Friday pm after a long and drainy week we had played out in the courtyard and its been just so nice to enjoy Reuben;s cheeky happy funny self! Its been such an emotional week. Three massivly good days at school and two not so happy partings but happy cheerful get together after.
Granny has been very helpful this week in the evening she read to Reuben which he loves....Zac has developped a huge interest in books (somtimes reads down upside down...:)) but whats nice is that I get to do things while granny soothes boys to sleepy mode....
After a hard week at school a lot of TLC was needed and this happened Sunday am cought in the act was Zac and Reuben......need I say more?!
Much to some neighbours dismay we had decided to enjoy a the courtyard....after all one cant always just be out and about....I decided it was so nice weather so off we went...playing with Henry from our neighbourhood....while they played I tided both gardens out and had some fun with boys too!!!
What a week we had been through?! Gosh.....if anyone would have said its gona be so hard I would have not believed them. First of all he was amazing at embracing school he was straight in playing....while me and Zac tried to embrace the new routine without Reuben...(and discovered Zac had tonsilitis so R;s first day at school went by with me taking Z to drs). ..
Zac was ill Monday so it was a lot of stress anyway, Tuesday Zac was just not happy with home without Reuben. He kept picking up toys calling out to Reuben then throwing them on the floor again....it was just not my happy boy. Wednesday was really intense....seeig mums and kids crying and trying to still embrace the "what do we do now and how" without my lovley bubble Reuben. Thursday he was anbsolutley against staying at school. I stayed as long as I could then disappeared but I hated to leave him unhappy. Friday was just awful...he was in and happy but I stayed some as I needed to speak to the teacher....when he noticed I was going he cried. I cuddled then explained I had to go. I ran but my heart stayed. Reuben has pushed his little face against the window and just set there. From another window I looked for a while to see what happens. I could see he just stared out in to the courtyard for some time. I finally left and just braced myslef it will be ok....it was both Thursday and Friday I have picked up a very happy boy with the immediate "I am not going school tomorrow" ....Oh dear! I predicted well my son who throws himself at new opportunities.....yet gets overwhelmed at a later date same with his mummy. I am always incredibly touched and anxious seeing how much this boy is like I am....he is surley my son!!!
I had been trying to think this schooling busniess over and over. My observations so far are that 4years of age is way to soon for a child to start school...."as a mother is heartbreaking to have to leave your child somewhere where they vehemently don;t want to be- the school system makes us so powerless and cruel at times..."but unless we can home school we can only pray and hope kids will settle and will take these knocks of life as they should be as little strenghtening and empowering experiences. My thoughts are that although we can not forever hold their hands perhaps we could hold their hands and hearts for a little longer....seems to me there is a terrible rush to school kids here. I mean don;t get me wrong yes they need education and to assimilate as much as they can but how much is too much. Surley 5 days (long days 9-3) is a long time to start for a 4 year old....still nothing taht we can do. This is the time that we can encourage, engage, support, hug, voice our kids emotional and mental health and well being. It is very much our call mums and dads how we handle the little dissapointments and how we show what we go through personally then how we take how our kids go trough.....never need to forget they are looking at us for examples. I told Reuben I did fear school too....I thought my whole world went away but I assured him all his toys were resting while he was a school and they all were ready to greet him when he was back. I said this is gona be an amazing time he will learn to do things that only big boys do, read write and so much more. He will make great life long friendships and he will maybe meet his first ever love!!! (ups). Anyway, hope this week comming will be a better one....as my heart melts and breaks....I am so so excited at how things have been and are and will be! God is good. I am praying he will bless my boys and my family!!! - and all those mummies and kiddies who are having the same journey at the moment.
I am so pleased that Reuben keeps loving his school! He tells me he is in the green group and enjoys all his activities. Just as well as we had made sure we treat him to some nice things before back to school this week. Here at my favourite place Romney Sands trying a new sport!
Reuben and daddy were enjoying a peaceful moment...yes a moment as he really does not often sit for more than that! I am loving his relationship with daddy. He loves listening to daddy and is able to converse sometimes just like an adult:)) He is growing up so fast!!
Who says autumn will keep us indoors?! Beautiful sunny day but yes we needed the coats. the kids loved the sea and the beautiful sand....and so did we!
Enjoying sand and pretending its snow....hence snow angels!
daddy time yay!! Yeah I was there too infact that is my carving however someone had to take the photo...and they just look so cute the three boys of my life. the most important people in my life!
hmmmmm love this one. It was a real learning curve when R walked into some horrid mud and was sinking. I had to teach him about danger and explain that sometimes things look safe but they really are not safe. He experienced the same thing I did around same age....when I sank to my knees in the back garden of a "milk lady"'s house. It was frightening also an experience I will never forget. Wish someone would have taken a bit of empathy towards me then....I was shocked. Well i made sure R understood the process that Mud throws at one...and that it was all natural while supporting him in his frightening experience reassuring him of my love!
got tired of making a dome so was time to sleep or pretend....(if only)
ha ha:))) playing trains with daddy at one of his favourite train station parks (Romney Marsh)
He loves his trains and this museum is amazing love to go there myslef and now Zac is all happy there too so will be visiting again soon. I am loving to see Reuben play trains....he reinacts a lot of the stories from "Thomas the Tank Engine" he is using words, expressions such as "buff my buffers"....very well and love that he can vent that way. He has been a joy to be with after school always enthusiastic in going saying "we are gona be late mummy" scoots up there on his scooter, waves bye to granny saying "bye bye granny....see you later aligator - crocodile" and then off through the gates....knocks on miss G (our neighbour)'s door and then chatters and scoots and scoots and chatters all the way to school. We often bump into Noah, Sam and Felix (the twins) and some of the other kids he knows and he is greeting them with a big smile. He has taken liking to all his teachers and when asked which one is his favourite he recites all their names.....I do like that. I asked him who is his best friend and occasionally get different answers but they tend to be the kids he has known pre school. I am terribly proud of Reuben and both his daddy and I are keeping him well motivated during the week with surprise treats at weekend. Today a day early aunty Cheryl surprised him at the end of school day then with Zac and Jonathan in tow they went to park then home and I had got him Toby and Percy which he loved to open and play with....this weekend we hope to have some play with some of his other non school friends then Sunday revisit Leeds castle which we have not seen for a while.
