Rachel

How to stop your child's friendship deteriorating?

Written by Gerard on Thursday 30 April 2009

What do you do when you notice your child's friendships breaking down?

Do you intervene, do you try to get them to talk it out? Do you try to get them to spend time apart? Do you mind your own business and be there to pick up the pieces?

Rachel (who's only 7 years old, remember) is having quite a bit of friction with her best friend of the last 3 or so years. The other little girl is quite introverted and likes to keep Rachel to herself. She's not keen on the two of them mixing with other kids, although we try to make sure Rachel has other options.

Liar Liar

Written by Gerard on Sunday 29 March 2009

You know the old schoolyard saying, "Liar Liar, pants on fire!" Well, Rachel came up with a wacky variation this evening: "Liar Liar, pants for hire."

I don't know where it came from but I was slightly shocked and wildly amused at the wit in the saying. I'm assuming it came from a cartoon or something, because it's not the type of thing she'd just come up with.

Rachel's first grey hair

Written by Gerard on Friday 27 March 2009

Rachel got her first grey hair the other day, which is bizarre for a 7 year old, isn't it?

Actually, Lisa noticed a few weeks ago while brushing her hair for school, but never got around to blogging about it. That's the thing about this mum/dad blogging malarkey - if you don't write it down, it'll get forgotten about. But enough lamenting the forgotten tales of our parenthood...

The perks of being the eldest child

Written by Gerard on Sunday 11 January 2009

Lisa and I are both the eldest children in our respective families. Both of us can remember that there are special perks associated with being the eldest.

In my case, every Saturday night, my Dad would slip out of the house and bring back fish suppers for him and my Mother, then they'd call me down as well for my share. My two sisters would be innocently sleeping upstairs while I, the eldest, was able to munch away on junk food. And I don't think they ever found out!

A Walk With Rachel

Written by Gerard on Tuesday 23 December 2008

It seems I hardly spend much time with Rachel. If I'm going out somewhere, it's usually the boys who come with me, and mostly Daniel.

So, how surprised was I when I suggested she come out for a walk with me, and she didn't go absolutely nuts. Normally, such an innocuous request would be met with a fit of hysterics, making it pointless to even bother dragging her out the front door. But on Sunday, she placidly nodded her head and said, "Yeah, it'd be nice to get some fresh air." Then wandered off to get her coat.

Normally, I take a fairly long walk out round the fields where we live, so I took her in that direction. We rambled down the road, intermittently chatting and sometimes falling into silence. Rach was busily inspecting the changes in the countryside because of the impending winter - I showed her the apple trees where the crab apples were rotting on the ground where they'd fallen weeks ago.

Rachel In The Morning

Written by Gerard on Wednesday 26 March 2008

This is one for you, Rachel. You've always been an early bird, and since you've been able to tip-toe down the stairs, we'd frequently wake to the sound of your TV programmes and find you comfy on the sofa enjoying some time to yourself.

During the week though, I'm always up ahead of you. But you have an uncanny knack of knowing when I'm awake and I'll hear 'Dad' whispered from the top of the stairs while I'm making toast. When I hear my name, I always put on a couple of extra slices just for you.

Crazy Times

Written by Gerard on Wednesday 19 March 2008

Hell, it's been a mad few months in our house.

Our websites are getting more and more popular. My day job is getting busier and more stressful. I don't update this blog as often as I'd like to, because I want to record some of our lives for the kids.

As a family, good things are happening, and not-so-good things too. Rachel and Jake are going through a great time. Both are being real sweethearts, conversational, witty and creative.

Bad Dreams

Written by Gerard on Thursday 17 January 2008

This one's for Rachel. I had a bad dream at the weekend. About you. And in the dream we'd lost you in a car crash.

It was one of those strange dreams - it lasted long enough for me to feel grief. And there was a bizarre amount of detail. For example, Jake was having trouble adjusting and I remember him having difficulty with suddenly being the eldest. And there only being two boys.

More On iPods And Singing

Written by Gerard on Monday 9 July 2007

Rachel's fascination with the iPod continues.

Rachel And The iPod

Written by Gerard on Monday 2 July 2007

It started a couple of nights ago. Rachel - who'd been put to bed numerous times that evening already - visited me in the attic and told me she'd stolen my iPod. I corrected her - "borrowed it, Rachel. I don't mind as long as you take care of it."

So she disappeared down the stairs and that was the last I heard of her. I couldn't understand why she wanted to listen to deafening rock music anyway, it's not normally her thing.