Horrid Henry School Holidays Giveaway

Have you ever read Francesa Simon's Horrid Henry books? Well. Maybe not you, but your kids?

They are very, very good. The Doctor adores them. They are funny, and clever - and just what little people like. Humour that's totally read-able, a little bit of mischief and a few illustrations tossed in.

But did you know they made a film of Horrid Henry? Just like the books, it is super good - and stars the ever-beautiful Angelica Huston, the cerebral and stylish Richard E. Grant. It's a great film - and Tiny loves it (she's four), just as the Doctor does (he's seven) just as Matt and I both do (we're in our 30s).

The good news is I have a Horrid Henry giveaway. One that's perfect for the Winter school holidays.

There will be two winners. One winner will receive the Horrid Henry DVD and a hard cover activity book. The runner up will receive one copy of the HH DVD.
All you have to do to enter is tell me in 25 words or less (and I am strict so I don't get into trouble with the law):

What was so horrid about you when you were small?

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Open to Australian residents only
Entries are open from Saturday 30th June 2012 - winners will be announced on the PottyMouthMama Facebook page on Wednesday 4th July 2012.
You must be easily contactable.
There will be no disputes, no arguing and strictly no haggling over the winners.
PottyMouthMama is the judge of all entries.
PS - I love you.

Dr's Orders:: Yogi Bear Review

It's cold and chilly and the four of us are curled up watching 'Yogi Bear'. We've already watched it together a few times, and it's still drawing laughter from us.

Featuring the voices of Dan Akroyd (Yogi) and Justin Timberlake (Boo Boo), the two bears' bumbling schemes are a recipe for disaster and laughter.
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So what do you like about Yogi Bear?
The Doctor: All of it.
Tiny: I like about Yogi Bear.


What bits make you laugh?
The Doctor: I can't remember. Sometimes when the fireworks go off. And the other funny bit that makes me laugh is him riding on the armadillo.
Tiny: Barbies.

How many times have you watched this?

The Doctor: Maybe 4. Or 5. Or 6. Maybe 7. Or 5.

Tiny: 2 Mum.


Who do you like best, Yogi or Boo Boo?
The Doctor: Yogi.

Tiny: I don't know which is the other's one name.

And is it scary?

The Doctor: No. It's funny.

Tiny: Yeah it's funny too.

Does it make you want to go on a pic-a-nic?

The Doctor: It makes me hungry and makes me want to go on a pic-a-nic.

What's one of Yogi's favourite sayings?

The Doctor: Smarter than the average bear.

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The Doctor has given Yogi Bear 100 stars (out of 5) and Tiny who doesn't give a toss about stars gave it 4.

This is the Doctor's and Tiny's review of the new DVD, available to own 15 June, for your viewing pleasure. On repeat. Over and over again. And then a few more times. So then you know it by rote. The end.

Encouraging Children

The Doctor started Kindergarten this year. He likes it, but I'd never go so far to say he loves it. Lately he's been sick, and I'm not stretching the truth when I say we've visited the (medical) doctor five or six times in as many weeks. The Doctor has been sick for this long, missed out on long stretches of school, and in the last three school days, gone to sick bay and I've picked him up by 11:30am, three times.

And before anyone goes gangbusters - the reason I sent him to school is: when he wakes up, he's fine, so I think - great, time for school, and then he goes on that wave of feeling ill again. It's a tricky business deciphering true illness, and the lack of want to go to school.

Last night at dinner the Doctor told us that some kids were laughing at him.

This isn't the first time something's happened that made him feel sad at school. Earlier in the year two year six boys teased him, told him to "get lost" and kicked him. It was quickly nipped in the bud when we raised it with his teacher.

But last night's reluctant conversation about some other Kindy kids laughing. It took me ages to get it out of him, and it's a difficult road to navigate, I don't want to make too much of a big deal about it, but I want to learn the truth so I can help him out of it.

Finally he told me that they laughed at him, called him "Babykins" and so on, and on more than one occasion.

To you and me, this may be nothing much. Maybe a small thing, but remember when you were 5 or 6 and these things stung. And humiliated. I remember being in Kindy and while we were painting our Santa faces, I painted my nails red with the paint. My teacher came over, ripped my Santa up, threw it in the bin and said: "Did I ask you to paint your nails?" - 26 years later I still remember that and can still conjure those awful feelings. I remember going home silently, and my mum asking me what was wrong. I burst into the front door - and promptly burst into tears.

My little man is a sensitive soul. How to bolster that confidence when it comes to these situations? How to empower? How to make him realise - that it's not him - it's them with the problem - whatever that is?

A while ago I won a copy of Ruby Who (by Hailey Bartholomew) from the beautiful Jody at Che & Fidel. As well as being a short film about not wishing for things you don't have, it's also about revelling in who you truly are. It is truly a delightful film that engages the smalls and has a great message.

How do you help your kids assert themselves?

image via I Like To Be Me