Nice people thread part 4 - sugar and spice and all things

LydiaJ

Doozergirl wrote: »

Us too. It's complicated. I think children can suit particular schools. I suspect that our children will always go to different schools from this year on, but they both still have a move to make.

How old are yours, Doozer?

Mine have been at primary school together, but DS will move up to secondary next Sept. I don't know where DD will go. If she wants to go to the same excellent comprehensive as DS, she can, or she can try for grammar school if she decides she wants to. She's only in year 3, though, so it's a while away yet.

Doozergirl

vivatifosi wrote: »

Did you see Michael McIntyre's Christmas special (can't remember the actual name)? It was very funny and was saying something very similar. He also did a very funny version of the Shane McGowan and Kirsty McColl song with Pixie Lott.

Yes, he does make me laugh. I like the bit when he was talking about them all having their heads out of the car on the motorway and loved the bit at the end where it was 2am and the littlest who will never be ready, was downstairs waiting by the front door.

I like Michael McIntyre, also Hal Cruttenden who is similarly portly, suited and posh but cheaper to see He has a piece about trying to get children into the best school in the area which really makes me laugh.

Doozergirl

LydiaJ wrote: »

How old are yours, Doozer?

Mine have been at primary school together, but DS will move up to secondary next Sept. I don't know where DD will go. If she wants to go to the same excellent comprehensive as DS, she can, or she can try for grammar school if she decides she wants to. She's only in year 3, though, so it's a while away yet.

Mine are the almost the same age as yours, in the same order . I've meant to tell you that and surprised, but sure, I haven't yet. DD is Year 2 though. We have a three tier system so it's going to be a pain with her and timing for grammar schools (which aren't very local) as she will have to go somewhere first at least, but I think she needs less mothering than DS and probably is one of those children who is naturally academic and will succeed anywhere as long as we get the parenting bit right-ish. DS, I think, will always benefit from a family atmosphere because he's so disorganised. He goes to an ex-boarding school and I think you can still feel that there. It's Prep, so he will have to move again for Year 9. I'd happily leave him there because he's so happy, so it's a shame.

Would you get a discount at your school if you were ever able to afford it? There are teaching families on site at DS's school. I don't know what the arrangement is there.

The benefit of having a mum that's a teacher is that you know the business and what should be expected, which gives you an advantage. As I don't know the business, I don't really know what good genuinely looks like, but I'm impressed with DS's school simply that they can communicate with both the children and their parents . I had to take DD by myself to a parent's evening once and her R/Y1 teacher addressed it all directly to her, which was interesting!

silvercar

On the subject of school selection, I recommend John O'Farrell's 'May contain nuts'.

vivatifosi

Doozergirl wrote: »

I like Michael McIntyre, also Hal Cruttenden who is similarly portly, suited and posh but cheaper to see He has a piece about trying to get children into the best school in the area which really makes me laugh.

silvercar wrote: »

On the subject of school selection, I recommend John O'Farrell's 'May contain nuts'.

Thanks ladies! I've not heard of Hal Cruttenden but will definitely keep an eye out now you've mentioned.

May Contain Nuts is a book I've been meaning to get around for a while now, that's another nudge in the right direction:o.

lostinrates

PasturesNew wrote: »

If she's "the one" you'd know by now.... so don't be backed into a corner.... if she walks then you might find she was "the one" and probably still be able to go back and grovel a lot and at least know you've made your mind up.

I don't quite believe in ''the One'' despite being very much in love and happily married...to the man I love!

I'm pretty sure I or dh could have been happy with other people if we hadn't found each other. We just happen to be lucky that we found each other before other people did.

LydiaJ

Doozergirl wrote: »

Mine are the almost the same age as yours, in the same order . I've meant to tell you that and surprised, but sure, I haven't yet. DD is Year 2 though. We have a three tier system so it's going to be a pain with her and timing for grammar schools (which aren't very local) as she will have to go somewhere first at least, but I think she needs less mothering than DS and probably is one of those children who is naturally academic and will succeed anywhere as long as we get the parenting bit right-ish. DS, I think, will always benefit from a family atmosphere because he's so disorganised. He goes to an ex-boarding school and I think you can still feel that there. It's Prep, so he will have to move again for Year 9. I'd happily leave him there because he's so happy, so it's a shame.

Would you get a discount at your school if you were ever able to afford it? There are teaching families on site at DS's school. I don't know what the arrangement is there.

The benefit of having a mum that's a teacher is that you know the business and what should be expected, which gives you an advantage. As I don't know the business, I don't really know what good genuinely looks like, but I'm impressed with DS's school simply that they can communicate with both the children and their parents . I had to take DD by myself to a parent's evening once and her R/Y1 teacher addressed it all directly to her, which was interesting!

Well well. How interesting.

Yes, I'd get a fee reduction. There are reasons why it wouldn't help much, but if I told you why, it would be obvious where I work, so I'll PM you.

lostinrates

chewmylegoff wrote: »

I don't believe in that "the one" stuff, for me it's more about finding someone who doesn't want to kill me after being left in the same room as me for 10 minutes.

haha, you got there first.

lostinrates

re school fees.....I'd want the right school for the right child. DH was state I was private. DH is adamant had we had a daughter he would not consider uk state system. His reasons make sense to him. I would have wanted private too , obviously we'd only have been able to afford one maybe two children. Thats not because of any social exclusivity (which I don't believe exists in the way some do...obviously there is some divide of wealth, but I think less so outlook/social strata and certainly not in ability) but because of the opportunity to get the right education for a child....so as well as private I'd want the right private. BUT, my sister and I were both scholarship kids (in fact my sisters school changed state/private while she was there) and I would be hoping the child would take after one of us in a way that would help...academic/music scholarship maybe? Adopting I aguess the chances of nature helping are reduced, but there is nurture. I would HATE to send an unacademic child to an academic school (state or private) if we could get it in through coaching: I think children deserve to feel comfortable and have their particular strengths reinforced while their weaknesses are worked on. Some privates I know well do extremely well with their kids not because the kids are bright or the parents care but because the schools foster confidence and tailered approach benefiting the vast majority of pupils in the way that suits them individually. This was the case with both neices primary educator...secondary they have very different skills. Eldest has gone somewhere that suits her and where she can thrive academically, youngest has gone somewhere where....she is very likely to meet a future husband.....(somewhat joking, but worringly know that's the parents' aims).

JonnyBravo

lostinrates wrote: »

I don't quite believe in ''the One'' despite being very much in love and happily married...to the man I love!

I'm pretty sure I or dh could have been happy with other people if we hadn't found each other. We just happen to be lucky that we found each other before other people did.

I'm sure if anyone really thinks about it logically they can't believe it. But may I venture your opinion is less common in one sex?

7B people and you meet "the one"? Impossibly improbable.... even the 70m in the UK would make it next to impossible.

I'm not sure Mrs JB would agree but she's a woman......