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Archive for the ‘Social Skills’ Category

I have been having to think a lot lately, for all sorts of reasons, what a parents actual role is.

To nurture, and protect.. Sounds simple enough dosn’t it.

But to nurture and protect from whom?

Nurture is easy.. To nurture a child is to let them become who they want to become. To allow them to be sad, happy, upset, cross, angry, loving, to discover there bodies, minds and develop there own interests..

To protect. From themselves, the state, others, people whos ideas i dont agree with… fears, phobias, electricity… what are we meant to protect our kids from, and what is it we arent… In olden times… as asha calls anything from before she was born… but i will think back to my childhood.

We were able to go out alone, at the age of five. I used to cross the road to play with my friends without supervision, and was trusted to come straight home if they wernt in..

We used to play in the road, as a group unsupervised, and no neighbour would say it was antisocial.. Its playing for goodness sake.

We could play drs and nurses in each others bedrooms, and no parent, or grandparent would go up the wall, because a boy was in the girls bedroom!

Are kids today allowed freedom, or are they sufficated by social rules and expectations, and what is the role of a parent…

Comments please…

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When i was little i used to get 20p a week. All I could buy with it was a packet of polos and some penny sweets.
No where we go to regually sells anything at such small prices, and as we go out a lot. we have found ourselves spending quite a lot of money on Asha.. two ice creams a week = £3. a drink out of a drinks machine, £1.50 a toy from a shop – £3. I wont buy her normal gift items from these places cos she dosnt need pencils, paper etc.. were sinking under the stuff.

As such we have decided to give her £6 a week.. out of that she has to buy all her own ice creams, drinks, toys, etc. If we go out and i havent put a drink in for her then its different.. But for example this week – sunday – circus.. loads of stuff she wanted.. but was happy shareing a bag of candyfloss.. she wanted to go on bouncy castle.. but though about a first aid kit she had seen in post office.. So already its helping her make choices etc. She understands that she cant have everything, and has to save up.. We will see how it goes. She no longer spends the whole time were shopping saying.. can I have…

What are your thoughts?…. to comment, click on the post title..

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I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee.
Oo!  Ee!  It stung me!

I’m squishing up my baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
I’m bringing home my baby bumblebee.
Oo!  Ee!  It’s all over me!

I’m licking off my baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
I’m licking off my baby bumblebee.
Oo!  Ee!  It tastes yuckky!

I’m throwing up my baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
I’m throwing up my baby bumblebee.
Oo!  Ee!  What a mess by me!

I’m cleaning up my baby bumblebee,
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
I’m cleaning up my baby bumblebee.
I think I’ll go and get another!

Asha ended up in tears distraught after it, but i wanted to save the words for the future.

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I seem to be having a bit of a block.. Not really sure what is causing it.

Anyway, what have we been doing for the last two weeks?  Ummmm.

Works backwards – Today is shove tuesday. We had a great pancake party, and ate far too many pancakes. P came round, and we all enjoyed ourselves.

We did shopping in bangor today, and asha bought herself a new set of plastic kitchen toys.

Monday – Naomi and 4 kids came round, and we had a lovely evening playing. In day time, Asha and i did assorted things with paper, and made sample musical instruments up out of junk for clas project on Wednesday.

Sunday – recovered from trip to grannys, and had T, and his parents round to play / eat. Went well. Made some mars bar covered fudge!

Saturday – played at grannys.

Friday – travelled down to grannys.

Thursday – recovered from wed, made some bread.Met new social worker.. Went well.

Wednesday – CLAS and Gwerin meeting, new record, home before 7.30

Tuesday – wrapped some vanilla fudge up for J and A at clas. Spoke to A, and J on telephone today.  Friend came round to play, after i had done shopping.

Monday. I did some shopping, and collasped in heap i think.

Sunday -

Saturday – was it snowdrop weekend at penrhyn? If it was we went there is Gwerin, and had a great time!…….

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We just seem so busy, that nothing is getting done!

Steve and I sat down last night and decided on a daily schedule. Lets see if we can keep to it!

One of our problems is that we are out soo often, and when we are in, jobs such as chopping wood, cooking food, and getting ready for the next day, all need to be done. As well as finding time to spend with Asha. This means some days, it can be 10 pm, before we get to breath. Combined with the cfs, its no wonder i am currently exhausted.

Anyway, what has Asha done since last wednesday then?

Read the rest of this entry »

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Asha had a new friend round today. She had a lovely time playing with N and his little brother.

I enjoyed the time to sit and chat as well. Thursdays often end up quite slow and sluggish for Asha, as we are all exhausted after a Wednesday, so for someone to come around, for a few hours, was good. I wouldnt have managed to get her out the house, as she needs her home on a Thursday time.

During the play date, asha dressed up.. into this!

Asha... the red indian.

smile

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governement more than anything else, and that everyone who takes them should be locked up for ever.. Well..

Have you ever seen a drug rest tent being set up by the ambulance services? No.. Well they have.. the only difference is its LEGAL drugs.! Read the rest of this entry »

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After an exhausting after noon at CLAS for Steve and Asha. I enjoyed doing stuff at home. We went to the “fireworks” in caernarfon. Its location is beuatifull, because they hold it over the marina. I would love to just collect the locations of displays for a photo blog. But as we dont even have a photo of caernafon marina.. that isnt going to occur! Well we sort of went to them.. we got there as they ended As all professional firework watchers should

Anyway all the kids had a great time, and us adults did I think as well. Its so much easier doing things like bonfire night with a group. I think its because Asha is off an age where she loves being with older kids, and they do tend to look after her for me.

Anyway, after the event we all went back to J’s for sparklers, which Asha thoroughly enjoyed.  Last night Asha did a Big sleep, although she did wake up for a small period around 1.30 with cramp again. She was screaming out for me as well…I do think I should sleep outside on nights like that!

Plan for today? Pain killers + pain killers = some pain relief = coffee… good plan hey

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Asha slept well last night, which has made this morning far easier for me. I was left praying last night as I was so exhausted, that she would sleep and she did… I am not religious.. but just in case.. THANKYOU GOD! – manners never cost anything do they

Anyway, I have packed Asha and Steve off with J to CLAS. Thanks J. Has any ever told you your a hugh STAR. And although I have know you less than a year your also probably one of my best friends now as well! – now is this a good thing????

So I was back home for around 12. and have washed the few dishes in the kitchen, cleaned the cat tray. Made a coffee. Realised i need to make those phone calls, and made a coffee.

However I am meant to be sleeping.. Cant you tell!

On leaving Asha at J’s today I told her I am going now, and that I love her.. her reply. “GOOD” now is that good that i love her, or good that i was going? Anyway a moment later she ran to me for a kiss.. then went off again. I love my little daughter, she is sooo content!

right I am now having a drink, then making those phone calls. I am sure Asha and Steve will be loving CLAS by now, and hopefully R and her children from Gymnastics will find the hall as well!

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Well we went to the normal gymnastics class today and discovered that one of the little girls is also being home educated and has no home edd friends near buy! We are less than 10 miles away, I used to do that to school every day.

We were both very pleased to realise our little girls could not only do home edd together but also gymnastics :d

As for Asha and her gymnastics she still loves it.

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Asha has been having lessons which I have payed for, but next week – from tomorrow the council is providing 5 free lessons for half term week.

I am quite excited by this as Asha is very nearly there, in so much as she wants to be able to swim with no float. is confident in the water, but just needs practice. Will five days make all the difference?

The ONLY hurdle for us is the small fact that I have to leave the house at 8.45 in order to get A to her lessons in time! (9.30 start) Anyone who knows me will know how hard this is off late with the cfs.

Vicki xx

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Asha had her first sleep over last night. I now sit here very foggy eyed and exhausted.

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Your chance to support the New Statesman’s No Place for Children campaign: join Philip Pullman, Monica Ali, Nick Hornby and others in signing our petition calling for an end to the detention of children for immigration reasons

Dear Home Secretary,

We welcome the UK’s recent commitment to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in full. In the spirit of that convention, we call on the UK government to end the practice of detaining children and families for the purposes of immigration control.

The government’s stated policy has been to detain children “only when absolutely necessary and for the shortest possible time”. In reality, however, children are often held for long periods in centres with inadequate healthcare and education. Many have been deeply traumatised by their experiences. This situation is unacceptable in a country which claims to adhere to high standards of human rights.

Our clear message is that the UK’s policy of incarcerating innocent minors must stop. Immigration detention centres are no place for children.

Submitted by Alice O’Keeffe of New Statesman
Deadline to sign up by: 16 November 2008

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bbc link

Round Australia the hard way.

Now I agree totally to the poverty and the charity book aid international however, what I also have seen is that those in areas which allready have good reading skills and the children have books are also given free books. Whilst this is “nice” it is also a great waste of resources when those same books given 6 months later to the children who need books, but have destroyed – due to useage – there original books would be far better used.

When we lived in a well off village and everyone asked there health visitor for the books… myself included i thought this is nice, and yes it was a lovely book, asha enjoyed it, along with all her other books! When we moved out here, onto an estate where no one uses the library, but the kids love books, we havent received anything.. nor have these kids.

These kids are the kids who need books given to them! Libraries don’t even visit the area at kiddy favourable times (3 o’clock on a friday once a month the community library comes here) gwynedd council

Mum isnt going to take the children to the library every week.. These are the kids who need targetting, not the ones who allready go to the library!

Vicki xx

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What a little hero she is. She loves it.

She rolled around, jumped around, followed the line around, played tick, and went on the horse thingy. She smiles, and lands with her hands together and has a great time.

I just hope she keeps on loving it!

The rest of the day wasnt as sucessfull, we think Asha is stuggling with milk and gluten in her diet, and as such is being a number one cling on. Which is tireing and hard work. Though she did play outside for a while with daddy, and she did have a small rest when we went for a drive, as she was so tired.

Education done today. Not loads, but we have talked, we have read a few stories and we did look at a big plan of a human body, and talk about teeth, blood cells and veins. We also looked at where our hearts were… My child is 4, and knows more biology than I knew at 16!

Its actually very hard for Asha not to get an education in our house, as we have SO many books of all kinds lieing around.. and with her toys as well!!!!

Oh we also melted some chocolate and added corn flakes to it. We then made some pepermint iceing up, and dropped it into the chocolate crispy cakes. Its really interesting what then happens.. you have after eight choclate crisp cakes!

Oh and before bath, Asha also played with ff.
Vicki xx

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Yes, it was cold, yes it did rain, yes we are insane…BUT we all really had a good time today!

6 home edd families, 20 plus kids, sea, sand beach toys and food… We all had coats and chairs, Windbreaks were up, and the kids were really happy.

Holes were dug, costumes worn, sand eaten, and few if any tears… other than when leaving!

Wonderfull.

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Steve woke me in a panic, as he had forgotten we needed to catch the post office van this morning. We made it although I dont know how focused I was on the very short drive there.

Anyway, we then headed off to Bangor, and by the time I left the post office van car park, I was awake and ready for the August rain drive.  Its a beautifull drive through some of the most beautifull scenery in north wales (if you go via snowdonia) or its a stop start nightmare, if you follow the main roads around. Guess what i did.. Yep, I was in the stop start .. Untill brain cell kicked in, and off onto the back roads we went,,, Yes. It may be wet, windy, dull and horrid out. But even then Wales can look fantastic.

50 mins later, and the rain had eased off enough for us to get Asha’s play mate for the day, and we headed home and to Parc Glasfryn. Asha and L had a lovely afternoon on the soft play area. Then the two of them played in Asha’s play room – which she had spent time tidying for the occasion

I even managed a bath whilst the two of them were playing. My first uniterrupted bath for I really dont know how long!

Four o’clock and its back out into the madness, to return L to his parents, and the tourists, then to Tescos – well for S anyway, A and I sat in the car.

Home at last we explored another incredibably fast tea.. I really didnt realise how much freedom gluten and wheat gives you.. Chicken nuggets, peas and bread for tea!

I am seriously narked now, as I realise we spent about 40 mins a day extra careing for Asha than most parents do,.. as we have to home make EVERY meal normally!

Vicki xx

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All it has done today is rain, rain, rain. However first thing this morning we headed off to Glasfryn Park for the French Market from Normandy.

We brought some lovely cheese, some “friendship bread” know by most people as Baguettes, and some bread. We also bought assorted other bits and pieces and something rather special for Grandad for Christmas.

Asha loved it. For lunch we enjoyed a selection of the cheeses and sausages with the friendship bread, and then we sort of all potted around infront of the Olympics for the rest of the day.

We had planned on Asha doing some of her Wild Square today, but I am sorry its not THAT important!

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After an increadibly early night, mummy was still exhausted this morning, so daddy and I got up and played downstairs for a while.

I did potions with daddy for a while.

When mummy eventually got up, with some help, daddy and i went and played upstairs whilst mummy sorted out some paperwork she needed to deal with. Because I had been a good girl, we then went to Pwhelli and my treat.

I went to the soft play area at Glasfryn. It was brilliant fun!

When we came home I watched Pete’s Dragon on dvd, then had dinner, and a bath before pudding. Daddy read me a story before bed. Mummy has promised to read to me tomorrow.

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Bodnant Gardens Web Site.

Everyone has always told me how fantastic they are, but to be honest:-

Disabled Parking, used by anyone who thinks they are disabled, no badges in site. I had to park somewhere else then move.

Wheelchair access diabolical and no signage for alternative routes.

Food provision for an Asha – fruit salad, out of a tin.. It “should” be o.k.

The producation by The Chapter House Theater group, was o.k., but i wish it had said in its blurb it was aimed at 4 – 8 year olds, and not sold as an outdoor production of sleeping beauty.. It was slightly confusing, I wish they had omitted the stork and the baby bit, and it took me about 3/4 of it to actually enjoy it.

Asha however loved it.

PDF file on Bodnant Garden and Estate

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