Archive for April 2012
Should we encourage our children to share everything like the Rainbow Fish.
Posted April 29, 2012
on:- In: Story Time
- 3 Comments
This evening I read the beautifully illustrated story ‘The Rainbow Fish’ by Marcus Pfister to my son. I have always liked the story due to the sharing sentimentality and the silver scales on the fish. I even have fond memories of staging a version of the story in a class assembly with a superb bunch of reception children who, if I calculate correctly, are approximately sixteen years old now – but in my mind they are still four years old.
I have to admit that I haven’t really thought very deeply about the significance of the beautiful Rainbow Fish giving all of his scales to the other fish so that would be his friend. Recently I have read the story a lot and my son constantly points out how unhappy the fish looks at the beginning of the story and enjoys seeing all of the fish playing at the end. it wasn’t until I summarised the story to my son did I wonder if it was really the right message to give out,
‘The other fish are his friends now because the Rainbow fish gave them all of his scales’.
I began to consider the sad fact that the other fish would alienate and ignore him if he hadn’t given them his fins, so in effect he was forced to give his, ‘most precious possessions’, away in order to gain the approval of his peers. Fortunately the Rainbow Fish was very happy with his decision and played with his new friends.
We could think in terms of the scales being a metaphor for being kind and not selfish, therefore it is perfectly acceptable to give them away. What if they were his favourite possession – does this mean that when my son comes home from school in the future in tears because he has been left out of a game I advise him to take his favourite toys to school and give them to the children so that they will be nice to him?
Children do need to learn how to share but also they need to learn how to stand their ground and not seek approval from others who try to intimidate them by either being forceful or ostracising them. Children need to be able to share birthday cake, sweets and other small items so that they understand giving things to others. They also need to respect each others’ toys and play carefully with them but know to give them back.
Posted April 23, 2012
on:Alice’s Escapes – New Charity Being Launched Tomorrow!
Dear Mummies, Daddies and anyone who looks after children,
I would like to draw your attention to Alice Pyne a very courageous 16 year old who was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year. She has decided to pack as many experiences as she can in her short life and compiled a ‘Bucket List’ of tasks she would like to complete.
So far she has managed to recruit thousands to join the bone marrow donor register, met the Prime Minister and Take That and won many awards with her equally courageous sister who has also overcome many challenges. Her next venture is to launch her new charity ‘Alice’s Escapes’, which aims to provide special well earned breaks for terminally ill children and their families. Local businesses around the area have been given the opportunity to donate their hotel rooms, eateries etc. to the charity.
Tomorrow is the launch at 3.30pm outside Booths in Ulverston Cumbria, this really is a charity that I would like to be involved with and have offered my services. Please look at her blog and you will see how wonderful she is.
Thank you
Sian 🙂
Posted April 19, 2012
on:Perfect Mothers by Carole Moore
I Googled the phrase, ‘Perfect Mother’, and found this wonderful blog. I think that I am more like an organised other mother not the pristine perfect one!!
A Strange Move
Posted April 3, 2012
on:It was about four o’clock on an extremely hot Saturday afternoon when five Golden or Syrian hamsters were sleeping deeply. Faces peered at them through the glass cooing and ah-ing at the sleepy breathing bodies. One voice seemed louder and more excited as it penetrated through the glass. A human was going to take one of the brothers home. Harry, a golden Labrador coloured hamster, who was sleeping soundly in the food bowl became aware that the attention was directed on him.
The glass door was opened and the familiar voice of the shopkeeper chirped at them and blew gently in their direction. Five cute creatures opened their eyes and stood on their hind legs. Harry was pointed at so he moved quietly to the corner to wait to see what would happen. He was sure it was his turn to have a home of his own. There was a hesitation when his prospective owner’s attention was drawn to his crinkly ears. Once it had been ascertained that it would not affect his health he was placed in a little box with holes in. He was still sleepy but very nervous, he didn’t know what to expect at all.
Harry felt as if he had been in the box for a lifetime and started to fall asleep. His new owner was just getting his new home organised. The box rose into the air and the light shone in as the lid was lifted. He walked from the tipped box into his new home. Admittedly everything was blurred and noises magnified due to his terrible short sightedness and precise hearing.
Harry no longer wanted to sleep due to his increasing curiosity. He sniffed his way to a wobbly basket which was intended to be his nest but he rejected it because it didn’t make him feel safe. He sniffed his way to his wheel and proceeded to run furiously on it. It was a bit annoying really because his owner kept trying to attract his attention by stopping the wheel and putting on a ridiculously squeaky voice. Adult humans were worse than children.
Thankfully he was left by himself for the evening so he could explore and run in peace. Lights illuminated the building and the cage moved to another room. All Harry could see was vast mountains of material then the cage door opened and one massive paw like thing lunged into his new space. Harry defended himself in the only way he know how by baring his tiny needle sharp incisors and puncturing this irritating human’s finger. It worked he was placed (or more accurately dropped) back into the floor of the cage. Unfortunately the human was determined and tried again; this time she got him out of the cage but he dived splat on the floor and growling attempted to get away. This get away attempt was scuppered by a huge leg resting gently on top of him and hands grabbing him. As Harry was held in the awkward position of facing his human she wittered things about how they will get on. He wiggled like a panicking fish out of water until he got his own way and was placed back into the cage.
Harry needed to go to sleep earlier in the night than usual because he had spent all afternoon awake. He selected the chalet that he had to climb into as opposed to the nest because it was sturdier. He slept soundly dreaming of burrows and other hamsters he could fight with.
Sleeping areas and toilets are generally easily mixed up when you are ill or drunk and if you are a confused baby hamster. Harry liked his new toilet so much he filled it with bedding and sawdust so he could sleep in it. Unfortunately the toilet wasn’t very dark or private so Harry was easily awoken by noise and human eyes. His owner showed Harry to her friend during the day, he responded by growling until they left, this made them laugh not be considerate.
Harry didn’t make the same mistake again, firstly because the toilet was removed and he also saw sense. He was given peace for the night and left to settle alone.
One evening Harry was caught and placed into a pink and transparent sphere. He wondered what on earth it was and started cleaning himself. Harry started to treat the ball like his wheel and proceeded to transport himself around the lounge. First he bumped into a patterned material that interested him very much then he barged into a wooden plinth causing orange fish shape objects to swim away from the vibration, he had met the other pets in the house. Harry didn’t get to know them because he wasn’t interested and besides they were in water. Harry hated contact with his owner and finally got back into the cage and fell asleep in his chalet. He dreamed for twelve hours, his dreams?
Well that is another story …