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

[PinkDaydreams]

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

@Motherofmonsters sorry to hear sleep was so elusive, hope we both have a better night tonight!

@PinkDaydreams we haven't booked anything here, DS is still a bit young for us to pay so much for stuff (Norway is expensive!) since he won't really understand it. We'll probably take him to the centre to see the Christmas lights.

Oh no @Chocolatetrifle - I remember my brother hating that when he was little too. Maybe it's a child thing...

DS is worse today than yesterday, still with a fever and just very lethargic compared to usual (not so much that we're worried though). Managed to get him to have a decent nap so hoping bedtime goes well! There's been a lot of TV since he hasn't been interested in playing...

We've not hooked any Christmas things yet. I have a feeling DS2 will be scared of Santa. DS1 has only seen him twice what with covid but he was ok when he saw him the year before last so I'm sure we will try to get a booking at a garden centre.

We've been to the library and the bakery and back in now eating things.

Watching some Tele but then I think it's only half 3 , there's a long evening ahead yet!

I have some print outs of Pudsey bear so I might see if we can manage to colour some in.

I hope the colds and fevers settle down soon. Hopefully everyone sleeps a bit better tonight too.

Good luck with the covid booster tomorrow@PinkDaydreams. Hope you feel ok after it.

I got this busy board off Amazon and it's kept both boys busy, they both like fiddling with the buckles etc. Anything they can do by themselves without me for a bit ( and without fighting) @is a success!

No, of course the colouring in is not happening. They would rather cause havoc and jump on the couch. Do any kids actually colour in?

@Chocolatetrifle

No, of course the colouring in is not happening. They would rather cause havoc and jump on the couch. Do any kids actually colour in?

I've been trying to encourage my son to do some colouring, today it resulted in one line and two dots 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Chocolatetrifle

No, of course the colouring in is not happening. They would rather cause havoc and jump on the couch. Do any kids actually colour in?

I've just totally lost control of myself with them running around and bouncing on the sofa. I find it really triggering, I think it sends my brain into chaos.

My kids like colouring in things they are not supposed to

@Motherofmonsters I have to turn the couch into a ship/play area/ play centre every morning at 7 so my lads can jump on it. I've given up protesting now and just do it. Some days I put blankets on it some days I don't. They pester me so much for it so I am numb to it now. Numb is best for some things.

Roll on bedtime, it's been a long day.

Our is a recliner so you can hear the springs crunching constantly, it's not far off falling apart and we don't want to get another one. Its against a high windowsill to that they run and jump off. They literally go feral!!

I used to love colouring as a child but mine don't like it either!

DS2 is obsessed with his new shoes which flash but he calls them "my BLADDY shoes" as he can't say F or S :o

DS3 is ill again. Poor thing has had virus after virus. Had to delay his jabs until he's a bit better.

Right, so the conclusion is to put the crayons into the bin!

Sorry about all the colds and bugs doing the rounds. I hope everyone fees a bit better tomorrow. My dS2 is snorting away now, his nose is full up and DS1 sneezed into my face before so no doubt his preschool germs are multiplying on me.

Sleep well hopefully all.

Our night is looking slightly more positive than last night, only 2 major crying fits and a reasonably long interval between wakeups. DS even ate a little more than he has done and played around a bit with a ball we have so that's a positive.

@Chocolatetrifle the crayons keep DS occupied for approximately 1 and a half minutes, then he's bored and running off. He had a massive crying fit because we stopped him trying to colour on the wall.

Hope everyone's DC get better, glad we have this thread to keep us sane in the meantime! Has anyone's DC done anything that you just had to laugh at afterwards today? DS asked to use my phone - he has one game on it - then had a full on meltdown because I had the audacity to give it to him. He cried for a good 5 minutes

Sleep well everyone!

Ha @squishymamma so many of my attempts to please or treat DD end in absolute meltdowns!! Give them exactly what they asked for - complete tantrum . Hope your DS is better today. And hope you have had a better night as well @Motherofmonsters. @PinkDaydreams I was so ill after my jab but I had my booster last week & only had a sore arm!
We are going to nature class at a local reserve this morning then this afternoon I am determined to tame our laundry situation. Oh the glamour!!

DD had me downstairs at 4am this morning! I still spent more time in my bed then the night before so improvement?? She's become very 'assertive' I got the buggy out the car at the school to which she said ' no buggy, I don't need it' and when we returned to the car she told me to stand back while she climbed in!!

Nature class sounds lovely @lostthetastefordahlias. I also have a mountain of laundry to sort out. We don't have a tumble drier so it's everywhere.

DS is much better but he was up about 50 million times last night. DH was a Saint and took all of them! But now he's in this annoying "I'm not ill but I'm not well enough for nursery" stage where he just complains about everything and wants constant attention. It's very trying on my patience! But at least he's better...

I'm also struggling with laundry and a lack of a dryer, now it's too cold to shove everything on the balcony so it's cluttering up our whole apartment. Stress!

Morning all, I can't believe you were downstairs at 4. @Motherofmonsters that's truly awful. Hope you get through the day ok. My DS2 is also at the being assertive stage. He keeps trying to open all our cupboards to find cleaning spray bottles at the moment.

Glad your DS is a bit better today @squishymamma.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, that sounds lovely for the nature visit.

Today we taken DS1 to preschool where he said to one of his teachers that he was teaching DS2 to say poo. dS2 has had a meltdown in the Asda carpark and sat on the wet floor and wouldn't get up, so had to cart him off to the car.

After preschool i am letting DS1 play with slime. I've got him some buttons and sequins and he wants to mix it all up in a pyrex dish like you see on YouTube. I will report back.

Good luck with the slime @chocolatetrifle! Sounds like fun. I tried slime baff with DS but he wouldn't touch it.

DD went down for a nap just after 9 and I should have woken her up 20mins ago but I just can't find the energy

Just got a postcard through from the school saying well done for a fantastic improvement in behaviour, I'm guessing that's why he's lost all ability to listen at home. He's used it up in school.

@Motherofmonsters ah that's brilliant news. Well done DS!

The slime making went well and boys enjoyed it. Just added some sequins and buttons etc to make it a bit sparkly.

I knew I shouldn't have left DD nap that long! I'm paying for it now. She's bouncing around like a loon, knocked her cup of milk into her cot spilling it and just not in the mood for sleep. I need to do DS after this

Oh no @Motherofmonsters hope you got both of them asleep ok before too late!! Well done to DS on his postcard!
That slime looks amazing @Chocolatetrifle!
Hope your DS is well enough for nursery today @squishymamma?
I have for the first time in AGES woken up before mine so I am just having a lovely quiet 10 mins with a coffee and the baker ross Christmas catalogue.

No sleep here, DD woke 10,11, 1, 4 and up at 5. DS was awake 1-4! I think they're conspiring against me.

Morning all!

@Chocolatetrifle looks like fab slime, I bet the additions made it even more interesting. Can you keep it for a while and reuse? We haven't gotten to the slime stage yet, but I keep meaning to make salt dough and get DS to make something for his DGPs that we can paint and give them for Christmas. Time flies though...

@Motherofmonsters congratulations on the postcard! Sounds like a rough night, hope you get a chance to rest today. I always find it hard to wake children up from naps, it really does impact the routine though!

@Lostthetastefordahlias hope you enjoyed every sip of that coffee

DS is well again, hurrah! Well, not completely - still has a bit of a cough which woke him up a few times last night, but he's back to his normal bouncy self today and had no fever for over 24 hours so he's gone back to nursery. Apparently all the kids have been struck down by colds and they only had 2 in yesterday (of 9) 'tis the season for spreading illness! I'm now constantly exhausted so PlayDoh and games I can set up and sit in a chair next to are becoming my lifesavers. Not long to go...

Hope everyone has a good day.

I'm glad your DS is well again @squishymama! Hope you can have a proper rest while he is away.

DD has fallen asleep so it's time to make coffee and crumpets.

Oh @Motherofmonsters have a sit down whilst DD naps that sounds like a terrible night, you will be shattered.

@squishymamma, yes definitely get your sit down activities sorted for DS, lots of stickers or how about one of those magnadoodle mats or those little boards with a pretend pen they can draw with and then it wipes away or water magic books? Not long for you to go now.

@Lostthetastefordahlias is there anything good in the baker ross catalogue? How was the nature reserve visit?

We've been to Hobbycraft this morning and I've just picked up some plain wooden Christmascdecorations that already have string on as they are great for colouring or painting or sticking stickers on or something. Have also got some pretend snow and white card and white felt and thought we could make a snow scene in a box nearer to Christmas.

Tired though today!