School holidays

Why is it that despite the school holiday being stressful that I’m feeling sad that it is Friday? It is amazing that we all have such a great love for our children that we seem to take everything from them and still want to spend time with them.

If my friends treated me like my children do sometimes then I am not sure that we would still be friends. Though an adult is unlikely to play hide and seek in a ‘Currys Store.’

My two have just walked into the kitchen saying ‘mummy I’m hungry, I want food now’. If an adult, this might be met with ‘get it yourself’. With my children we can have an argument about their manners or have shreddies and milk across the kitchen. Two independent children, happy to help themselves and even happier to make a mess.

So, what have we achieved this school holiday? Monday was telephone calls and two visits to ‘Currys PC world’. Both children took off their shoes and vanished in the shop. I could hear them shouting but I could not see them. Have you ever had a similar experience?

‘Time Table Rockstars’

Tuesday was more relaxing, and daddy was at home. A day at home with daddy usually means that very little gets done. However, we have achieved practice on ‘Time Table Rockstars’.  On his school account his total is now 125000 total coins. On the family account he now has 31000 total coins. I set up my account along with his and I only have about 6000 coins so his is an impressive result.  Good work for a school holiday.

My eight-year olds rapid recall of his tables is something that I struggle with. I do know my tables, but I have to think about the answer or use my fingers. My son is very quick,  sometimes responding within two seconds and often getting it correct.

Competing with others playing it around the world, I am amazed how quick some children / or people are at it. We had a session a few days ago where I got twenty-six answers, my son twenty-five and the leader ninety-nine. They were answering in less than a second.

I can remember learning my time-tables, I found it hard. My dad wrote them all out for me and I still struggled to remember them. I have realised that my six year old has not learnt her two times table yet, so I have written her an answer sheet. She is now getting more correct and enjoying it more.

Visit to the town and library

On Wednesday, we finally got out of the house and walked into the town. A visit to the library had my daughter creating an ‘Alicorn’ holding a pizza, with the help of the library staff. Apparently an Alicorn is a Unicorn without a horn, however looking at hers, it does appear to have one. She then created some animation with it.

My daughter also chose a new book to read. I’m not sure if she will actually read it as it looks a bit hard, but the want to read it is there at least. (Please note, anything purchased through my blog, will earn me some commission which will help pay for this blog. Please also note, that you can support me with anything you purchase from Amazon as long as you use my link, thank you)

A trip to the town also meant Chips and a run in the park. Walking home the children wanted to visit the pet shop. We were warned to not put fingers in the hamsters cage. My six year old put her fingers in and stroked it. She was consequently bitten, she was fine, and the pet store owner put a plaster on it. The hamster has now been moved to a higher shelf.

We all arrived home exhausted and a little wet as it rained. However, we had had a good day, and the hamster bite was soon forgotten.

Thursday

Yesterday, Thursday, was another wet day, spent indoors, and more ‘Time Table Rockstars.’ Right now anyone who walks in my house will know its school holidays. The children and their toys and stuff have taken over the front room and I’m too tired to do anything about it. I’m sure you know this feeling, other things take precedence and as long as they are safe and happy the mess is okay for now.

My daughter managed to do some fine art work on my son’s bedroom wall yesterday afternoon, (typical for school holiday). I have washed it off now, but you can still see her handprints and some of the blue painlt has now come off to show yellow paint underneath. We think this was created with foundation or tanning moisturiser, possibly found in the bathroom cabinet. Yes, the mum stress continues, I wasn’t sure whether to scream, laugh or cry.  At least she is creative, just a shame about our walls.  She will not keep her creativity to pen and paper, it is everywhere.

Today

Today, Friday, I’ve told my eight year old that we need to look at his homework. I’ve told him that instead of playing Roblox he could ask ‘Google’ about York.  Yes, the school holiday is almost over.

So, now I am going to disturb my son from ‘Roblox and do some research with him.  As you can see we have done ‘TT Rockstars’, he tells me he has forgotten his password for ‘Spellzone’. I will be asking about this on Monday as I hadn’t heard of it before.  I’m suspecting that this is because he is good at his Maths but finds spelling a little harder or less enjoyable.   I know if I find something hard then I am not keen on doing it.

I’m hoping my daughter can write about her holiday whilst we are researching.  We still have their school reading books to read as well.  I don’t want a stressful Sunday afternoon where we still have to complete it all.

Anyway, I’m now going to boil the kettle again for more tea and then disturb the party in the front room.  They are listening to ‘Alexa’ singing ‘George Ezra’ and playing on their gadgets.  Yes, time to make myself, once more unpopular.  Yes, the school holiday is unfortunately almost over.

For more see, 7 ideas for school holiday and our dramas