Last Day (Again)

We had our rocking Preschool Holiday Program and PR2 / Likhwa's Last Day / T's Last Day / My Last Day Party Day on Friday. We made cookies, balloon people, glitter paintings, and party hats. We also ate huge amounts of cake provided by Likhwa, Emma, and Jack/Hugo/Syddy's shopping skills.

When I said goodbye to Mia (who is the best-spoken two-year-old in the whole entire world), her mum said that she's never seen Mia love someone as much and as quickly as she loves me. Which was the sweetest thing in the world for her to say. Even if I have a simple explanation for it. In the words of LMC:
I'd go back for one day just for the ego stroke.
When everyone in the whole center thinks I'm awesome, even kids who've never met me are bound to agree starting right then. It always wears off though!

I wrote goodbyes to J/H/S in their books, including a new update of what Hugo is into right at this present moment in time. Things like:

Likes:
riding his bike on the concrete
throwing things into the playroom from preschool
Hugo in the preschool room
cookies

Dislikes:
riding his bike on the bike path
the playroom
food that's not fishbites or cookies.

In addition, here's a list of things I've said in the last 24 hours or anticipate saying in the next that will confuse anyone in SA all to hell (and their origins):

Hugo: Oh no [insert something that has fallen, eg 'oh no stars' or, more likely, something that Hugo has dropped, eg 'oh no orange', or 'oh no tana toast' or, and this is not not within the bounds of possibility, something ceramic that Hugo has somehow taken the lid off and dropped it to the floor and smashed it into a million pieces such as 'oh no toilet'].

Connor: Behind you! (Even if said thing that he's pointing to is next to you or over there or even right in front of you.)

Connor: This one! (Said when he's choosing something, as in the following conversation:
K: Here Connor do you want your smoothie?
Connor: NO. (Another patented Connor phrase.)
K: Do you want my banana one then?
Connor: This one! (Pointing to my smoothie.)

Which leads me to...

K: Yeah no.

and...

D's pajama's from Pajama Party Day: Let me think about it. Ummm, no!

D and I: 1234...Hi5!

edited to add:
"i NEED you to ..." (hugo)
and
signing things like 'finished' and 'ready' and 'orange' at people who don't quite understand.

Preschool Holiday Program Teacher: Blah blah blah and there will be hand and foot painting on the verandah.
Liam: And if the teacher says wow you put it on the wall!

***

The Rents: Come on kids, we're going shopping.
Jack: We need [it's frickin contagious] to go cake shopping.
Me: Sounds good to me. Hey Jack, you can buy me one too.
Jack: Ok.
Me: Do you some money?
Jack: Yep.
Me: Oh, well, that makes one of us. Have fun shopping.

Next day, guess what we have for afternoon tea? Yep, chocolate cake. Turns out the kids went and got it and wouldn't let The Rents put it back. "We need to buy a cake for Missy. It's Missy's cake." Ha ha HA.

Thanks, kids. You are the BESTEST.

First Day Back (Again)

"Hi Jake! I'm Missy! Get off the concrete!"
[Cue T and D pissing themselves laughing.]

Emma: My dad's on a work trip. It's cold. He has to wear lots and lots of clothes.
Jessie: Well, he can't wear no clothes.

Also had a heaps long chat with Anastasia who will never talk to ask you something but when her and Jessie and I had been messing around on the cushions for a while she wouldn't shut up. Jack is much more articulate now, and there's a new girl called Mia who is incredibly well-spoken for such a young kid. There's also a new kid called Tylar who I've decided will be a rugby player when he grows up, but a really sweet one. Syddy did her fake-coy thing for a while but of course got over it. Emma and Jessie hung off me all day which I'm hoping they'll be over by tomorrow. And we had signing class after work which was good as I'd forgotten some and got to learn some new ones. Let's hope the novelty of being back doesn't wear off for another few weeks!

Can't Stay Away

I'm heading home again; I'll be working at the centre for four weeks (back in my spot in PR2 of course!).

I honestly didn't think I'd being going back when I left last time. Now that I do, I'm truly sorry that Syd and I had such traumatic experiences of saying goodbye. It would have been much better if we could have said, "Don't worry Syddy, Missy's a wuss - she'll be back as soon as the temp drops below 15 degrees."

I feel bad, also, that I keep coming and going from their lives: I was there, then I left to go to uni. Then I came back for 3 months over Christmas, then I left. Now I'm going back, but only for four weeks before I'll be - you guessed it - leaving again. Although maybe it is a good lesson for them to learn that people may leave but if they miss you enough, they'll be back!

I'm thinking we'll get a big wall map and put photos of all the kids, and their grandparents who live interstate, and me of course, so they can see 'where' we're going when we go. Tjina's been around Australia, and Damon went to England, so a bit of geography in the room would be good theme for a little while, I think.

Driving me crazy right now: Imagine, by Alison Lester. SW had it when he was little and we loved it. I'm writing about it for an essay but I can't remember the words past the first bit.

Imagine if we were deep in the jungle
Where butterflies drift and jaguars prowl
Where parakeets squawk and wild monkeys howl.

Help me out, somebody.

Too Much Childcare

Tuesday Night:

I had a dream that involved me babysitting (or something?) Hugo but he was off at like holiday program down the track or something. And then I got worried and walked along the dirt road to where he was walking back with the group, except that he was really really dehyrated and fainting. So I picked him up and carried him back to where he'd been before, and got him checked out by someone but not an actual doctor. As we were waiting for the doctor we realised that he had a worm in his stomach (thanks House) and it came out through his bellybutton. So that was good, but then it crawled up and around his neck and attached itself to his tongue cos the woman who was supposed to be looking after him wasn't watching. But I got it off and we got him water and he was ok.

Wednesday:

I texted The Parents to make sure all three of the kids were ok, because I am a crazy girl who will stress out until she knows for sure. And they sent me cute pics of Hugo and Syddy.

Wednesday Night:

I was at a churchy-type building but I think we went in there looking for a restaurant. There was this mum being a bitch to her daughter and eventually the daughter burst into tears. Then she wrenched away from the mum and came running to me for a big hug.
(Then somehow me and my grandma were driving a car that looked like a trolley slash Laura's little jeepy thing slash bike and I had to figure out how to drive it.)

Soooo....

Is my subconsious saying I'm crap at the looking after kids thing? Or that I'm awesome?

Edited to add: That Wednesday Night one was totally a dream as well, in case you thought I really was about to crash a trolley/jeep/scooter thing while my grandma was in it.

Ring-ring!

Called T's mobile yesterday during inside time so I could talk to all the kids I miss so much teach them a valuable life lesson about how to talk on the phone.

It was so funny. I swear Emma said some random name when I asked who it was. I had no idea I was talking to her. Jessie was pretty good. First thing she said: "Missy? I miss you." All together now: Awww. Syddy was so cute. T said she would like curl up and do this cuuute head tilt and just laugh every time I said something.

Hugo saw my pic on the caller ID thing, and was all, "Hello Missy!" Hehe. Then I sang the ABC Song with him. Next time we'll do the rainbow song. And then maybe the Bear Hunt.

Didn't get to talk to the preschoolers but we'll do a pm call one time so I can. Mum said I'm back on the invite list for Damon's party so I might get a good convo out of him. And Jack will be hilarious I hope.

I miss them, but they've moved on. And I will too. Soon. Promise.

Moving On

The Parents sent me a pic of Little Miss Syd. I started crying. I'm such a loser.

It's weird, but I feel like I achieved a new level of ... something ... at work. Maybe it was cos I did without T for two weeks, and without D and T for two days. Maybe it's cos I know that I won't be seeing the kids again for at least a year. I don't know, but there's something.

Hugo has an appointment with the specialist in Melbourne sometime. How weird would it be if I told them to bring Syd too, and I'll meet them there?

I was right. Weird.

Or they could just send Bunna to Adelaide. No, seriously.

Last Day

Note to self:
Do not wear your favourite (work) shirt to work on your last day. Also do not wear your favourite sports bra, especially if it is grey/white.
Love, Me.

I got slimed. And yes, although K had completely gone off at us for not putting detergent in the food colouring when we were doing shaving cream last week, she did not, in fact, put any in the slime. And so I am green. Less so than I was, but still green. And my hair feels like crap.

Hugo: Love you Missy.
Everyone: Awwww!
Parents: [still chatting.]
Hugo: BYE MISSY!
Ok kid, talk to your parents, they're the ones not taking you home.

And Little Miss Syd cried. Bawled her eyes out. And started off me and T, of course. She has been saying she's going with me for like a week. Clearly not pretend. Oops. She will get over it I know. Oh my god, I miss her already. I can't believe I am going to miss out on them all growing up. I will totally have to come back, and a real job can just go fuck itself for a while.

Bunna, Grace, Rachelle, and Zoe: ruling preschool in two years' time. Can't wait.

Brrrmm

It was my scooter's last day today.

Jack, Sydney and Hugo each got one last sit on AND an actual ride on it.

I know. I'm awesome right?!

Jack: You drive me to your house now.

***

I've got Syd trained to say she's coming on a plane with me to live in Adelaide. She told the rents this PLUS added that she needs to buy a ticket. Dude, I was just going to stash you in the suitcase, or maybe have you flash that grin and get yourself on free.

***

While talking about Adelaide, Hugo had this to say:

"No Missy Adelaide. Missy and Hugo. No M Adelaide!"

Sorry kid. There's only so much room in the suitcase.

Update

Jack
"I can't." (Dude, yes you can.)
"You can't get me!" (Why would I want to?)
"No!" (Um, actually, yes Jack.)

Hugo
"Drains!"
"In the tunnel!"
"Missy!"
"Nonnights T."

Mark:
"My mum wiped her glasses with my booger and then it was on her and she said GROSS!"

Michael:
Dragons.

Sydney:
Heeheehee!!!

Arrogant Prick Dad:
"We're getting rid of the shape ball." (Mum: We're what?! Me: Loser.)
"You need to find a boyfriend with a car." (Are you offering me a lift home? Creep.)

I wanna be Syd

I want to be a four-year-old forever. Or Little Miss Syd.

You have to paint pictures or do collages all day. Then people say nice things about them, no matter what.

You have ride around bikes and be pushed on swings and go on bear hunts all day.

You get to sleep for two hours in the middle of every day.

You have your own personal hairdresser (which I would kill for and is the main point of my jealousy of Syd. I love people brushing my hair).

Seriously. How awesome would that be.

Incidentally, my dad is getting a prettiful calendar and Christmas card that I collaged for him all by myself at creche. He'll take it to work and be so very proud of his clever daughter.

I'm back!

Went into work for a visit on Tuesday. They all loved me. It was very nice. Even Matthew and Rachelle who moved up from the nursery while I was gone wanted hugs, so that was a nice introduction for them and me.

Hugo is freaking amazing. "One blue plate." Oh my god. Still a cranky little shit when he hasn't had enough food or sleep. Jack is permanently a little shit. Syd is cute as hell and knows her cheeky grin forces adults to smile back, even when she's ignoring instructions.

M, the qualified in our room, annoys me, but not as much as Sh did so I guess it's ok. She does an awful lot of sitting and shouting instead of running and talking and playing and reading and laughing.

We don't have the bear hunt book or the dinosaur one in our room anymore. That's ok. I know them off by heart anyway. Hugo got all confused when I started reciting the bear hunt, telling me, "It's gooone, it's gooone." Hehe.

Three days next week.

Yuuummmmmm

It was my last day on Thursday.

I was going to bring in a cake, but Michelle said she'd make one so Goo could have it too. She promised it would be a gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, yummy, chocolate cake.
Four out of five isn't too bad.

At least it wasn't mixed with ice-cream like the one I bought for the staff lunch. Yeah, oops.
Everyone was really nice. Got a card and a gift voucher, which I didn't expect, but helped fund yesterday's shopping trip.

I miss Syd. Thought of some great ideas for her hair last night. Will have to save them up til the end of the year.

There is a ccc pretty close. Don't know if I want to go there again. Besides, it wouldn't be same. So I guess that's the end of that. Although there is apparantly an org'n called Students4Kids or some suchness.

I guess you never know.

All Good Things

I have three more days of work, then I am moving halfway across the country, to a place which in addition to being far, far way, also has no Sydney, Jack, Hugo, Grace, Mark, Princess, Tania or fortnightly income. Or funny, sad, ironic, poignant, hilarious, loving, hysterical anecdotes.

I still have to tell the boss, and Michelle and David.

Little Miss Syd

We now have J&H's little sis Sydney in our room. She is very cute and very smart. She likes having her hair done, and she always has lots of hairties, clips, and headbands from home so we can be very creative. She has an unfortunate habit of trying to follow her brothers outside or away from the table, but I'm working on it. She has the trademark family cheeky grin which she overuses cos she knows she is cute. She loves easily and is always excited to see the people she loves. Me and T being two of them, Sh not.

Morning tea, the 'rents had just left. Syd wasn't to happy about this and J(casual) was trying to settle her, but Syd was having none of it. Knows how to crack it with the best of them. Meanwhile, I was trying to make sure H didn't escape from the table and actually ate his morning tea, and watch everyone else at the table. When all (except Syd) seemed peaceful, I asked J if she wanted me to try with Syd. A contentious issue but I thought I should ask, because it was my room and because dad was standing watching at the window. She accepted, handed Syd to me, and ten seconds later, Little Miss Syd was all smiles (or at least, not all tears.) Couldn't resist a look at dad, who awarded me with a smile and a nod.
Guess I pass.