Unconditional

My wonderful word of the week is UNCONDITIONAL. I like this word; it is somehow very complete. Since reading Alfie Kohn's Unconditional Parenting, I have tried to mother in this way - not always successfully, but I give it my best effort.
One of the lectures given by Mr Kohn is called The costs of overemphasizing achievement. Well, with apologies to the man himself, I am about to emphasise a wonderful achievement.
Today the Scottish Higher results were announced. My 18 year old son, Kenneth, achieved 4B s!!!!
Chemistry, Maths, Physics and History.
He also received an UNCONDITIONAL offer of a place at Heriot-Watt University (his first choice) to do a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry - with a year in Australia!!!!
We are just so happy - this was no small achievement. Kenneth has severe dyslexia and has overcome many difficulties to make this happen. Although he has had support, in the end it was all down to him - intrinsically motivated to prove to himself and the world that he could.
Unconditional - love it - live it.

Wonderful Word Wednesday

Today I am going a wee bit academic for my wonderful word. Back to my first anatomy and physiology lectures in fact. This word randomly jumped into my mind last week, but i am wondering if it is related to James and his love of water - the sea, puddles, harbours and rain are all favourites right now, but try to get him in the bath or shower - no way!
So, my word is Hydrophillic - which means water loving, as opposed to hydrophobic - both words fit James at the moment :)
These words are terms used to describe the molecules which make up the cell membrane - the phospholipid bilayer. The molecules have hydrophillic heads and hydrophobic tails and look a bit like this:This is how the membrane that surrounds all our cells is made up. I could go on, but I'm sure it is searchable if you want all the hydrogen bonding and negatively charged ions and stuff.
Hydrophillic - my word of the week. Thank you Tired Mummy for Wonderful Word.

Aweebit

As James becomes more and more talkative, I realise that many of the phrases he comes out with are ones he has heard me say first. So - one of his well used phrases is " aweebit" This is used in many situations - usually involving food. If I am cooking, or preparing the dinner, or even opening the fridge - he will stop whatever he is doing and come running up shouting "A wee bit Mummy - just aweebit!" I do feed him - honestly. Sometimes if he wants to breastfeed during the day, he will pull at my top, smile so sweetly and say "aweebit Mum"
I must say this a lot too - "OK. Just a wee bit then" At least it is a wee bit positive.

Avocado

is our Wonderful Word for Wednesday. It is a great word to say - especially if you sound out all the syllables slowly: aaah -voh- caaah-doh. That's how James says it, and it is so cute!

I posted the other day about our breakfast- time green smoothie. James now refers to this as avocado, because he saw me cutting one up last week to go in the morning mix. So - regardless of the ingredients, green smoothies are now called avocado. Cheers!

Wonderful Word Wednesday

My lovely blog friend The Tired Mummy has come up with a fun meme - Wonderful Word Wednesday. This is a chance to share words or phrases that we love, or funny things our children say. My phrase of the week is "Of course!" This was said to me today by my 2 and a half year old when I asked him if he wanted to have his snack outside - "Of course Mummy!"delivered in a tone that implied I had just asked him a really stupid question :D
Well - the sun was shining - it was warm - he was playing - why on earth would he want to come inside? Duh!