A Grumpy Day In The Dixon Household!

A messy day today. Kids have been feral.

It started at around 6am (yes they were ALL up at that time) when Miss 8 felt slighted about something Miss 6 & Master 4 had done to her so proceeded to tell the WHOLE neighbourhood about it, at the top of her voice. She has a really, really good set of lungs on her.

Then...

When I take the kids out in public (usually the shops because that's where they turn feral) I have a system. They are warned before we set foot inside a shop. If they behave and I don't have to tell any of them off - they get a bribe, er treat. If I have to tell them off they get nothing. Miss 6 had the hugest tantrum at the shops this morning so no bribe, er treat for her afterwards. And you should have heard the commotion. I think every person that walked past us was positive that I had cut her arm off with a blunt pair of scissors!

And it got much worse when her sister  got the bribe, er treat, and she didn't. The commotion became a full on angry scream. There goes the other arm  . Master 4 missed out too because he and his sister just can't help themselves, but he's learnt very quickly to take his punishment like a man. He was ok with no donut (well, he probably wasn't but he say where things were headed with Miss 6 so he didn't make a peep).

Have had  a pretty quiet morning after all of that. Miss 6 has been in her bedroom since we got home. It's kinda peaceful too.

Might be time for me to have a wee nana nap tho. These early starts are killing me

Thanks

Have just discovered this absolutely gorgeous little blog/website.


The author, Leah, writes thank you notes that are just great. Have a look at them here ThxThxThx.

So I thought I would try to do one every day, or maybe it will be every week but I'm going to give it my best shot.

 

Girl Guides

Last week Miss 8 & Miss 6 joined the Girl Guides.

It was something I never did as a child. In fact I only know of 1 person when we were growing up, that was involved with the Guides movement - and she really didn't do an awful lot to make it appealing!

So off we went, for a trial run, to see if they (or I) would like it. I don't really know an awful lot about the Guides but it looks like I'm going to learn pretty quickly.

They both loved it.

The first time was so funny, I wished I had my video camera with me.

They all got in a circle and said their thing they say at the beginning. I didn't get many of the words (because they were saying it super quickly) but I'm sure we'll get some sort of print out so the girls can recite it too.

Miss 6 spent the entire recitation trying to decide which fingers to hold up, and on which hand. By the time she had the same hand and the same amount of fingers up in the air everyone was leaving!

Miss 8 had the right fingers, on the right hand up immediately, and was pretty determined to say what everyone else was saying. Only she didn't know the words. So she sounded EXACTLY like Mr Bean in the episode where he goes to church and the only words he knew to the hymn was Hallelujah. Every few words she would say something very loudly just so everyone knew she was saying something.

This week we went to the Armadale Reptile Centre which we've been to before. It's a great place to go. The kids love being able to check out all the snakes, see the wombats, talk to the 'roos, gawk at the dingoes and run away from the wedgetailed eagle.

The bit that they all love the most is when they bring out one of the pythons. We've been there before and they've let it slither around on the grass, although they didn't do that this time (Thank GOD).

I understand the reasoning behind bringing the python out. I also understand the best way to get over any fears is to face them, even pat them. But I left that one to the kids. There is no real reason I can see that I would ever need to pat a snake. I have a dog for that

The Sandman Panel Van!

 I was driving on the freeway this morning and in front of me was a Sandman Panel Van.

I didn't even know these machines still existed. I thought they had been relegated to car museums, but how wrong I was.

And how many memories this car bought back to me. In fact, I was so busy reminiscing about the "good old days" I missed my exit and had to turn around and double back

I didn't spend an awful lot of time in a Sandman (my dad would have killed me if he had've found me in the back of one of them), but I was around enough of them to appreciate them. Many "do you remember the time" stories involved someone in a panel van. 

There were many names for this car as well. Do you remember the "Sin Bin" or the "Shaggin Wagon"? There was also another name for it too (I'm not mentioning it here) that had the word truck in it.

Geez I'm glad they aren't around anymore. I have 2 daughters who would probably love to go for a ride in one, and a son who would give his 4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for a ride in the back. I mean, how many cars are there that come with a mattress in the back?

Now that I think of it - I would be really happy if the car craze at the time of my kids being teenagers is more like this 

Why Do I Have To Be Different?

I took Miss 8 to her therapy yesterday afternoon. She goes every Tuesday with 3 other kids the same age as her. They all have Cerebral Palsy and they are all affected slightly differently. They've been doing this since they were very little and are all pretty good mates.

When we turned up yesterday, little Miss M was getting out of the car in tears. I asked her mum what was wrong, as Miss M (as can Miss 8) can turn on the waterworks sometimes. Miss M has had enough of having Cerebral Palsy. She's had enough of having to wear splints. She's had enough of having to have Botox injections every 6 months (and so has her mum, and me too for that fact). She's had enough of having to wear a helmet at school because her balance isn't very good and she falls over a bit. She's very angry at God because he's made her this way. She's had enough of being different.

Oh that poor, poor little girl. I was just about in tears, as was her mum.

But we both did what we had to do and told her that being different was ok. 

That if we were all the same how boring life would be. That the reason she is who she is, is because she's different. She wouldn't be Miss M if she was any other way. That there were worse things in life - she might not be able to see, or walk, or talk, or she might be allergic to icecream (I was trying hard for laughs here).

It's just crap!

It's horrible to have to try and get an 8 year old girl to feel ok about herself when it can be such a struggle. And I know she was looking for backup. I know she just wanted someone to say "Yes it is crap, and it's horrible, and we wish you weren't affected by this condition", but we can't say that.

I have no idea how long it's going to be before I have this conversation with Miss 8. She seems to be oblivious (usually) to the differences between her and her normal-bodied friends. She does have her frustrations and can have moments of pure anger, but I tend to let her have them when she needs to. It seems to be an outlet for her and I think it's healthier to let her have a tantrum (in her bedroom of course, we don't need to be hearing it) than to bottle it all up.

I didnt' get a chance to talk to the therapist after they'd finished yesterday. They are all at the age now where they can start discussing these sorts of things, so I really want to know how they are all taking Miss M's realisations. Will Miss 8 start asking questions? Will she have a breakdown or will she just take it in her stride? 

It's just really, really crap.

Master 4 And His Aunty!

Watching a movie last night and a conversation starts up between Miss 6 & her father.

Himself - "Do you like my scratchy face?"

Miss 6 - "No, it's too scratchy. You look like an Uncle."

Himself - "What does that mean? Do you have to have a beard to be an Uncle?"

Miss 6 - "Well yes, Uncle D has a beard and he's an uncle."

Me - "Yes, but the other Uncle D doesn't have a beard and he's an uncle."

Master 4 - "Yes, but only Aunty's have beards."

Unsure as to which Aunty he may be referring too????

What Can You See In The Picture?

You  saw a couple in an intimate pose, right??

Interestingly,  research has shown that young children cannot identify  the intimate couple
because  they do not have prior memory associated with such a  scenario.?

What they  will see, however, is the nine dolphins in the  picture!?

So, I guess we've  already proven you're not a young innocent child.. Now,  if it's hard for you to find  the dolphins within 6 seconds, your mind is SO corrupted  that you probably need help!?

OK, here's  help: look at the space between her right arm and her  head, the tail is on her neck, follow it up. Look at her  left hip, follow the shaded part down, it's another one,  and on his shoulder..?

OH, S U R E  , you see them NOW!!!!!!!?? 

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I received this email from a friend a few minutes ago. I, of course saw the dolphins straight away (?).

I asked Miss 6 to come and have a look. To tell me what she saw in the picture.

Can you guess what she saw?

Bet you can't!!!!

A monkey man with 4 arms and legs.

How does this work if she's got no prior knowledge of a monkey man with 4 arms & legs?

Or maybe she has......