Merit Certificates

A swelteringly hot day on Monday, one of those ones where you move an inch and dissolve into a puddle of sweat, so going anywhere and doing anything feels too hard.  I arrived at school to see a big grin on Tom's face and a piece of card in his grubby paw.  He had just received his first merit certificate.  It was for "working well in all tasks" which doesn't really sound like him but there you go.  Unfortunately, merit certificates now hold quite a high premium as all last year we were trying to encourage Tom to work hard to get one so apparently I will soon need to go to a toy shop and part with significant amounts of cash to reward him.  Tess also received a merit certificate for "excellent journal writing" which of course we were thrilled about although we couldn't help thinking it would have been nice for Tom to have had all the glory to himself just this once!  The heat didn't last and by Friday we were wearing jeans and jumpers to keep warm.  


On Thursday I was able to do reading in Tom's class, the first time I've been able to help out in class on account of now not working, and I loved it.  It's such a good way of getting to know who all the children are and it also gives you some idea of how your child is doing.  Jules and I are always a bit down on Tom because we constantly compare him to Tess which isn't very fair.  We also forget that he is one of the youngest kids in his year and a boy so all that needs to be taken into consideration.  I'm happy to say that after being in class I'm much more comfortable with his abilities - he's no Einstein but he's certainly no way near as behind as we thought he was - sorry Tom!  


Jules and I were very spoilt on Sunday with Tess at a netball camp and Tom at Fletcher's birthday so we were able to go into Manly and have breakfast together followed by a long walk.  We came home and spent some time planning our WA trip in October - how exciting!  


No photos this week I'm afraid.  I did take Tom to a skateboard park and take a little bit of video but I think we've had enough pictures of him on his skateboard recently.