Nothing Complicated & the White Phone to God

As promised, I have devised a plan to help Caitlin remember to do homework that has been assigned and turn in work that she completes (oddly enough, a very hard thing for her to do.)

This binder looks normal enough.


Most kids can put things in it and make it to and from school without much difficulty. Unless the inside of the binder looks like this:
So today, went to the office supply store and looked for something a little more durable. I also pictured in my mind clear pockets with tabs so Caitlin could see that she had papers to take home or to turn in. Imagine my surprise when they had exactly what I wanted.

I was also at Michael's next door a little earlier and found this:

A pad of weekly calendars

I put these things together like this:
The idea is for Caitlin to be able to write the assignments she receives each day on the pad and place any worksheets or works in progress in the clear pockets. Once she completes them, she can place them in the pockets that have been labeled for each subject since most completed doesn't get turned in because she forgets them.

I am hoping this is simple enough a plan for her to use everyday. We shall see.

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On another note:

James and I had another stimulating conversation today after I gave him my junk mail.

J: Wow! Look at the prizes. Mom if you call God, he'll bring you prizes in the mail.
(James has figured out the secret to Publisher's Clearing House.)

M: Did you call God?

J: No, I have to be bigger.

M: You can call him now.

J: I will need something to stand on.

M: Why?

J: Is He tall?

M: Yes, God is bigger than everything.

J: Okay, I will dial 119.

Later, after being scolded for breaking into his sister's room he told me he needed to use the White Phone.



I guess it's God's version of the President's Red Phone.

Just a Quick Note

I am listening to James running around the house singing We Will Rock You while he waves around a leaflet that for the life of my can't figure out where it came from. It has coupons for Doritos and adverts for board games and video games. There's no telling in this house. Anyway, what's amusing is listening to him sing and describe the ads telling me what he wants for Christmas.
"I have this one. I need this one. I don't know this one." After awhile the chattering gets a little daunting. Then I think back a year and a half ago when he was hardly talking and what he did say was unintelligible.

I am thankful for speech therapy. I am thankful for my chattering chipmunk. I am thankful for earphones. Heehee.

I will be back later after a little shopping to share my new organization strategies for my other wonderfully scatterbrained child. (I can't imagine where she gets that.)

Fair Trade Gifts

Look what I got!

My friend C sent me an adorable little purse. The great thing about it (other than the wonderful purple color) is where she got it. There is an organization, Eternal Threads, that is "dedicated to improving the lives of women and children most at risk of extreme poverty, trafficking and other forms of exploitation by providing sustainable livelihoods through income generating projects."

It is quite serendipitous because just this weekend I was on some tragic movie trip and one of the movies was one about children who were destined to live the rest of their lives in the brothels of Calcutta, India. The movie left me with questions: What happened to the children since this movie's debut in 2004? What was the purpose of this movie? If you show people a desperate situation and don't give them any productive way to act on the ideas that are running through their mind, have you really made any social change?

At least with Eternal Threads and other fair trade organizations, people can find a proactive way to try (at least) to make a difference.

I am not going to climb higher on a soap box, but if you like my new little bag, go on over to their shopping site and check out some of the totes and handbags and other amazing products. Or find other fair trade products to share for Christmas and birthdays and other gift-giving ideas. Give gifts that make a difference.

Someone's On a Power Trip

I am so beyond frustrated.

Everyday, I pick up my daughter from school because she forgets some assignment. Chalk some of it to defiance and some of it up to her Asperger's fog that she walks around in every moment of her life. Regardless, I refuse to let her fail a class due to not doing an assignment.

I get out of work at 3:15 and drive over to her school in time to catch her coming out the door at 3:50. Each day is the same routine (learned only by trial and error.) I open my laptop and look at the scheduled homework assignments that the teachers have posted on the website - when they remember to post their assignments. My daughter and I go through her day, her homework and her binder to ensure she has every workbook, textbook and worksheet that she needs for the evening. Inevitably, she will have forgotten something, so I send her back into the building to retrieve said item. (I am hoping she will get tired of having to go back into the building and remember her things.)

Today was no different. Today it was the reading workbook - the same one that she had forgotten yesterday. I wasn't leaving the school without it. I sent my daughter back into the school to get it. She returned very quickly and very upset. Some "office lady" told her she couldn't go back into the 7th grade hall because there was no one up there monitoring the hall. I immediately jumped out of the car and escorted her back into the building. The same lady said she couldn't go upstairs. I said she needed her workbook and I wasn't leaving without it. I explained my daily routine to her and she replied, "Well, she just needs to remember her work."

By this point I was willing to risk causing a scene and they must have seen it in my eyes because someone asked another "office lady" if I could escort my girl upstairs for her homework. With a sigh and a huff, she said, "yes." As if it were costing her some personal effort for me to climb the stairs with my daughter.

Even better, when I got upstairs, I saw students unaccompanied in the halls and teachers tutoring in their classrooms. In my opinion, it was 4:00 and they wanted to go home. Some even had their purses on their shoulders even though the school doesn't close until 4:15. No one wanted to get off their "fat butts" (to use my mother's favorite term) to watch my child walk up a flight of stairs.

I could go on and on about my beef with the school, but I think you get the picture.

We ended the event with my telling my daughter, "You had better not forget anything for a long time because I can't be held responsible for what I might do or say to one of those 'office ladies' the next time I encounter them."

My next post will be the new plan I have in store to help my daughter stay organized the rest of the year.

The Long Birthday Weekend is Over

I am of the mindset that when it is your birthday, you celebrate it for as long as you can. My children benefit from this because their birthdays land on Spring Break every year so we have fun on all the days surrounding their birthdays.

This year year I was going to do the same for myself by going out with my husband and kiddos on Friday and having a Girls Day/Night Out on Saturday.

Well, as they say, "The best laid plans of mice and men." Thursday's events put a damper on things, leaving me to postpone James' dental appointment to Friday. What transpired from there turned into an all day ordeal that ended in root canal for the little tyke. Needless to say, there was no going out for dinner for us.

Saturday, however, went off without a hitch. I took my mom for a day at the spa which she ended up treating me to. We went home relaxed and refreshed, and I prepared for my girls night out.

Usually, events that I plan have an uncanny way of falling flat, but this one went quite well. Everyone met up at my new favorite place for Paninis, coffees and s'mores. Although, the marshmallows wouldn't melt the way they should, we still had fun making ourselves sick on sweets. We then followed that up with a little trip next door to my favorite Irish Pub for a drink. A good time was had by all.

Mmmmmocha LattesMmmm Not Mocha Lattes

Kelly & I used to teach together.

Jen & I teach together

I hope we can all do it again some time.

Twinkle Says Happy Birthday

Hi! I have hijacked Annemarie's blog just to say Happy Birthday and to leave a couple of her favorite YouTube videos as a gift.

Come on over to MY BLOG to hear more about my adventures in Texas. The trip is almost over.



If you want to know what she is saying (I must admit I had to look) check out the lyrics here.



She is a geek at heart.

And now we shall return to the regularly scheduled blog.

I Love Making Friends

Yesterday there was an orange moon.

As we were driving home tonight, James said the moon was orange. I was surprised, so I asked Cait what color the moon was, and she said it was white. Then James said it was green. I laughed and said the moon can be orange, but it can't be green. We then entered a discussion of the colors the moon could appear to be including orange, white, gray, sometimes even bluish. James then said, "God can make it green." I said, "Yes, God could make it green if he wanted." James in turn prayed, "God, make the moon green." A moment passed and he then said, "God is talking to me....He said he would make it green."

So if the moon turns green, you know God did it, and he did for James.

My friend Georgia loves to hear stories about James. She is a friend I have known for as long as I have been married. We lost touch for many years, but reconnected about 2 years ago through the internet.

As you know, I have a wonderful circle of friends, and everyday that circle grows a little bigger.

Throughout the past year, I have been following an art journalist who is also a blogger. Marit is new friend. I love reading about her goings-on. She recently got her own blog domain so that she can begin providing online classes in art journaling and other crafty things. She is also going to be doing some classes in real life. Unfortunately, she lives in the Netherlands. I don't think I could swing a trip there just for an art class. Wouldn't it be fun, though?

Today, Marit sent me this blog award:

The rules (yep, rules!) are:
I need to pass this on to five people. Post on their blog that I gave them this award,
and then I need to answer a list of questions in one word.

Well OK, here we go…

1. Where is your cell phone? pocket
   
2. Your hair? windblown
   
3. Your mother? Supersmart
4. Your father? missed
5. Your favorite food? Carribean
   
6. Your dream last night? forgettable
7. Your favorite drink? Sweet tea
   
8. Your dream/goal? freedom
9. What room are you in? dining
10. Your hobby? crafts
11. Your fear? failure
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? present
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something that you aren’t? rested
15. Muffins? Yum
16. Wish list item? money
17. Where did you grow up? Texas
18. Last thing you did? text
19. What are you wearing? clothes
20. Your tv? new
21. Your pets? Zoey
22. Friends? Bloggers
23. Your life? busy
24. Your mood? positive
25. Missing someone? yes
26. Vehicle? car
27. Something you are not wearing? earrings
28. Your favorite store? craft
29. Your favorite color? purple
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? Sunday
32. Your best friend? caring
33. One place that I go to over and over? studio
34. Facebook? Yes
35. Favorite place to eat? Jason's

So, I am passing this award on to (in no particular order)
I know these girls from a variety of places. I’m curious to see your answers ladies!

Eileen

Eva Helen

Sandra

MJ

Thinkie