school

14 years at the school gates: what I have learned so far….

September 13, 2018 By Ellen Leave a Comment

Update: This was written a couple of years ago – now the baby is in P5 (still cute though). My baby, he’s all grown up. It doesn’t seem a minute since… Yada yada yada. You know the stuff – uttered by runny-mascaraed mothers waving children off to school before returning to their bleak and […]

Don’t make me do the mums’ race… ever

June 8, 2016 By Ellen 5 Comments

Team Bundance in training I wrote this in 2012, but it’s sports day again this week… To my left a woman in running shorts – bare, muscled calves twitching to be off. Taller than me by a head. On the right the short-haired mum has pulled off her floral blouse to reveal a running top […]

Tips for pain-free homework

August 26, 2015 By Ellen 1 Comment

Back to school, back to uniform and routine. Back to sitting at the kitchen table for hour after painful hour getting the homework done. There is likely to be begging, cajoling, patient explanations, stern instructions, negotiation, tears and pleading. That was the scene here for many, many school nights. One evening, exasperated by long division […]

Keep St Valentine out of our schools, for the kids’ sake

February 14, 2015 By Ellen 5 Comments

“I’m very sad, mummy,” said Boy Three from his seat in the back of the car. We were on the way home last night – the night before St Valentine’s Day. “What’s the matter, honey bun?” I asked. This isn’t an unusual exchange. Often it’s the Worst Day in the World. […]

Do you pay your kids for exam success?

December 8, 2014 By Ellen 2 Comments

Boy One is sitting his prelims at the moment. He tells me he’s worked hard and feels “enough nervous but not OMG nervous”. We’ve talked about planning his studies and preparing for the tests. Or rather, I’ve talked about it and he’s sighed and rolled his eyes. Then one day, just when I about to […]