Small Ponies. Big Dreams.

Shetland Pony Club, Cobham, Surrey

We had a weekend planned that sounded amazing on paper: French toast breakfasts, Legoland, Pizza Delivery, and a Pony Party. Yet still it had some tense moments. I often obsess about timing and plans. I like to have every minute planned with rationale. This doesn’t always stop me/us from being late, but in my mind it helps keep us moving forward in an organized (read: controlled) manner. This is the controlling part of me. I like to control what each of us does all the time. Sometimes this is helpful, but often it doesn’t go over the way I intend.

I’ll spare you the details, but I’ll just say that Saturday got off to a rough start. Nevertheless, we continued to LegoLand for a very crowded day at the park. Dave and I ended the day watching, “The Game.” We were still a bit edgy with each other, but didn’t go to bed mad.

And then came Sunday. The Pony Party.

Small ponies…Big dreams.

That’s what the brochure said. K2 was invited to his very first pony party. Twins in his class invited both Pre-K classes (18 children) to ride ponies for their birthday. We didn’t know what to expect, but I had a feeling it would not be the deal where ponies are hooked up to a turnstyle and simply go around and around. I was right. 

This was straight up “Legends of the Fall” territory but mini. Possibly the most adorable event I have ever seen. Each child had a pony that they helped groom, saddle, bridle, and feed. It was very hands on and wonderful. The kids rode around the Surrey hills while K2 played back at the ranch. K1’s pony’s name was Batman. He loved that. The adults had sparkling beverages while we sat waiting on couches made of hay bales. The event finished off with a snack box, fancy cupcakes and goody bags. I have to say, it was a magical event for the kids AND the adults. At least for me anyway. A pony party was something in my 6 year old dreams. 

So perhaps the lesson I need to walk away with is to try to let go of my need to control everything and remember to just let things fall into place. Small ponies. Big dreams.

What am I good at?

Hampton Park Palace

All teachers need to have an after-school duty/activity that they lead or assist at least two afternoons per week until 5pm. I need to do this for two out of three trimesters. After looking at the list of opportunities when I first arrived, I chose to assist with middle school yoga and couldn’t wait for class to begin. Unfortunately, it never did. They didn’t need me after all. 

So then I was tapped to lead Lower School Art Club. Yeah Right. They obviously haven’t seen my version of an art project. The parents would have rebelled in no time when kids started coming home with plates of glitter and yarn. I declined the invitation. So…I ended up without an activity to be a part of for the Fall Trimester. In the grand scheme of things, this worked out well because I have more time to figure out how life works here and juggle kid transportation at the end of the day.

But recently I started stressing again. What activity could I be a part of for the winter and spring trimesters? The activities secretary just emailed and asked if I’d coach cheerleading. Um, NO. It would be fun for about 15 minutes. I learned that from my short stint as a dance coach for EHS.

I proposed a study skills class for struggling learners in the middle school…but there really aren’t too many struggling learners so it was rejected.

As I sat brooding about the options, my co-worker posed the question, “What are you good at?” Huh. I was stumped. What am I good at? Really good at? I don’t sew. I’m not crafty. There’s no sport I’m knowledgeable enough to coach. Kind of depressing.

I came home and posed the question to Dave, “What am I good at?” Funny how I couldn’t think of anything and immediately he responded with “service.” Ding, ding, ding. Yes! I love to serve and volunteer. I love working with people. I love helping. And yes, I think I’m good at it. So…I reached out to the woman who runs the service trips and service learning department and low and behold she’s in need of some help! We met and hit it off right away. Deep exhale of relief and happiness.

I will take on the service learning component for the lower school (elementary), help with the K-12 service learning vision, and international student service learning conference held at TASIS this coming February. I am SO excited. I can do this. I’m good at it.

And finally, the flea update you’ve been waiting for: THE NEW CARPET IS IN!!! The fleas are dead and gone and we can sweep our kitchen floor now without finding cat hair everywhere! Life is good.

Hampton Court Palace

Tour of Britain

Thorpe Park Triathlon (Sprint Distance)

Meal from one of our favorite Indian restaurants. We can walk there AND I can speak Bangla with the servers. Love it.

The cake at the birthday party Kaler attended last weekend. 18 kids. Wow.

One month.

Our new Banksy wall decal helps bring the place to life.

One month. We’ve been in our home for one month! I think we can all agree that it feels like longer. I’ll refer back to my second blog post when I talked about the ‘settling in’ period. I think we are pretty much settled at this point. We are receiving junk mail in my name, we have a morning routine that’s solid, we’ve had the obligatory once a month trip to London, Dave has a group bike ride that he likes, I’ve found a Monday night yoga class that I think will work, K1 loves his uniform, and I’ve already made a couple Sunday “roasts” (none involved roasts) and I even threw in a French yoghurt cake this week. I know. Who am I? And why didn’t I know what a springform cake tin was before? That thing is amazing!

We’re feeling better. Dave and I even got to go out on a date this week. We took a babysitter recommendation and she was a hit with the kids.

 

K2 at the Princess Diana of Wales memorial playground

Little things are still more stressful than we’d like them to be, but much of that can be attributed to the fact that K2 is 19 months old and has NO FEAR. This is the stage when people cave and buy a child-leash. I can’t do that, but I think I might buy an Ergo baby carrier. I know he’s not a baby, but he’s well below the max weight limit. You see, K2 launches himself out of the stroller and will run like the wind into oncoming traffic or a lake. He’s a babbling ball of energy and love. Thank God for our childminder, Jenny. She’s a star and we adore her. She takes care of K2 while we’re working, along with her son and another little girl; both are two. That’s it. Daycare ratios in the UK are wonderfully low. Expensive, but I like the value. Jenny sends us photos and texts daily, spends a lot of time outdoors, and can do great voices for book characters!

 

Double-decker bus! 

Saturdays seem to be our excursion day and Sunday is the day to stick close to home. I like this. Last week we scrapped the Hampton Court Palace plan to go into London to meet friends and yesterday we ventured south to Littlehampton beach. It was about 71 degrees and we wanted to take advantage of the balmy weather. The kids are good car travelers (they are strapped in), and we enjoy seeing the countryside. We continue to be amazed with the number of roundabouts and narrow little roads. It seems there is no straight shot to anywhere. And driving on the left feels almost normal. I guess that means we’re settled.

Sitting on the longest bench in the world! Littlehampton, UK