[Tamara]

You would have been shocked with what he chose to wear Nicole! Socks with sandals! Not my choice but whatever. I made him put proper school shoes in his bag for after.

He looked like a rock star turned nutty professor with the 3/4 pants. It was fine and actually looked like it was meant to be like that. So I didn’t really stress out about it but did jump up and straighten a few monkeys and lion manes before the assembly got underway. I didn’t bother attaching ribbons and things as ties just because of time and the ease of putting it all on. The lion costume did fit young J in the end which I could also sight with relief over because here I was thinking it was too long etc etc. It was perfect on him actually.

So winging it in one sense paid off but it sure cracks at the nerves before hand.

I can go have a cuppa and put my feet up now before lunch and then think about the next huge task of cleaning the upside down house I live in.

I will make leggings for him to wear the costume next time for book week I think. That is next term so I am a little ahead on that one thankfully.

[Sarvi]

Pretty sure the little indigenous boys are not ‘monkey’ in nature. How about impish? Mischievous? Playful?

As far as the house, maybe Murray can rig something to flip it back right side up and everything will fall perfectly into place. Wishful thinking perhaps, I’ve been watching Mary Poppins. My snap must be broken because I keep snapping and my laundry’s not yet folding itself.

HUGE congratulations rastis! Your new baby sounds like a delight to all. A nice friend at my daughter’s preschool let me smell her baby’s head and didn’t even give me a funny look. Ahhhh, that new baby smell… if only they offered that scent at the carwash …

[Tamara]

Oh no! Did I imply that? They are cute and very normal boys! Very polite and quiet and respectful – I could happily swap some days. And their mums are very lovely too. I’d be proud of them were they my boys.

[needlewoman]

So glad the concert was a hit, J, and that all your hard work paid off. I love the idea of alfoil-covered gum boots! Best and tenderest congratulations, Rastis. So so glad all is well, and that the older two are pleased with a little brother. Take lots of care!!!

On my home front, I’m spending too much time (for my comfort, and budget) at the dentist – an extraction that has become infected, and requires regularly stuffing with cloves. You gotta laugh – all the advances in medicine and when push comes to shove, back to a very old remedy. It’s a little more sophisticated than that, but not much. I smell like those funny cigarettes.

The latest outfit arrived safely at Nanna’s house so the bthday girl doesn’t see it until the day (she’s worked out that exciting things can arrive postbags/packages), and I had to laugh because the nanna was equally grateful for the timely arrival of a padded bag that she could re-use to send a baby quilt to Tasmania. Thrifty woman. I was just glad it got there as at the very point of handing it to the post persons, the centre was being evacuated (suspected fire), and I had visions of it going up in smoke before it got to the mail van. But all safe, including the post office.

[meleliza]

I still love the smell of my daughters head. After a bath when she’s all clean, or after she’s been out in the sun all day and smells of summer. Boys too, in fact, though they mostly smell of dude these days. But nothing beats that new baby smell!

[lattemama]

Well, I’m back from Greece. Have been for a few days. We had a lovely time and can’t wait to go back.

Can’t wait to catch up on everything.

Congratulations on your new baby Rastis!

[Sarvi]

Haha, ‘smell of dude’! Wish I could say I had no idea what that smells like, but sadly I do.

[meleliza]

It’s shocking how young they can stink. But right now I miss it! I just came from dropping my firstborn off at the train station where he’ll ride overnight with his grandma all the way to her house 12 hours away. He’ll be there 10 days before we can join him. He’s 7. I hope I didn’t make a mistake. I already miss him! I’ve never been separated from him for more than two nights and never so far away. he and his brother have never been separated at all! I’m very teary.

[Sarvi]

Aw, hang in there. That moment comes sooner or later — at least you know he is in good hands with grandma.

[Tamara]

Oh wow! A train ride over night! Better not tell my son – he is a train fanatic! It will be ok Meleliza. I bet he will want to phone you and tell you all about what he saw on the trip (which if at night wouldn’t be much) but he would most likely make it up to be exciting (as seven year olds tend to have wild imaginations). He will call I am sure to let you know he got there safely, or at least grandma will.

It is a big step letting your child go – but they see it as an adventure and I bet he was super excited.

It will be like a huge family reunion when you join him! He will be safe. Try not to worry. Big virtual hugs coming your way.

XxT

[meleliza]

Thanks! I asked him to call me at bedtime, but he wanted to call me after dinner. My mom said he was fine, but he sounded sad to me. It made me feel better to know he wants me. This plan has been in the works for a while, but it caught me off guard nonetheless. I’m not ready to have a kid old enough to head off on his own! I’m off to cry into my wine and maybe take my mind off things with a good book.

We are train fanatics too, but this is his first big train trip. We all went down to DC two weeks ago as a sort of practice run. His little face just lit up with excitement when the train pulled in. I love trains myself and spent a lot of time on trains when I was in my 20s.

[with love Heidi]

I often feel it’s those left at home, including parents, who have the harder time as the one away has lots of new things to distract them but when you are in your regular routine without them it is very obvious they are missing. I’ve just helped out looking after my friends kids (4-9 years old) for a couple of nights and yes they all missed Mum and Dad very much .

[Tamara]

Just remember he isn’t really on his own – he’s just minus you in this experience and that is probably why you feel that way – because you aren’t there sharing this with him.

I felt the same way when my children went on the school bus for the first time.

But myself I remember being very small and travelling on a bus without my mum all the way from Albany (right down at the south point of WA) to Perth (our state capital) to visit my father. I don’t remember how nervous I felt and I don’t remember much about the journey. All I remember was that there was no family member with me and it is certainly something I would never put my own children through (because I don’t need to).

As parents, we take steps to help our children become independent by spending time away from us and with other family members. It can be very difficult when we first launch into this but I can promise you it will be easier to let go as he grows older and the next time he does something like this. I just can’t guarantee the actual feelings of missing him will ever go away.

I have some “boasting” to do! I have just done a spelling test with my young son as part of a program we are embarking on to help improve his writing skills at school. Some of the words I would consider to be rather difficult for a year two student to spell correctly but he managed words such as “estimate” and “development” and this little beauty, “explosion” much to my surprise. Some of the simpler words he didn’t get right but they again are above his year level for spelling ability. We will go through the word list again once we complete the program to see how it has helped.

That is the good part! The not so good part is seeing my son’s writing and having a few alarm bells going off! Capitals in the middle of a word for example could be a sign of something amiss. I won’t do anything until after the program just to make sure this is a real problem that needs to be further addressed or not.

[Lightning McStitch]

Capital letters in the middle of a word could be a sign that he’ll be a very good computer programmer. At least if my husband’s shopping lists are anything to go by!

[meleliza]

Phil’s train arrived safely this morning. Grandpa picked them up at the station and he called me right away. I’m not used to hearing his voice on the phone and he sounds impossibly grown up! He asked after his brother and sister and I said, “they’re crazy.” He laughed in a very grown up way as if their little kid antics are a thing of the past for him. (I doubt that, though.)

It’s a bank holiday here today and hubby, for the first time in many years, has the day off. So, I’m off to distract myself with some nice sewing!