special children

Really must stop procrastinating and get on with some housework but nice things keep arriving in my inbox today – again from the EO list, this The Ten Commandments for Parents of Special Children though I think it really applies to all children (who of course are all special):

1. Take one day at a time, and take that day positively. You don’t have control over the future, but you do have control over today.

2. Never underestimate your child’s potential. Allow him, encourage him, expect him to develop to the best of his abilities.

3. Find and allow positive mentors: parents and professionals who can share with you their experience, advice, and support.

4. Provide and be involved with the most appropriate educational and learning environments for your child from infancy on.

5. Keep in mind the feelings and needs of your spouse and your other children. Remind them that this child does not get more of your love just because he gets more of your time.

6. Answer only to your conscience: then you’ll be able to answer to your child. You need not justify your actions to your friends or the public.

7. Be honest with your feelings. You can’t be a super-parent 24 hours a day. Allow yourself jealousy, anger, pity, frustration, and depression in small amounts whenever necessary.

8. Be kind to yourself. Don’t focus continually on what needs to be done. Remember to look at what you have accomplished.

9. Stop and smell the roses. Take advantage of the fact that you have gained a special appreciation for the little miracles in life that others take for granted.

10. Keep and use a sense of humor. Cracking up with laughter can keep you from cracking up from stress.

Author Unknown

Playing linkage today. Some articles on the biggest HE myth of all brought up on the EO list yesterday (though I do feel anyone who gives any credence to this myth must be in serious denial or genuine ignorance of what schools and home education are actually like, state schools in the UK anyway): Social Aspects of Home Education which links to this recent article from the Guardian – Call for schools to teach social skills and also We Don’t Believe in Socialisation from the states. Should maybe point out that weve yet to have someone critisise us for this (to our faces anyway) – the friends and relatives who I thought might (those who are teachers or work in schools and I assumed approved of the system) have been the most enthusiastic about our decision to HE, and full of insider school horror stories of their own.

Someone else posted this great link to whole texts and audio of various books, mostly Beatrix Potter but some others too.

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