Day 141
24/09/09 09:55 Filed in: Diary
School fundraising and independence for youngest. At what age did your little one first visit her friend's house without you?
Youngest took part in a sponsored walk at school today. Parents were not invited to help out, or even watch, it was purely a children thing with the funds going to the school itself. The school apparently did one last year. They believe that doing a single fund raising event at the beginning of the year negates the need for them to repeatedly ask for small amounts of money throughout the year for cooking supplies, art materials and visitors to the school. Have schools always asked parents for extra money or is it just something that is more prevalent now? Do schools have far more activities going on than when I was younger? I don't remember doing so many fund raising and fun events, but then my memory of school days isn't that great, (too many brain cells destroyed by alcohol maybe?). I was quite happy because of course with a sponsored walk you can rope in the grandparents, aunts and uncles to take part, rather than all of the funds coming from yourself. That is the theory anyway. In reality I ask them if they want to sponsor her, and forget to collect the money. Or more likely I tell them after the event that their name was put down and I put the money in for them. So in reality most or all of it comes from me, (hmm, there is something wrong there I think!).
I was collecting both girls again today so youngest was happy. We walked back with some friends, or rather us mums walked and the girls all ran on ahead. The friends have a dog which youngest is very wary of. When she did feel brave enough to stand near her it rewarded her with a wet nose up her skirt. She was not impressed. When the girls were invited back to the friends house I did wonder how she would cope with the dog around, but thankfully it was kept out of the way. This was the first time youngest had been invited to someone else's house without me in tow. I was a little reticent but I knew her sister would look after her, and she was only around the corner, so I didn't say anything. When I collected them she was quite happy, although still very wary of their dog. One of the friends was upset though because her older sister had tried her best to exclude her from all of the play. The older sister wanted our eldest daughter all to herself. I was glad my girls hadn't taken any notice and just played nicely together. If I couldn't trust the eldest to look after youngest she wouldn't be able to go places without me. I don't want to be like some parents where they cling onto their children and don't believe in letting them have any independence. I believe as long as they are safe they should be allowed some slack, and my trust in them appears to have paid off, which is always nice. Now all I need is to persuade some of the other parents that it is possible for the two of them to go for tea on their own. Then I won't always be trying to cajole youngest into playing nicely on her own whilst she waits for her sister to return from a friends house. It isn't that I don't want her around, far from it. I just want to her to be able to have fun with friends without it being at the expense of my work.
I was collecting both girls again today so youngest was happy. We walked back with some friends, or rather us mums walked and the girls all ran on ahead. The friends have a dog which youngest is very wary of. When she did feel brave enough to stand near her it rewarded her with a wet nose up her skirt. She was not impressed. When the girls were invited back to the friends house I did wonder how she would cope with the dog around, but thankfully it was kept out of the way. This was the first time youngest had been invited to someone else's house without me in tow. I was a little reticent but I knew her sister would look after her, and she was only around the corner, so I didn't say anything. When I collected them she was quite happy, although still very wary of their dog. One of the friends was upset though because her older sister had tried her best to exclude her from all of the play. The older sister wanted our eldest daughter all to herself. I was glad my girls hadn't taken any notice and just played nicely together. If I couldn't trust the eldest to look after youngest she wouldn't be able to go places without me. I don't want to be like some parents where they cling onto their children and don't believe in letting them have any independence. I believe as long as they are safe they should be allowed some slack, and my trust in them appears to have paid off, which is always nice. Now all I need is to persuade some of the other parents that it is possible for the two of them to go for tea on their own. Then I won't always be trying to cajole youngest into playing nicely on her own whilst she waits for her sister to return from a friends house. It isn't that I don't want her around, far from it. I just want to her to be able to have fun with friends without it being at the expense of my work.
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