Last Thursday afternoon was busy, like really super busy, my mum came over and we had a chat and I stressed a little about a visit we were having and wanted to clean. My mum bless her heart dropped everything and we did lots of cleaning. it was hard work and when the visitors arrived we both felt a bit grungy.
The visit went really well and we had fun. About an hour later the visitors said goodbye and we were alone in the house. I bummed around on Facebook for a little while as I unwound myself I became more and more aware that I wanted a body shower to get rid of the excess sweat and grime.
Kicky was asleep in my bed and Edison was playing with his Lego. I locked the front door and dead-bolted it. Then locked the back door. Edison asked me for a snack and I replied that I would be making our evening meal as soon as I had a little shower and would rather that he waited a little while and had his tea.
I got in the shower. All seemed well at first but then I heard my phone ring once and realized that I couldn't hear Edison. There was a draft blowing into our house. I dressed quickly not alarmed yet but surprised at the cool wind. As I pulled my clothes back on I called for Edison. No answer. I hurried and got everything on and headed out the bathroom door. Worried now. The front door had a childrens table in front of it and the door was swung wide open.
I hurried through it to Edison running towards me, with no pants on and mud caked all over his bare legs. He was crying and screaming and when I asked him where Kicky was he exclaimed "kicky is gone! people got him!" I ran out the driveway to look for him leaving Edison crying and running behind me. About 100M down the road two cars were stopped. One I recognized and one I did not. A neighbor (the owner of the car I knew) was holding Kicky. "They were half way down the bloody Road and nearly got hit by a road train!" she shouted to me as I neared.
I explained I was in the shower and took Kicky from her. Thanking them for stopping and getting the boys. It was over. I felt shaken and furious. I was so angry with Edison I could barely speak. He had woken Kicky up and taken him outside and down the road! I asked him why he did that and he told me "I wanted to go to the shop for hot chips" I told him to never do that again without me. Visibly shaken he just nodded.
I gave them a hug and a bath and then after I dressed them I put them straight in the car. I stopped by the hardware store and bought a slide bolt and padlocks. I wasn't willing to go another minute without them.
After the hardware shop I bought a take away for tea, I was too stressed to think about cooking.
This incident happened in moments. All I did was shower. It could have ended very badly indeed.
I am so grateful to our community for stepping in and helping when they couldn't see me with my children. That they knew us and didn't call the police not that the police wouldn't have been understanding.
So I guess this is a "service post" to remind us all that when we are going to be distracted or otherwise unavailable: take them with you, get a friend to sit with them or padlock the door. Don't take the risk of them managing themselves. besides if you shower with them then you don't have to give them a bath.
Friday, 30 May 2014
Friday, 23 May 2014
Kid Radars and Cold Toast
This is a story backtracking to when Kicky was a very young infant and Edison was just barely two years old. It doesn't seem that long ago.
I hate cold food, there I said it. I love all sorts of food but frankly I intensely dislike cold food that's supposed to be hot OR food that has been reheated.
Further more I could swear kids have a "mother is eating radar" (also doubles as a mother showering, on phone or in the middle of sex radar)
And this radar is subject directly in proportion to A, how much I like the food and B, how quickly the food will cool down or warm up depending on what it is and how much I will hate the reheated version.
Today I was preparing a late breakfast because it was 9AM and the kids had managed to keep me busy for the past 3 hours by asking me for random stuff. WELL I wasn't gonna be caught out this time.
I had sliced my cheese and had the butter open and ready and the put the toast in the toaster. All was quiet with Kicky napping and Edison playing just outside the door in the sandbox. Bliss.
Toast popped and I immediately got it ready. About to take first bite of delicious hot cheese toast when I hear a tiny complaint from Nicholas direction, I ignore it he's not dying. That must've displeased someone because only seconds later an agonizing scream erupted from outside and made me drop the toast and race out there as fast as I could. Edison. COVERED in bull ants.
(Ants not usually this close to home they'd found a corpse our cat put there overnight)
I picked him up double time as they stung us both repeatedly and put him in the shower- clothes and all then stripped him down. They where everywhere. Even in his pants. I honestly can say when I became a mother I never pictured picking ants off of baby genitals And when they sting it feels like fire. I can only imagine how much this hurt him.
Poor Edison. Eventually his screaming stops and he's just whimpering in the cold water of the shower, crisis over I turn off the tap and wrap him lightly in a towel then let him go be naked for a few minutes..
while I eat my cold toast.
The End.
I hate cold food, there I said it. I love all sorts of food but frankly I intensely dislike cold food that's supposed to be hot OR food that has been reheated.
Further more I could swear kids have a "mother is eating radar" (also doubles as a mother showering, on phone or in the middle of sex radar)
And this radar is subject directly in proportion to A, how much I like the food and B, how quickly the food will cool down or warm up depending on what it is and how much I will hate the reheated version.
Today I was preparing a late breakfast because it was 9AM and the kids had managed to keep me busy for the past 3 hours by asking me for random stuff. WELL I wasn't gonna be caught out this time.
I had sliced my cheese and had the butter open and ready and the put the toast in the toaster. All was quiet with Kicky napping and Edison playing just outside the door in the sandbox. Bliss.
Toast popped and I immediately got it ready. About to take first bite of delicious hot cheese toast when I hear a tiny complaint from Nicholas direction, I ignore it he's not dying. That must've displeased someone because only seconds later an agonizing scream erupted from outside and made me drop the toast and race out there as fast as I could. Edison. COVERED in bull ants.
(Ants not usually this close to home they'd found a corpse our cat put there overnight)
I picked him up double time as they stung us both repeatedly and put him in the shower- clothes and all then stripped him down. They where everywhere. Even in his pants. I honestly can say when I became a mother I never pictured picking ants off of baby genitals And when they sting it feels like fire. I can only imagine how much this hurt him.
Poor Edison. Eventually his screaming stops and he's just whimpering in the cold water of the shower, crisis over I turn off the tap and wrap him lightly in a towel then let him go be naked for a few minutes..
while I eat my cold toast.
The End.
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
From a Home Education Parent to a Mainstream Parent
Hi there! Do you remember me?
we met the other day at Kinder-Gym and you asked me the question dreaded by most home schooling parents you asked "So what Kindergarten does Edison attend?" I quietly replied that he attends home kindy. and you got a look in your eye of incredulous disbelief. Have you never met a homeschooling family before? So immediately and predictably you ask me "WHY!!" as though I've just made some horrible judgement about you for your decision to send your children to school and kindy and daycare. I quietly tell you "it started off because he missed this year because of his birthday. He wouldn't be able to start until next year and we've found he's doing really well, just as good if not ahead of other kids his own age with what we're doing with him at home so.. if it ain't broke.. don't fix it I don't need to pay $475 for them to do less than what I do at home I don't think schools are bad or anything it's just my personal preference"
The next sentence out of your mouth was equally as predictable "how will they be SOCIALIZED how will they learn to get on with other people and work and make friends I'd be so BORED at home with them all day!!!! This was where I started to sense you were trying rather desperately to some how make me change my mind and say "your right I should send him to kindergarten" like some how your self worth was pinned on how you could convince me this was a great idea.
Instead I motion to were both of our children are playing, Edison is busy negotiating a disagreement between YOUR child and another unrelated child. making sure they take turns and make up so they can all go on playing happily and say "being home schooled doesn't mean you stay home and don't see anybody, Kinder-Gym is just one of the many things I include in his curriculum as you can see he's got friends and he just broke up a fight, he's doing fine socially, also I was home schooled and I am not Anti-social we do lots of things outside of the home and we see and interact with people of all ages. If anything we're over socialized." I smile warmly trying to communicate that we're different but that doesn't mean anyone here is any less.
"Is he going to go to Kindergarten later on or Primary School?!" I reply "if he wants to or if I have to work then he will go to school so he is safe while I work, we're open to it but it isn't our ideal situation."
You got quite angry with this "IF he wants to!? WHAT kid WANTS to!! you have to MAKE THEM GO!! HOW THE HECK WOULD HE KNOW IF HE'S NEVER BEEN!!" trying hard to be diplomatic I respond "we've been to three come and try days at the different local Kindergartens and one school, he did not like any of them and couldn't wait to get home. he has no interest in going and Kindergarten is not a legal requirement."
You are storming inside and I can hardly fathom why my choices are so offensive to you. Perhaps you're not entirely comfortable with the choice you made to use a kindergarten and daycare. Perhaps you think that I think I'm some kind of super parent because I never take a break from my kids.
oh Mainstream parent I am sad. My decisions regarding my children have never had anything to do with you. It had to do with careful research and a desire to educate my own children. I have never and will never judge a parent based upon attendance of a certain education system or if you breastfeed or use a bottle or co-sleep or use a crib. Because I know you're trying. All we can do is the best we can.
That said I do not need you to educate me on why I should or shouldn't send my children to school or tell me how much work that is- I'm the one doing the work -right now. It requires effort that is for certain but it's a price I'm happy to pay. I don't need your judgement and neither do my children. We need you acceptance and we'd like your friendship; Please Mainstream parent the next time you meet a home-school family just out enjoying the day please remember our conversation and how nice and normal my children were. Please just accept them and when you hear them quietly tell you "they are home-schooled" say "oh yep, I know someone else who does that" Because you've met us and we come every week and our children are in no way behind the mainstream children. Please realize that we are not trying to "convert" you or think we're better than you. We are just trying to raise our family the way we see fit.
Love "that home school parent"
we met the other day at Kinder-Gym and you asked me the question dreaded by most home schooling parents you asked "So what Kindergarten does Edison attend?" I quietly replied that he attends home kindy. and you got a look in your eye of incredulous disbelief. Have you never met a homeschooling family before? So immediately and predictably you ask me "WHY!!" as though I've just made some horrible judgement about you for your decision to send your children to school and kindy and daycare. I quietly tell you "it started off because he missed this year because of his birthday. He wouldn't be able to start until next year and we've found he's doing really well, just as good if not ahead of other kids his own age with what we're doing with him at home so.. if it ain't broke.. don't fix it I don't need to pay $475 for them to do less than what I do at home I don't think schools are bad or anything it's just my personal preference"
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| credit to https://us.beamly.com/exclusives/2014/08/18/crazy-eyes-emmy-right-world/ |
The next sentence out of your mouth was equally as predictable "how will they be SOCIALIZED how will they learn to get on with other people and work and make friends I'd be so BORED at home with them all day!!!! This was where I started to sense you were trying rather desperately to some how make me change my mind and say "your right I should send him to kindergarten" like some how your self worth was pinned on how you could convince me this was a great idea.
Instead I motion to were both of our children are playing, Edison is busy negotiating a disagreement between YOUR child and another unrelated child. making sure they take turns and make up so they can all go on playing happily and say "being home schooled doesn't mean you stay home and don't see anybody, Kinder-Gym is just one of the many things I include in his curriculum as you can see he's got friends and he just broke up a fight, he's doing fine socially, also I was home schooled and I am not Anti-social we do lots of things outside of the home and we see and interact with people of all ages. If anything we're over socialized." I smile warmly trying to communicate that we're different but that doesn't mean anyone here is any less.
"Is he going to go to Kindergarten later on or Primary School?!" I reply "if he wants to or if I have to work then he will go to school so he is safe while I work, we're open to it but it isn't our ideal situation."
You got quite angry with this "IF he wants to!? WHAT kid WANTS to!! you have to MAKE THEM GO!! HOW THE HECK WOULD HE KNOW IF HE'S NEVER BEEN!!" trying hard to be diplomatic I respond "we've been to three come and try days at the different local Kindergartens and one school, he did not like any of them and couldn't wait to get home. he has no interest in going and Kindergarten is not a legal requirement."
You are storming inside and I can hardly fathom why my choices are so offensive to you. Perhaps you're not entirely comfortable with the choice you made to use a kindergarten and daycare. Perhaps you think that I think I'm some kind of super parent because I never take a break from my kids.
oh Mainstream parent I am sad. My decisions regarding my children have never had anything to do with you. It had to do with careful research and a desire to educate my own children. I have never and will never judge a parent based upon attendance of a certain education system or if you breastfeed or use a bottle or co-sleep or use a crib. Because I know you're trying. All we can do is the best we can.
That said I do not need you to educate me on why I should or shouldn't send my children to school or tell me how much work that is- I'm the one doing the work -right now. It requires effort that is for certain but it's a price I'm happy to pay. I don't need your judgement and neither do my children. We need you acceptance and we'd like your friendship; Please Mainstream parent the next time you meet a home-school family just out enjoying the day please remember our conversation and how nice and normal my children were. Please just accept them and when you hear them quietly tell you "they are home-schooled" say "oh yep, I know someone else who does that" Because you've met us and we come every week and our children are in no way behind the mainstream children. Please realize that we are not trying to "convert" you or think we're better than you. We are just trying to raise our family the way we see fit.
Love "that home school parent"
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