Trapped toddler parents: puddlesuits splashing towards spring

[WeSearchedHereWeSearchedThere]

All guardians of toddlers welcome, we offer ideas, activities, and a shoulder to lean on when it all gets too much. We’ve conquered winter, next stop spring!

Continuing from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4105179-trapped-toddler-parents-of-the-fabled-winter-2020-2021-puddle-suits-at-the-ready-hello-christmas?pg=1

great that you feel excited about your meals, being in a rut is the worst. Let us know how they turn out!

I cannot believe how excited I am, it's quite sad really. My idea of what counts as excitement has certainly changed drastically from this time last year.

@Same4Walls I know the feeling...I got excited the other day about a midwife appointment as it the first time out of the house for something other than a walk in ages!

[quote drumst1ck]@Same4Walls I know the feeling...I got excited the other day about a midwife appointment as it the first time out of the house for something other than a walk in ages! [/quote]
I felt exactly the same when I went for my smear a few weeks ago.

Hope you're all having good days. Mine so far consists of a child who woke up on the wrong side of the cot (he had a disturbed night due to the wind).

He doesn't want to do anything but cry! Toys, cuddles, TV, singing, reading books, bubbles, going for a nap... Nothing is working to reduce the tears. I even gave him my phone to play with but not even that helped... I fear it's going to be a very long day.

@Same4Walls, poor DS, will outside time help? Emergency chocolate button?

[quote Chocolatetrifle]@Same4Walls, poor DS, will outside time help? Emergency chocolate button?[/quote]
I'm not sure strapping him into the pushchair will help improve his mood, we have gale force winds and driving hail.

We also have no emergency chocolate buttons... I'm doomed aren't I.

Oh no! My DS2 who I think is the same age as your DS (15months) was like that the other day, think a tooth is about to pop through plus separation anxiety is kicking in.

How about some water play? Water in the washing up bowl and some containers to pour?

@Chocolatetrifle

Oh no! My DS2 who I think is the same age as your DS (15months) was like that the other day, think a tooth is about to pop through plus separation anxiety is kicking in.

How about some water play? Water in the washing up bowl and some containers to pour?

Yes your small human is the same age. I'm presuming it's his teeth again (when I've exhausted every other option I always blame his teeth )

Water play sounds like a good idea. Thankfully I've finally persuaded him that sleep isn't the worst idea in the world and for the first time all week he's napping during the day . I'm sincerely hoping he's in a much better mood when he wakes up. Thanks for the support it's so reassuring to know others have bad days too.

@Same4Walls, glad he's having a nap, get your feet up and have a x

@Same4Walls we got stuck in a food rut, I saw this thing on line where you write meals on lolly sticks (I know, bear with!) and then select them at random to make a meal plan for the week, I’ve got about 50 means in ours and we both pick three, we’re allowed to veto and repick one and on the 7th meal it’s something out the freezer or a new recipe . Has completely removed the mental energy of meal planning! If we like the new recipe then it gets added to the the lolly stick pot.

We’ve been to the park this morning, it was utter fucking torture. No other kids there, DD just crying so I had to sit and feed her while DS just whined. Went for a stomp in the woods at the park and he hated that too, despite us finding a den. So we came home.
Fed them both.
Set up the water tray with the paw patrol figures and some duplo and all he wants to do is whine about watching the telly. He only wants to watch the Octonauts coral reef film on Netflix at the minute but we’ve watched it so many times I’ve got the songs from it constantly on my head, if I watch it again I might actually crack up.
Hoping DD will nap this afternoon, I’m attempting to get her to nap somewhere, anywhere other than on me, but it’s proving hard.

The baby is napping in her basket!!!!
DP has taken DS out to the park on his lunch break.
The house is SILENT. No one needs me, is talking to me, touching me. I have a hot coffee which I am drinking while hot.
Had a feta cheese toasted sarnie for lunch and I got feta juice down my cleavage and I fucking stiiiiink. But I don’t care. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had 20 minutes to my absolute self.

So pleased for you @monkeypuddle, hope you enjoy the well deserved peace.

@MonkeyPuddle well done! Mine is 5 months and still in the bloody sling. Its echsudtinh

Exhausting!!!

I bloody meditated. I love meditating. I love doing it in the day time as it’s invigorating, but usually do it when I get DD down for bed. I feel like a new woman.
For now 😂

@OhToBeASeahorse feel you on the sling, though DD’s shot up in weight the last few weeks and I’m struggling to get the sling adjusted and comfy again which is annoying.

20 minutes of silence sounds wonderful!

I’m tired today... in a fit of “can’t be arsed”ness I allowed DS to nick a toilet roll and unravel it round the house. He’s having a whale of a time, I’m cooking the dinner in peace (baby is happily having some jumperoo time). DH will be massively unimpressed by the mess, but as he is neither having to cook and entertain children, nor is he likely to be in charge of cleaning up, I care not!

@Same4Walls do you think he's coming down with something?

Weather terrible here so a full day in. First time we've stayed in all day for months. Baby had jabs yesterday so couldn't bring myself to take her out in the weather. It's been ok though, craft, books, small world play, orchard games, made up number games, letter hunt and a doorstep visit by a friend. It feels nice to have been home.

Had a weepy evening here (again..) DD was not happy about being put to bed by DH (trying to get her more used to bedtime with him as I won't be as available when number 2 arrives. But she was crying 'mama, mama' for ages and I sat downstairs crying at how I'm not going to be able to give her all my attention soon.

Tomorrow's activities will involve window washing (thanks to someone further up thread for the idea), cracking out the playdoh and laundry sorting (she's been starting to practice unpegging clothes off the hanger). Meant to be seriously windy so not sure we will brave a walk tomorrow, we'll see!

MonkeyPuddle Well done on your much deserved peace and quiet lets hope it's the start of things changing for the better.

footprintsintheslow strangely enough he seems absolutely fine so I dont think he's coming down with anything. He was just being a toad. Sorry to hear you too had awful weather. We still have driving rain and horrid wind again this morning.

drumst1ck sorry to hear you had a rough night. Hopefully she settled down and I bet she doesn't even remember it. I find it helps to remember it's always way worse for us as parents.

Hope everyone is having a peaceful day so far.

Some activities we have done today:

Made Mother's day pictures out of painted hand prints and turned them into flowers (for Granny and Nana).

National Geographic gemstone dig kit with kinetic sand/gemstones/crystals and added fossils from fossil kit.

Ocean animals/farm animals/safari animal figures- didnt do anything in particular with them but DS2 likes to pick them up and put them under the couch/tv/in the bin or down the toilet. Why is everything about putting things in the bin or toilet at that age? Arrgggh.

Buggy board walk. Ds1 enjoyed splashing in puddles and trying to soak me and his brother in the pram. Yesterday, I actually cried when he rolled around in a mound of mud in the garden without any wet gear or wellies just trainers. It was everywhere, all over him and his trainers got stuck in the mood mound. I didn't even give him a fun daytime bath just a quick wash down as was too tired and emotional as DS2 has been waking all night all week but another tooth has cut through the gum this morning. It was my fault for opening the back door and saying play out nicely.
So today DS1 has had his mud splashing fun, wearing appropriate gear and his wellies to get over yesterday's Glastonbury style mud horror.

Im not sure I’d have coped with that amount of mud chocolate !

@drumst1ck could you leave the house when he does bedtime? Drive to get yourself a takeout coffee or something? Might be easier on both of you if you’re not there. It’s really tough, but you’re right that it’s a good idea to try and get Dad doing some bedtimes before the baby arrives.

I have my covid vaccine today. Can’t decide whether I’m worried about side effects, or welcoming the idea of having to spend a day in bed 🤣

@WeSearchedHereWeSearchedThere, good luck with the vaccine, it was about 8 hours after mine that I started shivering for an hour then I had a high fever. Hope you feel ok.

Can I ask about baby immunisation...baby had first set of imms on Wednesday and is still grouchy and has yucky nappies. Can you all look in your crystal balls and tell me if this is normal and will end soon. Not sure if I should still be giving calpol. How do we ever really know if they need calpol?!

I'm feeling very lonely right now to be honest. Just a baby and toddler for company and a toddler with a massive attitude problem at that. I'm sick of long days alone at the park in terrible weather. Not getting on that well with H either so that isn't helping. I have friends but I just haven't seen anyone this week and it's been awful. Lots of plans next week though and we are allowed garden visits now which is SO EXCITING.

How is everyone?

Had a bit of a disaster day here. Went to pick up a book from a friend this morning to help prepare new big sibling for pregnancy and it was freezing cold and windy, plus neither of us had eaten properly so by the time we got home DS was in a horrible mood. Wanted Daddy but DH was in training for another hour during which DS refused to come into the living room but was really unhappy being outside it as well, so I felt guilty and went to see if he was OK and he wanted to demand that I stayed out. I didn't want to do that so he ended up getting really cross/upset.

Oh it was just a day of tantrums and tiredness on all sides really.

footprints I would always give in that kind of situation, err on the side of caution, I was told children are pretty tolerant to paracetamol so there's not much need to worry about them having too much (stick to guided amounts obviously!) if they're grumpy it can only help really.

WeSearchedHereWeSearchedThere glad to hear you've had the vaccine I've not had it yet but everyone I know who has says the symptoms really kick in the day after so make sure you get plenty of rest.

footprintsintheslow DS reacted to all of his Vaccines so far and been miserable and needing calpol for 2-3 days after each set (my nurse friend says it's quite common). Sorry to hear you're feeling low. I'm definitely fed up of miserable park trips and having no company. I honestly sometimes daydream about how much different it should all be and I cannot wait to be able to have a day with friends and no small baby in tow.
BertieBotts sorry to hear you've had a rubbish day. If it's any consolation our day has also been pretty crummy. I'm beginning to think DS is afraid of the wind. Everytime it picks up and gets very windy outside it seems to make him cry proper heartbreaking tears.