Meet Anemone

My latest purse that sat for much too long awaiting a zipper.

Might I add, it could possibly be the best zipper installation for me, ever!

You can see other photos here.

Halloween 2011

Pumpkin carving was a great success this year.  We used an electric pumpkin carving knife.  The kids were able to cut their own pumpkins.  They drew the faces and I helped with the eyes.

I have a thing about these photos with the child looking into their pumpkin.  I love them.  Eventually, I'll put them all in one collage to see how they've grown.

And since we are all kids around this time of year...

Not many trick or treaters at our house, but it was nice.  I was able to catch up on photo editing and eating Reese's Pumpkins...man, I love those!

Since Sam is no longer eating foods with artificial food coloring, I paid him 10 cents for every piece of tainted candy.  He made $3 and still had a boatload of chocolates. 

Hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween.

On to Thanksgiving!

{this moment}

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . .

Truth Be Told

My son has ADHD.

I have never said that out loud (in type) here on my blog.  I feel like I have been hiding a secret from you all.

I already hide chocolate from my family, I can't handle another secret.

All our friends are aware.  Some neighbors, teachers, people that need to know, know.

And now you all know.  I need to share my frustrations so that other parents can feel comfort in not being alone.  I have felt alone, ashamed, for too long.

ADHD is to Learning Disabilities as crochet is to knitting.  It's like the ugly stepsister that really isn't a sister.  Many people think of ADHD as an excuse for poorly behaved children to act out.  It is not.  It is real.  It is a disability.  And my son, has ADHD.  This is my favorite post from a mother with a son that also has ADHD.

Since he was young, we could all see that this boy had a head full of information.  He was so inquisitive.  He would take a full minute before he answered a question because he was "thinking" about the answer. As he began pre-school, he was constantly in trouble.  I'll never forget the feeling of walking into that room with all the other parents and seeing every child on green, and Sam on red.  It does numbers on a mother to see that every single day.  If you are an educator, it does no good whatsoever to show all the children and parents which children are good and which ones are not.

When Sam was three and four, he could name every state in the country.  We could even hold it backwards and he would know it.  Recently, he learned the entire alphabet in hieroglyphics.   Monday, he had a hard time doing simple math (more on that later).

Our parent teacher conferences are always the same...'So smart, but just doesn't listen. Marches to the beat of his own drum."  Sam's Kindergarten teacher was the first educator to see the potential in Sam.  First grade was rough, I couldn't wait for that year to end.  Second grade was better, a male teacher.  Sam seemed to enjoy school much more than years prior, but forgotten and incomplete homework was never an issue with the teacher, he didn't really care or mark Sam for not doing it.  This year...another male teacher.  This one seasoned, near retirement, a runner, with grandson's Sam's age.  I think he gets it. I can see the changes in Sam.

Sam and his brother have also met some neighborhood boys.  That has built confidence in him like no other event so far.  Yes, we still have meltdowns, like yesterday, but those I can handle.

I started writing this post on Monday of this week.  I was going to tell you all how great things are going.  How Sam is doing his homework, playing with friends, respecting me.  Then, Tuesday Math happened.

Screaming.  Slamming.  Scary.

Some days, it sucks.  Sucks real bad.  It is miserable.  ADHD sucks.  He feels like he needs constant help, yet gets angry when trying to explain something.  I think he ran to his room for a self-imposed time out 4 times.  And it was only one page of math homework.

I guess what I really want to say is that ADHD is real.  If you know of a child that has it, smile at the parent.  Give them a pat on the back.  It is hard work.  It's such an unpredictable disability and the ebbs and flows are so distinct, that it's sometimes hard to remember the highs.

And sometimes hard to forget the lows.

{this moment}

 

A single photo from the week that I want to savor and remember.

I will add a touch of commentary...O uses that finger to point with, he is unaware of it's "adult" meaning.

Chicken Salad

My pants were tight yesterday.  I disgusted myself.

So, today for lunch, I tried to eat a bit more healthy.

We had leftover chicken from two dinners last week that I chopped up.

Added Vanilla non-fat yogurt, some Dijon mustard, apple chunks, cut grapes, celery salt and onion powder.

I mixed it up and felt it needed some stabilizing, so this is where the healthy goes a bit awry...I added about 1/4 cup of Miracle Whip.  Then it was too wet, so I added more chicken.  It's a science, people, true science.

Placed it on two lettuce cups and that was my lunch.  I ate this about 20 minutes ago and am still hungry.  I have issues.

Off to drink a gallon of water to fill up this stomach.

{this moment}

No words, a single photo that I want to soak in and remember

Our House Rules

 I'm sure this will be something I get in trouble for when I'm older and my sons are teenagers and they find this post.

But, since they posted it, it's public knowledge.

Do you have rules in your house?

Knock on Wood

I'm afraid to say it out loud.

I don't want to jinx anything.

Things are good.  Actually, things have been great.  Once I stopped expecting more from him than he is capable of, he has delighted me.

He enjoyed his homework last night.  Yes.  Enjoyed.

He hugged me.  Strong, but not hurtful.

He told me he loved me.  Many, many times.  More times in the past two weeks that ever in his whole life.

He gets rewarded when he does tasks correctly or timely.  He doesn't get anything taken away when he doesn't do them correctly.

We let him walk around the block.  With his brother.  Alone.

It has been amazing.  I will knock on wood and ask that you all do the same-for like the weather in Buffalo, my boy can change in the next 20 minutes.

{this moment}

No words, just a single photo that I want to savor and remember.

Do SomeTHING: Day 29

 I read some of my book last night while Big Boy was taking his shower.  It's a book that hits home. I've always wanted a farm.  Not necessarily a poodle, but neither does the author.  This book reminds me of the Bucolic Plague by Josh Kilmer-Purcell that bought the Beekman farm in Sharon Springs, NY and try to figure out how to switch from city folk, to country folk.

This one, I'm reading with Little Man.  We thought it was going to be a scary book, but as it turns out, I laugh more than Little Man gets a bit frightened.  We left off at the dust bunnies under the bed and he was so scared, until I showed him (yes, I was able to find one) what they are.  He laughed and laughed that adorable, honest, giggle of my five year old.  I hope that never dies.

Last night I rested with Big Boy on his bed.  And I fell asleep.  Woke up at 11 pm, totally missing my shows and all the "work" I was planning on.  I tried to go downstairs and do something, but it just didn't happen.

While laying with Big Boy, I was amazed at the comfort I brought him.  Just being there, not talking.  I love that boy.  He's discovering himself, learning about friendships, listening in class, remembering his homework (most of the time), and being a good kid.  He still has issues with some things that we are working on, but ever since we instituted positive only reinforcement, our lives have changed dramatically.  He is no longer punished for things he doesn't or can't do, his is rewarded when he does things efficiently.  Our home is privilege only TV/Screen time.  If he does his work, chores, and is kind, he gets rewarded with television or Wii time.  Such a simple concept, yet so extremely effective.  I wish I had gotten my head out of the sand a year ago and instituted this concept then.  I guess we all learn.  Raising kids, raising boys, and raising an ADHD boy is tough work and it is a learning process.  Trial and error.  I hope this trial works error free for the length of the school year.

Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

Do SomeTHING: Day 28

I worked.

A lot.  Till about 9:50 and then thought I could do a little abstracting while watching Parenthood.  But that didn't happen.  I was toast.

This photo is from a while back when I took some of the chocolate almond ice cream I made and created a smoothie shake type thing.  It was delicious.  The ice cream alone, not so much.  Maybe it was the cute straw from my McDonald's collection that made it great.

We have had a shift here due to the 'gang' or 'gaggle' of boys.  All Sam wants to do is find the boys and play. Even at 8 pm.  Homework is getting done much quicker and with less complaints.  We are allowing him to ride his bike around the block.  It makes my stomach churn.  My little guy, alone.  The kid needs to be free.
I need to let go.

Hopefully, I'll have something sell-able to show you tomorrow.  This month was supposed to prepare the shop for Christmas.  So, in that respect, this month is an epic fail.  That said, I am enjoying the daily posting and the routine it has put me in.

Did you have a night on the couch like me?

Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.Hoping to have something to show you tomorrow.

Do SomeTHING: Day 27

Library!

My boys enjoy the library.  I hope that lasts a lifetime.  Each time they go, they discover new books, series or a better shelf of books.    Little Man chose Spork because the cover looked nice and it was propped up on the shelf.  I love how there are books open like that.

I got some for me, too.  The ice cream book (I made strawberry-watermelon sorbet last night), I Love Dirt, Primal Body and the Dalai Lama books.  We all need some enlightenment, right?

If anyone is still playing along, what did you do today?

 Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.