Thanks for the comments and advice. I wrote to the teacher, she called me today. Apparently, the other kid's not a bad sort, he just really wants Max to play with him and is sometimes pushy about it. That's as much as I could figure out from the conversation anyway, which was in French and over the phone...
Worked kicked my ass this week. I had a refugee hearing this afternoon that went off the rails, and I'm feeling responsible. Whether that's fair, or whether I'm being hard on myself, I don't know. I'll be listening to the transcripts soon enough.
It's possible that this line of work is too stressful for me. Or maybe I just haven't slept in a while.
I'll do my best to have Halloween pictures up before the New Year. :)
Friday, November 06, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
when to write a note to the teacher...?
Max has been in school now for about 2 months. It is UNREAL how much French he can speak after such a short time. (He's in a French school.) He basically started speaking almost no words, but understanding a little. After a few days, he started answering "oui" or "non" when I asked him something in French. Then a few more words here and there, and now he's at full sentences. On his own. No prompting. It's AWESOME.
I'm still getting used to the transition between daycare and school. It's seems complicated, getting information about how he's doing from his teacher. (At daycare, I just walk in and ask, but he takes the school bus to school and so I never see his teacher). I guess I can write her a letter or call the school. I don't know, it seems more formal somehow.
For a while one of the kids in his class was a friend. Now Max tells me that he doesn't like this kid anymore, because the kid is mean to him and hits him a lot. I know, I'm being a bit of a nutter, but I'm wondering whether to write a letter to the teacher asking if everything's ok. The school gave this huge presentation on bullying at the beginning of the year, and basically said it's up to the parent to inform the teacher if something's up. But how do I know if this is regular 4 year old crap or if it's something more serious? I think I'll write a note. I'm going to be one of those crazy parents, I can already feel it.
I'm also wondering whether it's ok to send Max to school in a princess costume because he wants to be a princess for Halloween. If it was the daycare, I'd have no problem, but school? The thought of him being laughed at and teased just breaks my heart. I think I'll send him in a long blue wig and a princess hat, but I'm drawing the line at the dress. When he's older, if he really wants to, then I will support him fully. If he wants to be a cross-dresser or discovers he's trans, I will stand by him all the way. But at 4, when he's already being harassed by a little shit in his class? I just can't do it.
Leo on the other hand? He's dressing up as Bobba Sharon tomorrow. Too freaking cute.
I'm still getting used to the transition between daycare and school. It's seems complicated, getting information about how he's doing from his teacher. (At daycare, I just walk in and ask, but he takes the school bus to school and so I never see his teacher). I guess I can write her a letter or call the school. I don't know, it seems more formal somehow.
For a while one of the kids in his class was a friend. Now Max tells me that he doesn't like this kid anymore, because the kid is mean to him and hits him a lot. I know, I'm being a bit of a nutter, but I'm wondering whether to write a letter to the teacher asking if everything's ok. The school gave this huge presentation on bullying at the beginning of the year, and basically said it's up to the parent to inform the teacher if something's up. But how do I know if this is regular 4 year old crap or if it's something more serious? I think I'll write a note. I'm going to be one of those crazy parents, I can already feel it.
I'm also wondering whether it's ok to send Max to school in a princess costume because he wants to be a princess for Halloween. If it was the daycare, I'd have no problem, but school? The thought of him being laughed at and teased just breaks my heart. I think I'll send him in a long blue wig and a princess hat, but I'm drawing the line at the dress. When he's older, if he really wants to, then I will support him fully. If he wants to be a cross-dresser or discovers he's trans, I will stand by him all the way. But at 4, when he's already being harassed by a little shit in his class? I just can't do it.
Leo on the other hand? He's dressing up as Bobba Sharon tomorrow. Too freaking cute.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Leo: the plum series
We've got to pick one of these for the cover of the Walman family calendar. Votes?
Monday, September 07, 2009
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Balance
After an intense, gorgeous, sun-drenched, full-on-family visit to Victoria for two weeks, I came back to Toronto last Tuesday while Scott, Max and Leo have remained for an extra week. Yes, a whole week to selfishly indulge, spending time alone, catching up with friends, eating well, drinking a few nights to (moderate) excess, exercising, reading, cooking. It has been an gloriously rejuvenating time.
Maybe it sounds kind of silly or basic, but even though I know, in theory, how important it is to take time for yourself, to spend time alone, it's easier said then done, and this week was fucking great.
There were a few moments of guilt. Not guilt at spending a week on my own, but guilt at just how thoroughly I needed the break and how much I'm enjoying it. What does that say about me as a mother? What will Max and Leo think if they ever read this? Will it hurt them?
But in the end, as always, it's about balance. I needed a whole week because I had a particularly intense few weeks before -- the two weeks of full-on-family time (which was mostly awesome) and a too-busy week of work before that (funny how you have to work so hard to take a vacation). Normally my weeks have an internal balance built in, when I work regular hours, come home to the family I adore, take an evening during the week to go out with friends or exercise, and then have a night alone with Scott and some time to myself when my parents take the kids. I can hardly complain. I don't know a single other young family that has it as good as I do. I can't imagine a better person to share my life with then Scott, or a boss more supportive of my need to work reasonable hours (even if I'm not always able to do it -- it's on me, not on her). My children are basically angels, objectively speaking :) and when they're not, I think it's fair to say that it's because I'm too tired be patient, creative and engaging. And my parents, I mean really, whose parents take their grandkids overnight every week?
I guess everything just kind of went out of whack there for a bit, which explains why this week was necessary and so deeply appreciated.
Maybe it sounds kind of silly or basic, but even though I know, in theory, how important it is to take time for yourself, to spend time alone, it's easier said then done, and this week was fucking great.
There were a few moments of guilt. Not guilt at spending a week on my own, but guilt at just how thoroughly I needed the break and how much I'm enjoying it. What does that say about me as a mother? What will Max and Leo think if they ever read this? Will it hurt them?
But in the end, as always, it's about balance. I needed a whole week because I had a particularly intense few weeks before -- the two weeks of full-on-family time (which was mostly awesome) and a too-busy week of work before that (funny how you have to work so hard to take a vacation). Normally my weeks have an internal balance built in, when I work regular hours, come home to the family I adore, take an evening during the week to go out with friends or exercise, and then have a night alone with Scott and some time to myself when my parents take the kids. I can hardly complain. I don't know a single other young family that has it as good as I do. I can't imagine a better person to share my life with then Scott, or a boss more supportive of my need to work reasonable hours (even if I'm not always able to do it -- it's on me, not on her). My children are basically angels, objectively speaking :) and when they're not, I think it's fair to say that it's because I'm too tired be patient, creative and engaging. And my parents, I mean really, whose parents take their grandkids overnight every week?
I guess everything just kind of went out of whack there for a bit, which explains why this week was necessary and so deeply appreciated.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
An updated relaxed Bobba Sharon
'The Girls' in my retirees group get together monthly for dinners, once in the summer at a house and on the first day of school for 'The Bell Ringer's Group' at the Beaches in Toronto. So here is the summer 09 shot! And beside me is the Greatest of Great Grand Mothers of Leo and Max, Bobby (not Bobba) Clare (not with an 'i' in her name, please!)
Love Sharon aka Bobba Sharon
Love Sharon aka Bobba Sharon
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