The Press-Dispatch
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C-4 Wednesday, May 22, 2019 The Press-Dispatch HOME LIFE TO ADVERTISE: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: ads@pressdispatch.net Visit: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Deadline: 5 p.m. on Monday Youth First Today by Heather Hudson, Youth First, Inc. Katiedid vs... by Katiedid Langrock Midlife learning disabled Helping your child navigate life changes 3-bedroom, two of them with master baths. A spacious great room, laundry room, plus the kitchen of your dreams. THIS ONE WON'T LAST LONG! HURRY! SAVE $20,000 Plus Affordable Luxury Can be yours! 814 NIBLACK BLVD., VINCENNES • 1-800-743-7004 • WWW.BAIRDVINCENNES.COM HOMES GROUND BEEF STROGANOFF MEALS IN Monica's MINUTES Share your favorite recipe! www.facebook.com/mealsinminutes Monica's Meals in Minutes PO Box 68, Petersburg, IN 47567 mealsinminutes@pressdispatch.net FACEBOOK MAIL EMAIL By Monica Sinclair As a kid, I used to love beef stroganoff. However, as an adult, I just haven't eaten it that much. Not because I don't like it anymore, but I just never think about it when it comes time to cook. This week, though, a rec- ipe for it showed up in my email and it brought back childhood memories. This recipe is ex- tremely easy and only takes 30 minutes, so dinner will be on the table before you know it. Enjoy! INGREDIENTS • 2 tablespoons butter • 1 package (8 oz) sliced baby portabella mush- rooms • 1 cup chopped onions • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • 1 lb lean (at least 80 %) ground beef • 1 ½ cups beef-flavored broth (from 32-oz carton) • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce • ¾ teaspoon salt • ¼ teaspoon pepper • ¼ cup all-purpose flour • 1 cup sour cream • 6 cups cooked egg noodles DIRECTIONS 1. In 10 -inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over me- dium heat. 2. Cook mushrooms, onions and garlic in butter 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Re- move from skillet to small bowl; set aside. 3. Increase heat to medium-high. In same skillet, cook beef 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, un- til no longer pink; drain. 4. Stir in 1 cup of the beef broth, the Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper; heat to boiling. 5. Beat flour and remaining 1/2 cup beef broth with whisk until incorporated; stir into beef mixture. 6. Add mushroom mixture; return to boiling and stir constantly about 1 minute or until mixture thickens. 7. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream. Serve with cooked egg noodles. Source: bettycrocker.com One of the things we can all count on in life is that it does not remain con- stant and change is inevitable. Many of us struggle with change, either a little or a lot. Most of us have learned how to navigate life changes through our previous life experiences. As children we were often guided by our parents, and as we grew we also re- ceived guidance from friends and men- tors. Sometimes we can get so preoc- cupied with the changes we are going through that we forget those around us are also experiencing change. As adults, this can include our children. There are changes that happen to most children, like beginning a new school year, making new friends, grow- ing up, and bodily changes like puber- ty. There are general ways to handle those common changes, but the emo- tions of each child should be taken in- to consideration. There are some changes that not everyone experiences in childhood such as moving, the death of a loved one, the birth of a sibling, or parental divorce. These life changes need to be handled very personally with as much conversation and openness as possible. While a life change may even be a positive one, it is still a change and requires adaptation. Transitional pe- riods are often times when children and teenagers may experiment with risky behaviors to cope with their emo- tions. Recognizing and guiding our children through these life changes can help them successfully navigate these changes and adapt positively while avoiding risky behaviors. The following are some ways to help your child deal with changes: • Encourage open dialogue. Try to talk to your child about their feel- ings and validate them. Say things such as, "I know this must be a scary/ hard/confusing/sad time for you. I would like to know how you feel." Let your child know that you are there to listen. Recognize that some of their negative feelings may be directed to- ward you, but do not take this person- ally. Allow your child to express his or her feelings without judgment; this will help your child's trust in you grow. • Set aside one-on-one time to be with your child. Showing your child that you are interested in them as an individual and what is going on in their life makes your child feel im- portant. It also shows your child that you are paying attention, regardless of what changes are happening. • Allow your child to be involved with decisions about the change. Children often feel out of control over decisions in their life. Allowing them to be involved in some of the deci- sion-making allows them to feel they have a sense of control. If you are mov- ing, let your child decorate their rooms and pick out new things for the home. Ultimately, you as the parent have the final say in decision making, but lis- ten to your child and involve them in the process. • Care for yourself and model this for your child. Allow your child to see you taking care of yourself in times of change, whether it is eating well and exercising or reaching our for support. Your child takes cues on how to nav- igate the world around them from you. If you are honest about your feelings but express a positive attitude, your child is likely to adopt that attitude. It's acceptable and appropriate for you to admit you are scared or sad or worried, but remind yourself and your child that this situation is temporary and there will be better days ahead. Make sure you are doing the necessary things to care for yourself to assure better days ahead. This column is written by Heather Hudson, LCSW, school social worker for Youth First, Inc., a local nonprofit dedi- cated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides 55 Master's level so- cial workers to 76 schools in 10 Indiana counties. Over 38,000 youth and families per year have access to Youth First's school social work and afterschool programs that prevent substance abuse, promote healthy behaviors, and maximize student success. "Did you really just fall out of your chair? In the middle of class? For no reason? " my brother asked me. He was a senior in high school. I was one year out of college. At first, I was perplexed. What was he talking about? Fall out of my chair? "Mrs. Russert told me you just used to fall out of your chair," he explained. Oh, Mrs. Russert. She was my 12th- grade English teacher and was current- ly my little brother's English teacher. The memory of her class was served back to me like an old forgotten pal who suddenly friend requests you on Face- book. I started laughing. "Yeah, I did," I said. "Why? " my brother asked. Fair ques- tion. "I dunno," I said. "I guess I was just bored. Or I needed to move — or some- thing." "Is that why you also took walks around the classroom and sharpened your pencil in the back of the class, like, five times an hour? Mrs. Russert said you did that, too." I was now laughing so hard that tears were stinging my eyes. I had complete- ly forgotten about that. "I don't get it," my little brother said. "You were so annoying, but our teacher loved you, and she hates me." This was always the case with teach- ers. If they loved me, they hated my lit- tle brother. If they loved my little broth- er, it was safe to assume that they had hated me. This trend followed us into the college years. When we happened to share a professor, the same rules applied. My brother and I couldn't be more different, so the reactions to us were always on polar extremes. Growing up, my brother had his fair share of learning disabili- ties. He was also shy, sensi- tive and aloof. Accommoda- tions were made for sensory processing. There were tu- tors and occupational ther- apy and speech therapy. He was the kid to worry about. I, on the other hand, was the hyper one with the imagina- tion, the one who could make friends in a flash and take command of an entire room. I didn't need outside as- sistance; I was just fine. Except at 18 years old, I was falling out of my chair because... I don't know that I ever knew. Today, while my brother was sitting comfortably in his well-paid communi- cations position, my husband and I at- tended yet another meeting with my son's kindergarten teacher. This time, she was accompanied by an occupation- al therapist and a speech therapist. He's having trouble not with making friends but with keeping them. As someone who struggled with the same problem as a kid, I want to nip it in the bud. The therapists told us our son has sensory processing issues. I told them about my brother. They nodded. They said our son is sensory-seeking. He crashes to the floor. For apparently no reason, he will just fall out of a chair. Uh-oh. They say he will walk around the room and find things to make obnox- ious sounds. Where have I heard this before? "Like an old-school pencil sharpen- er? " I asked. They nodded. I asked for the exact diagnosis. I heard terms I know from my brother and terms I'd never heard before, such as prag- matic language deficit. I asked them to explain. When they did, I defended our son's creativity. We are imagina- tive! We are storytellers! We are humorists! They responded that there is a time and place. "Is this genetic? " I asked. But I knew the answer. And this is not my little brother's hodgepodge of learning dis- abilities; this is mine. With every diag- nosis given to my son, I'm hearing my own for the very first time. "We love your son," all three wom- en in the room assured us. "He's de- lightful! " One even admitted to asking him more questions than necessary be- cause his answers were so funny that she wanted to write them all down. "I don't get it," my little brother had said. "You were so annoying, but our teacher loved you." Good golly, I was annoying. I chronically lost friends, always learned the hard way and had plenty of teachers despise me. But I was funny, too, and smart and eager, and I participated. Thus, the hu- morous teachers, who probably recog- nized my undiagnosed behavior, found me, well, delightful. "We're happy he's here," our son's teacher said. "We'll give him the tools to shine. He's still so young." Go ahead and rub it in. Like Katiedid Langrock on Facebook, at http://www.facebook.com/katiedid- humor. PEACE of MIND Let our 130 years of experience aid you in your selection of a meaningful memorial. SCHUM MONUMENTS, INC. Dale, Indiana www.SchumMonuments.com 812-937-4921 Local Representative RONALD WOODS 812-789-2009 Pregnant... or think you are? Call:1-877-257-1084 or Locally Call: 1-812-354-2814 • Free pregnancy testing • Free counseling and info. on pregnancy options. • Confi dential counseling for women & men who are suff ering from post-abortion syndrome. • Residential Care • Health and assistance referrals. • Training and education. • Assistance in getting baby and maternity clothes washpcc@sbcglobal.net www.washingtonpregnancycenter.com