Dec 08 - The One where they take on the world (school)

[DeidreBarlow]

New thread

I love that analogy Beans, must remember that.

Indith well done. No idea how you do the night shift. Maybe the DC were an unusual preparation for this course.

Dieds am angry on your behalf. The full story should have been found out before a red card was given.

I seem to be having a wk of it re after school activities. Turned up at DS2 gymnastic class to find only 1 teacher for 15 children aged between 4 & 8 totally breaking the rules on adult child ratio. So with a couple of other mums said that no way was he allowed to take them on equipment until other staff had arrived. Poor chap was being hounded.

I also seem to have upset the PTA apple cart. Cancer research coffee shindig at school tom afternoon. No mention of it in the school newsletter just a text sent out to parents on Tues saying bring cake. So I emailed everyone and suggested we print off some flyers for the children to take home and put up a few posters. Chair of PTA clearly a bit pissed at me, but really if they want parents to attend the events they have to advertise them.

I am all go pregnancy hormones. Dont go getting on the wrong side of me at the mo.

Jam that's so true and funny re preg hormones. At dds swimming they suddenly decided parents can't watch in the pool area due to health and safety and gym members complaining and they spring it on us half way through the lesson. One of the mums us pregnant and she, and rightly do, told them from next week it's ok but not half way through the lesson as she can't explain to her daughter and they had a big argument and she told them they'd have to get the police to move her

Beans true there's a lot of staff but you never know. Has she quit now? Did she to my same job in the company? What's her name?
I'm (gulp) 39 now and feel about 80 today. I woke with even more of a stuff neck when I thought it would have been better and had to take ibuprofen just to get out of bed. I should just get a standing order for the physio.
How was the school run?

Nights must be a total bummer Indith. But I bet you're busy and they go fast.

Glad you had a nice day yesterday Rubes.

I almost posted in the night, Beans, wondered if you'd be up. How was your noisy handbag?! Still no AF, still got cramps. Am getting cold feet about the pregnancy thing again - feel too old and like I don't want anything to change (even though it will anyway!) I MAY try to the end of this year and if no dice, will sack it.

Aaargh, school politics, Jam...I have the Pre-School Committee meeting at my house tonight as I am chair. I need to do hours of prep and I generally need it like a hole in the bonce. Waaah.

DD1 has to do Show & Tell twice a week. They are supposed to be sticking to the two topic subjects - Self Portraits, and Growing & Changing. My wells of inspiration are running very dry.

Next week is harvest festival and the kids are all supposed to be bringing in non-perishables which will be donated to the local food bank. I'm very happy about this. So the school gets a big tick from me, but some of the parents don't seem that into it Stingy twonks.

Stupid ipad has lost my post

Dd1 is off school today with a high temp. She's been sick but I doubt it is a proper sickness bug as she vomits with the slightest elevated temp. I feel bad she is missing school already, it is only her second week.

Lady We've a similar thing for the harvest. The church runs a homeless shelter over winter so have asked for donations of tea bags, tinned meals etc. I remember at secondary school my mum sending me in with a massive marrow that my dad got from someone down the pub who had an allotment. I was very embarrassed taking it on the bus!

This may seem like a odd post but here it goes. Dd 's school is CofE but doesn't admit anyone on faith grounds usually, children are from the local area and admitted due to distance. To go to a non-faith community school we'd have to drive. So as it is a church school it isn't a shock that they sing hymns and say prayers but I'm surprised at how uncomfortable I feel by it all. Dd has been singing songs about thanking God for things and talking about the vicar. I can't work out why I feel odd about it.

I'm not anti-religion at all, I did a degree in Theology for goodness sake but am agnostic. I think it is really important for children to know bible stories etc as it is referenced so much in literature and poetry. Has anyone else experienced anything similar or am I odd?

I've seen a couple of threads on wider mn where people have been very anti the faith aspect of schools and then ripped to shreds or sending their children to a church school. I know I'm being unreasonable!

I think I might feel the same as you Hons. I too am agnostic and I don't like the segregation that comes with faith schools in London. Surely history teaches us that segregation leads to fear and hate and segregating tiny minds is undermining great opportunities for understanding and cohesion. I digress. I have not had to think too much about religious indoctrination of my girls as they are both at non faith schools. I went to a faith school because, like you, it was our local village primary. I remember getting obsessed about Jesus and God due to the assemblies etc. I think its quite normal for young children to find religious stories fascinating. My DD1 went through a phase of talking about Jesus all the time (thanks, I think, to our catholic nanny) and some of our religious friends inferred she was naturally spiritual and reinforced it be buying her religious story books etc. Anyway, after a few months she moved on to an obsession with fish so I was pretty relaxed when DD2 started talking about Jesus at around the same age.

Jam, I love your ballsy approach to after school clubs. You are an inspiration. I may be inspired to talk to DD1's swimmign school about cramming too many kids into each class.

Sorry about the bad night with the handbag Beans. I've no idea how you address it when they are so young. We are 19 weeks ahead of you and DS woke every 3 hours last night and then got up for the day at 5 bloody AM. I will be googling sleep consultants later on as I cannot be a nice mother when I am this tired but I will probably limp on until DS is six months which is when I got help with the girls.

Lady, re your confusion over ovulation dates, I am pretty sure that I was told by an endocrinologist that it is the time between your period to ovulation that varies most amongst women, the luteal phase (between ovulation and your next period) is very rarely over 14 days for anyone so my conclusion is either you ovulated late or you are clackered.

Hons DS infant school is a church school, and has strong links with the church it's attached too. I have no problem as I knew this when we originally sent DD plus we are a Christian family. However they do learn other religions/cultures through RE. So overall, other than daily prayer/hymns (which generally are just about being kind) they learn about all religions the same. I do agree with Arti though that children do go through phases about what they seem to fixate on. DD used to be like a walking Nun in Reception & Yr 1. Now she won't even mutter the word God as she thinks it's not cool. I wouldn't worry too much

I'm only just getting through all these posts but just had to say I'm furious with boydeids teacher and am I the only one who felt a little teary when he said he didn't dob because he didn't want the boy to get a red card. What an unbelievably lovely little man

Also finding it quite amusing that we are all counselling Lady on her clearblue result when it us clearly all of us who can't seem to accept the result. Haha.

Vag

Well, I am still mystified by it all. If nothing's happened by Saturday (keep thinking it will, and it doesn't) I will test again as that will be 13-14 days since I think I ovulated. Oh my...DP flatly refuses to entertain the prospect I am pregnant. Which, as I recall, he has done twice before.

Hons, I went to a C of E primary school and although I wasn't from a religious family I loved it and I enjoyed the trips to church, the vicar waffling on etc. I liked the stories/hymns/atmosphere. However, I think there is nothing wrong with telling your DD (now or later on) that some people believe that stuff, you personally don't. I honestly think though that kids sort it out in their own minds eventually so I wouldn't worry too much about indoctrination. Or maybe I'm too relaxed

Arti, you poor thing. That night sounds so gruelling. So you can consult the sleep lady in another couple of weeks? When is DH off on one of his trips?

Indith feel for you on the nights, it's been yonks since I have done them but I went through a stage when agency nursing that I would do 6 night 12 hr duties a week. Lots of money and a messed up sleep pattern. Think I over did it a bit as after I did that stint I asked my agency to find me a day job, got into community nursing and didn't look back. DH first met me when I was just coming off that night duty heavy period, I was partying a lot (on my one night off) & drinking a lot of red bull. He has made sure I have never done night duty again. Though recently I was reminiscing with some friends on Facebook about that last hour of night duty when you know it's nearly over, the trip home on the tube & NHS sponsored buttered toast at 3am and how good our bed feels at 9am when we go to bed after nights.

DH back from Boston and on his way back from the office now. I'm a bit shattered after last night but had a brilliant time at K te N sh and even met her afterwards and got her to sign DHs unused ticket for him. He hasn't seen it yet, hopefully he'll be home soon.

Jam forgot to say, one instructor is nuts. The DS' s groups have a minimum of 2 trained instructors and usual 2 or three junior instructors. The junior instructors are usually 16 & 17 year olds who have been in the club since they were teenys and are brilliant with the kids and supervise and encourage really well. One instructor helps with improving skills and the other is literally wandering around picking up any moves or attempts at activities which a bit dangerous, like DS2's crazy forward roll/headstand/trying to break his own neck.

6 a week flipping heck vag!

this stint is going ok actually. last one tonight then 3 next week and all done for now. thanks for all the sympathy! dh and ds2 coping ok!

on phone again, can't do proper posts on this as can't read back and remind myself what I need to say! need to get up and shower and pick up the oiks.

mine are at catholic.school and we are not Christian. they are not too full on, more about community and family and the nice behaviour aspect. there is of course still a fair bit of God. I found ds1 went through a major phase when he first started of talking about god, the prayers and singing but it settled by year 1. all just new I guess and he was exploring the concept. still sings all the time but has a wider repertoire dd seems to be doing the same and is always talking about God and prayers now.

I make sure .we talk about stuff at home, about being thankful and respectful of all living things, only takingwhat we need when we forage but from a non Christian point of view so they can see how the morals they learn at school can fit in with other ways of life. we say " yes some people believe that..." when they bring Jesus stuff up. we might do things at home to mark other festivals eg at Christmas we often do the trees me decs at Yule and chat about that so the origins of festivals are learned and they can see how everything really celebrates the same thing justuses different analogies to explain the world.

Just adding myself to the thread. Sorry I haven't been around much. Still uinlikely to be for a while as soooooooo busy at work and everything is happening at once at home. DH away for weekend so I'll catch up properly then.

Lady - Arti speaks truth about the ovulation. It's the bit before that varies. I did a lot of research after DD1 was born when I was trying to get knocked up with DD2. I also recall lots of periody feelings and going to the loo expecting to have come on but.... Anyway, I hope you get the result you want. It is difficult to decide. I was very unsure about DS at the beginning of my pregnancy but love being a mum of 3 now.

Am having round 2 of my birthday celebrations tonight. Hurray. Cheers. for everyone (except you, Jammy. And possibly you, Lady).

hons my two are at a (Jewish) faith school. I would never have imagined making that choice and thought long and hard about it. a huge factor was that this particular school has a deliberately inclusive and nonjudgmental approach to it all. there are a few who have no Jewish connection and I do wonder what they make of it all! I did spend my first year in England when I was about 7 in a full blown Catholic school, nuns and all and remember being very bemused by it. I have some fairly vivid memories of sitting through communion every Friday and even of them baptizing a family. we moved on after a year, in part because of the whole Catholic thing. not sure what all that goes to, other than that I don't think you odd at all!

lady, am following developments with interest!

bit weary today. on train back from the north to some work drinks. have not seen dcs since Tuesday morning. I miss them, but am also slightly dreading being mobbed this weekend.

oh and belated happy birthday to sybil and rubes! enjoy and don't worry about feeling aged. I sulked over my 40th in January and now feel a bit silly about it

lady you is not the only one awaiting an event. I need a stick to piss on but don't want to go to the chemist where they know us! no reason I should be but I'm late. but then I had a spell exclusively feeding ds when he was ill which could have stuffed my cycle. really don't want another baby.

holy moly Indith!

Hons both of mine are at the local C of E Primary. I was brought up going to church and Sunday school I attended Girls Brigade so it was quite a churchy up bringing. But when we turned 13 our parents said it was our decision all of us ducked out. With various spells back in mainly to do with youth groups etc. I was always v sure I wouldnt send my children to a faith school but strangely am quite pleased they sing hymns and do celebrate Christian festivals. It doesnt feel to churchy IYSWIM and they do look at other religions too.

It clearly means bog all to my two as they never mention church or god. Except DS1 who last week on hearing he had to go to church for the school harvest festival moaned that is was so boring. At which point I said lots in life is boring but sometimes you have to suck it up and get on with it. Another parenting gem from me.

crikey indith, hope it all works out as you want it

OMG Indith!!! What kind of contraception are you using? Have you taken risks?

Sorry, meant to say " hi" Invis. I'm picturing you in a Catholic school surrounded by nuns, it must have been very weird. Where did you live before you were seven?

it was very weird Artie. especially as I'd come from Israel/Iran with only the haziest notions of Christianity or nuns. I have no idea what my parents were thinking

Wow Indith! Can you get DH to get from near work or drive out to a 24be supermarket late?

Goodness Invisible, that must have been one hell of a culture shock.

Thanks everyone. I'm sure she's not being indoctrinated! I found religion quite a scary thing as a child so I expect that is colouring my view on it all. I had a picture ripped up by a teacher because I drew God, she shouted 'thou shalt have no graven images'!

Cripes, Hons, no wonder you're a bit perturbed. I got a gold star for my drawing of god at primary school. I'm agnostic/mainly atheist with glimmers of doubt! Girls at C of E school and I quite like the singing of hymns and learning about god as I think it I still healthy curiosity about it all, as long as it doesn't breed erm, shit, I can't remember the word. But the one when you judge others by their faith negatively. DD1 was asking me about heaven the other day re my Dad. She is totally obsessed with death at the moment, far more than god, when I told her about the arrival of DD3, she asked if she would die before DD3 because she's older. Made me sad. Anyway, discussing heaven and she asked where it was and I told her it was in the sky (as you do when not sure of these things yourself!). There was a long pause and then she looked at me and said "but what happens when they do a poo?". I can see her worry.

Indith! Eek!

Right, I must get some sleep. Day one of new routine was pretty much a write off but I must persevere.

X

PS hope you all note my poo obsession has been roundly inherited.