The day started with us overhearing a very convoluted game the children were playing downstairs (sleeping in the loft room means all noise comes up through the open hatch and as the children are not really capable of quiet, we get to hear everything they are up to). Anyway, as it became apparent that Small was getting himself very wound up, Tim came down to interfere, and discovered that the object of the game was to pull each other’s trousers down. Yes well. So that was stopped.
I tried for a bit more sleep, but it was a no go really, and I drifted down to sit at computer as Tim ran around to get ready to go to London for the day. The children were extremely upset by his departure, and it lead to some rocky moments, but I thought they’d pulled it together, and they got the lego out and I got my TMA out and we all settled down together.
I wouldn’t have thought a lego game could give rise to as many problems as this one did. I lost count of how many times I sent one or the other of them out of the room, or explained again what compromise means, or negotiated different ways of doing things. Then I made the monumental mistake of leaving the room to go and prepare my lunch, and they were at each other’s throats again. Or arms to be more precise, for some reason they seem to grab for each other’s arms mainly.
Big was the attacker in this instance, so she was sent out and as she went she went into full on attitudinal aggression at me, and carried on for ages. I’m sorry to admit that I totally lost it and descended into screaming harridan status, throwing things and slamming a door 🙁
That finally seemed to get across the message that I’d had enough of the behaviour. Once Small had cleared away the lego, I sat down with my lunch and had them both find paper and pencil and write down what they want to learn about. For some reason, although they are both very clear on their interests, and we have many resources, which are freely available to them both at all times, they do not, even when they complain of boredom, follow up any of these interests. I’ve no way of telling if this is because they spent some time in school and now feel the need to be directed while learning, but whatever the reason, direction is obviously required.
Big came up with a long and detailed list of subject headings, while Small had a more specific list of questions. I think what I might do, to save this being a really epic blogpost is write two further posts on each of their interests individually and what we did to carry them forward, and keep this as a high level overview.
ETA links to individual posts: Big wants to learn and Small wants to learn. Tempted to fiddle with post order to put this one above the other two, but think I’ll resist.
So, having gathered lists, we did a quick overview of what they each already had in terms of textbooks and exercise books, and then started the laborious process of getting ready to go into town. What do they do with socks???
Once in town we bought exercise books, weathered a Small explosion in the cheap shop, and went on to the library. Again, I’ll split the list of resources according to what they both chose, although I did also pick up a possible readaloud, Cloud Busting
, which I thought looked very interesting, Read Me and Laugh: A Funny Poem for Every Day of the Year
which may come in useful and Really Cool Felt Crafts
which I hoped might give some craft ideas that they can both manage.
From the library to the coop for pasta and broccoli for tea, and then, against my better judgement considering how much I was now carrying, on to the park for 15 in the playarea for them and a collapse on a handy bench for me.
Surprising how far it seemed home while carrying shopping that included 4 pints of milk, but we made it somehow, and I made tea, then attempted to sit down while they both investigated their library haul. After food, shower time, and before they’d even got the shower on, more fisticuffs, resulting in me telling Small that he can’t be alone with another child without supervision, as I’ve had it up to here with him attacking ppl. This really upset him, and got to them both when later Big hit him as well and I awarded another days tv ban. I’m fed up with this though, it’s not getting through to either of them, and I couldn’t be more involved than I had been this evening, unless I’d actually been in the shower cubicle with them!
Anyway, eventually into bed, and I only had to go in four times to remind Small that he was supposed to be in his bed, not leaning over into Big’s and boy was I glad to see 9 o’clock and lights out. Here’s hoping that they are as tired as they’ve made me and they are actually going to settle down and sleep!
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