mod momcarmen norman age33,fargo.nd

icy roads; the ice always wins in that battle.

my best advice to my younger self… life is all about how you handle my easy meal of choice… my guilty pleasure is… finding a cheap airfare. I love traveling, especially when I find a great deal. my favorite TV family of all time…

‘Plan B.’ I’ve always had many hopes, dreams and goals, which have helped me get a long way, but sometimes other people make decisions for you that are out of your control. Embrace Plan B, because it might just end up being better in the end.

I really enjoy cooking, but when I’m tired and we are hungry it’s a scrambled egg night.

I really loved the Walkers from “Brothers & Sisters,” but since the show was canceled I’m a big fan of the Bravermans in “Parenthood.” the best mistake i’ve made… taking my son, who really wanted a dog, into the pet store and letting him hold one. Once you hold the puppy, there is no turning back! Our dog, Louie, has been a wonderful addition to our family. being a single mom gives me a greater appreciation for… education, work ethic and career. It was never a question, my parents were going to make sure I took all of these things seriously, but in hindsight I am so thankful l embraced them early on. It’s these things that provide me the freedom I have today. one thing i hate to run out of… laundry or dish-washer detergent, it throws everything off. my idea of a good date… is getting dressed up for a fun dinner out and good conversation that doesn’t end. favorite everyday moment… every night, before our bedtime prayers, my son and I talk about our “rose” and “thorn” of the day. I love to hear his take on the day. I learn a lot, too! i’m passionate about… so many things! First, my son [don’t make this mama bear come out and find you], voting [you won the genetic lottery to be born in this country, don’t take it for granted], politics [remember, I named my son Nixon], flu shots [no matter how much you try to tell me, flu shots do not give you the flu! Flu shots save lives, yours and the people around you! Get one!] Life jackets [don’t show me a picture of your kid, who doesn’t know how to swim, on a boat in the middle of the lake without a life jacket; I get mad!]…okay, stepping off my soap box, but I could keep going. the person who has had the greatest influence on me… my son. His well-being is my litmus test for every decision I make. the two blog sites i visit daily are… thepinkepost.com and momastery.com. Both blogs are very honest, thought provoking and inspiring. story by | parent professional learning network

As parents we all want to connect with other parents who have the same experiences and offer varying perspectives. We also want to keep learning about how to be a better parent and foster the greatness that is inside all our kiddos. Did you know there is a group in our community focused on bringing together parents of special needs kiddos and the professionals who work with them daily? There is and it’s called the Parent Professional Learning Network [PPLN].

what is PPLN?

PPLN is a group of parents and professionals [teachers, therapists, interventionists, and support staff] who meet to connect with other parents and professionals to learn pertinent information regarding special needs children/adults. If you have, care for, or work with a child who has special needs, PPLN will be a great resource for you.

why did PPLN start?

The idea evolved following a three-day workshop presented by Dr. Barry Prizant, who has developed a very extensive program for children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD]. His SCERTS model has three primary areas; one includes finding ways to bring families and professionals together to support the children on the spectrum. We PPLN felt those needs are not unique to children with ASD; therefore, we never limited the group to families and professionals who deal with a specific disability, but opened it up for all to learn from the diversity of the needs.

what can participants expect?

The meetings are informal, with a presenter, a discussion that follows, and then we visit and discuss ideas and thoughts as well as future goals over coffee and treats at the end. This group is very interactive, and we make decisions together about what we want to learn about and topics that we want to discuss. In past meetings we have addressed the IEP Individual Education Plan process, bills being discussed in Bismarck or Washington that directly affect the lives of the special needs population, epilepsy training, and the Affordable Care Act. We all have good ideas and together we can make a difference, but only if we participated in the process.

what are the goals for PPLN?

We want participants to learn more about issues and topics that concern them so that they can be better at what they do, whether it is a parent helping a child with special needs cope with sensory needs, or a professional wanting to learn new information outside his area of expertise. Long term, our goal for PPLN is to develop a group of people who are interested in problem-solving issues that parents and professionals deal with as they surface. The hope is that the group will learn to seek information, do the research, and work together to find solutions to improve the lives of people with special needs. when and where does the group meet?

Meetings occur the first Monday of the month, September through May. This last year we met at Discovery Middle School and this summer we will be asking the group for feedback on meeting location and times for the coming year. Those interested in meeting information can visit our Facebook page for up-to-date details.

The importance of giving parents and other professionals access to tools and information which isn’t readily available or easily accessible in normal situations is why PPLN was started. PPLN will grow and flourish with the addition of more amazing families and professionals, so remember to check back for the details on the next meeting in September.

Parent Professional Learning Network

Email: ParentProfLearningNetwork@gmail.com or Facebook: search Parent Professional Learning Network Visit: Family Voices of ND [fvnd.org] under Parent Navigator Teams, Fargo