Monday again, I don’t like Mondays, another gloomy wet day. I woke my daughter up as usual.  She grumbled as I dressed her, she was happily tucked inside her duvet. We then could not find my son’s jumper, not sure where he has put it, I’m sure it was in the kitchen over the weekend. So another job for me tomorrow to try and find it.

We got out of the house and arrived at school in good time. We walked into the school hall and my 7 year old gasped. The school have a really lovely Christmas tree. I pointed out to the kids that they had chopped the top of the tree to get it in the hall. My little boy laughed thinking this was funny.  It is an amazing tree and will look beautiful when decorated.

I left the children and drove to work. The country lanes do not get any easier, however, I was relieved that I did not meet anyone coming the other way. I hate having to reverse back as another car is driving towards me, or needing to find the nearest ditch to hide in.  I was glad to finally get home and then continue working.

The kids had a good day at school today. My 7 year old got all his spellings correct on Friday.  My daughter has been invited to a birthday party. Unfortunately, there are two parties on the same day. The first one we have already said we would go, so now having to work a way around the second, she wants to go to both. The complications of children, their friends and birthday parties.

When I finished work it was nice to cuddle up with the children.  The technical gadgets though always get in the way. I have said to daddy we need to ban them. Paw patrol on the iPod is very annoying when they should be reading.  I keep writing it and saying it but we need to be strong enough to enforce it. The gadgets should be for learning to read or reading only.  However seems a bit cruel to ban Minecraft and Roblox.

The gadgets of today are so quick and easy to access, unlike the ZX Spectrum that took forever to load up the cassette tape. You could not lie on the settee under your duvet and play on the spectrum. You were shut in your room watching the computer screen.  Things are so different today, not sure if they are for the best as the tablets are definitely a distraction from important things like homework.  However, as an adult, I would be lost without mine as I’m sat here typing on it whilst watching Coronation Street.

They both ate their dinner alright tonight and then my 7 year old read a little. My daughter refused but her nose was in the iPod with a blanket over her head.  I had to pull it off her, take away the iPod, let her scream and then carry her to bed. She would not move otherwise. Once she calmed down she then settled to get ready for bed.  My little boy wanted a story read to him, most nights he will not go to sleep without a story.

My daughter who would really benefit from a bedtime story is rarely interested now. She either wants to play or she is hiding under her duvet asleep. I know that I need to make more of an effort to read to her but it is really hard when my whole body aches and I’m tired. Sometimes I wish I had met my husband 20 years earlier,  I would have had more energy for the children. However, there is a lot I would not have done.  I’m not sure whether it is better to have them in your 20s or late 30s.  Some of the girls I went to school with are grandparents now. I don’t think I’m ready to be called Grandma, mummy is good for now.

Anyway, I am now going to get some rest. Tomorrow is my day off again and though I’m not at paid work, there is plenty to do around the house. I am now going to try and get an early night, try and build some energy for the stress of tomorrow morning and being mum.

see also, Monday aches. https://justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk/2018/11/26/monday-aches/

It is Sunday again and we are now in December. Snow is forecast and the temperature is cold.  However, it is not feeling cold enough yet for snow. I’m not a fan of the white stuff. The kids love it, but they don’t have to drive in it.  It’s pretty but that is it, It looks nice on Christmas cards.

Has anyone put their Christmas tree up yet? Ours stays up in the loft as long as possible. A few years ago the kids pulled it down Christmas day so by the end of boxing day it was back in the loft. I am feeling very unchristmassy but I have bought most of the presents. My 5 year old is wanting ‘Whizzpopping Bfg’ I was hoping he would be on offer for Black Friday or on a 3 for 2 offer in Argos, he wasn’t, so I still need to buy him.  I haven’t started writing cards yet but it is only December 2nd, it is tempting to give money to charity rather then send cards but I know if I do that there will be some complaints. People like receiving cards.

Today I was woken by my son, my 5 year old was back on the Kindle and he was again on the IPad. He has now read his book to daddy but has got no further with his homework. He was supposed to be designing the front page for the year 3 homework booklet. I don’t think he as competitive as me but I know he will be upset if his is not chosen. Maybe he will add to it before handing it in as to me it is not finished.

My 5 year old had to write a 100 word Christmas story unaided. She talks a lot but writing all those words down, she is not so good so has done what she can. It is not 100 words but there is no way her teacher could understand it, so I’ve written on the page next to it what it says.  If only we could afford a private tutor for her, for extra support. We try but she often will not let me help or she just wants to play.

I can remember struggling at school, I was never in remedial class but I found things very hard. I don’t like to think that she struggles as I did. However I could read very well at 5, she can not and because she finds it hard she will rarely ask to read to me. My little girl is happy playing with her bears, dolls and her big brother.

Looking through the Kindle this afternoon, I found a word game joining together rhyming words. Some she struggled with and some she knew.  She did quite well considering her little problems. I could hear her laughing as she was playing. I am going to see what else is on there.  We have bought her the books for home to help with her learning but some of that she is answering wrong and will not let us correct her.

I am very proud of my daughter despite her little issues. She’s a little bit different which makes her unique and enjoys being creative more than being academic.  So give her a cereal box, sellotape, scissors and pens she is happy. Ask her to write a story she will say she can’t.  However, she is only 5 and has many more years of learning yet.

My daughter read her book quite well this afternoon but needs a lot of practice. I have wondered about putting words in a tin.  Does anyone else remember having a tobacco tin full of words when they were at school? We need to make her one. She is very good at trying to guess what the text says from looking at the illustrations on the page. Not so good at slowing down and really thinking about or sounding out the words.

My 7 year old is learning the recorder in January at school. Rather than giving him mine as he loses things, I bought him a cheap one off Amazon. Looking at Amazon, I have realised that to buy mine new, it is twice the price of his. The new one is smaller and looks cheaper, however, if he does lose it then I will be pleased that I bought the cheaper one. It still plays ‘London Bridge’ alright and ‘Good King Wenceslas’. Anyway since it arrived he will not put it down and keeps making very untuneful music. My 5 year old keeps putting her hands over her ears. Hopefully next year he will learn to play it properly.

Both kids ate most of their roast dinner today and tonight they both went to bed well. My little girl went without being asked but then refused again to clean her teeth. She just shut her mouth tight and pulled the duvet over her head. I gave up forcing her as I was not getting anywhere.

So Monday again tomorrow, another long day. I have a morning of driving ahead of me and then paperwork.  The kids both have a normal school day.

I am now going to get some rest, then maybe an early night. Hopefully, build up my strength and energy ready for the Monday morning stresses of working and being mum.

see also, Sunday acrobatics, https://justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk/2018/11/18/sunday-acrobatics/