in other words
july3
2014
Voices From the Crowd:
Why I Created Hands-On Development
By Jeana Gump
When a child is twelve years
old, they should be able to stay home
alone, do the dishes, vacuum, clean their
room, help make dinner, set the table,
and various other household chores.
Their willingness to do so may leave
something to be desired, but physically
and mentally, they are able. When my
child turned twelve, I prayed that she
would be able to use the bathroom prop-
erly, and put herself back to sleep when
she woke in the middle of the night. For
twelve years I have changed her diapers
and been up at all hours of the night and
day with her. I am pleased to report
that she is currently fifty percent potty-
trained and able to put herself back to
sleep, so I’m changing fewer diapers
and getting a good night’s sleep most of
the time. I consider this a victory.
My twelve year old is 100%
dependent on others to get her through
her day. We have to feed her because if
we hand her food, she will throw it. We
dress her, try to bathe her (key word is
TRY), take her to the restroom, and pro-
vide support for every activity she does.
We are exhausted. A few years back we
were so exhausted that I began to won-
der how much longer I could do this. I
dreaded Christmas break and summer
vacation and not for the typical rea-
sons that most parents do, but because a
break in her routine meant total destruc-
tion of any kind of peace in our home.
Now I’m sure some toddlers may have
rivaled her behavior, but really those are
phases in life. They last a short time and
then said toddler becomes
a preschooler, and then a
school-age child….and we
are back where I started with
the average twelve year old.
We have a pre-teen
with a toddler mentality and
it’s not going to get easier, in
fact, with each passing year,
it gets harder. Many tell me
they don’t know how I do it
and I am going to share with
you how. I do it because I
have to. I was not given a
choice. I do it with wine and
with coffee and a number of
friends that I cannot imagine
living life without. I do it
with the assistance of won-
derful respite care workers
who come into our home
and put up with what most
people would not tolerate. I
also do it by creating what she needs to
get through a day, a week, a month, and
even a summer.
This is why I created Hands-On
Development. With the invaluable ded-
ication and help of Eric
Urban, I filled the void
with what was needed
to survive the summer.
Vernonia had nothing to
support families of chil-
dren with special needs,
and Vernonia does have
its fair share of families
like mine, to justify the
creation of Hands-On
Development and other
special needs support
programs. Most of us are
too exhausted to attempt
this, but I am crazy so I
did. This is only the be-
ginning. Vernonia, like
many other communi-
ties has its problems, but
it is an amazing place to
raise children and it can be an even more
amazing and safe place to raise children
with special needs. Everybody knows
Savannah, and most welcome her with a
smile. For that I am forever thankful.
Hands-On Development runs
twice a week for just a few hours. The
goal is to provide a consistent activity
in the middle of summer to help these
kids stay in a routine. Last year was our
first year. We only had a few kids, but
it was a good trial run. We found out
Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7
Lady’s Night Wed 5-12
3
Publisher and Managing Editor
Scott Laird
503-367-0098
scott@vernoniasvoice.com
Contributors
Jeana Gump
Karen Kain
Steven Leskin
Stacey Lynn
Gayle Rich-Boxman
Natalie Wallace
Grant Williams
Photography
Gayle Rich- Boxman
Natalie Wallace
what worked and what didn’t and have
implemented changes for this year. Our
goal this year is to provide an aide for
each child registered. In the past we re-
quired parents to attend. I’m hoping to
drop that requirement this year.
Someday perhaps we will be-
come bigger. For now we are meeting
a need for my family and several others
in our community. I am grateful for all
those who volunteer and could not do it
without them.
Want to advertise?
Have an article?
Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com
One year subscriptions
(24 issues) $35
Vernonia’s Voice is published
on the 1st and 3rd Thursday
of each month.
Vernonia’s Voice, LLC
PO Box 55
Vernonia, OR 97064
503-367-0098
www.VernoniasVoice.com
• Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels • Finish Carpentry
• Ceramic Tile Work • Custom Home Construction
• Additions • Commercial Tenant Improvements
Jim Morrison, Jr.
General Contractor
CCB# 112057
Ph: (503) 429-0154
MorrisonRemodeling@hughes.net
Vernonia, OR 97064
• Licensed • Bonded • Insured
Cedar Side Inn
“STILL BIKER FRIENDLY”
Live Music
• Specialty hamburgers
• Draft beer & mixed drinks
• Pool tables & satelite TV
• Special live music events
• Free Wi-fi
Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight •
733 Bridge St, Vernonia
July 4
Third Member
Jamboree Weekend
Aug. 1 & 2
Dixie Wrecked
Beer & Kegs to go
Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM
• 503-429-9999
Karaoke
Every 2nd & Last Friday
Taco Tuesday
from opening until 9pm
3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25
Ping Pong
Every 2nd & Last Sunday
iheck our Facebook page for daily specials and upcoming events
756 Bridge Street, Vernonia
503-429-5841
