The Super Friends, courtesy of The Short One (and Daddy).This was completely rendered using the touchpad on our MacBook - not bad, eh?
I'm particularly fond of Wonder Woman.
(The skinny dude next to her is Aquaman, in case you were wondering.)
It's been so long since the Short One's actual birthday, I decided to change the theme of the annual giveaway (plus, I think the SO would be insulted if anyone were to suggest that he just turned four - he's been four for a long time now, practically forever, thank you very much).
Superheroes are a big theme here right now, and, to tell you the truth, we're in need of superheroes at the moment. I've been sort of debating all along what to say and not to say about our circumstances right now. This blog is technically part of my home, and of course, I routinely share family stories here. However, this one is rather personal, and it's not really my story to tell - it belongs to my son. That being said, I think I can at least share this much.
The SO ended up having an unwelcome birthday surprise this year. Shortly after he turned four, I took him to his pediatrician for what I thought was going to be a routine physical. However, within a few hours of that visit he had to be admitted to the hospital and by that night he was definitively diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.
The SO was Not Happy in the hospital, to put it mildly (and who can blame him?), but the Peds Ward had a lending library of videos to distract the patients. I ended up grabbing every Scooby-Doo movie he hadn't already seen - and I also found a copy of a Super Friends video containing a selection of episodes from one of the original versions of the show (the Legion of Doom series) from the mid-70s.
To say that the SO - who up to that point had not so much as heard the word "superhero" - became immediately obsessed with all things Super Friends-related would be an understatement. We live and breathe superheroes night and day right now. We have serious conversations about the fact that "Lex Luthor is Superman's anemone" and its implications. We discuss in intricate detail options for this year's Halloween costume (curiously enough, Robin seems to be winning so far). We develop long and involved hypotheses concerning what kind of pet accompanies Aquaman (since Superman has Krypto and Batman has Ace the Bathound, after all).
And we love it. Despite the irony, I can't think of anything better in which to have the SO's imagination wrapped up than strong characters who are always brave in the face of adversity (even if they do wear their undergarments on the outside) as he goes through this major life change.
Which brings us to this giveaway. Here's the prize:
As you can see, my floating box pendant has no relation to superheroes, sadly (although I suppose you could say that the sea glass is sort of a kryptonite green, eh?). I had this in mind from last year as the prize for the SO's giveaway - mostly because I designed this pendant originally for my mother, who wanted something reminiscent of a locket that could contain the SO's photo. This version has a shallow square bezel on the back in which you can paste a photo.
Now the SO always gets a kick out of selecting the winner of these contests, so I thought that, to make it more fun for him, I'd have a new rule for this year. In order to enter, you must let the SO know who your favorite superhero (or supervillain, we are equal opportunity on this point) is in your comment below this post. Comments which do not meet this requirement will not be entered in the giveaway. I'm sure he will be tickled to see which hero (or villain) wins the contest. (Me, I'm rooting for Batman.)
My other usual rules apply. If you leave a comment using the "Anonymous" option (ie, if you are not registered with Blogger), be sure to write your name at the bottom so I know who entered. You must return to the blog at the end of the contest to see if you won - I will not contact the winner by email.
The contest will end on Saturday, March 20th. I will post the name of the winner at that time with instructions on how to claim the prize.
Thanks for continuing to check in with me - I appreciate it.
42 comments:
i am so sorry about the diagnosis... it can be overwhelming and i hope you have a doctor you are comfortable with...
but this is wonderful! i have a children with serious medical issues and we have the superhero obsession too - books from b&n - the marvel and dc encyclopedias... serious stuff, really... my kids are a bit older so they have watched all of the xmen movies, and the good ones that have been rolling out... funny thing, melissa - in a bigger picture, i saw the trend of these movies coming out to be representative of people needing not only an escape, but heroes... if only pretend and if only for a few hours... the first spiderman came out in 2002... for spiderman 3 we went to the museum of natural history in nyc and saw toby maguire (who was there for his movie and a spider exhibit) so i will return, as i cannot just rattle one off - have to think on this serious question...
oh, we are huge star wars fans too...
Favorite Superhero - Hmmm. Mine or my son's? He has gone through most of the usual ones. Batman has been the most enduring favorite, although he too insisted on being Robin one year. Superman took a while. The most interesting was probably the year he fixated on, and insisted on being, the Green Lantern, despite the fact that our family is most definitely... white. We ended up making his ring because we couldn't find a good one. My personal favorite, though? Definitely Wonder Woman. I had a Wonder Woman bathing suit when I was about 7 that I wore with a red plastic headband that had the right pointed shape on one side. Of course I put a gold star on the headband and wore it down on my forehead. And my jumprope was my golden lasso with which I perpetually tried to force my little brother to tell the truth as I pranced around in my winter boots in July! SO will come through this! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. My hopes are on that pendant! ;-) Mary-Ann
I'm glad the SO is okay and I feel for you; it's hard on the parents to have a child in the hospital.
As for my favorite superhero, I have to go with Spiderman. My brothers and I would watch the cartoons on Saturday morning and then run around pretending we could shoot webs and capture each other like Spiderman. Sometimes we even pretended we could climb the walls like him. :)
Gorgeous piece Melissa! The green glass glows-at least on my monitor-it could be Green Lantern if you are not happy with the kryptonite angle! Love SO's art!!!!!I would love to see it marketed:D My favorite super hero would have to be Batman. I guess because I watched it way back when grey tights were in. But Batman has ALL the cool gadgets, modes of transportation and his villians are most interesting - although I guess they all share them. Plus he gets better looking don't you think? Batman also has Alfred and Alfred is just the coolest dude around!
What a rotten birthday surprise! I'm glad you were able to turn it around with the superhero movies.
As far as superheros, I tend to root for the underdog (mainly because I can relate), but I think my favorite would be Wonder Woman. Or maybe Luke Skywalker.
I love the pendant! Crossing my fingers that I win!
Alice
thepetersons13@mchsi.com
My favorite superhero is the Green Lantern, because there wasn't just one Green Lantern (like Bruce Wayne is always Batman and Clark Kent is ALWAYS Superman). My favorite Green Lantern was Hal Jordan. The Green Lantern Corps are the coolest intergalactic police force EVER. And the power ring is awesome. I'm a comic book fan still and I'll never grow out of it.
And tell the SO that his crappy diagnosis just puts him one step closer to being a super hero himself. Superheros always have difficulties in real life anyways.
Hey, MJ - thanks, and I am very sorry to hear about your family woes, too. I've rapidly become educated in the ways of superhero merchandising for pre-schoolers. We have the Learn to Read Books and a couple of the Fisher-Price toys, and I've been hunting high and low for any discontinued Krypto the Superdog figures...
Thanks, Ashley - we think so, too.
Really, thanks to everyone for their kind comments. (M-A, I knew you would say Wonder Woman!)
What a great way to get through this time with SO! I think that the Superheroes is something we could all use right about now.
I remember watching all the Super Friends on Saturday mornings, and my son Sport-O when he was SOs age, was enamored with the Rescue Heroes (do they make those anymore? You should look into them, they had videos too.)
Do you remember Electra Woman and Dyna Girl? Couldn't get enough of them. They were powerful and strong and had some cool spandex outfits. They had an Electracar they rode around in, and they had cool jobs as reporters when they weren't solving crimes.
I also loved the WonderTwins. Always wanted a twin that could turn himself into some form of water and me into an animal of my choosing. They had a cool ring that they fist pumped and said, "WonderTwin powers..Activate!" And then Zan would say "Form of a glacier!" and Jayna would shout "Shape of an eagle!" And they would be off to foil the bad guys.
I wish you and SO so much power through the superheroes. Let him know that I think that he is a superhero for all that he is going through (and so is his mom).
Enjoy the day, Melissa! That was fun!
Erin
I hope the Short One's doing ok. And I'm glad he discovered superhero's at the right time :)
Can we include the X-Men? If so, I'd go for Wolverine. If not, probably Batman - I really liked the Dark Knight version.
Christy
Wonder Woman, of course! & happy belated Bday, so :)
My favorite superhero would be Wonder Women, coming of age in the 70's was all about women learning to be more adventurous.
My prayer is for your SO to have peace and courage as he learns to adapt in ways that control his disease.
Diabetes is difficult enough as an adult, let alone for a 4 year old. My mom has it and my grandmother and great grandmother too, so I am trying to do all the right things to avoid it, but that family history is hard to ignore.
Are Josie and the pussy cats super-heros? I don't think they qualify, so I'd have to go with cat woman, who is super sexy in that suit! Love that pendant-hope I win!
Tough diagnosis for the Short One- and tough for mom and dad too. SuperHeros are wonderful, aren't they? I have three boys so we love our superheros. I would have to say as a child, I loved UnderDog. But my boys loved Batman....
I'm so sorry about SO's diagnosis. I hope he's doing okay.
Let's see...superheros...would you say Inspector Gadget counts? If so, he's my favorite. If not, I'll go with Spiderman.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Hannah B.
Sorry about your son's diagnosis-children are very adaptable and he will adjust and become a superhero.
My superhero is Joker from the batman movies.
Elaine R
emrosser@shaw.ca
Poison Ivy. Without a doubt. Curvy, redheaded, and environmentally aware! Although Harley Quinn also rocks! Catwoman?! Clearly I have a certian rapport with Batman villians/femme fatales. I am an adult, I really am. I dont have kids, just a comic fan husband.)
Hope the SO adjusts quickly, smoothly, healthily to this new twist...
The SO is remarkable. He's my superhero.
Second would be Iron Man. He's a genius. He can take something from nothing and make it into something extraordindary.
Isn't that what we do as designers and artists?
I am so glad you found about the diabetes now when you can control it better. I am really sorry the poor little guy has to deal with something so unpleasant though. I will believing in strength and miracles for your family.
My favorite super hero is Wolverine.
I'm so sorry to hear that that your SO has to deal w/anything out of the "norm". A friend of mine has been going thru that recently, too. In the beginning, all of the info is mind boggling, but eventually, that will become the "norm".
My superhero is Superman - dealt w/many foes, even in real life!
Hoping you & your superhero stay strong & laugh lots!
One favorite superhero is Bat Girl because she is a librarian as is my oldest daughter.
I hope your son adjusts quickly to his new routine. Kids are more adaptable than we are!
Your pendant is beautiful!!
Our first short one's favorite superhero at around that age --well past four :)! was "The CREDIBLE Hulk" as he called him-- and we have the drawings to prove it! He still loves comics and at 32 he is raising his two sons to love them as well! I love what he loves!
And I love Toby, a great kid, too!
This is a gorgeous pendant, Melissa! Hugs to you all, jean!
Superman is my favorite! My warm wishes to you and your son and the rest of the family to see you through it all. Like Superman your son will prevail. Hugs!
My favorite superhero is Captain Jack Harkness, followed *very* closely by Doctor Who. I confess a penchant for a British accent!
edie
My favorite super hero is wonder woman ! Thanks.
ferdiemehta AT gmail dot com
oh the poor kid! My thoughts with with you all as you navigate thru this. A good friend of mine's son was diagnosed with JD when he was 2 or 3. At 18, he STILL occasionally thinks he's Superman and doesn't monitor himself like he should. Good thing he has SuperMom to nag him about it LOL.
When I was a little girl my favorite comic book heroine was the Black Canary. I dont know if she still exists today. I liked her martial arts butt kicking. Also Wonder Woman because she was a brunette and and Amazon.
I hope your son is managing his diabetes. I love superheroes, my favorite would probably be wolverine. I really like poison ivy, superman, jean grey, and hellboy too though.
I am sorry you and your husband and your son have to deal with childhood diabetes. But I know you will find ways to make it doable. You are all so courageous and such good problem solvers. I know the little ones closest to me, grandsons, love Spiderman best of all, so that is who I will vote for.And for the artwork, like all you do it is so very fine.
Melissa, I'm so sorry to hear of SO's diagnosis. My nephew was diagnosed at 3 years. It's a hard thing to live with, but I know you are a great mom and will give him everything he needs to have a great life!
So sorry for the SO's diagnosis but I'm sure you'll both persevere. How great you found a distraction for him! But it may be lifelong...my 37 yr. old son still loves superheroes, his favorite being Green Lantern. I'd have to pick Wonder Woman for her awesomeness and because we watched that show together when he(we) were growing up. Beautiful piece, by the way.
Sorry about the diagnosis. I have 14 grandchildren and it always is heartbreaking to have to deal with health issues. Best of luck and strength to all of you. Thanks for a chance on the pendant. It's wonderful
chris
I'm a new reader here, and I really appreciate the way in which you've written about your son and his diabetes. I am writing more and more often about my children on my blog, and like you, I want to respect their privacy as well as be genuine in my writing. I have two daughters, so I have to say Wonder Woman - unless you count Food Network Superheroes such as Iron Chef Cat Cora, Michael Simon, or the host of Dinner Impossible Robert Irvine.
My favourite villian is the Riddler - he had the best costume on the original Batman series. Favourite superheo would be Robin - he always had to try harder, since he was always in BM`s shadow.
My son is heavily into Bakungon and Pokemon - a whole new set of goodies and baddies.
Hi there! I'm so sorry to hear about your SO, but thanks for sharing the story. I hope the SO is doing well and adjusting!
I'd have to say my favorite superhero is Wonder Woman... she was about girl power before it was cool to be a strong woman!
What a birthday present for SO :( But on the bright side, this does give him the chance to be a superhero himself. As far as my favorite superhero, it would be Gambit from X-men
It would have to be Wonder Woman - and i have a good feeling there are many among us!
What a nice blogging page! I discovered it through about.com's jewelry making. 4 is such a wonderful age! I think I would have to place my vote for Superman. Why? Because he is timeless; he can be retold in numerous ways, in numerous books, comic books & movies, but in the end he is still our wonderful Superman. My son wore his Superman pajamas until the ankle bands came up several inches beyond the ankles & then he finally outgrew them altogether. We went on to other superheroes but Superman was the first & best :) I hope you always remember your superheroes little man & never forget how to play & pretend! :):) All the best, Laura C
(p.s. my little boy is now a grown man, but you know what little guy? He still has a soft spot for the superheroes. So enjoy being 4 & beyond! Smiles to you!)
So sorry. Kind of like my Halloween diagnois of Multiple Scelerosis but hoepefully he gets to live it longer. I was 43 when it happened.
Green Lantern I think I am showing my age with that one.
Jean Delaney
When I was little, I wanted to be Wonder Woman. I would pretend to have an invisible plane and a magic rope.
So sorry about SO's diagnosis, but you should really be glad you know so that you can deal with it. I love the idea of a give-a-way on his birthday every year. What an awesome way to mark the event. The piece you are giving is gorgeous! Thank you for the opportunity to win it.
Yvette F.
I hate to hear about your son. It is tough when the little ones are sick. I have to go with Batman and Robin. Those two were one of my childhood favorites as well as my grandson's favorite. I never missed a Batman show with Adam West as Batman (tells you how old I am). I would love to win your lovely pendant.
My son is 21 now so I guess he is his own superhero ha. This piece is beautiful. I'd love to own it.
I have missed your posts. I am glad you are back and the SO is out of the hospital.
My favorite superhero was always Spiderman, though I read all of Captain America in the 70s. He didn't have the staying power of Batman, Superman or Spiderman. Maybe it was the overt patriotism.
I loved the Superfriend show as well. Especially Wonder Woman's invisible plane. Why could we see her and only the outline of the plane. Interesting choice on how to illustrate it.
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