Organizational Helps Keeping our kids on task

Having a big family, I get asked all the time how I keep everyone organized. Honestly, I can't say that I keep everyone organized all the time. I consider life a success if the FLOW-- of things is good, and I can keep everyone on task. I think every family large or small needs a system to help out with keeping everyone on track.


With the school year beginning, and getting back into the swing of ROUTINE, and SCHEDULES, here are some ideas I use in my home that I thought may be helpful for other families as well. Now don't forget we have 2 kids with Tourette Syndrome and ADHD. One of my sons has the hyperactive ADD, and the other is my inattentive, daydreamer. They are the most difficult ones to keep on task in the mornings because they get distracted with every little thing, and forget where they are at in their routine. I have realized through the years, this is not on purpose. They truly just forget what they are doing. (How many of us get downstairs, and forget what we went up there for) It is a ligitamate issue and a fact of life for us. I realized that a list would work wonders for my boys to be able to check back to help them remember where they are at in their schedule for the day.

Large Decorative Expo Board-  3 ftx 4 ft

This first picture with the list shows our very big Expo board. I took an unfinished frame, that I purchased at Hobby Lobby, in their clearance section. (It has a little ding on the corner) I then purchased shower board from Home Depot, and had it cut to the size of my frame. I then took glazier points, again purchased at Hobby Lobby framing department. (You could find frame and glazier points in any framing department at Michaels or any craft store) There you have the super sized decorative Expo board. You can clean this one with windex, and when the board gets a little worn out, just change out the shower board for a new one. (cost is $5.00) super cheap.
I hung my Super Size board, in a high traffic area in our house. We call it our Command Center. Each morning I write a list on the board with Expo marker, that my boys can come back to to see where they are at in their schedule. It is a list of all the checks they need to do in the morning. This has been a huge saving grace for me. I have found that I don't yell as much at them to focus and get on task until their medication kicks in. If I find them off task, I can just redirect them to the board, and let say, "Check the board, to see what you should be doing next." They can put a finger mark through where they at, to erase what they can complete. This gives them a sense of accomplishment, and me a sense of satisfaction that we aren't having arguments all morning and I am sending them out the door frustrated and on the wrong foot.

Another option, is using the Mirror in a bathroom. You can write your list on the mirror in expo marker, and be able to erase that each day with windex, and re-write it. This is helpful in the same way as explained above. The Mirror is a place they can keep going back to unless, you are like us where someone is always in the bathroom. But it does give you another option.

Chore Window

The second picture is of our Chore window. Many years ago, when we purchased our first home, which was an old Historic home, we saved the windows, from it when we had them replaced. This is one of the windows. I took the window, and cleaned it up, sanded it, and then I stuck some clear stickers on it, to decorate it (damask sitckers) This hangs in my kitchen so it is a great centrally located place for everyone to look. I then printed some chore lists, (we divide our chores up by rooms, or zones) Each person has a room they are in charge of in addition to their bedroom. They have too keep that room clean, clutter free, and vacuumed. On the weekends we do a "Good Clean" where we dust, and get the down and dirty stuff. (or we are suppose to do that) It doesn't always happen, but that is the idea. Each pane on my window, has a room and a day the kids are assigned to help out with dinner. These lists I printed on cardstock and cut into strips, and stuck on the window with poster tack. (this year I am going really big, and I am going to laminate the strips for durability) I then write each child's name above their assigned room for the week. We switch each Sunday for the next week. Instead of moving the chores. I just erase the names (written in expo marker) and write the name to the next pane according to the rotation. The other help I have found this year is a chore card that helps my kids remember what they need to do in each room. The other addition I am making this year is to put some hooks on the bottom of the window, and I will be hanging the chore check list on the hooks, so the kids, can refer to the check card to make sure they have done everything that is needed in their room. We have assigned nights they help with dinner, and they also have an assigned day for Laundry. My younger children I help them with washing their laundry, but by age 8-9 my kids have been able to do their own laundry. This is great to teach them responsibility, and create independence for themselves.
I know this sounds like a lot of work, it was in the beginning, but this truly has been a system that has worked for us for several years. I love that the kids can have something to refer back to to help them remember what they are doing. (remember we have 2 with ADHD) It again removes the fight out of the chores, when I can say, well did you do this and this on the card, and if they say yes, than I can quickly check it and give them feedback. I love it for my non-add kids as well, it just gives them a great tool to refer back to. It has been so helpful for me to have help around the house. I am able to do a lot of extras because everyone is helping and taking responsibility for our home. I don't want my kids to grow up thinking Mom is suppose to do everything for them. They are perfectly capable kids, even if other families don't require it, Ours does!

If you don't want to use a window, you can use a magnet board, or Expo board, or just a regular window in your house. We leave messages on sliding glass door. There are so many useful spots. We love our Lists!!

I will try to figure out how to post my documents for the chores list, and also a chore chart if you would prefer to to do.  I have used a spinning wheel to rotate jobs we well, and if I am able to post these documents to the blog I will add that to here.

I hope this is helpful information.  Sometimes, it is worth trying something new, to solve the problem.

Follow up from August Support Group Meeting

Hello Everyone,
We had a great turnout last night at our support group meeting. It was a lot of fun for our family for sure, and I hope that it was for all of those who were able to make it as well. We played an improvised game of Tourette Syndrome Jeopardy- with 5 topics of Common Tics, Environmental Factors that worsen Tics, Positive Things about having Tourette Syndrome, Lines to use when all else fails. We saw a lot of smiles, and kids who even took notes on Tanner's presentation, and very attentive kids who were looking for what the next prize would be. It was great fun! We will have to pull it out again and change around the topics for something else.
If you would like me to email you a copy of our home made Game just let me know I would be happy to do so. I learn how to do things better each time we meet so Thank you for being patient with me in my mistakes, and shake ups.
Here are the links I promised for the reference link for information for you to practice role playing with your kids on the one liners, or our subject of Lines to use when all else fails. This is the link for the website to Dr. Duncan McKinlay. He has a great way to bring humor to the table with talking about TS.
http://www.lifesatwitch.com/helpful.html

http://www.lifesatwitch.com/datafiles/beat_the_bully.pdf
http://www.lifesatwitch.com/datafiles/careers.pdf
Our goal with the Support Group is to Bring you as much information as possible and let you make the decision of what you would like to use or not. There is a lot of great resources out there, and you are the best people to judge what is right for your family.

Finally,

We will be starting back at meeting consistently the next few month, probably taking December off for the Holidays. Septembers subject is Health and Nutrition and excercise with Laurie Durham a nutritionist/TS Parent speaking to us. We will let you know soon of the specific date when we get the building scheduled. We have had a lot of interest and excitement in the Flying Pig Marathon TS Team for May, and working through the winter, training etc. I want to make sure I add a personal footnote on here, I am setting the goal myself to at least walk the 1/2 marathon, and it is a loftly goal for me, especially since I have 50+ lbs to lose as well. So if you were at all ever thinking that there is just absolutely no way, you would do this, remember sometimes we need to think BIG and set our sites for the impossible, or kids do it on a daily basis, and we also encourage them as well. There is an event for everyone from kids run to 10K, to working the race. Please consider what you can do to contribute, and everything we earn, will go directly into helping our support group, and the Youth Ambassador fund.

Aaron and I would sincerely like some additional help in planning and making this fundraiser happen, so if you are at all interested in helping. PLEASE call or email me. We will welcome the help with open arms, and happy hearts, all 50+ overweight lbs of me.

We hope you all have a wonderful beginning to the school year, and PLEASE DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP WITH YOUR IEP OR 504 MEETINGS, OR ANY SCHOOL ISSUES YOU MAY HAVE. That is what we are here for.

Happy Days,

Cari and Aaron Hutchison & Gang

Hello Everyone,


Just a reminder of our Family Support Group Meeting at the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,

8250 Cornell Rd, Montgomery.

6:30-8:00
 TONIGHT!!
Tanner is presenting the Youth Ambassador Presentation, and we have information for everyone to pass out to their schools so we can get some presentations scheduled for the upcoming school year. We will have packets for your to present to your School administrators.

We also have a fun Game that we have prepared for the kids to play and prizes to win, just like on Jeopardy. It will be a lot of fun. We will be meeting in the gym.

OH AN DON'T FORGET THE HOT FUDGE SUNDAE BAR- that is why I need RSVP so we can assign a topping for your family to bring.

I have attached information that may be helpful for you, as you prepare to go back to school in the coming weeks, and getting everything in order with your 504-plans and your IEP stuff. These are pdf files that I purchased off the TSA-usa.org website. I thought it would be more cost effective if you printed them yourselves at home. Also I thought they would be a good resource to educate yourselves and provide helps for you to give to the schools and teachers.

If there is ever a need or you would just like more support in your 504 or IEP meetings, I would be happy to come and help advocate for you or help you prepare for those meetings. Feel free call upon us to help you in that way, that is what this is all meant for.

Next order of business,

I have been looking into forming a team to run/walk/ kids run in the Flying Pig Marathon in May. We can get an individual webpage through tsa to raise the funds, and also, the money we collect we can have them ear-marked for the youth Ambassador program to help with training more kids, and facilitiate all the expenses of printing and purchasing bracelets to hand out etc.

Next Month we are going to spend some time on talking about Nutrition and Excercise and Tourette's, How it can be beneficial for the and families. Laurie Dunham who is a member of our support Group and has a son with TS will be talking to us about the that subject and this would also be a great opportunity to start the interest in getting ready for the Flying Pig Marathon, and help the kids set goals to work towards, with walking or running which every you choose. If you are not familiar with the marathon, there are several different catagories, that you can enter in, and also training methods, etc. we are going to train as a family, and also work towards, the kids setting a goal as well. There is a kids run, 5 k 10K, 1/2 marathon, and the full marathon. so there is something for everyone. It is good to think ahead and look to see what your family can do. We will present more informatoin on this in September- with our Group Goals.

If you have any other ideas for events or classes you would like to know more informaiton on please let me know. I have been looking into Having FUN time in October, with a Corn maze and Pumpkin patch visit, and I have also been looking into taking a tour of a theraputic riding facility, which may be an idea for some of the families to see if this would be an alternative way for anxiety therapy, and scensory integration help. We still have several other months to fill with good ideas, and helps for informational classes. Share your ideas!!! or Resources- This isn't just about me planning and choosing everything I would like to have input from the families too or if you have a business or fun activity then let me know let's book it.

Okay, well enough said for now! See you all tonight for fun and games and ice cream.

Cari

August Updates and Support Group Meeting

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are having a great summer so far. We are, but I can tell that the boredom is setting in, and hopefully I can make it another month with our crew, since we have an extra long summer this year.
Our next Family support group meeting is

Family Workshop-

How to talk deal with Bullies & how to talk about your TS with others

Monday August, 23rd, 2010 at 6:30-8:00

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

8250 Cornell Rd, Montgomery

The Family Workshop will be a Center/Group activity role playing how to talk or advocate for yourself, and talk about your Tourette Syndrome or your tics. Tanner will take the first 30 minutes to present the Youth Ambassador Presentation for those of you who haven't seen it, and also for the kids to see what it is like to see if they would like Tanner to come and speak to their class at the beginning of the year.

Then we will have a questions answer for the kids to Tanner about how he handles situations at school, and with his sports teams and others. Hopefully this will help the kids get some ideas of how they can approach situations.

If there is time left. We will break off into groups, and talk in small groups about different scenarios of how to handle situations. I will have slips, for the kids to draw different conflicts and how to handle them.

If you have any specific needs or issues you would like to have addressed, please email them to me and I will put them into the mix, as anonymous situations.

I hope this will give the kids a chance to think through what is coming up with the beginning of school and how to help themselves be successful.

We will have refreshments at the end- Icecream Sundaes- if you wouldn't mind RSVPing to me, if your family is planning on attending. I will have each family bring a topping for the Sundaes, and we will provide the icecream- When you RSVP I will assign you the topping to bring so we don't have to much of a good thing.
You can RSVP by replying to this email or you can text me on my cell phone- 513-569-2982

NEWS- & Upcoming ideas
TS Awareness RUN-Walk-Ride

Several families have expressed interest in doing a fundraiser by doing a run for TS or a bike for TS or something similar to that. This is a fantastic idea, and after discussing the options with The National Tourette Syndrome Association, I have found that they will actually hold an account for us to raise money for the Youth Ambassador Program even though we are not directly affiliated with the TS-Ohio chapter. So, we can take the money we raise with our runs or walks or event we decide to hold, or participate in, and send the Money to TSA National and they will put that towards helping us get the Youth Ambassador Program off and running.

If there is anyone interested in heading this up, to plan and organize this event, I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to talk to you. Please contact me and I can get you the information of how we can get started. I would very much appreciate the help and assistance in getting this off the ground and running. The more of us that are involved, the better, and we can have A LOT! of fun with this.

Grant Money for our Support Group-

I have recently found out about a few companies that are sponsoring kids for charitable events that they working to do. I am applying for a Grant at one of these companies, in hopes that we can get some money for our More than Tics Family Support Group. We are hoping by even qualifiying for the $300 grant that it will help us, fund some fun activities for the kids in the future. I am hoping that This money will help to supplement an Activity for October for a trip to the pumpkin patch or corn maze or some great event like that for Fall. This way we are able to help everyone come and enjoy.

If you know of any other opportunities, or Grants or money that may be available to help fund and support our Family Support Group, or the TS Youth Ambassador Program we would LOVE to hear about it. It is always worth a shot.

www.morethantics.blogspot.com We are excited to work cooperatively with TSA National, and appreciate their support and help in giving us ideas and keeping us informed of opportunities that will help us all. That is what it is all about. Helping each other be successful!!!
Happy Days!

Youth Ambassador Program in the Local Community Press

Milford student spreads word about Tourette

This News Article was in the Milford-Miami Advertiser, July 7th 2010.  Tanner gave a presentation to the Neurology Department at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in June.  We were contacted by a reporter, who was excited to publish the story in the community paper showing what an excellent program the Youth Ambassador program is.  Tanner really enjoyed speaking with her.  He is excited to get going with his presentations in the community. 

If you know of any community groups who would be interested in hearing this presentation please email us the contact information and we would be happy to contact them.  We have continued to spread the information around the local school districts by emailing and mailing information to the local school districts.  It is always helpful to have a personal contact.

If you weren't aware of the Tourette Syndrome Youth Ambassador Program,  here is a little overview of what we do.

The Youth Ambassador Program was was started in 2002 by Jennifer Zwilling along with her mother Jane, and siblings Amanda and Eric.  They developed a program which teaches teens to raise awareness about Tourette Syndrome; to advocate for themselves and for others and to educate their peers and younger children with accuate information by going into classrooms, schools and clubs to teach understanding, sensitivity and tolerance of TS and its symptoms while displacing the myths and steriotypes that are often attributed to and associated with this misunderstood and misdoagnosed disorder.

Gives a 30-45 minute presentation which can be adapted to many different group types.  He shares his personal experiences, and also provides a very interactive way of understanding what it is like to have Tourette Syndrome and OCD.

Tanner is the Tourette Syndrome Associate Youth Ambassador for the state of Ohio, and Northern Kentucky.  If you are interested in scheduling a presentation  please contact Cari Hutchison at morethantics@gmail.com  or by calling 513-569-2982.

TSA 2010 National Conference Videos Online

I received this email this morning from TSA National office, letting us know the Conference videos are online.  I am so excited to watch these again.  I was able to attend the conference this year, and learned so much from the classes, some of which these videos were made from.  There is a lot of great information to be gathered from them.  I would definately encourage anyone to take a bit of time on your breaks, or at night when the kids are asleep,  (my favorite time of the day)  to take a look at these videos.  It is a great opportunity to learn more and help our families.


Tourette Syndrome Association  2010
National Conference Videos Now Online!
Three informative video sessions, developed to help children, teens, young adults and families, filmed at the April 2010 Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) National Conference, are now available for viewing at on the TSA Website here.

BULLYING PREVENTION features a presentation by Julie Hertzog, Bullying Prevention Project Director at PACER, and Sandra Hollis, Chair TSA Education Committee. This video will bring you up to date on the proactive ideas that kids, parents, teachers and schools are using to protect and value everyone in the school. The approaches discussed will be of interest to families and educators across the country.
Cathy Budman M.D. and Michael Himle Ph. D. offer a joint program covering two important areas: Dr. Budman presents on IMPULSE CONTROL & DYSREGULATED AFFECT SYMPTOMS IN TOURETTE SYNDROME. This authoritative session reviews a range of factors reflected in behavioral issues and impulsivity. In TREATMENT OF IMPULSIVE AGGRESSION IN TS: A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH Dr. Himle presents families with background on and discussion of effective techniques you can use for addressing these often-difficult behaviors.

In ORGANIZATION & EXECUTIVE FUNCTION, Sarah Crowther, Director of Student Success, Culver-Stockton College, presents to the Conference's teen and young adult track, all of whom nod their heads in recognition and agreement...as she discusses these challenges and helps the group learn to deal with them.

TSA's April 2010 National Conference offered an array of incredible presentations, innumerable chances for attendees to hear from leading authorities, and to meet and exchange experiences with dozens of families from across the country and around the world! TSA is happy to share these selected videos from that unforgettable gathering. We hope that families, individuals, teens, young adults, educators, and providers will find valuable information in these programs.

The information provided in this material was supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement Number DD000343 from the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC or TSA

NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness August Meeting

Here is an opportunity through NAMI- National Alliance on Mental Illness.  They have monthly meetings, with guest speakers.  Although it isn't directly related to Tourette Syndrome,  it is helpful information on the Comorbid disorders that come with TS.  Aaron and I have attended their Family to Family classes and learned a great deal about the other disorders, and mental illnesses.  It really opened our eyes and our hearts to other families and disorders.

Union Township Civic Center

Queen City Room A
4350 Aicholtz Road
Cincinnati, OH45255
6:30 PM "Caring and Sharing" support group at 6:30 PM

info@nami-cc.org
http://www.namiccorg/

Here is the contact information if you would like more information on their services available.
7:30 PM Guest Speaker: Robert Kuykendal, M.D.

Topic: Ask the Doctor
Here's your chance to get some questions answered by a man with lots of experience! We're happy to welcome Dr. Kuykendal, who has too many awards and distinctions to list. Two that we will mention are the NAMI Hamilton County Exemplary Psychiatrist Award and the Hamilton County Community Mental Health Board Leadership in Psychiatry Award.