So after the Never-Ending Snow Day, EldestGirl’s school was open again, and there was much rejoicing. Until, at 3.30 a.m., her dulcet tones came drifting down the landing. “I’ve been sick.” She was indeed sick. Very, very sick. She spattered every surface available. And so commenced another 48 hours with no school. I was very … [Read more…]
Like most people, I sort my recycling out each week. Unlike most people, I don’t separate out plastics and paper, so much as “aspirational” and “embarrassing”. EldestGirl’s school often asks parents for empty packets and bottles for junk modelling. As most weeks our recycling bin is bulgingly-full of Amazon packaging, I am more than happy … [Read more…]
Faith has been on our minds a lot this month. Firstly, EldestGirl’s (non-faith) school celebrated harvest festival, with lots of wholesome, earthy songs about the food chain, and hard work of non-gender-specific farmers, and then went and spoiled my atheistic enjoyment with a chat from the vicar and a song thanking God (who presumably could … [Read more…]
One of my favourite things about EldestGirl starting school has been her interpretation of new information. Generally her attention to detail and memory is annoyingly infallible, so I have really been enjoying some of her slips-of-the-ear. Last week we had harvest songs. “Onions, peas and carrots, sweetcorn, beans and marrows and white bread to my … [Read more…]
You know that nightmare you have where you’re back at primary school and you have to dance in front of the class, and everyone else knows the dance moves and you don’t, and the teacher is dancing too and you don’t want to but you still have to dance, dance, dance, and also you’re naked? … [Read more…]
So EldestGirl turned five years old today. Right now, this instant actually, as I have set this post to publish at exactly the time of day she was born: 9.30 a.m. Every birthday, every milestone feels like a landmark: the first solids, the first word, the first steps, the first shoes, the first day at … [Read more…]
I had such good intentions for the school run. I would be – of course – on time, looking stylish and groomed. I didn’t just think I could pull this out of my arse, as “stylish” is absolutely not my usual mode of operation. I did my preparation. I bought some new outfits because it … [Read more…]
EldestGirl started primary school this week. She has had a period of “settling in”, with half-days, and today marks her first full day at school. I think she will be fine. I didn’t really understand the whole “sobbing at the classroom door” thing, either for her or for me. She looked a bit apprehensive but … [Read more…]
The blackberries finished early this year. We picked our share, and have more in the freezer. Blackberry-picking with YoungestGirl is a chore; for every one you manage to get in the pot, you have to put at least three in her gawping mouth, or else the shouting starts. In the meantime, EldestGirl will either prick … [Read more…]
Earlier this week I had the very rare chance to go into town by myself. This was approximately twice as exciting as Christmas Day, as I didn’t have to scour the streets for dropped kerbs for the buggy, steel myself for getting the buggy wheels caught on every narrow aisle, or deal with a meltdown … [Read more…]