Idea, Plan, or Promise?

Funny how specific you sometimes need to be to help your children stay calm and secure. In our house a couple of years ago, I developed an explanation for my kids to help them understand upcoming events. Y’know when you decide to stop at McDonald’s on the way home, but seeing the long line at the drive-through, you decide to opt for Taco Bell instead? Oh My! “But you promised we could go to McDonald’s!!” comes the whining chorus from the backseat. Or worse, have you ever thought out loud, “Maybe we’ll go to the zoo later this week if the weather’s nice…” Well, you get the idea.

So one day, I called the gang together and explained the guidelines. First we have an idea. An idea means that we’re thinking about doing something. There’s a good chance that we won’t actually do it, it’s just a thought. For example, ”Wouldn’t it be fun to buy chickens!” Then there’s a plan. A plan is when we make a decision to do something and then develop a strategy to carry it out. We might buy tickets, pack a suitcase, or build a henhouse. Plans can change. If we plan to go to the zoo next Tuesday and the weather is bad or the car breaks down, then we say, “It’s okay, we can deal with it,” and we’ll make the plan move to another day. Then there’s a promise. That’s serious. I hardly ever call something a promise. “I promise that I’ll love you as long as I live and nothing you can do will change that.” Or “I promise that if you hit your sister today, you will not have sweets.” It really has helped my kids to understand what I say. Often if we decide to go somewhere, one of them will chime in, “Is that an idea or a plan?”

TEEN NIGHT - ABQ

TEEN NIGHT (12-19) for ABQ

Starting @ 6:00

Pizza, Smores, and a Movie

in the East Mtns. w/ all the Snow!

1-877-380-3597 (Sue and Gayle),

1-877-696-2502 (Donna),

1-877-380-3595 (Monica)

Pls Call if attening!

We Hope To See You There!

Car Pooling IS Available (call Sue)!

Venue change for Santa Fe" Lunch and Chat"

Venue for "Lunch and Chat" in Santa Fe,NM has been changed.
Date and time are the same!!

Sunday February 28th
***1730 Camino Carlos Rey /Room 209***
2:00pm -4:00pm

Lunch and Childcare will be provided. Please give me a call or message me with any questions.
Thank you!!
TM   505-470-6941  tim.martinez@la-familia-inc.org

Love and Logic DVD screening/Region Two

Hello everyone!
I wanted to thank all the people that came out to Los Alamos this past Saturday to enjoy some Ice Skating under the lights! All my kiddos came home a little bruised up from all the tumbles, however, Marie and I could not get them off the ice! I wanted to also give some dates and times for upcoming events.
This Tuesday in Raton,NM I will be showing a Love and Logic DVD. There is a lot of valuable information to see, hear and to put into practice! here is the information.

Love and Logic DVD screening
Tuesday February 23rd 5:30-8:00pm
CYFD offices in Raton,NM
1900 Hospital Drive 87740
Dinner and childcare will be provided.

Eating Dis-order Training and awareness.

The training will be a basic overview of eating disorders and the
psychological traits and behaviors associated with the various disorders.
Further, risk factors related to eating disorders will be reviewed and
finally treatment. The various types of treatment will be presented. A video
about eating disorders and family impact will be presented along with a
discussion.
Saturday February 27th 9:00am-1:00pm
Las Vegas,NM
CYFD offices/ 2518 Ridge Runner RD 87701
Food and childcare will be provided

Please call or message me with any questions!
505-470-6941
or tim.martinez@la-familia-inc.org

Book Club Update

I can't say that the number of people participating is astounding, but for those of us who are participating, (Facebook group, NM Fiesta Book Club) it's been great! If you've joined, please visit and leave a few sentences so we know you're out there, even if you're not reading the book. If you haven't joined- join! It's a great book and even better ongoing conversation. Here's part of a recent post from Evonne Harden-

“Reading aloud to our young sons has been an excellent way to share experiences, to sit close and to tie heart-strings ever since my two boys first came home at ages 7 and 10. I would sit beside their beds, alternating each night, and read aloud while I rubbed either their head or feet, whichever end was presented. It doesn’t always have to be good literature. A few months ago I bought a yellow Labrador puppy for my youngest son. We are reading through Cesar Millan’s “How to Raise the Perfect Dog”. Millan discusses the differences between raising a puppy well from the beginning and needing to rehabilitate a pet with a past. My son remarked that he is like the pet that needed rehabilitation. We didn’t then go into a lengthy discussion. He just saw likenesses and commented and we went on. Little by little, understanding is developing without defining the boys as broken and yet acknowledging that we are in the process of pursuing healing. These lights turn on over and again. It is a great blessing to see the world through the eyes of a child who is an over-comer. I, too, am being changed and I hope to grow-up well myself one day.”

Carol

Highlights from the Calendar

So much going on in the next few months! In order to make our calendar more user-friendly, we've color-coded the different regions of the state. That way if you're in Carlsbad, you'll look for chocolate brown and if you're in Albuquerque, watch for red, etc. If an activity is underlined, click on it to get more info. You also have the option of just going straight to a specific calendar for your region. Easy. Check it out at nmfiestaproject.org.

Wendy, region one, and Tim, region two have their activities listed in posts following this one, and other family contacts may be leaving more information about things going on in their regions as well. We're all fired up. We have "been in business" for a year now; that's exciting. January just seemed to bring a new enthusiasm to really get this thing going. Donna and Monica have been traveling around the state meeting adoption workers and adoptive families in order to make Fiesta Project resources available in more towns. Maybe you haven't seen anything scheduled in your area. Check again...we've got more things planned in more areas than ever.

If you see an event for "Coffee and Chat," "Snack and Chat," or "Meet and Greet," those are our regular meetings to get to know one another. Most regions have them monthly on a regular schedule, so see if there's one near you. They are often centered around a specific topic, but it's an informal, living room style atmosphere where you can talk about whatever comes to mind. It's a great way to meet other families and share ideas and information. These groups are helpful for pre-adoptive families as well as people who have been at it for awhile.

Other events are scheduled to bring you information. Coming up this month in region three is an opportunity to attend a Young Women's Art Group on Femininity. It's a four part series, on Tuesdays starting Feb 16th. Region four is having a class on the in's and out's of disclosure on Feb 20th. If you think your child may be struggling with sensory processing and you want to find out what that is and what you can do about it, join us in Albuquerque on Feb 27th. Region two is having a training on Eating Disorders also on Feb 27th. Region three is having a Child Development class on March 13th and region five is hosting Intentional Re-parenting on March 19th and 20th. Meth and Child Endangerment will be the topic on March 20th in region four. Check the website for times and locations. Most events offer free child care if you call ahead and these classes will count for training hours for those who need them.

Then comes everyone's favorite category- FUN. Feb. 13th is a Skating party in region two. Also, Feb 13 is the first meeting of the World Traveler's Club in region three. Each month bring the entire family to learn about a different country, starting with China. There will be crafts, food and information. The Gallup group is having a Teen Pizza night on Feb. 20th. Bowling is planned for teens in Albuquerque on March 19th. Farmington is hosting a Spring Fling on March 20th. Alamogordo is having a Park Day on April 3rd. More events are planned on an on-going basis, so check the website often. Pictures and updates will be posted regularly.

Hope you can join us for any of these events. If you have an idea for an activity or class, please call and let us know. Thanks.
Carol

Hi All, Wendy here with an update for Region 1 Farmington Area

Looks like every Region of FIESTA has great things planned for 2010!!!!!!

Here are some of the things going on in the Farmington Area

February ‘10 - 13th Family Activity, Valentine Party/MultiRacial Adoption chat, Sycamore Center, 1pm to 3pm
20th Coffee and Chat - 20 Things, Please call for location, 2pm to 4pm

March ‘10 - 20th Family Activity, Spring Fling, 12pm to 4pm
27th Coffee and Chat - 20 Things, Sycamore Center, 2pm to 4pm

April ‘10 - 17th Coffee and Chat - 20 Things, Sycamore Center, 2pm to 4pm

May ‘10 - 8th Training, Sexually Reactive Behavior, 2pm to 4pm
15th Coffee and Chat - 20 Things, Sycamore Center, 2pm to 4pm

June ‘10 - 12th Swim Party
19th Coffee and Chat - 20 Things, Sycamore Center, 2pm to 4pm

If you would like to participate in any of these great events please feel free to call me at





1-888-299-3014 or email at wendy.mangum@la-familia-inc.org

For all the families with kids who pee...everywhere...

Region Two Updates

Hello everyone!
This is Tim Martinez, the Family Contact from Region Two. I have to re-introduce myself due to a sabbatical that I am returning from.
Just before Thanksgiving our phone rang...you all know where this is going right? It was our social worker wishing us a Happy Holiday season....yeah right... she was calling to let us know that she had a sibling group consisting of two little brothers, age 15 months and six days. Without nine months to prepare mentally or household wise, Marie and I prayed about the situation and decided we were up for the challenge.
Bringing in a newborn into the house was quite interesting. Two in the morning feedings, three in the morning feedings, four in the morning feedings. Changing the diapers on a 15 month old that eats table food, it's all good.
So, Here are some dates to save for February.

Feb. 13th- ICE SKATING in Los Alamos, NM 4:00pm

Feb.23rd- Love and Logic Video and discussion in Raton,NM 5:30pm

Feb.27th- Eating Disorders Training in Las Vegas,NM 9-12pm

Feb. 28th- Lunch and discussion(Support group) in Santa Fe,NM 2:00pm

Please feel free to contact me via e-mail: tim.martinez@la-familia-inc.org or by phone 505.470.6941

I am looking forward to hitting the pavement for some good old Adoption Support activities!
I hope everyone has a wonderful day!
TM

Sensory Training- volunteers needed

Do you suspect that your child may have sensory processing problems?

We will be having a workshop on sensory processing on Feb 27, 9 a.m.- 12 in Albuquerque. Judy Dienema, Occupational Therapist is looking forward to giving this presentation. In preparation, she would like to select two children from our group to do case studies during her training. This would involve filling out a questionnaire and having an interview sometime in the next couple of weeks. This is a great opportunity for someone who has been thinking about looking into this area anyway. Contact Carol at 573-0674 to arrange for a case study or to rsvp for this event.