Ten Top Tips for Homework

Let's start the new year as we mean to go on and try to create a health homework routine. Click here and then select Ten Top Tips for Homework - Download. It isn't easy with all the distractions and frequent lack of enthusiasm. But you can change this with a positive approach to homework. Go for it! Let us know how you get on.

Snowed In

The month of December was a blur. It is always a manic time for many reasons - work, work and more work - but that's all good stuff. We welcomed 2010 with open arms. May all your dreams come true. The boys' dreams were answered with another huge snowfall resulting in school closures. So we're off toboganning followed by hot chocolating and roasted chestnutting! What else is one to do? We say, enjoy it while it lasts. We may not see this again for 20 years!

A little gem

The whole 'web' thing can be a little overwhelming and it can be difficult to find just what you are looking for. But sometimes you stumble on something really clever. I recently found this Number Bond game on the Ambleside Primary School site. The really clever part is that you can set it to suite your child's ability, so learning number bonds to 10 or 20 or 50... Marvellous!

Customer Service

2 simple words but a whole load of meaning. Even the boys are beginning to notice. Our lovely waiter at Pizza Express went beyond the call of duty and the boys understood. They were totally overrun - 'Sorry, no potwashers!' he had said the first time he whizzed past as we fiddled with our menus. Many customers were getting a bit stressed. For the first time in a while, we had time on our hands and we opted to go with the flow - so we offered up D & B as potwashers! And how that waiter smiled. So we laughed and joked. There was no Appletiser, no Fanta, so D went for Sprite. Then the waiter returned with an Appletiser! The waiter even found us an extra money-off voucher. Had a great time - service wasn't so good when we had a coffee later in the day. D said, 'Wow, he's a grumpy waiter!'

Sorry Miss Frank

How sad that Miss Frank should fall victim to what seems to be some game the nation's X Factor's voters are playing. We thought Miss Frank was great. B said that, thanks to Graziella, they were a cross between Whitney Houston (with her dress in tact) and Flo Rider. We rate Danyl too but he may have to work on his 'likeability factor', according to B. We all share the same opinion about John and Edward. B thinks they must be getting the Scottish vote with Ricki gone (I'm not sure how to take that!). But surely they have to go - though they should get an award for being so incredibly thick-skinned. B also reckons the split Welsh vote has to end in tears for one of them. Great family viewing - it has sparked many interesting conversations.

Texting Rules OK

Confession time - I think I may have totally underestimated the power of texting. After my previous blogging, I have made a point of noticing when 'we' are using it. With our sons D (now 12) and B (now 13) I think perhaps it is actually a useful communication tool, in many different circumstances. Last night, for instance, I texted D just after he had gone to bed to remind him to try to read a couple of pages of his book. He is always shattered at bedtime and sometimes he just simply forgets (sometimes it is ofcourse a conscious decision!). He texted back 'maybe' and as it happens he did. Perhaps texting can bring a new, gentler and very much 'cooler' side to the artful mother's nagging.

Ultimate Texting

Just had to let all you www.zoobookoo.com blog readers know about B's recent text. Mum, Dad and D were watching Man U in the European Championships. B had a race (he's running quite a lot now - around 3km) the following day, so he had an early night. Around 9.45pm Dad picks up a text on his phone - from Brad upstairs!! 'Is it half time yet. Can D bring up cough mixture and nail cliprz.' We didn't know whether to have a go at him for being so lazy or to admire his ingenuity, not to mention his personal hygiene. Seems as if we soon won't actually have to talk with each other - although, could be handy through the grunting phase.