Families that Pirate Together Stay Together

Posted on March 18, 2012 by erin

L to R: Izzy, Mommy, Piper, and Abby--Pirates Extraordinaire!

Preface: There is nothing I wouldn’t do for my children. Even taking pirate photos in my pajamas with unbrushed/unwashed hair.

Friday’s eye exam revealed that Izzy’s glasses have done nothing to improve her amblyopia (we’d hoped glasses alone would strengthen her “lazy” eye),  so the doctor said it’s time to patch. Patching her good eye helps her lazy eye learn to do its job instead of relying on the other eye to do all the work.

I’m no stranger to either amblyopia (I have it myself) or the patch (my younger brother, Kevin, had to wear one to treat his), but was hoping my kids could escape it.

We had a talk this morning with the girls that went surprisingly well. I’d already donned a patch in solidarity, and Abby decided to pirate up as well (I’d grabbed extras in all the colors they had). Then we remembered we had a bona fide pirate patch, complete with skull and crossbones, in our dress-up collection for Piper!

Far more fashionable patches have been ordered from Etsy (think Fancy Nancy) and are on their way, so these are just plain ones the eye doctor gave us. I’m frustrated they didn’t have cuter options for kids. Shame on them (although I do love our doc at Fairway Eye Center).

The real battle will be returning to school Tuesday after spring break ends. The girls’ teachers have asked me to speak to the kids about it, so that’s the plan Tuesday morning. I’m going to get some extra patches in case anyone else wants to be a pirate for a day.

In the meantime, don’t be surprised to see some cute pirates around Kansas City. Let’s just hope the mean kids keep any mean thoughts to themselves because for right now, our girl seems just fine with her new accessory!

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  • http://janasthinkingplace.com/ Jana A (@jana0926)

    Adorable! The mean kids better keep their mouths shut. She’s adorable in her patch. Can’t wait to see the fancy ones! 

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Jana,

      The fancy ones arrived today and I’m surprised she’s not into them. At least not yet. She is back in her pirate one. I don’t know what the deal is. I guess I can’t argue—as long as she’s not refusing to wear it, you know? Oh well. Maybe she will change her mind. Time will tell.

      xoxoxoox

  • Sandrasfiberworks

    Love it. My son would fit right in as he loves pirates big time! Thanks for visiting me through the writer edge link up and so now go curl up in bed with that cosmopolitan. Maybe I should start a cocktails-in-bed momma club:)))))

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Sandrasfiberworks,

      Your club sounds awesome! Thanks for visiting me back–and we love pirates around here, too! (thank goodness)  ;-)

  • http://thedudedean.com/ TheDudeDean

    Arggh!

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Dean,

      Ahoy, Matey!
      ARRRGGGH!

  • GunDiva

    I love that you’re going to take extra eye patches along – that’s brilliant.  In no time, the other kids will forget she’s even got one on and they’ll freak out when they see her without it.

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      GunDIva,

      I hope you’re right! The other kids seemed to mostly just be curious…I hope they’ll continue to be nice about it and that she will continue to not mind wearing it.
      Wish us luck!

  • http://twitter.com/lauraBseymour Laura S.

    I’ve got a son with HORRIBLE vision, and we’ve had to use the patch. So far, only at home, for an hour a day. We’re done now, but we’d definitely do a solidarity patch day with you guys! Let me know. :)

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Laura,

      What doc do you guys go to? It’s great he only has to do it for an hour a day. So far I haven’t met any resistance and I hope that trend continues!

      I am leaving town Sat-Tues, but we really need to get together! I know we keep talking about it, but I’m dying to meet you! (with or without kiddos) ;-)

  • RenLadyOfTheArts

    I’m sure it will be fine- and what a cute photo! 

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Ren,

      Thank you so much! ;-)

  • http://www.babesrockinmami.com/ stephanie

    Arrrgggghhh you be some beautiful pirrrrrates!  I will cross my fingers the kids find it neat or don’t care at all!

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Stephanie,

      So far, so good. I am stressed though—just waiting for something to go awry. I don’t know what to expect. So far it’s been really quiet–no complaints. Hoping it stays that way!

  • http://twitter.com/VelveteenMama danielle

    Awe – what a lovely bunch of pirates you have there! I’ve found that kids are generally really good about stuff like this. My eldest has a peanut allergy and his peers have always been really great about it, never teased him about it and many of them are really cautious on their own accord (one little girl in first grade wouldn’t have peanut butter toast at HOME in the morning because she didn’t want to accidentally expose my son).  PS. If my 13mo had been a girl his name would have been Piper! LOVE it!

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Danielle,

      That is so sweet about the peanut butter allergy and that little girl! It’s good to know some kids are growing up being taught well and how to treat others who have obstacles, etc…

      We love the name Piper and it’s a good thing my husband agreed with me b/c otherwise? I would’ve told him I had veto power since she was growing inside ME and I had to carry her for 40 weeks!!

  • Jbswrker

    use your imaginations….have izzy decorate some plain patches herself…glitter stuff, puff paints, etc….prizes for the “patch of the week”…patches to match outfits…make it a family affair on tuesday nights (or whenever)!!!  good for all of you…..good job, matey!!!  XXXOOO

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Thanks, mom!

      Her felt ones came in the mail today, but so far she prefers her plain pirate-style ones. We’ll see. I’m letting her choose. I imagine it’s hard enough as it is….

      xoxoxox

  • Susi

    Erin, I hope all goes well. My middle daughter has both amplyopia and crossed eyes. When she was three she had to have surgery on both eyes and we are still patching her at 8 years old. She had a severe case and was almost blind in her bad eye. She’s much better but won’t ever have full vision in that eye. We chose to patch only at home in the afternoons as she only needed to do it for three hours a day. We also had to use the stick on patches ( think band aids for the eye). It’s not easy and we had a lot of battles but in the end it’s worth it. I wish your little one all the best and hope that the kids will be kind!!!!

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Susi,

      Oh my goodness. I am so sorry about your daughter’s situation, that sounds incredibly difficult. The doctor has not mentioned surgery yet and I hope it won’t come to that. I do not think her case is severe enough. At least she only has to patch at home—my younger brother also had to use the stick on patches which were NOT FUN. I remember my mom having to pull them off nightly and he would cry and cry….

      So far the kids are being kind—how is your daughter handling all of this?

      • Susi

        She’s ok with the glasses and as long as she’s occupied while wearing the patch she doesn’t nudge too much. But it is still a bit of a battle to this day. Fortunately, by the time they are nine it pretty much is what it is, after that it won’t change much. She’ll be able to wear a contact in her “bad” eye. The Dr. is very happy with her progress and all she cares about is getting contacts one day. She doesn’t like it too much when people see her with the patch and ask questions… then she’s a bit self-conscious. The good thing is that daddy went through the same thing as a child, he even had to have surgery twice. But he gives great pep talks. :)

  • http://www.fromtracie.com From Tracie

    I dealt with amplyopia when I was a child. Wearing a patch was hard, and there was a lot of teasing. But I didn’t have fun patches (just the old fashioned, brown stick on ones) and I think I would have been stronger about it if my family had been supportive the way you are being with Izzy. 

    Y’all make super cute pirates! 

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Thanks, Tracie!

      Her fun, felt patches arrived today. So far she’s not loving them and put her pirate-style one back on. I guess she’s allowed, although the special ones I ordered are much cuter I think they cover her eye better. Plus they are soft. Oh well. She’s going through enough, I can’t tell her which ones to wear. I’m sorry you had to deal with that as a child. My younger brother Kevin had the band-aid ones and he howled every night when my mom had to pull them off at bedtime….

      • http://www.fromtracie.com From Tracie

        I was really rebellious about the patches, and constantly removed them. My teachers and parents and grandparents had to keep putting them back on me (one time I took a whole box of them, tore them up, and flushed them down the toilet – I got in SO much trouble). 

        We moved and my new eye doctor thought that patching didn’t make a difference, so he told my parents to stop doing the patches and just stick with the glasses. I was a very happy kid….but my eye never did get stronger, and by the time I was old enough to realize that the doctor was dumb and the patch would have made a big difference, it was too late to do it. 

        I’m sorry your brother had to do it. Those old patches were painful when they came off. 

        I’m sure she will end up wearing all the patches over time. I think if she is happy in the pirate ones, it isn’t worth the battle. How is it going at school? Are the kids being nice? 

  • Juliecgardner

    Best. Mommy. Ever.

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Julie,

      Best. BloggyFriend. Ever.

      MWAH!

  • http://makemommygosomethingsomething.com/ Kimberly

    That is absolutely wonderful. REally. You are such a wonderful Mommy. And going to educate the other children at school will help tremendously. Go you!

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Kimberly,

      Thanks, sweets. The kids at school seemed to take it really well and so far there hasn’t been any negative feedback. I hope the teachers are watching closely, but it’s only been a few days. Time will tell and I hope she won’t have to wear it for very long…

  • http://www.twobearsfarm.com/ Lisa @ Two Bears Farm

    She makes a fantastic pirate!! (As do you all :-) )

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Lisa,

      Thanks! I also got a sign for the front yard that says “Beware of pirates!” LOL

  • http://twonormalmoms.blogspot.com/ Ally

    You know what she’s going to remember in 20 years when she thinks back on it? She’s going to remember that Mom made it totally awesome and bought cool patches and brought patches to school to share. She’ll remember it with a smile. Way to go, Mom!

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Ally,

      I hope you’re right. I really do. I hope I’m handlng this the right way. Sigh.

  • Avagracescloset

    amazing! love that you’re all supporting her through this. you make a sweet bunch of pirates!

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Avagracescloset,

      Thank you so much for stopping by! ;-)

  • http://withjustabitofmagic.com Jackie

    Cute!! Now if you hadn’t said that your hair wasn’t brushed or washed we would have never known!

    It’s great how easy going she seems to be about it and that everyone donned a patch to support her! 

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Jackie,

      I hope it stays this way. She has been pretty mellow about the whole thing but I’m waiting for the shoe to drop, you know? Cross your fingers for me!

  • http://www.misselaineouslife.com Elaine A.

    Oh I just LOVE it!  You girls are all so cute. Now we just need to see Daddy’s patch!! ;-) xo

    • http://www.erinmargolin.com/ Erin margolin

      Elaine,

      Uhhh, Daddy doesn’t have one. Nor would Daddy agree to be photographed for the purpose of this blog. ;-)
      LOL

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