Trapped toddler parents: Inspiration and support needed through the summer hols!!

[PinkDaydreams]

Following on from the previous trapped toddler thread!
Sorry for rubbish title!

Glad to hear you have had a good day @Chocolatetrifle! Congrats on your wedding anniversary! Glitter in the garden is such a good idea!! Must get on the baker ross website later - feel like we have been on so many days out for the end of summer that I have forgotten how we used to have a quiet day at home!
Glad your appt went well @squishymamma.
DD had preschool this morning and me & DS tidied and did a lot of peaceful baby playing and I listened to a podcast while I could. Then we all sat outside and read books when she came back. Now she is drinking the bathwater and DS is eating the sponge, but you have to celebrate the wins I guess

@Lostthetastefordahlias, that sounds like a lovely peaceful day, definitely have to make the most of those! I know, what you mean, both DS are running around the living room with a roll of sellotape sticking themselves to each other and other things!

Happy anniversary @Chocolatetrifle! Hope you have a lovely celebration. I also love glitter, great idea doing it outside. Haven't tried it with DS yet, maybe something to explore as I think we have some somewhere.

@Lostthetastefordahlias that sounds like a nice, peaceful day! The weather here has been lovely so I assume it's the same over there, a great day to sit in the garden and relax.

Uneventful day here, I've been at work then at a friend's helping to deep clean their old apartment before they give the keys back, DS has been at nursery. He's losing all of his "baby" attributes now, I can really see the toddler/child emerging. It's both great to have such a fun personality around, but also sad that the baby stage has ended. His doll and pram arrived yesterday and he LOVES them. His favourite pastime is feeding the doll...feeling sorry for baby number 2 already, I can see many bottles being shoved in his face!

We're off to the other side of Norway tomorrow for the weekend, it's our niece's confirmation which is a massive deal in Norway. The plane takes an hour and DS hates sitting still, so I'm downloading lots of Cocomelon, which I absolutely hate because he turns into a zombie, but very useful on a plane he's not old/patient enough yet to enjoy activities you can do like colouring, so screen time it is!

Hope you all have a good night.

That's great hear everything went well at your appointment @squishymamma Have fun at the confirmation, if it's anything like Italian baptisms/communions etc. there will be a really good cake.

Happy anniversary @Chocolatetrifle Hope you have a nice weekend.

We're on day 2 of our road trip - have just spent the day at Thomas Land and are now in the hotel. DS2 is fast asleep and DS1 is having one cartoon before shower and bed. There have been a few stressful moments (DS2 not sleeping well at MILs last night, and not liking queues) but we are having a nice time. Might have to do an emergency run to primark tomorrow though - the DC have gone through so many changes of clothes

Hi all, I lost this thread but it just popped back up! I have about 3 weeks to catch up on!

My big news is THE TWINS ARE GOING TO BED THANK CHRIST

I am a tad relieved 😁

Now off to read others' news!

Great news @johnnymcgrathcanfuckoff, welcome back!

Today has been a strange day, DS started school and went in happily. He gave DH a high 5 before he went in. I think he had a good day and I had no phone calls. DH came home earlier with a McDonald's breakfast timed perfectly for DDs nap so we got to eat it in peace and have half an hour to ourselves. DD then went my mum's as we had a zoom meeting for income protection and pensions. Totally went over my head. Pick DS up played at my mum's until tea time and now getting ready to start the bedtime routines. If DS doesn't fall asleep quickly tonight nothing is going to make him.

Has anyone got any exciting plans for the weekend? DH is hopefully putting shelves in our loft so we can dejunk DDs room

@Motherofmonsters, oh that is brilliant your DS went into school happily, how fantastic. I'm really pleased for you . Glad you've had a good day.

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff, good news that the twins are settling at bedtime. It's so stressful when they play up.

@squishymamma, hope you have a good trip today and your DS was settled on the plane. Glad your DS has been enjoying his pram and doll. When my DS2 was born, DS1 had just turned 2 and was not remotely interested in baby DS2! It was like he was not even there!

@Camomila sounds like you are having a good time! How was Thomas Land? Can you recommend it?

We've had a day of pottering this morning in the house which usually is stressful and not a relaxing experience with both DS however surprisingly they existed together happily and we did more arty things, glitter pictures with stencils as I've got 24 tubes of glitter ha. Plus we glued artificial leaves and acorns to a wreath to make an autumn wreath. I'll try to attach a picture. I'm getting a bit ahead of myself with these autumn crafts I think as it's only the start of September!

Here's the wreath and glitter stencil leaves!

@Chocolatetrifle really impressive! Glad you managed to have a good pottering day.

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff hurrah!! Rejoicing with you. Enjoy your well-earned sleep/chill out time.

@Motherofmonsters sounds like a heavenly day, I really miss McDonald's breakfasts. Here they only have hash browns and 2 McMuffins.

@Camomila Thomas land, how exciting! I was so sad when I heard they'd changed the theme tune, it just feels wrong...hope today was a good day too!

Currently in the car with BIL on the way to their house, DS behaved pretty well on the plane (Cocomelon absolutely helped) and I've also dug out our trusty sling which I always use when travelling. So he was nice and happy on my back on the way to and in the airport, just looking around. He's shattered now so looking forward to getting him in bed so I can finally shower! We'll all be sleeping in the same room though, so that will be...interesting.

Hope everyone has a good night!

Any short term high from autumn crafts is gone as DS2 is refusing to go to bed again... Almost 21 months now, is it time to drop his nap I wonder? dS1 always still had a nap at this age.He just wants to run around, up and down, he is EXHAUSTING!

dS2 is now asleep, DS1 is still awake, it's 9.30, just go asleep! Feel like throwing the autumn wreath against a brick wall ..

Night all x

I feel your pain @chocolatetrifle, DS couldn't of had a busier day but he was up past 9.30. I had to go up and tell him to look at a book instead of playing and if he didn't go to sleep there's no TV tomorrow.

@Motherofmonsters, oh heck, hope your DS settled down eventually, it's really frustrating bedtime isn't i? Sometimes I think there must be something wrong with me that it gets me so wound up at times 😃.

Anyway, we've had a decent day. We went to a lovely big garden centre this morning which had its own little soft play area and it was great.

Hope everyone is ok and having a good weekend so far.

Hi, I haven't been on for a long while. Ds is 2 years 3 months.
We spend the morning doing housework and then
we picked up his sister DSD 9 and have made fairy cakes, DS made his fruit then decorated with using sister help then she made her with very little help, just passing her bits and taking.

Sounds like some nice afternoons have happened. We've had an okay day to, had a very loungy morning and then went for a walk and DS went on his balance bike. Stopped for an ice cream half way as well. DS and DD have been playing really nicely in the garden together just before bed as well. I'm hoping they go to sleep quickly.

Welcome back @BEE08, it's always a winner making fairy buns.

@Motherofmonsters, hope everyone settles well for you tonight. I'm back to dreading bedtimes again but fingers crossed for tonight.

Just had a 15 minute 'discussion' with DS1 as to why we can't take the lid off a manhole cover on our garden.

We have bath foam for the bath tonight....

Welcome back @BEE08. Everyone asleep here after a testing afternoon. DD (3yrs) is having some kind of potty training regression, and DH had to abandon swimming in the changing rooms as he was too afraid she would have an unacceptable accident in the water. DS did not nap properly & has been whinging all afternoon. However at least they have been tired out I guess!
Does anyone have any recommendations for preschool books about Autumn?

@Lostthetastefordahlias, I got the Autumn and Winter Nature Trail Gruffalo book last year, it had stickers and it's good because you can tick off things to spot such as different insects and different kinds of leaves, pinecones, acorns etc. I might get it again. I find embracing the different events in the seasons gives me something to focus on when I do things with the DS. I may go overboard but it helps me.

Boys are asleep, it has helped switching DS2'S nap to the morning as opposed to after lunch. I think I'll keep it up as it will fit in with collecting DS1 from preschool every day now at 12.

I'm going to go and talk to DH for a bit, don't feel as though I've talked to him any evening this week and it is our anniversary so I guess we should have a conversation ha ha, then try and do a mini spa from the bathroom then go to bed and hopefully not have to get up 5 times in the night.

Sleep well everyone.

Thomas Land was great thanks, would definitely recommend! Lots of the rides had short queues and were suitable for toddlers - plus a few more exciting ones for primary aged DC (bigger queues though). There was also a zoo/dinosaur trail/play ground and softplay if the main themepark got a bit too much. DS2 loved the dinosaur trail.

Just having breakfast at MILs before our final drive back home. Great holiday but really tiring for us adults. Back to school tomorrow

@Motherofmonsters congratulations to your DS1, did he start reception or pre-school?

@Lostthetastefordahlias last week in either lidl or aldi (helpful I know!) DM bought 4 great books about life cycles for 99p each, little acorn and sunflower are fairly autumny?

I've found you!!!!! This thread dropped off my 'im on', I actually thought it had been deleted by MN.

Anyway, I'll read through the posts I've missed with a cuppa later on.

@Chocolatetrifle the wreath is lovely! I've got those leaves and was wanting to do something with them for Halloween, you've inspired me! Son is getting into Halloweenp lately.

Swimming yesterday which was good although a bit busy. Going to see family later on today then probably the usual playground trip. Back to nursery tomorrow, new class and staff so it'll be interested to see how he gets on

Hi all and welcome back @BEE08!

Sounds like you've had a lovely time @Camomila, hope the back-to-school went well today and DC weren't too tired after their fun holiday (and the parents survived too )

Happy belated anniversary @Chocolatetrifle! Hope you had a nice mini spa.

Good luck to all going back to school/starting new places this week!

We had a heck of a weekend, when my alarm went off this morning I could have cried. It was really lovely but very intense, DH has a large immediate family (2 brothers with 3 DC each) and everyone was there...plus as always I was reminded just how different parenting styles and families in general can be. My lovely but very ditzy SIL forgot to order DS a kids meal so he ended up with entrecôte...which obviously he didn't eat, only the mashed potato. The lack of food combined with little sleep (my BILs' DC are much older and they have forgotten little toddlers need naps) and a bit too much sugar meant poor DS was quite poorly on Sunday morning, throwing up everything we tried to give him and in clear pain felt like a terrible parent. Finally managed to get plain porridge down and he slept for a little while...until the other kids decided to shout and scream and make loads of noise in the room next to him (which was totally unnecessary as the house had THREE FLOORS) waking him up.

Needless to say all 3 of us were totally frazzled by the time the plane touched down in Oslo - and obviously we'd gotten a late-ish flight so DS went to bed almost 2 hours later than usual.

He was still asleep when I left this morning

Nice quiet evening planned tonight after I pick DS up from preschool, and an early night all round I think!

Hope everyone has a good day

That sounds like a hectic trip @squishymamma, hope your DS is feeling better later and you can all have some down time tonight and early nights.

We are isolating again pending PCR test as DS1 has had high fevers since early Sunday morning. Took him for his test and poor thing knew what was coming and thrashed so much when I tried to do it he snapped the swab! Had to repeat it all again.

Good luck for everyone back in school and starting school today.

I'm back to work today so DS is at my Mums. Let's hope he has a sleep for my Mum as he isn't keen on having a nap.

Hi all, hope everyone is well.

Had to take DS for a test today, he slept really badly and woke with a fever, sore throat and a cough. DH and I are fine so don't need to do anything special according to the rules here until either we get symptoms or the test is positive.

@Chocolatetrifle poor DS1, hope its a negative result and that he's feeling better today.

@BEE08 hope your DS managed to sleep!

@squishymamma, thanks, his test was negative, he seems to be recovering now, although he was crying in the night complaining of ear ache.
however DS2 has tonsillitis. I think I had one hour sleep last night, DS2 was up crying for hours on end, nothing would console him and he was sick 6 times. Then I panicked when I saw pink in his sick, then realised it was calpol, I was thinking it was blood. Anyway got some antibiotics now this morning, managed a first double appointment taking both DS to be seen. DS1 has the tail end of his infection and is looking better.

Hope your DS feels better soon too. It's awful when they are ill. Take it easy and rest too when you can. Hope the rest result comes through quickly for you.