Sunday, September 27, 2009
Away
The lad has gone north for a week, and we are not quite sure what to do with ourselves. But we did get to spend a couple of hours at the Lifeline Book Fair today without that refrain of 'can we go home now. It's time to go home. We've been here long enough. Can we go home now'. We spent the time choosing books about cricket for old Noodle, and rustled up a copy of David and the Phoenix as recommended by Charlotte's Library. It's much easier to choose books for him when he's not there. I don't know what that means.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Things of which the Noodle is afraid:
1. Voldemort
2. Singing in front of other people
3. The Big Bang
Things the Noodle loves:
1. Harry Potter books
2. Singing with other people
3. Cosmology
2. Singing in front of other people
3. The Big Bang
Things the Noodle loves:
1. Harry Potter books
2. Singing with other people
3. Cosmology
Monday, September 21, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
The chores of spring (no symphony, alas)
Including spring cleaning, of course, although I don't propose to write about that in case I give anyone the impression of competence.
This morning we collected the Noodle's new glasses - two stylish pairs, one with dark grey frames (plus tiny Spongebobs) and one with blue. He looks very stylish and intellectual, and even more laughably like his father than usual. I am so glad he has inherited my mutant little toes and pointy chin, because otherwise I would doubt the connection at all. Although he does have an expression when concentrating or mildy irritable (being closely related emotions in this family) that is comically like my Mum. When very irritable, on the other hand, he looks so much like his Yaya that it is beyond frightening. In that mood I would quite happily back him against the White Witch (with or without turkish delight).
He was pretty irritable when he found out he had to have glasses. One more thing to worry about, one more constant little intervention to add to his AFOs, his exercises and his constant anxiety about getting sick or having to have more tests. But now that he has the glasses he seems quite excited. It rather helps that one of his idols at school has also recently started wearing glasses. Thank goodness for that, I say. He doesn't have to wear them all the time, but he's decided to wear them to school on Monday to see how it goes.
Monday is also dress up day at school, as a gold-coin fundraiser for the RSPCA. The idea is to go costumed as something starting with R, S, P, C or A. We were thinking 'pirate' because that is an easy outfit that can be made up out of old ballet cossies, scarves and other bits and pieces. But then, while looking through the dress-ups archive box I found an old knight's costume that a friend brought back from England one year. It still fits! So now he is going as a crusader, and although he is not sure that he wishes to represent the philosophy of crusading as such he is pretty darn chuffed with the fake chain mail, the foam sword and the extraordinarily brilliant shield we have made out of red and black cardboard. The Noodle's design has a sword on one side and a snake on the other and at this point I would like to say that sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
My cutting and pasting is outstanding. By which I mean that anyone who is an artist or person who habitually cuts and pastes such as a scrapbooker might say 'hmm yes' and politely change the subject if I showed it to them, rather than laughing until they fell down, which is more my usual standard.
The Noodle has decided he will be either a computer game designer or a theoretical physicist when he grows up. I still haven't decided what I want to do when I grow up, but am extremely impressed at the way children have progressed from such things as 'nurse' or 'astronaut'.
Now I am going to go and compile a short, mental list of the things I just absolutely must do before I clean the bathroom, starting with a cup of coffee.
This morning we collected the Noodle's new glasses - two stylish pairs, one with dark grey frames (plus tiny Spongebobs) and one with blue. He looks very stylish and intellectual, and even more laughably like his father than usual. I am so glad he has inherited my mutant little toes and pointy chin, because otherwise I would doubt the connection at all. Although he does have an expression when concentrating or mildy irritable (being closely related emotions in this family) that is comically like my Mum. When very irritable, on the other hand, he looks so much like his Yaya that it is beyond frightening. In that mood I would quite happily back him against the White Witch (with or without turkish delight).
He was pretty irritable when he found out he had to have glasses. One more thing to worry about, one more constant little intervention to add to his AFOs, his exercises and his constant anxiety about getting sick or having to have more tests. But now that he has the glasses he seems quite excited. It rather helps that one of his idols at school has also recently started wearing glasses. Thank goodness for that, I say. He doesn't have to wear them all the time, but he's decided to wear them to school on Monday to see how it goes.
Monday is also dress up day at school, as a gold-coin fundraiser for the RSPCA. The idea is to go costumed as something starting with R, S, P, C or A. We were thinking 'pirate' because that is an easy outfit that can be made up out of old ballet cossies, scarves and other bits and pieces. But then, while looking through the dress-ups archive box I found an old knight's costume that a friend brought back from England one year. It still fits! So now he is going as a crusader, and although he is not sure that he wishes to represent the philosophy of crusading as such he is pretty darn chuffed with the fake chain mail, the foam sword and the extraordinarily brilliant shield we have made out of red and black cardboard. The Noodle's design has a sword on one side and a snake on the other and at this point I would like to say that sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
My cutting and pasting is outstanding. By which I mean that anyone who is an artist or person who habitually cuts and pastes such as a scrapbooker might say 'hmm yes' and politely change the subject if I showed it to them, rather than laughing until they fell down, which is more my usual standard.
The Noodle has decided he will be either a computer game designer or a theoretical physicist when he grows up. I still haven't decided what I want to do when I grow up, but am extremely impressed at the way children have progressed from such things as 'nurse' or 'astronaut'.
Now I am going to go and compile a short, mental list of the things I just absolutely must do before I clean the bathroom, starting with a cup of coffee.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Parenting is not all about stuff
The Hoydens are having a great discussion about feminist parenting and how it is actually not, you know, all about depriving your children of pop culture experiences but is, you know, about engaging with your child and the world around you in a conscious and aware sort of a way.
And that, you know, there is actually more to a parent/child relationship and a child's relationship to their world than the stuff they own.
Anyway, as everyone in Melbourne knows, parenting is really all about indoctrinating your child to barrack for the correct team. *
*for people outside Melbourne you can read this sentence as a flippant joke. Melbournians, carry on.
And that, you know, there is actually more to a parent/child relationship and a child's relationship to their world than the stuff they own.
Anyway, as everyone in Melbourne knows, parenting is really all about indoctrinating your child to barrack for the correct team. *
*for people outside Melbourne you can read this sentence as a flippant joke. Melbournians, carry on.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Little Women - Jo is like me
I am reading the Noodle Little Women. Why not, I thought to myself, he might enjoy it.
I can say he is. He is identifying strongly with Jo, just as much as bookish girls do, and he is loving the way Meg dresses herself up and laughs at Amy's efforts to use the fifty cent words. It is most gratifying. He is already asking if there are any sequels.
The Noodle is reading the Little House books to himself. I've been a bit reluctant to give them to him, because I have issues with many of the political attitudes. I seem to remember some great essays on the topic in The Horn Book magazine, but I don't have electronic access to it anymore. Francis Spofford also has a damn good chat in The Child that Books Built. It isn't just the racism of Ma's attitude to 'Indians' or the assumption of progress in the pioneers march across America, it's the moral narrowness and the emphasis on independence rather than collective achievement.
Better than I'd hoped, though, a lot of the attitudes have brought on some great conversations about attitudes from the past and how things change.
The Noodle also wishes to know why Jo can't just wear trousers if she wants to. Good question.
I can say he is. He is identifying strongly with Jo, just as much as bookish girls do, and he is loving the way Meg dresses herself up and laughs at Amy's efforts to use the fifty cent words. It is most gratifying. He is already asking if there are any sequels.
The Noodle is reading the Little House books to himself. I've been a bit reluctant to give them to him, because I have issues with many of the political attitudes. I seem to remember some great essays on the topic in The Horn Book magazine, but I don't have electronic access to it anymore. Francis Spofford also has a damn good chat in The Child that Books Built. It isn't just the racism of Ma's attitude to 'Indians' or the assumption of progress in the pioneers march across America, it's the moral narrowness and the emphasis on independence rather than collective achievement.
Better than I'd hoped, though, a lot of the attitudes have brought on some great conversations about attitudes from the past and how things change.
The Noodle also wishes to know why Jo can't just wear trousers if she wants to. Good question.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thankful
Came home to a lovely thank you card, with a photo of potential parents on one side and a photo of the yet-to-be born child as well.
It's a lovely reminder that, at a distance from our day to days, existing lives and brand new lives are getting ready.
Plus it's a great excuse to browse at etsy for baby clothes and toys. Not quite as soothing as googling trifle recipes, but not far off either.
It's a lovely reminder that, at a distance from our day to days, existing lives and brand new lives are getting ready.
Plus it's a great excuse to browse at etsy for baby clothes and toys. Not quite as soothing as googling trifle recipes, but not far off either.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Toes over the edge
Am recovering from hideous allergies.
Am unsure if I can recover from the cliff hanger at the end of series 2 of Battlestar Galactica.
Am even less sure if I can recover my self esteem after resorting to the hope that they will use the 'it was just a dream'* escape route. Much like President Roslin, I am unsure if I can forgive myself for that ethical lapse.
If you know what happens at the start of series 3, please don't tell me. But you could send me the Dvd in express post. That would be nice. And if you find my dignity, you might as well keep it. I clearly won't be needing it for a while.
*Problem is, I just don't believe that Starbuck would really grow her hair like that. It seems even more implausible than all that other stuff. Really. No really. It must be just a dream with that hair. Ack. Or do we have a whole next series of telling us how they got there, but then not how they escape? A series long cliff hanger. Gods of Cobol, save us!!!! Remember what I said about my dignity up there - now you know what I meant.
Am unsure if I can recover from the cliff hanger at the end of series 2 of Battlestar Galactica.
Am even less sure if I can recover my self esteem after resorting to the hope that they will use the 'it was just a dream'* escape route. Much like President Roslin, I am unsure if I can forgive myself for that ethical lapse.
If you know what happens at the start of series 3, please don't tell me. But you could send me the Dvd in express post. That would be nice. And if you find my dignity, you might as well keep it. I clearly won't be needing it for a while.
*Problem is, I just don't believe that Starbuck would really grow her hair like that. It seems even more implausible than all that other stuff. Really. No really. It must be just a dream with that hair. Ack. Or do we have a whole next series of telling us how they got there, but then not how they escape? A series long cliff hanger. Gods of Cobol, save us!!!! Remember what I said about my dignity up there - now you know what I meant.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
On being the Prime Minister
Clearly no one in this household is prime ministerial material, because we cannot watch the footy with a calm sense of enjoyment. The Noodle cries, I get a stomach ache and the husband gets furious.
Be glad we are not running the country. Mr Rudd seems to enjoy himself but takes it all calmly. He does, however, force his sixteen year old son to wear a suit to the footy, which is kind of weird.
Brisbane Lions - one point ahead at half time.
Edited - more importantly, seven points ahead at full time after being down five goals at three-quarter time.
The PM became quite animated at the end, and I don't think it was his son in a suit, I think it was a grown-up in a suit who is quite young (and me showing my age by thinking he might be a teenager).
Be glad we are not running the country. Mr Rudd seems to enjoy himself but takes it all calmly. He does, however, force his sixteen year old son to wear a suit to the footy, which is kind of weird.
Brisbane Lions - one point ahead at half time.
Edited - more importantly, seven points ahead at full time after being down five goals at three-quarter time.
The PM became quite animated at the end, and I don't think it was his son in a suit, I think it was a grown-up in a suit who is quite young (and me showing my age by thinking he might be a teenager).
Friday, September 4, 2009
Sorry about the silence
I am dealing, badly, with the fact that hayfever can make me so, so sick here in Canberra. I'm sure I'll be back to normal once the anti-histamines do their work, or when spring is over.
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