h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I went to the Vedanta Centre yesterday where there were lovely carols and people from the audience were invited to lead in the singing. Little stuck his hand up the second or third time one of the swamis asked if anyone wanted to lead a carol and marched up to the microphone and told three (clean) short jokes, before leading is in 'We three kings' and finished off by saying 'I hope you all enjoyed that - my name's Little (well he said his real name)', punched his fist in the air, and said, 'Thank you all', before going back to his seat to a smattering of applause. The carols are normally sung and then there is a period of silence before the next carol, or reading. I wasn't sure whether to be amused or embarrassed, but everyone seemed to take it in good spirits and I heard some of the older children talking about the jokes at the shared meal afterwards. A few people came up to him and said well done and a few of the adults came up to us and asked if he was in drama school or going to a progressive school.

My very dear little

I have just read about your leading the singing at the Carol Service at the Vedanta Service.

I am sooooo proud of you my darling. I think it is wonderful, and I hope that when you come and visit me next week (hopefully) you can also sing it for us.

I send you very much and hope you have a happy time with your grandparents.

Your loving old friend

Also ran1

Give him the opportunity of getting behind a microphone and whoosh - he's up there asking to tell a joke, AR1

I'll tell him what you said, and we're looking forward to coming to see you on the 5th!

How lovely to have a son with such confidence You must be doing something right, ZSF

He's a curious mixture of confidence and lack of it, Fb, and I have difficulty sometimes in deciding how much to encourage him and how much to give him firm boundaries. I think the question is balance - showing him what is appropriate and what isn't. It's sometimes very hard to know quite how to guide/restrain him.

I reckon parenting is one of the very hardest jobs in the world. I'm impressed by anybody who takes it on

'I reckon parenting is one of the very hardest jobs in the world.' Yes, isn't it? It's probably easier doing it with a partner who's there all the time, although I can imagine it might be difficult if each partner had different ideas on the best way to bring up a child. There would then be scope for the child playing one off against the other.

Although Roy isn't little 's father and has no ambitions to be, at least we are consistent with him, so at least he knows where he is with us.