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Tag: school
Posted By SLK on Friday, December 10, 2010 { 0 Comment(s) }
Kit is the official taster in her class. Teachers rely on her to encourage other children in her group to try new foods. Once at the table, she will volunteer to try all new foods, be it asparagus, hummus or a varied version of cauliflower! Her teachers tell me that other children watch her as she tastes it and announces “I like it!” – this encourages other children to at least try and of course it encourages Kit to carry on experimenting even if some days it brings out “I don’t like it. Yuck! Disgusting!”
We all know that food always tastes nicer with friends so it does break my heart a bit when Kit comes home and says that she now loves cauliflower and I think of the endless moments spent trying to make cauliflower attractive... where did I go wrong? Never mind, at least she eats is somewhere! Same with asparagus – I got so excited when she said she loved it that I decided to steam it right the next day...Kat was eager to try it too. I order groceries online so sometimes portions are a surprise – I didn’t realise a bunch could have that many stems! Anyhow, determined to steam that, I served it all up and they did look pretty in their beautiful green glory but I guess the portion size scared the two girls!!
One look and Kit said: “I just tried one in class and I loved it – I can’t eat so much!!” My heart sank.
Now it was Kat’s turn: “Can I just try one first?” She did and she gave me that sideways secret look (the one she uses to show her dislike when Kit is eating). I died.
Will try another time – I promise!
It is wonderful to see Kit come home excitedly with a sticker that says – I tried a new food today and I loved it! Other days I need to jog her memory to remind her what she ate for lunch and she will describe a new food to me: “we ate something white sauce with carrots” so I know it is ranch dressing – FUN game!
Yesterday was classic. She was sitting on the potty when she called me “Mummy I tried something new for lunch today.” All smiles for me!
Me: “Really? How wonderful! What was it?”
Kit: “Something yellow orange, very sweet. I know – I ate antelope today!”
Me: “Antelope? That’s an animal. Did you eat cantaloupe?”
Kit: “I think so it was antelope” At this point she looks very serious and nods her head. She is convinced she ate one!
After much fruit recognition (it’s not easy to convince Kit) she is content to note that she ate cantaloupe. To change the subject I casually look at her lunch menu and say “Tomorrow you will eat chicken wings”.
Kit immediately gets up from the potty – “Why? Why are we eating chicken wings?”
OH DEAR...!
We all know that food always tastes nicer with friends so it does break my heart a bit when Kit comes home and says that she now loves cauliflower and I think of the endless moments spent trying to make cauliflower attractive... where did I go wrong? Never mind, at least she eats is somewhere! Same with asparagus – I got so excited when she said she loved it that I decided to steam it right the next day...Kat was eager to try it too. I order groceries online so sometimes portions are a surprise – I didn’t realise a bunch could have that many stems! Anyhow, determined to steam that, I served it all up and they did look pretty in their beautiful green glory but I guess the portion size scared the two girls!! One look and Kit said: “I just tried one in class and I loved it – I can’t eat so much!!” My heart sank.
Now it was Kat’s turn: “Can I just try one first?” She did and she gave me that sideways secret look (the one she uses to show her dislike when Kit is eating). I died.
Will try another time – I promise!
It is wonderful to see Kit come home excitedly with a sticker that says – I tried a new food today and I loved it! Other days I need to jog her memory to remind her what she ate for lunch and she will describe a new food to me: “we ate something white sauce with carrots” so I know it is ranch dressing – FUN game!
Yesterday was classic. She was sitting on the potty when she called me “Mummy I tried something new for lunch today.” All smiles for me!Me: “Really? How wonderful! What was it?”
Kit: “Something yellow orange, very sweet. I know – I ate antelope today!”
Me: “Antelope? That’s an animal. Did you eat cantaloupe?”
Kit: “I think so it was antelope” At this point she looks very serious and nods her head. She is convinced she ate one!
After much fruit recognition (it’s not easy to convince Kit) she is content to note that she ate cantaloupe. To change the subject I casually look at her lunch menu and say “Tomorrow you will eat chicken wings”.
Kit immediately gets up from the potty – “Why? Why are we eating chicken wings?”
OH DEAR...!
Posted By SLK on Friday, November 19, 2010 { 8 Comment(s) }
I am amazed that I have not written for over two weeks. In fact I am amazed that I have managed to get anything done except celebrate Kit’s birthday...YES! Pink cake, pink icing, pink everything...and Kit is now 4!
Such a long awaited, spreading over 2 weeks celebration finally ended with a grand finale this Sunday and Kit is already looking forward to her next one (I am aching from all the running around and of course belly hurts from all the yummy cake(s) – trying not to think about the endless miles on the treadmill!!)
There definitely is something magical about this age. The more I look at her, the more I want her to remain this age. The bond between the sisters is so tender now, especially because Kit is beyond the ‘find all, break all’ stage and Kat is so thankful for that!
This birthday was the first time when Kat shelled out her pocket money to buy gifts for Kit. It was spent on two Barbie movies (Barbie dolls not allowed here but movies are ok), an Ariel colouring book, a Pinkalicious book and a magic wand (this last one was actually our gift but Kat made it ‘her’ gift – cheeky!)
This 4th birthday was also the first time we did something totally different – we did a birthday colour coded Scavenger Hunt! It was so much FUN – we hid all of Kit’s presents and she spent the first hour finding them and the look on her face when she discovered them one after the other was priceless...she insists we do the same next year :- )
Kit’s school made her birthday extra special too. They celebrated a ‘Celebrate Me’ Week in school for her and every day was so special for Kit. She took something from home to share with her class for circle time. One day was the Tooth Fairy Box, then her first baby clothes and our holiday scrap book. I got to do healthy breakfast with the class one day followed by a favourite story...and a class project another day. So exciting it all was - It never ceases to amaze me how teachers can cope with 18 children all of the same inquisitive, always hyperactive minds of 3-4 year olds...it was hard enough to simply be a guest reader for precisely 5 minutes!!
Birthdays are so special for little ones – I still love to spoil them on theirs. I remember how I used to love mine and was so depressed on the evening of my birthday thinking it would be another year before the next one...It is so true – you do see your own childhood reflected in your children – they do make all the nice things last so much longer. God bless!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIT FROM ALL OF US!
Such a long awaited, spreading over 2 weeks celebration finally ended with a grand finale this Sunday and Kit is already looking forward to her next one (I am aching from all the running around and of course belly hurts from all the yummy cake(s) – trying not to think about the endless miles on the treadmill!!)
There definitely is something magical about this age. The more I look at her, the more I want her to remain this age. The bond between the sisters is so tender now, especially because Kit is beyond the ‘find all, break all’ stage and Kat is so thankful for that!
This birthday was the first time when Kat shelled out her pocket money to buy gifts for Kit. It was spent on two Barbie movies (Barbie dolls not allowed here but movies are ok), an Ariel colouring book, a Pinkalicious book and a magic wand (this last one was actually our gift but Kat made it ‘her’ gift – cheeky!)
This 4th birthday was also the first time we did something totally different – we did a birthday colour coded Scavenger Hunt! It was so much FUN – we hid all of Kit’s presents and she spent the first hour finding them and the look on her face when she discovered them one after the other was priceless...she insists we do the same next year :- )
Kit’s school made her birthday extra special too. They celebrated a ‘Celebrate Me’ Week in school for her and every day was so special for Kit. She took something from home to share with her class for circle time. One day was the Tooth Fairy Box, then her first baby clothes and our holiday scrap book. I got to do healthy breakfast with the class one day followed by a favourite story...and a class project another day. So exciting it all was - It never ceases to amaze me how teachers can cope with 18 children all of the same inquisitive, always hyperactive minds of 3-4 year olds...it was hard enough to simply be a guest reader for precisely 5 minutes!!
Birthdays are so special for little ones – I still love to spoil them on theirs. I remember how I used to love mine and was so depressed on the evening of my birthday thinking it would be another year before the next one...It is so true – you do see your own childhood reflected in your children – they do make all the nice things last so much longer. God bless!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIT FROM ALL OF US!
Tags:
birthday, celebration, growing up, love, school, sisters
Posted By SLK on Thursday, September 30, 2010 { 0 Comment(s) }
I have not been hibernating – school life with two kids has simply been too overwhelming. Right, there is no other way to put it - OVERWHELMED. I have just been here doing nothing outside the ordinary and Kit Kat have hopped from one activity to the other at school, Kit has learnt some amazing skills in her brand new class, there is no much energy in our house after school hours that I am simply basking in its love during the day…before more rushes in after school! I simply cannot keep up with their schedules during school hours and outside along with mine and am learning new skills I never knew I had!
Although dealing with Kat is always a pleasure as she’s that age where you can communicate like a friend and there is always a humour that is appreciated. It can also be a bit of ‘hitting your head against the wall’ situation when everything you say generates “I don’t care’ answer which drives me up the wall most days. Other days, I don’t care either...and then we make up and sorry etc – we’re ok – Kat is a nice girl just with her bad and good days – we both are learning and are working on finding the best way to communicate with each other! The good news (apart from that her hair is growing!) is that Kat is loving 5th grade so study/teacher wise she’s very happy for now which means a major precipitating fight factor is out of the way (phew!)
Kit has been a super duper STAR in school. She is having an unbelievable time. She is coming home with endless stories (dominated with detailed lunch menus) of the day, her teachers, her friends. She is slowly learning the art of best friends, sharing friends, not hurting feelings etc. It is such a joy to see her mouth phrases like “its ok if I play with her too? One person can have 2 friends, right?” or “she is my best friend but I play with xyz too.”
Of course, the highlight of the day is the round trip on the school bus – she is happy to be just like Kat!
Kit is learning to do (and even remembers to say!) collage and by the way we now have beaded necklaces hanging from almost every doorknob in the house...and she continues to make them every day! I get some work of art from school daily which we proudly hang all over the walls...
The next week at both their schools is so busy – we have Meet the Faculty evenings at different days and then there is an interesting Pajama Party at Kit’s school! We have to dress up in our Pajamas and go to Kit’s school and listen to stories and have cookies – siblings not allowed so Kat is not very happy (understandably)...
I better make sure I put the dates in the right order and don’t walk up to Kat’s school on Meet the Faculty evening in PJs, soft toy and slippers – so much for being overwhelmed…lets get cracking on getting this calendar and head right!
Although dealing with Kat is always a pleasure as she’s that age where you can communicate like a friend and there is always a humour that is appreciated. It can also be a bit of ‘hitting your head against the wall’ situation when everything you say generates “I don’t care’ answer which drives me up the wall most days. Other days, I don’t care either...and then we make up and sorry etc – we’re ok – Kat is a nice girl just with her bad and good days – we both are learning and are working on finding the best way to communicate with each other! The good news (apart from that her hair is growing!) is that Kat is loving 5th grade so study/teacher wise she’s very happy for now which means a major precipitating fight factor is out of the way (phew!)
Kit has been a super duper STAR in school. She is having an unbelievable time. She is coming home with endless stories (dominated with detailed lunch menus) of the day, her teachers, her friends. She is slowly learning the art of best friends, sharing friends, not hurting feelings etc. It is such a joy to see her mouth phrases like “its ok if I play with her too? One person can have 2 friends, right?” or “she is my best friend but I play with xyz too.” Of course, the highlight of the day is the round trip on the school bus – she is happy to be just like Kat!
Kit is learning to do (and even remembers to say!) collage and by the way we now have beaded necklaces hanging from almost every doorknob in the house...and she continues to make them every day! I get some work of art from school daily which we proudly hang all over the walls...The next week at both their schools is so busy – we have Meet the Faculty evenings at different days and then there is an interesting Pajama Party at Kit’s school! We have to dress up in our Pajamas and go to Kit’s school and listen to stories and have cookies – siblings not allowed so Kat is not very happy (understandably)...
I better make sure I put the dates in the right order and don’t walk up to Kat’s school on Meet the Faculty evening in PJs, soft toy and slippers – so much for being overwhelmed…lets get cracking on getting this calendar and head right!
Tags:
school
Posted By SLK on Thursday, September 23, 2010 { 4 Comment(s) }
With loads of dirty clothes, leg cramps from intensive rock climbing, over exhaustion and SO many wonderful memories and stars in her eyes – KAT IS BACK!
As a special treat, I went downstairs to pick her up after bus drop off (she’s normally a big girl but yesterday was a well deserved special treat) and the first thing I noticed was that she had grown taller (I mean is that really possible? only 2 nights?) Now I know why Grandma and Granddad mention this every time they see Kit Kat (and they get to see them every few months) and I look at the girls up and down wondering if they’ve really gained height? Apart from that, Kat looked so tired BUT happy. Her pink bag looked dirty pink now (I’m a mum – can’t help noticing these things at first glance, can I?) and everything that she could not fit inside was now outside in smaller bags like extra sneakers, medicines and so we both struggled upstairs with a bag filled with *sigh* dirty clothes, sleeping bag, backpack, three smaller bags (which were originally inside the pink bag) plus a bottle of Kat made Apple cider AND non stop chatter!
Kit had (yet another) beaded necklace as a welcome gift ready for Kat and after a few hugs and kisses later, the novelty of having Kat home was over for Kit. She could not understand what the fuss was about and was back to her books and dolls. Drama over!
Kat had an amazing time it seems – they made their own lunch, campfires. They also had ‘make your own pizza’ dinner one night. Kat was in charge of cleaning dishes for the group one mealtime so she was eager to show me her skills last night – very good, very impressed! Her apple cider was delicious... One thing Kat cannot stop talking about are the s’mores – they used to make them every night and she goes on and on about the roasted marshmallows and melted chocolate…followed by the astronomy lessons (a moonlight walk) and then lying on mats to look up at stars and talk about constellations – how cool is that?
Back to school today and then tennis after school – back to the grind – fun filled camp fire nights with flash light led walks back to the lodge are over - Kat wants s’more...
As a special treat, I went downstairs to pick her up after bus drop off (she’s normally a big girl but yesterday was a well deserved special treat) and the first thing I noticed was that she had grown taller (I mean is that really possible? only 2 nights?) Now I know why Grandma and Granddad mention this every time they see Kit Kat (and they get to see them every few months) and I look at the girls up and down wondering if they’ve really gained height? Apart from that, Kat looked so tired BUT happy. Her pink bag looked dirty pink now (I’m a mum – can’t help noticing these things at first glance, can I?) and everything that she could not fit inside was now outside in smaller bags like extra sneakers, medicines and so we both struggled upstairs with a bag filled with *sigh* dirty clothes, sleeping bag, backpack, three smaller bags (which were originally inside the pink bag) plus a bottle of Kat made Apple cider AND non stop chatter!Kit had (yet another) beaded necklace as a welcome gift ready for Kat and after a few hugs and kisses later, the novelty of having Kat home was over for Kit. She could not understand what the fuss was about and was back to her books and dolls. Drama over!
Kat had an amazing time it seems – they made their own lunch, campfires. They also had ‘make your own pizza’ dinner one night. Kat was in charge of cleaning dishes for the group one mealtime so she was eager to show me her skills last night – very good, very impressed! Her apple cider was delicious... One thing Kat cannot stop talking about are the s’mores – they used to make them every night and she goes on and on about the roasted marshmallows and melted chocolate…followed by the astronomy lessons (a moonlight walk) and then lying on mats to look up at stars and talk about constellations – how cool is that?Back to school today and then tennis after school – back to the grind – fun filled camp fire nights with flash light led walks back to the lodge are over - Kat wants s’more...
Tags:
growing up, school
Posted By SLK on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 { 2 Comment(s) }
Starting Kumon was a big adventure for Kit – of course anything that Kat does and Kit gets to copy is always an achievement. The difference of years is never really an issue with her. There's always a shortcut to everything!
It was a bit of a setback when Kit realised that her Maths sheets in Kumon involved counting big red dots instead of numbers (like Kat) when she got them for the first time a few months ago – however, the situation has now changed – she wishes those dots would come back once more! Yes, Kumon is wonderful for children at this early age and it has been a tried and tested formula in our home for Kat (she needs the repetition) but Kit is finding the new sums a bit of a challenge at the moment.
Every time I sit down with her, she will start looking outside the window instead of looking at the sheets. Exasperated, I will ask, “Kit, why are you so interested in looking at the world?” To this question, Kit will (painfully slowly), unglue her eyes from the window and look at me and say, “Because, I don’t know much about the world, that’s why mummy. I want to know more about it, that’s why I look at it.”
Me: “When you go to school, will you look outside the window even then?”
Kit: “No, I will go to school to play. Then I don’t want to see the world.”
Basically, this interaction means that the current set of Kumon operations are little bit challenging and Kit is finding ways to avoid them. Any kind of work that takes time at this age usually means either too boring or over head transmission. In her case, it is bit of both as when I really get upset, all answers come pouring out of the brain like magic and work gets done unbelievably quickly! Just like that.
Right now, it’s a wait and watch game – where she sees the world from our apartment window and I watch her till she’s done with it…this transition from dots to numbers to sums IS a challenge. Kat did it and so will Kit. All in good time I tell myself. All in good time...
It was a bit of a setback when Kit realised that her Maths sheets in Kumon involved counting big red dots instead of numbers (like Kat) when she got them for the first time a few months ago – however, the situation has now changed – she wishes those dots would come back once more! Yes, Kumon is wonderful for children at this early age and it has been a tried and tested formula in our home for Kat (she needs the repetition) but Kit is finding the new sums a bit of a challenge at the moment.
Every time I sit down with her, she will start looking outside the window instead of looking at the sheets. Exasperated, I will ask, “Kit, why are you so interested in looking at the world?” To this question, Kit will (painfully slowly), unglue her eyes from the window and look at me and say, “Because, I don’t know much about the world, that’s why mummy. I want to know more about it, that’s why I look at it.”Me: “When you go to school, will you look outside the window even then?”
Kit: “No, I will go to school to play. Then I don’t want to see the world.”
Basically, this interaction means that the current set of Kumon operations are little bit challenging and Kit is finding ways to avoid them. Any kind of work that takes time at this age usually means either too boring or over head transmission. In her case, it is bit of both as when I really get upset, all answers come pouring out of the brain like magic and work gets done unbelievably quickly! Just like that.
Right now, it’s a wait and watch game – where she sees the world from our apartment window and I watch her till she’s done with it…this transition from dots to numbers to sums IS a challenge. Kat did it and so will Kit. All in good time I tell myself. All in good time...