We're Back!

And again Ive not blogged for a while, Ive just been far too busy!

London went really well, we visited the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green where we had a lovely few hours exploring and Sophie had loads of fun designing a futuristic bedroom, making a mothers day card,performing a puppet show, riding a rocking horse and of course looking at all the lovely toys on display dating from as far back as 1600!. It was a lovely trip down memory lane for me too as lots of the toys I remember from my childhood are on display!

We left and found our hotel easily... that was where the 'fun' started.. we chose a travelodge because you get a good quality, clean and basic standard room.. wrong! We changed rooms a total of 4 times, each was dirty, in poor repair and two were frankly dangerous. Finally we stayed in the last we were given because poor Soph was exhausted and tearful and we had spent almost 3 hours changing rooms and sitting in reception!

However all was forgotten next day as we went to Kiscape near victora station for her course. She was apprehensive ( as was I) but the staff quickly shepherded everyone to the course venue and sent the parents on their way!

We all met up for lunch ( pizza!) after Id spent a pleasant morning with a couple of lovely mums having coffee and a walk to Buckingham palace and I discovered my bank card was missing(later turned up at the hotel necessitating an hours return trip by tube to get it- so soph didnt get to see Buckingham palace after wards after all!)

The course was well worth going on. Kidscape are very supportive of home education and recommended at the parents session after lunch that two children the same age as Sophie should perhaps be withdrawn immediately and home educated until September at least. I was told we did the right thing for her at the right time and we should be proud of ourselves for taking the step.

I think it really helped for her to meet other children facing the same stuff as she was/is and I hope she will have learned the skills she needs to feel confident enough to return to school is thats what she wants at any point in the future. They also gave all the parents lots of good advice on how to handle schools, how to take control and say "You are paid to care for and educate my child and I will make you do that if you think you can shirk that responsibility"

Id recommend anyone to approach kidscape if their child is being bullied, I really can't recommend them highly enough! ( the pizza was great too):-)

After the course there were a few hours free before the train home and we were intending to meet a friend for dinner but his meeting overran so we spent some time exploring trafalgar square( pic taken by soph above) and Covent Garden where she enjoyed the shops and market, even though the street entertainers had gone home. Shes desperate to get a 'mind the gap' T shirt but didnt find one! We just missed our friend by minutes when we left, his meeting ended 90 mins late as we got the tube to paddington! Totally frustrating and very disappointing, weve not met up for a long time :(

This week Ive been working lots,Work are fantastic and have offered me early shifts which finish mid morning so I dont have to leave them for too long. Im pretty tired though, up at 6 and working all day and evening in some capacity!( paid work, kids, home ed, housework etc) Then I sleep for a bit and it all starts over! I hope we can find some time to spend with friends next week and over easter. I feel like I havent seen anyone recently :(

The kids been doing some lapbooking on an Easter theme with MIL and doing their maths workbooks. Both are really enjoying Education City and Im so glad I took out the subscription!.Connors very into brainy Blocks which were mine when I was small but mum kept! Its very difficult for him but so far so good. A few pieces are missing so I may invest in some more, Ive discovered they are still made! He's really trying hard with his speech therapy and is keen to learn to ride his bike so asked for a set of stabilizers so he can practice next week when we go away.

Sophies been working hard on her Y5 maths, shes intent on finishing her books by the end of March Shes struggling with her tables and Im at a loss as to know how to move ahead in that area! however when she started home ed in June last year she couldnt do the Y5 work at all( despite being in Y5) so I am really pleased shes decided she wants to be getting into Y6 work soon she seems to feel a pressure ( certainly not from me) to get up to where she 'should' be. Her friend from school who she still sees regularly is brilliant at maths so I think theres some comparing happening!

Shes hoping we can do lots more cooking in the next few weeks so that she can add some recipes to her new blog( yet to be published) and shes practcing hard for her forthcoming trampolining competition. Its her first one at Grade 4 and shes worked so hard to get to the standard and now to make her routines even better. Im so proud of her, its a huge boost for her confidence too to realise she can put the work in and see the results. I dont think shes really been able to do that before. Shes enjoying ( between sobs) 'The Butterfly Lion' by Michael Morpurgo.

Right... time for bed, before it all starts over again... although tomorrow Home ed group has a native american storyteller coming and Im really looking forward to it :)