With the shakeup of life and, what feels like for the first time in forever, the girls are on holiday. I had to do some investigating as to what I could do with them as we have already had two holidays cancelled due to the pandemic and I have felt tired and uninspired. After my pity party, I got investigating and wrote up a list of things for us to do. I hope you find inspiration for your bucket list of things to do with kids in Gauteng. This list was created with us not being able to travel outside our province of Gauteng.
Our worlds changed overnight! Okay, we were given a few days notice when we were told that we were heading for a lockdown. Now we're about to send the children back to school, or not, and it all feels a little scary and surreal.
Set the scene: March 2020. Suddenly the world had to operate differently. Countries were closed. Teachers were suddenly plunged into trying to teach their children (their own and of course their pupils) from home. Parents had to teach their children and juggle work. This was no holiday. The stress of all this AND the possibility of not having an income afterwards was and still is very much a reality.
Reluctant schooling from home parents, who had no choice in the situation, trying to deal with it all.
I had it all planned. I didn’t want to get married for the wedding dress or the walking down the aisle part. That part always frightened me I didn’t want everyone staring at me. I wanted the wedding part because a honeymoon meant getting onto a plane and seeing the world. Love and travel go hand in hand for me, and what better way to see the world than with the one you love. #Cheesy
Are we defined by our age, or do we define other people by theirs? Yes, we are ageist! There has been so much mention of genders, Xenophia and, and, and here in South Africa recently. Am I just adding another negative argument to the mix? Hopefully not.
In South Africa, the harsh reality of immigration grows daily. It is no longer just a friend of a friend of a distant relative who is leaving, but a few layers have been taken away and with that comes the inevitable brain drain.
When I started on "my educational journey" - I say mine as my girls will have their time and place to tell you their story. For now this is from my perspective. It was during this time that Michelle and I discussed education in various forms and directions. I began to question things like, what value did I feel I was getting from the current institute, and also questioning what was good for my girls? Times are tough and when a massive chunk of your money is going to educating your kids, you do start questioning your decisions and making some tough choices. Michelle is both an educator and a private school parent.
Welcome back to my Explore Education series. It's time to investigate and ask the questions of a parent who is currently putting their children through private school education.
As a reminder of what this series is all about, well with my Grade One year being a bit topsy turvey and a little dramatic I decided to explore what Education meant to me and my family. The format of this series is to ask a set of questions and get the conversation going about what works for you or doesn't. The aim is that perhaps you can help someone or someone can help you to make the best decisions for your child's education journey through their experiences.
I was sent the Fingerlings to review and give my honest professional mom findings. Did my girls and I agree on this one.
Fingerlings are brightly coloured palm-sized pets that curl around your finger and come to life when you play with them. They respond to sound, motion and touch with over 40 animations. The Fingerling rage is here and it is not going anywhere with continuous expansion of new Fingerlings and accessories.
When life ... okay let me rephrase that. If Yolandie from a Zesty Life throws you an opportunity to go to Carlton Hair in Hyde Park and get a makeover, do you even think about it?
Nope. There is no thinking. You always say, "Yes."
And so I invite you on my Hair Makeover day that, as I type this, still feels surreal.
There are many mixed rainbow emotions when it comes to children's parties. I love the copious amount of sugar. I do not admit this to my daughter who you would think I deprive of all things sucrose related. She is that child with her head in a cupcake grasping on jelly tots and flings. Thinking perhaps I had deprived her I tried a different approach with child number 2 and guess what she too behaves as if she has been deprived of sugar.
Emotions range from happy due to the sugar and adult company being present, to being nervous about what happens if I eat too much sugar and scare the adult company by either being super talkative or nursing a sugar low. And if there are adults, what do I say to sound like I am an in-control mother who has a clue, even if it is slightly skewered and covered in chaos?
