Redecorated to celebrate the end of June

2 months in, and it was time to redecorate the blog. You know how it is, you don't like the sofa by the window and when you move it the wall behind it is a different colour to the rest.

I'm not sure about the colours, I don't think its too bright. It looks really pale on my laptop, but very loud on Richs desktop....

This month we have put time and effort into thinking hard about HE. We have informed the playschool LA attends and been to a HE group.

We have also played very very hard:

We had Yellow pox, which we quickly recovered from.

We have been out and about, almost every day. We visited our usual places such as the library, supermarket, playschool and tumbletots as well as braving a car boot sale, a museum, a HE group, an indoor playground, the local gala, the swimming pool....

We've been gluey and sticky several times, we've baked and baked, and we've eaten so many playdough biscuits.

Tomorrow it's July, and hopefully it will stop raining soon.

Bumpi's

This morning we spent at Bumpi's; climbing, sliding and bumping.

But this afternoon, LA has developed a high temperature and a sore throat. She has very rosy cheeks and doesn't look well. We have given her paracetamol, but it seems to be having very little effect.

Sticking and Gluing

We've been sticking and gluing again (of course we have - LA is 3!!!!). As usual we ended up more sticky and gluey than the paper.
So I gave her a bowl to wash her hands in, which led predictably to LA doing her Dolly's washing.
There was a lot of washing, Dolly's can be very dirty creatures. When the washing was done it was followed (naturally) by this: We have feasted on playdough biscuits and poured orange juice on the rug, twice.

When Rich got in from work, BA, MA and I ran away to do some shopping. We had a good discussion about how everyones childhood is different, even siblings, and how parents treat different children differently and the pros and cons of that. For example BA had his Mum at home 24/7 until he was almost 3, but his Dad was away a lot working. MA had to share her Mum and Dad with BA from the start, went to a childminders part-time with BA from the age of 1 and went to Nursery full time at the age of 3. But then she remained the baby of the family until she was 12 when LA arrived.
However, we agreed that every child does have a very different experience, and none of them is necessarily wrong.
My children are all lovely people, I am a very lucky person.

Dinosaurs and Masks

Today LA and I went to New Walk Museum in Leicester. We saw how huge the dinosaurs were and how they could see in our bedroom windows if they bent down a bit. We looked at all the pretty rocks and identified their colours. We played with masks and talked about the emotions on the faces. We looked at the planet floating above our head and found the UK on a globe.
We had a good time, and we will go back.

I'm now pondering on if I should claim the funding for LAs playschool place next year. I have been reading on various newsgroups that the LEA use the information to trace children "missing from education". I don't know how friendly Leicestershire LEA are to Home Educators, so I'm feeling a little lost. It's not that I want to hide from them at all really, I'm not very keen on the idea - I'd rather be open and honest about it, but that assumes that they aren't going to be awful.
You don't let the lions know where you are hiding, do you?

Saturday, Sunday and Monday...

Immediately following my post on Saturday our Internet connection collapsed and we were given someone elses phone number. Whenever we phoned out our number came up as a different number and when we called it - we got to speak to Mark, who was oblivious to the fact we were piggybacking his 'phone.
After daily calls, they have finally fixed the broadband, but we still have Marks number...and he still doesn't know...should we tell him?

On Sunday we went to the Summer Solstice open ritual up on Beacon Hill in Leicestershire. The rain stayed away for a few hours and the sun raised his eyebrow and blessed us all with a little smile. LA had a lovely time, playing with her friend AA, climbing "the mountain" and chatting constantly.

Today (Monday) we ventured to a HE group. It was a bit of a journey - but worth it. I can now report that people who HE their children are perfectly "normal" - honest! This is a fact I will be able to use against those people who tell me that HE children aren't "normal". Oh yes they are! They laugh, shout, scream, play, chat, grump, run and giggle just like other kids.
I have to admit, this was a relief - I am sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone, just to declare my ignorance. I had heard so many tales of HE children not "being like other children" that it was such a relief to find "Normal People".
We had a lovely time, LA had fun running and playing and I enjoyed meeting all the Mums. (If you were there, and reading this - yes it means you! I just can't remember anybodies name)We will be back, possibly after we've changed TumbleTots to a different day, but we will definitely come again.

Our new tent has arrived for our holiday and its Payday on Thursday, things are looking up!

Unconditional Parenting

I've been reading "Unconditional Parenting" by Alfie Kohn. Its certainly made me think. I wonder if my 2 big kids would consider me to have loved them unconditionally? I think I undoubtedly love them unconditionally - but as Mr Kohn points out - its the message they received, not the one I thought I was sending, that is important.
So I asked them - bemused though they were....
...and now I'm a very happy Mummy, because my 2 big kids, had absolutely no doubts at all that I had always loved them no matter what. Were they telling me what they thought I wanted to hear? They did initially ask if that's the answer I wanted - but when told I wanted to hear the truth - they couldn't come up with a single situation when they felt I hadn't loved them. So even if they felt it at the time - it certainly wasn't long lasting.

What more could I want?

Playing at School

LA has a new favourite game - playing at school. She is the teacher and all her teddies are the children. She even made big bear go and sit in the sandpit today as he was talking.

I admit I find it worrying. And then I find the fact that I find it worrying, worrying. and then - well, you get the idea...

What am I going to do if she wants to go to school? Do we just let her? After all this reading about Home Education, I will fret about her being at school so young and I will regret all the missed opportunities. I know I can give her more.

I might not take her to playschool for the next few weeks - but she really enjoys it - so I'll have to find a good replacement, if I do that and I'll have to pay! The playschool is understandably preparing the older children to start school next term, and I think she's picking up on this.

Oh we are nowhere near starting this yet - but its so so stressful.

Just caught Rich reading this blog, he tells me it's boring!

Cheers mate!

I love you too!

The News is Good, Bad, Good...

Little Acorn and I went to see our childminders D's new baby this morning. She's 13 days old, and very cute. LA marvelled at the size of her hands and feet and has now decided that she is a big girl. SO big in fact, that we no longer have to be with her when she goes to sleep. I've just put her to bed said goodnight and left. I don't know how long it will last, she's still awake.

I left LA there (D's not bed...), while I went to a funeral of a friends little baby boy. A strange experience to go directly from joy to despair. It was a beautiful funeral, the parents were very dignified.
I didn't envy the vicar though - trying to explain why God would do such an unthinkable thing. I'm not a Christian, so this felt rather strange to me, as though he was afraid that this dreadful experience would reflect badly on his "company".
But - I simply don't "get" Christianity at all - so maybe his words were a comfort to those who do. Who am I to judge?

Then from the despair back to the joy, to pick up LA and on to Tumble Tots.

Back home there followed one of those discussions with Middle Acorn about "Souls". I believe that the souls of those that have died are "absorbed" by those that love them and so they live on. I do not believe in Heaven or Hell, or reincarnation. MA believes in reincarnation. So a great discussion there. I love these in-depth talks with my almost-an-adult daughter. We've done a good job there, she makes me proud.

And HE? Well, after the declaration last week that he thought LA should go to school, Rich has arrived back at where he started. We both agree that LA will not be going to school next year (the non-mandatory year) and we will use it to see what we can achieve at home, before making the final decision. I think its me having the doubts now...

Good News, Bad News...

I was going to blog...

...but my mind won't allow it.
I know what I want to write, but the words aren't there.

I'll try again tomorrow.

Roads.

How can I get the importance of road safety into LAs head??? She really has no concept of danger at all, and no matter how many times I've explained how dangerous the roads are, she continues to attempt to run out into them, run away from me near them and yesterday had a laying down tantrum in the middle of (luckily a very quiet) one.
I've tried everything I can think of - even scare tactics, but to no avail. I understand that she thinks shes indestructible, so I've tried the "It really upsets me" tactic as well, but no good - - she either isn't capable of retaining the information or understanding what I'm saying. She always says sorry, and will list all the things I've told her - but her behaviour doesn't change.
Is my only option to go back to the wrist-strap?
Ideas on a postcard please....

Not got much time to blog this week, life is being a bit poo.

Who taught her to swim???

Wednesday - our sacred day. The day LA and I have nothing planned but each other.

We started well, we've banned the TV until 4pm as LA has taken to putting it on first thing in the morning and spending the day vegetating in front of it ( I take responsibility for letting her, but we are back on course now).
We sorted out all Big Acorn and Middle Acorns children's books and put them on LAs shelves in the conservatory. Some are much too old for her, but I think its good to have them available (books without pictures that is). Then we had a big hunt for LAs swimming costume - its vanished into the void, so off to Asda to find another. A bargain at £2.50!!

LA has been swimming all of 3 times, but has the courage of a warrior in the water. Today, with the help of armbands she was swimming. Gobsmacked - me?? Oh yes! Where did she learn that??
She just kept jumping deeper and deeper into the water until she couldn't touch the bottom, then stretched out and swam...this child never fails to amaze me!

The Invisible Gran

Gran lives just around the corner in a pink house, she has white hair and likes pink. She visits quite often and lets herself in. She's been popping by on almost a daily basis, ever since LA learnt to talk - maybe before... ! Sometimes she's up by the shop, the park or we drive past her. She's always very nice to LA, she will stop for a while and play or suggest something to do. LA obviously likes her a lot and is always pleased to see her.
Sometimes she goes out for the day or she's not very well so she can't come here. She doesn't work, but she has a dog which she walks. A white dog. She always wears a dress and a hat and she smells funny.
She's very wise, and often suggests that LA apologises for things such as writing on the wall or spilling her drink on the carpet. She will even sit down and look at a book with LA. Sometimes she knows where things are that we've spent hours looking for.
Although I've never heard her speak, I think she must be quite old, because the words LA learns from her are very dated and the games are quite old fashioned.

I was secretly watching LA earlier, as Mums do, when Gran popped in. LA was watching TV, she suddenly looked round "Oh Hello Gran" she said smiling, then turned back to the TV.

When I tell people about her, they get chills down their backs, but she's never done that to us.
I used to think Gran was a imaginary friend but I'm not certain anymore.

Whoever she is, she's welcome here.

Catch up again

Friday we made chocolate cakes, they were supposed to be butterfly buns but they refused to rise high enough, so we dumped the butter icing on top and decorated it with more chocolate.

D our childminder had a baby girl on 5th June, excellent news - - -love babies: Congratulations D, K, J and E!!

Anyway, this has left us juggling childcare, I had arranged to go in to work late, but as Big Acorn has a few weeks off now before he starts his A2's he looked after Little Acorn while I went to work.

Saturday we went to the local Gala. Little Acorn was excited at the thought and to make it all the more exciting we went on the bus. Unfortunately either the excitement or the heat were too much for her and she became very irritable and stroppy. She had a bit of a play, but I had to phone Rich for a lift home as she became extremely (I don't like this word, but I can't think of a better one) unmanageable, laying on the floor, screaming, running off, etc. It was very extreme behaviour and totally out of the blue. My first thought were that she had eaten something that had made her behave this way, but I cannot think what it could have been and everyone denies giving her anything. It was just like her reaction to food additives - but I cannot think what it could of been (maybe the cake? but she didn't have many...and she doesn't normally react to cocoa) - - - but then, I was at work...

Saturday night I had to work again, so I've been sleeping this morning. Rich and Little Acorn have been busy gardening. This afternoon has been fairly typical of a post night shift day, we've popped out for a bite to eat (give me calories and make it NOW), I've baked the bread and we've bathed the stinking hound again.

LA is going to bed, so we can watch the repeat of Dr Who again. It was so good we want to watch it twice!!!

Tagged

It appears I've been tagged - thanks Shakr (grrrr ;-) ).

The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The
rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are
listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their
names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know
that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

8 facts about me? I don't know if there are that many... but I'll try...

1. I'm 40 in October. I'm finding this thought oddly disturbing as I'm sure its my Mum who is 40, not me!!

2. I am a Druid. Despite having a Christian upbringing, it always felt like someone elses hat to me, never quite fitted properly. So I explored my own beliefs, then one day I discovered Druidry and it was exactly the same as my own beliefs...

3. I work as a "Mental Health Practitioner" in Leicestershire. I am a qualified Mental Health Nurse. Mostly I enjoy my work, but watching the NHS fall apart over the last few years has been very disturbing.

4. I became a Mental Health Nurse because as a teenager I thought I was going mad. I thought the best way to beat the system and avoid being locked up would be to know the system. I no longer believe I am "mad" but I appreciate that its a very short walk away for most of us. I am a very good nurse, it was the right decision.

5. I once buried my hibernating gerbil as I thought it was dead. It died.

6. I dread the day my children leave home.

7. I love watching Dr Who and Big Brother. I don't watch anything else apart from the occasional glimpse of Cbeebies.

8. I belong to a gym, but I haven't been for the last month.


I tag (with apologies to anyone annoyed by tags) :

Tammy (Quietly making noise)
Penny (When did I become a hippy)
Little Star Homeschool
Green House by the Sea
Going against the Flow

...don't know of anyone else yet that hasn't already been tagged. So that will have to do...there really was no hope of me totally conforming to this was there? Actually, I'm surprised anyone does, the Home Ed community I've seen so far, doesn't seem very good at doing what its told!!

Yellow Pox

This morning we all developed a bad dose of "Yellow Pox"...

It was very contagious....




Luckily we all recovered quickly and we went for a walk at Brocks Hill Country Park in Oadby. We saw baby moorhens, a Water vole (I thought it was a rat - but CBeebies has since educated me and I am now much more knowledgeable in the difference between rats and water voles....) and lots of birds. We appreciated the carvings and had good fun in the play area.

Big Acorn had his last AS today, so he is relaxing now. Middle Acorn starts her GCSEs on Friday (just a few as its a year early), so the revision continues.

Bring on the cold flannel

Yesterday we had a novel experience. We hadn't been to a car boot sale since 1994, so we chose the biggest one in Leicestershire to visit!! AGGGGGHHHHHH!!!
Actually, apart from being daunted by the size of it, we did enjoy ourselves (You can gather from this that our previous experiences of Car Boot Sales have not been pleasant can't you???).
We bought a couple of books and jigsaws for LA, some cucumber plants to replace the ones that last weeks frost killed 2 days after we put them out and a sweet pepper plant to complement the several hundred chilli pepper plants we appear to be growing in the kitchen!
LA had a wonderful time, she had an ice cream (a real treat) and spent a happy 30minutes on the bouncy castles.

In the afternoon, I had to work. I spoke to my boss about last weeks happenings, and to cut a long story short, it is all now sorted.
We are still so understaffed, I didn't get home until well past midnight, even though my shift was supposed to end at 10pm.

Today, I have been rather sleepy, due to the late hour I got home. LA has been playing up, I think she has seized the opportunity to cause chaos.
We have been to Tumble Tots and since we've been home she has continued with her "Look at me" behaviour. She has poured a yoghurt drink all over herself and the sofa and is now demanding a bath.
No hope! I'm not giving into that sort of behaviour. Its a nice cold wash with a flannel for you my girl!!
Maybe I'll try that myself as well...it might wake me up.

On a downer

Feeling a bit down today, I guess its really just "one of those days" and if I had any sense I'd go to bed early and get it over and done with. But having very little sense, I suspect I'll see it though to the end!!

It started badly, my first day back at work after a week off. A week in which I had achieved very little as it rained all week. I got into work to discover that my boss had changed all the decisions I made before I went on holiday. Some of these were trivial, but some were very important (that's VERY important...VERY VERY - I'm a Mental Health Nurse and some of the decisions I make with the people I visit are VERY important and rely on trust) and I remain very worried about some of these, even as I sit here trying not to think of work.
Why would he do that anyway???

Anyhow - finished work and came home to find Rich and little acorn had spent the morning making models - excellent.
However, he then declares that he has been speaking to Middle Acorn and thinks she may be right and Little Acorn should go to school...