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?

Juan I can't drink
Stupid tablets

On a brighter note my DS1 is keen to learn. Why I thought allowing him to bake after the potato peeler incident was a good idea I don't know

Just some snapshots of the conversation we are having. I have to sit upstairs until DS2 is asleep or he trashes the place.

That my youngest is not resilient and quite anxious. My eldests handwriting is appalling! I'm both ashamed at myself and questioning why the school have never mentioned it?! She's autistic and, I suspect now, dyslexic, because whilst she reads voraciously and definitely comprehends, her written work is awful- backwards in places very badly spelt, just dreadful. I can't connect a child who reads and comprehends so much- her vocabulary is brilliant- with how bad her written work is.

I've also found that they are both hardworking. Fun. Witty. Both with a real streak of musical talent that I didn't know about.

That they actually like doing really simple things with me.
The three youngest (5,6 and 9) have been off all week and have loved nature walks and just playing....
They are so excited to paint the shed on Monday

About myself I've learned that I am technically incompetent and am terrified that this will seriously negatively impact my dc- I can't work google classroom, or noodle and we only have one device anyway so they couldn't spend the days on the schools remote learning as they'd have to take turns and my work would have to stop.

I can't drink
Stupid tablets

Stupid tablets indeed!!

A* for DS for effort. What’s he making for dinner?

Juan

He's even cleaned up!

So I've learnt that he can clean up after himself.

That not doing sport really affects ds15, we have organised a programme now to replace all his missing activities but it's amazing the effect exercise can have on mood. DS 10 loves being at home, interesting to watch.

Good lad! 👏👏👏

I'm so confused.
They look ok.
He was messaging me because he was whisking eggs and water for 5 minutes before realising he hadn't out the cake mix in

He’s actually been really good this last week (apart from a small blip yesterday, but that was my fault for being miserable).

He is generally a very kind little boy (he’s only four), my boyfriend face timed his parents today, he hasn’t seen them since the end of January and doesn’t know when he’s going to see them again. He cried a bit so my son gave him a big cuddle and shared his new lego set with him, and for once didn’t complain about boyfriends rubbish lego skills. He also asked me to read my boyfriend a bedtime story because “they’re good at making you be happy”.

@Unescorted

Oh lord I hope it’s a passing phase

You can get smoking cessation on the nhs, I used to keep patches under my pillow and stick them on dh while he slept. Which isn’t controlling, it’s caring.

Nothing new as yet but it's only a matter if time...

My Dd is an amazing speller and incredible resourceful. Not necessarily resourceful in ways I approve of though!

That my 7yo is a delight and eager to please and generally super keen to do 'mummy school' and LOVES learning with me at home...

...when he has me all to himself.

Other two DC have been at school this week, he's been home with me on his own.

Ask me again at the end of this coming week when I've had to try and manage the 10yo and the 15yo (who has SEN) as well as him.

I suspect I'll be tearing my hair out

But there is a certain serenity to knowing that there is no school and that no extra curricular stuff can happen, so a lot of the stressy time-bound logistical shit of family life ("get your Cubs uniform on right now, where is your swim kit, where is your library book, why haven't you finished that maths homework, can you get some revision done please, I said can you get some revision done please, have you got changed for beavers, why aren't you ready for beavers, for God's sake will you PUT YOUR BEAVER UNIFORM ON, where is your karate kit, have you packed your school bag, why haven't you packed your school bag" etc etc) has just stopped. Which is making us all calmer to a certain extent.

But as I say, ask me again at the end of the week. DS3 is the easiest of the three. I am not looking forward to juggling all three. Much as I adore them all.

That my 9yo knows far too much about weaponry We watched Hot Fuzz (I'm not too worried about swearing and it is fairly slapstick) and he started telling me what the gun models were and the delay on firing from the trigger! He got upset once... because Nick damaged his beloved peace lily in the fight I reassured him that he'd be able to safely pot it up later.

DS (7) seems keen to home school, he's said he's sad and worried about missing school.

I hope he keeps his enthusiasm as DS1 struggles. Dyslexia, dyspraxia and ASD is not an easy combination.

That she is resourceful, clever and strong and how proud I am of her staying behind at university to help her fellow students complete their practical assignments before shutdown.

Sadly that my DS (5) may have the virus! Strong temperature, has had a cough for 3-4 weeks so can't tell much from that, and generally tired and pale with an on/ off sore tummy that makes him curl up. Everywhere says not to call 111 and deal with it at home so just watching and waiting..

Otherwise, I've noticed his writing has massively improved recently and he can now spell words out on his own! A huge leap compared to a few months ago