Family Archives - Page 6 of 6

Award-Winning Run for Woods Set for May 6

April 20, 2017

Langhorne, PA— Woods Services will hold its third annual Run for Woods on Saturday, May 6, 2017, with Faulkner-Ciocca Dealerships once again serving as the Presenting Sponsor. In September, the Run for Woods was presented with three awards from the Best of Bucks contest sponsored by the Courier Times: Best Fundraiser, Best Outdoor Event and Best Family Event. Last year’s event drew more than 1,000 registrants and raised more than $205,000 for educational, vocational, and recreational opportunities for the more than 675 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are served by Woods Services. Families, friends and the local community are invited to participate alongside more than 200 individuals served by Woods by running, walking, or rolling in the 5K or 1 Mile Fun Walk.

The 5K is a flat and fast route that starts on the Woods campus and takes runners, walkers, and rollers through Langhorne Manor Borough and the Borough of Langhorne, both historic districts listed on the National Register. Participants will enjoy the beautiful tree-lined shaded streets of the Boroughs before returning to Woods for the final mile of the Run. Roads will be secured to ensure the safety of all 5K participants and those participating in the 1 Mile Fun Walk will remain on the Woods campus. An awards ceremony, picnic lunch, entertainment, and Fitness Fair will follow the 5K/1 Mile Fun Walk. Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Outback Steakhouse (both located on Tillman Drive in Bensalem) will be on site cooking up their signature dishes for race participants. Desserts will be provided by Corner Bakery Café.

Online registration will remain open at www.runforwoods.org until May 3. The cost is $40 per person and discount registration options are available for children 12 and under. Registrations will also be accepted the morning of the event for $45/person. This is a family-friendly event and all participants ages 7 and up will receive a t-shirt, medal, and an individual online fundraising page with the option to create a fundraising team.

How to Take Time for Yourself: A Guide for Parents

March 9, 2015

Did you ever wonder why flight attendants instruct parents to put their oxygen masks on before assisting children? How could this be the right thing to do? Isn’t putting yourself first both selfish and bad parenting? Actually it makes perfect sense. If you place the mask on your child first, no one would be around to help him/her after you pass out. Taking the time to place the mask on first, ensures that you will have the energy to assist. The same is true of parenting your child on a daily basis.

Taking care of ourselves, as parents, prevents us from getting burnt out. It allows us time to re-group, rest and most importantly, have a little me time, but for parents of special needs children, the idea of self-care, might be somewhat foreign. In the easiest form, self-care can be those stolen moments like sitting and having a cup of coffee, relaxing with a good book, or taking a bath. Other times it can be something a bit more active like exercising, meeting up with friends, a long drive or even a weekend away. Moments like these are tough for any parent, but for parents whose children have extra special needs, it can be nearly impossible to get even a minute to yourself.

How to make it happen

Take advantage of the time you’re alone

Instead of running to the grocery store, post office and car wash while the kids are in school, use that time to get a haircut or meet a friend for lunch. Save the not-so-fun-stuff for later! In the summer, enroll your son or daughter in a camp or activities program for special needs. This list reflects many here in PA, but these types of camps are all over the US. Time apart can be good for both you and your child.

Think it

Practicing relaxation, visualization, journaling, yoga, or meditation may help quiet those negative, self-defeating thoughts that make us feel guilty about taking time for ourselves. Positive thinking helps too! Research has found that you can reduce stress by repeating a positive word to yourself for 20 minutes a day. What will your word be?

Whatever activity you do for yourself, it should serve to re-energize and re-focus you, leaving you better able to care for your child and deal with the challenges that the family may encounter.

STRESS is a choice. RESISTANCE is a choice. JOY is a choice. Choose wisely!

Carolyn Appleton, PhD obtained her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Drexel University in 2011. She is the Clinical Director of START, Woods’ Short Term Autism Residential Treatment program. START is a behaviorally-based program for children/adolescents (ages 6-20) with a diagnosis of autism and co-occurring behavioral and emotional difficulties. Learn more about START.