Krista Ehlers
Help and humor for moms of extra needs kids. ADHD, SPD, Adoption mom x2
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15/10/2022
It's a cautionary tale about procrastination and keeping your glassed ON to check out suspicious SPOTS.
Learn from my mistakes, my friends.
24/09/2022
Which one are you? I really dragged my feet on skinny jeans, but apparently now that I've converted my whole closet to them, we're going back to wide leg. And yes, I watched Friends live - best part of Thursday night, amirite? Well, sometimes I taped it.
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18/09/2022
In honor of my first year on Instagram, I'm posting this handy guide for others who are migrating from Facebook. Instagram feels strange and unwieldy at first, but it grows on you. 😉
Follow .ehlers for more .
11/09/2022
There are 6 risk factors for Altered Neurochemistry and Trauma in Children:
1. Difficult Pregnancy
2. Difficult Birth
3. Early Hospitalization
4. Abuse
5. Neglect
6. Traumatic event
The first 3 risk factors could occur in adopted or non-adopted kids, but, all adoptees have at least 2 risk factors: pregnancy made difficult because it was unplanned and traumatic loss of primary caregiver. Children adopted via foster care often have ALL SIX risk factors.
Are you dealing with unexpected behaviors in your adopted child? Consider whether they are reacting to trauma. Some symptoms of trauma in children include:
🤕 Anxiety
🤕 Hyperactivity
🤕 Difficulty sleeping
🤕 Self-harm (e.g. cutting)
🤕 Depression, withdrawal
🤕 Separation anxiety, or it's opposite: becoming attached to strangers
🤕 Hoarding food
🤕 Violence
If this is happening in your home, you can experience trauma yourself, and also shame because a lot of these behaviors are out of social norms and why can't you "control your own kid"?
Mamas (and Papas!): Please don't isolate yourself! You need a tribe more than anyone, and now more that ever. Follow me and reach out to me if you're having trouble finding your people. I have a large network of adoption contacts, and I'll bet we can find some local resources for you.
And above all: go easy on yourself and your kiddo: you're both going through a lot,
Source: DVDs produced by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development
Which is worse: when they're actually FIGHTING or when they're HAVING FUN, just in a loud and annoying way?
Come oonnnnn, children. I gave you each your own ROW of seating. Can't we just rock out to music and have non-chaotic fun together? I promise I'll play the good songs...
❤ if your cubs rock your minivan, and not in a good way... 😂
Video of cubs courtesy of Jennifer Hadley,
Which is worse: when they're actually FIGHTING or when they're HAVING FUN, just in a loud and annoying way?
Come oonnnnn, children. I gave you each your own ROW of seating. Can't we just rock out to music and have non-chaotic fun together? I promise I'll play the good songs...
❤ if your cubs rock your minivan, and not in a good way... 😂
Video of cubs courtesy of Jennifer Hadley,
16/05/2022
Doesn't matter how many we have, that last one puts us right over the edge.
Sometimes, the first one is that one.
But when we reach insanity, we know it's time to stop.
Comment with how many kids brought you to your current level of insanity...
11/05/2022
Here's me: learning from the past.
Now, I'm off to read the Grapes of Wrath. Well, if you're my high school English teacher, I mean: off to RE-READ the Grapes of Wrath.
Oh, who am I kidding? It was too long in high school; it's too long now. I'll just watch the movie.
Still kidding myself. The movie's too long, too. I'll just eat some grapes and call it good.
Follow for more history and literature lessons.
Does this happen to anyone else?
My hair is all shiny, perfectly formed curls... just the way I'd want it to go out in public.
Only I'm going to go to sleep, and when I get up, one half will be flat and the other half will look like I stuck my finger in a light socket.
❤ if your hair sabotages you, too.
08/05/2022
Mother's Day is a source of joy... but not every year. And not for every person.
❤ Maybe your mama is no longer with you, or maybe she's far away.
💜 Maybe your relationship with her is a source of pain right now.
🧡 Maybe you want to be a mama more than anything, but it's not happening. Been there.
May God be near you today, and may abundant mothering find you, and wrap you in love and bless you, whatever your "maybe" may be.
Daughter woke me up rudely early this morning to show me something cool.
I don't know what it was - I refused to open my eyes, because I don't want to encourage that kind of behavior.
Then, she came at me with *this* threat! Let me get this straight:
If I STAY asleep,
You'll GO to sleep.
❤ if you'd like your kids to threaten you with this, too.
We have college savings funds, after all. Don't you think we should also put a little something away to help them get over all our parenting shortcomings?
It feels right.
01/05/2022
Do you feel like you're not enough sometimes? Or that you're never enough?
I mean, if you look at your to-do list, yeah: not enough. I think there'd have to be about 30 of me to finish my actual to-do list.
That's why I stopped making to-do lists. Who needs that kind of stress? It'll all get done sooner or later...
But, what if we started with where we are? What if we used whatever we have? What if just we did what we are able to?
What if we snuggled up to the concept of good enough?
Yeah, baby: let's live like THAT.
Share with someone who need to know they're enough.
Just kidding: there's no such thing as too much Bourne.
I did wonder, as you might, if Bourne movies are really appropriate for someone young enough to use Flintstone's vitamins?
In our defense, we do use VidAngel filters to make it more family friendly.
And, besides, how cute is this?
And that's how I know she's my daughter.
I mean, it's really a miracle that I was even waking her up at all. I can usually be found buried under covers, trying to eke out a few more minutes of sleep while Jeff does all that "early morning" stuff.
❤ if you're not a morning person either.
My kids got plain ol' colds over spring break, and it was so refreshing. Just sniffles and congestion: no Covid, no quarantine.
You know things thing has gone on too long when you feel nostalgic for the rhinovirus!
I mean, yeah: we did test for Covid, so there was nasal swabbing.
But let's focus on what's important:
👏 No reporting illness to health department.
👏 No phoning schools and online learning.
👏 No staying home from all the things.
Just blowing noses until all paper products in the house and car were decimated.
Comment with the weirdest thing you miss from pre-Covid!
24/04/2022
The truth may hurt, but did you think you could die of it?
Jesus said that knowing the truth will set you free, so who's right?
Nietzche?
or Jesus?
Well, see: Jesus said the truth will set you free, but he never said it wouldn't hurt a little. Or sometimes a lot.
Take a deep breath, cling to Jesus and art as needed. Face your truth, and keep pressing in until you get the freedom.
Worth it.
Photo credit: https://www.freepik.com/photos/daisy
It's only a matter of time.
Frankly, as a new mom, I was shocked at how early this phase started.
I would tell you how long it lasts, but... well. I'm not really even sure it ends.
The only thing for it is for us to band together and form a chocolate-based support group.
Follow to join...
22/04/2022
I have to sneeze, but I can hold it in. At least another 4 hours if I have to.
And soon, the recess teacher will blow the whistle, and your sleep will come running back to you with rosy cheeks, ready to behave.
Right? RIGHT?
❤️ if your sleep goes out to play too often.
19/04/2022
❤️ if you have been the horrified by missives from the American Association of Retired Persons?
They are relentless.
My daughter asked if she could pick out my clothes Saturday. Does that sound scary to you?
We came to an agreement after about three rounds of negotiation.
Me: Those colors together are too wild for me.
Me: I don't usually wear a grey shirt with grey pants.
Me: How about one of these (points out 2 shirts that match)?
Finally, we got shirts, pants, and socks. Then, she wouldn't just let me wear my black sneakers. She offered up fuchsia or day-glo orange, but finally compromised on grey.
That's when she gave me this sage advice, and from now on, I will be attempting to "increase my look."
What fashion advice have your kids given you?
16/04/2022
Can you learn things about yourself as a grown-up? I did: I am not an outdoors person.
I will go outdoors only under very specific conditions, and even then, it's a compromise.
For example, I like to be warm and dry.
This spring break, we chose Lake Quinault Lodge, which is in the boonies of the Olympic Rain Forest.
In April.
Which was cold and wet and rainy most days, and the main attractions at that Lodge are hikes.
The first 36 hours were rough - culminating in me standing out on a muddy, cold, rainy beach crying. But it got better, and we finished the trip with a day of pretty awesome sun, sand, and kite-flying at nearby Ocean Shores.
How was *your* spring break?
Yep - it's granny panties, mis-matched socks, and pants that are just a little too tight.
Gotta' save my roomy, stretchy pants for vacation.
Because: eating out❗
And buffet breakfasts❗
And dessert❗
It's worth it.
13/04/2022
I would like a helicopter, a puppy, and a lifetime supply of Sour Patch Kids...
I cannot count the number of times I've been cornered in the kitchen. I have a roomy kitchen with multiple means of egress. It's not that.
🔥It's that whole "never leave an open flame unattended" thing.
🍳Gets me every time. Because, of course, I am in the kitchen to cook.
🚗Don't even get me started on the car. Especially on the way home from Target. I mean, I get it: I never want to leave Target, either.
Where do your children like to ambush you?
Parenting swings between hard and harder.
With occasional moments of "You're the best mom ever!' and "Thanks, Mom!" and kiddo running full speed into your arms wearing a gap-toothed grin.
Comment SQUARE if you're having one of those days, and may peace be with you!
10/04/2022
How can advice from 1854 be so fitting today?
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote this advice to his daughter, Ellen, in 1854.
He went on to write:
🤍 Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in.
🤍 Forget them as fast as you can.
🤍 Tomorrow is a new day.
🤍 You shall begin it well...
🤍 and serenely...
🤍 and with too high a spirt to be cumbered with your old nonsense.
Let us not be cumbered with our old nonsense, friends!
Blessings,
Krista
It's science.
And I'll tell you what else; a watched pot WILL boil evenutally. Also science.
The point is: do not turn your back on a grilled cheese.
👍 if you've been burned by cheese before.
Follow to join my Grilled Cheese Scrapers support group.
Lowering expectations for the win!
Tag someone who needs an excuse to skip housework!
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