Boston and Washington Spring 2016 - Boys, Blades and Balls! - Day 4 (Skating, Aquarium, Common)

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Sparksy72

I feel for you, I am terrible at awkward situations- you handled the seat situation really well. It looks like Poot had another great day exploring- the aquarium looks amazing, I especially love the blue poison dart frog! We are looking at the Boston city pass as there are a few places we want to visit but I need to look into it further. You did well to stay awake all day 😴 Michelle x

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Wait 'til Saturday, Michelle.

We love aquaria 'round ours. I can remember my father taking us to Epcot when I was a girl - and his favourite thing was "The Living Seas". He would have been happy to spend all day in front of that big tank. And now I'm the same - I wish our lifestyle allowed for a big tropical fish tank. If you ever go over to northern France there is an AMAZING aquarium in Boulogne-Sur-Mer. It's so much better than the London Aquarium.

Poot used to be OBSESSED with poison dart frogs - I think we own every book ever written about them - in both English and French. It's so funny what things take kids' fancies, isn't it?



Oh - and wish me luck - TF arrives tomorrow!

[Sparksy72]

Oh April - I can't believe you left the TF reference til last 😱 No that I think about the lives of ladies I meet on Social Networking sites 🙄 But I'd wondered when your special little visitor was coming! Sending you big hugs for a lovely and uneventful day!

Aquariums are amazing, I had my own small one when I was a little girl. I had goldfish and plastic coral with rainbow coloured stones -I thought I was the bees knees! The best thing about having a child is being able to put aquariums and history museums on your trip list legitimately! I will keep the one in France in mind, thank you. Michelle x

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Sparksy72

Oh April - I can't believe you left the TF reference til last 😱 No that I think about the lives of ladies I meet on Social Networking sites 🙄 But I'd wondered when your special little visitor was coming! Sending you big hugs for a lovely and uneventful day!

Aquariums are amazing, I had my own small one when I was a little girl. I had goldfish and plastic coral with rainbow coloured stones -I thought I was the bees knees! The best thing about having a child is being able to put aquariums and history museums on your trip list legitimately! I will keep the one in France in mind, thank you. Michelle x

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Lol...and there have already been "events", Michelle. I'll save them all for the TF Update, though - so I don't bore you twice!


The best thing about having a child is being able to put aquariums and history museums on your trip list legitimately!


I couldn't agree more. And theme parks, too! Until Poot was born DH would NEVER have agreed to go to MANY of the places we have visited since becoming parents.

But best of all - until Poot moves out - I don't have to go to ANY piano recitals! Or the symphony!


Many thanks for your good wishes - it's just lovely to know that some of you ladies have been holding a good thought for us - and for TF -

[Gill H]

Also waiting with bated breath for the TF update!

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Gill H

Also waiting with bated breath for the TF update!

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Bated breath!


I am hoping that there will be little to say about the actual visit (fingers crossed for "It went very well!") - but the weeks leading up to it have been...interesting.


Thanks for your support, Gill. See you soon!

[Sparksy72]

Sending you pixie dust for a lovely day today. I hope cousine x hasn't been too testy 😬 Michelle xx

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Sparksy72

Sending you pixie dust for a lovely day today. I hope cousine x hasn't been too testy 😬 Michelle xx

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Thanks bunches, Michelle.


I'm sneaking in half an hour on the computer as R.C. has taken the lads over to see the Roman ruins in St. Albans. TF seems very homesick and his English is just DIRE. Which is fine for spending time with us, obviously - we speak French. But HOW will this work at school?!

Poot just keeps chattering away at him - as if the sheer number of English words will trigger magical understanding.


And things have been suspiciously quiet on the Cousine X front...but like a bad penny -I'm sure she'll turn up again later in the story.

[Goldia]

Oh April please stop worrying, I understand that is going to be tough, but I promise he will be fine at school. Honest, I do know.

At our school we have had several asylum seeker children and also some who have relocated (most recently from Thailand) who speak little to no English and do not speak English in their family home. They learn spoken English more quickly than you would expect just by being around everyone speaking it. These students do not get any specialist support in the form of translators in their lessons they are just expected to pick everything up as quickly as they can. Amazingly the vast majority thrive, even those who have the most atrocious stories of flight from their countries (which are heartbreaking). Within a few months they are virtually fluent speakers, and certainly within a year. For some writing is harder if they are used to a different alphabet, but even this is overcome. They manage to make friends and have social interactions with their peers.

While TF may miss his family and struggle emotionally I am sure he will cope with learning English.

Having said all that I'm not sure I could send my own children off in this way as I can think of better ways of learning a new language...

I hope the boys enjoyed their trip to St Albans.

[Melbatb]

Hi April

When F started at maternelle (aged 2y 10m) she didn't speak any French - by Christmas she was conversing like the others! While both kids at times lack vocab (school = French, home = English) they manage completely! O even got a trés bien in his brevet last year!

Kids do adapt! Hope the rest of the visit goes well!

PS - when are you off to Montréal?

[Sparksy72]

Originally Posted by GopherLass

Thanks bunches, Michelle.


I'm sneaking in half an hour on the computer as R.C. has taken the lads over to see the Roman ruins in St. Albans. TF seems very homesick and his English is just DIRE. Which is fine for spending time with us, obviously - we speak French. But HOW will this work at school?!

Poot just keeps chattering away at him - as if the sheer number of English words will trigger magical understanding.


And things have been suspiciously quiet on the Cousine X front...but like a bad penny -I'm sure she'll turn up again later in the story.

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As a Mum, it makes my heart break poor little TF. I think it is adorable that Poot has taken him under his wing, I imagine that the more English he speaks to him the more he will absorb (fingers crossed)

It's funny how much I knew about parenting... until I had a child of my own now I just take each day as it comes