Finding my 'Thing'

I have spent a lot of time over the years trying to decide what 'my thing' is.

This may sound odd ... but it is something that has taken up a lot of my time (and money!) trying to figure out.

I am a creative person.  This much I know.  My entire family is creative - my mom has a group of 'Crafty Ladies' that has met every Monday for the past 20 years.  My father is a woodworker complete with a shop that has every tool a woodworker needs, plus a few more.  My father's father was also a woodworker (ah, the memories of playing in the sawdust from the table saw in the garage shop).  Both of my grandmothers were knitters.  And then my Great-Aunt - she, I have come to realize, was my role model more that I could say.  She was a beautiful seamstress (saying 'sew-er' just sounds wrong), but her true talent was that she could do anything.  Every time we visited, she had a new 'thing'.  One time it was painting, another knitting, another it was felt crafting,  needlepointing, beadwork ... you name it, she did it.

I have now decided that I don't have a thing.  I want a thing - but the problem is that I want every thing.  I want to quilt.  I want to paint.  I want to create altered books. I want to knit.  I want to sew.  I want to be the ultimate homeschooling mommy.  I want to do ICAD.

But here's what it comes down to - time and money.

In high school, I worked at a craft store.  Big problem :)  I wanted to do every new 'thing' that came in.  And I tried most of them, and could do them.  But didn't stick with them.  I can't subscribe to Martha Stewart because I want to do everything.

I have always been a cross-stitcher.  I have completed a few beautiful pieces that have never been framed.  And I have a few unfinished pieces that one day I will complete.  And, in my constant need to have a complete supply for each 'thing', I have a great stash of embroidery floss.

I can sew.  Mostly things other than clothing - I can't deal with the fitting.  I love having this skill, even thought it's not perfect, because I can pull it out when I need it.  Like to make Dew1's sensory weighted blanket.  But more about that soon.  One Christmas I made stockings for everyone.  I love having them.

I was going to make a quiet book for the boys.  I made 3 pages.  I was going to make felt food for the boys.  I made Valentine's cookies and a lunch bag set.  But I have a collection of felt that would rival Jo-Anne's.

When I was single and carefree, my thing was scrapbooking.  I lived alone in New York City and had several friends who were Creative Memories Consultants.  I scrapbooked once a month (sometimes more!) and loved every minute of it.  For 6 or 7 years.  Then I made the decision to dabble into Stampin Up! and while I loved it, that was a mistake.

The mistake?  I go 'all in' when I find a new hobby.  So I have amassed a supply of scrapbooking supplies that is near shameful, and then now a similar supply of rubber stamping supplies.

But I blather.

Here's the deal.  I am currently inspired by ICAD, altered art, and the like ... I have done 4 ICADs and love each and every one of them.  But only 4.

But I started with something new that, the more I think about it, has been a part of me since my childhood.  And it is, at the moment, functional for my kids, which makes me feel good about it.

There is a common thread that will lead me back to my other 'things', but for now, this is it.

But I can't tell you now ... soon ... I promise :)

ICAD2 Week 9 (9) Maze

Sources:
Worldwide Circle of Labyrinths - How to draw a Labyrinth.
Myth and History of Labyrinths

I was going to stick to the prompts specifically, but the collage one stumped me for a few days, so I decided to just jump around for a bit until I got over the sticking point.  I say stumped not because I couldn't do it, but stumped because collage takes a lot more space and supplies than just a few drawing utensils and a table.  My prompt hopping led me to Maze, and maze made me think labyrinth.  A quick google search on how to design a laybrinth and here we are.  I am very happy with it.  Kind of fits into the rainbow one too ...

What I'm Reading: Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio was a delightful surprise.  August is a boy in grade 5 that has had over 25 surgeries in his life so far.  His against-the-odds combination of birth defects has left him looking like no other.  In August's words,

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. 

And yet, this is a warm tale of love, friendship and family.  When August's parents decide that it's time for him to go to a regular school instead of being home-schooled, August embarks on a journey from being the one alone in the crowd to being the glue that holds the entire school together.

In chapters of rotating narrative voice, we get to hear about everything from everyone - his sister and her BFF, to name a few - readers are given an view of August's situation.  Tolerance, friendship, self-respect and individuality are all powerful themes that August embodies with ease and grace.

I Loved this book.  I can see why it's a NYT Best Seller.  I can't wait to see what's next on the list.

 

What I'm Reading

It's been a long while since having the opportunity to read what I love to read most ... Children's and Teen books.  So, I was faced with the quandry of where to start.

The New York Times Best Sellers list was where I started.

Interestingly enough, the books that turned into my first choices were the ones available in digital form.  Yes, I have become an eBook reader.

So I balanced the list versus available eBooks, added them all to my GoodReads account, and was off and reading.

And now, without further ado, on to what I'm reading ...

 

ICAD2 Week 1 (5) Fish

Sources:
inspired by the Blackfish Cafe Coloring Sheet @ MadeByJoel.com

I was going to colour them after drawing them, but right now I like them the way they are.

ICAD2 Week 1 (4) Doodle Your Name

Sources:
Zentangle "Woven" @ http://blog.suzannemcneill.com

The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and is copyrighted. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc.  and is used with permission. Learn more at  zentangle.com

Index Card a Day is the original idea of Daisy Yellow Art

ICAD2 Week 1 (3) Yellow

Sources:
Dandelion pattern:  Art Projects for Kids:   How to Draw a Dandelion

Index Card a Day is the original idea of Daisy Yellow Art

 

ICAD2 Week 1 (2) Dictionary

 

Sources:

Lake Superior State University 2012 Banished Words ListCambridge Dictionaries Online

Index Card a Day is the original idea of Daisy Yellow Art

Dewdrop's New Beginning

Life has a way of surprising you.

This blog is the exact proof of that.  When I started, it was going to be a mommy blog for those mommies who are dealing with things that I was dealing with ... 2 near-Irish twins who both had developmental delays - one speech and one on the spectrum, and so on ...

And then I unexpectedly ended up returning to work.
And then we moved to another country.
And just when I was ready to get back to blogging, we unexpectedly moved again.
And then when I was ready to get back to blogging, I unexpectedly found myself reorganized out of work.
Four months later, another move later, a new job later, I am ready to get back to blogging.

So, keeping with the theme of new beginnings, I have given this blog a new look and feel also.

Let the fun begin!

ICAD 2, Week 1, 1- Map

I have been admiring Daisy Yellow's Index Card A Day (ICAD) for over a year now.  I have had every intention of taking part since first discovering it last summer.  But I let life get in the way, and spent all of my time debating the hows instead of just doing it.

Wow ... has it really been 1 year?

For several reasons, the least of which being that it's a New Year, I decided to visit tonight.

And then discovered that my last post was December 18 2010!  Wow!  Really?  Can't be?  But is ...

I know that I've commented several times about how this blog intention has changed so much since I first started ... life kind of got in the way.  Really kind of.  And the past 12 months hasn't been much different.

A Letter for the Holidays

I found this through the Daily Autism Freebies Blog that I love.

This letter really helped ME understand what Dew1 goes through on a moment-to-moment, day-to-day basis, let alone during the holidays.  I had to share.

The original source is HERE:  My Beautiful Child Griffin & Autism

A Letter to Family and Friends for Holiday Gatherings

Some Truths Revealed

It has come time to face a few truths about my life.

- I am not going to be able to HomeSchool or even Pseudo HomeSchool my kids.  No matter how much I really want to, and how much I am really inspired by it, it is not going to happen.  I continually see inspiring ideas online ... Tot School, Montessori, Letter of the Week ... you name it and I am inspired by it.  I clip ideas to Evernote, I download file after file, I print things out, I even have a laminator, but they never get organized and implemented.

Sensory: Pillow Pal fun

My SIL gave the Dews Pillow Pals for Dew1's birthday.  A Puppy for Dew1 and a Tiger for Dew2.  They love them, needless to say, and they are in bed every night.  Dew1 sleeps on top of it, like an actual pillow, and Dew2 rolls around with it.

Disclaimer:  I sneak in every night after they fall asleep and take them away as they are super soft and have rather deepish plush.  I don't want either of them to end up face down in one, or have it entirely cover their heads / faces.  I know that they are old enough to turn away from it to breathe, but why tempt fate?

But here's the interesting thing.  I never considered the Pillow Pal to be a great Sensory tool.  But Dew1 loves his Pillow Pal, and last night I realized what the deal was.  He's soft.  He's squishy,  and He's very sensory.  I never expected this!  He is a wonderfully soft and furry that he's a sensory activity on the go - and not terribly expensive, either.

Organizing ...

I am a victim of my own brain.

I see tons of great ideas online.  I clip them to Evernote or bookmark them in ReadItLater ... I print them out ... I even start to make some of them ...

and yet I feel like nothing gets done.  I see these great blogs that have new and exciting activities out every week, and I feel like a failure.

My biggest problem is that I think too much.  Possibly, to take some of the blame off of me, it's the Dew's faults that I do this.  They are not your usual kids, and as a result I can not approach some activities the way most parents can.

For example, they do not like matching activities that are just cards in a box.  The dis-organization of it is too much for them to handle.  As a result, they become file folder games.  Which pose their own problems ... the biggest one is what to do with the pieces?  I know that if I tape an envelope or zip loc to the back, it will get torn off first go-round.  so they end up stuck inside, and then within a few minutes they are all over the entire house, never to be seen again.  sigh.

I have many many ideas and activities that I have printed out and started to organize, but just never finished.

I can't just put out workboxes - they'll pop off the lids and we'll have stuff everywhere.

And then there is LapBooking vs NoteBooking.  I have spent countless hours, insomnia-filled nights, and travelling time pondering it all.  I love lapbooks, but like the functionality of binders.  So, how to join them up?  and then when I finally do get one together, they destroy another.  The Cars totbook from Carisa at 1+1+1=1 lasted a little while, but the books are torn out, and the cards are missing (because let's face it, paperclips are just not enough for that job).

So I need to subscribe to my scrapbooking mantra...

Done is Better than Perfect.  Just do it.  By the time I get it all figured out, the Dews will be 15.

Language - Hockey 3-Part Cards

It's that time of year.  Hockey time.
We are living in Canada now, and decided that Dew1 should enroll in the TimBits hockey league (he's 4) so he can learn to skate and start playing.  Before signing him up (thank goodness) we took him to the store to try on equipment.  It was at this point that we realized he wasn't ready.  He just isn't at the point where following directions isn't something we can count on, and it's way too many new things at once.  Learning to skate, trying on and wearing equipment, using a stick, listening to a coach, participating with a team ... all very complex and confusing to a spectrum sensory kid.

So we decided that baby steps were the way to go.  We bought a street net and street sticks and started playing in the driveway.  We thought that this would be a good way for him to learn the basics.  As we predicted, he'll play for a minute or two and then just run around chasing the puck.  That's fine because he's gotten up to about 5 minutes of playing over the past weeks since starting, and could you imagine if we'd paid all that money for him to play on the ice and he was pulling this?  He does have skates, so we are going to take him to open skating throughout the winter so he can become familiar and comfortable with that.  Then we'll start buying his equipment and wearing it piece at a time to get used to that.  By next fall, he will hopefully be ready!

So we stopped off at the local rink on Saturday and watched some of a practice.  He was fascinated - it's all starting to make sense to him.  But I realized that making a set of Hockey Language Cards for him would be exactly the right thing - he learns very well through his cards.  I've never made a set before but a quick google search found this template for me at My Montessori Journey, and away I went.

And, in a few short weeks, it will be time to start watching it on TV!  Yea for Hockey Night in Canada ... hmm, shoulda made a Don Cherry card *hee hee*.
Oh, and you might notice that just about every card is related to the Philadelphia Flyers.  That's because of our family allegiance.  But you can just google images replacements if you like :-).  When I have a chance, I'll make a more neutral set ... but done is better than perfect.

ps.  speaking of which, I just wanted to mention that I just realized that they are a word doc ... that works if you want to alter the pictures but not if you don't have word.  If you'd like to see them as a PDF just let me know and i'll post both.





Hockey 3 Part Cards

Milestone - First day of Junior Kindergarten

It's hard to believe, but Dew1 has officially started Junior Kindergarten.

He has been going to a typical preschool since he turned 2 (he's an August baby by birth but was a September baby by due date ...)  His first year went well - it was 2 mornings a week, and  his delays were not as apparent as there were not many demands placed on them that year.  It was more social, and getting used to be away from Mommy for a while.  They did activities and such, but didn't have circle time or anything.  He had a great time and it was very good for him socially.  It was during this year that we took him to the Easter Seals Step-Up program as well. (more about that another time.)

Then last fall he started the 3 year old program.  We decided to keep him at 2 mornings a week because we had to register him in February and he was transitioning in the Early Intervention program to the Intermediate Unit.  We didn't know what they were going to provide for him in the way of therapy and we wanted to keep his schedule as open as we could.  Turned out that he got 3 hours a day of in home therapy so it worked out well.  He did alright, but by December his Behvioural Consultant determined that the situation wasn't working as well as it could be.  We looked into switching him into an IU Classroom, but really wanted to keep him as "Typical" as we could.  In the end, we got an Aide into his room, and it was the perfect solution.  He started coming home with completed assignments, he was joining circle time, he was being more social with his peers, and having fun. 

We registered him for 5 day a week 3 year old programs for the fall.  We decided to do a combination of 2 day and 3 day programs and keep him back a year to let him catch up with his peers.  Then, the year after, put him into 5 day 4 year old preschool, then off to Kindergarten a year behind his age mates but in with his developmental peers.  He wasn't potty trained yet because his language wasn't ready for it yet, and we weren't worried about this.

And then it happened.  We decided to move back to Canada.

Suddenly it was a whole new world.  Instead of 2 years before Kindergarten, he was going to be going to Junior Kindergarten this fall!  Whole day, every other day, alternating Fridays.  And he had to be potty trained! 

We had contacted the school in June, as soon as we knew where we'd be living and made as many arrangements as we could for him.  We prepared them for his special needs, and while they weren't able to get him his own Aide (mostly because it was June and that planning happened in April, but even more mostly because he's not officially in the system yet for service. .. and that could take years...) but they paired him in a classroom with a little guy who does have an Aide, so that Aide will work with both of them.  Which is good b/c I don't believe that he needs a Full Time Aide, but just one to keep an eye on him and guide him a bit.

So it's been a busy summer with the potty traning (another post to come!) and this past week he he had his orientation.  He did really well (or so the school told us.)  He didn't use the potty while he was there and they were concerned that he was holding it (which i think he was.)  They gave us a great booklet that they have prepared that is a photograph tour of the school.  He loves to read his "school book" and I'm going to put a template together to share here for everyone to see.  I think that all kids, typical and non-typical alike would benefit from it.

I can't wait to see how things go next week!

What's coming up?

Things to look forward to ...

we have made:
- a geometric floor puzzle
- a geoboard
- sandpaper letters

we are working on:
- a Brown Bear Brown Bear activity unit

now to just take pictures and start posting!

Where have we been? What's up?

Wow!  Time certainly has flown by since my last post!  I can't believe it's September already.

Well, here's the story.

When I started this blog last fall, I had all hopes and intentions of blogging regularly, tot schooling my two little ones, and being a normal family.  We were well on our way in the first few weeks of September, getting into a nice routine of preschool, tot school, Early Intervention Therapy, the gym ... it was all good.

And then DH (Dear Husband) came home early one afternoon and our entire lives changed.  He had been let go at work.

This led to a 6-month unemployment stretch during which our family has been to he!! and back and made a lot of life changes.  The first of which is that we decided that I would go back to work and he would stay home with the kids.  I am a Librarian (Administrator, actually) and he is in the restaurant business, so we decided that my career was more stable at the moment than his, considering the economy.  The second major change is that we moved from the US to Canada.  I'm from Canada so it was a move home for me, but after 13 years of being in the states, and finally settling in down near DH's hometown, I never dreamed that our life path would bring us here.  We are now closer to my parents, the Dews are in love with their grandparents, Dew2 has started preschool and Dew1 has started junior kindergarten.

So needless to say, when my life when into survival mode, blogging fell to the wayside.

But we have been working on activities and I can't wait to start posting them again.  And filling in on the challenges that we are facing here in Canada (like a 4 year wait for Early Intervention therapy.  sigh.)

Oh - not to forget that the youngest got tubes in his ears in April so he can hear again (we think!).

Thanks for sticking around.  Hopefully I will be able to make it worth your while.