Nice People Thread Number 10 -the official residence of Nice People

Doozergirl

LydiaJ wrote: »

A month I could cope with. Until it grows out, not so much. It's nearly as long as to her waist.

It won't stay long. I use purple toners to make my hair whiter - being very lightened, it's incredibly porous. I can die it pink or purple and it will be gone within a week.

Doozergirl

My kids this morning. I also have a purple girl but she's Violet Beauregarde turning into a blueberry (with half her teeth missing).

You can tell DS is my son. The avatar hair runs in the family.

michaels

Generali wrote: »

Crivens. It's all a bit heavy in here for an emotionally repressed Anglo Saxon like me.

Bit of a family update. I'm feeling extra proud of girl Generalissimo. She's been picked as star of Orphan Annie of her drama class and is one of only 3 kids from her primary school to be picked to go to the Sydney schools Gifted and Talented day.

I'm trying to push her down the science road because I know what the quants at work earn! She's determined to impoverish herself by doing acting and singing.

Ours only auditioned for Annie and we had 2 months of 'Tomorrow' which was hard work but they did do an enchanting duet of 'Maybe', unfortunately in the audition they were asked to do 'Hard knock life' which was much less their thing.

Otherwise I completely agree with what you say about heavy emotional staff and it being best to let the ladies get on with it rather than puttings ones foot straight into ones mouth.

And I know what you mean about the acting, DDs are so into anything musical, problem is understanding stats you know that Spirit's desciption as being in training for waitressing is the odds on outcome.

Last night was parents evening, although I mostly doubt that they know which kids our ours as they always get described as well mannered and a pleasure to teach, it was encouraging to hear they were all enjoying and relatively good at maths. DD1 had got a spelling wrong this week (her first one this year) and her teacher felt compelled to tell us that is was OK which made me wonder what sort of parents she thinks we are.

I question for Lydia or anyone else, our appointments always seem much quicker than everyone elses, 'Your child is a pleasure to teach and working just above their level, they need to concentrate on checking their work not just pushing ahead as quickly as possible'. Others seem to be having long conversations which makes me wonder whether we are not taking enough interest/not researching enough/trusting the school too much? I am happy to trust that the teachers know what they are doing and would raise any issues but is that naive, should we be looking at taking extra steps to supplement what the state is providing and finds adequete? I am fine with happy kids and above average is a bonus but DW comes from a culture where education is everything and would probably like them pushed harder.

Generali wrote: »

This was the storm coming into the harbour yesterday:

Your storm was famous enough to get its own slideshow on the BBC news website yesterday.

We are having very unusual weather here, dry, sunny and mild

Doozergirl

Impossible for me to quote small from such a big post michaels, but I have the same sort of thig at parents evening with DD. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say or discuss when my child is working well above the expected level. DD is always vocal about everything that happens at school and always working on something at home so I don't feel like anything is hidden. I've gone into school a couple of other times in five years to discuss any issues.

DS would always answer 'nothing' when questioned about what he did at school. He couldn't even tell me what he'd had for lunch most days and was reluctant to read or do his homework. There tends to be more to talk about when you haven't got a clue.

I do trust teachers. I'm not a teacher and I don't feel in any position to grill someone when we're apparantly on track and my child is happy. I see some parents who seem to be in school constantly or even moving their child and can't fathom it. A lot of children moved to a local 'outstanding' school with four form entry in classes of thirty, from our school. DD is in a class of 10 in a school which is rated 'good' with some outstanding elements. It also has a raft of teaching assistants. A tick in the box matters not to me when I am absolutely confident that she will get the best education in a small class with more individual attention. The children from the school have a reputation with the local middle schools as being comparitively ahead of the others when they arrive. I wouldn't want to uproot a child with no good educational reason and no knowledge of being a teacher. I think some parents are too involved.

I did move DS after a year at middle school, so I'm not that relaxed but I don't believe in giving teachers a hard time or presuming that my child's relationship with or perception of their teacher is the same as my own.

Generali

michaels wrote: »

Your storm was famous enough to get its own slideshow on the BBC news website yesterday.

Interesting. It really wasn't a very severe storm but it was photogenic.

michaels wrote: »

We are having very unusal weather here, dry, sunny and mild

That sounds like our winter!

SingleSue

Doozergirl wrote: »

Impossible for me to quote small from such a big post michaels, but I have the same sort of thig at parents evening with DD. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say or discuss when my child is working well above the expected level. DD is always vocal about everything that happens at school and always working on something at home so I don't feel like anything is hidden. I've gone into school a couple of other times in five years to discuss any issues.

DS would always answer 'nothing' when questioned about what he did at school. He couldn't even tell me what he'd had for lunch most days and was reluctant to read or do his homework. There tends to be more to talk about when you haven't got a clue.

I do trust teachers. I'm not a teacher and I don't feel in any position to grill someone when we're apparantly on track and my child is happy. I see some parents who seem to be in school constantly or even moving their child and can't fathom it. A lot of children moved to a local 'outstanding' school with four form entry in classes of thirty, from our school. DD is in a class of 10 in a school which is rated 'good' with some outstanding elements. It also has a raft of teaching assistants. A tick in the box matters not to me when I am absolutely confident that she will get the best education in a small class with more individual attention. The children from the school have a reputation with the local middle schools as being comparitively ahead of the others when they arrive. I wouldn't want to uproot a child with no good educational reason and no knowledge of being a teacher. I think some parents are too involved.

I did move DS after a year at middle school, so I'm not that relaxed but I don't believe in giving teachers a hard time or presuming that my child's relationship with or perception of their teacher is the same as my own.

I'm always the one waiting for the ones in front to finally stop talking, I'm forever wondering what on earth they are talking about for it to take so much time because when it comes to my turn, it is all over in a couple of minutes!

If I had that many questions, I wouldn't wait for a specified time to talk about it, I would be seeking out the teacher for a chat before...but then, I get email updates of any problems direct from the teachers anyway, one of the positive things the school has brought in to improve the home/school contact.

Re the acting and a career, James decided he wanted to be a famous director, I let him go with it (with maybe a small voice of warning for him), he has now decided off his own back that he is going to be a teacher, probably of philosophy, maybe film, so that he has a solid career start.

Trying to persuade middle son is proving a bit more difficult, as far as he is concerned, he is going to be a famous rock star :rotfl: although, me and James have finally convinced him that going to uni might actually be a good thing for him and his progression...so progress!

Generali

michaels wrote: »

I question for Lydia or anyone else, our appointments always seem much quicker than everyone elses, 'Your child is a pleasure to teach and working just above their level, they need to concentrate on checking their work not just pushing ahead as quickly as possible'. Others seem to be having long conversations which makes me wonder whether we are not taking enough interest/not researching enough/trusting the school too much? I am happy to trust that the teachers know what they are doing and would raise any issues but is that naive, should we be looking at taking extra steps to supplement what the state is providing and finds adequete? I am fine with happy kids and above average is a bonus but DW comes from a culture where education is everything and would probably like them pushed harder.

http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Hymn-Tiger-Mother-Chua/dp/0143120581

Become a Tiger Mum.

purch

Generali wrote: »

This was the storm coming into the harbour yesterday:

Was it Independence Day :eek:

Generali

purch wrote: »

Was it Independence Day :eek:

That picture was taken right next to my office. It was pretty apocalyptic. The photo would have been taken at about 4:20pm or a little later. I left work at about 5:30pm and the storm had all but cleared.

lemonjelly

LydiaJ wrote: »

DD's hair is now, well, purplish. She wants it a stronger purple. I am concerned as to how many washes it's going to take to get it back out again.

I remember dying my hair purple. Seemed a good idea at the time.

Unfortunately, that evening I somehow (!) was under the influence of certain mind bending substances that the beatles sang a song about.

I became convinced my hair was going to grow purple for the rest of my life...:eek:

I then got scared my parents would go mental, so avoided them for a week. I'd sneak home daily whilst they were at work to repeatedly wash my now lilac hair, & disappear each evening.

Eventually, the phone at home rang. I made the error of answering it to hear dad bellowing at me. He also told me he'd seen me cycling down the road mere minutes after dying it, seeing it in all it's glory!:rotfl:

All that subterfuge for nowt.:D