So half term has arrived and with the clocks turned back an hour the silly season is upon us. Halloween, then bonfire night and of course Christmas and New Year. As we entered the shops this week we were confronted with a variety of celebrations competing for our attention. The Halloween costumes and trick or treat sweets were stacked next to Christmas cards and wrapping paper and already e-mails with early bird offers have started appearing. Every time the kids see an advert they say things like ‘i’d like that!’
As a result we have told them that as none of them have an upcoming birthday we will be locking down on toys, books and clothes, anything they do want can go on a list for Christmas and maybe then we’ll have a good spread of ideas. They have already got a fair few ideas it seems but they are either really expensive or daft! It is hard to know what to get them as they are so lucky and seem to have so many things already. I think therefore that as we have already been collecting a few pieces throughout the year we won’t be adding too many things to the ever growing collection. Having explained this to them they seemed to understand. However as they are at different ages and stages we felt we needed to remind them that they would not necessarily get the same ‘amount’ of presents. The little two seem to have an idea that if one child gets something the others should as well! This seems to be a little short sighted on their part but I wondered if other children thought like this and if so what the parents did about it. As they are all different we have tried to accommodate their various interests. Horse riding required a lot of equipment and so when Hpops got something for that I did not reciprocate with the other children. Sadly following the closure of the riding school they attended Hpops seems to have decided not to pursue her riding further despite our offers to take her elsewhere. Similarly if Imp ever gets to the stage where he needs equipment for karting I would not purchase things of the girls.
Still half term has mainly consisted of the children carving pumpkins, arguing about what film to see at the cinema if we ever go, and visiting the Gunpowder Mills which was great fun! Imp had his latest appointment and we had good news. The femoral head looks to be growing back well in the right place and in the right shape with minimal leg length difference. Presuming this good progress continues we should be able to reduce to annual visits and again until April, unless fate intervenes, he can resume all sporting activities pain allowing, excepting only trampolining. His other leg where he has been getting some pain looks as it should on x-ray and so he is probably just experiencing growing pains.
Pixie has recovered from her tooth removal following her accident at school and it looks as if another adult tooth might finally be making an appearance. As we get towards the end of half term the kids are doing homework and music practice and enjoying the rest from the daily routine. Hoops managed to get good grades and they all have parent evenings approaching. I am still looking for a job that fits in with us but I am starting a course looking at autism with the OU with a view to extending this out to the degree or to a SENCO qualification. I am planing to participate in NANOWRIMO this year which starts on 1st November and hoping to get a way through a new novel. Halloween brings with it parties and dressing up and they are looking forward to fireworks the week after.
We have been looking at all of us trying to do something purposeful – the kids are at school, Mr T goes to work and I want to make sure that I am doing something more fruitful than watching the TV and playing games on the computer. Indeed I am teaching a bit, hopefully I can find something which allows me to teach regularly on contract so I have a bit more stability. I am doing some study and writing a bit but motivation has been lacking. That said I have noticed that I am deadline driven and I therefore need to set myself writing deadlines to ensure that I get the tasks done. As I haven’t set these deadlines I have prevaricated through years without finishing a draft properly, (other than the kids book!) and have several half finished manuscripts that could be good or not! So my first task is to finish Tumbles 2, then there is the creepy surveyor I started as well as the strange world I created for a group of characters that have to fight to stay together. Not my normal stuff and not sure where it is going but finishing it might help! So I am hoping to fill my days when the kids are at school with some of these tasks, whilst fitting in their various appointments and events so that I can once again feel fulfilled. I think I somewhat put life on hold once Imp was diagnosed as we weren’t sure how long it was going to affect family life. After two good appointments and six months without physiotherapy and everyone now settling into their new schools and routines I finally feel as if I can be me again and start over. Life is getting back on track. If there is anything I have learnt from the last couple of years it is that you never know what is coming. The best laid plans may never come to fruition but as I tell the kids -better to regret trying something that to not try at all.
