"No reading at the breakfast table"

If you were seven and you had the whole school library to choose from, what would you choose? Why 'Helicopters at War' (1977) of course.

I'm a pessimist.  This is no surprise to anyone.  So I'm actively working to remind myself of all the great things about this season with my kids. 1. No prams 2. No nappies 3. No cots 4. No toilet training 5. No high chairs 6. No day sleeps 7. Less crying (from me and the kids) 8. Interesting conversations (with kids and often other people too) 9. Sleep-ins 10. Most can read (related to no. 9) 11. Toilet paper stays in the toilet paper holder 12.  Can leave TV remote on the coffee table and it won't get trashed/lost/put in the bin/have its batteries removed 13. Can often go to the toilet on my own 14.  Can usually hear the person on the other end of the telephone 15.  Kids (and myself) can last for five seconds without eating I'm sure there are more.  But these are the particularly glorious ones.  Bliss.

I'm very pleased that an article on lazy parenting appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald this week http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/why-lazy-parents-make-happy-families-20110824-1j94e.html .  The article talks about giving kids enough free time in their life so that they are forced to get bored, which then makes them more creative and inventive. I'm a bit of a lazy parent (as in, I'm happy for them to work out ways to entertain themselves that don't involve me), but during term time our life is crazy.  It's partly because of the number of children.  Each child doesn't have lots on, but they often have to come along to each other's activities.  Plus homework, chores, baths, music practice - the time disappears during the week. But weekends are generally reasonably quiet and the school holidays are glorious weeks of unstructured time.  The holidays are very precious times.  Some kids are better at entertaining themselves than others.  The easy op...

I went to see 'Jane Eyre' last week.  I loved it.  Jane was appropriately feisty. Rochester wasn't as nasty as I remember him in the book - he was a bit predatory and demanding of Jane though.  St John was Billy Elliot all grown up - after I worked that out (took the first 10 minutes of the movies) I could relax. I plan to reread it to compare.

It's a bra update. Ooo - exciting hey?  But this is seriously, the highlight of my day.  I bought a new bra - actually I bought two.  Exactly the same. They were on special.  It's the Berlei Barely There bra - which is apparently Australia's most popular bra.  Especially good for someone like me who is 'barely there' in frontal chest region. Someone recommended them to me a few years ago and I have never looked back.  Comfortable plus (no itchy lace in sight).  Expensive plus.  But so worth it.  Especially since my old one had pretty much collapsed and was hugely UNcomfortable. Too much info I know - but I had to share. This is the type of information some of you just need to know.

We're doing a series of little stories each week at playgroup on Moses.  Yesterday it was the passover story.  I was trying to not say 'die', 'kill' or 'death' to allow for the ages of my listeners (and their parents too).  It wasn't easy. There's the 'killing' of the sheep to put blood around the door frames to protect the Hebrews from the angel of 'death' who was going to 'kill' all the first-born children and life stock.  Hmm - fun story (not). So I went with 'some sad and bad things were going to happen to the Egyptians because Pharaoh wouldn't let God's people go but God's people had a special dinner of lamb (not mentioning the dead sheep) and flat bread to help them remember that God was in control and they could trust his promises'. Bit nervous that I didn't quite convey (like, probably not at all) the concept of sacrifice (since it has A LOT to do with 'death'), but hey, it's a...

My kids all have piano lessons and I make them practice (I'm not paying all that money for no progress - the money seriously does talk at this point).  They complain - pretty much every time.  It's tiring, but I'm stubborn.  After seven years I think the oldest child has decided he (f i n a l l y) quite likes practicing so doesn't huff and puff as much any more.  He's also gone to high school and discovered that being able to play the piano well is quite the attention grabber - so he's more motivated than ever. However, back at the ranch, the complaining continues.  It's part of the territory with learning a musical instrument.  I have discovered this through many, many conversations with other parents who are suffering through the daily traumas of music practice too!  I feel like a tyrant mother and am told regularly by my kids that I expect too much.  Or do I? Well, this is where 'Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother' comes in.  This book ...