Tag: #magic #doyoubelieve

I’m SO frustrated!

Why is it so damn hard to get support for our children?

Why do I need to be an expert in ALL things? Seriously, advocating is one thing but being my daughter’s private tutor. I’m not sure I can do it.

So, here’s what happened…we’ve had our end of school IEPs. Yes, we needed to have 2 because we spend too much time talking. And, I’m not bothered by that in the slightest. Both Alex and I care tremendously about Teal’s schooling, supports, etc. We ask a lot of questions and want to know the reasoning behind goals and benchmarks. It takes time. I’m very happy our school is willing to understand Teal’s needs while being supportive of our process to get there.

During the IEP review process, you know when you go back and really read the IEP again to make sure everything that was committed to for the previous year has been met in terms of services, I saw some discrepancies in what Teal was getting in terms of services and what her IEP seemed to state. So, I began questioning how much 1-on-1 time Teal was actually getting with her teacher. In previous meetings, the entire staff told us how much better Teal learns when receiving 1-on-1 instruction. And, I thought, we had gotten a commitment from her teacher and support staff that she would be receiving this extra assistance in 2nd grade.

However, in my review of her IEP for 2nd grade, I couldn’t seem to find the commitment in writing on the IEP. What? We completely missed that they didn’t include that verbiage for her 2nd grade IEP. Yes…WHAT THE F?

1st off, that’s on me and Teal’s dad. Completely. That is not the school’s fault. However, they told us verbally they’d be providing small group and 1-on-1 instructional time for Teal. But, in the IEP, they just wrote small group. Yeap. We missed it.

Looking back on Teal’s education this year, she’s falling behind. More than just a little behind…the gap between her 1st grade peers was significantly smaller than the gap between her 2nd grade peers. Why, dare I ask, do you think that is? Hmmmm….anything to do with the fact that every day in 1st grade she had 20-30 minutes of 1-on-1 instruction with her teacher? Ya think? Damn it all to hell. I’m so darn mad.

Fast forward to our meeting yesterday to establish service minutes…the school can’t “give her 1-on-1 instruction if the teacher is already providing that instruction to other students.” The teacher cannot duplicate instruction time. Really?

And, the kicker…they won’t add it back in. I pressed. I said I was extremely disappointed and wouldn’t be signing the IEP. I got quite heated as a matter of fact. I didn’t yell…but man they knew I was mad!

So, major lesson learned!

Fast forward to today (I think I wrote this initial rampage 6 weeks ago)…

I didn’t post it because I knew posting something when you’re really mad can often lead to not-so-great outcomes. Anyhoots, I didn’t sign the IEP. However, I did do some research and I did throw the staff’s words back at them. I sent a strategic email referencing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)  that ensures students with a disability are provided with a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that is tailored to their individual needs.  I stressed “appropriate” and “tailored.” I sited numerous conversations where the entire support team for Teal said she learned best with 1-on-1 teaching. I copied everyone under the sun. I had had enough. I was making sure that everyone in the district knew that this Mama Bear was NOT going to take this type of treatment for their child. Nope. Not me.

I sent it…and then, I waited!

And waited.

And then, my phone rang. The supervisor and the department head were on the phone and they wanted to talk. We had an open and honest (and nice) conversation. Concessions were made. I don’t think Teal will get all of the 1-on-1 time she needs or I requested, but we are going to meet again before school starts to look at scheduling for her and her teachers.

And, I’ve learned I need to be a better tutor here at home. If she’s not going to get everything, I feel she needs at school, then I need to step up our game. (next post on how the heck to do that…because she’s always so tired after school…she’s usually just done!)

In the end, my mom was right. When I called her in a huge tiff after the 1st IEP, she said things always seem to work out for Teal. She told me to wait. She told me to have confidence. In the end, she really told me to wait for the magic of Teal to do its work.

And, she was right. Teal’s magic brought what could have been a legal battle of parents against school…to a place of genuine conversation and support!

Thanks, Teal! More later..

XO- Jen

Oh, if you have a story to share or want to brainstorm solutions, let me know. I’m at jen@forourspecialkids.com. And if you have a moment, check out my podcast: For Our Special Kids! It’s on all listening platforms.

5 Steps to Connect Telepathically with Your Child

When do you connect with your child? When is easiest? When is it hardest? How do you connect with them?

First and foremost, the hardest time for me to connect with Teal is when she is hurting or extremely frustrated. Normally this is when her, and my, emotions are running high. In addition to the elevated emotions, I often get a physical response from Teal. She may swat or shake or kick. You all have experienced it. And in those moments, it is so hard to determine exactly what they need. My discernment is very low during this time.

I so desperately wish she could talk…to tell me what she needs.  I hear myself saying, “Just show me what’s wrong.” And, I often hear myself saying back, “I’m sorry I don’t understand. I don’t know what you need.”

That’s your cue!  When you hear yourself saying that to your child, take note. Pause, breathe and implement this very quick process. 

  1. Ground. Feel yourself on the ground. Whatever part of you is touching the floor, acknowledge it and feel it more. Connect to something stable.
  2. Open your crown chakra. Connect to the higher realms of energy. Open your crown and reach up with your energy. You may feel the top of your head get lighter. You may direct violet or golden light out of the top of your head into the heavens. Know that you are connecting with higher answers.
  3. See a gorgeous light blue color surrounding your throat and awaken your energy there. Know that you can communicate and you can hear what is needed.
  4. Finally, open your heart. Reach your heart energy into your child’s heart energy. See the light connecting you both. Then, reach energetic open palms out to their heart energy.
  5. Now listen and feel.

This process should be quick…60 seconds or less.

Now, if nothing happens at first, please do not despair. This, like any new skill, takes time to develop. The neural pathways need to be built and strengthened. It is important to practice when the stress and emotion is not high. Practice when you don’t need the answer, when your child isn’t hurting or frustrated.

One way to begin building this “muscle memory” is by practicing after you put your child to bed at night.  Just go through the process in your mind and imagine it working. Imagine it being easy. Imagine the energetic packets of information coming from your child into you. It will happen. And, the more you practice when the need is low, the easier it will be when the need is high.

Crystals and Essential Oils can enhance your intuition and connection.

You also may consider holding a crystal or using an essential oil to enhance your practice.

Crystals to consider include blue stones for communication.  I love angelite for a spiritual connection with enhanced communication. While the experts don’t list this one as a good stone for telepathy, I find it perfect. It’s peaceful and healing and gentle. When I think about connecting with Teal, those are the feelings I want.  It also helps you to connect with your angel team…and I believe that Teal’s higher self is part of my angel team.  So, this is a win-win for me.  Other blue stones to consider are lapis lazuli or kyanite.  Rose quartz is all about love. Opening our heart is a must when communicating with our non-verbal children. Pink opal is also wonderful for enhancing your motherly connection.  Clear quartz and amethyst are wonderful for boosting your intuitive connection and help with the crown chakra.

Essential oils to consider might include the InTune blend from dōTERRA®. I put this directly on my 3rd eye.  Use rose oil for its extremely high vibration. To use our energy to communicate, our vibration must be high. Rose can help elevate you.

You may try the tree oils as they will help with grounding. If you feel too much stress, the tree oils can do wonders to lower the stress and get you connected with yourself before reaching out to another. Frankincense is another incredibly powerful oil for self-love and overall healing. I love frankincense for all things spiritual…heck, I just love frankincense for all things!  Peppermint and lemon can awaken your mind and help with clarity. Sage, clary sage, and rosemary are wonderful for wisdom and remembering. All so important when connecting with your child!

Remember, the next time you hear yourself saying, “I’m sorry, honey. Mommy just doesn’t understand what you want.” Put the above steps into play and believe that you can easily connect with your baby!

My love,

Jen

If you’d like more information, please contact me at jen@ForOurSpecialKids.com. You can also visit http:/www.mydoterra.com/jenniferlansink to learn more about oils, add to your collection, and get fun recipes.

Opening Your Crown Chakra in the Morning

I am currently in a class with Maureen Burford from Creative Lives called Foundations 1. We meet each Tuesday via Zoom to discuss the assigned chapters in two books by Ellen Tadd: The Wisdom of the Chakras and A Framework for Wise Education. This is like a graduate level class…we have mandatory writing each week. And since I’m writing for Maureen, I thought I’d share my thoughts with you.

My primary focus over the past week with Teal was to be more aware of my crown chakra (7th) to then be open to her crown chakra (7th).

When I slowed down throughout the day to feel my crown chakra, I noticed that mornings were a tough time for me to feel open and inspired.  The stress of the morning, the schedule, the time constraints, the lack of control over a 7-year-old all contributed to a closed chakra.

Then, I remembered that inspirational music is a great way to “pop the crown” open. Alex had played “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons one morning in place of my standard Mozart…much to my dismay. However, when looking back on that experience, I felt lighter, more free, bouncy, and energized.   So, there I was asking Alexa to play “Thunder.”  And I immediately began bouncing up and down, dancing around the kitchen feeling the top of my head lift off. Success!

I also want to be more aware of Teal’s crown chakra. So, after taking my time this morning to meditate and automatic write, which opens my crown and sets me on a great path for the day, I went upstairs to wake up Teal. That’s when I realized I had a chance to help Teal open her crown before she even got out of bed.

For whatever reason this morning, Teal was very groggy. Slow to get up and certainly not her normal smiley self at 7 am. She wanted to cuddle longer than normal and wouldn’t get out of bed when I asked her. Now, I normally would have just picked her up out of bed and said frankly, “We gotta get going, Teal.” I would have taken control and forced her to get out of bed and start her day.

However, today, I realized I had a choice in helping her to start her day from a better place. When she asked me to cuddle. I cuddled. I did a few things with the comforter that I know she loves and makes her smile. I slowly tickled my fingers up her body to help wake her up. I held her with no intention other than to feel her sweet body against mine softly breathing. And that’s when I felt her smile. I felt her begin to wake up her crown and find joy in the morning.

Such an easy way to let go of control to give her a better morning.

And, to take it a step further, when I put on Thunder this morning, she asked me telepathically to put Mozart back on. I find this very interesting. Her Crown must like Mozart better than Imagine Dragons. I’m glad I was present enough with her to hear her message.

5 Things

In a recent conversation with my mom (we were recording an episode for the podcast at http://www.ForOurSpecialKids.com), she reminded me of the importance of 5 things.

Years ago, I would wake up each morning and write 5 things that I was grateful for in a notebook next to my bed. Just an easy 5 things. It started my day on a wonderfully positive note and I encourage you to try it.

Here are my 5 things for today:

  1. Waking up with my kitty purring next to me
  2. The taste of hot coffee with cream made by my husband
  3. My morning meditation
  4. The morning colors on the lake
  5. The outstretched arms of my Teal when she woke up

If you can take 30 seconds to honor 5 things you’re grateful for today, your entire day will benefit.

Smiles…

The Vigilant Must Not Wait

So, I got this message today during a bioenergy healing session with Jody Goddard.

“The vigilant must not wait!” What the…?

While I know what vigilant means, I actually looked it up to see if there was another meaning that I was missing.

The Google machine says this, “keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.” That didn’t make a lot of sense to me.

The noun version of Google’s answer is “the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.” Still didn’t make much sense. I’m normally a half-full type of girl. I don’t spend my days looking for danger or focusing on the negative. It’s just not me.

Obviously at this point, I am still a bit lost on the actual meaning of this message. Because, yes, I do believe we get messages in our meditations and when they come they can be a bit cryptic but they need to be heard.

My next step was to look up the origin of “Vigilant.” This is what came up…”late 15th century: from Latin vigilant- ‘keeping awake’, from the verb vigilare, from vigil (see vigil).”

You guessed it, I then rabbit-holed to vigil. And, this is where things made a little more sense to me.

“noun: vigil; plural noun: vigils

a period of keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep, especially to keep watch or pray.”

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=561360965&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS944US945&sxsrf=AB5stBj6nDpMxDThGT_yDPVdIOPUqTM3AA:1693427450239&q=vigil&si=ACFMAn_Hp-Itxgrvlkmz06srbzjKhPyIrp8G5CVA5EG1PHTS5GJsT5_qK0vn4GLsObBNPdjYyF1OTkOlmz2HZiF-tTiwbweC-Q%3D%3D&expnd=1&biw=1536&bih=739&dpr=1.25

If I put this into my statement above…then what I might be able to take from this message is that one…I might not be sleeping too well in the near future (ha) or two…I need to wake up! That my time to “sleep” in this world is over. It cannot wait anymore. I must wake up, I must take the time necessary to awaken to the world around me. Awaken to the knowing. Awaken to the place I’m supposed to take in this world. And, this awakening can’t wait anymore. I think my guides are getting restless!

My period of being dormant, asleep, ignorant in this world is over. It is time to wake up and get moving!!!

Okay then…I guess the next logical question is…WHAT NOW?!?!!?

May you find an awakening within yourself today and may that knowledge not wait!

XOXOXOXO

Just Put a Hat on Her!

Telepathy and Intuition.  

We were new, first-time, parents.   We did our fair share of contributing to the consumer world of “baby”.  We measured those scoops of formula perfectly.  Made sure the temperature of the milk was just right.  This also meant that for the first few weeks at home, we both got up when she cried.  Both of us reacted…what’s wrong?  Is she hungry? Is she cold? Does she need to be changed? What can we do?  What can we change?

It was non-stop. As every new parent can attest to. It’s in our DNA to do this when we hear our baby cry. Fix it. Fix it now. 

Well, on this one occasion about 4 months into Teal’s life, I knew something very odd. 

Let me set the stage…it’s end of October. We were remodeling our house (which was supposed to be done before Teal came into this world) and were living in a very small condo. Teal was content by the fire. It was warm and cozy in our home. Out of the blue, Teal started fussing and then she started crying. Alex was holding her with a bewildered look. Like…where is this coming from? All normal things had been checked off the list…hungry? No. Dirty? No. Cold? No, etc. You get the point.

Then it happened…this weird knowing came over me and I said to Alex, “Put a hat on her.” Now, we were in the house. It was warm. This statement did not make sense AT ALL. Put a hat on her? What? Alex looked at me with a very, very strange expression.

I said it again, “Put a hat on her. I don’t know why, but she wants a hat.”

So, Alex puts a hat on her and she immediately stops crying. Immediately. Both of us were quite stunned.

Well, here’s the most important part of this entire story. That specific day in October was the very 1st time my daughter communicated with me telepathically. She told me she wanted a hat. She sent me that message…and thankfully, I received it. 

You see, what I could have said here is that it was all Mama’s Intuition. It was all me. It was all the intuitive instinct that comes with motherhood. And, I do believe in a mother’s intuition. I believe it. I have experienced it. I use it regularly. But, the part people leave out of the story is that the message comes from somewhere.

Teal sent me the message. She was an active part of my knowing that day. It was NOT ALL ME. It was a 2-way communication. She sent the message and I received it. And then I acted…thank goodness. 

So, the next time you get a knowing and you think it’s all just your intuition.  Take a moment to give credit to the sender. And sometimes that sender is a tiny 6 lb, 4 month old magical preemie child whom will forever change your life.

And, give credit where credit is due!

With love,

Jen

PS: if you feel like you are intuitive (because everyone is), let me know. I have a mini-course for you to help bring more of your intuition to the surface.

Post #8: Do you Believe in Magic?

A long long time ago…in land far far away… (kidding)

Over 9 years ago I hosted a women’s retreat called “What would you attempt?” in Lake Tahoe.  It was all about me testing the waters to see if I could help facilitate change in other women (and in myself).  I LOVED it.  I created the curriculum, led many of the discussions, invited in experts, etc.  Truly, it was such an inspiring time for me.   And the others, I’ve heard from a few of the women that certain exercises still resonate with them today.  Mental Note: I need to run another retreat!!

I am going to introduce one of those exercises and then get into the WooWoo.

The exercise used energy cards.  I absolutely love those energy cards you see in WooWoo stores.  Some of them are angel cards, some are positive affirmation cards, others have Buddhist messages, there are spirit animal decks, etc. All of them in my opinion are amazing it just depends on your mood.

And this is a reminder to myself to go dust off my cards…ugh. Isn’t it funny how you get so darn caught up in life that you literally forget what used to bring you joy?  Why do we let that happen? Especially as a mom, but also when I found myself making more money in my career…I just let go of those things that made me happy and literally defined who I was.

Take a moment…what did you used to love that is now missing? Is it that 1st slow sip of cherished coffee in the morning that you used to give you such joy?  And now you just chug it to get out the door on time? (FYI…that probably is 10 seconds out of your life and it might bring back a bit of joy)  Or what happened to that 10 minutes when you used to slather on a face mask and flip through a gossip magazine? Go figure out that one thing that is missing from the “before this life took over” and you left yourself behind.  And then add it back in.

Holy crow…back on track. So, the cards? I’m going to post some links below if you wanna grab a deck for yourself. Anyhoots, we did this exercise in the retreat:

In groups of 4, we chose a deck (or two) that felt right for the group. Example…if you didn’t love angel cards and your group picked those…then you could grab a deck that felt good. Easy.

One person at a time…

  • Hold the deck in your hands and put your energy on the cards…you can shuffle ’em, put ’em on your heart…whatever feels right.
  • While you are holding the cards, ask a question you’d like an answer to in your mind.  Really focus on the question…send it into the cards.  Do not tell the group your question.
  • Pull a card and place it in front of the other 3 women.
  • Ask the women their interpretation of your card. Do not provide feedback.  Do not give them hints to your question. Just let their inner wisdom speak.
  • Flip the card over and go through the same process.  Keep your mouth shut and listen. Feel the messages.
  • Then, if you want, you can tell the women your question…but you do not have to do this…it is your question, do with it what you want.
  • Do this for each woman in the group.
  • Take 5-10 minutes to journal about the experience.

So, that was the exercise.  Now, let’s get WooWoo!!!

I not only facilitated these exercises, I participated.  So, I sat down with my question.  And, in my gut I kidda knew my question wasn’t exactly “right.”  See, I had a “When” question and those can be tricky…but I went with it because it was my true inner question.

I grabbed the deck, sent energy into the cards, and I asked my question in my heart.  I pulled the card and laid it down.  Hmmmm…it was an old man with some stars above him.  I remember he was wearing red.  The women gave me their interpretations.  And, the last woman (Stacy I’m not sure you remember this…) but you said, “It reminds me of Santa and Christmas.”  Now remember, she did not know my “when” question.  Ha ha ha!!   Christmas is was.  Yeah…that was only a month or 2 away…I was getting my answer in a couple of months.  Whoa.

You wanna know my question…”When will I get pregnant?”

So, 1 month goes by…pee on stick.  Not pregnant.

Another month…pee on new stick.  Not preggers.

Damn cards.

I knew I shouldn’t have asked a damn “when” question.  Total heart break.  I gave up on that set of cards…cards in general really.  Well, not playing cards.  I do love a good card game.

Anyhoots, get ready for some WooWoo.  Fast forward 8 years.  I found out I was pregnant on December 26th.  Ha.  Ha.  Ha.  Ha.  Ha.  Ha.  Totally not joking.  The Universe is so full of magic.  And the kind of magic that rocks your world.

Do you believe in magic?

This Mama believes in magic…

 

Check out some of these decks:  You can search affirmation cards, empowerment cards, etc.  There are even decks for kids.

 

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