Thought it was about time Charlie got a look in on here. He's been a bit grotty the last couple of weeks dealing with a cold, but also over the last month or so he's really started to communicate what he wants and be very clear about what he doesn't want. He has a few sounds which pass for words amongst those who know him well - dark, row, row (as in row, row, row the boat), yes, no, uh-oh, etc. - and some very clear body language. He's started having the odd tantrum, perhaps more so for feeling under the weather - less pure anger than Philip's used to be, but he needs a large safe area as he suddenly gets up from the floor and moves around the room very quickly to launch himself somewhere else. I got caught out in the kitchen the other day and first he banged into the table and then a couple of moments later pulled a chair down on top of himself!

Day 4 of the school settling process and the first tears. Not because I was going but because I came to take Philip home and he didn't want to go. I probably could have been less confrontational but we've both got iron wills so we're getting pretty used to resolving conflict, Philip and I. And with Charlie wanting to mess with everything I was feeling under pressure to get them both out of there.

So it came to pass that I marched out of the classroom with Philip under my arm while the class teacher carried Charlie. I let Philip's tantrum run it's course in the foyer, with kind support from the receptionists. Bit of a public display from the Wright's! Luckily Charlie sat good as gold in the buggy while Philip's storm blew over. He only wanted time to finish his milk in peace poor love.

Hopefully we're up to full sessions next week so P won't have to leave when others are still happily playing. It's the childminder taking him and picking him up so he's less likely to dig his heels in. And may be one day I'll learn to take the easier route, although then maybe I just wouldn't be me :-)

Day 2 at preschool for Philip and no tears so far. Today, after the drop off rush had settled, I left him for what was supposed to be an hour but ended up being rather more as after a nice chat to other Mums I was in the Head's office (scary) filling out forms.

Philip seemed to settle fine. He went straight outside to play as soon as he was allowed and stayed there all the time. When I went to pick him up he'd been happily digging and exploring the garden with a teacher called Angela.

The kids have half an hour at the beginning and end of the session where they have to stay in their classroom - the end half hour being circle time - but the rest of the time they can choose to play in another classroom (there are 3) or outside. I think Philip will learn to recognise 9.30 on the clock as being the time he's allowed out quite quickly!

Plan for tomorrow is same again but this time I have Charlie in tow, so the parents room will be more chaotic. Philip seems to like nursery school but he says he doesn't like all the people. It must be a bit scary getting used to a new environment with so many new people. Hopefully he'll find his feet playing with the other kids soon - they all seem really friendly.

Forgot to mention, yesterday when trying to find out a bit more about Philip's interests, his teacher started talking about steam coming out of the chimney on the train. Philip said "It's called a funnel"! And today when asked his name by another adult he said "Bing Bong" and laughed. And then after a pause "It's Philip really". Cheeky monkey.

Philip's first day at preschool. There were soooo many toys and different people to play with. We learnt which picture was ours so we could find our name and do "self registration" (move it to a different place), then find our peg and hang our coat up and later find our snack! Then we went into our classroom and checked our the different things to do - first the cooking corner, then building blocks, then lego type stuff, then looking at the musical instruments, then playdough, sand and finally settled on water play for a bit. Until we noticed the other kids had gone outside so off we went again. We were only allowed to stay for an hour today so we'll be back for more tomorrow and hopefully we'll eat our snack before the other kids have eaten it all this time. Philip coped really well but definitely found so much new stuff tiring. The plan is I leave him for a bit and go and have a coffee tomorrow.