Tuesday 17 July 2012

Bird Is The Word 'Reach' Challenge

Hey girls =) The past fortnight has gone so quickly and already it's time for another challenge at Bird Is The Word. This time around the challenge is to use the word 'reach' somewhere on your layout. And here is my take on it...




This was a somewhat emotional layout for me, so much of what I feel right now was poured into it, I have no objectivity in a scrap sense if it turned out ok or not ( I am thinking not).  I so wanted to add journalling to this but I just had so much I wanted to say that I didn't know where to start. 

This is Mitch, my one and only biological 'baby' ( almost 15) who has had a really rough year at school. With the last few months being particularly tough for him. As adults we have the luxury of being able to distance ourselves from people that are cruel. In high school there is no such luxury. Can you imagine being in a workplace and having to spend eight hours a day around people that called you the most hurtful names, that made you feel worthless, that threatened and inflicted physical violence. And having to do that day after day? It just wouldn't happen would it? But in schools it is different and as I parent I feel so helpless to stop it. My heart breaks for him and what he goes through. Right now I just wish he could just skip that last year and a half and get to the place outside those walls and discover that people generally don't act like animals towards each other. To be free and not have to define himself by the hateful words of others. I wish I had that fast forward button so much!

So anyway...sorry for the doom & gloom. I will be back later in the week with some exciting news to share xox

22 comments:

  1. Hey there..what you have written about here is one of my biggest fears for my children..I think as parents one of our greatest wants is to protect our babies...and when they aren't babies anymore some things are out of our hands and that must be just devastating!! Hang in there, both you, and your boy. Try to find peace in the fact that when he is out of school and into his 20's, none of this will matter, any more. By the way, I think your layout is fantastic, I love all the grungy artsyness...awesome stuff.

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  2. This is a gorgeous layout, Georgia...I, too, love the dirty look here and all the layers. Times are so tough for teens these days. My heart goes out to you and him! I admire him for staying strong, even though it's so hard. Some people are just mean and hurtful. He's lucky to have you to turn to!

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  3. Tough. Awful. Rotters at school...sounds like he's strong enough to cope...sooo hard as a parent...as off if your LO works...of course!!!!! It actually looks like you're building him up with all tose blocks underneath him!!!! I'll find metaphors anywhere if you give me a chance (heehee)....love your use of ink & that washi 'holding it all tegether' :):):):)

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  4. Your page is dynamic. Even with out your story ( sad and disturbing ) it's obvious that there is a lot happening in this LO. I wish you and your lovely boy the best, he will eventually leave these mindless bullies behind.

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  5. HEY G! This Layout is AMAZING (as always)..
    The layers are FAB & the background is AWEEEEEESOME..
    SO SORRY to hear of your boy going though this!! REALLY SUCKS...
    Something I NOT looking forward too when my Kiddies get to this age...
    OH! some exciting to news to share! I will be back to check this O.U.T!! x

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  6. Oh that's terrible :-(. Hope things get better soon, it's not fair :-(
    Gorgeous boy page tho - so much lovely texture!!

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  7. So sorry he is going through this!! I can feel his pain... I was bullied as a teenager too... it's not easy!! I love love love your lo!! So touching and beautiful!

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  8. Stunning layout. Love all of it.
    Would never want to be a teenager again - I know the pain.

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  9. Hi Miss G! when i saw this layout go up in the Bird blog I loved it.. it has such a great male feel to it and you have such a maturity in your scrapping, and I love the use of the word reach... and as for your son.. I hear you.. I have gotten 3 through school and my youngest is still at school... my heart goes out to her the most being my gorgeous girl that she is.. she already has had ugly racism in her young years at school and personally I think it stems from the ignorance of the parents and the home life of the kids.. I sense you have a great relationship with your son and I say keep the communication open with him.. why kids are so mean I do not know, but I do know being mean back to them is not the answer.. I trust your son can stand up for himself and get through his schooling in spite of what goes on around him and become a stronger man for it.. time goes fast and he will soon be out and in the work force before you know it... and I will look forward to your exciting news!! take care..xxlizzy

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  10. I really love this layout and your son looks like a lovely boy. I especially like the layering and I think you've done a great job. My eldest grandson was also bullied right through his first year of secondary school and into the second year, he got through it somehow but I think he's a bit scarred, however a positive came out of it, he's now in Year 10 and is participating in the Peer Support group for the first year students (year 7) and I'm so proud of him for putting some of his time back into the younger students.

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  11. My heart goes out to your son and to you. Doesn't the school have a responsibility to curb ragging (or bullying) ? In India, it is now a punishable offense under law after we saw a spate of suicides brought about by ragging. Hope you find the inner strength to cope with this.
    I love your style of scrapping :)

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  12. This was my favourite of the DT reveals. I'm so sorry to hear about your son's issues at school. It's so true that life gets better once high school finishes.

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  13. Very nice! Sorry to hear about your son's troubles....hoping for the very best!

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  14. Wow your layout is stunning! I love the grungy feel to it. Sometime we don't need to even right the words down we can just look at a layout and know exactly what it means and how it feels. My heart breaks for your son too and all the other teens having to go through this everyday just trying to get an education. Its not fair at all and I am dreading that time for my little ones. My son is in grade two and it absolutely scares me to see what some of these kids say and do at this age...I cant imagine how horrible they will be in high school

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  15. Great layout love all the elements on it. I'm sorry to hear about the troubles your son has to endure. It's unfair and heart wrenching. I don't wish it on any kid and it is up to the parents to educate their children if they are on either side but usually the ones on the bulling side don't give a crap. Which is so unacceptable. Our school had some bulling on facebook and it was terrible. Hope things get better for him.

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  16. What a fab layout. The details and design are just awesome!

    It broke my heart reading about the troubles your son is experiencing. As a teacher, the only advice is to go make yourself be heard to the administration at the school, and keep voicing your concerns until they do something about it, Hugs to you and your son.

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  17. Georgia you poured your emotions and heart into this project! and it came just the way it should be and it looks amazing!
    it is just heartbreaking, I can't imaging what you as a mother feel right now. and your pour little (he is not that little but i know that for you he always will be) boy... i just hope that all your love and support for him will give him strength to get through all this crap and make him a much better person. i wish him that! ♥ and sending you hugs! ♥

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  18. Oh that's so not right...I hope that things will improve at school for him :)

    Your layout is just stunning, Georgia...all I can say is WOW!

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  19. I'm so sorry Georgia to hear about the tough time your son is having.
    Bullying is hideous, so damaging and unacceptable.
    I really hope things improve for him soon.

    Your layout BTW is incredible. The background, colours and page design are amazing!

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  21. such a heartfelt post Georgia - it can be so tough but I hope things improve. Your LO is just fabulous - love the design.

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