LilSugar

Mommy Dearest: How Do I Handle Special Needs at My Party?

babysugar — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:00:18 PST

Mommy Dearest –

I am planning a gym party for my son's upcoming fifth birthday and am having an internal dilemma about whether or not to invite one particular child. The child in question has special needs that often involve her not listening well to instructions. At our party last year, the child did not listen to the teacher's directions and ended up interfering with the other children's art projects. When the teacher said something to her, her parents ended up yelling at the teacher for "coaching" their special needs child. I'm nervous about inviting them to the party this year because of the somewhat rowdy nature of a gym party, but at the same time, don't want the child to be left out just because of her differences.

What would you do?

– Should I Include Mommy

To see the response from Mommy Dearest,

read more. Dear Should I Include Mommy, It does sound like the child has a special circumstance that needs tending to. Her parents should know better than to yell at the party coaches during someone else's party. You have the right idea to include her so she doesn't feel left out. By inviting her, you are teaching your son, and the other children there, that everyone deserves to be included in a celebration. That said, I suggest notifying the coaches at the gym about the situation ahead of time. I am sure they have handled similar situations before and by giving them advance notice, they can better prepare for possible scenarios with her parents. – Mommy Dearest

Are Parents Discriminating Against Differently Abled TV Host?

LilSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:00:31 PST

A number of British parents are upset over a BBC children's channel, CBeebies, whose host is differently abled. Cerrie Burnell's right arm ends just below her elbow. Parents have complained to the network that she is causing their tots to have nightmares. The BBC is standing by their host, saying that while children may be inquisitive about her appearance, it is the parents who may need to modify their thinking.

I am appalled by the parents' behavior, are you?

Lil Find: Bitty Braille

LilSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:00:51 PST

Sign language has gained popularity among parents of non-deaf tots as a way to communicate with their lil ones prior to their being able to speak. It is also a great way to teach older kids about children with special needs. Introduce them to another form of communication for kids with different abilities with Bitty Braille t-shirts and onesies. The shirts (starting at $26) feature words or names in studs and their translation in hand-embroidered cursive writing. Choose from more than half-a-dozen words such as "cutie," "happy" or "buddy" or go for one with your lil learner's name for a personalized version that will help introduce the world of Braille. A portion of the sale of each shirt is donated to the American Foundation for the Blind, the national nonprofit organization that employed Helen Keller.

Did Your Lil One Receive Early Intervention Services?

LilSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:00:15 PST

We all get excited about our children's accomplishments - from the first time they rolled over to the first time they uttered a real word - but for some mothers these bragging rights are more monumental if their lil one had a delay of some sort.

According to the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center, approximately 300,000 infants and toddlers received some sort of Early Intervention in 2006 and that number is only expected to rise in coming years. Early Intervention is the federally mandated, state-run program that provides services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy to tots that are experiencing delays. Though program rules vary from state to state, the programs are usually tailored for tots under the age of three, with the hope being that the services will address the delays before the toddler reaches school.

Does (or did) your child take part in these programs?

Source

Wee Are the World: Kids Being Kids

babysugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:00:43 PDT

Having a child with special needs can be challenging. Being a child with special needs is likely harder. When their peers run outside for recess or jump off a diving board, some tots with cerebral palsy or debilitating conditions find themselves watching from afar.

It's not so in Loganville, Georgia. The residents of the small Atlanta suburb built a special rubberized field in 2004 that allows special needs children, including those in wheelchairs, to scoot around from base to base. The games only last two innings, but it's all these athletes need to make them feel a part of things. Their healthy able–bodied peers aid and cheer them on as they round the bases. This is one situation where everybody wins - no matter what the score is!

A Double Chocolate Soufflé Challenge

Camilla Salem — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:10:02 PST

I mentioned that I was going to attack one of my culinary fears head-on in the near future. Well, attack it I did and what's more, I came out alive, and covered in chocolate.

I found a recipe from Emeril that seemed straightforward and simple, bought the ingredients, and said a little prayer. Surprisingly, this recipe came together very quickly, and with almost no problems at all. The only hitch was that I wasn't sure how much the soufflé batter this would make, so the ramekins I used were far too large and the soufflé didn't puff up over the edges like I'd hoped it would. It would have been better to use four smaller ramekins or two large ones.

This recipe calls for Grand Marnier, which adds a nice bright orange flavor to the rich chocolate dessert. And when I say rich, I mean it. One spoon too many of this fluffy soufflé and you may find yourself with a chocolate headache - we've all been there.

Egg whites that have been whipped into air account for the soft texture of a soufflé, and must be folded in carefully to the chocolate batter so as not to deflate them.

Keep reading for much more, plus the recipe.

Fashion With a Soul: 10 Feel-Good Ways to Indulge and Give Back

Marisa Tom — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:59:23 PST

Fashion doesn't just concern itself with what or who you're wearing. The wide network of designers, models, retailers, photographers, and more that make up this stylish industry have banded together to draw attention to important world-impacted issues. It's feel-good fashion at its finest - these special collaborations, fair trade products, eco-friendly elements, and charitable exchanges take care to give back, remain ethical, and promote conscientious business practices, all with a chic-infused spin. TOMS Shoes donates a pair of shoes to a child-in-need for every pair you purchase, Project Paz works with a supercool lineup of designers to create exclusively unique pieces to benefit great organizations around the world, and Rogan partnered up with its sister brand Loomstate to create environ-conscious surf totes. We narrowed it down to 10 chic ways to give back, go green, and more - click through to see all of them.

Source: Foam Magazine

Whitney's Chris D'Elia Has Funny Answers For Your V-Day Questions

Annie Scudder — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:37:26 PST

You asked, and Whitney's Chris D'Elia answered your Valentine's Day and relationship questions. The standup comedian, who says he's seeing a special someone ("she's super"), took our reader questions on the topic of love and dating in time for Feb. 14. So if you're looking for a guy's perspective before Valentine's Day, take some advice from Chris, who plays Whitney Cummings's hot boyfriend on the NBC Wednesday-night comedy.

What can I get my boyfriend for Valentine's Day that he will actually like?

Chris: I mean, I don't know many guys who like the romantic stuff. So I honestly think Valentine's Day is mostly for girls. I don't expect anything if I have a girlfriend, but I think a nice card with something sweet in it usually makes me feel good and important.

If you're in a new relationship on Valentine's Day, what can you suggest that won't freak out the guy?

Chris: I think if it's a new relationship, you have to let the dude handle it. Even if you're like, "Oh my God I didn't get you anything because I didn't want to freak you out," then that's so cute. It's like she respects you to not want to blow it, but she also wants you to be the man.

What is the most romantic breakfast item you can think of?

Chris: I don't even know what's romantic about any breakfast item? When I think about eggs, like that's so unromantic. I think there's just no romantic breakfast items. I guess if it's in bed, that's romantic. I used to do breakfast in bed for a girl on Valentine's Day, and she liked that. She ate it up. Literally.

I'm single and I hate Valentine's Day. Any advice for getting through it as a single girl?

Chris: Yeah, you don't hate Valentine's Day. I think you're not being honest with yourself. There's no way you don't like Valentine's Day. There's no way! You secretly like it. You just have to realize that. You need to come to terms with it.

In light of it being Valentine's Day, if a girl likes a guy and he hasn't picked up on her hints, can she ask him out?

Chris: For me, I have to be the aggressor. I don't like it when girls ask me out. But I know that there are guys who are very shy who would like that. I think that it's a case-by-case basis. But I would say, normally if the guy's not asking you out or hovering around you, he's not interested. Like if a guy's talking to you, he's interested. If he's looking at you and you're not even talking to him, that's a huge thing.

Can girls and guys be friends? Keep reading for Chris's answer!

The Office, "Special Project": Best Lines of The Night

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:49:37 PST

In this week's episode of The Office, Dwight has been chosen to spearhead a three-week assignment in Tallahassee. He's putting together "a competent team" that will assist him on the mission, setting up a number of new Sabre locations. Half the episode deals with various relationship issues, and the rest is essentially an audition for the team that will head to Florida. There are some important plot points revealed: Val and Darryl vaguely express their feelings for each other, and Erin tells us she wants to head to Florida for good. While "Special Project" definitely has potential, this week just kind of landed flat for me.

Regardless, there are a few funny moments that stood out in my mind. To read a few of my fave lines from "Special Project," just keep reading.

Snacking Good: Natchitoches Meat Pies

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:07:39 PST

We've always wanted to take a stab at rolling out a few Natchitoches meat pies. Thanks to an easy recipe from Food Orleans, this might be a dream realized sooner rather than later.

[Baked or fried? You decide.]

Natchitoches meat pies are one of those special little treats with a name as fun to say as they are to scarf down. Nackadish - that's how you say it - is a small town we drive through on our way north to visit Alexandria or Oklahoma, and it's where Steel Magnolias was filmed, and it's famous for these little pies. It's a beautiful little place, with a picturesque riverfront lined with shops and restaurants that have their own sort of French Quarter-ish wrought iron balconies (remember the Easter scene where Jackson slapped Ouiser? That's the riverfront!). But you don't have to go into the actual town to get yourself some meat pies; just stop at any gas station right off I-10. They all fry them up and they're all pretty wonderful.

For her recipe, continue reading.