Mr and Mrs K's New Journey to a Debt Free Life.

AlexLK

cte1111 wrote: »

Oh heavens, how could anyone dare to have an opinion who doesn't have a full working knowledge of the classics?

TBH I think they were probably trying to take an interest in what you are interested in, you could perhaps have taken the chance to help them learn a bit more and build more of a bond with your inlaws, instead you take the opportunity to sneer at them and store it up to use as a handy excuse to ignore their opinions.

I'm not saying you should do what they say, any more than you should automatically do what your parents would like, but writing them off as you do because (insert snobby excuse of choice, e.g. their house is shabby, they have other grandchildren (? surely this gives them more experience and therefore more validity to their opinions), they don't know who Homer is) is not helpful. It must make your wife feel like you also write her off for similar reasons, not great for anyone's self esteem.

Re coming home for lunch, my husband and his brother came home for lunch every day when they were at primary school. I think they were very much in the minority then, which was over 30 years ago. When your Mum was at primary school, it must have been a little more than that even, so think this went out of fashion over the last 60 years or so. I don't think any children at my kids' primary school come home for lunch, although some might have done in the early years, I don't know any families that did this.

The relationship between my in-laws and I has always been one fraught with difficulties. They've said a lot worse to and about my family and I than I have about them. When things were particularly difficult for me, they spent months trying to get my wife to leave me. Admittedly, there was a time that I used to deliberately wind them up but in the past few years, on the occasions I see them, I do not even speak unless spoken to.

In regard to the school issue, it is not about me finding excuses to ignore their opinions, though I do not care for them. They are much closer to their other grandchildren than they are to my son, see them regularly and in the case of three, have quite a say in their upbringing. They are also much younger than my parents, therefore it is much more likely they will see their grandchildren grow up and perhaps even see their great-grandchildren. My parents only really have my son and I, they have no other family that they are particularly close to and no close friends. Most importantly, my parents see my son almost everyday and as a result know him much better.

You are right that my mother's experiences were over 60 years ago. I can see him coming home for lunch being more of a problem for me organising meetings with customers than it will be for him - there are other opportunities during the day for him to play with his class.

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Catching up after a few days AWOL with a bug

I agree with much of what cte1111 says above, Alex - I can rattle off various tissue and cell markers, staining techniques, titration procedures and cell culture methods but certainly don't care if other people can't.

I happen to know the stories of Homer, but only through my hobby - when it comes to historical-esque literature I'm more of a Celtic legends/myths woman. It doesn't make me any less intelligent. Be careful you don't belittle Mrs K. via her family.

*steps off soapbox*

I think the lunches thing is something you're going to have to play by ear (no pun intended). I liked coming home for lunch for a while, but kind of gently eased into school lunches via a book club that I could only be part of if I stayed on the premises You've said it's a small school so chances are they'll be happy to work with you.

HBS x

Sorry to hear you have been unwell, HBS.

I'm not trying to belittle anybody, though there is a point to be made that my in-laws only have a very basic level of education when considering what influence they should have over my son's schooling.

Unfortunately, the extra curriculars are after school and not during lunch time, so at the moment I've no way to persuade my son to stay for a few days per week. He is very reluctant about the idea of going at all.

maman

AlexLK wrote: »

Unfortunately, the extra curriculars are after school and not during lunch time, so at the moment I've no way to persuade my son to stay for a few days per week. He is very reluctant about the idea of going at all.

I'd tell him that Daddy has his job to do. So LittleK's 'job' is to go to school and yours is to have meetings with clients. Tell him it's what happens as you grow up and prepare to be an adult. He's a bright lad I'm sure you'll find a way to explain.

heartbreak_star

Oh bless his little heart! If nothing else, it should say how much of a great dad you are that he loves being with you over all else

I'm feeling much better now thank you, though the new medication I am taking has knocked me sideways. Still, I'm still here, haha!

If you're up for a different point of view, here's an interesting thing. I think "level" of education is in the eye of the observer, and what their interests and family jobs are. As an example, I would rather my kids know how to perform complex mathematical calculations on paper than have to read anything by the Brontes, and I'd rather have them study the Perodic Table than music scales.

This is of course personal (and moot, as I don't aspire to motherhood!), but I think it has come about due to my interest and career in science and engineering, and the fact that Dad was an engineer, Grandad was an engineer, and Mum worked with computers until I came along.

All families are different, and will have different priorities when it comes to education

I hope that made some sense, somehow. I still cannot brain, as the kids would say!!

HBS x

AlexLK

maman wrote: »

I'd tell him that Daddy has his job to do. So LittleK's 'job' is to go to school and yours is to have meetings with clients. Tell him it's what happens as you grow up and prepare to be an adult. He's a bright lad I'm sure you'll find a way to explain.

I don't want to be one of those parents that are always unavailable due to work and haven't been thus far. However, I do wonder if you have a point and there's a balance to be struck.

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Oh bless his little heart! If nothing else, it should say how much of a great dad you are that he loves being with you over all else

I'm feeling much better now thank you, though the new medication I am taking has knocked me sideways. Still, I'm still here, haha!

If you're up for a different point of view, here's an interesting thing. I think "level" of education is in the eye of the observer, and what their interests and family jobs are. As an example, I would rather my kids know how to perform complex mathematical calculations on paper than have to read anything by the Brontes, and I'd rather have them study the Perodic Table than music scales.

This is of course personal (and moot, as I don't aspire to motherhood!), but I think it has come about due to my interest and career in science and engineering, and the fact that Dad was an engineer, Grandad was an engineer, and Mum worked with computers until I came along.

All families are different, and will have different priorities when it comes to education

I hope that made some sense, somehow. I still cannot brain, as the kids would say!!

HBS x

HBS, thanks and I'm glad to hear you are recovering.

I completely understand there are different "intelligences" and also different ways of learning things. My wife's family are not scientists, they're more interested in watching mind-numbing "celebrity" TV programmes and soap operas. Heaven forbid they may have to pick a book up.

Personally, I hope my son will receive a broad education during the early (up to GCSE level) years in both the Arts and Sciences. I do not see one as being "better" than the other and if my in-laws were scientifically inclined, I would not hesitate for them to teach my son about such interests.

heartbreak_star

AlexLK wrote: »

HBS, thanks and I'm glad to hear you are recovering.

Heaven forbid they may have to pick a book up.

Thank you

It always weirds me out when people say they "don't read". I know a lot of people who say it, and I just don't understand it as they're missing out on so much.

HBS x

maman

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Thank you

It always weirds me out when people say they "don't read". I know a lot of people who say it, and I just don't understand it as they're missing out on so much.

HBS x

Ironically what 'weirds me out' is when people say (almost boasting) that 'I can't do maths'. I've never heard anyone boasting that they're illiterate but for maths it seems acceptable. Especially amongst women!:mad:

heartbreak_star

maman wrote: »

Ironically what 'weirds me out' is when people say (almost boasting) that 'I can't do maths'. I've never heard anyone boasting that they're illiterate but for maths it seems acceptable. Especially amongst women!:mad:

Agreed! I'm rubbish at maths but will always give it a good go

HBS x

theoretica

I was looking for something else online and found this article about bright kids and early schooling which made me think of this thread.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9266592/Bright-children-should-start-school-at-six-says-academic.html

AlexLK

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Thank you

It always weirds me out when people say they "don't read". I know a lot of people who say it, and I just don't understand it as they're missing out on so much.

HBS x

I think there are some that are almost "forced" to learn to read at school level and find that they do not really enjoy reading after that.

maman wrote: »

Ironically what 'weirds me out' is when people say (almost boasting) that 'I can't do maths'. I've never heard anyone boasting that they're illiterate but for maths it seems acceptable. Especially amongst women!:mad:

:rotfl: Regarding the Maths. My wife tells me that the ability to "do Maths" bypassed me but I think that has something to do with her being very good at it and my previous tendency to never quite be able to balance the "books".

theoretica wrote: »

I was looking for something else online and found this article about bright kids and early schooling which made me think of this thread.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9266592/Bright-children-should-start-school-at-six-says-academic.html

Interesting article but I can't say I'm convinced as I believe in a broad "academic" curriculum being taught from an early age. If anything I think there's too much emphasis on "play" at school.

AlexLK

Sunday 22nd March, 2015.

Dear Diary,

After a particularly difficult week, I have managed to get the savings target to just over £4,000. During this month, there have been weeks when all I've managed to save has been the "compulsory" £30 I force myself to save every week and there have been times were I've been incredibly disheartened wondering what the point is. However, I'm pleased I stuck to my plan and put the money away even when I considered spending it.

Business has unfortunately been slow despite putting in as much effort as February. At times like these I begin to consider if I could do something else as the uncertainty can be quite hard to deal with at times.

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.