Pablo and Frida

For the final day of Art Appreciation Week at school, may I present the grand finale: Pablo and Frida...

(Homeschool) Picture Of The Day

I am not sure that science and interior design always go hand in hand, but clearly our guest bath needed some sprucing up. #homeschoolertotherescue

Sand Tray Therapy

As part of her trauma informed occupational therapy our littlest child has recently been working with sand tray therapy.  It's largely self-directed with minimal guidance from the OT, particularly during the time that the child actively free plays with the desired choices from among the provided items. 

Through this approach, we have already seen our daughter address - essentially on her own - the issue of having two mothers by creating a world in which her two mothers were able to have a long and deep conversation before they began to jointly take care of the miniature figure representing their shared child.  It takes my breath away that my little girl wishes for her first mother and for me to be able to communicate and parent her together.

In another session, our little one buried representations of herself and two other children repeatedly.  Burying is common in sand tray therapy, so her therapist let it unfold organically.  Based on our child's personal history, there are multiple possible interpretations for why she felt buried along with other kids.  Finally after about a dozen cycles of being buried and being brought back to light, our beautiful girl pulled the figurine depicting herself from the sand, looked at me and said, "Mama."  After uttering just this one word she dropped everything into the tray and walked away from an activity she had been engaging in for 45 minutes.  Seemingly, the concept of mama, so simple and yet so incredibly complex, along with my presence had provided the solution and healing she needed in that moment.

Valentine's Day 2020

For the last two weeks our family has been riddled by various illnesses and the kids have missed plenty of school, needing lots of rest as well as time and attention from mama and daddy.  I unapologetically scrapped plans for a Valentine's gathering with friends at our home and just tried to survive.  Some lucky frozen pizzas, several in-need-of-attention counter tops, and patiently waiting mountains of laundry later, I found myself considering Valentine's Day and how we might celebrate just a little bit in the chaos.  Fortunately, I had already bought the kids Valentines for school from an adoption fundraiser and two out of three kids were well enough to hand theirs out in person.  But I was not in the frame of mind to create a special meal for our family, so pre-made to the rescue: canned soup, a roll of pizza dough, eggnog and Betty Crocker.  And voila!

Meanwhile, friends and neighbors, unaware of our situation, showered us with cookies and cupcakes from local bakeries this week.  Just those little gestures of love were enough to help us get through the feverish hours, the piles of tissues, and the words "I am very hurting."

And then today, we got the mail and my too-far-away friend, one of the few who's been aware of the Code Orange around here lately, showered me with treats that she knows will lift my spirits through this stretch.  And sometimes, even on Valentine's Day, you can get by with a little help from your friends.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Picture Of The Day

Every once in a while I feel the need for risk and adventure and that's when it's time to open a heating vent, bravely reach in, and see what I bring up.  This was the recent loot from the dining room vent. Not a bad haul.

RBT Needed

We're looking locally for a Registered Behavior Technician (or someone willing to get certified as such) for a position of 25 hours a week in-home and in the community with a single child.  BCBA supervision provided.  Additional hours may be available with other clients under the umbrella of the medical provider.  Please email viviane 8 at yahoo dot com if interested.

Picture Of The Day

When daddy leaves for work in the morning, his biggest fans look and wave. #comebacksoon