As you read this, I'm hanging at my friend Maryellen's beach house. I took the bus out here Thursday night; Saturday, Dave's going to drive up with the kids.
I am rarely the victim of Mommy guilt but when I said goodbye to Max, I got a gigantic pang of it. Zap!!! Right to the heart. Max doesn't quite get the concept of time, so when I kissed him a zillion times and said he wouldn't see me till Saturday, it went over his head. Sabrina seemed a little put out about my departure, but then SpongeBob SquarePants came on and she forgot all about me. I think she loves SpongeBob more, but I can't be sure.
I hate feeling like I'm putting something over on Max because he doesn't understand. On the upside, I am quite sure he's going to have the time of his life with Dave, since the last time I went away (for Blissdom), he had ice-cream several times daily, got to skip his bath and wear his favorite shirt three days in a row, and learned how to say "Read my lips: Noooooooo." Who know, maybe this time they'll even get over to Hooters.
Heads up: a reader with 18-month-old twins asked me about the Anat Baniel Method. I've heard good things about it. Have any of you tried it? What was your experience? Please share.
Flickr/Joshua Davis
i know that beach house. you are in for a great time. ENJOY. xoAM
ReplyDeleteGee, that method sounds interesting if it works. Heck, I have a backache right now that could do with some curing without drugs!
ReplyDeleteI love Spongebob.
ReplyDeleteAnd Lamp. I love Lamp!
Have fun, Ellen, and don't feel guilty! We all need a break now and then.
ReplyDeleteWe used the ABM with Monkey Boy starting when he was 18 months old and ending when he was 3 1/2. We really saw great results with it. When we started, Monkey wasn't responding to PT at all. As much of a cuddle bug as he is, he would scream bloody murder when anyone tried to facilitate him during PT. His therapist suggested that it was a sensory thing, and I tend to agree. ABM uses soft, gentle movements to send messages to the brain. Very soon after Monkey began ABM, we started seeing changes - better posture, more fluidity when making physical transitions, and better attention and cooperation during PT and OT. Any time that we took a few weeks off from ABM, his progress would slow.
I would highly recommend ABM, but not as a substitute for traditional therapies. Rather, I think it can be a great boost and help kids get the most out of traditional PT, OT and ST.
We'll be trying out the ABM hopefully starting this year. I've heard great things about it as well and am so excited to start.
ReplyDeleteI am getting more info on it from Danielle's Foundation. http://www.daniellesfoundation.org/
they've been really helpful with information. they've got loads of it there, at no cost to us.
have fun this weekend!
You deserve it...I hope you are having a great time!!
ReplyDeleteI do not have any experience with ABM myself but I follow the blogs of two people who do.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.makenziesmiracle.org/
http://www.christiansjourney.org/
Mommies need time off, too! Don't stress it! I kinda wish I were near a beach myself!! Have fun, Max will love Hooters (hee hee!).
ReplyDeleteI think even mommies (esp mommies) need some time to recharge. Relax and enjoy!
ReplyDeleteMarlene
We used that on Evan until we moved and there were no practitioners in Kansas. I have actually met Anat since she has her training area near where we lived in California. I was very pleased with how it worked on Evan and wished that we could have kept it up during our time in Kansas.
ReplyDeleteNo experience with ABM but instead we practice and HIGHLY recommend Cuevas Medek Exercises which I have been told is a parallel PT to ABM...I recently began following a blog who does ABM;
ReplyDeletehttp://loganssuperheroes.blogspot.com/
I know of a little boy (age 4) who responded very well to the ABM. He had been screaming and refusing to participate in traditional PT. He loved, loved, LOVED Anat! (Yes, he actually worked with Anat herself, at first.) I was lucky enough to be present for a few sessions, and she was amazing with him! He became more flexible, more comfortable with movement, and we believe that the ABM contributed to his eventually scooting around on his own. Other practitioners are, naturally, not quite as gifted as Anat herself, but are usually great, and the method itself seems wonderful for many kids.
ReplyDeleteWe do Feldenkrais, which ABM is an offshoot of. I actually have meant to do a post on it for the last million years, but I think it's really great. I dont' think Charlie would be taking steps or sitting up on his own without it.
ReplyDeletegoing to the beach is like pressing the re-set button for the soul. (corny i know..but that's what came to mind when I saw the image you posted!) i second the sentiment: all mommies need a break!
ReplyDeleteI loved your post, Ellen -- for my last birthday, I asked for a HOTEL ROOM ALL BY MYSELF. Yes, I suffered Mommy Guilt. But, heck yeah, I totally enjoyed the getaway. I think we spend too much time feeling fractured and tattered instead of whole, and that can't be good for our kids.
ReplyDeleteHolly Robinson
www.authorhollyrobinson.com
I'm glad you got some time away. We also do ABM, but have just started - it seems to fit Cici's personality well! I'm sure it's not for everyone, but the price is right for extra therapy!
ReplyDelete