Bits of September: Barely Managing
I’ve decided my favourite management technique is all of them. When we used logical consequences our kids honed their rhetorical skills. When we used empathy and connection our kids developed their powers of self-expression.
When we used rewards and punishments our children made great strides in figuring out concepts of value, payment, negotiation, and informational asymmetry. It’s just marvellous to know that no matter what, they’re gaining transferable skills which will carry them into adulthood.
In that spirit, I present you with some links from around the web in September, which I am planning to use in order to teach them how to correctly interrupt someone who is absorbed with their device – a skill of great utility in this twenty-first century.
Me, Elsewhere
- I posted my giveaway book! Thanks to everyone who joined in (especially those who just clicked the poll because why not). The book is now on its way to Holly of Comedic Grievances who was randomly chosen by Æ even though he didn’t know what he was choosing a random number for at the time.
Just posted my giveaway book! pic.twitter.com/GH57u3J7Ms
— Bronwyn Joy (@JOTFabulist) September 29, 2014
- I also guest-posted over at the Creative World Of Varya, as part of her bloggy baby shower, on new mums in Singapore.
- There were no #randomlimericks this month, so here’s one now:
A blogger once wanted to see
Just how short a limerick could be
She sailed past line two
Should she stop? What to do?!
And then ended on five – c’est la vie
You, And Other Awesome Things
- I’ve already shared Kirsty’s post on facebook, but it’s worth sharing again: this is a great insight about kids who ruffle our feathers, and also about the expat “village”.
- They surf rivers in Munich. Yes.
- Hands up if you’ve ever caused a riot at Tiananmen Square? And made it home for buns and tea.
With such fascinating stuff on the internet, I might need to stretch the lesson a bit. What have you found in September that’s been difficult to tear yourself away from? (Alt: can you write a shorter limerick?)
Oh dear I believe I missed the boat while in Italy and did not see this post Bronwyn. Well late to the game but Alaskan blogger Jeff Bell is in Indonesia and posting while there. Besides melting from the heat, his white legs starting fires by reflecting sun rays and almost being killed by a chain smoking, texting driver who couldn’t see the windshield for luggage he and his wife Kristi are loving it. http://planetbell.me/2014/10/22/notes-thoughts-and-observations-after-10-days-in-java/
LikeLike
Definitely sounds loveable 🙂
I’m going to click through tomorrow. You won’t believe how late it is here…
LikeLike
Get to bed you! Sweet dreams. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I adore the fake cry pillow pic. It made me chuckle. Something my kids would do too. xo
LikeLike
I think all of us have done the fake pillow cry at some stage. My mother could probably tell stories, too. She probably would also have rolled her eyes and/or reached for the camera to take a photograph rather than rushing to comfort me.
LikeLike
If you find the magic solution on how to discipline kids, please post! I need it for the classroom!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your blog never fails to amuse,
To entertain, educate and enthuse.
And on reading your Limerick I smiled,
Sure I did these daily back home as a child
…but yet on this challenge I lose!!
Its been YEARS since I attempted a Limerick, I don’t remember them being this difficult!!
LikeLike
So simple it’s almost child’s play
Yet as the years hasten away
The rhythm gets lost
And the rhyme scheme gets tossed
And the poet is left in dismay
LikeLiked by 1 person
Parenting is such an adventure! I enjoyed your limerick, and think it’s hilarious that your child is practicing their fake crying. I remember practicing my sad face in the mirror when I was 4 or 5…
LikeLike
Haha! In the mirror. You were a clever (and well-rehearsed) little thing. Maybe P needs to get into that trick so he doesn’t need the pillow any more…
LikeLike
Ha I love the fake-cry trick! My eldest is brilliant at it!
LikeLike
Yeah, the fake cry… Unfortunately the youngest has the best “sad face” which is not really a face but a whole body droop and it gets people every time, so I don’t see it going away soon… The eldest is much less convincing so it should clear up…
LikeLike
I think “finding sense of humour even within chaos” would be the ideal way to management but is occasionally lost on me…;)
Jen started a Handy Travel Helps page on Andthreego while MadPsychMum posted her handy travel tools (http://www.madpsychmum.com/), which have initiated good conversations on what one really needs for travels and what makes it easier.
LikeLike
Sigh – I lose my sense of humour all the time…
Thanks for the link! Just checked it out. Always love your blog recommendations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
First I had to google ‘Limerick’ (pulling the card of not being a native English Speaker, I know so freaking lame) and then wish I did not have because now I am screwed and do feel i have to take up the challenge
In the middle of the night a mommy
Thought her life was so busy, so crazy
Only to learn again that there is always time
To read little things and suddenly feel sublime
Merci beaucoup Bronwyn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The poetry around here tonight is amazing 🙂 I salute you for being up in the middle of the night researching and writing it.
LikeLike
I swear it depends on the day, minute, second or whatever as to what works with Z. Currently it is discussion and then when that doesn’t work, losing a toy for the day. I am really hoping she doesn’t charge me for counseling bills when she grows up.
LikeLike
In our family, sometimes I think it should be me charging the kids for counselling bills when they grow up. 🙂
Did you read anything cool lately?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so behind on reading posts lately… I have been so busy with other projects 🙂 I was all ready to get caught up and now we have someone coming to stay with us through the weekend. I don’t think I will ever get caught up. haha. I hope I will someday though…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have given up on being caught up 🙂 Enjoy your visitors!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“I’m still waiting to see whether “skilled” and “screwed up” are mutually exclusive or not.”
That applies equally to adults as it does to children. lol
LikeLike
Sounds like the words of a man who knows some adults with screwed-up skills…
LikeLike
Ohhh.
LikeLike
Yes! That’s what the random number was for.
LikeLike
There once was a kid who just cried
Great pillowy sobs, but he lied.
The tears were just fake
Which his brother thought great
And on this scene his mother spied
(And thankfully shared with us in WordPress).
LikeLiked by 1 person
In a different internet forum I’d probably be vilified for photographing this scene. Which is why (kids) you should stay off the internet (and stay in school).
LikeLike
Haha. You’re amongst your own kind here. No vilification, only empathy and gratefulness that you’re happy to share. 🙂
LikeLike
I saw them surfing the river in Munich last time I was there! So cool!
And my short limerick – There… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I’m not going to enter a fight over short limericks with that one. Let’s just say you win 🙂 Brevity never was my strong point…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You had me at ‘I win’ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are times I just have to shake my head and leave – because I know where Mr. T learned all of those life skills from! 🙂
LikeLike
It’s scary to think about where they picked certain things up… still. Everything has its time and place, right?
LikeLike
Thank you my gorgeous fellow blogger! xxx
LikeLike
It struck such a note with me. Thanks for writing it.
LikeLike
Excellent. It’s good to know that they’re actually gaining skills when I thought I was just screwing them up. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m still waiting to see whether “skilled” and “screwed up” are mutually exclusive or not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, definitely like the random limerick idea 🙂 Definitely enjoyed the multi-cultural twist at the end.
Perhaps we will give it a try,
Created by Fives on the Fly,
It’s random indeed.
But all that you need,
Are words that fall down from the sky.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha! Brilliant. And very random. Now last time we did this in the comments it ended up as a limerick-off… but I’m holding myself off for now in case you don’t want to… say the word, though…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, try me again when I am not 30 blogs behind in reading. 🙂
LikeLike
I know the feeling. 🙂 But ok – anything you’re reading now you want to share?
LikeLike
There once was a blogger from Singapore,
Who believed that time was an open door,
So she put on her hat,
And started a chat,
To urge that followers write a limerick— or more. ☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s 2:01am. I think Awesome limerick, but I think I’ll have to respond more properly in the morning 🙂
LikeLike
I’d have to ask what the heck are you doing up at 2:01 AM? 🙂
LikeLike
Basically, I was trying to delay the experience of waking up, because I knew I had a particularly early start this morning, and I hate particularly early starts. That is the sort of logic that mainly makes sense at 2am, and even then, probably not to everyone.
There once was a girl with caffeine
Which is how she still carried the scene
By nightfall today
Her mind will be frayed
But for now she is still bright and keen
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Oh how I know that. There is nothing like having to get up early to catch a flight to guarantee that I won’t sleep. And yes, I appreciate the limerick. 🙂 –C
LikeLiked by 1 person