When we started on the whole “slightly more structure” thing last summer, it was because i had got to a point where i couldn’t quite cope with how short Fran’s concentration span was. It felt like i couldn’t give anyone else any time at all. *comes back two hours later after concentration lapses* Its been a gradual process but she has changed so much, i hadn’t realised till Melrose. She is so much stiller than she was. I’m not sure i quite like it.
What i do like is a girl who will sit at the table and do history sticker books, multiplication mosaics and learn to french knit, like she did today. Its weird but i could get used to it. I hope i haven’t knocked her spirit out of her. She seemed very quiet last week. Perhaps it was just her cold. Perhaps she is just changing. She used to be quiet and shy. Then she got noisy again. Now she’s quiet again. I’ve got so used to not being shy and retiring that a shy offspring seems quite odd to me now.
There are two girls she loves, who i think love her but they can’t seem to quite work out how to be friends – its funny but i think that all of them are used to not having a leading role somehow, even though all of them could do it or do do it and don’t know they do. They didn’t seem to quite work out how to gel. Still, you can’t go around managing friendships but i suppose you can try to support them.
She did a really good job with her french knitting anyway – i think if she gets the hang of that, then real knitting might be easier, if she still wants to try it.
Otherwise, Maddy played in her Jessie costume a lot of the day and made a house. Ammi was difficult and i did badly with her again somehow. I love her to bits but she does push my buttons. Josie tried to roll over and moved into real clothes for the day. Everyone made Daddy a Valentine card and we gamecubed and dvd’d a fair bit – still getting over colds. I sent parcels and ordered Tim about. Max and i have started a ridiculously competitive time trial contest on mario Kart. Must get out more….. oh yes, and he’s started looking for North East jobs – Karen, get that MP group set up, i’m coming to get you ;~)
