~*~Life as Me~*~

Time to get serious

Flicking through some of my favourite blogs today it dawned on me just how shaken our American friends are by the current election and all that it means to them. I'm no politician, nor have I ever really been overly interested in politics but I do believe that we should take all the opportunities we should when we have the right to speak up, and that means voting. To say one vote wont count is total rubbish, because 1+1+1+1+1+1 etc etc it all begins to add up. I have to confess that I haven't really followed any of the election process but from what I have seen I am not convinced that either is going to bring America back from its current glum...BUT I said that about Tony Blaire too, and all things considered he didn't do too bad considering what he was up against. So I just feel the need to support my fellow beings over the pond and wish them luck, cos right now I think the whole world is going down hill in many ways.
Reading through Emilie Ahern's blog again made me smile, after she expressed her feelings on the election she talked about how she and her husband sat with their young daughters and adapted a Family Home Evening on the importance of voting. Now initially this sounds a little premature, like 10 years premature but trust me, Emilie and Matt had it sussed in their daughters language and level that just proves to me that 1. Family nights DO mean something 2. Teaching our children is OUR responsibility and 3. Even young children can understand things on their own level.
My hat goes off to Emilie and Matt for this choice. I have previously done a similar FHE with my children where we have discussed choices and how some choices come with automatic reactions and others are more thought out and controlled. Teaching our children to think outside the box is not always easy but it is always essential we take the time with them and enjoy what their take, thoughts and feelings are because afterall, they need to start from somewhere and travel the journey into adulthood where they will be expected to 'know' the answers to things that ordinarily they wouldn't have even had cross paths in their lives.
This post coincides with my new blog subject, 'Take the Moment - Before it Takes You'. This has come about because I feel I miss too many moments throughout my day, not just with my kids but especially with them and as I have a lot going on right now I wanted somewhere that I can feel commited to DO something to get moments recorded. For anyone that wants to play along come on over and share your moments with me, every comment that is left I will leave one for you so you know its a fair game share.
In the meantime, i'm off to finish my blog hopping and then maybe I will feel like catching up on here!! :)

This, That and T'other

I have a sick lil man again. Out of the blue last night his eyes start running, his nose starts dribbling and he throws up...almost described a football player there! lol Back to the boy, poor Charley isn't having a great time of it right now, he's laying on the sofa watching Wow Wow Wubzey coughing and spluttering. Hopefully it will be gone in a few days though.

Still he smiles and plays up to the camera the minute he see's it in my hand! After I tookt his picture he immediately jumped off the sofa and began his play, telling me he's 'better now' in between coughs and splutters!
Dontcha luv kids?!! :)

I had my Usborne Books intro stuff the other day, my kids have had a great time reading them ALL, here is one of the rare moments that Princess Kirsten and Prince Charley actually do something quiet together where one isn't dominating the other!

This book is called First Picture Trucks...one which Charley has rather taken with when he found all kinds of hidy things in there. Later on, when he went for his nap the book went with him, and read again before he dozed off!

A big thick book with cushioned covers, ideal for any boy that loves construction big boys toys!! Check out the Usborne site...there are LOADS of fantastic books there...my kids have already put their order in for what they want!! Lol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am staying with my 'friend' this week, up in the Midlands, its strange being away from home but its good that i'm close to my dad and my family for a change. My car will go in the garage on Wednesday and all being well it will be road worthy by the end of the day so I can do my whizzing around again, I have so missed my car! Being able to use my friends husband's was great but its never the same as having your own! Roll on independance!! :)

Three days and I hit the big 4-0. So far it feels like just another birthday, I think the eebie jeebies I thought I was feeling have now settled, none of it seems like a big deal, so I think I am growing old gracefully! :) I did, however, go in our local garage the other day, the guy behind the counter said that I 'look over 18 bot be served' so he handed me my stuff and took my money...I chuckled to myself cos to think that i'm 3 days of 40 and someone is doubting it is just darn fantastic!! LOL That guy has probably saved my vanity!! Lol Not sure what i'm going to do on my birthday now, all original plans fell through BUT I know it will be a good day. Kirsten, Charley and I are going to see my dad and my uncle, aunt etc so even that is enough for me. As I dont drink I dont feel the need to go out and get drunk, I dont much enjoy the pub life either so being the 'small but significant' person I is, I will do whatever my lil heart is content to do! And so be it!! :)

I been doing some checking over on one of the books I've been working on, I'm pretty much just left with the photos to edit and add to it before its ready to be proofed. The projects i've included have been tested out by real people to make sure they are as straightforward to other level of crafters as they are to me, thumbs up so far. However, I do have just one more project to put in there that I think would be a great extra but I want to make it up in the Heidi Swapp range first, just as soon as I find a flippin UK distributor!! Any pointers, email me! I am almost giving up on the idea of her stuff right now. That's the downside to not being in the states, we get the hype over here for US designers, but only certain names are freely available and in all honesty I dont like a lot of the stuff available, I want something that feels like MY taste and style...and that's what I get when I work with Heidi's stuff. Ok moan over, whatever will be will be.

On the home education front all is going progressively well. Kirsten is more aware of things around her and more willing to talk about a range of things that normally wouldn't get the time of day. Last week we covered English when she wrote a story about an abused dog that went to a new home and was bullied by an older dog till eventually the poor dog was rehomed again to an only child. (I'm still wondering if she's hinting at something with the 'only child' storyline!!) Even in my humble opinion she did exceptionally well and covered various ways of broadening her thinking, ideas and imagination. This is one story that will be proudly displayed in her portfolio. We started a Homemaking plan where each week she will cover a few things I do in the house so she can cover the essentials of running a home. This week we worked on cleaning those corners and high up places...technically it can be called slave labour but she loved it. She wouldn't usually have thought of cleaning the edges of the laminate flooring or round the door frames but the giggles we had along the way was more than worth it. She sat and designed a book bag for herself too, using fur fabric, felt and beads. She's yet to tack it and sew it cos she's gone for a rather intricate design...a bit too optimistic for a first go in my opinion but we'll see, I dont wanna be the one that says she cant do anything. Cooking, baking and reading was other stuff she done, then Friday we walked to get Charley from nursery and had lunch from the chippy, courtesy of Kirsten, then ate it in the park...great choice cos it was lovely and hot for a few hours. It's still daunting to think we have no set routine for school work, but apparently it will take 1 week for every school year served to de-school...that would make 3 months off in Kirsten's case....I DONT THINK SO!!! So on we go with the books i've bought, stuff i've downloaded and other idea's to keep her mind active! No rest for the wicked, as they say!

Just found this photo of Kirsten when we went camping with Tina and Gray a few weeks ago, after 'the walk' came this pose....

And yes, it was 1am, we were just coming out the club!!

As you can tell she is definitely in the Young Women stage of life where fashion, colour and accessories are a must. Even though her handbag is only full of make-up, her mobile and ipod!

She's requested another photo shoot this week after her nan buying her some new clothes...including another pair of skinny jeans, more dance shoes, leg warmers and another long glove that she only wears one of at a time!!

This girl really has the pose going on, she loves to leap, lunge and pout the second she sees a camera, regardless of if its turned on or not!! Lol

Thats ma gurl! :)

I'm going now, I promised Charley I would lay with him and watch Wonderpets. Does that theme tune ring in anyone elses head like it does mine?

Oh!

~*~Debs~*~

The penny is dropping...

I woke up to the realisation that my life is about to take  lot of turns and changes that I didn't expect. Mentally my head is still the mindset that kids generally go to mainstream school, not home educated. Changing that mindset is going to take some time, I keep expecting the Attendance Officer to knock my door or Kirsten's teacher to call and scold me! I think if there were some kind of guidelines with the law then at least I'd be able to work to a guideline but there isn't any so long as the child is registered to being home schooled! Simple as that. That is a very scary concept.
I have officially 'deschooled' her in the formal sense and now she has the rest of the week to mentally deschool which is what the Home Ed Advisor suggested (even after 6 weeks holiday!) so she can start to relax about not having to go to the pre-scheduled classes with people that either intimidate or upset her. In the process she is to decide what kind of things SHE would like to learn and I will begin a process of how I can then add other subjects that will benefit her and intoduce her to new things. A part of me is very excited about the whole prospect but another part of me is worried that she may not cover enough things to still take her GCSE's when the time comes. I have a lot to learn still. I'm not into all this freestyle learning so i'm hoping to find something middle of the road between that and the National Curriculum so she wont feel too far separated from the friends she is still in contact with.
I've managed to secure her piano lessons, 3 sporting activities a week and 2 local businesses are happy to have her in with them for a day per month to introduce her to their trade, they are a hair salon and a nail and beauty salon. She has two penfriends, one in Germany and one in France and they always write her in their language and Kirsten replies in English so that will help with the two courses i've manged to get for her from Muzzy. I have a list of places to work through to cover other essential subjects as well as choice subjects so in its way its coming together nicely.
I asked Jay if he would have preferred home education with him being dyslexic and all but he was adamant that even when it was suggested 10 years ago he never wanted it, he felt he needed the social interaction more than what Kirsten feels she does. In reality, that's one area I dont have to worry with Kirsten because she is active with friends out of school and is active with her Young Womens activities plus there's the opportunity to meet other home ed kids next month.
So far i'm pretty much organised (for now!) to get this road on the show (yeah I know what I said!!). So fingers crossed it will work!
I had a mini disaster the other week and today i've realised the seriousness of it....I lost all my numbers in my phone! For some reason when the phone hit the water it not only cleared the numbers stored on the phone but also on the sim card too, so now i'm not only missing a nice pretty pink phone but i'm missing all the numbers too...and trust me I feel a bit lost cos naturally the minute I need them...they aren't there! Duh
Charley has had a viral infection the last few days, Jay and I have come down with a cold so i'm waiting for Kirsten to come down with it now! Anyone want it? It's totally free?!! :)
Charley's mumblings yesterday as he sat in his lil chair watching tv....

Charley: Mummy?
Me: Yeah?
Charley: I like my winky
Me: (spluttering my orange everywhere) you do?
Charley: Yes. And I like my bum. And my belly.
Me: Well thats cool!
Charley: Yes, I think so too

Later that evening, Jay was laying in bed with him and this is what I heard as I was faffing around in the bathroom...

Jay: Charley, do you want a drink?
Charley: Yes pwease Jay. I will have a warm strawbewwy milkshake. You boil the kettle, put some milk in my blue bottle and put some water in and put some milkshake in and put the top on and give it to me, ok?
Jay: Tell me again how to do it
Charley: Oh Jay, have I got to do everything myself?

I had to chuckle cos you can guess who he's got that from!!! LOL

We had our new tv delivered today, Charley decided that we have to 'take turns', he gets his programmes then when its dark and he's in bed its Kirsten's and Jay's turn. I, apparently dont get a look in till before he wakes up!!

Nothing like the good life eh? :)

~*~Debs~*~

Dont turn around

Because everytime you do something is going to happen. Fact.

My head is spinning. It's aching and its full to its capacity.

With what, I hear someone say, yes I have a voice in my head and i'm not sure its my own! Well I have some legal issues going on which I wont talk about here but I will talk about my issues with our education system that has been the bane of my life for a while now. I have spent most of the last few days weighing up the pros and cons of encouraging Kirsten to persue the school she is in, thinking of a new school and home education. We've talked, we've shouted, we've laughed and we've cried. Education is not something to be taken lightly and having the real up to my face turning point now apparent I know I have to make the ultimate decision on where to go from here. Naturally I want what is best for my daughter but that may well be something that will cause us to either have a falling out for a while or not fall out. It's that volatile.

Getting her into a new school is not an option, the 2nd choice in this area is full to overload, that would not be a good learning place for her because although she's a straight A student she wouldn't be in a scenario that would encourage much one-to-one which I think all kids need at some point. Staying at the school she is already at is becoming very thin now, more so with Princess Kirsten but also with me after a good conversation with two members of staff. I'm just not getting heard and i'm not going to waste too much time trying to be. I fought for 10 years to get Jaymie a dyslexic assessment, only to find that he is totally dyslexic when I managed to get it! So now i'm faced with the strong possibility that Kirsten would benefit more from Home Education.

Now i'm not adverse to that, I'm just not 100% on it yet for a number of reasons. Firstly, I dont know if I can afford the kind of sporting events she would require, secondly there is no funding or help what so ever yet I still need to ensure there is a certain level of educating going on. But the laws on home education is so loose that it seems all I have to do, legally, is to register her as being home educated and thats that. I don't need to be visited if I dont want to!

Oh my gosh is that just not legalised skiving???

So today I have spent almost 6 hours researching, emailing and calling for more information. I have searched for forums, message boards, support networks etc and the majority are payable. Now i'm not against paying but heck, paying for something like a support groups is just past it! Anyway, as I would seem to have a wide scope in education and Kirsten gets to choose what kind of things she wants to learn then so far its looking more positive than daunting. So far! That is subject to change!

The good side is I would still give her a guideline for each school day though not as rigid, she would have more doing that sitting and would still be doing GCSE's exams.

The downside is my scrapbooking/teaching etc will have to take a back seat for a while. I will still be doing them but not how I have been so far. Hopefully though I can pick it up as we settle into a routine.

There is so much on this subject that i'm going to have a page (to be linked up top) where I will keep all the info, notes and ideas there for the purpose of anyone else in this kind of situation. I am surprised to find there is so many parents already Home Educating, where have I been?!!!

No more to tell right now, but I will probably blog again later on when I'm a bit more calmer in my bonce!! :)

~*~Debs~*~