A moment that mattered from 2013

2013 was a funny old year.  With much of the early part of the year given over to Ian's operation and long, slow recovery, my memories are a bit of a blur.  It took a long time for Ian to get himself back to normal
and I think my brain has safely locked away all the stressful moments and worrying times that we experienced.  Recovery time was meant be be three weeks, but it took Ian something like six weeks to feel like himself again. That aside, and given that the outcome of the operation has improved Ian's life and future health, it wasn't all bad.

In 2013 we enjoyed some great family holidays to Center Parcs, Disneyland Paris and Butlins.  We had loads of great days out, threw some fun parties and did some cosmetic work on the house.  There was lots of fabulous family time and I got to meet my beautiful great nephew who I am totally smitten with.  I spent time with my grandson and watched as my own son became a wonderful dad, which made me immensely proud.

But if I had to pick one moment from 2013 that really made a difference to me, it would be Freddy starting school.  Being a July baby, meant he was just over 4 years old in September.  He had an incredibly traumatic time on starting nursery and never completely settled into the routine of his daycare.  Consequently I was worried sick about my baby boy being thrown into full time education. It really affected me negatively, although I tried not to show it. It hung over me like a dark cloud as the school holidays came to an end.

The local school he was due to start at, is a big, oversubscribed Infant school with a reception  intake of over a hundred children.  Securing the much sought after place just did not feel right for us. I thought he would be lost in the sea of little people and not given the one to one support he'd need.  So, at the eleventh hour, I refused the place and I found him one in a tiny, rural school with an intake of just seven kids and an ethos of care, compassion and family values. It just felt like the perfect setting for my little boy to thrive in, where he would be treated as an individual and given the time to grow.  I was still nervous about Freddy being at school from 9-3 everyday and worried about everything from him eating lunches to going to toilet.  But my boy surprised me.  He went straight in on day one without as much as a backward glance and has been a happy schoolboy ever since. He loves the school routine, adores his teachers, has lots of little friends and is learning at his own pace. I am just so proud of him and am so impressed with how he tackles life head on. He may be little, but he is a tough cookie and a real star.

This moment is also significant to me as his mother because I trusted my instincts and went against the expected route to find something that was right for my son.  It's a reminder to me of the importance of doing what's right for each of my children, treating each of them as an individual with their own needs and to fight tooth and nail to provide the best for them.  This is something that I try my very best to do, and so when it works out I feel totally validated as their mum.  It's nice to feel like I've done the right thing.  I so often second guess myself or over think situations or doubt my decisions, but sometimes you just have to trust your judgment and do what you believe is the right thing!

Competition entry for Lloyd's Bank.

What Fred Said about School #saiditsaturday

Freddy started school on Wednesday.  My little, tiny 4 years and 2 month old baby is now officially a full-time school boy.  He handled the transition beautifully and has settled in really well.  He was very tired on Friday afternoon and I think that next week, which is a full five day week, will be a challenge.  But I am extremely proud of my little lad.  He is a star!

He has told me lots of things all about school:

"It is really boring for mummies and daddies."

"My homework is to do playing."

Me: Have you made friends?
Freddy: Yes.
Me: Do they have names?
Freddy: Yes, everyone in my class has a name.

My favourite part of school is doing my homework!" (As he told us that homework is playing, this comes as no surprise!)

Freddy and his cousin and classmate A were discussing why their regular teacher was not in school for the first week:

Freddy:  I think she has problems in her house.
Cousin A:  I think she went on holiday or died!

"The teacher reads lots of stories.  My favourite was about that elephant who went slow, slow, slow, boom, boom, boom!"

"My blue sweatshirt is too soft and makes my tummy feel rumbly!"

I bumped into someone, BOOM, cried and needed an ice pack." (My poor little soldier!!)


I hope Freddy continues to tell me his stories about school, sharing his days with me.  I can't believe that my baby has taken his first step into his school career.  Now I just need to decide what to do with my days without my little boy to look after!

That Was May That Was

May has flown by and the start of June has taken me quite by surprise.  The last two weeks have been given over to illness with each and every one of us suffering with a rather nasty and lingering flu bug.  Poor Freddy was wiped out for over two weeks with a temperature, severe tiredness and a dose of throwing up.  Big sister Ella is still really poorly at a time when she is taking her AS exams.  She could really do without the horrible cough that keeps her up half the night and the aching rib cage that is refusing to shift.

In addition to all this, our lovely pet hamster Spinky died.  She was well over 2 years old, but she was a big part of our family life and we will all miss her very much.  Freddy was particularly devastated to lose her.  It was heartbreaking.  We gave her a little funeral, burying her in her cardboard tube, packed with some bedding, hay and her favourite chocolate treats.  We made a stone to mark her resting place. We have decided not to have any more pets...Spinky is irreplaceable.

At least the sunshine has eventually made an appearance for a few consecutive days.  The warm rays on my skin are infusing me with some positive energy and I'm hoping the unwelcome flu bug that has caused us all such grief for the last fortnight will finally pack up and leave. We have so much to do!

I've renewed my Merlin Annual Passes and can't wait to start making the most of it by visiting the attractions.  Alton Towers has its new ride The Smiler and my girls are really eager to ride it!

Freddy has got his place at the tiny village school that I wanted for him and is doing one afternoon a week for the next few weeks to get a taste of what September may bring.  I am so proud of how he is coming on.  My painfully and debilitatingly nervous child is now making friends wherever he goes.  It is a joy to see how far he has come in the past six months.  Now he is back to full health, I'm sure he'll cope with being a little school boy.

May hasn't been a complete write-off.  We had a wonderful weekend at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest.  It was lovely to have all five of our children together for a few days.  Times like this are really precious to me.  The sun was shining and we enjoyed all the facilities on offer in the great outdoors. I loved seeing my son Joe have fun with his sisters and his little brother.  We don't get to see him very often due to distance and commitments, but I treasure the moments when we do.

I also went to see the final ever UK concert in the Last at Bat Tour at the MEN where rock legend Meatloaf did his thing to the entire Bat Out of Hell repertoire.  Bat Out of Hell is the album that most reminds me of my youth.  It was the album I played on my stereo in my bedroom, pretending I was performing on stage.  Being Meatloaf's backing singer on Paradise by the Dashboard Light has been an ongoing secret dream of mine!  Sharing the experience with my two eldest daughters was just perfect.  We danced and sang along and basically had an awesome mummy/daughter date in Manchester.  Meatloaf is now a pensioner but he can still belt it out, bless him. I felt honoured to be there at this last ever live 'Bat' show.

I also had a bit of comping success winning the Silentnight Dream Bedroom competition.  A new bedroom makeover is on the cards.  It's long overdue and will really make a difference to our home!  It will also inspire us to crack on with the dining room that we keep trying to do, but never quite get round to!!

So, that was May.  June is now underway.  Let's hope it's a good'un!!

Books For Getting Freddy Ready For School

Freddy has recently been sent two new titles from Harper Collins which have a school theme.  The picture books are a perfect introduction to the concept of school which is particularly valuable to us with Freddy due to start school in September.

Come to School Too Blue Kangaroo

When Lily starts school she is a bit nervous at being new.  Blue Kangaroo goes with her on her first day and watches as the children paint, draw, do sums and listen to stories.  Blue Kangaroo is delighted by all the lovely activities that Lily is doing. In all the excitement, Lily leaves Blue Kangaroo at school.  Next morning when she arrives in class, the teacher discovers some wonderful paintings and drawings that have been done overnight.  Who could have done them?!

Tim, Ted and The Pirates

When Tim goes to school, his imagination comes to life as he and Ted listen to the teacher's story.  They embark on an exciting underwater adventure, meeting some scary pirates looking for treasure!  The fast paced, rhyming text and the quirky illustrations lend themselves perfectly to the thrilling story.  Freddy was riveted!  The funny ending made him giggle and he is now looking forward to listening to stories when he goes to school!

Both of these delightful picture books are perfect at calming the nerves and allaying any fears that little ones may have at the prospect of starting school in September.  They are very reassuring for pre-schoolers.  We are enjoying reading them and having discussions about all the exciting things that Freddy has got to look forward to!

Pre-School Jabs, US Drama and A Cool Hoodie!

I got a totally cool hoodie jacket for Christmas which includes the caption "This is totally going on my blog!"  It's a very apt piece of clothing and is a constant reminder to me to keep my eyes and ears open for blogger fodder.  With the influx of reviews and sponsored posts last year, I felt like my little corner of cyberspace was drowning in a sea of commercialism.  I don't want that to happen again so I am going back to basics and writing more about the real stuff!  The things that make us who we are.

Today, Freddy had his pre-school jabs.  I have never questioned the ethics of immunisation as I personally believe that the programme we have in this country is definitely for the greater good.  We eradicated Smallpox through immunisation after all, so it obviously works!  When I went to ante-natal classes during my first pregnancy I met a woman who was rendered partially deaf and paralysed down one side of her face after a complication of measles. She urged all of us young mums to immunise our babies and the thought of my inaction leading to my child getting ill and possibly suffering such complications simply wasn't an option.  All five of my kids have had their immunisations, thankfully with no negative effects, so I believe I did the right thing for us.  

It is never nice subjecting little ones to having a needle stuck in both arms, but Freddy was unfazed.  In fact, after the second jab he asked for another one!  I believe that watching Doc McStuffins and Dr Ranj's Get Well Soon has demystified the doctor's surgery and hospitals for young kids.  I wish we had those characters 20 years ago when my poor eldest daughter was constantly in and out of the doctor's with her asthma.  She ended up terrified of the surgery and just one look at a stethoscope sent her scarpering to hide under the doctor's desk.  Poor little thing.

The fact that Freddy had his pre-school jabs has made me think about the fact that he will be starting school this year.  He is still so little and although he is so much more confident since starting nursery, he is still sometimes intimidated by other children.  I hope that my decision to send him to the big, local infants school pays off.  Sending him to a very small, rural primary school will almost reinforce his tendency towards shyness and never give him the chance to 'grow'. I want him to have a good experience that prepares him for his future and helps him reach his full potential. I don't want him shielded from being a part of a big school until he is eleven and has to start secondary school. I hope that I've made the right decision, I really do.  

Freddy being back at nursery has given me more free time.  I have used a few of these hours to catch up with the series of Dallas that has sat on my Sky Planner for months.  Oh my goodness, I LOVED  every minute of it.  It was sad to think that Larry Hagman has since died, but what an amazing swan song for JR.  Now I have the new series of Revenge to satisfy my love for glitzy American dramas.  They are my little bit of escapism to counteract the problems of the weather and the economy!

I really hope the snow that is forecast fails to materialise next week.  I am dreading the thought of icy roads.  Not so much for me (although the prospect of sub-zero snowy school runs do scare me) but knowing that  Joe, Megan and Ian all have to drive to work, and Ella has to endure an hour long bus ride at the hands of a slightly mad bus driver to get to college.  If the Easterly cold front could limit itself to weekends only I will be a much happier woman knowing my loved ones are as safe on the roads as they can possibly be!