Ada's Pandemic views

 At bedtime the other night we were discussing yet another thing we couldn't do because of the pandemic.  

Ada looked sadly up at me and said "Mom, COVID has had too long of a turn."  

Amen.  That is a message I think I might print on a mask!

Mad about boxes

I came in to the kids bedroom awhile ago to Max and Darwyn embroiled in a heated argument.  Darwyn had acquired a box and Max was fighting for his right to it.  The whole fight struck me as a little odd.  The girls love boxes.  They offer no end of craft opportunities.  But Max, who isn't much into crafts, hasn't shown much interest in boxes in awhile.  

Surprised by this, I asked "Why do you want a box anyway, Max?"

"I want to sleep with it."

"Sorry?"

"I want to sleep with it."

"You want to sleep with it..." I said slowly.  

"Yes," Max replied evenly.

I know boxes are supposed to be the toy where your imagination is the limit, but they never struck me as particularly cuddly.  Max explained to me that he wanted to sleep in the box, which was only a minor improvement.  He already sleeps in a claustrophobic bunk bed with a roof so low he can't sit up, but apparently it is too spacious.  He and Darwyn decided that he could have the next two boxes if she got this one.

Unfortunately for Max the next box that arrived was rather small.  It was just barely large enough to fit his head, and shallow enough that it was more of a hat than a house.  But he was not to be deterred.  He insisted that this was his box.  Ada, who had not been in on the previous bargin, felt she should have a turn with the box.  What's more, she felt that sleeping with a box was just about the best idea anyone had ever had.  Even a box that was more of a hat.  After further lengthy negotiation they agreed that they would take turns sleeping with the box.  

Can you spot Max sleeping in his box?

Max got the first turn and took the box to bed.  He set it up at the top of his bed and slept with the top 1/4 of his head inside.  Ada and Darwyn found this inadequate.  Ada resorted to sleeping with the box beside her as a cuddle toy.  When I came in to wake up Darwyn on the third morning she was fast asleep on her back with the box perched precariously on her abdomen.  I wish I had thought to grab my camera.  

For the following 2 weeks the kids took turns sleeping with the box until it was so destroyed it was (apparently) not even adequate for sleeping with.  

Darwyn meets The Hobbit

I just finished reading The Hobbit with Max and Darwyn.  Max and I first read the book together back in 2014 and I wrote about it then.  This is the first time Darwyn's heard the story.  They both loved it.

Our favourite chapter is Riddles in the Dark, wherein Bilbo discovers the ring.  Darwyn loves Gollum and was bouncing off the walls that night.  She took the book to bed and reread all the riddles.  She posed the riddles to her friends at school the next day.  She made new riddles of her own.

Building on our success with The Hobbit, we've decided to start The Lord of the Rings.  I've warned Darwyn that these books are much longer and slower-paced.  We'll see how it goes.  We finished chapter 1.  Bilbo's birthday party had twelve dozen guests.  I asked Darwyn how many guests that is and she computed the answer all by herself in her head.

Ada's first thoughts on government

 Max has been learning about rights and freedoms at school.  At dinner one night he went on a rant about freedom of speech.  

Max:  I want to know why kids don't have freedom of speech at school!  We aren't allowed to express our opinions.

Greta:  Well, I think you can if you do so respectfully.  There is a difference between freedom of speech and slander.

Gus:  Yes, freedom of speech is more like not being able to express your views about a bad government.

Through this conversation Ada was eating her dinner and largely ignoring what we were saying.  At the mention of the word government she perked right up.

Ada: Yes!  Government!  What I want to know is why the government is giving everybody else money, but nobody is giving me any money!

She wasn't pleased when we all started laughing.  Not sure where she got the idea that the government was giving us all money (maybe CERB?), but I might have to quote her on a T-shirt.

Democracy

 Max is studying political systems in class.  Today Max was telling me about democracy. 

Max:  Mom, I want to know why our classroom is not a democracy.  

Me:  That is a good question.  Perhaps you should ask your teacher that question.  In all honesty, Max, there are conditions under which a democracy doesn't work very well.

Max:  Yeah, like when you don't have an odd number of people.

Standards

 Ada was sitting at the table colouring.  While she worked she was chattering away to me.

Ada: Mom, do you know how no matter what I draw you love it?

Greta:  Yes

Ada:  While on this drawing I need to do my best work.  This is for my friends and they are not like you.

First Day of School

 The kids all recently had their first day of school with the new COVID regime.  I was a little worried about how they would like it, particularly Max who is going to school full time for the first time in a long while.  After his first day I ask him, "How was school Max?"

Max:  Ok I guess.  We played some fun games during gym.

Greta: What about the learning?

Max:  That wasn't too bad either.  I was able to tune most of it out.