Being the frugal sort, we like to make the most of cheap deals at the local bowling alley. There aren't many pluses to half term, but early-morning cheap bowling is one of them.
Plus, of course, biscuits are an essential ingredient of any trip out.
(do you like our 'ghostly visitor' on the left of that photo?)
Later, we head to a local museum, for a question-and-answer session with an astronomer, taking a couple of other children with us. There's no space to sit with the children, so I sit apart and a little behind them.
It is just as well. At approximately 3 minute intervals dd declares in a loud-enough-for-everyone-to-hear voice that she's 'finding this a bit boring, and can we go now?' I hiss 'No'. And gesture for her to stay seated. Suddenly it seems she is unable to understand my usual disapproving-mother sign language. 'What?!' she says.
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| Can I go now? |
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| Moon and Mars rock |
In between the questions about the composition of Mars, our youngest companion child puts up his hand and asks earnestly whether there are magnetic teapots in space.
The woman is flummoxed. 'No I don't think so dear. No that isn't right.'
His sister tries to explain where he has obtained this information, and how, actually he *is* right.
The woman lowers her voice to a whisper and does that patronising nodding thing that adults who aren't used to children do when faced with a child's unusual question. I look straight ahead.
'I'm bored, can we go now?' A small, familiar voice pipes up from across the room.
I smile and, for a moment, pretend that I have no children.
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| Despair at encountering home educated children |
