I have thrown together a “birthday party” of sorts for DD1 this afternoon. Basically all of the same kids that have been running together all summer, doing the same things they have been doing all summer, plus pizza and cupcakes. Our pool is still open and it’s unseasonably warm here, so I imagine there will be swimming.
Tomorrow DD2 has soccer at noon, then a play date. And then... nothing!!! Thank you Jesus...
FRIDAY! Finally! I thought it would never come! We have fall break next week, so we have a beach vacation planned and all of us our so ready for it. We have soccer tomorrow and some friends coming over in the afternoon. Sunday we'll pack, catch the beginning of the 49er game, and then head out. My mind is already on vacation. Shhh.. don't tell work.
Post by twinmomma on Sept 25, 2020 11:12:26 GMT -5
Tonight I'm attempting to make a gluten free, vegan apple pie with three kids. I full expect it to be a total disaster, both in terms of taste and process, but it should be fun anyway. And it'll use up some of the ridiculous amount of apples I have from apple picking last weekend. I'm allergic to apples, but when the kids went apple picking with my ex in laws, they still brought me this giant bag of them. Apple sauce is probably in our future too so I can freeze it.
Thank god it is Friday and we are done with school for the weekend. DD overslept this morning and so did I. She woke up 15 minutes before class started. They have gone over the same thing every day and have re-learned all the social skill stuff they do at least 3 times a year. DD is totally over school and just wants to start learning so we started adding to it yesterday afternoon. They just found out they will start math on Monday. DD asked what math review of number bonds which they learned in 1st grade she is in 4th.
Weekend is full of odd jobs. Clean up more ash from the fires, go to the dump, laundry, grocery shop, and if the weather cooperates I'm hoping to go for a walk. Right now it looks like it wants to storm and is super windy (fingers cross another fire doesn't start).
Post by sandandsea on Sept 25, 2020 11:56:15 GMT -5
Thank goodness. I’m exhausted. Dh and DS have a race this weekend so we will be OoT and I bought tons of food to BBQ at the track Sat night so that should be fun.
We also are looking into private schools and tutoring options to get DS1 ahead so he can pass the entrance exam at the private school DS2 goes to. I have zero faith in our school district and they seem to think distance learning is going great yet I see that DS is getting the bare minimum and has 200 less instructional minutes a week than previous years. It seems that the district/union is pushing for nothing in person until a vaccine or the disease is eradicated.
Post by twinmomma on Sept 25, 2020 11:59:37 GMT -5
Well, all our plans are off the table. DD1 felt warm when I gave her lunch, so I took her temp and she's got a fever. So now I'm waiting on a virtual visit with our PCP this afternoon to figure out what to do next, since the rapid test came back negative yesterday but she's getting worse today with a fever and stuffier nose.
Post by librarychica on Sept 25, 2020 12:30:31 GMT -5
I’m feeling rough today. Not great sleep a couple nights in a row, nagging headache, blah.
It’s my day off to school. Little is done, big almost is. We enjoyed a few days of lovely weather in the 80s but of course I am off today so it’s supposed to be another 11 degrees hotter. Yuck.
Anyway, enough whining. I am so round of my 5yo’s reading. She is blossoming academically at home even if she is struggling with the isolation. I also learned that a few farms I know of in driving distance are having fall festivals where they’re limiting attendance with reservations. So I’m glad to hear that. We will have something to do! This weekend is hot though so early morning scootering and hiking tomorrow and maybe swimming at my parents’ Sunday. Chores, oil change, etc.
sandandsea - I attended a virtual q&a session for a private school here, and they’ve announced that they are going test-optional this year. So before killing yourself finding a tutor, you may want to confirm.
sandandsea - I attended a virtual q&a session for a private school here, and they’ve announced that they are going test-optional this year. So before killing yourself finding a tutor, you may want to confirm.
Yes, we intend to follow up. He was in their summer program and the private school is at least a year ahead of public so he took the test this summer but didn’t pass and they suggested tutoring and taking it again for January admission. For example they are diagramming sentences and doing 4 digit multiplication and division at the end of second grade and ds hasn’t learned that yet in public 3rd grade.
Today is my work from home day. Which consists mostly of getting ready for DD to go hybrid and DS to continue e-learning. Both have major changes. New teacher for continuing e-learning and totally new schedule.
DD has the same teacher but on non-hybrid days she only has 1 meeting and the rest is asynchronous. She wanted to go and see her teacher and part of me wants to separate them, but she has to take so much back and forth with her. And it would be nice if they had a teacher for the hybrid at home days. I realize that would take another teacher, but I know they were looking to hire 2-3 subs so I think they could make that work, but then again probably they would need one for each grade.
No great decisions here. But I am happy to send her on the school bus. BYE BYE
Post by soccermama on Sept 25, 2020 14:56:05 GMT -5
waverly, I'm so ready to wave BUH BYE to my kids on the school bus- if that ever happens, bwhahhahaha. Ugh. I think our county is going to announce at least sending K-2nd back (so DS can go) and I guess slowly phasing everyone else back in. I am here for all of that!
I'm also WFH today, which means its super hard to concentrate. I need to push through & finish a few things. Our n'hood is having collective garage sale tomorrow, we have a ton of stuff to sale so I hope we get a good turnout!
I think the only way our district goes back this academic year is a vaccine, a lawsuit, or conspiracy theorists being right and the election changing things.
I think the only way our district goes back this academic year is a vaccine, a lawsuit, or conspiracy theorists being right and the election changing things.
waverly we’re back hybrid and our non in person days also just have a class meeting and then asynchronous stuff. But we weren’t getting much beyond a class meeting on virtual learning days before we went back, either. Luckily the teacher we hired can come up some of her own instruction.
We’re putting a fancy prefab shed (a ‘Studio Shed’) on our backyard hill for DH to use as his office, so our contractor came by to discuss plans this evening. Currently DH is working from the garage, which is not great, and we’re now a family of six with two WFH adults in 2100 square feet, so we need some extra flexible space long-term. I’m excited. DH didn’t want to spend any $ since his comp is down, but I just received a bonus, and my partnership distribution is coming through soon (after being suspended temporarily due to covid uncertainty) so I convinced him that we can afford it.
Tomorrow we’re having a babysitter for the first time in months. Technically two babysitters - this will be the first time we’ve left all four kids so I suggested that the babysitter bring a friend. She’s the babysitter for another family in our school pod which should reduce overall exposure possibilities. I’m excited but also a little nervous that the kids will freak out about having a babysitter after so long and might act up. I made a reservation for us to eat outside at a restaurant on the beach.
The big kids are also going to the skate park ‘camp’ - essentially just a 3-hour reservation both mornings since they need a stable group - from 9-12 both days at the YMCA. They’re a bit obsessed with skateboarding.
So should be a good weekend. Crossing my fingers the baby and toddler let me get some good sleep - that would make it perfect.
I think the only way our district goes back this academic year is a vaccine, a lawsuit, or conspiracy theorists being right and the election changing things.
Is your governor up for election?
I honestly don’t know. Our governor says our district could already be back in person though, so I don’t think that plays into it.
Post by mustardseed2007 on Sept 26, 2020 16:05:09 GMT -5
We just got back from an outdoor playdate at a park.
Tomorrow DD and DS are each having a friend over. However it's drop off playdates and they tend to really keep each other occupied so it should be relaxing.
Then in the early evening DS is also going to a drive through third grade bible pick up at church.
Post by twinmomma on Sept 26, 2020 19:16:38 GMT -5
I think I accidentally ruined Christmas today. DD1 has been on the fence with believing since last year, but I was able to bluff through it. Today we were looking through boxes for our fall decorations and she found our Elf on the Shelf. She immediately started asking me why it's here early, what's it doing in that box in the attic, how dare I touch her, etc... She was totally not buying my terrible on the spot excuses. DD2 is at Dad's this weekend so we left it at DD1 is going to consult with DD2 and see if she believes my story before returning a verdict. I'm heartbroken that Christmas magic is already over. I'm not sure if she'll totally admit that she doesn't believe, as I think she figures then she won't get presents. But I'm not sure what to do next.
twinmomma, we don’t have a elf, but DS told me in first grade that I was the tooth fairy. My comeback was, “maybe?”. So I suspect that he may no longer believe in Santa either, but will help keep it going for his little sister.
FWIW, DD1 (11.5) asked me flat out two years ago if Santa was real. I don’t lie to them so I told her the whole story. The next Christmas, it was like we had never had the conversation. I have no idea what’s going on - she just chose to not believe me? Really good liar? It’s baffling.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
FWIW, DD1 (11.5) asked me flat out two years ago if Santa was real. I don’t lie to them so I told her the whole story. The next Christmas, it was like we had never had the conversation. I have no idea what’s going on - she just chose to not believe me? Really good liar? It’s baffling.
Does she have younger siblings? My 7yo did the same thing. I did the “Santa is the magic in all of us routine,” she was unconcerned. Then her 8th Christmas she was allll about Santa. But I know she believed me because she took great joy in conspiratorial winking around her sister and really just playing it up with her. I think she gets more joy out of pretending there is a Santa now that she knows there isnt. Santa was never a big deal in our house and now she’s the family Santa, Easter Bunny, tooth fairy pusher.
We are also in this camp.. DD brought up the other day that the tooth fairy doesn’t exist, so I think it’s time for the big discussion. I’m sad about it.
Last year she asked me if it was really just the parents, and we go out and pick up all the free toys on Christmas Eve. I asked when she had ever heard of a store giving away that many free toys, because we make a point to explain that stuff like that costs money and you have to save for it. That seemed to stop that theory temporarily but she's still skeptical. I might just pretend they still believe this year and see what happens.
My DD spontaneously, quietly said something about thinking “Santa is just the parents” last week in the car. I didn’t make any response and just let the conversation move on...
DD1 started questioning Santa when she was 7, because a kid in her class was from a culture that didn’t do Santa and told all the kids that Santa was parents. There are LOTS of kids from non-Santa cultures in our town - just one kid that was vocal about it.
When she told me that on a particularly chaotic morning, I just said, “Honestly, Do you think I could pull that off?” She was very satisfied with that answer.
Once, the tooth fairy forgot to come, so she was screaming that I was the tooth fairy in front of her little sister, who had lost no teeth.
So I think DD1 stopped believing last year, but she’s not talking about it for fear that she won’t get anything. I’m choosing not to have a conversation with her about it because she can be spiteful when she gets angry and I don’t want her telling DD2.
FWIW, I figured it out when I was 7 and it really didn’t ruin anything. I will be 45 soon and I still think Christmas is magical 🤶🏻🎅🏼 🎄
Post by sandandsea on Sept 27, 2020 8:59:50 GMT -5
Ds was stressing about if Santa was real or not the summer before Kindergarten when he was 5. He had asked several times the year before that and we gave vague answers like “how could we do that? What do you think? Why do you ask?” So we told him about St Nicholas and the spirit of Christmas is giving and helping others so now he gets to be a Santa for his younger brother. He was very satisfied and has really enjoyed helping the pst two years. Clearly I have a skeptical child.
FWIW, DD1 (11.5) asked me flat out two years ago if Santa was real. I don’t lie to them so I told her the whole story. The next Christmas, it was like we had never had the conversation. I have no idea what’s going on - she just chose to not believe me? Really good liar? It’s baffling.
Does she have younger siblings? My 7yo did the same thing. I did the “Santa is the magic in all of us routine,” she was unconcerned. Then her 8th Christmas she was allll about Santa. But I know she believed me because she took great joy in conspiratorial winking around her sister and really just playing it up with her. I think she gets more joy out of pretending there is a Santa now that she knows there isnt. Santa was never a big deal in our house and now she’s the family Santa, Easter Bunny, tooth fairy pusher.
She does, but it’s not like that. It’s the strangest thing. It’s like she blocked the whole conversation out.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Ds was stressing about if Santa was real or not the summer before Kindergarten when he was 5. He had asked several times the year before that and we gave vague answers like “how could we do that? What do you think? Why do you ask?” So we told him about St Nicholas and the spirit of Christmas is giving and helping others so now he gets to be a Santa for his younger brother. He was very satisfied and has really enjoyed helping the pst two years. Clearly I have a skeptical child.
o
This has been my tact so far - in terms of asking DD what she thinks. I haven’t lied about it. She just turned 8 and has three little brothers so even though she’s questioning and has likely figured it out, she’s likely to play along for a long time.
Post by mommyatty on Sept 27, 2020 13:20:41 GMT -5
Maybe this makes me weird, and maybe it’s because I have a brother who was 7 when I was born, but I honestly never believed in Santa. Ever. I think DD sort of believes but is skeptical, but she seems to really buy into the elves. (We have two elves, a brother and sister.) DS who is 6 knows it’s all a crock. I think he’s like I was. But they both play along.
And for the love of God, don’t do the “if you don’t believe, you don’t receive” thing. My parents were like that, and what it taught me was lying to my parents to make them happy was in my best interest. Not exactly what you want to teach your kids.