but not at the seaside unfortunately. I suspect that there might have been rather more “sea” than “side” as it rained in an extremely determined manner for most of last night right the way through today til this afternoon. So instead of getting to go wandering, we went over to see Kirsty at home.
Took ages to get going this morning, even though we were heading out. At one point is it reasonable to expect one’s offspring to take some responsibility for themselves? Should I really have to explain why I want her to put her socks, shoes and coat on when I’ve already commented on the fact that we’re getting ready to go out and it’s raining? When I’m standing there with my coat on, with Small in his coat as well? Sigh…
Anyway, we got over to Kirsty’s just about at lunchtime, and the children commenced really enjoying being horrid to each other. It does seem to have developed rather from Hesfes when they loved to hate each other – today on the way home despite spending time almost coming to blows, Big was full of plans to have M over to stay!
It was lovely catching up with Kirsty – we spent some time in mutual moaning over the weather, finances, horrid children…I came away feeling much more relaxed and accepted. Hoping that she gets back online soon too.
Have got Big to bed at a reasonable time tonight, and am about to go offset my guilt at the fact that Small is in disposables tonight (raw bot, poor boy) by using the bath water to flush the loos and water the plants that didn’t get soaked today. Hohum, this environmentally friendly stuff is terribly good for the fitness levels too 😉
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12 responses to “Out and about”
Erm… i’m not sure really. Fran is perfectly capable of getting herself out now, but does still need the odd reminder for things like face washing and hair brushing. Moo isn’t really quite there yet; she can do shoes if you tell her which one to put on and her coat is hung right by the front door but she isn’t likely to look at the weather and decide if she needs it or not. She is also more than capable of putting things on a in a slightly nutty order – like for example you would have to be careful not to say to her “put your shoes and socks on” because she would do it in that order!!!
Again, and its probably not perfect really, i do tend to depend on Fran a bit for those things. If i get a changing bag ready, i’ll ask her to get everyones shoes into the living room, that helps Moo a lot.
it is one of the things that we have changed a lot here; we have a shoe box and low pegs right by the door now and its helped a lot. But if i am honest, my 4 year old is not at a stage where she can take responsibility for it all herself yet. She needs pretty direct instructions.
Hi Jax
ADJ is in between Merry’s Fran and Moo at 4.5yrs in being able to get ready. I think maybe it’s the oldest child syndrome cos I do rely on ADJ to get cups, shoes and coats ready. He can and will do his coat and providing I confirm his shoes are the right way round he can put them on (although still needs help with lacing ones).
But if he’s interested in somethin else I do find I have to gee him along 😉
Emmm….well, I don’t want to depress you, but even at 8 its still an issue at times. It’s not unknown for me to be shrieking like a banshee 15 minutes after we were supposed to have left, to find no shoes, no socks, no jcacket, no teeth cleaned, and no last minute pee. Does that make you feel worse or better?
Oh gawd… don’t start me on the last minute wee thing….
mine can both be fab and both be awful. they are both capable of getting their shoes, monster can even put his on, like other oldest children he is relied on a fair bit to help organise with me. one of my biggest gripes with the whole family – Ady included is their complete inability to get their arses out of the house though!
lol, yeah Joyce, I was going to say that I’d think 7 was pretty reasonable, but ….! Talk about easily distracted ….
I have a real aversion to the “oldest = most responsible” thing (as I may have mentioned before …. 😉 ), but seeing as Poppy is usually the one we’re dragging down the path with one shoe on, it’s never really an issue in such situations! Matilda is usually first one ready, and will help if needed. Lulah likes to hand out everyone’s shoes 🙂 Lijah can usually manage to get himself sorted out – or at least collect everything and then whinge that he needs me to put them on for him …..
It does involve telling them loudly and clearly to GET READY! though, not just ‘commenting that we’re getting ready’. And it generally takes forever, even if we’re going somewhere they want to go!
I’m obviously expecting far too much of my children. That’s depressing 🙁
Alison, I’m with you on the eldest responsibility thing – as the oldest of 4 myself, I spent a lot of time organising and helping out (hours and hours of ironing spring to mind). But I’m not asking Big to be responsible for anyone but herself. I didn’t explain myself clearly above – the thing that really got to me today was that I’d told her to put her coat on, I’d put mine on, and Small’s on, and she still headed for the door with it in hand, and it was chucking it down! Aargh…
Sigh. Yes. Well i think i can safely say i wouldn’t expect anyone to iron (hardly can given i don’t do it myself!) I think it partly comes, here, from the fact that a) Fran is naturally quite motherly and keen to help and b) Maddy can’t follow instructions! We are working on Maddy having a few “going out” responsibilities too – and at the moment that is turning the tv off and picking up any dirty clothes lying about.
Jax, maybe you could start off with sitting her on the sofa, giving her her shoes and coat and saying “we are going out” – and then work on it from there till she gets the drift of what is required?
No, honestly, I don’t think you’re expecting that much! Matilda is brilliant at getting ready to go out and Elijah *can* get himself dressed and shoed, even if he prefers not to! Poppy is just too good at getting distracted 😉
I do find though, that heading out the door into pouring rain is a very quick incentive to get that coat on ….. getting wet for a moment can help them take some responsibility for staying dry …… 😉
Depends on the child I think. Today going to the lake we were all waiting for the oldest, who’s 10! He’s often last ready of the children- takes after DH that way…. sigh! My 6 yo tends to be first ready, followed by 8 yo who’s the only girl, she’ll often help 5 yo since he tends to linger without getting ready. If one is lingering I usually wait outdoors or in the car for the one who is not getting ready. They seem to speed up when they find they’re the only one left in the house!
Oh, yes, Hannah is completely capable of doing it, and has been for a long time. But I have (often) handed her her stuff, given a 5 minute warning, told her we are about to leave, and then come back 5 minutes later to find her with a glazed expression, holding a shoe and looking blankly into space, “thinking”. I do find screaming loudly is often the only way to get through 🙁
I have a friend who ‘suffers’ {grin} from what she calls shoe trances – same sort of thing that Hannah does. Poppy doesn’t so much go into a trance than just skip off with one shoe on to do something else …..