New flag designs

Charlie woke up this morning to reveal he had Chicken Pox! Yipppee!
I envisaged a day(or several) of playing board games, sitting and distracting him while dabbing on baking soda paste….

But after  leaving him with his drawing pad and felts I returned to find him designing a new NZ  flag.  He has continued, all day now on to his 4th design.

There has been some discussion, in the media and around the dinner table, as there often is when an election is coming up about a new flag….

Design 1: Kiwi, Silver Fern, Southern Cross

Design 2 : No Kiwi….

Design 3: Still the Southern Cross with Silver Ferms

 

 

Mmmm, the fourth design is looking interesting too…different….

A big part of this has been a chart accompanying each design and everyone who has been here today has been asked to tick a like/dislike column and add comments and ideas.
Even in the spotty and scratchy space he is in, his imagination is on fire.  He has just had a fever for 2 days prior and this is a common thing to come out of a fever bursting with new ideas.

Very exciting and, handily destracting too….

 

 

 

 

 

Ollie being trying

 

Ollie has just completed the Weetbix triathalon, an old hand now!  He was so confident and gave his all, enjoying it so much.

He has been swimming 4 times a week as a squad member and really enjoying, pushing himself while getting fit.
Always so proud as a parent to watch him growing up, becoming so confident and  so passionate about what he is doing.

 

Thanks Ollie!

 

 

 

 

A dream 9 years in the making….

As our year unfurls its new rhythm Ollie has been able to realise a long held dream.  
At age 4 he became interested in the Army and has collected army gear to rival that of any quartermaster since.  Our dress-up box bristles with real NZ Army uniforms, he has bits of uniform from other countries, gear, kit, camo designed paraphenalia.  His herosl have one thing in common…they are all ex-SAS!
Even though his passion has meandered into off-shoots, up tributaries and back  as he has explored survival, bushcraft, disaster preparedness, first aid and politics there has always been the Army.  
He once said to me “Mum it is my dream to have an army to command.”  And so he would organise 5 or 6 friends into an army.

Now at 13yrs he is at last eligible to join Army Cadets!  Yeeehaaa!!

 

Today he was very excited about polishing his newly issued boots.  Which he did well.

What joy it brings me as a parent to have him tell me
-“Mum, I am so happy.”

 

The puppy bubble….

This is where I have been.
It is strongly reminiscent of having a baby.  Like being in a bubble, a baby bubble.
I have been locked  in self imposed exile – a puppy bubble – for weeks.

A delightful, cuddly, well loved bubble, but my own mini world of walkies, training, sleeping patterns, feeding…..

 

And in such a short time I have been initiated into the world of dog owners.  It happened this morning when I was greeted by other dog walkers who then greeted Benji…by name!  And so it happened, I am now known by my dog.  Just when I was starting to get myself back from being someones Mum I have now become Benji’s person.
I frighteningly think I am a ‘type’ –  I am a mother of a certain age who  gets a dog as my youngest  hits double figures and seems to sit less and less on my lap, weighing more each time.

There are a few of us out there I am beginning to realise.

Still, a friend the other day reminded me how dogs and owners do seem to resemble each other.  So as I gaze lovingly into Benji’s eyes and fondle his soft ears I feel better about myself as he is an exceedingly good looking dog.

 

Letting go of those judgements and trusting…

I heard a homeschooling parent say that they don’t mind what their child does as long as it is “productive” or  looks industrious.

This is no different to school.
 In school, adults in positions of power (Government ‘experts’) have decreed what is acceptable for a child to be learning.  

As an unschooler I have learnt the biggest lesson is to trust our kids.  When, to me, it may look as though they are “wasting time” or being unproductive I have learnt to trust that they are doing what is right for them at that time.

They have always reminded me of this over the years and I may be a slow learner myself, but I hope I have got a handle on it now.

In this way unschooling is like life.  Accepting and trusting that others are doing what they need to do on their own journey through life.  There is great freedom is letting go of judgements and accepting others. We each of us are on our own journey and there is no one else that can tell what you should be doing, for they do not know where you are down that path.

I like it that our education philosophy has parallels in real life and the big picture.

 

Other creative stuff our kids like to do….

Ollie, Tilly and another friend decided to do a surprise treasure hunt type thing for Charlie, Henry and Walker.  They set up notes, codes, “clues” and then surprised the three boys, telling them they had to do a spy mission.  Unfortunately it was pouring with rain when they set out….

But they managed to collect everything and returned soaked to the skin!

They put together clues, got dried and then were hijacked, blindfolded etc and thown into the car.  I had to drive around to confuse them before depositing them at their next stop!

 

They did end up at the pool though and had a big swim.

The boys loved it as much as the older kids enjoyed making it all up I think…..

Meet Benji!

OH yes!  We have our new dog.  Benji is just 14 weeks old, his mum is a very gorgeous pure bred Beagle, his Dad a holiday romance of unknown breed (I am thinking Huntaway, he has big feet!)  This has been a dream of Charlie’s for a long time, so very exciting that finally after travelling, getting settled, getting a fence built and finding the right dog Benji is now part of our family. It feels like a big learning curve having a puppy!  But wow!  what love and cuddles already….. His favourite toy has been a lion dress-up mask, which he pulls into his bed to sleep with…mmm…may have to change that! We have been lucky to have Pilot staying with us this week, a friend’s wise old Jack Russel who has been invaluable in helping Benji settle in.  He will really miss him next week.  It has been so funny seeing Benji watch and copy Pilot, who has been extremely patient and long suffering.  We have managed to sneak him out for some decent walks though as a thanks for  all he has done!

Jamboree dreaming

Ollie has returned from 10 days of heaven on earth.  What an amazing time he has had at NZ’s 20th Jamboree, luckily for us just in the next town.

 

The “Palmy Panthers” had a great camp set up when we visited for a day.

 

The entrance to their camp was really rustic.  There were some incredible gateways to been seen wandering around.  I liked their homemade, lashed gate with turnstile.

 

 

There was such a lovely laid back vibe about the camp, so much fun, so much comraderie, wild activites plus down time and badge swapping galore for Ollie!

 

Nearly 4000 scouts setting a world record for the most people wearing paper hats at one time!

 

They had the huge staduim that they used each evening for  events – party at New Years, circus, movie, opening ceremony etc.

 

 

Followed by a massive water fight with coloured water and fire engines!

Ollie has self diagnosed PJD – post Jamboree depression and has spent the last few days organising and now sewing badges on to his campfire blanket – he has 164!

 

 

He has returned walking taller and seems older somehow.  Here is a cool Australia shirt he swapped with one of his many new friends.  Ollie was just on a high the whole time, he really was.

Scouts is such a big passion for Ollie. I really loved to see him just buzzing, being a great leader, making friends and living like family with a huge bunch of like minded teens for ten days.  It was such a dream he really did not want it to end.  I totally understand that feeling.

Next stop World Jamboree, Japan 2015….

 

 

A decade date

One of the things we do with our kids is when they turn ten years old they choose a date with both of us.  Then at 13 yrs it is a weekend away, just mum, dad and them, their choice of destination/activity…

So as Charlie turns 10 this weekend (!!) we have been organised and been out already, with Ollie away at Jamboree it seemed like  a good time…

We have had one part of the date…that is a movie….

 

Then dinner out…

 

There is also a part that involves a dog, the beach and a sunset…just waiting fot the weather gods to work with us on this and some dog training…

Amazing that my youngest is in double figures. What a ten years, and now he is all growing up.

Meet Benji

It has been a dream for ages of Charlie’ to own a dog, so very exciting to now have Benji as part of our family! Plenty of lovin’ going on and a huge learning curve too.