Germs and Gender

WARNING - RANT POST
Finally feeling well enough to post. Our household with the exception of Nigel has been hit by a particularly nasty strain of the flu virus. After feeling wretched for almost a week the kids and I have decided that we are not attending anymore home education events that are held indoors as they appear to be breeding grounds for some very nasty bugs. This is the second time that we have all been quite ill after attending such events. I can't understand why some parents think it is acceptable to take their sick kids to events and spread their germs around the rest of us. Well we have had enough if they won't stay away we will. Just in case anyone thinks I am being unfair and that we could have picked the germs up elsewhere you only have to look at the evidence. We are not the only family to have been hit by the offending bugs after attending the two events. The incubation period from initial exposure to development of symptoms also ties in with the event dates. So I have to say the evidence is pretty strong. Well rant over and on to other things.

RANT FREE ZONE

For the past few months it has become increasing apparent that Thea is moving into the pubescence phase - both physically and emotionally. We have chatted about what the changes mean and how it is all part of growing up. Initially she said she didn't want to grow up. I remember feeling the same myself at her age, sometimes I am amazed at how very similar we are in our thoughts and feelings - spooky. I also said to her that whilst our bodies change from a child to an adult form and we can't stop and shouldn't want to stop this remarkable process we can still retain the child within us. For as Roald Dahl says "When you grow up and have children of your own do please remember something important - a stodgy parent is no fun at all. What a child wants and deserves is a parent who is SPARKY." And I say to be SPARKY you have to remember what it is like to be a child.

My mum recently purchased two very good kids books from The Book People which deal with the physical and emotional issues of growing up. I am well impressed with these publications despite their pink for a girl, blue for a boy stereotypical covers. Thea has read the one written for girls from cover to cover. Just wish they had been around when I was at school much more informative and far less embarrassing than any sex education lessons I had to endure - still cringe now thinking about them.