Things I’ve learned from my children today.
The volume needs to be turned down. I’ve been offered the chance to do a bit of extra work somewhere new and I’m very excited about it. During the process of all the necessary sorting out to free myself to get there, I thought I’d organised out another day a week for Boy Three at his lovely childminder. As luck would have it one of her bigger charges had just graduated. However, yesterday, I learned that she wasn’t sure that would actually work because Boy Three was so raucous that he was upsetting one of the other children. Then I realised that, it’s true, he and his brothers are all super noisy. So we have launched Operation Shhhhh where we all attempt to turn the volume down so Boy Three doesn’t learn to live life at hearing-damage-inducing levels. And maybe he won’t frighten the other kids too much.
The lot of an Aspie is worry. Boy One is looking forward to the Primary Seven school trip – the really grown-up one for the Big Kids that involves staying away for a whole week. Boy One is considering what he’ll have to pack and how to guard his precious Lego and Bakugans from invasion by his brothers while he’s away. Hmmm, the thing is Boy One is only in Primary Six and this trip won’t happen for at least another 12 months.
Imagination changes your perspective on events. Apparently there was an incident at our village petrol station. By all accounts – well one each from Boys One and Two – there was a fire, a car ended up in the road, a petrol pump may or may not have expolded and no one was hurt but the traffic was delayed. Boy One said: “I didn’t believe it but I saw the black car with my own eyes.”
Boy Two said: “It was probably a bomb planted by terrorists.”
In Bridge of Weir, I don’t think so.
Other things I’ve learned.
Sometimes the rules don’t make sense. The wider Scouting organisation – Rainbows, Beavers, Cubs, Brownies, Guides and Scots – is a marvellous institution. Providing old-fashioned (ish) order, fun and adventure to our youngsters. And it’s run by volunteers giving up a lot of time and energy to make these things happen. So how bonkers is it that the organisation will not accept help from volunteers who are over retirement age? There’s an army of able-bodied grandparents who are keen to get involved and who likely have more time and oomf than hard-pressed parents.
I didn't know that about the scouts/brownies thing, rather ridiculous, isn't it?
I like the sound of operation shhh – I may have to have a go at that myself!
Heather, the scout/brownie thing seems nuts. I can only think it's some sort of insurance issue, but maybe they need to re-think it.
Jo, we might be imagining it, but we think Operation Shhh is starting to work already. Turning every noise-making bit of kid down too is helping.