More Holiday!

Riding a fire engine

Our two and half weeks is almost over, but it has included a lot of local enjoyment in the lovely sunny and warm weather. We have visited Queen's Park in Loughborough and rode in a local bus that passed all the lovely villages in Charnwood, such as Swithland and Woodhouse Eaves. The park has an aviary with colourful parrots and the best playground I have ever seen in the area. It also has the local Charnwood museum we could visit for free. There was a carousel in the main square and an ice cream van at the park gate. A perfect short-distance summer visit.

In the Queen's Park

We also went to the City Farm and created an animal mask with some of Number One Friends. I and Number One Son revisited Abbey Park, since there is always things to see and do.

Gorse Hill City Farm

Number One Son also participated in an archaeological community dig in Anstey, but he was more interested in the tree house and the paddling pool in our friends' garden. However, he got really excited about troweling worms. Archaeologist Husband was giving a lecture on Medieval brick and tile elsewhere for a community group, but he managed to meet us afterwards in a newly opened family pub in the village. Splendid end to a splendid day!

Digging worms

Holiday!

Sometimes one does not have to go far away or do really special things on a holiday. When one is a Skype Mom, then it is more important just spend some time together and explore things that are nearby and enjoyable when sun is shining.

A peacock in Abbey Park - with added chicken

This summer's novelty for me and Number One Son is having a fishing net. Something we do not do in Finland, since we actually go fishing and eat the catch. There a fishing net is many metres long and a sign of serious dedication to fishing. Here it is actually something I thought was a butterfly net and used by small children. Anyway, paddling is fun!

Paddling in Bradgate Park

End of the term

It is not only the end of the school term and school year but it is an end of an era. Number One Son is not in the reception class any more: he will start Class 1 at the end of August. He has now started to take scooter to school, kicking his way with increasing speed that raises the hair of me and Archaeologist Husband. He may not read or write, but spiritliftingly he is not unique. I heard in the NCT coffee group about another boy who did not do those things at the end of the reception class. He successfully managed to learn them during the first proper year. He and his brother do not like drawing either - a feature Number One Son shares with them. Running and climbing - yes. Drawing with pens - no. Clearly, not all develop with the same speed nor have same interests, but the education system had problems in acknowledging that. Do not get me even started about the opinions of the current Minister of Education who does have little understanding of the early development and its diversity.

One should probably consider changing the name of the blog, since Number One Son is not a toddler any more. However, "Two archaeologists and a schoolboy" does not have the same air in it. One could of course use the developmental age of Number One Son as a guide: if he is about three and a half or four, he could go as a toddler one more year.

I blame Dora the Explorer!

It is a sad feeling when you have to drop bilingual upbringing when you realise that your child has a speech difficulty. Naturally one has to make sure that the child learns at least one language properly and pronounces it correctly. However, I was hoping that three or three and half years of Finnish would have left more of a mark than a 'kiitos' (thank you) to a conductor in the local train near Helsinki. At least Number One Son still likes to watch Moomins in Finnish. However, lately he seems to have started speaking some Spanish...

They say that the language spoken by the mother is the most important. However, I am now mainly speaking to him in English. The main Finnish input is the daily bedtime story, which I duly read via Skype when here in Sweden. Nevertheless, Number One Son has developed a huge following on Dora the Explorer after Archaeologist Husband got us Netflix subcription. Repeating single Spanish words seems to be contagious. Now he is saying 'abre!' every time he wants something opened. I have lost hands down...