Have you ever seen this movie? Its a couple years old, but I just heard about it recently. The tiny actress who plays Phoebe is Dakota Fanning's sister, Elle and she reminded me so much of Sugarwings that I teared up many times while watching it.
Do you see the resemblance? But mostly it was an attitude and the mesmerized, happy look on her face when she was watching something she loved. My little Fairy Grand Baby has that look. And the ability to be totally lost in the wonderland of her imagination. Also, the tousled hair, and mis-matched clothes. Just adorable.
But sadly, Sugarwings also has a hard time dealing with others sometimes. Not OCD and Tourettes like the girl in the movie, but still some problems that are getting harder for her as she gets older.
The other day, she broke my heart by telling me that she is different from everyone else, and can't do anything right. At four years old??? With all the love and attention and understanding that we surround her with, she is already feeling like this before she has even started kindergarten?
Yes, my heart still hurts from hearing her words and knowing that life isn't going to be a breeze for her. Luckily, the very things that make her different will also be what makes her strong and will get her through.
She has an amazing imagination and overflows with joy and boundless energy. Her emotions are strong, she is loyal, artistic, smart, and loving.
It will be up to her extended family to make sure that she finds the right learning environment that takes advantage of her skills and lets her be her own wonderful self.
Sorry, first I write a post about cleaning a closet and now I tell you how sad this movie made me, these aren't the kind of posts you come here for, huh? I promise to come up with some pretty pictures and a happy tale soon.
But honestly, life with Sugarwings, while it might be a roller coaster, is a happy tale. I have faith that she is going to be spectacular. And I want her to know that too and believe in herself.
Someday, when she is grown up, I hope she reads my archives and knows that Grams always believed in her.
Hey doll
wow is right.
sugarwings looks just like her.
i will have to try to rent it
ooxxoox,
jessi
She is absolutely beautiful! And ever so lucky to have you in her life!
I see the ressemblance..Don’t worry sugarwings will be a princess and a bright star in the world.She already is.She’ll get along better with others once she’s in school.We had the same problem with the twins Brianna wanted to be in her own world and was so bright we thought she would have trouble but after being in kindergarten for a few months she was one of the most popular kids.Warm Blessings!~Amy
I also see the resemblence. She is a tresure and so very lucky to have a loving, caring and talented Grams!
Haven’t heard of that movie – will have to check on it!Definitely a resemblance there.
I’m sure that made you sad to hear, but I think that’s not unusual at that age. Four is quite different from Three, but the highly gifted always stand out and it sounds like she’s beginning to recognize this. (When I was studying “Education for the Gifted” we learned that the highly gifted are sometimes considered just as ‘abnormal’ as the other extreme!) With all the love and support she receives, she should be fine, although she’ll find challenges along the way. Just hope she doesn’t get “squashed” in school!
Jane-Jacksonville
Karla,
This maks my heart hurt! I understand what she means about being different. I used to get that all the time when I was young. Part of it is being a creative person. That’s remarkable not different.
You know that Jennifer has had to deal with this all her life, too. I have just told her that the people who say these things are the one with the problem! They don’t understand that it is best to an individual. Kids are so cruel I could never understand why they are. I guess it is being honest to a fault.
Some of those kids will go on to live mundane lives where Suarwings will find life exciting and new because she isn’t afraid to do and see all the exciting things life has to offer.
Here’s to you Sugarwings you’re a sweetie. Poohy on the others!!
Hugs,
Sandy
I have not yet seen this movie but after reading your very touching post I most certainly will. I also am new here so do not know of the trials of Sugarwings but it sounds like she has a loving family and a super loving grandmother and in love there are miracles! Don’t ever apologize for sharing your feelings, your life and your love… that’s what blogland and all it’s followers are here for… the good and the sometimes not so good… to listen. I cannot wait to ready more of your blog posts now more than ever… too much sugar is not good without a little vinegar. There needs to be a balance or how would we know that the sugar is sweet… yin yang.
Sugarwings is so very grown-up to understand how she feels…there are so many school options that take into consideration her personality and learning style..I’m sure with you as part of her extended family, she will never be lost…take care..I enjoy reading whatever you write Karla…
Hi Karla, From what you have shared about Sugarwings she sounds incredibly gifted. It breaks your heart when you try your best to lift your children up and rejoice in their unique abilities and somehow society manages to creep in and cast doubts.All you can do is love her and keep telling her how special she is,different does not mean deficient. We are all human beings who write these blogs and we all have stories…sharing them is just a way of expressing our humanity. Write on, the good and the not so good, I hear you and I understand.
That’s a beautiful post and there is no doubt that as she grows older she will treasure every word from you.
This caught my eye because my youngest daughter resembles Dakota Fanning so much that when ‘Signs’ came out all my family was telling me about the resemblance. Recently a teacher said the same thing, comparing her at 14 to how Dakota Fanning looks. That’s pretty fun.
Your Sugarwings is such a little angel. Just coming from a family where creativity is praised and nourished will go a long way. My parents were good that way, and though I wasn’t always accepted by classmates, at home my siblings and I flourished, and that was more important. It also sounds like she may have a perfectionist idea of how things would turn out (especially if she’s comparing herself to the adults). Let her know that goofing up is part of creativity too, maybe even show her something you ‘goofed up’ on, and how you handle it or redo it.
My youngest son was such a joy to have around. He had that wonderful, wild imagination and was always able to entertain himself. But school is so hard for these kids emotionally because of the rigid structure. They are so unhappy to have to stop doing something they enjoy and move to the next thing on the agenda. My guy realized that he didn’t fit and was misunderstood at about that same age. He saw that teachers and coaches usually don’t appreciate those that don’t fit in the box. A lot of time he was considered slow, even though his grades were good and he tested high…just because he appeared “lost in space” so much of the time. As a result he always hated school. It’s a really hard thing to watch your little sweeties have such a difficult time.
She will be spectacular because she is…simple as that!
Debbie
You are so open in sharing this. I know it will help someone to know that life isn’t all a fairy tale at your house!
Sugarwings is surrounded by so much love and creativity. She will find her way with the help of all who love her.
Karla,
This post really hits home for me. My daughter, Lauren, was fine until she started preschool and found out she wasn’t O.K. by establishment standards. My daughter, who is now 26, does not view school as having been a place that nourished her spirit.
We’ve talked about it and I sometimes wish I had home schooled her. Although it would have been hard, since I worked full time. It really makes me feel bad that she had such a difficult sad school experience, never feeling like she fit in with the norm.
She feels that while it was rough, she did learn how to get along with different types of people. She is very intelligent and gets along well with her coworkers, especially the difficult ones.
~elaine~
Amazing resemblance!!! I will find this movie and watch it. Sugarwings will grow up being a trendsetter because she is so creative, and this will serve her well, finding a school, environment, that supports her will be the hard part, however with your help and her loving parents I have no doubt she will have no problems achieving this, half the problem is to quit worrying, and that is so hard to do.
Celeste,www.victoriantailor.blogspot.com
Dear Karla–oh yes it hurts, hearing a small one saying those words —
Mathilde complains about girls, telling her -not nice things!! I hope she will learn ,they are the “bad and small ” ones, and not her!
Growing a bit older, meeting more friends, I hope will do the big difference- also for your wonderfull Sugarwings.
Hugs,Dorthe
Karla:
Your post about Sugarwings brought so many “familiar” thoughts and anxieties back into my head as I also experienced heartache and heartbreak with my own daughter, Sarah. I always said that she walked to the beat of a different drummer. School was a struggle at best for her, she always had her own thoughts and agenda and it NEVER complied with what the school had in mind for her. At the school she went to, they relished the “gifted” and basically ignored anyone who had any slight issues with learning. There were many, many heartbreak years for her and our family; however, I am now finally able to say that she has finally come into her own. She just turned 21 years old, two weeks ago finished a 10-month program in cosmeteology and is now ready to start to enter the working world and boy does it feel good. She is going to set the world on fire, and she is finally believing in herself and seeing things in herself that me and my family have always seen and loved. My heart still hurts for her for the struggles she has had to endure, but seeing her now and with her realizing that she can truly do what she wants to in life, makes it all worthwhile. Keep your chin up and never stop believing in Sugarwings, because in the end, I feel in my heart she will be just fine!
I watched this movie last year. It was hard to watch. Sugarwings will be fine. The worst part about children and I’m assuming grandchildren is that we want to take the hurt away from them and for them. She’ll come out stronger on the other end but I hate that she has to realize that she’s been made to feel “different.” In my book, different is what YOU want to be. Anyone, can be by the book. With her family and you as her “fairy” God-granny I think she’ll be fine. She’ll find her way. She’s just more magical then the average kid.
Cheers, Karla. – Kathy
Morning Karla…we who follow your blog,love how you share with us….it makes you who you are & very charming…just like your lovely Sugarwings…what & agreat world that we are all different…how dull & boring if we were all the same…thought for the day,from my unique girlfriend…BLESSED ARE THE CRACKED,FOR THEY ARE THE ONES WHO LET IN THE LIGHT….good one eh!!!from you Canadian follower …Lorraine
Oh Karla, this post brought tears to my eyes, and it has reminded me of a conversation that I had with my aunt, a few days ago, about unconditional love. We were talking about some of the harder times in life, and both of us agreed that it was my aunt’s mother, my grandmother, who taught us how to love. No matter what, we always knew we were loved, and that we mattered within our family. My grandma never ever gave up on a person she loved. Knowing that you are valuable and a part of a person’s heart, can get you through so much in life.
Your fairy grandbaby is beautiful in the way that reminds me of wildflowers, baby deer and butterflys. I immediately thought of Tom Petty’s words…”You belong among the wildflowers, in a place where you can be free.” I hope the world will treat your baby girl gently, and that she will always see the world through her heart. Life can be harder for those who do, but so much richer, too.
xo
Hi Karla! Fairies are not like everyone else. That’s what makes them special. You were not specific about the difficulties Sugarwings is having. Sometimes diet &/or medication can be helpful. Whatever her probs may be, for sure she does have a loving, understanding family and that will go a long way in helping her to cope with and manage her problems. Many a famous and successful person will admit that things were difficult when they were young, either b/c of the way they looked, a learning disability, or some other adversity. It could be that the adversity is what helped propel them to greatness… This is what we hope for Sugarwings. May I just say that before I actually began reading your blog, I just gazed at the pictures of Sugarwings and thought she was just the most adorable child I’d ever seen since my own was little. I didn’t realize she was actually related to you until I began reading your blogs–and then I noticed a strong physical resemblance between you and her. You are both beautiful. I feel another potential book subject coming on…
Sugarwings will soar because of the love of her family. Whatever you write, I enjoy coming and getting another glimpse at a wonderfully talented, loving and caring woman.
Sugarwings is just gorgeous and what a striking resemblance!! I know it must have been a little shocking and difficult to hear that from her, but I too believe with all the love and support in your family, she will be able to deal with anything that may come her way!
You simply must know that you can write about anything at all that you want to in your posts, and run the gamut of topics if you so desire, because we will read, enjoy, and understand no matter what. Because your blog is that beautiful.
OK, it’s getting a little clearer. I will trust that as things evolve, she will indeed find the strength and skills to handle whatever is put in front of her. Having a strongly supportive fairy grandmommy may be the best thing ever.
I don’t know this movie (though the resemblance between the two girls is startling) but I must check it out — my cousin’s son grew up with OCD and Tourette’s and it was a real struggle, often a painful one. But now at 21 and in college, he’s hanging in there. Stories like that give me hope for every child.
Dear Sister;
Do not dispare as Sugarwings will be fine and she will be educated by all of the people that love and adore her ( especially her Gunkles! ) She is a precious angel-fairy and anytime she wants to spend time with the Gunkles we welcome the opportunity to have her visit. I guess you and Rich can come too? Sugarwings stole my heart and she will always be so very special to me, so keep this in mind when you start to worry, ( Loving her spirit and gift of animation and story telling ability, and she is going to be quite a FABULOUS entertainer ( she gets that from me! Duh! )There will be nothing holding her back. We all grew up with issues of some kind but we overcame them all and turned out pretty to be darn good people!)Sorry I just giggled for a moment. ( Did I really just say “Darn” ew!) Only u know why!) Sugarwings is a true blessing from God!
Love you – your favorite brother!
Randy if u did not know! Ha!
Never heard of the movie before, either, until your post. I watched it tonight, thinking of you and Sugarwings.
It made my heart heavy, thinking about being so unknown to yourself or those you most desperately want to understand. Terrified of being, ashamed of not being; mad at what is less, empty for what is not.