Mind Jars

Because I have a child with ADHD, which comes with some anger issues, I was searching for ways to cope when he gets angry. A few weeks ago I came across the Mind Jar over at Here We Are Together and thought it was an amazing idea! This afternoon was our first parent/teacher conference with Lawson's Kindergarten teacher and I happen to mention the idea to her - she loved it and asked me to make one! So, I went to the store tonight and made two to take her tomorrow so she can try them out in the classroom.

The idea behind the jar is to use it as an alternative to time out, though it really is a time out in itself! When the child starts to feel angry or overwhelmed, he/she can get the mind jar and shake it as hard as they can; the time out part comes after the shaking because they then sit and watch the glitter settle in the jar. This gives them a chance to get the angry out (shaking the jar) and then time to reflect and calm (watching the glitter settle) before they re-join their classmates. Brilliant if you ask me!

So, I bet you are wondering how to make them...

I found all the items I used at the Dollar Store (except for the jars and food coloring - I had those items on hand) and purchased it all for less than $10.

• Elmers Glitter Glue Tubes
• Loose Glitter Tubes
• Food Coloring
• Light Corn Syrup
• Pint Jars - these are glass but plastic would be best

Mind Jar Ingredients

• Fill the jar with approximately 1 1/3 cups hot water. 
• Add one full tube of the glitter glue (you will not get all of the glue out, but most of it).
• Add 1-2 drops of food coloring - this should match the glue color. 
• Add in a few sprinkles of glitter. I used the same color as the glue/food color and then added in some silver for a bit of contrast.
• Add 3-4 tablespoons of Light Corn Syrup.
• Place lid and shake hard. This is where you will play with the ingredients to get them exactly where you want them. The glitter should move easily but not settle too fast; you want the child to be able to watch it settle for at least 2-3 minutes!
• Once you have the liquid/glitter to the consistency you want it, super glue the lid to the jars so they do not leak and they cannot be removed by the child.

These can be made in any size/color you choose. If using a different size jar, adjust the ingredients to the specific size jar. 

 Finished Mind Jars

I will be taking these to Lawson's teacher tomorrow for her to use in the classroom!

Weekly Bible Verse

I decided today I would like to start having a weekly Bible verse for Lawson to learn and do a nightly Bible story/study with him before bed time. I have felt more convicted lately about being more God-centered with him and being sure he is completely aware of why we trust in God for our answers. He is so smart and loves going to Sunday school; his teachers are always telling me about the questions he asks/answers and how much he wants to learn. So, I have to make sure that happens!

Right now I am on the search for the perfect way to do this. I am looking for the verses I want to use for the next few weeks and how I want to go about it each evening. I will definitely let you know how it goes and, hopefully, I can post a weekly study here to go along with our verses!

A Kindergarten Field Trip

Lawson has officially gone on his first field trip - Farm Day 2011! His favorite part of the trip...getting to ride the school bus there and back. Apparently this was a highlight for a lot of the children in Kindergarten :)

I, of course, decided to go on the field trip too! I went to the school and followed the bus over to our county fair grounds for this event...as did a lot of other parents. We looked like a bunch of Kindergarten groupies driving down the road behind the bus - it was great!

Once there, the kids were first told about the tractor and asked how many of them had tractors at their home or grandparents. Lawson promptly told them his Paw has a tractor and they ride it while bailing hay...and some other stuff in the middle of all that I wasn't able to catch! Then, we all walked down into the barn and walked around to the different stations, learning about aspects of farming along the way. They were also introduced to different animals and allowed to pet many of them as they walked through. Their day ended with a great snack of cookies and milk before loading back on the bus and heading toward school!

My plan was to take Lawson with me from the fair grounds and run some errands. I was quickly begged to let him ride the bus back to school and told I did not need to pick him up until it was time to go home...bittersweet! I really wanted to spend the afternoon with my little man but am very happy he enjoys school that much. He has an awesome Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Cline, and I know she is making all the difference in the world by making his year successful and fun!

First Full Week - Check

Lawson's first full week of Kindergarten is behind him. It was an ok week, but not great. I think the hyper issues are presenting themselves very quickly and we are already beginning the new strategies to help him keep it under control. I spoke with his teacher yesterday afternoon and I think the key to his success will be her - she is great!

He is having a very hard time staying in his seat and sitting still at group time. He wants to wander around or wiggle and it disturbs the other children in the class. Mrs. Cline has given him a "wiggle cushion" but she said he hasn't quite gotten the idea of it yet. She is going to explain it more to him in the upcoming week and hopefully it will help.

I am also going to start a chart system at home to go along with his marks at school - this will also implement a reward system and give him a reason to do what he needs to do. I am sure it will be a long process to get him where he needs to be and for him to be able to stay in his seat when he is supposed to be there. But, with the support I feel I have from his teacher, it should also be a relatively easy process.

As far as life in general, it is good. We are busy, as usual, but I am very proud of myself because I have made it a point to have Lawson home, bathed and in bed by 8:00 pm every night. Every now and then there are exceptions, but not usually. He doesn't sleep well anyway so I want him in bed as early as possible so he can get some rest for each day.

I am learning discipline along with Lawson which will be good in the long run for both of us. I should have kept us on a schedule from the start, but we just love being on the go! I am also trying to organize this crazy house in the evenings after I get him settled...we have way too much stuff and not nearly enough room for it - I think this happens to everyone, especially if you have a kid ;)

I am also working very hard on my Thirty-One business and it continues to bless me! I have four wonderful ladies on my team now and I will promote to Senior Consultant this month. I never thought it would be such a wonderful blessing when I started, but I have prayed for it to be and I know God is answering that prayer. We definitely need the extra income it provides and the friendships I have made and am continuing to make are priceless. It is wonderful working for a company that is so good to their consultants and to be able to spread the love of my Jesus through this business - that is the greatest blessing of all!

So, life goes on and I keep feeling blessed - I hope you are too!

Tahra

My Big Boy

Our first 1/2 day of Kindergarten is behind us - one more half day to go and then he is officially in school! He had a good day today and said he really enjoyed everything they did. According to him they played, colored, at lunch in that big room and then played again...sounds like a pretty good day to me - ha! He did say he didn't listen to the teacher one time but then he did - make sense of that. There were no notes in his bag about his behavior so, I will take that as a good sign ;)

Too Excited to Sleep

Tomorrow is the first day Lawson will go to Kindergarten alone and he should be asleep! He laid down in his room at 7:00, an hour earlier than normal, and is still not asleep - even after the Melatonin. I know he is very excited about tomorrow because the first time he got out of bed was to help me pack his lunch for tomorrow. He has since been up about 3 more times for various reasons.

While packing his lunch he told me he is so excited about going to school tomorrow because he "will get to play and learn to read and meet new friends and all kinds of other fun things"! I am very glad he is as excited as he is and I pray he keeps the excitement up after he gets into the swing of going on a regular basis. Hopefully after the initial excitement wears off it will be easier for him to get to sleep - I hope!

I love that he is so excited about going to school and I pray he will find friends quickly. He is very outgoing but sometimes the ADHD gets in the way of friends because it also makes him very cranky and hard to get along with at times. I can't wait to pick him up after his 1/2 day tomorrow and hear all about his first day. My heart is already happy just thinking about it <3

He got a new stuffed T-Bone at Kohl's today and he
insisted I take his picture with him :)

New Adventures for Lawson

This weekend has marked yet another first in the life of Lawson - sleepovers. Since he was little, Lawson would not spend the night anywhere but home; he even hated being on a trip with us because, come bed time, he wanted to go home. Before he turned 2, he would get physically ill by the third day of our trip and halfway home, he would be fine - he actually got "homesick".

The past year, he has spent the night with my grandmother one time, and that was an accident. It was while Charlie was in the hospital and he fell asleep waiting on my Dad to come pick him up. Well, Thursday night he decided he was going to have a sleepover with Nana. So, I got his stuff together and told her to call me when he got ready to come home, which is usually around 9:00 pm. As 9:00 pm came and went, he was still at Nana's; I looked out the door and noticed there were no lights at her house...he actually spent the night!

This opened up a whole new door for him because Friday night he decided he was going to have a sleepover with Papaw. This one didn't go as smoothly as the first night. Around 9:15 he came walking in the door because he decided he wanted to come home. He was here for a few minutes and then something made him decide to go back; he said "Ok, I will go back and try again" - it worked because I didn't see him until the next day! Dad said he went back to his house, laid down and was asleep in about 5 minutes.

Saturday night comes around and he decided he again wants to stay with Nana - and he did. He was planning to go to church with her anyway so it was easier for him to sleep at her house. I gave him a bath, got his pj's on, and sent him on his way with his church clothes and a movie to watch before bed.

My little man is growing up - and too fast! It feels weird to even sleep without him in the house and makes me realize how independent he is becoming. I feel sadness and joy at the same time. The sadness comes from the fact he is growing up and, some day, he won't need me at all; the joy from knowing that he is growing up and, some day, he won't need me at all...when that day comes, I will know I did something right!