The To Do List

My daughter loves this film.  Comparing it to American Pie, I think that this comes up short, but that is a film looking at adolescent sexuality from a male perspective, while this is from a female one.  I do want my children to be open and honest about sex and issues about it with me.  Watching this with my daughter was a bit traumatic for both of us, more so for me though.

It was an enjoyable comedy and I can see why she, and I suspect her friends like this so much.  I am not as sure that parents would want to watch it, especially with children in the room.

Where has the squirrel gone?

This morning I woke up late, but that was taking into account the change from daylight saving to summertime hours.  My son woke with Leia, though his aim was to go on the switch,  this was fine as he had agreed to go to ASDA with my wife in the day.  My daughter had planned to wake in the morning to accompany me to work, but as she was sleep, once my son took Leia out into the garden for her toilet break, I took her to Highwoods Country Park.  However the walk for Leia was cut short as my son changed his mind and I returned home to accompany my wife to the click and collect point for our supplies.

I went into work to catch up with some overdue items to find that despite being on holiday, some people have been giving me work to do! So I spent an hour doing that work instead.  Later, my daughter and I returned home for a very late lunch with my wife (my son had eaten at a more sensible time) and then my daughter and I took Leia back to Highwoods Country Park for her walk.  My son was invited but decided to stay at home instead.

Leia loves the park.  My daughter, who had recently finished watching all the Criminal Minds episodes did not want to walk too far ahead of me in the woods, but I think enjoyed the walk with Leia.  I have a week off left and am not sure if I should exercise in my bike, or by taking Leia back here more often.  Leia loves chasing squirrels but appears to have forgotten that they climb trees, running around the tree to search for them.  This is despite her seeing them run up trees in the park before as well as watching them do that in our garden.  Maybe she is not that smart after all...

Anyway, the evening was finished off by watching Line Of Duty with my wife.  It appears that another police officer is being blackmailed into being corrupt.  I hope, as this was an issue used before, that they turn the tables on those blackmailing them.  Watching Bloodlands earlier this month was enjoyable, and to be fair, I have liked all the productions of Jed Mercurio. 

13 Reasons Why; Tape 5, Side A

Just finished watching this with my son. A truly horrific episode.  He is already aware of the importance of consent, and also of the case of Brock Allen Turner with the sentence he was given.  After watching it, we discussed victim blaming and how that has occurred even when there has been photographic/video evidence that the woman was not able to give consent.  

On a lighter note, I took Leia to Highwoods park again today.  She loved it.  It was a shorter walk than before only being an hour, but she enjoyed meeting other dogs as well as the different environment. I think she caught sight of one squirrel today but I cannot be certain.

In addition to this, we did a bit of work dismantling the climbing frame today.  It is now down, and I will need to complete the job over the coming week.

Domestic violence is wrong

Today I was reminded of the violence that I saw at home growing up.

My parents both loved me, and while my father did not care to contact me when I was over the age of 20, I am grateful to what he taught me as a child.

He also taught me how not to be.  

He used to hit my mother, and it was always her fault.  My children know that I do not like violence at home, and when younger, they quickly learned not to blame the person they hit for hitting them. 

13 Reasons Why; Tape 4, Side B

Another day, another side to the tape of Hannah Baker.  This shows a betrayal of trust following a very personal experience.  I have not written poetry since I was in secondary school, but the poem that Hannah wrote was a very personal one.  To have her private thoughts shared to an audience she did not want to see it was a betrayal of trust, one that she had explained the importance of in the episode.  

In itself, would I say that this was a major issue for the mental health of a person?  No, but combined with the other twelve reasons (some of which are milder than others), I can see how someone would be suicidal after such a barrage of insults to their self esteem.

I still consider her suicide to be the cowards way out, and likewise, the effect her death has on those around her is explored in this episode more than it was touched on in the book.

In other news, I took Leia to Highwoods Country Park for the first time.  She loved it.  She got to meet other dogs (she will not obey the guidance on hands face and space) and also had fun chasing after squirrels and birds.  I was impressed when she realised that they would run up trees, though watching her touch a twig with her paw looking up the tree was sweet!

Sneaking time off with my wife

Wednesday is my day were I do my other job.  I have been on holiday from my main job, but have attended meetings already in the days before today so I was able to finish earlier than normal and was able to sit in the garden with my wife.  Leia joined us, but decided not to rest, as can be seen in this video....

With the kids at school, being able to be together without them was a time where we could bond more.  Though I did have to return to do some work after this video was taken, it was great to sit with her in the garden.

13 Reasons Why; Tape 4, Side A

Yesterday my son and I watched this episode. 

It is one which involves some quite mean behaviour.  I think that I got this more watching this than reading the book.

The vindictiveness of the acts towards her no matter what media this chapter was experienced through though is sadly, all too true for too many people.