So Leila has completed her first half term at Creche. And Scotty has completed his first half term as head of faculty. And Edward has completed his first half term of Toddler Group. And I have completed my first half term of being a school parent. How have we all done?
Leila has settled in really well to Creche. She had a great first few days and we thought for a moment that maybe we would never get the 'I don't want to go to school' whinge, but we got it the second week in (possibly coinciding with Leila having a cold). After a few tantrums at drop-off we managed to ride it out with the help of the teachers (they are amazing to keep calm with all of this) and although she might say it once or twice a week there is no real passion in there.
We had thought initially that Leila might do part days or part of the week, but actually she has settled well enough for it to make sense for her to attend full time (if she came home part days it would only be a challenge putting both L and E down for a nap together in the afternoon). What has amazed us is that she eats and sleeps well there (on the whole) - something that isn't always a given when she's at home.
Leila has continued in increasing her confidence and language so far in creche and another step forward has been becoming fully potty trained (poos and nap times are nappy free now, she only wears a nappy overnight). The focus in creche is on social interaction and of course she still has a long way to go with this (she came home one day last week saying that she had been naughty at school as she had taken a scooter off another kid - I'm sure there's more to that story!). Her crafting skills are coming along and she can do some good drawings now which have more than a passing resemblance.
Leila continues her love of music at school with the often-talked-about Mr Johnathan. He is also her PE teacher and she seems to have a lot of fun in both lessons. The main way that we find out about what goes on in school is through role-play at home ("you be Ms Claire" etc). Leila also is continuing her love of books and reading and is beginning to become really interested in learning letters - she can recognize and give an example of an object with that letter for most letters already. When signing her 'thank you'cards she suddenly decided to scrawl a well-formed "L" in them. We plan to start helping her along with phonics at home to nurture this interest as we know that school won't start to cover this yet with the class.
Although it remains a chore to get Leila dressed, fed and out of the door on time for school (we have moved from buggy/sling to buggy/scooter to buggy/buggy board so far as modes of transport for getting to school), and to pick her up on time (as I have to wake E from his afternoon nap to get there in time), the 'school run' can be a lot of fun as it gives time to talk to L and E and to the other mums and kids we meet along the way. It is strange for me to suddenly be part of a different community, but a really nice one to join.
In the next building along from Leila is 'Daddy's work!' Scotty has been run off his feet doing his own teaching and HOF stuff. Admittedly he's also running a daily podcast, two clubs and trying to do his own band practice regularly. With the kiddies sleeping as the do (don't) at home he's as tired as ever. He's managed a few nights out this term and a gig too which was a real target after not gigging for a whole year.
For me I have found that being a parent of a kid at school and doing the 'school run' is really a way of life. It's weird to suddenly be walking along the same stretch of road four times a day (although for Edward I'm sure it's more dull than weird). But it is nice to be exposed to a new group of people (mainly people that I had seen around school before when I went to the Toddler Group, but had never really had the reason to talk to). I'm trying to make the most of having E at home to myself (although we're hardly ever at home playing what with two toddler groups a week, shopping and a morning nap to fit in). I am also trying to do more than just looking after the kids and have been spending time on my new website and have started some tutoring work in the afternoons (once Scott is home from school I have a few hours to tutor before coming home for bathtime). I have had two nights out myself this term too (FLC gig in Herestrau and a Cheese n Wine night at Jo's) and I think we might be close to having a night out together with a babysitter booked - if we ever think we have enough energy to do more than go on the laptops and watch telly once we have cleaned the house at bedtime).
And as for little Edward, well he's not nearly as little anymore! Our monster toddles about all over the place and although he looks on the brink of falling over he manages to stay upright. He packs his food away (and still feeds with me for sleep) and is putting on weight nicely it seems - I swear he feels not that much lighter than Leila! Edward is really our little happy chappy - in the scheme of things he rarely cries and just gets on with exploring and entertaining himself. He can walk, walk fast (I wouldn't describe it as a run yet - although he will need to soon if he wants to keep up with L), and it's hilarious to see him bend his knees to try and jump too! He doesn't really have any 'words' yet, but some sounds are getting there; tractor, digger, dada (although he calls me dada too), dada (that sounds a little like sister) are all is favourites. After a summer of two long naps each day we are phasing in to just one nap. This has been pushed by the school run meaning that he has a sling nap after drop-off and his second nap must finish by 2.30pm. I'm hoping to get his lunchtime nap to be a single nap of decent length to allow me to get things done around the house, but this doesn't always happen. Sleep isn't as bad as it could be, but it;s not as good as it could be either. We had about a week of sleeping through the night but that has gone now. I'm trying not to co-sleep (mainly as I like to wake in my own bed if possible). Edward enjoys being physical and being affectionate. He likes books and music, but not as much as Leila did at this age. He really loves imitating though - and doing what Leila is doing, or copying what we are doing. His favourite thing at the moment is to try to vacuum up any mess with the toy vacuum cleaner and his own sound effects.
Leila has settled in really well to Creche. She had a great first few days and we thought for a moment that maybe we would never get the 'I don't want to go to school' whinge, but we got it the second week in (possibly coinciding with Leila having a cold). After a few tantrums at drop-off we managed to ride it out with the help of the teachers (they are amazing to keep calm with all of this) and although she might say it once or twice a week there is no real passion in there.
We had thought initially that Leila might do part days or part of the week, but actually she has settled well enough for it to make sense for her to attend full time (if she came home part days it would only be a challenge putting both L and E down for a nap together in the afternoon). What has amazed us is that she eats and sleeps well there (on the whole) - something that isn't always a given when she's at home.
Leila has continued in increasing her confidence and language so far in creche and another step forward has been becoming fully potty trained (poos and nap times are nappy free now, she only wears a nappy overnight). The focus in creche is on social interaction and of course she still has a long way to go with this (she came home one day last week saying that she had been naughty at school as she had taken a scooter off another kid - I'm sure there's more to that story!). Her crafting skills are coming along and she can do some good drawings now which have more than a passing resemblance.
Leila continues her love of music at school with the often-talked-about Mr Johnathan. He is also her PE teacher and she seems to have a lot of fun in both lessons. The main way that we find out about what goes on in school is through role-play at home ("you be Ms Claire" etc). Leila also is continuing her love of books and reading and is beginning to become really interested in learning letters - she can recognize and give an example of an object with that letter for most letters already. When signing her 'thank you'cards she suddenly decided to scrawl a well-formed "L" in them. We plan to start helping her along with phonics at home to nurture this interest as we know that school won't start to cover this yet with the class.
Although it remains a chore to get Leila dressed, fed and out of the door on time for school (we have moved from buggy/sling to buggy/scooter to buggy/buggy board so far as modes of transport for getting to school), and to pick her up on time (as I have to wake E from his afternoon nap to get there in time), the 'school run' can be a lot of fun as it gives time to talk to L and E and to the other mums and kids we meet along the way. It is strange for me to suddenly be part of a different community, but a really nice one to join.
In the next building along from Leila is 'Daddy's work!' Scotty has been run off his feet doing his own teaching and HOF stuff. Admittedly he's also running a daily podcast, two clubs and trying to do his own band practice regularly. With the kiddies sleeping as the do (don't) at home he's as tired as ever. He's managed a few nights out this term and a gig too which was a real target after not gigging for a whole year.
For me I have found that being a parent of a kid at school and doing the 'school run' is really a way of life. It's weird to suddenly be walking along the same stretch of road four times a day (although for Edward I'm sure it's more dull than weird). But it is nice to be exposed to a new group of people (mainly people that I had seen around school before when I went to the Toddler Group, but had never really had the reason to talk to). I'm trying to make the most of having E at home to myself (although we're hardly ever at home playing what with two toddler groups a week, shopping and a morning nap to fit in). I am also trying to do more than just looking after the kids and have been spending time on my new website and have started some tutoring work in the afternoons (once Scott is home from school I have a few hours to tutor before coming home for bathtime). I have had two nights out myself this term too (FLC gig in Herestrau and a Cheese n Wine night at Jo's) and I think we might be close to having a night out together with a babysitter booked - if we ever think we have enough energy to do more than go on the laptops and watch telly once we have cleaned the house at bedtime).
And as for little Edward, well he's not nearly as little anymore! Our monster toddles about all over the place and although he looks on the brink of falling over he manages to stay upright. He packs his food away (and still feeds with me for sleep) and is putting on weight nicely it seems - I swear he feels not that much lighter than Leila! Edward is really our little happy chappy - in the scheme of things he rarely cries and just gets on with exploring and entertaining himself. He can walk, walk fast (I wouldn't describe it as a run yet - although he will need to soon if he wants to keep up with L), and it's hilarious to see him bend his knees to try and jump too! He doesn't really have any 'words' yet, but some sounds are getting there; tractor, digger, dada (although he calls me dada too), dada (that sounds a little like sister) are all is favourites. After a summer of two long naps each day we are phasing in to just one nap. This has been pushed by the school run meaning that he has a sling nap after drop-off and his second nap must finish by 2.30pm. I'm hoping to get his lunchtime nap to be a single nap of decent length to allow me to get things done around the house, but this doesn't always happen. Sleep isn't as bad as it could be, but it;s not as good as it could be either. We had about a week of sleeping through the night but that has gone now. I'm trying not to co-sleep (mainly as I like to wake in my own bed if possible). Edward enjoys being physical and being affectionate. He likes books and music, but not as much as Leila did at this age. He really loves imitating though - and doing what Leila is doing, or copying what we are doing. His favourite thing at the moment is to try to vacuum up any mess with the toy vacuum cleaner and his own sound effects.
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