Archives: school

Voom! – Hey! -it’s Friday? Ah well – not unexpected, I guess, but there never seems enough time; it just races.

What has been a doing in this old week? Jack had a day off school on the Wednesday – I suppose that might be the weekly anomaly. He also started helping Eve with some of that ‘Home maths’ stuff – the sort of thing Jack was doing… This approach seemed to work well for Eve, she was calm enough to deal with it. I don’t quite know why she protests so much & gets so upset when we help her – well- when I help her in particular because I take it calmly, ut she seems to dig her heels in about it & not I a good way – she starts to believe she cannot do something & therefore puts up mental blocks to actually doing it (rather than staying calm & focussed). This becomes a little galling, but I just try to reiterate the point that I don’t think she’s talking in in a slightly different way. That said there’s usually some form of noisey distraction as well – perhaps she’s not so good with those either… it’s not like Louise or I could remove ourselves from the noisy Distractocons to assist Eve as they would just follow & persist; they are difficult to ignore & dismiss. I guess the difference with Jack helping her was that they were able to go to Jack’s room & close the door…. hmmmm

Eve also did her homework OK last night (although I had to remove Jude from sitting on the table Eve was working on; he was complaining about some or other injustice that he perceived the world had dealt him. He was not in a good mood last night – not sure why… he had been better on the whole these last 2 weeks (quite delightful at times) & there were little bits of ‘really good and helpful’ behaviour seeping out from him from time to time, but on the whole he was argumentative & stubborn.

Mind you Esme was wild & wilful yesterday evening as well… She’d been playing with Lilly since they got home & they are always getting themselves all hyped up; such is the intensity of their playing.

Later setting out to work this morning, because I’ve seen Jack to the bus stop. I was going to see him onto the bus, but as there are 3 others he knows there it seemed a little gooseberry for me to hang about bringing to tone down , so I’ve scarpered to get my train. He’s probably travelling by now… on his was to his new school. Crikey!

I’m sure he’ll do fine.

It’s not been so bad all this getting ready. Louise’s most stressful point was ironing on the school badge to the blazer – think she was just so worried about getting it wrong. The badge was also to big for the blazer pocket & therefore overlaps the bottom of the pocket a bit… I was quite pleased to see that Thomas had the same arrangement on his blazer, so I mentioned that to Louise (quick call to say alls OK)..

It was quite nice to see all the kids this morning as well – we set off (Jack & I) with everyone waving at Jack down the backstreet. Naturally Esme wanted to come, but she made less fuss (in the end) than I thought she would. She wanted to go to school as well, & ‘m not sure what she’s made of Jack going off at a different time. I wonder if she’s expecting to see him at National when she goes to playgroup this afternoon?

Eve is now the oldest Schroeder at the school.

She was trying a little math work the other day & was finding it a little hard. She didn’t like it not being easier & complained about it (badly) Hm – when I say badly, I mean that she didn’t complain well; it was more like it was unfair than than it was something to be resolved & she’ll need to work on that approach to things if she’s to get a grip on it all… we’ll see – it might just take a little more maturity…

Too tired this morning. Looked at the paper half heartedly for a second & then opted for sleep.
Been updating the online waffles to bring them more up to date after the delay caused by … OSX transference & inertia.

Louise off to Bradford yesterday to visit Aunties etc with Eve & Jude. They performed admirably by accounts. Eve got some new shoes (boots) as well. They’re a little C&W, but they suit her well.

I picked up Jack from school – he was a little lacklustre. He didn’t bash me, for once …well – not until we were nearly at the gates anyway. Quite a nice change not having to dodge flying book bag & lunch box. I have got into the habit of getting them from him before he can wallop me, but I was carrying shopping yesterday.
When he got home he proclaimed that he was tired & would like to go to sleep. He played on the computer for a bit instead. I helped him for a bit & then did a smattering of tidying up before Louise got home.
Jack protested he had stomach ache in the night. I’m too sleepy to be effective then, “Go back to sleep Jack. We both need to get more sleep”. He was not that good in the morning apparently, but was keen to be off to school as it’s ‘tuck’ today & he had some Jumble for the Jumble Sale as well.
I learn these details as Louise called at work. She was supposed to be meeting someone today, but cannot as Eve had fallen asleep & Jude had just woken up & been sick on her. The kids, as a whole, seem to be off colour at the moment. I have a shopping list again.

Picking Jack up from school, I was told by his teachers that he was telling them of the bad dream he had the night before – possibly even a nightmare! Difficult to say nightmare, I know that he had a disturbed sleep, but I don’t think as far disturbed as that. Nevertheless ‘disturbing’ is the right word. He says He went to Halifax (with us – more than just us, with friends) & Eve was with them. Suddenly Eve ran out into the road & there was a car coming & she was run over. I’ve tried to phrase it a little how Jack did. Then it seems it wasn’t Eve at all, Eve had painted a balloon & made it run out into the road & it was the balloon that was run over. That last bit is a bit weird. It’s either real dream logic, or embroidery on Jack’s part to save my feelings a bit. He’s quite capable of rolling with a story – he does it to me every so often. I had a whole story about ghosts at school the other week while he was in the bath. Apparently they broke a bit of Leila’s lunch box, & then it went into this whole thing about bad, naughty & good ghosts. The bad & the naughty ones messing about withy the dinner ladies’ preparation of school lunches, pouring water on things & making them soggy, & the dinner ladies putting things in bags to protect them form ghostly interference but the ghosts still managing to spoil things & the good ghosts killing the bad ghosts (but not all of them, so the bad ones come back again). All quite bizarre & delightful. Last night I was also told that an invisible person had pinched 2 oranges out of Leila’s lunch box, but returned them to the classroom.
We all went to the park after tea yesterday. Jack wanted to practice on his new bike. He’s a bit big for it, but it is a very nice bike. It was a good practice session for him, & although he fell off a few times round the bike circuit in the park, this was mainly because he was trying to ride up grassy banks & alike, so it wasn’t that surprising really. Eve was so tired after this that by bedtime she was incoherent with disagreement. Not wanting bath, not wanting bed, not wanting what she wanted. As soon as she stopped yelling about it all she was asleep.
She’s been changing of recent – a growing spurt. She’s losing the rounded belly physique of a toddler & starting to get more upright – straight up & down…. Little girl.

Type anything to start typing… Having trouble thinking this morning. Jude & Eve were awake an hour before I’m due to get up. Eve wasn’t making a fuss or anything, & Jude wasn’t being that loud, but they were awake at the perfect time to throw my sleeping pattern. I think I’d rather have my eyes closed this morning; mitigating circumstances are: I can’t think.
Eve was on the ‘Nyeurks” again yesterday. Not full on, but being a bit of a pain. One day off, one day on? Louise & Eve may be going to college today – there apparently being a spare place at the play group there. Interestingly, it seems that the college has been making it difficult for the playgroup – rising rents, poor facilities… Jack’s school has had a new porta-cabin installed & it looks as though they are going to move to that (they have close links with the school anyway as the playgroup to nursery to reception class thing has a consistency of the people involved. Really, this can only be a good thing for Eve as she will be going to that school. It’s a shame the college seems to have taken, if not a negative attitude toward the playgroup, certainly a uncaring one. One of the reasons it was initially set up there, I believe, was so that those taking classes there could have some form of facility of their young ones…
Shortsightedness & ‘market forces’ win out again. <sigh>

It was Parent’s Evening yesterday. Went to see Jack’s teacher again (only the second time) & discussed how he was getting on. He is, on the whole, doing quite well. They like him a lot as he is well behaved, keen & interested. Whether it is a general point or not, we came away with the perception that he is feeling unconfident. Socially, Louise & I feel he seems to be confident, but in his school work maybe. He was quite perfectionist in his work & would scribble things out at home rather than live with an error. He has reduced that to crossing things out. His schoolwork has some crossings out in it, but on the whole, that’s fine. It seems that sometimes, when left alone, he will reach a little crisis of confidence & not be able to do something. At least he goes to ask a teacher, but still, you worry about such things – whether he is feeling ok in himself – whether he is happy? What does he have to measure these things to himself? He is only 4. Perhaps we worry too much/perhaps we don’t worry enough is one of those things we will always… um… worry about. The best ambition we could have for him is that he be happy.
Been guilty of neglecting attic work – must be better resolved.

Perhaps if I slept a little more, I would not feel like my head was a deep well from whence specific recollection a was leaking bucket.

Ah well. Too much to do.

Got a little decorating done – which actually met my personal target of completing that little bit by such & such. Next bit is the alcove at the other side of that chimney breast – which is also a bit of a mess & needs a fair it of polyfillering… Louise said, “Ah, that’s good, if we can get the rest of the wallpapering done by this time next week…”

Perhaps a tad ambitious, but… well you never know! If the wall patching goes well, it might not seem such an outlandish target.

Eve seems to be coming down with a little cough. Her voice was a little husky yesterday afternoon. I probably have the same, as I felt like I had been sorting out dusty books again as I tried to sleep last night. As all were in our bed I went to Jack’s bed so that I felt free enough to cough, sniff & splutter without disturbing anyone. Hopefully it will not effect her too adversely. She was not eating as well as she usually does over the weekend, but then, she is still suffering with teething as her canines take a while to come through. Fingers in mouth a lot… & biting her nails still… How do you tell a 22 month old not to bite their nails!

She understands most things fully well, & communicates as much as she needs to as well. I seem to recall Jack’s language development having more structural flow – more word strings… but she gets by happily on 2 or 3 word string sentences. Has opinions like, “No want that” as well. I heard her bossing Louise about while I ligged in bed on Saturday morning, demanding “cereal”, “spoon”, “milk” & suchlike.

Daredevil on the backstreet as well. Likes to get a good speed up on her trike, or sit-on-truck. She seems to be able to stop well enough although she’s a bit tough on the shoe leather. Amber & Hamish have been playing around at our house quite a lot as well. I had Jack & Hamish very interested in my wallpapering for a while on Sunday. I looked out the window later & there was Jack, Eve, Hamish, Amber & Jessie all at the table on the front patio at one point yesterday. Jessie, I think, is in the same class as Jack at school, & lives on the street at the end of our cul-de-sac. Although he lives essentially a few doors away, he has only just started playing out with the rest of the kids from the street, or rather off from his side of the road. With all these kids about it does sometimes feel like we have an open house.

I assume they got the class to draw a picture of themselves.

Hectic couple of days at work & home, so travelling home today is my 1st writing time. My fault for trying to do too much at home. Been actually starting to write some comic reviews again, & although they are not fully formed enough for ZUM! as yet, I thought I’d bat them off to a review zine in the states. Dunno what will come, but why not thinks me. I was too late to bed last night, so have a ‘background’ headache now, due to tiredness.

Jack’s 1st day at school went well, according to reports, although he was a little tired. He was lying on the sofa watching “The Travelling Thornburys” (my favourite cartoon at the moment) when I got home. Louise says that she was worried how he’s be when he came out from school – overexcited or whatever, but he was happy & placid. He had a good day at school, likes his teacher, & had some stories & … well, rather enjoyed it. It’s not really as if the surroundings are unfamiliar as it is the same school as he has been attending ‘nursery’ school at. He is now in what is termed ‘reception class’.

Louise didn’t tell me how leaving him there was, but then, as said, this is just next from nursery. The school day started later yesterday, but it was a normal start time this morning, which may have been more difficult. Everyone was asleep in the house as I left this morning. Hopefully everything went well, but Louise had go clothes, shoes etc all prepared the night before, so in theory everything will have gone smoothly.

It was just Louise & Eve yesterday, & Louise said that Eve did not stop talking & noise making all day.. well, we knew she was loud, but I guess that Jack has also been around masking the noise she makes on her own. She had fun by the sound of it – playgroup & more attention to just her. Heh… there’s girl about Eve’s age, with an older sister about Jack’s age. She was there at playgroup, & when she say Louise & Eve – she greeted them as Jack. It seems as she likes Jack, both Eve & Louise also must be called the same.

Jack was a bit difficult at tea time yesterday, as he can be sometimes. He did not want to come to the table to eat, so we didn’t bother trying to force the issue. He was mean to his sister when she had finished, a lego dispute again – he was trying to build something & she pinched a brick, that was either next to or part of his construction, he hit her, she got so upset she ‘lost’ her tea… so, effectively none of them had a tea, really. Jack did not get a tea after that mayhem. All calmed & cleaned up reasonably quickly, but it is especially disheartening for Louise when that happens as she spends this time cooking the meal, only to have it all messed up. Nice meal too – a new sweet & sour… Hey ho…

Dad called last night for ‘tech support’ on his computer. It seems, as he is entirely new to a windows or generally GUI interface, he was a bit rash with the left & right clicking, & somehow ended up getting too high a monitor resolution. He got it back to normal eventually in ‘Safe Mode’, but it took a few goes, & we also installed the printer drivers so that he could do what he wanted to do. Quite good to get that bit sorted – next to get him online!

Got home from work yesterday & Louise was sewing tags into Jack’s school clothes… Today, I guess he will get dressed up for school, but it is not the start. He is going with Louise to meet his teacher, whom they already know from contact through nursery class. Tomorrow is the ‘big day’. It’s sort of scary really, when you think about it too much…. He’s going forward into the ‘system’. Obliged to attend. You could say that he is ready for it as he seems keen to be learning, but nonetheless I resent the fact that his days will be taken up by this for the rest of his childhood & beyond. Our influence will also be less central. He is an open & friendly child, but he also lacks guile. Louise said the other day that she thought he was a little green… She caught him mentioning to another lad on the street that Eve had wee’ed on his Postman Pat duvet the other day… He got an, “Eeyurgh!” reaction from the other lad. Ah, he’s sweet & sociable – he should get on. He has some of our quirks, but we can do little about that.

Sigh.

Thinking about it too much…