2 posts tagged “flat stanley”
So as you may remember, I was asked to do a Flat Stanley project for my friend's little girl. The problem was that the actual Flat character she sent me was turned into a girl with long hair and a barrette. I had no idea if I was supposed to write the stories as if the cutout was a man - Stanley - or if I was supposed to act like it was girl since my friend's daughter clearly made her that way. I have no kids of my own. Honestly, I don't even really like kids, and I for SURE don't understand anything about them. Frankly, kids make me uncomfortable. I never know what the hell they're talking about and I'm always anticipating some sort of crying/screaming meltdown. You really have to walk on eggshells around kids. You never know what could set them off, and it's always something super dumb. Imagine if adults could go off like kids. I would have a fit every time someone got a seat before me on the bus. Actually, that would be awesome! I would love to stand on the bus crying and screaming, "That's my seat! That man is in my seat!" Wow, I really want to try that now.
ANYWAY, back to the Flat woMAN. After many sleepless nights worrying about this project (the last thing I want to do is screw up a project for this little girl), and after a ton of advice from people who actually interface with kids on a regular basis, I completed the Flat Stanley as a man and sent it in. From what I learned, kids this age actually don't have any hidden agenda. They are still too dumb to even realize if Flat Stan is addressed as a man or a woman. Whoa! What a weight lifted off my shoulders, yet I was still a tiny bit scared I did it wrong.
Well, I lucked out. I heard back from my friend that my Flat Stanley was a hit! Phew! In fact, my Flat Stanley ROCKED IT! I guess it helps I live in New York City, but I really think it's because I captured the true essence of Stan. I was able to dig deep and through my stunning photography (using my cell phone camera of course), I was able unleash the hidden passion that is Flat Stanley. Here are some of my favorite shots.
Look how appropriate this is for second grader. It's Stan WASTED after a night out at one of my favorite pubs. What a fool Stan made of himself that night. The next day he claimed not to even remember dancing naked on the bar.
And, of course, you have to expect hooking up with some celebs while you're in NYC. Too bad this wasn't Elmo or some other person that second graders actually know (I have no idea what celebs are hot for second graders right now). Well, I tried.
So I have this small dilemma. A friend of mine's daughter has enlisted me to be a part of her Flat Stanley project at school. I guess I had heard of it before and I thought it sounded kind of cool, so I was happy to help. She sent me her Flat Stanley and I was supposed to take photos of him at different places I went. Then, I have to send the photos back with descriptions of where Stan was and what he was doing. Sounds easy enough for an old bag mature person like me, right? Well, here's one of the photos I took in front of the NYSE. Note that while the character's name is Stanley and he's wearing a tie, my friend's daughter made Stan into Stanette with long hair and a barrette.
Personally, I think it's adorable, but at the same time, this gender issue is causing me a ton of stress. Clearly, she wanted Stan to be a girl so when I write my stories do I still refer to her as Stan? Or then I thought maybe this is a self portrait of my daughter's friend, but I read the accompanying letter several times and it clearly states that Flat Stanley is visiting and I should document HIS trip. So which do I ignore? The instructions? Or the drawing of the, let's face it, Ellen Degeneres-like, tie-wearing Stanette? I don't know anything about kids, more specifically second graders. I don't even know what age that is. So, I'm all jacked up worrying about doing the right thing so my friend's creative and, clearly, non-direction-following daughter isn't disappointed. It's amazing how kids are so free thinking. How did I lose that? Since when am I so concerned with following instructions and doing what everyone else does? It's a shame, but I still don't want to mess up!
