By Kristen Eriksen.

Happy New Year to all! I am suffering from writers block lately when it comes to this blog. I have a lot to say, but don’t know how to put it on paper! I am struggling with the idea of New Year’s Resolutions. They imply that we need to identify the things we are doing wrong, or something we need to improve on. I dwell on that all the time and try to improve daily anyway. I think everyone who is supporting someone with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) is always trying to change and improve. So, I want to put a different spin on New Year's Resolutions for our FASD community. 

What if we look back on all the GOOD CHANGES that have happened this past year? I was talking about this with a very dear friend and mentioned that it is hard to remember the “wins” a lot of the time. She reminded me that often that is easier to talk with a good friend who can see the forest through the trees like she can with me and my family. You know, it is the way you don’t notice that your kids are getting taller until someone who has not seen them for a few months can see the glaring change? Well, let’s all get together with a close friend in person or by phone, and think about how things have IMPROVED over the past year. We changed our expectations and plans around the holidays, and they were calm this year! What changes have you made that have made things easier for your family? Laura has started homeschooling her son and can see that he is less anxious because he does not have to “go” to school. They enjoy reading together and he loves to go to the library. Those are huge wins for her family! Think about some of the positive changes you have implemented for the better. We all know we must make that huge resolution to “Think differently rather than harder” so just go with that as the FASD New Year’s Resolution every year! It does a lot of good!