Children | But I Smile Anyway...

Homework

19 Sep 2015 44 Comments

by Ritu in Children, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Homework, kids, Teacher

It’s the weekend…
The academic year has started…
Oh yes the homework cycle is spiraling too!
Once again I’ll go from teacher mode to crazed mother, ensuring work is done on time! Lil Man has been awesome! 2 weeks in a row, he’s done he’s work within 2 days, even though he has a week to do it. I’ve sat by him and supported, but he’s been so independent!
And he had spellings, so we practiced, and the first test, he got 10/10! You go Lil Man!
So far, the maths has been OK, I hope they don’t go all ‘new curriculum’ on me… Maths was never my strong point!

Lil Princess was desperate for homework…strange girl!!!! And she got her wish this weekend, along with spellings too. Have you ever seen a child happy to do work?!?
Anyway, I just hope this year is the year I find myself able to relax, and merely be a support, not the activator of homework!!!!!!

Thursday Thoughts – The 11+ Nightmare

10 Sep 2015 48 Comments

by Ritu in Children, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: 11+, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, children, Thursday

This Thursday, my thoughts turn to all those Year 6 students who are going to be sitting their 11+ tests.

Yes Lil Man is in Year 6, and no, he won’t be one of those stressed kids today.

It was a big decision, the whether to get him to sit, or not, and I posted about my thoughts here.

Ultimately, at the big meeting, where parents were given all the information about this dreaded test, I spoke with both his class teacher and the head, and was advised to at least sign up for the test if we were unsure, it was better to have signed up, and not sat than to not sign up, then regret your child not having this opportunity. I was also advised that Grammar School my not be the best choice for him. This I agree with, but I wanted him to have the opportunity to decide for himself.

I dutifully got all the books, and was there for him. If he wanted to do it, we could go through the books, and tutor him. He looked, but found even the simplest questions quite trying,

Now, this mum is very proud of her Lil Man. He’s gone from lagging behind all the time in his academic career, to actually hitting the expected level of progress, well that was last year, before all this crazy grammar stuff hit! I was not going to push him. I have been realistic when talking to him as well. But he is registered to take the test, just in case.

For those that don’t know, the 11+ tests are a set of tests that are done so children can apply to Grammar Schools, where there is a very high academic standard. It’s a hard slog, of you were tutored to pass the test… you may be playing catch up the rest of your academic life. But if you are naturally a bright child, then you will be pushed to reach the heights that you can achieve.

But this, by no means, means that if you aren’t at Grammar School you are thick, unintelligent, or that you won’t get anywhere in life.

Education, especially secondary, is what you make it. If you want to learn, and make something of yourself, you will try hard wherever you are, and your teachers will be great at either school, it’s up to you to reach for the moon… if you miss, no worries, you’ll still end up in the stars!

Good luck those who are taking it.

Lil Man made the decision to not sit it. He feels he would struggle at a school where academia is the be-all and end-all. He is an intelligent little guy, but it shows in different ways!

He Did It!

06 Sep 2015 43 Comments

by Ritu in Children Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, First Match, Football, Lil Man, Proud, Soccer Mom, Winners, Winning

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that my son, Lil Man, has been in training with a football (Soccer, for my American Peeps!) team here, and this season, he has been selected for the actual squad! He is officially in the Under 11’s team!

Well, aside from a few friendlies that they played over the summer holiday, he hasn’t played a match, and unfortunately they have pretty much lost most of them.

But today was his team’s first official match, and they were playing a charity shield match, raising funds for Cancer Research.

They were hyped, it was a big un, as they got to leave with an actual trophy (or shield) today, and a medal each!

And you know me, I am NOT Soccer Mom! I do NOT do sport of any kind, aside from having to drop him off to training, but, I do try to be a good mum, and I promised, that come hell or high water, we would all be there watching him.

And so there we were, watching this 30 minutes each way game, 18 pairs of little legs running back and forth on a pitch much larger than what they were used to! My mum instincts were fighting to come out, I wanted to stop the match, go give them all rests, pick kids up as they fell and rolled around (yes the footy dramatics start at an early age!), but no, I was good. I reined myself in, and stood at the side line, not really knowing what to be shouting or what to say. At least I knew which side they were meant to be shooting at!

Offside rule? Nope, no clue! Yet these little ones are supposed to understand that already, their first match where it actually counts too!

He wasn’t on initially but 15 minutes into the first half, he was brought on, and played well.. I think he was Midfield… Excuse me, I haven’t a clue! They were even 2 – 0 up at this stage!

My Lil Super Player!

The half time whistle was blown, and everyone was buzzing! Yes, I admit, even I was kinda hyper… my son’s team was winning!

Lil Princess was there too, and missed the first half, as she was far too busy playing with a pair of Daschund puppies that were there with their owner!

By this time Granddad had come to fill his cheerleading squad, and Hubby’s brother and wife, so we had a nice little team of supporters, alongside all the other parents!

Second half, and he wasn’t playing to start with but was, again, swapped on 15 minutes in, and guess what… they actually WON the match! 5 – 0!!! A prouder bunch of Under 11’s (and parents) I haven’t seen!

An overjoyed bunch!

I’ll admit, it was more thrilling than I thought.. I may go and watch a few more… and hopefully the first match, the first win, is a sign of what is to come this season.

Here he is, medal proudly displayed (behind the shield!), and holding the special Shield!

Proud Lil Man!

Swanning around!

22 Aug 2015 19 Comments

by Ritu in Children, Family, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: black swans, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family, kids, Swans

We took a stroll along the prom this hot afternoon, and happened upon the swans…

The sprogs enjoyed feeding them, though we hadn’t any bread, thanks to a lovely lady there who had a whole loaf, and donated a few slices!

Lil Man was a little afraid!

Even on higher ground they followed!

Lil Princess loved it, she was right there in the thick of things!

Now he was a particularly tall, majestic fellow!

And we were even blessed to see a pair of black swans!

The same yet oh so different
Me and my forever mate
Our big white cousins rush ahead for bread…
We’ll hang back and wait.

Hope your Saturday was beautiful Peeps!

Library

19 Aug 2015 24 Comments

by Ritu in Children, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, books, children, library, love books

Guess where the munchkins and I spent our morning?

Can you believe that, given our collective love of books, it is was the first time they have been to the local library?! We got them memberships and while there, the were introduced to the Summer Reading Challenge which needs them to read at least 6 books over the break.

They were so excited that they eagerly chose their books, and said “Mummy, can we stay here and read some?” So we stayed for an hour or so, they read a couple of books each and got their first stamps too!!

It took me back to my childhood, and all the fun I had in our local library. Once we had our cards, I would walk there alone, and return my old books, and then browse for ages to find new books to borrow. I remember reading the whole Anne Of Green Gables series from that library! Slowly, as I grew older the library became less of a place to read fiction from, but as more of a study aid, and I spent must of my University study time in one. Gradually though, it became defunct for me, with me getting my own books to read, and the Internet for reference.

I forgot something! I loved the library and books at school so much that I was even the librarian in my fifth Year! Here’s a pic, but don’t laugh at the uniform and glasses!

Seeing these two enjoying this morning though, makes me yearn for those days again, and I hope many other children are introduced to the delights of their local library, for fun, not just for study!