life they had before autism too. As often as I say the autism doesn’t define us, it has become a part of our identity, our lifestyle, and our future.

Today, I reflect on a young couple naively entering the journey of their lives with an uncertain future. Yet… through the hills of this journey we continue to adore each other. We still have quiet passion and humor. I am so relieved to share this journey with my best friend and lover. It is he who keeps me strong after days of no sleep, or hours of worry… it is he would supports me unconditionally to move forward with not only the autism, but anything I decide I want to explore and put my attention to.

I am grateful I can participate in life with this man of integrity, passion, and strength. And I know that if there is anyone who is going to help me conquer this thing in our life called autism, it is my husband. Together we unite and are better because of it…

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Posted in adventures, autism, fathers, marriage, park, self empowerment | No comments

Sunday, 13 September 2009

A Hidden Treasure.... Indian Run Falls

Posted on 06:25 by tripal h

As I have said before, I love the metro-parks in the Central Ohio area. Here is another hidden treasure that is in our backyard that I had no idea existed until yesterday.

Indian Run Falls, Dublin Ohio.

Although we really ventured there to see the waterfall, it happened to be dry yesterday. Without realizing it, we ended up hiking on the limestone shelves that should have been rushing with water. We were in the middle of the path of a waterfall, the energy was incredibly peaceful. What an experience! How often do you get to walk where a waterfall should be rushing?

After exploring this hidden treasure, we ventured up to the path and walked around the cliff embankments. Now, we understood that the fall itself was to be 25 feet… but don’t let that mislead you (like it did us). The cliffs are Hocking Hill sized cliffs with limited fencing. The trail had observation decks to sit and enjoy the scenic view.

After hiking around the horseshoed path we ended up in the Indian Run Falls Historical Cemetery which was established in 1813 and restored in 1975. The family and I were able to walk around each weathered stones with reverence and fascination. I love walking in cemeteries... They are full of history, energy, and they just offering a feeling of comfort to me.

We were able to hike the path back with less angst then the first time around knowing that the cliffs were there. And with that knowledge, attention to where the kids were at all time came easier. I look forward to being able to take them back when the water flows on the fall...

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Posted in adventures, emotional health, Energy, park, self empowerment | No comments

Tuesday, 18 August 2009

Ice Skating, Girl Power, and Unconditional Love

Posted on 09:58 by tripal h

I have to say my favorite summer tradition is our annual ice skating outing. Yes, ice skating in August! Can you think of a more creative way to beat the dog days of summer? Neither can I.

The girls and I dug out our winter hats and mittens, put on our jeans and headed over to the Chiller Skating Rink. Being August, it wasn’t very busy today… maybe 20 skaters, at best, including 3 pro hockey guys in their getup.

Sahara was glued to the wall, which was fine with me… she stopped at each bench and penalty box while her sister periodically came up from behind to say, “Hi” and offer a helping hand. It took Sahara 45 minutes to do one lap then she hesitantly stepped off of the rink. She amazed me as she walked on her skates without wobbling, which according to her IEP she shouldn’t be able to do.

(LEAPS AND BOUNDS!)

After she removed her skates we went to the balcony to watch Emily skate with confidence, pink cheeks, and a faint smile of pride. Emily twirled and sped across the ice with grace, not a common trait in this kid.

(Another moment of ACCOMPLSHEMENT filled me.)

As we headed to the car, Emily declared she was hungry. After lunch we headed over to the department store to get a jump start on school shopping. As we pulled up to the stop light, I had this urge I just had to heed to. I rolled down my window and freely yelled, “GIRLS ROCK!” Emily’s eyes got big and I heard a faint giggle…

“1, 2, 3… GIRL POWER!”

…we were laughing, shouting, and enjoying our girlhood to the fullest. Sahara participated from the backseat laughing as much as her sister did as she repeated “Girl Power”. For that moment we had no diagnosis in the car, no constraints from society, and no peer pressure… we were just innocently enjoying a mom and me outing celebrating our girl-ness.

We talked about how girls can do anything a boy can do (psst, sometimes better). This is something I think young girls often are not encouraged to do, but not today… today I told them they could be, do, and experience ANYTHING they decided to.

We talked about it being awesome that Emily loves science and math, and that girls can have those types of careers too. I even discovered that Emily secretly thought it would be really neat if her and her sister grew up to be Paleontologists working together on excavations.

HOW COOL IS THAT!?!?

Most siblings want to get as far away from each other as possible, but not my girls. I suppose that this is Emily’s way of saying that I shouldn’t worry about Sahara’s future. She often declares that Sahara and she will live together when they leave home, and sometimes I think that just might be the case.

This was evident half way through the store when Emily (out of the blue) declared, “I LOVE MY SISTER!!!” I looked over at her and smiled faintly, “I know you do and she loves you…”

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Posted in autism, Children's health, confidence, emotional health, Exercise, park, self empowerment, shoes, Siblings, tweens | No comments

Wednesday, 12 August 2009

The ABC's of Innis Woods Metro Park (by Emily and Mommy)

Posted on 13:47 by tripal h
Today we went to Innis Woods Metro Park in Westerville, Ohio... if you live in the Central Ohio region, you have a bounty of free parks awaiting your exploration... turn off the tv and take the kids outside. Our children learn through interacting with their environment. If you live elsewhere, you need to research what is in your backyard... you may be surprised at what you discover. Parks give families an excellant opportunity to bond and great lasting memories while learning more about nature. Here is a list of things that the girls and I saw or experienced today...

Amazing Adventure

Bridges

Chipmunks

Deer

Ebbing water

Families

Grey squirrel

Hills

Investigation

Joggers

Kalology (study of beauty)

Labyrinth

Meadow

Nature

Oobambulate (to wander about)

Pine Trees

Quality time

Red Cardinal

Spider

Toads

Uliginoud (a swampy, slimy place)

Violets

Windmill

Xenial (hospitality towards guests… from ranger.)

Yellow Daisies

Zeta (a small room with nature displays)

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Posted in adventures, Children's health, confidence, earth, emotional health, Energy, Exercise, park, physical health, self empowerment, sensory processing | No comments

Tuesday, 14 July 2009

Barefoot and Naked... Is There Another Solution To Those Seams?!?!

Posted on 12:44 by tripal h
We spontaneously ended up at a Metro Park this morning. We had breakfast at the lake while we watched the molting geese. Within minutes Sahara sat in water and was walking about in her underwear. Honestly, I was relieved that I convinced her to leave them on, but Emily was embarrassed… "It is okay," I reassured her, "I have another pair of dry shorts in the jeep. Let’s walk back to the jeep, change her, then we can go on a hike."

Crisis resolved.

Soon we found ourselves on a 1.7 mile nature trail. We were enveloped by nature and I have to admit it felt liberating! Emily was eager to declare that she thought she saw a deer everywhere she looked. I am not so sure she saw even one the whole way, but she will adamantly deny that. Sahara wanted to pick up every stick and smack every leaf with it. Emily tried to rush her sister, "Come on! Look it’s beautiful!" I am certain she didn't mean anything in particular, but it successfully motivated Sahara ahead another 20 feet before another stick caught her attention.

As she bent over to pick it up, she suddenly plopped down on the dirt path to pull at her sneakers, "Sahara, our shoes need to stay on if we are going for a walk." She huffed and puffed, stood up, and took another few steps before she sat down and tried to get them off again. "Sahara, our shoes and socks need to stay on if we are going for a walk."

Emily thought she heard a baby deer and went running to the observation deck. Sahara and I followed, but by the time we got there Emily was ready to head back up the nature trail. Sahara stopped, sat on the bench, and had her socks and shoes off before I could intervene this time. I convinced her to put the socks back on inside out. I was hoping the seams being off of her toes would put her at ease.

Another mile to go….

I had to place my hand on Sahara’s back to keep her moving, but it was maybe another several yards before the socks and shoes were off again. I persuaded her to put back on her shoes; the socks ended up in my backpack. This lasted for a bit, then the shoes were off again and she was on my shoulders for the last 1/2 mile.

After an hour and a half we found our way back to the jeep and made it home safely. As I reflect, I am grateful that we could connect with nature without incident. But, I also am acutely aware that the whole sock and shoe issues disrupted the flow of the hike. Having a child who experiences sensory issues brings all sorts of challenges.

Certainly, fuzzy socks and rough seams go unnoticed by many. But, for a child with sensory issues, it is like sandpaper on your toes or your unmentionables. (Can you imagine?) Most days, regardless of the time of year, my daughter is barefoot and naked in order to be comfortable. We have, however, recently discovered that she will wear a dress without underwear and that seems to have adverted the whole unmentionables issue (for now).

I have, also, recently connected with a company, SmartKnitKIDS, on twitter that make seamless socks. I have to admit I haven’t tried them yet, but plan to place an order after we move. (I don’t want something that precious to get lost in the mail.) SmartKnitKIDS also just let me know that are working on a prototype for underwear. I have to admit that I have never been so excited about ordering underwear and socks!

If any of my readers have tried SmartKnitKIDS products please let me know your experience. I look forward to ordering both products in the near future and will be certain to write a product review. In the meantime, I am excited about the potential that Sahara may be able to wear these necessary clothing items with freedom from the inevitable seams that interfere with her daily activities!!

(PSST…they are offering a Back To School Contest you might be interested in. )
 
 
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Posted in autism, emotional health, Home Remedies, park, proactive health, self empowerment, sensory issues, sensory processing, shoes, socks | No comments
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tripal h
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