{"id":2372,"date":"2013-05-01T07:30:24","date_gmt":"2013-05-01T11:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/njcts.org\/tsparents\/?p=2372"},"modified":"2013-05-01T07:30:24","modified_gmt":"2013-05-01T11:30:24","slug":"today-i-practice-what-i-preach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/njcts.org\/tsparents\/today-i-practice-what-i-preach\/","title":{"rendered":"Today I practice what I preach"},"content":{"rendered":"

God, grant me the serenity to accept the tics I cannot change, change the tics I can, and have the wisdom to know the difference.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yup, just another week of tics and noises, and yes, after hearing them over and over, I get a wee bit exhausted.<\/p>\n

CONFESSION TIME:<\/strong> Dearest vocal tics, I am sorry for finding you annoying.\u00a0I wish I didn’t feel that way. There’s a mom who I read about over on some Facebook TS page who just thinks all your clicks and throat clears are awesome. “They are just so adorable,” she squeals. Um, sorry, I don’t. Why? Because I want to hear\u00a0my kid tell me a story he is writing about the Magic Egg without\u00a0having his sentences disjointed every other second with\u00a0this squelched honking sound.<\/p>\n

CONFESSION TIME TO ANYONE READING WHO HAS TS:<\/strong>\u00a0I must\u00a0come off like a total boob.\u00a0To be fair, let me tell you that if you hang out with me enough, you’ll get tired of my crazy nonstop talking, my annoying “vintage” clothing that has me often looking like a polyester Minnie Pearl, and my butt that seems to be getting bigger with each passing day.<\/p>\n

CONFESSION TIME FOR ME:<\/strong> I know that I am doing a great job with my boy. Why? He still so happy and thriving. Tourette is just one more opportunity for me to focus on what is truly important — the soul of my child. The heart of my family. When I get distracted about noises, I only need to remember my Friday wine companion, Ellen (above) who, despite being in an auto accident when she was 18 and living life from a chair, is one of the most kick-butt human beings I know. She teaches at our local Cal State. She bowls, surfs, swims and posed for Hugh Heffner ( a full spread… oh my) back in the day. She doesn’t let a few things like, oh, walking, stop her.<\/p>\n

TAKEAWAY:<\/strong> To pretend something doesn’t bug you just to look better to other people who might judge you for having negative feelings… that’s lame. It’s fine to vent. But here’s my personal\u00a0conviction: Don’t just vent and run. (Have you ever been around someone who farted and left the room? Not pleasant.) Release and then clear the air!\u00a0(In the cases of\u00a0gas and tics.)<\/p>\n

Speak your thoughts but have a plan for restoration — if not for the tics — for you. How are you going to take care of yourself so that maybe the noises don’t bug you so much? How are you going to discipline your child, tics or not, so that they grow up to be healthy members of society? Are you willing to accept that, twitches or not, your kid might have amazing gifts and change the world anyway?<\/p>\n

Just a few random thoughts.<\/p>\n

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