The weather is warm, the sea is inviting..

Hz is in his 4rd week now, and is definitely a boy, i.e. more demanding! This heat is not for him and is only happy if I am holding him, the car seat being to insulating I think. But mashAllah, it does feel that there is a difference between day and night, and I haven’t found myself pacing up and down at 2 a.m. (yet!) DH is back off to London for a few days so will have the big ones to think about more as DH has been keeping them busy recently. H has got a new bike without stabilisers which he has already mastered. He’s been practising the balancing aspect at nursery on these special little 2 wheeled bikes with no pedals they recently acquired.

H has also been asking (again at around 10.30 p.m.) to start reading books and chose (yes, chose!) a Peter and Jane ladybird book. After I had directed him from book 4 to book 1 (which he was relieved to find had only a few words per page) he started the book and tried really hard, and went through 1a and 1b. He needs a lot of guidance but I'll help him as much as he asks, as he is only almost 5. Biryani got hold of a book and has already picked up she needs to point at a word and say 'Peter' and 'Jane' mashAllah , v cute.

I also managed to locate the free ‘water activity’ centre which is by the sea fairly near home. So they first tried the extended boots and caught some shrimps and a few other bits of marine life. S now wants to get an aquarium, but I just can’t think where we could put it (lack of space plus younger ones would not be able to resist). Then yesterday they went back to be a little more adventurous and try snorkelling for the first time. They were able to borrow wet suits and masks etc and actually enjoyed it. S was interviewed by a local paper journalist while he was there and his besnorkled picture made it into today’s local paper!

Also they’ve been getting v enthusiastic about a money-making activity, which when I originally suggested, and had rejected as it was too ‘embarrassing’. But when they found it was so easy pickings they’ve now become local bottle recyclers. By the beach so many people leave their empty bottles, most of which give you about 20p deposit back. They’ve made quite a few kronor for only a few hours ‘work’ (cycling around the beach area) and hopefully done a little for the environment at the same time. People are just too well-off here that they can’t be bothered to take home their rubbish. That’s probably why they’re actually increasing the amount of deposit you have to pay on each bottle soon in Sweden.

And to leave on what could be a sad note, we received the letter from the appeal court that our home ed application has been rejected by them as well. It was not a surprise. I only skim read the lengthy documents they sent me, but I noticed they were not happy I had given almost the same application for both children despite them being different ages (although I’d included the age-level appropriate goals for each of them).It just seems like they’re basically agreeing with the guy who made the original decision that I can’t provide an equivalent of school especially the social training *pulls out hair* But actually I’m calm about it because in fact S has told me a couple of times he’s actually prepared to return to school and that ‘I don’t need to argue with them any more’. M already changed his mind that he wants to go back to school at the beginning of the holidays. It was going to be a strange dilemma if they had given the permission and then the boys didn’t want to be home-educated (although after a couple of weeks back at school I expect their enthusiasm for institutionalisation will have waned). But I have been aware I must not be doing this for me, but for them to achieve the best in their education, for Allah’s sake. This must be what is best for us at this moment in time and must remember, nothing stays the same.

was a bit ambitious today..

S had his friend over for a long weekend and they managed to get creative on
one of the days and build a lego theme park inspired by recent trips I think, plus we'd recently received the lego magazine which had a picture of a ferris wheel that some children had sent in)

Now the friend has gone home the 'I'm bored' came out so I dared to let the poster paints out the box, and also let S bake a cake. Altogether a bit much when you've got a 2 week old baby, but alhamdulillah, the house is intact (bar a slightly grey (after scrubbing) kitchen wall that Biryani decided to start painting black (reminded me of one of my sister's student housemates who decided to paint his walls black one day). The textured wallpaper has to go from the kitchen..

Some pics, from pre- baby and post...

I thought I'd lost this picture, I took a couple of weeks ago. It was a beautiful evening, which also revealed how we are lliving under a flight path, so when the weather's right there are many white/ pink edged streaks across the sky.

Some 'armour' we fashioned out of foil and cardboard, which needless to say did not perform it's intended function too well and H was not highly impressed. Shall have to think about this one more carefully. Anyhow the nieghbour downstairs will be glad I was not so successful as she was rather fed up with their gladiator re-enactment game and came and complained about the noise :( I was thinking it wasn't as noisy as some their other 'chasing' type games - yes , we need a house, or a ground floor flat...inshaAllah.

Now I've been meaning to take a picture of these beautiful hollihocks which adorn so many of the pavement edges around where we live. I finally managed to remember to take my camera with me on our 'get the labour going' stroll (this was obviously when contractions were about 8- 10 minutes apart....)



POST-BABY: need I say more..

and my 'should-be' sponsors:

and my new (I use this term loosely as I actually bought it when pregnant with Biryani, but it's been left in the cellar waiting for someone to install it ) work-top, and I am ever so grateful to DH for getting onto the phone and getting it sorted pretty quick for this baby, plus I have shelves, shelves rather than everything stuffed in a cardboard box. (It doesn't take much to please me..) I just need to get some matching storage boxes, but can't face IKEA right now..

and H's view of breakfast (rye flour pancakes), he just loves taking pictures
and the worksheet I mustered up for H which he wanted to do at 10.30 p.m. the night before but I just did not have the energy. So I did it the next morning (after he reminded me)

and he's arrived!

alhamdulillah, baby #5 has arrived safe and sound, weighing about 9 lb and has also got 'H' as the first letter of his name, so will be using Hz as abbreviation (if he likes physics then so be it!)
He's beena reminder of how the boys were, in terms of using up nappies/ clothes etc Biryani was just a brief interlude from this, but I'm still loving it,and I think I'm over all the tearful bit (why am I crying, I am so happy ?!?).
the other kids are well chuffed, esp H, who wants to hold him so much. maybe he's glad to finally not be the youngest boy...
Posts likely to be short for a while for obvious reasons (although lots to write).

Things look to be kicking off now, let's see if I can write a quick post in less tha 10 minutes as this seems to be the space between contractions now. It's going to be strange if baby born tonight as he/she'll have the same birthday as me. Anyhow may be another false start, I mean I don't think I should be able to type a post during labour really?! I remember a midwife for my first baby told me I couldn't be in labour as I was smiling and laughing (little did she know!)
H has taken it upon himself to want to learn to read some more words today. Normally not much interest but he was proud of himself for sounding out and reading 'vet' in an 'abc' book, and so he wanted to continue with the magnetic fridge letters. I really don't want to dampen his enthusiasm, but if things progress I'll have to leave this for a few days!

Colours everywhere

The pleasant view I get from a bench near my flat. The housing association has bought some rather tasteful new garden furniture too. My camera couldn't qute capture the vibrancy of the left hand side purple flowers, but they are amazing mashAllah.

Some luscious looking green plants which I think will have white flowers soon, any plant experts out there know their name?

and a new activity to keep eager artists busy, 'sidewalk chalks' which are v popular here in Sweden. Yes you are allowed to draw on the pavement dear daughter (I'm assuming!?!) Normally all she hears from me is 'Draw on PAPER' as she is especially keen on drawing on the pictures in books. It must be confusing for her as she is handed colouring books with no ensuing reprimands.Horizon a bit wonky, I'm not so good at bending down nowadays (due to stomach), well that's my excuse anyway..
and the boys had a go too
It hasn't rained since Sunday (when we did this) so the pavement out the back is still colourfully displaying their work.

Have to go soon as DH's flight has landed and due to pick him up. Contractions have been coming now and again but have been staving them off with the thought that I still have to hand in my appeal and send a copy registered post too. I would have done it today but needs DH's signature. I don't want to risk it being made invalid without it (or pp ing it) and don't feel comfortable faking his. The hand in date could be Monday, although I rang to try and confirm, but the lady I needed to talk to was on holiday til Monday. Her colleague said it should be a bit later than that as I didn't actually receive the decision in writing till a week later than the meeting. However I don't want to give them any chance to reject the appeal. It would seem silly not to get permission just because I missed a deadline. So no proper contractions please until I've been to the Post Office in the morning. (I resisted going out today for a stroll even though beautiful weather as don't want to get things going) .

We love whiteboards

I felt really demotivated to do anything today, but just lying in bed seemed to make me feel mentally worse, just thinking about negative stuff (appeal etc), feeling so big. Yesterday’s midwife check did in fact show that my size has suddenly zipped up on the graph, but like everything else is ‘normal’, which I should be grateful for. So my hunger and generally feeling like a whale out of water is not unfounded.
So anyway with Allah’s help I got up to have a cup of Roobibos and just got on with the ‘work’ I’ve started up with S and M this holiday. I’ve been procrastinating stuff like this, excuses such as waiting for permission to home ed, waiting to feel physically 100% etc have been whispered in my ear. So we’ve started going through Al Fatihah, making a mini book, which I hope we can incorporate later with something about Salat later on. I know the boys do see the prayer often as a chore, and not knowing what they are saying must contribute to this. So I’m hoping that this activity is including work on: Arabic reading, writing, tajweed, Arabic vocab, English vocab, English spelling/writing, and a bit of art/ craft. It’s certainly making me learn stuff..

H had his 6 year old friend over from daycare the other day, some socialisation (!). Well the boys learnt a new social skill from said friend, how to make a fart sound with your armpit!? The fact that it has to be slightly wet under the arm to work actually meant they were more than willing to take a shower. This is quite unusual as usually it takes a lot of persuasion to get them in, esp the hair washing bit. If I didn’t force them to take a bath I expect it wouldn’t happen until their mates started commenting on the smell.
In fact I worked out a simple way to reduce water in eyes during hair washing. Basically gravity is used by getting child to look up to the ceiling. You have to be quite quick though I think to avoid a stiff neck!

And Biryani was so pleased with herself mashaAllah at having completed all these puzzles herself

'I did it mama I did it!'

Now must go and make something to eat, just a small portion for me (I'll try)...

It is possible in Sweden

as shown by this video clip/ article. It's obviously in Swedish, but you can see the happiness in the family member's faces, especially the children and almost idyllic setting..

The girl having not had any 'social träning' is more than confident to answer the interviewer's questions..

Today's update

the last post was written last night, but I was too tired to upload it last night.
I found the membership cards actually quite easily.
Anyhow the main update is that I received the written decision about the home ed application, and have 3 weeks to appeal. In fact I think it's 3 weeks from the meeting date so have less time to get it in. I thought I'd have the whole summer to do this, but now with baby delivery looking ominous I've just got to get on with it. The written letter also put that they think it will be hard for me to provide the same opportunities and knowledge that they can get in school. When did he mention this in the meeting?!
If anyone has some up to date evidence about social skills development in children who are home educated versus school (obviously positive for home ed) then please paste the link, so I can have more evidence to back me up inshAllah.

blogger is acting strange or is it me?

It wants to underline all my text I've pasted next to my pictures, so decided to do pics on previous post
I’m hungry all the time, so have just tried to satisfy the need for food with a banana, instead of some chocolate. However Biryani decided she wanted half of it, so who am I to refuse. Chocolate seems extra appealing right now, but I’m highly aware of this ever expanding bump which I do not want to overfeed, and end up having to push out a 10 pounder.
I saw this article on Sky news and asked Suhayb if he could name any illegal drugs; he said ‘Beer’ LOL.
After too much time on the Xbox, I dragged them out to the library, despite the ominous looking clouds. I was motivated to go as soon a s I could by the fact I’d finally found the library ladybird book that has been lost for ages (The Billy Goats Gruff) and had to give it in asap to avoid a fine of about £13. The kind librarian explained the receipt I got when I handed it in that my fine was now 0 kronor. I think he was a student earning some extra money, some of the others may have given me a stern look, if not a lecture about bringing books back on time. Not that I don’t deserve it, but this book was genuinely lost, and has made me go through nearly every cubbyhole and box in the house. It’s amazing how many places there are to lose stuff in in such a small flat. I need something to get me to sort through and throw out stuff, so losing an item isn’t all bad. Now I have to find the housing association membership cards so the kids can get a discount at the funfair in a couple of weeks. I might just phone up and order some new ones but I can imagine there’ll be a charge. My mum always used to blame the ‘Borrowers’, I blame my disorganisation.
S wasn’t interested in taking out books, whilst the younger ones, esp H, gathered mountains of them. I found a few that could possibly interest S, of which only the factual were deemed worthy of taking out. M was motivated by the annual summer holiday thing of reading and writing 5 book reviews and then you get a free book as a prize. I can’t stop thinking as to whether it’s too much screens that has put them off reading, or if this was just going to happen anyway. In fact S has been making an effort to do other things this holidays, I think to show he’s not addicted (!) and persuade his Dad to let him buy a PSP.
The good bit about getting them out of the house is it gives some fresh air, exercise, and more of a chance to talk. M asked me if a man can have 2 wives in Sweden. I said it’s not officially allowed here. Then he asked about England. Then he went on to say it would be good to have 2 Daddies as they could help me more. I’m not sure where he got this idea from, but I assured him it would actually mean more work for me rather than a help;)
Biryani and H have been playing pretend cats and dogs while I type, with Biryani making some v cute noises as a cat and wanting to be led around the house wither comfort blanket used as a lead.
And now she’s been as frustrated with me as me wither. Firstly she was looking around sying ‘Where’s brush?’ repeatedly. There were 2 hairbrushes lying around and it was the situation where you point and look to wher something is but hte other person just can’t see the wood for the trees. But in fact she had seen them, and it was her toothbrush she was looking for. Now she wanted to have some yoghurts, but was v upset as I had separated 2 of them and she wanted them together. When I presented her with some other, unseparated ones they were hastily hurled onto the floor. It’s the ‘No!’ to everything age, however much they really want it. We don’t do compliance...

2 Verses I read yesterday that struck a chord with me.
2: 268 ‘Shaitan threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit Fahssha (sins) whereas Allah promises you forgiveness from Himself and bounty, and Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.’
2:263 Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury. And Allah is Rich and he is Most-Forbearing.’
The latter being particularly relevant just now, as the poor kids have been getting a bit too much sharpness from me lately, not helped by tiredness and general tension.
Anyhow, hospital bags pretty much packed, car seat sorted out and baby clothes in drawers ready. All that’s needed now is sabr and DH to come back inshAllah...

Too much of this...Do I detect dragging of feet (trip to library) and lots of books to peruse and inshAllah not lose.

S asked me to post these photos below, they are of a game he made, which he was proud of , and 'does not need batteries'

we had to buy some ice lollies (after a great deal of persuasion)as he needed more sticks ..

Waiting

for DH to return, and baby to come safely into the world inshAllah. Meanwhile I have had a bit of a head cold with that burning behind the eyes feeling you get if looking at the internet too long (but I don't think that's it as it's the same whether I use the computer or not!)
We went out to the park after supper last night, Maghrib isn't n until almost 10 pm so plenty of time. I had a nice photo of all the kids playinng, but can't locate the pixelator thingy on this new computer and so you'll have to look at these seagulls which inhabit our area, and appear to never sleep. Although we are near the sea it dosn't feel like it, no smell of salt water etc. But at 3 am when they're squawking away it's hard to forget.

Not sure wha these flowers are but pretty , mashAllah.

And today , despite the headache I baked this 'sockerkaka' for the first time with my new cake mould. Alhamdulillah it turned out OK and is proper comfort food. Despite the high proportion of sugar in it, it wasn't so sweet. Normally I bake when I have old fruit to use up, I'm like that, will only be inspired by ingredients that need using up, rather than going out and buying things for a recipe from scratch. DH says it stems from my student days. Is it something in me preparing for harder times? I do think we are so fortunate and take our lifestyles for granted. I watched the video on Kate's blog on the story of stuff. Wondering round the supermarket today as we had run out of a few things, and the huge trolley seeming empty. I could easily have filled it with stuff I don't really need,and the way our culture is its hard to resist, but I did. Yesterday I was clearing out a drawer (to try and make space for another little bod's clothes) and found some odd socks to throw a way. I already have a old sock to stick on my mop handles to get the cobwebs, so was going to bin them. Then I played around and in a minute or so made a little swadddled baby for Biryani to play with. It needs a lot of imagination but she actually has taken to it becoming quite protective of it. Actually it looks a bit like a worm in a ccoon. So any more ideas of what to do with odd socks?!

Managed to find my camera before cake was completely devoured.....

No it's not an amputated foot, it's a baby?!?!

Sponges..

'Chill out Mum, I'm only just 2 (who'd have a speech therapist for a mother?!)'

These spongy shapes kept Biryani amused for a while. She knows that shapes are called 'circle, square,' etc ,numbers are 'four, five', letters' a,b, z' etc and colours 'yellow, pink'etc. Now whether she picks precisiely the right label for the concept is another matter. She usually plays it safe and calls any shape 'circle-square'.

So as I type a quasi-fight is going on between 2 younger boys, but is more disturbing as the sponges are being squeezed out and all manner of rude words are coming out in English (mainly with a Swedish accent), Swedish and Arabic. Meanwhile Biryani is happily repeating surah al-fatihah and counting up to 15 as she colours M's Bamse (a swedish cartoon bear) colouring book. A sponge will absorb whatever it's placed upon, not only pure water..

I have been doing final preparations for baby, Biryani has been transferred to the boy's room, and she actually slept in there without a fuss, and I think I slept better for it too. I've been having difficulty sleeping so well recently, particularly after praying Fajr, what with baby wriggling, ongoing stress, and hunger (I had a first breakfast at 4.30 am the other day, sun well up by then, so didn't feel so strange)

and the answer is...

no

:( they have refused on grounds that they cannot get the 'social träning' through home education. I really did not expect that to be their argument to say no. The decision had been delegated to the Utbildningschef, he had called me for a meeting to tell me in person before he sends it to me in writing. I asked if there was anything I could say to change his mind: no.
I questioned how all the kids in the UK and US who are home educated manage to develop socially , he replied something along the lines that as Sweden is different having 'skolplikten' , that although parents are v important in terms of their kids education, 'social träning' is what the schools are responsible for. I questioned how did the other children in Sweden get permission to be home educated. He concluded they must have had to appeal. Basically its his own opinion based on no evidence. I asked how would you measure 'social träning' and he admitted there was no precise way. No offence but who as a population are more socially at ease, Scandinavians or Americans?
This was where I had to hold my tongue and not say something along the lines that I will provide an equivalent to school social training, by making them sit in silence to do their work for at least 30 minutes at a time and then take them outside and teach them at least 3 newswear words every day, with or without correct explanation of their meanings. Then I will tease them for even trying to obey any rules we may have. Do I sound a tad angry, well now I suppose I have to go through the appeals process. I feel I have had my fair share of bureaucracy for one year ...
If they'd said it was due to my lack of Swedish ability I would've understood a bit better. In a way their arument for socialisation might be easier to contest in the appeals process ?!

So right now S is sleeping over at a friends' house, yesterday we were at the mosque with another 15 or so kids of various ages, having a whale of a time playing in the grounds. H and M are requesting to have friends over/ go to their house which I shall try to fufil. Do all children in Sweden lose some social skills in the long summer holidays?
Of course to be completely precise I will never be able to give exactly the same social experience as a school but this doesn't mean it can't be an equitable, if not superior. He seemed to think children can only get the social training to be grow up to be 'good people' through school. Maybe many Swedes do find it hard to make friends outside the school system, and that's why you often get strange looks when you try to start up a conversation with a stranger (or even your neighbour) here. They didn't like the idea that I am selecting which social circles they are mixing in, and they are not getting a random enough choice. So how many kids from our area are allowed by their parents to mix with those in the immigrant areas??

On the baby front...

nothing happening except lots of Braxton Hicks, and me now looking more curiously than usual, if not somewhat anxiously at the moon. All the boys were born during the last quarter and Biryani during the first. I read it's a bit of a myth it having anything to do with labour onset, although more false satrts to labours occur during the full moon. It does fascinate me how the moon has an effect on the tides. They do actually write down the full moon on the calendar they have in the maternity ward where they also mark how many girls and boys have been born that day. And Allah know best..

Also names, we really haven't thought of anything (that we can agree on) and as it gets to the fifth it does get harder. Any ideas?! I'm re reading a seerah book trying to get some inspiration as I feel having a good history behind a name is important.
Plus I'm rereading my Ina May Gaskin birth book, I don't think one can ever feel completely prepared for this amazing time in life. In fact though I'm much more apprehensive about the upcoming meeting than getting this baby in to the world!

Just found Windows Vista lets me publish straight from a Word document

I'm finding it hard to concentrate on much at the moment as I have finally been invited for a meeting with the 'Administration boss' about the home ed application. It's scheduled for Monday, so I have a few days to gather myself and read through all my paperwork again.

Today was the last day of the school year, where they have a very short day (1 and a half hours), basically present giving and awards and singing some songs about summer. So usually we don't attend as driving there and back hardly seems worth it. However M was v keen, but poor boy missed out on being the 'student of year' in his class. I think he had his hopes up, but he took it very well anyway! It's funny what children appreciate, they get a few moments of recognition and a hand-made small certificate. Also the child picked to read off the date, weather etc for that day gets to keep the torn off piece of paper having the previous day's date on. I noticed he was still grasping it tightly in his hand as we went out of the classroom as if it was a precious artefact, aww.. I do remember one day when M agreed to go to school with less of a fuss as it was his turn to do the calendar.

Biryani is student of the year at our place I think. She was still awake as I was drifting off to sleep the other night and Iwoke to hear her trying to recite the Darud which is ion the salat cd I finally found recently. I've been having it on in the car as the boys were still not 100% on everything. Now she's also v keen to repeat surah Al fatihah after me and she's now dropped off to sleep having tried to recite some of it to herself, mashAllah.

Here is a link to a website I have to further investigate, with books for older kids who have difficulty with reading, but do need age appropriate subject matter. It was recommended to me by my Mum as I may have to use something like this with M as reading is not coming on so fast ( I think mostly due to lack of regular practice). I was surprised that he is not into reading, as he's always been one to methodically flick through books, refusing to stop until he's looked at every page (tending to be at school run times).I suppose the computer is a likely culprit....

Baby still in, apparently feeding off my brain cells

The last week or so has been a bit hectic, and to be honest, tiring as having guests from the UK. The guests are not the problem but debating with the kids as to whether they could stay home in order to be with them (or to distract me from adult conversation) was. DH still away and advised me a bit too late that this shouldn’t have been even up for debate. But in the end it was decided by me not wanting to rush around to drop the kids off and have to pick them up from school. This was because the school bus had broken down on Tuesday, and kids didn’t get back till after 5 p.m. and school was’nt sure if they’d have a bus available all this week.
The weather has continued to be such that it seems a crime not to be out in it. I am actually looking out for some clouds in the sky, can you believe it after December’s continuous grey, but the heat is not comfortable now in my condition. Gosh re-reading this it is barely making sense to me, but this is the state of my brain right now.
All I want to think about is getting this baby out safely into the world, but there seems to be other things trying to take up mind space. Home Ed application, I should be chasing them up as haven’t heard back from them re meeting, but I have not been in the best of states to attend a meeting. DH is likely to still be away till near my due date, but then I’m wondering if anything will get sorted after the birth as most things shut down for the summer here (Alhamdulillah the midwifes do keep working although I think there are only the minimum of staff). I really would have liked everything sorted by now but I did leave it a bit late in the end.
So other main stress at the mo is how to deal with being like the mum to Kevin from Harry Enfield. The negativity gets me down and it appears sometimes ,as far as I can see, as imitated behaviour in the others. But Biryani is such a contrast. I start to get my hijab on and she bounds to the shoe rack saying ‘me come too!’
I was going to write something relatively coherent on private personal tuition amd how its seen as superior to parents doing it in the light of my need for home ed application but my moment of inspiration has gone, inshaAllah maybe it’ll return.
Oh Allah make my brain work and these sharp breath-taking Braxton hicks contractions ,and these all too frequent trips to the bathrooms,ease and give me sabr amin...

Not much action around here, understandably

Today I’ve had a bit more energy Alhamdulillah, I think because I had the kids at home rather than having to rush around as usual to get them to school on time. M woke up around 6 a.m. with a bad stomach ache and wretching , so once he’d got over this, I switched off my alarm and was able to have a lie in (till 8.50 am or so), give or take a few awakenings by other kids. Needless to say M recovered enough to eat some cake, play on the computer and play about in the park
And now I just had to take a pause from typing as Biryani had found a carelessly left-out biro, and used it to decorate my filing cabinet. It’s one of the few newish pieces of ‘furniture’ in the house and it is now blending in nicely with the rest of the scuffed, stained items that occupy my flat. Having young kids means having to reject the material side of things. I’m thinking of replacing the covers on the sofa, but am wondering if it will be more stressful as it will most likely get marks etc on it within a few days. The walls could do with a lick of paint (especially below the 5ft level), but again this is being put off as we do intend to move house inshaAllah, and we’d just have to do it again before we put the flat on the market. I was thinking about the way children’s hospital walls sometimes have a durable/ wipable plastic panels, but I think it’d look a bit clinical!
Anyhow, I’m just feeling too big to do much, and pondering over whether the Swedish method of calculation (measurements from the ultrasound) or UK (last menstrual cycle) is more likely to be ‘accurate’. If its the latter I only have about 3 weeks left, otherwise its 5..
MIL inshaAllah is arriving on Tuesday as are 2 doctor friends from the UK, so DH told me to hold out till then at least (as if it’s in my control!)

After 5 years in Sweden..

finally made it to my first 'loppis' (flea market/ car boot sale). They are usually too early in the morning for us, but this was a special kids one, and it was free to sell things. Otherwise the amount we'd make wouldn't be worth the normal 100 kr or rent for a space.
There were many people there mashAllah and it was a beautiful day to be out, I was glad I packed lots of water.
H went off with the camera and took a photo of a nearby stall.

The lady next to us had obviously immaculately ironed her baby clothes/ sheets to sell, and I heard her refusing hard bargains put up by the punters. Me on the other hand just wanted to rid myself of stuff so it was 2 kronors a go,and so some people looked pretty pleased with their bargains.

S, on theother hand mashAllah spent time sorting his marbles, and typed out a price list. He was pessimistic about selling anything but in the end he was pleased with his results.

and here is H's view of the world again, his transformer which he now wants to sell, alongside one of their other (unfortunately) favourite items, the Sky remote control..

and Biryani showing her real useful skill of peeling garlic skin off garlic cloves. I used to use a method I once saw on a cookery program, of putting them in the microwave for a few secs, which loosens the skin. However 2 year old fingers seem much more efficient and the garlic is not half cooked before you even start.

But it really is classic 'terrible twos' nowadays. Tantrums as she wants to do her own car seat belt ('Biryani do it!') 'No like it, lucky (Yucky)' if I try to feed her anything somewhat nutritious.

and as for potty training, well for some unknown reason she's just not been making it to the potty on time these last few days, and so trails of pee to clear up are driving me nuts. I had even started taking her out to the park without a nappy on, but now we're seemingly back a few months. She hasn't sensed something with all the minuture baby clothes drying on radiators has she?

As for me, stomach feels like it's reached capacity already, and there's at least a month to go inshaAllah. DH has to be in London quite a bit as sorting out flat for new tenants, and MIL hasn't managed to get a flight yet. So feeling a bit strange, it's always like that that a few weeks before I'm expecting the delivery there is some sort stuff going on, meaning putting one's feet up while sipping raspberry leaf tea is but a faint dream..

Animals have fur, we have bundles of clothes...

Up to my eyeballs in kids' clothes at the moment as I have been venturing into our cupboard in the cellar. I haven't come across much newborn neutral stuff yet, so it looks like a trip to the shops is required. Many mums love this part, selecting items for their newborns, but I am not the shopping type, and just want to be in and out of the shop asap. If I was on maternity leave with no other kids to think about maybe this would be more appealing. I am a bit silly like that, I'd rather make some bread than pop out ot the shop to buy some if we've run out, and yesterday I was even contemplating sewing some PJ trousers for S as he's growing out of nearly all of them and somehow he seems too old for the usual themed typed ones that you usually finding the shops for kids. What am I thinking of woman, you are just over a month or so off having a baby inshAllah!? M will on the other hand happily sleep in his clothes ready for the next day whereas S has to haveproper PJs, a T shirt and shorts will not do!
The 'I'm bored!' thing is getting a bit much again and general negativity, it feels like teenagerdom is coming closer already. That's what I'm hoping, that it's an age-thing..
We went to an indoor play centre the other day as the school was having it's 'melodifestival' singing and dancing competition, in the gymn which is right next to the mosque!!?
I'd left Biryani at home with my husband as she was due for a nap around the time she would go and the facilities are relatively limited for her age group (I wasn't planning on crawling through plastic tunnels after her as she followed her brothers in hot pursuit, finding herself unable to get back down again). So for the first half hour or so I kept looking around to check where she was, and then realised bringing a good book next time (I guess I'll have to visit this place again unless I can delegate to DH) would a good idea. Trying to get M off the bouncy castle (as DH had heard of someone being kicked and having their neck broken on one) when some of other kids decided that pressing an inflatable astronaut on M's face would be fun. My instincual reflexes came in, as all I could see were his legs sticking out, and found myself screaming like a mad woman at the kids as I bounded over to rescue him, my big stomach almost left behind me. It's amazing what the human body can do when full of adrenalin. M was OK, a little shaken, with a small cut (from a bouncy castle?!) .
So back to the plastic bags and one more cupboard in the cellar to go.
Still no response to my most recent correspondence with authorities on Home ed by the way. Maybe they're consulting their legal department..

Some photos, esp of interest for any Lego fans..

Biryani spent a good half hour wanting to be like her big bro', M, colouring in a worksheet.

'When will they get me my own desk?'

Recently going out on my balcony to put washing on the line made much more pleasant by wafts of lilac from the trees below, mashAllah.

and here's the lego, S's own lego transformers:

and this is one of the main stories in Metro today, a professor thinks the long Swedish summer holidays (10 weeks) should be cut in half. Why? Then parents wouldn't have to find childcare for such a long time (or blow me, look after them themselves), and they would be more productive at work as they would get back into the work routine more quickly, and they would pay more tax to the government coffers working more. Well the government isn't looking interested in taking up his idea (not an obvious vote-winner I feel), but kind of sums up the priorities that some people here are thinking about..

Sunny out there but a bit of a cloud hanging over my head...

I haven’t been posting for a while as seem to have been so busy, at least in my mind, as received a letter in reply to my home ed application. At first I thought it was just a standard receipt type letter, but then read more closely and it was basically waffling on about the benefits of all the Swedish school system’s plans, goals and values etc and asking me for further information. For example, how do we think we will get the time to teach our kids (automatically assuming both parents work full-time). And asking for more details of exactly what we would be doing. This was the hardest question to answer (in terms of saying what they want to hear), and I got advice from someone who’s managed to get permission already and is in the know re all the rules regulations. He just said basically that this will be shown in the outcome which will they will see during the inspections. Other friends thought I needed to put more specifics in terms of a plan. However I haven’t sat down and made a detailed plan as this seems premature having not yet received permission. I hope in the end I have put something which gives an impression of knowing what I’m doing. They also want to have a meeting with me and DH *gulp* . Altogether it just feels like I’ve been doing re-takes of exams and have a final interview to contend with as well, so finding it hard to completely switch off until I get the green (or red) light for this home ed business. Then I can really feel like putting time and effort into preparations inshaAllah.

A bit of pessimism, or is it realism?

I thought I should consider the options if our home education application is turned down.
So I found myself looking up the International schools in the area. I was thinking that maybe the committee who makes the decision about the home ed might try and suggest they should attend one of these if I am concerned about their English. (International usually meaning that English is the main language of instruction.) I was thinking (and hoping) that these schools would have no places anyway so I could reject that idea, but I called the one which has no fees, and they said I can apply and it depends on our situation as to who gets the places (we are prioritized as we have come from an English-speaking country). This school is slightly nearer but will still mean a car drive every morning. The other main one is a private school (a rarity in Sweden) with fees in the region of thousands of pounds, which rules that out.
The problems with the kids’ current school are as follows: apparently lack of stimulating lessons my kids need and hence a struggle to get them to school, questionable behaviour of many of the kids. S has no firm friends in his class, made harder by the fact out of 17 only 3 other boys.
A 20 minute drive, plus they get tired of travelling home on the school bus as they have to take another boy to the other side of town home first.
Positives, they have Arabic and Islamic studies (but I am starting to wonder if this is not making their approach to Islam as positive as could be i.e. they are v reluctant to go to these lessons.)
They have halal food, and the school ‘understands’ issues relating to the religion e.g. not changing in front of others in P:E.
M’s 2 best friends are in his class (although he can see them outside school, no problems)
It has actually S who’s been more reluctant to go to school of late (although he does not need physically dragging to get him to the car) and regularly declares the boringness (must be a better word, tedium?) of attending. School has an ‘Open Day’ the weekend after this, so I can see what it’s like in the class, but to be honest, as it’s on a Saturday (many kids will not attend)and because obviously the teachers are prepared for observation by the parents, I don’t know how typical it will be. Anyhow what can I do to address this issue?. I have already explained S’s main interests to his teacher, but they have a curriculum to follow and I don’t believe I’m in a position to dictate their teaching methods. (More hands-on practical stuff would help S I think), and ideas I’vepreviously given to M’s teacher haven’t been taken on board as far as I can see.
I feel like I’m waffling a bit, but it always helps to write things down. I’m hoping and praying, that InshAllah a clear path for their education will emerge.