Eye contact...

So I stop by the school the other morning around 9:15 to drop off something for my daughter. And of course her class room is at the far end of the school and although I considered asking the secretary to deliver it for me, I dreaded seeing the look on her face that says "What, are your legs broken?" So I slink off down the hall avoiding the little munchkins that are so cute all lined up waiting to go the library. (I remember those days, when my kids were happy to see me at the school and the other secretary would have delivered the note for me.)

I slip the note into my daughter's lunch bag and as I prepare to make a hasty exit, my son's teacher spots me. (Don't make eye contact, don't make eye contact, don't make eye contact, I keep saying to myself). But she waits for me, so I suck it up and put on my nice-mom face.

"I wondering if you've been to see his doctor's lately?" she politely inquires.

"Yes, just last week.'

"Oh, because I've been really noticing his inability to sit and focus on his work."

"Well he's at the max. dosage for his meds, and we're keeping an eye on him, but please let me know if he's causing too many problems and isn't getting his work done."

"It's not that he's causing problems, and all the kids love him, it's just he could be doing so much better if he could sit still long enough to follow the directions and complete his work."

I'm thinking to myself, once again, that it's a good thing he's cute and charming. (My son, not the teacher)

"Please let me know if he's behind in anything." as I try to leave. Not that easy. I then have to listen to the story of how although the class just cleaned out their desks the day before, my son's looks like a tornado rammed through it. Yada, yada, yada. He's ADHD. I'd be surprised if his desk WAS clean.

Finally I escape the well intentioned teacher, because she really is well intentioned, and very nice too. I suggested that what works best with my son, is getting him to tidy his desk every day, because that's how we try to keep his room under control. And she did appreciate the suggestion. Really.

A HUGE SHOUT OUT...

To all my fabulous volunteers who made all the November events such a success.

In Kamloops - big thanks to Susan and Sandra for their help in organizing our revival of the "Famous Spaghetti Dinner". Big thanks to Deanna for providing the craft supplies for all the little ones (and not-so-little ones) that kept them busy so the parents could actually have a complete conversation. It was fabulous food and a great location at TRU complete with Christmas lights and a little tree. I had a great time meeting families I hadn't met before, catching up with ones I had, and of course seeing how much some of their kids have grown. How does that happen? Thank you MCFD for helping fund this event for our families.

In Kelowna we had another fabulous (my new word, have you noticed?)event at the McMillan Farms pumpkin patch with lots of sunshine and lots of fun. Thanks to MCFD and the Adoption Centre for helping to fund this event. And of course to my husband for agreeing to bbq all the hotdogs. (Note to self: next time don't buy "lite" weiners, there's not enough fat in them to keep them from sticking to the grill!) We had more than 140 people out, including social workers and True Colours mentors.

In Vernon, a many thanks to Rhonda for hosting an afternoon at the rec centre for families which included lots of food and of course Chris the Clown. Thanks to MCFD for funding this event.

In Salmon Arm Jan Lacko and I presented a workshop called "Try Being Me For A Day" to a room full of adoptive and foster parents, practioners, child care workers, and other parents and caregivers. Thanks for all your help Jan! Thanks also to The Victoria Foundation for funding this workshop.

In Nelson, Tam and Sheri held a potluck luncheon and music event for adoptive families. Thanks Ladies for all your efforts - I heard everyone had a great time!

The world's a better place
Because of folk like you
Who take the time to do nice things
The way you always do.


Thank you so so muchly

Must blog, must blog, must blog...

How did this go so long without me blogging? I meant to blog. Really I did. Honest. But it seems November has gotten away from me once again.

But now, I think I've finally finsihed all of my Adoption Awareness Month events throughout the region, and the mountains of paperwork that seem to go with each one.

Lots has been happening since I last blogged, so bear with me while I catch up.

Kamloops Spaghetti Dinner

Friday Nov. 20th 5 pm - 8 pm

TRU - Campus Activity Centre 900 McGill Rd.

Bring your family and come celebrate Adoption Awareness Month with a delicious spaghetti dinner. Make new friends and reconnect with others. All family members welcome. You must pre-register and pre-pay for this event.

Spaghetti & spaghetti sauce with meatballs (meatballs separate to accommodate vegetarians)
Garlic Bread
Fresh Garden Salad with assorted dressings
Home Baked Cookies


Cost $5 per adult or child

Register at www.afabc.eventbrite.com

For more information contact: Dianna Mortensen, Adoption Support Coordinator, Interior Region
Toll free 1-866-694-1222 or email: dmortensen@bcadoption.com

Halloween after effects...

It's not a pretty sight. The mini chocolate bar wrappers that pile up on my coffee table late at night. Who ate all those? Oh. Yeah. It was me. But they're just little ones...they don't really count as calories, fat grams, carbs, etc. Do they?

Every year it's the same thing. I promise myself I won't eat any of them, then my son offers me the caramilk minis...they're my favorite. But I also like the Aeros because they melt so nicely in my mouth. And well, the Kit Kats are nice too. Especially if they're fresh. Peanut Butter cups are good too, but sometimes they get crushed and I like them better in one piece.

But I must pay the piper again today. Yesterday it was a cardio core workout with Lisa. It's as if she has a nanny-cam and saw the pile of wrappers. She worked us so hard, my quads and butt are killing me today.

In a few minutes I must leave to meet a friend to power walk up Giant's Head mountain. It's my pennance for chocolate. I'm almost at the point where I'll throw out all the candy. Almost. Apparently I like to torture myself with seeing how little will power I actually don't have. It's a sickness.

Fortunately it only happens once a year. Ok, well then there's Easter and Valentines Day too. But that will be next year. And surely by then, I'll have this chocolate addiction under control. Won't I?

Nelson Adoption Awareness Month Event

Nelson Sat. Nov. 21 11 am - 3 pm: Crescent Valley - Adoption Awareness Month Potluck Lunch & Silk Road Concert

Crescent Valley Hall is located on Highway 6, 2 km north of the junction with Highway 3A, halfway between Nelson and Castlegar.

Here's a wonderful opportunity for all families who love music. Families who have been touched by adoption are invited to come for a potluck lunch, playtime for the kids and time for parents to meet and talk. Then, when tummies are full and children are ready to settle down, enjoy an afternoon concert with Silk Road Music, the amazing duo from Quebec (Andre) and China (Qiu Xia) who play Chinese and World Fusion music on a multitude of instruments from around the world. Here are the particulars:
Potluck Lunch - $5 per family @ Crescent Valley Hall. Pay at the door. Bring a yummy dish to share and your own plates and cutlery. Coffee, tea and juice will be provided.

Silk Road Concert 2 pm Open to all families. $10 per family @ Crescent Valley Hall. Pay at the door. Check out www.silkroadmusic.ca to learn more about Silk Road and to preview their wonderful sounds. Silk Road has performed for many years for school children across Canada and will provide an exciting and unique blend of music from around the world for your listening and viewing pleasure.

For more information, please contact: Sheri at 359-7639 or sjwalsh@telus.net

Kamloops - Waiting Child Information Session

Thursday Nov. 19th 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

1165 Battle St. Kamloops

For families considering adopting a child in foster care with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). Learn what you need to know before you start the adoption process. Presented by MCFD and the AFABC. This workshop covers The Adoption Journey, Preparing For the Journey, Who are BC's Waiting Children, The Process, and Questions and Answers.

This session is free of charge, but you must pre-register at www.afabc.eventbrite.com

For more information contact: Dianna Mortensen, AFABC Adoption Support Coordinator, Interior Region
Toll free: 1-866-694-1222 or by email: dmortensen@bcadoption.com

Vernon Adoption Awareness Month Event

Vernon Family Fun Day

37th Ave. Recreation Centre (Dogwood Gym)
Sun. Nov. 15th 1 pm - 3 pm

Bring your teens for a pick-up game of basket ball while the younger ones are enjoying Chris the Clown.
Pizza and drinks provided by AFABC – Please bring a dessert or salad to share.

Please RSVP for this FREE event Register online www.afabc.eventbrite.com


For more information contact: Rhonda Riva (250) 549-3937 or email mrriva@shaw.ca

It's November which means....

it's crazy time! November is Adoption Awareness Month (just in case ya didn't know), so that means lots of events. And somehow, when I'm planning all these events in March, I come up with some great ideas and can't wait to put them into action.

Now here it is November, and although I'm still looking forward to the events, it's the implementation of all these events that takes so much energy. I won't bore you with all the painful details, but let's just say that in March all these things seemed like really good ideas. Except back in March I wasn't yet working in the Thompson Cariboo and now that I am, let's just add in a whole ton of events for them too!

But although I'm whining, I do thoroughly enjoy all the events when they actually happen. Honestly I do.

For example yesterday was the first of the Adoption Awareness Month events at the Pumpkin Patch at it was great! The weather co-operated and the sunshine was glorious. We had almost 140 people out to drink hot chocolate, eat the hot dogs my husband and the adoption social workers cooked, take a hay ride, try the corn maze, and use the giant pumpkin slingshot. The hay bale maze was a hit with the shorter crowd too. But the best part of all, was connecting with the families and seeing all the kids running around having a blast! It's hard to describe the feeling when I see new families meeting up with other experienced families - that's why I do what I do! It makes all the planning worthwile.

And of course, no visit to the Pumpkin Patch would be complete without my nine year old son Xavier, and Ola's 11 year old son Amani, taking turns standing in front of the pumpkin slingshot target to see if they could hit each other with gourds, pumpkins, corn cobs, etc. And I can't remember, was that before or after they were trying to shoot each other out of the slingshot? It's all a blur.

We were Tom & Colleen's final group for the pumpkin season and they were such great hosts. Tom patiently gave hay ride after hay ride to anyone who was interested and maintained a sense of humor throughout the afternoon. A huge thank you to their family for keeping their farm open just for our group.

And another huge huge thank you to everyone who helped out with the day. It was so much fun.