Tears, tables, and artichokes

Both teachers said that the boys were very tired yesterday, and we thought seriously about keeping them at home today. We sent them, mainly because Louis has his first swimming lesson with his class this afternoon, but also so that Maman (arriving today at 13h30!) can pick them up from school and see the teachers.

This morning, I saw Sacha into his classroom, and watched him pick out his card with his photo on it, and place it next to his name. Mme Bonnot, Louis' teacher, told me how she had spoken to the headmaster about Louis, and told him how interested he was by everything, and how keen he was to learn. She is very pleased with his progress.

Last night, we took them to the little playground opposite our house for a few minutes after school, to blow the cobwebs away.


For Louis'  homework, we had to do the addition tables for the numbers 1-5. Louis knows the tables in English, but still has to count up on his hands to "translate" the numbers.He had to learn the French for the numbers 12-15.  He read a little to me : it is amazing how his reading in French is improving.
Sacha joins in when we go through the days of the week and the months of the year. I think that by this weekend we'll all have them off pat.

They saw both parents on Skype in the evening, which proved to be a bit emotional and there were tears even from Louis. But food is a great comforter. And source of amazement. They enjoyed their fish kebabs  but were wide-eyed when they saw us tucking in to our artichokes. "Come on! When do you get to the heart? What's all that stuff that you are throwing away? Can I have a taste?" They decided that they like artichokes.

Perhaps if I had been quicker on the draw I would have drawn a metaphor with learning French : you keep going with the leaves, sometimes there are nasty bits, but when you get to the heart you have arrived at the best bit, you can speak to people.....but then, perhaps not.