I knew I was the odd one out on kids being picked up by people you don't know! Maybe I'm just blessed to live where I do where my mistrust has been eroded
Mel - I've come to some conclusions about this lab report - better to hand in a crappy one now than to chance not getting a med cert that covers me (with all the revisions of extensions and spec cons!) and having late penalties applied. I'm going to get stats tutoring to take some of my anxiety about that aspect of my course away. I'm also going to head up to the fire station now so that I'm not studying at home. It means I don't get internet so I'll have to just make do with whatever articles I've downloaded so far, and so be it if they aren't what I actually need!
Rory - Oscar is getting into this phase. He's trying out his new size, but he's also copying other kids when they do it to him. I hate it and there's no point shaming them about it at this age, they don't get the point and they just feel picked on in return. I take Oscar away and say 'Be nice'. I don't say "don't hit" cos if he's gonna understand anything, it will be the 'hit' part, just like the add many years ago where the mamma bear says to baby bear 'Just behave yourself' and the baby bear says 'beehive? Yum!'. I reiterate 'play nicely' and if things escalate, then I just leave. Best for all involved. This also tends to only happen with kids his age or younger. Older kids, that he's used to playing with, will actually engage him in wrestling and other 'sanctioned' forms of rough play. I haven't done playgroup and probably won't, just cos between the brigade families, booby club and now Kindergym, he's getting some pretty good opportunities for interaction. It is a good idea to have them with all sorts of kids to pick up on 'kiddie' conventions. They tend to sort each other out with what's acceptable or not, if you just let them be. Sometimes not, but usually yes.
Better get to the fire station, my new study area! BTW, DP was really good last night when I told him I was having a study crisis. Instead of being negative he helped me be constructive, and instead of being defensive and in denial, I faced up to my crisis! Maybe the DP I met is starting to re-inhabit his body...
have a great day!