Once there lived a little robin
outside a kitchen door.
He wanted so to go inside
and hop up on the floor.
oh No! said Robin's mother
you'd better stay with me
For little birds are safer
sitting in a tree.
I don't care said Robin
as he gave his tail a fling
I don't think that old folks know quite everything
So into the kitchen fastly
and quicker than a wink
a great big cat had caught him
because he didn't think.
Once a little trap was baited
with a little piece of cheese
It tickled so a little mouse
It almost made him sneeze.
And old grey mouse said "danger!"
Be careful where you go.
Oh Nonsense said the little mouse
I don't think you know.
Mousie walked in boldly
for nobody was in sight
First he took a nibble
Then a great big bite
And the trap snapped fast together
Faster than a wink
It cost poor mouse his life you know
because he didn't think.
Now listen little friends of mine
Who hear this little song
Cant you see what trouble comes
from simply doing wrong
So why not take a warning
from mouse and robin's fate
and let's begin our thinking
before it is too late
Read the Holy Bible,
it will teach you right from wrong
Give your heart to Jesus
Sing this happy song.
Then when Satan comes to tempt you
Just turn to GOd in prayer
For he is there to help you
For God is everywhere.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Today's Funnies
Oli: I got flower. It for mummy. (Mummy was sad and in a bookshop reading and browsing when daddy texted this to her).
Matt (Pointing to random object): GOOK!!!!
Steve says we're like characters in Dr Seuss. Ollie saying "Yook" and Matty saying "Gook" and us saying (in normal human English) "look".
Matt (Pointing to random object): GOOK!!!!
Steve says we're like characters in Dr Seuss. Ollie saying "Yook" and Matty saying "Gook" and us saying (in normal human English) "look".
The Preschool Letter
It finally came in the mail. I had anticipated it and we had talked about it. We were leaning towards not sending Ollie to preschool next year. But when the letter was in my hand, it was like my child was being accepted for a scholarship into a private school. Or the acceptance letter to a selective school. Or my acceptance into medicine at UNSW. The question then resurfaced: How could i not send him to preschool? It was only for two days (Thursday and Friday), it was near our place and Steve's work, it was a short day (9-3pm), and he would probably enjoy it.
We prayed about it. I asked my homeschooling friend for prayer. We asked Steve's parents for prayer. We prayed some more. I know that it is not a big deal. It's only preschool and maybe in a year's time I can look back on this and laugh, but at the moment it is an Important Decision. I saw all that I would miss if i didn't send him - more reasons: it's a great Christian preschool. The teachers are Christian. They are evangelical. They have small classes. It would give me 2 days of break. He would have friends. He would have a sandpit to play in. It would be a loving environment.
I agonised over this decision. I really did. Even though we had ALREADY pretty much decided against it before.
In the end it was really a point where I needed to make a commitment on homeschooling. If i was going to homeschool, then why did i need to send him to preschool? Preschool only has an advantage to prepare him for real school.
I have felt really convinced (& maybe convicted) about homeschooling. Particularly in this last week being on prac at a Public School, which is a 'good' public school, but not in my view. I definitely do not want my children to go to a public high school, so why a public primary school, and why a preschool?
I finally rang the preschool and took him name off for next year.
It was liberating.
I feel okay about it.
On the way home from high school (my prac) I had a moment of epiphany. The letter of acceptance really was like a letter of acceptance to a selective school/private school/medical degree. And you know what? If you were to ask me now what i would do with all those prestigious offers that I had accepted in the past (the best girls selective school in the state, the best girls private school, the best medical degree), I would GIVE THEM UP - In a heartbeat. Yes. I would give it up. There are MUCH more important things in life. And they were never the important things in my life. Had i not gone to a selective school and instead been homeschooled, I would have learnt so much more. I would have been much happier. I would have known what I wanted, which did not include doing medicine and instead would have included maths and having delightful boys. Which i do have now, but I did take a rather roundabout way of getting here.
We prayed about it. I asked my homeschooling friend for prayer. We asked Steve's parents for prayer. We prayed some more. I know that it is not a big deal. It's only preschool and maybe in a year's time I can look back on this and laugh, but at the moment it is an Important Decision. I saw all that I would miss if i didn't send him - more reasons: it's a great Christian preschool. The teachers are Christian. They are evangelical. They have small classes. It would give me 2 days of break. He would have friends. He would have a sandpit to play in. It would be a loving environment.
I agonised over this decision. I really did. Even though we had ALREADY pretty much decided against it before.
In the end it was really a point where I needed to make a commitment on homeschooling. If i was going to homeschool, then why did i need to send him to preschool? Preschool only has an advantage to prepare him for real school.
I have felt really convinced (& maybe convicted) about homeschooling. Particularly in this last week being on prac at a Public School, which is a 'good' public school, but not in my view. I definitely do not want my children to go to a public high school, so why a public primary school, and why a preschool?
I finally rang the preschool and took him name off for next year.
It was liberating.
I feel okay about it.
On the way home from high school (my prac) I had a moment of epiphany. The letter of acceptance really was like a letter of acceptance to a selective school/private school/medical degree. And you know what? If you were to ask me now what i would do with all those prestigious offers that I had accepted in the past (the best girls selective school in the state, the best girls private school, the best medical degree), I would GIVE THEM UP - In a heartbeat. Yes. I would give it up. There are MUCH more important things in life. And they were never the important things in my life. Had i not gone to a selective school and instead been homeschooled, I would have learnt so much more. I would have been much happier. I would have known what I wanted, which did not include doing medicine and instead would have included maths and having delightful boys. Which i do have now, but I did take a rather roundabout way of getting here.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Poetry
No Children!
by Edgar Guest
No children in the house to play--
It must be hard to live that way!
I wonder what the people do
When night comes on and the work is through,
With no glad little folks to shout,
No eager feet to race about,
No youthful tongues to chatter on
About the joy that's been and gone?
The house might be a castle fine,
But what a lonely place to dine!
No children in the house at all,
No fingermarks upon the wall,
No corner where the toys are piled--
Sure indication of a child.
No little lips to breathe the prayer
That God shall keep you in His care,
No glad caress and welcome sweet
When night returns you to your street;
No little lips a kiss to give--
Oh, what a lonely way to live!
No children in the house! I fear
We could not stand it half a year.
What would we talk about at night,
Plan for and work with all our might,
Hold common dreams about and find
True union of heart and mind,
If we two had no greater care
Than what we both should eat and wear?
We never knew love's brightest flame
Until the day the baby came.
And now we could not get along
Without their laughter and their song.
Joy is not bottled on a shelf,
It cannot feed upon itself,
And even love, if it shall wear,
Must find its happiness in care;
Dull we'd become of mind and speech
Had we no little ones to teach.
No children in the house to play!
Oh, we could never live that way!
by Edgar Guest
No children in the house to play--
It must be hard to live that way!
I wonder what the people do
When night comes on and the work is through,
With no glad little folks to shout,
No eager feet to race about,
No youthful tongues to chatter on
About the joy that's been and gone?
The house might be a castle fine,
But what a lonely place to dine!
No children in the house at all,
No fingermarks upon the wall,
No corner where the toys are piled--
Sure indication of a child.
No little lips to breathe the prayer
That God shall keep you in His care,
No glad caress and welcome sweet
When night returns you to your street;
No little lips a kiss to give--
Oh, what a lonely way to live!
No children in the house! I fear
We could not stand it half a year.
What would we talk about at night,
Plan for and work with all our might,
Hold common dreams about and find
True union of heart and mind,
If we two had no greater care
Than what we both should eat and wear?
We never knew love's brightest flame
Until the day the baby came.
And now we could not get along
Without their laughter and their song.
Joy is not bottled on a shelf,
It cannot feed upon itself,
And even love, if it shall wear,
Must find its happiness in care;
Dull we'd become of mind and speech
Had we no little ones to teach.
No children in the house to play!
Oh, we could never live that way!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
These precious years
Valerie Bendt writes, "Our children don't need special programs. They need us. These little ones are so precious. it's important that we give them lots of hugs, cuddles, and books read on laps. it's important for them, and it's important for us. They won't be little forever. Let's not one day regret that we did not spend more time enjoying our preschoolers".
Ollie will be 3.5 years old next Feb. The right age to start preschool. I've had him on the waiting list at a preschool near Steve's work since he was 6 months old. They're going to send me a letter offering a place (i think) in a month or two and I'm supposed to respond and let them know if I want to take the place or not. If they don't send me the letter, then all is good as there won't be any choice to make and he'll be at home with me. Even if they do have a place for him, at the moment I'm more leaning towards turning it down (yes, everyone will be horrified, what no preschool? What about socialisation?!?). The only reason I will have for sending him to preschool is if I need a break (health reasons, another baby etc). It won't be for his benefit. I don't think that any preschool program can ever compare to anything I could do at home with him. Even if i didn't formally do a 'program' he would be so much happier at home. We'd be able to do what we wanted. We'd be able to spend this lovely year together (with Matty too, and daddy) just being together. We'd have relationship. Why would I give away the best years of my child's life to someone else? We could do crafts, though Ollie doesn't much care for that at the moment. We could cook. We could read. We could explore. We could have so much fun!
I don't understand why people think that a preschool 'program' is so important. They are 3 for goodness sakes! They don't need to know the alphabet. They don't need to be able to cut or hold a pen correctly. All these formal academic skills are nothing compared to other skills which are important for a child to have which they're not going to teach you at preschool (What with 2 teachers for every 15 children?). I want our children to be firstly obedient to their parents. Then i want them to have skills that contribute to family life, eg. knowing how to do age appropriate chores. I want them to enjoy reading and learning.
Ollie will be 3.5 years old next Feb. The right age to start preschool. I've had him on the waiting list at a preschool near Steve's work since he was 6 months old. They're going to send me a letter offering a place (i think) in a month or two and I'm supposed to respond and let them know if I want to take the place or not. If they don't send me the letter, then all is good as there won't be any choice to make and he'll be at home with me. Even if they do have a place for him, at the moment I'm more leaning towards turning it down (yes, everyone will be horrified, what no preschool? What about socialisation?!?). The only reason I will have for sending him to preschool is if I need a break (health reasons, another baby etc). It won't be for his benefit. I don't think that any preschool program can ever compare to anything I could do at home with him. Even if i didn't formally do a 'program' he would be so much happier at home. We'd be able to do what we wanted. We'd be able to spend this lovely year together (with Matty too, and daddy) just being together. We'd have relationship. Why would I give away the best years of my child's life to someone else? We could do crafts, though Ollie doesn't much care for that at the moment. We could cook. We could read. We could explore. We could have so much fun!
I don't understand why people think that a preschool 'program' is so important. They are 3 for goodness sakes! They don't need to know the alphabet. They don't need to be able to cut or hold a pen correctly. All these formal academic skills are nothing compared to other skills which are important for a child to have which they're not going to teach you at preschool (What with 2 teachers for every 15 children?). I want our children to be firstly obedient to their parents. Then i want them to have skills that contribute to family life, eg. knowing how to do age appropriate chores. I want them to enjoy reading and learning.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Reading
This morning Ollie picked up the huge Harper Collins treasury and started reading "Caps for Sale" using the pictures to make up the words. He knows the story well so that helped too. He said to Matt, "Come here Mashew, come and do reading". I love it when he 'reads'. While he was reading away, I quietly went and got the camera and took a video of it without him noticing otherwise he would stop and come over to my side of the camera to look at the picture.
I am a book snob. Particularly when it comes to children's picture books. I will not read (in general) books that come from TV shows eg. Bob the builder books, Sesame Street etc. I will read and buy (or mooch) books that deserve re-reading multiple times. Books that can be read over and over again with new things to discover on each re-reading. Books that have good sentence structure. Books that challenge, inspire.
Yesterday he was taking pictures of me with his Thomas toy camera and he was happily snapping away when he said "Mummy, focus!". IT cracked me up because that's what I say to him all the time especially when I'm taking a photo of him. He doesn't like to look at the camera.
I am a book snob. Particularly when it comes to children's picture books. I will not read (in general) books that come from TV shows eg. Bob the builder books, Sesame Street etc. I will read and buy (or mooch) books that deserve re-reading multiple times. Books that can be read over and over again with new things to discover on each re-reading. Books that have good sentence structure. Books that challenge, inspire.
Yesterday he was taking pictures of me with his Thomas toy camera and he was happily snapping away when he said "Mummy, focus!". IT cracked me up because that's what I say to him all the time especially when I'm taking a photo of him. He doesn't like to look at the camera.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Speech
Ollie and I saw the speech pathologist for the first time last October, so this was a follow-up session. I wanted to see her mainly for the drooling. I have no issues with Oliver's speech. I don't even think we should have gone last time, but Ollie didn't really know his 20 (Or was it 50?) words by 2 years old, and I mentioned it to the ECHN and thus we got the speech appointment. Really I should have just relaxed. Only in hindsight with 2nd child who talks superbly for his age can I say that.
I can understand what Ollie's saying most of the time, or what he wants to say. Actually Steve understands him a lot more than I do, but we get by. He's got this tendency to say "I want that thing, that Thing". I never know what "thing" refers to, but I've noticed that I use the word "thing" a lot. Also he says "I think" at the end of sentences a lot. Random sentences. Steve and I both do the "i think" thing, I think.
So anyway, the speech path said that his speech normal. A relief, even though I knew it was. It's just nice to get a professional to say that. I don't know why. Why do I need someone else to tell me that my child's okay? Throughout the session today I was so nervous (I have exam-anxiety). Wondering if Ollie would say the right things or if he would just be obsessed with doors, other distractions. He said the right things most of the time. Well at least enough of the time to let the speech path know that he was okay. I am so relieved that I don't have to go to speech path sessions every week. Or rather relieved that his speech is progressing normally.
She said for the drooling problem to use star charts. Yes I could try that but I don't know if that would motivate him. We're supposed to give him a star everytime we see that his mouth is closed. Or i've been thinking, maybe he's drooling because he's got nose problems and has to breathe through his mouth so he keeps it open.
I can understand what Ollie's saying most of the time, or what he wants to say. Actually Steve understands him a lot more than I do, but we get by. He's got this tendency to say "I want that thing, that Thing". I never know what "thing" refers to, but I've noticed that I use the word "thing" a lot. Also he says "I think" at the end of sentences a lot. Random sentences. Steve and I both do the "i think" thing, I think.
So anyway, the speech path said that his speech normal. A relief, even though I knew it was. It's just nice to get a professional to say that. I don't know why. Why do I need someone else to tell me that my child's okay? Throughout the session today I was so nervous (I have exam-anxiety). Wondering if Ollie would say the right things or if he would just be obsessed with doors, other distractions. He said the right things most of the time. Well at least enough of the time to let the speech path know that he was okay. I am so relieved that I don't have to go to speech path sessions every week. Or rather relieved that his speech is progressing normally.
She said for the drooling problem to use star charts. Yes I could try that but I don't know if that would motivate him. We're supposed to give him a star everytime we see that his mouth is closed. Or i've been thinking, maybe he's drooling because he's got nose problems and has to breathe through his mouth so he keeps it open.
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