Gobble Gobble Crafts!

My handprint turkey apron & my little boy - who was in pirate mode.
The handprints & feathers- pre- sewing.

One of my biggest fears prior to Will's birth & even his first year of life was as to how I would handle "handprint" & "footprint" crafts. I knew they would be inevitable in preschool!

In fact, just this week, in an online support group I've joined for parents of kids with limb differences, a mom was sharing her hurt at a song & craft her daughter had participated in at school. She felt the teacher was insensitive by doing an activity involving 10 fingers when one student only has 5 fingers. (The daugher was fine- it was the mom's issue, by the way.)

The fact is, our world is made up mostly of people with 10 fingers & 10 toes. While it may hurt to sometimes realize we aren't in the "norm," I have to raise Will to live in this world. I'm not going to pretend that people don't have fingers or toes. I'm not ashamed of him & I'm not going to protect him from that realization. He can participate- his prints just look different. (Not to say that it doesn't hurt me sometimes...)

I am so thankful for his Sunday School teachers & my friends who have not shied away from these crafts & songs. I am so thankful for their sensitivity in letting me know ahead of time so that my heart is prepared or in the way they seek my advice as to how best to include Will in such crafts and songs. I am thankful that they invite me over and help me with the creativity it sometimes takes to make Will's handprints still look like a reindeer or turkey or whatever. I am thankful that I can experience these firsts among friends- rather than protecting myself & not doing them until he hits school.

So, at a friend's house this week, we made turkey hand print shirts/towels/aprons, etc. I can't wait to proudly wear my apron every Thanksgiving as I cook!