Amazon Wish Lists (and How to Use Them)

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If you shop on Amazon and aren't using it to create Wish Lists, you are missing out on an excellent organization tool.

When you are shopping on Amazon, if you have Wish Lists set up and don't want to buy yet, you can just click on "Add to Wish List."

I Bought a Planner...Now What Do I Do?

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A new planner comes with infinite possibilities, but it also comes with infinite questions and decisions to make.

The Quickest Way to Reschedule Your Plans

If you use a paper planner, sometimes you have to reschedule. 

The extra burden of rescheduling on paper one of the biggest drawbacks of paper planning, but there are things that you can do to minimize the extra work involved in rescheduling when plans change.

Circle Items to Reschedule

By circling them, the items visually POP so you don't miss rescheduling something.

Use Movable Notes

Use sticky notes for combination tasks so you can reschedule the entire project or set of tasks at once.

If you have a single errands day, for example, consider putting all the errands on one sticky note.

That way, if you get a flat tire and errands don't get done, you can just move the note to another day.

Schedule Wisely

Include time to prepare, travel, and clean up after each appointment or task, so that you don't run out of time and find yourself forced to reschedule.

Etcetera.

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When Kids Are Exceptional, But Adults Can't Tell

I studied child development as an undergrad. I've been a preschool teacher, high school teacher, and middle school teacher. In addition, I spent most of my legal practice as an attorney focusing on juveniles, most of whom had special challenges of one sort or another.

So when I say that I have failed children over and over, it is quite a confession.

But I have failed children - and their parents - by often not recognizing special needs when they were not visually obvious.

As the mother of a kid with some exceptional needs, I figured I'd come clean and help the rest of you avoid making judgmental, self-centered idiots of yourself.

Learn from my mistakes!

Don't assume that a kid is "okay" based on appearances.

When The Loki is tired after a night of seizures, outgrowing his epilepsy meds, or trying a new attention medicine, he can appear to be a seven year old of normal intelligence and physical ability. And, in fact, he is. He doesn't need a wheelchair or a sign language translator.

Except, and this is the tricky part, he might get lost. Or he might have trouble remembering or following simple instructions.

He isn't okay without some extra help. He isn't safe or able to perform to full ability without some adjustments.

So, side eye to the lady who was glaring at me when I made my seven year old hold hands on our walk across campus. Yes, he knows not to cross streets without looking. But without a buddy, he'll sometimes wander across the street anyway.

Do assume parents are the EXPERTS on their kids.

I know a lot about child development in general. But there are only two kids that I can tell you everything about - their medical and educational histories, their motivations, their emotions. My kids. That's it.

So, if I am put in charge of your kid or I am bringing him somewhere, I no longer hesitate to ask, "is there anything I should know?"

Tell me that he gets scared in the dark, won't go to the bathroom without a crack in the doorway, or is allergic to sesame seeds. Let me know that she needs structure or more time or someone to hold her hand.

Parents, don't be scared to share those things with others. If they don't know, they can't help.

Adults, don't be afraid to ask. If you truly mean well, you might just make someone's day!

Remember that we ALL have strengths and weaknesses.

Grace means that we accept that about others and ourselves.

I am great in social situations. So I look around, find others who struggle, and give them a way "in" to the group. But I am aware that they might not want that, so I leave the decision up to them.

On the other hand, I cannot navigate or drive well. I let others drive whenever possible. So if I bum a ride, be kind! I'll cook you dinner or watch your kids.

Kids are the same way. Some are so sweet. Others are funny. Each has their own set of strengths and weaknesses, regardless of disabilities and abilities.

Sometimes, challenging kids make it hard to remember that. Sometimes, we don't see the exceptionalities.

We are too busy not looking or judging.

It's time to change that and start making the world a better, more accepting place, especially for children facing special struggles.

Etcetera.

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How to Schedule Your Errands ... Backwards

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Last week, I ran out of gas. As I rolled up to the gas pump, running on fumes and a prayer, I stared at the little EMPTY sign on my gas tank.

The computer in my car does this neat little thing where it tells you estimated miles of driving that you have left.

Mine said (smugly, I swear), "0 miles."

I was relieved as I finally and miraculously cruised on fumes up to the gas tank, especially since my baby nephew was snoozing in the back seat, blissfully unaware that we had almost gotten stranded on the side of a busy road.

Of course that particular gas tank was having problems with its credit card reader, because that was exactly how my week had gone.

It was my own fault. I had driven to the bank, then back across town to the YMCA, then back to the bank, then to the store (where I forgot to get the most important thing on my list). I ran out of time to get gas, so went to carpool and took my chances that I could make it to the gas station in time.

Take Care of the Insides of Your Planner

Most people take care of the outsides of their planners - wiping them down, protecting them in bags, or treating leather.

But the insides of a planner are the important part!

What are you doing to care for those parts?

Check out this Classic Giftie post to find out how I care for the insides of my planner.

As always when I look back on a classic post, I update with things that I am currently doing. So, this morning, I read the old post and did the following:

*pulled out some projects that are complete and filed them away,

*filed away my September calendar pages, and

*created a task to redo my ABC Notes tabs, as they are worn out (and I don't have time to do it immediately).

Let me know in the comments what you did to care for the insides of your planner this week.

Etcetera.

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