Sunny Hedonism.

The sun has come out to warm our cockles, and boy did we make the most of it:

Friends came over for a BBQ, and stayed over, initially for a night, turning into 3 nights. 

The children were very impressed with the projector too, which I popped on each evening to settle them down, while me and my friend sat in my garden to the early hours chattering and consuming a wee mouthful of cider...

 What is sunshine without bubbles?

 Trips to the fountain were mandatory!

And later to the beach, though by the evening that wind had a heck of a chill factor. 

 Returning from the beach we discovered the fountain lights were on - and indeed had been changed

for a far more colourful display.... suddenly the kids weren't cold and wanting to go home.

 There were visits to the local park.

And meeting more friends for yet more fountain frolicks.

6 Days.

Gosh 6 days.
Doesn't time fly, when you're having fun :-)

There's been some changes around here this past week.
I have worked out a "new" rhythm - it is very similar to the old one, except I've simplified it even more.  Each day is split into Morning/Afternoon and Evening.  And one or two activities are noted in each.  Thus keeping the Waldorf emphasis on learning through repetition and rhythm.

Not so Waldorf, is the decision to allow Rye to have computer time.  In particular, he is trialing  Reading Eggs  and loving it.   I have wrangled with this decision; I really like the Waldorf approach to learning, what has struck me though, is its the early years bit of Waldorf that I like.  Waldorf for older children becomes much more prescriptive and structured, and that I'm not so keen on.  I feel Rye will benefit from a combination and balance of child led/autonomous learning mixed with just a smidge of structure. 


He is a child, who presently is ruled by his desires; to run, jump, skip, shout, roll, screech and he needs a lot of time to expend some energy, frankly, I suspect all boys do, heck, probably all children regardless of gender, and I feel I need to honour that need.    Rye is also a child who along with all the physcial activity,  loves, what I call "table play".  Be it games, arts and carfts, modelling, worksheets, practising letters on the blackboard, he loves it, and he can concentrate on it for a remarkable length of time.  So I feel this is another need I should honour.  Rye is very close to learning to read,  and he adores trying to write the letters, and is always asking me to dot out letters and words for him to write over.  This bit is the child led/autonomonous area.  I have put limits on the amount of time he can access Reading Eggs,    I've realised too, that a family computer purchase is probably in my future.

He's also trialed  Purple Mash too.   Purple Mash is different software apps for computer art, colouring in, drawing, using shapes/objects to build/create things, ability to make up reports based on themes, produce new paper, even do simple recordings/animation.  I did feel this software was more aimed for 6yr old plus, and while Rye did love it, he only really used 2 apps.  One where he coloured in either a bus or a train, and another where he could build his own house.  I may re-look Purple Mash again when Rye is a bit older.

.

Here, he is building a house using Purple Mash.

So my Waldorf rhythm now includes 3 half hour sessions a week where Rye can access Reading Eggs, or a paint programme.  I've also included more handwork too.  The star weaver and also I'm going to show Rye how to use the french knitting kit (once I've figured it out myself).

Tweaking the Rhythm was inevitable.  Since the local HE group took off, we've been much more active socially, and it has taken a little while to feel out a rhythm that works for Rye, my minded children and myself.   And also balances the increased social activities with the need for some home time too.

I received a Daily Groove email today.  Quite often I confess to rolling my eyes, I guess it's the language really, "authentic self" language sounds so pompous and airy fairy to me....... but I put aside my prejudices and had a think and actually this made quite a bit of sense to me:

Like the parts of your body, your child functions well
when you pay attention to his or her signals and,
instead of resisting those signals, you do your best
to honor and respond to them. There's no blame; you
just deal with it.

Today, imagine you and your child are like one body
and notice how that perspective affects your
interactions

 I have been distracted the past few days, planning and preparing for the trip to the Forest of Dean for the Green Parent meet, feeling out of sorts, but not quite sure why, staying up far too late watching dvds etc, thus tired and short tempered at times during the day.  As such, Rye's and the mindies' behaviours have deteriorated a little - there has been a lot of attention seeking behaviour, a lot of ear splitting noise and increase in sulks and melt downs.  The above quote ain't far wrong.  I've been ignoring their signals and retreated a little into myself - as a result, the kids have done their best to get my attention, to pull me back...'cept their methods aren't particularly pleasant.

Today,has been better.  We're worked together as a team and as a unit and the day has been much more pleasant and harmonious.



You could say we have our mojo back :-)

And it just keeps growing....

My yarn stash that is; postie knocked on the door today with this:

There is more yarn winging its way to me, at least I hope, I confess I am beginning to loose patience with First4Yarn  I ordered £25 worth of yarn and a new hook on the 31st August and I've still not received my order.  I had called a few weeks ago and was told some of the yarn I'd ordered was not in stock but there was a delivery expected the following week.  Hmmm.  Give it a few more days and then call again, I guess.

I do so love yarn.  Ok this is acrylic and I am a bit of a yarn snob and do prefer natural fibres - but for affordability and versatility, acrylic does have it's uses.  The chunky yarns, top right, are lovely and soft and I reckon will make a lovely snuggly shawl.  Ohhhh, and as I plan to tackle socks soon, I've also found some Latex liquid to dot on the bottom of the socks to prevent arse over tit syndrome, on laminate floors ;-)  I bought it from Opitec Crafts

Today has been a mix bag.  High of receiving a parcel, low of being stuck inside with the kids because of the rain - soon everyone will have waterproofs though, and we can go and jump in puddles galore.  I also have another parent coming to see me on Friday for a chat, so I've been printing off my policies (and realised I've somehow deleted my child protection policy, sigh) and putting together brochures and information on my setting.  Germs have been assaulting me too, 4000mg of vit C, echina and lemon and honey helped to soothe a very tender throat.  And this evening I was suppose to go to Stitch and Bitch group, but my babysitter let me down.  I am rather miffed, mainly because I'm not entirely sure he would have called to say he wasn't coming, had I not called his home.  Thankfully, I had decided I'd wait until he arrived before I called for a taxi; otherwise I would have had a taxi sat outside for 15 mins while I waited on him.  I'll have a chat with his mam later - hehehe not often tactful, but I thought voicing my irritation to her 16yr old son was probably not a good idea, and be better to speak to her.  Still, not the end of the world, there's always next week.

To finish on a high note (and pardon the pun):

Our song and music time this afternoon.  The kids really enjoyed it; so much so that much of the afternoon was interspersed with requests for "more songs".