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Things That Gladden The Heart

I miss bedtime reading when my kids were toddlers and "competetive". I came home from work (my wife worked but had to "juggle" more than me) and after "tea" I bathed them and then it was storytime with books from the library every week. I loved it. I had to read Billy Goats Gruff every night for months on end for my first born. Then they vied for their turn to read and point.
Fast forward to 8/9 years ago and I'm under the duvet with three grandkids reliving the stories and the laughter.
Now they're 10 and 8 and "The Gruffalo" and "Stick Man" are distant memories.
😏
 
I miss bedtime reading when my kids were toddlers and "competetive". I came home from work (my wife worked but had to "juggle" more than me) and after "tea" I bathed them and then it was storytime with books from the library every week. I loved it. I had to read Billy Goats Gruff every night for months on end for my first born. Then they vied for their turn to read and point.
Fast forward to 8/9 years ago and I'm under the duvet with three grandkids reliving the stories and the laughter.
Now they're 10 and 8 and "The Gruffalo" and "Stick Man" are distant memories.
😏
I had a similar routine with my Daughter, I loved reading to her, doing a terrible job of the voices from "The Gruffalo" and "What the Ladybird heard", she's now 9 and a total bookworm, reads for at least 10 mins a night, longer on non-gymnastics nights, and she's miles ahead in terms of number of "reads" in her class.
 
I had a similar routine with my Daughter, I loved reading to her, doing a terrible job of the voices from "The Gruffalo" and "What the Ladybird heard", she's now 9 and a total bookworm, reads for at least 10 mins a night, longer on non-gymnastics nights, and she's miles ahead in terms of number of "reads" in her class.
It'll sound smug, I know, but my kids still like a browse in a library with my grandkids as they did with me.
Accordingly, they are assessed at school as "advanced" in literary and verbal skills.
I say "smug" because I don't regard them as "special". I just attribute their "skills" to the power of books.

We're now battling the call of the tablet 🤔
 
Read Billy goat gruff on Monday. From An old Ladybird book that cost 50p. Layla Tash read first and then grandad Tash was after.
Trip trap trip trap trip trap.
I had to rap my knuckles on the underneath of his cot/bed to dramatise the trip trap, as i sat on the floor beside him. The troll had to be called Chopchop. When I asked why he said "Cos I chop his nose off".
This went on for months. 😃
 
Random Acts of Kindness Day...is tomorrow 17th February

Just to give a bit of focus on it being nice to be nice and nice to be kind.

So carry out one or two random acts of kindness for someone close or a complete stranger. And of course the best form of act of kindness is that which the recipient does not know who did it for or to them - so we seek not thanks nor recognition - and nor do we share that we did it with others. But you'll simply be the better for the doing of it.

 
Random Acts of Kindness Day...is tomorrow 17th February

Just to give a bit of focus on it being nice to be nice and nice to be kind.

So carry out one or two random acts of kindness for someone close or a complete stranger. And of course the best form of act of kindness is that which the recipient does not know who did it for or to them - so we seek not thanks nor recognition - and nor do we share that we did it with others. But you'll simply be the better for the doing of it.
Some of us do this all year round anyway - without having to have a special day for it. As we do for "Valentine's Day". Oh, and yesterday was Pangolin Day and Hippo Day. The world is going mad I tell you.
 
Some of us do this all year round anyway - without having to have a special day for it. As we do for "Valentine's Day". Oh, and yesterday was Pangolin Day and Hippo Day. The world is going mad I tell you.
Yes - some of us at least try - the hard bit is doing it anonymously and not telling anyone.😘
 
Spent 4 hours building a desk with eldest for her room

Would have taken half the time without her "helping" lol but she enjoyed it and was fun to show her how to use a drill and hammer
 
Dads need to teach boys and girls diy skills .
It will save them a fortune in the future.

Should be taught in school as well imo.
Our woodwork teacher was the best he could make anything.

Totally agree, you can add cooking to that, too.
In fact, all life skills, things like opening a bank account and budgeting with a meagre income.
 
Totally agree, you can add cooking to that, too.
In fact, all life skills, things like opening a bank account and budgeting with a meagre income.

My mother (computing teacher) couldnt understand why her subject was axed after a certain year.. my wife explained to her that they learn the very basics of computing in primary school now so it's only advanced computing skills they need at secondary level

They need to teach budgeting, bank account like you said.. people will say it should be the parents but if the parent hasn't got a clue themselves then the spiral continues until the end of time.

Although YouTube is great these days for teaching things

When my wife and I moved in together a pair of my shorts ripped I assumed she could sew she laughed at me "sexist pig" YouTube rescued me and now I handle all the repairs by needle in the house lol 🤣
 
My mother (computing teacher) couldnt understand why her subject was axed after a certain year.. my wife explained to her that they learn the very basics of computing in primary school now so it's only advanced computing skills they need at secondary level

They need to teach budgeting, bank account like you said.. people will say it should be the parents but if the parent hasn't got a clue themselves then the spiral continues until the end of time.

Although YouTube is great these days for teaching things

When my wife and I moved in together a pair of my shorts ripped I assumed she could sew she laughed at me "sexist pig" YouTube rescued me and now I handle all the repairs by needle in the house lol 🤣
Can I send you my socks please?
😉
 
Going back to my old non-league team (Leatherhead) for the first time in over 30 years as a get-together for former players. Where I began my career as a journalist when still at school. Great memories and stories being told. Realising how old we all are now but many friendships renewed. Awesome day.
 
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