Childrens lives and adult angst

Oh, to be a child again, with little concern but the perception of too much homework, not enough play time and having to get up early for swimming. As I often tell my three...Don't wish to grow up too quick or try and be older than you are; you are only a child for a little while but being grown up lasts a LOOOONG time.

The eldest two have commenced Milo cricket and whilst it is good, Mr 7 always groans about attending yet has a brilliant time throwing himself bodily on the ball. Miss 10 with all her softball skill, shows up some of the boys her age, but batting with the bat to the ground is just so WRONG! Now if only some of the parents would stop treating it as a Friday evening piss up...bringing eskies and beer, it's set a better example for the kids.

The year is nearing an end and Mr 7's speech pathologist has retested some cognitive receptive stuff from the CELF 4 ( Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals, 4th edition) as a research into whether the Ritalin has increased his concentration spans, at a glance this was obviously a contributory factor as his progress looked remarkably different from a few month ago. We are under ongoing review by his pediatrician as the side effects can be varied and static so I am happy for regular follow ups.

My baby, turned 5 last month, he's a big boy now and goes to school next year. He is so independent and fun filled I actually enjoy having him at home, whereas with Mr 7; I relished the quiet time of his kinder time. A remote control truck was the order of the day for this birthday and although we did not get the requested talking version of Cars: Lightening Mc Queen or the Tonka truck with a plane, he has a wonderful time zooming the truck about the yard with Mr 7's remote control truck in pursuit. His grandpa's and uncle and aunts monetary contribution allowed him to go to the local toy shop and get his truck with a boat ( better than a plane) and of all things, a collection of plastic horses. He was allowed to pick what he wanted for a birthday dinner and he choose pizza, so we lobbed at a La Porchetta restaurant on the way back from some shopping...after checking the menu, no, he does not want dinner here. The conversation went something like this:

"But you wanted pizza and this is where they have pizza"
"No, I don't want pizza now" By now we have ordered drinks for three thirsty children
" Well, what do you want?" It's his birthday and he can push the envelope a bit
" Not pizza"
"Well, what do you want?" Envelope is tilting slightly to the red side now

" I dunno"

We eventually ordered pizza and pasta, and moved on to the ice cream place up the road for dessert. My little boy is growing up, no longer a baby in the physical sense but always my baby in the ideal sense.

Miss 10 is developing a wicked sense of humour and irony, she often creates nonsensical songs and ditties which her brothers copy with glee. She has been asked on a "date" by classmate and declined, too shy and shocked to accept. Apparently a 'date" in senior primary school consists of hanging about together...nothing new there; Miss 10 has about three male friends she hangs about with at school that I know of. She attended a senior leadership course a few weeks ago and now has aspirations of being a school captain. She becomes a senior buddy again next year to a prep child and the principal has realised that the youngest sister of Miss 10's own senior buddy ( who is now 18) will be starting in Prep, and Miss 10 hopes that history can repeat and she can be buddied with that child. It would be providence in a way.

I don't want to be the over zealous parent but really do not want Miss 10 o have the same teacher as this year for Yr 6. This teacher is all groovy and cool with the kids, often cranky and strict, gooey eyed for the male parents and tries the false empathy with the mums...it's a crock of shit. She is lazy and limited in her abilities to teach outside the curriculum, no library time has been allocated for this class all year and I wonder how the children who do not have Internet access at home, reference books at home or public library access got heir assignments done this year. "Not a teachers bootlace" is an expression that comes to mind. I also want Mr 7 to have a particular teacher next year and plan to make that request soon; I have asked this teacher if they are OK if I request Mr 7 to be placed with them and they are OK with it. A quandary now emerges, do I take the bull by the horns and also ask for Mr 5 to have the irrepressible, Mrs R, for his prep teacher? Taking my request to a "pick the teacher " style of parenting I really do not like to prescribe to. Methinks, I will ask for Mr 7 to be placed with the preferred teacher and leave the rest to chance.. I can always ask for a swap of Miss 10 once class assignments are made. WHO knows, she might get one of the new, whizz -bang, here to impress teachers who were interviewed last week.