Learning while I wasn't looking

Big, it would appear, has been paying attention at times I didn’t realise. In the shops today, she said “this says one ninety nine”. I agreed. She then proved it wasn’t a fluke by going along the shelf edge and reading several more prices. Impressive. I told her so. (This is a child who was stuck at 26 a week or so back.) We then discussed times tables (one of the books with aforementioned prices on was about times tables), but I think she thinks I’m kidding. Ah well.

It’s been a good day. There has been shouting, sure, but overall, it’s the kind of day where I can see home ed coming together and paying off. She had a swimming lesson this morning, and participated fully. She is so proud of herself for not using armbands anymore, even though she isn’t managing more than a couple of strokes without. But, really, the swimming will come – it was the confidence to try that I was after. So I’m happy. And Small and I had a great time – we burbled at each other, practising how many different silly sounds we could make, we read books, looked out of the window and he didn’t try to dive in the pool once this week. Progress.

After swimming we went shopping, and let Big show off her numbers. We bought Small some felt tips of his own, so of course they had to try those out when they came home. I think they got *some* of it on the paper! (Hope they are as washable as advertised 😉 ) I didn’t have a buggy or a carrier with me, so both children had to walk and I thought they did pretty well with that too.

So this afternoon, art, mad running round the garden (do my children have antifreeze in their veins??), dancing to the classical music on classic music tv – oh how I wish I had a webcam to share with you all 😉 , Big did yet more of the Jolly Phonics books, she also drew a picture for her nursery friend, put it in an envelope and put his name on the front, so I guess we’ll get a walk to the post office tomorrow.

There were conversations about puberty and motherhood – Big is getting past the ask-irritating -questions-to-hear-my-own-voice stage (well, I hope she is) and asking rather more interesting ones. Today’s were, how do I get breasts when I want to be a mummy?, and why did you choose to be a mummy. Put aside the fact that I finally seem to have got through to her that being a mummy is not your only choice when you grow up, we had a good discussion about it all, so that was rather nice. No idea which of my many categories to put it under though!

And then, just as we were winding down this evening, bang on six o clock as they were having tea, and in walks my mother. So much for them calming down. Hohum, she remarks in a restrained voice…

mother wants to know if we need anything educational for Christmas. She is still going to get other bits, but would like to know if we want any contributions of materials. So I spent some time looking at a link I’d seen on Layla‘s blog, and I’m pondering other items for the shopping list. She asked what we wanted too, and I mentioned a breadmaker, and it turns out she has one she barely uses, so she is going to lend that to me to try out first. Result!

And Small went to bed before 8. Wow.