Flat Stanley
It seems as though my first grader is reading about Flat Stanley. This poor boy was flattened to 2D when a bulletin board fell on him at night. And get this, it's supposed to be humorous. I'm thinking nightmare city. What kid will ever want a bulletin board in their room after reading this?
So Stanley's parents mail him to out of town relatives for a visit. Things are getting worse and worse for this poor kid. I'm getting the message that if I'm 2D my parents will look for ways to ditch me. And the USPS is quite handy when you're as thin as paper.
In order for the class to get wholly involved in this, each student will have their own little Flat Stanley. We are to actually mail the paper boy to an out of town relative. We've got the easy part. This relative has to give F. Stanley the grand tour of this new and wonderful city he finds himself in. This relative has the ridiculously insane job of hunting down sights and attractions, gathering brochures and information on them, and mailing all this back. But don't forget to take Stan along when you're getting them because he won't actually see the sights if you don't, and that's the whole point of the project.
What truly worries me is that we live in a rural community. How can I delicately put this? We're one step away from being inbred hillbillies. I know for a fact that there will be a few kids in the first grade who do not have family outside Somerset County. Where will thier little Stanleys go?
**Before anyone jumps all over me, I'm sure that this is a very cute little book and is actually humorous just as described. And this will be incredible fun for the kids to see what is offered outside of Somerset so that when they grow up they'll know to run fast and far. But as I was reading the teacher's letter I couldn't help being struck by the humor in it. Remember, I'm the mom who writes "I need help" notes on the bottom of important papers.
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He's a cool guy, that Stanley. But my son is a bit upset in that only two Stanleys from the class came back. Out of the whole class! (Okay, there are only 18 kids, but still.) I had some wonderful bloggy friends who were willing to help out and volunteer to host Stanley for us if we needed them to. I'm now willing to taking you up on the offer. If someone would graciously send some information I (and Luke's first grade class) would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.
And I want to thank everyone for their kind thoughts while Micah was sick. He's eating and drinking, but not quite making merry. I truly have to thank Hallie for the get-well dance, and Burgh Baby's Mom for appealing to the Flying Spaghetti Monster for this. I am sure he'd probably have been re-hospitalized had it not been for this kind of intervention.
23 comments:
Hi! I am finally getting back to reading my favorite blogs because we too spent some time in the ER this week! I was luckily able to avoid the dreaded hospital stay though. We have been there, done that, more times than I care to count. I am way too familiar with the caged cribs. WAY too familiar. You are so lucky you actually had a bed! We usually end up at Children's (in pgh) and they give you lovely vinyl lounge chairs to spend the night. And we usually have roommates, and they are usually Amish. No offense to the Amish, I respect them, but there are usually MANY of them in the room, they never leave, and it gets very crowded.
So glad all is back on the mend. I would love to help with Stanley. Of course, we are also in hick town PA, so I am not sure how much exciting information I can offer. Just let me know!
I just sent you an email with my address, if you'd like to send Stan my way. I'm also willing to take nay other kids' Stans, since that means an opportunity to explore outside our city, maybe Route 66. But only 2 others, if that's an option. My eyes are bigger than my stomach sometimes. :)
Irene - we've been hospitalized at Childrens PGH before and I know those vinyl lounge chairs well. Thankfully we had the room to ourselves. The Amish are great, but sometimes they don't bathe as regularly as all that so if you didn't have a smell it was a good thing.
Flea - thank you many times over! Luke will be wondrous that his Stanley ended up elsewhere, but thrilled that he's managed to secure stuff.
My kids love Flat Stanley! Glad to hear Micah is feeling better!
Kimmy
Hi Karen, we'd love to host one. As you know my son is in 1rst grade, too. I'll email you my info.
Maria
Oh, Flat Stanley sounds like fun! Want to send him my way?
I would love to host Flat Stanley!!He can come to Mardi Gras with us and chase some chickens. We are kid friendly Mardi Gras!! I will email you my address!! I too live in a small Louisiana town, but I am willing to travel to the "big" city for some great pictures with baby aligators and other fun stuff!! This sounds like so much fun!!!
Oh I forgot, I love your new header!! That is a really cute picture!!
Okay, maybe to make this easy, I will gladly allow Stanley to collect information from any and every city that you all live in and want to share about. If you'd kindly send things directly to his school that would be great.
And for some odd reason I don't feel comfortable posting the address right here so if you'll email me I'll let you know where to forward the Stanley Stuff.
THANKS!
Your Flat Stanley post was one of the first that I read, so I feel very nostalgic about him!!
I'll send you an e-mail with my address in a few minutes. I'd LOVE to host Stanley!!!!
And I love the header. What a great shot of your kids!! They are beautiful!!
Okay, never mind. I don't have your address anymore. E-mail me. goodnightgracie2@yahoo.com
Okay, never mind. I don't have your address anymore. E-mail me. goodnightgracie2@yahoo.com
I like this Flat Stanley - sounds very funny in a nightmareish sort of way. Glad to hear that Micah is doing better - Alexis was up all night throwing up and is home from school today - I guess it's our turn. Take care - Kellan
Hey, you have my email address, right? I'll be happy to host a Stanely or I'd be happy to collect some info and send it along. We recently had monkey named George (but not Curious) spend Thanksgiving weekend with us from Bubba's class, so we know where all the hotspots are now!
we would be happy to do a flat stanley!!! the kids would love it!
I TOLD you my get well dance was a powerful tool!! Yeah for Micah!!
I will continue to do a mini-jig to make sure he keeps moving towards better health!
Hallie :-)
You can save a lot of time and head to a AAA office. Collect maps and tour guide books. If you don't have a membership I'll volunteer for you. Stanley can go far, maybe even across seas!
You should send Stanley to a couple of your blogging neighbors and have them take a picture of Stanley at a local place. Like he really visited there himself. Good luck!
The Flying Spaghetti Monster always comes through.
If you want to send Stanley my way, I can take him to the World Trade Center next Friday. It's going to be cold and muddy, but the flights will be fun.
Burgh - if you'd just collect some info while you're there that would be the most awesome place ever. Maybe I'll bring him along personally. We live within miles of Flight 93, have toured and Pentagon and now the World Trade Center (via F. Stan) would just make Luke's little world complete.
We got a Flat Luke in the mail from my nephew. They had to draw a picture of themselves and mail it. We are semi rural, so no tour. IT was early fall, so DS took him camping and we took some random pictures of scenery around here with him and my DS and emailed them back to the teacher. It was actually fun.
ohhhh! So that's what you're supposed to do with him! One of Justin's cousin's kids sent us a scan of Flat Stanley (a drawing he did himself). But no accompanying story. We had every intention of bringing him to Virgina Beach with us, but totally forgot. We stink.
COOL blog, Karen. It's nice to "meet" you! I checked out your Etsy site. You make such cute stuff. I've often wondered what I'm going to do when I stop homeschooling. Looks like you found something that works for you and makes you happy. That's awesome. Maybe someday it'll happen for me too. Sigh. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
I love th new picture. Your kids are so cute. I see you've got lots of Flat Stanley offers but if you need one from Canada let us know. All my trio did this, and I know they'd love to do another one.
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