The Power of Storytelling

Dear Readers,

Last April, I came up with the idea of having a blogroll dedicated to those blogging about Sensory Processing Disorder.  I put the word out.

And at first it was just Chynna, Caitlin and myself.

Within days that grew. And grew.  And GREW.

By December 2010 it had nearly 60 members. 

Parents of kids with sensory issues, all dedicated to writing about their experiences in an effort to reach out and support other families just like theirs.

They were committed to spreading awareness of Sensory Processing Disorder as far as their words could reach.

I believe that stories are powerful. One of the most ancient, time trusted, ways to share information, tell about resources and to relay our history.

Because of this, I thought, what could be more powerful than all of these stories in once place?

And the SPDBN was born.

This is your personal invitation - from me to you - to please join me at home of the new SPD Blogger Network, http://www.spdbloggernetwork.com/. 

New daily posts begin on February 1, 2011, from over 70 contributors already registered to contribute from all over the world.  Humor, insight, inspiration and advice from parents who have been there - done that.  Also, reviews, giveaways and interviews from professionals in the field of Sensory Processing.  You don't want to miss this!

Show your support by contributing (very easy!) and by following along.  You can follow via RSS or email, and connect on Twitter and Facebook. 

Also check out the newsletter, which will boast a recap of the month's most popular posts, as well as a "SPD Blogger of the Month" interview and much more.

The more people who join - the more stories we tell - the further that awareness travels. 

Please share the new SPDBN with your followers, 'fans', friends and family.  Blog about it.  Post about it.  Tweet about it.  Spread the word!

The SPD Blogger Network
Sensational Chaos.  Sensational Joys.  Sensational Lives.

What story will you tell?

Hartley

Best Piece of SPD Advice by Patty

Guest post by contributor Patty Porch of Pancakes Gone Awry.

**********


There have been times as a parent when I have wished for a T-shirt that says something like the following: "No advice wanted."

OR

"Advise me at your own peril."

OR

"Warning: Any more advice may make my head explode!

Most parents receive lots of advice from other people. Parents of kids with special needs, however, often feel completely flooded with all the suggestions professionals, doctors, teachers, family members, and friends provide on an almost constant basis.

I know I have, and at times it gets more than a little annoying, especially when the advice is unsolicited or from someone who doesn't understand SPD. Worse still is when the advice comes from a perfect stranger.

Despite my sometimes defensive attitude towards advice, I have received some over the years that has proven quite valuable.

Hands down, the best piece of SPD parenting advice I have ever received came from my mother, a woman who, until my nephew and son were diagnosed, hadn't ever even heard of Sensory Processing Disorder. Still, she is supremely supportive and seems to have some really good SPD instincts.

And the Winners Are... First Annual SPD Blogger Awards

After a staggering 600 votes, we officially have winners!

Best announcer voice (eh, hem...)...

And the Nominees Are.... (Voting!)

VOTE NOW

The nominations are in, after reading through all of the incredible comments and visiting each of the blogs, we are ready to start voting.  And, let me say, I don't envy you at all - this is an incredible line up of blogs! 

So, without further adeiu, the nominees are:

Awesome:

Pancakes Gone Awry
Our Life With SPD
Mommy Melee
Welcome to Normal
I Cry, Therefore I am
Stepping on Cheerios
Kid Companions

Inspirational:

Try Defying Gravity
The Gift
Brotherly Love
Comfort in the Midst of Chaos

Humorous:

I’m Just That Way
Stark.Raving.Mad.Mommy
Nobody But Yourself
Our Little Tongginator
She’s Always Write

Resource:

Our Journey Thru Autism
A Bipolar Daughter
Help! SOS for Parents
Eide Neuroloearning Blog
The Motor Story
Creative Learning Fun

Newbie:

The Next Steps
Hello.World.
Homeschooling Nate
Raising Ryan
Raccoon School
The Simile of Autism and Snowflakes
The Trials of Living with SPD

(If your blog is on this list and you have not received an email from me, please email me now.)

Official Voting Rules:

1. You may solicit votes for yourself, but you may not offer giveaways or entries into a giveaway for a vote (no bribing).
2.  You may vote twice each day until voting ends (January 22nd, 2011 at Midnight PST).

VOTE NOW

Let the voting begin!
H

The First Annual SPD Blogger Awards! *Nominations*

That's right - music has the Grammy's and movies have the Oscars - and us SPD writers now have...

The SPD Blogger Awards!!

I am giving out awards for blogs and bloggers who's selfless chronicling of their day to day chaos raising a child with Sensory Processing Disorder inspires, educates and just flat out makes us laugh - and you could win!

Here's how it will go down:

January 10 - 16, Nominations
January 17 - 23, Voting
January 25, WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Are you hooked to a great blog about SPD?  Have you found a blog that gives good advice, makes you laugh, inspires you to keep going?  Nominate them!

Nomination Categories:

Awesome Parent Blog: This all around AWESOME blog must be written by the parent/caregiver of a child with SPD.

Inspirational Parent Blog:  This INSPIRATIONAL blog must be written by the parent/caregiver of a child with SPD.

Humorous Parent Blog:  This HYSTERICAL blog must be written by the parent/caregiver of a child with SPD.

New Blog:  This brand new blog (less than 1 year old) must be written by the parent/caregiver of a child with SPD.

Resource Blog:  This blog can be written by a professional, therapist or parent, individual or group, aimed at giving advice or guidance to parents raising kids with SPD.

It is simple to nominate a blog/blogger, just fill out the form located here, and we are in business.  You can nominate yourself, or someone else, and you can nominate as many blogs as you want!  Please fill out the form for EACH blog you are nominating (one blog per form). 

Once we have all of the nominations in, I will post a voting form here on HLW3B that will be open for YOU to VOTE the week of January 17th - 23rd.  Once the voting is over, and tallied, I will announce the winners here on the 25th of January. 

Please show your favorite SPD blogger some love and nominate him/her!  This is a great way to THANK them for sharing their story and inspiring others!  Now click and get typing!

NOMINATION FORM HERE

Sensational Links

My new "Sensational Links" post series is inspired by the blog No Hands But Ours, where they list the best articles the special needs adoption blogosphere has to offer each week.  What a genius idea.  So, logically, I am copying it.

Each week, hopefully, I am going to collect the best from the SPD Blogging Community and leave it here for you to check out.  Cool, huh?  If I don't follow your blog, but you think you have something that would be perfect for this, please feel free to email me the link.

Enjoy!

Sensational Links for 8/13/10
(odd that we are staring on Friday the 13th...)

Second Fiddle, from SPD mom Caitlin Wray at Welcome to Normal:  A great post about how her high needs child (Me First) always takes priority over her toddler (Me Too), with tips to help you focus on your Me Too kids.

Car Wash, from SPD mom Martianne Stranger at Training Happy Hearts:  How to turn washing your car into a multi-sensory activity for the whole family.

Now There are Two, from SPD mom (x2) Chynna Laird at The Gift Blog: Getting the SPD diagnosis for her second child.

Road Tripping Adventures, from SPD mom Patty O. at Pancakes Gone Awry:   Her hysterical account of her family's regular 3 hour road trip to thearpy - including a horrifically long tram ride.

These Dreams, from SPD mom Alysia Butler at Defying Gravity: When her dream shows her how hard life could be, she is reminded to stay in the moment with her son.

SPD Blog Carnival -- Sensory Fun Photos

It is that time again!  Please join the SPD Blog Carnival by posting your link below -- our theme for July is "Sensory Fun Photos".

They say a picture is worth a thousand words -- so save yourself the typing, and link up your favorite photo of your sensational summer fun.  Did you have a mud fight?  Did your child jump in the sprinkler or practice balancing along the curbs?  Painting?  Sand castles?  Whatever sensory fun (or trouble!) your kids have gotten into -- post it here!

This is an amazing way to take the best of the best from the SPD Blogging Community every month, and publish it in one location -- kind of like having a monthly 'magazine' that people can come to and read. Everyone of you that reads this (even you lurkers!) can participate -- you DO NOT have to be part of the SPD Blogger Network to participate in the carnival. (But, if you blog about SPD, please consider joining because we would love to have you!)

I also encourage you to check out the other links posted here -- explore other blogs and learn more about what the SPD journey is like for families all over -- we have many new SPDBN members to learn from!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Please share this post on your Facebook and on Twitter -- and any where else you can reach more SPD parents!

Now link up!
H

SPD Blog Carnival -- SPD Dads

It's SPD Blog Carnival time!

June's theme is “SPD Dads” – whatever you want to blog about that fits into this, a rant, a rave, a wordless photo, a tribute for Father’s Day, a post about your child’s biological dad/adoptive dad, a post about how your father/husband relates to your kid, advice on how dads can be more connected to their kiddos – whatever you want to say about Fathers, now's your chance.

And I would love to have all of you join! This is an amazing way to take the best of the best from the SPD Blogging Community every month, and publish it in one location -- kind of like having a monthly 'magazine' that people can come to and read. Everyone of you that reads this (even you lurkers!) can participate -- you DO NOT have to be part of the SPD Blogger Network to participate in the carnival. (But, if you blog about SPD, please consider joining because we would love to have you!)

I also encourage you to check out the other links posted here -- explore other blogs and learn more about what the SPD journey is like for families all over -- we have many new SPDBN members to learn from!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Please share this post on your facebook and on twitter -- and any where else you can reach more SPD parents!

Now link up!

H

SPD Blog Carnival

Since starting the SPD Blogger Network last month, I am happy to report we have 19 members and counting! 

These bloggers are providing the SPD community something very special:  Personal connection and emotional support -- not to mention resources sharing and practical solutions to living with a SPD kiddo!  Reading about someone else's journey gives us all those "That is just like my life!" moments and allows us to feel less isolated, and more connected to those around us.

To honor the start of the SPD Blogger Network, which began on April 30th, 2010, I am going to begin a SPD Blog Carnival at the end of each month.

If you don't know what a Blog Carnival is, click here to read the definition.

I would love to have all of you join!  This is an amazing way to take the best of the best from the SPD Blogging Community every month, and publish it in one location -- kind of like having a monthly 'magazine' that people can come to and read.  Everyone of you that reads this (even you lurkers!) can participate -- you DO NOT have to be part of the SPD Blogger Network to participate in the carnival.  (But, if you blog about SPD, please consider joining because we would love to have you!)

This month's theme is Sensory Processing Disorder.  Anything you have posted, in the last month, whether that be tips, an interview, a rant, or an emotional triumph -- whatever it is that you would like to share about SPD please leave your link below.  The permanent link to this post, and all monthly Carnivals will be kept under the "SPD Blog Carnivals" tab at the top.

I also encourage you to check out the other links -- explore other blogs and learn more about what the SPD journey is like for families all over the world!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Now link up!
H