by jphilo | Jun 1, 2016 | Family
Yesterday’s post listed 10 ways things have changed at our house since welcoming our daughter, son-in-law, their 1-year-old, and a dog in our house. Despite all the changes, the kitchen is open and serving meals. However, the cooks haven’t had much time to try new recipes yet.
So instead of a new recipe, today’s post showcases a DIY project that involved every adult in the house–the creation of a whiteboard calendar modeled along the lines of the Mom’s Special Calendar I used for years when the kids were home. The new 3 x 4 foot calendar hangs on a wall in the kitchen and has columns for the date, every adult in the house, and an extra column currently being used for menu planning. It cost about $30 dollars, not counting the dry erase markers. Here’s how we did it.
Diy Family Calendar Materials List
1 3 x 4 food sheet of white panel board, available at home improvement stores
1 6 foot and 1 10 foot piece of wooden molding
black permanent markers
dry erase markers
screws
wood tacks
How to Make the Calendar
- Clean the panel board thoroughly with window cleaner and a microfiber rag.
- Cut the 6 foot molding in to two 3 foot, 1 inch lengths.
- Cut the 10 foot molding in to two 4 foot, 1 inch lengths.
- Miter the ends of all 4 moldings.
- Attach the molding to the back of the white board with wood tacks.
- Use a yardstick and dry erase marker to measure and mark lines and columns on the white board. (The board pictured has 32 rows, the top one taller than the others. It has 6 columns, the first one wider than the others.)
- Use a straight edge and permanent marker to draw lines and columns. Work carefully to avoid smudging.
- Use a stud finder and mark their locations.
- Drill holes in the studs.
- Mark the location of the holes on the top end of the molding and drill holes in the molding.
- Line the molding holes to the stud holes and screw in tightly.
- Use the dry erase marker to write the months, names, and anything else that changes from month to month.
by jphilo | Mar 2, 2015 | Book Updates
Since the beginning of December, I feel like I’ve been juggling knives.
Sharp knives.
Recently honed to a razor’s edge.
And all because I was plunked into the role of primary caregiver for the first time in a long time.
Though I was caring for an aging parent–first in our home, then transitioning her to assisted living, and now advocating for her with insurance companies, with a little break thrown in caring for a toddler grandchild when a new baby came along–the experience was a reminder of what parents of kids with special needs live with day by day.
Parents of kids with special needs are constantly juggling knives that
gouge finances,
skewer free time,
turn any attempts into creating a routine into chopped liver,
and shred caregiving paperwork into teeny, tiny bits.
A New Caregiver’s Notebook Give Away
My caregiving duties are easing up, but if you’re the parent of a child with special needs or caring for an aging parent, your duties are as demanding as ever. That’s why Different Dream is giving away a copy my The Caregiver’s Notebook. Why? Because the notebook I filled out for Mom was a way to sheath the mess of knives I was juggling. And it sheathed them better than I ever imagined it would while writing the notebook. Especially after my Caregiver’s Notebook epic fail, which tells the story of why I now carry Mom’s copy with me to e-v-e-r-y appointment she has.
To enter the contest, visit Gravel Road’s sister site, DifferentDream.com.
by jphilo | Dec 5, 2014 | How to Use the Caregiver's Notebook, Vlog Series
The Caregiver’s Notebook vlog series is here today with episode 5. The Caregiver’s Notebook: An Organizational Tool and Support to Help You Care for Others was officially released by Discovery House Publishers on November 1, 2014. This series began shortly thereafter to provide extra support to caregivers. If you’d like to access previous episodes in the series, type “The Caregiver’s Notebook Vlog Series” in the search box at the top of the page.
Who Should Watch The Caregiver’s Notebook Vlog Series?
This series and the notebook were both designed for caregivers in many different situations. You may be an adult child caring for aging parents, a spouse caring for a husband or wife, or you may be parents caring for babies, toddlers, young children, and teens with special needs. Or, your caregiving situation may be that of a parent caring for adult children with special needs or for typical babies from birth through age 3. Or you may be senior citizens in good health who want to have your affairs in order for whoever will care for you in case of sudden illness or accident.
The Caregiver’s Notebook Vlog Series Episode 5: Notes about Notes
This episode explains how caregivers can use the lined note pages. Now, you might not think there’s much to say about blank pages in the notebooks. But those blank pages are just what you may need to fill in the blanks of your caregiving situation.
So click this link to watch episode 5 at Gravel Road’s sister site, DifferentDream.com.
by jphilo | Nov 28, 2014 | How to Use the Caregiver's Notebook, Vlog Series
Hello again and welcome to episode 4 in The Caregiver’s Notebook vlog series. The Caregiver’s Notebook: An Organizational Tool and Support to Help You Care for Others was officially released by Discovery House Publishers on November 1, 2014. This series began a week later as a way to offer support to caregivers and relieve their stress. To access previous episodes in the series, type “The Caregiver’s Notebook Vlog Series” in the search box at the top of the page.
What Kinds of Caregivers?
This book was designed to be used by caregivers in a variety of different situations. It works for adult children caring for aging parents, spouses caring for husbands or wives, and for parents caring for babies, toddlers, young children, and teens with special needs. It also can be used by parents caring for adult children with special needs, parents caring for typical babies from birth through age 3, and by senior citizens in good health who want to have their affairs in order for whoever will care for them in case of sudden illness or accident.
The Caregiver’s Notebook Vlog Series Episode 4: Contact Tips
In this episode, caregivers learn how to customize the contact section to keep track of family members, personal friends, professionals, organizations, and anyone else important to your loved one’s life and care. This episode shares tips about how to find and record the names and numbers of people who can quickly carry your message to doctors and other professionals. It also offers hints about how to gather contact information and who should be included as a contact.
Click here to view episode 4 on The Gravel Road’s sister site, DifferentDream.com.
by jphilo | Nov 21, 2014 | How to Use the Caregiver's Notebook, Vlog Series
The Caregiver’s Notebook vlog series is here today with episode 3 in the series. The Caregiver’s Notebook: An Organizational Tool and Support to Help You Care for Others was officially released by Discovery House Publishers on November 1, 2014. This series began a week later as a way to offer support to caregivers and relieve their stress.
What Kinds of Caregivers?
The notebook was designed to be versatile enough for a variety of caregiving scenarios. It works for adult children caring for aging parents, spouses caring for husbands or wives, and for parents caring for babies, toddlers, young children, and teens with special needs. It also can be used by parents caring for adult children with special needs, parents caring for typical babies from birth through age 3, and by senior citizens in good health who want to have their affairs in order for whoever will care for them in case of sudden illness or accident.
The Caregiver’s Notebook Vlog Series Episode 3: Calendar How Tos
In this episode, caregivers learn how to customize the 3 year calendar to best meet their caregiving needs. You’ll learn when to start using it, how to keep it up-to-date, and how to log information so it can be used as documentation for insurance companies and health care providers. With that, it’s time to watch episode 3.
Click here to view this vlog episode at my sister site DifferentDream.com.
