The Runaway Train (and other steam powered vehicles)

Saturday 9th June


A slightly unusual day today as daddy and I went our separate ways and split the children between us. I went off to spend the day with our church family, taking Bean and Plum with me and daddy headed off with Pumpkin.


I mostly spent the day with the adults from our church family and Bean headed off to the children's group. It was one large group today with Bean being the youngest member up to the 16 year old girls. He settled into the group very quickly (obviously knowing all the others from church) and was keen for me to leave him there. I think I was probably more nervous than he was. The great thing about a group like this is that it is not age defined (one older boy waited when the group went off so that he could take Bean with him,) there is the freedom to join in with what you want to and not participate in the things you don't want to (unlike school) and that if he had wanted he could have left the group completely and come and found me (that's more than one thing, isn't it?)


I did go swimming with him however in the lovely outdoor pool. Plum had just fed so she sat pool side wrapped up in someone's fleece in the arms of friends being blown by the cold breeze whilst Bean and I played around the shallow end (about 1m deep.) He was really very confident and loved the time we had in the pool.

Pumpkin spent the day with daddy, requesting a swim too when he saw me packing our swim things and after spending over an our at the Pavilions, jumped on a train down to Amberley Museum to enjoy the steam day. Which, according to daddy, he enjoyed very much.

Picnic in the Park

Tuesday



The continuing good weather led us to take our picnic to the park again today after a play session at the Needles Family Centre. (I wonder what we will do now Bean is five and no longer officially under their remit?) Bean suggested we took bread for the ducks and Pumpkin suggested the scooters came with us so car boot full, off we went. 

We picnicked in the play area and the boys interspersed mouthfuls with running around. The Trim Trail was explored again but also the sand pit today (which is a rare chose.) This took about an hour before we headed off to the duck pond. Pumpkin got a real thrill from scooting down hill. The ducks were very uninterested in our offering but the boys were not deterred at all.

This was followed by an explore around the maze. I love this maze, just the right height for the boys to go in alone and feel enclosed but I can still see them. They pretty much know their way around it now but still enjoy hiding from each other and chasing around. They even helped two girls who were very 'lost' and couldn't find their way to the middle. Their mother clearly wanted to leave but they didn't want to until they had found the dragon. The boys even showed them the way out. (Who says home ed kids don't know how to socialise?)


Plum slept for a large majority of the trip, enjoying the fresh air and warmth, I think.

And can it be that I should gain

Feeling very blessed today. I read in a magazine ‘If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life’ – and that’s certainly how I feel. How blessed am I that I am in a position to be with my children all day every day? And I don’t mean I don’t ‘work’ because as any stay at home mum or home educator knows we work very hard but how fortunate not to have to work long hours at something I don’t enjoy just to survive or slave for the fortune of someone else? 

I’m also feeling blessed at the beautiful gift of children. I’m blessed to have three healthy, happy children and a wonderful extended family. Today was the birthday trip to the in-laws, a large gathering, party lunch and wonderful cake courtesy of favourite auntie #3. I have mentioned how important family are to us before and there is no exception here. Some people have been surprised by my fondness for my in-laws as if it is the written law that everyone should be at odds with theirs, well I am not (so nerr) 

The boys today got busy drawing, something that I know nana and granddad will appreciate greatly being that way inclined themselves and the accompaniment of classical music in the background gave a very relaxed feel to the room. There  was also some individual pursuits in building and reading but mostly there was playing with L and J in the garden, all having a lovely time and all getting along fantastically considering it’s only the second time they’ve met. On the way home Bean asked, ‘how old is L?’ We weren’t sure so suggested we could ask fav auntie#3 or bfg. Bean suggested we could ask L. Brilliant! Why didn’t I think of that?

I rounded off the day attending church with Plum whilst daddy put the boys to bed. Had an update on a charity we support, Raising Hope Foundation, which only added to my feeling of how blessed I am. Daddy also cooked some supper for us. A very blessed day indeed.

I've got all my sisters with me.

Muse: family are important.

If we parent our children well and foster their place in our family, welcome them and show them their significance, then it follows that they will find and know their place in their friendship group, workplace, community, society.

If we show them the value of each member of our family, if we allow them to be part of every generation, if we demomstrate and value each generation, if we allow them to be part of the family (not seperate or silent) then it follows that they will value other members of their friendship group, workplace, community, society and equally expect to be valued.



If we demonstrate love, support, forgiveness and friendship within our family our children will learn how to interact with their family, friends, colleagues, community and society.
If we love (in verb) those closest to us and foster these relationships then relationships throughout life will be healthier and happier.
...maybe i could follow this with a muse on socialising ;o)