Now that the Easter school holiday has well and truly begun I am already stressed beyond sanity. My torment started earlier than most mums because the last day of term was an inset/teacher training day, so when all the other schools were still open, my daughter's was closed for the day. Luckily on that day she just chilled and had a pyjama day and didn't do a lot. Then it was the weekend and my husband was at home. However, he may as well not have been because he was so busy getting on with a lot of his own things that he hardly spent any time with our little girl, who by Sunday was getting so fed up with not being able to spend any time with him that she was falling into one of her stroppy moods.
There are only so many times that a young child can play Monopoly and various other board games before losing interest, and so many times that we can draw, colour in pictures and make things. The weather is too rubbish to go to the park where all the equipment are soaking wet and the air is so cold. Coupled with a screaming baby that won't sleep day or night and you have a mummy that's turned into a walking zombie!!
I'm all for short school holidays; at least for those who are working, trying to find childcare for such extended periods of time won't be such a monstrous task. That is what I'm dreading when I return to work after my maternity leave, having to find childcare for both children during the school holidays, especially the 6week summer holiday will leave me at a loss - it will take up more than my monthly salary. Is it really worth returning to work just for the sake of it?
Anyway, now the Easter Bank Holiday is coming up this weekend, we are all taking a trip to visit my mum and dad, which I am dreading because it means taking everything but the kitchen sink to accommodate our baby girl. Also, because she doesn't sleep well most of the time, my mother is sure to moan about her own lack of sleep whilst we're there. She's good at that, moaning and complaining about almost everything. She doesn't make allowances that our baby is still a baby (albeit almost a 9month old one) and that we are always the ones making the effort to visit her, she never comes to stay with us.
Hopefully over the weekend we will also be able to visit my cousin and her family who my daughter always enjoys playing with. And my husband has taken a couple of days off which are tagged on the end of the Bank Holiday, so hopefully once we're back home, he will be able to spend some time with the eldest. However, I don't hold out much hope because he spends more time getting on with his own jobs than spending time with her or any of us really.
I hope these two weeks go quickly so that we can get back into the school routine and I can be less stressed....
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Child of the week
Last Friday I found a sealed letter from school addressed to me. I knew what it was about because other mothers had the same letter in previous weeks and I also knew that I wasn't supposed to tell my daughter what it was about, it was meant to be a surprise.
As I had thought, the letter stated that my daughter had been chosen to be child of the week and that she would get her certificate during morning worship the following Monday morning. I was very excited because at every parent's evening the teacher always said that my daughter was such a hard worker, eager to please and is progressing extremely well. I always wondered when she would be child of the week; she must do something exceptional to receive such an award. And now that she had been chosen, I kept wondering what it is that she had done so well; did she read an entire book without needing any prompts, did she do something really well in her maths class, or was really polite and used her manners, or did she help her little friends in some way when they were upset or struggling with their work. I couldn't wait to find out and had to stop myself from mentioning it to her.
Morning worship began on the Monday morning and when my daughter was mentioned as child of the week, her teacher commented that she was chosen to get this award because she did so well in her numeracy, especially adding up 2 digit numbers - I didn't even know she could do that. Her teacher also said that she added the numbers up so quickly that she couldn't believe her eyes.
It was a lovely service and each class had a chosen someone to be child of the week. Then there were other little certificates to hand out for those children who had earned their next lot of smiley faces for doing good work. Others also got special mentions and stickers for 100% attendance for the school term. My daughter got mentioned for both these things as well.
Mummy is so proud that my girl is doing so well at school!
As I had thought, the letter stated that my daughter had been chosen to be child of the week and that she would get her certificate during morning worship the following Monday morning. I was very excited because at every parent's evening the teacher always said that my daughter was such a hard worker, eager to please and is progressing extremely well. I always wondered when she would be child of the week; she must do something exceptional to receive such an award. And now that she had been chosen, I kept wondering what it is that she had done so well; did she read an entire book without needing any prompts, did she do something really well in her maths class, or was really polite and used her manners, or did she help her little friends in some way when they were upset or struggling with their work. I couldn't wait to find out and had to stop myself from mentioning it to her.
Morning worship began on the Monday morning and when my daughter was mentioned as child of the week, her teacher commented that she was chosen to get this award because she did so well in her numeracy, especially adding up 2 digit numbers - I didn't even know she could do that. Her teacher also said that she added the numbers up so quickly that she couldn't believe her eyes.
It was a lovely service and each class had a chosen someone to be child of the week. Then there were other little certificates to hand out for those children who had earned their next lot of smiley faces for doing good work. Others also got special mentions and stickers for 100% attendance for the school term. My daughter got mentioned for both these things as well.
Mummy is so proud that my girl is doing so well at school!
Monday, 26 March 2012
Homework project
My daughter is only 6 and has had her first project work to do over a 2 week period. As part of the numeracy course she has to produce a booklet based on the Mr Men character Mr Noisy. Therefore the work involved is about different kinds of sounds and there would be prizes for some of the best booklets chosen by the teacher.
When I received the notice about this homework I thought that the kids are a bit young to be doing project work like this, surely the teacher can't expect too much from them. The advice given was to think of as many different types of sounds as possible and group them together, e.g. musical instruments, body sounds, sounds you like/dislike, and put the ideas into a booklet.
My daughter was extremely enthusiastic about this initially, and the first idea that we came up with was "noisy things at home". With that in mind, we got out the Argos catalogue and my daughter proceeded to search for things that would make a noise, e.g. washing machine, microwave, kettle, toaster, etc. After all that sticking, gluing and subsequent writing she decided that she was bored of it and didn't want to do anymore. The next couple of days was a battle to get her to do anything further in the production of this "booklet". At this rate, all she would be handing in would be a single sheet of paper and to me that was clearly not good enough. She needed to put more effort into it.
Over a further two days I was constantly thinking about the project and the ways in which I could make it more interesting for her. In the end I came up with the idea of making it a fun activity by creating various puzzles. The thought crossed my mind that it would be mostly my work and the teacher would definitely be able to tell but at least my daughter would have some input by attempting to solve the puzzles herself, and she would in the end have something more substantial to hand in.
I therefore proceeded to copy and paste various animal pictures from the computer's clip art in one column and type out the animal names and sounds in the next two columns in random order. The idea was for her to to draw a line from the animal to its name and then link it to the sound that it made. She found this extremely fun and wanted more. So over the week I produced various similar puzzles, including a crossword, wordsearch and a spot the difference, the latter taking me a total of about 5hrs to make over 2 days. I also made sure that she had her own further input by getting her to create mind maps of sounds that she like and disliked.
In the end she really enjoyed doing the project work and it ended up being about 15 pages worth of work and was happy to hand it in. I also discovered that I had a tremendous time helping to make this booklet and really enjoyed myself - it was fun for me too!!
When my daughter handed in the project I didn't expect her to receive anything for it but as it turns out she did! Most of the other children came out with standard paper certificates congratulating them on their hard and some of the others had received special laminated and coloured versions. To my astonishment my daughter came out with one of the laminated ones which congratulated her for the most interactive booklet. I spoke to the teacher and said that I had not expected my daughter to receive this special certificate because I had done most of the work. She responded by saying that was irrelevant because the point was that she got involved and we both did it together. She had clearly shown a keen interest in the subject and could not stop talking about when the kids had to show their work to the class.
My daughter did win a chocolate |Easter bunny as well but when she put it to one side in the classroom, apparently one of the other children smashed it out of spite. The teacher had an inkling who that might have been and she generously gave my daughter another one the next day. She in turn then shared it with her friends...how lovely!!
Next project - the Easter bonnet!!
When I received the notice about this homework I thought that the kids are a bit young to be doing project work like this, surely the teacher can't expect too much from them. The advice given was to think of as many different types of sounds as possible and group them together, e.g. musical instruments, body sounds, sounds you like/dislike, and put the ideas into a booklet.
My daughter was extremely enthusiastic about this initially, and the first idea that we came up with was "noisy things at home". With that in mind, we got out the Argos catalogue and my daughter proceeded to search for things that would make a noise, e.g. washing machine, microwave, kettle, toaster, etc. After all that sticking, gluing and subsequent writing she decided that she was bored of it and didn't want to do anymore. The next couple of days was a battle to get her to do anything further in the production of this "booklet". At this rate, all she would be handing in would be a single sheet of paper and to me that was clearly not good enough. She needed to put more effort into it.
Over a further two days I was constantly thinking about the project and the ways in which I could make it more interesting for her. In the end I came up with the idea of making it a fun activity by creating various puzzles. The thought crossed my mind that it would be mostly my work and the teacher would definitely be able to tell but at least my daughter would have some input by attempting to solve the puzzles herself, and she would in the end have something more substantial to hand in.
I therefore proceeded to copy and paste various animal pictures from the computer's clip art in one column and type out the animal names and sounds in the next two columns in random order. The idea was for her to to draw a line from the animal to its name and then link it to the sound that it made. She found this extremely fun and wanted more. So over the week I produced various similar puzzles, including a crossword, wordsearch and a spot the difference, the latter taking me a total of about 5hrs to make over 2 days. I also made sure that she had her own further input by getting her to create mind maps of sounds that she like and disliked.
In the end she really enjoyed doing the project work and it ended up being about 15 pages worth of work and was happy to hand it in. I also discovered that I had a tremendous time helping to make this booklet and really enjoyed myself - it was fun for me too!!
When my daughter handed in the project I didn't expect her to receive anything for it but as it turns out she did! Most of the other children came out with standard paper certificates congratulating them on their hard and some of the others had received special laminated and coloured versions. To my astonishment my daughter came out with one of the laminated ones which congratulated her for the most interactive booklet. I spoke to the teacher and said that I had not expected my daughter to receive this special certificate because I had done most of the work. She responded by saying that was irrelevant because the point was that she got involved and we both did it together. She had clearly shown a keen interest in the subject and could not stop talking about when the kids had to show their work to the class.
My daughter did win a chocolate |Easter bunny as well but when she put it to one side in the classroom, apparently one of the other children smashed it out of spite. The teacher had an inkling who that might have been and she generously gave my daughter another one the next day. She in turn then shared it with her friends...how lovely!!
Next project - the Easter bonnet!!
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Knitting is almost over!!
The deadline for the knitting is almost over and I have made about 60 squares in total and must admit that I will miss it. Perhaps I ought to take it up as a hobby although I don't want to be knitting garments. I have enough baby blankets so have no idea what I can knit or who to knit for. I think toys might be good option. I have a friend who is extremely good at knitting and has assured me that it is very easy. She has also promised to come over and show me a few tricks. My daughter is extremely excited about the prospect of having a toy hand made by mummy. I hope I don't disappoint!
Thursday, 8 March 2012
Knitting for Lent
We have a knitting frenzy on our hands!. My daughter's school needs to knit as many 12cm x 12cm squares as possible for Lent to be put together to make blankets for African children. I thought what a great idea, if you can knit! Fortunately I can knit, but only the very basic stitch (I think they call it a knit stitch) and I can only knit squares or rectangles; I cannot knit a garment to save my life. So, I thought this challenge wouldn't be too bad.
I had a pair of knitting needles from when I was little and I thought I had brought them with me when I got married. Since the school's notice came out I have searched high and low for them and could I find them? Not a chance! I therefore had to go out and buy a pair. Luckily they were not overly expensive; then I began the challenge....
Well, having spent all that time looking for my non-existent needles, I was a week late in starting and 26years out of practice! By the end of the weekend I had managed to knit 6 squares and was it worth the effort? By the end of Sunday evening I had cramp in my left arm and the ends of my fingers hurt so if you call all that pain worth it, then yes it was! On a weird note, I did find the knitting oddly therapeutic.
My daughter is very pleased with my efforts as she was becoming rather upset that her class had only done 3 squares, whereas some of the other classes were into double figures already. Now we can catch them up!
So the challenge continues and I have another couple of weeks before the deadline to get more in for the school...
I had a pair of knitting needles from when I was little and I thought I had brought them with me when I got married. Since the school's notice came out I have searched high and low for them and could I find them? Not a chance! I therefore had to go out and buy a pair. Luckily they were not overly expensive; then I began the challenge....
Well, having spent all that time looking for my non-existent needles, I was a week late in starting and 26years out of practice! By the end of the weekend I had managed to knit 6 squares and was it worth the effort? By the end of Sunday evening I had cramp in my left arm and the ends of my fingers hurt so if you call all that pain worth it, then yes it was! On a weird note, I did find the knitting oddly therapeutic.
My daughter is very pleased with my efforts as she was becoming rather upset that her class had only done 3 squares, whereas some of the other classes were into double figures already. Now we can catch them up!
So the challenge continues and I have another couple of weeks before the deadline to get more in for the school...
Friday, 2 March 2012
Rice battle with daughter (again)
Well, I made rice again the other day with char sui (Chinese roast pork), which was a dish that my daughter likes, but yet again the debate over rice eating started to heat up. My daughter asked me what was for dinner so I told her and she said "But I don't like rice", to which I replied "every time you say that I'm going to cook rice the next day".
She immediately responded by saying "I love rice mummy!" I didn't know whether to laugh or blow my top (since my temperament has become a little unpredictable as of late)
Well, all I said to that was she should be able to eat it all if she loves it, and if she doesn't eat everything on her plate, I'm going to cook rice the next day anyway. Needless to say she wasn't impressed by that remark and walked off without saying a word! I think perhaps she was contemplating her next move to get out of eating her meal.
Anyway, dinner time came and as usual she picked at her food, ate her meat and vegetables but left the rice. Yet again, I attempted to reason with her about the value of food and how lucky she is to even get fed as there are many children in our developed society where children are still so poor their parents cannot afford to feed them properly and that she should be grateful for what she's got. (Goodness, I'm turning more into my mother every day!)
I remember that I never liked rice much when I was small but I ate it because I had no choice and I didn't want to go to bed hungry. We also got the lecture about all the poor children in Africa who were starving to death. But we mostly feared my mother's temper which was much worse than what mine is now (especially when she got the bamboo stick out!); the thought of it terrifies me even now!
That night, after I had eaten, I went upstairs to wash my baby girl when I heard a little voice from downstairs talking to her dad saying that she'd had enough to eat. I heard dad say that she hadn't eaten the rice. Just as I was finishing cleaning up my baby I heard the sound of pounding elephant's feet up the stairs and that little voice spoke again;
"Mum, can I have pudding?"
"No"
"Why"
"Because you haven't eaten all your rice"
"But if you don't let me have pudding I won't love you anymore...and even if you say you love me I still won't love you...and I'll cry"
I was so fed up with her and her attitude by now that, without hesitation, I said "Go cry then".
With that, my daughter proceeded into her bedroom, slammed the door shut and like a turn of the taps, the waterworks and howling started. I heard her muttering something about mummy being horrible in between the sobs but by then I'd had enough and didn't really care.
Five minutes later, she emerged from her room (record quick time by her standards) and went downstairs with a compromise. She asked her dad if she could have banana instead. At least it's a healthy option.
Why must we go through this every time I make rice; what is it about rice that she dislikes so much. I would like to know but she doesn't tell me, all I get is that she just doesn't like it. She cannot give a reason, if I suggest things as to why she does not like rice she just agrees with everything I say. Perhaps she is too young still to comprehensively put her feelings and thoughts into context. Whatever the reason, she'd better grow out of it soon because I do not want my baby daughter growing behaving in this ungrateful manner and I will continue to cook rice whether she likes it or not!
She immediately responded by saying "I love rice mummy!" I didn't know whether to laugh or blow my top (since my temperament has become a little unpredictable as of late)
Well, all I said to that was she should be able to eat it all if she loves it, and if she doesn't eat everything on her plate, I'm going to cook rice the next day anyway. Needless to say she wasn't impressed by that remark and walked off without saying a word! I think perhaps she was contemplating her next move to get out of eating her meal.
Anyway, dinner time came and as usual she picked at her food, ate her meat and vegetables but left the rice. Yet again, I attempted to reason with her about the value of food and how lucky she is to even get fed as there are many children in our developed society where children are still so poor their parents cannot afford to feed them properly and that she should be grateful for what she's got. (Goodness, I'm turning more into my mother every day!)
I remember that I never liked rice much when I was small but I ate it because I had no choice and I didn't want to go to bed hungry. We also got the lecture about all the poor children in Africa who were starving to death. But we mostly feared my mother's temper which was much worse than what mine is now (especially when she got the bamboo stick out!); the thought of it terrifies me even now!
That night, after I had eaten, I went upstairs to wash my baby girl when I heard a little voice from downstairs talking to her dad saying that she'd had enough to eat. I heard dad say that she hadn't eaten the rice. Just as I was finishing cleaning up my baby I heard the sound of pounding elephant's feet up the stairs and that little voice spoke again;
"Mum, can I have pudding?"
"No"
"Why"
"Because you haven't eaten all your rice"
"But if you don't let me have pudding I won't love you anymore...and even if you say you love me I still won't love you...and I'll cry"
I was so fed up with her and her attitude by now that, without hesitation, I said "Go cry then".
With that, my daughter proceeded into her bedroom, slammed the door shut and like a turn of the taps, the waterworks and howling started. I heard her muttering something about mummy being horrible in between the sobs but by then I'd had enough and didn't really care.
Five minutes later, she emerged from her room (record quick time by her standards) and went downstairs with a compromise. She asked her dad if she could have banana instead. At least it's a healthy option.
Why must we go through this every time I make rice; what is it about rice that she dislikes so much. I would like to know but she doesn't tell me, all I get is that she just doesn't like it. She cannot give a reason, if I suggest things as to why she does not like rice she just agrees with everything I say. Perhaps she is too young still to comprehensively put her feelings and thoughts into context. Whatever the reason, she'd better grow out of it soon because I do not want my baby daughter growing behaving in this ungrateful manner and I will continue to cook rice whether she likes it or not!
School's boring!!
What a trial it has been this morning.
Eldest daughter has been enduring a sore throat for about a week now coupled with a blocked nose. I took her to the GP last night who says it may have been tonsillitis. Her tonsils are swollen but not red so looks like it's on the mend. There is nothing he can give her.
Every morning this week she has been waking up crying and wailing like a banshee complaining that her throat hurts and can't swallow. This morning was no different except for the fact that she doesn't want to go to school, not because she is feeling poorly, but merely because "it's boring". That was all I got out of her in between the crying.
Bad mummy has no sympathy and merely gave her a lecture about how she must go to school to learn to read and write in order to grow up to be a useful person in society and to get a job when she grows up. Without being properly educated she will not be able to do whatever she wanted when she's older.
All I got was "I don't like school" and "I already know how to read and write and count" (she is only 6).
"Yes dear, but do you know how to read like mummy and daddy"
"No"
Therefore she must go to school whether she likes it or not.
I cannot put up with all that sniveling she does when she doesn't get her own way, especially that incessant wailing that sounds that it should come from an extraterrestrial creature. If anything, it makes me even more angry with her when behaves in such a manner; I do not want to know and just simply get on with whatever else needs doing and let her cry it out all on her own. I have better things to worry about than to sit there and feed her melodramatic performance.
In any event, I was rather pleased with myself for not showing my anger, knowing that it will not solve anything. Normally I would just rant at her about how ungrateful she is and how annoying her behaviour is. I do wish I could be more patient but ever since she was born my patience threshold has diminished somewhat to the extent that at times it is non-existent.
I don't know whether it is just her or just being a mum that makes a lot of things intolerable.
In contrast I have much more patience with my baby girl, who is a much more difficult baby than my first was ever was. Is it the case that being a 2nd time mum I am more relaxed? I don't know, but more often than not I am much more critical of my 1st.
Eldest daughter has been enduring a sore throat for about a week now coupled with a blocked nose. I took her to the GP last night who says it may have been tonsillitis. Her tonsils are swollen but not red so looks like it's on the mend. There is nothing he can give her.
Every morning this week she has been waking up crying and wailing like a banshee complaining that her throat hurts and can't swallow. This morning was no different except for the fact that she doesn't want to go to school, not because she is feeling poorly, but merely because "it's boring". That was all I got out of her in between the crying.
Bad mummy has no sympathy and merely gave her a lecture about how she must go to school to learn to read and write in order to grow up to be a useful person in society and to get a job when she grows up. Without being properly educated she will not be able to do whatever she wanted when she's older.
All I got was "I don't like school" and "I already know how to read and write and count" (she is only 6).
"Yes dear, but do you know how to read like mummy and daddy"
"No"
Therefore she must go to school whether she likes it or not.
I cannot put up with all that sniveling she does when she doesn't get her own way, especially that incessant wailing that sounds that it should come from an extraterrestrial creature. If anything, it makes me even more angry with her when behaves in such a manner; I do not want to know and just simply get on with whatever else needs doing and let her cry it out all on her own. I have better things to worry about than to sit there and feed her melodramatic performance.
In any event, I was rather pleased with myself for not showing my anger, knowing that it will not solve anything. Normally I would just rant at her about how ungrateful she is and how annoying her behaviour is. I do wish I could be more patient but ever since she was born my patience threshold has diminished somewhat to the extent that at times it is non-existent.
I don't know whether it is just her or just being a mum that makes a lot of things intolerable.
In contrast I have much more patience with my baby girl, who is a much more difficult baby than my first was ever was. Is it the case that being a 2nd time mum I am more relaxed? I don't know, but more often than not I am much more critical of my 1st.
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