We started POD swimming when she was just six months old. She took to it like a duck to water and for several months she loved it. She even seemed to enjoy being under the water. A break (literally in my case!) changed all that and it was quite a few months before we returned to the thalassotherapy pool.
A new course teacher believed POD would be fine to pick up where she left off despite the absence. But she developed ‘the fear’ in her first lesson. We persevered for a few weeks but POD was terrified even before she entered the pool. Once in she continued to cling to the POD Father like a limpet and her screams became more intense. We were told to persevere so we did but each week was the same.
There’s a school up the road from us that seems perfect for POD. It offers a creative curriculum she’s well suited to, it’s a short walk from home and her pre-school chums will be attending. It’s a great combination and it would have been ideal.
If you read the school place challenges post, you’ll know POD didn’t secure a place at the local school. We appealed against the decision and lost. It was expected but we secretly hoped the panel would overturn the decision. POD remains on the waiting list for her nearest school and we regularly check her position with the local authority. Although she’s in the top ten, a September start date seems unlikely.
Although there’s still hope, there has to be a cut-off. We need to prepare POD for school and do the things that need doing – like ordering a uniform and labelling her clothes. POD has attended the same nursery/pre-school since she was 11 months old. It’s going to be a big change for her and we need to make the transition as smooth as possible.
She doesn’t know she won’t be starting school with her friends yet. She’s also convinced she’s going to Peppa Pig School and will be taught by Madame Gazelle!
The past week has seen us complete forms and organise visits with the new school. Now we know when her settling in days are and when she has her first full day. She’s been ‘ready’ to start school for a while now and she’s a sociable soul so she’ll probably love it. That’s what I tell myself anyway.
It’s incredible to think the little baby girl that arrived on Christmas Day 2010 starts school in just over two months time. We’ll be heartbroken to see her walk into big school but thrilled too that it’s a new chapter for her. September is going to be hard. But it was going to be hard anyway wasn’t it?
When we booked our holiday to Greece with Mark Warner, at the Levante Beach Resort, we weren’t sure if we were going to utilise the childcare on offer. Mainly as we see a family trip being exactly that and because POD is always looked after by the same people.
We were however really keen to get back into tennis again, it had been ages since we’d played regularly. So before leaving the UK, we booked POD into Mini Club (suitable for 3 to 5 year olds) for a few hours each morning. There was no charge for this. We figured we could make an informed choice on what we wanted to do when we arrived on resort. Although we’ve holidayed with Mark Warner twice before as a couple, this was our first experience as a family.
In my early teens there was a boy at school who oozed confidence and because of that everyone wanted to be his friend. But he could be mean at times. Not just to me but anyone that didn’t fit the cool demeanour he wanted to portray.
The turning point came when we were out cross country running. I discovered him sitting at the base of a tree having an asthma attack. We were in the woods and he was alone. I lent him my inhaler and sat with him until his breathing returned to normal. It seemed the decent thing to do.
Back in class I asked if he was alright after what happened. He told everyone I’d made up a story about him having an asthma attack in the woods. Confidence shattered I did my best to have little to do with him after that.
Some years later I bumped into him in a pub car park near where I lived. Out of the blue he apologised for being cruel at school and thanked me for helping him in the woods that day. I never saw him again.
It’s incredible after such a long time I remember these two events from the eighties so clearly. Perhaps it’s because he was partly responsible for transforming a shy thirteen year old into the ‘put me in a room and I’ll talk to anyone’ individual you know today.
Yes we all have wobbles but on the whole we try to remain confident. Or at least give the impression we are.
POD is only four and is already so sociable. I love that she’s hugely independent, enjoys interacting with people of all ages and knows what she wants. Even if it means wearing 8 hair clips in one day!
She started nursery when she was just a year old. As I working parent, it was so reassuring when you dropped her off and she didn’t look back. On the days she was upset, you knew you just had to walk away. However awful you felt, in the long run it would be good for her. And it was.
The time she’s spent at nursery has stood POD in good stead and she has bags of confidence as a result. There’s been lots change over the past few years there but some children have been with her all the way through.
When they start school in September they’ll probably be separated. I’m sure however POD’s determination will ensure she thrives wherever she ends up.
Linking up with Mum Turned Mom for #ThePrompt where the theme is confidence.
POD has attended the same nursery since she was a year old. Now in the pre-school class, she’s grown into a bright and sociable child. All the staff know her and she’s built some strong friendships over the past four years too.
We looked forward to the children starting primary school together in September. It was presumed the majority would attend the nearest one which is located just 0.45 miles from our house. We got a great vibe from the school when we visited and we could imagine POD being there. We knew however hard it was for us to see POD off on her first day, she would thrive. And she’d have people she knew to hold her hand – whether she wanted them to or not!
We didn’t think for a second POD wouldn’t get offered a place at the only school we can walk to. But last Thursday we learnt she’d not been accepted. Worse still all her friends had. Although the success rate appears to be very low, we submitted an appeal form that evening. It may prove fruitless but you don’t know unless you try.
The following day was a crash course in the school selection process. It involved asking numerous questions and attempting to glean a few answers. Not to mention continually being asked if POD had any siblings. It was a tough day that ended with two of POD’s friends asking “why isn’t POD going to the same school as us?”. Utterly heartbreaking and a question we don’t yet know the answer to.
The school that’s been selected for POD can only be reached by car, it’s located in one of the busiest parts of Guildford. We’ve not seen it yet but we’re visiting soon – at least we know she has a place. Although POD will no doubt make friends quickly, it’s hard thinking of her going to school and not knowing a soul. It’s so very different to what we imagined and what we, perhaps rather foolishly, presumed.
As it stands today, POD is on the waiting list for the local school. We don’t know whereabouts yet but we can find out from 7th May. We’re looking at other options too just in case. Much can change in the coming weeks so we remain optimistic albeit with a sense of caution.
So now we wait. And hope that someone is on our side and she’ll get to start school with her chums.
POD loved chatting to the mannequins in our local cycle shop recently but she displayed great pedaling skills too. Although steering and facing forward were notably absent, she’s the proud owner of her first bicycle. We opted for one with stabilisers rather than a balance bike which she’d no doubt grow out of before we could blink.
This weekend we headed over to Alice Holt Forest so POD could try her bike out properly. Managed by the Forestry Commission, it’s always a wonderful place to visit and the smell of the pine trees is divine – we regularly visit. Although POD decided not to pedal at all at first, she enjoyed the view from her bike especially when she looked up at the trees.
Seeing a wooden fort was quite distracting and she stopped pedaling almost as soon as she’d begun. On discovering a group of boys were chasing each other around it, she sat patiently on a tree trunk waiting her turn.
Once she’d climbed to the top a couple of times, the helmet was put back in place and she was on the move again. Albeit very slowly. She does well with pedaling if the pedals are in the right position and she’s learnt how to ring the bell!
Facing forwards is not second nature just yet. POD was more interested in peering at her feet, observing what was around her or looking behind her. Staying on the path was a little tricky at times as she’s not got to grips with how to steer. We headed towards the bracken on several occasions but kept her on the path. It was only a matter of time before she left the path completely although she found it highly entertaining!
With Daddy behind her and me running backwards in front of her (while taking photographs!), she managed a few minutes of constant pedaling gathering speed in the process. It was at that point, POD discovered cycling is really good fun. The look on her face at that moment was just priceless. Pure joy!
A study of 1,000 parents recently found 40% get to spend less than an one hour a day with their children. As a working parent, that used to commute to London 5 days a week, these findings don’t come as a surprise. What does is nearly three quarters of those interviewed stated the main barrier is access to ideas and resources.
We set up our own business in 2012 so we could spend more time with our daughter. This lifestyle change means we see more of each other as a family during the week and have fun together most weekends.
We’re regular visitors to National Trust properties which provide the perfect opportunity for POD to run off her excess energy and work through her #50things. She adores being outdoors exploring and in turn learning about nature and her environment. When the weather works against us, we find indoor activities to occupy ourselves.
Weekend Box Club is a subscription service which delivers creative, green and healthy activities for parents and children to enjoy in the post (review on the blog soon). It’s an inspired idea and we’re already fans.
The www.PledgeOneHour.com website has been set up to provide free resources for parents encouraging more quality time together. The site contains loads of free activities from Weekend Box, the National Trust and Project Wild Thing.
There are simple, child-friendly recipes, arts and crafts, great outdoor exploratory activities and the National Trust’s 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11 3/4. It’s a great site and I’m sure will help those in need of some quality time together. Good luck!
Disclaimer: We did not receive payment for this post, we’re just supporting a great initiative #PledgeOneHour
POD shares her Christmas Day birthday with an array of interesting characters.
Most notable is English physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton. Born in 1642, he remains one of the most influential scientists of all time for formulating the three basic laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation.
Humphrey Bogart, said to be one of the greatest actors and coolest men to ever live, arrived on 25th December too. As did Sissy Spacek who is most famous for the original Carrie film. Playing the role of a troubled student, she used telekinetic powers to get revenge on her high school bullies.
In sport, Captain of the English Test and ODI cricket teams, Alistair Cook, has a Christmas Day birthday. Along with fellow cricketers Marcus Trescothick and Simon Jones.
Christmas Day birthdays in entertainment include Helena Christensen – the Danish fashion model, beauty queen and photographer who also appeared in Chris Isaak’s 1991 music video Wicked Game. It was voted one of MTV’s sexiest of all time.
Kenny Everett, the British comedian, radio DJ and television entertainer, was best known for his career as a radio DJ and for The Kenny Everett Video Show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGlfpzRL2O0
Annie Lennox was born on 25th December in 1954. She epitomised the Eighties with band The Eurythmics, with hits like Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), before later achieving solo success. She is the most recognised female artist at the Brit Awards and has also been named the Brits Champion of Champions.
Singer-songwriter Dido achieved International success with her first album which sold over 21 million copies Worldwide and won several awards. Her first two albums are among the-best selling albums in UK chart history – White Flag has had 27 million hits on YouTube.
Alannah Myles, the Canadian singer-songwriter, is most known for the popularity of her single Black Velvet. A song which outshone her entire repertoire of sixty recordings including top ten hits from several countries.
The final musician born on Christmas Day is the singer and songwriter of The Pogues. Shane MacGowan has a colourful past and was even thrown out of his band for bad behaviour. His best-known song, Fairytale of New York, which he co-wrote in 1987 remains a top Christmas anthem. The song is the 13th most charted of all time.
POD was born at 10.46am on Christmas Day 2010 to the sound of carols being sung outside the delivery suite. It was the coldest December for one hundred years and there was snow on the ground when we left the hospital.
It’s hard to believe our little baby in the photograph above turns three today – Happy birthday POD!
On the days POD doesn’t want to get dressed, morning is a rushed affair. She might hold her arms down by her sides making it difficult to get her pyjama top off, remove her clothes once they’re on or hide her shoes.
You might have to chase her too although that’s usually quite entertaining.
If she helps with getting ready, ensuring she’s at nursery for breakfast is much more relaxed. It may even involve a Costa stop-off on the way home before embarking on the working day.
Last weekend POD was brilliant. She was out of bed shortly after the alarm went off and dressed with no fuss. Although it was 6am, she was excited – we were heading to Belgium that day.
We found a great deal with Eurotunnel which involved taking the car from Folkestone to Calais – a journey that only took 25 minutes. We then drove from Calais to Bruges.
This photograph was taken en route to Folkestone, we were on the motorway travelling at c.70mph. It isn’t apparent in this image but the sky was bright orange – such an incredible sight. POD summed it up perfectly when she said “look the sky is on fire”.
We’re linking this post up with The Gallery at Sticky Fingers. The theme is Morning.
POD will be three on 25th December so she’s old enough now to remember her birthday and the festive period. With this in mind, we had a Christmas themed treasure hunt at the weekend and she met the Doves’ Elf on the Shelf.
We thought it would be nice for POD if she named him. This is quite dangerous given she has dollies called Boadicea, Bob and Rice as well as the aptly named “dolly”, “elephant” and “monkey”.
Initially she decided on “Elf” but having understood “Elf the Elf” wasn’t a name, he became “Ben Elf”. Given she’s a fan of Ben and Holly, we encouraged her to think of another name. Ben Elf then became Jake Elf which was an improvement but Jake Elf quickly became Ben Elf again.
So we will be registering him as Ben Elf.
POD loved the Elf on the Shelf book and its been read several times over. She likes that he has been sent from the North Pole and helps Father Christmas. When she was told he flies back each evening to report on what she’s been doing, her response was “no he doesn’t”.
She enjoys looking for him but mostly believes we put him there rather than he arrived of his own accord.
In an attempt to create a bit of magic, we took Ben Elf away with us at the weekend. Although she was pleasantly surprised he’d joined us, I’m sure she thought we’d just put him in our bag.
We had to work quite hard while we were there to ensure Ben sprung up in the most unlikely of places.
Ben Elf must be spluttering to the North Pole each evening as POD likes to cuddle him. She’s also tried bending his legs backwards and seeing if he can do the splits.
She also likes to turn his head all the way round like an owl. This she finds highly entertaining as she’s tried to do it to me a few times.
Ben Elf may have been touched and moved around which is against the rules but he does have a name at least. Apart from the time he was thrown across the floor, he’s been well loved too. We just need to work on less mauling and encourage POD to believe in magic.
We’re linking this Elf on the Shelf post up with Jocelyn at The Reading Residence. If you’d like to join in with #ElfTakeover, click on the badge below.
