Getting shot of the mortgage sooner than 2049!

joedenise

@Bargainhunter30 - even though you say you think your 6 year old is naturally lazy and would prefer to sit in front of the TV rather than attend a club; if he really doesn't want to do a club then I think it would be far better for you to do something with him than push him into something he really doesn't want to do.  He's still very young - can't you just let him do something fun with you rather than wanting him to be "entertained" for an hour or whatever by someone else?

Bluegreen143

@Bargainhunter30 it’s a balance isn’t it - when to lean in to what they want and when to challenge them. 

In our case, I definitely don’t think Monkey is lazy - he is active (with outdoor play rather than sports), creative and imaginative (arts & crafts, Lego), wonderfully resourceful (making and fixing things) and helpful (today he served his sister breakfast without being asked and kept her topped up so I could pack their bags). So I’m not worried that he isn’t doing enough and maybe less motivated with the sports because of that (whereas if I thought he was lazy I may feel differently).

Is your son a bit shy or worried about being the groups maybe? I think for some kids this can be the issue. Or I think at 5/6 they still often prefer time at home with their parents whereas in a year or two he may be raring for the chance to do sports with his friends? You know him best though! 

On the topic of Monkey I have a cute story from today. When we dropped Bambi at nursery there was a flustered mum saying their wee outdoor sink for hand washing had no water in it (it works via a pump from a tank underneath).

Monkey peeked under the sink and instantly said “no it isn’t empty; look, the pipes aren’t connected up” and rummaged about under the sink to fix it. She was so impressed 😆 now he’s actually done this before so it wasn’t quite as impressive as she thought, but the first time he did it it was totally self lead and was literally through taking a look at it and using trial and error. Not bad for a five year old! He has a good future ahead as a natural MSE-er and OS-er!

Baileys_Babe

@Bargainhunter30 your son might find school tiring. He may not be particularly interested in sports. Have you thought of Scouting as an alternative extracurricular activity? Scouting can be very active without being sporty, the sessions usually have a variety of activities some physically active others may be problem solving in a group or a creative activity. As they do a mixture of activities they are not doing those they don't enjoy for long or very often.

smetf

Have just enjoyed a cuppa and a read through your diary Bluegreen, in between catching a few surveys!
I love the story of Monkey fixing the tap - what a star!

Spendless

Baileys_Babe said:

@Bargainhunter30 your son might find school tiring. He may not be particularly interested in sports. Have you thought of Scouting as an alternative extracurricular activity? Scouting can be very active without being sporty, the sessions usually have a variety of activities some physically active others may be problem solving in a group or a creative activity. As they do a mixture of activities they are not doing those they don't enjoy for long or very often.

I was also going to suggest this. My 2 just did weekly swimming lessons from age 5/6, but my son between ages of 6-12 attended Beavers, cubs then Scouts. As said they do a variety of activities. My son is now 21, about to go into his final year of Uni and recently got engaged and still knows useful skills that he picked up in Scouts, like tying and untying knots - the latter has proved useful in untangling the mess his sister's necklaces getting into and being able to get a fire going when we've been down to the last match but wanting a bonfire and the shops closed. It teaches them a lot of independence within a safe environment. 

@Bluegreen143 - I'd also say Monkey was a little young and too new to f-time school at the minute. That's unless he's specifically asking or is showing a flair for something, then I'd book him in to try.

Other than the above, my daughter tried Brownies for a few weeks and a cheerleading class after school, both were short lived. Then at 10 she started a weekly drama class and fell in love with it so much, she perused this after her GCSEs and is about to move to Scotland for a short course at a well renowned drama school, then will audition for degree courses next year. She now regrets that I didn't pester her more to take up more performing arts classes such as  singing lessons at an earlier age. She started privates at 14, and has recently past her very last exam with distinction but it's taken a lot of hard work and would have been easier if she'd started younger. That's why I've said if he's showing a flair for something then do check it out, often it turns out to be a hobby, which is a wonderful thing and sometimes it turns out to be an educational or career choice. 

Bluegreen143

Exciting stuff - I’ve ordered a bike seat for Bambi to go on the back of my bike 🙌🏼 £40 but I think £40 well spent as it will allow me to take Monkey out on our bikes. At the moment I have to wait for someone to be around to watch Bambi. 

On Sunday we batched meals for Mon-Thursday which was a huge success - firstly it doubled as spending time with Red as he helped, but also made the rest of the week so much easier. Red is having to work later some evenings so it stops us resorting to a takeaway or oven food if we have a busy evening! Will be doing it again.

Feel the need to avoid the news right now as all the stuff about energy prices, petrol etc is making me anxious. Underscores though which it’s best to develop skills like growing your own, cooking from scratch, clothes making, being fit enough to travel on foot or by bike, maintaining your own home, entertaining yourself at home. It does make me feel better to know we are perhaps a smidgeon less dependent on all our needs being met through consumerism and buying things. That said, we could be better right now. 

I’m off work for a few days now so my aims are:

- get outdoors with the kids as much as possible (taking advantage of free entertainment before winter comes)

- finish knitting a little bonnet I’m knitting for a friend’s toddler (already did one for Bambi - both from stash yarn)

- do some baking, especially for Monkey’s school snacks - thinking pancakes this week

- tidy up the garden and veg patch (which wasn’t very successful this year due to neglect…)

- start knitting a hat for Monkey

themadvix

You’re very right about the self-sufficiency thing - it does make a big difference being able to look after yourself to some extent, and there’s certainly the smugness factor too! I think it also helps having MSE skills - you know you can make what you do have go so much further than ‘the average’ family, so the scaremongering in the press only has so much effect.

Bike seat for Bambi and batch cooking both sound great!

Baileys_Babe

We had a bike seat when ours were little, we got so much use out of it.

I'm a big fan of batch cooking, I am pleased you Red found some time to get ahead for this week.

Last weekend I made a batch of cottage pie filling, it made enough for 3 pies, we had 1 on Monday and I have frozen the other 2 (fillings only) for future meals. I like to have a selection of homemade meals in the freezer to take the pressure off on busy weeks.

Bluegreen143

Thanks both.

£46 to fill up the car today! Before the pandemic it was £38 or so to fill it from empty 😨

Got out chicken drumsticks tonight - Red breaded some for dinner (oven baked) but I got the whole bag out to defrost and he baked the rest plain for me. Thinking they will make good lunches or can strip the meat off to make meals. Just another easy bit of batch prep. Chicken on the bone takes ages to defrost and cook so better to do it in one go.

Took the kids to a somewhat nearby park (10 mins drive) which we don’t go to much for a couple of hours today. 

I’m weaning Bambi off the pushchair so just took the sling and she did so well - she only went in it on my back for 15 mins near the end and walked the rest. With the pushchair it’s easy to give in to her whining but with the sling she’s heavy so I only use it when I know she’s totally tired out. 

The kids had so much fun even though it was a bit drizzly. I had them in their waterproof overalls from Lidl and wellies and coats of course and at one point they spent 20 minutes repeatedly chasing each other up and down a whole path which was a series of very large puddles. Kids do NOT need money spent on entertaining them 😆 

Baileys_Babe

What a lovely time for the children.

When ours were little i used the hippychic hipseat in the same way.