Making it up

Small isn’t well. He didn’t sleep well last night, very restless, and to be frank, he smells. Well, not all the time, only when he’s redecorated his latest nappy, but he’s doing that rather a lot. We didn’t get up til 9 this morning, and he was back in bed by 12, and slept for 3 1/2 hours. Then he was up til 7.30 and keeled over again for another hour. Consequently, he isn’t showing much sign of being sleepy now. Just when I’d got him down to one feed at night and reasonably good sleep…aargh….

By contrast, Big has had a pretty good day. She dragged me downstairs to open her new pattern blocks at 8.30 (yes, I did go back to bed afterwards!) and apparently dp and her played with them for a good 40 minutes. So they were a good investment. Later on she spotted the new hama boards from Beadmerrily and wanted to have a try - got out a small heart and created her first independent pattern! I was proud and amazed that she stuck with it - very impressed. Once that had been ironed she wanted to play with the maxi beads and made a Winnie the Pooh picture, which we haven’t ironed but I have taken a picture of, so if I ever find my camera, the cable and the laptop all at the same time, I’ll share that.

Our wall to wall television is now either Discovery Channel or National Geographic, which is a vast improvement on Nick jr, and she was telling me all about snakes earlier. Then this evening she saw me playing a game on the computer and wanted a go, couldn’t quite manage it (well, let’s face it, I can barely manage it!) and so we got out one of the new bits of software I got from TKMaxx. I’d just like to report that Dragon Tales is a big hit! I think she must have spent in total about 1 1/2 hours on it, although I did drag her off at regular intervals.

So we look like we are starting to get there. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that she asked me to read to her again today. I know that isn’t a big deal for all you literature based ppl out there, but for ages she’s run a mile when I’ve wanted to read (with the exception of Thursday’s Children, which she hasn’t wanted since we came back from MP Camp) so I’m thrilled that this is pretty much daily now.

Happy, happy, happy Jax! (Well, ok, apart from the nappies! lol)

Times Online - Newspaper Edition

On the off chance that any of you have somehow missed any part of this current debate (I’m getting it at least three times over as it’s raging on three of the lists I’m on!) this seems to be a reasonably balanced article, and also offers the chance to respond. Both the Guardian and the BBC have had similar offerings, of varying levels of accuracy over the last day or two.

OK, for your edited highlights

Went over to see Jan and family, who were hosting the female members of the puddle family and visited by Kirsty and co. That made a total of 9 children and 5 adults (not counting Jonathan who was in the building, but working upstairs) and was an extremely pleasant day. The three eldest girls played together most of the day really well - I’d been a little apprehensive because Big does not like to share C, but it appears that the puddles are now acceptable playmates as well, so it was fine. The house and garden are plenty big enough for them all to rattle round witha bit of space if necessary, so it worked well.

There was a small amount of talking about books, in and amongst dealing with the inevitable drinks, food, bumps, bee stings, nappy moments and so on, but all in all I just found it a very relaxing space and group of ppl.

Very late home after we stayed for tea as well, and Big had a bit of a meltdown at having to leave C (wanted to go back tomorrow, not happening!) but otherwise, a fab day. Thank you all.

Well, after the excitement of having an agency ring me before nine o’clock, the day settled down into a dull not routine as none of the others rang at all, or replied to my email. So we’ll just have to hope that Fiona knows her stuff as she was quite prepared to put me forward for the role, and said I’d hear something hopefully by the end of this week or the beginning of next. However the last agency to put forward my cv disappeared into the ether and hasn’t been heard from since, so excuse me if I don’t hold my breath.

Other excitement unfortunately provided by Small this morning, who coughed himself into being sick three times, the third time unfortunately just after his weetabix. Good coverage from that stuff isn’t there? So two loads of washing later, and the day was rapidly disappearing, we didn’t make it to group, but I was a good mummy for getting Big the messy clay out that she’d been hankering for since yesterday afternoon. Dp, who is struggling with his back at the moment, walked around to the post office with my Ebay parcel, so that was another job done - I really ought to get the next load of stuff listed somewhere, but I’m rather depressed at how badly the last load went, as I only sold 9 out of 19 things, several of those needed relisting to achieve that, and one of those, the buyer has now withdrawn from. Grrr…

After messy clay, Big wanted playdough, so I got out some stuff she’s had forever, and was interested to discover that glittery playdough grows glittery mould. Very pretty. And very gone. Finally. That’ll be another load of stuff disposed of.

Lunch, and Big watched her monkey program over her toast, while Small fell asleep in his high chair. Took him up to bed and decided to seize the opportunity to rush out to do some errands, like shopping for instance. Also had a friends cat to visit, so took Big with me for that. She was good while we were doing that, but quite frankly horrid while we were shopping, showing no awareness of anything around her, coming to a dead halt in front of the trolley (hm, maybe I shouldn’t try so hard to stop in this situation?), waving her arms around in front of other ppl, and generally being very whiny and unco-operative. Small slept for 2 1/2 hours, and I got a call to say he’d woken up while we were at the checkouts. He was ever so pleased to see me when I got home - practically ran across the room to hug my legs. Awww…

While I did more household chores, was interested to notice Big carrying piles of Ladybird books around, and making what looked like an effort to read them. Hm. Small has figured out her climbing frame, which is a little disconcerting as it’s aimed at 3 - 8 year olds (we got it for Big when she was 2 I think, so a good deal older than he is now) although he only fell off it once today, and was quickly soothed with a hug.

It seemed a long time to bath time tonight - I am feeling as though house and chore wise I’m taking one step forward and sprinting 27 steps back, and having Big heckle me throughout doesn’t help at all. Still, I’ve succeeded in clearing room for the sleeping bags in the wardrobe in our bedroom, so that will help. Every little helps I have to keep telling myself, every little helps. Now, shall I use Ebid or QXL next?

Edited to add, forgot to mention that against all odds, the peas we planted out yesterday appear to be growing stronger already. At least, I wouldn’t expect them to be able to die more upright than they were planted?

Going through the email list last night, found what looked suspiciously like the same job advertised by 4 (count them, yes, 4!) different agencies. Sent my cv in to them all, and have had email and call back from one only. It would be doing exactly what I have been doing, but at contract rates. Don’t want to go out to work, but at least the children would be with dp rather than in childcare, so cross fingers for me please?

I had planned to go to the medieval market in the next town today, but as I’ve got a wee bit of a cough, and I’m feeling a little fragile, I decided against it, but instead that I’d make sure the day didn’t just drift by without us doing anything. Accordingly, we read about rainforests after looking at Merry’s competition and discussing what a jungle is, noticed that one of the elephants in The Elephants’ Ears ends up in a jungle, so discussed countries where they might be found, watched today’s episode of Monkey Business on National Geographic (she started watching this yesterday, and it tied in nicely with the jungle theme). Then she wanted the duplo blocks out, so I said we had to tidy up, and she did, then I watched in bemusement when she headed for the cuisenaire instead…apparently our terminology is a bit muddled.

All that took us up to and through lunchtime, and just after she wanted to do messy clay (had done since she got up, hence dressing in her messy dress ) but I was trying to get Small down for a nap, so it wasn’t really happening. Once he was down we went out and gardened for an hour and a half, planting out a load of stuff that, let’s face it, isn’t going to live, but we might as well stick it out and see. I’ve come to the conclusion that my problem with gardening is very similar to my problem with life in general, I think too much, prevaricate horribly, and end up not achieving anything. So I’ve decided to change that.

After the gardening Small was awake again, so Big did some painting. She chose the colours, and I was quite impressed by a picture of me, and a picture of a jungle. So something must have gone in. Tea, bath and bed, and the tv didn’t come back on after Monkey Business, although she was a bit disappointed not to get another episode of “the house” (which I assume referred to the experimental archeaology she was watching yesterday. Go figure.)

Unfortunately, as Small managed 1 1/2 hours sleep, he is still batting round the floor now, so although we’ve had a great day educationally, I haven’t ticked anything off my must do by the end of the month list, and it’s group tomorrow and we’re out all day Thurs. I’ve got an absolutely storming headache just now, not helped by the screaming from the other room, so I think I’ll go gather up Small and see if we can retire to bed together. Maybe I can get something done after group?

I think you’ve started our first proper project!

Due to this: Beadmerrily design competition

we found this: Rainforest which has given us half an hours of talking about the rainforest and its animals and plants. We’ve also covered propaganda, food miles, vegetarianism and recycling, and discussed in what ways the site isn’t accurate, which is a good start to evaluating information.

However, I do need to know how to occupy Small while we’re doing this kind of thing, because letting him empty the cereal cupboard all over the floor so that he doesn’t attack the computer or scream in our ears is not a good way forward.

Off to sweep up the kitchen floor….

to recap in a bit more detail on the weekend.

My excuse for this is that we’ve had an extremely quiet day today, although I did ban children’s channels on tv between 9 and 5, which led to Big watching a documentary on monkeys, and another on experimental archeaology, both of which she was telling dp about at bedtime. Go figure. I also read to them over tea, which seemed to work quite well as well…

Anyway. As I said below, Alison and Chris and offspring came to visit this weekend. Saturday was forecast to be the better day, weather wise, so we loaded up a picnic and set out to the Yorkshire Sculpture park. Before we’d done that though, the children found our optics set and much fun was had with that. The Sculpture park was great, and it was lovely to see Jan and Jonathan and their kids and Barbara and hers again. I know that we adults spend a fair amount of time communing online, but it does sometimes surprise me that children who don’t see each other very often get on so well - I don’t think there were any major fallouts in the entire day (not counting B’s physical fall out of a window to land on his head - ouch!) So we covered culture and physical education - for the adults at any rate. I have to admit that sculpture is not something I know much about, and usually it seems rather silly - some elaborate and enormous statue, stood in a white walled room. At the park you’ve got all sorts of stuff dotted in fields with sheep and amongst trees and undergrowth, and it seems much easier to enjoy somehow. And as for the physical education - well next time, we’re parking in the car park half way down the hill - having to walk from the bottom of the park to the top at the end of the day while carrying a sleeping Small (although aren’t Ergos wonderful?) was no joke at all I can tell you.

Home for tea, and much pasta and sauce later, we had a production line bathing attempt going on. And how black was the water?! Proves that they’d been out in the fresh air, that’s for sure… Once we’d started getting children to bed we ordered ourselves takeout and found a rather good bottle of wine -I heartily recommend wine clubs, completely revolutionised my feelings towards red wine, I can tell you. We talked loads, about all kinds of things, and I found it a really easy evening. We haven’t spent much RL time with the portico before, but it didn’t seem to show, and given that several of us have laid claim to being uncomfortable in company, well, it didn’t show.

Sunday the weather was not nearly as accommodating. It was grey and rather threatening, so we started off with plans for a quiet day. So we did the Sound and Music kit, and the colour and light kit, painted, drew, played with the dolls house, read many books, dressed up and finally did make it outside to run around and be athletic. And much talking in between children as well. There is this odd concept that I’ve come across whereby ppl think it is mean to home educate because the children won’t get any time off, you are always schooling them, well it didn’t seem to be doing these children any harm! And I fail to see how you could stop them learning - it was fabulous to watch. Big seemed to really come out of her shell as well, she was right in there doing rainbow science with P, painting, drawing, you name it. So I’m hoping that I’ve learned a lesson or two as well. I think I’ve been doing too much and too little - trying to hard to provide educational activities and not doing enough to provide an environment conducive to learning.

I do feel that I should offer one last apology to Alison as well - I feel like I spent the entire weekend picking her brain, and probably didn’t let her rest at all - sorry! But the conversations about children and education were just so interesting, I couldn’t let it alone! I promise that I’ll try to be a bit less enquiring next time we meet…

Forrest Gump!

What movie Do you Belong in?(many different outcomes!)
brought to you by Quizilla

and I’m pretty shattered, so will blog tomorrow in more depth, but thought I should pop in tonight

We had the Portico come visit - arriving in the middle of the night in camper van with sleeping children, having hit some of that seriously dodgy traffic which was about. On Saturday we loaded up a picnic and went to the Yorkshire Sculpture park, and met with Barbara and Jan and Jonathon. That made 11 children, ranging from six weeks to 7 years, and 6 adults, so we were a fairly formidable group as we explored the park - wonderful day. Will hope that Chris got better piccies than I did though

Saturday evening I overcame my fear of the kitchen and whipped up pasta sauce for six - the adults had takeout and wine once we’d managed to get rid of the children.

Today the weather was a bit more threatening so we stopped in. The children played together really well, and also got two of our science kits out and did science (really should have got a piccie of the rainbow experiment in my bedroom, why do I never think that at the time?), got paint out and did painting, dressed up, played out, had many stories read to them (Sarah, I’ve got a book candidate if you’re interested…have popped along to the group to add it.) P read to Big, which I thought was marvellous - it has occurred to me that she may not really know that children can read! - and she has a serious case of hero worship going on there.

She cried when they had to leave, and I wasn’t far off joining in. Wonderful, wonderful weekend - thank you for coming!

well, got a reasonable amount of stuff done, nowhere near the amount I wanted, but hey, that’s life. Cleared off out this aft to give dp some space to sleep - went to the post office, the library and did some shopping. Treated Big to tea in McDs, and that’ll be the last time we do that - I’m amazed that she could behave badly enough to embarass me in there!

By the time we’d done Morrisons I’d given up explaining, cajoling, threatening and speaking and resorted to just moving her about by the arm. I *really* don’t know what to do next, but I’m going to have a weekend of not really thinking about it too much, as we’ve friends coming for a visit.

Educationally, Big was given the Reading Rollercoaster stuff in the library, even though she told the librarian that she is only four. They still asked which school she was at, and she just said “I don’t go to school” but didn’t go into the home education bit. I wonder if the idea of getting stickers and a medal might spur her on to attempt a bit of reading? Hm…

We started reading Heidi before we went out, but I had to stop when she started rubbing her knuckles into Small’s face - I’m not reading over the top of that level of fighting. I was quite pleased to stop actually, I hadn’t remembered how dry it is - the first chapter is all background and I’m sure that I was mangling the names as well. Must get dp to explain them to me.

On the way out of the library we spotted the sale shelves, and she got three paperbacks and a history hardback for 50p. Bargain. We popped to TKMaxx as well, and I succumbed to a pile of educational software. At the moment whatever I try to do results in a battle of the first order, so maybe she’ll manage better with some software. I’m sure that part of her problem is boredom, but she won’t let me help her sort that out.

Right, off to excavate the living room before our guests arrive. Blogging may be a little thin on the ground over the next day or so, but I’ll try to pop in!

Went over to our arty friends again today. She had made salt dough, which went down OK with dd, and even better when it was baked to bring home. Then there was drawing and painting, which was fun too (even tried a bit myself, and was quite pleasantly surprised at the results). Unfortunately, once the art work was over and she’d eaten her picnic lunch, Big decided to run riot (apologies to the comment thread below) in a way that wasn’t appropriate in someone else’s house. Well, it wouldn’t have been appropriate in this house either, although I have no problems with her belting round like a mad thing in the garden.

(Aside, I’m bending over backwards here to apologise for the standards of behaviour that I attempt to impose on my offspring. My intention is not to make anyone feel that I am criticising their upbringing of their offspring. I’m just trying to blog my day )

So anyway, I dragged her out of the house and loaded up to go to find Small some shoes. Now that he is really walking, seems like he needs proper footwear so that he can walk places that I haven’t put him down previously. However, he had other plans, and fell asleep in the car, and stayed asleep even when I loaded him into the buggy. I didn’t mind this too much, figured it gave me and Big time to spend in the playground. Which was, of course, full of kids, what with the holiday and all. And she wanted to play only on these individual roundabout things, which were very busy. So she waited, and stropped, and frowned, and generally didn’t enjoy herself, so in the end I gave up and dragged her off to the shops.

Nothing took my fancy in the toy shop - I hate this budgeting thing! And the only thing I fancied in the book shop were loads of children’s novels (I had no idea there were so many Mary Poppins books!) and Urban Eden which was on sale at £2. But let’s face it, I need to get rid of books, not buy books, so I didn’t buy it. Which probably contributed to my stinky mood.

Next stop a snack, found Julian Graves, which was selling snack pack raisins 10 for £1. Result. Big likes raisins, although Small does not. Shame really. Turns out he doesn’t like flapjack either, although my smoothie was quite popular, and he was very cross with me when I finished it. Oops. And on to Clarks, where they were operating a disorganised chaos system. One member of staff, 4 families milling about, as soon as another member of staff appeared, so did three more families, who ignored those queueing…sigh. Anyway, managed to get Small some shoes - rather lovely they are. Two whole sizes bigger than Big’s first shoes, and given that he’s only 4 months older than she was that seems like quite a big difference. Big decided to really test my patience throughout the whole shoe shopping thing - I won’t go into details, but I wasn’t impressed.

Quick dash up the motorway to ballet, and back for the tea, bath and bed routine. Big off into bed by 8, Small asleep on the floor about 10 minutes ago. Got a big of work to do now, and also want to prepare some activities for tomorrow. I’ve got loads to get organised tomorrow, and the only way I’m going to manage it is if I control the situation from the minute we all wake up, so I’m going to plan a bag load of activities for Big to do, and basically organise her to the minute. That way we might both survive the day and I might get done the stuff I need to get done.

Our home ed group had its sportsday today. (Would blog piccies, but only took one, and don’t know which kids belong to who to ask permission of!) I came back in a foul mood, having spent the morning feeling decidedly out of place. I’m used to that when I’m amongst more mainstream ppl - I’ve never been very good at fitting in. I just don’t know what to say or how to say it. But I resent feeling the outsider at a home ed group.

Not that this was the groups fault at all, purely my own. Big is not a joiner inner iykwim, and I dreaded the inevitable tantrum. She had been stressing herself on the way about races, a low monotone from the back seat about how little children can’t win races, and maybe they can win races and so on. Now I take the point as expressed on Sarah’s blog and comments recently that life involves winning and losing and as such children need to get used to it. But Big is only 4, and the majority of the other children there are older (or the younger ones just didn’t take part at all) so she wasn’t standing much chance of experiencing winning, and she was very aware of that. She sat out the beginning races, and ppl kept asking me if she wanted to join in - well, I wasn’t going to push her into it, my thought being that if she wanted to join in she could, and if I pushed her into it I’d end up with a scene. So eventually the low key approach paid off and she had a go at the potato and spoon race, and the relay (but only once, which rather threw out the team dynamics when they went to do it all again), and was desperate to have a go at the obstacle race. She was given a place and a pile of props, and someone else aquired them, which didn’t go down well. I was told that she’d been given the place and must have moved away, which she hadn’t, which I stated, as I’d been stood next to her throughout. So another pile was found, and the race began. Hm. How to describe it? well, do you all remember Eric the Eel?

I don’t mind her coming last. I don’t mind her having fun, or not having fun, depending on what she decides to do. I do mind her succeeding in getting the majority of parents gathered round attempting to sort out her problems, because she doesn’t actually want the problems sorting out, she just wants the audience, and giving it to her causes both me and her more problems in the long run. Hohum.

There were also parent races, much to my despair. I loathe that sort of participative amusement - if I wanted to race I’d join a running club. I loathe being told I’m skiving because I don’t want to join in - it might be said as a joke, but it isn’t funny, and it takes me back to those terrifying peer pressure moments from school all too easily. I’m still struggling to understand why we were having a sports day - all the effort appeared to be made by the parents, and yes the children ran around, but let’s face it, they ran around without all the props last week and the week before. They didn’t take any care over any of the things they were playing with, which I find personally offensive - I don’t like to take things and have them abused, but there doesn’t seem to me to be much encouragement for them take responsibility. Oh I dunno. I know that I win hands down at neurotic parenting awards, but I do find the completely laid back approach to be extremely difficult. Or perhaps everyone else is feeling the same way but no one is saying it?

We’ve got a meeting at the weekend to discuss the future of the group - I won’t be attending, but I’ll be sending my comments in. Not that I’ve figured them out yet. It seems to me that in this kind of group situation there is sometimes a bend over backwards attitude to not upsetting anyone that results in noone getting what they want or need from the situation.

Anyway, enough of the musing. Got back and finally managed to speak to the chap from the recruitment agency, who had found a different contract that basically sounded like a description of the job I just left. Doubt I’ll get it, and it would have its own attendant problems if I did (it’s in Liverpool, which isn’t exactly commuting distance!) but it was quite nice in a way to be thought suitable for something.

Big had obviously exhausted herself this morning - she’s just watched tv all afternoon. And Small is getting carried away with this walking lark - he wants to run now! Picking up a good selection of bruises - I’m intrigued as to how he keeps managing to land on his head…he’s in bed now (whisper) so I’d better get on with some work, cos he’s either going to get up again in a bit, or he’s going to be up at the crack of dawn!

QXL : Books, Childrens, Audio, Harry Potter Audio Books *ALL 5 STORIES*

Searching for alternative to Ebay (read previous posts on irritation with Ebay and paypal to find out why) to use for decluttering purposes, I’ve come across Ebid and QXL so far. Think they might be rather better for buyers than for sellers atm, but that could change.

QXL is building up to a free listing week - if you join beforehand, anything listed that week (commencing July 31st I think) is free. Please quote my userid onemumcat if you do join, and note that you’ve got to wait at least two business days after registration to sell anything as they send you something through the post? Don’t miss out registering to sell or you don’t get the activation code!

for the business, with an unnamed High Street Bank Company We were up and out of the house for 9.45, all of us together which always feels like quite an achievement. Took nearly 45 minutes in the branch, but that did include 10 minutes of waiting for the member of staff, and probably 5 minutes of me explaining why the internet is a good idea. Always surprised to discover other ppl who don’t live their lives by it!

Anyway, got the account with a minimum of fuss - not sure whether my previous employee status made a difference to that. I need to sort out some more paperwork as well, but at least I’ve sorted out part of the finances.

Got a strange call from my mobile phone answering service last night, so checked that while out (we don’t get connections in the house), and discovered I missed a call from an agency about a possible job. I suspect that I may be able to get a job fairly easily - I’m quite skilled at what I do. I just don’t have a lot of confidence at selling myself, and I don’t really want to go out to work. Still, I suspect if I don’t keep my hand in I’m going to find it more and more difficult, and being employable is probably a reasonably good idea.

Dp had a good time with the offspring going round the shops while I was in the bank - we went into Clare’s accessories and got Big a bunch of hair stuff for her Barbie heads - a fair exchange as I planned on throwing out all the nasty bits of plastic that came with them, that Small keeps snacking on. One of the new things (hair chopsticks?) has snapped already, so I think we might be having a repeat trip out to take it back and complain, but never mind as I need to go to the library as well. The hair things otherwise have proved to be a success - Big persevered at fiddling with them to put them in the Barbie hair, so I think she’s learned lots from that. Who says we don’t do education?

but not because of the offspring.

Spent rather a lot of time working on a cv as dp found a contract that was rather more up my street than his. I really don’t like the idea of getting a contract, but needs must.

Dd was a little under the weather, and small was grumpy, I’m all sniffly, so we weren’t best company all round. Tried to get out in the garden a fair bit, even tried to do some gardening, but Small wanted to help by eating the bindweed and that didn’t seem to be too good an idea to me, so I quit.

Did get quite a few phonecalls done this morning - now have swimming lessons booked for Big, an appt at the bank for me tomorrow, and so on.

The walking thing appears to have clicked with Small - he chased me round the room because he wanted my camera, and I lost count at 18 steps. At this point he still hadn’t walked in front of anyone else, but that was remedied a bit later on, when he walked for dp as well.

Can’t remember what else I was going to blog - was in the middle of doing this last night when I was summonsed for that late night snack - so I’ll give up and start blogging today instead.

Small, as we are all aware, doesn’t really sleep. I was trying to work out what time he passed out last night - it was while panorama was on, does that make it after 10.30? I didn’t go to bed straight away, I was fighting with a website (no, not yours Nic, ebid this time) and upgrading my desktop and what with one thing and another I think it was about 1 that I turned in.

He fed in the night, and then again when it was light. While he was feeding the second time I heard Big get up and go in to dp (still sleeping on the floor in the other room due to bad back, but pressurised into finally going to the doctors this morning). I heard, “I don’t feel well,” and assorted whinings but couldn’t really make sense of the conversation. Once Small had finished feeding, he rolled over to go back to sleep, but he could hear Big’s voice as well, so eventually off he went to find her. I found my glasses (can’t see the clock without them any more ) and discovered that it wasn’t even 7.30 yet - which means Small probably got me up about 6.30, after a broken night. Would that explain why I feel very rough? Aargh….still I’ve already got one load of washing on the go, and as soon as the dew is dry I’m gonna get them out in the garden. Maybe I can tire them both out enough to need a nap?

Yeah, he did it!

One way or another today has revolved around steps. Small took six steps with me in the room but no one else, then refused to repeat the achievement, instead banging his head on the floor repeatedly I spent a lot of the day working on a website, mainly on the graphics. Well, when I say I spend a lot of the day, two hours of that time were spent going out and getting paint with dd so that we could do some experimenting to see which way footprints are oriented if you are walking along a wavy line…

Dd doesn’t quite get how important her help has been, and certainly doesn’t get how much I enjoyed spending a couple of hours with my little girl. (Small was having a nap). Because it wasn’t time challenged I wasn’t stressed, and because I’d thought of a way to involve her she was happy and focussed. Bit of a result really! (Just hope that the graphics come out OK now).

We’ve discovered that dd is a much happier girl if she is being productive in the family. As such she is now washing up at least once a day. It takes about three times the length of time it would take one of us to do it, and requires constant adult supervision and assistance, but I figure this is a short term problem, and that quite quickly she’ll be able to do it herself. And she is thrilled to do it! I asked her yesterday for the first time, and she sprinted into the kitchen! Wonder how long that attitude will last?

Bit of a contrast to the learning to read really. That is disastrous atm, and so I’ve left it again. Oh well. She is only 4. It’s just that I think she would enjoy reading! Never mind. Started to book in events and outings for the next couple of months as well - looking at a swimming class that takes place over five days - might just tip the scale with her swimming. Also there’s a medieval market coming up and we’ve friends visiting next weekend. And I’m wondering about either going away or trying to organise something special for September - dd won’t be legally required school age then, but many of her nursery mates are going to school at that point, so I think it might be nice to do something different in a purposeful manner, rather than just let it drift by.

While shopping for paint we discovered that Tesco was selling off a lot of its wooden train track very cheaply, so now we have a lot of extra curves, some more engines and a double suspension bridge. Bargain! Both children have spent a lot of time with that today as well.

OK, so why do payments listed as instant on paypal turn out to be credit cards??????

Grrr. That means that the two items I posted yesterday *haven’t* been paid for as I’m not set up for credit cards, and don’t want to be - it says as much clearly (but obviously not clearly enough!) in my listings. Paypal is not worth the hassle - but now that nochex charges to receive money it isn’t much better.

Oh, and what do you think?

Well, today we had Kirsty and kids over for the day. It was fun - the older kids seem to have pretty much worked out their differences, and Alex and Small do ok anyway. And I always enjoy seeing Kirsty - she relaxes me

There was lots of playing, with the dolls house amongst other things, some drawing (Kirsty, you forgot the drawings!) I did some more tidying (sorry, but I couldn’t find the table for them to draw on otherwise), we had lunch, did some gardening, and played with geomags and Small’s trainset. I like geomags. So did everyone else. Although I didn’t get a piccie of dp with them unfortunately. Got a few others though

Honest, he didn’t eat that many.

Dd really enjoyed making all sorts of shapes that we almost knew the names for

and Marcus was working hard as well.

So I think there was some education in there amongst the games.

Then Kirsty left, and things went a bit pear shaped. I really don’t know what to do with dd atm. If we don’t see anyone she is bored, if we do then she is tired and hyper, either way we get meltdowns. I had a nice chat with Merry about it all last night, and I’m meditating on how I can change things, but today nothing I did went right. Ended up leaving her at home when I went to take Ebay stuff to the post office, which was a shame as we would both have enjoyed the walk, but it has to be said that she was lot calmer and easier to be around afterwards. I hate upsetting her like that though

So I did some ebaying (made about £4 today, not exactly going to be rich, am I?), then it was tea, bath and bed. Dp and I have watched a film tonight, Bend it Like Beckham, which is a novelty for us. Enjoyed it though. Small has only just gone to bed, so I’m going to have my hot chocolate and follow him - will have to catch up with my work tomorrow.