Her favorite colors are all the colors in the universe. She loves Christmas, Halloween and Leprechaun Day; and in this episode we all learn why it isn't ok to give someone a stinky drink to knock them out so you can kiss them in a bathroom stall. Our season one finale y'all.
Show each other love; when you can find that in your family, the place that is supposed to be the safest place on earth, we are all winning as we change tomorrow.
Shout out to all of us trying to spread more love in the world. We are in this together. xo
If he could just wait five more minutes...
Shout out to everyone who has supported and listened to Raising Crazy this first season, stay tuned for an important update from Sarah on the future of our show.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingcrazy
If you, your child or someone you know, learns best through experiencing a failure on their own; one of the hardest things as an onlooker is honoring their right to fail and learn from those mistakes.
Shout out to all of us that stress as we see the same mistakes we made play out for others. Remember, it doesn't work out the same way for everyone. There are almost always a wide variety of ways to do things.
Has anyone ever apologized to you and you felt like it fell short? Have you ever apologized for losing your temper with someone and wondered if you made things worse?
Shout out to all of us that lose our tempers from time to time, we can always apologize effectively if we mean it.
Why Won't You Apologize - Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts by Harriet Lerner
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Why-Wont-You-Apologize/Harriet-Lerner/9781501129612
Middle brother Landon wants a turn to record, to share his experiences with managing how boredom can trip his amygdala; come for the tips on how to manage boredom and the unpleasant feelings it can bring, stay for the laughs and love.
Shout out to the kiddos who share their experiences that ALL of us can learn from, regardless of age or mindset. xo
"One of the hardest things about schizophrenia is I don't remember pieces of my past...and it's difficult." No puns, no jokes, no clever quips. Please just listen friends.
It finally happened y'all. No shade thrown to her support team, there are only so many times you can get in a fight, or try to jump off a bus before they have to kick you off.
We share these stories in order to normalize our behaviorally and medically challenging kiddos. Caregivers, parents, family; we see you, we hear you, we love you. Please reach out anytime to us at DaisyGirlCommunications@gmail.com to share, be heard, get advice and expertise or just vent. xo
Shout out to those of us with kiddos that have gotten kicked off or out of an activity. Maybe some of you caregivers have been kicked out of a place or two?
What's it like for siblings of children who have special needs? Big sister Kaydee checks in and, spoilers....it can be challenging and exhausting. Kaydee also shares some of her coping mechanisms for stress. Also, sometimes Mommas learn things in real-time during an episode.
Shout out to all the caregivers with multiple kiddos, all with their own needs, age appropriate and otherwise.
Come join our Facebook group and let's share and learn together.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingcrazy
The way we manage situations is what we get back. Trustworthy, emotionally mature people are going to look at the way you handle difficult situations and base their desire for you on that. Spying on your partner doesn't foster an environment of trust within a relationship. Shout out to Sarah for getting a Momma win this episode. xo
If we can teach our kiddos through experiences, so that they can go through the truth of the lesson we are trying to teach them, they are more likely to carry that message into their adulthood. Shout out to Sarah for being honest with her own past experiences with lies, to help us all learn to be better. xo
Allowing kiddos to tell you where you are not meeting their needs, in a way that is safe, where you can figure out how to fix it together, you are going to teach them relationship and communication skills for the future.
Shout out to the caregivers that share their successes and failures. We would love to hear from you on our Facebook group.
www.facebook.com/groups/raisingcrazy/
Taking care of sick kiddos is hard y'all. What is also important during these times; if you have other kiddos in the house, making sure they learn how to respond when someone doesn't feel well. And hey, sometimes practicing some extra self-care for yourself is important to increase your frustration tolerance, to deal with these often pukey days.
We share the good and the bad and the so gross you have to laugh. Not a meal time listen obviously. :)
Shout out to the caregivers that keep a spare container handy in case of a kiddo accident.
We promised we would share the good times and the bad with you.
Shout out to the caregivers who are giving their kiddos space and boundaries to figure out their emotions.
Boundaries that kiddos are allowed to put in place that adults can respect is very important to teaching them and us that they have a valuable voice and it needs to be paid attention to.
Shout out to all of us that honor boundaries our kiddos set, even when they are silly. Or maybe especially if they are silly.
Gobble gobble y'all.
Challenge: Step back. Check in with yourself. Find an opportunity to give your kiddo charge of their own life and then tell them that they're rocking.
Shout out to all of us that have been surprised when a kiddo has used their higher skills to problem solve. Tell us about a time that this has happened to you.
Challenges with medical trauma and treatments, can influence our kiddo's brains. Trauma changes our brain. We have to hold space for that.
*Just for clarification he was not fed the vomit, the bowl was only for measurement. (Inside joke from the show; click the play button turkeys.)
Sometimes we need to expand our kiddo's palettes, sometimes we need to let them set their own boundaries and sometimes it's a combination of both.
Shout out to those of us that have worked hard on a delicious dish that our kiddos decide is only edible once doused in ketchup; or is it catsup?
What do you do when you are fuming after a very rough couple of days with your kiddo? Self-care and some personal alone time when you can; but afterwards, when faced with dropping off a reluctant kiddo at the bus stop...take a moment, breathe and separate them from an environment. In today's episode, another great example of how it takes a village y'all.
Shout out to all of us that have eaten a meal in our room after tagging out to our partner to take care of the little ones. Tell us about a time that you or a partner stepped up to let the other have some time to themself.
It takes a village y'all. Finding community is only the start; showing up, being real, being yourself, being honest and yes...sometimes you are gonna show your bad side. Be the person for others that you need.
*Plus, who doesn't need a friend who can help get kiddos off a roof. Reference from the show, click the play button turkeys.
Stay tuned for the end where we shout out our cities with the fastest growing listenership, and a special shout out to one city in the middle of the show. We are doing this all with word-of-mouth and we cannot thank you enough. Keep circulating the ones and zeros across the interwebs and come say hi in our Facebook community.
Emotions come first, give your kiddos a place to be felt and a voice to be spoken in a non-punitive way. Validate the feeling, where is the feeling coming from?
Shout out to all of us raising kiddos to handle life better than we did; finish this sentence for us..."When I feel mad I...."
What are some good ways to release emotions?
Sometimes we need our partner to help us find the space to unwind in a good place. Sometimes that space is unwinding by watching the Good Place. Wine optional, time outs aren't.
Shout out to all of you that have stepped up for a partner or friend with kiddos on the rampage, or maybe let us hear a story of when a partner or friend stepped up to give you space from your kiddos.
Step inside this aural plane friends. Meet Brig. Brig sometimes has to check in with trusted family and friends to know what is real and what is not.
Spend time listening to Brig's story with us this morning and look for a new show on the horizon; Conversations with a Schizophrenic.
Today's music is Best Friends by Muza and Flootrack by Fat Kneel.
"I was with her all day yesterday...she doesn't have a phone..."
Shout out to all of you, all of us, raising these little characters. May they be full of character as well. Reach out give us show ideas, suggestions or stories of times your kiddos have brought you luaghter and tears.
Second honeymoons, growth spurts, shoe feuds, we are going *balls to the wall here friends. Come for Sarah sharing a weekend of showing up, and not so showing up, stay for the buried lede of a sweet Europe trip.
Shout out to all of us that are doing our best, every day. Let us hear from you, share the show, or both.
*Quote from the show, click the play button turkeys.
If you are alive, you have received some and you have likely given some. It's important for us to examine both of these moments, and how we feel about them.
Sarah shares when she discovered the roots of her giving out unsolicited advice. *Spoiler - One of her children was textbook developmentally and she had lingering issues from her attention-seeking youth.
Shout out to all of us that have mentally punched someone in the face when getting unsolicited advice. We have. xo
We can allow our kiddos and ourselves to safely experience emotions by working with a cognitive level that matches where we are.
Shout out to all of us who have had to seperate the kiddos while they go "back and forth, back and forth, blah blah, you did it, no I didn't*
*Inside joke contained in the show. Hit play already you turkeys.
Stop shoulding all over yourself. You better recognize.
Shout out to all of us that love a good worksheet. Get a copy here and play along with the podcast kiddos.
R.A.I.D - The Emotional Cycle Handout
https://www.daisygirlcommunications.com/handouts
The more people that have your child's best interest at heart, the better that child is going to grow up. It takes a community y'all. Sarah shares her adopted son Brig's story and the effects that an open adoption and lack of one can have.
Shout out to the birth Moms and of course Aunt Virginia.
Reach out and let us know how we are doing on our Facebook group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/447231724038462
We could have made a House of Thrones joke; we chose not to.
In this episode, Sarah reveals why we can sometimes feel breathwork is clichéd or that it isn't working. *Spoiler because it is and because it often isn't working.
Come for the tips on breath work, do it with a friend or while you relax on the couch; we don't want you to pass out.
Shout out to all of us who need these tools and more to make space for ourselves and our special needs children to learn, grow and become our best selves.
Reach out to us on Facebook, and join our growing crew; those of us growing up to show up for our kiddos, the future leaders.
Today we talk about the need for a predictable but flexible life for our children to develop without fear or anxiety. Sarah shares some of the pressure, even at a very young age, that she and Mason were under to have kids from the moment they were married. Adopting their first child at 20 years old, six months later Mason joined the military and the family was making significantly less money. As they began the fostering process, they realized they had to adjust their parenting to be equitable for all the kids.
Shout out to all of us learning how to use time-outs in a way that helps our kiddos emotionally regulate. What have you found to be effective? Share with us on Facebook.
Sarah shares the story of her kiddo Abi's physical and mental health struggles; likely brought on by her birth mother's difficult place in life when Abi was born. Abi's birth mom was unexpectedly pregnant from sex work, with no indication of whom the father might be. She was born at an estimated 36 weeks and just a touch over 4 pounds. Testing positive for marijuana and cocaine which caused a need to be forced fed, as the drugs interfered with her infant's natural rhythms and instincts to feed and bond.
Shout out to all of us parents who are working with our children and their special needs and challenges, whatever they may be. xo
Buckle up Crazy-fans. Craziacs? Crazyans? Crazians? Craztians? What should we call our rapidly growing fan base?
Buckle up, we are talking about the amygdala.
http://brainmaps.org/index.php?y2=amygdala&y=Am&species=mus%20musculus
Prefrontal cortex
http://brainmaps.org/index.php?y2=area%2010%20of%20prefrontal%20cortex&y=10&species=chlorocebus%20aethiops
Shout out to all of you that love the brain as much as we do! What's your favorite brain fact? Leave us one on social media and we will give you a shout out on our show. xo
It is very difficult to learn new things, even simple things when the basic biological needs are not being met. Come learn about fight, flight, freeze, fawn response. Is it nap time, is it snack time, are they having a tantrum?
Shout out to those of us that have had to tell a kiddo to not put something from the trash can in their mouths. Come on, raiose your handm we know you are out there, we aren't alone.
https://www.wichita.edu/services/mrc/OIR/Pedagogy/Theories/maslow.php
http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Maslow/motivation.htm
Toddler tantrums, mini-person meltdowns; whatever you want to call them, this episode features a kiddo losing their "magic of disney" at the dinner table to coin a phrase.
Good information contained within on a better way to experience vacations, family time and a city once referred to as Las Vegas if Ned Flanders ran it.
Shout out to all of you that planned a route through a theme park to get to every ride and attraction possible. Reach out and tell us about your first trip as a family. Where did you go? How did it go? Are you on one right now?
Sarah starts off with an emotional share about her son who is now a senior in high school, continuing to excel beyond what they were told was possible.
Shout out to all the positive forces in a kiddos life, it takes a community to raise our future leaders and y'all are doing it...every...single...day, even those days you don't feel it. We got you. xo
From the link below: What's an IEP?
Students who need extra help and support in school may be eligible for special education services in the form of an individualized education program (IEP). This program is offered free of charge to families of kids in public schools and outlines the goals and any support services that may be needed for a child to succeed in school.
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/iep.html
Do you say $#*% too much?
What word did you say in your head just now? Click the link ya potty mouth.
Time to share the show to your friends, frenemies...relatives, relemies?
Share it on the socials and of course at the proverbial water cooler; we have big plans and the more on the bandwagon, the more fun it will be.
Shout out to all the parents who have heard their kiddos use the F@!!# word recently.
All swear words were censored in this episode, we swear.
Lying is one of the few things that is the same for children as it is for adults, we do it for the same reasons.
Sarah shares her experience as a chronic liar growing up and the difficult parenting she was able to see later in her life that brought her there. Sarah lied to avoid getting in trouble...but also to be heard. Now fast forward to needing to describe symptoms of your kiddo to a doctor...and we have a problem.
We almost all have parental issues, and if you are feeling a certain way and would like to talk, reach out and let us hear you.
Shortly before recording this episode, Sarah had to show up...and she rocked it y'all.
What do you do when the call from the school nurse comes in and you head down there; your kiddo misses you, has to deal with a chronic illness, racism and perhaps a desire to play some tablet and forget about a rough day.
You start with a hug.
Shout all to all the parents who have rocked it lately, and those who feel like they haven't. Reach out and let us know all about it.
Embarrassing, awkward, frustrating, and sometimes overwhelming. Dealing with bed wetting at all ages is difficult. Shaming abd ounishments are not answers. Setting expectations is an important part of handling this as the cognitive abilities of our kiddos is different than for people who have full control of their bodies. Sarah shares a spectacular failure and what she learned.
Shout out to the parents who have noticed missing sheets and fibbing kiddos. We want to know about what you have dealt with: daisygirlcommunications@gmail.com
Our children need to feel their feelings; so sometimes you need to get creative with ways to complete an emotional cycle and not be left without a way to eat a bowl of cereal...it'll all make sense when you click the play button friends.
Shout out to the parents whose kiddos have squirelled or tossed away some household items. Reach out and tell us about it at daisygirlcommunications@gmail.com
Asking for help...sucks. However, life is nearly impossible without asking for help. As you learn to ask for help differently, you will find creative outcomes without a fight. Things will feel better and we will create a better tomorrow together.
Shout out to all of you that need help asking your partner or friends for help with your current responsibilities. Reach out and tell us about it at daisygirlcommunications@gmail.com
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child
Children are neurologically different from adults and oftentimes we as parents expect our children to function more cognitively developed than they are.
This episode is chocked full of web exclusive Westbrook wisdom as Sarah suggests activities for a child and caregiver to share, that support lessons that come later in life.
We'd love to hear from you out there. Tell us your struggles, your wins, your chuckles, your grins. Your tears, your fears and all the things in between. daisygirlcommunications@gmail.com
Today, Sarah took six of her children to the dentist. Click that play button and hear all about it. BUTTONS!!!
For those of you out there with difficult children, finding people you can team up with is so vital to parenting. Teamwork makes our dream work. You are not alone, we see you, we hear you, we feel for you.
Shout out to all the parents who, like us, have had to inform our children on why they aren't allowed to taste test things that aren't food. Dental instruments, a dog's paw?
Reach out with some of the stories you have raising your kiddos. daisygirlproductions@gmail.com
Terrible twos, terroristic threes? Alliterative aural tales of adulting are coming towards your ears. Sarah shares stories, so slowdown slim. Listen in. The podcast is about to begin.
Shout out to all the parents who have heard the phrase "Mom, you're embarrassing me." reach out and tell us the last time your little one said that to you.
Next week a new episode of Raising Crazy with Sarah Westbrook premieres and we are so excited, and we just can't hide it so we wanted to share a quick clip.
Hey parents, is there a book that you have read far too many times with your little ones?
True stories about how parents often have to grow up to show up for their children.
Sarah shares being raised by parents who ran the gamut of behavior from wildly inappropriate to criminal and the difficulty this brought her with raising her own seven children, one of which has pediatric onset schizophrenia.
Let's put some behavioral skills into parenting, and have a good laugh.