A quick postscript to my previous post:
I came down with gastro on Monday.
Though to be honest, it probably wasn't the burger that I ate at the bowling club. All symptoms point to a virus, so it probably wasn't nasty bacteria in the food.
I'm still getting over it today, five days later. DeepSpice has had it too, but not the kids. Having sick kids is horrible, especially if you are sick too. But in its own way, having healthy kids when you are sick is worse. They are full of energy when you are absolutely not.
--
Friday, April 27, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Lawn bowls
Oh poor neglected blog... I know I still owe another post about the remainder of our holiday to Sydney. I've been horribly busy ever since we got home. That's the downside to a one-week holiday - one spends the next 3 weeks catching up on everything!
So in the meantime, here's a quick post about BallFiend's highlight of the weekend. But first some background. When BallFiend was about 2 years old, he happened to see a bit of the championship lawn bowls on TV, and has enjoyed watching it ever since.
BallFiend has also asked to play lawn bowls (and ten pin bowling) on numerous occasions. I
took him ten pin bowling when he was about 3 and a half, but so far he
has never done lawn bowls. So when I saw an ad in the local paper saying that the local lawn bowls club was having a free "family day", I asked BallFiend if he wanted to go. And unsurprisingly, he did.
We bowled with another family that included three kids and their dad. The youngest kid was just 2 weeks older than BallFiend and the oldest was probably about 11 years old. BallFiend was easily a better bowler than any of the kids. On his best shot, he put the bowl only about 70cm from the jack. (And my best shot was only about 10cm better than this!)
For me the afternoon was a 'sociological experience'. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. When we arrived, I was offered lunch - a free BBQ. (Despite being free, the food really didn't appeal to me: still-frozen supermarket white bread with cold snags and burgers, distinctly grey in colour. But I could not refuse the effervescent hospitality as every bowling club member, in succession, insisted that I have some lunch. The fact that we had already had lunch at home did not deter them.) Lunch was periodically interrupted by one of the ladies of the club ringing a bell to announce raffle prizes, or that more snags were on the way and various other things.
Blokey old blokes chortled and chatted around the bar. Ladies bustled about tidying up. And the best bit was the interior of the club room! It was straight out of another era... I'm not sure which one but definitely nineteen-something! (If you've seen Crackerjack, you'll know what I mean!) All that was missing was a portrait of the Queen.
But it was on our visit the the ladies toilets (BallFiend received an urgent call of nature, thus rescuing me from having to finish my lunch) that I was treated to the quintessential bowling club interior decor:
In case it is hard to see in the picture - the floor is covered in a plush blue carpet, the hand basins are circa 1950, and there are a lovely finishing touches on the vanity bench of fake flower arrangements and those gorgeous yellow tissue-box and soap dispenser covers. But even more delights awaited: the baby-blue coloured ceramic toilet bowl and seat in matching blue had BallFiend completely fascinated.
BallFiend is still six to twelve months too young to start playing competition bowls. But they are dead-keen to have more members (currently they have about 65 men and 20 women), so I reckon he could sneak in... Not sure that I'm up for it to take him along though. Going back in time was fun for an afternoon, but I don't think I could do it on a regular basis.
--
So in the meantime, here's a quick post about BallFiend's highlight of the weekend. But first some background. When BallFiend was about 2 years old, he happened to see a bit of the championship lawn bowls on TV, and has enjoyed watching it ever since.
 |
| BallFiend watching the Women's Triples Final from the Queensland Open, 17 October 2009. |
We bowled with another family that included three kids and their dad. The youngest kid was just 2 weeks older than BallFiend and the oldest was probably about 11 years old. BallFiend was easily a better bowler than any of the kids. On his best shot, he put the bowl only about 70cm from the jack. (And my best shot was only about 10cm better than this!)
For me the afternoon was a 'sociological experience'. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. When we arrived, I was offered lunch - a free BBQ. (Despite being free, the food really didn't appeal to me: still-frozen supermarket white bread with cold snags and burgers, distinctly grey in colour. But I could not refuse the effervescent hospitality as every bowling club member, in succession, insisted that I have some lunch. The fact that we had already had lunch at home did not deter them.) Lunch was periodically interrupted by one of the ladies of the club ringing a bell to announce raffle prizes, or that more snags were on the way and various other things.
Blokey old blokes chortled and chatted around the bar. Ladies bustled about tidying up. And the best bit was the interior of the club room! It was straight out of another era... I'm not sure which one but definitely nineteen-something! (If you've seen Crackerjack, you'll know what I mean!) All that was missing was a portrait of the Queen.
But it was on our visit the the ladies toilets (BallFiend received an urgent call of nature, thus rescuing me from having to finish my lunch) that I was treated to the quintessential bowling club interior decor:
 |
| Vanity unit in the Ladies' toilets. |
BallFiend is still six to twelve months too young to start playing competition bowls. But they are dead-keen to have more members (currently they have about 65 men and 20 women), so I reckon he could sneak in... Not sure that I'm up for it to take him along though. Going back in time was fun for an afternoon, but I don't think I could do it on a regular basis.
--
Sunday, April 08, 2012
Land of the Roaches, part 1
This post comes to you live from Sydney, where we have been holidaying for the past few days.
Day 1 - Thursday 5th April
The trip began on Thursday morning with the kids' first time on an airplane. This was was soooo terribly exciting for BallFiend that he uttered nothing but "oh my god!" and "I just can't believe it!" for about the first half-hour (and that was just while we were in the car park and walking to the terminal).
The next half hour was filled with more fascinations as BallFiend watched our suitcase disappear through a hole in the wall on a conveyor belt, then went through the security screen process three times (the first two times he set off the alarm because he kept insisting on brushing his hands against the sides).
Next stop was for a babycino at the cafe - partly to appease Thumper who was getting annoyed with begin strapped into her toddler harness - but also to have a quick chat with a friend from work (who coincidentally was on her way to Sydney as well with her son and hubby, on the flight immedately before ours). After saying goodbye, we decided to kill time by showing the kids the sights of Tullamarine airport. However, we had barely walked 10 metres before we bumped into some more friends. After a short chat, we continued on our way, checking out the souvenier shop, the toilets and the chocolate shop before going to the Gate. The kids happily watched the goings-on at the airport out the windows and were particularly interested in watching the luggage being unloaded.
The plane ride was uneventful because the kids were (thankfully) well-behaved. BallFiend loved the sensation of 'lightness' as the plane took off. But I was surprised how disinterested he was in watching the view out the window (he was too busy playing with the tray-table). DeepSpice sat next to Thumper in the row behind me. Apparently she was a lot more restless than BallFiend especially later into the flight.
After landing, we collected our bags (more fascination for the kids - watching yet another conveyor belt), found our airport transfer car waiting right outside and were on our way. It was all so quick that we arrived at our accommodation only 35 mins after the plane landed.
The apartment is in a great location - just a short walk from the apartment where Gran and GrandPaul are staying and an even shorter (about 1 minute!) walk from the Lord Wolseley Hotel (which has quickly become the default dinner venue). Our apartment does have a number of shortcomings though... more on that later.
After settling in, and getting Thumper into bed for her afternoon nap (which required me to lie next to her until she fell asleep as it was her first time in a 'big bed' - as we had decided not to bother hiring a portacot for her), I wandered down to the local supermarket to meet Gran and shop for some breakfast supplies. While I was out, DeepSpice told me that he removed the carcasses of some seventy or more cockroaches from the kitchen! (Even so, there were still more to be found later: under the kids' beds and in pots in the kitchen cabinets).
All I could say was "ewww!" and feel glad that I hadn't had to see it.
After dinner, we got some very exhausted kids (and parents) off to bed. Unfortunately though, it was all too much for Thumper and she had terrible trouble falling asleep. So DeepSpice spent about an hour lying in bed with her to try and help her settle down.
I collapsed in front of the TV, with the balcony sliding door wide open (trying to catch some breeze to make the muggy climate more bareable) and was enjoying some peace and quiet when a massive, cockroach came flying in and started buzzing around the room. I freaked out and froze for a few moments, then called out to DeepSpice. But not getting any response, I realised that he had probably fallen asleep next to Thumper and that I was going to have to fend for myself. I grabbed an glass and managed to trap the revolting thing under it, right in the middle of the floor. Not wanting to have anything more to do with it, I tried to ignore it while waiting for DeepSpice to re-appear. It kept scuttling and buzzing about inside the glass and creeping me out.
My Facebook 'friends' were of little help, offering no sympathy and generally unhelpful suggestions like "whack it with a shoe (but gently so it doesn't explode too much)" and "wrap it in paper towel then stomp on it" (there's not a piece of paper towel, newspaper or anything like it to be found in this sparsely-furnished apartment). Not one friend offered to immediately fly up to Sydney to deal with it for me. Some even used my cockroach trauma as an excuse to reminisce about when they lived in roach-infested Sydney flats. I note that all these people now live in Melbourne.
What I don't get is why in the ongoing Melbourne vs Sydney debate, the cockroaches don't ever seem to be mentioned. As far as I am concerned this settles the debate once and for all. Sydney can score as many points as it wants on any scale it likes... whatever. Melbourne doesn't have cockroaches.
When I couldn't stand looking at or listening to the roach anymore, I dared to venture past it and went downstairs to rouse DeepSpice. It turned out that both Thumper and DeepSpice were still awake, so I swapped spots with DeepSpice, sending him up to dispose of the roach while I took a turn at trying to settle Thumper. Either I had a magic touch, or she had just become worn out enough, because she fell asleep next to me in about 10 minutes.
Day 2 - Friday 6th April
Our second day started off with a play at a local playground whilst waiting to meet Gran and GrandPaul. Then we all walked over to Darling Harbour. The walk there was bloody awful, across a pedestrian bridge that runs directly under the Western Distributor freeway - it's noisy, grimy, dark and dismal place. In complete contrast, Darling Harbour is great! Full of plants that green-up the whole area so you feel like you are in the tropics, and there's an amazing playground which BallFiend and Thumper absolutely loved!
After a while, we dragged the kids away so we could visit the Chinese Garden of Friendship. But of course being 'Good Friday', it was closed. So we decided to take a ride on the Monorail instead. But after two failed attempts to locate a station - first at the Convention Centre (the Sydney tourist signposting leaves a lot to be desired!) and then at Chinatown (the stop has been permanently closed but they let you walk all the way up two flights of escalators through a ghastly, glitzy shopping mall from the street entrance before they tell you this!) - we took a break at Paddy's Markets. GrandPaul needed to buy a hat, and DeepSpice and I decided that it was about time the kids had some lunch. So we followed Gran and GrandPaul into the chinzy hell that is acres of cheap imported plastic crap and before we could blink, BalFiend had found a ball that he wanted to buy. (And he has barely stopped nagging about it ever since.)
Then we finally made it onto the Monorail and did one full circuit, then another half circuit to get back to Darling Habour. Our plans to spend the afternoon at the Maritime Museum were abandoned as Thumper was flagging (admittedly so was I) so we all went back to the apartment for a rest.
Dinner was at Blue Fish and was very good! (And very welcoming of children too.) Then we took the kids home to bed; this time, BallFiend was the trouble-maker but he was finally asleep by 9.15 pm.
Next instalment - Day 3 at the Chinese Friendship Garden and the Powerhouse Museum and Day 4 at Taronga Zoo.
--
Day 1 - Thursday 5th April
The trip began on Thursday morning with the kids' first time on an airplane. This was was soooo terribly exciting for BallFiend that he uttered nothing but "oh my god!" and "I just can't believe it!" for about the first half-hour (and that was just while we were in the car park and walking to the terminal).
The next half hour was filled with more fascinations as BallFiend watched our suitcase disappear through a hole in the wall on a conveyor belt, then went through the security screen process three times (the first two times he set off the alarm because he kept insisting on brushing his hands against the sides).
Next stop was for a babycino at the cafe - partly to appease Thumper who was getting annoyed with begin strapped into her toddler harness - but also to have a quick chat with a friend from work (who coincidentally was on her way to Sydney as well with her son and hubby, on the flight immedately before ours). After saying goodbye, we decided to kill time by showing the kids the sights of Tullamarine airport. However, we had barely walked 10 metres before we bumped into some more friends. After a short chat, we continued on our way, checking out the souvenier shop, the toilets and the chocolate shop before going to the Gate. The kids happily watched the goings-on at the airport out the windows and were particularly interested in watching the luggage being unloaded.
The plane ride was uneventful because the kids were (thankfully) well-behaved. BallFiend loved the sensation of 'lightness' as the plane took off. But I was surprised how disinterested he was in watching the view out the window (he was too busy playing with the tray-table). DeepSpice sat next to Thumper in the row behind me. Apparently she was a lot more restless than BallFiend especially later into the flight.
After landing, we collected our bags (more fascination for the kids - watching yet another conveyor belt), found our airport transfer car waiting right outside and were on our way. It was all so quick that we arrived at our accommodation only 35 mins after the plane landed.
The apartment is in a great location - just a short walk from the apartment where Gran and GrandPaul are staying and an even shorter (about 1 minute!) walk from the Lord Wolseley Hotel (which has quickly become the default dinner venue). Our apartment does have a number of shortcomings though... more on that later.
After settling in, and getting Thumper into bed for her afternoon nap (which required me to lie next to her until she fell asleep as it was her first time in a 'big bed' - as we had decided not to bother hiring a portacot for her), I wandered down to the local supermarket to meet Gran and shop for some breakfast supplies. While I was out, DeepSpice told me that he removed the carcasses of some seventy or more cockroaches from the kitchen! (Even so, there were still more to be found later: under the kids' beds and in pots in the kitchen cabinets).
All I could say was "ewww!" and feel glad that I hadn't had to see it.
After dinner, we got some very exhausted kids (and parents) off to bed. Unfortunately though, it was all too much for Thumper and she had terrible trouble falling asleep. So DeepSpice spent about an hour lying in bed with her to try and help her settle down.
I collapsed in front of the TV, with the balcony sliding door wide open (trying to catch some breeze to make the muggy climate more bareable) and was enjoying some peace and quiet when a massive, cockroach came flying in and started buzzing around the room. I freaked out and froze for a few moments, then called out to DeepSpice. But not getting any response, I realised that he had probably fallen asleep next to Thumper and that I was going to have to fend for myself. I grabbed an glass and managed to trap the revolting thing under it, right in the middle of the floor. Not wanting to have anything more to do with it, I tried to ignore it while waiting for DeepSpice to re-appear. It kept scuttling and buzzing about inside the glass and creeping me out.
My Facebook 'friends' were of little help, offering no sympathy and generally unhelpful suggestions like "whack it with a shoe (but gently so it doesn't explode too much)" and "wrap it in paper towel then stomp on it" (there's not a piece of paper towel, newspaper or anything like it to be found in this sparsely-furnished apartment). Not one friend offered to immediately fly up to Sydney to deal with it for me. Some even used my cockroach trauma as an excuse to reminisce about when they lived in roach-infested Sydney flats. I note that all these people now live in Melbourne.
What I don't get is why in the ongoing Melbourne vs Sydney debate, the cockroaches don't ever seem to be mentioned. As far as I am concerned this settles the debate once and for all. Sydney can score as many points as it wants on any scale it likes... whatever. Melbourne doesn't have cockroaches.
When I couldn't stand looking at or listening to the roach anymore, I dared to venture past it and went downstairs to rouse DeepSpice. It turned out that both Thumper and DeepSpice were still awake, so I swapped spots with DeepSpice, sending him up to dispose of the roach while I took a turn at trying to settle Thumper. Either I had a magic touch, or she had just become worn out enough, because she fell asleep next to me in about 10 minutes.
Day 2 - Friday 6th April
Our second day started off with a play at a local playground whilst waiting to meet Gran and GrandPaul. Then we all walked over to Darling Harbour. The walk there was bloody awful, across a pedestrian bridge that runs directly under the Western Distributor freeway - it's noisy, grimy, dark and dismal place. In complete contrast, Darling Harbour is great! Full of plants that green-up the whole area so you feel like you are in the tropics, and there's an amazing playground which BallFiend and Thumper absolutely loved!
After a while, we dragged the kids away so we could visit the Chinese Garden of Friendship. But of course being 'Good Friday', it was closed. So we decided to take a ride on the Monorail instead. But after two failed attempts to locate a station - first at the Convention Centre (the Sydney tourist signposting leaves a lot to be desired!) and then at Chinatown (the stop has been permanently closed but they let you walk all the way up two flights of escalators through a ghastly, glitzy shopping mall from the street entrance before they tell you this!) - we took a break at Paddy's Markets. GrandPaul needed to buy a hat, and DeepSpice and I decided that it was about time the kids had some lunch. So we followed Gran and GrandPaul into the chinzy hell that is acres of cheap imported plastic crap and before we could blink, BalFiend had found a ball that he wanted to buy. (And he has barely stopped nagging about it ever since.)
Then we finally made it onto the Monorail and did one full circuit, then another half circuit to get back to Darling Habour. Our plans to spend the afternoon at the Maritime Museum were abandoned as Thumper was flagging (admittedly so was I) so we all went back to the apartment for a rest.
Dinner was at Blue Fish and was very good! (And very welcoming of children too.) Then we took the kids home to bed; this time, BallFiend was the trouble-maker but he was finally asleep by 9.15 pm.
Next instalment - Day 3 at the Chinese Friendship Garden and the Powerhouse Museum and Day 4 at Taronga Zoo.
--
Friday, March 30, 2012
Flying turtles
A guest post from DeepSpice who overheard this on the way to school/creche today...
BallFiend: The mosquito flew out [of the car]!Postscript:
Thumper: Mosquitoes don't have wings!
BallFiend: Yes they do - tiny ones.
Thumper: Not big wings like turtles!
Tonight, I was reliably informed by Thumper that turtles have "flappers". When I corrected her and suggested "flippers" might be what she meant, she asserted that "no, they have flappers!" Apparently, after the above conversation on the way to school, BallFiend explained some turtle-anatomy to Thumper. She then told me that penguins have flappers too.
So now you know.
--
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Dirty words
"But I like being dirty Mum! Don’t you like my dirtiness?"
- Thumper, after smearing the middle of her cheese-and-vegemite sandwich all over her face and hands, then rubbing the bread into crumbs and scattering them all over the floor.
As annoyed as I was with the mess, I was impressed with her grammar.
--
- Thumper, after smearing the middle of her cheese-and-vegemite sandwich all over her face and hands, then rubbing the bread into crumbs and scattering them all over the floor.
As annoyed as I was with the mess, I was impressed with her grammar.
--
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The washing-folding experience
Scene: DeepSpice and Stompy are folding washing whilst watching TV. A pile of folded washing is gradually growing larger in the middle of the couch.
DeepSpice holds up a quilt cover cover.
DeepSpice: Please hold this.
The doona cover brushes against the pile of folded washing. A pair of Stompy's socks falls to the floor.
Stompy: You just knocked my socks off.
It had to be said.
--
DeepSpice holds up a quilt cover cover.
DeepSpice: Please hold this.
The doona cover brushes against the pile of folded washing. A pair of Stompy's socks falls to the floor.
Stompy: You just knocked my socks off.
It had to be said.
--
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Engineering the situation
Thumper went over to the duplo tower that BallFiend had built sometime earlier. She picked it up and smashed it into a zillion pieces. Then she started building a new tower, whilst thinking aloud:
In Thumper's defence, I feel it necessary to point out that the duplo was given to Thumper for her second birthday by Gran and GrandPaul.
--
BallFiend's going to be upset I broke his tower.Luckily BallFiend wasn't around when this happened and didn't even notice the destruction and rebuilding of his tower.
I'll say 'Sorry it was an accident.'
And I'll say 'I'm fixing your tower for you.'
And BallFiend will say 'Thank you'.
In Thumper's defence, I feel it necessary to point out that the duplo was given to Thumper for her second birthday by Gran and GrandPaul.
--
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Eyebrows
Thumper: "Purple matches your eyebrows."
Me: Why?
Thumper: "Because your eyebrows are pink."
--
Me: Why?
Thumper: "Because your eyebrows are pink."
--
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Just a little help please
At Gran and GrandPaul's house this morning, Thumper had selected a car park/garage toy and a little toy car to play with. She was trying carry them from one room to another, but was having trouble because the car park/garage toy is very heavy. "Gran!" she called out, "Can you help me carry please?"
When Gran went to help, Thumper handed her the little toy car and continued to struggle with carrying the car park/garage toy herself.
--
When Gran went to help, Thumper handed her the little toy car and continued to struggle with carrying the car park/garage toy herself.
--
Monday, February 27, 2012
School work - a boat
After school on Friday, BallFiend was telling us about his day. He said he had made a boat using "those blocks that you nail into a piece of foam" and was trying (with some difficulty) to describe what he had done. So I suggested he draw us a picture.
Everything in this picture is BallFiend's drawing, except for the two trapezoid shapes which he asked me to draw. (The scribbled-out shape on the left is his first attempt at a trapezoid that he was not happy with!)
After drawing the boat, he added the "half-a-circle shape" (ie. semi-circle) and the "circle with a face on it" at top of page when he was explaining that there were other blocks available but he didn't use them.
I thought his teacher Nerida might be interested to see this drawing, so I emailed it to her and this morning she sent me back a photo of his original boat:
I'm still not quite sure where this is all leading... maybe he's going to be a boat builder or something. (And given the amount of rain we have had today, we might be needing an ark!)
And I'm yet to find out from BallFiend what the yellow circle represents, but I do like the way that, amongst all the angular blocks, he has ensured that his favourite round shape is included.
--
Update, 28 February: I found out that the yellow circle is the propeller. Duh!
--
Big or small, either way it's impressive
I have to thank ThingMaker for tipping me off about this one...
The Scale of the Universe 2 is an interactive that shows just how big and just how teeny-tiny things in the Universe are. After spending most of the evening exploring it the other night, I knew that BallFiend would love it. But I hadn't realised just how much he would love it.
When I showed it to BallFiend tonight, he was so overwhelmed by how awesome it is that he was almost speechless... for a long time, the only phrase he could manage was "Oh Man!" over and over again. Eventually he was also able to manage a few more phrases: "Go bigger, go bigger!" and "Go smaller, go smaller!". After a solid 45 minutes of exploring the scale of the universe, we finally had to drag him away to bed.
And which bit was the best? Seeing all the ball-shaped stars, each one bigger than the next - of course!
--
The Scale of the Universe 2 is an interactive that shows just how big and just how teeny-tiny things in the Universe are. After spending most of the evening exploring it the other night, I knew that BallFiend would love it. But I hadn't realised just how much he would love it.
When I showed it to BallFiend tonight, he was so overwhelmed by how awesome it is that he was almost speechless... for a long time, the only phrase he could manage was "Oh Man!" over and over again. Eventually he was also able to manage a few more phrases: "Go bigger, go bigger!" and "Go smaller, go smaller!". After a solid 45 minutes of exploring the scale of the universe, we finally had to drag him away to bed.
And which bit was the best? Seeing all the ball-shaped stars, each one bigger than the next - of course!
--
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Mad as hell
DeepSpice and I are very unhappy with BallFiend today. Actually that's putting mildly. We are furious...
Up until he started school, BallFiend had a swimming lesson every Monday morning at the civilised time of 11 am. Then, a few weeks before he started school, I moved heaven and earth to secure a weekend lesson time for him.
In the end, the only time available was at the very uncivilised time of Sundays at 9am. I considered not doing swimming until a less-masochistic lesson time became available. But the staff member at the pool talked me around:
Early this morning, I roused everyone in the house so we could get BallFiend to the pool on time. DeepSpice agreed to take him and I stayed home with Thumper. I warned DeepSpice about how the pool staff have mucked up a lot of lesson bookings and that if for some reason they don't have BallFiend booked in, he should throw a proper tantrum about it.
As it turned out, it was BallFiend who was the problem, not the administratively-challenged pool staff. At 9.05 am, I got a message from DeepSpice saying that BallFiend is refusing to go in the pool. At 9.22 am, I got a second message: "We are coming home..."
So, today we wasted $12.00 on a swimming lesson that BallFiend wouldn't participate in and got up early on a Sunday morning for nothing. Now DeepSpice and I are racking our brains trying to come up with a 'natural consequence' that will fit the behaviour. It all seems so pointless. That Sunday morning sleep-in is something we can never get back.
--
Up until he started school, BallFiend had a swimming lesson every Monday morning at the civilised time of 11 am. Then, a few weeks before he started school, I moved heaven and earth to secure a weekend lesson time for him.
In the end, the only time available was at the very uncivilised time of Sundays at 9am. I considered not doing swimming until a less-masochistic lesson time became available. But the staff member at the pool talked me around:
- The instructor for the Sunday 9am lesson was a man that had been a fill-in teacher once or twice before and BallFiend had liked him.
- We would still have our whole Sunday free to do other things. (Compared with an 11 am lesson that basically writes-off the entire day.)
- I also thought that since we have to be at school by 9am five days a week, having to be somewhere by 9am on a Sunday would help to keep us in the routine.
Early this morning, I roused everyone in the house so we could get BallFiend to the pool on time. DeepSpice agreed to take him and I stayed home with Thumper. I warned DeepSpice about how the pool staff have mucked up a lot of lesson bookings and that if for some reason they don't have BallFiend booked in, he should throw a proper tantrum about it.
As it turned out, it was BallFiend who was the problem, not the administratively-challenged pool staff. At 9.05 am, I got a message from DeepSpice saying that BallFiend is refusing to go in the pool. At 9.22 am, I got a second message: "We are coming home..."
So, today we wasted $12.00 on a swimming lesson that BallFiend wouldn't participate in and got up early on a Sunday morning for nothing. Now DeepSpice and I are racking our brains trying to come up with a 'natural consequence' that will fit the behaviour. It all seems so pointless. That Sunday morning sleep-in is something we can never get back.
--
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Not enough balls
Over the past week I have watched enthusastically as various friends' shared stories about their young'uns starting school. I loved seeing the photos (as they gradually trickled in on Facebook) of teeny kids burdened under enormous back packs, faces lost under hats with brims the size of beach umbrellas. Little Miss L particularly notable in her school dress with a giant 1970s-esqe collar. (Actually the collar was normal size, but Little Miss L is very petite.)
And so I watched, and waited for our turn.
Although Term 1 officially started on 1st February, most schools had one or two student-free days while they got themselves organised. Then (at many schools), kids started on 2nd or 3rd February. A few delayed even longer until 6th February. But at BallFiend's school, the preps didn't start until today, 7th February. The last six days has probably been the second-longest wait of my life, second only to waiting for BallFiend and Thumper to be born (Thumper was a lazy 5 days overdue and BallFiend a very reluctant 10 days overdue!)
So finally today, we got to experience it for ourselves: BallFiend's first day of prep! Thankfully, he had a great day. (And so did I!)
Thumper got the day underway at 6.40 am with a rousing scream and much wailing from her cot, trashing my plan to get up at 6.45 am, shower and dress before waking the kids at 7.00 am. Still, everything went pretty smoothly and we were all ready to leave at 8.10 am (20 minutes ahead of schedule... but only because I had decided to drive for the first day, rather than risk having BallFiend arrive already exhausted from walking/scooting the 2km to school. Eventually, we will be walking/scooting/cycling and leaving at 8.15 am).
We parked a few blocks away (outside another SaxomophoneSu's house - more on that later) and walked down to school. Or rather I walked, pushing Thumper in the stroller. BallFiend skipped along (proper, big skips with serious air!) and an enormous, cheesy grin spread right across his face (though I had to bend down and peer under the enormous brim of his hat to see it). I now know that 'ear-to-ear grin' is not just an idiom!
We arrived at school at 8.35 am. BallFiend went straight up to his teacher and said "Hello Nerida!" and she promptly informed him that she had lots of balls and marbles ready for him to play with. She had also labelled his bag-hook with a green name-tag. (Nerida has clearly been reading BallFiend's Transition Statement, good teacher.)
We went into theclassroom learning community and looked around. BallFiend soon located:
A few of BallFiend's creche friends arrived, but all the kids were to shy or emotional or plain excited to say hello, so we continued to explore the room. As more families arrived to drop off kids, the room became more chaotic. Then the bell rang, so Thumper and I said goodbye to BallFiend and left. No tears - from him or me.
Thumper on the other hand... first she had a tantrum because she wanted to go to the "playeen'ground". And then because "I want BallFiend to give me a cuddle!". However we continued on to our next stop: a champagne breakfast at SaxomophoneSu's house. Apparently it is customary for prep parents to have a champagne breakfast (or 'beers and tears') after first-day drop off, though I didn't know this until I got the invitation from SaxomophoneSu. She had invited all the families who had had children at creche together last year.
It was a lovely morning (which, for some of us, extended on into the afternoon on account of the champagne!) - the perfect thing to do in honour of our little preppies' first day of school. Thumper had a wonderful time grazing away on all the yummy food and playing with MasterC's toys. By late morning, it was just myself, SaxomophoneSu and RainbowSerpent left and we got into a music-sharing mode, initiated by RainbowSerpent showing us Somebody that I used to know by Gyote followed by a very impressive cover by Walk off the Earth), then listening to various recordings of SaxomophoneSu playing in her various bands.
I arrived home a little after 1.00 pm, just in time for Thumper to have a nap before going back to school to collect BallFiend.
Based on what most other parents have told I was expecting I would be picking up an over-tired child who would be unlikely to tell me anything about his day. So I was pleasantly surprised when my boy emerged from his room, still wearing the ear-to-ear grin. He didn't immediately tell me much about his day, but over the rest of the afternoon and evening, I was given lots of details, including:
And so I watched, and waited for our turn.
Although Term 1 officially started on 1st February, most schools had one or two student-free days while they got themselves organised. Then (at many schools), kids started on 2nd or 3rd February. A few delayed even longer until 6th February. But at BallFiend's school, the preps didn't start until today, 7th February. The last six days has probably been the second-longest wait of my life, second only to waiting for BallFiend and Thumper to be born (Thumper was a lazy 5 days overdue and BallFiend a very reluctant 10 days overdue!)
So finally today, we got to experience it for ourselves: BallFiend's first day of prep! Thankfully, he had a great day. (And so did I!)
Thumper got the day underway at 6.40 am with a rousing scream and much wailing from her cot, trashing my plan to get up at 6.45 am, shower and dress before waking the kids at 7.00 am. Still, everything went pretty smoothly and we were all ready to leave at 8.10 am (20 minutes ahead of schedule... but only because I had decided to drive for the first day, rather than risk having BallFiend arrive already exhausted from walking/scooting the 2km to school. Eventually, we will be walking/scooting/cycling and leaving at 8.15 am).
We parked a few blocks away (outside another SaxomophoneSu's house - more on that later) and walked down to school. Or rather I walked, pushing Thumper in the stroller. BallFiend skipped along (proper, big skips with serious air!) and an enormous, cheesy grin spread right across his face (though I had to bend down and peer under the enormous brim of his hat to see it). I now know that 'ear-to-ear grin' is not just an idiom!
We went into the
- The "Earth ball" (globe of the Earth).
- The 'jingly balls'.
- The basket of marbles.
- A spherical colander (of all things!) which he was completely fascinated by. (I have to admit, I was curious too... never seen anything like that before).
Thumper on the other hand... first she had a tantrum because she wanted to go to the "playeen'ground". And then because "I want BallFiend to give me a cuddle!". However we continued on to our next stop: a champagne breakfast at SaxomophoneSu's house. Apparently it is customary for prep parents to have a champagne breakfast (or 'beers and tears') after first-day drop off, though I didn't know this until I got the invitation from SaxomophoneSu. She had invited all the families who had had children at creche together last year.
It was a lovely morning (which, for some of us, extended on into the afternoon on account of the champagne!) - the perfect thing to do in honour of our little preppies' first day of school. Thumper had a wonderful time grazing away on all the yummy food and playing with MasterC's toys. By late morning, it was just myself, SaxomophoneSu and RainbowSerpent left and we got into a music-sharing mode, initiated by RainbowSerpent showing us Somebody that I used to know by Gyote followed by a very impressive cover by Walk off the Earth), then listening to various recordings of SaxomophoneSu playing in her various bands.
I arrived home a little after 1.00 pm, just in time for Thumper to have a nap before going back to school to collect BallFiend.
Based on what most other parents have told I was expecting I would be picking up an over-tired child who would be unlikely to tell me anything about his day. So I was pleasantly surprised when my boy emerged from his room, still wearing the ear-to-ear grin. He didn't immediately tell me much about his day, but over the rest of the afternoon and evening, I was given lots of details, including:
- There was a red ball, and a blue bouncy ball, and a few yellow balls that bounced and a red ball that bounced and blue ball that bounced and a painted netball that was blue and a yellow netball and that was it. That's all the balls. And a few tennis balls. (Me: Not many balls then?) And little, round balls that kids were newsing [that's how BallFiend says 'using'] as tennis balls and that was about it. (So not enough balls at school?) No. (What about in your room, where there balls in there?) There was only marbles and two jingly balls and a metal cylinder that you could roll around with something in it.
- There was red, blue, yellow, green, purple and orange... We a colour wheel [in art class] to colour-in. There was only pencils, crayons and textas. There was no paints.
- A boy pushed and shoved me, and then he smacked me. (Why?) Because I was already sitting down and he said that was where he was sitting and he wanted me to move. And I told him I was there first. I said 'why don't you sit behind me' but he kept pushing me so I told the teacher. And then the teacher smacked him. (I don't believe that, teachers don't smack children. What really happened?) Nerida said we will all have to help each other learn the right way to behave.
- I did the cooking and the cooking was very fun and I had glubs [gloves] on to protect my skin. (What did you cook?) Pasta! (His cheesy, ear-to-ear grin suddenly - and impossibly - widens) And I cooked some! It was for lunch and little lunch. It was brown pasta. (And what did you put on the pasta?) Bolognese sauce. (Who did the cooking?) Me! (And did one teacher help? Which teacher?) Nerida. (Where's the kitchen? Where did you do the cooking?) It was in the storeroom and they got it out. It was just a small kind of stove and they just wheeled it out. There was enough for every kid!
- I love my buddy (Aaron, an older child assigned to show BallFiend the ropes). He is my best friend. He took me to play on an old slide, near the place where you are not allowed to go. (I assume he is referring to the front area of the school which is off-limits to the kids). He likes the same song I do. He likes Party Rock Anthem!
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Sculpting reality
Thumper is busily playing with playdough...
"What are you making now?" I ask.--
"That is a pile of dog poo." she states, in a very matter of fact way.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Big Talk
Recently, BallFiend has become increasingly curious about bodies, specifically his and his peers (as is completely normal for his age). He wants to see how bodies are anatomically the same or different and to know all about they function.
A few weeks ago, when BallFiend had a friend was over for a play, things went a step further, beyond looking to touching. Just slightly freaked out, I decided I had to be a bit more proactive about educating him. I rang Parentline for some advice and, amongst other things, they recommended Talk Soon. Talk Often. A guide for parents talking to their kids about sex (published by the Department of Health in Western Australia) and a book Everybody's got a bottom by Tess Rowley.
Over the next few weeks, we had a few conversations about touching being OK if he does it to himself, but not OK if he is touching someone else. And I continued to answer many questions about bodies. At the library, when I went to pick up Everybody's got a bottom, I also found "So That's where I came from" by Gina Dawson.
Both books proved to be great hits with BallFiend. He absolutely loved "Everybody's got a bottom" - mainly the page where the two-year old sister has a nudie-run (sound familiar Thumper?). Initially I had thought that So That's where I came from would be too advanced for him as it is quite detailed. But he insisted that we read it. So I sat down and did as I was told. I didn't read it word for word, as a lot of the wording was too advanced. I paraphrased it and we talked about the pictures, which worked really well.
I have to say, despite perceiving myself as being quite open about sex, it was still a bit scary doing "The Talk" - and I mean the whole thing from start to end, not just bits and pieces in response to specific questions. But now that it's done, I have realised that BallFiend is a good age for it. He really does seem to only think about it in quite 'scientific' terms. It's not icky or weird or strange... yet.
I realise we are going to have to do The Talk many more times, but now that I have done it once, I know it will be easier to do again. And after reading Mummy how are babies made? in The Age today, I am now feeling really glad that BallFiend already has the basics at age 5, so I don't end up explaining it for the first time over dinner at a restaurant. (Although, no doubt, I will end up answering many other more-embarassing questions instead. Just hopefully nothing like the situation Catherine Deveny describes in her book Free to a Good Home where she tells of her son asking her at the family dinner table if she masturbates (p.155 if you want to read it for yourself! It's very funny reading that will make you squirm).
Postscript:
One thing that I have become increasingly annoyed about when trying to find suitable books/resources on the topic for BallFiend is the lack of things suitable for pre-school aged kids. This is in fact exactly why Everybody's got a bottom was published. But so far I haven't found anything else that is both age appropriate. (So That's where I came from is really aimed at kids aged about 9 years or older.) There are plently of non-fiction books for young kids that explain how human bodies work, usually structured with a page per body system. They happily explain respiration, circulation, digestion, skin, senses, bones, muscles and even the urinary system, but not a single one has a page on the reproductive system. This contradicts the advice given in resources like Talk soon. Talk often. which recommends that parents normalise genitals by talking about them as just another part of the body.
--
A few weeks ago, when BallFiend had a friend was over for a play, things went a step further, beyond looking to touching. Just slightly freaked out, I decided I had to be a bit more proactive about educating him. I rang Parentline for some advice and, amongst other things, they recommended Talk Soon. Talk Often. A guide for parents talking to their kids about sex (published by the Department of Health in Western Australia) and a book Everybody's got a bottom by Tess Rowley.
Over the next few weeks, we had a few conversations about touching being OK if he does it to himself, but not OK if he is touching someone else. And I continued to answer many questions about bodies. At the library, when I went to pick up Everybody's got a bottom, I also found "So That's where I came from" by Gina Dawson.
Both books proved to be great hits with BallFiend. He absolutely loved "Everybody's got a bottom" - mainly the page where the two-year old sister has a nudie-run (sound familiar Thumper?). Initially I had thought that So That's where I came from would be too advanced for him as it is quite detailed. But he insisted that we read it. So I sat down and did as I was told. I didn't read it word for word, as a lot of the wording was too advanced. I paraphrased it and we talked about the pictures, which worked really well.
I have to say, despite perceiving myself as being quite open about sex, it was still a bit scary doing "The Talk" - and I mean the whole thing from start to end, not just bits and pieces in response to specific questions. But now that it's done, I have realised that BallFiend is a good age for it. He really does seem to only think about it in quite 'scientific' terms. It's not icky or weird or strange... yet.
I realise we are going to have to do The Talk many more times, but now that I have done it once, I know it will be easier to do again. And after reading Mummy how are babies made? in The Age today, I am now feeling really glad that BallFiend already has the basics at age 5, so I don't end up explaining it for the first time over dinner at a restaurant. (Although, no doubt, I will end up answering many other more-embarassing questions instead. Just hopefully nothing like the situation Catherine Deveny describes in her book Free to a Good Home where she tells of her son asking her at the family dinner table if she masturbates (p.155 if you want to read it for yourself! It's very funny reading that will make you squirm).
Postscript:
One thing that I have become increasingly annoyed about when trying to find suitable books/resources on the topic for BallFiend is the lack of things suitable for pre-school aged kids. This is in fact exactly why Everybody's got a bottom was published. But so far I haven't found anything else that is both age appropriate. (So That's where I came from is really aimed at kids aged about 9 years or older.) There are plently of non-fiction books for young kids that explain how human bodies work, usually structured with a page per body system. They happily explain respiration, circulation, digestion, skin, senses, bones, muscles and even the urinary system, but not a single one has a page on the reproductive system. This contradicts the advice given in resources like Talk soon. Talk often. which recommends that parents normalise genitals by talking about them as just another part of the body.
--
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Nobody's knocking
In the midst of another round of joke-telling (at BallFiend's insistence), I came up with this one. It was completely spontaneous: I didn't think it up before telling it... the words just poured out of my mouth:
--
"Knock Knock. Who's There? Nobody. That's why I'm telling this joke myself."DeepSpice and BallFiend both loved it. I have to admit that I even made myself laugh!
--
Who's there?
Several times over the past week...
BallFiend: Knock KnockThen today...
DeepSpice/Me: Who's there?
BF: Boo!
DS/Me: Boo who?
BF: Don't cry, there's nothing to cry about.
Thumper: Knock knock. Don't cry. Knock knock. What are you crying about? Don't cry. Knock knock. Don't cry about it.--
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Can we fix it? Probably.
Thumper: Barb the boolder, can we fix it? Barb the boolder yes we can, no we can't.
BallFiend: Thumper, it's Bob the builder.
Thumper: Barb the boolder, can we fix it? Barb the boolder yes we can, no we can't.
BallFiend: Thumper, sing "Bob the builder"!
Thumper: Barb the boolder we can fix it.
BallFiend: No, sing "Bob. The. Builder."
Thumper: Barb the boolder no we can't.
BallFiend: Thumper!! Say "Bob".
Thumper: Bob.
BallFiend: Now sing "the"
Thumper: Boolder
BallFiend: No! Say "the"
Thumper: The.
BallFiend: Builder. Yes we can.
Thumper: No we can't.
BallFiend: No! It's "yes we can"!
Thumper: Bob the builder, yes we can.
Both kids then continued to sing together... sort of.
--
BallFiend: Thumper, it's Bob the builder.
Thumper: Barb the boolder, can we fix it? Barb the boolder yes we can, no we can't.
BallFiend: Thumper, sing "Bob the builder"!
Thumper: Barb the boolder we can fix it.
BallFiend: No, sing "Bob. The. Builder."
Thumper: Barb the boolder no we can't.
BallFiend: Thumper!! Say "Bob".
Thumper: Bob.
BallFiend: Now sing "the"
Thumper: Boolder
BallFiend: No! Say "the"
Thumper: The.
BallFiend: Builder. Yes we can.
Thumper: No we can't.
BallFiend: No! It's "yes we can"!
Thumper: Bob the builder, yes we can.
Both kids then continued to sing together... sort of.
--
Saturday, January 21, 2012
To state the obvious...
Thumper: "Miki makya bog!"
DeepSpice: "Miki makya bog?"
Thumper: "I'm playing a silly game, not talking to you!"
--
DeepSpice: "Miki makya bog?"
Thumper: "I'm playing a silly game, not talking to you!"
--
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Surprise delivery
Thumper, for the record: at ripe of age 2 years, 4 months, and 10 days, you did your first (proper) poo in the potty.
You were playing around out the back (having a quick 'nudie run' before bedtime), busily clipping pegs onto the side of the peg basket, when you suddenly called out saying you had a wee. So I called out to DeepSpice to get the potty! You sat on it for a few seconds and then stood up. "A wee, a wee!" you proudly declared, showing me the empty potty. I duly congratulated you for your efforts and went back to cleaning up after dinner.
About 5 minutes later, you called out again, so DeepSpice went to see what was up. "A wee on my bike" you helpfully informed him. So after your little ride-on toy was cleaned up, we again left you playing happily outside.
Ten minutes later and we were once again summoned - this time you were carrying your potty to the back door. "A poo! A poo in the potty!" I have to admit that I was skeptical. But sure enough, this time, you had delivered - there was indeed a poo in the potty. My first concern was where else there might be poo. But thankfully your feet were clean and that meant the surrounding area was (most likely) clear too.
Just between you and me, at this point in time, I am so completely over nappies and I can't wait till you no longer need them. So congratulations and keep up the good work!
--
You were playing around out the back (having a quick 'nudie run' before bedtime), busily clipping pegs onto the side of the peg basket, when you suddenly called out saying you had a wee. So I called out to DeepSpice to get the potty! You sat on it for a few seconds and then stood up. "A wee, a wee!" you proudly declared, showing me the empty potty. I duly congratulated you for your efforts and went back to cleaning up after dinner.
About 5 minutes later, you called out again, so DeepSpice went to see what was up. "A wee on my bike" you helpfully informed him. So after your little ride-on toy was cleaned up, we again left you playing happily outside.
Ten minutes later and we were once again summoned - this time you were carrying your potty to the back door. "A poo! A poo in the potty!" I have to admit that I was skeptical. But sure enough, this time, you had delivered - there was indeed a poo in the potty. My first concern was where else there might be poo. But thankfully your feet were clean and that meant the surrounding area was (most likely) clear too.
Just between you and me, at this point in time, I am so completely over nappies and I can't wait till you no longer need them. So congratulations and keep up the good work!
--
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