What are you discovering about your children?

[HerRoyalCarbyLess]

I decided to make a corned beef hash for tea.
DS1 is 11 and wanted to help. I handed him potatoes and the peeler.
He managed to cut himself on the peeler and tried to push it away from him instead of pulling towards him when peeling them.

My ex was a SAHD for the last few years, and since he's left I'm discovering more and more stuff that just makes me shake my head in disbelief that they can't or won't do.
More so since we've been in self isolation!

Honestly.

(Just to stop anyone piling on I did show him how to use it properly, and didn't say anything bad out loud)

There's also the whole bringing the dirty washing down in his arms and dropping it on his way instead of just using the basket, DD not realising that she's actually allowed inside her reading den and it isn't just there to look pretty, and DS2 not knowing he doesn't have to take his pants completely off to go to the toilet, or that you're meant to close the toilet door. How he manages at school I don't know (he's 4, he's got plenty of time to learn)
And of course before the everyone moans, it's light-hearted.

So what things are you learning about your children? Do they do anything completely differently to how you'd expect, or are they just not aware of something you thought was pretty obvious?

That he is a selfish arsehole but I kinda knew that anyway with his behaviour since he was 13 lets hope his disabled sibling doesn't catch anything from him

Not the point I know but I push the peeler away from me... always have. Don't think this is a bad thing.

@stopchewingeverything if you have the sort of peeler on the right, it makes sense to push it away from you. Safer. But if you have the sort on the left, its impossible to peel by pushing it away unless you do weird contortions with your wrist.

My kids are small, 5 and 3. So far I'm discovering that they do pretty well staying at home and can play nicely together, so long as I provide activities from time to time. Long may that one last.

Yeah, our peeler is one which is intended to be used by pulling towards you. Try to push it away and it does naff all.

Effinell take the entire bottle. Sounds like you may need it.

DS (6, isolated due to a cough for a week) really is very happy at home.

I also feel sorry for his teachers- he hates writing and has been using every trick he can to get out of doing it with me.

I am discovering that my dc (11 and 14) like distance learning (even though they are doing a full school day of it), get more done without the distraction of other (sometimes badly-behaved) kids and are happier and more relaxed when they aren't at school. They are getting on well with each other, and dd14, who can often be a bit grumpy and negative, is sunnier and happier to do stuff with the family.

I'm glad they are coping well, but part of me is a bit sad that they are so glad not to be in school. Not least because they are bright and dh and I are both teachers (dh at their school, which is a perfectly good school). I've always been a bit anti home schooling (except for necessary reasons), but this is making me wonder tbh.

My youngest is an extrovert and the other four of us are introverted. She will struggle the most with this whole situation.

lazy at least they're doing something productive with their time. I think homeschooling definitely suits some children better.
I'm not starting any real teaching yet, but I have come up with a timetable for next week so they all get equal time on the laptop and they all get time to exercise and whatnot.
Being at home is brilliant for my 6 year old as she has a severe anxiety disorder, so she is much more relaxed here.
But for DS2 it's much more difficult. He needs structure and routine (hence the timetable)

My dc's school had the full virtual school set up by Tuesday, when they shut. My dc were made by dh to get up and working at 9:30 on Wednesday morning. They weren't very impressed at first, but soon got into a routine. They have the same 5 lessons each day that they'd be having in school.

We aren't teaching them at all - but obviously we'd help if they got stuck!

My DCs school were completely unprepared, so we have had nothing from them.

My DC are smart. They pick things up quickly. They have accepted the new reality with minimal fuss.

Practising their musical instruments in a more focused way and with my help leads to remarkable progress I don't know if this can be sustained

That my 15yr old DS is a lovely, wise, mature human being. I mean - I did know already that he was a good kid, but the way he has responded over the last few weeks has really made me so proud. Plenty of drama and complaining among his peers and he is being very sensible, stoical and just downright mature despite the fact that he has had a really shitty few years and this was the first time in a very, very long time that he has felt settled or had a summer holiday to look forward to.

That DD (13) is an incredibly hard worker. Again - I knew she was, but she has really surpassed all my expectations this past week. I’ve had to stop her from studying today! She is absolutely gutted to be missing school (for similar reasons to DS) and will really struggle without her friends, but she is taking it on the chin and is determined to use the time wisely.

I've seen real resilience from one of my 18 yo DS who was due to take his A Levels this year. He's not flapped, just waited for the announcements about schools and grades, talked to his teachers, followed gov advice... shown he really has his head screwed on. The other DS (twin) is ok, but more worried and not so resilient.

DS (10 and Sen) has been so much easier to manage than I thought. He’s a livewire and really needs to be outside everyday and be active. I was expecting him to be climbing the walls and having regular meltdowns. But he hasn’t. We’ve had a loose routine and I think he needs that, but he also is enjoying having a say in how his day goes in the way they don’t get at school. I’m thinking a lot of his meltdowns at home prior to this were due to having to hold it all in all day at school. That’s not happening now. He’s much happier.

I think it's amazing how resilient some people are. My brother is 17, meant to be doing his a levels. My mum has been worried sick and he's just chill as anything with a "we'll deal with things as they happen" approach.

Juan I'm glad you and DS are feeling fairly calm about the whole situation.
My DS2 has been a nightmare and it's only been a week at home with them. I need vodka.

That teen DS (18) is a lazy fucker who should be applying for a supermarket job right now when they are desperate for shelf stackers but he can’t be bothered!!!

My DD is amazingly funny, supportive and likes company.
DS - is quite content and chilled on his own.

Both are very pragmatic and diligent with their school work. Even though DD knows she has no exams she sits with finishing her final

Neither have any idea where the dishwasher or washing machine are.

My DD smokes... she does not realise I know.

Well, mine were in school yesterday, so today is a normal Saturday, but I have realised the 5 year old needs a nap, or something.

drspouse or maybe you need vodka? Vodka helps.
Same for you demented although if ds began working in a supermarket he could help keep you topped up with it

That my teenagers are actually nice human beings and can have nice conversations!

itbe that's great!

herroyal I'm on my second gin.

My DS2 has been a nightmare hmm and it's only been a week at home with them. I need vodka.

(Have the vodka )

My 12 year old is borderline genius no wonder she is bored at school. I’ve also discovered my 9 year old moans all the time not just when tired in the mornings or late evening. Oh and my Ds is an annoying little shit when he doesn’t want to do something lol