Military Special Needs Network
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August is Stacked with Silly
If you missed it last time around, visit http://www.extremeparenthood.com/ to get caught up on the Special Needs Ryan Gosling meme link up.
As we mentioned in our call for Snapshots of Success on our Facebook page, this has been a rough month for military special needs families. We’ve waged war against Tricare and their deceitful ABA policy changes, as well as fought against a new policy to no longer cover compounded prescriptions. I feel as though there is a dark cloud hanging over my laptop – hell, my whole house! As I was explaining to a friend recently, I can’t hang on to this anger, this frustrating feeling of impotence, for any longer.
Something has to give: my sanity must give way, or the clouds must clear. And, since I value what precious little sanity that remains, I set off to the wonderful world of Google to clear my blues. What I found was that in just a day or so, August is full of ridiculous reasons to smile. I have picked ten August holidays to renew my spirit. Maybe you’ll join me in celebrating – or, God knows, you have a ton of holidays next month to chose for your own foray into the ridiculous.
The Blog Holiday Insights has broken everything down from monthly and weekly celebrations, to the daily holidays. So much ridiculousness to chose from…
For example, August is, apparently, Romance Awareness Month. Were you aware of that? I’m aware of the fact that “romance” and special needs parents aren’t usually included in the same blog, except to say, “Romance? ROMANCE? Ain’t no one got time for that?!” But, upon further consideration, this is perfect. August – and this is a heads up, happy, HAPPY breaking news bulletin – brings about the return of the Special Needs Ryan Gosling link up over at Adventures in Extreme Parenthood with Sunday Stilwell. Stay tuned for MSNN’s RyGos memes. Let’s see if HE can’t re-ignite the fire in our loins (brown chicken brown cow)!
August is also National Golf Month. Likely our spouses had best not celebrate that too hardy, else Romance Awareness Month will pass your house by. And, really, unless your spouse is taking the kids golfing so you can sleep? Bringing golf clubs around a sleep-deprived, angry special needs mom might result in spousal injury. I’m just sayin’.
Looking to let the one or two real life friends who haven’t dumped you by now know how you feel about them? Well, the third week of August is Friendship Week. Or, if you are a friend to a special needs family, God, it would be so appreciated if you would bring a casserole, order pizza for us one night, or sweet Jesus, offer to babysit the kids for two hours so I can nap. Please? Buehler?
We’ve got Sister’s Day on August Fourth. Happy Day, Sis.
Wiggle Your Toes Day on August Sixth.
Then on August Eighth, things get a bit creepy with Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day. Yup. That one’s for real. Allrecipes.com has some ideas about that, if you’re interested. If you are my neighbor or friend, however, don’t get any ideas. Unless they involve chocolate. Or Ryan Gosling.
Marshmallows, Just Because, and Forgiveness all get in on the merrymaking. Wow – all of those these things sound pretty doggone good, don’t they?
On a just ever so slightly more serious note, August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Not going to go into it either way on this blog (see above about keeping my sanity). As if you weren’t fully aware, either way, of the benefits (or damage caused by) of vaccines, make note. Perhaps walk around slapping band aids on unsuspecting adults. If something less violence-provoking is more your style, the National Health Institute has put together a wonderfully helpful brochure with suggested methods of raising awareness: may I suggest sending the eCard to all your friends? Or tweeting reminders to your entire feed? Should start some very interesting conversations…
Kelly is a Navy wife and mother to three children; 17 year old NT, 6 and 5 year old boys on the spectrum; and, a perfect-to-her beautiful baby girl. Kelly has been featured in a collection of essays on special needs children entitled, “Wit and Wisdom From the Parents of Special Needs Children.” She can also be found at MyTidewaterMoms.com, and as a guest blogger throughout the blog-iverse. In her spare time, Kelly is the Blog Master for, and member of, the Military Special Needs Network Executive Board. You can contact her via email at KellyHafer@MilitarySpecialNeedsNetwork.com.
5 comments on “August is Stacked with Silly”
Comments, discussion and insight always welcome!
Military Special Needs Network 
Thank you Kelly for the shout out for Special Needs Ryan Gosling. Also, I had no idea it was National Immunization Awareness Month….I think Ryan might have something to say about that. 😉
I can’t think of anyone else I’d like to talk about vaccinations with, lol.Lets jut make sure he’s shirtless in that one, mkay?
I just found you, this today. I am a divorced Army wife. My son was diagnosed when I was an Army wife. I wish I knew such people supports years ago, yet the kids and I are doing well today in the civilian world. I think this site/support/collective voice is wonderful!
Hey Stephanie!
I am so very glad you found us. Thank you for commenting and letting us know that you are here. Please let us know how we can support you and your son. And, standby for the RyGos memes! ❤
-Kelly
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