The Magical Drawing Fairy is Real

She didn't know I was watching, but when I heard her appeal I couldn't bear it, I had to peak around the corner of the laundry room into the kitchen.  There was little 4 year old Hannah gripping her pencil with both hands, eyes squeezed shut, "Oh magical drawing fairy, please touch my pencil so I can draw like my sisters."  Clearly the magical drawing fairy couldn't resist her cuteness anymore than the rest of us because Hannah has grown up to be an incredible and talented young artist.

I talk a lot on the blog about ADHD/ADD and the many other co-occurring conditions that rule our house and often our lives. I try and make sure that us non-ADHD/ADDers, Hannah and I, are also represented.  That we're honest about our struggle to keep up and how easy it is for us to be overrun.  Overrun by the energy, the talent, the wit, the speed of their thoughts, sometimes by the dysfunction.  Hannah was truly blessed with a quiet laid back spirit, one that God must have known she would need to survive in this fast paced kinetic environment. 

Hannah inside the red bin - rolling with it

And she has done more than survive.  While the world has swirled around her Hannah has quietly gone about her business reading, drawing, baking, being Hannah.  At first, I think she hid comfortably in the huge shadows of her siblings.  She is very shy by comparison and it was easy to shrink in light of their commanding presence.  In fact, she was able to use that quiet ability to hide to her benefit often getting out of household chores.  All the obvious ones would be getting all the re-directing and we would be almost done with a project before I realized that Hannah was off reading or drawing.

As she started to get older she started to feel the need to for a little of that light.  Pushing out of those shadows still seemed like an impossible task.  Now, her two older sisters have graduated and gone from the high school scene.  We moved, so as a junior, she started a new school with no lingering big sister shadows to claw out of.  But Hannah is still Hannah and started school year silently, not letting anyone know what she is capable of, she waited for them to recognize her for themselves.

They did.  For the first time she has been eking her way into center stage, partially because she is ready for it and partially because she has had some wonderful teachers this year who saw her, the real her, despite her attempts to quietly hide.  These teachers were willing to give her a good hard shove out of the shadows.

Hannah as a PA

Her English teacher, Mrs. Schrader, dragged her into drama - working lighting and sound for the fall play.  She probably didn't know that Hannah loves to work behind the scenes and had worked as a PA (production assistant) for multiple short films and a feature film, Finding Hope Now. Later in the year she asked her to read an essay she wrote as an assignment for the Lions Club contest. She did it!  She said she thought she was going to crumble she was shaking so hard; but, she did it.

Her yearbook teacher, Mrs. Kirchman, took Hannah to a special Adobe workshop.  She swears that Hannah was born with a mouse in her hand - she has a gift for lay out and design.  Of course, Hannah came into yearbook with an advantage - a father that works on Adobe products all day and has had the kids working on them since they were young. Why use Paint when you can use Photoshop? Hannah was named co-editor of the yearbook for next year.

Her art teacher, Ms. Caudle, didn't ask Hannah if she wanted to put art into art competitions but rather demanded it.  Ms Caudle also taught Hannah at her own level, didn't just make her follow what the other kids in the class were working on.  She encouraged her to prepare for Portfolio Days at Cal Arts (California Institute of the Arts, founded by Walt Disney) next year, to enter art work in the Fair in the fall, and gave her the forms to apply for the California State Summer School for the Arts. 


This is where this story really begins because Hannah did apply.  She filled out the forms, followed the directions, which included submitting three pieces of original art work to meet certain requirements, and nervously waited to hear if she passed the test.  She was accepted.  Accepted to spend this summer on the the Cal Arts campus studying art from some of the best.  Cal Arts has produced some of names in the industry everyone recognizes including John Lassiter (co-founder of Pixar), Tim Burton, Brad Bird (director of The Iron Giant and The Incredibles), and many other great artists.  The program is intense - with classes running all day and into the evening six days a week for four weeks. Sundays are field trip days for both fun and education - Disneyland and the Getty Museum were on the list.

As a family we sat and read through all the materials. We started with the special acceptance letter that explained the honor of being accepted - less than half of those who apply are accepted into the program.  It also addressed the enrollment fees, which is about $1,750 before spending money, field trips, and living expenses.  It explained that Hannah was lucky enough to receive a $1,000 scholarship to defray the cost.  We laughed over the student handbook - what to bring, what not to bring, the rules, what was acceptable and a lot of what is not acceptable.  We got a big kick out of the rules about wearing shoes and shirts to the cafeteria or NO food and open flames - there an incredible number of references to NO open flames, candles, incense - clearly they know their crowd.

We decided it was definitely a rule book for artists written by artists.  At first we thought of how peaceful it might be for Hannah to get away from all the chaos that makes our house home. Then we realized.  She may be going out of the frying pan into the fire.  The ratio of non- ADHDers to ADHDers is probably pretty close to that of our house.  We know she can roll with it regardless.

What an adventure - four weeks away from home.  What an opportunity for growth - she told me privately that she was a little nervous.  She knows that it's was time to stop being the quiet observer.  She knows that there she needs to not be satisfied to sit and do her thing, waiting to see if someone will recognize her talent, motivation, and focus while the world swirled around her.  She knows it's was time to be bold, take a deep breath, and step into the spotlight. 

* Unfortunately, we have had a very hard year financially this year and while we have come up with part of what we need to send her and grandparents have helped with part we are still falling short and time is running out - she reports July 14th.  We need help coming up with the rest of the money needed to send her.  For those who would like to help Hannah get to CSSSA here is a link  http://thatsjustnotnormal.com/

You can also view her digital sketch book, including some of the work that got her accepted into the program on that site
 
all those who donate will receive a signed, limited edition print of her final gallery art piece from the program as show of appreciation. 

You can also follow her blog and keep track of what she is doing while she is at CSSSA at thatsjustnotnormal.blogspot.com 
 
**  I first talked about Hannah's artistic talents in a couple of post called ADHD and Creativity: Part I and ADHD and Creativity: Part II.  All of our children are creative and artistic in multiple ways.  In fact, I often say that we are masochistically creative, creative to the point that we are a danger to ourselves.  Hannah is the only one of our 7 children who is not ADHD/ADD.  The posts were about how ADHD effects the creative process, the differences I see between her creative process and theirs.  There is more of her art work in those posts.

Dearest Beautiful Parents - Mariah's Plea Email

Dearest, beautiful parents,

Hey, I have a proposition for you. I really want to know if you guys will consider switching me and Rachel as far as rooms go.

Here's a list of carefully thought out reasons to consider this swap.

1. Practical Application

I am a full time college student who needs a place to study, write papers, read required text for classes. A quiet, solitary space would be perfect for such a thing as this.

2. Benefit to Hannah and Mary

I will have night classes next semester and sometimes my studies will require me to stay up later than Hannah and Mary can afford to (because of seminary) so instead of having to relocate to the living room each time I need to study and then sneak into the room later, I will already have a designated place.

3. New Opportunity

I have never had the opportunity to have my own room and I wish to experience it and prove that I can take care of my stuff and keep it clean.

4. Benefit to Rachel

Rachel will have the chance to get to know Hannah and Mary better and strengthen the sisterly love and sororal bond between them.

**Additional Reasons to Consider the Swap

1. Because this world is a beautiful and just place.

2. Because....please?


I hope you will consider this proposal and I pray that the odds may be in my favor.

Love you guys,

Mia

A Little Bit of Vitamin N

You've heard the child rearing experts say -ADHD/ADD or not - all kids need a little vitamin N.  They need boundaries, they need to be told, "No."

I have been gearing up for summer vacation and the inevitable spike in opportunities to dish out a little vitamin N that comes with it.  I couldn't help but think about the things I say no to versus the things that I imagine other parents, you know the "normal" parents with the "normal" kids, say no to.

I wonder if other parents have had to tell their children, "No, you can't buy the skinny jeans from the thrift store with the hole in the crotch.  No, I don't care if they fit perfectly THERE'S A HOLE IN THE CROTCH." 

Or maybe, "No, you can't jump off that ledge with an open umbrella  - YOU WILL NOT FLOAT DOWN TO THE GROUND!" 

My favorite part is how casually and calmly these roll off the tongue - I'm so used to bizarre requests and stumbling onto otherwise crazy situations that it doesn't even phase me.  There is no shock or alarm - just a firm, matter of fact mommy voice.  "No, you can't do that," often followed by, "I don't want to go to the emergency room today."

So, I thought I would share some of the things I have said NO to over the years.

No, you can't take the car and drive to your friends house while you're sobbing and you've got a gusher of a bloody nose pouring down your face.

No, you may not use a bathrobe tie strung up from the crib to the bunk beds as a tightrope.

No, you can't change your name to XO Aro even if it is a great spy name.  No, I don't have a particularly good reason why we didn't name you that except it was never on the list to be considered.

No, I don't care how pretty it is you cannot use royal blue fabric paint on the champagne colored carpet to paint pictures.  (by the way said fabric paint can be removed with non-acetone finger nail polish remover, a great deal of effort, and the loss of multiple brain cells)

No, you can't burn a hole in a plastic baby doll, fill it with hate notes, and give it to the school psychologist just because he annoys you - trust me it's a bad idea.


No, you can't fly; not off the back of the porch,  not off the chair, not off the stairs.

No, you can't buy those shoes, hat, shirt, dress, pants, jewelry, mini skirt, short shorts - why?  because you'll wear it in public.  No, I don't believe you when you say you'll only wear it in your bedroom.

No, no matter how much you argue you are not the oldest - you weren't born first.

No, you can't take cardboard to the concert and break dance to get the musicians attention.  First, you don't know how to break dance.  No, interpretive, modern, contemporary, jazz, tap, and all other forms of dance are out of the question too.

No, I don't know why it's called leap year when it's only one day of one month every four years.

No, wearing roller blades, while riding a bike, and carrying a long wooden stake in search of vampires is a bad idea.  By the way, so is using a pogo stick while wearing roller blades.

No, you can't run down the street naked in a Finding Nemo hat.

No, you can't secede from the nation of our family  - though that is very creative and you do get points for intelligence and wit, you aren't Texas.

No, don't jump fully clothed into the lake at the family reunion, especially not before you meet all the family.

No, you can't use markers to turn your sister into a humming bird.  No, not even if you're already half done.

No, You can't wear plaid, stripes, and camouflage all in the same outfit, especially in public. I say this one almost daily.

No, you can't put that plastic bag over your brothers head - not even if its a part of your imaginary game.

No, Barbie hair doesn't grow back when you cut it.

No, you can't use your mattress as a slide from the top bunk.

No, don't stick those pennies, tootsie rolls, peas, or any other objects up your nose, put them in your ears, or in any other body opening.

No, porcelain dolls can't fly either.

No, I am not paying ransom for your sibling just because you've tied them up and are hiding them in the closet.

No, it's not okay to dress your baby brother up as a princess.


No, you can't shoot your brother with the arrows, not even if they're blunt tipped and not sharp.

No,  you can't make a noose for your stuffed animals right now, you have to unload the dishwasher.

No, Santa can't leave the presents on the front porch like the Easter Bunny.

No,  it's 103 degrees out you can not go out and play in sweats and a long sleeved shirt, you'll get heat stroke.  I say this a surprising number of times each summer and then the reverse in the winter.  I will never understand that.

No, you can't have a contest to see who can hold your breath the longest, it is not the same as who can be quiet the longest.

No, you can't shave your head, dear daughter.  No, especially if you're planning on shaving your head and then going out to collect money for cancer research, it's just not right.

Occasionally, I even have to tell my wonderful ADHD husband, Mark, no.

No, you can't name our son Bowen - Bowen Aro (pronounced arrow).  No, Fisher is out of the question too.  I am not introducing my sons, "These are my sons, Hunter and Fisher."

We are just a few days into summer vacation and off to a good start...

No, you can't standi in your 3 foot window to reach the top shelf in your bedroom - you'll fall - your mother really doesn't want to go to the ER on her birthday!

No, you can't take the long sharpened piece of PVC pipe into vinyl sided doughboy  pool. No, not even if you tell me you won't poke a hole in the pool or your brother.

** Take a moment to share - what are some of your unique "no" moments

Here are a couple of my favorites from friends with ADHD/ADD kids...

No, you can't stick tooth picks down the center of all the door hinges (to a 3 year old)

No, you can't have a stick of butter for a snack

No, you can't take that watermelon up stairs, cut a hole in the screen, and drop it out your bedroom window aiming for the Chihuahua.

No, it is not okay to sit on the counter and throw knives at your siblings.

No, even if your 4 year old brother is throwing knives at you it is not okay to duct tape him to the kitchen floor.