I know it is only 17th today, but believe it or not, our Christmas starts tomorrow evening!
Our annual newsletter "The Jacobian Times" can be read online - the pictures are a bit grainy sorry.
A big hello and merry Christmas to my extended family who are spread right across the globe.
To them and many friends old and new, I am loving keeping up with what is going on in your lives on Facebook. A big congrats to the several of you that have had new babies this year, especially some new dads out there, hope you are getting the hang of all those nappy changes by now.
Have laugh at us all dancing like elves. Who says I don't have a sense of humour!!
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Say Arrgghhh!!
Well how rubbish a mother did I feel this week when my little chap, now just 4 years old, had to go to the dentist for a filling. He has very weak and thin enamel on his baby teeth, so I will now be being extra vigilant with the tooth brushing, and a new regime of only water between meals has been instigated.
Well the day of the filling arrived and I was trying to play it cool and not be too anxious and talk about it too much, but equally I didn't want him to be unprepared. So we had talked about what the dentist would do. He knew it would involve injections and also that he had to keep very still and not talk. We arrived with plenty of time to spare (this is very rare for me so I must have been fairly anxious!) After a long argument about why he could not go to the toilet in the middle of a dental appointment, he decided that I was right and he did need a wee so we sought out the toilets. Settled once again in the spacious and empty waiting area he cuddled up to me while I read a Thomas book, and I realised that he was not so foolish and unaware, but was a bit anxious and was trying to be brave.
Once in the actual dental appoint however Callum was back to his usual self. Delighted to get a ride in the chair and cheerfully asking the dentist and assistant what their names where! It was Jeff and Amber if anyone is interested! He was very still for the injections (thankfully) and his gum had already been numbed with a topical gel so it did not hurt, but was a bit uncomfortable. Jeff (the dentist - come on keep up) administered the injection really slowly which makes it hurt less, but was trying not to laugh as Callum tried to say every few seconds "have you finished yet"...."now"......"now" .... you get the idea!
While waiting for the "novocaine" to kick in I asked that he could see and hear the drill, which he thought was great, except that he was not allowed to play with it! boys and toys!! Well the rest of the appointment went really well and Callum was perfectly still throughout, even though he was a bit stressed at points and clutched onto his snuggly blankie for comfort. I was so proud of him, as I (and I suspect my friends) had visions of the dentist getting part way through and cJ having a fit and not being able to carry on. But I needn't have worried as with all new things, Callum sees them as an adventure rather than something scary.
At the end he just sat up and asked politely "can I get down now" and then wanted to see his filing in the mirror! I gave him a cuddly pig for being so brave, which he has called "Mr Oinky Pig" and we agreed that brushing our teeth was very important as we didn't want more fillings.
So I have to say a big thanks to the team at The Dental Group in Portswood, Southampton, who have successfully checked Callum's teeth properly and given him a filling without him becoming scared of the dentist!
Well the day of the filling arrived and I was trying to play it cool and not be too anxious and talk about it too much, but equally I didn't want him to be unprepared. So we had talked about what the dentist would do. He knew it would involve injections and also that he had to keep very still and not talk. We arrived with plenty of time to spare (this is very rare for me so I must have been fairly anxious!) After a long argument about why he could not go to the toilet in the middle of a dental appointment, he decided that I was right and he did need a wee so we sought out the toilets. Settled once again in the spacious and empty waiting area he cuddled up to me while I read a Thomas book, and I realised that he was not so foolish and unaware, but was a bit anxious and was trying to be brave.
Once in the actual dental appoint however Callum was back to his usual self. Delighted to get a ride in the chair and cheerfully asking the dentist and assistant what their names where! It was Jeff and Amber if anyone is interested! He was very still for the injections (thankfully) and his gum had already been numbed with a topical gel so it did not hurt, but was a bit uncomfortable. Jeff (the dentist - come on keep up) administered the injection really slowly which makes it hurt less, but was trying not to laugh as Callum tried to say every few seconds "have you finished yet"...."now"......"now" .... you get the idea!
While waiting for the "novocaine" to kick in I asked that he could see and hear the drill, which he thought was great, except that he was not allowed to play with it! boys and toys!! Well the rest of the appointment went really well and Callum was perfectly still throughout, even though he was a bit stressed at points and clutched onto his snuggly blankie for comfort. I was so proud of him, as I (and I suspect my friends) had visions of the dentist getting part way through and cJ having a fit and not being able to carry on. But I needn't have worried as with all new things, Callum sees them as an adventure rather than something scary.
At the end he just sat up and asked politely "can I get down now" and then wanted to see his filing in the mirror! I gave him a cuddly pig for being so brave, which he has called "Mr Oinky Pig" and we agreed that brushing our teeth was very important as we didn't want more fillings.
So I have to say a big thanks to the team at The Dental Group in Portswood, Southampton, who have successfully checked Callum's teeth properly and given him a filling without him becoming scared of the dentist!
Thursday, 1 October 2009
School scrum
Well it is that time of year when parents of 3-4 year olds rush round looking at schools, desperately trying to decide which school would be right for their little one and anxiously worrying their child won't get in.
Callum, my very own demon destroyer, will be 4 in November, and is therefore going to be old for his year. In fact he would be perfectly happy to be starting with his friends this term. However unless we can magically turn back time and make him born in August, he must go to school with everyone else his age next September.
I went on a school visit with him last week and I could not believe how well behaved he was. Admittedly we were being shown around by the head mistress and that is enough to make the parents behave too!! I loved the fact that she said to word to Callum and it stopped him dead in his tracks, where as if it was me, I would have been yelling until I was blue in the face before he ever decided to stop and see what the imminent danger I was screaming about was!
Callum is a friendly lad and social confidence is not his problem - holding back is a bigger problem and mixing with his own age can sometimes be a stumbling block too.
As we make these tricky choices on schooling, I am not so much worried about what he will learn at school, because we can always help him if need be, but I want him to enjoy going to school for the sense of belonging and adventure that school brings. The independance of having your own secret rules of the playground and your own world that no grown up can possibly imagine, except through their memories of theor own playground days. Each term seemed a lifetime when you are in school, and now the yeras fly by. -mmmm maybe I am starting to feel my age as it is my birthday ina few weeks.
Well the form for schools in our city has to be in by 23 October, so I had best get my skates on.
Callum, my very own demon destroyer, will be 4 in November, and is therefore going to be old for his year. In fact he would be perfectly happy to be starting with his friends this term. However unless we can magically turn back time and make him born in August, he must go to school with everyone else his age next September.
I went on a school visit with him last week and I could not believe how well behaved he was. Admittedly we were being shown around by the head mistress and that is enough to make the parents behave too!! I loved the fact that she said to word to Callum and it stopped him dead in his tracks, where as if it was me, I would have been yelling until I was blue in the face before he ever decided to stop and see what the imminent danger I was screaming about was!
Callum is a friendly lad and social confidence is not his problem - holding back is a bigger problem and mixing with his own age can sometimes be a stumbling block too.
As we make these tricky choices on schooling, I am not so much worried about what he will learn at school, because we can always help him if need be, but I want him to enjoy going to school for the sense of belonging and adventure that school brings. The independance of having your own secret rules of the playground and your own world that no grown up can possibly imagine, except through their memories of theor own playground days. Each term seemed a lifetime when you are in school, and now the yeras fly by. -mmmm maybe I am starting to feel my age as it is my birthday ina few weeks.
Well the form for schools in our city has to be in by 23 October, so I had best get my skates on.
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