Archives: jack homework

Crikey – I had a day off work, Louise & I went shopping & al was well! We had a pleasant time & Louise got a few most definitely required things that she needed & although we forgot to do one or 2 other bits & bobs, the day went to plan.

It was good.

We were happy.

And getting home, the kids were all right – they were playing outside… & well… that’s good as well.

Jack’s been a little harder to pin down on his homework again (after having been subjected to a ‘talk’ on it the other day he’s still resiliently resistant…) And we have the problem of ‘don’t blame him’. I mean – I’m one to talk – I know I disliked the intrusion of homework but then I was very lucky, in that I was managed to avoid the task of doing said (through luck & ‘changing schools’ – nothing of my design). I disliked academic things in general though – I was not a good student. Louise was more diligent & …well… academic; I mean – she has a Masters Degree & I failed to obtain my HND – I think that speaks volumes. But even she concedes that she left things to the last minute (at 5 o’clock in the morning after being out the night before was possibly an admission too far (to Jack) I thought).

Well – it’s parent’s evening, this evening, at Jack’s school… All in all this should be interesting. I guess that we should be on our ‘best behaviour’ & all that… Okay – Louise is fine, it’s just me that has to try to do a little thinking before opening his big fat gob.

Jude didn’t have his inhaler at school yesterday… Not that he actually needs it… He doesn’t have asthma bad at the moment or anything… Actually, when Louise took him to the asthma clinic the other day the nurse said that as he was seemingly a lot better at that point & the fact that he as on Piriton at the time indicated that it might not so much be asthma, but an allergy, so he’s had a note passed to the doctor, so that a referral be made for allergy tests,

Progress of sorts, perhaps?

So, Jude didn’t have his inhaler. He didn’t need it medically, but psychologically he seems to need crutches. He had got into the habit of having some ventolin at… some point & this was denied him. He became worried & a call was put into Louise who advised that at the moment he doesn’t seem to need it… And therefore Jude had a bad day. I can’t say what his day was like third hand & he’s not really forthcoming on this sort of level, so… All the same Louise got a remark of the likes of, “He’s had a difficult day” fro his teacher when picking him up at school. Louise’s mum was there so they went of to Seventy Two (cafe) & Jude got cheesy toast. & all was happy when I got home.

Not a bad evening.. Esme was vociferous & tired & getting them to bed was a bit of a task in the end (bed times seem to be especially difficult at the moment – someone disagrees all the time). Jude wanted his hair checking for head lice because .. well – the teacher asked then to do so, so presumable there some about… Jude has none, but was out of the bath by 7:15. Not bad.. But then Esme & Eve would not … I had to pick Esme up & plonk her in the bath red faced tear filled eyes calling me stupid, idiotic & declaring that she wasn’t listening (Jude’s 3 touchstone phrases of disagreement). And the some of the usual post bath procrastination & some reading & by the time Louise finished reading to Jude & I finished reading to Eve (these are synchronised as best possible) it was ten to nine. How did that happen? Jack finalised what he was dong for RE & was proof read by Louise & Esme had eventually slipped into slumber by then, but all the same – that was later than ever.

And then…

Jude starts whimpering & worrying – he has a tummy ache half a centimetre above his belly button. The pain in his upper right chest area (between ribs) has died down thankfully, but this new ‘disomfort’ is shaping up nicely as a big worry to present settling. So.. He’s definitely not going to go to sleep before Louise goes downstairs… Louise needs a rest, but reluctantly bids him good night after 5 minutes & later has to admonish Jack for not wring up what he’s finalised for RE (it’s supposed to be a rough to bring to class for something in lesson). But it would be better if it were legible, didn’t have Louise’s ‘marking’ on it…

Many mutterings & sighs later Jude finally drops off to sleep – sneak off out of the room at 9:30 (past). I’ve to still to draw an Uakia monkey for him for tomorrow (animal alphabet) & so on… I mess about a bit & am later to bed than I should be.

Jude arrives in our bedroom at 03:45 – which means he may have been awake a bit before this. I’m not as responsive as I could be (dragged reluctantly from sleep) & Louise tells Jude he needs to settle down & go back to bed, to which he responds with a sulky collapse to the floor & then curling into ‘grump position’. I pick him up & put him to bed & try to mutter something soothing & bland & stagger back to bed. Jude’s back later after I’ve fallen solidly enough & Esme seems to have wrapped herself around me (she’s a fidgety sleeper).

So Louise goes off to settle him, but stays down there on the futon. When I get up at 5:45 they’re both still awake.

Might be an interesting evening…

Not so bad…

Jack dipped on the homework at the weekend – had trouble applying himself & was looking for distraction (well, can you blame him). This week, thus far, he’s done well – producing a rather good sonnet last night (it’s a good logic & a good meter (I’ll try t get hold of a copy & type it up).

Jude is doing a lot better – he still loses his temper (we wouldn’t expect that to vanish at a thrice) but it’s less so & he recovers quicker. He’s worrying more… Last night as he was supposed to be going off to sleep he asked if something special happened when children die. I had to get him to repeat it a few times before I was sure that’s what he said & then I had to tease out he explanation for the question… He was curious that something specific happened to make apparently healthy people (children) die, rather than, say, old people who seem to die because they’re old. I had to explain that you don’t actually die of ‘old age’, but when you do get ol your body gets worn out & weaker and if you do get something like pneumonia,then that can kill you. Both Alice & Kathleen were actually killed by pneumonia, not ‘old age’ itself. That Esme had pneumonia & survived was because she is young & healthy, but it was still horrible & difficult.

Sobering.

Not been typing too much this week…

Though it might do a little more what with that verbose chuntering on Monday, but, one thing & another. Jude was awake quite a bit in the night this week. His cough was playing him up & his imagination was running away with him. He caught some of the news from Israel’s invasion of Gaza where they reported that a whole family was wiped out (excepting one) & that seems to have resonated with a fear in him. You cannot deny that there’s a lot of bad in the world, but I’ve pointed out we’re privileged to live in a mostly peaceful country.

I also took him to the doctors for his relentless cough & his asthma is not so bad at the moment – it’s more the fact that 9s throat is irritated, so we were given some piriton & that seems to have calmed things down considerably for him. That said he’s still prone to a little unreasonable worry or so at the moment. He noticed that his new front (lower) teeth are not as smooth as his milk teeth. Adult teeth seem to have more ridges along the top. He does not like this; the shape of his teeth on his tongue annoys him. Yesterday he had a bit if a panic attack at school & Louise was called down to see him because he though that he had swallowed a chip off his tooth. I’m not sure if he’d mentioned this as the cause, but he had some ventolin & calmed down. …He’s a funny one because he is also very strong – quite independently minded, but … his self confidence has taken a knock of recent.

On the whole Jack is doing very well. He seems to have got to grips a lot better with the homework thing & is getting more done & doing it better. This takes out a lump of stress from the daily routine & is much appreciated,

Well, we’ve had better weekends. In the end I ended up taking Jack, Jude & Esme to Burnley on the Saturday. It was planned that we all go to Huddersfield & Jack was none too impressed at a bus journey, but it was too late I the day for the train. Louise blamed herself & ended up staying home in case Eve returned from play with Amber (she didn’t). Sunday was better; got some sorting out done, Took Eve & Esme out shopping to Morrisons & met Amber there, (with her mum & dad & Lilly) so popped to the Cafe with Amber (released from her parents charge to walk home with Eve & I). No problems having to worry about it not being fair that Esme would be put out about not having Lilly because she was soud asleep. I got Esme a scone at the Cafe in case she woke up, but as usual it was not until outside that the cold air roused her from slumber, so she got to eat it on the way home (which evidently cheered her up).

Jack is still swamped by homework. It was all we could do to nag hi into completing what he did over the weekend & we’re trying to work on him to apply himself better to sorting it out. I thing a wall chart is the next thing; something that allows for us to have things set out in an easy to see format that needs to e transcribed from his jotter. We shouldn’t get nasty surprises line ‘page 18 of your science to be handed in Monday’ (read last night from his jotter at 22:00 last night. You could see Jack’s face drop). He doesn’t have science on Mondays but his form teacher is his science teacher…

OK – half term hols clocks change & funnily enough the kids were awake this morning before I set off for work… Eve at 05:45 & Jude probably not long after & Esme, naturally Esme was awake before six… sheesh. Remains to be seem when Jack actually stirs, but he was later to bed than usual & even later to sleep knowing him… He’s in an … undisciplined (shall we say) mood as he’s on half term, so getting him to apply himself to his homework is a little difficult (nailing jelly to the wall – bear I mind we’re vegetarian so you can’t overdo the gelatin).

Jack might have more, but might have less homework… He was ill on the last Thursday of school (sick in the toilets, apparently). It might have been the stomach bug that Louise had (& I may have had very mildly) but it may also have been mounting stress & a lack of sleep as his sleeping habits were starting to get worn – up early, yet starting to try (or being cursed with) staying awake later (he’s difficult to gauge). Therefore he still has homework that he should have completed for the Friday to complete and the homework he was set over the holidays. So – he has additional homework that he should have completed, but also missing a few lessons at the end of term (he didn’t go in on the Friday, but there were only 2 classes that day) he has potentially less as he’s missed opportunities to be given homework. Now, the other thing is; I’m not sure as to what the school policy is toward missed homework assignments… Is he supposed to do these at a later date? That might be harsh…

Still Louise has thought of some bribery to get him going on what he needs to get done – so hopefully that should help him concentrate on what he has to do, rather than on Fantastic Contraptions.

As the kids are all on half term hols, then Louise will hopefully be dragging them out to meet me after work today. Louise wants to get a present for her friend’s birthday party at the end of the week(I should really try to get something for Neil – worrying about what to get has yet to result into anything concrete in the way of a proper clue) Annnd Louise’s birthday is around the corner as well (although I do have an idea what I should be getting there… maybe.

That and the fact that I need to be getting some new shoes.. I’m not so pleased at that as my zip up Chelsea boot style cherry Doc Martens are officially dead & I didn’t get to wear the soles out… The zip went on Saturday; not sure how, but it would not fix, so I ended up breaking the zip to get the boot off my foot. Ah, well – they lasted longer than a pair of shoes usually lasts for me.

So then – how do Eve & Jude’s teachers perceive that they are dong at school?

Well, Eve’s teacher: she likes Eve; confident, able considerate & all that sort of thing; lovely girl, “Another bright one there”. Louise brought up her lack of confidence at the moment & teacher was a little surprised. Two edged… Eve is uncountably seems more confident at school, so it’s not odd that she’s a little surprised by this. She’s also the same teacher that didn’t spot Jack’s confidence crumble while he was in her class… So… we either are worrying unduly or not worrying unduly… but it’s too early to tell. Eve may just have had a couple of ‘off’ weeks, or as is more usual has different responses to different situations. She has quite noble ethics, does Eve & the hurly burly of our family life does take it’s toll on her sense of justice now & then (thus the ‘not fair’ weekend when there was little that could be declared unfair).

So then Jude… Jude is with a teacher Jack just didn’t get one with… for one reason or another. Jude seems to get on with her fine though, so this is good. She says that Jude is a bit of a dark horse. He (like Eve) is in the ‘top ability’ group & he can do anything that she gives him. He also seems to be canny enough not to do too much; it seems he can pace himself so that although he gets everything done, he doesn’t do it too quickly & thus be given extra to do. She doesn’t seem to indicate that he’s not pushing himself, it sounds like she’s indicating that he’s figured how to ‘work the system’ that she operates; ‘dark horse’, indeed. Jude does have ’11+ type’ books at home for maths & verbal reasoning & Louise does set these & he does enjoy dong them. He’s not by any means scared of school work. I was being jumped on by Esme yesterday evening (Esme did a lot of jumping on me yesterday) & he asked if he could read me his reading book. He ended up reading it to Louise, but it was pleasant to have been offered.

Jack had a homework overload a little bit again last night. Bad day at school was foolish enough to try to catch a bus up the road to catch the school bus, but caught the wrong bus leaving him having to dash back to where he wants to catch the school bus. The school bus could be more… civilised. Being ‘Year 7’ (youngest in the school) they are lower in the packing order & therefore find it harder to get seats on the bus. Therefore Leila, Cleo Thomas & he have been travelling further up the bus run to catch the bus where seats are less sparse. Jack is presently walking quite a way to catch the bus at an early stop at the moment. So yesterday as he has a bus pass he tried catching a bus to get further ‘ahead’ & failed miserably because he didn’t think things through properly. He’s been chastised at home for even trying because he does run the risk of missing the bus altogether if he keeps takes this approach. Next bungle involved rushing from Food Tech without first ensuring his bag was well done up & his school bags spilling into a muddy puddle. He has some seriously damp books & he was not allowed to go out of German to go back & retrieve a couple of books he (somehow) missed – including his German, which (…hmm – this all sounds so less likely as I type) included his German book which meant that he could not hand in the German homework that he was supposed to have done. Hmm… anyway – he did get a merit in German because he only got one wrong in his spelling & that was because he wrote ‘s’ rather than ‘z’. Homework next lesson. Jack seems to miss noting down all the homework he’s has due sometimes. Stressful day for him though.

I wonder why he was up in the night & left the hall light on & left a chair from his room in the middle of the hall? The lights on is nothing new – he does that when he get up to go to the toilet – it’s just part of who he is that he doesn’t manage to turn the lights off, but the chair was odd.

Weekend low key. Jack was not keen on applying himself on homework & we paid a little last night because although he had written his history essay it needed typing up & sticking in his book.

Again I have a vestige of memory of something on Friday, but I refuse to scrabble round trying to figure it out. Monday… Eve had extra homework from school as she’s on the ‘top table’ & someone on the table said that they wouldn’t mind extra homework (Eve was aghast!) . She protested about it after tea bemoaning the (un)fairness of it all. However Louise managed to get her to sit down & make a start; sat with her & guided her & through what she was doing & Eve started to enjoy what she was doing. I think she’s starting to realise that she can do this it’s not really so hard when you look at it. I think Louise has managed to bolster Eve’s confidence quite well. When Eve came home yesterday she announced that she’s enjoyed the maths lesson that day. Jude piped up that maths was his favourite lesson (he is good with his numbers at the moment, is Jude).

Oh, I remember what the Friday ‘thing’ was – Eve had hurt her ankle at school, but it seems mostly better now. She’s apparently excused games for a bit, but that’s about all. When she got home on the Friday she was quite weepy about things & not really able (or willing) to put her weight on it. She’s fallen off the climbing wall (which is not high – she just dropped down badly) It was a little swollen & we were a little surprised that they hadn’t really taken a look at it at school because she was chided by her ‘friends’ (hm – well, classmates, then) going to & fro the church for the Harvest Festival service. Jude had a speaking part in that…

So although we were concerned enough to call up the health centre we were brushed off by the terse receptionists with the explanation that it was an ‘incident’ (the hurting of an ankle) & therefore we should not go down to see a doctor, but to go to a casualty department. Louise says I should just have asked if it was possible to see the duty nurse, but I evidently do not know my way around that particular bureaucracy.

So, in the morning Eve is not much better. Esme is still in a clingly mood after her tummy upset the week prior, but as she’s feeling better she has a greater propensity to show off & be a noisy attention seeking monkey, so although I could take Eve, I could not face a time in hospital with a performing chimp. Esme was being very ‘daddy’s girl’ proclaiming that she wanted to go with me, so I muttered that it wouldn’t be possible for me to go, therefore pissing off Louise as she would have to go . It’s not that I wanted to manoeuvre her into a corner, but I was manoeuvred into a corner…

Louise set out with hobbling Eve & I was left with the kids for the morning… afternoon… I did manage to get them out to the supermarket as we needed to get supplies & Louise & Eve came home (Louise a little refreshed by the change of pace from frantic to tedious: hospital time) & Eve was … happier having spent some time with just the one parent & had an x ray & so forth – all that attention. And she had 2 chapters of the Gruesome Grotto read to her.

Well – we all helped a little with Jack’s homework yesterday because he had some extra… well – not extra because he’d failed to note it in his jotter so he hadn’t completed it by yesterday & therefore had to complete it for today – that as well as the other homework that had banked up a bit meant 4 lots of homework in for today & therefore quite a bit to get done… So we had to lend a hand. My task was typing up some of his written work & Louise’s job was helping him with the written trying to keep an over tired boy focussed. (he was up late the night before reading). Managed it all – but he was to bed late – which is not so good when he’s already tired.

So this Friday we’re off to one of the ‘school events’ which they’ve organised. This is about homework. Should be interesting.

Esme is definitely better – been better for a couple of days, but that doesn’t stop her being clingy & more vocally complaining. I have to carry her more… Getting home yesterday I picked up Jude from school (he’d been doing Computer Club) & took him home. We would have gone to the park to join the others, but Jude wanted ‘something’ from 72 (cafe). Because he had a bar of chocolate we couldn’t go to the park (because eating it in front of the others would create ‘ruptions). Met Jack outside 72 & we all walked up home, Jack telling us of his ill fortune buying something on the way home because he was starving getting a bottle of water that he dropped leaving him but a dribble after the pavement had the lions share & a mistakenly purchased sandwich that had tuna salad (the ‘tuna’ on the packaging having been covered with the price sticker . He admitted to the one funny bite, but no more – presumably he threw it away.

We got home & I used the cheap brown sealant that I bought at the ‘pound store’ to go round the top of the rabbit hutch after making Jack a sandwich & a cup of tea & deterring Jude from setting off down to the park with his bike because I was under the impression that Louise & the others would be back at any moment. Pump gun & sealant didn’t hold Jude’s interest long – he want off to play on his bike. I got the top of the hutch done & then just did a little around the porch window not letting Jack help with that as it seemed a little foolishly dangerous to risk him messing about too much what he’s got his clean white school shirt on. Job done Louise returns with Eve & Esme whereupon Esme starts screeching & demanding to be picked up as she’d obviously incapable of using her legs any more after running around the playground merrily & then stomping up the hill home. Hey ho – y’gotta love her…

Chat with Louise (one of Eve’s school friends being abominable to her mum (who seems to be depressed) at the playground… wonder what it’s possible to do?) & then get organised to take Eve to her swimming lesson. Esme protests that she doesn’t want to go… She’s going – we set off. Not late for swimming (makes a change). Eve changed & ready to start Esme & I get a milkshake each from the cafe there but then the seats by the pool are too crowded again to sit down, so I sit us down behind them & we play with the lids from the milkshake bottles. The game develops into something where were throwing, flicking or pushing them to each other & Esme is jolly entertained. We’re only marginally annoying & embarrassing to other parents (this never really bothers me) & we even get another little girl joining in at one stage. I miss all of Eve’s lesson. Eve out of the pool she gets a bun from the cafe & Esme gets Smarties from the machine. Home through the park Eve refuses to come in because she gets stuck playing with Leah, Hanna & Rosie at the bottom of the road. Esme’s tea is Shreddies & Eve refuses the offer of tea (has an apple later when she comes in). Bath & bed routines & then helping Jack… Full evening (as usual).

Bikes…

Jude needs a new bike, so we were hopeful that the Chopper down at the shop at Patmos would do for him. It was also reduced! So, we took his old bike & Eve’s bike down (her bike needs repairing) on Thursday evening… only to find that the Chopper was too big. He couldn’t ride it comfortably. Eve could, but that was not the point really. So Jude needs another – he didn’t have one in the shop, but said he’d try at his garage & over at a couple of other shops he’s friendly with. Jude didn’t accept that well – the ‘now’ thing was praying on him. He cried & needed carrying home (such was his misery).

Friday I bumped into Jack on the way home, just past the newsagents, he having parted company with Thomas & finishing of some chocolate (guiltily). Thomas gave it to him (he doth protest too much) as I pointed out (grinning) that I wasn’t telling him off, was I? Popped in at the bike shop & nothing doing – no bike for Jude at the garage or shops in Nelson or Burnley. Ooooh dear…. Eve’s bike not fixed either because no ‘little chain thing that attaches to the gears’ (can’t recall the name). But I make a mental note it’s an 18 inch wheel that we’re after (as well as one with gears, obviously) when he tells me there’s a couple of other chances he’s going to check. He saw that Jude was upset & he was a little affected – he doesn’t like to disappoint.

Saturday morning I pop to get the paper & dib in… nope – no fix, no bike. I remember that Eve’s front tyre needs replacing as well, so point this out. I suspect he’s basically out of leads, so I say not to worry too much – we’ll look if he keeps his eyes open & what will be will be. Jude is disappointed. Eve is disappointed her bike is not fixed as well – she spends a good deal of her play with Amber over the road playing on bikes. Amber looks to have an 18 inch wheel bike with gears, but this also has pinkness & flowery decals.

It’s a low key weekend. Jack has history homework; they have to do a historical figure. Choose anyone from history & write about them – someone who changed the world also seems to be an important criteria. Jack has chosen Dr Barnados; he’s not sure why, but Louise & I kinda suspect it’s the helping the downtrodden, education & equality which (given his Thursday night dream of converting buses into off road vehicles & driving them to Africa to be used as classrooms seems to chime with his general thinking at the moment). He gets upset that we criticise his lifting of phrases & paragraphs from the Internet wholesale & decides that he’ll do Henry VIII instead as he has his own source material (studies from juniors) on the subject. Digs this stuff out (making a mess of his room in the process) and then complains that Henry VIII is boring (and also one of the suggested characters from discussion in class).

Leave it a bit Jack.

We go to the supermarket (him & me) via the library (no books on on Henry of Thomas Barnado) but there’s a DVD he likes the look of & a couple of books I wouldn’t have minded if I had time for reading at the moment). We chat about things on the way into town & he points out that kids his age would hardly ever have seen a dead body, but in Bernado’s time.. I point out that this is a darn good way of opening his history essay were he doing Thomas Barnodo & we chat some more along these lines & let him mull it over.

At home he’s doing Barnado again & Louise & I outline an approach for him to tackle writing it (research on the internet – print things out – read these & highlight the salient points & then write up in the structure plan he has (he had a structural plan all along he wasn’t sticking to it). He makes some good progress.

Sunday, Eve has borrowed Jack’s bike (against his wishes) & is plying with Amber when Amber’s next door neighbours offer Eve a bike. She comes to tell us, I pop over & it’s clear that the bike is somewhat big for her (it’s bigger than Jack’s) but we tend to not look a gift horse in the mouth, we say thank you very much & she’s off (somewhat shakily) on it taking it back round to the back street.

…continuing…

16/09/08@06:51:55

So, we’re all on the back street checking over the ‘new’ bike – Louise has had a go & Jack has had a go & Jude is a bit upset because he hasn’t got his bike yet… He knows my earlier enquiries have come to nothing because I checked when I was getting the newspaper that morning.

So we’re there chatting away & Brenda over the road pops out for something & overhears us. We tell her of our surprise acquisition & the says she has a new bike. Nice ladies bike – folder. John get it out to show us. John says he’s supposed to be riding a bike for his knee, but the one he has isn’t so good – he can’t get it in the car & he can’t get his leg over (queue gag re asking the man at the bike shop as to whether he could do anything with his bike because he can’t get his leg over, “It comes to us all” is the response from the older bike shop owner.) It’s useless to him & it’s apparently offered to me. I’m not paying attention – Louise graciously accepts & I have a bike as well! How did that happen? ” bikes in one day? Not one for Jude though. Poor Jude is upset.

A little later Jack & I set off to Morrisons on the bikes – zooming there in no time (although I have to say I do not like going down Fernley Lee Road – it is just that bit too steep: both brakes on & concentrating on the misshapen road (lots of roadworks) conscious of cars behind & needing to signal direction & you can’t really turn to check the car behind you & you can’t take your hands off the brake to signal. After that the roundabout in the centre of town seemed a breeze.

Coming back we went up Park Rd – less right turns & not so steep an incline (although longer). I was struggling getting a lower gear so really had to push quite hard. As I reached the point of giving up & reached the top of the hill (well – as far as we were going) & turned round to see how Jack was getting on – his bike slips into some delightfully low gears that I’m sure would be easy for even getting up Fernley Lee. I was a little disappointed to see that he was pushing – he’d got off & was pushing! I would have shouted some chastisement but I was somewhat out of breath.

Yesterday – off to the the other bike shop in town – see if he has anything there. Looks to be – 23 inch frame. I call Louise to measure Jude’s inside leg to see if this would be good for him? He has a 21inch inside leg! Ooh. Well – this bike is green & blue, it has suspension& it has gears & it’s £30? OK, yes tiptoes will do fine! I go back to the shop to get it. Ah, but he’s not checked the bike over since it came in… Ah… He checks over the gears & the do not work quite as well as one would expect… hurumph. He’s not going to let me take it away just yet… he wants to ensure all is well (he brakes seem OK). So – now that we have got Jude’s hopes up we have them dashed once more… Bah.

Tuesdays Todmorden closes… It’ll be Wednesday, then…