The End Of Michelmas/Winter Term 2023!

The End Of Michelmas/Winter Term 2023!

It’s ironic that time goes fast when you’re having fun, but that it feels sad to be over so quickly? The end of the Michelmas/Winter Term seems to have found itself upon us faster than ever, okenminutebwe were sun kissed in September and here we are launching into Christmas and the end of 2023 before I’ve really had a chance to think about it. I’m not GOING to think about the fact Posie now only has one term before starting nursery because it hurts my heart too much. I told Florence in a conversation, of course it’s not that I don’t want you all to grow and become independent, that’s what it’s ALL about. But… I’d like it to happen slower please…

This past term, Jimmy’s first at high school, what a ride. Its been so lovely watching him navigate this new adventure and though there have been mistakes made, he’s seeming to be thriving. He has been in his year group play and been chosen to audition for a BBC production which was a great experience. He’s loved the rugby, the matches, the whole sporting ethos of the school and has adored being moved to the A team, not minded being moved back to the B team (little fish in big ponds is harder than the other way around) and relished being man of the match a couple of times as well as winning sports colours for the school. Homework and getting into the swing of a new way of school has been hard, but he’s doing it. With a little cajoling! We could use a little less lost property and silly spending of breakfast money but I’m really impressed with the most part of how he’s handled his new challenge, making new friends but keeping in with his old and while there have been a couple of learning curves he is maturing with them. He had a brilliant end if term report and it feels very good to be on the break!

Raffie has found the first term back hard. Hard without Jimmy, hard with being in a new year, with a new teacher and more work than he got in reception. He’s not been a happy little soul and I haven’t liked the anti nurturing vibe of how at year 1 his school expects them to be left at the gate. It’s too little. We’ve found a compromise which is pretty ridiculous and surely as inconvenient for the teachers as it is us but if they really won’t let me walk him to at least the playground to see him physically go in the door then we will take it. It’s not helped him be comfortable if I’m honest. And with a year where it all changes it’s definitely not been well executed but school seems to be getting better in general for Raffie now at least. We’ve found rhythm in dropping off at the front door instead of side gate now and he is feeling more confident to be in school. I’d never have imagined him being so unhappy after such a fabulous first year but this term has been hard. Nevertheless he is beginning to find the joy again. He’s loved all the Christmas prep, his school performance and is so brilliantly interested in all they are learning about, teaching me along the way! It’s incredible, his recollection for information and all he has learned! He also loves his football and his dance which makes me so happy too! My happy little boy is back!

Posie has been such a chatter box recently, she really understands so much. She is SUCH a bright button. Every day she asks me what we are doing today? She absolutely loves Wobbel Yoga (or offal ogre as she calls it), Gymboree, Spring Gym, playgroup and all the trips to Roarr! and Pensthorpe! We have SUCH fun every day going out and about and being just the two of us. She has missed her big siblings though and relishes the weekends and holidays. She has also looked forward to Christmas with great abandon – what a magical time to be two! I just can’t quite get over that soon she will be three!

Florence had a tough start to the year not being with any of her friends in her class. She found that hard and after a party which went before the start of term, where a boy from school behaved badly towards her, frightening her and aggressively attacking her, it felt especially hard being back at school without her besties in the same class. It’s been a slow start in that case but one which is now being fun again and of course she has shone in the school play, being “Piggy” in a production of Lord of the Flies and dancing like a dream in the dance showcase. Being on stage is always her happy place and she does do it so, so well! She’s also continued to balance the work/life/extra curricular with aplomb. She’s mega at that (definitely doesn’t get it from me) and we are so proud of her. She always does pretty well in exams, she works so hard (again this isn’t a trait passed on from me) but she tends to not do so well in science. Just not her forte, however, 90% and 85% in physics and chemistry is testament to all her hard work and determination! Her end of term report reflects exactly who I know she is! A brilliant start to the year even when overcoming hurdles, friendship shifts and a brother in the midst of her domain!

And now we go into the Christmas holidays with relief that we can downtime. With cheer to spend time with our families, celebrate and ring in a new year as well as a fourteen year old on NYE (gulp, finding it hard to fathom Posie being nearly 3, Florence being 14 is beyond wild?!)! Also Christmas Eve marks 23 years since Jonny and I got together – we blink and we miss it all don’t we, it’s why I’m trying to surgically prize my eyes open permanently!