The greys have got me!

How did this happen? When did I get so old? I've pulled out a few 'grey' hairs over the years but they looked more like they'd been bleached by sunlight than actually proper white hair. I have now pulled out about six grey hairs in about two or so months!  I've always had very dark hair and I've never dyed it apart from a phase during my nine months at teacher training college where I suddenly decided it was a good idea to go for blond highlights (didn't look bad actually). I don't really know where I'm going with this post save the fact that the greys are coming and I don't know when they'll strike next. Going to have to talk to my hairdresser about colour options...

Bye-bye Mummy.

Hooray! Hooray! A breakthrough today.  I'm not going to be lulled into a false sense of security though.  Today was the first day (after about 6 sessions) that Toddler did not cry, did not fling herself on the floor, did not kick her legs etc. whilst going into pre-school.  She calmly waked in, turned around, waved at me and said 'Bye-bye Mummy'.

No such thing as a free book...

...or so I thought until I picked this up at my local branch of Lloyds TSB.

It's the tale of Billy and his saving up for a crocodile.  Along the way he has a few slips (buying a rather expensive remote control car etc.).  But in the end the ending is a positive and happy one.  Just thought I'd mention the book here as I was surprised how good the story and illustrations were.  It managed to hold Toddlers attention long enough for me to have a well earned medium latte in the village coffee shop so it must be good.  For older children it really makes the whole concept of saving for what you want clear and to the point.  It comes with a set of stickers that match some of the illustrations from the story and a poster chart that older children can record there spending and saving on.  I'd say as a rough guide the book would be suitable for children as young as 2 and as old as 8 depending on the maturity of the child I suppose.  I guess this post could have gone in the 'Reviews' section of the blog but what the hell.  If you're in your local Lloyds branch anytime soon look out for 'A Crocodile for Billy'.  For £0.00 you won't be disappointed.

Silent Sunday

Inspired by...

Once bitten...

Oh well, it had to happen sometime, and it did.  Last week I looked up to see Toddler's middle three fingers in the grip of an older child's teeth.  By the time I got to the children, only about 2 meters away, it was all over and Jaws had let Toddler go.  Ashen-faced Jaws' Mummy rushed over to see what had happened, she looked as though she were going to cry.  I was shaking as at first glace it looked like Jaws had bitten Toddler quite hard.  My G.P. Mummy friend told me to look at the injured hand to which she got a curt, "You're the doctor, you look at it!"  It looked worse than it actually turned out to be because there wasn't even any bruising and no broken skin thank goodness.  Jaws' Mummy was quite upset but we can't watch our children every second of the day can we?

Silent Sunday

Inspired by

Toddler's first session at pre-school

Yes, today was the day.  When the pre-school phoned in November and told me that Toddler could have a place three afternoons a week my first thought was-"Thank God I won't have to rush around in the mornings!"  This morning I felt a bit sick but that could be because I'm 33 weeks preggers and didn't have that much to eat for breakfast.

We've been all very positive and the pre-school gave Toddler a lovely little picture book of shots of the school and teachers and a space for photos of me and Him Indoors (HID) to go; so it's all been very positive.

The look on Toddler's face as I was leaving said it all. Wide-eyed and looking over her shoulder at me I knew she was going to take it hard.  The pre-school phoned with an update about an hour later and said she'd been, "...a bit teary." and could I come a bit earlier to pick her up. When I arrived she'd fallen asleep in the 'Reading Corner'.  All was well and funnily enough Toddler has been very positive about pre-school for the rest of the day.  On the way home she was chattering about her teachers and asking me if I knew what all their names were. When we got home the first thing she wanted to do was put her school smock on (she didn't take it off for about an hour). When HID came home she was telling him all about it, put her smock on again and said she was "...like Cinderella."!  Toddler clearly has mixed feelings about the whole experience.  I'll keep you posted.