Fe-Fe's World Of Craft, Creations and Kids.

This blog was started mainly for my crafting, however I also find myself writing about my family life too and in particular about my son Josh. Josh is just Josh to us and we're used to his quirky behaviour. As I don't want to have to mention Josh's autism every time I post about him, I thought I'd mention it here. Hopefully you will bear this in mind as you read and it may give you a little insight into the wonderful world of the autisic child in a very gentle way!

Monday 20 July 2009

School's out!

Yes Josh and Ellie finished school on Friday. Hooray! For Josh this is a big turning point as he is starting at the High School in September. It's going to mean big changes for him but I think once the newness of it all has worn off and he settles in I think it will do him the world of good.

On Wednesday it was Sports Day and despite doing many rain dances throughout the morning, the sun shone and it wasn't cancelled. Bah Humbug. As usual Josh ended up in tears after the first 10 minutes and then refused to take part and I was left to deal with him, as usual.

Did I actually think this year would be any different?! No, that's why I was praying for rain! LOL!

We ended up just finding a quiet spot and messing about until it was all over. I don't know why I don't just keep them both off on Sports Day. It would make life a whole lot easier and be a lot less stressful.

On Friday Josh and the rest of the Year 6 kids had a leavers assembly and I have to say I was doing fine until they started singing the school leavers song at the end. The lyrics were along the lines of:

This is our leavers song
We're proud of what we've done

Go from here with confidence

With all the things to come

We've never been so mature

As we head out through that door

We're leaving for ******** High

Time to say Goodbye

There were more verses but Josh can't remember them.

Anyway seeing all the kids up on the stage, most of whom I've known since they started in reception 7 years ago. Kids that I've been on school trips with, walked with them to the church for Harvest Festivals and Christmas services, I've lit their Christingle candles for them and watched them intensely to make sure they didn't set fire to themselves. I've seen them taking part in various assembly's and plays throughout the past 7 years and seen them all grow up so much in that time and to see them all up there singing those lyrics... well soppy sod that I am, I blubbed like a baby!

It didn't help that my favourite teacher at the school is also leaving. She's the only class teacher that Josh has ever had that has actually understood him and known how to handle him to get the best out of him. If it wasn't for this teacher I dread to think what Josh would be like now. She is an amazing lady and I'm gutted that Ellie will never get to have her as a class teacher. I am mortified that she's leaving.

This is the card I made for her.

The papers are by Hot Off the Press and the stamp is a Woodware.

4 comments:

cheryl said...: oh this is a great card hun you are just like me when my 2 left school years ago now I know but I too cried buckets, so you are soppy just like me she will love this card love cheryl xxxxx; 20 July 2009 at 22:07
clare said...: aww..what great pic's of josh & ellie having fun..in they own little world...hun there's no need to eat yourself up about josh not wanting to take part in his school sports...but at least you tryed and it looks like him and ellie enjoyed themselfs anyway..lol...and taking him there every year..will prepare him for bigger events in high school..he needs to still be treated like any other normal child(sorry to use the word normal x)so i take my hay off to you hun xx

and i know what your going thou at the moment..my oldest jordan had his last day in primary school on friday..i didn't cry only he said he had a tear in his eye..on the last day..but he said nearly all of the girls were crying.its going to be a tough couple of months leading up to september for him..he's looking forwad to it but also very nerves too...im also thinking of my purse strings..with all new uniform..rugby kit,PE kit new shoes trainers...its never ending...lol

anyway enough of me...lol sorry hun..my comment is so long...lol

love the card you made..love the image and the colours and papers are yummy..TFS xx

hope all is well..and you all enjoy your time off together in the summer hols..and lets pray for some good weather..cause its not looking good here already.
hugs clare xx; 20 July 2009 at 23:04
ScrapMomOf2 said...: Aw! Sorry that you were praying for rain so that it would make things easier, but I would have to say those photos of Ellie and Josh? Looks totally worth it! I think it's the little moments!

I don't blame you for crying! I would have and will do the same thing! I get so emotional when it comes to the girls!

It's very sad that a teacher that you like very much is leaving! How wonderful though that she got to have a huge impact on Josh's life!; 22 July 2009 at 02:48
ScrapMomOf2 said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 22 July 2009 at 02:48

Ode to Special Mums

Ode to Special Moms(by Erma Bombeck)

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint, Matthew.
Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint, Cecilia.
"Rudledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint, give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," says God. "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."

God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."

The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, pen poised midair.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

"Welcome to Holland"

"Welcome to Holland" By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.