Written by: Michele, The Green-Mother

All of us have our own reasons for being on the gluten free diet. For some, it may be to resolve some health issues such as Celiac’s Disease. For others, it is just a way of life. It may also be used to resolve autism related symptoms in our children.

Whatever the reason may be, in my opinion, I think it is worth the try. I have found a wonderful article that discusses giving up gluten. Please follow the link below to read it:

http://www.livingwithout.com/issues/4_8/giving_up_gluten-2024-1.html?ET=livingwithout:p113877:146232a:&st=pmail&s=p_tuesdaytip030513&t=T_logo_P

As for our family, we use this diet to reduce the symptoms of Sensory Integration Dysfunction in two of our children. Does it work? Of course this is only an opinion, but I do believe that if my children were not on this diet their symptoms would be much worse and more apparent.

What are your reasons for being on this diet? Are you also dairy free?

Written By: Michele, The Green-Mother

The journey continues. My son has advised me that he has already spent one full day with “Mrs. S” (this false name has been created to protect identity) for testing. One more complete day with Mrs. S will be required and the results will be tallied up. Once these results are tallied up, my husband and I will be called in to have a meeting to discuss this.

The results, the waiting, is enough to test my endurance lately. I am hopeful that I will be told it is just Sensory Integration Disorder. Can it really be all that simple? If any autism is suspected, the journey will continue with a different department for more testing.

I asked my son how the testing went. He said that Mrs. S is very nice and asked him a lot of questions. I asked him what type of questions did she ask.  He answered with:

“Well, who is more strict? Mommy or Daddy”?, and “What time do you go to bed”?

Hmmmm….to be honest with you, that is not exactly the information that I was looking for. I hold back and try not to ask him too much. I don’t want to transfer my own anxieties on to him. So, I leave it at that.

I ask and wonder to myself, does she ask about the lack of eye contact, lack of social skills, and arm flapping? Or does she just observe these behaviors? Does she even see them? My mind keeps spinning and spinning around and around.

So, I continue to wait for now. I keep wondering what all these symptoms mean and if we will ever get a clear diagnosis. I am hoping to get some answers in the following weeks.

If you missed Autism? Part one, you can read it by following the link below:

Written By: Michele, The Green-Mother

This school year has been challenging for myself, my husband, and my eldest son. And of course, I can not forget his teachers. Over the years, I have  been coping somewhat with Xavier’s issue with Sensory Integration Disorder. To learn more about this please follow the link below:

 http://www.green-mother.com/living-with-sensory-integration-disorder/

This year, eyebrows are being raised within the home and the school. Is it really just Sensory Integration Disorder? Can it really be something more? This year has been a frustrating year exploring this. He is getting older after all. These symptoms of SID should be improving, right?

Actually, it has been just the opposite. The symptoms are getting worse and more apparent. The arm flapping, lack of eye contact, and lack of social skills are just becoming a bit too obvious lately. Also, the obsessions are another topic for discussion.

  The word “Spectrum Behaviors” have been brought to my attention more than once this year. These two words scare me, it keeps me awake at night, and it also makes me cry. It makes me feel all types of emotions that I just can not explain. I feel lost, alone, and confused. To learn more about Autism and Spectrum Behaviors, please follow the link below:

http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/autism-symptoms

As any good parent would do, my husband and I have signed authorization forms to allow my son to get tested through the school board. I have also allowed and authorized the school social worker to visit my son in his classroom. I visit with her also on a regular basis for support and to discuss his progress.

For now, I wait. I wait for this assessment to be completed. Once it is done, if autism is really suspected, we will be sent off to a different department for more testing.

This journey with my son is testing me in many ways. It is testing my strength, and my character. I see that it is also testing him.

I pray for understanding, and acceptance. I pray that the world will be nice to him.

Would I ever change anything about him? Never, not one tiny little bit.

Please continue to follow me on this journey. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Look Mom! I lost my front teeth!

Congratulations Liam on losing your two front teeth!

Written By:Michele, The Green-Mother

Ok…..I have been caught in the middle of the unthinkable. I was caught by my nine year old recycling a glass container that I did not rinse. “You can not do that! That is just wrong and not responsible Mommy. You are just going to give those people at the recycling place more work to do“.

Hmm..he was right indeed. I could not argue that. So I went back to the recycling bin in the garage and took the container out and rinsed it. Usually, I am pretty good and cleaning out recyclable goods. For some reason, that day it had slipped my mind.

After doing a bit of research I found out that my son was right! If I always rinse out the containers before recycling, I am helping the process go smoother. This is a general rule on most municipal websites.

To read more about this: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10067.html#ixzz2FKoQE071

Do you rinse before recycling?

Written By: Michele, The Green-Mother

Support is pouring in from all over to help those those that have been affected by this horrible tragedy. You can make a difference in someone`s life. Below, you can find several links where you can contribute.

Sandy Hook Elementary School Fund 

Help for the Sandy Hook Elementary School Families

Sandy Hook Elementary School Victims Relief Fund

Secure Schools

Wall of Love

http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=8434&searchId=44de7ee7e8df52d16dacc12f508aed2c&npos=5

Never Forget

Written By: Michele, The Green-Mother

I still can not wrap my mind around the tragic event that took place on the awful morning of Friday December 14th 2012 in Newtown, Conneticut. My heart aches. I mean really aches. There are no words to express the pain that the families of the victims are feeling. Innocent lives were taken away by a brutal act of evil.

I don`t want to write about this as there is enough publicity going around. I don`t want to post pictures of this tragic event either. I just wanted to take this moment to pray for all these families that were affected by this.

Today, and always, I light my candle to those beautiful angels that were taken away too early.

]]> http://www.green-mother.com/never-forget/feed/ 0 http://www.green-mother.com/a-guest-post-creating-a-green-kid-friendly-landscape-design/ http://www.green-mother.com/a-guest-post-creating-a-green-kid-friendly-landscape-design/#comments Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:41:48 +0000 Michele Bayno BA, BSW, PSW http://www.green-mother.com/?p=7776 Creating a Green, Kid-Friendly Landscape Design

The ideal family backyard has a landscape design that caters to the needs of the children, reflects the tastes of the parents and is safe for the environment. The features to incorporate largely depend on the size of the yard and the age of the kids, so taking some time to plan thoroughly before diving into your project can help save you time, money and trips to the home improvement store.

Tips for Creating a Kid-Friendly Landscape Design

Water safety: If you currently have or plan to incorporate any type of water feature, adding the proper safeguards around it can exponentially reduce the risk of an accidental drowning. Plus, your homeowner’s insurance company may require them. Install an attractive fence around a pool or spa that sounds an alarm whenever the gate is opened. If you have young children, consider building a whimsical fence around a smaller water feature, such as a pond, in addition to placing safety netting over the water.

Kid-safe plants: Young children like to put anything they can grab into their mouths. To make your backyard kid-friendly, include only non-toxic plants that aren’t painful to bare feet. Regularly weed and remove prickly plants and bushes. Replace toxic plants like bleeding heart, wisteria, nightshades and oleander with edible ones, such as marigolds, violets and pansies. Landscape maintenance companies can help you with your garden transformation. Upon completion, the landscape company can then help keep your yard in top condition.

Play areas: Structures and natural landscape design features can become the ultimate play areas. Cut tall grasses into mazes. Plant sunflowers in a square shape and let the kids use them as a fort during the summer. A sandbox is a great place to explore and dig. Use a strong tree branch to hang a swing. If you have the space, build a jungle gym. For added safety, use shock-absorbing, weather-proof materials under play structures, such as recycled rubber or mulch.

Double duty: Covered structures, gazebos and pergolas can double as entertainment and play areas. Pull out the box of outdoor toys during the day to give your child a place to play that’s safe and out of the sun. In the evening, put the toys away and have fun with your own friends. If you have poured concrete under a covered structure, your little one can ride a tricycle in a place that’s safe from cars. In addition to adding protection from the elements and traffic, pergolas and gazebos are great places for your family to enjoy time together.

Lighting: The fun doesn’t have to stop when the sun starts to set. Use weatherproof lights to illuminate your pool, spa or other water features in addition to play structures, dining areas and any other play areas. Outdoor lights that don’t get hot are ideal.

 Making Your Landscape Design Eco-Friendly    

One of the best ways to make your landscape both kid-friendly and eco-friendly is to eliminate the use of chemicals. Instead of using fertilizer in your garden, opt for compost. Deter unwanted pests by keeping your yard well maintained. If you don’t have the time, green landscape maintenance companies will happily weed, rake leaves, trim and prune for you using eco-friendly methods.

Conserve water by recycling the gray water in your home (such as the water from your sinks and tub) and installing rainwater harvesting systems. Such methods will teach your children about self-sufficiency and sustainability. You can also cut back on your water use by reducing the size of your lawn or replacing your grass with a flower or vegetable garden. If you don’t have a lot of space for garden beds, consider vertical gardening using recycled wooden pallets.

As you transform your landscape into a more kid-friendly space, look for ways to recycle or up-cycle products. Instead of purchasing a new play set, for example, scour the local classified ads to see if you can find a used one for sale. A good cleaning and a fresh coat of paint is often the only thing a used item needs to look brand new.

When you make your landscape green and kid-friendly, you teach your children about the importance of helping the earth and provide them with creative ways to have fun. For more ideas about making your yard kid-friendly, contact a local green landscape company.

Guest post provided by Landscape East & West, an award winning full-service landscaping company based in Portland, Ore. Landscape East & West specializes in eco-friendly landscape design and maintenance.

Written By: Michele, The Green-Mother

Lately, I have been fascinated with the idea that I can cure tooth decay naturally with diet. Is their any truth to this statement? After doing some research I have discovered that there are two schools of thought. Some believe that there is no substantial evidence to this while others believe that there is.

What is tooth decay? It is defined as bone loss in the mouth. According to an article that was published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, tooth decay is not caused by bacteria.

For the purpose of this post I will focus on the theory that I am able too cure tooth decay with diet. After a recent dental exam I was told that I had an “above average clean mouth” and “good dental hygiene”. But, there was a “but”.  My back teeth were worn down and a cavity was found. Not a big cavity, but big enough that it required a drilling and a filling. I am lucky to have found a dentist that is honest and does the minimal work required. I trust her professional expertise and interventions.

Since this, I have been left wondering how I could of prevented all of this. I already floss daily and brush my teeth at least three times a day. To my surprise my dentist advised me that I was brushing too much and this was contributing to my issue of worn down teeth. This led me to believe that brushing and flossing alone were not enough.

After doing some research online, I discovered the work of Ramiel Nagel. He believes that tooth dentin can be remineralized and heal cavities. In his his book “Cure Tooth Decay”", he teaches how to heal and prevent tooth decay. In his opinion, this can be achieved through eating special foods and avoiding damage to your teeth.

I believe that there is truth to this and one can heal their teeth using his advice. According to him, if I eat natural, unrefined whole foods I can help prevent or even heal dental cavities. His book discusses which foods can reverse your tooth decay.

You can learn more about this fascinating subject by ordering his book through the link below.

Written By: Michele, The Green-Mother

Do you wear makeup?  Than you may want to continue reading.  Many women of all ages do.  A new study has warned that the chemicals in cosmetics, plastics and household cleaners, known as  phthalates can  cause a woman to go through menopause earlier.

What are phthalates?

Wikipedia defines phthalates as: “Phthalates (pronounced /ˈθæˌleɪts/, THA-layts ^[1]), or phthalate esters, are esters of phthalic acid and are mainly used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity). They are used primarily to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Phthalates are being phased out of many products in the United States, Canada, and European Union over health concerns”.

“In studies of rodents exposed to certain phthalates, high doses have been shown to change hormone levels and cause birth defects”.

Source of information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate

Early menopause has been linked with the following:

- higher rates of bone loss,

- heart problems,

- and strokes.

To read more about this fascinating topic please follow the link below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/early-menopause-makeup-triggers_n_2024131.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=4086707,b=facebook