Today we had a day round at WF house planned, with added science experiments. So I got up at 8 to sort out contribution to bring and share lunch, as well as sorting out washing and so on. In the end my lunch contribution was courtesy of the coop, I am always somewhat uninspired, and quite frankly terrified of the idea of cooking to share, although I think this is a fear I really ought to overcome. Soon.
Had a bit of a brainwave over getting the children organised, and wrote them a list of what they each needed to put in their bags, to get past the problem we had with the swimming bag the night before where the verbal instruction meant that Small forgot to put his trunks in his bag. It worked so well that I think I will start a book of lists, suitable to a variety of occasions, so that all I have to do is turn to the correct page. Well, it worked really well once I explained that “Put in” was part of the instructions, rather than a list item. He didn’t notice the nested layout 😆
I have resisted listing things in this way, as personally I hate lists, and I was reluctant to go for this kind of prompting, wanting both of them to develop the skills of working out for themselves what is needed. But I guess I need to be more flexible in meeting their needs, and as we progress I can instead get them to write their own lists 🙂
So complete bags at the ready, Tim dropped us off down the road, and we had a great day in WF’s garden. Unfortunately it appears that maize flour is not the same as cornflour, but it was still great fun to play in a paddling pool full, or so I assume given the length of time the children stayed in it! Then we had a lovely lunch, and much drinking tea/ chatting/ playing time. Big had a couple of strops about ppl not playing appropriately with the playfood, but as she stropped off to the other end of the garden, and it was hot, I decided I really couldn’t be bothered to follow her and it wasn’t too painful an experience after all.
Small had a fab time, apart from a slight catastrophe with the trampoline steps, necessitating application of a cold pack to his rear end. Worked well though, as this evening he has a mild bruise, whereas when he first came running over it was looking pretty bad.
WF gave us a lift home and we had time for a bit of a relax before taking Big off to Brownies. Discovered there that their pack won the first prize for the collage competition – there is a shield to come, so I’ll get a picture of collage and shield together next week.
Small watched part of Spider-Man 2
while Big was at Brownies, lots of good conversations about the issues in there. I do enjoy our quiet times together, he is very different when he is on his own.
And finally both of them fed with more fruit (following cereal for tea following much food over the course of the afternoon!) and into bed. Goodnights said to Tim over the phone (he’s up in Yorkshire tonight) and I have just one more post to write before I head for bed too.
Leave a Reply