Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thankful
Our tummies are full, the kitchen is clean, and the kids are watching a movie. It was quiet around here today. We missed having Tony. It did give me some time to reflect on just how blessed we are.
I'm thankful for this little girl. She's full of life, often grumpy, stubborn, loooves her daddy, her best friend Joy, candy, and her princess bed.
I'm thankful for this little boy. He's smart, creative, head strong, decisive, sensitive, genuine, energetic and has the ability to make me absolutely crazy.
I'm thankful for this young lady. She's funny, getting more and more comfortable in her own skin, loves her friends, creative, and more full of potential than she'll ever know.
I'm thankful for my husband. He's smart, handsome, loving, God-fearing, wise, teachable, and hairy. :) He has helped me become a more confident and strong woman.
I'm thankful for our new house. The kitchen is wonderful to cook in. The creek is perfect for the kids. The basement perfect for all their toys. The deck is perfect for entertaining. I can relax and have a sense of peace here.
I'm thankful for my job. I'm thankful that I can minister to hurting children and their parents. I'm thankful that I am often the only light they see.
I'm thankful for my extended family. I sure missed them today. I'm thankful for our dysfunction. I'm thankful that we are beginning to be more and more
honest with each other.
I'm thankful for a loving God. Thankful for his grace. Thankful for his forgiveness.
Sometimes I loose perspective. God has blessed us immensely. And I am so thankful.
I'm thankful for this little girl. She's full of life, often grumpy, stubborn, loooves her daddy, her best friend Joy, candy, and her princess bed.
I'm thankful for this little boy. He's smart, creative, head strong, decisive, sensitive, genuine, energetic and has the ability to make me absolutely crazy.
I'm thankful for this young lady. She's funny, getting more and more comfortable in her own skin, loves her friends, creative, and more full of potential than she'll ever know.
I'm thankful for my husband. He's smart, handsome, loving, God-fearing, wise, teachable, and hairy. :) He has helped me become a more confident and strong woman.
I'm thankful for our new house. The kitchen is wonderful to cook in. The creek is perfect for the kids. The basement perfect for all their toys. The deck is perfect for entertaining. I can relax and have a sense of peace here.
I'm thankful for my job. I'm thankful that I can minister to hurting children and their parents. I'm thankful that I am often the only light they see.
I'm thankful for my extended family. I sure missed them today. I'm thankful for our dysfunction. I'm thankful that we are beginning to be more and more
honest with each other.
I'm thankful for a loving God. Thankful for his grace. Thankful for his forgiveness.
Sometimes I loose perspective. God has blessed us immensely. And I am so thankful.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Karate
Today, Samuel had his first belt test in karate. I'm not sure how how the colors go. I think he is trying to earn a red stripe on his white belt. This means that he has learned the first thirteen essentials of Karate. With Samuel's coordination problems, karate has not been easy but he is slowly making progress. It has been a big commitment for us, both in time and money. You'll see his teacher in the video. He is great, extremely patient and encouraging. All the teachers that work under him are his former students. He has designed a whole new program for ADHD kids that will start in January. Samuel was his inspiration to start it. The classes will still be twice a week but a little shorter and they will work on attention and focus with karate mixed in there.
Here are the videos. The last part of the 2nd one, the teacher just talks to Samuel about his strengths. He really is an amazing teacher.
Karate 1
Karate 2
Here are the videos. The last part of the 2nd one, the teacher just talks to Samuel about his strengths. He really is an amazing teacher.
Karate 1
Karate 2
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Outtakes
Every year around this time, I start trying to take a Christmas card photo. I know my kids are different then most. Their mama takes hundreds of photos at a time, striving for that illusive "perfect" photo. And, every year I'm a little disappointed. Last Saturday, I took the kids around to take some pictures. As you can tell in these pictures, they were thrilled and extremely cooperative.
I did take a few that I like and can use. Then, I saw this one of Samuel. There is something I love about it. He has such a far away look in his eyes. He looks a little sad but I see a glimpse of hope. It's exactly where we're at in our journey right now. 
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Appointment
We had our appointment with the psychiatrist that had a six month waiting period today. I got put on the cancellation list and they called me last week to let me know there was an opening.
He was wonderful, so incredibly knowledgeable and kind. We left feeling like we are in great hands. We spent an entire hour with him. He ordered a bunch of blood work and an ekg. We did talk about medication but he wants to see a full psychological done before we decide. The other part of the good news is that we got a call from the University of Georgia and Samuel's name is next on the waiting list. They are going to complete all the testing probably within the month.
After all this is done, we should have some answers. Things are falling into place. Of course, school is still not going well but better than last month. Dr.Sanders is not fond of how most public schools deal with ADHD kids. He recommends the Waldorf School in Atlanta. It's the bargain price of $11,000/year. They do have scholarships so I might look into it. Here is a bit of their philosophy.
Academics are de-emphasized in the early years of schooling. There is no academic content in the Waldorf kindergarten (i.e. pre-class 1) experience (although there is a good deal of cultivation of pre-academic skills), and minimal academics in class 1. The letters are introduced artistically in class 2, with the children learning to read from their own writing in class 2 or 3.
During the primary school years (classes 1-8) the students have a class (or "main lesson") teacher who stays with the same class for (ideally) the first eight years of their schooling.
Certain activities which are often considered "frills" at mainstream schools are central at Waldorf schools: art, music, gardening, and foreign languages (usually two in primary grades), to name a few. In the younger grades, all subjects are introduced through artistic mediums, because the children respond better to this medium than to dry lecturing and rote learning. All children learn to play recorder and to knit.
There are no "textbooks" as such in the first through fifth grades. All children have "main lesson books", which are their own workbooks which they fill in during the course of the year. They essentially produce their own "textbooks" which record their experiences and what they've learned. Upper grades use textbooks to supplement their main lesson work.
All children learn a stringed instrument from class 3 onwards. This often includes one-on-one tuition as well as orchestra.
Learning in a Waldorf school is a non-competitive activity. There are no grades given at the primary level; the teacher writes a detailed evaluation of the child at the end of each school year.
The use of electronic media, particularly television, by young children is strongly discouraged in Waldorf schools.
Sounds like it might fit my boy. Wish money was not an issue!
He was wonderful, so incredibly knowledgeable and kind. We left feeling like we are in great hands. We spent an entire hour with him. He ordered a bunch of blood work and an ekg. We did talk about medication but he wants to see a full psychological done before we decide. The other part of the good news is that we got a call from the University of Georgia and Samuel's name is next on the waiting list. They are going to complete all the testing probably within the month.
After all this is done, we should have some answers. Things are falling into place. Of course, school is still not going well but better than last month. Dr.Sanders is not fond of how most public schools deal with ADHD kids. He recommends the Waldorf School in Atlanta. It's the bargain price of $11,000/year. They do have scholarships so I might look into it. Here is a bit of their philosophy.
Academics are de-emphasized in the early years of schooling. There is no academic content in the Waldorf kindergarten (i.e. pre-class 1) experience (although there is a good deal of cultivation of pre-academic skills), and minimal academics in class 1. The letters are introduced artistically in class 2, with the children learning to read from their own writing in class 2 or 3.
During the primary school years (classes 1-8) the students have a class (or "main lesson") teacher who stays with the same class for (ideally) the first eight years of their schooling.
Certain activities which are often considered "frills" at mainstream schools are central at Waldorf schools: art, music, gardening, and foreign languages (usually two in primary grades), to name a few. In the younger grades, all subjects are introduced through artistic mediums, because the children respond better to this medium than to dry lecturing and rote learning. All children learn to play recorder and to knit.
There are no "textbooks" as such in the first through fifth grades. All children have "main lesson books", which are their own workbooks which they fill in during the course of the year. They essentially produce their own "textbooks" which record their experiences and what they've learned. Upper grades use textbooks to supplement their main lesson work.
All children learn a stringed instrument from class 3 onwards. This often includes one-on-one tuition as well as orchestra.
Learning in a Waldorf school is a non-competitive activity. There are no grades given at the primary level; the teacher writes a detailed evaluation of the child at the end of each school year.
The use of electronic media, particularly television, by young children is strongly discouraged in Waldorf schools.
Sounds like it might fit my boy. Wish money was not an issue!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Movie
I made a little Sophia movie last night. I am in charge of creating the end of the year movie for my school. I thought I would practice with some of my pictures and video just to get the hang of it.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Role reversal
Ok, so Samuel caught me in a lie. And now I have to live with the knowledge that twenty years down the road, he's going to be in therapy over it. Because this kid doesn't forget a thing. And I feel awful.
A week ago, Samuel lost a tooth. This has been an event that he has waited for. He was beside himself. I was too. He lost it at school and the nurse gave him a little treasure box to put it in. He couldn't wait to put it under his pillow.
If you know me, you know that I struggle with the whole Santa thing. I hate lying to my kids. I get the whole magical, let them be kids thing. But I have never told them that Santa is real. Samuel wants so badly to believe. But he is just too darn logical and Santa doesn't add up. So he kind of pretends to believe. When the tooth fairy thing came about, I told him that she was the one that put money under his pillow.(wink, wink) He went along with my story but I truly thought he was pretending. Because although Samuel is six, at times he is a an adult caught in this little body and can be wise beyond his years.
He put his tooth under the pillow and that night when he was fast asleep, I put the money there and took the tooth. I threw it in a shelf in the closet and didn't give it another thought. I should have clued in when he came into my room yelling at 3:00 am that the tooth fairy had come, that he might be taking this one seriously. But I didn't.
Fast forward to tonight. The night that might send my kid to a psych unit. I had put both of the kids to bed. I heard some moving around upstairs but all was fairly quiet. Then I heard Samuel come downstairs.
"WHAT IS THIS?" As he shoved the little treasure box in my face.
Sure, I could have backpedaled and made up a story about the tooth fairy dropping it or some other clever tale. But instead I just looked at him dumbfounded.
"IS THE TOOTH FAIRY REAL? TELL ME NOW!"
I had to tell him the truth. So I put him in my lap and admitted my lie. And then I asked him,
"Are you mad?"
And my little adult said,
"No, not mad, more dissapointed in you than mad."
"Do you forgive me?"
"No, not yet."
He hung his head and went upstairs. I sat on the couch, dissapointed in myself and feeling guilty. I gave him a little time to stew but I had to go up there and make ammends. He was in his room pacing. When I walked in, he gave me such a look of disdain, it was like someone punched me in the gut.
I sat on the bed with him and apologized. I told him that parents aren't perfect and that I had made a big mistake.
He had tears in his eyes.
"I really wanted her to be real."
Oh, the journey of parenthood! George and I hashed it out a little while ago. I know that I haven't lost all credibilty with my kid but I sort of feel that way. Samuel is not your typical kid. When he loves you, he REALLY loves you. When he's hurt, he's REALLY hurt. He's not the kind of kid that will wake up, and skip off to school not giving this tooth fairy thing a second thought. He will dream about it and he'll wake up and I'll bet you twenty bucks that the first thing out of his mouth will have something to do with it. Then he'll go to school and tell every darn kid that his mother lied to him. THE TOOTH FAIRY IS NOT REAL!
Do you think he'll invite me to his therapy sessions. I'd like to give my side of the story...
A week ago, Samuel lost a tooth. This has been an event that he has waited for. He was beside himself. I was too. He lost it at school and the nurse gave him a little treasure box to put it in. He couldn't wait to put it under his pillow.
If you know me, you know that I struggle with the whole Santa thing. I hate lying to my kids. I get the whole magical, let them be kids thing. But I have never told them that Santa is real. Samuel wants so badly to believe. But he is just too darn logical and Santa doesn't add up. So he kind of pretends to believe. When the tooth fairy thing came about, I told him that she was the one that put money under his pillow.(wink, wink) He went along with my story but I truly thought he was pretending. Because although Samuel is six, at times he is a an adult caught in this little body and can be wise beyond his years.
He put his tooth under the pillow and that night when he was fast asleep, I put the money there and took the tooth. I threw it in a shelf in the closet and didn't give it another thought. I should have clued in when he came into my room yelling at 3:00 am that the tooth fairy had come, that he might be taking this one seriously. But I didn't.
Fast forward to tonight. The night that might send my kid to a psych unit. I had put both of the kids to bed. I heard some moving around upstairs but all was fairly quiet. Then I heard Samuel come downstairs.
"WHAT IS THIS?" As he shoved the little treasure box in my face.
Sure, I could have backpedaled and made up a story about the tooth fairy dropping it or some other clever tale. But instead I just looked at him dumbfounded.
"IS THE TOOTH FAIRY REAL? TELL ME NOW!"
I had to tell him the truth. So I put him in my lap and admitted my lie. And then I asked him,
"Are you mad?"
And my little adult said,
"No, not mad, more dissapointed in you than mad."
"Do you forgive me?"
"No, not yet."
He hung his head and went upstairs. I sat on the couch, dissapointed in myself and feeling guilty. I gave him a little time to stew but I had to go up there and make ammends. He was in his room pacing. When I walked in, he gave me such a look of disdain, it was like someone punched me in the gut.
I sat on the bed with him and apologized. I told him that parents aren't perfect and that I had made a big mistake.
He had tears in his eyes.
"I really wanted her to be real."
Oh, the journey of parenthood! George and I hashed it out a little while ago. I know that I haven't lost all credibilty with my kid but I sort of feel that way. Samuel is not your typical kid. When he loves you, he REALLY loves you. When he's hurt, he's REALLY hurt. He's not the kind of kid that will wake up, and skip off to school not giving this tooth fairy thing a second thought. He will dream about it and he'll wake up and I'll bet you twenty bucks that the first thing out of his mouth will have something to do with it. Then he'll go to school and tell every darn kid that his mother lied to him. THE TOOTH FAIRY IS NOT REAL!
Do you think he'll invite me to his therapy sessions. I'd like to give my side of the story...
