Back To School

So my wee lassies started Grade 5 and Grade 2 yesterday.

Megan remains in her school and starts e-learning this year. No books, everything is done on their tablets.   It's a big change for the learners, but it's a change they're all very excited about.  She's not very happy with the register teacher she's been assigned to, but that's beyond my control and the school's decision.  Should it become a problem, I'll step in.

Kaylin goes to a brand new private school where she doesn't know any of the teachers, any of the learners and doesn't know her way around the school. Its pretty daunting for her and there was lots of tears on her first day at her new school. I know its the best environment for her.

With her SIDS, ADHD and ODD having maximum of 18 girls in the class is perfect for her. She gets more attention and there is no fear of her being left behind or left in the dark. It's a peaceful environment out in a country setting.   She just needs times to get used to her teachers, her friends and her environment.

It will only take time to settle, and at this stage, I'm taking it day-by-day.

I only got pix of Kaylin to share, because her big sister refused to pose.

  
 

And the Tears Continue...

Day Two of Grade 1 for my "wee yun" and she made it clear she did NOT want to go back to school because "they made her do homework on the FIRST day!". 

Oh the degradation!  How dare they make her colour in a picture for homework on her first day!

After Day 1, I guess she figured in her head that "big school" was not for her, because this morning she declared that she doesn't want to go back.

We got to school and she was very quiet and withdrawn.  It look an eternity for the bell to eventually ring and by then her lip was quivering and she was clutching my leg!  I tried to be brave for her, but I could see she was not happy at all.  I tried to keep things light - she was having none of it.  She was going to cry!

I thought to myself "Oh Kaylin, please don't cry or you're gonna make me bubble too".  My eyes were already leaking.

Kaylin clearly is not a mind-reader, because with my silent request, she burst into tears as we walked into her classroom.  The fact that all the kids at her table were asking why she was crying, did not help either. 

My heart broke into piece then and there.

I wanted to just pick her teeny weeny wee body up, walk out of there and just cuddle with her all day....

That's what my heart told me.

My head told me to be strong, for Kaylin's sake, kiss her goodbye, tell her that I love her and that I'd see her after school.

I managed to make it around the corner from her class, then I burst into tears.

Thank Fuck I had my mirror sunglasses on that I could hide behind.

I phoned my Best Friend - my Hubby - and sobbed into the phone.

I cried all the way to work.  Another bare-faced and blotchy face worn to work.  They'll have to get used to it for a while, until my wee lassies settles at school.

I'm taking it one day at  a time.

I spoke to her today about MY first day at school (I remember it clearly like it was yesterday).  I told her how scared I was because I didn't know anyone, I didn't know what to expect.  It turned out that my teacher didn't like gingers and took an instant dislike to me. 

I told Kaylin that I battled to make friends at first and to fit it.  It brought back so many emotions and I started to cry again.  I really didn't want her to see me being so emotional, but it seemed to strike something with her because immediately she gave me a hug and she asked me "you were little once too, hey Mum?". 

I suppose she thinks that, as an adult, we have everything under control  Our kids need to be reminded that we were little once too, that went through most of the things they go through at one stage or another.  Kaylin saw the emotion in my face and said "How did you make friends?". 

I told her the story of a wee lassie who sat next to me in Grade 1, who asked me why I cried so much.  I remember telling her that I was scared and that I didn't know anyone.

Jennifer asked me if I wanted to play.  She reach out, took my hand and we did just that. 

Simple as that.

It wasn't that simple for me.

After sharing my story, Kaylin said that she'd be brave and go to school the next day.  She said that she'll put her arm around Michael and ask him if  wants to play with her.

I'm still not sure that showing my emotions was the right thing.

I just know that I dont' have all the answers.

Hopefully with time, things will get better and she'll eventually find her space and comfort zone in Grade 1.  It will just take time.

In the meantime, my heart will break each day for her, because I remember so clearly how scarey it all was and what it felt like.

Work is the curse of the drinking classes

It's back to work tomorrow for us Proletariate DoocheNozzles.


Urgh!


Return to early mornings and hectic rushing to get two wee lassies fed, watered and ready for school. Making pony tails, quick and nasty breakfasts, ensuring they're wearing clean knickers with no skids, making and packing nuturitional and inventive lunch boxes, feeding the dog and cat, making beds, packing school books and relevant sports gear in a separate bags, separating bickering girls, packing my gym bag in between nagging for hair and teeth to be brushed.


Urgh!


Return to getting all the bags are packed into the car, it usually looks like I'm packing to go away for a fucking camping weekend with a boot full to the brim! Then it is time to get the dog rounded up and inside, before I locate my house keys and put the house alarm on.


Urgh!


Return to the idling car where I drive to School #1 to drop off Girl #1, drive to School #2 to drop off Girl #2. This is usually when I realise that I've left something at home.


It's almost 98.82% guaran-fuckin-teed that I leave at least ONE thing at home. One important item that I can't do without during the day and that I'll have to turn around and go back home for.


It's generally my phone, my pursue or keys for my office.


Urgh!


And all that before 8am!


Return to my hotbox that is my wee office, my desk, crappy office tea. Switching on my computer that fell of the ark and checking my hundreds of emails, which normally takes me at least half the day to sort through after being away for such a long time.


Urgh!


No more lounging by the pool with a glass of wine, no more watching endless crappy TV series programmes by the dozen, no more pointless outings to the shops just because I get to oogle pretty shoes I can't afford. No more running around in my undies and vest tops with no shoes and no bra.


Urgh!


There is ONE consolation to all of this.


My Wonder Woman of-a-domestic-worker returns to work tomorrow. Can you say Whoooohooo with me? Woooo Fucking Hooooo!!!


That means, I no longer have to do daily loads of laundry, clean floors, wash walls, do dishes, tidy rooms, disinfect toilets, sweep, dust, pack away endless piles of toys and dirty clothes.


My three week's worth of year-end holiday is: Work away from Work.


So, I return with a heavy heart to sitting in front of teeny tiny 17" crappy computer monitor for seven hours a day with a broken mouse. Puting up with ringing phones, droning of ancient air-conditioners in the passage, endless requests from irrate clients, ten Sales Reps and one Sales Manager.


I have vowed that this year I'm not breaking my back. I won't earn any Noddy Badgets. I won't get any Extra Bonuses. I won't get any afternoons off just for the hell off it. I won't get paid for overtime. No pats on the back or genuine smiles.


It's true, hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?

And The Winner Is...

I am thrilled to my wee cotton socks to reveal this week's Caption My Photo Competition Winner #36 .

Drum roll please...

..Mary F

"Candi just loves an all-day lic... uh, I mean sucker"

Be sure to come back on Tuesday for the next Caption my Photo Competition, Plonkers!

Back to work on Monday after over three weeks holiday at home.  Urgh! Nah, Fucking Urgh!

New Sex School opens in Austria

The Austrian International School of Sex is now open!

The opening was announced by the headmistress of the school, Ylva Maria Thompson. The vision of the school, according to Thompson, is to teach people how to be better lovers. She goes on to say that people spend time and money on training their mind, muscles, and fitness, but do not spend enough effort on developing their love-making skills. This is precisely what the sex school hopes to address.
Curious to know more? Well, all we know for now is that the school plans to provide theoretical and practical training.  Theory I hear you say?  Och aye...courses such as the history of sex and modern sexual theory will be taught. A major truck load of the course, however, will be ‘hands-on’.

An entire semseter at the school consists of five full-term and three special intensive courses. The cost for a semester is €1,400 which is roughly $1,850 or R14 000.  Can you say WTF?  The first batch is due to start this month and the class has already been filled up.  Register HERE. 

According to the school’s website, classes will take place at an 18^th century mansion - sexy - which is about a half-hour drive from Vienna. The mansion has been redecorated to suit the needs of the school and is equipped with high-tech teaching rooms.  I bet you they'll have one or two sex chairs hidden in a candlelit corner. 

Prospective pupils can breathe an orgasmic sigh of relief, because unlike most other learning institutions, the newly established Austrian International Sex School in Vienna plans to keep their curriculum applied, instead of academic.

"Our core education is not theoretical, but very practical. The emphasis is on how to be a better lover", declared the school head, adding that “sexual positions, caressing techniques, anatomical features” will all form part of the course syllabus.

So how does one get in?

• You have to be 16 and over.
• You have to be rich.
• You have to be prepared to live in a co-ed dormitory, where naturally, you will be required to practice your ‘homework’.

Visit their Facebook Page HERE

Cupcakes for Megan's School Friends

Megan's School Birthday Crown

Queen for a Day!

Megan got to take a cupcake for all her classmates. They were Delicious thanks to CocoJo.

We had pink and lilac strawberry and vanilla cupcakes for the girls and blue, green and brown chocolate ones for the the boys. And there were a couple left over for mummy and granny.

Yum!!!

Mum arrived on Thursday night for a visit and to enjoy Megan and Kaylin's combined birthday party. As usual its great to have her here.KK kissing her baby

Posing for the camera...boy does she love the lens

Me with my new glasses on

Tears! Tears! Screaming!

Oh its so heartbreaking for me to drop KK at school. She clings to my neck like a wee monkey and burys her head in my neck, sobbing, tears, streaming, calling my name...

When I kiss her, say goodbye and tell her that I love her I hand her over to Ennie (the Teacher's helper) she shrieks so hard and cries at the top of her lungs "Mummy! Don't go!". She upsets herself, me and the other children so much with her hysterics. Its totally heart-breaking.

I know that children don't like change and her moving from "Baby School" into the "Big School" section with a new classroom and new teacher is traumatic in itself but some of her little friends are still with her. Her teacher says that she calms down a couple of minutes after I am gone and she carries on with her day happily playing with the toys and her friends.

That separation is just so horrid.

I landed up crying all the way to work this morning and I heard her shrieks through my head and heart. It just gets to me. It makes me feel guilty and bad and so terribly insensitive. I know that its the change and that she needs to just get into a routine but its still hurts so much.

I have even tried explaining to her in the car on the way to school what is going to happen, that I'm not deserting or abandoning her. That I have to go to work but that I will be back to collect her soon.

I hope that she settles in soon and that she doesn't remain anxious to leave me and go to school happily. I'd hate to go through this everyday and that it developes into separation anxiety

Making Goodbyes Easier

These strategies can help ease kids and parents through this difficult period:
Timing is everything.

- Try not to start day care or child care with an unfamiliar person when your little one is between the ages of 8 months and 1 year, when separation anxiety is first likely to appear. Also, try not to leave when your child is likely to be tired, hungry, or restless. If at all possible, schedule your departures for after naps and mealtimes.

- Practice. Practice being apart from each other, and introduce new people and places gradually. If you're planning to leave your child with a relative or a new babysitter, then invite that person over in advance so they can spend time together while you're in the room. If your child is starting at a new day care center or preschool, make a few visits there together before a full-time schedule begins. Practice leaving your child with a caregiver for short periods of time so that he or she can get used to being away from you.

-Be calm and consistent. Create a exit ritual during which you say a pleasant, loving, and firm goodbye. Stay calm and show confidence in your child. Reassure him or her that you'll be back — and explain how long it will be until you return using concepts kids will understand (such as after lunch) because your child can't yet understand time. Give him or her your full attention when you say goodbye, and when you say you're leaving, mean it; coming back will only make things worse.

-Follow through on promises. It's important to make sure that you return when you have promised to. This is critical — this is how your child will develop the confidence that he or she can make it through the time apart.

ITS ALL SO HARD!

3 Days to Go

So... we have 3 more days at home before Megan and Kaylin head back to pre-school and I go back to work. I've enjoyed the time at home but I'm ready to go back to work.

I've come to the conclusion AGAIN this year that I could NEVER be a SAHM (Stay At Home Mum). I would drive myself to drink and drugs and possibly murder both of my children .

I need a break from them.

Its been 24/7 since 12 December (thats 3½ weeks) and they are so bored and fed up with me and each other. They constantly bicker with each other and it drives me insane!!!

They were both asking to go back to school last week already. I only wish school was open otherwise I would've endulged them and perhaps I could've had a week at home in peace and quiet, instead of doing washing, dishes, clearing up toys, wiping noses and bums, stopping them from tearing each others' eyes out and wrecking my place I call home.

Oh! and on top of all that, my domestic worker has been away since then too so I have had to do all of this on my own...hey! don't say I'm spoiled. I'm used to my dear Pinkie. Come home Pinkie - All's forgiven.

I'll give you anything you want right now. You can even take my kids home for a few weeks....*evil chuckle*