| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| MotherLodeBeth |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 4:40:03 PM
Have a young neighbor in third grade who has ADD, and sadly has been picked on my a few neighbor kids. He lives with his grandmother and there is something wonderful about him, which reminds me some of my late husband. His grandmother likes me, and has allowed him to help me with my chickens and vegetable garden, which he loves so much. So when I got new chicks we was so excited. Even more so when I bought one and named it after him. Jordan. He gets home from school and comes over to check on her. And now I am getting him involved with 4 H and think this chick may be a wonderful gift for him because she can be his project. She will live here.
He is so gentle with her and will sit with her and talk to her and tell her things that literally make my eyes tear up. Thursday he told me that I was the only person who told him he was a good kid, great help etc. I think I probably just say it more than most.
This chick is the key. It has allowed me to reassure him that he has nothing to fear by telling me the truth, even if its not what I would like to hear. I told him this as I handed the chick to him to hold. It was as if handing him the chick and telling him that was reassuring.
Anyone else have a similar situation where you have seen an animal being a healing tool in some way?
~I am the best of France and California~ |
| 19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Lin |
Posted - May 21 2010 : 9:03:54 PM
Mary, how wonderful to have found the horse riding lesssons which were so healing for you! God gives us such a strong message through His creatures and when they touch our lives, we are truly changed forever! Thank you for sharing! Hugs, Lin
"Our beautiful earth is worth saving"!! |
| MaryLD |
Posted - May 21 2010 : 6:28:10 PM
I love all these stories. The happy outcomes take away the sadness that underlines them all. When my husband died, all I could feel was pain or numb. I joined a group riding lesson for moms. I could feel and smell the horses, which gave me hope. They took me down a whole new path that totally changed my life. I would love to volunteer in a program that takes troubled kids horse camping.
I loved hearing about the girls who became a nurse or went to grad school.
So wonderful.
~ Mary LD
Haflingers- You can't have just one!
( I'm just one short of a drill team!) |
| Lin |
Posted - May 21 2010 : 1:49:01 PM
Thank you Sherry for your kind words. Autism/Aspergers is a gift and my daughter has taught me that. Unfortunately, they all go through alot of bullying and rejection before they "find their way". Animals are their path to peace, and understandably so...what on this earth is more pure and accepting than an animal!!I don't have a website, however don't hesitate to email me at any time! Hugs and Smiles, Lin
"Our beautiful earth is worth saving"!! |
| sherrye |
Posted - May 21 2010 : 1:08:50 PM
oh i am so moved by your stories. what fine things for me to learn from woman out there living it. i just never knew really until MJ about autism and other challenges kids and parents have. my hat is off and i am standing in awe of what you have done with our children. what a fine thing. do you have a web site lin?
beth that is so wonderful that you knew horses would be a good thing for your daughter. i hear how dedicated you are to supporting her interests and loves. the boy in the movie The Horse Boy without help after being in the wild with the animals...could put them in catagories in their own boxes. no one had ever said or done anything to bring hom to that conclusion. it was his thoughts and mind sorting. they were thrilled. i hear that in your posts. good job mom happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| Lin |
Posted - May 21 2010 : 12:29:00 PM
Oh wow, Beth, does this whole conversation ever strike home! My youngest daughter, who is 13, is absolutely the most amazing girl and has incredible insight, is bright, beautiful, kind and good and just happens to have Aspergers! Her passion is animals and helping our earth and that has been the case since she was 3 years old. She has spent the past 10 years "fine tuning" her passion!! Her goal is to go to college to get her degree in Animal Ecology/Zoology and there's no doubt in my mind that she'll succeed. She has gone through alot of teasing and rejection and her resolve is always contact with animals, in one way or another. We have 3 rescue kitties at home, she rides horses, we have access to many dogs, etc, etc. We spend time at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha and she is old enough now to help the Zoologists with the cheetahs and giraffes. (All Middle Schools and High Schools in our town, now have Autism Programs within.....my daughter is mainstreamed, but has the safety nets when needed. Imagine you know that the numbers of Autism diagnosis is now 1 in every 90 children. Alarming!) When my daughter is on overload, she can spend hours at home play-acting with her stuffed animals and character animals. The beauty of how she finds peace is absolutely inspirational. And the end result is always the same...........animals are non-judgmental, accepting, loving and will always understand and be there for you if you are kind to them! Thus the healing goes full circle!! Email me if you ever want to chat and thank you for sharing your story. You two have found each other for a very obvious reason and the animals are their to reaffirm the true blessings! Hugs and Smiles, Lin
"Our beautiful earth is worth saving"!! |
| Faransgirl |
Posted - May 21 2010 : 08:38:37 AM
I use to work in a program where teenage girls go to work with horses. They can work in the program from the time they are twelve until they are 18 at which time they can come and work as adult volunteers. We had two sister come several years ago. They were both totally out of control. Drug, drinking, both had had abortions, not coming home at night, the whole thing. Their Mom knew they needed something and she found out about our program. She didn't have much money and our program was very reasonable so she told them that if they would come she would start buying the cigeretts for them. It was all she could think of to get them to come. They came and it took some time working with the horse but they both loved being with the horses. The girls would come and spend from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon at the camp. While they were there they lived with other girls 12 to 18, no smoking, no drinking and in bed by 10. Gates were locked and we were out in the country. The first year was hard on those girls but they stayed and now the oldest one is a nurse and the youngest one is in graduate school. On their graduation day from our program, they both told me that those horses saved their lives. Without them they said they knew they would be dead by that time. They said without the hoses in that program they would never have come back after the first weekend but that they loved the peace the horses brought into their chaotic lives.
Farmgirl Sister 572
When manure happens just say "WOO HOO Fertilizer". |
| sherrye |
Posted - May 21 2010 : 07:04:58 AM
has anyone here seen the movie The Horse Boy? the boy is autistic. his parents take him on a journey to meet the shaman. his son has a quality i have seen in some other kids who have special needs. he is noisy and restless, then when he gets on the horses back he becomes sooo quiet. it is a good movie. the love we all have for our kids is shown. they go to the ends of the earth to try to help their son. beautiful film sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| katalind |
Posted - May 21 2010 : 05:09:23 AM
What a wonderful story. Animals are wonderful healers. |
| grace gerber |
Posted - May 10 2010 : 5:04:15 PM
I wished we knew of more folks such as yourself Beth. My oldest son is ADHD and when my husband passed we purchased this farm. My two sons learned the wonderous joy of taking care of those who need you the most... Everything from the sickest chicks, bottle lambs and goats, fixing broken limbs to even giving a C section to a ewe who would have otherwised died... He learned lessons that showed him campassion is the biggest gift you can give. Even when his peers whould be horrible to him he understood that even in the worst of times we can extend love, help and campassion to others. He now is a very successful man with a new son who he shows such love, compassion and joy for - I give those animals great credit to building the man he is... I thank God for wonderful folks such as yourself - keep it up.
Hugs to all
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| Ingrid |
Posted - May 09 2010 : 09:05:34 AM
That is beautiful. When days get tough for him he will know who he can come to and put his day into perspective.
What children need the most is for someone to believe in them and that is what this child is getting from you.
A thousand good wishes to you and this little boy whom you have befriended.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
| amomfly |
Posted - May 08 2010 : 6:26:59 PM
I am touched by your stories!
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - May 08 2010 : 3:55:27 PM
Angela, i have a book that was given to me when my Roger was diagnoced, it is called "Last Child in the Woods, saving our children from nature-deficit disorder", by Richard Louv. I highly recommend this book to all with kids.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| sherrye |
Posted - May 08 2010 : 11:57:38 AM
excellent wisdom sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| natesgirl |
Posted - May 08 2010 : 10:51:49 AM
I read an article many years ago obout 'NADD', Nature Attenion Deficit Disorder'. It talked about using animals, planting, and the natural cycle of things to resolve and even cure ADD. It has worked for my nephew who is very mildly autistic and for an OCD cousin. I have been using it to help my middle daughter ease through the early stages of puberty as well. The cycles of this world are meant to be followed not fought, and it's amazing what they can do!
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
| sherrye |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 8:57:11 PM
oh my what a wonderful mix of woman we are. oh what beautiful stories. i am inspired and humbled
we have a horse here in central oregon. he lives at a ranch called healing reins.spelling? anyway this man had taken him out to the hills. shot him in the head. i think three times. one was an eye shot. left him for dead. he lived. he was found by a hiker. they saved him. he is famous for the kind warm easy love he shares with all the folks that need help. people come from afar to meet heroe. he has unconditional love for everyone. kids are drawn to him. they hear his story and his pain. yet he is so kind.
my friends son has been diagnosed with adhd and touretes spelling? the young boy is very angry, i recommended healing reins. they go next week for interview. i am hopeful for him. he has ask me if he can work here and help me. now i will for sure say yes. the answers come dont they happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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| MaryLD |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 8:42:50 PM
These stories are all so wonderful. I would never have recovered from the loss of my husband without surrounding myself with a very large number of mainly rescued animals.
~ Mary LD
Haflingers- You can't have just one!
( I'm just one short of a drill team!) |
| MotherLodeBeth |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 5:35:04 PM
quote:
Originally posted by 1badmamawolf
My oldest grandson is blind and autistic, loud noises and strange voices would cause him to panic and start screaming. He always loved music, as long as it was on his terms, sometimes loud and sometimes really soft. My D-in-law was at the park with him one morning (they live in Oregon)and some teens were playing music very loud and Roger started screaming "NO" and "QUIET", which in turn the teens started screaming back at him and turned the music up. My D-in-law was trying to calm him, with not much luck, when a tiny puppy showed up from no where and sat next to him and started howling for all she was worth. Roger immediatly got very still and quiet himself, leaning over towards the sound. The pup stopped her howling crawled into his lap, curled up and went to sleep, with him cradleing her in his lap. They never found out where she came from, and yes, they did keep her (shes a whole 7 lbs of cute mutt), and when ever Roger gets upset she howls, he quiets and life is wonderful.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children"
Ok, I am NOW crying. Being aspergers, I so understand. Thank you.
~Beth~
~I am the best of France and California~ |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 5:29:43 PM
My oldest grandson is blind and autistic, loud noises and strange voices would cause him to panic and start screaming. He always loved music, as long as it was on his terms, sometimes loud and sometimes really soft. My D-in-law was at the park with him one morning (they live in Oregon)and some teens were playing music very loud and Roger started screaming "NO" and "QUIET", which in turn the teens started screaming back at him and turned the music up. My D-in-law was trying to calm him, with not much luck, when a tiny puppy showed up from no where and sat next to him and started howling for all she was worth. Roger immediatly got very still and quiet himself, leaning over towards the sound. The pup stopped her howling crawled into his lap, curled up and went to sleep, with him cradleing her in his lap. They never found out where she came from, and yes, they did keep her (shes a whole 7 lbs of cute mutt), and when ever Roger gets upset she howls, he quiets and life is wonderful.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 4:54:40 PM
What a wonderful thing for you to do Beth! I have heard many stories of animals healing the sick, elderly and challenged. Sometimes it just takes an animal and unconditional love to bring out the best in people.
Why not go out on a limb, that's where all the fruit is! "Mark Twain"
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922 |
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