For the most part the fun, frenetic part of the holiday is over. Christmas, New Year, a fantastic, truly terrific trip to Sydney. We walked the legs off the offspring and packed in as much as we could while we were there.
Today though, is the "back to reality" side of things.
The bit where Husband, having spent two great weeks with us, heads back to work. He'll probably take the odd day off here and there, but for the most part it's just me and three small children. And two cats, both of whom still don't like each other much.
Awesome.
So being the control freak, anal retentive so and so who MUST KEEP CONTROL I started planning for this part of the holiday a while ago.
As well as my regular work commitments which I'm lucky enough to be able to do from home, the next two months have me locked into rewrites of my manuscript, because I'm ever the optimist. I also need to fit in some jogging and the reality that Husband may have to fly away at a moment's notice. And oh yes, the builders are coming back soon. The writing commitments I will be fulfilling at the crack of dawn before the offspring wake up. I need peace and quiet to write and it's unreasonable to get them to keep the noise level down to a dull roar during the day. Especially when there is so much squabbling or craft to do that require my intervention!
Awesome, plus one.
Now one thing I have learned as a teacher is that kids don't necessarily have to be doing things all the time. They do need to feel they are doing something occasionally though!
So I set up a little spreadsheet for the offspring of their daily chores for them to tick off each day. Nothing earth shattering, you know, "brush your teeth," "make your bed." That kind of thing. Essentially, things they do already. For one family member in particular, this kind of structure is very useful.
Then I hit up google and got some very simple reading and writing activities to do with the older two.
The plan is to spend a few minutes each day doing some reading, writing and basic numeracy. I'm a big believer in learning through play so Mr. Large is doing all his learning based around his current love of Star Wars. Miss Medium is based around butterflies and craft and Mr. Small is content to just be part of the fun.
The other side of this is that I will be making sure I'm doing a bit of active parenting myself. I'm guilty of allowing the offspring to watch too much tv or spend far too much time in front of one screen type or another.
And that's it. The rest of the time is going to be trips to the beach, play dates, cooking, swimming and yes, sometimes, just being bored.
That's the plan anyway....
What have you got in mind for your little ones?

Thank you so much for your encouragement yesterday.
An hour long meeting with his teacher resulted in a few key steps being taken.
He's starting an intensive literacy intervention programme being run by the school.
And I'm starting speech therapy with him next week.
The second recommendation took me by surprise but I have a suspicion it all goes back a long way to when he was a toddler. Multiple ear infections, speech delay and bilateral grommets. I suspect he missed out on "key sounds" then.
Based on some good advice I'm stepping back and being his parent and not his teacher. Other than purchasing a subscription to the "Reading Eggs ABC" programme for him to do at home I am not doing anything else with him.
He loves "Reading Eggs" and I think it can only help him. He is learning through play which is great for his age group.
We'll continue doing regular homework together but that's it.
I feel lucky that not only has the problem been picked up, but we have access to this kind of help.
In six months time I hope to have a very happy ending to this chapter in my boy's life.
I will of course, keep you posted.

Sometimes I think I am incredibly foolish. Since Sunday afternoon I haven't been able to relax. I haven't slept properly. I've been vague and absent minded, only concentrating on the job at hand when I absolutely had to.
I wish I wasn't a worrier by nature. My life and the lives of those around me would be so much easier if I didn't.
On Sunday afternoon I got an email from my son's teacher asking to meet to discuss some of his test results. Now firstly, I am hugely impressed with this teacher. And I am delighted that whatever it is that we need to discuss, is taking place this afternoon. But all I've got on replay in my head, over and over again is: "What did I miss?"
Really, what did I miss?
Yesterday as we did hellwork homework I watched him. He was deep in thought. His tongue stuck out a little in profound concentration, as he tried his hardest to sound out the words he was unfamiliar with. And all the while I was thinking: "This should be easier for him. It should NOT be this hard."
It isn't for his sister.
Over the years I've taught hundreds possibly over a thousand students. And on an intellectual level I know that this is normal. I've taught students of varying abilities, differing needs and temperaments. I've loved working with them. I still love it.
But parenting and teaching is (for me at least) just so hard sometimes.
In teaching I knew how I was doing based on pupil feedback, their behaviour in class and exam results.
In parenting I often have no clue as to how I'm doing and when I get emails like this I wonder if somewhere along the line I missed something important. Didn't I read him enough stories at bedtime? Did I not work hard enough on phonics last year?
There is a delicious irony in that Literacy is something I'm a specialist in. Not that special apparently.
My husband has listened patiently to my endless questions for the past 48 hours or so. He has responded calmly and lovingly that we are doing a great job. He has said the same thing in response to my text messages and emails that I've also sent him about it.
I believe him. Sort of.
I know our boy is wonderful. I know he's happy. He knows we'd walk through fire for him, or its closest equivalent. And that was definitely yesterday when I drove to EIGHT different stores trying to find him some Pokemon cards that he wanted to buy with his tooth fairy money.
He doesn't know about the knot in my stomach.
He knows we love him and that's enough.
And as I count down the hours and minutes to the meeting with his teacher this afternoon I have to believe it too.
Loving and knowing he is loved is enough.

Being the organised over-anxious and stressed out woman that I am; it's hardly surprising that when a letter arrived from my son and daughter's school that my children would be tested on their literacy and numeracy skills when the new school year commences, it sent me into a mild state of panic.
It is a constant source of mystification to me how I take these things so personally. Part of it is my perception that in a way, they are testing me. Do I measure up as a parent? Do I make the grade? Equally, I want my children NOT to find testing stressful. I want them to see it as a opportunity to show what they know, not to see it as a way to showcase their shortcomings. I've spent many times over the years soothing stressed out students before exams, so I know the reality of the pressures of tests.

So whilst I can't save them from the testing, I do try to support them in preparing for it.
And I wanted to show you something interesting.
Context: my eldest son is not a keen writer or reader. He struggled HUGELY with letter recognition and I did a great deal of work with him at home on this. Homework has been a struggle for him. He writes the absolute minimum he can.
So these were the obstacles I faced when working on how to best prepare him.
I told him and his sister that during January we would have "special school" at home each day. I told them they would have special colour charts. They think the stickers are nice. I know they mark their progression through the levels and it gives me a clear indication of where and when I need to spend more time clarifying things for them, or if we can whizz through something. And the MAXIMUM time we spend is 30 minutes. The funny thing is while they were keen for us to start "special school" it's now such an integral part of their day there would be a riot if I tried to drop it.

We start with a reader, and I ask them questions throughout the text or we talk about things that they are curious about. Then we have "writing" time. Miss Medium focuses on her letters and basic word recognition. Mr Large started on his first day writing this:


by yesterday he happily wrote this:

Regardless of the errors littered throughout it, what was wonderful how he didn't want to stop writing. I think finally saw it as a way of recounting things in a meaningful way.
Just like I find blogging does for me. Except that I spell slightly better.
Please note I edited the writing to remove all name references in order to protect the privacy of my offspring and his friends!
And that's how I approach it day by day. Just a little piece of reading and a little piece of writing. Looking at the big picture can be intimidating. But this way, I'm doing my best, and they are doing their best in a loving, safe and supportive environment. When they do their tests I'll know I did my utmost to prepare them and really, that's all I ask of them, that they do their best.
Seems fair enough, doesn't it?