My Little Licorice Twist

Looks like Saqqara has had such a hard day.

The Rhythm Of The Hook

I received this poem about crochet the other day via email from the Knit4charities group I belong to. Just had to share it

The rhythm of the hook
As it moves the yearn around
Calls to me in whispers
A sweet familiar sound

My hand moves almost dreamlike
Without a thought or care
As I fashion something new
for someone cold to wear

Perhaps a scarf or cap
Maybe a blanket too
With each and ever stitch
I think of more to do

So when the cold wind blows
My yarn helps me to remember
Forgotten people all around
I am the one who's blessed

As my warm has stitch away
I pray the rhythm of my hook
Will help someone
In some small way.

Surprise Kitty

This is too cute not to share

Educating the New Leadership Team

I got a phone call from Brodie's High School this morning from the new librarian, she's the one in control of first aid & sick kids at school, stating that he wasn't feeling well & she wondered what she should do about it. So I let her know that Brodie is a little bit of a hypochondriac, well maybe that's not the right term to use, and that he is ultra sensitive to pain. I spoke with him briefly stating that if he still felt the same way at the end of recess time to let me know and I'll come collect him.
Sure enough 30 minutes later I received another phone call.

I had a brief chat with one of Brodie's aides. She told me that he didn't seem to be coping so well with all of the changes at the school. There is a new Acting Principal (P), Assistant Principal (AP) & three new teachers. This made me wonder if that was the reason for his not feeling terribly well today.

Last night Brodie told me that he had to see the principal this morning because he was very loud while waiting for the school bus to arrive for the school run home. If anyone truly knew my boy, they would know that there is NO real volume control for this kid. He is quiet while sleeping but when he is awake he is either loud or louder.

I explained this to his aide and said that may have been one of the reasons he didn't feel well. I can't say that he was foxing or anything because he did have a snooze when we got home.

On the drive home Brodie & I got to have a bit of a chat. He said that the new Principal & Assistant Principal were making a lot of changes at the school & he didn't like it. What kid truly likes change but what Aspie kid likes change. None that I know of. He also stated that with all the changes at school it now makes him feel uncomfortable & he doesn't really want to go any more.
Not only did he lose an AP he liked & knew well, the regular P is on long service leave but his favourite aide retired at the end of last year. Brodie misses him terribly. These three people understood him. They got to know where he was at. They knew how to calm him down if needed. They helped him adapt. Thank goodness the teacher who works with all the special needs kids is the same person. I am so grateful that she hasn't gone anywhere.

Brodie is a senior now. Although he loves the things that come with it like the white shirts he can wear, the VCE jumpers, sitting at the back of the bus. All the things that let the other kids know he's a senior. He is however not so sure about the workload that comes along with it. He understands that its a lot harder for him now. That more is expected of him & that he can't have too many days off or he will get too far behind to catch up. I am so proud of him today for talking with his teachers so that he could get some work.

I am worried that it will become too difficult for him, that he may have a meltdown because of the extra stress placed on him. I am also worried about the new leadership team who know absolutely nothing about him. I have visions of them trying to make him fit into a round hole when he is actually a square peg. Just like that teacher back in Year 7 & 8 tried.

I totally understand that as a new leadership team they have to place their mark on the school. That all the students need to know what is expected of them. That they have their own boundaries to set & programs to implement. I'm just concerned knowing how Brodie behaves in new & strange situations that they wont be as understanding if he implodes/explodes unless they truly know him & the struggles we've had to get him where he is today. And the leaps & bounds he has made in the last two years.

So, I have decided that I am going to make a phone call to the school & arrange a time to meet the new 'team'. To let them know how concerned I am & that he isn't like all the other kids.

Oh dear. I just read the school newsletter (thankfully I get it emailed to me) and found out that our 'regular' principal will not be returning at the end of the first semester like we believed he would. I am so sad to see him go. Brodie adored him & I thought he was pretty 'cool' myself.

Now I definitely have to go to the school to educate the New Leadership Team if I want Brodie to feel comfortable about the rest of his schooling.

School's Back!

Okay I survived the summer school holidays. The boys went back to school on Monday. They aren't complaining too much about school & they have both quite happily sat down after school to do their homework. I am beginning to wonder how long that will last though.

It's Australia Day

I learnt something new today about our National Anthem. I knew there were three verses but I found out that there are actually 5 verses. It seems odd though that we were never taught them all in school. Although I guess if you read the verses perhaps you can see why they only seem to teach verses 1 & 3. It's almost like we are trying to distance ourselves from the UK and our convict past.

Verse 1
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Verse 2
When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore.
Then here he raised Old England's flag,
The standard of the brave;
With all her faults we love her still,
"Brittannia rules the wave!"
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Verse 3
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Verse 4
While other nations of the globe
Behold us from afar,
We'll rise to high renown and shine
Like our glorious southern star;
From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,
Who come our lot to share,
Let all combine with heart and hand
To advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Verse 5
Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore
To guard our native strand;
Brittannia then shall surely know,
Beyond wide ocean's roll,
Her sons in fair Australia's land
Still keep a British soul.
In joyful strains the let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

A Little Peeved

I'm just a bit peeved at the moment. I probably shouldn't be but I am. You see I was expecting a Brodie free weekend with him attending a Stake Young Men's Camp with all the Young Men from Church attending. I thought that he was looking forward to going & having loads of fun with everyone there. He knows quite a lot of the kids from when he's gone on other camps with them.

Brodie informed me a short time ago, when I asked him if he had finished packing, that he was NOT going. He couldn't even give me a valid reason as to why he doesn't want to attend. I've got this feeling that he really should go but I don't want to push him and make him do it. I know that there is a real possibility that it could backfire big time and he would lash out at us.

I went and spoke with Mark telling him of Brodie's decision & what I had said to Brodie about his not going. I fully expected Brodie to say that he would rather attend camp when I told him his options. His options were A) to attend the YM camp or B) complete reading his English novel and complete the 3 pages of tasks that he has had ALL holidays (5 weeks so far) to do by Tuesday morning.

Now what kid would honestly choose to do the work?? It seems that Brodie would.
Oh and the other thing that I thought would change his mind .. NO laptop until all of the English work is done!! I told him that the laptop would go into my room until the work is complete.

I guess I made some sort of incentive to get the work done. Brodie is now out of the bedroom (where he has been hibernating since his laptop got fixed) he is OFF the laptop and is actually answering the questions for his assignment. Although he is getting distracted by the TV & the news. At least he is getting the work done & he really only has 1 week left to finish it. School goes back on Feb 1st.