MSI Press Blog

  excerpt from   I Love My Kids, But I Don't Always Like Them  by Franki Bagdade  Preparing for Trips  Whether it’s a family dinner, a night out to the movies or a trip out of town, behavior can become a problem if expectations are not discussed beforehand. When our family goes on a trip, I take time before we leave to explain to our children that there will be waiting, like in airports, while we’re driving, or because of big-city traffic, and some of it will be excessive and annoying. I describe what the food will be like, how our days will be structured, sleeping arrangements, etc. Some of these explanations occur during a family meeting and some are communicated during one-on-one time. That way, I can customize how I manage some of the expectations according to the individual quirks of each kid, and believe me, they have quirks! For my little ones, who were too young to remember their previous flight experiences, we went through every detail—what...

  Today's shared blog post comes from Franki Bagdade, author of the award-winning book,  I Love My Kids, But I Don't Always Like Them . In her post, Franki talks about "the last baby." Read more in  FAAB Blog . For more posts by and about Franki, click  HERE . Book Description: Selected as Independent Authors' Network Book of the Year as the Outstanding Parenting Book and winner of the Literary Titan Gold Award, I Love My Kids, But I Don't Always Like Them, is the ultimate survival guide for parents living through one of the strangest times in history. This " how to guide" will support you even if you are exhausted and burnt out in improving your child(ren)'s behavior. Written by an expert with 20 years of experience in behavioral observation in the classroom, in overnight camp, and more. Franki's storyteller cadence helps the book to read as if it's a casual conversation and pep talk between two parents over coffee. Franki is raw, authen...

Long before sensory processing became a widely understood concept, pediatrician  T. Berry Brazelton  was attuned to its signals. I remember him noting, as early as my son’s infancy, that his reactions to sound, touch, and movement were intense and layered. Brazelton’s insight wasn’t just clinical—it became a lifeline. My son is now 45, and while sensory overload hasn’t disappeared, we’ve spent decades learning how to navigate it with compassion and precision. One of the earliest lessons?  Reduce the variety of sensory input occurring simultaneously.  A child might tolerate loud music, flashing lights, or unfamiliar textures individually—but together, they form a storm. Sensory sensitivities aren’t just about discomfort. They’re about threshold—the point at which a child goes from grounded to overwhelmed. Recognizing that threshold is key. 🛠️ Strategies to Ease Sensory Overload Here are some tools and adjustments that have helped, and may support others walking a sim...