Home Educating the Puddle Girls…

Swallowing my Pride and Prejudice!!!

Well today was interesting… was feeling a bit down last night as my brother had changed his plans for coming to visit so we had nothing planned but now we have socialising this week, socialising next week and a weekend of entertainment planned too - so i doubt i will be doing very much blogging for a while. Fran has been working really hard and the benefits of it are really obviously too so i think a couple of weeks of fun and play are definitely in order.

Today we spent the morning with various interesting diversions - Maddy did several jigsaws, including a set of lifecycle ones she was convinced she “couldn’t” do but of course was easily capable of - bless. She likes a set of rhyming words pairs we have too atm. Fran did an enormous wordsearch with about 30 words on it and worked really hard at getting the words sorted in her head - she really is teetering on the edge of reading now - another month should have her climbing the library shelves i think. I know i could have left it but tbh a 6 year old who doesn’t realize she “can” read and write was outside my comfort zone and i feel really relieved to have addressed it in a manner that has been enjoyable. I was hugely chuffed the other day when she said “mum… whats m-a-p? Oh - its MAP!!!!!” (it was a new word so she “heard” itwhen she said the letters) and then went to bed with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, fiercely trying to sound out the first page. Today she had copied several of the words from the wordsearch on to the paper and despite not having practised letters, the writing of numbers we have been doing seems to have changed things massively; her letters have really come on. Okay, they aren’t really “properly formed” yet but i am far less worried about that than i was about not even wanting to try.

Anyway, Ammi had had a bad night and was asleep by 11am and so Fran Maddy and i sat down with a load of Terry Longhurst “I can draw” books and tried them out, each with our own sketchbook to keep it neat. Fran tried really hard with a sheep or three, i did a dragonfly while Maddy drew endless holiday cartoons and then Maddy copied my dragonfly and drew her own ladybird. Her drawing is quite amazing (well to me anyway because Fran has never really tried and Maddy puts so much detail in to them - its a new one on me really being thoroughly un-arty) - i’m hoping drawing might be a real unlock/destress key for Maddy so i am really going to encourage her. When i get a chance i am going to set up a Gallery for her on a blog to compliment Fran’s narrations. It would be nice to have them to look back on properly. maddy also played with our geometric cabinet for a long time and they both has a very good experiment with the “Insets for Design” possibly for the first time really.

After lunch, with Daddy again, we decided to go on a trip to Burghley House - to our surprise we discovered that it was partially closed for filming so suspecting a “fly on the wall documentary of servants stealing the linen” type affair, we went to nosy about. But it wasn’t - they are filming Pride and Prejudice with a fairly all star cast of Judi Dench and Kiera Knightley.

Sadly we didn’t get to see any big stars but we did see a few people in costume and far more interestingly for them, lots of the props, wardrobe, catering and production lorries were open, plus all the cameras and wires were about of course. For once, its something i really know about too, given that had circumstances not changed for me, that was the job i intended to do, so i was able to really get into it with them - we looked at all the location caravans, talked about lights, generators, the different people involved in producing a film and i told them the story (swallowing my hate! lol!) which they were very into and asked lots of questions about it. The whole thing was topped off by getting stopped by the local radio and interviewed about what we had seen! I managed to get home education in ;~) but i’ve no idea if it was played as i am way too embarrassed to hear my own voice, so didn’t tune in! lol!

We spent most of the time in the Sculpture garden again which was as lovely as normal. i had a very nice chat with a couple of mums, including one who was amazed by my calm and cheerful mood despite being a mum of three and a bit! She was lovely, and seemed quite into her two boys and she didn’t actually say this at all, but i do find the general sighing about spending time with ones own children perhaps the hardest bit about HE - i can’t really understand why people find it odd that by and large i might like being with them?

While in the gardens i got them to find specimens of lots of tree leaves, which we pressed in the flower press and also sent them to photograph leaves and trees too - they seemed to enjoy that, so that is Nature Study for this week i think!!! lol!

I’ve just finished a mammoth run to the Post Office and got back to find them both still up making a “Shrek World” - they had drawn loads of film related pictures and stuck them into a frieze for their bedroom wall - really nice co-operation, quite creative - AND they tidied up after themselves! RESULT!!!!

Lost the plot and built a nest.

I’m sure there is a “6 months pregnant nesting phase” - anyway, i seem to have it :~) and my clutter spots are gone, along with lots of clutter, the riot act has been read again at the children for just stuffing crud into corners (I draw the line at hidden cherry tomatoes), my room is tidy and i’ve found my dreamweaver/fireworks disk, i have a washing strategy and i’ve found the pattern and fabrics for skirts for the girls. It would be fair to say the house still has a rather lived-in look, but that’s okay - and at least i don’t feel overwhelmed by piles of clutter any more. I was starting to feel like the house, the garden, money and my figure were all escaping me far too fast.

Maddy and i went into town together, which wasn’t a terribly good idea as she begged for junk food and toys the whole way round, walked on her toes constantly and threw a strop at me saying no the whole time. She was pleased with the cheapy sketchbooks i bought her though £1.25 from The Works, as i’m really hoping to do lots of drawing with her this week - she did me a fab picture of Narky, Pipsqueak and her earlier, plus a very funny one of me lying in bed with a huge tummy thinking about the baby!

Rather less amused to discover my home scales had died, so went to get new ones and discovered the old ones were 1/2 stone plus out. Grrrr.

We’ve postponed the trip to Shrek till half price day since it was going to cost £30 to go today. Hm.

Other than that, they have all played beautifully, i’ve tidied, Max has continued to touch up the car and we just ended the day with a reread of the Whale, Just So story to them all. Fran really likes that :~)

Ammi’s rendition of Skaterboy is now reaching a point of cuteness that’s hard to ignore - bless.

Its TIPING it down here - sorry everyone, i was hoping for a cool summer but i didn’t stipulate rain :~) Shame i haven’t got veg this year really.

Max and i have been thinking of things we need to make time for - he is going to take over baking with the kids, since we rarely do it and i have been reading the Usborne Art History book and thinking of ways to get a bit more science and art into the days - two things i feel are a little lacking right now.

Oh yes, i remember the sun!!!!

(And DON’T ask me what is going on with my formatting, firefox and the new blogger do NOT appear to have been bug tested very thoroughly >:~( )

Its been shining here today - makes a nice change. So the rabbits have been out and all the girls have had fun watching them play (beats watching them shag anyway!!!!) and lots of water play and so on has gone on too, since we finally got an outside tap fitted this week. Yet again, following the pattern of at least the last week, and it may be more but i have just really noticed it this week, they have just not had the telly on at all really, apart from perhaps a few single programmes to chill out for a few minutes. And in common with the last week as well, lots of really nice three way play has gone on - really i have barely seen them this week, they have been so busy doing things together. The bits i have blogged about have really been tiny interludes in a massive amount of pleasant free playing time. I think we all needed a bit of hunker down for a quiet time space so we haven’t been out or seen people really, but its been nice.

So, Max has been tidying up the car so we can part exchange it if the option comes up and i have tidied and cleaned and played with kids on the rare occasion they have come my way! lol! Today i finally got the washing under control, made a start on our room, which still seems to be suffering from “moving in tat”-itis and took a black bag to the girls room, having repeatedly asked for them to sort it throguhout the week. I chucked broken stuff and junk mainly, with the intent of leaving the rest of it, a manageable amount, for them to sort for themselves, but unfortunately i got caught at it and kind of got forced into a position where i took a bagful of their stuff to the bin in front of them. But… i have been asking all week :~( I doubt they will really miss the assortment of Macdonalds toys and broken bits it was, but it hurt them and i felt a bit mean really.

On a positive note they thoroughly enjoyed the playdough again, i read Fran and Maddy “The Glass Slipper” from the Blue Fairy Book, which was a traditional but not too gruesome rendition of Cinderella and Fran and i had a bit of quiet time reading Bob books together - she managed to master the sounds in “Up, Pup” - somehow she seems to find P, B and D a huge effort, which i know most kids do, but i think its being compounded by also having to concentrate on making those particular sounds come out right, they are the hardest ones for her. So i thought she did very well :~)
 

And the rest of the day…

…mainly revolved around a trip to the toyshop where they successfully spent £2 each (impressive!) a load of playdough play, a completely fab picture Maddy drew of her taxi driver, fellow reprobates (i mean children who get picked up by taxi!), the escort and the taxi itself - and included seats and steering wheel and a think bubble from her head of the other taxi that sometimes comes. I loved it!!!! Fran has been practising skipping, Amelie has been a cheeky monster and has gone to bed in a pink sparkly dress.

Fran and i read 4 stories, the remains of our CM week, did some number bond maths pages (”tooo eeeeeeesy!”) and i chatted to a good friend who had some lovely news for me :~)

Am pooped - must sleep!!!

I don’t know how to get angry enough about this

Peterborough Midwife suspended for delivering baby at home

This man is generally considered to be one of the best midwives my city has. He has been suspended because he delivered a baby at home (as is his legal duty)after my health trust decided not to allow the service due to staff shortages.

Hmmm.. fantastic logic, we are short of staff, so lets suspend a good member of staff for doing his job properly.

Shaking the dust off our feet.

That is it - nursery is over :~) I’ve just got Maddy, and reclaimed her from the system :~)

Still managed to feel weepy and kind of sad for the various mummies muttering about a “whiole summer holiday” and “she seems so young for school.” Its hard having feet in different camps.

I’ve still not decided what to do about next year really, Max and i were discussing how Moo and Fran might work together as HE’d children and i must admit the idea of mentally absolving myself, or her, from the responsibility of “learning” for another year seems appealing, especially when we will have a new baby. Although only one half of my brain thinks that, because the other half knows perfectly well that i do in fact take full responsibility for it anyway!

Over all, its been a positive experience for all of us - Fran has benefitted in a way no one else will get the opportunity to i suppose, my confidence has grown, we have found a rhythm to our life and begun to discover ways of “doing HE” that seem to work for us. Maddy has learned to play, she has had physical workouts everyday that have benfitted her and made me aware of how much that can improve her life. On the other hand at no point have i started to wonder if school would be a good option for her!!!!

But, oh, its good to have her home :~)

Excellent RE site!

RE-XS for schools

Oh now I’ve heard everything!!!

BBC NEWS | UK | Unruly sheep face nuisance bans

How the f**k can you be terrorised by a sheep??????

De-cluttering

Its not often i get to feel relatively ahead of the game but things aren’t too bad right now. Granted almost every single item of clothing we possess is still heaped on my floor, but its clean :~) and downstairs is in danger of being tidy. Obviously children who disappear for entire days at a time has helped and i have manged to declutter every single hotspot downstairs that exists. Even the craft supplies cupboard is now in stacking crates, arranged in appropriate “project type collections” and i have thrown out the tat. I can’t see a heap of anything anywhere. *Grins* I did have to have a fake tantrum at the kids finally today but once i had, they got their room sorted in a few minutes.

Fran and i kept it very much to the minimum today, when she eventually came and asked for some one to one time - a few sums, a wordsearch, a Bob book - about 25 minutes of nothing very much - but you can’t beat them playing together happily really, so i don’t try to interfer at all. For most of the day today i apparently had two children called Hannah and Bethany… lol.. you go to all the effort to find names, and they change them!

Ammi’s talking is still coming on in leaps and bounds - my fave at the moment is “Treggy” for Shrek!!!!

Weariness caught up

Thanks to a third night of Ammi wanting to play at 1am. Hmmm. Which meant we were all a bit tired and grumpy but fortunately Kate came round so i got to chat and then the girls went off to play. So aside from Ammi getting a smack for hurling an apple at my head because i wouldn’t move from my chair to let her have it (*rolling eyes*) it was quite a nice day. Girls are all SO into dressing up atm and its lovely to see Ammi taking part. For a long time we had a lot of dressing up stuff and it barely got used, but now its constantly on someone! Which is great, althoguh less great if you happen to be a visiting boy since that leaves you pretty much as a racing driver or in operating greens. If you want to be a fairy or a princess though, you are in!!!!

Their room had been really tidy for a few days but its gone a bit wrong this last 24 hours. I don’t mind mess, i object to asking several times for a bit of a straighten up and being ignored. Still, downstairs is tidy and i really don’t care so much about mess i can’t see so much (lol!) I do hate toys that get damaged though, which i think is a fair proviso for asking for a tidy up. I’m just watching Supernanny though and deciding that it could be worse!!!!

We had someone in working on the house today and i think the noise disrupted us all a bit, plus i was tired, so we didn’t do so much really. We managed an Aesops fable, but i’m not really sure about those. I might pick out a few more applicable ones, or find something else. Fran coloured in more of her patterns while i read, her pen control has changed loads these last few weeks, i’m so proud of her. She also read to me and to Max tonight as well and did a couple of pages of sums in her head - i’m not sure how she is doing them but its certainly not anything as boring and NCish as a number line - she seems to have developed some method in her head, but its never wrong. Quite a lot of things seem to be sticking and becoming useful to her now; she’ll remember she has done something before and look back to check, or look on a page to see if there is a number she finds harder to copy. Its as if her methods are maturing a bit. I find it a bit weird that she can look at “did” and say “pip” but i assume its “just one of those things” that she’ll grow out of.

After we picked up Moo we popped into town and they were all really good, i was proud of them. And given what i have just watched i feel like things are really quite good in this house!

Moo made me laugh so much yesterday. When she got in the car she said,
“Sophie with the squiggly hair wasn’t there today”
So i asked who she played with and she said,
“I played with Sophie with the straight hair instead and it was okay because the other Sophie wasn’t there to cry.”

((Now Sophie and Sophie are possibly related, i’m not sure but their mums look enough alike to be twins and are always together; the little girls seem to always be together too but have a slightly tempestuous relationship! The other week at home time there was a certain amount of grabbing of Moo by Squiggly Sophie who said they were best friends because they both had brown eyes, this made the other Sophie cry - i must admit though, in her defence that Moo just looked slightly baffled by it really.))

Anyway, so i asked why Squiggly Sophie sometimes cried and Moo said,
“Because she wants to be my best friend and she is but Sophie with the straight hair wants to be my best friend too and she keeps “taking” me from Squiggly Sophie…. Mum… what’s taking?”

Oh i did laugh; ah, to be the child caught in a friendship tug of love, that was never me that is for sure!!!! Its really funny to see Moo being pummelled into these personal relationships - i think it generally just drifts over her head, Fran is WAY more sensitive about these things and always has been, but i have noticed that Moo seems to be the object of quite a few little childrens’ friendship desires! I wonder if its because she always seems slightly aloof. Apparently Max was the same.

Trying to summon the enthusiasm for some socialising but i can’t. i swear this baby has doubled in size in the last couple of days!

Curiously unweary today.

Hmm… apologies for the daily health and fitness update, lol! But having been pooped to the point of tears by 9pm last night, i then didn’t get to sleep till 1am thanks to Ammi having a hwezy attack and then getting hyper on Ventolin but surprisingly i had quite a nice time with her. She is so cheeky that its hard to be grumpy really; last night she was playing “hide her head under the pillow” and grinning at me in the middle of the night quite unconcernedly! *Looks bemused*

Got up really quite early (8am-ish i think) and all the girls were already playing some very involved game together in their room, where they stayed till about 12pm - which was great (apart from the mess they made!) as it gave me plenty of chance to get on with some much needed tidying down here - so both rooms got vacc’ed, my shelves now look sort of like Montessori ones again and lots of bits got sorted out. I even got nearly up to date with the washing and managed a small amount of retail therapy. *Grin*

Max came home for lunch (i love it now he does this, it really changes the day) then Fran and i did some stuff together but she was quite hyper today so i wasn’t sure it was going to work.But then she decided she needed to do some star jumps to get herself sorted out, did them and we carried on very nicely. I’ll just do a quick list for myself at the bottom and won’t bore you but i was pleased with how quickly she got on with stuff and how easily her number formation etc is coming now; its getting regular, generally round the right way and is not that far off the size i would write. Not bad for 3 weeks of slightly more applied effort really (letters, letters, don’t think about letters… mumble mumble…) The maths pages today she said “This is too easy for me!” and it was - it was mainly only counting one more or two more or ten more, but it was just effortless today. *Big grin* I’ve been vaguely thinking that if she carries on enjoying this version of HE i might go for the Singapore books but looking at the topic write-ups she is way ahead of 1A and not far from being easily capable of 1B now, so maybe i’ll wait and see.

We read Noah and she asked to narrate it to me (she asks to on each Bible one for some reason but that’s okay because it gives us an opportunity to illustrate them too and that is quite fun) and she did a good job and some nice pictures. And i have just found a note on my desk from her - its a drawing but its addressed to “mummy” and its really nicely written (relax, relax, relax!). Then i read her The Romans Come Again and the end of the Sea “I Wonder Why” book, so allaying for today my “read aloud to the children” guilt somewhat!

This is the 4th week now of doing a bit more “sit and read and write” type stuff and the 3rd week of Cm reading out loud and so on. I sort of think that if she was gongi to rebel or refuse, or if it was not something she was enjoying, she might have let me know by now? What does anyone else think? Obviously, i am going to keep my eye open for signs of discontent but i think i must have hit a decent balance for her really because i have never been able to inspire this kind of consistancy in her before… hmmmmm…. its all good, i think/hope. I definitely think that the amount of social contact she has had this year with people like Poppy, Tilda, Anna and Abbie has made a difference to her perception of what she can do, but its come from herself, not me because i have not pressured her. (Well okay if i am brutally honest i have said “Yes Tilda etc can read/write/do things you can’t” but thats just being honest, not coercing (ahem!)!!!!)

Had a quick chat with Maddy’s SENCO about getting some equipment for bouncing and so on for the summer and then visited the library where we got books, among other things, on Africa, Japan and bugs!

And then when we got home they all buggered off to play again!

Just totted up Frans earnings; she has reached the dizzy heights of £17! (Gulp!)
Boring list bit… number square, wordsearch on -ook words, 2 pages sums, Bob A2 1 and 3.