Sensory… applies to all of us. *review*

The best thing about being a blogger? The people we meet.

I happened to meet an author who struck me as pure genius this past summer. Carolyn began to describe her upcoming book release and I stopped her: “Sensory kids? Is that what you said?”

“Yes.” She replied.

I was hooked. I had to get my hands (and eyes) on The Sensory Child Gets Organized. I have a friend with a severely afflicted child… I mean a child who has never had a bath since the age of 2 (sponge baths everyday, but cannot sit in water). I also know of families who are dumbfounded when their child doesn’t fit into a box that the DSM has deemed a diagnosis, and thus are left in an undiagnosed (and thus untreatable) state.

There are a number of ways that one can do a review… for me, I like to take on products that  I can apply or use in my own life. Carolyn sent me a [free] copy of her book, and although I don’t have a personal issue with sensory, I read Carolyn’s book from cover to cover, highlighting, making notations and referencing what she had said for friends that had not gotten wind of her methods. There were tears. From both sides of the conversation. Relieved parents and kids who were getting homework done and being more active members of the household.

Me? I learned how being organized and getting on the same level as my child will help both of us be more productive.

You don’t have to have difficulty with sensory, attention deficit, anxiety or depression to gain a wealth of knowledge from this book. You need to be human and want to learn and grow. Personally, I learned to live with my sadness and OCD issues. Since reading, I am learning how I can curb certain impulses by working with myself, and not against my instincts.

Powerful stuff. Truly. And one of the best aspects of the book is that it is to-the-point. I spent a weekend reading and weeks working on myself.

Here are some things that are highlighted in the text, and will improve your life- whether you have children or not- that I’ve personally applied to mine:

• Learning to juggle… in the book, techniques are given that offer a parent new ways to track triggers and behavior. As a mom, I applied this to difficult times in our day, and figuring out how to alleviate some of the triggers to the midday struggles.
• Designing your space to your child, not you… in the book, this is specifically for your family; in life, this applies to all of those looking to become more productive in their environment. My husband and I applied this idea to rearranging our office to a different room, allowing Addie access to her toys and giving me time to work for a time while she’s awake during the day.
• The wall of success: The power of positive thinking… THIS! No matter how many times we try to reiterate this thought to ourselves, we seem to forget. This section of the book was a perfect reminder to reward ourselves when we succeed- the reminder is motivation to do more, recreate our actions and remember our strengths, even when we feel so weak.
• Zoning… for our children, it is important to create the right space for different activities and emotions. I find this to be SO true for myself, as well. Late nights editing, blogging, and researching in the same room filled with my books- where I want to relax and read, always leaves my eyes wandering from paper to computer. Now, separate spaces with more appropriate furniture and even wall color to enhance creative thinking (ORANGE!) in the office and subtle relaxation (sunshine yellow) in the “reading room”, have given me more useable hours in my life to work, thus relax.
• Breaks… in the book, planned breaks give sensory kids a built in time to step away. For me, I have taken the time to step away during naps- instead of working, I take the time to make tea, or look through old photos, connect with  family, read, or nap myself. When Dave gets home from work, I sit and watch them together, no longer interfering with their tickles and games. Being a spectator to their bonding rejuvenates me and gives me a joy I didn’t have when I felt like I needed to be “on” all the time.

These five things were parts of my life that were working before, but now work for me. Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it?

Pick up your copy HERE!

I received a copy of this book in return for my review. My opinion is my own, and never swayed by outside sources.