I spent some time earlier this week writing down lists for each child of what areas need to be covered and how I planned to go about doing it. Things like telling the time, Chinese, writing practice for one, cursive for the other, multiplication tables... I've got a pretty good list of stuff going actually. Including stuff for dictionary skills, which isn't bad considering I don't currently have a single 'real' dictionary (I think they must be somewhere in the Mediterranean by now!). I had DD arrange spices and paints in alphabetical order as a start!

But I have a ton of computer work to do and packing and all the rest of it, and most of these things have only lasted 20mins or so at best, before I get attacked to mark things or look at things. So I decided just now (whilst cooking dinner!) that I would come up with something a little longer lasting. I've told them I want to see a science presentation on Friday!! It's now Wednesday night so I suggested they agree on a subject tonight then they have the whole of tomorrow and a good chunk of Friday to come up with pictures and words to tell me all about their chosen subject. See if they can figure out something to tell me that I didn't know.

Bad news is that I have particularly stubborn and mulish children on my hands today and DD is refusin to take part. Shame really because I had to point out that her participation or lack thereof would affect her recreational television and computer time. I can't come up with treats as quick as I can come up with punishments I'm afraid - something I need to work on! They're both currently sulking but I suspect DS will come around fairly soon because he loves science and his enthusiasm would turn the hardest of hearts.

Speaking of that heart... can anyone suggest to me reasons why DD is trying to push everyone away?? I would dearly love to fix this particular trend before she hits puberty because it can only get worse. She seems to revel in showing off her worst personality traits, in pushing away the people closest to her and having herself painted as black as possible. I've already figured that she doesn't really like herself, which is a HUGE problem. She seems to be turning into exactly the kind of person she'd be least likely to choose as a friend. I have had a long chat with her about this earlier today (not my first discussion with her about this) but after a good long cry and a cuddle she seems to be headng straight back for her evil persona. Any thoughts, suggestions?? She's so damn complicated! DS can be a real pain, but he's a lot more straightforward.

Kerri.