Greetings Pals And Gals, From Flat Julia

by Leslie

I’m not great at geography. It isn’t due to laziness or anything, it just seems that my brain isn’t wired to retain that kind of information. Maybe it’s all that alcohol I drank in college. Once after a night of drinking ouzo, I lost the ability to juggle. So, I suppose it’s possible that one too many keg stands could have wiped out the neural pathways responsible for understanding geography. Whatever the reason, I struggle with knowing what is where in the world.

In an effort to save my daughter from the same fate, and in hopes of improving my own condition, I’ve tried to provide her with tools and experiences to sharpen her skills. We’ve spent a lot of time putting together her wooden puzzles of the world and the U.S.A. and talking about what is where. In doing this, I realized that she can easily remember locations if someone we know lives there. When I mentioned this to one of the moms in our playgroup, she suggested that we check out The Flat Stanley Project.

And so, we took a trip to the library and borrowed the book that inspired the project: Flat Stanley. It’s about a boy who gets flat and, among other things, discovers that being flat enables him to travel to places through the mail. Then, we created a Flat Julia in a green jumpsuit and made a goal of having her visit every state in the U.S. by mail.

We printed out a map (for free! from here) and started a journal to keep track of Flat Julia’s travels. And now, we just need to find a sweet hook up in each state in the country to send her to so we can learn and find friends and make the world a better place.

How cool is that? I’ll tell you: VERY.

If you think you could give Flat Julia a rockin’ good time, let me know. Perhaps we’ll send her your way.

Posted in Mommy's Stuff, Julia, Photos |

Comments

22 Cool Kids Came To Play

Toni on June 5, 2008 5:37 pm
We would love to host Flat Julia! Send her on down to where the buffalo roam. Really… they do!
April on June 5, 2008 6:31 pm
Send her to us! We’ll take her to a horse farm in KY and take lots of pictures.
Jen in MI on June 5, 2008 6:59 pm
We’ll take her all over A2! C did Flat Stanley and my mom went wild - she took Flat Stanley to a Broadway show, etc. I’d volunteer her for NYC, but she’s too feeble to get out much anymore, sadly. But we’ll show Flat Julia a good ol time up here, if you care to send her our way!
Chris H on June 5, 2008 7:16 pm
OOOO I am hosting Flat Stanley’s from two wee boys in Missouri right now! I am a bit slack on showing them around…must attend to that! If you ever want to send Flat Julia to New Zealand… you can!
Jerseygirl89 on June 5, 2008 7:54 pm
I am so stealing that idea next year! That is awesome. We would love Flat Julia here in NJ, and I have great hook ups in Alaska, New York, Kansas, Missouri and Virginia. Let me know!
Suzanne on June 5, 2008 9:05 pm
We’ll take her. So Utah is covered…

:)
PAPA on June 5, 2008 9:22 pm
Flat Julia needs to ge a PASSPORT!!!
Seriously, I love this idea, and what a great learning tool! At the same time, I’d encourage Flat to get out to other countries, cultures, etc… I’ve done a fair amount of traveling, but it’s still a weakness…
My fiance’s parents live in Brazil…perhaps we can get Flat Julia a visa, a Ronaldo shirt, and some Carnival tickets!
Fun! Fun! Fun!
Veronica on June 5, 2008 10:02 pm
Mum has flat stanleys visiting her at the moment here is Tassie.

I love the flat Julia idea!
Mackey on June 6, 2008 1:02 am
O.K. I am hurt:(
Where is Canada?
You can send flat Julia to me! I am just a little above Montana!
I will send her back with Smarties & yummy Canadian maple syrup.
Please send me flat Julia:(
Daddy Forever on June 6, 2008 2:12 am
What a super cool idea! If you need somene in Oregon, sign me up. I’ll have my daughter send something back about our state.
tootise on June 6, 2008 9:59 am
I’ll cover Georgia and Alabama!
Jesica on June 6, 2008 5:58 pm
We’d love to be Flat Julia’s Seattle visit! What a wonderful idea!
kristian on June 6, 2008 8:55 pm
If you need a Canadian representative…
Pam on June 7, 2008 12:01 am
Send FJ my way!! But that green jumpsuit will be sweltering here in Fla. If you send her a cute tankini, I’ll take her to the beach with us next week
englishgenie on June 7, 2008 4:22 pm
Let me know if you need NC! We are sweltering here at 97 degrees, and just back from the beach…I am sure I can round up some of that beautiful Carolina Beach sand!
Pastormac's Ann on June 8, 2008 12:47 am
You can send her here to NM - she’ll have an enchanting time.
Ruth on June 9, 2008 7:12 am
I am available for Canada too…this sounds like fun, I think I may try this with my kids at some point…
Amanda on June 9, 2008 9:02 am
I love that idea. You can send her to us in KY.
Karly on June 10, 2008 7:06 pm
Oh what an AWESOME idea! We are so having a Flat Eeyore next school year while we study the states. Cool idea! If you FJ wants to visit IL she is welcome here!
baseballmom on June 16, 2008 3:29 am
Hi-found your site thru Karly’s…I love it! I loved doing Flat Stanley with my SIL’s class–I’m in Washington (Tacoma) if FJ wants to go camping.
Jenn in Holland on June 17, 2008 9:54 am
I can get her hooked up in TX, UT, and AZ without a problemo.
A-course, it would be most fun to have her in HOLLAND. How exotic would that be? Dude, we’re not even on your MAP!!
Gasoline is Expensive: Visit Friends And Family Via The Mail! | GNMParents on June 20, 2008 8:51 am
[…] This idea was blatantly stolen from Leslie of My Mommy’s Place (with her permission, of course). You can read about what she is doing with Flat Julia here. […]