A few weeks ago, Jamie was telling daddy that him and some of the others boys would not let Grace into their house (actually a large cardboard box). Daddy told Jamie that they shouldn't be so naughty and should let Grace play with them if she wanted.
I spoke to one of the ladies at pre-school this week about this conversation and it turns out that Grace is the one who doesn't let the boys play!
Went home and had a chat with Jamie who tells us Grace is often on the naughty step. We asked whether he had ever been on the naughty step but Jamie replied he was a 'good boy'.
Lets hope so!!
Monday, 19 November 2012
Saturday, 17 November 2012
Raising Boys: Rough and Tumble Games
Came home Tuesday night after a few hours out of the house to find daddy and Jamie wrestling in the hallway.....
Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph 1998 (Finch Publishing) also discusses rough and tumble games. Steve Biddulph says; There's a unique father behaviour that has been observed all over the world. Dads (along with big brothers, uncles and others) love to wrestle and play rough and tumble games with little boys.
For a long time nobody understood why this was so - especially mothers, who are usually trying to calm things down while dads seem likely to stir them up all over again!
But its been found that what boys are learning in 'rough and tumble' is an essential lesson for all males; how to be able to have fun, get noisey, even get angry and, at the same time, know when to stop.
For a male, living with testosterone, this is vital. If you live in a male body, you have to learn how to drive it.
Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph 1998 (Finch Publishing) also discusses rough and tumble games. Steve Biddulph says; There's a unique father behaviour that has been observed all over the world. Dads (along with big brothers, uncles and others) love to wrestle and play rough and tumble games with little boys.
For a long time nobody understood why this was so - especially mothers, who are usually trying to calm things down while dads seem likely to stir them up all over again!
But its been found that what boys are learning in 'rough and tumble' is an essential lesson for all males; how to be able to have fun, get noisey, even get angry and, at the same time, know when to stop.
For a male, living with testosterone, this is vital. If you live in a male body, you have to learn how to drive it.
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Raising Boys: Testosterone
Following the article at: http://grumpymumtobe.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/bringing-up-boys.html I ordered Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph 1998 (Finch Publishing) from the library.
Steve Biddulph believes there are 3 stages of boyhood; birth to six, six to fourteen and fourteen to adult.
A lot of the book is of no relevance to Jamie at the moment but I was interested to read about boys and testosterone. He writes; 'at the age of four, for reasons nobody quite understands, boys receive a sudden surge of testosterone - doubling their blood levels. At this age, little Jamie (his choice of name!) may become much more interested in action, heroics, adventures and vigourous play.
At five years of age, the testosterone level drops by a half, and young Jamie calms down again, just in time for school! Enough testosterone is still around for him to be interested in activity, adventure and exploration, but not especially in girls.
Somewhere between the ages of eleven and thirteen, the levels start to rise sharply again. Eventually they will increase by some 800% over the levels of toddlerhood. The result is a sudden growth and elongation of his arms and legs - so much that his whole nervous system has to rewire itself. In about 50% of boys, the testosterone levels are so high that some converts into oestrogen, and breast swelling and tenderness may be experienced. This is nothing to worry about.
The reorganisation of Jamie's brain, caused by the rapid growth, makes him dopey and disorganised for many months. If Jamie's parents know this is all part of puberty and take a relaxed, if vigilant, attitude then things should work out just fine.'
Steve Biddulph believes there are 3 stages of boyhood; birth to six, six to fourteen and fourteen to adult.
A lot of the book is of no relevance to Jamie at the moment but I was interested to read about boys and testosterone. He writes; 'at the age of four, for reasons nobody quite understands, boys receive a sudden surge of testosterone - doubling their blood levels. At this age, little Jamie (his choice of name!) may become much more interested in action, heroics, adventures and vigourous play.
At five years of age, the testosterone level drops by a half, and young Jamie calms down again, just in time for school! Enough testosterone is still around for him to be interested in activity, adventure and exploration, but not especially in girls.
Somewhere between the ages of eleven and thirteen, the levels start to rise sharply again. Eventually they will increase by some 800% over the levels of toddlerhood. The result is a sudden growth and elongation of his arms and legs - so much that his whole nervous system has to rewire itself. In about 50% of boys, the testosterone levels are so high that some converts into oestrogen, and breast swelling and tenderness may be experienced. This is nothing to worry about.
The reorganisation of Jamie's brain, caused by the rapid growth, makes him dopey and disorganised for many months. If Jamie's parents know this is all part of puberty and take a relaxed, if vigilant, attitude then things should work out just fine.'
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Another Day, Another School Visit
After visiting our favourite school with Nicola and Will last week, I told them about another open day taking place at a school just outside our town boundary. The mother of Jamie's friend Harry, from Baby Signing, is a teacher there, and she had told us about it. As Nicola and Will wanted to have a look around, we decided to go with them - just for a look!
I was glad that Jamie and I did join them for the afternoon. It was a lovely school and it certainly deserves its good reputation. We were shown around by one of the school governors who certainly knew his stuff.
While looking round we saw a couple of Jamie's friends. I do worry that he won't know anyone at his chosen school, but then I don't know where any of his friends parents have decided on as yet. I have exchanged so many text messages with other mummy's on this subject, but I can't choose a school just because his friends are going there!!
Other than being quite a distance from our house (although not a million miles away) the other worry I had with this particular school was the fact that the infants and juniors are separate schools. The only thing that links them (according to the governor) is the boiler. This means that we would have to apply to attend the junior school once Jamie got to the final year of infants. I don't suppose this would be too much of a problem, but the junior school has a different headmaster, board of governor's, and possibly an entirely different philosophy!!
I was glad that Jamie and I did join them for the afternoon. It was a lovely school and it certainly deserves its good reputation. We were shown around by one of the school governors who certainly knew his stuff.
While looking round we saw a couple of Jamie's friends. I do worry that he won't know anyone at his chosen school, but then I don't know where any of his friends parents have decided on as yet. I have exchanged so many text messages with other mummy's on this subject, but I can't choose a school just because his friends are going there!!
Other than being quite a distance from our house (although not a million miles away) the other worry I had with this particular school was the fact that the infants and juniors are separate schools. The only thing that links them (according to the governor) is the boiler. This means that we would have to apply to attend the junior school once Jamie got to the final year of infants. I don't suppose this would be too much of a problem, but the junior school has a different headmaster, board of governor's, and possibly an entirely different philosophy!!
Friday, 9 November 2012
Pre-School Injections
What a brave boy!!
But what a horrible afternoon. Left work early and met daddy and Jamie. A friend had suggested giving Jamie Calpol before the injection so daddy had given him two spoonfuls before leaving the house.
It wasn't one injection but two - one in each arm (MMR (L) and DTap/IPV (R) - it says here).
Jamie spotted the needle just as the nurse was going to put it into his arm. This meant he flinched and she ended up scratching him. She then had to actually inject him, and then do the other arm. He wanted a plaster for the scratch, but would not have a plaster for the second injection.
There is nothing worse than seeing your child in distress. I hated every minute of it and was glad daddy had come along so he could hold Jamie tight. I tried not to look as distressed as I was - at least for Jamie's sake and was so glad once it was over.
We all needed a boost after all that, so drove to McDonalds for a Happy Meal. Trouble was Jamie was asleep before we got home. Must have been all that Calpol!
We put him to bed just after 5pm. Mummy got into bed with him and caught up with some reading. After such a stressful day it was nice to have some 'me' time. Jamie did wake up later asking for mummy and daddy and his Happy Meal!! Lots of cuddles for everyone.....
But what a horrible afternoon. Left work early and met daddy and Jamie. A friend had suggested giving Jamie Calpol before the injection so daddy had given him two spoonfuls before leaving the house.
It wasn't one injection but two - one in each arm (MMR (L) and DTap/IPV (R) - it says here).
Jamie spotted the needle just as the nurse was going to put it into his arm. This meant he flinched and she ended up scratching him. She then had to actually inject him, and then do the other arm. He wanted a plaster for the scratch, but would not have a plaster for the second injection.
There is nothing worse than seeing your child in distress. I hated every minute of it and was glad daddy had come along so he could hold Jamie tight. I tried not to look as distressed as I was - at least for Jamie's sake and was so glad once it was over.
We all needed a boost after all that, so drove to McDonalds for a Happy Meal. Trouble was Jamie was asleep before we got home. Must have been all that Calpol!
We put him to bed just after 5pm. Mummy got into bed with him and caught up with some reading. After such a stressful day it was nice to have some 'me' time. Jamie did wake up later asking for mummy and daddy and his Happy Meal!! Lots of cuddles for everyone.....
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Return School Visit
Yesterday we went back for a return visit to the larger of the two schools we are considering. This time we went during the school day and took Jamie, and his friend Will, and mum Nicola, came along as well. For them this was the first school they have visited, so for them this school will be their benchmark against any others that they visit.
For us, we just wanted to see how Jamie felt. And he seemed to like it. In some classrooms it was difficult to get him out as he was playing with the toys and other props. For mummy and daddy the tour - this time with the deputy head - only added to the good feeling that we had gained on the open evening. So it looks like we have made a decision.
Having said all this, there is an open day next week for another school in the locality that so far we have not considered....
For us, we just wanted to see how Jamie felt. And he seemed to like it. In some classrooms it was difficult to get him out as he was playing with the toys and other props. For mummy and daddy the tour - this time with the deputy head - only added to the good feeling that we had gained on the open evening. So it looks like we have made a decision.
Having said all this, there is an open day next week for another school in the locality that so far we have not considered....
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Counted Backwards!!
In bed with Jamie last night and we were reading lots of stories; Room on the Broom, Cats Ahoy, a couple of the Postman Pat books, etc. when Jamie started counting backwards from 10. I don't know what set him off - we weren't looking at the numbers book - but he did 10 to 3 very quickly, and very quietly. I asked him to do it again and, with a little prompting, managed 10 down to 1.
Very proud!!
Very proud!!
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