After School Conversations

After school conversations

April 9, 2018 by AggieSoon

It’s a four year old conversation. Our boy was in Grade 2. His teacher was asking the class to prepare a short talk every two weeks. “So,” I ask. “What are you going to do for your school topic talk this week?” “What I would do if I ruled the world,” he responds. “Oh, I see.” It’s a big job and he had never, until then, shown an interest in taking on grand projects. Thinking he’d provide free chocolate to […]

Categories: After School Conversations, Home • Tags: featured

Ice cream and good news at midnight

January 29, 2018 by AggieSoon

It was a big day for my husband. He started work at 9am and came home after 11pm. He produces the nightly news at one of the TV stations here in Sydney and it was the first night with new graphics and a new set. He was happy with how the day went, but was tired now. He opens the tub of ice cream and we eat it in our living room over small talk. Close to midnight he turns […]

Categories: After School Conversations • Tags: featured

Superheroes and their special powers

January 15, 2018 by AggieSoon

We’re at the Art of the Brick exhibition. It’s a while ago, during the school holidays. We’re weaving through the crowds, looking at intricate lego models of heroes and villains. I turn and ask our boy, “What would you rather be? A superhero or their sidekick?” He responds, “The sidekick I think…” The sidekick is usually a role reserved for followers. Often an afterthought to the big narrative of good versus evil. The hero is where the action pivots, the one with […]

Categories: After School Conversations • Tags: featured

Durian

November 13, 2017 by AggieSoon

We are waiting for his father to finish work. It’s a Friday night and we’re treating ourselves to a cheap meal out. We’re both in the car outside his workplace, but his father is taking ages to leave the building. I’m bored. He’s bored. I turn to to our son and ask him the first thing that comes into my head. “Now, if you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?” He carefully considers the question before asking “What’s […]

Categories: After School Conversations, Food

The Supermoon

September 18, 2017 by AggieSoon

Can you see it? It’s there in the distance between the buildings. A faint white ball rising through a cloudy sky. It was taken last year, on the 14th of November. All morning the radio was full of talk about it. The Supermoon. It was going to be the largest moon in almost 70 years to rise in the night sky. The closest the moon has been to earth since the first Polaroid camera was sold in Boston and the […]

Categories: After School Conversations, Home

Chores

September 14, 2017 by AggieSoon

His father asks him to take the rubbish down to the bins. “But I did that yesterday,” our ten year old reminds his dad. “I know,” he shoots back. “You did a great job. So I’m asking you to take it down again today.” The boy thinks for a minute, then asks solemnly, “How do I do a bad job?”

Categories: After School Conversations

Multitasking

August 23, 2017 by AggieSoon

It’s getting late. We pause our game. “You have to read your book now. It’s homework,” I remind him. “Ok,” he says casually. He grabs his book with one hand. The other reaches for the dice. “Nope, you cannot read your book and play monopoly at the same time.” “That’s ok mum,” our ten year old reassures me. “I can multitask.” Via The Daily Prompt: Casual

Categories: After School Conversations

You

August 9, 2017 by AggieSoon

I hear rustling in his bedroom. Minutes later he comes out with a blanket over his head and a sheepskin hat over that. “Mum, what do I look like?” He looks ridiculous. Sweet. Wonderful. “You look like you,” I say. He seemed happy with that.

Categories: After School Conversations

Not so little anymore

June 24, 2017 by AggieSoon

We shared a brownie this afternoon. Both of us trying to commit to an uneasy truce after frustrations boiled over. There was an appointment we had to keep. He insisted we could go home and come back in time. I knew we couldn’t. He was stubborn. I got cross. Gone are the days of tantrums and time outs. He is growing up and wanting to make decisions for himself. But he is at the moment too young to understand what […]

Categories: After School Conversations, Food

Focus

June 15, 2017 by AggieSoon

It’s a blurry picture of a flower. Taken on my phone and filtered using Hipstamatic. If you look closely, you will also see a couple of ants chatting away. My young son loves ants. He likes the way they move and work together. He tells me they have feelings and show excitement when they find new territory. I love the fact he still has time to stop and focus on the tiny things. To find pleasure in the ordinary and […]

Categories: After School Conversations, Photo Challenges

Nomad

Category Archives: After School Conversations