Mel

On the serious side of things, she got top marks for effort and behaviour and the teacher commented positively on the area she was working hard on, plus she achieved some great academic marks, so we’re all very happy

Got one report card today (one still to come) and my youngest aced Humanities and Social Studies, a subject which includes Civics and Citizenship

The fact I’ve raved and ranted about Civics and Citizenship her whole life is finally paying off!

Someone released Mariah Carey on a quiet suburban Pine Rivers street . . . .

(There's still 2 more days of school left for us. They just celebrated Christmas today)

(They have a school prayer - Catholic school - and a school song, but they aren’t part of every assembly)

I caught a school assembly in my relief work last year and they did Acknowledgment of Country, National Anthem, School Creed and School song before getting to anything else

My youngest’s school only does two of those things regularly, but in return they sing both verses of the anthem

I have a very excited youngest child who will be old enough to see Six by the time it makes it back to Brisbane in 13 months time!

So next year my daughter will be in one of the 'high' classrooms to allow the Year 6 classes to all be together in the 'lower' classrooms- no fuss, no one upset. Just easy accessibility

My daughter's school is pretty accessible for those with physical disabilities, but there are some classrooms which are easier to access

When a student or a parent needs a more accessible classroom, they quietly arrange the whole grade to move to make it as easy as possible.

I threw out a No tonight when my 9 year old wanted to postpone her shower to the morning. No! She sulked for 10 minutes. We got over it

Start them young. Throw an occasional no in when the tantrums are at peak toddler. It builds your resistance

Then, when they tell you that everyone else has something, you get to pull out the old ‘if everyone else jumped off the cliff . . ?’ It’s tradition!

I’m going to continue to side eye parents who are for the social media ban because it helps them say no to their kids

Just say no to your kids! It’s so easy. No, nope, nup, it’s out of the question, no way

I’m not sure some of the people commenting on Queensland Schoolies celebrations remember that around half the cohort are 18 these days so it’s not underage drinking

The area, known for retirement villages and pre planned communities have harassed businesses (who aren't earning money) and volunteers, abused politicians who are trying to help when it isn't their level of government and acted like they're the only people to ever experience difficulties

With increasing severe weather, various parts of SE Qld have had extended periods without power - we did 60 hours earlier this year after the ex cyclone

No region has been as self righteous or abusive about it as one region this week

The joy of a series with 40 odd episodes a year before streaming. Actors regularly appeared as multiple characters a season or two apart

I've hit that point where I see an actor from Australia who is working on big overseas projects and I try to work out how many characters they played on Blue Heelers

I think Jason Clarke played three characters across four episodes

I taught a Year 2/3 class and a Year 6 class this week so I'm officially exhausted

I don't remember how I did this as a full time job

I love an opportunity for Brisbane to be smug because we’re doing something better than Melbourne

Today it’s 50c public transport fares

And that's how I balance multiple jobs

This week I'll be indulging in all three jobs across five days, plus doing many kid things because I have flexibility...

...became a high school teacher. Had kids, left teaching. Made teaching resources. Started sewing for kids. Kids started dance. Started sewing dance costumes. Dance costs a lot of money, went back to substitute teaching because it's well paid and flexible

Finished high school ridiculously young, didn't get into the dance degrees. Did classics and loved it, but realised I wasn't at the top level to be an academic. Realised I liked kids and lots of subjects, became a primary teacher. Liked upper primary and when they took 7s to high school....

I can't complain too much because I can eat almost anything I want, just in smaller portions with intervals between eating and drinking. Plus more fruit, veggies and protein to make my stomach happy

The food I should avoid or limit has been making me feel sick anyway, so it's easier to avoid

I have upset the delicate flower that is my digestive system today, but only mildly.

I have to remember to treat it like an explosive toddler and we'll be fine

I managed two weeks of eating and drinking in a way which wouldn't upset my stomach, which is great.

But weekends are clearly my weak point and I need to start buying enough fruit, veggies and protein to get through weekends

I don’t send my kids outside. My eldest is like me and prefers the book (or instrument or screen) at home while my youngest will willingly go outside to play or spend time with the chickens. Both are fit and healthy and neither of them have social media

I hate the phrase ‘kids should be outside being kids’

I hated being sent outside as a kid, it was the worst punishment you could give me. A book and a cozy place to sit was much better for me

I danced several days a week and played outside at school and that was enough movement time for me to

I’m not at all surprised that someone got hurt by a local Parkrun participant. I tried to avoid one a few years ago by walking along the road instead of in the park and still got run off the the footpath

They’re ridiculously obnoxious people

I am amused by Australians being tired of English cricket fans in the cricket subreddit so they post a thread in the subreddit of a completely unrelated sport

Must stop watching videos of Year 12 kids graduating school - it’s making me emotional and I have work to get done

She’s also singing and playing Amy Winehouse (though closer to a Glee version by Naya Rivera) which is very much a style of music she adores