Staff Room ...................... Wednesday........................

Sorry not been back, but had chaotic day, in a nice way, and seemed to be the most in demand person in wales at tea time!! I'm so so SO tired, and have party for Mother's 90th to sort out. Any ideas for looney and I to recapture our 'joie de vivre'?

My crisis seems to be on the way to being sorted; I'll remember in future to explain clearly and in writing what I expect etc and ask parents to do the same. Parents are young and I forget that I can't assume they have experience and knowledge about everything. Not wishing to upset you young things by implying you aren't all wise beyond your years, of course!! Just I am aged person, who has far too much experience!!

Thanks for offer of help NN it's something that will enable us to give simple commands/requests, ask questions, praise etc etc and some songs and rhymes that we are looking for. I've tried learning Welsh and just can't get my head around it.

EM - I have a learn welsh pack of CD's somewhere. I was born near Swansea, so I thought I would give it a go... but never really had the time. Not sure if would be any use for children though, aimed at adults. If you want it, I can see if I can find all the CD's - must be in my flat somewhere.

Pin Money - oh how uneducated some people are. Some childminders in my area have a turnover of over £5000 per month. Admittedly it's turnover not profit, but I doubt they can write all of that off in expenses.

Oooh! That looks interesting, (I just googled it) Where did you buy it?

Change of plan! Me & Kbear aren't very good at geeing each other up these days (two approaching 40 year old birds!) Neither of us can be arsed to go out! I might get an early night instead!

Glad you feel better, I've had a hell of an afternoon. DH in and out the front door playing Captain Pugwash on his boat, mother came round whilst dd was doing her homework. Big mistake. She is a retired head teacher and does insist on getting very involved, resulting in dd huffing at everyone, mindees 1 & 2 very boistrous and insisting on doing keep fit to music at 1,000 decibels! Only one left now, dh back in his shed and mother gone! Phew! Oh and friend over from Oz upsetting other friend AND I'm doing Salsa tonight! That'll get me back on track for sure! Sleep well LT, I'll be in the bar for a little drinkie at around 9.30 I expect!

Wow, ignore my rant earlier, although still absolutely knackered, I actually feel MUCH better already. Think I just needed a bit of fresh air as been stuck indoors for 5 days!!! Can't believe how much difference the school run made, I only walked to and from the car, not much but boy do I feel better Might sneak another slice of banana cake in a mo. Will get drinks and snacks sorted, toddler in bed and baby should be ok playing for a bit so I can have a nice WARM cup of tea and cake

Mo - yep, all fed and watered Just feel bad as been letting them have a lot of free play today. Having said that, that's mainly what ds got before I started childminding and he was fine. Just feeling drained and it's my own fault because for the last week I've been falling asleep early on the sofa and then getting to bed about 2/3ish and then awake for a bit. Just had a bit of a week or so with ds with chickenpox, mindees mum getting funny about it, other mindees behaviour nightmare, the tests for ttc, nan been put in mental health hospital for assessment as dementia got very very bad, mum on AD's (just been put on them due to my nan), my sister finally telling my parents about her dh abusing her so phonecalls to my mum, dad, brother etc. and my ds's godmother been in hospital AGAIN (was in for a week and also a couple of weeks in Aug), dh now back in touch with twin brother (didn't see for a yr so lots of catching up), searching for dh's dad who dh hasn't seen for over 15v yrs....think it's just caught up with me. I'm going to try and snap out of this and be back to normal by Monday (or sooner if poss )

Right, sarnie then back to school run in 10 mins!

Thanks for letting me moan!

Just because your a childminder, doesn't mean you're not allowed off days. So you're a bit fed up with it today, but I bet they're all fed, watered and warm. Let them have some free play, you don't need to have organised things all day every day. One of my mums used to moan at me (in a jokey way) that she couldn't keep up with me in the having fun stakes!

Sorry for those who've waited [looney hands a slice of cake to everyone..]

Mo - I'm always getting bloomin cold callers

Gosh, I'm sooooooooo tired this week. I can barely keep my eyes open and just feel like bursting into tears, I only get like that went EXTREMELY tired. I don't know why I'm so bad. Actually, since I've come off the pill I've been a bit all over the place, it's driving me mad!!! Also not helping that we've not been out since Friday afternoon Well, back to the pre-school pick up in just over an hour so that should wake me up a bit!

Do any of you ever have days where you just can't get motivated to do anything??? I feel like such a bad childminder atm because I'm not exactly enjoying kids nagging me this week That's awful to feel like that isn't it

[looney runs for cover before she gets a grilling]

Yes i did rosemary after having my son and from Jan 06-August 06 i lost two stone and that was just by being mostly good with occasional treats!
I am now the same weight as i was when i left so gathered i would go back as do have a little more to go! Just thrilled i havent gained lots too!
Its a great diet but i always find the kick start two weeks hard!
Weigh in tommorow night so we will see how i have done in my first week back!

Oh pass me that cake! xxx

OMG!!! I've just had a cold caller on the phone. 'Good afternoon Mrs X', he said 'I'm calling from Acorn stairlifts and I'm just letting you know, we're putting some information in the post for you about them today!' I yelped like a wounded puppy and suggested that he didn't, in the nicest possible way! I did give him Shoshs number though!

I don't get out much dmo, so the prospect of browsing in Sainsburys is quite appealing! I've got so much food now, I don't know what to have for lunch!

My mater Kbear did Romsemary Conley and she swears by it KKey21. She's looking good on it too.

looneytune-i am really needing some of your banana loaf! Can i really send you my address!? I am currently on the 'rosemary conley' 2 wk kickstart and boy am i feeling it!!
I have both of my mindee's snoring away upstairs! Well for the nx 5mins or so! Hot cup of coffee here i come!xxx

asda shopping being delivered today so i will have food in the house
cant believe people actually still go shopping to supermarkets its so old fashioned

Hey everyone just sent my nvq assessor away with lots to mark feeling rather good hehe

No kids today as I'm all change at the moment 2 leaving friday 1 starting mon 1 mid october

enjoying a bit of a break after the summer

lovely cake yummy x

EM - just cut you a slice of cake - here Also night big mug of tea, do you take sugar?

We've all been there EM. I foolish lost about £200 this summer, because I trusted an old mindee who said they would need me during the school holidays. She even text me a couple of times to make sure it was still ok. When I phoned her 2 weeks before to get times etc, she said 'Oh we don't need you anymore' I didn't get a retainer. My own silly fault and I've been doing this job for 12 years! Learn by your mistakes is all I can say.

Anyway, I must go shopping, no food at all in the house and I'm starving!

Yes a large coffee is needed all round and some lovely gingernut biccs if anyone would like some. yummy .

I would share but MMlove hit the nail on head; as this an open forum, I'll just have to fume about it and my stupidity.

All I'll say is that the funds I had in mind to save for a holiday (that I desperately need after all the stress over my mum)are not going to be appearing.
Oh well, never mind!!

I went to NCMA meeting on Sat and we talked about using Welsh in our setting so a friend and I are trying to access some free resources. Any ideas from fellow non-Welsh speakers will be more than welcome.

Now bring on the banana loaf and an extra large cuppa!!

hi guys
poor you earthmama
anybody in here speak polish???????
just writing a note to one of my parents in polish (as they dont speak english) to explain why he signs the register as he was a bit wary the other day

Morning all.

Shoshable - enjoy your swimming. at your crap college girl!

Katymac - good luck with the newbie and uni release

Kaysamuels - that's nice Crap about the lack of jumper too, annoying isn't it!

Mumlove - totally understand how you feel. I can't wait til they break up for Christmas, after that it's full time school for ds and not having to leave toddler groups early etc

MML - enjoy your morning to yourself Poor little plaster baby.

Earthymama - What's up? Tell us about it, might make you feel better?

Well, we're still all stuck at home due to ds's chickenpox. My pre-schooler has also been off the last 2 days as been really tired. It's been quite nice to not have to rush off at 2.30. Think ds will be back to nursery tomorrow, he's missing it and think he secretly wants to show off his scabby spots

Made 2 banana loaves yesterday and think I'll have a cuppa soon and a piece Anyone want a piece? [looney puts kettle on]

I'm thinking its something to do with a parent taking liberties?

Talk to us EM. Thats what the staff rooms for! We might not be able to help directly with this particular problem, but we might be able to convince you that you're not the only one who feels like this from time to time.

In fact can't talk about it all but have you ever thought that people think this a nice little hobby, that you do for the 'pin money'?

Could it be that this attitude might stem from the basic lack of respect for anything that might be termed 'women's work'?

I've brought all this on myself by being 'nice' so am just venting because I'm angry about my naivety!

(And I had to spellcheck naivety, just to make me even more mad!!)