@Mike M have you ever tried the crash pillow routine at bedtime? It works for any age really!!! I even enjoy joining in, it releases tension. I don’t want to talk your ear off, if you’ve never tried it reply and I’ll fill you in. It’s fun and helps calm them. My 10 year old is ADHD and my 2.5 year old is has sensory issues so we started it in therapy. They both love it and my one year old loves the music dancing part.

@Paola Vidal Rojo Thank you for joining and sharing you just reminded me of the half heart method I did when my son was just a baby. If you draw a heart in a mirror, split it with a zig zag, look in the mirror with the heart framing your face with the line placed on you nose in the drawing, label one side Mom the other side labeled something representing another piece of you like pediatrician or young adult, or whatever you see fit. Look into the Mom’s eye, say hello. Then look into the others eye, say hello, feeling the emotion will help you release. Encourage you to find deeper. When ready, erase the line. Look into bothe eyes and say I am whole again. Remembering. You never left, your soul never changed, you are simply evolving. My pediatrician told me as I just doubted myself sobbing, “Let this hurt me more please,Lord.” when I was at my second son’s 3 month shots that “smiles are contagious, especially in pediatrics.” After his shots, I lifted him, cuddled him, smiled right into his little eyes, smiled and started to sing our song. “Take me out to the Ball Game.” He slowly calmed and looked up at me, tear filled eyes waiting to drip and goo-ed. It okay to be you. Ever part of you. Scared, tired, happy you name it. It’s you. He loves YOU! Keep Being you. 💚

Having grown up in foster care all of my teens. Sorry’s, Apologies, Condolence's, all became monotoned gibberish. Quickly gave my soul every piece needed for shutdown and thick boundaries when the reaching gestures for unwanted invasions and glares in my eyes or squeezes around my spirit was started and my ears cochlea signaled the gibberish. After joining the Airforce in 98, my, still to this very second, Besteeeeee, slowly unshelled me. I learned new things about love, relived old loves I missed. It wasn’t about apologies and sorries though. It was about accountability and thank you for the taught lessons. The given love. The shared time. I learned there is no wrong in My Life. I’m just on a journey of A+LOVE=Life. A Lesson On Valued Experiences. Now with my adopted 10 year old and his biological 2.5 year old brother, the guilt I feel because I yelled after repeating my self 10 times to do homework, or snapped because the other got in the cookies anyway isn’t about sorry. It’s, “that was very unkind of me. I got upset fast cause you got into the cookies. Next time Mommie will put the cookies where you can’t get them and not snap.” Or, “It wasn’t kind of me to yell. I understand why you yelled back,” And open up the gateway to communicating why the homework was being rejected and being there to help him do it. Of course there more giggles and laughs, full hugs and silly comments but I don't walk away without them hearing me say I love you. We love together, we hug together and we learn together. Thank you for being my son and teaching me. 💚 Everyone does their best in their best way in any moment. We are all here for individual purpose's, living for the same need… Leaving Inspirations For Evolutions. (LIFE)

@Tim Tindle Thank you for your commitments and support in helping the youth. Department of Social Services Regulations have been reworded and interactions are a lot more present today than the late 80’s but it still takes a huge stretch of patience and determination to deal with today’s foster system. 🙏🏽