The First Half Term – Sept – October 2023!

As with any firsts and new bits there have been a few teething problems this half term meaning we are very glad to have reached the half term holidays with a chance to reset!

Raffie went back to school super happy about being older, being in year one and having a new class but unfortunately it hasn’t been as easy as we’d hoped. Our school expect children to be left at the gate, even in year one, to walk down the pathway alone, onto the playground and into the building to find their classroom. Naturally, at his age, Raffie found that tricky and he’s quite brave really so it just feels all wrong as far as I’m concerned. I really like the head, she’s great actually but I just can’t leave my year one child to walk that far on his own. It doesn’t feel right and I can’t imagine it will for a good few years yet. The school have made a compromise that parents who aren’t comfortable with the situation can bring them to the front and a teacher will meet them at the door instead. This hasn’t been easy either as there is often not a teacher there and then we have to go through the office making him late. Unfortunately Raffie has been spoken to about his “lateness” which has upset him even more. I mean, I’m not happy it has to be said, even if he were late because I’d been late (and it hasn’t been that way, it’s because no one is there to meet him as agreed) then it would never be his fault. He is anxious and says he hates school and little things like this seem to be making it worse. He says the work is harder but it isn’t that. He says he likes his teacher, so it isn’t that either. He misses the girls he’s always been with since nursery but that isn’t it, they are just in the classroom next door and he still sees them. He just isn’t happy, maybe it’s an accumulation of things, the food is awful too apparently… Oh why can’t it be easy? Sometimes you get the right class, the right teacher and everything falls into place. Not so this year for Raffie so far and I so wish I could pinpoint the exact things that would make it better. I will keep trying. His birthday was brilliant and to now have a 6 year old baby boy feels very strange, he had the day off as a mental health day (needed) and at least enjoyed celebrating turning 6.

Florence too has been rather unhappy with her class. She’s feeling a little alone with none of her friends being with her and some friendship shifts have knocked her confidence a little. She’s getting there but it’s never easy at the beginning, when you’re 13 at any rate! She’s thrown herself in with gusto to drama and dance and has been enjoying all of those things while working hard and also doing lots of little girl’s parties to earn her surf money – she’s going to go far this one for sure!

Jimmy has loved his start at high school however and has made a great bunch of friends already which is just music to my ears. Of course there have been a couple of niggles, he’s been put in the A team for rugby but feels out of his depth and he’s not managing the breakfast money Gram gives him very well just like homework which got him in a bit of a pickle. He’s on track again now I think but he had some catching up to do which was a learning curve we all found a little strained as his hormones seem to be kicking in making him that little extra on edge at times… Oh the whole however, he’s loving school so that’s one out of three at least!

Posie is just being her best little Popple Chops and enjoying all the things we do together – she’s so bright, so on the ball and she so reminds me of her siblings. I’ve created 4 peas in a pod to look at but 4 peas in a pod when it comes to running rings around me too. She loves nothing more than everyone being home for the weekend and holidays though so bring half term on!

We have so many plans from fun work things with a special project on Saturday morning followed by Wroxham Barns for the day, Stick Man at the theatre and Raffie’s birthday trip to Legoland followed by the Coral Reef swimming pool, a day in Fulham with an exciting work project and trip to the Fulham football ground with some Westfield shopping thrown in. Florence will be dropped with a pal in Leytonstone to stay a couple of nights before coming home and then we have a day at Pensthorpe, a day at Roarr and the big kids get two weeks off so we have some more plans for then too! Raffie will have a day out with the big ones also as we have a family thing in London (and some more fun worky bits) in week 2. It’s all go, go, go!

Am loving the busy, busy but so glad it’s busy on my terms coming up for the break and not being a slave to school or my Mummy taxi service!

Here’s some of our fave bits from this first half term!