***MONDAY MORNING STAFF ROOM***

I admit having your own does make it harder as you're also up in the night. Breastfeeding also adds problems but USUALLY I'm ok. Unfortunately his routine was wrong yesterday and he wanted a feed at 5.30pm which was NOT a good time as that's why usually has at 4pm. I ended up just giving him a small amount to keep him going then got on with desserts and stuff as a mental time of night. It actually worked out better later though as because he's had a bit later than normal, he wasn't screaming his head off at nearly 7pm like he normally would be which was lucky as mindee didn't get picked up til 7.10pm!!! He's usually in bed and asleep by then.

Am I asking too much.....I certainly could do with not being so full on right now but we really do need the money and I wouldn't do it if I couldn't cope or the children suffered. It's fine, I'm just worn out by the end of the day. I've never had 7 before and it was a one off to help a desperate single dad who called late the night before.

I've got 2 school aged kids in the half term and I'm actually looking forward to re-gaining the experience of BIG KIDS as only MINDED babies/toddlers and 1 young afterschooler (apart from a couple of months when I very first started 3 and half years ago).

Katy.........please share your ways if you sort it....would love to know if there is a way my family could do something similar as we forgot the idea when it looked like we couldn't go (this was few years ago)

Tricky

I prefer babies too but I never did this with one of my own

Are you asking a bit much of yourself too soon?

BTW I am not giving up on NZ btw - there are other ways I could do it

Difficult one. I'd always say babies but having 3 so young every day, it depends on how the day goes! But if you were to ask me what's easier if both doing same number of hours, I'd say the babies

Which is easier after school or babies?

Nick - hope you had a lovely break, always a bit rubbish when it's first day back!

Katy - I'm alright, we really need the money plus ds2 LOVES loads of kids about and ds1 like bigger kids too. I wish I'd finished on time but never mind, chilling now At least I only have one baby mindee tomorrow and my own kids, a much quieter day! How you feeling now?

Nick - you are a push over

Looney - I'm worried about you.....are you working too hard

Well done Loony for getting through the day, sounds like it went well in the end.

I'm back home now, so it's back to the usual routine - better set my alarm for 06:30.

Met an adorable 3 month old this evening, will see him again on Friday.

on smileys

If you mean about the hats.....they've disappeared but they were there, promise!! (I mean hats of smileys)

What me???

What are you wittering about?

OH YIPPPEEEEEEEEEEE HALLOWEEN HATS AGAIN

Phew, just left and thank god my own baby isn't screaming like he normally would be at that time!!! Off to chuck him in bed get him ready for bed then drinking lots of beer

Night x

Soooooooooooo tired.........I couldn't do 7 every day, bloomin heck!!! lol AND.......9 month old STILL here....traffic bad I think

Afternoon everyone.

Very windy and drizzle here. Only 1 under 5 mindee today. DD and older mindee at school.
Been to soft play this morning and now worn out.

Belle - DD has inset day on Friday too, I would have said I would meet up with you in New Forest but DD has a birthday party to go to.

EM - Thanks for reminding me to check dates of last posting day for Canada.

Afternoon all! Well, we got through this morning ok! We stayed in as I don't feel up to going out but also the weather is not looking great. We did a big picture of a tree, painted with twigs, leaves and pine cones! It was great fun

Mindees now sleeping so I am sitting down. Just taken more medicine so hoping to feel human again soon!

Jealous about the spa Nick! We are off to the New Forest on Friday (dd has inset day) and I can't wait, although hoping I will be better by then. DH is not great either so hope he is better too.

Sorry about NZ Katy.

Glad you didn't get blown away Coolj and got to the tearoom for lunch!

Well she's been 'helping' and is now playing with big kitchen in the playroom. This BIG kitchen was in the playhouse in the garden and I decided why not have a change so just dragged it in BY MYSELF and she's now stocking the fridge with food etc The place is even messier than normal but it's good as she can help sort the new layout in the playroom and think she'll enjoy 'helping'

Thanks all. Now to sort out how we get one of my kids home after school run. I've never had this many kids, the max I'd had was 6 and that's very rare. Think I'll need a BIG drink tonight

Sorry about your dream Katy, same with us, dh is too old and I don't have right things to get in

Hi to everyone else, must dash x

Nick you seem to have a lot of time off......I'm not sure I approve

Morning all

Still feeling grotty so empathy to all

8yo play with babies & ask the to 'help' you as much as possible

My (silly) dream to emigrate to NZ has died a death - DH is too old & my training is no good

So what next

Im still at Center Parcs. Having a coffee at the Jardin des Sport, then at 11 I'm off to the Spa.
I am doing some work today, meeting a 3 month old early this evening.
Looney sounds like you have a busy day. With luck 8 yr old may help care for little ones.

Looney,

See if she wants to help with the little ones. My 8 year old after schoolie loves to play and help look after my 1 and 3 year olds!!

Morning all,

Can the pub be child freindly? Not working today, but still have 2 of my own here!!

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Em - cool about doing the wrapping paper, what did you do?? My eldest wrote his christmas list last night - xbox 360, ipod, ipod speakers.... and in his opening sentance he said that he knows that every person in the world is in credit crunch!!

HELP!!!

Busy busy day today, got a last min call last night for an 8 yr old girl to come for the day as on leave from boarding school. Not best timing as all my big kids are at school and the oldest mindee apart from her is 20 months old!!

I'm really struggling to know what to do with her and I have a whole day to fill

On top of that, although I'm within my numbers to have 7 (after school pick up), I haven't got the space in my car - oops!! One is a playdate for ds and his mum said she could pick him up and drop him round after if needed but I feel bad as I'm supposed to be collecting him. Been trying to think of someone who may be able to bring my ds2 home in the car for me as it's only the car journey that's the problem.

Right, off to ask the 8 yr old what she wants to do although it will probably be another 'don't know'. She's really lovely, just a little shy, I'm just not used to this age group!!

BYeeeeeeeee

Morning....

Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

That's me today!