Random Act of Kindness- Awesome Example

I love how so many parents and educators put their creative hats on to develop awesome and fun ways to encourage and teach Randoms Act of Kindness to our children. 

I would like to share this wonderful blog spot by:

Collaboration, Creativity, Caring & Community

If I could figure out how to add their button to this site I would, but instead enjoy it from here. 

Kindness, Generosity + Emotional Intelligence. This title caught my eye. Emotional Intelligence?? 

Teaching kindness builds our children's, and also within ourselves, an emotional intelligence. There are many esoteric reasons why this works but I am a practical Viking Mommy. I want to see it in actions.

 

So, please follow the link to Kindness, Generosity+Emotional Intelligence and see examples on how teachers and parents are encouraging Random Acts of Kindness. 

I love the idea that Pre-Schoolers and Kindergartens believe that showing kindness means DOING the act with a friend. Why does it have to stop? Can we continue that act with our friends?

I think I am going to start my own Kindness Wreath. 

Monday Madness!!! Not My Choice of Ads

The advertisements on this website/blog are not of my choice!! 

I have asked Google Blogspot to help eliminate these awful advertisements. 

In the meantime.... please excuse the weird male enhancement supplements and strange voodoo magic weight loss supplements.

Viking Mom Where Did You Go??!!

"Viking Mom! Where did you go?"

Yes, I have been away for a while. The last couple of weeks have been stressful and very busy.

In the last two weeks:

1. One outstanding, fun, successful Waldorf Institute of Southern California fundraiser. WE DID IT!

2. Wild Rose and Friends was a vendor at the Summer Past Farms Antique and Craft Show.

3. Crisis Intervention. Many of my students were severely emotionally hit hard because of the tragedies in Boston and Texas. 

Normal Programming will continue next week.... I hope!

Boston Marathon Tragedy- Learning to Cope

These are the images we should be viewing.

While I was looking for pictures of celebration and joy on this topic my heart broke at each tragic picture of Boston Marathon.

It is easy to get caught up watching the news and the social media to watch the latest details. But, it does come with a cost. When the Newton School Tragedy occurred in December Kim John Payne, who wrote Simplicity Parenting, wrote an article to help families and children cope with overwhelming emotions.

I would like to share his kind words again with all of you.

From one Mother to Another Parent/Mother:

1. Tell the Truth. Be honest. Keep the dialogue age appropriate. Listen to their questions.
One person suggested not to bring up the discussion unless your child brings up the conversation. 
 Keep the hateful political rhetoric out of the conversation. 
"Yes, Viking Lady Bug, there was a shooting in Connecticut and yes little boys and girls were hurt and died."

2. Assure them they are safe at school. You are the first line for this sense of safety. Your own emtions are going to be read and observed. When explaining that there school is safe, their community is safe, their home is safe, you should remain calm about it. "Yes, Viking Monkey Boy, your school is safe."

3. Monitor the Media. This incudes Social Media ie Facebook, Google+ et al.  The media has either gone from being sensitive and tactful to overly obnoixiously sensational. As for the Social Media. I have had to warn a few of my friends to calm down the angry and hateful political rehtoric. Right now is not the time nor is it helpful. Even as adults we don't need to watch the news 24/7. It adds to our own anxiety which then is reflected onto our children. 

4. Seek professional help if worry and fear becomes more. The district I teach in has had our own school shooting tragedies. Our Humble Little Town still realing from the effects of the shootings that occured at two of our high schools. Tragedies like Friday bring back horriable memories and long buried emotions. Do not be afraid to seek help. 

5. DO NOT LET THESE DEATHS BE IN VAIN! Live! Love each other! Respect each other! Show Random Acts of Kindness. 

Random Act of Kindness

It is through kindness that our children can see the beauty of the world through the ugly haze of hate.

~Viking Mom.

Random Act of Kindness- Compassion and Humor

As many of you know I have spent my career working with teen age students on the Autism Spectrum. It has been one of the highlights of my career and something I can be proud of as I look back on my career.

 It has also been a goal of mine to have a forum for parents and teachers to find resources and inspiration to teach Random Acts of Kindness. Sometimes, a short story from Facebook is all we need to see examples of  humor and compassion from each other. 

This story has been passed around the Facebook and other Social Medias. It is such a beautiful story of compassion, understanding, respect and humor that I had to share it with all of you. Kudos to Chili's and their management!


"I want to share the experience that my husband, 7 year old autistic sister and I had today at the Chili’s location in Midvale, UT. Arianna, my little sister, didn’t waste any time when our waitress, Lauren, greeted us at our table. Arianna promptly ordered her cheeseburger with pickles, french fries, and chocolate milk before Lauren could even take our drink order. Lauren smiled and told Arianna, “Okay! I’ll be right back with your chocolate milk!”. When we got our food I was wondering why Arianna wouldn’t touch her cheeseburger, but was going to town on her french fries. I asked her, “Arianna are you going to eat your cheeseburger?” She calmly said, “No, I don’t want it.” Cheeseburgers, or ‘Krabby Patties’ as we sometimes call them, are her FAVORITE! So this behavior was VERY strange. So I asked her, “Why don’t you want it?”. She replied, “It’s broken. I need another one thats fixed.” Then it dawned on me why she wasn’t eating it. It’s because it was cut in half. Being a child with autism, she has to have certain things in a particular order at all times. One slight change in her routine can change the course of the day instantly. When Lauren came back to check on us, I asked if we could order another cheeseburger and just add it to our check. She had a concerned look on her face so I explained that Arianna has autism, and that in her mind, because the cheeseburger was cut in half, she thinks its broken and can’t eat it. I told Lauren I knew it sounded silly, but if we could just order an additional one we will gladly pay for it because there was nothing wrong with the one that was originally brought out. Lauren was so sweet and just smiled and went along with Arianna, telling her “I brought you a broken cheeseburger?! You know what, I’ll have them cook you a new one!” I loved this because rather than just taking it from the table, she actually TOLD Arianna what she was doing. While this seems insignificant, by her telling Arianna what she was doing, we avoided a melt down. The manager, Bradley Cottermole, then came to our table, kneeled down, and said to Arianna, “I heard we gave you a broken cheeseburger! I am so sorry about that! We are making you a brand new one that isn’t broken, with pickles! I’ll bring you some french fries to munch on while you’re waiting, ok?” A couple of minutes later, Lauren arrived back at our table with cheeseburger #2. Arianna said, “OH FANK YOU! You fixded my cheeseburger!” When Lauren walked away, Arianna just sat there for a second and looked at her new burger. She looked like so deep in thought....just staring at it....then she let out a big ”OH I missed you!!” and started kissing the burger over and over again. I showed Lauren this picture and said, “I think we glorified the cheeseburger too much!” She busted up laughing, and asked if she could go show her manager. She came back a minute later and said she showed everyone in the back kitchen area too, and that it made them all laugh and smile. I was so touched by this experience. Especially since I know people who have been asked to leave restaurants when their child with autism is being disruptive. I expected a few different things with this scenario based on past experiences, but I did NOT expect such kind and compassionate mannerisms from Lauren and Bradley. Everyone, from the hostess to the chef, played a role in what most people would think isn’t a big deal. But this entirely shaped how the rest of our day would go. I know...a cheeseburger cut in half literally could make or break our day. In this case thanks to the professionalism of the crew in Midvale, it made our day. And I’m sure Arianna brightened up at least one of the employees days with her silly little personality. Thank you."

Manic Monday-Easter Aftermath

Off to work after Easter Sunday---And April 1st!