The reduced frequency of posts is a combination of factors. The sameness of life at this stage of parenting: much of the week is routines driven by school preparation, the kids (now amazingly doing most of the morning routine themselves and heading out the door to catch public transport to school) being at school and coming home again. A hectic season for Dad at work, and adding some travel into the mix means less quantity time and seeking more quality time.
Nonetheless, we managed some outings. Our annual trip to Sculpture by the Sea with the T family continued on. This sculpture, called Dave, is meant to be Da Vinci’s David, but having let himself go, and put on some weight. The kids insisted I pose with them, and then Huff came down to pose with me too.
Huff continues to pull faces and interact with the world in her own way: sometimes still struck with wonder, at other times weighed down with the burdens of being a high schooler with all its limitations and frustrations.
Puff is quiet and thoughtful, and loves the things he loves: particular video games and books, and is finding more confidence in sharing the things he finds funny. If only Dad had more time to spend on that sharing. Dad is still spending some time connecting at least.
Friends of Huff and Puff from school have moved to western Australia, but were briefly back in Sydney and so there was a chance to gather them together. Though I don’t think they’ve appeared here before, the connection dates back to preschool – heartening to see them continue to be friends.
Puff is also quite competent at interviewing people on camera; a skill he had another chance to put to school in the preparation for Summer Camp later in the year.
Here’s one of those lightning-in-a-bottle moments, where a trip to the shops to order some takeaway food has an added trip to the park for some nostalgia, and this time it was Huff, not Dad, who noticed the sunset.
With Dad having been away for a week for a training course, on return we had a family day out, and capped it with a trip to the cinema for Dad, Huff and Puff to watch The Marvels: far from the world’s best movie, but a fun experience to share together. I continue to be surprised at how much the cinemas are prepared to show and distribute ads for streaming services.
See you again soon!