Shambolic Living

Choices, Chances and Life’s Big Lottery

Janine — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 01:50:33 +0000

It’s hard work this helicopter mum thing. Seriously, all this hovering is EXHAUSTING. Those of you with young children who are just in the “keep ’em safe, don’t let ’em do anything dangerous” stage of helicopter mothering, let me tell you when you get to the final years of high school it takes on a...

Technology in Schools – A Good Thing?

Janine — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 20:26:11 +0000

The letter came a couple of weeks ago. Princess Child is going to need an i-Pad for Year 7. That will be $498 for the actual piece of equipment, another $59 for the aps required, then so help me it’s going to need some pretty hardy protective casing if it is going to survive life...

Who the Hell Am I?

Janine — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 03:06:02 +0000

My eldest daughter, the Hippie Child worries, she’s 15 and doesn’t know what she wants to do for a career. The pressure starts early now. My hollow reassurances that she will figure it eventually are of little comfort. The process of discovering yourself, creating a life, establishing a career is a never-ending cycle of success,...

A Letter to My Daughters About NAPLAN

Janine — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:40:01 +0000

Dear Girls, The Government decided that all students would be tested in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 to monitor their levels of literacy and numeracy. In theory it seems a good idea. Parents get a sense of where their child sits in relation to other kids, schools can identify problems and so on. In...

Take The Kids To Work Day

Janine — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:51:57 +0000

Once upon a time my children and I lived a completely intertwined life. I worked from home and they saw first hand exactly what “mummy’s job” involved. As they grew older and went off to school we still kept close, I was at the school doing maths groups and reading time. Our lives were glued...

Homework an Exercise in Futility

Janine — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:42:30 +0000

How much homework goes on in your house? Are you a fan of the after-school revision, assignments and projects? Or do you resent the impact homework is having on your family life? At the risk of launching into a full-blown rant I have to state my view of homework, it is simply an exercise in...