Brought the kids climbing again today, and starting teaching them how to belay. I let them practice on one another, but was on stand by, and very proactively intervened / took over in some cases.

Baby-F was really stressed and scared about walking down at first. He was afraid Big Boy O, who was belaying him, would drop him. After I let him belay his brother, he was much more comfortable coming down. He realised that: 1) There was actually quite a lot of friction in the rope, and it is really easy to be safe with some very basic actions, especially given their weight, 2) I was really on the ball, and would take over as soon we it looked like he was struggling, and therefore his brother’s life wasn’t really in his hands (and vice versa).

***

Separately, earlier this week, I heard Baby-F crying in bed one night. When I asked him what his problem was, he said – between sobs – that he had no more glue, because he used his glue badly and had finished using his glue (WHAT?!! In TWO WEEKS?!!!!). And he didn’t dare to tell Papa and his brother because they would say “What? You’re so stupid etc” But he has no more glue.

On one hand, I am genuinely surprised and shocked that he managed to finish a whole glue stick in a week (did he EAT it??!!). On the other hand, I also think it’s not something he should be crying over. It’s really sad that he’s so stressed and so distressed about something as minor as a glue stick.

I calmed him, and asked if he can use the school’s glue for one day (because there were no nearby shops open for me to buy glue at that hour), and that I will secretly buy and replace his glue without telling his brother.

The next day he reminded me in a whisper, so his brother wouldn’t overhear (I had completely forgotten!!), which I thanked him for. Later that day, I went out and bought 5 glue sticks and labelled one with his name, and put it in his bag.

I suspect that maybe someone took his glue stick, or lost it. It doesn’t make sense that he finished a whole stick in a week. Regardless, I’m glad that he shared with me, so I could sort it out, rather than feeling tortured. I suppose children have their own children’s logic, as Big Boy O, once declared to me. It can be difficult to imagine what goes on in their lovely, brilliant little brains.

***

Another incident in the commute to school this week. At some point the kids sat separately, because one kid (Baby F) found a seat and refused to budge, and the other (Big Boy O) insisted on going ahead to find another seat.

First… someone else muttered that I’m a terrible parent to let my kids walk ahead on their own. (Really??!!).

I asked Baby-F to stay put, and followed Big Boy O to a location where he found multiple seats… I couldn’t see him actually, because I had ‘lost’ him while briefing Baby-F. It was a passenger who let me know: “Your son is here”. I was like, oh, thank you.

Then I went back and collected Baby-F, and we walked back up the train to find Big-Boy-O. It was quite busy and I was walking quite briskly to find him while calling out his name… and again someone said: “Your son is here”, but I glanced quickly around and didn’t see Big Boy O, so I brushed the guy off and said: “I’m looking for my other son”. But after I had walked ahead a bit more, the guy came looking for me again and / or I decided to turn back. And there he was. The guy said that Big Boy O apparently deliberately hid his face and kept quiet when I passed by (What?! Really?!), even though he asked him: “Isn’t that your mum?” I was grateful that the guy helped me, but also slightly embarrassed. The guy just commented with a chuckle: “Boys will be boys, eh?”