It doesn’t seem possible but in just a couple of days the children will be back at school! Two of them will be in new schools and I think it is fair to say that Hpops is having a bit of a wobble – mostly brought on by getting all her uniform sorted and tried on!
We don’t seem to have been out lots and lots this holiday but we have been to the cinema, the beach, the theatre and bowling as well as trying out mini golf, various parks and a week in the Lake District. Whilst there we were able to visit my Mum, climb 2 fells, swim, Hopos and I went on a two hour trek where she was able to canter outside for the first time, Imp quad biked and Pixie had a riding lesson, as well as the kids trying out sailing a wayfarer with Mr T and us all have a climbing lesson with varying degrees of success. I was rubbish, the kids aired with the exception of Hpops who made it to the very top with no problems at all! Mr T was good but because I was rubbish he didn’t get very far. We also explored the pencil museum and the puzzling place which the kids enjoyed.
I am looking forward to the children going back, less arguing and less moans of ‘I’m bored!’ At the same time I think we all value the routine afforded to us by school and the novel of doing what we like is certainly wearing off with the incessant rain!
I have finally been able to set myself some realistic goals; I am working a couple of days a week this term and hope that I can continue to do so in the future and I would like to dovetail this with a SENCO qualification, which when the kids are settled will allow me to diversify. This is a cheaper and more sensible option that studying for a second degree, and instead I can buy lots of books and learn that way without the time and exam pressures brought about by courses! Being a SENCO (special needs co-oridantor) has been an area of interest for a while and now seems to be the right time to explore this with the view to having it all completed by the time Pixie is approaching secondary school!
This will be combined with writing and kid stuff and I am hoping that with some teaching chucked in that will keep me more than occupied and afford me the opportunity to keep up with the tennis world and ensure the dogs are well looked after. Our ‘puppy’ who is nearly 10 months old is now high and dopey. He loves the kid and they love him but he is a disaster area, he loves tennis balls and this seems to be the only way to entice him in at times!
Wishing all those starting new educational adventures a happy settling in – do your best and be you is the best advice I can offer anyone! I am partly looking forward to Hpops starting Year 7 – new opportunities and things to do but at the same time nervous. I hope she likes it and is happy and can thrive, that she makes the most of the options she is presented with and the same for Imp and Pixie, that they strive to do their best!
