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Blogger is not working for my photo blogging for craft blogging and garden developments so I have started a photo blog at

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Piano Concert

"Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens" Felix effortlessly sing while playing on the piano. Completely comfortable in front of the 60 people at the piano concert Felix enjoys the spot light. Matilda watches on and begs that she too can start learning piano, which I agree she need to do. I wish I had done music as early as Felix (& Matilda) have. Ambrose coos and listen attentively to the music.

Schools

It has taken me many weeks to overcome the stock I have felt after taking part in a school tour. I visited an exclusive Melbourne girls school for a morning tour and chat. Why? My intention was to find a girls only schooling for my daughter, one which maybe like my own. On paper the school looks wonderful and I imagine that many of the parents on the tour where ready to sign up on the day. I however came away feeling that it was all so fake. How could I buy into this facade of facts, fancy facilities, amazing stats when all I could feel the school was creating was a monoculture of compliant, well behaved and boring women for the next generation. There were no discipline problem(ie they have children not willing to challenge and expand their horizons?) I started to ask myself why I was there what I was searching for? After many days of discussion with friends and my husband I started to realize that I was looking for sometime that is not going to exist in the main stream private school sector. I think I have become a school snob and expect more! I was looking for a place where my daughter can grow into an independent, strong willed and creative person with a strong sense of character. Private schools seem to have become a status symbol and a factory to generate "yes" people rather than a place of progressive education and a challenge to the status quo. My stock it that I am turning my back on the institution which has educated the last 4 generations of my family.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Melbourne Australia

Introduction to Family food

Amby is 5 months old and has started to yell at us when we sit down to eat. While breastmilk will be his main food for at least 12 months he is starting to demand having a taste of what ever I am eating. I will chew up food for him and he eagerly grabs my hands and shove the food into his mouth. It is believed that my enzymes will begin the digestive process for Amby. I can not exactly report what foods he has and hasn't tried just that what I eat he tries and tastes and seems to enjoy. Felix and Tilda are very excited to have Amby eat with us and have "real food" at which I remind them that breastmilk is as real as it gets!!!

Escape

A busy first half of 2011 has included the birth of Ambrose, the second year of school for Felix, change of jobs for Michael, a new (additional) kinder for Matilda and becoming a mother again for me. I have longed to get out of the city and camp yet the cool winter winds has delayed this possibility and so a Lake Tyres winter break was booked. I was concerned that bring alone with 3 children and two dogs may be too much. When Matilda was 4 months I was at Lake Tyres by myself with 2 children and 2 dogs and found it a struggle. What I now realise it that 4.5 yrs ago I was struggling for control, or at least what perceived as control. I loath people controlling people especially children and yet this is what I was trying to do. I wanted to get things done when I had planned too and found myself annoyed and upset it it didn't work out for me. I yelled I cried and I felt desprately alone that summer. Fast forward to this July. More children, worse weather and by myself again but...... Things could not be more different. I came here wanting and needing to relax and regenerate myself. I wanted to reconnect with my children and it has all happened. I do not try to control our situation rather help to guild and direct it just a little. The baby does not sleep for long during the day as he loves to watch the others playing, writing and drawing. A consolation for our cat napping is the lovely long night of sleep 6-6 we have so I feel so renewed. The children play, argue, explore and breath. They have reconnected with one another and have opened up to me about how they are feeling. I am looking forward to being home again and trying to remember this time to keep me on track.

Collecting

We have enjoyed collecting a number of items on our holidays. The beach had provided wonderful natural items such as shells, driftwood, stones and sponges. The bush block we are staying in provides wild flowers, doddervine, banksia nuts and leaves. While the local oppshops provide silk, rope and dress ups. We have come here for 10 days with no toys and yet the hours of play generated from the items collected has been amazing. Children don't need toys just time space and wonderful imagination.

School Report and Holiday time

Having studied VEL's (http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/)during my Dip-Ed and using them report on my students last year I find it amusing to see my own child's school report. As a parent you instinctively know (or hopefully do) the personality, learning type and intelligence of your child. But does his/her teacher? In the Steiner system (state and private) children have the same teacher from class 1-8. Some schools will do a split (1-3/4, 4/5-8) if a teacher has a particular strength of understanding for junior or middle school years. SO at the start of this year when introduced to Felix's teacher I naturally sussed her out. I felt reassured by her academic understanding and found she was more math confident than most primary school teachers which was refreshing. She was honest and did not presume to know everything but her openness to learn was outstanding. I have always believed that learning how to learn is a skill children need to see for themselves through experience and example.
But would this new teacher really understanding Felix?
His school report has expressed Felix perfectly. A team leader, confident, a wild imagination which is contagious, puts in 100% effort and wonderful behaviour. Felix's VEL's levels at at the standard or above the standard required for a year 1 student. This is Felix to a tee. Felix is my "easy" go lucky child. My Matilda on the other hand is hard work but her character is wonderful. She is tenacious, strong and more intelligent academically than me (& Felix). This for a 4 year old can be hard work to keep your emotions and self in check socially. She reminds me so much of my brother who unfortunately had a rocky time at school and I know that the sussing out of her teachers in the years to come will be incredibly important to ensure that she is guided and not squeezed into conforming with school. My confidence in the school is strong for the primary school years and our plan is for the children to move into other schools at class 5, 7 or 9 level depending on their needs. Now for some school holiday adventures to enrich imagination, refuel the bodies and bond as family unit once again.