Category: Heck Awesome Life

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Stigma Fighters: Especially You

{Ping}

I picked up my phone and checked my Twitter feed.  It was a private message.

“Hmmmmm I wonder who it is?” I thought.

I clicked it open and saw a kind message from a stranger asking me if I could share a message she was trying to spread.  I clicked on the link, wanting to look into it more before I put my name on a tweet for her.  The link took me to her Fund Dreamer site.  This woman, Sara Fader , is campaigning to raise money.  She wanted  her online series  about real people living with mental illness to  become more than just a place to swap stories. She wanted it to be what it was… a community of like-minded individuals. As a 501C3 non-profit organization Stigma Fighters would be able to take the next step in fighting this illness and supporting people that live with it.

I paused.  How did she know about me.  How did she know about my story?  How did she know about my mom? Did she even know about any of it or was she just trying to get her message out and was asking all her followers for help.  Like most of these moments online I wasn’t sure if I should trust that her message was honest or just click delete and get on with my day.

I started to type.

I started to cry.

I started to cry harder.

I knew in that instant that it was time for me to write about her again. So when Sarah asked me to share my story I knew I had to say yes.

Stigma Fighters

Today I am proudly over at Stigma Fighters sharing my story of love to honor my mother, to honor the strength of my family,  to share about my struggle and to give a more powerful voice to those who struggle with mental illness everyday.  I hope you will head over there and let me share my story Especially Love on Stigma Fighters.

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The Bulletin Board

I walked into my classroom.

The room seemed bigger than I remembered it.

I sat at my desk and started writing my to do list. It was filled with paperwork that needed to be organized, things that needed to be cleaned, materials that needed to be made. So like all highly efficient people I decided to start on the least important and the most fun item on the list…the creating and decorating!

I looked around the room skimming the walls and pausing to look at the bulletin board.  What was I going to fill that space with this year?

Would it be filled with the tech ninjas again?

Maybe a visual of gamifying my classroom behavior modification system?

or maybe…

I looked at the space some more. Nothing. No idea. No sparkle of inspiration. No use of idea….Nothing. Instead my bulletin board shouted, “Decorate me! Make me pretty. Make me inspirational.  Make it colorful… do something at shouted!!!”

I had nothing…

The first day of school arrived and the bulletin board hung, black space.

I spent the early days of the week, welcoming this year students to my classroom.  My students and I shared our first days of nervousness, new expectations, new routines and excitement.  The bulletin board took every opportunity during my plan time, during each time I had a chance to think, during each spare moment to whisper what about this idea or maybe it could be that.

Nope… Continue reading “The Bulletin Board”

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Owning My Gutsy

A message pinged on my phone.  It streamed over my screen as a ran on the treadmill.  I glanced at it, read the first three words and thought…geesh who’s selling something now?

With my run done, my girls fed, I sat at the kitchen table, clicked on the message and prepared for my time to be wasted.

It was the GreenCouchProject.  They wanted to feature me…ME…wait me???  They wanted to feature me in their newsletter. I starred at the screen.  I knew exactly who they were.  I knew about their project and all their inspiring awesome through the  equally amazing Liza Hawkins of (a)musingfoodie who got to sit on the Green Couch and share her story.

As quickly as I could giddily respond heck YES!  I couldn’t help but check, make certain so I also replied… Me? Special education teacher and momma?  Me?

Yes you silly! A response pinged back.

I went right to their site and downloaded the pinky promise, filled it out and sent it off to them.
HeckAwesome Pinky Promise

The next morning they asked me two questions that would complete the story for their newsletter.  I sat for two hours thinking about what to write.  Dude, they asked me to answer the questions in 2 sentences…hello my name is Carrie and I talk a lot…I mean A LOTTTTTTT! But, it wasn’t the word limit that had me stumped.

When I filled out my Pinky Promise my mission was to share with others, with the world , that the students with disabilities I work with should not be undersold.  They are so much more then their disability.  They are capable of so much more when we look past their disability and enhance their strengths.

BUT

No matter how much I typed.  No matter which way I wrote it.  No matter which way I wove the words together…none of what I said answered the questions they asked about me.

I took a deep breath and searched for the words.

I repeated the questions over and over again in my head and searched for the answer. Slowly the answer came to me.  The words began to take form.

BUT

I didn’t want to type them.

I didn’t want to believe them.

If what I was typing was true it meant…it meant … it meant that deep down, way deep down inside of me it was who I really was, how I really felt and what I truly believed.  More than that, it meant that there was a strength that I had never owned, never recognized and never embraced.  And It meant it was time.  It was time for me to see, for me to believe, for me to own what the Green Couch Project already knew about me.

I was time for me to own my gutsy!

Green Couch Project Newsletter Piece. . .

I hope you will take a few minutes to visit the Green Couch Projects site.  Check them out and all the amazing work they are doing. Then I double dog dare you to take your own Pinky Promise,  share out your own awesome and  #SPILLYOURGUTSY  just like I did!!

 

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The Tale of #FlatLindsay

OnceUponATime

there were three sisters and a cousin (she’s really much more like a sister then a cousin but technically she was a cousin).  The cousin decided to pack up her coach and with her two boys she headed to the big city!  She was filled with giddy excitement as she traveled west.  Joy began to fill her as she anticipated seeing her wonderful, amazing and  gorgeous cousins and their perfectly adorable children!

When she finally arrived their first day together was filled with hanging out, spending time with each other and catching up.  They had all missed each other so!

Family Photo Fun

On the second day the sisters and the cousin decided that it would be fun to travel to a land of loop-d-loops where children and adults giggle and shrieking with fun!  They were so excited for all the fun that awaited them that day.  When they got to the land of loop-d-loops they decided they would start with a simple ride.  It was sit and watch a movie while your seat wiggles kind of ride. Nothing too big of a thrill, a nice warm up ride…YEAH RIGHT!

RollerCoaster

On the third day one of the sisters had to leave on a trip of her own.  It was a sad day. Continue reading “The Tale of #FlatLindsay”

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Moose and His Super Powered Coffee

It has been quite some time…too long… since I picked up my stylist and drew.

So when I stared into my coffee mug the other day and this fun piece charged my creative juices…

I knew it was time to dust off my stylist!

I give you one coffee drinking, caffeine charged, super powered Moose…

Coffee Meets Moose...Super Powers Activated

 

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Instagram…Its For More Then Just Pictures

“Look mom!  Look at all the people that liked my game!”

“Uh huh…cool! Do you know any of those people?” I question

“No. They are just people who played my game.  Look!  Look!”

“Can you comment on people’s games?”

“Yes.”

“Do you?”

“No mommy,” she answered looking away with a look that told me she wasn’t telling the truth.

“Olivia…do you? I won’t be mad.  Tell me the truth,” I press.

“Yes, mommy.”

“Show me,” I say as I move to sit right next to her on the couch.

Createrria had become an instant love, as soon as I showed it to her.  Make your own games.  Play your own games.  Share them with others. Get and give feedback on games.  Earn gems.  She loved it and I did too…but I was suddenly concerned.  I wasn’t concerned about her desire to connect with others or her desire to share or create. I was concerned with the medium in which she was going to start developing these skills.

I knew it was time.

“Sweetheart, come scootch next to me.  Mommy wants to show you something.”

I pulled out my phone and opened the app.  I showed her the pictures.  I showed her our family and friends that were on their too.  I told her I thought she was old enough, that I could trust her enough and that I thought she was ready to have an Instagram account (a private one).  We set it up, added her profile picture, we wrote her bio and I showed her family and friends she could start to follow. She was ready to start sharing pictures of her world.

“Olivia, you should share that on Instagram.  Mary so and so would love to see that.”

“No, that’s ok mommy,” she shrugged her shoulders, answered and skipped away.

“That’s such a great craft.  You should share it on Instagram,” I encouraged.

“Maybe later Mommy, ” she shrugged her shoulders, answered and skipped away.

This went on for a  few weeks. She had not found what I had thought she would….maybe I had been wrong. Continue reading “Instagram…Its For More Then Just Pictures”

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In The Morning…An Original Stop Motion Film By Olivia

“Mom watch this!!!” Olivia giggled.

She propped her iPod up on book so she could see the screen while she danced and sang along with the video.

“Mom watch! I’m dancing…isn’t it the cutest.  It’s so fun!”

“Uuuuuhuuuuuu, that’s nice Olivia,” I answered looking back at my computer screen (note to reader…it was like the bazzillionth time I’d heard /watched the beloved video)

“Mom watch! There just so fun!  Look at me dance just like them!”

“Olivia, how many times have you watched that JibJab?”

“I don’t know?!” she smiled and hit the play button again.

The singing, dancing, watch me momma seemed to go on over and over again.

I sighed secretly inside.  “Really!” I thought, “How many times do I have to listen to this? Do I let it go on? Do I stop it?  She does like the videos? How many times can one human being watch the same video over and over and over again?!”

I took a deep breath and breathed out trying to to summon an idea.  I turned from my computer at the kitchen table and said to her,” Oliviaaaaaaa, sweetieeeeeeeee,” I smiled big “You’ve watched that movie over and over again.  It’s been like a million times!”

“But I like it momma,” she smiled back innocently.

I kept smiling back at her, waiting for an idea, a thought, something I could say to kindly get her to stop watching the clip without letting her know how much it was truly driving me crazy (although I had some small inkling that she did know that already).

“What if instead of watching the clip and coping it,  you made your own clip to watch.  What if you made your own movie!  A movie you could watch, a movie others could watch too!” I encouraged. “I know this art teacher Ms.Fugelsted and she does all kinds of awesome movies and art with her students.  We could go to her website and learn how you can make some of your own!

She smiled back at me with a look of excitement and interest….her creativity, ideas and story gears were already turning.

Before we could dive into ways she was going to create her very own movie it was dinner time and once dinner time over that meant shower time.

Our post dinner and shower routine unexpectedly found Francine, Olivia and me in the toy room.  Francine really wanted the veterinarian Lego set  but she didn’t have the money to buy it….so she decided to use the pieces she already had and we would build it ourselves.  As Francine and I picked through a bucket of legos we picked out just the right pieces to put together her veterinarian hospital.  Olivia sat at the Lego table playing with her barn and two of her Lego friends.

Lego Search

Continue reading “In The Morning…An Original Stop Motion Film By Olivia”

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A Class Full of Bloggers

Like years past attending the Illinois Computing Educators Conference (ICE) has inspired me in many ways.  The last day of this year’s ICE conference brought George Couros.  His words like other great keynotes did just what they were meant to do,  they made me want to change and they pushed the limits of my thinking.  By the time that George was done speaking  I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

It was finally time to do what I had toyed with doing for several years…it was time to start a classroom blog and not one written by me, one written by my students.

Ideas filled my head.  I talked the ear off of my friend Jen (note to anyone attending a conference with me or who sits next to me during a conference…I try really hard to be quiet and not talk but I can’t help it.  When someone/something inspires me… oh lawrdy watch out!  The ideas come flowing out of like the waters of niagara falls).  I was excited to revamp the class landing page and turn it into an active blog.  I was excited to write a list of ideas my students could write about.  I was excited to pool the resources and tools that my students could use to create and write blog posts with.  I was excited to create the templates and forms that would guide blog post writing… and Jen got to hear all about it (WHAT?! I told you I got excited).

“No”, Jen said,  “Let them write about, create, share about whatever they want!”

“Whatever they want?  No list of topics?” I looked at her with an are you kidding me look (you know the one…the and your the expert, really, are you sure you know what you are talking about look)

“Yes, whatever they want,” she smiled with a trust me I know what I’m talking about look,  “Let it be their idea!  Whatever moves them!” she added with certainty.

“Really?” I asked again

“Yes, REALLY!” she smiled again with an I know about this stuff look.

After an hour of changing the landing page into a blog…we had an active blog.

With George’s inspiration and Jen’s guidance,  I was able to structure our blog post writing process so that my students had enough structure to complete posts and publish them consistently and enough freedom to feel inspired and hungry to create…Student Blog Writing Process

1) BLOG POST Wall Banner

2)  TO DO List / Steps and Timeline for Publishing a Blog Post

3) Our Blog Post Wall where Blog Post Proposals are held and neon cards are used to indicate by students if Blog Posts are in progress or published

4) Blog Post Proposal Worksheet (Link to Download)

So this week when my students told me…

“I want to write a movie review post!  I think others would like reading it!!”

“I want to write about the Blood Moon.  There is one coming this month!”

My morning greetings went from simply hello or good morning to a spew of ideas and I want to write abouts.  I can’t help but smile (ok so I waited until they left the classroom and  squealed and danced a little).   I have a classroom full of bloggers, with their own hashtags and all!

IntroducingMy#Ninjas
‘CLICK’ to Visit My Student’s Blog

 

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Sometimes I Do Ok At This Mom Thing

You know those days weeks… ok years we (I have) spend trying to teach our kids to brush their teeth, put their clothes in the laundry basket, clean up their toys after they’re done playing and do their chores. You know all the talks we’ve had with our kids about each of those. Talks we’ve given over and over and over and over again! And oh let’s not forget the toys put in timeout, the loss of fun things and my favorite… I’m going to throw those toys away.

Sighhhhh sometimes it feels futile!

Then there are moments like this…
Photo: Heck Awesome

…and then I feel like I do ok at this mom thing. Because even through the goofy and silly and big sisterness I know that my words are making a difference and today she got it.  I’ll take it!

 

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The Lego Challenge

My daughters and I saw the Lego Movie two weekends ago.  The movie exceeded my expectation to say the very least.  It left us with a message that inspired us, got our imaginations going and had us wanting to be uber creative… awesome Master Builders.

The Lego Movie also left an impression on my girls and they have been non-stop Lego builders.  They have pulled out their books, organized their Legos, built Lego creations, pulled the creations apart, pushed the books aside and started creating their own Lego creations too.

It has been Legos, Legos, Legos!

 . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Mom will you play legos with me,” Francine smiled.

“Sure!” I answered even though it was one of those I’m tired as all get out moments but I know I need to drop everything and play with her moments.

I sat on the living room floor waiting for Francine to bring the bucket of Legos into the living room.

“You coming!!!!” I yelled.

“Just a minute momma!  I’m looking for lights,” she shouted back excitedly.

I looked at Olivia’s Lego direction book that she was working from on the living room floor.  Her booklet was opened to a page  that suggested combining two small kits to make one bigger creation.

“Olivia,” I smiled, as the light bulb lit up in my head.

“What mommy,” she asked looking up at me with a I know what that tone means smile.

“I’m having an idea!”

“What is it?” she smiled excited to hear it.

MOM NOTE:  I love that they still love my ideas and think they are awesome.  I’m soaking this up as long as I can.  I’m not always sure how long this whole mom awesomeness thing is going to last! 

“Lets have a Lego Challenge,” I exclaim.

“A what?” she asks tilting her head and smiling as she asks in wonder.

“A Lego Challenge,”  I smirk at her with squinted my eyes, challenging her ” You ready?!!”

“Ok Mommy!” she says in a here goes nothing, I love my mom but I have no idea what this crazy idea of hers is kind of way.

I smile at her and pause…..

“I challenge you to build a cat transporter out of Legos!“

“Ugggg that’s heavy!!!!”  Franicne sighs as she interrupts and  drops the pink container of Legos on the floor next to me.

“Hey, did you hear?  We decided to have a Lego Challenge!!” I smile and say to her.

“I’m building with lights” she frowns letting me know she does’t want to do my idea.

“Do you want to play too?”

“I have all my lights,” she says

“I know!” I smile back at her trying to get her to come around to the awesome Lego Challenge we are having,” I have a challenge all set for you. Are you ready?”

“Fiiiiinnnnnne” she says making sure I know that she will do it but she’s not going to like it because she had lights you know!

“Your challenge is to build a glowing tree house,” I tell her.

Her eyes light up as ideas start to sprout and connect in her mind, “Ok Momma but you have to build it with me!” she smiles.

“For sure!!!” I answer poking her side to get a giggle out of her.

“Mommy, look I’m done!!!” Olivia shouts.

“I’m ready for my next challenge,” Olivia announces. Continue reading “The Lego Challenge”

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Presenting.Connecting.Learning…ICE 2014

PRESENTING.

Last Wednesday I had to opportunity to present at a half day session at the Illinois Computing Educators Conference (#ICE14) in St. Charles, Illinois.  Myself and two of my talented and amazing educator Jen Smith and Jenna Hacker presented a session on How to Speak the Twitter.

How To Speak The Twitter #ICE14 Session

 It was a session we had presented before.  The difference this time…we were at ICE and it was a two and a half hour session.  Presenting with them at this session was so much more then I had expected it to be.  I knew this year I wanted to hone my voice and style as a presenter.  Little did I know that this session would help me redefine and strengthen the voice I share with others, help me discover a new passion I have for being a teacher and teach me what I want to bring and give people who come to my sessions. Continue reading “Presenting.Connecting.Learning…ICE 2014”

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Mom Always Said…

I don’t know about where you are at but winter has gone from …

“Ohhhh look at all that snow!  Lets go play in it”

to

“We’re stuck in the house againnnn??!!”

to

“Moooommmm she’s touching me again!”

“Mooooommmm tell her to leave me alone!”

to

“Do I have anything warmer then an undershirt and a long sleeve shirt and a sweater and  jeans and socks and boots and a scarf and mittens and a down jacket…cause I’m still cold!”

to

“Are you kidding me?! Is this ever going to end?!”

to

“I’m moving to Florida!!”

…but even with all of that obvious love for winter Moose has his own opinions

Always Eat Your Vegetables

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The Importance of Time

I parked the car and saw them sitting at the middle table nearest to the window.  Olivia had just gotten her hair cut, Francine was along for the ride (there was no way she was going to miss anything) and we were at our usual post haircut spot… Noodles (don’t ask me why or how but for whatever reason it has become a post haircut tradition).

Sitting at the middle table was a slicked back silver haired grandfather and a 12 something,  skeleton embellished black and white striped fuzzy lined knit capped wearing teenaged boy. “HUH! That’s an odd looking pair.  I bet that 12 year old can’t wait until that meal is over,” I thought judging by what I saw.

My daughters and I ordered our food.  They got their drinks from their favorite touch a thousand buttons to get to their drink with goofy flavors machine.

“I want ice in mine!” Francine requested as she tip toed to reach the ice button. “I can do it myself Momma!” She smiled reminding me as I lifted her to reach the buttons.

“I don’t want ice in mine,” Olivia declared.

“Ok,” I smiled  hovering my hand under Francine’s cup hoping she wouldn’t spill, while trying not to interfere with her independence and glancing back at Olivia making sure she didn’t overflow her cup.

We found a table and sat down.  As we waited for our food to come we stated to talk.  I asked them what was new with them.  How was school on Friday?  One question lead to talking that led to another question and more talking…The flood gates had suddenly been open. Continue reading “The Importance of Time”

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Flooded with Words…My 2014 Resolution

It started with a Fast Company article: Google Reveals Its 9 Principles of Innovation.  Each of the nine points spoke to me, whispered to me…take big risks, try new ideas, new strategies and new interventions. Do it even when part of me doubts myself or worries what others will think.  Take more time to draw and create artistically.  It fills you up and fuels a creative and bohemian side of me.

NEXT

It was Tracie from From Tracie.  She shared her reflections of 2013 and her resolution to Act in 2013.  Her words were strong, honest and deeply moving.  She spoke from the heart and with great disappointment in herself.  She was so honest and so deeply reflective.  I admired her level of reflection and her dedication to looking deeply and striving to better herself.  Heck, I couldn’t remember what my resolution for 2013 was.

THEN Continue reading “Flooded with Words…My 2014 Resolution”

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