Spelling Test
Posted by dulwichmum on Wed 9 January 2008
Darling James has made fun of me on so many occasions… He has accused me of ‘competitive parenting’, of being a ‘pushy parent,’ of ‘dulwichmumitis‘ – of taking parenting issues far too seriously… moi? Does he suppose that I have committed these sins alone?
James can be terribly competitive himself. He is such a dulwichdad you know!
My perfect man returned from a birthday party on Saturday with munchkin Freya. It seems that upon her return to school today (yes 9th January!) sweet Freya will begin the Spring term with a spelling test (the poppet will be five years old soon and in the blink of an eye we will be filling out the UCAS forms for her medical school application). James has decided that his darling doll is to pass the test at top of the class. My jewel will be required to spell the full list of thirty five words that she learned to spell up until Christmas.
Golden boy Max is happy to complete his reading homework each night (in return for a a blue cola flavoured Starbucks lollipop each Friday). Baby Freya however says “I don’t like lollipops and I don’t need money. I have everything I need” as she plays on here Muzzy French CD ROM.
Papa is less than happy. My man is terribly immature incredibly competitive and rather devious ingenious when he puts his mind to something. Yesterday evening he suggested to sweet infant Freya that he will help her to cheat to pass her spelling test “top of the class.” My innocent flower said “Cheating is wrong daddy,” but my munchkin was actually intrigued.
“Wouldn’t it be easy to pass the test if you had a list of the spellings with you to read, a list that the teacher could not see?” suggested James.
Freya frowned and agreed that it would be very wrong to have such a list, and was transfixed as James demonstrated to the tiny poppet how she should stare at each word for a very long time and take a “photo” of it to keep in her head!
My two darlings spent the evening “photographing” words and again this morning!
Aren’t clever daddies simply amazing?
Shouldn’t simply every child have access to such a wonder parent?
James claims that he is playing to Freya’s strengths. I am however convinced that James is actually encouraging my baby girl to be devious…(sigh).
I wonder if I am actually jealous that I did not think of this idea first?
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Macker said,
This is indeed dulwich-parent-itis. Maybe I let my daughter coast, but I seem to remember the goal was for the child to know those words by the end of reception.
Potty Mummy said,
Whatever works, DM, whatever works. And tell James thanks – I have made a mental note of that technique for when the time comes, as it surely will…
aims said,
Gosh – I was intrigued too! I wish I could have learned that little trick…
What next?
Frog in the Field said,
That’s such a typical ‘Dad’ thing to suggest, if you’d suggested it, I think he’d not be impressed!
(tongue in cheek)
dulwichmum said,
Oh Macker dear, that may indeed be their school’s goal, but unless our munchkins can play the viola and jazz guitar to grade 8, have Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards, speak fluent Mandarin, have a history of 8 hours voluntary work a week for at least 2 years in the local charity shop, represent the school for swimming/fencing/rugby along with 11 A* at A level, they are doomed to study basket making at South Bank University (OHMYGOD!!!). We can leave nothing to chance… There is sooo little time.
Lovely Potty Mummy,
I suppose so, but how can I be sure this is not harming my baby?
Sweet Aims,
Really? Are you sure you approve? Oh what the heck, she came top of the class…
Darling Froggie,
Pass the corkscrew. You know you are right, if it was my idea he would accuse me of deviousness…
Elsie Button said,
what a very sweet and clever chap your husband is! dad’s and their daughters melt me.
by the way, i just read your column… you really are one posh bird…
Frog in the Field said,
I’ll get the large glasses out
dulwichmum said,
Oh Elsie Darling,
I loved my daddy so, it really is a perfect site to observe.
I am sorry for being so posh, it is just that we are so damn rich! I spend as much as I can, but there is always more where that came from!
Frog darling!
Indeedy, the glasses that accommodate half a bottle of White Burgundy in one measure! YUM.
I can’t abide Chardonnay – it is so last milennium.
mutterings and meanderings said,
What a very clever man you have – but then we knew that because he picked you
dulwichmum said,
M&M Darling,
You say the nicest things!
IngeniousRose said,
Darking Dulwich Mum, have you been reading May Contain Nuts (John O’Farrell) and getting ideas?? The mother there sits the secondary school entrance exam for her daughter. I’m not giving you ideas am I??
dulwichmum said,
Darling Ingeniousrose,
I would love to read that book (you have recommended it to me already) it is just that it sounds right up my street and I am afraid of being influenced by it. I was amazed by the title – it is the working title of my second book! I shall have to change it now…
Potty Mummy said,
DM, I’ve read the book Rose recommends too. But living in K&C, I thought it was an autobiography…
Iota said,
How marvellous of him to have researched so carefully the different educational philosophies associated with spelling, and then fashioned the best one into a seemingly-casual fun idea. Terribly clever chap.
dulwichmum said,
Oh Potty Mummy,
I am longing to read it now…
Lovely Iota,
Do you really think so sweetie?
Fetch-Boy said,
Genius parenting! Thanks for sharing this, it made me chuckle. Can’t wait to read further inspired parenting tips!
Omega Mum said,
Just train her up to ‘photograph’ other people’s national insurance numbers and bank statements and don’t worry about medical school – she’ll do an awful lot better in ID fraud.
dulwichmum said,
Darling Fetch-boy,
I am glad that you are impressed – I told my husband off endlessly about this, perhaps I should apologise?
Perfect Omega Mum,
You really are inspired now – what a plan!
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