Not going into detail.... Ive decided I wont be posting again for a while, maybe not again at all... time will tell.
I'm sure friends online IRL can email me and get the details. For everyone else, Im sorry if you regularly read my blog but I hope you'll be ok with reading everyone elses and I wish you all well :) I just have too much on my plate to find the time or the inclination update the blog at the mo.
sorry all, take care
Thursday, 14 August 2008
Monday, 4 August 2008
Musings
Why is it when I;m busiest and least able to sort things out things start going wrong, mess starts building and I start feeling all out of control? GRR This place is getting messier, I really have to get it sorted so it will be enforced tidying from everyone every evening this week. I just cant bear it getting worse or staying as it is. The shower in the bathroom is broken too and I dont have time to get it done! The Rabbit hutch broke this morning so I HAVE to get that sorted and pray the rabbit doesnt escape while Im at work today... please god, let nothing else go wrong!
Not had time to blog, the summer holiday rush in work is in full swing, as usual operating with a skeleton staff as people take leave ( of whatever kind) to enable them to sit in the sun in various parts of the world while Im stuck inside all day with other peoples kids!!
Mine of course can come into work but generally hate it as they have to come along, its not that they want to be there but they get bored. Mums coming up to take them out for a couple of hours this afternoon thankfully! It seems like such a long time ago already that we were on holiday.It was only 5 days ago we were in France!
Not had time to blog, the summer holiday rush in work is in full swing, as usual operating with a skeleton staff as people take leave ( of whatever kind) to enable them to sit in the sun in various parts of the world while Im stuck inside all day with other peoples kids!!
Mine of course can come into work but generally hate it as they have to come along, its not that they want to be there but they get bored. Mums coming up to take them out for a couple of hours this afternoon thankfully! It seems like such a long time ago already that we were on holiday.It was only 5 days ago we were in France!
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Home again
....after a lovely holiday, France was hot- VERY hot... Ill write about it properly once Ive sorted out the pictures to post.
We're back anyway, have emptied the caravan, Ill have to clean it tomorrow but also have a nagging feeling Im supposed to be working tomorrow day and evening.. ho humm.
For now its outside the house annoying the neighbours. Getting back means lots of sorting, a realisation this house needs sorting out, weve been here too long to have 'stuff' hanging about so Ill have to make the rest of the holiday time to get the house straight.
I also need to restructure the kids home ed...its something Ive given alot of thought to while we've been away.
Now while I like sonlight and its better than something I could put together myself ( and the kids like it alot!) Ive realised there are bits I just dont like about it, bits I feel we do because the schedule says so rather than because they are valuable or interesting and parts which need to be supplemented or tailored more to fit the kids needs, in some cases to spend more time on parts of the core.
The Language arts in particular Ill be changing completely so Connor will spend more time on his dyslexia specific things( which have been rather neglected) and some other books and activities. Sophie will do her Galore Park English. I cannot afford and actually dont need to buy more LA books from Sonlight when Im sure what we already have will be more than adequate.
They both need to spend time on their Maths and Id like to spend time doing some more hands on science activities and getting them to record their findings, especially those which spark their interest.
They really need to do more practical activities and enjoy the ones we already do without feeling we arent 'falling behind' because the Core is taking up more time than we have or energy than we have the inclination for!
I hope trimming down some of the daily schedule and/or spreading it over longer we'll get more other things done. I also have to find the oomph to get back to finishing Red Sails to capri, they like it... I hate it...!
Chloe is also home and I decided this year we wouldnt have a large break as such because its so hard to pick up again afterwards, she has work( a Diary) to do that is set by school which she will do at the same time as the others are doing their bits and pieces. So next week its definitely back to it!
On the family front, my brothers partner had a baby girl while we were away. Emily Jayne was born weighing a whopping 10lb5oz! We haven't seen her yet, my Mum and Dad have only seen her for all of about 10 mins total which has caused some upset as they are the only grandparents and my brothers teenaged Step Daughters are completely dominating things and making it very difficult for anyone else to even be present so Mum is feeling pretty bruised. I asked when we could visit and was told "Oh Ill put some pics on Facebook" err yeah, thanks bruv.So at least I know Mum isnt alone in being rejected... Ill post pics when I eventually do get to see her but since my brother is Chloes Godfather Im feeling pretty cross that he is suddenly treating his family as something incidental and rather inconvenient... the poor kid are bursting to see her :(
OH and this isnt even all about them spending time as a family or whatever, my brother has already gone back to work ( shes 2 days old) and doesnt even seem to acknowledge anyone else might want to be able to pop in and say hello, bring flowers or whatever and make a bit of a fuss of his partner, who is carrying on as she always has!
Bloody families, who'd have em... GRR
We're back anyway, have emptied the caravan, Ill have to clean it tomorrow but also have a nagging feeling Im supposed to be working tomorrow day and evening.. ho humm.
For now its outside the house annoying the neighbours. Getting back means lots of sorting, a realisation this house needs sorting out, weve been here too long to have 'stuff' hanging about so Ill have to make the rest of the holiday time to get the house straight.
I also need to restructure the kids home ed...its something Ive given alot of thought to while we've been away.
Now while I like sonlight and its better than something I could put together myself ( and the kids like it alot!) Ive realised there are bits I just dont like about it, bits I feel we do because the schedule says so rather than because they are valuable or interesting and parts which need to be supplemented or tailored more to fit the kids needs, in some cases to spend more time on parts of the core.
The Language arts in particular Ill be changing completely so Connor will spend more time on his dyslexia specific things( which have been rather neglected) and some other books and activities. Sophie will do her Galore Park English. I cannot afford and actually dont need to buy more LA books from Sonlight when Im sure what we already have will be more than adequate.
They both need to spend time on their Maths and Id like to spend time doing some more hands on science activities and getting them to record their findings, especially those which spark their interest.
They really need to do more practical activities and enjoy the ones we already do without feeling we arent 'falling behind' because the Core is taking up more time than we have or energy than we have the inclination for!
I hope trimming down some of the daily schedule and/or spreading it over longer we'll get more other things done. I also have to find the oomph to get back to finishing Red Sails to capri, they like it... I hate it...!
Chloe is also home and I decided this year we wouldnt have a large break as such because its so hard to pick up again afterwards, she has work( a Diary) to do that is set by school which she will do at the same time as the others are doing their bits and pieces. So next week its definitely back to it!
On the family front, my brothers partner had a baby girl while we were away. Emily Jayne was born weighing a whopping 10lb5oz! We haven't seen her yet, my Mum and Dad have only seen her for all of about 10 mins total which has caused some upset as they are the only grandparents and my brothers teenaged Step Daughters are completely dominating things and making it very difficult for anyone else to even be present so Mum is feeling pretty bruised. I asked when we could visit and was told "Oh Ill put some pics on Facebook" err yeah, thanks bruv.So at least I know Mum isnt alone in being rejected... Ill post pics when I eventually do get to see her but since my brother is Chloes Godfather Im feeling pretty cross that he is suddenly treating his family as something incidental and rather inconvenient... the poor kid are bursting to see her :(
OH and this isnt even all about them spending time as a family or whatever, my brother has already gone back to work ( shes 2 days old) and doesnt even seem to acknowledge anyone else might want to be able to pop in and say hello, bring flowers or whatever and make a bit of a fuss of his partner, who is carrying on as she always has!
Bloody families, who'd have em... GRR
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Worn out!
PHEW, I don't seem to have stopped for days :)
Sophie spent the weekend being sporty again, she was asked to try out for the Cardiff Cougars All Stars Cheerleading team. They are the national champions, the standard is high and competition is intense- all existing members have to try out every year too! Sophie has only been cheerleading 6 weeks so I was amazed seeing what she can already do I'm usually working when she goes so this was the first time Id seen her. I was completely astounded by the standard but she kept up and having warned her 6 weeks isn't really long and she shouldn't be worried if she wasn't as good as the existing members I was eating my words somewhat. We are awaiting a call from the coach now which should come in the next few weeks! The holiday will keep her mind off it
We spent Tuesday in the company of other families in Aberavon for The Wise up beach fun session. MUCH lovelier pics than I took are here...http://www.wiseuphe.netfirms.com/beachday.html
This one is my absolute favourite of Sophie :)Sophie spent the weekend being sporty again, she was asked to try out for the Cardiff Cougars All Stars Cheerleading team. They are the national champions, the standard is high and competition is intense- all existing members have to try out every year too! Sophie has only been cheerleading 6 weeks so I was amazed seeing what she can already do I'm usually working when she goes so this was the first time Id seen her. I was completely astounded by the standard but she kept up and having warned her 6 weeks isn't really long and she shouldn't be worried if she wasn't as good as the existing members I was eating my words somewhat. We are awaiting a call from the coach now which should come in the next few weeks! The holiday will keep her mind off it
We spent Tuesday in the company of other families in Aberavon for The Wise up beach fun session. MUCH lovelier pics than I took are here...http://www.wiseuphe.netfirms.com/beachday.html
The kids made a swimming pool ( arf) with a tarpaulin. Flew kites,kindly donated by Lisa from playworks! made sandcastles, buried people ( not so great when they are in wet clothes) and swam and splashed in the lido. It started off freezing but eventually the sun appeared and we all ended up sun kissed and freckly with exhausted kids.
We dropped into Mums house afterwards as it was relatively close and presented her with her birthday cake creation. She really isn't very well though and only lasted an hour before we said our goodbyes. It makes me feel dreadful being so far away :(( only an hr but still!)
Tuesday night saw us having our first sleepover in years which went like a dream, our guest was incredibly well behaved, polite courteous to a fault and impressed Darren ( who was the banner of the sleepovers originally) because he was nothing like the kids who thought it was OK to stay awake giggling, being cheeky and silly well into the early hours (3am with kids cheeking you isn't remotely amusing- I have to agree with him!) but T was an absolute dream (and yes he is a normal kid - we didn't hire an android) and got an approving "well he can come again" from Darren :) It had been all very sudden with T just asking at the end of beach day " Jenny, Can I come home with you ?" so we collected him from home on the way back from my mums once he was showered and changed after the beach fun!
Dropping him back to his Mum the next day didn't go quite so smoothly... the M4 was shut due to a terrible accident and we were routed off a junction too early, meaning an hour in a traffic jam with T saying " I don't feel well I think I'm going to puke" ( UUUHOOOOO!) Thankfully we did meet his mum, brother and friend to reunite them and he wasnt sick!
We met Chloes friend from school and had a lovely lunch in Pizza hut, Chloe was really good, she cant eat the pizza because she Coeliac but was perfectly happy with endless plates of salad from the salad bar and happy conversation before Sophie, Connor and I went to see Kung Fu Panda ( Don't bother- grab it on DVD, its not that good- I almost fell asleep) and the teens went to watch Hancock which I am told was just amazing ( SIGH)
Chloe stayed at her friends for a couple of nights which was nice for them both as F is an only child who lives on a farm and gets a bit lonely but Chloe loved it as of course shes a friend from school ( who are now spread across the UK and beyond during hols) but also F's house has a swimming pool and a trampoline. They also have a Wii fit... F is on a fitness kick, trying to slim down and of course Chloe joined her in all her endeavours and came home last night happy but tired yet spent at least 2 hours flaked out on the sofa today snoring. God only knows what the heck they did in terms of their 'fitness plan' Its clearly worn her out!
Connor and Sophie have been beavering away, mainly on education city as Ive been so busy. Connor managed to get gold stars ( more than 80%) on every science game in Y4 and was thrilled. I really like the way its been updated now to be far more user friendly to home users. Its spurred him on to complete the level he was on and is thrilled to "be on Y5 when I'm not Y5 just yet!" Just the literacy and numeracy to go, the languages he can get through when he wants
Sophie's not as bothered by levels as Connor but she was a little jealous when he was 'moved up' so maybe that will be a good thing! Shes also discovered Adventure rock http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/adventurerock/
and is also reading "Angus Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging" determined to finish it before the film comes out so I will go and take her to see it ( although the full frontal is replaced with 'perfect' in the film title)
She caused much amusement the other night when she came down and said "mum what does this word mean" and proceeded to say " TTTRRRRAAANNNSSVEESSTTTIITTTEE" while I was on the phone to a friend who almost wet her pants with laughter as I explained.... hmmm explaining what a transvestite is, to an 11 year old in the middle of a phone call... just normal every day stuff then!
Ive been working as usual most evenings and getting the washing, shopping and packing done for our holiday.Darren brought the caravan from the storage site this morning while I was out to get the last of the packing done and plug the fridge in, get the battery charged and all those boring things. We've managed to upset the victor meldrew neighbours 2 doors down who said loudly" Those things shouldn't be allowed" when I was going into the caravan allowed where?? allowed at all? allowed outside the house? what??( Jeeze!) Its not even outside his house! Its 25 yds away!
I went on a fab training day today courtesy of wise up and playworks in Neath/Port Talbot (those people are truly amazing).
We did den building and outdoor activities and had so much fun! It was just like being a child again. Its really true you don't understand something properly unless you teach it to someone else and I think its also true of something you intend to deliver to children, to really understand it you need to experience it. So today it was back to being 10, building dens, making tree folk, a map stick, a mini world... you want to know what all these things are? You'll have to come to wise up :-P ( or get me to come to you and do something with your local home ed group if you are far away if there's the offer of an exchange visit!) ;-)
to make it even better my boss agreed to pay me to attend so I wasn't out of pocket and work will benefit too from what Ive learned!
I can't wait to be able to do some stuff with the kids in wise up and in work. It really was loads of fun, I think we all learned so many creative things :)
I hope I get to do more of it :) Id like to be able to do an NVQ in playwork :)
This will be my last post for a fortnight... holiday is beckoning once Ive worked a shift tomorrow, we leave straight after that at lunchtime
I ope when we get back there will be exciting news ..... My brothers partner is imminently expecting her 4th child but his first( the 'younger' ones are all teens)....Ill be a proper auntie when I return from holiday :D just a shame the bubba is late, we had so hoped he/she would be here by the time we left!
Now I'm off to pack my clothes and collapse into a hot bath!
We dropped into Mums house afterwards as it was relatively close and presented her with her birthday cake creation. She really isn't very well though and only lasted an hour before we said our goodbyes. It makes me feel dreadful being so far away :(( only an hr but still!)
Tuesday night saw us having our first sleepover in years which went like a dream, our guest was incredibly well behaved, polite courteous to a fault and impressed Darren ( who was the banner of the sleepovers originally) because he was nothing like the kids who thought it was OK to stay awake giggling, being cheeky and silly well into the early hours (3am with kids cheeking you isn't remotely amusing- I have to agree with him!) but T was an absolute dream (and yes he is a normal kid - we didn't hire an android) and got an approving "well he can come again" from Darren :) It had been all very sudden with T just asking at the end of beach day " Jenny, Can I come home with you ?" so we collected him from home on the way back from my mums once he was showered and changed after the beach fun!
Dropping him back to his Mum the next day didn't go quite so smoothly... the M4 was shut due to a terrible accident and we were routed off a junction too early, meaning an hour in a traffic jam with T saying " I don't feel well I think I'm going to puke" ( UUUHOOOOO!) Thankfully we did meet his mum, brother and friend to reunite them and he wasnt sick!
We met Chloes friend from school and had a lovely lunch in Pizza hut, Chloe was really good, she cant eat the pizza because she Coeliac but was perfectly happy with endless plates of salad from the salad bar and happy conversation before Sophie, Connor and I went to see Kung Fu Panda ( Don't bother- grab it on DVD, its not that good- I almost fell asleep) and the teens went to watch Hancock which I am told was just amazing ( SIGH)
Chloe stayed at her friends for a couple of nights which was nice for them both as F is an only child who lives on a farm and gets a bit lonely but Chloe loved it as of course shes a friend from school ( who are now spread across the UK and beyond during hols) but also F's house has a swimming pool and a trampoline. They also have a Wii fit... F is on a fitness kick, trying to slim down and of course Chloe joined her in all her endeavours and came home last night happy but tired yet spent at least 2 hours flaked out on the sofa today snoring. God only knows what the heck they did in terms of their 'fitness plan' Its clearly worn her out!
Connor and Sophie have been beavering away, mainly on education city as Ive been so busy. Connor managed to get gold stars ( more than 80%) on every science game in Y4 and was thrilled. I really like the way its been updated now to be far more user friendly to home users. Its spurred him on to complete the level he was on and is thrilled to "be on Y5 when I'm not Y5 just yet!" Just the literacy and numeracy to go, the languages he can get through when he wants
Sophie's not as bothered by levels as Connor but she was a little jealous when he was 'moved up' so maybe that will be a good thing! Shes also discovered Adventure rock http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/adventurerock/
and is also reading "Angus Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging" determined to finish it before the film comes out so I will go and take her to see it ( although the full frontal is replaced with 'perfect' in the film title)
She caused much amusement the other night when she came down and said "mum what does this word mean" and proceeded to say " TTTRRRRAAANNNSSVEESSTTTIITTTEE" while I was on the phone to a friend who almost wet her pants with laughter as I explained.... hmmm explaining what a transvestite is, to an 11 year old in the middle of a phone call... just normal every day stuff then!
Ive been working as usual most evenings and getting the washing, shopping and packing done for our holiday.Darren brought the caravan from the storage site this morning while I was out to get the last of the packing done and plug the fridge in, get the battery charged and all those boring things. We've managed to upset the victor meldrew neighbours 2 doors down who said loudly" Those things shouldn't be allowed" when I was going into the caravan allowed where?? allowed at all? allowed outside the house? what??( Jeeze!) Its not even outside his house! Its 25 yds away!
I went on a fab training day today courtesy of wise up and playworks in Neath/Port Talbot (those people are truly amazing).
We did den building and outdoor activities and had so much fun! It was just like being a child again. Its really true you don't understand something properly unless you teach it to someone else and I think its also true of something you intend to deliver to children, to really understand it you need to experience it. So today it was back to being 10, building dens, making tree folk, a map stick, a mini world... you want to know what all these things are? You'll have to come to wise up :-P ( or get me to come to you and do something with your local home ed group if you are far away if there's the offer of an exchange visit!) ;-)
to make it even better my boss agreed to pay me to attend so I wasn't out of pocket and work will benefit too from what Ive learned!
I can't wait to be able to do some stuff with the kids in wise up and in work. It really was loads of fun, I think we all learned so many creative things :)
I hope I get to do more of it :) Id like to be able to do an NVQ in playwork :)
This will be my last post for a fortnight... holiday is beckoning once Ive worked a shift tomorrow, we leave straight after that at lunchtime
I ope when we get back there will be exciting news ..... My brothers partner is imminently expecting her 4th child but his first( the 'younger' ones are all teens)....Ill be a proper auntie when I return from holiday :D just a shame the bubba is late, we had so hoped he/she would be here by the time we left!
Now I'm off to pack my clothes and collapse into a hot bath!
Monday, 14 July 2008
Settling back into life as a 'three'
In terms of there being three Siblings, not two is a challenge in this house. Its one of the major drawbacks of Chloe boarding, everything gets thrown on its head when she comes home. Now I'd much rather her be here with us all the time but since its not possible we all have to readjust when she returns.
I spend most of my time just touching and hugging her until I drive her nuts and she spends much of her time going "OH SOPHIE/CONNOR/MUM" at us in frustration at various things, usually because they arent 'right' and she wails "I want to go back to school" where everything is familiar and ordered. Usually that also means that the other two's home ed pretty much grinds to a halt because "its holiday now so...." ( from whoever decides to use the getout clause)
I was extra worried as we moved house while Chloe was at school and shes spent relatively little time here so I was worried she would react particularly badly ( she needs familiarity and takes a long time to adapt to change, she gets quite anxious and tense until she adapts) usually whatever I plan she manages to disrupt even if shes not required to be involved!
The end result is usually screaming, shouting, conflict, physical fisticuffs and allegations that I love one of them more than the others as I try and right various wrongs, end various squabbles and restore order and calm from the chaos...
This time however I managed to glean areas that Chloe needs extra help with and decided she could work on those while shes home. We had a chat last night and she agreed it would be a good idea for her to keep up with her maths and reading After some initial reluctance ( in the form of much whinging and a few tears and "Its not fairs, I work hard I shouldnt have to...") she finally came and sat down with the others ( after I'd ignored her for quite some time and said she was fine to choose whatever but unfortunately I was busy with S+C) and asked for a multiplication colouring puzzle like the others had. After completing it said "err you know those games you said you had...?" and spent quite some time on them! So we've had three happy little people squirrelling away today round the table or on the PC, few arguments! They made a lovely lunch without being asked. Then we went shopping as Chloe and Connor both needed new trainers.Now the girls are busy baking a cake for my Mum's belated birthday treat.
Its all been so good Im waiting for something to go so drastically wrong..... They are being so good they making me nervous ;-)
I spend most of my time just touching and hugging her until I drive her nuts and she spends much of her time going "OH SOPHIE/CONNOR/MUM" at us in frustration at various things, usually because they arent 'right' and she wails "I want to go back to school" where everything is familiar and ordered. Usually that also means that the other two's home ed pretty much grinds to a halt because "its holiday now so...." ( from whoever decides to use the getout clause)
I was extra worried as we moved house while Chloe was at school and shes spent relatively little time here so I was worried she would react particularly badly ( she needs familiarity and takes a long time to adapt to change, she gets quite anxious and tense until she adapts) usually whatever I plan she manages to disrupt even if shes not required to be involved!
The end result is usually screaming, shouting, conflict, physical fisticuffs and allegations that I love one of them more than the others as I try and right various wrongs, end various squabbles and restore order and calm from the chaos...
This time however I managed to glean areas that Chloe needs extra help with and decided she could work on those while shes home. We had a chat last night and she agreed it would be a good idea for her to keep up with her maths and reading After some initial reluctance ( in the form of much whinging and a few tears and "Its not fairs, I work hard I shouldnt have to...") she finally came and sat down with the others ( after I'd ignored her for quite some time and said she was fine to choose whatever but unfortunately I was busy with S+C) and asked for a multiplication colouring puzzle like the others had. After completing it said "err you know those games you said you had...?" and spent quite some time on them! So we've had three happy little people squirrelling away today round the table or on the PC, few arguments! They made a lovely lunch without being asked. Then we went shopping as Chloe and Connor both needed new trainers.Now the girls are busy baking a cake for my Mum's belated birthday treat.
Its all been so good Im waiting for something to go so drastically wrong..... They are being so good they making me nervous ;-)
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Prizegiving!
Yesterday marked the end of another year at school for Chloe where she really is thriving.. Her school report contained 13 A's and 2B's!!!! ( I almost fainted!)We attended the parents party in the local pub on Thursday night while Sophie and Connor stayed with friends, it was lovely to catch up with her frinds parents ( many of whom are now our friends) and the staff informally!
Friday was the 'big deal' as Chloe calls it.... 'parents morning' .
Her teachers all talked about her in such complimentary terms and have said she always works really hard and gives 100%. She was rewarded with a trophy "for excellence in all areas of school life" and was really pleased. ( pics above)
The guy in the wheelchair in the pic above was the guest speaker... a truly inspirational guy who lost his Dad as a toddler, like our kids is Dyslexic, he suffered a spinal injury, was paralysed and yet completed his degree after rehab and then planned and drove Cairo-Capetown in an adapted vehicle raising £500,000 for spinal research!
He told the kids "You dream something, you want it badly enough you chase it and you WILL do it" He was funny,honest ( particularly about the bodily effects of spinal injury- kids were squirming in horror) very matter of fact, moving and at the end every person in the marquee was on their feet wiping their eyes or struggling with a lump in their throat.
She moves to the 'big school' this year (LOL- 100 kids) and although shes looking forward to it shes a bit scared so the OT took us round and reminded her again where everything is. Shes got colour coded maps and her timetable, once worked out- will also be colour coded. We took pictures to help her remember where everything is and these will also be used by the OT and speech therapy team to help other kids moving who also cant manage without visual prompts. Our request for this sort of help was met with a very matter of fact response and as always the teachers were quick to arrange things for her. ( they are complete angels!)
She will be absolutely fine after the first few days I'm sure. Its a big deal for her though, new houseparents, mostly new teachers, new buildings and friends ( though she knows the Y10's pretty well from before they moved)
We've spent today recovering from the late nights,doing endless mounds of her dirty washing and mooching about. Thanks goodness I got today off!
Catching up again!
I havent blogged regularly for ages I just dont know where this year is going, its really flying by!
The kids have been to another couple of sessions at Wise up and have tried lots of new things there. http://www.wiseuphe.netfirms.com/ has details of all the happenings and photos ( too much by far to blog here)but Sophie has especially enjoyed drawing Manga with her friends which pleases me because she isnt really the strongest artist ( like me) and so its nice seeing her want to experiment and practice Shes continued trying to do lots at home too, completing her 'draw write now' exercises and Ive also bought her a 'how to draw' fantasy book which shes tried a couple of times.
http://www.dragonflycreations.co.uk/ came along and ran a fantastic workshop teaching the children about sustainable crafts and green wood working
Both the kids are looking forward to the music lessons in September although I think it will be Sophie who actually sticks it and wants to learn guitar. Connor just loike bashing the drums in the music room and making a racket! Some drum lessons are something he's looking forward to and hopefully that can be organised.
Circus eruption have been along several times to Tuesday club now and Connor bought his own poi at Glastonbury as a result and now wants to try diablo, Sophie tried a pair of 'bouncy' stilts and the guys said she was really good on them and with practice should be able to walk and jump by herself
On the education front we've been quite slack lately, Ive not been very well and am often exhausted which needs investigating, I suspect Im anaemic so have started taking supplements but it doesnt seem to make any difference... The kids have been doing their Sonlight stuff but the core read aloud "Red Sails to Capri" is SOOO boring for me to read. They love it but I'm afraid I downed tools last week half way through a particularly long and tiresome chapter and refused to read any more of it for a few days before I burned the damn thing... Im failing to see what makes this particular book a shining example of good literature and since I have to read it Ive said they can wait until my hatred of it has abated a little! If its that good then they will wait and stay interested!
Theyve been doing some education city( mainly maths, english and science although theyve played with the Franch games a bit too)
We've been looking some stuff about greener living, recycling, energy saving and composting ( I'm tempted to get a composter so they can see how it all breaks down)
Theyve both been doing some workbooks which I had long abandoned but they were happier to pick up( and asked for). Sophies gone right off Galore Park English but thats something Ill be prodding her to get going with again. I think she just needs lots more support and guidance than most kids because of her dyslexia. Its certainly not the books fault that she cant manage it because its quite clear. She constantly says she wants to take a whole load of GCSE's etc but doesnt seem to realise she will need to be able to do Junior school level english before she will even be able to join in a GCSE level class later. She would just love to be able to take a GCSE next week and for it all to be so easy... Ho humm...
The kids have been to another couple of sessions at Wise up and have tried lots of new things there. http://www.wiseuphe.netfirms.com/ has details of all the happenings and photos ( too much by far to blog here)but Sophie has especially enjoyed drawing Manga with her friends which pleases me because she isnt really the strongest artist ( like me) and so its nice seeing her want to experiment and practice Shes continued trying to do lots at home too, completing her 'draw write now' exercises and Ive also bought her a 'how to draw' fantasy book which shes tried a couple of times.
http://www.dragonflycreations.co.uk/ came along and ran a fantastic workshop teaching the children about sustainable crafts and green wood working
Both the kids are looking forward to the music lessons in September although I think it will be Sophie who actually sticks it and wants to learn guitar. Connor just loike bashing the drums in the music room and making a racket! Some drum lessons are something he's looking forward to and hopefully that can be organised.
Circus eruption have been along several times to Tuesday club now and Connor bought his own poi at Glastonbury as a result and now wants to try diablo, Sophie tried a pair of 'bouncy' stilts and the guys said she was really good on them and with practice should be able to walk and jump by herself
On the education front we've been quite slack lately, Ive not been very well and am often exhausted which needs investigating, I suspect Im anaemic so have started taking supplements but it doesnt seem to make any difference... The kids have been doing their Sonlight stuff but the core read aloud "Red Sails to Capri" is SOOO boring for me to read. They love it but I'm afraid I downed tools last week half way through a particularly long and tiresome chapter and refused to read any more of it for a few days before I burned the damn thing... Im failing to see what makes this particular book a shining example of good literature and since I have to read it Ive said they can wait until my hatred of it has abated a little! If its that good then they will wait and stay interested!
Theyve been doing some education city( mainly maths, english and science although theyve played with the Franch games a bit too)
We've been looking some stuff about greener living, recycling, energy saving and composting ( I'm tempted to get a composter so they can see how it all breaks down)
Theyve both been doing some workbooks which I had long abandoned but they were happier to pick up( and asked for). Sophies gone right off Galore Park English but thats something Ill be prodding her to get going with again. I think she just needs lots more support and guidance than most kids because of her dyslexia. Its certainly not the books fault that she cant manage it because its quite clear. She constantly says she wants to take a whole load of GCSE's etc but doesnt seem to realise she will need to be able to do Junior school level english before she will even be able to join in a GCSE level class later. She would just love to be able to take a GCSE next week and for it all to be so easy... Ho humm...
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
GLASTONBURY!!!
Was Brilliant! Im struggling to know how to describe it really, we just all had such an amazing time!
We travelled down on Weds morning, early.. hoping to avoid the crowds, no such luck! It took 2 1/2 hours of queing to get into the site but we did manage to get a camping pitch with ease after finding my friend Carol who we were going to camp with :) Pitching was hillarious and involved the use of small children lying on flysheets to stop them blowing away!
We mooched around in the Sun on Wednesday and the kids made friends with a little lad who pitched up opposite with his Mum, Aunty and Uncle.It didnt seem that warm so I was amazed when I got sunburned through factor 30!!
Weds evening saw us at the cider bus for a pint of proper Somerset Cider in the sunshine and Thursday was spent exploring the site, taking photos and window shopping around the great many stalls :) We discovered the 'Education Otherwise' stall which sadly I thought looked really dissapointing : given how exciting and diverse the home ed community is it was sad to see ( the whole thing needs updating!)but the kids had their piccie taken and Soph bought a hair bobble.
Sophie and Connor loved the greenfirelds and craft fields although sadly Connor refused to eat anything which was such a shame as the food ( veggie) looked and smelled amazing!
Chloe and Her friend Charlotte arrived on Thursday evening and a lovely policeman allowed Darren to drive right into the site to drop them off :) We had planned to watch "Back to the Future" at the outdoor cinerma but sadly as soon as we reached the tent ( quite a walk!) the heavens opened... it stayed that way all evening curtailing the fun so the girls decided to take themselves off to bed... They'd only been in their tent 10 mins when there was a wail and screech of "MUUUUUMMM!!!! The tents blown down!" slight overreaction maybe but nevertheless it wasnt really looking terribly stable and my efforts to re pitch it in the pouring rain failed!
So we all ended up in my tent, 5 of us in a 4 man tent and all the gear in the porch. Fortunately my tent was large enough to cope, it was slightly cosy but adequate and the sagging pup tent was repitched sucessfully on friday morning !
Friday saw the start of the bands, opening with Kate Nash and the kids just had a ball from then on...! We spent the weekend variously sharing children with The guys opposite who we formed a larger group with so everyone got to see what they wanted without me having to split myself in three! Chloe and Charlotte enjoyed the Ting Tings while Soph, Connor and their friend Brad saw the Hoosiers, Over the course of the weekend we saw Duffy,Newton Faulkner, Jack Penate, James Blunt, Scouting for Girls ( amazing) Neil Diamond( brilliant)The Wombats, The Fratellis,The feeling,Crowded house ( amazing!) Jay-Z.. ( not my cuppa at all Im afraid, I thought it was rubbish!) Amy Wino house ( as the kids named her) was dreadful, slurring, shaking, staggering and droning as her band covered her!
The absolute highlight for me as The Verve on Sunday night... absolutely amazing.. although I was sad to miss Groove Armada who were equally incredible ( saw them on the TV when we got back!) I stood listening to my brothers favourite song, Bittersweet Symphony with tears streaming down my face, turned to the girls and they were all sobbing too! What a moment!) BLUB!!! where was Connor ? ASLEEP! On a picnic rug on the floor, through this hugely loud performance, fireworks the lot!!! It all just got too much for him but we partied on until the end when he woke up and staggered back to the tent!
The weather was cruddy on Friday and it got really muddy but it was back to sunshine on Saturday and dry ground underfoot which meant lots of fancy dress, crafts and face painting between bands. The kids field is brill, the kids felt really welcome everywhere, accosted the police officers everywhere we went once they realised there were free goodies to be had. It was fab, so much was free that I spent very little indeed! The only cost really was food, Id taken some thanksfully but the food stalls were VV expensive! I was glad I could feed them on demand, all the walking anf fresh air certainly increased their appetites!
Ive added my favourite pics from the weekend here but will add a link to them all at the bottom..there are far too many to just pick one!
We travelled down on Weds morning, early.. hoping to avoid the crowds, no such luck! It took 2 1/2 hours of queing to get into the site but we did manage to get a camping pitch with ease after finding my friend Carol who we were going to camp with :) Pitching was hillarious and involved the use of small children lying on flysheets to stop them blowing away!
We mooched around in the Sun on Wednesday and the kids made friends with a little lad who pitched up opposite with his Mum, Aunty and Uncle.It didnt seem that warm so I was amazed when I got sunburned through factor 30!!
Weds evening saw us at the cider bus for a pint of proper Somerset Cider in the sunshine and Thursday was spent exploring the site, taking photos and window shopping around the great many stalls :) We discovered the 'Education Otherwise' stall which sadly I thought looked really dissapointing : given how exciting and diverse the home ed community is it was sad to see ( the whole thing needs updating!)but the kids had their piccie taken and Soph bought a hair bobble.
Sophie and Connor loved the greenfirelds and craft fields although sadly Connor refused to eat anything which was such a shame as the food ( veggie) looked and smelled amazing!
Chloe and Her friend Charlotte arrived on Thursday evening and a lovely policeman allowed Darren to drive right into the site to drop them off :) We had planned to watch "Back to the Future" at the outdoor cinerma but sadly as soon as we reached the tent ( quite a walk!) the heavens opened... it stayed that way all evening curtailing the fun so the girls decided to take themselves off to bed... They'd only been in their tent 10 mins when there was a wail and screech of "MUUUUUMMM!!!! The tents blown down!" slight overreaction maybe but nevertheless it wasnt really looking terribly stable and my efforts to re pitch it in the pouring rain failed!
So we all ended up in my tent, 5 of us in a 4 man tent and all the gear in the porch. Fortunately my tent was large enough to cope, it was slightly cosy but adequate and the sagging pup tent was repitched sucessfully on friday morning !
Friday saw the start of the bands, opening with Kate Nash and the kids just had a ball from then on...! We spent the weekend variously sharing children with The guys opposite who we formed a larger group with so everyone got to see what they wanted without me having to split myself in three! Chloe and Charlotte enjoyed the Ting Tings while Soph, Connor and their friend Brad saw the Hoosiers, Over the course of the weekend we saw Duffy,Newton Faulkner, Jack Penate, James Blunt, Scouting for Girls ( amazing) Neil Diamond( brilliant)The Wombats, The Fratellis,The feeling,Crowded house ( amazing!) Jay-Z.. ( not my cuppa at all Im afraid, I thought it was rubbish!) Amy Wino house ( as the kids named her) was dreadful, slurring, shaking, staggering and droning as her band covered her!
The absolute highlight for me as The Verve on Sunday night... absolutely amazing.. although I was sad to miss Groove Armada who were equally incredible ( saw them on the TV when we got back!) I stood listening to my brothers favourite song, Bittersweet Symphony with tears streaming down my face, turned to the girls and they were all sobbing too! What a moment!) BLUB!!! where was Connor ? ASLEEP! On a picnic rug on the floor, through this hugely loud performance, fireworks the lot!!! It all just got too much for him but we partied on until the end when he woke up and staggered back to the tent!
The weather was cruddy on Friday and it got really muddy but it was back to sunshine on Saturday and dry ground underfoot which meant lots of fancy dress, crafts and face painting between bands. The kids field is brill, the kids felt really welcome everywhere, accosted the police officers everywhere we went once they realised there were free goodies to be had. It was fab, so much was free that I spent very little indeed! The only cost really was food, Id taken some thanksfully but the food stalls were VV expensive! I was glad I could feed them on demand, all the walking anf fresh air certainly increased their appetites!
Ive added my favourite pics from the weekend here but will add a link to them all at the bottom..there are far too many to just pick one!
We dont know this bloke BTW, he was just too funny not to photograph!
The rest ( well worth a look)
http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o126/JenGriff_photos/Glastonbury%2008/
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Another wonderful wise up
Tuesday club again was fab, the kids really just throw themselves into it, enjoying whatever takes their fancy at the time. Today it was endless games of pool for Connor in between chasing Jack around not advisable as it annoys the YMCA although Jack was obviously enjoying it... Jack is Torrins older brother.( Im sensing a tollerance /enjoyment of being annoyed here!) and for Sophie it was more cross stitch, Discussing the latest happenings in Doctor Who with her girlyfriends and a fab Manga drawing workshop which really grabbed her. She spent hours when she got home trying to recreate the things she had learned and improve.
She was less than impressed when I got curry on one of her creations... well I DID tell her she shouldnt be eating with one hand and trying to draw with the other and perhaps it was high time she gave it a rest for tonight! She now intends to run her own Manga drawing workshop at Glastonbury.... nothing like aiming high then kiddo!
Talking of Glastonbury, Darrens car has been comandeered ( its a 4X4) and packed to the gills, so much for alledgely travelling light ( and no, its not all booze just in case you were wondering!)
But I guess 5 peoples stuff, trolleys, tents etc doesnt exactly equate to travelling light does it?
I havent even got onto packing the clothes yet.
Chloe announced helpfully at about 7 tonight after Id done a shift in work and was knackered..... ( on phone from school) err mum, you did wash all my clothes, you know the filthy ones I left in my suitcase under the bed?????? ARRRGHH YOU WHAT????! No dear I didnt, you know why? because you swore blind to DH that everything was clean and nothing needed doing last weekend... and now Im sat here with the tumble drier going at 11pm..... HMPH !!!!! GRRR and I have to be up at 5am!
see you all next week !
She was less than impressed when I got curry on one of her creations... well I DID tell her she shouldnt be eating with one hand and trying to draw with the other and perhaps it was high time she gave it a rest for tonight! She now intends to run her own Manga drawing workshop at Glastonbury.... nothing like aiming high then kiddo!
Talking of Glastonbury, Darrens car has been comandeered ( its a 4X4) and packed to the gills, so much for alledgely travelling light ( and no, its not all booze just in case you were wondering!)
But I guess 5 peoples stuff, trolleys, tents etc doesnt exactly equate to travelling light does it?
I havent even got onto packing the clothes yet.
Chloe announced helpfully at about 7 tonight after Id done a shift in work and was knackered..... ( on phone from school) err mum, you did wash all my clothes, you know the filthy ones I left in my suitcase under the bed?????? ARRRGHH YOU WHAT????! No dear I didnt, you know why? because you swore blind to DH that everything was clean and nothing needed doing last weekend... and now Im sat here with the tumble drier going at 11pm..... HMPH !!!!! GRRR and I have to be up at 5am!
see you all next week !
Monday, 23 June 2008
Reflecting
OK so today wasnt the easiest... Soph calmed down, we popped to town and did some last minute glastonbury shopping ( earplugs for the night time) and once we were home the kids just chilled Connor, being sick zonked out for a few hours Sophie played on education city and most was left unsaid until Darren returned...
We discussed it and agreed, they are all different kids with different needs and its our job just to go with it and do our best to meet their needs, however we go about it.
So if she wants wycliff, then thats what she gets, if thats really her decision. We will ask her after the weekend and see. If she wants to try again at the smaller homeschool group thats fine, if not, thats fine too. ( I think we've probably been here several times already so weve promised ourselves for our sanity this will be the decider!)
My friend J sent me this tonight, she thought( and I agree) and it sums up today so well, I thought I would share it! from
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove
"What's GOOD about that?" ::If it's raining, you're supposed to call it "bad weather" and complain.Complaining makes you feel bad, but you've been led to believe that thesource of your angst is the rain-- the weather *conditions*. That's conditionality
.UNconditionality means wanting so much to feel good that you stop usingconditions to justify feeling bad.
One way to practice the Art of Unconditionality in the face of "bad"conditions is to ask yourself, "What's GOOD about that?"What's GOOD about the rain? It vitalizes the soil and plants... It makes theair smell clean... It's fun to get drenched and then go take a hot bath!
What's GOOD about children "misbehaving"? It means they're trying to engage,explore, connect, create, etc... It means you get to practice loving andfeeling good unconditionally, which is the key to your Authentic Power.Eventually you'll realize it's neither good nor bad -- it just IS.
Welcometo Reality. :-)
We discussed it and agreed, they are all different kids with different needs and its our job just to go with it and do our best to meet their needs, however we go about it.
So if she wants wycliff, then thats what she gets, if thats really her decision. We will ask her after the weekend and see. If she wants to try again at the smaller homeschool group thats fine, if not, thats fine too. ( I think we've probably been here several times already so weve promised ourselves for our sanity this will be the decider!)
My friend J sent me this tonight, she thought( and I agree) and it sums up today so well, I thought I would share it! from
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove
"What's GOOD about that?" ::If it's raining, you're supposed to call it "bad weather" and complain.Complaining makes you feel bad, but you've been led to believe that thesource of your angst is the rain-- the weather *conditions*. That's conditionality
.UNconditionality means wanting so much to feel good that you stop usingconditions to justify feeling bad.
One way to practice the Art of Unconditionality in the face of "bad"conditions is to ask yourself, "What's GOOD about that?"What's GOOD about the rain? It vitalizes the soil and plants... It makes theair smell clean... It's fun to get drenched and then go take a hot bath!
What's GOOD about children "misbehaving"? It means they're trying to engage,explore, connect, create, etc... It means you get to practice loving andfeeling good unconditionally, which is the key to your Authentic Power.Eventually you'll realize it's neither good nor bad -- it just IS.
Welcometo Reality. :-)
OK. strike that ( maybe) and rethink
The kids were up bright and early(ish) this morning ready to try a session at the little school group..Connor isnt well so we decided he wouldnt try it but for Soph all was going well until we arrived. On the way she'd been chatting about wanting to try it on her own and stuff anyway... We met two other mums who were lovely and introduced themselves and said they hoped mine would love it as much as their kids (promising start by anyones school gate experiences I think!)
Got through the door and she just crumpled, refused to stay sobbed and even the offer of one of the little girls birthday cakes wouldnt placate her.. she sobbed all the way home and said quite steadfastly she wanted to go to Wycliff ( the school further away)
Connor then said later he wanted to try Cross and Crown but not without Soph ARRGH !!!
The teacher was nice about it but it was cringeworthy with Soph sobbing, refusing to calm down ( from nowt to howling in about 0.6 seconds!) and knowing Soph she will refuse to try it now because she'll feel embarassed... so wycliff it will be then I guess, god knows whether we will be ok doing it or the impact it will have but with a bit of luck it means shes actually made a decision.
*shakes head*
Oh well, they are watching MrBeans Holiday while I pack and I try not to think too much about it all!
Got through the door and she just crumpled, refused to stay sobbed and even the offer of one of the little girls birthday cakes wouldnt placate her.. she sobbed all the way home and said quite steadfastly she wanted to go to Wycliff ( the school further away)
Connor then said later he wanted to try Cross and Crown but not without Soph ARRGH !!!
The teacher was nice about it but it was cringeworthy with Soph sobbing, refusing to calm down ( from nowt to howling in about 0.6 seconds!) and knowing Soph she will refuse to try it now because she'll feel embarassed... so wycliff it will be then I guess, god knows whether we will be ok doing it or the impact it will have but with a bit of luck it means shes actually made a decision.
*shakes head*
Oh well, they are watching MrBeans Holiday while I pack and I try not to think too much about it all!
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Time to catch up!
Its been three weeks since I blogged anything! I knew I;d been busy but hadn't realised quite how busy until I promised a friend I would blog 'tonight I promise' 3 days ago and still haven't got round to it!
So what have we been up to?? LOADS!
Our Sonlight Core arrived( world history and geography) and the kids are really enjoying it, especially the geography songs on CD :) I'm glad I didn't buy a whole great big package though with Maths, handwriting etc because Connors doing really well with his Miquon programme and Sophies started practicing her tables every day when she realised she just isnt managing her maths any more because she doesn't know them.
I'm going to look into getting some of the 'optional' language arts workbooks for Connor though because IMO they shouldn't be optional, the language arts frankly isn't very good without them!
Connor likes his reading books though and Sophie is reading aloud some of the bits and pieces of history etc instead of me doing it. I initially intended the core for Connor and thought Id get a different one for Sophie but shes enjoying it all and it doesn't seem too 'young' for her. She has her Galore Park English which she can do to differentiate the language arts bits anyway!
I'm finding the first 'read aloud' novel rather boring but they love it so I'm guessing its just me then....!
We don't do it all every day, if its too much for them to manage all at one sitting so we just pick it up as we feel able to and leave the bits we don't want for another day when they are more interested.
Its definitely led by them though, they ask to 'do work now please' and are able to say "actually I don't want to do this bit, can we do something else now please?"
I'm glad I did bite the bullet and got it though, their demands to "do work now please" were difficult previously because whatever I tried to conjour up nothing seemed to satisfy them for long. Sonlight really does seem to fit the bill in that respect.Its nice covering so much with so little perceived effort on everyone's part and I certainly don't feel I'm 'teaching' them really, just reading to them or guiding them through whatever is on the schedule for the day and keeping track of whats next if we stopped and pick it back up again at a different time.
They gave up on Education City for a while but its been redone lately to meet the needs of home users better and they are both really liking the new format and games etc so have been using that quite a lot too.
Other than the home ed stuff we've been meeting up with other home edders both locally and further afield.
Wise up has held another couple of Brilliant sessions, a Water play session which the kids both absolutely loved and threw themselves into with great enthusiasm. The session went on for hours while most of the mums managed to stay dry and clean by lounging like seals in the sun while the pups splashed, raced, slid and bounced around soaking each other and getting plastered in mud and bubbles! There were several exclamations of "Amazing, brill! etc and Sophie made me well up when she announced loudly "I LOVE my life!!"
Tuesday club last Tuesday was another great one. Connor spent most of his time in the Dojo with Jon the sports coach and Sophie spent all day with the girls doing arty bits, producing a lovely poster of a Dalek and doing some Cross stitch and tormenting Torin ( which appears to be an activity in itself) fortunately Torin appears to be enjoying it as much as they are! Ill put links to the piccies up at the end, I always manage to mess up the formatting!
Locally we've been Swimming with another family who live nearby and the kids are keen to go again. I'm hoping maybe we can make it a regular activity as other friends have also said they'd like to come along :)
We also went birdwatching at The museum of Welsh life in St Fagans which necessitated an early start... up at 4.30 to meet at 5.30! OUCH! It was well worth it though, the guide Gareth taught us all what to listen for before we set out and over about an hour and a half we saw loads of different birds The kids had a tick sheet and managed to tick off almost all the birds and had to add quite a few to the lists. We also spotted rabbits in the clearing, newts and fish in the tannery pond. It was lovely to go when it was so peaceful and still. I hope we can repeat it sometime.
They are still enjoying their activities , Connors sticking at Tae- Kwondo and is trying hard to learn to count in Korean.
Sophie has joined the cheerleading sessions and is working hard in her new swimming club. Shes been a bit blah about Trampolining this term but she does this every now and again so I know it will pass. I didnt think she would want to add anything else in activity wise but living so close to the leisure centre she takes herself off down there to do whatever it is she wants( lovely for her and for me!)It also means no running round after her apart from Trampolining.
Sophie is still wavering about school. We have to make a decision soon, sometimes she wants to go, sometimes she doesn't. Unfortunately the cost of petrol is starting to make it prohibitive for us to actually get her there every day and its too far for her to get public transport back home if one of us can't get there to collect her :( We had hoped she could go to MIL's house but things have been 'difficult' in that dept lately so its not an option.That makes the decision all the harder and petrol doesn't look like its getting cheaper either!
There is a small Christian school closer that we've discovered and visited, its only just starting up with about 10 kids aged between 4-13 and 2 staff its designed to be for either full time or home educated and flexi school so the kids are going to go and try a session and see if they like it.
Ive realised lately working as much as I do after being with the kids all day is just unsustainable for me physically. I'm exhausted much of the time ( and thankfully Darren has realised this too) Several times a week I do a full 'days work' after having spent all day running round with the kids!
Financially we cannot afford for me not to. If I didn't the kids would have to go back to state schools and Id have to work in the day.( really not an option) so hopefully if they can spend a couple of sessions a week somewhere then Ill get a little bit of time off to catch up with things in the house or just to sleep if necessary!
Chloe's home this weekend and thinks the idea of going to school for just some of the time is 'wierd' but seems happy to keep her counsel for now, I think so long as shes happy shes stooped worrying what the others get up to without her. Shes very keen to go to Wise up and see what goes on at Tuesday club. She'll be with me every weekend now, then breaks up in the 2nd week in July for 2 months before moving to the upper school ( shes scared she will get lost and its too big... she doesn't realise how small it is compared with most schools!)
We've both been in stitches watching the new comedy 'Summer hills high' on BBC, set in an Australian High School.. and one actor playing the three main, very different characters ( a gay drama teacher with aspirations, a bitchy pretentious new girl and a Polynesian lad who is trying to drop out and disrupt in every possible way as he 'entertains' the class)
This evening I cringed and waited for a bad reaction when there was a scene in a 'remedial reading lesson' where the main character was learning to read the word 'Circus' ... "sound it out"said the teacher and the kid said "C" ( as in Cat) and corrected by the teacher said "It doesn't begin with a F***ing S"... cue Chloe Falling about laughing and says See! See?? That's what I think when I'm in speech and language doing my THRASS ( specialist phonics for severely dyslexic kids)
It could have been such an awful moment but it was so funny and so special that we can all now sit and laugh at the ridiculousness of parts of the English language and what used to be such a sore subject is something she now has the confidence to find hilarious. We are also loving the bitchy girl from the private school on the exchange programme and how awful she is.
anyway... heres the rest of the piccies from the Water play session
Ill probably go quiet again after today for a week as we're off to Glastonbury this week... Im taking 4 kids, inc Chloe's friend Charlotte ( I must be mad)
I'll make sure I don't leave it so long before blogging all that when I get back!
Sunday, 1 June 2008
A Happy 'half term'
Chloes been home for 10 days and we've had a remarkably calm week, minimal fighting which is unusual but a real blessing and the kids have had lots of fun.
We havent really done alot, thanks to Sophies broken finger alot of activities had to be curtailed, including a fab 'den building' session wise up organised. I was gutted to have missed it, it looked loads of fun! But we've done quite alot anyway!
Mondays concert fun took a day to recover from, we were all worn out. We had planned to visit Longleat but the vouchers from tesco didnt arrive so thats on hold for now, much to the kids dissapointment so Tuesday saw us all just mooching around, having a pleasant lunch out and sorting the caravan a bit.
Usually we find the younger two dont do much structured stuff in Chloe's half term as 'its holiday time' but this week weve managed to do a fair bit. Chloe has reading and diary writing to do so we included her in whatever we were doing. She asked for some maths to do and so I printed her off a set of worksheets.. she did what I envisaged would maybe take all week in 15 mins!!!
They all had fun measuring angles with a protractor as that was in Sophies maths book and both Sophie and Connor have spent lots of time playing with an angles game on the woodlands school website . We intended to watch Springwatch but havent had time! Ill have to get catching it up on I-PLayer this week
On wednesday we went to the local home ed group and the girls got crafty with wool while Connor munched his lunch, played ball and whinged he felt ill so we went home cue a killer headache and him retiring to bed at about 6 ( he must be ill!)
Sophies made some lovely cards using her 'draw write now' book
and the girls got right into the 'Flat Traveler' project recommended by Bridget and Linda and got busy making their flat travellers. Their first traveller is soon to head down under and were going to organise the journal and scrapbook this afternoon
We havent really done alot, thanks to Sophies broken finger alot of activities had to be curtailed, including a fab 'den building' session wise up organised. I was gutted to have missed it, it looked loads of fun! But we've done quite alot anyway!
Mondays concert fun took a day to recover from, we were all worn out. We had planned to visit Longleat but the vouchers from tesco didnt arrive so thats on hold for now, much to the kids dissapointment so Tuesday saw us all just mooching around, having a pleasant lunch out and sorting the caravan a bit.
Usually we find the younger two dont do much structured stuff in Chloe's half term as 'its holiday time' but this week weve managed to do a fair bit. Chloe has reading and diary writing to do so we included her in whatever we were doing. She asked for some maths to do and so I printed her off a set of worksheets.. she did what I envisaged would maybe take all week in 15 mins!!!
They all had fun measuring angles with a protractor as that was in Sophies maths book and both Sophie and Connor have spent lots of time playing with an angles game on the woodlands school website . We intended to watch Springwatch but havent had time! Ill have to get catching it up on I-PLayer this week
On wednesday we went to the local home ed group and the girls got crafty with wool while Connor munched his lunch, played ball and whinged he felt ill so we went home cue a killer headache and him retiring to bed at about 6 ( he must be ill!)
Sophies made some lovely cards using her 'draw write now' bookand the girls got right into the 'Flat Traveler' project recommended by Bridget and Linda and got busy making their flat travellers. Their first traveller is soon to head down under and were going to organise the journal and scrapbook this afternoonSophie joined in her first swimming club session and is excited about the Gala which will be held at the end of June which she has been told she will have to practice hard for. Connor moved up a level in swimming and impressed his new teacher with his backstroke which pleased him no end!
We spent yesterday visiting my middle Brother, we dont see him very often so it was nice to catch up again and spent the evening in a complete talent show slob fest in front of the TV first watching "I'd do anything" then "Britains got Talent" finals. I usually hate these shows with a passion and I tolerated the BBC one for the girls but enjoyed Britqains got Talent and we were all thrilled when George won. The kids agonised over which results show to watch but finally settled on ITV. They can watch the BBC one when Im at tesco! I can shop in peace! Meanwhile the girls are making 'Beautiful music' after finding the recorders and book... time to go shopping! My poor ears!
Friday, 30 May 2008
Taking stock
This weekend it will be a year since we removed both Sophie and Connor from their primary school. Connor was removed at the beginning of May, Sophie at the beginning of June.
Its flown by in some respects, although in others when I look back it seems like we've been home educating for much longer than a year. We've achieved so much in that time. Both are more confident, happier and more secure than they were. Connor was frankly heading for a breakdown and now I look back and consider what the same Primary school did to Chloe I'm quite sure that he would have followed the same path to misery and behavioural problems, mental anguish and psychiatric intervention( which I'm happy to report she hasn't needed at all since shes been at her school- where shes successful and happy!- Ill write about that later)
Connors speech has improved massively to the delight of his speech therapist who now sees him much more infrequently than she did when he was in school.He is reading much better and although he is still almost phobic about 'English' I am trying alternative ways to win him over and get him doing any writing/typing at all. That doesn't seem to matter that much really though,in the greater scheme of things he can now read much more than just boring 'baby' books. indeed when we removed him the school claimed he could read. We saw no evidence that he could, seeing evidence of that took until early September last year( so 3/4 months).
He now can tell you all sorts about the solar system, is fascinated by the recent Mars landings. he questions ( often to the point where I want to scream) can discuss his almost encyclopedic knowledge of premier league football and notices the smallest things, like ants at a bus stop, dragging a dead one along the floor... none of that can or would be measured by a SATS test and yet he is far from a failure. he is willing to try more things and is open to more ideas, as long as he doesn't perceive them as 'schooly' or difficult ( although that doesn't rule out our structured approach as long as its gentle) He can swim ( rather well as it turns out). tie his shoelaces( a big deal) and recently assesses Tae Kwondo as "It looks hard but I have learned I can do something hard if I want to badly enough" and thus he has joined in, something he never would have done before. He'd have screamed the place down and refused to even look any more- even if he 'wanted' to do it!
Sophie is much more confident in herself than she used to be, although I'm not sure we have achieved our initial aim to help her catch up with what she had been 'missing out on' in school she has learned much more. She struggles with tables and avoids them like the plague but is happy to attempt anything else mathematically that isn't connected directly with or she perceives as being connected with multiplication. That's a massive step for this child who considered herself"'a bit thick and dint even make me try maths"
Her self esteem has grown loads in the last year, she now is strong enough to be cutting ties with her last 'friend' from school. A child we never really warmed to terribly because she flitted between Sophie and the girl who bullied her,sometimes being her ally, sometimes being her enemy. I cant say I'm disappointed with this and was really proud when she said "she was horrid to me on msn so Ive blocked her" and although she asked a couple of times to phone her she soon decided that the answer to "Is that SUCH a good idea" was "actually no, probably not!"
Shes achieved masses in her trampolining sessions and her coaches are thrilled with her progress in the past 6 months especially. Shes also coped with a couple of changes of coach, something which previously would have left her grief stricken and others treating her as if she was just a ridiculous attention seeker as she would sob about it.I realise she must have found it so incredibly hard to cope with, first building trusting relationships and then having them removed. I'm so proud she seems to have realised that she will be OK and that partings are the way of the world.
She has also started swimming club at the centre where I work, she went in alone, not knowing anyone apart from one of the teachers and got straight into it. I was really proud of her, she still struggles with her body image and I think it probably was a big thing for her to be able to get into her new swimsuit and walk into a pool with 25 kids who are strangers to her but who have probably known each other a long time and join in the swimming club.The coaches came out and said "she did really well and tried her very best" ( all I can ask I think!) She now wants to learn the recorder, the guitar and to make her own clothes !
She now has fewer friends but those she does have are so much better for her I think. She is looking forward to the social side of the small school we hope she will join in September however she isn't so sure she wants to go every day and work! Ive told her she needs to make a choice on that one. I suspect she wont and I will choose for her, in favour of sending her but she knows she can say "I want to change my mind" and that will be OK too( I hope) She very much enjoyed her day in school and I think she needs to at least give it a good go. I do recognise she needs friends but that her previous schooling has made her vulnerable to bullying and that in my mind she needs to go back to the 'right' school as far as is possible, a huge senior just wont ever be able to give her what she needs.
Chloe continues to thrive. This time last year she was emerging from the damage that years of bullying and lack of provision/understanding for her special needs had caused. At the end of last summer term she won the 'headmasters cup' and I was so incredibly proud, I spent the whole day crying openly, I was so so proud of how far she had come.
I saw another mum at school watch her child receive the same treatment at Christmas and he had been through similar anguish( and they a similar battle with the local authorities) and she too sobbed and sobbed. We've chatted about this and agreed neither of our particular kids at school thrived while being home educated ( Chloe was for several months and her son for more than a year) and home education just wasn't for them. It still isn't for them, despite us both buying into it with great enthusiasm and seeing as parents the benefits, especially for Sophie and Connor. We are so blessed that there is a school which is suited so completely to unravelling what is going on for them and meeting their needs as a result of what they find. Chloe's school has unravelled the 'odd' things about her, explained them, treated them as completely run of the mill and just something else which unravelled some more of the puzzle which makes up my very unique daughter. 'Complex' was the label applied to her by the state which meant "we cant deal with her so we will write her off" It horrifies me that my daughter who has turned out to be such a bookworm and such a 'swot' ( and I use that term proudly!) was destined for "a gentle skills based curriculum with an emphasis on gaining skills for life" which in effect meant "we will take her on tripe, teach her how to shop, cook and clean and maybe teach her to read a little better and so some maths".... now none of that is wrong or viewed by me as not valuable but when you consider that all other learning opportunities would be limited to a very low level to meet the needs of children who have difficulties understanding its a horrifying prospect for a child with a high IQ, disabled by severe dyslexic difficulties who was expressing feelings of severe self loathing and demonstrating it regularly and dramatically at home. I look back at the crumpled, damaged and exceedingly angry child we bundled into the car and forced to visit the school, who scowled at the head and refused to speak... who later CHOSE that school and in 18 months is now in the top set for maths,is a prefect and is helping another very damaged little girl settle into school.(and has been recognised for her efforts)
I think "Thank god, I think Ive made the right choices for my kids at the time I have felt Ive needed to make them and Ive chosen my fights" and thank god a panel of people agreed Chloe needed the school and thank god the law allowed me to say "No I wont put Connor through this any more and do what we did ( unintentionally) to Chloe forcing her into school"
I have met so many lovely people since we've been home educating, many who are a constant source of friendship and support,.
Ive met some who clearly don't agree with my choosing a structured/eclectic/semi structured approach as one which is right for my children... that's all fine.They are my children and I make my choices for them but that's not to say we don't have things we can learn from each other and value in each others approaches when the time comes ( if it comes) for alternative ways to be 'the best way' for our respective children.
I think Ive grown in confidence in my own decisions and sadly have to thank the LEA and the awful fight against them for that. That I was right about my child... I wasn't a professional yet I was listened to and was agreed with by 'professionals' That gave me confidence.
As a home educator, i started out thinking "I can return them if this doesn't work" but it is working, I can see its working in front of my eyes. They aren't 'filling up' with facts as fast as children in school but I wonder whether that is in fact of any use to them later? I am pretty sure the usefulness of such an approach is severely limited and I value the fact I( and Chloe's school) can get my children to be literate, numerate and loving learning, loving discovering and growing as people. It is also what I value about her school- my child is taught in portakabins... for an independent school it isn't 'academic' nor 'posh' it just nurtures beautiful people who also need and thrive in school ( and frankly if you read this and are a home educator who thinks ALL schools are ALL evil,damaging institutions you'll be wasting your energy complaining about my view!)
Chloe's school motto is ( translated from Latin) 'The same roads by different steps" and its only while writing this that Ive realised that's what we do as home educators do, that's what Chloe's school does( and they are vehemently anti LEA interference/Aggro too). The aim is to nurture children who can achieve, who want to, because they believe that they can.
Its such a shame the state system is so frightened of different steps, that we can all tread the path through life without being labelled a failure, that we all have talents and weaknesses and that if we were all the same life would be very boring.... rather like many children find state schooling... where we must all tread the same path, the same way and fit our square pegs into those round holes however or whatever the cost.
My square pegs fit rather nicely into their respective holes and I hope that continues! If it doesn't, we'll change the hole, not the peg!
Its flown by in some respects, although in others when I look back it seems like we've been home educating for much longer than a year. We've achieved so much in that time. Both are more confident, happier and more secure than they were. Connor was frankly heading for a breakdown and now I look back and consider what the same Primary school did to Chloe I'm quite sure that he would have followed the same path to misery and behavioural problems, mental anguish and psychiatric intervention( which I'm happy to report she hasn't needed at all since shes been at her school- where shes successful and happy!- Ill write about that later)
Connors speech has improved massively to the delight of his speech therapist who now sees him much more infrequently than she did when he was in school.He is reading much better and although he is still almost phobic about 'English' I am trying alternative ways to win him over and get him doing any writing/typing at all. That doesn't seem to matter that much really though,in the greater scheme of things he can now read much more than just boring 'baby' books. indeed when we removed him the school claimed he could read. We saw no evidence that he could, seeing evidence of that took until early September last year( so 3/4 months).
He now can tell you all sorts about the solar system, is fascinated by the recent Mars landings. he questions ( often to the point where I want to scream) can discuss his almost encyclopedic knowledge of premier league football and notices the smallest things, like ants at a bus stop, dragging a dead one along the floor... none of that can or would be measured by a SATS test and yet he is far from a failure. he is willing to try more things and is open to more ideas, as long as he doesn't perceive them as 'schooly' or difficult ( although that doesn't rule out our structured approach as long as its gentle) He can swim ( rather well as it turns out). tie his shoelaces( a big deal) and recently assesses Tae Kwondo as "It looks hard but I have learned I can do something hard if I want to badly enough" and thus he has joined in, something he never would have done before. He'd have screamed the place down and refused to even look any more- even if he 'wanted' to do it!
Sophie is much more confident in herself than she used to be, although I'm not sure we have achieved our initial aim to help her catch up with what she had been 'missing out on' in school she has learned much more. She struggles with tables and avoids them like the plague but is happy to attempt anything else mathematically that isn't connected directly with or she perceives as being connected with multiplication. That's a massive step for this child who considered herself"'a bit thick and dint even make me try maths"
Her self esteem has grown loads in the last year, she now is strong enough to be cutting ties with her last 'friend' from school. A child we never really warmed to terribly because she flitted between Sophie and the girl who bullied her,sometimes being her ally, sometimes being her enemy. I cant say I'm disappointed with this and was really proud when she said "she was horrid to me on msn so Ive blocked her" and although she asked a couple of times to phone her she soon decided that the answer to "Is that SUCH a good idea" was "actually no, probably not!"
Shes achieved masses in her trampolining sessions and her coaches are thrilled with her progress in the past 6 months especially. Shes also coped with a couple of changes of coach, something which previously would have left her grief stricken and others treating her as if she was just a ridiculous attention seeker as she would sob about it.I realise she must have found it so incredibly hard to cope with, first building trusting relationships and then having them removed. I'm so proud she seems to have realised that she will be OK and that partings are the way of the world.
She has also started swimming club at the centre where I work, she went in alone, not knowing anyone apart from one of the teachers and got straight into it. I was really proud of her, she still struggles with her body image and I think it probably was a big thing for her to be able to get into her new swimsuit and walk into a pool with 25 kids who are strangers to her but who have probably known each other a long time and join in the swimming club.The coaches came out and said "she did really well and tried her very best" ( all I can ask I think!) She now wants to learn the recorder, the guitar and to make her own clothes !
She now has fewer friends but those she does have are so much better for her I think. She is looking forward to the social side of the small school we hope she will join in September however she isn't so sure she wants to go every day and work! Ive told her she needs to make a choice on that one. I suspect she wont and I will choose for her, in favour of sending her but she knows she can say "I want to change my mind" and that will be OK too( I hope) She very much enjoyed her day in school and I think she needs to at least give it a good go. I do recognise she needs friends but that her previous schooling has made her vulnerable to bullying and that in my mind she needs to go back to the 'right' school as far as is possible, a huge senior just wont ever be able to give her what she needs.
Chloe continues to thrive. This time last year she was emerging from the damage that years of bullying and lack of provision/understanding for her special needs had caused. At the end of last summer term she won the 'headmasters cup' and I was so incredibly proud, I spent the whole day crying openly, I was so so proud of how far she had come.
I saw another mum at school watch her child receive the same treatment at Christmas and he had been through similar anguish( and they a similar battle with the local authorities) and she too sobbed and sobbed. We've chatted about this and agreed neither of our particular kids at school thrived while being home educated ( Chloe was for several months and her son for more than a year) and home education just wasn't for them. It still isn't for them, despite us both buying into it with great enthusiasm and seeing as parents the benefits, especially for Sophie and Connor. We are so blessed that there is a school which is suited so completely to unravelling what is going on for them and meeting their needs as a result of what they find. Chloe's school has unravelled the 'odd' things about her, explained them, treated them as completely run of the mill and just something else which unravelled some more of the puzzle which makes up my very unique daughter. 'Complex' was the label applied to her by the state which meant "we cant deal with her so we will write her off" It horrifies me that my daughter who has turned out to be such a bookworm and such a 'swot' ( and I use that term proudly!) was destined for "a gentle skills based curriculum with an emphasis on gaining skills for life" which in effect meant "we will take her on tripe, teach her how to shop, cook and clean and maybe teach her to read a little better and so some maths".... now none of that is wrong or viewed by me as not valuable but when you consider that all other learning opportunities would be limited to a very low level to meet the needs of children who have difficulties understanding its a horrifying prospect for a child with a high IQ, disabled by severe dyslexic difficulties who was expressing feelings of severe self loathing and demonstrating it regularly and dramatically at home. I look back at the crumpled, damaged and exceedingly angry child we bundled into the car and forced to visit the school, who scowled at the head and refused to speak... who later CHOSE that school and in 18 months is now in the top set for maths,is a prefect and is helping another very damaged little girl settle into school.(and has been recognised for her efforts)
I think "Thank god, I think Ive made the right choices for my kids at the time I have felt Ive needed to make them and Ive chosen my fights" and thank god a panel of people agreed Chloe needed the school and thank god the law allowed me to say "No I wont put Connor through this any more and do what we did ( unintentionally) to Chloe forcing her into school"
I have met so many lovely people since we've been home educating, many who are a constant source of friendship and support,.
Ive met some who clearly don't agree with my choosing a structured/eclectic/semi structured approach as one which is right for my children... that's all fine.They are my children and I make my choices for them but that's not to say we don't have things we can learn from each other and value in each others approaches when the time comes ( if it comes) for alternative ways to be 'the best way' for our respective children.
I think Ive grown in confidence in my own decisions and sadly have to thank the LEA and the awful fight against them for that. That I was right about my child... I wasn't a professional yet I was listened to and was agreed with by 'professionals' That gave me confidence.
As a home educator, i started out thinking "I can return them if this doesn't work" but it is working, I can see its working in front of my eyes. They aren't 'filling up' with facts as fast as children in school but I wonder whether that is in fact of any use to them later? I am pretty sure the usefulness of such an approach is severely limited and I value the fact I( and Chloe's school) can get my children to be literate, numerate and loving learning, loving discovering and growing as people. It is also what I value about her school- my child is taught in portakabins... for an independent school it isn't 'academic' nor 'posh' it just nurtures beautiful people who also need and thrive in school ( and frankly if you read this and are a home educator who thinks ALL schools are ALL evil,damaging institutions you'll be wasting your energy complaining about my view!)
Chloe's school motto is ( translated from Latin) 'The same roads by different steps" and its only while writing this that Ive realised that's what we do as home educators do, that's what Chloe's school does( and they are vehemently anti LEA interference/Aggro too). The aim is to nurture children who can achieve, who want to, because they believe that they can.
Its such a shame the state system is so frightened of different steps, that we can all tread the path through life without being labelled a failure, that we all have talents and weaknesses and that if we were all the same life would be very boring.... rather like many children find state schooling... where we must all tread the same path, the same way and fit our square pegs into those round holes however or whatever the cost.
My square pegs fit rather nicely into their respective holes and I hope that continues! If it doesn't, we'll change the hole, not the peg!
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Mad bank holiday weekend!
Flower is fine and is home in her hutch, safely locked in! They treated her for the posioning regardless of her not showing any symptoms and she stayed fine so she came home this morning. It was an expensive outing but fortunately we werent charged the 'bank holiday' charge. The vet must have taken pity on us so just charged for the treatment and stay. The bill wasnt as bad as I'd feared but Ill be taking out pet insurance for them both!
Monday afternoon at the Grand Slam Celebrations was brilliant! The kids had an incredible time
and were very well behaved. The concert was amazing and we had really good seats. It was just a shame it didnt last longer! The kids agreed it was well worth queuing in the cold for!
Blogger doesnt seem to like the pics sadly. It keeps failing to save when I try to upload them!
Darren had the day off today and so after Connor had been to the half term soccer school I signed him up to we all went out for lunch out. We had intended to have a walk after that but felt stuffed so abandoned the walk and went to the caravan storage site to check on our caravan.
We had alot of work done on it last year after we inherited it from my parents and discovered it had several areas of deterioration. We also tackled some of it ourselves and there is still some work to be done replacing some seating, renewing the water pump system and a tyre needs changing. We were glad to find that its been no worse for the bad weather we have had lately and the leaks we fixed in the spring are still watertight so weve promised ourselves we will try and get the last of it done. I have no idea how to tackle most of it but it will be a good learning experience for us all, Ive spent lots of time trying to find advice etc on the net. We need to get it finished by the first week in July when Chloe finishes school as we will have to take it to Somerset for the end of school celebrations.
We've all been really enjoying The Apprentice, the kids are really interested in the business aspects of it as well as the competition as a whole. My moneys on Lee or Alex to win...they seemed the least likely candidates to start with too! Sophie in particular spends alot of time thinking what sort of business venture she could start to make money! Im off to watch it now :)
Monday, 26 May 2008
It never rains....
But it pours...
I got sent home ill from work last night with a high temperature, Im still not feelin great this morning. Im working too much I suspect. Im really looking forward to a few 'days off' (not that they will be days off really!)
and...
We've mad a mouse infestation in the garden. At first they were cute and the kids enjoyed observing them scurrying about but when we realised they were getting in the rabbit hutches and as a result the rabbits werent eating their pellets we decided the mice had to be dealt with. Darren went off yesterday and bought food and I said to the kids Make damned sure the hutches are shut properly and you do not, under any circumstances get the rabbits out.
I woke up this morning to Flower, our little netherland hopping around the garden in the rain having got out of her very much unlocked hutch in the night.
She is now at the vets after we discovered an empty bait tray ( please let the greedy mice have munched it all) and we're hoping she will be ok. So far shes not showing signs of having munched a whole load of anything, much less the bait but we just dont know. The vet said they would call later and promised me if she goes downhill they will get us in and they will put her to sleep rather than keep trying while she suffers.
Sophie and Connor are upset and worred but its taught them a hard lesson in listening and keeping their animals safe. Being a bank holiday it wont be cheap either, god knows how we will find the money for the bill, she isnt insured....the vet said we could pay a little at a time since they know us which will help.
On a brighter note,
A colleague actually sat down and asked me what we actually 'do' when we 'homeschool' ( which was in a convo she initiated about whether the kids are going to school- again) but at least she asked, and importantly listened and was open to the positives such as following an alternative curriculum in subjects where they have different learning styles( like Connors Miquon) and how the kids get more done without having to (her words) "Play to the slowest common denominator while putting up with the loudest, cheekiest, naughtiest.." which drives her nuts about her kids school where the kids go and play if theyve finished their work until everyone else is done or have to stay in if they run out of time!
It was really nice for the conversations to have moved on from negative perceptions and misconceptions about what we do into constructive questions and discission!
AND.....
the day of the Grand Slam party has arrived so we're all looking forward to that and are meeting friends beforehand so we can all sit together. Thats keeping my mind off me feeling really blaghh still and Flower's predicament....
I got sent home ill from work last night with a high temperature, Im still not feelin great this morning. Im working too much I suspect. Im really looking forward to a few 'days off' (not that they will be days off really!)
and...
We've mad a mouse infestation in the garden. At first they were cute and the kids enjoyed observing them scurrying about but when we realised they were getting in the rabbit hutches and as a result the rabbits werent eating their pellets we decided the mice had to be dealt with. Darren went off yesterday and bought food and I said to the kids Make damned sure the hutches are shut properly and you do not, under any circumstances get the rabbits out.
I woke up this morning to Flower, our little netherland hopping around the garden in the rain having got out of her very much unlocked hutch in the night.
She is now at the vets after we discovered an empty bait tray ( please let the greedy mice have munched it all) and we're hoping she will be ok. So far shes not showing signs of having munched a whole load of anything, much less the bait but we just dont know. The vet said they would call later and promised me if she goes downhill they will get us in and they will put her to sleep rather than keep trying while she suffers.
Sophie and Connor are upset and worred but its taught them a hard lesson in listening and keeping their animals safe. Being a bank holiday it wont be cheap either, god knows how we will find the money for the bill, she isnt insured....the vet said we could pay a little at a time since they know us which will help.
On a brighter note,
A colleague actually sat down and asked me what we actually 'do' when we 'homeschool' ( which was in a convo she initiated about whether the kids are going to school- again) but at least she asked, and importantly listened and was open to the positives such as following an alternative curriculum in subjects where they have different learning styles( like Connors Miquon) and how the kids get more done without having to (her words) "Play to the slowest common denominator while putting up with the loudest, cheekiest, naughtiest.." which drives her nuts about her kids school where the kids go and play if theyve finished their work until everyone else is done or have to stay in if they run out of time!
It was really nice for the conversations to have moved on from negative perceptions and misconceptions about what we do into constructive questions and discission!
AND.....
the day of the Grand Slam party has arrived so we're all looking forward to that and are meeting friends beforehand so we can all sit together. Thats keeping my mind off me feeling really blaghh still and Flower's predicament....
Thursday, 22 May 2008
A ( slightly) better day today!
I woke at 3am being awfully sick so that was the museum day completely off the agenda! Darren took the day off work and so he took my car to its MOT which it passed.. PHEW and he took Connor to his tuition session while Soph and I spent time pottering about and feeling sorry for ourselves!
We spent some time this afternoon watching a couple of documentaries on BBC i-player, reading and the kids did some maths games on the PC. Connor did some more Miquon which he has sussed is maths and so isnt too happy because he claims it will therefore "be rubbish and hard" but he completed a worksheet without too much objection, since its actually really simple at the start.He was pleased when he got to explain to his dad how the cuisinaire rods worked as dad wasnt really 'getting it'!
I pulled out the tesco clubcard vouchers to order day out tokens and discovered we had many more than I had thought, many many more! So Ive ordered enough for a crossing on the Eurotunnel so we can go back to France for a weeks camping in the summer holidays! We bought annual passes for disney last summer so we can use them again( Hint- never buy tickets in advance or a package if you are going for more than 3 days to disney Paris... buy a 1 day ticket at the gate and redeem it off the cost of an annual pass which is cheaper than a 3 day ticket!)
I just have to book a site now and check the tent etc since we havent used it since we got our caravan which is about 2 years now!The caravan is lovely but its a huge drag taking it to paris from Dover!
Connors just got back from Tae Kwondo and it went really well, the lady who helps out said he was really good at it and Connor is just buzzing with exitement!
We spent some time this afternoon watching a couple of documentaries on BBC i-player, reading and the kids did some maths games on the PC. Connor did some more Miquon which he has sussed is maths and so isnt too happy because he claims it will therefore "be rubbish and hard" but he completed a worksheet without too much objection, since its actually really simple at the start.He was pleased when he got to explain to his dad how the cuisinaire rods worked as dad wasnt really 'getting it'!
I pulled out the tesco clubcard vouchers to order day out tokens and discovered we had many more than I had thought, many many more! So Ive ordered enough for a crossing on the Eurotunnel so we can go back to France for a weeks camping in the summer holidays! We bought annual passes for disney last summer so we can use them again( Hint- never buy tickets in advance or a package if you are going for more than 3 days to disney Paris... buy a 1 day ticket at the gate and redeem it off the cost of an annual pass which is cheaper than a 3 day ticket!)
I just have to book a site now and check the tent etc since we havent used it since we got our caravan which is about 2 years now!The caravan is lovely but its a huge drag taking it to paris from Dover!
Connors just got back from Tae Kwondo and it went really well, the lady who helps out said he was really good at it and Connor is just buzzing with exitement!
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Ever had one of those days?
Today seems to have been one of the wierdest for a long time! No home ed got done ( unless you count Connor playing around with a mirrors book for 5 mins this afternoon!)
It was completely taken up with irrelevancies and time wasting! This morning I had an appointment at the hospital, only to drive there, be told all my results were normal but referred immediately to my GP, who saw me but sent me away and asked me to return a week later claiming the hospital and I were wasting her time.... Ho humm.
then the landlady phoned, the bank hadnt paid the rent into her bank account ( great, what a start to things) so chase that up....
managed to get some shopping done or there would have been no lunch, popped to the local home ed meeting( late as usual) breaking open packets of stuff from said shopping for something to eat for'packed lunch' ( without the 'packed') in the car park ( the height of disorganiastion and slovenly neglectful motherhood) and made it into the meeting...
Left to drop shopping home and meet my mum and Sophie off the train, she stayed over there last night, hello, goodbye and then into Kwik fit for tyres( all 4.. I almost fainted!), asked the guy "do you have time to do them by 3.40ish... he looked at me as if I was a bit dim and said "Its only 3...
I finally arrived home, in Hubbys car at 4.10 after he dropped in and we swapped cars( should have started work at 4) kids in tow and him still waiting for my damned car!Got out of car and a huge howl went up... Sophie had trapped her finger in the door of hubbys car!
I sorted the icepack and tissues and really did have to drag her into work with me clutching her hand and yelling into the mobile for hubby to shift his butt( before being calmly reminded he needed my car to shift in which was taking rather longer than anticipated)
Hubby finally turned up at 5.20 ( I kid thee not, the trip is about 3 miles from kwik fit to work)
Soph was then carted off to hospital. still shaky and crying with Hubby protesting "They wont do anything anyway"
errr Sophs now well bandaged and slinged having broken her finger.
Work was a nightmare, no dinner when I got home ( the footy is on, what should I have expected? a miracle?)
ah well at least I have wine, Im sure everything else can wait until tomorrow!
On the plus side, Chloes extra happy as shes been given a bedroom of her own at school( her absolute ideal situation) and is bouncing with happiness. Shes also top of the school in housepoints( the indicator of who is working hardest)
Connors decided he will start tae-kwondo tomorrow after almost chickening out and lots of tears last night when he went to watch and declaring "I dont care of its hard, it looks really hard. Im going to go and practice until I can do it( not bad for a kid with dyspraxia)
Sophies managing ok with her hand and mum told me she was extra kind today, insisting they helped a young mum who was breastfeeding to get on the train! She also cooked tea last night for my mum and dad :)
Im so proud of them on days like this when everything else is falling down round my ears!
It was completely taken up with irrelevancies and time wasting! This morning I had an appointment at the hospital, only to drive there, be told all my results were normal but referred immediately to my GP, who saw me but sent me away and asked me to return a week later claiming the hospital and I were wasting her time.... Ho humm.
then the landlady phoned, the bank hadnt paid the rent into her bank account ( great, what a start to things) so chase that up....
managed to get some shopping done or there would have been no lunch, popped to the local home ed meeting( late as usual) breaking open packets of stuff from said shopping for something to eat for'packed lunch' ( without the 'packed') in the car park ( the height of disorganiastion and slovenly neglectful motherhood) and made it into the meeting...
Left to drop shopping home and meet my mum and Sophie off the train, she stayed over there last night, hello, goodbye and then into Kwik fit for tyres( all 4.. I almost fainted!), asked the guy "do you have time to do them by 3.40ish... he looked at me as if I was a bit dim and said "Its only 3...
I finally arrived home, in Hubbys car at 4.10 after he dropped in and we swapped cars( should have started work at 4) kids in tow and him still waiting for my damned car!Got out of car and a huge howl went up... Sophie had trapped her finger in the door of hubbys car!
I sorted the icepack and tissues and really did have to drag her into work with me clutching her hand and yelling into the mobile for hubby to shift his butt( before being calmly reminded he needed my car to shift in which was taking rather longer than anticipated)
Hubby finally turned up at 5.20 ( I kid thee not, the trip is about 3 miles from kwik fit to work)
Soph was then carted off to hospital. still shaky and crying with Hubby protesting "They wont do anything anyway"
errr Sophs now well bandaged and slinged having broken her finger.
Work was a nightmare, no dinner when I got home ( the footy is on, what should I have expected? a miracle?)
ah well at least I have wine, Im sure everything else can wait until tomorrow!
On the plus side, Chloes extra happy as shes been given a bedroom of her own at school( her absolute ideal situation) and is bouncing with happiness. Shes also top of the school in housepoints( the indicator of who is working hardest)
Connors decided he will start tae-kwondo tomorrow after almost chickening out and lots of tears last night when he went to watch and declaring "I dont care of its hard, it looks really hard. Im going to go and practice until I can do it( not bad for a kid with dyspraxia)
Sophies managing ok with her hand and mum told me she was extra kind today, insisting they helped a young mum who was breastfeeding to get on the train! She also cooked tea last night for my mum and dad :)
Im so proud of them on days like this when everything else is falling down round my ears!
Sunday, 18 May 2008
She's home... and I'm here!
Just catching up with my emails...
Two very kind colleagues packed me off home....*massive grin*
We had the longest cuddle ever, a lovely tea and shes watching crap on the telly
Two very kind colleagues packed me off home....*massive grin*
We had the longest cuddle ever, a lovely tea and shes watching crap on the telly
Zonked
I'm completely knackered... No amount of sleep seems to be helping but then I'm not getting a lot Ho, Hummm.
Ive worked every evening this week so I can have Chloe's precious half term to spend with the kids and am steadfastly refusing to work anything other than my set classes that week.
Last night was a nice, if late one. The local Sikh association held its annual social event in the centre and I worked until 1am. I was knackered but it was a lovely night, the people were fantastic and not only invited us to join them for their meal, the ladies insisted I take some home for the kids :) I was gently scolded by one of the old ladies for not having large ice cream tubs to decant mountains of curry into too and told next year I must bring some!
So its the most delicious curry for tea for the family, I wont get any... Ill be in work again..!!! GRRR.
Ive worked every evening this week so I can have Chloe's precious half term to spend with the kids and am steadfastly refusing to work anything other than my set classes that week.
Last night was a nice, if late one. The local Sikh association held its annual social event in the centre and I worked until 1am. I was knackered but it was a lovely night, the people were fantastic and not only invited us to join them for their meal, the ladies insisted I take some home for the kids :) I was gently scolded by one of the old ladies for not having large ice cream tubs to decant mountains of curry into too and told next year I must bring some!
So its the most delicious curry for tea for the family, I wont get any... Ill be in work again..!!! GRRR.
Chloe's home tonight though and I can't wait. Mum and Dad suggested they drive down to get her as we've been invited to join the whole school trip to Techniquest in Cardiff Bay and so she can stay home tonight, spend some time with Granny and Grandad this afternoon. She said she will pop down and see me in work for a couple of hours. I wanted the night off but its not possible,loads of people have gone off sick (nothing to do with the nice weather of course... Im such a cynic!)
I can't wait...I miss her so much when she's at school and bury my sadness and get on with it then shes on her way home and I get all teary. I'd home ed her if she wanted to be but shes incredibly happy in school with her friends.They went to Longleat yesterday and after being told on Friday that she didn't want to go because "longleat is crap and its for kids" guess where shes insisted we go back to in half term??
Ive waited to go for a while so I think Ill exchange some tesco vouchers for passports its quite pricey otherwise!
Connors Miquon has arrived and looks really interesting, if a little easy for what he can do, but this is a plus in my mind!He can get used to the style of working without it introducing any new concepts. 
Ive also ordered these books from Amazon after looking at one at Amazon and the one-to one book has arrived.They look really good for activities to dip in and out of.I was also reassured that my thinking on Connors learning to read was backed up, just expose him to enough books and often enough and he will carry on wanting to read enough to keep at it!The author also shares my love of 'traditional' literature and recommends loads of books Ive already bought for the kids. Im looking forward to the other title arriving now, although it looks like Sophie will start at school in september neither book dictates that "You must home educate" and also suggests how to best supplement anything which is happening in school. Maybe that will make me feel better about sending her back!
Friday, 16 May 2008
An Early start....
But so worth it!!!
A colleague at work told me last night that tickets for the Wales Grand Slam Celebration concert would be released this morning to people nuts enough to queue at the stadium.... http://www.wru.co.uk/1391_18066.php
Yep you guessed it, we were up at 6.15 and outside the stadium at 6.50 surprisingly no 35 in the line we parked ourselves on the pavement and waited for 2 hours.The kids were interviewed and photographed for the local paper, said they were home educated and were asked if they had waited all night ?? ( no, were not bonkers!) so they will probably be in the paper tonight!
It was worth it though! We now have 12 tickets after I was given 6 and as we were walking out the kids said they felt it was very unfair that the woman said that it was 6 'per group' yet other children who had waited in groups and who were there with us were being given 6 each. I agreed that yes, it did appear that they didnt seem to have applied the rules fairly and that the website had stated 6 per person.
So back they went and said politely "excuse me, you arent applying your rules fairly, given us 6 as a group, other people waited in a group and have been given 6 per person"
The lady tried to say it was because they had approached the desk as a group and then it was because they were children until Sophie also pointed out all the children in school uniform were also given 6 each and they were similar age to her, she added it was now school time and they were out of school.
The lady tried to argue that they could 'fill out a form'( rather amusing given that the kids were standing their ground politely and calmly) and her boss stepped forward and gave them 6 tickets agreeing they should apply the rules fairly!Said "will that do you?" and Sophie said "Yes, thank you, thats very good of you" leaving the lady looking very silly!
So now, even though of course we dont need 12 tickets, we have 5 for us, 5 for Welsh friends living in Norfolk who missed out on the excitement at the time of the match and two for the colleague who told me about where and when to get tickets( who was stuck in work!)
I said to them, it just shows it sometimes pays to politely complain and stand your ground! Especially if your motive isnt a selfish one:)
It was only ten past 9 by this point and I felt like it was lunchtime!
We spent the morning at The museum of Welsh life at St Fagans with my mum and some friends she has staying with her who have two children who were home educated for a while. They all raced around exploring, ate cheesy rolls and gingerbread men from the bakery and had a ride on the horse and cart before Connor admitted defeat and said he wanted to go home so Ive left Sophie with the rest and come home for a few hours with my feet up and he's watching a documentary on Mars exploration. The Miquon stuff arived this morning too so Im busy reading my way through all the accompanying teachers books with a cuppa.
I start work soon and don't finish till 11.30... I hope I will still be awake then!
A colleague at work told me last night that tickets for the Wales Grand Slam Celebration concert would be released this morning to people nuts enough to queue at the stadium.... http://www.wru.co.uk/1391_18066.php
Yep you guessed it, we were up at 6.15 and outside the stadium at 6.50 surprisingly no 35 in the line we parked ourselves on the pavement and waited for 2 hours.The kids were interviewed and photographed for the local paper, said they were home educated and were asked if they had waited all night ?? ( no, were not bonkers!) so they will probably be in the paper tonight!
It was worth it though! We now have 12 tickets after I was given 6 and as we were walking out the kids said they felt it was very unfair that the woman said that it was 6 'per group' yet other children who had waited in groups and who were there with us were being given 6 each. I agreed that yes, it did appear that they didnt seem to have applied the rules fairly and that the website had stated 6 per person.
So back they went and said politely "excuse me, you arent applying your rules fairly, given us 6 as a group, other people waited in a group and have been given 6 per person"
The lady tried to say it was because they had approached the desk as a group and then it was because they were children until Sophie also pointed out all the children in school uniform were also given 6 each and they were similar age to her, she added it was now school time and they were out of school.
The lady tried to argue that they could 'fill out a form'( rather amusing given that the kids were standing their ground politely and calmly) and her boss stepped forward and gave them 6 tickets agreeing they should apply the rules fairly!Said "will that do you?" and Sophie said "Yes, thank you, thats very good of you" leaving the lady looking very silly!
So now, even though of course we dont need 12 tickets, we have 5 for us, 5 for Welsh friends living in Norfolk who missed out on the excitement at the time of the match and two for the colleague who told me about where and when to get tickets( who was stuck in work!)
I said to them, it just shows it sometimes pays to politely complain and stand your ground! Especially if your motive isnt a selfish one:)
It was only ten past 9 by this point and I felt like it was lunchtime!
We spent the morning at The museum of Welsh life at St Fagans with my mum and some friends she has staying with her who have two children who were home educated for a while. They all raced around exploring, ate cheesy rolls and gingerbread men from the bakery and had a ride on the horse and cart before Connor admitted defeat and said he wanted to go home so Ive left Sophie with the rest and come home for a few hours with my feet up and he's watching a documentary on Mars exploration. The Miquon stuff arived this morning too so Im busy reading my way through all the accompanying teachers books with a cuppa.
I start work soon and don't finish till 11.30... I hope I will still be awake then!
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Wise up! YMCA
Sadly Ive had to edit this post.... I wa aware the organisers of "Wise up" are linking to my blog, despite recent events which saw the Chairperson Louise Murray undertake a vicious, needless and vindictive campaign against me... My crime? getting involved in Wise up on more than the most casual basis.
You see over time the organisation grew, more people got involved, including me... only anyone Louise Murray doesnt particularly like or agree with, eventually falls victim to her vincictivness.
IN my case it took the form of allegations of abuse towards her child which were completely without foundation... a witch hunt ensued which to date has included numerous libellous emails,claims I should not be allowed to work with children, claims that I had perpetrated terrible acts against a vulnerable child claims that she has been attacked and so on.
You should be aware if you intend to attend wise up that the committee and chair are bullies, pure and simple, if your face doesnt fit, if you happen to disagree with the chair, you WILL be placed in the firing line...
In my case I was banned from ever attending again, my children denied access to wise up activities. By my count alone I am now one of at least 5 parents treated in this way since 2008...The people who tried to refute Mrs Murrays lies and bullying were also unable to attend... people who are honest, have integrity and who ust wanted to speak out against the nastiness and bullying she indulged in
dont let your children go through this, please
We havent been to wise up since March....2010 its now almost NOVEMBER 2010 and the harrassment by the committee continues in various forms...
PLEASE... dont be the next victim. DONT get involved
Monday, 12 May 2008
You know sometimes you just have a day where you end up feeling like crying? Well today was one of those days.
The kids had done loads today, dug over the flowerbeds, planted some flower seeds, some sunflowers and some mint ( in pots) and had done some bookwork, Draw write now, colouring etc and been thoroughly pleasant to each other all day ( their behaviour towards each other is a real issue at the mo) The sun shone and they got on with whatever it was they wanted to at the time from the pile of stuff I put on the table while I got on with unpacking.
So why the upset? Some of the guys in work....
Since we've moved house almost everyone I work with has put pressure on me to put the kids into a school near here, there are quite a few I could choose from( as has been endlessly pointed out) but today really took the biscuit... I was told, in no uncertain terms by two colleagues that they would get a better education in school( and you know this how?) that They need interaction with other children (err yeah ancd your point is??)
I was compared to a person who allows their children to truant "Because after all it really takes the biscuit,since they dont even test em or nuffin and yet they prosecute people who dont send their kids to school" What do they do? learn through play?? ( in a scoffing tone)
I was also told "Its not about them and what they want, its about whats easiest for you and after all, they aint sposed to like it... tell the little EFFERS tough ****** and get em back"
I said I would send them back if they wanted to go and if they werent happy to go I wouldnt force them back.I also pointed out home education is far from truancy and no, my children didnt spend all day 'learning through play' but if they did and that was age appropriate then thats what they would do... since they arent little, I dont feel that it is... so mine have work they complete, when they are done they do whatever...I wasnt aware that truants did that?
FGS... since when has my childrens education been any of their business? I dont comment about the fact that their children go to school ( even though, as they admit, no kid likes it, thats not the point of school as they also admit) I havent suggested they home educate their children.
All of a sudden its open season on my kids ... wonderful.
Its been like chinese water torture these past few weeks, when are the kdis going to school then? what school are you putting them in then? well why not then?
Because I dont bloody want to thats why!
and yet the first thing a supportive colleague said this afternoon when he saw me was "They just said you home educate?? Thats a bit cool innit? What lovely well mannered kids you have, they are so polite..."
Im just trying to hold onto that comment and not let the ignorant ones get to me
and why did I get all this interest? because for an hour of 'school' time my kids were in work, in the pool, splashing about and having fun... what a heinous crime, enjoying PE
The kids had done loads today, dug over the flowerbeds, planted some flower seeds, some sunflowers and some mint ( in pots) and had done some bookwork, Draw write now, colouring etc and been thoroughly pleasant to each other all day ( their behaviour towards each other is a real issue at the mo) The sun shone and they got on with whatever it was they wanted to at the time from the pile of stuff I put on the table while I got on with unpacking.
So why the upset? Some of the guys in work....
Since we've moved house almost everyone I work with has put pressure on me to put the kids into a school near here, there are quite a few I could choose from( as has been endlessly pointed out) but today really took the biscuit... I was told, in no uncertain terms by two colleagues that they would get a better education in school( and you know this how?) that They need interaction with other children (err yeah ancd your point is??)
I was compared to a person who allows their children to truant "Because after all it really takes the biscuit,since they dont even test em or nuffin and yet they prosecute people who dont send their kids to school" What do they do? learn through play?? ( in a scoffing tone)
I was also told "Its not about them and what they want, its about whats easiest for you and after all, they aint sposed to like it... tell the little EFFERS tough ****** and get em back"
I said I would send them back if they wanted to go and if they werent happy to go I wouldnt force them back.I also pointed out home education is far from truancy and no, my children didnt spend all day 'learning through play' but if they did and that was age appropriate then thats what they would do... since they arent little, I dont feel that it is... so mine have work they complete, when they are done they do whatever...I wasnt aware that truants did that?
FGS... since when has my childrens education been any of their business? I dont comment about the fact that their children go to school ( even though, as they admit, no kid likes it, thats not the point of school as they also admit) I havent suggested they home educate their children.
All of a sudden its open season on my kids ... wonderful.
Its been like chinese water torture these past few weeks, when are the kdis going to school then? what school are you putting them in then? well why not then?
Because I dont bloody want to thats why!
and yet the first thing a supportive colleague said this afternoon when he saw me was "They just said you home educate?? Thats a bit cool innit? What lovely well mannered kids you have, they are so polite..."
Im just trying to hold onto that comment and not let the ignorant ones get to me
and why did I get all this interest? because for an hour of 'school' time my kids were in work, in the pool, splashing about and having fun... what a heinous crime, enjoying PE
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Its been a long day!
And Ive been in work again all day....and rescued a child who was in difficulty for the first time. Im amazed how calm I was, I'd always been worried when it happened I would panic but I was cool and he was just fine. PHEW!
the holes are all the same size, this is the only one 'open' the others havent shown up very well in the pic! We will have to look up how bees make their hives and colonise etc
I got home to find the kids had had a lovely day...
Chloe's sore but surviving! Her friends mum said she had kept an eye on her and she had a good day and was managing fine with parcetamol, although she was shuffling about alot she has been swimming in a lake nearby today and spent last sleeping on loungers under the stars in the garden :) a really big step for her, I never thought she would be brave enough to do something like that, although we've camped previously! She seems to have had a really lovely time.
Sophie and Connor went up to Darrens mums to see her and spent much of the day mooching around, no fighting( thankfully) at home in the garden.
Connor seems to have spent much of the day indoors playing/on the pc/watching Tv but he isnt good at being out in hot weather !I got home about 4.30 and Sophie made curry for us all, very hot to be eating in this weather but she enjoyed making it so we sat with the doors open to the garden enjoying the sunshine while we had tea.It was really nice not to have to cook too!She's made another card today for one of her other cousins, she was really pleased with the results.
Tonight Darren was out taking down the qashing and discovered that today some bees have built their nest inside the pole which holds up our washing line!
The kids were fascinated seeing the holes they have bunged up with a substance which looks rather like mud and the lowest one which is being used by bees for access to the hive.
the holes are all the same size, this is the only one 'open' the others havent shown up very well in the pic! We will have to look up how bees make their hives and colonise etc
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