Family life

Following a rare summer of gloriously warm weather we are back in a routine of school, afterschool activities, sports timetables and speech and language therapies. Maisie is in her second year of ECCE so she will start primary school next September. She has a packed schedule this year including Montessori until 12.30 daily and one afternoon at a playgroup organised by St. John of God disability services. At the latter she receives one to one teaching to support her cognitive and social skills and when I collect her there is so much laughter I wonder has she done any work at all! The staff are wonderful and I feel lucky that Maisie benefits from this wonderful service. She also adores her regular playschool, the children are friendly and she loves her spanish teacher Maria. At home she could be playing or drawing and the next thing she’s putting the toy or sketch into her school bag to “show Maria”. Edel is Maisie’s AIM worker and the two of them bonded immediately last year. It’s wonderful and reassuring to know Maisie enjoys all of these experiences and is eager to learn and engage in new experiences.

Maisie our funny, beautiful little girl is all set for starting playschool full time next week. She’s had a great summer, from feeding the Guinea pigs and playing in her “cafe” in the garden, to spending time at the beach in Donegal(she goes straight into the sea, just like Evie would have done), swimming in the pool in Spain and experiencing her first camping trip..it’s been a busy but fun time for her and I’ve really enjoyed spending time with her. Not to say she isn’t a rascal at times, “no, no, no” is a favourite phrase of hers and she has a tendency to run in the opposite direction when we’re out, meaning I’ve got to lift her frequently and she’s not little anymore!

Post Christmas can usually feel a little glum but we had Maisie’s birthday to celebrate at the beginning of January. Sproutings of snowdrops and daffodils gave me joy throughout some of those dreary days and then we were lucky to go on a sun holiday in February. Today is March 1st and the sun is out. I hear more birds singing in the garden which is abundant with swaying daffodils and narcissi. Maisie is loving playschool and she’s busy at home too, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of two older siblings making for a busy, noisy, sometimes stressful but generally fun and loving home.