Learning to Communicate

Yesterday I went to my first "Sign-a-long" class with my sweet boy.  I have to admit, it was pretty cool and I am excited to be learning sign language so that my little one can communicate with me before he has the ability to use words.  I'm sure it will be a little while before he actually puts the signs into practice, but hopefully seeing them each day he is going to be aware of what they are and then will use one when he's ready.

Communication.  Ed has this ability to silence our voice and we somehow lose the ability to communicate what it is we need.  Our needs become invisible and along the way we 'learn' that we don't get to ask for what we want, that our voice should not be heard.  Recovery is about re-learnign to communicate and ask for what we really need.  It's not easy, but just as my little one and I will learn slow and steady, that's just how it works in recovery.

So today maybe the key is to put one thing into practice.  Choose one thing that you know you want or need and ASK for it!  Yes, that sounds overwhelmingly scary and you probably think I'm crazy, but if you don't try you'll never know!  As you grow in confidence, you'll find that before long your ability to communicate as increased dramatically and along with it, the need for Ed diminishing.

What new "word" will you learn today?  Can't wait to hear!

Tiny Steps

I was so excited this morning.  My little man reached up for the first time to ask me to take him out of his crib.  And just to make sure it wasn't by chance, I put him back in and he did it again ..... and twice more since then!!  

As a mom, I get sooooooo excited by these little steps.  For my boy, they're big accomplishments and I love to celebrate his successes with him.

Why, as adults, do we forget to celebrate the steps we take.  In recovery, it is those small and minute steps forward that actually lead us to a healthier place but somehow we get so caught up in the bigger picture, that we forget to be excited.

So today I challenge you to celebrate the tiniest step where you've had success.  And I don't mean in a small way, but make it a BIG celebration!!  Go on, share it with us here so we can all cheer and clap for you;  maybe go buy yourself some flowers or that CD you've been wanting for the longest time.  You deserve it ..... that small step means progress!!!!

Here's to the small victories ..... I can't wait to see what my son does next and I also can't wait to hear about your successes!!!