what matters to you ? a hodge podge of ideas today...

 Hello out there.  This blogging idea is brand new to me. If you know me personally, you know I like to talk! I am passionate about the field of "Communication Disorders" and all things related to "the brain".  So blogging gives me the opportunity to rant and rave .... and YOU OUT THERE can choose to read ... or not!   But please reply in some way because I'm starting to think that I'm essentially talking to myself.   So bring up a topic, comment on mine, or tell me to go back to my day job.....

I had a great conversation with a mom and a grandma yesterday in the lobby of our Center.  It all started when the grandma asked me for a game recommendation for her 4 1/2 year old grandson.  Her grandson is very bright and has always been interested in letters, numbers, words .... and since he enjoys that - grandma and grandpa spend time doing it with him.  Great grandparents and a lucky kid!   So we were looking at the Discovery  Toys display and at the catalog - and I called attention to the Motor Works toy.  My sister in law just told me that her friends almost 3 year old son really enjoyed playing with my nephew's toy (Aunt Mindy picks great gifts!!!), and she wants to get it for his upcoming birthday.  I mentioned that I've seen boys ranging from 3 years to 9 years of age really enjoy that toy.  She replied that her grandson doesn't like
 that type of play at all.  In fact, she shared that she and grandpa aren't much into tinkering with tools and such.

Hmmmm   We talked about it some more.... 

I remember that my son didn't like to color when he was little.  I didn't push him to color.  He didn't want to do it.   As it turns out, he, at 15 years of age, has great difficulty with writing legibly.  Coincidence?  I think not.  What if I had handled it differently when he was younger?  What if I had made it really really fun to color and make letters and do fine motor activities.  Even though he wasn't 'good at it'.  Even though he 'didn't like it'.  What if I had trusted my instincts and taken him for Occupational Therapy back then ... even though the school said he was "fine".  Darn, I hate looking back and realizing I took the wrong path.

So, learn from my experiences - please!  Remember my other topic about "mindset"?   The healthy mindset is a growth mindset.  Don't just do things that you are good at ... go beyond your comfort zone and try something that makes you put forth effort.  Show your kids that working at something is rewarding, even when it doesn't come easily.  Even when you aren't 'good' at it.  Let's encourage our kids (and ourselves) to learn a new skill, try something challenging, focus on the PROCESS not the PRODUCT.  Our kids look to us as an example.  What kind of an example are you setting in your mindset?

My "new" project is this blog.  I'm not so good at it yet.  I just went back and added the "hodge podge of ideas" phrase to the title because I strayed from my first idea ...   but that's ok, I"m trying!

Check out my e-newsletter and I hope you add yourself to follow this blog and to receive my newsletters.  Click to take you to the site! ------->  Communication Matters: Spring News!

Goodbye for now!    Mindy