tiggy's tea for two

I have a precious blue box. In it are samples of Montessori Materials. Things that I made during my training. Samples of dusting cloths, pouring activities, sorting beads, maths cards, high quality books, feeling bags, language materials amongst others. Tigs has been fascinated by this box and its contents since he was very tiny. Occasionally, I let him take it out to look at and use. I'm both proud and protective of the materials within it and this has filtered to Tigs. He knows that he must be careful and almost reverent about playing with them. Recently he asked to use it (always when Woo is asleep, as he knows I won't let her at it yet) and I agreed on the usual proviso that he be extraordinarily careful with it all.

I carried on with my jobs and later returned to find this little event set up, complete with place cards, teeny vases of freshly picked lavender buds and basil flowers and two arrowroot cookies - as you may remember  this picture of perfection did have a less than perfect hiccup in the middle, caused by me not Tigs.  He'd even filled a miniature jug with orange squash and had poured me a cup. I think perhaps I've read one too many Enid Blyton books to him!  

The care and the thought with which he'd set it all up made my heart ache to bursting. This boy will one day care for the woman who captures his heart in a most wonderful way. It is a real privilege to be his Mummy.

I hope that you are being as loved and cared for today and thank you for reading,

E x

smooch

Where am I?
What's going on?
What am I doing?

Living. Breathing. Sometimes existing, sometimes fully engaged. Walking. Running. Aching. Praying. Cleaning. Cooking. Ferrying. Data entrying. Working. Eating (excessively). Sleeping (occasionally). Inhaling. Noticing. Feeling. Being.

And most definitely smooching. I love my family, extended as well as immediate, more than can adequately be described and am trying to be good to them.

I'm sewing today, for the first time this year, and will share as soon as I can. It's nothing grand or exciting - Easter egg cosies, as a matter of fact - I hope they'll be cute.

Love you Flossy.

Me x

don't faint ...

...it's a family portrait! As rare as hens teeth, to have the four of us in one picture. I have discovered the self-timer like it's some utterly new invention - brilliant!

grade 1

That was then - 2010.

And this is now - 2011! What a difference a year makes - most noticeable the length of the shorts!

The day began promisingly. The task charts that Tigs and I had created worked faultlessly and 50c has been duly logged at the bottom of the chart. Pay day will be on Friday night I imagine. Tigs was ready in no time and all tasks were completed without having to ask. Now that's my definition of success.




We were loaded in the car in plenty of time and arrived with time to casually stroll up to the new classroom. As we entered the lobby the cool kid who'd been several paces ahead suddenly jacked-up and reverted to my baby boy, leaning against me and looking decidedly anxious as we made our way through an absolute sea of parents and children from 6 classrooms. I kept hold of the calm and assertive energy I'd stocked up on and lead the way to the door.

His new teachers were so kind to us both as Tigs completely fell apart. Sore tummy shifted to sore throat (followed this morning by a sore knee). We were going so well. Poor little boy. And I'd deliberately tried to make the previous couple of days low-key, and even boring, so that school seemed like a better option. Eventually I made it out and I'm assured that within minutes he'd settled.

It was certainly a much happier face that greeted me at the end of the day. I'm optimistic that it will continue to improve, but only time will tell. That beautiful boy just loves being home and really loves his mummy. The feeling's definitely mutual. Any tips?