This book is the account of an ordinary woman trying to live life with good intentions, and translating those good intentions into action by helping others, in the aftermath of a really traumatic national event - 9/11/01. The primary focus is on Terror and its effects on a personal life, and indeed the life of the nation. Interwoven is a deep concern for fairness and justice, especially as regards children. No book should be complete without "politics " There is that also. There is a mix of grief, anger and humor (the real elixir of life )

Creative Caring is the story of one determined family whose son, Ricky, had intellectual disabilities so severe that the typical resources of a community were not available to him. Finding that situation intolerable, they fought relentlessly to create a caring community for Ricky and hundreds of others. Vita Living fought bureaucratic hurdles, abuse from the community, and serious economic challenges so it was brought to the edge of collapse. The goal was to obtain a coveted license to open the first small community-based home in Texas to provide life long care for people with severe mental retardation and behaviors. Despite being told it was impossible, Renee successfully pursued her dream.

This memoir, a reflection on her over 40 years of working with children and adults with intellectual disabilities, is a call to action for our society to consider the welfare of all, not only the able bodied.

Creative Caring is the story of how Renee and Stan turned the challenges their family faced into triumph. But even more, it's the story of how they succeeded in creating a more generous and nurturing environment for an entire population who has much to contribute to the world around them

Through Understanding Comes Respect and Love
This book was inspired by the author's daughter, Jaimie, who struggles with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) every day. It was written to validate Jaimie's feelings and to show her other children feel things the way she does. This book can help children with SPD learn how to explain their disorder to others; help peers understand what children with SPD go through; and also help therapists, teachers and/or counselors learn how to talk about it. Helping others learn about children with special needs brings understanding to them and help to make them seem less... different.
New 2nd edition includes suggested activities teachers or caregivers can do with children to help develop a deeper understanding of how SPD "feels" plus new pages on vestibular and proprioception systems.
Praise for "I'm Not Weird, I Have SPD":
"This book is a must-read for any parent who has a child suffering with Sensory Processing Disorder. It also helps your child put words to what they are feeling on a daily basis. Teachers and other professionals working with children who have SPD also come to a better understanding of how to help these children."
--Tanya Wilson
"A heart-touching book, written in a straightforward, kid-friendly manner that provides an excellent insight to the trials, frustrations, and new discoveries children with SPD and their families may encounter. This book has assisted in creating an appreciation and acceptance of the unique qualities within all of us, and that we are not 'weird'-we are 'wonderful' "
--Lillian Baulkham, Grade 3 teacher, Sweet Grass School, Edmonton, Alberta
"When I read Chynna Laird's I'm Not Weird, I Have SPD, I almost cried. Not because the story of a child struggling with severe sensory disorder is so sad, but because the frustration shared by child and family alike before diagnosis is so heart-wrenching. Ms. Laird leaves the reader with a moment of with a moment of joy and a real hope for a brighter tomorrow "
--C. Hall
Learn more at www.LilyWolfWords.ca
From the Growing With Love Series from Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com
JNF053180 Juvenile Fiction: Social Issues - Special Needs
EDU026010 Education: Special Education - Communicative Disorders
FAM034520 Family & Relationships: Parenting - Hyperactivity

A compassionate memoir about a father's relationship with his children, the healing power of a small act of kindness, and the proof that love is everlasting.Love you, Dad. Miss you so much. Steph. A brokenhearted daughter scribbled those words on a sky lantern before sending it off to her father in heaven who had passed away. Halfway across the country, Steph's lantern landed in Matt Mikalatos's yard. As a father of three daughters, Matt could not let that heart-wrenching note unanswered, so he posted an open letter to her on his blog, which went viral overnight. Little did he know how that small act of kindness would lead him to the real Steph and change his family's life in remarkable ways. A poignant and lyrical account of the beauty and wonder found in domestic life, Sky Lantern shows how the miraculous events that followed Matt finding the sky lantern in his yard--and the widespread and lasting impact his letter had--prove that the bond between a parent and their child can last forever.

""What we have learned from Margaret about the impact of food sensitivities has dramatically improved the overall health of our two young sons and our entire family. Every parent would benefit from this information. We will be forever grateful for her support.""
--Johanna Sedin and her husband Henrik Sedin (captain of the Vancouver Canucks)

Does your child have chronic health problems, such as stomachaches, constipation, diarrhea, repeated infections, excessive fatigue, bed wetting, or asthma, that are making life challenging for both your child and your family?

Is your child's behavior making it difficult for them to develop friendships at school or making them feel isolated and alone?

Are learning difficulties or disabilities resulting in your child falling behind at school and feeling "stupid"?

"COULD IT REALLY BE SOMETHING THEY ATE?" offers practical advice and support to identify the often hidden trigger food that can be the cause of health, behavior, and learning challenges in children. Once the trigger food is identified, Margaret leads parents through an organized and practical approach to ensure their success and offers a wealth of information on how to implement diet change in the midst of a busy and often overwhelming family life.

Is it true that children are as vulnerable and innocent as we think they are? Adults view themselves as children's teachers, mentors, counselors, overseers, and guides. In Intentional Connections, a marriage and family therapist explores a different paradigm-one that supports the belief that children are capable of not just learning from us, but teaching us as well. Gloria O'Brien's extensive professional background has included counseling parents with concerns that range from common behavioral problems to rare disabilities. She shares psychological theories, case studies, and real-life vignettes that suggest when we observe our interactions with our children more attentively, we uncover the many life lessons children provide. While including step-by-step instructions on how adults can avoid the obstacles that interfere with our ability to hear our children and achieve greater personal growth, O'Brien provides specific guidance on how parents can distinguish their own identity from their child's identity; recognize emotional triggers from the past; separate emotions from logic and enhance decision-making; learn to empathize with children; identify and stop button-pushing behaviors. "Intentional Connections" helps adults to recognize roadblocks, develop more satisfying adult-child relationships, and embark on a journey of self-improvement.

Reflections of Mamie-A Story of Survival is a sad and joyous personal account of growing up under the worst kind of adversity. It is a story of survival during times of extreme suffering and deprivation that will leave you feeling Mamie's anguish. A must read for anyone with a difficult childhood or anyone wanting to understand the cycles of abuse ...S. Allan Kane, MD The story begins in the early 1950's suburbs of Houston, Texas. Mamie is a young child of four who was unwanted, afraid, abused and with nowhere to turn, learned that she had to stand alone. Her only friends were her older brother, an abused child himself, and her nanny, who begged their mother to stop beating them. The father, though he loved his children, remained passive to the end. A victim himself, the only protection he offered was a warning to stay out of their mother's reach. This story shares Mamie's heroic battle to keep her dreams alive and hold on to her spirit. How she finds her way out of fifty-four years of abuse is yours to discover in her fascinating memoirs.

This is a true story about the extraordinary personal journey as a single mother who, at one time felt ashamed because she was a single mother, humiliated, not worthy and useless at one point in her life. Her struggles as a single parent were boisterous. Nevertheless, against all odds, she was determined to be a role model for her children, single moms and other people who may find themselves in diverse situations and think their life is over. Graham tells the story of how her charade begins with the initial scenario about how she became a victim at an early age by wearing a mask this book show how a victim who has concealed so much guilt has the ability to overcome all obstacles by forgiving and then move forward in life with no regrets.Poignant, heartfelt, humorous, and profound, this is the story of a single mom's dream and determination to fight for a better future for her family. God gave her zest for life. She rose to become a mentor, motivator, encourager and successful independent person.To God be the Glory