Pour in the milk too.  Keep blending until well combined and smooth. Chilled glasses are best, but not essential. Add a straw and it's good to go.
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One-sentence summary -- Halve the vanilla bean lengthwise. Add the ice cream to the blender. Using the tip of a knife, scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the blender. Blend. Pour into glasses for serving. Serve.


Your dad's death may have left you with lots of confusion or unanswered questions.  Though your mom or other relatives might be trying to protect you, it's understandable that you want to know the truth.  Talk to your family and tell them what you'd like to know.   You might say, “Hey Aunt Judy, I know everyone is saying that Dad got in a car wreck, but no one is saying how. I have a lot of questions.  Can you answer them for me?” The more you know about the situation, the easier it will be for you to properly grieve. Don't be afraid to ask questions that you want or need to know the answer to. During this difficult time, try to spend some time each day just being sad.  Crying can help you grieve by getting your emotions out.  Don't be embarrassed to show how you're feeling, even if you have to cry in front of others.  They'll understand. Sometimes, you might also feel numb or completely in shock, and that's okay, too.  If you can't cry, don't force yourself.  Just take some time to be alone with your thoughts. Take some time to reflect on all the memories you have of your father.  Pull out some photo albums and remember him as he was.  This will probably make you feel sad, and that's normal. You'll also feel moments of happiness as you reflect on good times.  Reflect especially on the times you spent alone with your dad.  Remember that those memories are special because they are only between the two of you. If you have painful or difficult memories of your dad, try not to feel guilty. It is normal for some people to feel angry during grief. Though it's nice to talk to adults during this time, sometimes conversations with others can be more helpful.  If your dad had other kids, talk to them, especially if you're around the same age.  They'll be able to understand your pain better than anyone because he was their dad, too. Writing can help you release all of the pent-up feelings you may have. At the end of each day or when you're having a really tough moment, jot down your feelings on paper.  Sometimes, getting your thoughts out can be just the release you need to feel better. For instance, you might write, “I just had a breakdown because I was shopping and saw some fishing gear and Dad always loved fishing.  I wish I could fish with him again.” Maybe you don't really feel like talking about your dad right now, or maybe you feel more angry than sad.  You can find other ways to get your emotions out.  You might choose to draw, paint, listen to music, or reorganize your room.  Just do what feels right to you.  Try drawing or coloring memories that you have with your father. You might choose to create images that would have been meaningful to your father. For example, if your father loved to fish, you might draw a lake. There are probably a few really important things of your dad's that you'd like to have.  Having some of these things can help you feel close to him and can keep his memory alive. For instance, you might want to keep your dad's high school ring, one of his ties, or a book he used to read to you. If you're still in grade school, you might find that it will be hard to focus while you're coping with the loss.  Ask your mom or guardian if you can stay out of school for a week or so.  Though you'll still be dealing with your dad's death then, some of the shock will have worn off.  You can say, “Hey Mom, I know that school starts back on Monday, but I just don't feel ready.  I'm still really sad and I'm afraid I'll cry in class.  Can I have a few days off?” If you have to go back to school, try to take it day by day.  Tell your teachers what happened and take notes so you can stay focused. After your dad's death, his birthday, Father's Day, or other major holidays may be really tough for you.  Instead of dreading these days, do something for your dad instead.  Plan a family dinner where you all can share stories about how funny he was. You can also do something that he always enjoyed doing, like playing baseball or volunteering.  Try not to be alone on these days since they can be really tough. It might be hard to face important holidays, but try to do it. Actively remembering your father on these days will help the healing process go faster, not slower. Sometimes, when people close to you die, you might blame yourself.  You might be thinking, “If I were better to my dad, maybe he'd still be here.”  Remember that there is nothing you could have done to prevent this and it's not your fault!  It's normal to wish your dad were still here, but don't beat yourself up about things you didn't do or can't change. If you had a fight with your father in his last days, remember that your father would have forgiven you. Try not to blame yourself.
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One-sentence summary -- Seek answers from adults. Cry it out if you need to. Spend time reminiscing. Talk to your siblings if you have any. Write down your thoughts. Express your feelings in creative ways. Pick a few items of his to keep. Ask for some time off from school if you need it. Find ways to honor your dad on important days. Remember that it's not your fault.


Some things are simply beyond your control, but sometimes it can be difficult to know what you can and cannot control. By taking a moment to think about the situation, you may be able to tell if it is within your control or not.   For example, losing your job because of a bad economy is an example of something you can't control. However, deciding on how you are going to react to losing your job in a bad economy is something that is within your control. Try to avoid engaging in unhealthy behaviors over the things you cannot control, such as blaming yourself for something you had no control over. . Being resilient encompasses many different qualities, but doing so can help you to cope with whatever life hands you a little better. Some things you can do to become a more resilient person include:  Working on your self-discipline. Learning how to accept yourself and other people. Becoming more decisive. Improving your communication skills. Setting goals and working to achieve them. . Your life will change in small and dramatic ways sometimes, and while you may not be in control of these changes, you can work to become more adaptable to them. Adapting to change can be difficult, but looking for the opportunities and positive aspects of changes in your life may help. Resisting changes in your life may cause you to feel anxiety.
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One-sentence summary --
Identify what you can control and what you can't control. Develop a resilient mindset Cope with change