What a Difference a Day Makes....

Things are starting to look up around here....... 

Sir Steve went to see a job counselor on Monday..... on Tuesday at 7:00 a.m. he gave a neighbour a copy of his resume .... at 8:15 he got a phone call from the company ... at 9:00 a.m. he had a job interview.... at 9:30 he had a job and starts on Monday morning!!


I've always believed 99% of jobs are a matter of being at the right place at the right time.  It just so happened the job Sir Steve got was vacant and they needed someone immediately.   It certainly didn't hurt that a neighbour who works there recommended him.  The stars were aligned and everything fell into place and just like that things are starting to look up.

We're making plans again.

We're laughing again.

The stress/anxiety is virtually gone.

Just like that (insert snap of fingers)

 
 

It was the worst of times..... it was the best of times

I had an emotional meltdown over the weekend........ a pretty major one.

Sir Steve has been waiting and waiting and waiting for responses to quotes he put out for work.  I had a bad feeling about one of the two.  My gut told me the guy really can't afford the work that needs to be done.  The best chance of the two quotes still hasn't panned out.  Sir Steve has followed up -- but they are still deciding.  It's another BIG job with BIG $$ attached to it.

And so the pressure started to build as the month of April was coming to an end.  No money coming in ..... and no money insight.

By Saturday I was so anxious and stressed I couldn't hold it together anymore. It all came spilling out -- I begged him to go find steady work -- something that would guarantee a pay cheque every two weeks -- at least until his business started bringing in some money. Sir Steve took me on a road trip to visit with my eldest daughter.  Her job is marketing.   She has a helluva lot more experience than I do in that field. 

Even the visit with eldest daughter didn't ease my anxiety.

Every time Sir Steve tried to talk to me all I could do was cry.  

By Sunday night I realized even when he was working with / for the contractor I was anxious.  The contractor never paid on any schedule.  We never knew when one job finished if there would be another.  The contractor had no sense of 'time off' - he would text at 6 in the morning or 9 at night.  He would text on weekends.  AND he got bent out of shape when Sir Steve needed to leave work to go to court -- or refused to work 12 to 14 hour days because he wanted to spend time with his daughter.

It was like everything built up inside of me ... and it all exploded out over the weekend.  

Despite the meltdown -- we got all the stuff moved out of my apartment into Sir Steve's house. (I still need to sort through boxes that were thrown in the basement) BUT all my stuff is now here.

Today I am exhausted - mentally and physically.  Sometime over the weekend Sir Steve wrapped his arms around me and promised me he would go to the employment agency on Monday morning and start finding work....... somewhere anywhere.... so there's a pay cheque coming in regularly.  Sir Steve has never broken a promise to me... not once.  So this morning he got up -- got cleaned up and dressed and has gone to the employment agency.

I told him I don't want him to give up his dreams of building his home renovation business...... I told him I am more than willing to take more responsibility for the lil one .. that I don't even mind if he works on weekends.  I will support whatever it takes for however long it takes to see if his business can get off the ground.  Just please let's have a steady income to cover bills.

I believe the love we have for each other will get us through this tough time.  I believe we are both willing to compromise and work together to make a much better life for us -- as a family -- and as a couple.

And that is a very good thing!

Another Block

I have been struggling.  Honestly I thought I had healed all the damage from the past.  BUT it would seem there are still some areas that need work.

Sir Steve's business took a sharp and quick down turn.  He has run out of contracts.  He hasn't been working for the last 2 weeks.

AND yes I know this happens when you own your own business -- when you are starting your own business.  

But my stomach is in knots.  There are bills to pay .... and dreams to live.  The dreams can easily be put on hold...... the bills not so much.

I told him in an emotional outburst how I was feeling.  He soothed me and told me it was gonna be ok.  I fussed over his being ok.  He reassured me he was ok.  He believes things will pick up again quite quickly.  I am stressing over this -- cause I don't think he's telling me the truth.  I think he's telling me what I want to hear.  I think he is worrying and not telling me.

Cause ya see -- in the past I was always the last to know.......... 
(and yeah it wasn't the same thing at all !!  BUT I still believe everyone is keeping secrets from me)

I thought I had beaten my 'trust issues' I really did.  AND I know if he was sitting here right now he would say "What is my name??!!"  but honestly it wouldn't help ....... 

What will help is another contract -- work -- and money coming in........... 

and just maybe it would help if I learned to fully and completely trust him and what he tells me........... (thanks to all who came before for stealing my trust) 

Saying goodbye

Yesterday was my last day with my lil guy at school.  He is so very ready to move forward on his own.  Oh the progress he has made!!  When I told him I was leaving he was quite upset and sputtered about how he loved me and I couldn't leave -- but finished up with "Well you have to give me a letter".  

I had no idea what he meant by that -- but it planted a thought in my head.  I decided I would give him a goodbye card.  Last week I took a couple of 'selfies' of the two of us together and made him a little card .. on the front I wrote "Oh the places you'll go" and inside I wrote "Kid you'll move mountains" (quotes from Dr. Seuss).  I don't know if he'll even remember he asked for a "letter" but I feel good about doing this for him.  

This lil guy WILL go places and move mountains and I am so very happy I got to spend these last few months helping him find his feet - so to speak.

And now I am ready to go places and move my own mountains.........
(there is always another child waiting just around the corner -- a child who needs to find their independence... their confidence )

Cure for Boredom

I am pretty sure I mentioned here that I went looking for part time substitute work to try and cure my boredom -- and to fight the 'sads' that come with winter.

I received a phone call from my boss a couple of weeks ago - she needed someone to work with a Kindergarten kiddy who has spina bifida and is confined to a wheel chair. She sang my praises -- said I was the perfect fit for this lil guy who desperately needed to learn how to socialize with other children.  All I could think was -- in 30 years I never worked with a child in a wheel chair -- and definitely never changed diapers.  

I took some time to think about it -- went in to school and met him and followed his shadow for a couple of hours. And thought about it some more.

I agreed to do it one day at a time -- if I wasn't comfortable with him then I wouldn't do it -- even if it was only for the 2 weeks till the holidays. 

Well I am on my second week with him.  He touched something deep inside of me -- the same spot that led me - 30 years ago - to working with my "special kids"  And I knew this was what I wanted -- no needed -- to do.

On Wednesday I asked my boss if she still needed someone to work with this lil guy in the new year -- to help integrate him into the classroom -- to help him make friends -- to help him learn some basic social skills and she did.

So as of  Jan 9th I will be working 5 days a week for a couple of hours every morning....... 

I realized that boredom is more than having nothing to do -- it is (at least for me) needing to feel like I am contributing / making a small difference. 

Busy Bee

Today is gonna be short and sweet.

I have had an amazingly busy week so far.  I worked Monday to Wednesday in the afternoon.  In the mornings I either ran messages or did Christmas baking.  AND Hands gave me a 'task' to do on top of it all. (not that I am complaining!!)

Wasn't I complaining just a short while ago that I was dying of boredom?? 

And I will confess to you all -- I have reached a point in my "naughty girl list" that is difficult for me to write about ....... the 'good girl' is having difficulty finding the right words.......... but I will get back to it.........

Now I am off -- I am working an early morning shift today...... and then off till Monday.

Feeling Safe

There have been some changes around here -- and we all know how well I deal with change!

First I have been looking for part time work -- subbing to be exact.  It has taken a lot for me to interview for jobs.  After 30 years you think I would have a little more confidence in myself ...... in myself as an educator.  But I don't.  I got one job -- and actually subbed for them on Monday.  Then yesterday I interviewed at another school that morphed into two schools and both hired me.  So now I will be subbing at 3 different schools and that should keep me nice and busy.

Then Hands' shift changed.  He is working 4 days on and 4 days off....... three months on days and 3 months on nights.  He starts nights this Saturday.  I know CG is anxious about these new hours/shifts and I know that CG comes first.  I haven't wanted to say anything about my own levels of insecurity about these changes to Hands.  I don't want him fussing over me.  Yesterday we were chatting -- and I mentioned how weird it felt -- felt like it should be a Sunday....... and Hands said "We'll work it out" ... I told him I didn't want him fussing over me and his answer was "It's my job to fuss" ..... and immediately I felt better.  I know -- in his quiet, unassuming way -- He will take care of this -- that my needs will be met and so will CG's.

It really is wonderful to know that I am safe under his care...... I can try and let go of some of the stress ...... that my life will fall into a routine ....... 

Changes are hard for me -- but with Hands and CG in my life I am learning to trust and that is a very good thing!

Doing what feels right.......

My eldest said something to me after my birthday about finding a job - part time - work from home sort of job.  It has been rolling around in the back of my head.  And then one day I just sent out a slew of my CV's and promptly forgot about it.

Last week I received a job offer -- well an offer to interview for a job.  It was for child supervision before school and after school...... split shift thing -- work 7 to 9 in the morning and 3 to 5:30 in the evening.

I thought at the time how perfect -- I can still go to the gym, schedule appointments...... and best of all make some money.

Yesterday was the job interview.  

It went well.  After 23 years of working with kids and academic BS I had 99% of the answers at the tips of my fingers........knew all the politically correct answers.  And let's not forget my enthusiasm for children and cheeky disposition.

By the end of the interview I knew it had gone well -- they seemed impressed and all but offered me the job -- though they do have one more interview on Wednesday.

Sounds good right?

Except

While I was sitting there answering their questions and wowing them with my creative ideas, my educational philosophy, I kept thinking about being tied to a working schedule again.  And I knew that it wasn't what I really wanted.  I spent 23 years being at school by 7 am often not leaving before 5........ pulling activities out of the air -- solving disagreements and handling bullies and parents -- filling in all the daily paper work ....  and the meetings........... ohhhhhh the dreaded hated meetings!!

It's just not me anymore --- ya know.

So when they asked me if I had any questions I hesitated for a bit knowing that what I was thinking -- what I was planning on saying -- was probably gonna blow the job offer.

But I asked my one question anyway...... 
Did they ever use or need substitutes?

The look on the Admin's face was priceless.  Her jaw dropped.  She said that yes they always needed subs -- they had 8 educators off just today -- BUT she insisted the pay wasn't the same at all -- it was $2 less an hour.....

I nodded and said that yes I understood that....... and I really appreciated them considering me for the job -- BUT -- if I didn't get it -- would they consider me for sub work.  She said emphatically YES -- but went back to extolling the virtues of the permanent job.  

I nodded -- and smiled -- and repeated that I would of course accept any job they offered.............. and just let it hang there........ She said if you had a choice subbing or full time what would your FIRST pick be.  Without hesitation I said "subbing".

So I probably blew the chance of a full time job........ and I think a few people think I am nuts.  What I want -- really want -- is to be able to play with kids -- have fun with none of the responsibility ........ and make a few dollars at the same time.  

Now I must order up yet another police check and get booster vaccinations.  And perhaps even send out my CVS to more places offering up my services as a substitute.

Visitors and headaches

One of the reasons my daughter came to visit me - was to teach me the next steps in web design.  

Let's see if I can explain it a little better .......... You know when you go to a web site and there are all these little buttons that say "click" and you do - and a new window opens or an animation starts ....... or other magic happens......... well that's the next step in my web design course.  And Eldest daughter came to teach me.

After 24 hours my brain hurt - not my head!!  not a headache !!  literally my brain hurt!!  and then I was having heart palpitations cause I just wasn't getting it....... (never mind the fact that each day she was here we both had an online course to take that was WAY above my learning curve!!)

But finally it all started to make sense and I could get the little click here button to actually click and take you to the next screen!!  and have the audio start at just the right moment - and have  text boxes magically appear - by jove she got it!!

Or at least I thought I had it!!

Daughter went home on Saturday evening.  Sunday I decided to try creating a few slides without her sitting beside me ............. and yeah I got the click buttons to sorta work - but for some reason now the audio is sporadic and buttons are appearing when they aren't supposed to............. I was pulling my hair out!!  This new process is only supposed to take me about 8 minutes I spent nearly 3 hours - H O U R S - on one slide and it still doesn't work.  

I feel so bloody stupid - and frustrated - and questioning WHY in god's name I ever thought I could actually learn this :( :(  and what a drag I am on eldest daughter :(



Now before you all think we only sat glued to our computers -- with bruised brains -- no we did manage to go to a munch on Thursday evening.  And eldest daughter got to meet some of the wonderful people who have been supporting me and holding me up and just being friends to me since I moved here.....

And on Saturday when eldest daughter's significant other came to pick her up - we all went downtown to the Fall Festival - which really involved closing down main street and having all the shops putting their end of season stuff out on the street for sale. 
But despite the cloudy skies and the drizzly rain - we did do the whole main street from top  to bottom and back again - had a lovely lunch - before the kids had to head home.


Today my poor daughter will have to take more time away from her work to skype with me and try and figure out what the hell I am doing wrong :(  God I HATE when I don't get something immediately - and I have to be a pain in the ass !!!  I am hoping it is some small glitch in my process that she will spot immediately and I will be up and running again...........

Otherwise - a gun to the head (not the computer like the picture above) might be the only way out.................  

Itch Itch Scratch Scratch

Ok - so I woke up this morning with this itchy red rash around my right leg/ankle,  I put some cream on and went to work.
 
By the time I got to work - the itch was driving me crazy.  So my principal who couldn't stand the scratching for one minute more - sent me to the clinic.  

After 2 hours of waiting with coughs and fevers - the doctor said "allergy" I thought "no shit Sherlock" but smiled sweetly.  He said it was a severe reaction to mosquito bites (which pretty much surround the right ankle)

I casually mentioned that I had just started taking fish collagen capsules and could that be the cause rather than mosquito bites?? Nope - nothing wrong with taking fish collagen - at worse I would have an upset stomach - definitely mosquito bites,

He told me to take some anti-histamines - elevate and ice the leg and come back tomorrow if it gets any worse.  

I HATE anti-histamines - no matter how non-drowsy they are I always land up sleepy.  But I am a good patient (and hate ugly red rashes and itchy scratchy) so I bought the pills he promised wouldn't make me sleepy and went back to work.  

Exactly 35 minutes after taking this non-drowsy pill my eyes felt so heavy I swore I would fall asleep at my desk.  The ice was freezing the ankle right down to the bone - which fortunately numbed the itch,  

One hour after taking the pill my principal told me to go home as I was almost slurring my words and couldn't focus on the figures in front of me.

So home I came and promptly fell asleep for 2 1/2 hours........... non-drowsy right!  I have elevated the leg and iced it till I have frost bite.  The rash doesn't look a whole lot different than it did before I took the non-drowsy pills and started my regime of frost bite............ I can't help but wonder - in the back of my mind - IF it couldn't be a reaction to the fish collagen.  

Personally I think I am gonna put vanity to the side for the next couple of days - stop the collagen pills and see what happens.  

Oh yeah - and I am not gonna take any more of the non-drowsy pills during the day - bedtime sounds like a better plan!!!

 

Overwhelmed

Yesterday was more than overwhelming - I don't think there is a word to describe how full my heart was when I closed my office door.

It had been an afternoon of last goodbyes - to staff and parents and to "my" kids.  

At noon I was summoned to the staff room where the administration and all the teaching staff had gathered.  My principal made the presentation - talking about how most of the staff didn't know the real "me" that I keep that "me" pretty well hidden.  But that she had considered herself very lucky to have been given a glimpse of the "real me" - the me that worked hard for the kids - put the kids first in all things - that cried when they cried and rejoiced when they succeeded.  She had me in tears.......... it's funny how I always thought I kept my deepest feelings buried so that no one would/could see ......... but she had seen it - recognized and valued it.  

Then they presented me with the biggest EVER gift basket - filled with cookies and treats and liqueurs and bubble bath and big thick towels......... and 2 gift cards that will allow me to purchase anything I want for the new house.  

I think I am a very lucky woman - to have worked in my chosen profession for so many years and walked away - head high - proud of the work I have done.  

Then two of my best friends at school "kidnapped" me and took me out to dinner... we spend 3 hours feasting and laughing and talking / gossiping.  It was more than a little difficult to say goodbye when they dropped me at my car.  

And so the year winds down.  Next week I have some paper to clear up - my office to empty and the door to lock.

It has truly been a good run!

 

Pranks

I have shared with you the pranks my staff - specifically two of my staff - have been pulling on me.  

I have tried a couple of "pay backs" that back fired.   But I didn't give up - I have been working on a plan for a couple of weeks.
 
I was waiting till the main instigator had a day free (she works two jobs) and yesterday was THAT day! 

Soooooooooooo I went to work all prepared....... one roll of industrial strength/size saran wrap ... one pair of scissors........ one "pranked" sign

When everyone had settled into the morning routine - I left to go to a "meeting".  Out in the parking lot I rolled up my sleeves and got to work - wrapping her car.  The other staff coming in stood to watch (and laugh) They couldn't believe their eyes.

Let me tell you - shrink wrapping a car is much easier to picture in your head than it is to actually DO.  But I worked at it.... and got it done............. 

The pranked staff member laughed till she almost wet herself .......... and vowed revenge........ I may be walking to work from now on!!   
 

Dreaded lunch

One of the dubious joys of my job is supervising the lunch period.... which means feeding 400 kids in an hour.  It is a noisy... frantic.... hellish hour.  And I dread it.

One of the other dubious joys of this lunch hour is trying to teach most some of the children table manners.  Ok truthfully I have given up on that........... but i do insist they sit while eating - no running with knives - and no food fights.

For me lunch time is the one time of the day when the worst could conceivably happen.

I have been patting myself on the back that here I was down to the last 3 weeks of my career - and I had survived lunch time........... as had the kids.  I should have held the congratulations till the last kid left the building on the last day !!!

Today at noon I was walking between the tables chatting with kids when I heard a shout from across the room.  I looked up to see one of the lunch staff waving her arms like a mad woman and everyone standing up.  I instantly became "super woman" and flew over kids and tables to the problem. 

One of my children was choking.  

It amazes me how quickly my mind goes into automatic........ I was accessing the situation before I even got to the child.  I realized she was 1) breathing - good sign and 2) coughing - even better sign. 

It turned out she had simply choked on her last bite of sandwich - it got stuck in her throat and after much coughing and crying - and back rubbing - she managed to unstick it!!  A drink of milk washed the last of the sandwich all the way down.

It wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been - but boy oh boy did it teach me not to sign off on the job until the very last day !!! 

Space the final theme

Yeah I know it is supposed to be "final frontier" BUT my final theme of my career has been space.

The kids have had a great time building murals - creating their own planets - and various alien forms. 

I just thought that for today I would share some of their efforts ...

 Their Outer Space Mural

Our space ship - and some aliens just hanging around

 

 Our other aliens watching over us

Our mural wall with more aliens

 

Think Aliens were a big hit??? 

 

And now we coast till June and the end of the year - lots of soccer and skipping and games in the sunshine.

 

 

 

A Moment in Time

He showed up at the door to school just as I was leaving this past week - with his "gang".

No one wanted to let him in.  I was turning the corner and only saw him out of the corner of my eye.  I stopped and opened the door and this tough kid and his gang tumbled into the hallway.  

"Hey Miss - remember me???"  I laughed and said "how could I forget you?"  We chatted for a couple of minutes this gangly tough kid - who was - if truth be told - the thorn in my side for the years we shared the same school hallways.

He (and the gang) walked me to my car.  As I got in my car - this tough kid said "You were always the best Miss !!!" And he turned and walked away leaving me with a big smile on my face and a warm feeling inside.

Post Script to School Humour

Just a quick addendum to yesterday's post about the "Great Kidnapper Caper"......



To recap briefly - my markers had been 'kidnapped'.  The ransom demand was 3 cups of hot coffee - sugar and 3 muffins.

Sooooooooooooo...........

When I got to school I volunteered one of my grade 6 boys to help me prepare the ransom.  We found a small square box and 2 styrofoam cups and a couple of packages of sugar.  We also took 2 small muffins (that had been leftover from the hot lunches the day before)

I had some instant coffee.  We boiled up some water.  And took the whole lot to the main office - the "drop for the ransom".  I made 1 and 1/2 cups of instant coffee.  We cut the second muffin in half - and we put 2 packages of sugar in the box.  We carefully and gently put the 1 and 1/2 cups of hot coffee in the box - without lids.  I then added a note that said something to the effect of " this is half the ransom demand - when ALL my markers and carrier are returned safely I will complete the ransom demand".  We put that in the box.   

Then I taped the box shut - with electric tape.

And we left the drop spot.


Then as more older kids came in - I explained what was going on.  I asked them if they wanted to "stake out " the drop site.  They more than willingly agreed.  

So starting around 7:45 in teams of 2 - my older kids started "nonchalantly"  walking past the main office

Around 8:30 I guess it was ....... two of my stalkers came screaming back to my office laughing and shouting that the markers had mysteriously re-appeared.  "We did it!!!"

Best part of the whole thing - besides getting my carrier back - the kids kept giggling and squirming and one of them said to me "I can't believe how much fun teachers CAN be!!!"  


Yeah believe it or not.......... we teachers can be fun (see me grinning??!!)

School humour???

On Tuesday morning we pulled out (as is our custom) our markers for the kids to colour.  I pride myself on being organised - so my markers are not plunked into old tin cans - I have wonderful marker holders............... 

sort of like this..............

On Tuesday afternoon the stand and markers disappeared.

Yesterday morning I decided to ask the school staff if someone had seen them (borrowed them) BUT ... I didn't want to be blunt so I wrote this quick note about the markers being 'kidnapped' and asking the 'kidnappers' to please contact me.

Yesterday at noon - there was a note in my mail box..........

It demanded 3 cups of coffee with sugar and muffins be delivered to the main office by 9:00 this morning.  Someone (or more than one someone) had taken a whole lot of time to print out the ransom note so that it looked pretty much like the picture.  I couldn't stop laughing.  I showed my staff who shared my laughter.

I wrote an answer back to the "kidnappers" saying I wanted pictorial proof that the markers were alive and well.  IF I got the proof I would follow their demands.

It's all very silly - I know - but in a funny way the staff involved in this joke are showing me that they are there for me............. at least that's how it feels............. and that's a very good feeling :)  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ok so I told W that story last night (on Skype) .... and he just sat there shaking his head - so maybe it's a kind of  " you should have been there" story........ 

The Truth about Teachers

 

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU’RE A TEACHER? By Jeff Foxworthy

1.You get a secret thrill out of laminating things.

2.You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.

3.You walk into a store and hear the words, “It’s Ms./Mr. ____________ and know you have been spotted.

4.You have 25 people who accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.

5.You can eat a multi-course meal in under 25 minutes.

6.You’ve trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day, lunch and planning period.

7.You start saving other people’s trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.

8.You believe the Teacher’s Lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine.

9.You want to slap the next person who says, “Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off”.

10.You believe chocolate is a food group.

11.You can tell if it’s a full moon without ever looking outside.

12. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says, “Boy, the kids are sure mellow today.”

13.You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.

14.You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin.

15.You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.

16.You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.

17.You can’t pass the school supply aisle without getting at least 5 items!

18. You ask your friends to use their words and explain if the left hand turn he made was a “good choice” or “bad choice.”

19.You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils.

20. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer.

21.You understand, instantaneously, why a child behaves in a certain way after meeting his/her parents.

TA DA !

Some of you offered up great suggestions to get the paint to stick to the Christmas ball yesterday. 

But ya know - you don't spend 30 years doing crafts with kids (little kids at that) and not have some tricks up your sleeve.

So Thursday evening - before I left school - I mixed two parts white paint with two parts school glue and re-fingerprinted my blue ball and left it to dry.

Friday morning I took a big breath and picked up the permanent markers and started to add the details to my snowmen.  

The paint didn't flake!!

The glue worked !!

And everyone was impressed with my Christmas Ball craft.  

 Now the fun will be helping each kiddie make one to take home ......... BEFORE Christmas 2012 !!

Easy as pie.....

Ya think I'd learn - nothing is ever as easy as they say............... 

I wanted to make the above ornaments with my lil guys at school.  The directions sounded easy ......... 

Glass Christmas Ball
white craft paint 
permanent markers for details.

Paint the child's hand white - then place the glass ball in the palm of the hand - separate fingers - and gently roll them up the side of the ball - pressing the fingers onto the sides.  Remove hand - wash hand - store ball to dry.  Once dry add snow man details.... 

Well I tried one first - and it went ok - my snowmen were a little smudgy - and not nearly as distinct as the one in the picture but it was ok.  I let it dry - and several hours later when it was dry I went back to add some quick details.

And that's when the problems happened.

When I tried to draw on the simple details - the white paint started flaking off... and didn't stop flaking............ 

The only good thing was - by the time the flaking had finished - a quick rinse under hot water and all the paint was gone and I could start all over again on the same ball......... 


I have looked everywhere for suggestions to keep the paint on the ball - I googled it - I surfed it.......... and everywhere they say - craft paint (well on the sites for children and as I am working with children - I need kid proof paint!!)

 
can I say HELP !!!!!