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Day 1 to Day 66 of Learning at Home

Today is officially the last day kids in New South Wales are learning from home. The twins watched their carefully crafted morning breakfast show that the teachers create every morning, however this time it had guest hosts – two students telling us what is on the agenda for work today and that it is the last day of being at home. All children go back to face to face learning full time starting next week on the 25th of May, 2020. (Putting the date in here for historical reference)

Kids homeschooling due to COVID-19
Kids homeschooling due to COVID-19

I’m grateful that our response to the virus has been good and we have low to no infections, so that is a good sign. With restrictions easing and schools opening we are very lucky, many schools in America are set to be closed for the rest of the year and kids are going to be learning from home for the remainder of 2020.

Insert a HUGE Happy dance and ENORMOUS SQUEALS OF DELIGHT from every parent here.

Juggling work, kids, learning from home and keeping an active four-year-old entertained has been super difficult to impossible.

We’ve had arguments, fights, tears and just defiance to do any work. Work that has been completed seems to be more of the fun stuff; art, drawing and the creative components to worksheets. Some maths and other work has been finished but with a lot of arguments and mummy explaining for the billionth time that the work needs to be done. To achieve final completion for a lot of the work I had to sit with both children and help them out, this meant that I could not do what I needed to do and arguments for who I was helping and telling the other child they need to just wait.

Geez if I had $1 for every time I tell some to wait I would a wealthy woman.

 

Here are my thoughts of day 1 and we are now coming up to 2 months of being at home. I did think we would be still homeschooling for the rest of term 2 and come back face to face in term 3 so this is a good thing.   I just hope that there are no outbreaks of coronavirus and everyone stays healthy.

The school still has restrictions, there will be no excursions or incursions, no volunteers, no visitors, no drinking at the bubblers, no assembles and kids told that they need to wash their hands and understand if they are sick not to come to school.

My wonderful girls doing their online learning at home - They are learning about tsunamis
My wonderful girls doing their online learning at home – They are learning about tsunamis

Day 1 of schooling from home 24th March 2020

I’m doing our bit to keep us and the community safe.

It is only day 1 of having all 3 kids at home and to put it mildly it was horrible and more like a nightmare conspiracy against mummy.

Mainly the youngest has been horrible and is acting like he is tired still. He has been hitting out, having tantrums, crying and just being awful. I have spent the majority of my day dealing with arguments, incidents, making sure the little one stays away from the bigger kids to allow them to do their schoolwork and all the fallout.

I’ve been ready for a lie-down and a G and T from about 12 pm or earlier actually.  I am keen to have a nice drink later and as I am writing this the kids are having a bath, then dinner and then bed – they are going to bed and there will be no arguments…bed is happening soon for all 3.  Do you hear that they really, really need to go to bed!

This said, we have done some work on Mathletics, art, and drew a pagoda from scratch. I even added to the theme of Pagodas by watching some educational videos on YouTube. Now the kids want to make their own pagodas out of clay but one kid didn’t seal the bag of the clay and therefore our supply is rock hard.

 

 

The kids have had some outdoor time on the trampoline and helping their brother search for bugs and insects.

My little boy did do some drawing and art and practised writing his name. The rest of the day he has been collecting his cars, playing and making our day interesting.  Yes, interesting is a nice way to say challenging and difficult.

I’m not sure that I can handle weeks or even months of this.

I do know that schools and daycare are still open but with work drying up for us, and limited funds having a kid in childcare wasn’t helping us financially. Plus with the fact that they said that if we could have kids at home we should, our stance was if the twins were home so should our youngest as well.

How are you all faring with being at home teaching the kids?  I for one am feeling exhausted and over it already and it is only day 1.

Day 66 – The Final Day of Learning at Home!

Today is the 22nd of May 2020. It is now the last day of the twins learning from home.

It has been fraught with mixed emotions. We embraced the changes and did as we were instructed by the school to help the kids continue with their studies, however dealing with two strong-willed children who don’t want to do work is exhausting. Maybe they should have just gone back to school you say, well this was my thought after day 1 but we fought the urge. It was actually hubby that fought it, I could have easily dropped off the twins at school and been happy with that decision.

I was over it all as I seemed to be the only parent making sure they were working on tasks they should be, worried about assignments due. Hubby and the kids kept on telling me they had plenty of time and then the day before it was due the assignment was done in a rush…and were accompanied by screaming, yelling and attacks at me about “Why am I not helping them do their work!”

Geez!!! If you hadn’t left it to the last minute and done a bit a day it would be done and not rushed, I kept on saying!

The teachers went above and beyond to get online content ready in Google Classroom for all the kids. It was very well done and in a short space of time. I also thought it was very easy to navigate and to find what work you are working on and then submit it to the teachers. This ease of use seemed to be lost as the kids decided to not click on all the work that was assigned and do other tasks. I then ask them what are you working on to get told nothing or something that is not school work.

I have now taken to logging on as the twins to see what school work is due and has been assigned, I print out all needed worksheets, run through the tasks with both kids and get them to work on items that are due soon. I then check on them to make sure they are doing what they should be doing and if they need any help.

We are a little behind in some work but for my own sanity, I have concentrated on reading, writing, and maths as the main areas. We have worked on some other things that have been assigned, I am hoping that next week the teachers will assist my kids to catch up if they are indeed behind.

I know I will not miss the crazy that has become our normal due to homeschooling and having all kids at home, and not to mention trying to find some magical free hours that are uninterrupted to get some work done. I’m looking forward to the girls going back to face to face lessons and for their learning to get back to normal.

It has been nice to sleep in a little, not be in a rush to get anywhere, not have to do lunches (although I still do but not packed ones), and not have to do the school drop off and pick up. This has been one of the more relaxing parts of learning from home.

I’ve told the kids that we are living through a huge event in history, a global pandemic and the last one was in 1918. The older kids understand the history and what has been happening but the four-year-old is not understanding why we have been at home, and he has only recently started back at pre-kinder.

We will look back on this time and be amazed at how we survived, adapted and stayed together to be safe and well.

Although there were many good times I have been hanging for the world to return to normal or at least somewhat normal. I live in a small house, and this means if kids and hubby are home I have no space to do things for me.

The kids have taken over the living room for their school work and when Alexander is here I need to keep him busy, it has only been this week and last that he started back at care, so today is a reprieve for me to allow me to do a few items of work, and help the twins out with any needed school work.

Doing some creative arts at home
Doing some creative arts at home

Here is a sample day for us while kids are learning from home:

  • Kids and everyone gets up and have breakfast.
  • Drop Alexander off at care, if not at care, I look after him which means he wants to play with his sisters and his sisters decide to play with him instead of doing schoolwork.
  • I ask what they need to work on after they watch the Good morning show from the teachers.
  • They say not much or don’t respond (yes I am invisible and they don’t answer even if I am next to them) so I log on to see what assignments and work is due.
  • I then print out about 5-6 items that are not done or complete.
  • Kids work on one task, then take about million trips to the loo and to the kitchen to get a snack or drink.
  • Ask if the work they started is complete and the answer is either nothing or NO.
  • Go in to see if they need help, they have a fit at me as they can do it on their own, I then mention that they have other work to do and give them another 30mins to finish the task they have already had hours working on.
  • More trips to the bathroom and then the realization that it is now recess and they need to have a break.  Why do they need a break when they have had one every 5 mins!
  • Break Again? I tell them to get back to work and finish their tasks.
  • They have recess and play on the trampoline for what feels like hours to then come in and do the same with other tasks they don’t complete and then more arguments and negotiations about what they are doing and when it will be finished.
  • What! It is lunch now??? Again they need food and of course outdoor time. No work is happening again. Finally, they are back at their desk and doing something, I sit with them to ensure that something gets done and they argue about how it is all too hard and they don’t understand.
  • Now they claim they need to go to the bathroom again and are incredibly thirsty and need a drink or else they might die.
  • Many trips back and forth to the kitchen, bathroom and then work desk, but not a lot of work is happening.
  • The kids are worse than cats, in and out of the house, at least I don’t have to open doors for them.
  • The kids now finally notice it is the end of school time so they bugger off to the garden to spend the rest of the day on the trampoline.
  • I’m not sure what work has been done or finished and really don’t believe any work has been done at all!
  • There were many failed attempts to get kids back in the house to complete schoolwork, but it was a giant relief that the house is finally quiet, mummy has a headache and needs to finally do one piece of work that she has been trying to do all day!
  • Mummy is over it all and wants the kids to just do their job. Why is this such a hard ask????

I have finally got my desk back as the kids like using my computer for Minecraft and some of their Google Classwork.

I have looked at many other parents social media during the last two months, and it seems many kids have really enjoyed the remote learning from the school, they got stuck in and just did the work. Pictures that were posted showed kids in the school uniform, kids looking happy and of course many boasting about how their child is loving this time and getting all their work done in record time. I was like this as a kid, without wearing the school uniform at home.

When I was younger I did correspondence for three months while I lived on a boat travelling the islands of Queensland. I got my school work done in a few days and then swam and played for the rest of the week. I was told that if I didn’t do my work I couldn’t go swimming and as a kid who lived and breathed the beach and the sea this was a deal-breaker, so I did my school work.

It saddened me that my children didn’t share this drive and idea to get things all done to allow them to do more fun things. I even signed them up to some free stem coding classes and thought that this would be great, Tynker can also help you program things for Minecraft too. See I’m working with their interest in Minecraft.

Maybe my kids just need to be at school for the routine and discipline of their teachers? Maybe being at school just helps get them into the right mindset?

Working hard at their school work - I had to coax a smile out of one of them, the other one decided she didn't want to cooperate
Working hard at their schoolwork – I had to coax a smile out of one of them, the other one decided she didn’t want to cooperate

As I write this the girls are quietly working away on their classwork, there are still many outstanding tasks but my aim today is to see if we can finish everything that is due. Or at least come close.

Maybe it has taken us two months to just get into the swing of things….although the kids have decided they had to have an early lunch, maybe this will mean that they will do more without another lunch break?

One thing that the kids have done more of is to help around the house and to do more cooking. They have cooked us all dinner a few nights a week and have refined their cake baking skills. Have you been baking more? I think it is a natural consequence of being at home more especially when cafes and restaurants were closed.

It is also the last day of being together at home so I want to take them out for a hot chocolate or something to celebrate and to mark the occasion.

You know how I said they were quietly working away, well that is no more after all of me showing everyone what to do and where the work was people are claiming they don’t know what to do and where the work is!

Geeez… another day spent supervising kids with their school work, I’m just grateful this is the last day of this struggle here.

How have you found the time at home with the kids? Did they enjoy learning from home or did they struggle?

My girls have said that they prefer school to learning from home, so it is going to be nice for them to go back to where they are better suited. I was a bit worried that they might prefer elements of working from home and it could be a hard transition back. However, with the twins saying they don’t really like remote learning I think the transition will be okay and nothing to be worried about.

Also, mummy and daddy are super keen for the house to be peaceful and for us to have our time again.

What are you looking forward to when school goes back full-time next week?

 

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Family

Schools One Day a Week Starts Tomorrow

Tomorrow the twins go back to school for their first face to face lessons since March.

The girls are only going back one day a week so far and their days are Mondays. This, of course, has excited me. I will have some time alone, no noise and of course be able to concentrate for the first time in what has felt like many months, not just a few. Yes, it has felt longer.

School goes back tomorrow for 1 day a week
School goes back tomorrow for 1 day a week

The idea that they are starting to have kids go back to face to face classes is promising and one that I hope continues. The twins have been put in their sporting house and their house’s day to attend school is Monday. The rest of the week will be learning from home, but every Monday means that the kids get to go to school and mummy gets a break!

I am not sure that they are excited or scared with the prospect of going back. I for one think that getting kids off to school early after not having to be anywhere might be the biggest hurdle we face, as our days are spent waking up at around 9 am and getting our day going with some furious hours of school work, trying to fit in work with a busy four-year-old and two eleven-year-olds that constantly need guidance with their school work.

 

Since the girls are venturing back to the outside world we thought our youngest needed to go back to his school at daycare too. As with his sisters, his first day back begins tomorrow too, and again mummy and daddy are super happy about the time this will give us to work on projects that can help the family and earn money.

There has been much talk about when schools will reopen and if it will be for full-time attendance. As far as I know, being a New South Wales school they are being cautious due to the cases that we have had of coronavirus. If all goes well the kids one day might be made to more and then come next term it is said that they should be back to full-time face to face lessons.

Having kids home constantly home has been draining.

There have been some wonderful moments, it has been great to see how they are growing and learning but having no break and no way to have downtime wears on you pretty quickly.

While I’ve been helping the twins with their school work, I’ve had to entertain and play with my four year old. I need to keep him occupied so that it allows the girls to have some quiet time to get work done. It is hard as I cannot be in three different areas and doing different things. I cannot help the girls with the school work, play with Alexander and also do work at the same time. It cannot happen.

Helping kids learn from home is really a full time job
Helping kids learn from home is really a full-time job

I have been one of those parents that have lessened her time frames on iPad and screen time as this has allowed me to get a few things done for work and let the twins do some school work at the same time. Alexander is now very much obsessed with superheroes and is racing around in his undies and super cape while watching his YouTube videos.

We live in a small house and one project that I was hoping would be complete to help is my office/shed. This would have been ideal if it was complete, as it would allow me to lock myself in a place where my work is my own, I can focus, no noise and be able to leave uncompleted projects on a desk and then come back the next day to finish them off. Soooo now that it is still not done after 3 years of promises I am stuck with a small house and nowhere to go to do work. I have taken to hiding in my bedroom with the laptop but kids inevitable find me and then there are disasters that mummy can only solve.. then no more work gets done!

I did live in hope that this office space for me would be magically finished by Mother’s Day or my birthday (which is now 10 days away) but the fact that we have been negatively impacted financially due to coronavirus doesn’t allow to spend on building materials for this project currently. Isn’t it always the way, you either have plenty of time to do things and cannot due to no money, or you have plenty of money and no time to do the things you want to do.

Personally, when I get some money I am going to get it done or pay someone to do it as I am so over waiting for my dream space to finally become a reality.

When the kids go back to school this week it will allow me to breath a sigh of relief and finally, get onto some projects that I have been desperate to start and some to finally finish.

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Family

Panadol’s Online Resources for Parents

As a mother to twin girls and a little boy I want to ensure that all my kids are healthy and well. I’m sure if you are a parent or help care for kids that would be what you would like too. However there are times when everyone gets sick. One child might have a cold, a fever, the flu or if it was like our ongoing saga with tonsillitis it effected both kids until they were removed (the girls have been well aside from the common cold and illness since the removal of their tonsils.)

Shelley Craft, Buddy Bear, myself (Suzanne), the girls and our little boy. What fun the kids had, although the baby was teething and still is. (He cheered up once he got some Children's Panadol to make him feel better)
Shelley Craft, Buddy Bear, myself (Suzanne), the girls and our little boy. What fun the kids had, although the baby was teething and still is. (He cheered up once he got some Children’s Panadol to make him feel better)

When your little ones get sick you do your best to make them feel better. It could be cuddles, songs, yummy food, and favourite shows and of course some medicine to help your kids feel more like themselves and allow the body to get better, rest is best so that you can be well.

No matter how simple or common the sickness is you cannot help but worry about your children. When my kids are sick I am worried about them all the time.

Last Thursday the kids and I went to learn about Children’s Panadol (The kids were excited to meet Shelley Craft. Yes I watch The Block and therefore so do the kids) great new online resources to help parents care for sick kids and to also alleviate the anxiety that can go with sickness.

Shelley Craft from the Block and Dr Kimberley O’Brien who is the founder of Quirky Kid Clinic and also an expert in child development and mental health. Both Shelley Craft and Dr O’Brien spoke about how to have planning strategies to help parents deal with stress and anxiety when children get ill as it can be HUGE help for parents and children as well.

This talk was in response to a “new global survey of parents, including Australians, suggests that parents manage day to day mishaps and mistakes calmly, but still get stressed about the important things like helping their children through illness”

“71% of Australian parents fell anxious about fever/temperature and 66% feel anxious about their child’s pain”

Children’s Panadol have created the following tools to help support parents in managing their child’s health:

  1. Buddy Bear is an interactive animated website that allows parents to entertain children when they are sick. It is a good idea to create the different files before you need them as you can save them to your device. Once you are on the site you are asked if your child is a boy/girl. Then fill in age, email and add photo and your video will be emailed to you when it is ready. Get organised and download a few so you have them ready.
    While your child is watching Buddy Bear you can get the dosage of Children’s Panadol correct and not be so flustered and anxious.

    Buddy Bear - The great new interactive way to keep your little one entertained while you get the medicine sorted to help your child get better. Developed and created by Children's Panadol.
    Buddy Bear – The great new interactive way to keep your little one entertained while you get the medicine sorted to help your child get better. Developed and created by Children’s Panadol.
  1. The First Five Years Book – This fabulous resource is written by child health nurses to help parents with practical tips and tricks to help them understand the ups and downs from birth to 5 years old, help you enjoy being a parent, learn about major milestones, understand activities that your baby might be doing. You can read it online or download it.
  2. Bub Tracker App – This is a FREE App that helps new parents with advice on dosage for medicines, feeding tracker, feeding log and much more.“Parents do not sweat the small stuff, but worry more about the illness cause, recovery and prevention – especially mothers”
Children's Panadol Bub Tracker App - Great guide for parents
Children’s Panadol Bub Tracker App – Great guide for parents

I hate it when kids are sick. I wish I could make it all go away.  I also hate when I get sick, yes if kids get ill, I end up sick too! Perils of motherhood.

 

The tools from Panadol are a HUGE help to make it a little easier on parents and also kids. I have downloaded some of buddy bear’s interactive videos in preparation for Alexander.

Dr Kimberley O’Brien has 5 tips to help manage anxiety and soothe your sick child/children:

  1. Make a Plan. Having a plan removes second guessing yourself and the worry. Make sure that you include distraction and calming tools if medication is required.
  2. Know your tools. Have a favourite toy/book/game to help comfort your child. A personalised DVD that the child will be happy to watch would be of great help.
  3. Empathise. Try and see the situation from your child’s point of view and this can give you some insight into their behaviour.
  4. Do familiar things. If you can make sure you stick to your regular family routine. This will create a sense of normality at home and allow everyone to be more relaxed.
  5. Manage your anxiety. Call on your support network for help. You need a break if you are the only one caring for a sick child, a break will allow you to increase your quality of care and not get burnt out in the process.

 

“They are less concerned with diet, medication usage or what they are doing wrong – though parents of younger children worry more.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly parents of children aged 6-12 are not as ‘extremely ’anxious”

Teething and very upset. Mummy cuddles are very helpful. Photo taken in a darken room due to sleeping baby. Yes did not want to wake him.
Teething and very upset. Mummy cuddles are very helpful. Photo taken in a darken room due to sleeping baby. Yes did not want to wake him.

What are your thoughts on making a plan to be ready for sick kids? Well you are not planning on having sick kids, just how to deal with it.

I love the Buddy Bear videos and the bear is so magical to watch. You could sit for hours just being amazed at how cute and wonderful the bear is. Kids will love this as much as adults do. Give it a go, download and save some videos just in case you need them. Also check out the other online resources from Children’s Panadol.

Disclaimer: I went along to the media briefing about Children’s Panadol to learn ways parents can be less anxious and to hear about techniques that can help children when sick. I have had many times when the twins were ill, they then got me ill and now with a baby it will all happen again (Currently Alexander has a cold and is also teething. Joyousness it is not!). I think that the online resources that Children’s Panadol showcased are excellent, not only are they FREE, they are highly informative as well. Thanks to Children’s Panadol for the invite and allowing the kids and I to learn more about your online tools.

 

Categories
6 years and beyond

A Star Wars Father’s Day

Today is Father’s Day. Today it was seven years ago I went off to hospital to have the twins. It was more like waiting a week to have them but it was on Father’s Day that it all happened. It makes me wonder when it will all happen with this baby? Will it be Christmas Day? New Year’s Day or will it be on time? Who knows. The only thing that has been happening is that whoever is in my belly is jumping around and is very active. I must have a trampoline in there?? It feels like that is the case at times.

The kids and I have secretly put all hubby’s surprises on his desk.

Father's Day Presents for Hubby
Father’s Day Presents for Hubby
Artwork to celebrate Father's Day
Artwork to celebrate Father’s Day

What did we get him you ask?

I decided to make him something as I did not see really anything that he could use or might want.  One of the girls who was with me picked out a special cookbook that came with cookie cutters.

Star Wars Cookbook that hubby got for Father's Day
Star Wars Cookbook that hubby got for Father’s Day

One of the girls helped me with picking something from the cookbook to make for daddy for Father’s Day. She picked Chewy Chocolate Cookies. We got all the ingredients and then made our big batch of cookies.  The reciepe made heaps of dough so I had heaps of cookies to make.

The kids are rather taken with Star Wars lately. They know many of the characters and like the action and the stories.

One child also purchased some Anzac Biscuits at the school Father’s Day shop. I think daddy will have plenty of snacks to eat and of course more to cook in his cookbook.

We are taking hubby out for lunch to celebrate Father’s Day. I have not booked anywhere so I hope we can get in. I did not think to make a reservation and just hope that we are lucky to get in for lunch where we like or at least somewhere else.

What are you doing for Father’s day? Did dad/hubby like their presents?

 

Categories
Family

What number 3?

I have some Exciting News!

I have been dying to tell you all. However I have kept quiet.

I’m 12 weeks pregnant with the third baby!

Documenting the pregnancy so far. Yes I know I have a belly... maybe that is due to having twins before this little person.
Documenting the pregnancy so far. Yes I know I have a belly… maybe that is due to having twins before this little person.

We are having another little bundle. This new person is due in January 2016, the first week to precise. We have some conflicting dates but they are all in the first week. Who knows the baby might decide to come earlier? Or later, you never know right? Did your second baby come on the due date? Or was he/she earlier or later? I am keen to know.

Yes I will be all hot and bothered and very pregnant in summer, I love summer and I hope that I am not too big and bothered in my favourite season.

We have decided to not find out what sex and leave it as a surprise. Hubby and I are super organised and have picked out a name for a boy and a girl to be prepared. I made sure to sort out names for the twins before they arrived and we had no idea they were going to be girls, so we were prepared either way. I did not want to be in the hospital and having an argument about what we call the baby. We will be keeping mum on these names as I would like to have it as an announcement when the baby arrives. Did you have the name for your baby sorted before you gave birth? Or did you decide once baby was here?

And you might be thinking is it twins again? NO we are having one this time.

Both the seven and twelve week scans confirmed just one baby. Also the twelve week scan showed that the baby was healthy so that is great news. I wanted to make sure that all was well with the baby before we told anyone.

I of course have been feeling horrible and it started early. I think from the first few weeks I have been nauseas and really feeling terrible. This made me think it could be twins again, and we would have been fine with this. However having one will make life a little bit easier the second time around. I can finally experience breastfeeding one child!

I’m still fighting all day sickness otherwise known as morning sickness. I have not been sick but have tried to be, and have been feeling queasy all day and night. It is just awful! I also need to eat food more regularly or else I feel ill, but then after I eat I feel ill. I am dammed either way! I just hope it passes. When I was pregnant with the twins I felt like this throughout the whole pregnancy and I am feeling the same this time, but not as bad with two babies.

I’ve also been very thirsty and don’t remember this being the case with the twins. Maybe I was and I have forgotten. One annoying thing is that you drink heaps due to being very thirsty and then have to constantly go to the toilet! Although one good side effect is that I have been warmer than usual and being in the Blue Mountains this is a good side effect. One of the only ones actually!

I am not the glowing pregnant type. Also due to my boobs being bigger normally they are really sore and uncomfortable without a bra (Maybe too much info my lovely readers). I don’t get ladies that jog and remain so active during their pregnancy (I wish I was one of these active and fit ladies). I have been zapped of energy and just want to close my eyes and fall asleep any chance I get. I’ve been falling asleep during the evening and missing crucial parts of the shows that hubby and I watch. The next show I am sure that we have missed a whole episode to then find out that I fell asleep and missed an essential part of the show. At least I have it to re-watch, but it is annoying.

Due to this being my second pregnancy I am showing a lot earlier than I thought I would be. I have also felt flutters for a few weeks and it is definitely the baby as it was the same feelings I got with the twins. Although I felt it later with my first pregnancy, I have read that it can happen earlier with second pregnancies. Thank goodness for winter as I have been hiding my growing belly with jackets and jumpers. It has got me worried. I hope by the end I will not be too big.

Having two kids and being pregnant does really make you extra tired. When pregnant with the twins, I could take a nap and have a rest and not be bothered. This time around I have to keep on going until the kids are asleep. Due to kids having school and other activities such as karate, singing and swimming lessons, the weeks have flown, and I look up and twelve weeks have already been and gone. With my first pregnancy I documented more things and took more photos each week. I managed to take one selfie at 10 weeks and will do another one at twelve weeks. I’m sure other mums and parents are in the same boat.

The baby's profile and you can see one hand raised.
The baby’s profile and you can see one hand raised.

My plan of sipping cocktails by the pool and having a nice glass of red wine while at Problogger are not to be. However I will be drinking mocktails and still having a great time. By August I will be definitely rocking the baby bump and looking a bit bigger than I do now.

I will need to think about my wardrobe and finding some comfortable and stylish clothes to wear to the conference. Did you find it difficult to find some nice maternity clothes when you were pregnant? I have been looking but some are just tents and others are just boring. I don’t want to look bigger than I am, and I would like to look nice at the same time. I think this is a hard ask for pregnancy wear.

I did see online that there are some nice options but the stores that stock these labels are in the city and I have not been able to get there to have a look. I hope to do this soon, well before Problogger. What are your favourite maternity stores to get some fab items? Let me know. I need some ideas in this area.

The twin’s reaction was mixed. One was somewhat excited and happy and the other looked like she was in shock. I think it is huge news of the kids to digest and they need some time to understand what is happening. One did ask if I needed to go to the hospital today. I did say that I’m not having the baby yet so I don’t need to go. However when she asked me she was patting my side and looking concerned. Nice and very caring of her. I suppose the kids have a while to get used to the idea of having a baby sister or brother.

Both kids like the idea of being a big sister and teaching the baby things when it is a little older. Not sure what things they will teach this new person and it might not all be good. Did your child get excited when you told them you were having another baby? Or not look interested at all?

I did get a DVD with the twelve week scan and the kids were more interested to see the baby moving and to hear the heartbeat.

Since my twins were tiny at birth I am rather concerned that due to there only being one baby it might be HUGE! I hope not! My sister had a baby that was on the smaller side, and when I was born I was about 3kgs. So that is not HUGE. Yes I am having some weird thoughts and concerns. I hope I’m not the only one that does this.

I’m off on holiday from Sunday and will be documenting what we get up to. Make sure to check my Instagram Feed to keep up to date as well.

Did you find it hard to keep quiet about your pregnancy or did you spill the beans before twelve weeks? I just didn’t want to tell the kids for fear something went wrong, and have to deal with their reaction and explaining it all.

Let us know how you coped during the first trimester. I don’t like it. Although my sister did not get morning sickness with her baby. So I must have hit the jackpot! Everyone is different. Send in your comments.

 

Categories
Family

Meditation and Deep Breaths

Kids are now back at school and having a fab time. YES! Thank goodness you hear me say! I think I need another two weeks to be at the same energy and speed I was at before school holidays. Do you find you need some weeks to yourself as your little holiday? I know I do!

Just between you and me, there have been more than a few times that I did deep breathing and relaxation exercises to chill myself out.  Holidays are always full on in my house. Kids want to go at a million miles an hour and never seem to get tired. They wake earlier and carry on till late and then repeat it all again the next day. Exhausting really! Why is it that they can sleep in on school days but not holidays or weekends? If you know let me know!

I did love lazing about at home with no particular thing to do or be at. No school lunches to make and I did not have to race off to pick kids up from anything. This was great, but there was one thing that I missed and dread on school holidays.

It is some quiet time for me!  I do love some time out with no noise, yelling, fighting and carrying on that allows me to just do my thing. I can think, I can just sit with my own thoughts for a while. Being on the go constantly takes its toll. Just having a little time alone is a help. 

Meditating with Body Beyond Birth
Meditating with Body Beyond Birth

So what did I do that helped a bit?

As you know I have participating in the Body Beyond Birth 12 week program. I have struggled with a sore eye and of course then school holidays, but I did manage to do some wonderful meditation videos. These left me feeling much calmer than before I did the mediation and armed to face the rest of my day.

If you have not looked at Body Beyond Birth, why not take a look at their brilliant website and all the great resources there. The program is fun and you can take it with you if you travel.

What allowed you to get through the school holidays calmer? Did you manage to find time for you? Exercise or see a mate that you love to chat to? Let us know.

Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

 

Categories
School

First Parent Teacher Interview in Different Classes

Today I have the first parent teacher interviews of the year. This is the first year that the girls have been separated, and I am excited to hear how each teacher thinks each kid is going.

One major reason for being keen on hearing teacher feedback is the twins have been mixed up for the last three years. They had two years of pre-school where they got them confused, and in Kindy they were together. I am sure they did get them a bit mixed up, there were comments that I was sure was for the other child and not the one mentioned.

Finally a report for each child and a teacher that will not mix them up! I wonder how much this report will differ from last year?

The classroom all set for parent teacher interviews
The classroom all set for parent teacher interviews

Do you have twins in the same class? Have they been constantly mixed up and confused with report time or parent teacher night or afternoon? Have you made the change to have your twins in different classes? Has this helped them and the teachers know who is who?

The girls are very different people and I am glad that they can express themselves in different classes. It helps each child be themselves and not compared to their sister. It is hard enough looking exactly like the other person. Having time for you and to allow you to just be is needed.

Have you found that your twins have blossomed after being in separate classes. Did you notice this more when you got the first report card? Or was it during the parent teacher interview?

Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Categories
6 years and beyond

Kindy Over. Hello Holidays!

No more school for 2014. Kindy over and now on Summer Holidays.Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
No more school for 2014. Kindy over and now on Summer Holidays.Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The kids are now officially on holidays. Yesterday was their last day at school. Also today is exactly seven days till Christmas and Santa arrives. Gosh it is getting exciting at our house. What about yours?

The twins have completed their first year at big school. Yes kindergarten is now done and dusted and they will go back as bigger kids entering grade one. The girls are so pleased with this and also some of their younger friends will be starting school next year and they are keen to look after then and show them around.

One thing that I did not predict was that the girls were very sad and cried a bit due to their older school buddy leaving primary to go to high school next year. It is sad but we can always see her at other times, and told the girls that one day they will also be leaving to go to high school. I know this is a way off yet, but it will happen in a blink of an eye.

I still cannot believe that they are six years old already, it only seems like yesterday they were babies.

So what have I learnt with the first year of primary school?

  • Notes from the school. You will find that you get a lot of notes. Don’t think your darling child will give you all these notes and some important announcements. You will need to go through their bag to ensure you have all announcements and notes from the school.
  • Keep some petty cash available for events at the school. There might be an excursion, stalls, fetes, cake stalls and so on. The kids need a bit of money to participate and if you have it at home it saves you going to the ATM or the bank.
  • Your child will lose some or nearly all of their uniform. Label everything! One of my girls lost a lunch box. Yes odd, but it happens.
  • If you can help in the classroom, I would do it. I loved helping the kids with their reading and assisting the teacher with this program. It was a joy to see my girls grow with their reading and be shown other things in class.
  • The kids school has an excellent canteen with very healthy food. If you have this option don’t worry about using the canteen for school lunches. They were cheap and gave me a break from thinking what to pack every so often. It was also a nice treat for the kids. Due to the fact that the kids go to school in the mountains and it is gets freezing in winter, having hot food options for lunches for winter is ideal and the canteen helped me then.
  • Change of Clothes. Due to the fact that kids are still young and in Kindy, I always had a spare pair of undies and socks in the bag. You never know if the child might have an accident or just walk in a puddle and get upset with the fact that they have wet socks. With the undies and socks, I also added a t-shirt, jumper and skivvy just in case the weather changes. In the mountains you never know so it is good to be prepared.

Hope this list helps some parents out there, my main point is to keep up with the news from the school. Make sure to read the newsletters and any updates. It is a whirlwind of info and events when you start but you become better at navigating what you need to do and where you need to be. I was also impressed that the teachers knew who each child was in the early days.

I did mention to the twins that due to the fact that the kids need to wear a uniform, teachers and others might find it hard to know who each person was. This was not true. Their teachers were amazing and figured it out. This was very impressive and made the girls very happy!

Now we are on school holidays and Christmas is fast approaching I have a number of things to get done. I have organised tickets to a film tomorrow for me and the twins, we are off to see the new Paddington film and I cannot wait. The girls have told me that they will help me tidy up a bit before Santa arrives and then the girls and I are off on a secret trip after Christmas…more info on this later!

How are you going now you are on school holidays? Are the kids super excited for the arrival of Santa? Have you got everything organised yet? I was lucky that I sorted hubby’s present yesterday, and yes I still need to wrap the kids presents but I have them.

However I just need to remember where they have been hidden throughout the house. Wish me luck I find them all!

 

 

Categories
6 years and beyond

Kindy Presentation Day

Today the girls have their presentation at school. The kids have been practicing for weeks and weeks, singing songs, and getting everything just right. I am so excited for them and cannot wait to see what they have been preparing and practicing for.

My wrinkled invite to the twins kindy presentation. It was in their bag, and crumpled.
My wrinkled invite to the twins kindy presentation. It was in their bag, and crumpled.

So what is the presentation about? Well it is the end of Kindy for the twins. Yesterday I got their final report for the year and they did so well, hubby and I are so proud of them.

I have been told that they will be singing songs and from teachers I have found out that they get a certificate for completing Kindergarten. Although not technically over, it is close. The last day I believe is the 18th of December so I have another week or so left of the kids at school. Then we are on holidays! I dream of sleeping in but I fear that they will be more inclined to wake earlier.

Why is it that I have to wake them from deep sleeps to get to school but this is not repeated on weekends or holidays?

I have tidied up my iPhone a bit to help me have some room to take video and pictures of the kids at their presentation day today. Hubby is unable to be there due to work commitments so I will have to take enough footage to help him be there when he watches it.

I cannot believe how much the girls have grown up this year. I do see my little kids still but they are such big girls. Yesterday there was a Christmas Stall at the school so the kids could purchase pressies for mum, dad and other relatives without them knowing what it was. Most came home wrapped but Lillian had one that was not. She was so excited about her purchase she was practically telling me what it was. I still don’t know what it is, other than it smells nice and it is purple. So I am happy to wait for the surprise on Christmas Day.

I gave her Christmas paper, scissors and sticky tape to wrap her secret gift. She then locked herself and her sister in the living room to do the secret wrapping business! The kids pressies to us are the only ones under the tree at the moment. It is wonderful that they are so excited and grown up now to get gifts by themselves.

What have you been invited to at the school due to the term ending? Do you help out? Has it been a nice lunch or tea for a thank you? Let us know what has been happening with you. How is your kids faring with the year ending? Are they excited to move to the next grade? Mine are and of course more excited about Santa coming and the holidays, but grade one is a big deal.

 

Categories
Wednesday Wisdom

Finding Everyday Magic

Do you sometimes think you are not being a good parent. I do. I sometimes stop and think I am not fun, being terrible and so on. However for the most part I think I am doing an awesome job. Everyone has moments in their work life or any role that they doubt what they are doing or have done. The below quotes are great to help you have the pick me up you need. It will inspire you and give you an injection of ideas as a parent.

 

These parenting quotes will inspire you to be an amazing parent & to stop doubting yourself. You are doing an amazing job!
These parenting quotes will inspire you to be an amazing parent & to stop doubting yourself. You are doing an amazing job!

On Monday the 1st of December I got the Christmas tree and all the decorations ready to put up with the kids. However this did not happen due to a missing foot on the base. I had 3 of them but needed the 4th. If I did not have this last bit the tree falls over due to the weight of the top of the tree. Not good at all!

I could not find it and of course did not know where to start looking. I looked where we normally put the tree up in the living room to see if it was under something. No not there! I looked in the shed where the box for the Christmas tree lived before I got it that afternoon. No not there, although the shed is a mess and it might be there and not seen yet.

So I had two angry and upset kids who were very much looking forward to putting up the Christmas tree. I explained that I was very sorry and I have done my best to find this missing piece for the tree. I had some bad behaviour from one girl and she was sent to her room for some time out.

I told both girls that I will sort out the issue of the tree and we will find something.

Yesterday I managed to find a Christmas tree at Vinnies and it was only $5! Yes how amazing. Other tress that were from the shops were going for nearly $100. I did not want to spend that much and could not afford to on a tree.

xmastree2014

So now kids are super happy and we have a Christmas tree. I still want to find the missing part of the other tree, but now I am glad that I have a replacement, kids are happy and I can find it when I can.

After they saw the tree they were so excited! I got cuddles, kisses and a lot of thanks. I hope this nice behaviour lasts. It was so nice to do this and I was very thankful that I was able to and found something.

Have you managed to create a bit of magic at your place lately? I think it was magical that this happened. I was in the right place at the right time to get the tree we needed. I have made the kids super happy and this will make Christmas extra special for the kids.

“The best way to make children good is to make them happy” Oscar Wilde

Both girls have been telling everyone about our new Christmas tree. They are even asking if Santa will notice the new tree when he visits.

Having the excitement of the Christmas tree I realised that it is the small things and being present that really count. Being with your child and sharing the little moments are what is important. I try and do this and don’t worry about the housework or other things that will take me away from the kids. If I am here with them, I am being with them.

What do you do to have more magic at your place?

 

Categories
5 years and beyond

Strawberries are Daddy’s Kryptonite

Kryptonite for daddy, Strawberries. Image courtesy of gt_pann at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Kryptonite for daddy, Strawberries. Image courtesy of gt_pann at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When we were away on holiday one of the girls was very annoyed with daddy. She decided to tell him, “I’ve had strawberries!”, and then proceeded to try and lick him. Daddy is allergic to strawberries and of course cannot have any.

I was taken with the change in thinking. Daddy can’t have them. I can now use this against him and he has to run away. Clever really and also naughty.

Strawberries is daddy’s Kryptonite. Have your kids caught on to what you cannot have? Are you allergic and cannot have it ever, or just don’t like it?

It was a clever thing to do, as daddy really has no choice but to think that this child might have had strawberries, she loves them and eats them like it is going out of fashion. However on the day of the incident she had none and he knew this. She of course did not like this, but you have to give her points for trying.

When did your child/children start to get smart when fighting back? Let me know. Is it around the four years age mark and nearly five?  Send in your comments.

Categories
News

Healthy Dad = Healthy Kids

Climbing like a monkey
Climbing like a monkey

In an article by Nicola Conville, ‘Dads determine child obesity’, on Body and Soul:

“A recent Australian study has found having an overweight father quadruples a child’s chance of being overweight, even if they have a mother of normal weight.”

The study looked at more than 3000 two parent families over a four year period. Weight was looked at when the child was 4-5 years and when they were 8-9 years old.

It is interesting to note that if the mother is overweight and the father is normal or skinny, it does not seem to matter, the change happens when the father is overweight. Interesting don’t you think!

As the article states when the father at the dinner table refuses the vegetables or some other food, then the children follow. This can make it very hard to have kids eat good and nutritious food. In my situation we eat very well and the kids don’t eat the good food. I do try and hide it in other things to make sure they get what they need. It is very hard with fussy eaters. Maybe hypnosis might work with the fussy eating issue…Just a thought.

Parents need to be careful of what behaviours they are modelling for their child. If you don’t eat a particular food, chances are your child might not want to as well. This has flow on effects, if you don’t exercise or participate in any sport or exercise the child will not want to do so either.

If the family is active together this shows the child that it is fun and a part of life, not a chore and something to hate. If it is integrated into what the family does it is a normal part of family time and will be adopted by the child as a normal thing.

In the article it has great suggestions for getting more active with kids, here are some of mine:

  • Go for a bush walk with the family, why not take a picnic?
  • Walk to the shops if it is close by. Take the pram if the little kids get tired. You can always stop at the park and let them run around and have fun. (in the article but we do it too)
  • Go swimming with the kids.
  • Do yoga or some stretching or activity at home.
  • Fly a kite. (in the article but we do it too)
  • Dance to music.
  • Get involved in a sport, running, soccer, or anything that your child might be interested in. We will aim to do that next year as we have tried soccer and that did not work, little athletics seem to take people next year so we will see.
  • Games in the backyard, tag or anything that is active.
  • Play dates with the kids friends; they end up running around and playing more especially if you go to a park or if you have a good backyard.

What are your thoughts about this study? I do agree that if the child sees you not eating a certain food or doing something they will copy you. It is what is taught and you need to teach, do and model with the right foods and behaviour. However this sometimes is hard when you have a person who does not follow your good eating habits and exercise ideas. Also a treat every now and then is o.k if in moderation; well that is what I think. You don’t want to make your kids feel like they are missing out.

Send in your comments and why not continue the discussion on our twitter or facebook pages.

Categories
4 years and beyond

4 Year Old Immunisations

The girls had their four year old health check today and that also meant getting their immunisations. Yes needles. Both hubby and I were a bit worried how it might go, so decided to not tell them about it until it was going to happen.

Health check all went well. We are still off the chart for weight although the weight gain is good for them, so good news. We are on the chart for height but they are not big girls, I would say petite and due to that we are on it but they are not tall. Who knows they will probably shoot up soon.  All other development milestones are good and other concerns we raised were noted.

Now we get to the point of getting their needles, the bit I and daddy was not looking forward to at all. After the shock of finding out that they were getting needles the twins were not impressed either. Julia started screaming even before the needle went anywhere near her. Lillian screamed and cried due to Julia getting her needles. One in each arm. Oh the joys, two needles not one!  Julia did scream “Get it away from me!” Poor little bunny. 🙁

Then it was Lillian’s turn and Julia put her arm up and said “Don’t hurt my sister!” “Get the needle away!” Poor girls it was like they lived it all twice due to having it done to their sister. An after thought, maybe we should have had another nurse do them at the same time or in separate rooms. I do think the separate rooms would have caused more angst. I for one had some tears in my eyes as it was very sad to see my little babies cry and in pain.

We had fish and chips to cheer them up and then went off to a birthday party for a friend of the twins . They filled up on sweets and were themselves until they reminded themselves about the needles or bumped their arm or daddy and mummy did so as well (accidentally mind you!).

Julia is finding it tough as one arm hurts more so than others. Maybe she moved a bit and it is more bruised? Who knows. I have given her some painkillers to sleep a little better as she kept waking for comfort. Lillian seems fine although her arms are sore if bumped but she is doing well. Julia is asking if she has to have any more of the painful needles/ouchy needles. This is the last one until high school so no, however I did not want to say, “NO you will never have another needle from now and high school (cannot imagine my girls in high school, how weird would that be).” What happens if they get sick, need tests, or have to blood taken for whatever reason. Then I am the bad mummy that lied that there was no more needles.

I am sure she will be fine and there will be no more needles but you never know. In the next couple of days it should all be better, but she is a sensitive bunny and does not deal with needles at all well. Have you found that your little one was good and did not cry or have an issue with their immunisation? Or was it a terrible thing, crying, screaming and making you feel just horrible. I do feel horrible, although it is for their own good. It will protect them from deadly disease and sickness.  Send in your comments.

 

Categories
3 years and beyond

Chocolate Shop Not So Sweet

We all went to the  Blue Mountains Chocolate shop (this place has a giant Easter egg, not sure how they made it so big, it is huge) to see a demonstration and to have of course chocolate and for the girls to play in their playground. Upon arrival it was nice and they had many chocolates to choose from, some of the things there were just very interesting. You can purchase a Chinese lucky cat chocolate, mice/rat chocolate and of course kangaroos, koalas and so on.

Before the presentation we decided to get something to eat and drink, the girls had baby chinos and a chocolate kangaroo, daddy had a cake and ice chocolate and mummy had a small hot chocolate. The kids were whinging and nearly in tears over the baby chino (who knew this would have such a reaction) and did not want to have other items either.

It was like going to this chocolate café was the worst thing we could do as parents and how dare we! (Well that will teach us to treat the kids) Will they speak of this to future therapists, “My parents took me to a chocolate shop, and I did not like the drinks and had a terrible time?” In actual fact, the girls ate the poor chocolate kangaroo in record time, Julia was wearing a lot of the kangaroo on her hands face and Lillian just chomped on until there was nothing left of the cute adorable yummy looking chocolate marsupial.

After this we headed over to where the presentation was happening, the presentation consisted of a lady emptying moulds of chocolate creations and looking to see if they were fit to be sold in the shop. All chocolate creations that were removed from these moulds were put back into the hold melting chocolate to start again, even the shiny ones that looked good were put back to start life again.

Many dolphins ended up joining the melted chocolate and this made us all laugh. The dolphins were in a sea of chocolate. This was a hilarious thought for the girls, and they giggled for a long while after it was not that funny. I am not sure what we expected for the demonstration about creating or making chocolate for the shop, however removing and putting the creations into be melted again was not it. Maybe a talk of what they are doing, and a bit of background might have been nicer.

I do understand that some of the pieces that they created might not have met with their quality checks, and that is perfectly acceptable, however when you are running a business smack bang in tourist central you give your customers a little more than what we got today.

The girls forgot about the drinks and were high on the sugar rush from the kangaroos, and off we went to play in their outside area. It was a lovely sunny day and we made the most of it. Have you gone somewhere new and was disappointed by what happened compared to what was advertised.  All in all, it was a nice day out and we all went somewhere different. Send in your stories about places or things you have done that did not live up to the expectation.

Categories
3 years and beyond

Little Party Organisers

All of the girls birthday cakes
All of the girls birthday cakes

The girls are four in September, and for a while now they have been inviting everyone to their party.   As it is still July there is time to invite who we need to invite, but the girls are insisting we do it now!  Obviously very excited girls, let’s just hope that the party lives up to their expectations.  As a parent, I am just going to do a nice party of family and friends, party games, party food, and kids playing is enough for a fourth birthday celebration.

I have had some orders for the cake, it must be pink and there was a fairy princess to be on the cake at some point. Not sure, but we will see what we can organise. I am thinking that it might be a nice idea to do the number four, and decorate with pink icing, and flowers, maybe a princess? Who knows?  Depends on how hard it all is to do, then maybe have some cupcakes for the kids as they will be easier to handle.

As the girls are now older, they want to become more involved in their party, which is good, and at times I think a bad thing. The good part is that they are putting their personality into their party and having some input into their day, the bad part is that what mummy and daddy wanted to do might be not right in their eyes. My opinion is that we do a bit of what the girls want within reason and we do what we can and afford to do. It is a party and I don’t want to break the bank to do it that would just be silly. Even if we could, we couldn’t as we don’t have a lot of money so a simple party is the way to go and the only way we can go.

I know I said it would be a simple party, but simple parties can be stylish, fun and just the thing for the kids. Now I just need to design the invite, get the guest list (Have to check with the girls who they want to come) organise some party games, and pray for good weather – the party is going to be in a park so good weather is essential.

Do your kids help with organising their birthday party? Do they get super excited and invite everyone they meet? Mine do.  I don’t want to complicate things as we have done very nice cakes for their three other birthdays (check out the images of the cakes from other birthdays) , so would like to have something nice looking but simple.  What have you planned for your child’s birthday? Anything fancy or keeping it simple? Send in your comments.

Why not continue this discussion on our facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/Mummy2twinsblog

Just wanted to thank the girls grandma for helping with their birthday cakes, they do look wonderful, and the girls just loved them.  Hope this years creation will be just loved.