TIP of the WEEK: Learn to Love the Dandelions

M. P. Horban once told the story of a retired businessman who took great pride in his yard. But he had a problem. Try as he would, he could not get rid of the pesky crop of dandelions that ruined his otherwise perfect turf. He used the finest grass seed and the newest weed killers. But the dandelions still appeared, bright yellow over his beautiful lawn. Finally he wrote to a gardening expert. The reply included several suggestions and closed with this advice: "If none of these work, I suggest you learn to love dandelions."

I think of this story at least once a week when I find myself over focusing on changing a behavior. We can try all of the tricks in our bag but they don't work for every child. Sometimes the best thing to do is wait and watch and love the dandelions no matter what form they take!

Patrice Carroll

Manager of PWS Services

Latham Centers Tip of the Week: THE ROAD TRIP!

A lot of parents with children diagnosed with PWS avoid that old family pastime- the road trip. Yes, the idea can be daunting:

• What do we do about the food?

• My child is so dependent on his/her schedule--we couldn't possibly spend a day or days in the car.

• How do we keep him/her occupied for hours at a time?

• What if there are behavioral issues and we're far from our support system?

These are all important things to consider and none of these should be taken lightly. However, it is possible not only to survive a road trip with a child with PWS but to have a great time making family memories that last a lifetime. Here are some ideas that can make this experience enjoyable for the entire family:

• Write out the daily menu and stick to it. For example-Abby's menu for Thursday on the road:

8am breakfast at the hotel- 1 cup of cereal with 1/2 cup of skim milk, one piece of  fruit and veggie sticks

10am snack in the car- one granola bar

                        12pm lunch at a rest stop...

You get the idea. To ensure that there will be no surprises check the web for lists of rest stops and what they offer. Every state lists the rest stops along each major highway and what services they offer. That way you won't get stuck having to serve apple slices from one fast food restaurant instead of the promised parfait from another. A change that we all know could ruin a perfectly fine day!

• It's a vacation- an end of the day treat is ok. A low calorie treat at the end of the day will also give you some leverage. Don't threaten to take it away but remind him/her what's coming.

• Establish a vacation routine. It will be different from home but will still be structured and predictable. Write it down or use picture schedules for non-readers.

• Let your child pick out activities for the car. The more he/she is involved in the planning, the more successful it will be.

• Start slow with day trips and work your way up to the trip that you've been dreaming of but have been afraid to try.

We all know that children with PWS bring those who love them incredible joy and pride every day. Vacations can bring out the best in every member of your family if planned and executed well. Have fun and let us know about your adventures!

Submitted by:

Patrice Carroll

Manager of PWS Services 

"Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car."  

~E.B. White