We celebrate it like a holiday (doesn't everyone?) After all, this is the kids favorite day, after birthdays and Christmas right? Summer vacation should be celebrated! And it is so easy to do.

As soon as the kids leave for school my preparations start. Each year varies a little on the activities but here is the general breakdown of what I do and what you can do, too!

1. Make a banner

This is simple to do but it is the first thing the kids see as the bus drives up. Many years ago, I lucked up at a garage sale and found an almost full huge roll of plain brown craft paper. I have used it now for 7 years (talk about a great investment!)

But in case you haven't been so lucky, here's a great deal to get your own! Trust me, you will love how many ways this can be used!

36" White 40 lb. Butcher Paper Roll

It needs to be long enough to hang horizontally and easy enough to write on with marker or paint without smearing. I always hang it where it can be easily seen and the fun part? The kids have to run through it to get to their party! They absolutely love this part.

2. After school party snacks

You can use what you have on hand, make little sandwiches, a pizza, cupcakes, a sundae bar (my favorite!), or a variety of some sort. I try to make it special for them, maybe something that they don't get to enjoy all that often.

3. Party drinks!



First off, uh no, I do not serve my kids alcohol. That would be a huge no-no!

What I mean by party drinks is simply their favorite Kool aid, soft drink, milkshakes, or a simple punch. But presentation is key!

I usually keep on hand those little umbrellas, or fancy toothpicks that you can pick up for cheap at any dollar store and keep them in my "party box". (More about my party box in an upcoming post later)!

Depending on what drink I'm serving, I can put cuts of fruit on the fancy toothpicks, or say, a chocolate marshmallow for a milkshake, just make it as festive as you can! One of my favorite ideas is putting the drinks in mason jars, instead our usual cups or glasses, especially with milkshakes. You can coat the sides with chocolate or caramel sauce, too.

4. Activities



I like to change this up and give a nice variety for the kids. I set up the garage or party area with several games to choose from.

This can be some of their favorite outdoor activities (bikes, chalk painting, frisbee, scooters), some homemade carnival type games (my son loves stacking cans and knocking them down), or any activity that your child loves.

This is a great time to pull out some games or things they haven't played with in a while. I always get that surprised "I forgot I had this" look when I do.

5. Party on!

Greet them off the bus with their special party drink and let the mayhem begin!

We always end our special day with a night by the fire with marshmallows and grilled burgers. If you have a pool, a night time swim (with glow sticks!) would be perfect!

And, since we live in South MS, we have plenty of mosquito spray handy and citronella torches lit!

So, here's to Summer!

May it be not too hot, not too short, and, always, may it be celebrated!

"You need to discipline better!"

"She is too smart to act like that." 

"Her bad behavior and angry attitude is a choice."

"A good spanking will cure that."

"If he can't sit still, he doesn't need to be here."

"What's wrong with him?"

These are just a few of the many phrases that I have heard through the years.

I've heard them in school, from teachers, at church, from friends, extended family, and from total strangers.

And yes, they cut to my core. I hurt for my children and fear what words they may face in the future.

If people can say these things to my face, what are they saying behind my back?

I have two beautiful children both with their own special needs or disabilities. However, in my house, we call them their super powers.

Oh yeah, that's right. We celebrate their differences.  We focus on what can be done, what can be improved upon, and we persevere. 

But this article is about perceptions.

The perception of others, a mama's perception, and a child's perception, particularly concerning my daughter, my youngest.

She is about to turn 13, full of life and laughter, and is currently being treated for high anxiety, Tourettes, and Aspergers.

She is highly intelligent, craves learning, and reads like her life depends on it.

If you were to meet her, you would probably instantly see how bright she is.  You would be surprised at her age, as well, after that first meeting. She looks older than she is and, as my mother would say, "She has an old soul."

What you can't see is how she gets a thought stuck in her head and worries about it over and over.

She worries about our tiny budget, worries over the rise in crime, worries that she can't meet expectations in school, worries about college, worries about nuclear war; the list goes on and on.

You might see a slight tick in her body movement or hear a slight vocal tic from her. But you won't see or hear the tics she tries so hard to control.

Anxiously keeping them inside, she worries if she is being annoying or if people think she's just weird.

Holding her tics inside is taxing physically and mentally on her, and fuels her anxiety even more.

The tics eventually will come out, usually when she comes in from school and can relax knowing our home is a judge free zone.

Lauren's perception of any given situation is askewed to what a "normal" person's perception may be.

Sometimes her mind plays tricks on her and attributes factors or emotions that may not actually be present or needed at the time.

With her anxiety, her mind is automatically suspicious, fearful, worrisome, and anxiously waiting for the downside in a conversation or situation.

With the Tourettes, her mind seeks out anger, conflict, accusations, and turmoil to prepare itself for the always present battle at hand.

The Aspergers brings in the first or strongest emotion it primarily encountered with the other person involved in the conversation and will not let go of that emotion lightly or easily. In other words, if Lauren's first few encounters with you were unpleasant or argumentative, then in her mind every encounter from then on will be unpleasant or argumentative.

This isn't just her opinion of a person, it is what her mind is telling her.  And, because of the aforementioned conflicts, it is very hard to distinguish between what she is perceiving to be true and what is actually true in any given conversation.

It is easy to see how difficult this may be on relationships and every day life for Lauren.

Other's Perceptions

Strangers, school personnel, new friends, or anyone who doesn't know what she struggles with may see Lauren as a difficult, argumentative, and problem child.

This is what hurts. This is what needs to change.

I was very surprised at the lack of knowledge of this, particularly at Lauren's public school in the past.

Even after my countless attempts to explain, accommodate, and mediate, the school personnel still see it only as a behavior problem that can be corrected with strict discipline.

And because of this lack of knowledge and refusal to learn on their part, I pulled her out to homeschool with only a few weeks left of that particular year.

Mama's Perception

As I said before, this article is about perceptions, that is the perception of others, a mama's perception, and a child's perception.

The last one I want to talk about is my perception, the mama's.

My children are not perfect, as I am not perfect. I get frustrated. I get depressed and exhausted and feel lost at times.

I can see their flaws.

But I can also see their beauty.

With Lauren, this is what see. A beautiful child growing up way too fast.

I see her passion for learning all she can about herself and the world.

I see her love for others and her loyalty to them.

I see her nurturing and kind disposition with animals.

I see her amazing talents on the written page, a canvas, or in her song.

Oh yes, I can see her.

So, perception can change depending on who you are, the situation you are in, and what you allow yourself to see.

Maybe if we all can open our minds and eyes just a  little wider the next time we see someone struggling with a child "throwing a tantrum".

Or, if we see a woman holding up the line at the grocery store counting her change out to buy that milk with messy hair and wrinkled clothes.

Perhaps, give a sweet smile instead of an eye roll, or just say "Good morning," and, "Have a nice day."

And maybe, just maybe, we can change the world a little at a time.