Ups and Downs and New Additions.......


The Autumn term is progressing and Katie is starting to settle into Year 1 and the change of class, and class mates.  It's not been an easy transition so far. She's said she doesn't want to go to school for the first time ever and is definitely still out of sorts.  All the girls seem to be missing their friendships and cling to each other like a rash after school.

Boots very kindly sent me a care package to accompany their Back to School wall chart which has helped mend some of the school scrapes and bumps that have already provided many after school highlights (Katie is still regrowing the skin on one of her knees).  Sadly the pack didn't have an emergency spare baby tooth after Katie finally lost a wobbly tooth at school.  The tooth had been wobbly since February and it's been quite the event for far too long in this house.  She finally reached the "I look like Nanny McPhee" stage and we knew that lift off would be imminent.  Lots of twisting and turning proved futile.  It was a lovely apple that finally did the deed and Katie came out from school clutching the smallest envelope you ever did see containing the tooth.  She opened the envelope in the playground to
show me and her best friend.  Seeing the eventual outcome I suggested we put the tooth back into the tiny little envelope.  I ended up helping and (you know where this is heading don't you?) I managed to put the tooth halfway into the tiny little envelope before it pinged up into the air.....never to be seen again (despite lots of frantic searching at the main gateway to the school at school rush hour time).  We wrote a letter to the Toofth Fairy explaining this turn of events and she kindly still delivered Katie's cash with a little note to say that she had in fact found the tooth.

We have some new developments for Katie at school as a result of conversations and events at the end of her Reception Year.  She has started doing a programme called "Sydney" which is aimed at children who are struggling more with their letters and reading.  Interestingly Katie isn't really struggling with her letters very much and her number comprehension took a big jump over the summer holidays, probably in part to me and TCM thinking more about bringing numbers into our daily lives.  She is resistant to doing her reading after school though stating that she "has done guided reading already today Mummy" and we are still trying to find a rhythm to the week's reading and homework requirements alongside activities such as swimming; dancing and gymnastics.  Tired children after school do not good homework companions make.  Add Pip to the mix. He is crawling and trying to toddle everywhere and unpack anything and everything he can get his little hands on and it's hard to sit down and read quietly together.  We're making slow progress though. It's definitely a work in progress but we're getting better at it.

The other thing that she has started at school is something called "Ginger Bear" and it is a one-to-one programme aimed at emotional literacy.  This is the result of a conversation I had with the Deputy Head regarding my concerns for Katie's emotional regression when Pip arrived.  This issue is still ongoing with Katie no longer using the word "I" and referring to herself as "Katie" all the time.  We're trying to go along with it all and let things ride as much as possible but I'm hoping that Ginger will help with some of the emotional issues (including the mahooosive meltdowns) and generally recognising other people's emotions as well.

A recent comment here on the blog set me thinking about some of the issues I have with Katie's behaviour and my expectations and I realised that, whilst I don't parent in the aggressive way that I was parented, I do have high expectations of Katie's behaviour that are similar to those expected of me as a child and are maybe unrealistic in the current climate so I've done a lot of soul searching and revisiting my childhood and realised that this is something I need to pull back on.  It's hard to remember that Katie is emotionally around 3 years old at the moment when she is tall for her age and seems very confident but I am adjusting my expectations and trying to let a lot more slide.  I won't pretend I'm finding that easy though.  I'm turning my back a lot!

One event that has (so far) surprised me is the new addition of Ed, our little Somali
kitten.  Ed is the most laid back little thing you ever did see and actually likes to lay on laps much to Katie's (and my) delight!  this should hopefully alleviate the issue we've had with Katie chasing Willow around the house for a huggle.  If Ed is happy to sit and cuddle we might be onto a winner.  He sat beautifully with Katie last night and Katie sat still.  Really still.  I don't remember the last time I saw her sat that still.

Might Ed turn out to be a blessing in disguise I wonder?

Watch this space!




Comments

  1. Enjoyed reading your posts as always, good to hear how you are all getting on. I too am trying to lower my expectations of my girls and remember that they are emotionally younger and have been through a lot - really hard, no extremely hard to do!!

    Loving your new addition - very cute! I hope Ed and Katie become the best of friends!

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    1. LoL yes this therapeutic parenting lark is easier in theory than in practice some days isn't it? It can be so frustrating, even when you know the reasons why. Mega meltdown in M&S today but I managed it better by simply turning my back (thank you to the Three Day Nanny for that tip) and walking away. I even managed to breathe. I've done this before but felt angry at the same time. It was much calmer today.

      Ed is sat with me as I'm typing, trying to sit on the keyboard LOL xx

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  2. Sounds like progress!
    If she loves Ed on her lap could she read to him?! Worth a try??

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    1. Now that is a very good idea. I will suggest that to her. thank you xx

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  3. Ed is a cutie! I think animals are wonderful with children.

    Interested in 'Sydney' and how Katie gets on. X

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    1. I have to say that I think Ed is going to be quite special. He's such a lap cat!. I'll write about the Sydney programme as it all unfolds. Her reading is improving a lot at the moment. xx

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  4. Ed looks like a cutie!
    Reading, especially in Yr 1 became difficult here too. We agreed with school to drop one part of Mini's homework which helped relieve some of the pressure on Mini, and he's only allowed to do (my rule) extra curricular things if his school work/reading don't suffer. He's only just started Beavers as before now, he just couldn't have managed both.
    Incidentally we found that reading at the breakfast table, as soon as breakfast had been eaten was a better time for Mini than after school...(and it meant less chance of school refusals too)!

    Thanks for linking up to #WASO x

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    1. Thanks Vicki. I think the emotional toll on having to concentrate more is evident here. I like your suggestion of reading at breakfast, although food time is always difficult here. I will think about attempting to read in the morning though (if we can ever actually get to school and not be in a rush!) LOL xxx

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  5. Gorgeous kitten! And good to hear that Katie's school are making attempts to be supportive - hope the programmes work out for her.

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    1. Fingers crossed. They are being very aware about all our issues at the moment. I had the Head find me in the playground to talk about some forthcoming PSHE issues with me and she told Katie's teacher that I wanted to speak to her about it (which I didn't as it happens so both the teacher and I were a little surprised and had a very off beat conversation!) LOLl xx

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