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Revenge Prawn! – Kids Logic Part 45

12 Sep 2015 36 Comments

by Ritu in Humour, Kids Logic Series Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Kids Logic, porn, prawn, revenge

Cute pic, cos kids are cute, right!

You know sometimes there are things on the TV that you really want to watch, and if your TV partner doesn’t want to watch it, you have those great gadget called Sky Plus boxes where you can record and watch later?

Well I was tuned into the TV the other night and there was a programme on Revenge Porn. It piqued my interest, not because I was planning on getting any revenge, or because I was worried about it happening to me, but just because you hear so much about it that I wanted to see what this particular take on it would be about.

Anyway, Hubby Dearest wasn’t interested so the faithful ‘Record’ button was pressed, and this morning, when all the family were firmly ensconced in business of their own, I pressed play.

Then Lil Man came bouncing into my room, so I hastily pressed off, and tried to back track to normal TV. It’s definitely not appropriate viewing for a 10 year old, and I don’t know what he knows about the word Porn… it could have come up in their Birds and Bees talk, I don’t know, but right now I didn’t want to find out.

Too late…

He’d see the title of the programme as I had pressed back.

It was coming…

That question….

What is Revenge Porn?

Except it didn’t come… well not quite like I expected it.

LM: Mummy, what was that programme about?

M: Nothing for you to see sweety, it’s a programme for grown ups.

LM: [confused] But mummy, why would you want to watch a programme about Revenge Prawn?

Me: {wipes forehead} it’s just a programme honey, don’t worry.

LM: But why did the prawn want revenge….?

And in that vein the conversation continued!

I’ll be more careful next week… the programme centres around Muslim Drag Queens!

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!

YouTube Never Ceases To Amaze Me! – Kids Logic Part 44

05 Sep 2015 33 Comments

by Ritu in Humour, Kids Logic Series Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Horse Riding, Humour, Kids Logic

On our little break, there was the opportunity to horse ride.

Lil Princess was jumping with excitement at the chance, before we even got there!

I told my mum, and she answered that she would pay to see the face of Lil Princess on the actual day, she would probably be so scared she won’t do it! I, deep down, had the same thought, but wasn’t so vocal about it.

Me: LP, well. You haven’t actually been near a horse, or on one properly, you might be scared.

LP: No mummy, I know how to ride one, I learned!

Me: Really??!! When? [news to me!]

LP: I watched it all on YouTube!

Aaah, obviously, if you watch something enough on YouTube, you obviously know how to do it!

Aw Shucks!

03 Sep 2015 74 Comments

by Ritu in Family, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Birthday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Happy, Life, Sad, Thanks

Can I just say a huge thank you!

You, my Peeps, are an amazing bunch of people, and have made my birthday extra special with all your great wishes!

My day… hmmm, it’s been strange, bittersweet, if I may say so.

I was woken rudely at 3am by a stray Lil Princess, who refused to go to bed… so we had 1 and a half hours of ups and downs, either my Hubby Dearest or I, up and down trying to get her to bed. In the end Hubby went and pulled the guest bed out in the kids room to settle her. By this time I was wide awake. I was also extremely selfishly P-ed off, as I wanted my hubby by my side. So I went off downstairs to wash dishes, and load the tumble dryer, and sort out paperwork. Yes, really!

Then I was back at 4am, still awake, so I read until 4.15am when Hubby came back. We attempted to sleep, but guess who came back? Lil Princess of course. I had to get up in a couple of hours so I gave up the own bed mission and she climbed in!

Bitty sleep from 3am to a cheery wake up call at 6am from a bright Lil Man! ” Happy birthday mummy! Shall I make you breakfast?” I managed to convince him to sleep for an hour longer with me, as for a change on a work day, I was getting up at 7am, not 6am. Then finally we woke.

He had written me a little letter, which was so sweet that I cried! And the envelope also contained £5 in change “because people give money in birthday cards”… bless him!!

We breakfasted together, he cut me up banana and served me yoghurt! So cute!

Then I got ready and woke the Lil Princess for brekkie too.

During the day at school we had training, and I was trying my best the whole time to stay awake in the training that we had! I received some lovely cards and presents from colleagues…

And flowers, and champagne from family.

My cake…

And my special pressie from Hubby Dearest… a new Microsoft Surface!

Complete with type cover and stylus, so I can blog away to my hearts content, wherever I want to!!

The bitter part of the bittersweet? I also found out that the son of my mother in law’s best friend had passed away this morning, only 42, and obviously this coloured the evening….

Such a sad piece of news, may he Rest In Peace….

It just makes me all the more conscious of the fact that we have to grab what we have by both hands, and live life fully.

Today, even more than anything else, I an thankful for my LIFE.

Stay Safe Peeps! I’m going to bed now, hopefully to not be woken before my alarm, by a little person!!!!!