Dreaming of a Special Needs Library

Don’t you wish sometimes there was a Special Needs Library? And I’m not talking about one that just is filled with books, but a library of those going through what you are in a specific moment of time. Both a resource and support section for exactly what you needed in the moment.

There are so many faucets to special needs parenting. There’s a grief section; while they are alive and when a child has passed. There’s a joy of “inchstones” and small achievements that would be trivial to the outside world. There’s a ‘I am flat out confused over durable medical equipment’ section. A legal section for I have to fight a slew of denials. A section on learning how to be alone and without a 4am friend to call when your child just had their fifth seizure of the night and you are scared.

A place within the library with round tables, and chairs so welcoming and comforting that they felt like an instant hug. 

A place where you aren’t just pulling books off a shelf but sitting together in genuine support and comradeship. Maybe even sitting just in silence because the words are too hard to utter, but with an unspeakable understanding of one another.

Where at the same time you don’t have to be quiet and whisper and are allowed to let your soul echo the loudest battle cry and heartbreak. When cursing and screaming wasn’t taboo and expressing your pain didn’t have to be suppressed. When no judgment was passed for any of the emotional expressions you displayed.

A library that served free endless coffee because you are so tired that all the words in any book are blurred from the lack of sleep. Perhaps even a snack in the name of the ever preached but elusive “self-care.”

A library that says that’s my section and those are my people who are immersed in this aspect of special needs parenting with me.

Where you could bounce ideas off of each other completely without reservation of being attacked or wounded for your thoughts and feelings.

Where there’s no overdue book fees or fines for needing to cling to a resource for as long as you needed. Check out cards a thing of the past where we all operated on the when I get around to it honor system. Where no one would fault you if you were late, or had a prior commitment that was more pressing.

The librarians would be seasoned special needs parents now in their golden years full of understanding, compassion, kindness and endless empathy for young parents who just joined the journey. We could bathe in their knowledge, ask them which directions to go, and what to avoid.

Our safe place to research and ask questions of each other far away from the prying eyes of progress and providers.

Knowing that we’d put our heads together even if it took hours to find a solution. The place where it was just understood that mom’s and dad’s know their children best.

The library would be open 24 hours a day, so if you had a midnight crisis you could find the section you needed.  A librarian would meet you at the door to assure you could easily find your way. You would be greeted with tenderness and the librarian would offer to fetch you whatever you needed.

What section of the library would you head to first?  Where are you on the journey? What book do you most need to find?




5 Great Survival Thanksgiving Tips for Families with Special Needs Children

Here are a few tips with assisting surviving Thanksgiving with a child who has special needs.

1)  Stand Your Ground

One of the single most stressful aspects of Thanksgiving is the pressures and demands extended family can place upon the holiday.

Your mother wants you to do Thanksgiving at her house, where your child’s sensory challenges are exemplified.

Your twin sister wants you to host Thanksgiving at your house so she can bring all six of her children, husband and his parents over to avoid cooking – even though she offered to bring a pumpkin pie as a consolation prize.

Your husband’s parents lay the biggest guilt trip on earth that they haven’t seen you for Thanksgiving for the last three years even though it would require you flying out of State incurring financial debt for traveling and put your medically fragile child at risk for a host of germs.

The biggest and best advice is stand your ground and exercise the word “no.”  In fact, start practicing that simple phrase right now.  The word, “no.”  It’s so powerful.

It’s life changing and will bring you so much internal peace. I know what you’re thinking. If I say the word no, to any of it, the world is going to view you as a bad person.

Your mother might stop talking to you.  Your husband’s parents may permanently disown you – your sister may quit calling…. but rest assured if any of your family members are worth their weight in gold they absolutely will understand that you have to set some boundaries for your sanity and for the best interests of your child with special needs.

2)  Be Selective

Maybe your child with special needs can’t handle your huge family gathering of twenty plus people.  Maybe you need to consider downsizing to just immediate family or grandparents.

Perhaps your husband’s idea of putting up the Christmas Tree on Thanksgiving day is blowing your mind because you just can’t handle multi-tasking so much in one day.

Be selective on how you need your Thanksgiving to look.  It is going to look a little different for all families with special needs.

Select your priorities and make them easy ones.  If all you can handle is getting a turkey on the table then that’s all you need to focus on.

And make sure you remember to surround yourselves who are going to give you the space to be selective on how Thanksgiving is going to go.

It may even be paper plates and disposable silverware over the yearly fine china that takes hours to wash by hand.

It doesn’t have to be fancy, the day only needs to be filled with peace, contentment, tenderness and love.

3)  Know Your Battles

If you have a child that is only going to eat the center out of the pumpkin pie and won’t even touch the crust, don’t stress.   Let the pie look like a monster ate it in the night.

If your child hates turkey and will only eat a cheeseburger from Wendy’s, that’s okay go fetch Wendy’s and serve the rest of the family turkey.

Don’t force something that is going to cause unnecessary stress.  Perhaps turkey isn’t even going to be on the menu, maybe your child demands ham.  That’s okay too.

Nothing about our lives are traditional and neither are our holidays.  Know where your real battles are.

Remember the battle is never what is on the menu.  It’s making sure that our child with special needs is comfortable and well adjusted to the extra chaos that can come along with the holiday season.

Picking and choosing our battle is essential for maintaining the entire family’s sanity.

4)  Releasing Guilt

Do not feel guilty for standing your ground and telling everyone how you need Thanksgiving to be.   Don’t feel like you have let others dictate how your holiday should look or go.

Don’t let your mother make you feel bad because she thinks you should be hosting Thanksgiving for the entire family.  Don’t let your husband’s parents scare you into a long and unnecessary road trip.

Don’t let your friends and family make you feel guilty that their Thanksgiving is easier than yours or that somehow they are better than you because they can put on a Thanksgiving dinner that looks like it came out of a Martha Stewart magazine.

Thanksgiving must be a guilt-free holiday.  It’s even a hall-pass to not to feel an ounce of guilt about all the calories that you’ll be consuming.

5)  Minimal Planning

The most simplistic plans and ones that require minimal effort are going to offer you the biggest peace of mind and deliver the biggest reward.  Don’t stress if you forgot the dinner rolls.

Don’t make a list of all the things you think you should accomplish in a day.  Don’t fret about packing a suitcase and remembering all of your child’s medically necessary needs for just one day of a turkey dinner.

Go with the flow.  One of the most important things you can do is not overly plan.  Go with the flow.  If something isn’t how you wished it to be, that’s okay.

Don’t plan on having dinner on the table by a certain hour.  Perhaps it’s going to take longer for you to peel potatoes and mash them because you had to cradle your child through a two-hour meltdown.

That is okay.  Don’t place unnecessary burdens and expectations upon yourself and surround yourself with guests who completely understand the unpredictability of every single day – even on Thanksgiving.

Most importantly – do Thanksgiving your way.  It really doesn’t matter what that looks like, if it resembles something traditional or something completely what others might consider crazy.

It’s just a day – and you’re going to get through it – your way.

Your own unique and wonderful way – just like your life always is parenting a child with special needs.

10 Special Needs Books to Curl Up to on a Cold Winter’s Day

Granted, our days are extraordinarily challenging, but sometimes reading a book that makes you reflect or think about a different perspective about special needs parenting is just the soul food you need and have been craving.

Here are ten great special needs books that you can curl up to on a cold winter’s day:

The Life we never expected:  Hopeful Reflections on the Challenges of Parenting Children with Special Needs

By Andrew Wilson and Rachel Wilson

A book written from the perspective of parents who have two children who have special needs.  A book that leans to a spiritual awakening and with religious beliefs a guide towards acceptance and grace for the things you cannot change.

The book offers wisdom in parenting two children living with Autism, the unwavering hope, the realistic and raw emotions and challenges, and the faith that tomorrow will be better and stronger.

The book offers as a guide as to what churches in your community should do, while being open and candid about the everyday frustrations and feelings that come along with parenting children who have special needs.

This book is very much rooted in biblical tone, yet candidly offers a genuine and heartfelt experience of both the joy and sadness that is associated with having a child with special needs.

It is heart-warming, emotional and relatable.

The Pocket Occupational Therapist for Families of Children with Special Needs by Cara Koscinski

 A great book for parents who are new to therapies for their child with special needs who are looking to learn more about occupational therapy goals and tasks.

Written from the perspective of another parent who has a child with special needs who is also an occupational therapist by profession. The book is a wonderful resource for learning therapist terminology.

The book aims to assist parents with various questions as to how to find a good OT therapist, what home goals should look like, and resources that are available to better assist your child in a therapeutic setting.

The book is also a fantastic reference guide even for the more OT experienced parent.

You Will Dream New Dreams:  Inspiring Stories by Parents of Children with Disabilities by Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D.

This book address some of the more taboo or harder side to decision making when it comes to children with disabilities.

The book contains chapters on a parent’s decision to place their child in a group home, and a parent’s struggle to acceptance and coming to terms with the severe nature of their child’s disability.

A great read for a parent that is struggling with feeling overwhelmed, alone or on emotional overload as a result of their child’s diagnosis and ongoing needs.

It is a book that lets you know that you are not the only parent that is facing or has faced some difficult decisions on the special needs journey.

The Elephant in the Playroom by Denise Brodey

A book of heartfelt stories shared by other parents who have children with special needs.

It gives a raw and honest account of both the joys and the challenges with special needs parenting.  A book that is a bit more light-hearted in its approach.

The stories will leave you feeling like there is hope for the hand you were dealt, and finding commonality with other parents who going through the exact same experiences that you are.

Views from Our Shoes by Donald Joseph Meyer and Cary Pillo

A great book that shares the stories of 45 brothers and sisters to siblings who have special needs.

The book contains a series of essays from an age group of four years old to eighteen years old and their perspective and experiences having a sibling with special needs.

The essays are candid and honest about their feelings from the very good to the very bad – but with a universal theme of love, compassion and ultimate understanding for their sibling with special needs.

If you are struggling with a sibling dynamic this would be an interesting read.

Schuyler’s Monster by Robert Rummel-Hudson

This book is written from a father’s perspective about the challenges of raising a non-verbal daughter.

There are not many books that explore a father&#3#39;s perspective in special needs parenting, which I think offers a unique and important aspect to this book.

A father’s love, devotion, and feelings no less important and it is refreshing to have a father discuss feelings related to a child with significant disabilities and special needs.

It touches upon a father’s self-doubt about his potential shortcomings in relation to parenting a child that had no voice of her own and his feelings of being inadequate to fulfil her needs.

Uncommon Beauty: Crisis Parenting from Day One by Margaret Meader

A book written by a mother to a child who has special needs, the book offers tips and guidance on how to navigate the system, be the best and strongest advocate for your child that you can possibly be, dealing with the harsh realities of financial hardships, and juggling endless hospital and therapy appointments.

It is a book that empowers parents to be the very best that they can be given the multitude of challenges that they are facing.

A great “go-get’em” book that will serve as inspiration and fuel to keep marching forward.

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

A book about having a child with the diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta, (or more commonly known as brittle bone disease, OI).

Although based as fiction, the author does a relatively decent job describing some of the heart wrenching thoughts and emotions that are associated with a child who has a severe and even in some cases a life-limiting condition.

It touches on the theme of what constitutes a life worth living, the value of a life and what you’ll do as a parent to move heaven and earth to provide the best life possible.

They Say I’m Special:  100 Tips for Raising a Happy and Resilient Child with Special Needs by Frances Vidakovic

This book offers perspective and tips on raising a child with special needs who is resilient along with special needs parenting coping strategies.

The book aims to be a self-help guide on assisting your child with the most independence and best future you can offer them with their own special needs.

The book is written from the perspective of a mother who has a child with special needs and offers the reader something they can relate to.

Refresh:  Spiritual Nourishment for Parents of Children with Special Needs by Kimberly M. Drew and Jocelyn Green

This book is packed with comfort, hope and faith.  It is a devotional book that aims to encourage parents who have children with special needs.  To let them know they are not alone on the journey.

The book offers spiritual truths, scriptures, stories and testimonies from other parents.

The book also explores the theme of a deeper understanding of all the personal lessons that come as a result of having a child with special needs.

Curl up next to a warm fire with a good read and tell us all about it!

Fall Fashion for the Child with Special Needs

Firefly scouted the hottest and coolest trends for children with special needs as the weather starts to turn a little chilly with hints of pumpkin spice drifting in the air and leaves falling gently to the ground.

Get our editor’s fashion picks from head to toe! With Fall right around the corner, you may be feeling a little beside yourself wondering how to make traditional sweaters, scarves and boots work for your child with special needs.

Never fear we have some great fashion trends that will add spark and a smile into the Fall season!

Sweedie Kids Infinity Scarfs

These bibs are incredibly stylish and are fantastic for back to school and crisp morning days. They are not only trendy but shy away from the traditional bandana bib style offering the child a more mature look.

Sweedie Kids Infinity Scarfs have the same quality and moisture resistant qualities that their bandana bibs do. The prints are fun and perfect for the growing child.

They retail for $18 per scarf and are a must have for your child’s fall clothing collection. They are guaranteed to keep your child both dry and stylish!

You can check out Sweedie Kids here.

FeeJays

Feejays are sweatpants with sherpa lined feet. They offer children with sensory challenges additional built in comfort while still keeping warm.

Feejays feet can flip up or down depending if you’re hot, need a little bit of breathing or need to be covered to keep those little toes warm.

The super plush fleece makes them an excellent choice to wear night or day and can be paired well with a hoodie, sweatshirt or long sleeved shirt to add that touch of personal style.

They make a great option to throw on quickly for an unexpected doctor’s appointment, or for a comfortable day of therapy or a playful school activity.

Versatile and comfortable you’ll want a few pair of these in your child’s fall collection. Feejays retail for $29.98 each and come in a variety of colors and sizes.

You can check out Feejays here.

Kickee Pants Denim Jacket with Sherpa Lining

Your child will both be stylish and in ultimate sensory heaven in this sherpa lined denim jacket. This is easily a fall favorite and goes well with your child’s favorite shirt and pants.

Comes both in girls and boys styles that even have cute embroidered patterns on the back to add a sweet personal touch.

This will easily become your child’s go to jacket for warmth on cozy cold days.

The denim jackets retail for $60 and are easy to wash and dry for messy days. Sizes range from 0-3 months to 10 years.

You can check out Kickee Pants here.

Target’s Cat & Jack Special Needs Line

Basics are always in. But here’s a fantastic twist.

Target’s new line offers clothing that has a typical feel with special needs elements such as added zippers, heat-transferred labels in place of tags, flat seamed options, and one-dimensional graphic tees with zip-off sleeves and side openings that make dressing easier expected to debut in the near future.

The line is fun and hip with great prints like unicorns and dinosaurs mixed with messages of kindness and strength.

Cat & Jack sensory-friendly pieces come in sizes XS-XL for Big Kids and 2T-5T in Toddler Sizes and the best part is the price point rangers from $4.50 to $7 to be easy on that special needs parent wallet!

You can check out Target’s new sensory-friendly line here.

Whether you are out shopping for back-to-school clothes, around the house lounging or just for some new outfits that your child with special needs will adore, keep these top trends in mind.

Happy shopping!

12 Great Back to School Supplies for the Child with Special Needs

To take the guess work out of supplies that may be an excellent match for your child’s needs we’ve provided a list of twelve great supplies that are fabulous for children with special needs:

1) Individually wrapped sanitizing wipes:

Germs. The number one complaint of almost all special needs parents worldwide. Back to school season often equals the start of flu and cold season.

Parents sit on the edge of their seats with worry as the smallest germ can often have big consequences for a child who is medically fragile.

Individually wrapped sanitizing wipes are great for your your child’s teacher or care provider to assist your child with playing with a large group of classmates or right before lunchtime.

They are discreet and easy to pack in backpacks or lunches and may just give your child a little added line of defense from those dreaded back to school germs.

2) Adaptive Scissors:

There are a variety of different kids of scissors on the market which can accommodate a wide range of needs.

There are great scissors for both right handed and left handed children, some are fantastic for children with minimal hand mobility or hand coordination and they even make fantastic switch adapted scissors for children with special needs who use switches.

A great pair of scissors can make for great inclusion opportunities during arts and craft time.

3) Chubby Crayons:

Chubby Crayons are wrapper free, chunky in size and easier to hold and come in bright vibrant colors.

Chubby Crayons are also mindful of being sensitive to children who have common allergies and are latex, egg, gluten, soy, peanut, nut, dairy and casein free.

4) Fidgets & Chewelery

There are some really fantastic fidgets and Chewlery on the market now.

Vendors are starting to incorporate more grown up objects that are less obvious fidgets and chewelery to allow children with special needs to blend in with their peers and not be singled out as having a play

object but something that is therapeutic in nature.

Some disguised as a treat or cookie, some other as sports necklaces, or toppers for pencils and pens. No matter what the right fit is you’re sure to find some great options.

5) Therapy Putty:

Therapy Putty comes in a variety of different textures and styles. Some even are scented for an extra unique sensory experience.

They are great for children working on hand mobility and strengthening exercises and also have the potential to assist children in focusing or be able to participate in art activities in school.

6) Multi-Textured Chewable Ruler:

A lot of sensory seeking children like to put things in their mouths – this is true for traditional school supplies.

This great multi-textured chewable ruler allows your child to still play with it in their mouths safely and still use it for learning.

7) Noise cancelling headphones:

Noise can be overwhelming for many children and the back to school excitement can be challenging.

For extra noisy events or loud laughter at recess noise cancelling headphones might just do the trick.

They come in lots of fun prints and styles and look just like fun head gear.

8) Nesel sensory friendly backpack:

One of my favorite back to school supplies for children with special needs is the Nesel sensory friendly backpack.

This backpack retails for $99 but comes with a host of amazing features, that will make it more comfortable to carry for a sensory seeking child.

9) Shock Proof Tablet Case:

Nothing makes me cringe more than when I see a mom or dad posting about their child’s communication device suffering a toss across a school room floor.

Accidents happen to the best of us and making sure your child’s is as protected as possible is essential.

Shock proof tablets come in a variety of colors that will keep your child’s device sound and secure when it leaves home with your child each day.

10) Rubbermaid Lunch Blox:

Kids universally seem to sometimes have issues with keeping their food separated so it doesn’t touch.

Could be that it changes the flavor profile, could be an organizational and sorting preference.

Regardless, of why you child doesn’t want their food to touch Rubbermaid has made these grate Lunch Bloxes that keeps food separate so it doesn’t touch and is super for back to school lunches.

11) Boundary Chair:

Some children need to feel a bit of security while in a seated position. School chairs don’t often come with a lot of support or even arm rests.

This simple yet low cost Boundary chair is easy to transport and keep clean and will assist your child with a little bit extra support while sitting in a traditional school chair.

12) Visual Timer

Children often rely on visual cues as a reminder of how much longer they need to concentrate or devote to an activity before they get a break or need to move onto another activity.

Visual timers are a great resource to assist your child with transitioning back into a back to school routine.

Give us a shout out and tell us what back to school supplies you think are great for your child with special needs!

Special Needs Families: 5 Companies That Have Exceptional Customer Service

Great customer service can range from assisting us with problem solving or offering us solutions, and expediting help.

It means going the extra distance and offering a stressed, overwhelmed parent kindness, politeness, professionalism and understanding.

We need companies that will go the distance to help make our lives easier and who send out the message that they want to be a part of our solution and not a part of our problem.

Here are five great companies that offer some incredible customer service.

Firefly:

Firefly makes a variety of products geared towards family participation; The Upsee, The Playpak, The Scooot, The Splashy, and The GoTo Seat.

Firefly also understands that not all of their products may work out well for particular children for a variety of reasons and as such offer one of the best return policies risk free.

Firefly’s 42 day return policy not only gives families and children with special needs ample opportunity to explore whether an item works well for their child, it also gives their treating providers an opportunity to see the child in an adaptive device and make any potential adjustments or assessment.

There is nothing better than investing in a piece of equipment and knowing that if for any reason it didn’t work out that you could easily return it hassle and risk free.

They have great customer communication that will help guide you through both troubleshooting products, webinars that offer fantastic tutorials, and representatives able and ready to assist you should you need assistance on making a return.

Convaid:

Convaid is one of the leaders in the manual wheelchair industry.

What makes them truly incredible is their generous impact on the special needs community.

You may have heard about a child’s wheelchair being stolen, and Convaid swoops into the rescue knowing that insurance would not assist with the replacement of that wheelchair for that family.

Perhaps you bought a wheelchair second hand but it’s missing the accessories you need to make it workable for your child with special needs?

Convaid has regional representatives that are able to assist you putting you in touch with a DME or representative that can assist you through those purchasing needs.

Their representatives are responsive to your child’s unique needs and they are a company that is striving to make a difference in the lives of children with special needs.

Convaid also has a fantastic awareness campaign where they aim to not only to be a wheelchair distributor but a company that cares.

Kickee Pants:

Kickee Pants is a clothing line that many families who have children with sensory challenges to fabrics and textures or children with medically fragile skin conditions turn to.

Kickee pants has a fantastic return policy that should any of their articles of clothing be defective – or develop a defect of any kind at any time like a zipper failing or a snap breaking or a hole turning up in a seam they will gladly exchange it at any time.

They genuinely care about their clothing line and the children wearing them.

They are also great about working with your child’s insurance if it is a covered benefit under a Medicaid Waiver for your child.

Vitamix:

There are so many blenders to choose from, and Vitamix is one of the leading brands when it comes to a blender that parents gravitate towards for a blended diet for children who are tube feed or children who require a pureed diet.

What makes Vitamix so incredible is their quick responsiveness and great seven-year warranty.

If something goes wrong with your machine for any reason they’ll repair it as quickly as possible – have a dull blade or accidentally shred the tamper by getting it close to the blades without the lid on… no worries they are so great they’ll expedite that part for you under warranty often times even overnight!

They are easy to access by phone or online and are very responsive to your child’s medical needs and they understand the importance of the Vitamix in the nutritional needs for your child.

Specialised Orthotic Services:

This UK based company offers incredible customer service.

They go the distance to make sure that their products are a proper fit, and are willing to make adjustments and provide remedies for any unforeseen difficulties with fitting.

Although the company is now distributing through Drive Medical in the USA, out of pocket purchases have been met with exceptional assistance from start to finish.

Finding a company that not only cares about the quality of the products they make and produce but the satisfaction of the customers they serve is golden.

Tell us what companies have you used or purchased items from that have offered you exceptional service!

Special Needs Diets: 10 Fun Foods for Puréed Eaters

Finding snacks or opportunities to incorporate extra calories is a bonus for special needs parents.

For most puréed eaters texture can be a challenge. For instance some pureed eaters can only handle the filling of a cheesecake, but not the crust.

Likewise consistency can also be difficult which can result in needing to either thin out the puree or thicken it up.

Here are 10 great fun foods that have the ability to be altered to meet the pureed consistency that are fun and easy to access at the grocery store.

1) Sour Cream

Sour cream if stirred will become more watery, if left in it’s original state will be the consistency of a Greek Yogurt.

The slight tang and tartness from sour cream will often inspire some children with special needs to explore the roof and sides of their mouth as they explore the taste with curiosity.

2) Ranch Dip

A lot of children typical and special needs gravitate towards the taste of ranch dressing.

It is one of the most universal dips for children. Ranch offers a host of mild seasoning that children enjoy.

Dip can be thick or thin and can generally pack some decent calories with a mayonnaise base.

Ranch is also easy to alter for children who are dairy free.

3) Chocolate Pudding

There are tons of chocolate puddings on the market, and it is also easy to make at home.

Chocolate pudding is fantastic for camouflaging liquid medication, it also absorbs extra calorie powder packets well, it is a motivational treat and provides those fun treat calories.

4) Hummus

Parents love treats that are good for you.

Hummus can be a lot of fun as it comes in a host of smooth flavors; red pepper, lemon, and original to name a few.

You can really add just about anything to hummus as it mixes well with most flavor combinations.

Hummus is also easy to make at home in your blender and stores well for several days.

5) Cheesecake

Cheesecake can be a great treat, but also requires knowing the texture and consistencies that work the best for your pureed eater.

Some pre-made cheesecake filings are more like puddings while New York style cheesecakes tend to be more dense and a little bit more thick.

However, cheesecakes are make for great desserts for the pureed eater.

6) Ice cream

The best part of ice cream is the flavor opportunities. Flavor combinations in ice cream are just as endless as the choices.

Ice cream comes in non-dairy, in plant based, in nut milk, and in sorbets.

You can find ice creams with some chunks, completely smooth or extremely chunky so make sure you know the consistency of your purchase to find the proper match for your child’s oral eating capabilities.

No matter what you chose ice cream seems to be a universal home run.

7) Cheese Sauce

Cheese sauce can often serve as a great appetizer if you are out at a restaurant and have a pureed eater. Many restaurants have cheese sauces on hand which are mixed into other dishes.

Cheese sauce can easily be thickened with a little bit of baby food rice or baby food oatmeal, or thinned easily with milk or water.

It gives your pureed eater the sense of participation while dining out.

8) Whipped Cream

Whipped cream has a light and fluffy texture which often is fun to practice lip closure or lip licking with the tongue.

Whipped cream can also be made easily at home or store bought and comes in dairy and non-dairy options.

It also stores well in the refrigerator for a few days or keeps well in the freezer.

9) Yogurt

Some of the easiest baby food pouches for oral eaters come in yogurt style.

Yogurts are also easy to find in a variety of consistencies for pureed eaters that either need thick or thin.

The flavor combinations are also abundant and experimenting with different flavors can be a lot of fun.

One of our favorites is pumpkin flavored!

10) Jelly (Jam if you’re in the UK)

When you think of Jelly feeding it to your pureed eater may not automatically come to mind. But jelly can make for a great breakfast or a great topper on yogurt, ice cream or pudding.

It can add extra calories while still keeping things healthy and diet friendly.

Make sure you look for jelly that has no chunks of fruit, and take note if your child has special dietary restrictions such as preservatives or sugar content.

We’d love to know what some of your favorite snacks and go to foods are for your pureed eaters!

Dare to Date: A Discussion with a Single Special Needs Parent

In a world when your child comes first, single parents are often reminded that they should never be focusing on themselves in any capacity – including finding love again in their lives.

Even under the best of circumstances trying to merge two lives that already come with a host of experiences or what some people refer to as “baggage” can be trying and complicated.

Parenting a child with special needs is very demanding, emotionally challenging and exhausting.

Doing it alone simply increases the demands on singular parenting.

Pursuing personal happiness is not a selfish move, but rather a personal investment in replenishing your reserves and remembering your self-worth.

Susan Lake, is a mother to a child with special needs named Reiley.

She has been divorced for over two years legally, having split from her husband one year prior.

She has gone on a bunch of ‘meet and greets’ and what usually happens is she is asked more about her daughter’s condition, and then men start to squirm in their seats, or they don’t, and then she never hears from them again.

Susan says this happens “9 times out of 10.”

Susan only had one occasion where the guy didn’t have any issues with her child’s special needs, but after three dates there was not a love connection.

Susan had several dates with another gentleman, who met her daughter after thirty days of dating but it ended shortly thereafter.

Because of the care giving involved for her daughter, she is limited to places where she can meet single men in person, as such her primary way of meeting men has been from several online dating websites.

Susan expressed that she, “gets frustrated with men who can’t accept my life as it is, as a mom of a special needs child”.

Susan recognizes she has some greater challenges with dating but still wants to find someone to share her life with.

Reiley’s diagnosis looks scary on paper.

Susan says it is a lot for someone to take in when you’re explaining to someone who is not a part of the special needs world, that your kid has multiple things going on.

Reiley has two different medical devices implanted in her to help keep her thriving.

She gets sick so easily that she is home basically 24/7.

But she is also just a normal little girl who likes to play, have friends, loves music and she loves people.

Susan knows it is hard for men she is dating to get past the scary parts.

Susan also feels that many men in her age group wish to be, “empty nesters”, and don’t want to assume the care and responsibility of a child with special needs.

I asked Susan what her greatest advice would be to a single parent who has a child with special needs who wants to date.

Her advice: to be completely honest.

I’ve had friends not be completely up front, and it only caused heartache in the end for them.

If they can’t accept you, your complete package, they aren’t what you need in your life.

Eventually they say, someone will accept it all and love you and your child(ren).”

Although Susan has had challenges with dating men who are willing to accept her situation and her daughter’s medical conditions, she continues to remain hopeful that the right man is out there and continues to be open to all of her options.

If you are a special needs parent, who is dating, tell us your experiences!