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Showing posts from 2012

That awkward moment when you realise the cowfish is bigger than the shark.

First week of school holidays. I get up and thank Archie for letting mummy sleep in so late. Archie suggests reward for himself - game of badminton for us in the rain but we agree instead to drawing undersea tableaux. Assemble large piece of paper, coloured pencils and sticker book of sea creatures for inspiration. Agree Archie will draw shark with me assigned to humble cowfish. Unfortunately forego discussion on scale and upset erupts when we realise Cowfish is much bigger than shark, not reflecting reality. I explain perspective — that maybe Cowfish is closer to us and shark off in background. Explanation makes thing worse. Shark meant to be major player, capable of eating Cowfish. Explain again principles of perspective. Ruby is laughing. Archie is angry at older sister laughing, after all what is so funny? Send Ruby to bedroom. Agree to begin new undersea tableaux where shark is major player. Careful to check specifications for new Cowfish. Cowfish gets axe. Further clarification

The sex life of bugs.

One of Archie's favourite things to do is collect bugs and study them. Every month my mother buys him a bug magazine that comes with a collectable real life insect or bug petrified in a block of perspex. Can't help but notice bug magazine editors are obsessed with bug sex. Every time walk past Archie's room at bed time Col is reading him the latest instalment of bug sex life in lurid detail. "Eeeew" I think to myself. "Don't be so immature!" Col calls out. Ooops. Had not realised I was thinking aloud again. After school Archie catches a Cricket then studies reference material to determine the cricket is female. He then sets outside again to find cricket a life partner to mate with. Jackpot! Doesn't take long. My, that was quick! I say. Archie introduces crickets to one another then sets about making their tupperware home comfortable, complete with flower petals (their preferred food) and some mood setting grass. Having read they lay their eggs