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Me, Mr Ed Balls and other animals

Action-packed day today. E and H were signed up for their first ever swimming lessons, and were both absolutely fantastic going in to their groups on their own. They have a lesson every day this week, then I've promised them we are taking B with us at the weekend to show him everything they've learned. They're both really looking forward to tomorrow's lesson - phew!

We went straight from that to a 2 hr art and craft session. We invited a few neighbours along as it is the holidays, but man, it was hard work! Complete mayhem! We've run a similar session a few times, but mainly with other Home Edders, or close friends. It was all a bit messy, and took an age to clear up. Plus, it didn't help I was in a hurry as I had been invited to meet Ed Balls, Labour Education Secretary, man who stated that if Labour get back in this election, he will ensure that Clause 26 of the Education Bill, that got chucked out of parliament last week, will be revisited and brought in: every Home Ed family must register or face criminal charges, in order for them to be regularly inspected to ensure they are not abusing their children, as of course there are no other opportunities for these children to be assessed or seen by any other of the goverments systems: health visitors, doctors, social services??

We got out of the car just as he was arriving...at that point I realised that E had 2 smears of yellow paint across her forehead, I had paint up both arms, and H looked like she'd had a fight with a palette, and the palette had won. L also had a fetching blob of purple paint in his hair. I was just burrowing in the car for some wipes, when I heard myself being introduced...not good! My MP (Labour) had decided that it would be 'interesting' for Mr Balls to meet our family...a little sadistic?! B is generally a lot more eloquent with his words/arguments than I am, but he couldn't get out of work, so had nominated me to go along and make him squirm for a few minutes.

After the initial introduction, I went in and attempted to find a corner for me and 3 kids to hide in. Unfortunately it turned out to be a sit in and ask questions thing, and where did Ed Balls decide to plonk himself? Next to me! He also put his huge and mega heavy case on my foot - ouch! And I was wearing my new, shiny red shoes - what was he thinking?! There was also a table covered in cakes and crisps just beyond him, out of our reach!

We sat through his spiel on Labour for the election, and run through of their main policies, then our MP had lined up questions from a few people around the room, on all sorts of school/educationy things. The kids were so good, as it all went on for an age, all trapped in there! E kept asking me to get her a cake, L was trying to make a break for freedom, rattling the blinds, rattling my car keys - all in EB's ear while he was trying to do his question and answer session! He kept winking at H, who wasn't impressed at all, and was holding L's hand in a bid to distract him...I was a little unnerved by this, considering I was psyching myself up to confronting EB!

Then just as I thought it was all over, I heard PD (our MP) ask if there were any other points, then realised he was looking pointedly at me :-/ Wibble.

I started by saying I was interested in the Home Ed parts of the Education Bill that had just been chucked out, and his statement that he intended, on re-election, to bring it all back in again. I pointed out that it felt like being accused of abuse, and made no sense as there were other systems already in place that don't seem to work, why bring in another one? He started to become a little defensive, stating the Khyra Ishaq case, but although she was pulled out of school to apparently be Home Educated, she was known to the school system and social services. EB said essentially that he felt very strongly that since people from the school couldn't get access to the home, and social services couldn't, that HE assessors (these would be educational assessors, mainly former-teachers, not social workers?!) were necessary to gain access...?

I am still very confused by this, as it makes no sense whatsoever! I said as much, and at this point his face was turning a little puce, and he said that he had never had so much vitriol from any one group in his whole career as he has from the Home Ed community!! I had to grin with pride - I think the campaigns and continual work that Home Ed families across the UK have put into getting our message across to the government about this Education Bill has had some effect! Though, he does appear to be determined to get his way. Surely he would have taken the hint by now?! He also said that a small proportion of the Home Ed community seem to be determined that they should keep their right to go unaccounted for, and left alone to do their own thing...and that he couldn't understand why the Home Ed community was so against being assessed in reference to abuse, I pointed out that he was targeting a parent's right to protect their child (from strangers),and the feeling of being suspected of abuse of their own children, so they were bound to react strongly! EB said the usual, that if you have nothing to hide there is nothing to be concerned about. Easy to say!

Things were being drawn to a close, and L chose that moment to scream the place down. EB sprung to the rescue stating that his donald duck impression should do the trick...to be fair to him L did stop crying, mostly to give him a very concerned and puzzled look!

My question of the day...

...why are children welcome at funerals but not weddings?

I tried to pose this as my facebook status, but B made me remove it as I was highly likely to offend someone! We've been asked to a number of weddings since we've had kids, but almost always just us and not the kids. We are not ones to talk really, as we didn't have kids at our wedding, this was more because we didn't really know anyone with kids at the time!

Recently B's Grandad died, and I was umming and ahhing about whether to go to his funeral with the kids, and wasn't sure whether they were too young etc. I sparked a nice little debate on facebook about this, and the general concensus was that kids are perfectly welcome at funerals, more often than not for the light relief they bring!

I just don't understand what is so taboo about kids at weddings? Is it the cost? The inconvenience they could bring? The noise they make?!! My kids love the idea of weddings, the dressing up element, the fairytale picture of it all they have in their heads! We're just about to turn down an invite to a very old friends wedding, sadly. Children are not invited to the church or meal, only the evening do. Which would be great if it wasn't in deepest, darkest wales somewhere. And yes, I'm a cheapskate not wanting to stay over!! Unfortunately we don't have family close by who are willing and able to take on the task of having all the kids for 24hrs, I am very jealous of those who have grandparents at their beck and call!!!

Easter fun!

Not quite sure why I've skipped blogging when we've been doing such amazing and fun things the last couple of weeks. Will have to do a few blog catch ups!

This week is going to go by far too quick, as it is baby L's 1st birthday this weekend! I can't believe how quick it's come round. We're having a party for him and I'm really looking forward to it! I'm going to attempt to do an easter egg hunt, and have bought some egg moulds so we can have a go at making our own.

I'm also trying to come up with some ideas for creating a keepsake for him. For E's 1st birthday, we got all the guests to put a colourful handprint on a huge piece of card and write a message on it. The card is now framed and mounted on her bedroom wall. I completely neglected to do something similar on H's 1st birthday (oops!), but want to attempt something at L's. Ideas on a postcard, or a blog comment please!!!

We've all got yucky colds at the moment, I feel dreadful. I'm hoping we can pull ourselves out of it by the weekend! I've already cancelled today's plan for an art and craft session, and given up on plans for a day out at WWT Slimbridge tomorrow. Wednesday we have a home ed outing planned to St Fagan's near Cardiff, oh and an 8.40am appointment to see the Severn Bore, and I really need to remember to pick up the cake tin I've hired for L's birthday cake. The girls have chosen the tin and the decorations: chicks and eggs, there is a definite eastery theme to his birthday party!

Its making me feel exhausted just thinking of it all!

The weirdness of school...!

H is learning loads at the moment. She was pointing out numbers on the gearstick in the car this week, she can recognise up to 5, which is pretty fab considering I haven't sat down with her at any point and taught them to her. I remember walking E up the road testing her number recognition on door numbers in preparation for school, but she was a year older than H!

She has also learnt to write the letter 'H', which isn't H for her name apparently, its H for Harriet, her friend!

I am loving her genuine curiousity and complete incomprehension as to why one of her close friends is currently at preschool 3 times a week and is getting ready to go to school in september. 'But why?' I heard her asking her mum!! I also love the fact that she sees our home ed lifestyle as her normality, and that someone talking about school seems so alien to her. We're not the freaks - they are ;-)

The turn of the screw

Last week was a complete nightmare due to all 3 kids being ill and pretty horrible! I'm looking forward to this week being slightly better!

We were putting our rabbit hutch together recently, and E was intrigued by the screwdriver and I stupidly showed her how it worked on the door handle... Anyway, she found another screwdriver yesterday and immediately set to work dismantling the door furniture, so had to quickly think of something to distract her. As luck would have it our stereo had just given up the ghost, so we retrieved it from the bin pile and set her to work:


She is very proud of her screw pile, and she has to stop and recount them every so often!
She's now got to the point where she has unscrewed most of the circuit boards and we've found a motor attached to one of them, and a series of cogs which when driven, left the cd mechanism up and down, as our stereo was a 5cd changer-thingy. No wonder it made so much noise changing discs!! Its kept her busy for a couple of days now, I wonder how much longer it will keep her amused!

Now is maybe not the time to find out I've endangered her life by letting her do this...!! Lasers are harmless, right?!!

Playdough - no cook recipe

Just reading on Nurturestore blog about making playdough. I think I linked to this wonderful playdough recipe last year sometime, but I always have to search hard for it when I come to make it myself, so will put it in full. This is more to make my life easier than anything:

1 Minute Playdough recipe:

Your will need:

• 1/2 cup of salt
• 1 cup of flour
• 1 tablespoon of cream of tartar (Cream of Tartar is a natural powdered raising agent for use in scones, drop scones, soda bread and a wide range of other recipes)
• 1 tablespoon of oil
• I cup of boiling water (from the kettle) mixed with
  some food colouring (OR a the contents of three blackcurrant dazzler fruit tea bags for lovely fruity rich purple)

What to do:

Put all the dry ingredients in a bowl and then mix vigourously with the hot water.

Makes wonderful playdough which lasts for ages in little plastic sandwich bags.

It is the best recipe, and works perfectly everytime, and is ultra simple for when you have kids ready sitting at the table ready to play when you suddenly realise you haven't got any!! Keeps for ages out of the fridge, put in a sealed container. We add glitter, food colouring and scents like vanilla essence and peppermint oil for randomness!! I haven't tried the tea bag suggestion though...!