Tag: Kids

Autism

This week Imp had an appointment with a local paediatrician, speech therapist, a trainee speech therapist and a representative of the local special needs charity. He was taken off for just over an hour by the speech therapist and her student. In the meantime Mr T and I were interviewed by the doctor. There were a whole host of questions, some based on the previous interview which took place in May last year and some that were specific to his recent behaviour and his daily routines. We talked about his friends, his school, his way of conducting himself at home, school and out and about. The appointment itself was only an hour but seemed a lot longer, it was intense and directed. Imp was later returning to us and was fidgety. After the doctors had time to discuss him and look over school reports we were called back in and were given his formal diagnosis. Autism Spectrum Condition (still known as ASD my most but in some areas the word disorder is being substituted for condition!)

Whilst the diagnosis itself wasn’t a huge surprise as we had been told at his previous appointment this was likely to be the case it is final, in the sense that he is now discharged from that clinic, those specialists are satisfied that he has Autism, albeit mild. They send a report to us, the Gp and his school and unless we need further social services report we just get on with it. School have to date been supportive but I know that now he has a formal diagnosis we may have to get him to attend some extra groups aimed at helping him understand social cues and explore his own emotions. I have had a couple of days to process and am now looking at ways of helping him cope with the things he currently struggles with.

As he is not good at talking about or recognising feelings in himself and others we will have to do some work on this. We have had a family chat today. Imp jotted down some things that make him happy, sad and worried as well as some of the things he thinks he does when he is feeling these things. We are hoping that by sharing these with Pixie and Hpops we can all recognise if a meltdown is approaching, if he needs to have some ‘alone’ time or if he is just happy. It helped them to ask questions of us and Imp to better understand him, and we have all agreed that it would be a good idea to attend a family session at a local special needs charity.

In some ways it is useful to have it all formally assessed, we know what we are dealing with and we can put in place some strategies to help, but we could do that anyway! For him it was important to know. He has begun to feel he is a bit different and to know that he has a recognisable condition that, with help, he can manage is helpful to him. The key thing for us is to ensure that none of the children see autism as a purely negative thing! Just the word often comes with connotations drawn from the media of extreme characters. You can’t tell by looking at Imp that he has autism, in fact for a lot of the time he seems either slightly excited or slightly grumpy, maybe a bit belligerent! For many his excitement which he struggles to control or his shouting out and so on look like bad behaviour. For me I have to learn to ignore the looks and comments of others who judge by appearances. If anything I have learnt to be more tolerant and understanding of others, maybe there is a reason that child is screaming.

One incident last year comes to mind, a routine visit to the dentist for a check up followed by painting on some veneer to protect teeth resulted in a screaming, crying meltdown battle lasting over half an hour! Despite is not tasting of much, no injection and so on Imp just couldn’t tolerate it, he wants to try again to his credit and we know he will have to be in the chair first otherwise we are likely to have a repeat performance. This incident could be judged as him being difficult, awkward or naughty but for him, someone in his personal space putting something in his mouth was just impossible. Loud noises, strong smells all have the same effect. Certain foods and sauces are now allowed to touch, he doesn’t want a dividing plate because he is too grown up but a suggestion given to us at his appointment was to use a ramekin – so far so good! We are also making him a do not disturb sign for his door so that when he retreats to his room for alone time no-one interrupts for half an hour. That way if he is feeling stressed it gives him time to calm down. We can also use music as a diversion or drama but we are still learning!

We are not viewing this as a negative thing, indeed it is a part of what makes Imp Imp! I am not saying it is easy or fun and that I am not struggling with the fact that I have to teach him a lot more and prepare myself for worse tantrums and struggles ahead, but having talked as a family today and having an open dialogue has convinced me we can move forward. Of course there are some knock on effects. As his behaviour can be unpredictable school holidays need to be planned for Imp. Spontaneity is a no no for him so I will be ensuring that much of his time has a schedule! Indeed he says timetables make him happy, they are comfy! If he is happy the rest of us are likely to be happy too, there will still be the worry that something will happen while we are out, indeed this is now of the things the girls are worried about. I have to acknowledge it could happen, and if it does and he has a public meltdown then we have to deal with it and find somewhere quiet for him to calm down! Now we know for sure we can’t live the what if life, we have to be the when this happens we…

I managed to work full time in school last half term and did, for the main enjoy it. I was obviously more tired but fulfilled but with Imp now diagnosed I will need to ensure that any return to work dovetails my school holidays with his. This can be difficult so my choices are limited but at the moment I am still planning on doing my SENCO award, hopefully starting the year, then, by the time Pixie graduated to senior school I will be qualified. Many SENCO jobs are part time so might be more workable with Mr T working from home if there are a few days where I am at work and they are not at school. Whilst gaining my qualification I can work supply meaning if I am needed for the children I can be with them.

We did have some excitement this week when we finally got the delivery of our new bedroom furniture, we have wanted to replace our bed and mattress for a few years now, but now we have! Well in a way, the issue was that the bed and chest of drawers and so on were ready but the mattress wasn’t. This is OK other than the fact that the bed we now have is bigger, so the old mattress is now awkwardly placed and there is the content feeling of being in danger of falling off – hopefully the new mattress will be delivered in the next few days. I managed to order new bedding in the sale but can’t use it until it comes!

The yellow pup now seems to have found his paws, he is very confident and not at all worried about invading your personal space or making his feelings known. He and B have become good friends which gives our old lady time to snooze. while they chase each other around like lunatics! Next month Pixie turns 10 which seems like big number all of a sudden, Mr T will be doing a tandem parachute jump and Hoops will be going on two school trips! Life doesn’t wait around so we will just have to keep running to keep up!

There goes another Summer

This summer seems to have whizzed by in the blink of an eye, and not only because the weather has not always been as kind as it could have been. So being the first day back of school I of course ensured that everything was prepared and named and I just knew, that finally this year would be the year! This year all three children would be up on time and eager to go to school for something other than their lunch, the homework would be done on time and there would be no moaning about music practice for the instruments that they claim they want to learn! This year they would remember to bring home all of their sports kit, relevant books and even make sure that they return permission slips on time. Finally they would work out how to hang up their uniform or put it in the washing basket or return it to their wardrobe when it has been lovingly washed and ironed!

At that point the alarm went off and the questions began, have you seen my… can I take a snack… etc, etc. I am sure when I collect them at the end of the day the first question will be what is for dinner. My enquiries about their first day, friends, exciting new discoveries and so on will fall on deaf ears, although they will be able to tell me in detail what they have eaten for lunch and who they played with!

A change has happened though; Hpops is now a teenager – eek and even worse is the same height as me!! Imp is not going to senior school so Pixie is the only one left in the junior school. Not that she minds proclaiming that her brother was annoying anyway! There is the usual flurry of information evenings to contend with and the setting of routines, trying to get to grips with the extra curricular activities they want to pursue and then finding an extra day in the week to fulfil all of this. Still it is an exciting time – for Imp mostly as he begins his new adventure.

I can still remember when Hpops started, banished to the school gate on the first morning as she forged ahead alone to meet a friend, the same scenario was repeated with Imp today, as it did with many other new staters. It is with a mixture of pride,fear and sadness that I watched as he (and Hpops) disappeared through the gates without so much as a look back. Pride in that they tackle the new year with confidence and have some sense of independence. Fear for the journey ahead, who knows how smooth the transition will be, newly diagnosed as being ‘on the spectrum’ means sensory overload and new routines can be problematic for Imp but I have to hope he finds his way through the first few days. Sadness, like Hpops before him he no longer needs to me to collect him and drop him off ( except of course when his school bag is too heavy!), homework is down with minimal parental involvement and friends become more important in day to day life. Of course in many ways this is all good as they slide through life and take on new challenges!

This summer they managed to pack in a lot, 2 stage schools, a bushcraft camp and a trip to Devon. I can highly recommend West end Stage School located in Guildhall, they were up, on a train and eager every single day of camp. (wish that could rub off for term time!) They met wonderful people, cast from the shows and learnt how to do make up, take a decent headshot, but most important they had fun. They got to perform on a West end stage and Imp enjoyed it saying he felt like crying when the company was given a well deserved standing ovation! They met new friends and with the wonder of modern day technology even though some go them live abroad they can keep in contact. They were reunited with friends made on holiday last year and it was like they had never been apart. (To be honest they hadn’t as they are on face time all the time!) but tears and hugs were exchanged and saying goodbye at the end of the week was hard for them.

I did feel strange this summer, my role mostly consisted of taking the children to places and collecting them again, ensuring they had lunch and drinks and sun cream and so on. We did go to some parks, a beach and spend time together but in the main the wanted to go and do things with people their own age and I guess that is how things progress. Gone are the days of toys sprawled all over the floor, dinner being pureed and yelling in the garden! I am in the main proud though, they are growing up, becoming independent, learning life skills and I get to watch!

I am still waiting for them to tidy their rooms, read the draft of the novel I gave them at the beginning of the year and actually do their homework of course but until then…

Chasing dreams and … Pokemon

Summer holidays 2016 have already started for us and as a result we have been out exploring. As much as I hate to admit it this exploring has been somewhat helped by the release of Pokemon go! The opportunity to go somewhere new, set a lure, take down a gym and maybe get a new or elusive Pokemon seems to be the way to get the kids out of the house. Indeed Pixie now seems intent on leaning how to ride her bike properly so that she can join the other two (with an adult of course) on Pokemon hunts further afield. Not only can you cover more ground and collect more Pokemon on your bike but you can hatch those all important eggs.
I have taken a ‘if you can’t beat them join them’ attitude but have found the game surprisingly addictive. I’m not sure the this is a phenomenon that is going to stick around but for now it is getting the kids out of the house and actually looking at things. We have had two recent visits to parks and they actually looked at the flowers and sculptures whilst there.
One of the things we are really looking forward to is the release of the BFG, we’re going on Friday to see it and the children have already signed up to the Dahl themed summer reading scheme in the local library. Even more excitement has been created – following on from the book bench trail a couple of summers ago this year there are dream jars scattered around London. We have pencilled in a couple of dates to see as many as possible, one trail following the journey Sophie and the BFG take around the palace and Hyde Park, which Pixie is particularly excited about. We’re doing that one once we have seen the film. We’re are going to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (thanks to Kids Week) at the end of the holidays so we can find some in the Covent Garden area then. So tomorrow we’re searching around St Pauls and maybe the Southbank area too. Great to see the different jars and get the children to experience the sights of London, something we sometimes take for granted.
Thanks to Pokemon it sounds as if I need to take a picnic and find somewhere warm to sit with a Pokestop so they can catch some Pokemon but in some ways this is no bad thing. It gives us a chance to recharge our batteries and enjoy the green spaces in London as well as saving me money. Taking sandwiches and crisps is much cheaper than buying them on the go! Win! Win!
Definitely making the most of the good weather as who knows how long it will last, not long according to the forecasters and with two summer camps and a holiday booked in the days will pass by rapidly. Writing seems to be on hold (again!) but with little teaching lined up for September I have several outlined projects to progress. The kids book is nearly ready to go, just waiting on the kids to give me some feedback and do the edits and have planned on a proper working day from September setting proper deadlines for myself as otherwise I tend to just prevaricate, end up doing errands and not getting anywhere -not going to have a huge career in publishing that way!
For now I will concentrate on giving the kids a great summer holiday, before we know it it’l be gone and routine can take over, in the meantime we’ll enjoy getting out and about and hopefully having some great adventure and memories that last.

http://www.visitlondon.com/bfg

Making Plans

It occurred to me recently that soon I will have two children in double figures and whilst that is scary,(makes me feel old!) it also gave me pause to stop and reflect on all they have achieved so far. All three are doing well at school and starting to think about what they enjoy and what they want to spend their time doing. Sometimes it seems all they want to do is play minecraft and go onto devices but it seems that many of their friends are doing the same thing. At the same time they do do a fair bit of exercise so can’t complain too much. Relationships are changing though, they are no longer dependent on me to cater to their every need, they can pour their own drinks, make a sandwich and so on. Nowadays it is more about getting them to various clubs, outings or school events on time. This is perhaps the biggest issue at times! All of them are getting to the age where peer pressure starts to appear and so the way they view themselves is changing. Gone are the days when I was allowed to choose their clothes, now they want to express themselves through their choices. Even pocket money is changing, apps track the jobs they have done and pays them so they are making more sensible choices and thinking more carefully about how to spend their money- valuable life skills. (we use Go Henry and so far so good.) Imp is continuing to overcome his Perthes and we all recently completed a 3 mile fun run -and as a family we are able to enjoy a bigger variety of outing. Despite the difficulties he has faced, and the ones we all faced as a family it seems strange to think of him in a wheel chair now. Although the memories are still vivid, and we remember the plaster trousers and downstairs bedroom it also seems to getting more distant, almost as if it happened to other people.

So all of this means that I need to take stock, I want to work now they are all at school all day. I have been back teaching and enjoying it and am looking at training to be SENCO which takes a year. Whether I do it in September 2016 or 17 depends on my work situation. If I manage to get a position 2-3 days a week which allows me to do it this year then I will do it. The main problem is finding a place that fits in with the kids holidays and activities. Imp is coming up to the transition of Year 6 and so don’t want to be too pre-occupied so if need be will hold off to help him through that. Pixie has another couple of years until that happens and Hpops is now well settled in senior school.

This leaves me with my writing, if I am honest that has taken a back seat recently. Last year I finished a draft of a kids book which still isn’t completely typed. (The computer eating some of the chapters and refusing to give them back didn’t help!) Tumbling 2 is planned but every time I start it, it doesn’t seem to flow properly and so keep latching onto other ideas and now have 3 or 4 projects that could be developed. So I considered what was holding me back? The answer wass pretty much myself. Fear of failure especially. What if the kids didn’t like the story I had created for them? What if the only reviews I get are bad? Does it matter? I don’t know these people and one way around it would be to use a pen name. I have been back to basics, using exercises to write character or setting sketches and weave them together. Using the ideas book to note things down as you hear snatches of conversations or see people out in the street.This way I can move forward. I know I need to do more research and flesh everything out a bit more as there is no excuse for lazy writing.

I have decided to try and pursue it again as a hobby, if it takes off and my career becomes one of a writer that is fine with me. If not I enjoy the act of creation and teaching is, for me a fulfilling occupation. I think sometimes letting go of expectations, stop worrying about others judgements and just doing something for yourself means you do a better job! So the years ahead look good,teaching where I can and potentially studying for a promotion, continuing with me psychology and philosophy studies and writing for myself. Maybe I will get a break like some of my friends who have gone on to have multiple book deals, or maybe the manuscripts will gather dust on a shelf but at least along the way I’ll have fun. As well as this I get to see the kids discover who they are, try new adventures and hopefully, now and again have these adventures in the real world – not the virtual one!

Up and running

So 2015 is drawing to a close as 2016 beckons. It is the time of year when we make promises to ourselves which if we’re lucky last a couple of days, maybe weeks or months!

Big news- as you can tell the site is refreshed and up and running again.
I end the year feeling blessed, the kids have had a fantastic Christmas and been very lucky thanks to generous friends and family. We have been to see Elf, the little Match girl and Disney on Ice as well as the New Star Wars film. Lots of dog walks in the woods and country parks and visits to family. The kids managed to fit in a trip to the pantomime as well with bowling and more dog walking to come before they return to school next week. I am lucky to have such wonderful friends and family around me and as I wandered through the local high street today with Pixie we saw man hunkering down in the doorway with a sleeping bag and another lady opposite struggling to sell the big issue, not everyone is as blessed. A couple of hot sandwiches and coffees later and I hope we made a small difference to those particular people today and they realised that they were not invisible.

This year seems to have flown by! Hpops and Pixie have both started new schools and Imp has moved up to the upper juniors. They all seem so small and yet are growing up quickly and as a parent I have found this the hardest thing to adjust to. How to be there when they need me, let them know they have my support whatever without crowding them and taking away their growing independence. Another challenge which never really faced my parents is keeping them safe online. All three of our children are adept at using computers, tablets and phones and enjoy playing games such as Minecraft and, understandably perhaps, want to share the experience with their friends! This can lead to problems though as they want to join other games. Despite several warnings and us checking regularly Pixie in particular wants to chat and join with others when she shouldn’t – this has led to us taking away all internet access at times.

Imp has been getting to grips with life post surgery and has loved being back doing fencing, football and rugby and is regaining his pre-perthes fitness levels. He is coming along at school although needs some help in some areas to fill in the blanks where he missed blocks of time. Pixie is going from strength to strength and seems to be doing really well with Maths, something that definitely doesn’t come from me!

Hoops has begun to settle and is not taking more responsibility for sorting herself out for school and has even managed to fit in and pass her violin exam. It has been a busy time of year and in many ways I am looking forward to 2016. Not because of any resolutions to keep fit or eat better or any of those things; ‘ life is for living and I want to enjoy it so a little bit of everything for me please!’2016 is the year I hope Imp continues to improve and has a great time, Pixie begins to realise hard work pays off and, for hpops just a happy school life. I am especially looking forward to a great holiday in the summer; a cruise with Mickey Mouse and seeing the sights of Italy and then a relaxing week in Portugal with fab friends!

I am hoping to get back in the writing habit, the ‘new’ writing journal is on the desk with the creative writing prompt book and I want this to be the year I realise my ambitions in that area alongside teaching and studying psychology! I have also agreed to try and complete my piano grade 1 before Hpops does her grade 2 -eek!

Then there are the concerts to come and plays, so far Strictly, The Cursed Child, Aladdin, another Disney on Ice and I am sure there will be more added as the year goes on. Not to mention the Science Museum sleepover and days out with the dogs and family. This year if there is one resolution I want to make it is to take opportunities when they come, don’t put it off- for tomorrow may never come! As my kids keep telling me when I do say no ‘YOLO!”

Happy Half term

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.

Not the start we were hoping for…

Now the children have been back for a few weeks it’s time for a look back to see how things have gone. Conclusion; things can only get better. There were a few early issues, kids not wanting to do their homework, getting a bit lost navigating around the school, leaving various bits of uniform behind – all to be expected. Then there were the ones that we weren’t anticipating -losing an entire sports bag, missing a piano lesson and problems with co-ordinating extra curricular activities.

Imp has settled quickly, the only real issue with him is ensuring that he does the work he is set to the best of his ability. He tends to rush! He has however made some new friends and is starting to join in the sporting life of the school again. His main issue seems to be pain in the right knee from time to time which we will investigate with the consultant in October. Pixie is settling down now as well and seems to enjoy her lessons, but had to have two days off thanks to a pesky bug last week.

Perhaps it is Hpops who has been the unluckiest. It is she who seemed to be settling OK. Fitting in homework is a challenge as there is a lot of it but she is getting there and is embracing many of the new opportunities open to her. However on Friday she fell over in a fencing lesson and the end result was a broken finger. She has returned to school today and seems to be coping well but she now has extra homework to do as well as a school competition tomorrow evening. The weekends are filled with stage crazy and for the next few Sundays orienteering. I am sure she will recover from the broken finger fairly quickly but at the same time it means she cannot participate in everything as fully as she would like.

This was on top of the bad news that the girls riding school had been closed, initially temporarily but now looks longer term as they have had to re-home the horses with winter approaching. As Hpops has been there since she was around 6 she is reluctant to try somewhere else. Of course with her fingers out of action for the moment the issue can wait for a few weeks. Unfortunately we can’t say the same for her violin playing, she is meant to be taking her exam at the end of this term and we are not sure yet if that will still be possible!

At the same time I have been seeking a solution to the best way to spend my time. It seems as if there were more options than I thought to becoming a counsellor and so I now have a plan A and a plan B so, for the moment, I am just going to see what happens in terms of teaching and then execute one of these plans. It doesn’t seem possible that it is only a couple of months until Christmas and already the kids are on warning that no more things will be given to them until then as otherwise we start running out of options. It is difficult to work out what to get them now they are getting older as many of the things they want are very expensive or impractical!

Here’s hoping that the next couple of weeks at school are more settled and that the kids can make good progress. Writing has been going fairly well. I am making progress with typing the first draft of the kids book and have also typed and edited another couple of chapters of Tumbles 2. At the moment there are lots of distractions and every time I get a spare few days something seems to happen to prevent me doing it – but hopefully before half term I will be able to get some steady writing done.

Then they were gone

Today marks the first day proper of the new term! Obligatory photo of new uniforms taken, bags packed with sparkly new stationery that is currently all labelled and games bags with clean and tidy kit! I know the enthusiasm expressed today by them all being ready by 730 probably won’t last and that when the homework and music and club regime kicks in the moaning will commence – but for now I’ll ride the wave of positivity!

It is strange as for half the summer term we were wishing for the holidays to start! We couldn’t wait for the routine to be broken and have some time to ourselves to be a family. Then by about halfway through the holidays we were wishing the kids could go back to school! Outings were becoming scarcer and expensive and they were fed up with each other and beginning to argue constantly!

Now they have gone back and the house suddenly seems big again. Instead of being full of noise and the kids and their friends and half of the stuff in their bedrooms lying around the house seems vaguely tidy! (My house will never be show home tidy!) Gone are the sounds of the kids playing, arguing or moaning, playing on various devices. These are replaced instead by me typing with the TV on in the background! Indeed I can finally make some progress on the full to bursting SKY box whilst editing but the TV is now on more for company than wanting to sit and watch all day! And there is the conundrum! Whatever we have we want something different! When I have to take the kids to school life revolves around the school run, homework and so on. I struggle to find time to write and so on but when I don’t have to take them we still have to do things and go places but at a much slower pace and I still don’t have time to write as the kids interrupt or we go out and spend time together! This means being more organised this year and making time. I know my school hours and although there will be additional days when I get asked to work I can add these into my writing schedule. I am aiming for at least two hours a day, even if it is research or note making or doing an exercise rather than new work on the novel(s) or editing! I think that on days that are relatively clear I will edit and write new stuff and on those days that are a bit more hectic the work will be more research based. I am aiming to plan the week ahead on Sunday so I can really keep myself working hard!

Having dropped the three of them and waved them in to their new adventures I had time to do a quick tidy, completed 30 mins of exercise without being interrupted and walked the dog. He was a bit put out as it his first walk kid free for a while, and he found himself walking quicker and therefore further than he has been used to over the summer! I have been able to catch up on some admin, sort out a few appointments and still have some time to do some editing on the kids book before going to collect them again!

I think though some of the reasons that I look forward to this – other than missing them of course, is that I get to hear about their days. All of them will have done different things and after weeks of being together for most of the time they will all have something to talk about, be it good or bad. First we have to run the gauntlet of the school family photograph. I return to work on Monday and will be balancing teaching and writing as well as all the kid stuff and I know I am lucky to be able to do so. Fingers crossed all the new starters have a good first day and come out keen to go and learn even more tomorrow!

The new Term approaches

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!

Growing up!

Last week Hpops turned 11! Somehow this seemed a bigger change than reaching 10, she was already in double digits but this year seemed to mark a shift from youngster to that much used moniker tween! She is very definitely rushing headlong to the teenage years and perhaps it is the fact that her birthday is in close proximity to the new school year and the changes that heralds this year that it seems such a jump!

She has received much more grown up presents this year, gone are the dollies and large toys, in are the crafts, more difficult Lego and vouchers are for things like Waterstones and I-tunes rather than Toys R Us. She is pleased in some ways but at the same time she is worried about growing up. As the oldest child she carries the burden of being the first to do everything and so must forge ahead on her own. First one to go to secondary school, something that many children have mixed feelings about as do many parents.

In many ways it should make life easier, technically she should be able to go to school and back by herself, neighbours of ours travel by bus or walk. We will probably end up giving her a lift as the school she will be attending is in close proximity to the junior school my younger two attend. In preparation however, she now has a door key and because she may need access to money we have visited the bank and she is having her very first very own account. This is rather scary as she will have her own bank account with her own cash card and if anything goes wrong with it she will have to sort it out herself!(with help obviously!)

I think in many ways this is a good thing, she will have to be responsible for her cash card and budget her pocket money and this should encourage her to think about what she is buying and if she really needs it! I do worry though that she will lose the card, lose the key, get the phone confiscated and then she’ll be back in the 90’s like me. I used to walk home without the aid of a phone, I did have a key but not a bank account but today standards are different and hopefully by the time she gets to college, uni or whatever it is she decides to do she will already be able to budget and look after herself financially! I am looking forward to showing her how it all works and you never know perhaps before the school holidays finish she can treat me to a coffee!

Secondary school awaits us, a new adventure, bigger school, new uniform and new people to meet. Lots of teachers to get used to and learn the names of and even some new subject areas to study. I am not sure how we are going to fit everything in as she wants to try out new things and I am sure homework will build up, then there is music practice to fit in and stage crazy Saturdays! Pixie as well starts juniors and will face some similar challenges, she will have to manager her time properly as she will have more homework and new teachers and subjects as well as new activities she wants to try out.

Imp should be able to participate fully now that his Perthes seems to be healing, although I am not counting on too much until after his next appointment and he has been experiencing some knee pain after more active days. This could be his muscles getting back to fitness as he has been running about more and is hardly limping at all. It is great to see him walking the dog, running with his friends and scootering about with confidence, very different from the previous two summers and I am hoping that this means he can enjoy PE and games at school again from September. He is looking forward to resuming fencing, football and I am looking forward to children being tired out and not complaining they are bored every five minutes!