Skip to main content

Dreaded homework

Poor Abi, she just doesn't make it easy for herself. The dreaded homework challenge has raised its head again after coming home this weekend with not one but four pieces of homework as well as a project which will last through the term. The problem arose when it became clear that at least one of these was because she hadn't finished her work in class so it's rolled over. Up until now if she didn't finish something it was generally either considered done or completed at another time in school. Not any more and that's a bit of a shock. So, we sit down together and instead if just getting in with it, we have tears and general procrastination. The whole thing is supposed to take 30 minutes but after 43 minutes all we've managed to do is regroup upstairs where Abi has taken refuge under her duvet to sob her heart out that "homework just isn't fair..." Maybe not but we've got years of it ahead so it better get used to it.

I started this episode practising my 'calm parenting' techniques "I'm here to help, I will be completely focused on you for the next 30 mins and this will be a bonding experience between Mother and Daughter". After 45 minutes of tears and tantrums I've had enough and I've reverted back to normal techniques of "oh for goodness sake, buck up and get on with it" not such a help after all.  We finally manged to get it done by leaving it until later in the day but it doesn't bode well for the future when we've got 2 of them doing homework and it takes longer than half an hour!

It didn't make it easier that Glenn was outside playing with his new toy. I blame Simon and Audrey for starting this by buying the kids toy helicopters for their Christmas present. Not unexpectedly they didn't last very long so Glenn has replaced them with a £200 all singing Quadcopter, compete with GPS and camera. It can go up 4000 feet and moves at 10m per second. Perfect for a 7 year old. Obviously at this point it's important we all understand how to use it, which basically means we've not been allowed to fly it while he shows us what to do. Apparently Glenn is planning to film me riding up Ventoux later in the year - something to look forward to (not!).

Other than this last week was dominated by back to work / school. The madness of term / work time is upon us again and I've got a busy few weeks of running around, evenings away and lots of different  client work to focus on which is both interesting and tiring in equal measures. As ever on a Sunday I look at my diary and wonder how I'll get through it all, but once I'm in the midst of it it's always fine. I said to the girls that I would be away a few nights to which their response was sweet "we'll miss you but we'll be fine Mummy". I feel the same.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Snow!

After a beautiful day of sunshine yesterday, today it snowed... but more of that in a minute. Yesterday actually felt like a day of much progress. Despite Covid we managed to arrange a visit to Taunton School to have a look around with the girls and to meet the Headmaster. This was a massive relief as I had got to the point of thinking we would have to accept a place without ever stepping foot inside the school. In the end we had a very comprehensive, if a little deserted, tour of the school and the kids loved it, as did we. There may even be a small chance they might squeeze us in if we are there by the summer term - that is of course if the kids are back into school by then. The other news was that I managed to speak to Mr &Mrs Tucker - the people buying our house - and we tentatively agreed that we will try and complete during the Easter holidays which could have us moving in the third week of April. This does require everyone to have got all of what they need done, and that of ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Busy, busy, busy

Full English brunch for these two! Life is VERY busy and I don't feel like we have stopped for weeks (or is that months?) It seems like the 'to-do' list is endless and while I know we don't have to do it all at once, I have taken on the unenviable task of trying to get the Muppet to finish all the work he promised / we have paid for and that has been like pushing a mountain of water up a very steep hill. We've got to the point where I think we have got all of what we are likely to get and the rest we'd rather finish ourselves anyway. The electric gates are clearly a work of his imagination based on the gates / the electric cables he spec'd and the cheapo motor mechanism - there is no way they'll work so we have decided to not bother and source proper gates that do the job and look better as well. Knowing that we are almost at a point where we sever the ties feels very liberating. Looking back this last 6 months has been incredibly stressful and just didn...
Post a Comment
Read more

Freya

So I write this with tears pouring down my face as I get ready to take Freya to the vets for the last time. We've just had a long cuddle and she's looking at me with those big trusting eyes - as far as she is concerned it's a normal day and I'm the person who keeps her safe, protects her from the world and makes sure there is a steady supply of porridge every morning. My darling Freya - so sweet in the house but so anxious and volatile when out of it. We've known this day has been coming for a while. We've had various run ins, all near misses because I've managed to hold her when we've met other dogs and she's gone nuts, but there are all the other things which I have tried to block out... The most recent of which was her snapping at Izzy when she bent down to give her a cuddle. Freya was asleep admittedly, but even so. I made the excuse to myself that her legs had been a bit sore that day and so it's because she might have been in pain rat...
Post a Comment
Read more