I have been thinking about this for the last week or so, and have decided its time for a break from educational escapades.
A few reasons for this - firstly, now I am working part time I seem to have so little time to sit and ponder at the computer, which is a real shame, but thats the way it has to be just now. I have this constant feeling that I'm not doing enough 'work', and there is always stuff to do.
Secondly, a lot of the time I'm struggling to find something to say. Not sure why this is - maybe because I'm using my writing skills in other areas and am exhausting them, or maybe its to do with how I'm approaching it, and related to my first reason - ie I'm rushing and its become a bit of a chore.
Thirdly, part of the reason I started the blog was to keep an overview on what we are doing and achieving, and 18 months in I'm a lot more relaxed about this aspect. I know we are doing 'enough' and I'm much more confident about the education A is getting.
I could go into lots of other reasons that have gone through my head, but I fear it would get quite boring.
Anyway, I'm hoping this wont be permanent - if I get my act together and improve on my time management I may get back into posting regularly, and I may post now and again little bits and pieces, but for now I wont be around much.
Thankyou to the followers and regular readers and commenters, its been great to have some feedback on what we're doing, I really appreciate it. I'll still be popping in to other blogs when I can because I love the HE blogging community, its been so helpful and supportive to me. Its so important when you're seemingly surrounded by people who think you're insane for HEing, to find people out there who understand and are also making it work for their kids.
So, bye for now!! X
Friday, 22 January 2010
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Happy Birthday A!!!
Today, A is 11.
She's having a few 'birthdays' this year - today with me; Sunday with her friends; next week with Granny (who is away just now); and at the end of the month with Nonna and Nonno when she goes to stay with them. Lucky girl :0)
We had fun today, a leisurely morning, out for lunch, a visit to see some friends, then it was back to drama class for A - something she had really been looking forward to. She's a happy girl and says its been the best birthday so far in her life.
11 seems like such a milestone to me, maybe because of how things changed for me when I was 11. I changed, grew up, an awful lot the year I was 11. I expect it had a lot to do with going up to secondary school, but I remember it being quite a drastic change. I discovered all sorts of new things when I was 11: the clash; smoking; boys; black eyeliner. My relationship with my parents also transformed, not in a good way. I can remember feeling a real shift away from them, and there was a lot of antagonism and resentment during the following few years. I'm pretty sure I wasn't a very nice person to be around.
I suppose this is why I have feelings of trepidation around A turning 11. Even though I know A is not me, and our relationship is very different to mine with my parents, I know that she will over the next few years move away from me and into her own world. Its not really the moving away that worries me, more the possibility of her shutting off from me and losing our connection.
I know I should stop looking for potential problems, always been my way - imagine the worst then at least you wont be disappointed!
I am very proud of A, of who she is and who she is becoming.
She's having a few 'birthdays' this year - today with me; Sunday with her friends; next week with Granny (who is away just now); and at the end of the month with Nonna and Nonno when she goes to stay with them. Lucky girl :0)
We had fun today, a leisurely morning, out for lunch, a visit to see some friends, then it was back to drama class for A - something she had really been looking forward to. She's a happy girl and says its been the best birthday so far in her life.
11 seems like such a milestone to me, maybe because of how things changed for me when I was 11. I changed, grew up, an awful lot the year I was 11. I expect it had a lot to do with going up to secondary school, but I remember it being quite a drastic change. I discovered all sorts of new things when I was 11: the clash; smoking; boys; black eyeliner. My relationship with my parents also transformed, not in a good way. I can remember feeling a real shift away from them, and there was a lot of antagonism and resentment during the following few years. I'm pretty sure I wasn't a very nice person to be around.
I suppose this is why I have feelings of trepidation around A turning 11. Even though I know A is not me, and our relationship is very different to mine with my parents, I know that she will over the next few years move away from me and into her own world. Its not really the moving away that worries me, more the possibility of her shutting off from me and losing our connection.
I know I should stop looking for potential problems, always been my way - imagine the worst then at least you wont be disappointed!
I am very proud of A, of who she is and who she is becoming.
Some of A's presents
Thursday, 7 January 2010
A slice of our day
I'm sitting at the computer, having a look at the badscience website (well worth a look), its about 11.50am.
A has been in her room all morning, took just an apple in there about 2 and a half hours ago for breakfast, informing me she was tidying her room.
She comes downstairs and picks up the stepladder.
Me: Are you going to have a bath now? Its just that we need to get out to the shops at some point, I thought we could go soon...
A looks around distractedly for a minute, then gives a big sigh
A: You know that artist, who locked himself away in a room?
Me: No, who's that then?
A: You know, the one who locked himself in a room so that he could create his masterpiece without interruption
Me: Oh, are you doing some artwork now? I thought you were tidying your room.
A: Well I was, but I finished and now I'm messing it up again
Me: By doing some art?
A: Yes
And off she went with the stepladder.
A has been in her room all morning, took just an apple in there about 2 and a half hours ago for breakfast, informing me she was tidying her room.
She comes downstairs and picks up the stepladder.
Me: Are you going to have a bath now? Its just that we need to get out to the shops at some point, I thought we could go soon...
A looks around distractedly for a minute, then gives a big sigh
A: You know that artist, who locked himself away in a room?
Me: No, who's that then?
A: You know, the one who locked himself in a room so that he could create his masterpiece without interruption
Me: Oh, are you doing some artwork now? I thought you were tidying your room.
A: Well I was, but I finished and now I'm messing it up again
Me: By doing some art?
A: Yes
And off she went with the stepladder.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Thank-you letters
I had reminded A several times yesterday that thank-you notes needed to be written quite soon for all the lovely Christmas presents she'd got, and she eventually took some up with her to write when she went to bed.
When I went in to switch her light off before I went to bed I had a look, and thought I was going to wake her up with my laughter!
She's letting me put a couple here:
When I went in to switch her light off before I went to bed I had a look, and thought I was going to wake her up with my laughter!
She's letting me put a couple here:
Dear _ and _,
Thank-you very much for the green crafts book, paint by numbers, socks and the vouchers. They will all be really fun, complicated, warm and spent!
To _
Thank-you very much for the ten pounds which I'm saving up for something good, and the beautiful top I'm wearing so much its a little bit smelly!
Love that girl :0)
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Art
Just wanted to share some of A's marvellous artwork:
I may be biased, but I think she's rather good :0)
I may be biased, but I think she's rather good :0)
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