From Katrina: I'm back!
From Katrina: Hello all of you amazing people! I am excited to be back to work at the Autism Treatment Center of America after taking a 3 month hiatus to be with my beautiful new baby, Kyla.
Joining the ranks of motherhood has probably been easier I think, since I have been trained in the Son Rise program. So much that I have learned has proven extra effective in parenting at home. For example:
On my very first day with Kyla she would not eat. I tried many people's suggestions, but Kyla just wouldn't do it. We even took her to the doctor who gave us some ideas that still would not work. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself, in order to be a "good" mother I had to get my child to eat. Everyone was watching me and waiting for Kyla to perform. Finally, at the end of the day the midwife left me alone to relax, she said to not worry and just enjoy my baby. When she left, I let go of my need to "control" the situation. I could feel the tension ease out of my body. Literally the second I did this, Kyla decided to eat.
Like Kyla, many nonverbal or autistic children can sense our moods. When we try to put pressure on them to do something our way, they resist. Yet, when we give them the control, accept them no matter what, and still go for what we want, they are more likely to do it. This is what I love about the Son Rise program. We put the power in the child's hands. This is so much more motivating for them ... and it works for me!
I'm excited to be with you all again and back in that magical playroom!
Lots of Love,
Katrina
Joining the ranks of motherhood has probably been easier I think, since I have been trained in the Son Rise program. So much that I have learned has proven extra effective in parenting at home. For example:
On my very first day with Kyla she would not eat. I tried many people's suggestions, but Kyla just wouldn't do it. We even took her to the doctor who gave us some ideas that still would not work. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself, in order to be a "good" mother I had to get my child to eat. Everyone was watching me and waiting for Kyla to perform. Finally, at the end of the day the midwife left me alone to relax, she said to not worry and just enjoy my baby. When she left, I let go of my need to "control" the situation. I could feel the tension ease out of my body. Literally the second I did this, Kyla decided to eat.
Like Kyla, many nonverbal or autistic children can sense our moods. When we try to put pressure on them to do something our way, they resist. Yet, when we give them the control, accept them no matter what, and still go for what we want, they are more likely to do it. This is what I love about the Son Rise program. We put the power in the child's hands. This is so much more motivating for them ... and it works for me!
I'm excited to be with you all again and back in that magical playroom!
Lots of Love,
Katrina
Labels: Attitude, Giving Control, Parenting, Son-Rise Program Staff
Read more!
posted by Katrina at
12:36 PM
0 Comments
Monday, August 3, 2009
There are no rules.
"There are no rules"
You could say that this is a motto amongst the Son-Rise Program teachers". Often times parents will makes comments like,"You can answer any question", or 'You always seem to know what to do", "or "You know my child so well, yet you have never met him".
One of the reasons why, apart from that each of us have so much experience with so many children is that we come from the perspective, "There are no rules".
This allows us to listen carefully to what is being said, to study the circumstances surrounding a child, to observe and be present, then pull from a variety of different Son-Rise Program attitudes and Son-Rise Program techniques the one that seems to suite the situation the most.
Our children are our greatest teachers in this regards, they don't care on bit about our rule bound world, they assess the situation, suss out the surrounding attitudes and go for what they want the faster way they know how. In one sense, they are far more present that we are.
posted by Kate Wilde at
10:29 AM
1 Comments
Friday, June 12, 2009
Parenting - Useful Perspective
Last night Bryn and I were having dinner with Jade and Malik and we had a great conversation about dying. Jade and Malik had just come back from working at a local stables that works with special children and adults. It is a wonderful place where the horses, having been rescued from in-humane conditions, are give wonderful work, the opportunity to play and be loved by all who go there. Yesterday one of the horses who had been there for many years had to be put down due to old age and the challenges she was having.
During dinner we talked about how wonderful it was for the horse to be surrounded by people who loved her as she died. We then talked about what we wanted for when we die and the fact that we will all die at some point. We talked about how great Buddhist master can choose exactly when they are going to die and about the deaths that Bryn and I have been at. Both Jade, 13yrs old, and Malik, 12 yrs old, openly listened, asked questions, and participated easily and comfortable in the conversation.
I feel blessed to be able to sit and talk to them about such a topic, a topic that can be looked at with such fear and aversion. It was wonderful to be able to offer them a perspective that will help them navigate this situation that will come up in their life in many different ways. I love this aspect of parenting. Read more!
During dinner we talked about how wonderful it was for the horse to be surrounded by people who loved her as she died. We then talked about what we wanted for when we die and the fact that we will all die at some point. We talked about how great Buddhist master can choose exactly when they are going to die and about the deaths that Bryn and I have been at. Both Jade, 13yrs old, and Malik, 12 yrs old, openly listened, asked questions, and participated easily and comfortable in the conversation.
I feel blessed to be able to sit and talk to them about such a topic, a topic that can be looked at with such fear and aversion. It was wonderful to be able to offer them a perspective that will help them navigate this situation that will come up in their life in many different ways. I love this aspect of parenting. Read more!
posted by William Hogan, Senior Son-Rise Program Teacher at
9:14 AM
0 Comments
Copyright 1998-2008. The Option Institute & Fellowship. All rights reserved.