Posts by Jolisa

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  • Southerly: When Otters Get Famous,

    It's watercolour, with a secret ingredient! Not my ideal medium, but one I thought quite apt.

    Sourced directly from the otters at the zoo? Or are we talking river water? Enquiring artistic minds...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Busytown: A Classical Education: Chapter…,

    My heart gives a little flutter every time I see there is a new report from Busytown.

    And that is why I write: to set hearts aflutter, wherever they may be. Thank you, Patrick!

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Busytown: A Classical Education: Chapter…,

    Ross: WhoopZ. I stand corrected re Mr FraZier. (Didn't our friend Barthes have something to say about that S/Z problem?) Sometimes I'm bilingually pedantic, sometimes I'm illiterate in both dialects of English. Drives my spellchecker bonkers.

    Rob: *blush* I am not worthy to touch the hem of Socrates' toga. I saw that dude in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, and he was smart. (Also, ahem, one "s", no "z". Whereas David Haywood actually loves it if you spell his name with a few random extraneous letters - try him).

    Carol: funny you should ask!

    And Tamsin: yes, the bathos of Ikea -- and the mega-bathos of living only five minutes from one! What were we in a hurry for, anyway? Cheap dishbrushes, a smoked salmon salad, and a bit of exercise on a rainy day. Ikea is our personal mallwalk, the world's best-decorated indoor gym.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Busytown: A Classical Education: Chapter…,

    Make sure that they have the language to boss each other around. Because children bossing each other around is always so much more satisfactory. They revel in it.

    A moment in our house the other day. Boys bossing each other around. From the sidelines, I interpose some adult wisdom: "Guys, the one who walks away from this squabble is the bigger man."

    Little brother then thumps older brother hard on the arm, and walks off. Aggrieved shout from older brother, and I buttonhole little brother. "What was that about?!"

    Completely sincerely, he says, "I walked away! I'm the bigger man, right?"

    When I explained that I didn't mean "after first thumping your brother," he replied in a genuinely offended voice, "Well, I didn't know THAT. I'm just a KID!"

    Point.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Busytown: A Classical Education: Chapter…,

    This post is probably my favourite thing that has ever happened.

    Awww. Thank you. Actually, thank the boys for being such obliging nutters and supplying me with material. It was just a moment in the loo at Ikea, and then look.

    That song is horrendous, and the video even worse. Dancing flowers! Earworm AND eyeworm! Plus, as promised, the entire thing is a giant hay-riding Rickroll.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Busytown: A Classical Education: Chapter…,

    Jackie - the child leading the child. They're very good at it, aren't they?

    I meant to say in the thread about your awesome post, that I finally saw the film Babies the other night. Have you seen it? It's editorially reticent (no voiceover, no subtitles), but full of quiet information.

    Anyhow, it struck me as a convincing argument that small children are happiest grubbing around in the dust with other children and animals, under the benevolent but slightly distant gaze of large, friendly adults.

    I.e., a village, or failing that, a kindy like yours.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Busytown: A Classical Education: Chapter…,

    Merc, thank you for that link. It is a long time since I have seen that movie, but Beatrice and her charms are imprinted firmly on my brain. Also, poetry. Poetry conquers all!

    Islander: Iway etbay ooyay owknay igpay atinLay, though? (Darn, bet I conjugated that wrong. Someone will correct me.)

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Busytown: A Classical Education: Chapter…,

    "Brekekekek coax coax."

    My 2.5 year old is learning Greek too!

    Kudos!
    ;-)

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Busytown: A Classical Education: Chapter…,

    [Oops, double post]

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Busytown: A Classical Education: Chapter…,

    And also, what would you call it when a child says to another child...

    You know what, I bet that counts as pedagogy. Possibly pedapedagogy, tho' I a not a Greek expert.

    shining and heroic acts of individualism in this world of mundanity and loss of self.

    Lovely words, Jackie. They remind me of a line in Max, by Bob Graham, about a small superhero child who is slow to fly. When he finally gets around to flying and performing wee feats of bravery, his Mum pronounces him "a small hero doing quiet deeds." And he is, as all children are.

    (Except when they are doing noisy deeds).

    So glad you enjoy them. May it last forever.

    Here's hoping! Am saving up these moments in a jar for when it goes all hormonal a few years from now.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

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