Category: Kids
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On yer bike! (Your voice matters)
Last week we had the local cycling group at the school offering free bikes and training to families.
We’d love free bikes, of course.
Two problems for me, though:
- There’s nowhere safe and secure to keep them.
- The roads and drivers around here are downright dangerous, and no dedicated cycle lanes.
I couldn’t help myself imparting this information in no uncertain terms to the two smiley elderly ladies handing out the marketing leaflets.
Afterwards, big kid gave me some feedback.
“Dad, when you shout it makes me want to freeze out of fear.”
Me: “Oh no, sorry, did I shout at those ladies?”
“No, you didn’t shout at them. You used your political voice. Your political voice makes me want to listen.”
Cleaning up
Big kid has been on lunch monitor duty at school for the past couple weeks. He enjoys making sure his little bro is all right, and, it turns out, cleaning up all the mess the little kids make. So much so that the headteacher commended him for his efforts.
Yesterday, on the drive to somewhere near enough to school for them to scoot in from, big kid announced:
“Dad, when I’m older, I’m going to clean up this town!”
I said it’s a big job and suggested he might want to think about starting now, and starting with the streets around the school with some of his friends. Fortunately, there’s a local group who already do just that.
It would be good to get started when the school street starts next month.
Too good to be true
This week at school my proud Digital Leader presented a school assembly on the dangers of the internet, and in particular too-good-too-be true offers.
Last night I got a notification that he’d spent £8.99 on his Kobo, using his £2 a week pocket money account. Which was odd as I could have sworn he was in bed with his kid brother watching space videos at that moment.
A quick investigation found that last month he’d subscribed to a free trial of “READ EVERYTHING YOU WANT!!!” Kobo Plus, and his trial has ended.
We had a little talk and, suitably humbled, I reimbursed his £8.99.
Kids are enjoying scooting into school in the mornings.
I’m like some retired secret service security detail chasing after them shouting “SLOW DOWN!” and “IT’S NOT A RACE!” and (to the big one) “LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER BEFORE YOU CROSS THE ROAD!” and “NOT THAT SHOULDER!” and (to the little one) “MIND THAT OLD LADY!” and “USE YOUR BRAKE!” and (to myself) “AAARRRGGGHHH!!!”
All in a day's housework
Busy day so far.
New school street comes into effect next month, so to prepare this morning we parked away from the school and the kids scooted in with me chasing after them on my flat feet.
Need to teach little kid how to use his brake.
Had to pop into the school office to ask for a parents’ evening form.
Went to Tesco to buy the items that Waitrose couldn’t deliver later.
No time for breakfast, instead peeled, chopped and boiled spuds, chopped and fried onions with lentils, prepared carrots and leeks for honey-roasting, cut broccoli florets for steaming, mashed potatoes and spooned on to onions and lentils mixed with gravy and HP sauce in a baking dish, grated Red Leicester to go on top.
Emptied our general waste bin, wet and dry recycling bins, and the food bin.
Unblocked the kitchen sink with the plunger.
Put my laundry away.
Washed up.
Put the groceries away.
Time for a late brunch.
Little kid, arising from his potty:
“Dad, take the wee in the potty and put it in the toilet.”
Talk about taking the pee!
‘Find someone your base already dislikes. Attack them. Make it personal. Make it cruel. Make it loud. Then monetize the outrage- both from your supporters who love the show and your opponents who can’t look away.’
The Cruelty Market joanwestenberg.com
