Silent Sunday!

Proud Mummy Moment

I have a very proud mummy moment to share, this weekend Ruby graduated from her beginners swimming class. Ruby started swimming lessons just after her third birthday and Lottie has been swimming since she was a few weeks old; I feel slightly guilt that we didn't take Ruby swimming earlier as it has taken a while to get her to where she is now, however I could not be more proud of her as she is now able to swim both on her front and back without the aid of any floats. Ruby is also incredibly proud of her certificate and medal, and took it into school this morning to share with all her classmates. We even found her asleep with her medal round her neck and her certificate under her covers with her :-)

I am one very, very proud mummy, well done Ruby!

Silent Sunday!

Knee update

Many of you will already be aware of the knee problems I have been facing recently but if not then these blog posts give a bit of background information here and here. Following on from my latest appointment with my lovely orthopaedic consultant, he's advised me that he doesn't know what more he can do, so he has requested a second opinion from someone who has more experience; the downside is that the waiting continues! I am back on the lovely NHS waiting list and I have to say waiting is something I find really hard to do, I just want to know what's wrong with my knees and what can be done to sort them out.

I've already had a couple of operations on one knee and it has not resolved the problems that I am facing. I am currently on a combination of 4 different types of painkillers, I dread to think what it's doing to my body. I've been discharged by my physiotherapist as there is no more she can do and has recommended that a knee replacement is looked into. I know a replacement is a major operation however my quality of life and the amount of painkillers I am on surely warrants consideration for replacement. The problem lies in the fact that according to some people, I am too young! I appreciate that I will have to have them redone in 15 years time, however now is the time in my life where I need to be pain free and having fun with my girls before I miss their childhood; in 15 years time my life can slow done, I can put my feet up but now now I want to be active and have fun, not living with regret. 

My referral from my original consultant appears to have been lost; I found this out when I rang up my new consultants secretary who advised me that two weeks after my consultant appointment, it still hadn't been received. I was not best pleased so I rang up my original consultants secretary who faxed over my referral and an appointment was arranged for the end of July, this was the best that could be done although I was told this was quiet good as most new patients were having to wait until September! July still seemed like a long time away and I stated my case and asked if there were any cancellations as I am prepared to come in at short notice. The other day I had some amazing news, a  cancelation has come through and I go and meet my new consultant in less than two weeks time! I am so incredibly relieved and I really hope to get some answers and a plan of action for what is going to be done. It just goes to show if you state your case then you can get things sorted out sooner. 

Silent Sunday!

 

Father's Day 2014

As it is Fathers Day tomorrow, I thought I'd take this opportunity to interview my husband on his thoughts on being a father.

This is what he had to say:


How has your life changed since becoming a father?

"I am more tired, more stressed, poorer, and much much happier than I was before the girls came along. Life definitely has a purpose now, and I love being a provider for my girls"

 
What is the best thing about being a dad?

"I love coming home from work and being greeted by two excited little girls who cannot wait to give me a hug and show me what they have been doing with their day"


What do you not like about parenthood?

"It has come to my attention that having a wife and two daughters makes me somewhat outnumbered in the Tyler house; this is particularly apparent when Kimberley and I are having a disagreement, as the girls both pile in on the side of their mother - even Lottie, who is not even two yet!!"

What are your favourite memories of the girls so far?

"There are too many to list, but if I had to pick a few I would have to say taking Lottie swimming each week, watching Ruby's first ballet show, and our recent holiday in cornwall"


What advice would give to an expectant father or new dad?

"My advice would be to take the full Paternity leave; you will never get those first two weeks back!"

Grow Your Own - Meet the Veggies!

This year we have decided to grow our own veg, I'm a bit apprehensive as to how it might turn out but I hope it proves to be an enjoyable and educational project for us all but in particular for Ruby as she will learn where her food actually comes from.

In preparation for our grow your own project we bought some containers on-line  it worked out cheaper than buying them from any of my local shops and garden centres, and also meant that I didn't have to worry about fitting them in the car.

 
It seems that I may have gone a bit overboard, as I have had to put some of the containers in Ruby's play area of the garden! I also underestimated the amount of compost needed to fill all the containers, and had to go back for a few more bags; well at least now they are filled they are ready to go for next year. 

I took Ruby with me to pick some seeds, she was incredibly excited and we have ended up with a wide array of vegetables to grow. 

This year we are having a go at growing our own:

• Tomatoes
• Sweetcorn
• New potatoes
• Carrots
• Rhubarb
• Strawberries
• Spring onions
• French beans
• Runner beans
• Salad
• Basil

All of the above is being grown in big containers so it's going to be interesting to see how it all goes.

Ruby helped me to fill the containers with compost and then helped to plant the seeds before giving them a good watering.

Ruby goes out into the garden most days and is excited to see if anything has grown, so watch this space and see how we get on with our grow your own veg.

Silent Sunday!

School Runs and Heaps of Homework

Well, today was day two of the school run following last weeks half term, and I have to say I'm not finding having a child at school easy. I actually cried on Sunday evening because I knew Monday morning would be back to school for Ruby; I do really genuinely miss my her when she's at school.

Speaking with some of my fellow parents at the school gates this week, I was surprised that the majority of them expressed their relief that their child is going back to school! So why do I feel so different? Don't get me wrong, Ruby is not an angel, she has her moments as I'm sure all four year olds going on fourteen do, but mainly she's a very well rounded and well behaved child. I enjoy Ruby's company, she's great fun to have around and there is never a dull moment as she has such an amazing creative flare; she can make a story up with any items she finds.

Don't get me wrong I really do value the time I have one to one with Lottie and her determined and stubborn personality is shinning through aswell as her softer loving and caring side. However most parents at the school gates know Lotties nickname 'stroppy Lottie' when she wants something or sets her mind on something she won't let anyone or thing get in her way, I have no idea where she gets this from :) 

This week at school Ruby has been spending some time preparing to go into year one, and has been visiting the new classrooms. Ruby takes all this within her stride, whereas inside of me I'm screaming please let time slow down, I don't want her to be pressured to achieve reading, writing and whatever other targets that are thrown at her, I want her to have fun. Childhood is so very short, it just seems so unfair to add all this pressure on such a young child; adult life is stressful, so surely it would be acceptable to allow children to be what they are, children.

 

Regular readers of my blog may be aware that I wrote about how Ruby had been set homework at the start of school and how I struggled to help Ruby to complete the work that had been set, well homework is still a bit of a contentious issue; I understand the importance of it, but a typical week of homework is at least two reading books, a word list and some writing. Occasionally during half terms and holidays work is set to do on a computer using a programme called Education City. Personally, I think it's all too much, an average working week for an adult is 9-5 and our children are in school 9-3 and then have to do homework on top, why are we allowing our children to do close to full time working hours? I strongly believe children should be able to enjoy the innocence of childhood; we have made the decision that if any homework comes our way, we will try to complete it in a fun way, but I will not be stressing if it does not get completed. Children all learn in different ways and as adults, we all have different ways we learn and engage in studies, why can't this be the same for children?

It's about time we stopped applying the pressure and let children live a childhood and not force them into adulthood before they are ready. With regard to my intial question will I ever get used to the school run, no I don't think I will, I long for 3 o clock and being able to enjoy the time I have with Ruby.

I would love to know your thoughts on this. Am I alone in how I feel?

Silent Sunday!