What a remarkable year. It's been a roller coaster -- starting with the lowest of lows with relationships to the passing of too many loved ones... child mental health issues, diving into new hobbies and the launch of this blog.
This blog has become and outlet and a personal special project. It is one item that has always been on my bucket list and, albeit full of random content and no consistency to posting, it's out there. A few of read and comment --- thank you!!! and even one as "followed". Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You don't always know the story behind the author or behind an individual but can hear how a small gesture can changes someone's day... these small gestures provide empowerment. I am truly grateful for those to take a few seconds out of the their day to click a link to end up on these pages...
This journey all started with my children. My son who BEGGED to start a You Tube channel. The craziness of that is still unreal --- You Tube was of course not around when I was growing up. The internet was not around. Heck, we didn't have cable tv. Within seconds of my son's first video, we realized there was a little bit of magic within this whole new world. I talk about it in this video but - my son has delayed speech and language development. It was quite significant for a long period of time - until You Tube. He is connecting with an audience and that makes all of the difference in his self-reflection...
This then lead us to the community that is You Tube. I had no idea that such a community existed. Community is everything - in so many ways. As humans we cannot exist without it and to discover this whole new community is such a blessing. There are so many people out there, keen - and committed to cheering you on; they don't just do so with words but with action. With that, I encourage anyone who has stumbled onto this page, to click each of the videos below to show support to these truly remarkable people by supporting their channels. If you are engaged in You Tube, be sure to SUBSCRIBE to them, hit that LIKE button and leave a friendly comment.
I am sure I will come back to this post and add to it as I have time to reflect on this last year but will leave you for now with links to these tremendous people... here's to respect, gratitude and much appreciation --- toasting to a wonderful 2016 and continued growth in 2017! Until next time... have a wonderful day! xo
Each year, our children receive a letter from Santa on Christmas morning. We read each letter as a family prior to them opening the gifts. The structure of the letter is as such:
Recognizing some of the big accomplishments over that last year
Acknowledging a strength in their personality
Describing an area for growth with Santa sharing a relatable experience
Concluding with another strength and best wishes for the year ahead
Below are our 2016 letters. Please scroll down to read and enjoy a little piece of this special tradition.
Our oldest son also wrote a letter to Santa in the mail, the post office provided a letter back! Watch his eyes as as read the letter to him in the video below.... this excitement is even more so with these Christmas morning letters. We will try to share a video of that as well.
With that, may your Christmas be filled with plenty of smiles and the year ahead be filled with remarkable blessings. With love, gratitude and respect...
Happy Holidays -- from our family to yours. xo
Dear Isaiah (age 6),
What a
special year! You finished grade 1 and have started grade 2. You are walking to
school, playing soccer, learning to ice skate, improving with swimming… you are
working so hard in many things and I am very proud of you. Do you know what I
am most proud of though? --- how loving and caring you are – and how hard you
work to learn new things. This is what makes you truly special, Isaiah.
Your strong
heart help you share with and care for other people. Your heart also helps you
stay focused on tasks and keep practicing things so you can improve and do them
with confidence. Your determination is something to be very, very proud of. I
meet a lot of children and you really stand out with this, Isaiah. I feel
honoured to be coming to your house tonight to bring you something special
because of this. This is what makes you such a very good boy. I know it’s one
of the things that make your Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma and Grandpa so proud of
you, too!
I know you
are working so very hard at controlling your body and that that is a very
difficult thing to do. Keep taking your big breaths --- that is what really
helps me. Did you know that sometimes even Santa gets overwhelmed? There are a
lot of things I need to do to prepare for my trip around the world and all of
those deliveries; there are so many decisions to make and I don’t always know
if I am making the right one. Sometimes
I just want to scream or shake my body but I remember that my energy is better
spent on solving the problem or that I need to be okay with the decision I
make. To help me with that, I fill my
belly full of air and blow out. I once blew so hard I blew over one of my
Elves! Fortunately, he was okay and the Elf even laughed - A LOT - which made
me feel better. If you are ever feeling overwhelmed, Isaiah – can you do me a
favour and try to fill your belly full of air like Santa and blow it out? Write
to me next year to tell if that is helping you when you have to make decisions
or are feeling overwhelmed.
Oh! Speaking
of your letter… What wonderful writing!!
I had to write you a second letter because I was so impressed. Your
letters are so clear and I can very much appreciated writing that page out may
have taken some hard work and a lot of time. Please know how much I appreciated
all of your effort.
With that, I need to write
another letter but please enjoy the special gifts I brought you this year. You
Mom and Dad asked me to not fill their stockings or bring them anything so they
could really enjoy their time with you and seeing you smile.
Have a wonderful
Christmas, Isaiah --- and Happy Birthday for tomorrow!!
Thank you
for all of the laughs last year Kayden! You sure know how to make me giggle and
that is very special. It’s been a big year for you with your final year and
Montessori and all of the learning you are doing there. By the time I write to
you next year, you will have started Kindergarten. I look forward to hearing
all about it.
I know there
are so many things to get excited about and some times with all of that
excitement it can be hard to calm down and focus on tasks but that is something
I really need you to do. You know that it is your responsibility to put your
toys away after you play with them. It is important that you do not bring out
more and more things until the toys you have been playing with are put away…
Please use your energy to getting that task done; there is no need to pout or
cry or complain you are tired. I know you can do it.
Do you know
what is so cool about cleaning up your toys? You have more room to play and
move or practice your Yoga which you are so good at. It’s really helpful too
because then you know where to find things the next time you want to play with
them. Do you know how I know? One day we didn’t put away the tools in the
Workshop because the Elves and me where too excited to eat some of Mrs. Claus’
freshly baked cookies and then go and play in the snow to build a HUGE snowman…
well, because we had not put everything away, when we went back to work on the toys
for all of the children – including yours – we couldn’t find ANYTHING. It was a
near disaster. We spent so much time and energy trying to find things because
we didn’t take the few minutes to complete the job in the first place. I
learned my lesson, Kayden so I hope you can learn from me so you don’t need to
go through that.
Speaking of
things you can do, wow!!---- Swimming: you are becoming a fish, Kayden!! And, you are running so fast when you play
soccer. I am so proud of you. Your skills are improving with both activities
but most importantly, you are having fun!!
Your writing
and letters are improving so much as well. Keep concentrating on your letters;
I would love to receive some words in your letter next year, Kayden. That would
make your letter to me extra special.
Can you keep practicing your letters and spelling for me? But know – you
are not just practicing for me, you will be so proud of yourself; learning new
things is a special gift you have the ability to give yourself every day!
I must
continue writing letters and preparing for the big day but please have a
wonderful Christmas, Kayden! Can you be sure to give your brother a birthday
hug from me as well?
I asked my 4 year old for a list of his favourite things. His responses were surprising. The simplicity and authentic responses are inspiring:
Making friends
Fighting monsters
Eating Popcorn
Making apple juice
Cuddling with Mommy - EVERY DAY
Watching my brother's iPad
The bear story: Baby Baby, Baby Bear, What do you see?
... had he not seen his brother's iPad in the background, I am not sure this would have made the list. That said, he is now distracted by a matching game and cheering himself on as he randomly pairs Pokemon cards. "Mom, the game told me I am AWESOME!" Yes, buddy --- you are awesome. Very awesome.
This got me reflecting on the questions we ask our children; the perceived responses we might have and; other questions and responses - the dialogue - with my children I thrive on experiencing each and every day.
We have a routine at the dinner table: 1. How was your day? 2. What did you do today?
By asking this question in routine, the responses have become overwhelming but exciting. We receive the ultimate play-by-play, i..e
"I woke up. I came downstairs. I ate cereal for breakfast. I walked to school. I got to school. I put my backpack down. I walked around at school. The bell rang. 'Ring! Ring!' I went in my class. I put my backpack down. I put my indoor shoes on. Wait. I took off my boots and then I put my indoor shoes on..."
3. How did that make you feel?
Whether a situation they are describing it something that make them happy, sad, frustrated, angry. We have them connect these emotions with the situation. You see, my oldest has anxiety (read more here -- I also talk about parenting the self-punishing child here) and any opportunity to discuss his emotions and learn during moments of pauses versus in the heat of the moment, it something we welcome. 4. What was your favourite part of your day?
"The wealthy town of Westport, Conn., is full of cookie-cutter
mommies and their seemingly perfect offspring, but the members of the
Otto family can't be counted among them. Confident housewife Katie Otto
shares a home with her husband, Jeff, and their three children Taylor,
Harrison and Anna-Kat, and while she loves them all
dearly, she recognizes they probably aren't going to land themselves in a
magazine spread anytime soon. The matriarch knows her family is
beautifully flawed, and she's far from sorry." (Wilkipedia, December 15, 2016) In short, all moms should watch. You'll find yourself nodding and laughing with the presentation of real-life circumstances. The writers maintain consistent humour while casually touching on some more serious subject matters. Sure, some of the humour may be offensive to some but - sadly - it is the presentation of reality. The constant stereotyping and hypocrisy of the Katie does not get lost and for that reason (combined with intermittent stronger language), I would suggest this is not appropriate as a family show; rather, one to watch with your girlfriends. Provided you don't take this show seriously, you can sit back, relax and enjoy.
Connected to You Tube after our (then) 5 year old continuously expressed interest in making his own videos. We stumbled onto some remarkable benefits - most significantly - supporting our child's speech development. Creating the videos allows him to listen back and see if he thinks others are understanding him. The support through him seeing comments and "thumbs up" reminds him of the importance of clarity and annunciation...
