Penmanship

So sure, the first two years of school were essentially childcare. And even now that maths and reading has started, the level is not equivalent to 2nd class in Australia. But there is one thing the Swiss push faster.

Not only did Téo transition from pencil to pen this year - 2 years ahead of kids in Australia! - but to a fountain pen. A fountain pen!

Can you guess what movie we watched recently? 

And what the current obsession of the shortest and loudest member of the household might be?

Well OK, I agree a fountain pen is not really the height of technology - I mean, weren't ballpoint pens invented to overcome their inadequacies? And true, Téo does now have perpetually blue-stained hands. And there are ink spots on the floor. Our very absorbent floor.

But there is nevertheless something very charming about it all. Especially when your child chooses to use his pocket money to buy himself his own pen and ink cartridges.

They had a blue one, but it wasn't as pretty.

Well OK, he may have done that simply to get more of the plastic balls inside the ink cartridges, a highly desirable item, apparently. But still, it tickles me that my son is learning to write with a fountain pen.