I have few highlights to mention this week, but the
highlights we’ve enjoyed have been wonderful. First, my book is now being sent
to the printer. Dr John Irvine got his recommendation in to me just before it
was too late to be included:
“I just
love the way this book is written – very practical, very focused on parent
issues and at the same time very humble; Justin is not saying “pedants hear the
word” but rather here are some ideas that seem to work, what do you think? It’s
practical, easy to read, well referenced and covers so many of the day to day
topics that parents agonize about. It’s also well presented in case studies,
summary points, quotes … and everything to make this book an eminently readable
and sensible addition to the parental reference library.”
I’m
grateful that these people, who are so busy, sought after, and respected, are
willing to lend their names and their support to my work. It feels terrific to
know that my words are going to be printed and made available for everyone to
own and read.
I had
considerable media attention this past week. Once again, the nationwide
high-stakes standardised testing regime has commenced for children in years 3,
5, 7, and 9. I wrote a piece about how it is affecting our children and how the
negatives of the testing outweigh any benefits that it is claimed to give. The
article was published online at The Punch. Then ABC radio Sydney got hold of it
and rang me. Then I was on ABC radio Brisbane. I got printed in the Daily
Telegraph, and the local Wollongong paper. I was filmed for the local news, and
also ended up on national television with The Project and the TODAY show.
I finished
work early Thursday (with some hours I held in lieu) and we took the family
camping to Glenworth Valley, on the Central Coast. It was a quiet, wide open
space. The weather was perfect. Our preparation was better than it has been
previously. We had a delightful time, and some learning experiences: first,
don’t camp near trees. The dew drops onto the tent are a form of torture. One every
three seconds will keep you awake all night. Second, children will swim in
water no matter how cold it is. Third, it is not possible to pack enough
clothing for children to stay clean while camping. Finally, no bedding
alternative comes close to the comfort of my bed.
For
Christmas last year Alisa and Adam kindly gave our family some cash instead of
gifts. Kylie and I decided that we would use that money for camping trips. So
with that money, Kylie and Chanel went on a two-hour trail ride on the horses. We
also paid for a ‘lead pony’ (which was a slightly older, more tired horse) for
Abbie, Ella, and Annie to ride. Kylie led them around the fields for an hour
and they loved it.
The woman
leading the trail ride that Kylie and Chanel were on was taken with Chanel’s
delightful personality, and her enthusiasm for horses (which was previously
unknown). Chanel was invited to ‘volunteer’ as a worker. So Saturday morning
Chanel went to the office at 7.30am, brushed and saddled horses, fed them, rode
them, shoveled poop, threw hay off the back of a moving vehicle, and generally
worked hard. Abbie and Ella were terribly disappointed that volunteers must be
12 years or older. I collected Chanel at 5.30pm for the long drive back to
Wollongong. Chanel was bubbling with delight. (And she fell asleep as soon as
her head hit the pillow.)
Sunday we felt good to be wake up clean and in our own beds.
Church was quiet. I need to be more purposeful. The roast chicken and potatoes we had for dinner made me grateful for the blessed and abundant lives we lead.
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