School Lunches

I only have 2 lunches to prepare; soon to be 3 next year, but both lunch boxes I prepare are different.

This Is Master Z's typical daily lunch.
Usually containing.

·  A chicken meat sandwich (every single day without fail, if it’s different I guarantee it won't be eaten)

·  Biscuits (has to be the ones he made not ones made by his siblings)

·  Want want rice crackers.

·  Rice bubble bar (he won't eat it, but I put it in there just in case)

·  Cheese and biscuits (won't eat this either but again just in case)

·  Fresh Strawberries. (Usually its carrot, capsicum, tomato, cheese and cucumber but between him and hubby I ran out)

·  Tiny Teddy's (won't touch these either)

·  Burger Rings (Unless there plain chips he won't eat them either but that's all I had left so here's hoping)

·  A mandarin (usually apples but I again wanted to try him with something different)

·  And some new fruit nugget thingy I found the other day thought it was worth a shot.

Now hubby complains I "over pack" I honestly don't think I do, I know what he eats and am still learning what limits I can push to try and get him to try new foods.

I pack his favourites so he isn't starving, but I add in new stuff in the hopes maybe his peers will intrigue him into trying something.

A lot of it is hit and miss, we've sat down with catalogues and recipe books and gone through what he might like to try (his father is a fully qualified chef nothing is impossible) but I get the same vague shrugged response.

I’ve baked muffins, Quiches in tiny pastry cups, made salad wraps, savory biscuits, jelly, custard, yogurt, brought every lunch box snack in stock at Woollies, Coles and Aldi, and still only have a list of 5-6 things he’ll eat on a regular basis.

My other two don't care, if its edible, consider it gone, but this one lunch box does my head in every morning, eats at me all day, until 3pm when I can assess the damage and hope that I’ve discovered a new food item he’s eaten, enjoyed and actually likes.

Do You Have A Dreaded Lunch Box??

First School Camp

  
  
My Big Boy had his first school camp last night.

I may or may not have panicked a little bit......

Ok I panicked A LOT!

His class went to Taronga Zoo to participate in the Zoo snooze, we had to drop the kids back down at the school office at 4:15pm for a 4:30pm departure and they are to return today at 3pm normal school finishing time.

I found myself snapping at hubby before we even left the house yesterday as I cracked under the pressure of the boy venturing off into the unknown, “His bags bigger and heavier than him, read the brief GI Joe it say’s SMALL Backpack” My gosh I’m the first to admit I’m a bitch when I stressed.

Hubby took him into school as requested by the boy, dagger to mums heart but I waited, wounded in the car with the other two.

We attended Miss Moos dance class and returned home.

The house, safe to say was eerie quiet (aside from the rhythmic patter of my pacing feet)

Funny how you take away one child from any family with 3 kidlets and the dynamics change completely, things normally moved remain untouched, house stays cleaned, parent stay calm and productive, children become angelic and quiet, it’s all rather strange really and for reasons unbeknownst to mankind it's unexplainable and I found it really unsettling.

The boy had a choice of buying his lunch today or taking it, but I sent him with both, I panicked at the last minute and thought what if he didn’t like anything at the shop, I know he would just go without, but would anyone notice? Would anyone help him?

So I packed his lunch box with a mountain of snacks to feed him + 2, just in case and a sandwich.

After annoying hubby with a million questions on if the boy would be able to open his sleeping bag and unroll his mattress on his own, and be able to roll it back up and pack it away without a meltdown, because we know he’s a perfectionist.

I laid in bed half the night worrying sick.

What if he sleep walks?
What if he panics and there's no night light?
What if he wets the bed, Oh god he has no spare change of clothes!
Will his class mates tease his after this trip?
Will he hate school after this trip?
Will his behavior change after this trip? Good? Bad? No Change?
What if he wants to come home?
What if he's scared?
What did he have for tea?
Is he warm enough?
Will he have nightmares now?
What area did they sleep in? please not with the spiders.

I roll over and look at the clock it was 3:12am

I was fuming that the school only allowing 4 Teachers for 2 classes (which is ample I know) and no parent volunteers, no contact number for parents to call.

I don’t know if I would have called or not, had I have had a number but I may have been more settled knowing I had the option there if I wanted to.

I’ve really over thought this trip and I really worked myself up over it, I’m exhausted from lack of sleep, I know he’ll come home had the best time, had no dramas (or if he had not tell me for 4 days)

but that’s what happens when you’re a parent, and when you’re a parent of a child with special needs the worry is just that much greater.  

Hitting The Books.....Again!

I've made the decision that I'm going back to study again.

This means more late nights slumped at the key board, copious amounts of coffee, the occasional screaming, crying, stress induced hissy fit *yes I do throw them and I see exactly were Miss Moo gets it from when I do* plenty more assignments, numerous hours inside a classrooms,  priceless achievements, flourishing confidence, new skills, placement time, fulfillment and career clarity.

But I've done it before and I'm determined to do it again.

I've filled out my application, sealed it with hope and posted it off.

Now its all a waiting game.

I hate waiting!

Epic Fail

I woke up at 7am this morning, Packed lunches, organised school bags, uniforms, school shoes, 

got breakfast sorted and fed into their little bellies.

Stop to boast on facebook how good it is that school is back today.

I sort day care bags, hair combed, teeth brushed, faces washed, and headed out the door.

I dropped Master T at day care, he surprisingly went without a fuss after having just over a week off for holidays. no one said anything as they made comment at how gorgeous and smart Miss Moos looked in her uniform with her hair in the fish tail braids.

I drove to school 8:45 knowing parking being first day back of term and now raining was going to be problematic, pull into car park.............empty!

I think, gate must be locked I'll go around the front, surely school is on. Right?

I see the crossing guard, glimmer of hope, I see teachers cars, I smile,  but the gates are still closed!

I'm so confused.

I think to myself, I'll go home and check the news letter.

I get home, tell kids to remain in the car and race inside to check the newsletter on the fridge.

there it is in black and white.

School returns Tuesday 24th April

I tell the kids to get out of the car (quickly don't want the neighbours to know what a dick I am) head upstairs get changed because I have a few errands to run.

I got up at 7am and out of the house by 8am for nothing!

and to add insult to injury I now have to do it again tomorrow.  

Why Begin Blogging Again???

Why did I start blogging again?

I originally started blogging for the same reasons most bloggers started blogging, to stay in touch and share their life with family and friends.

At the time I created my blog I was living in the Northern Territory, a newly petrified mother, isolated from her parents living in Stuarts Point NSW and her in laws in Wodonga VIC, so naturally without the modern technology of face book nowadays I blogged, updates, family photo’s, baby milestones, adventures and major events.

But as we all do, we got busy, the kids with growing up and school, I with studying and working, Hubby with globetrotting, deployments and work, I just didn’t have the time or energy to blog, and then I got sick.

My sickness (if that’s what you’d call it) requires a mountain of medications, and some of those as a glorious side affect are affecting my memory.

It’s just little things here and there at the moment that are becoming a struggle to remember, but it’s alarming when I can’t remember what I packed the kids on their sandwiches for lunch not 30mins before, or what I was saying mid sentence (on a bad day if interrupted) let alone their achievements and success from a whole school year, or special outing we’ve shared together as a family.

So I felt the strong obligation to start journaling and blogging again, mainly for myself, so I can look back and bitch slap my memory from time to time, but also the added benefit of my family whom we’ve been separated from again to experience our adventures more “in-depth” then just the odd facebook photo.

So there you have it, I’m not blogging for fame or fortune, or even my own egotistical need to be wanted, accepted or popular, sadly it’s due to own medical induced forgetfulness that my life’s journaling reignited.

How unexciting.  

Do You Have A Craft Box?

I've always loved arts and craft so my craft box is one very over flowing 100 liter plastic tub in the base of my walk in wardrobe. The reject shops and spot light sales bargains are forever finding there way into my stash, I do however find it hard when it comes to craft time not to 'Over Help' my kids in there projects, so mummy sometimes gets her own little project to do so this does not happen (Don't Laugh I know I'm not alone)    

*image is of Miss Moo's Easter Hat for her parade today and Master Z's Easter Chicken Clown Egg, And Master Ty's Easter Ears*

Parent Teacher Interviews

I'm sure every parent dreads parent teacher interviews, or at least has some sort of apprehension going into them; no parent wants to hear their child is lagging behind or they need extra work, or the worst of their child is disruptive...

 As a mother of a child who is on the Autistic spectrum I dread these days even more.

I knew we would breeze through Miss Moo's interview she's a bright little spark, popular with all the other girls, a social butterfly some would say, top level for reading, comprehension, maths, writing content is spot on, the only constructive thing her teacher said was her writing was "a little flicky" but that comes from her first year in the Victorian school system, and it's slowly improving on its own.

Miss Moo's teachers comment was she could have 24 of Miss Moo in her class and it would be perfect. I know Miss Moo's teachers eccentric, but 24 of my daughter you'd have to be bloody mad.

Walking over to Master Z's class I asked if there was anything he should confess before we got there, I got no last minute admissions of guilt, not that I really expected one.

Now the thing with my boy is, academically he is brilliant, I’ve never really had to worry, he doesn't struggle but he’s no child genius, he is happily somewhere in the middle plodding along for his age.

But socially, and this is where the autism comes into play, he just out right doesn’t get it.

Master Z is what I'd say, is an awkward child, for me I love it, it makes him unique, but most parents and there “normal” children don't necessarily understand him, and sadly don’t want to take the time to, so they just ignore him, leaving him outcast.

The conversation that took place that night during our parent teacher interview still have me reeling, I’ve partially digested information only to bring it back up again, sift through it and digest again (graphic I know but that’s how it is) here I was at 7pm (with a splitting migraine) sitting across the desk from a bubbly teacher whom looked no older than myself expecting her to tell me the usual stuff I hear about Master Z, how he was a quiet student, a pleasure, sometime withdrawn,  produced great work but took his time about it, yahdah yahdah yahdah. But what she said floored me, made me sit up straight and fight back tears.  

Master Z had (after sometime) befriended one of the classes more “popular” kids.

 Now when I say popular what I mean to say loud, rowdy, boisterous, mischievous, some would dare say naughty kids in the class.

Now from my understanding this young lad comes with his own set of issues, some I’ve seen so many times before with my field of work as a special education aide, and majority of these kids appear rough but have hearts of gold and are just looking for someone to care (I have a soft spot for these kids I really do).

 But my boy is my boy and I’m his mother I protect and guide him, he doesn’t have the regular coping social skills of other children, but only just finding out now of this up and down flourishing relationship, I was little help. So I listened very intently.

 Turns out this kid has heart and is the confidence my son doesn’t know he lacks and the confidence and freedom of innocence I wish he had.

This kid lead my son, my quiet, meek, skinny bag of bones, never break a rule boy on his birthday along with the whole entire class on a conga line through the classroom just because it was his birthday and he thought he should, the smile couldn’t be wiped from Master Z’s face, Master Z has confidence with class for oral talks, he no longer feels nervous amidst his peers.

He even feels free enough to be cheeky and turn around during class work and chat to (disturbs) other students.

I know they say a bad influence is not a good influence but if it gives my boy the confidence and freedom to express himself any influence is a good influence.

Although the teacher and I (thankfully she was on the same page) are keeping a close eye on things and I have strong faith in Master Z's strong values of what is right and wrong, for the time being I think it's a good thing.

The Hill Billy Look Is So In Right???

All I can think of is thank god school photo's have already been taken before Miss Moo lost her first front tooth, She looks like a hill billy without the stalk of hay.

Don't get me wrong I love my precious girl, but we pay so much for school photo's these days, one's we don't see or even preview until D-day when there sent home on the hope and pray they turned out good and that hair style you spent hours doing stayed in place.

 Now begins that awkward period of one peg tooth at the front.

An Old Hand.

I'm not new to the world of blogging, not by a long shot, I use to blog some years ago, but as life goes for all of us and mine was no different it got busy with kids, school, study, sickness, daily mundane tasks, a few removals, and some momentous family events to balance things out. As time has rolled on, and the kids are settling in there respective new schools I have the time I longed for to blog, journal and document our most treasured memories.