I don't understand why, as adults, it is so hard for people to get their heads around us not sitting down to scheduled formal learning. Our children are not at school for a reason. Well, many actually. But the pressure of expectations is definitely one of them. Formal learning scenarios imply an expectation. An expectation where … Continue reading What do you mean you don’t do formal learning?
I know it's over with, but as I say, I am trying to catch up with what we've been up to. So this year, I felt that I should mention Mother's Day. In previous year mentioning it would have been only to moan about how much I do and how it's just one day out … Continue reading A Mother’s Day out…
There have been many discussions about how babies are made, but this was not one of those situations. This was a situation where the children were feeling a bit upset by the fact they don't really know anything about them as babies - which is completely understandable. We have got some information about the date … Continue reading Making Babies: not what you think
This phrase has a slightly different meaning to me than it did before. Before it had obvious roots in alcohol and late nights. But nowadays, here, it has to refer to the post-change-in-routine behaviours that are so abundant the day after. Unlike the change in routine that occurs around going on holiday, the Bank Holiday … Continue reading The Bank Holiday Hangover
So, the day started with the best intentions of actually chilling. We are only a short few weeks into having purchased our new house and it's been a bit of a mission. Aside from the general moving into a house-ness, the children being challenging etc. The garden is a mess. Brambles, bindweed, broken concrete path. … Continue reading DO NOT GIVE UP!
I often get asked why the children aren't "over it" yet. By "it" they mean the trauma of their past, by "over it" they mean, why haven't they opened their eyes to see how lucky they are? Well, you see, tonight a perfect example of how differently their brains are wired just got thrown at … Continue reading Who’s fault is it anyway?
Another night of no sleep with a child refusing to, in order to manipulate and control. A fear response. They aren't in control, they are not safe, an adult cannot provide safety. So manipulate adults in to getting what you want (note, the want and not need there). What they need is sleep... not this … Continue reading Raw, unfiltered, unedited: Sleep deprivation and manipulation.
So. Caitlin was given a wheelchair just before Christmas, which was a massive relief because, frankly, I just can't keep lugging her around in a toddler carrier - she's not heavy as such, but she's getting long and so it is very awkward. And, in all honesty, it's kinda sad for her, she's very independent … Continue reading Labels and things
NB, This was also written before my laptop broke so posting retrospectively Breakthroughs, transitions, ups and downs... busy chaos. Pleasant and shifting. Time consuming and exhausting. But sometimes, glimmers of the things that could be closer to the "normal" we dream of, and hope for. Our life goes like this at times, we just have … Continue reading Can I not just divide myself into several persons?
We chose to rent as opposed to mortgage, prior to adoption, as we weren't sure what the children's needs were going to be and whether we would need to move etc. But also because, although it would add financial pressure... it would take the stress out of problems "it's someone else's responsibility". Not to disrespect … Continue reading Ugh! Renting was supposed to be helpful!!!
A Pleasant Chaos 