To Big

O.K. dude. You are almost 8. Although small for your age, I think when it takes this much work to get out of the car shopping cart you are just too darn big!

Trail Day

Our family and our corresponding dogs have found a very nice trail out in the middle of the desert. Kids and dogs can roam and run free, discovering rocks, desert flowers and of course critter crap. It was an unusually cool and windy day today so we took my sister's dogs to the trail and had ourselves a nice little walk. The ladies and the boys(dogs).

Adeline walking Bruno, Diana walking her foster dog Rusty

Over the bridge, holding hands, holding leashes

My favorite: Rusty, Aunt Di, Adeline, and Bruno. Bruno is even smiling big after his long and exhausting walk

Spikes

It must be the haircut. It's the only thing I can think of that has changed. But this is my extremely cautious boy who never takes too many risks, and is certainly not a dare devil. But he decided to try and climb Aunt Di's tree. Only thing different is his new spiky haircut. Maybe that gave him a little more courage.

It was spring carnival time again for my son's school. Which means lots of fun for the kids, but tons of work as a PTA mom. I emptied and hauled more garbage then I knew what to do with, and stacked chairs and tables and boxes. The end result was happy kids.

Adeline on the pony ride

Carson on the horse

Owl leg painting That was a high school student who did that with no guide!

The crocodile in process

The finished product

The Process

Carson decided that after 9 months of growing out his hair (a few bang trims here and there), that he was ready to cut it. We had a couple of very warm days already out here in the desert and he found his thick head of hair was too hot.

We, of course, documented the occasion.

Before shot:

The mullet, not even attarctive on my son

It's getting there

On the floor. That could make a wig for someone!

The finished product. He looks so much older, where did my baby go?

Pictures

A few of my new favorite pictures

Mama Bear

For me as a child therapist it is almost like being a mother. I am very proud of my clients, I respect them, advocate for them and defend them to the end like I do for my own kids. Thus when I feel they have been mistreated the Mama Bear comes out. So, when I walked into this scene at my office last week, the Mama Bear come out as it did with my co-workers as well, but when Mama Bear really took inventory of the situation, the Mama Bear disappeared and was replaced with hurt and sadness.

Here is the story; I was told on Thursday that my office might be switched. I was asked when so I could have my belongings packed and pictures off my wall. It was suggested that on Saturday before I left for the week would be great. The next day, Friday, I walk in and my office had a desk, bookcase and computer that were not mine. I was told my office was moved, and in 15 minutes I was to start my sessions for the day with no couch, and the disaster that is seen below.

Not only was there no way to make it presentable in 15 minutes, the carelessness that was used to move things was astounding. Pictures the children had made in therapy were crushed, torn, or taped onto each other (see first picture above with torn border). Kids work hard in therapy and are proud to see their theraputic pictures displayed in the office, and now they are crumpled and wrinkled. How can people have such disrespect for these kids, their progress in therapy and in their work, especially when these people moving it work in mental health!! Granted they are not therapists, but they should know the customer base they are serving.

Also, these cooperate people who obviously do not understand their customer base did not given me the opportunity to prepare clients for the upcoming change. Not only is it a new office, with a new shape, and a new hallway, I come out of a totally different door to the waiting room to come and get the child. On Saturday my clients had to experience this change, and let me say, my little Aspie clients had a very difficult time adjusting!

I hear my office has a couch now, and furniture is placed by the wall instead of the middle of the room, but I will not believe anything until I see it with my own eyes on Thursday.