I had trouble with Freewebs this morning, so have decided to start blogging elsewhere...I'm hoping it will be a bit quicker, and I might get inspired to be a bit more regular.http://unschoolersanonymous.blogspot.comor try this link...Unschoolers Anonymous New Blog
I cleaned the kitchen windows today, inside and out, and the windowsill. Nothing earth-shattering in that, except they were so filthy...and I wondered at how I had let them get that way. Surely when I spend so much time in that particular spot I would notice when it starts to be difficult to see out of them.Or, maybe I just don't notice stuff as quickly as I ought to...or maybe, as in the case of the ownership labels (lol) DDA5 has written on our doors, I *see* it but I don't really want to be bothered trying to fix it. I could say something really profound right about now, but that wasn't my purpose in writing!The job's done, and it looks fantastic!DST1 helped too...he loves to help, and I am determined not to thwart that. He helped me make Pea and Ham soup this morning. He put the bacon bones in to the pot, added chopped onions, and he poured in the split peas. He shook the pepper on top, and I added the hot water.I love having him next to me helping in this way...what I don't love is leaving him to deal with the washing, and coming back to see what he's been up to in my absence.He'll usually come with me, but not today! He was very clear about wanting to stay inside. He climbed up on to the bench using the kitchen drawer handles...then proceeded to throw down all my little pottles of homeopathic pills, and anything at all he could find on the bench (luckily not that much, since I had removed everything for the cleaning).I cam back inside to him calling "Help...Mama...hot", and found he had turned on the hot tap, and with all the dishes in the sink it was squirting merrily all over the thrown items on the floor. It was a huge mess frankly, and I felt like a complete noodle for not taking him outside with me.After nearly two weeks of Sky TV (heaps of channels, at least 2 programmes on at a time that the children would like to watch, 24 hours a day), DSJ9 declared he is sick of cartoons. They had started to watch Animal Planet. Funny that that was always what he watched at other people's homes, but they hadn't found it yet- the cartoons were simply too engrossing, and always followed by yet another favourite show.Today he has barely watched it. He saved up and bought himself some samurai swords. He even read part of a book (Ghouls and Monsters) today, and regaled me with excerpts.DDA5 has still watched way more Sky than I would have chosen for her- but she has done plenty of other things besides. She willingly (enthusiastically begged to be allowed to) cleaned the outside windows, with the help of her little brother- who didn't sit in the bucket as I remember DDA5 doing at his age :0)
We all went to Rocket Park for a play...we probably haven't been there since DDA5 was DST1's age.It was tonnes of fun...But sad as well, for me, watching children at a maths class on Sunday afternoon, with a super-cool park next door!DH speculated that maybe they enjoyed it, like other children might enjoy a soccer team or a drama club...and I guess that might be so- but I bet not too many of them were offered a choice in the matter. I noticed they were all either Indian or Asian, and I supposed it is our rather lax (dumbed down) education system, that makes the parents suppose their child ought to be doing more.My children had no idea what was going on, but DDA5 commented on the way back to the car ,"Mum, if you have 4 and another 4 you have 8". I said Yes, and what would you have if you took 4 away from 10?"Oh, I can't take away, Mum!"Sure you can, "You have 10 lollies and Josh takes 4, how many have you got left?""Oh, is that all it means?", she asks, "I'd have 6!"
