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

[PinkDaydreams]

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

Good morning all!

@BeHereNowx32 the farm sounds like great fun!

@Motherofmonsters glad to hear DD is feeling better. We haven't had a proper sickness here yet and I'm dreading it!

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff I had to reread the bit about you reading a book for 2 hours undisturbed twice sounds dreamy! Less so with the bedtime antics though. I guess they are doing it because they want attention? I've heard it's really common to have "bedtime battles" at this age. If their issue is not being with you, a page I follow on Insta called ourmamavillage suggests making hearts out of card - one for them and one for you. You can then say "if you miss me just grab the heart, we're still connected even if I'm not there" - from feedback she's gotten it sounds like it works for some parents...but I've probably explained it in a rubbish way.

DS woke up a few times in the early morning but DH managed to get him back to sleep both times and he slept until 7.30!! I am fully dressed with makeup on before 8am, this hasn't happened for the whole summer holiday. Total bliss. We have a friend coming for a playdate today so that will be nice.

Anyone else got any plans?

Your day off sounded brilliant @johnnymcgrathcanfuckoff. Sorry bedtimes are such a nightmare, are they in the same room? Would splitting them up help?

Hope your playdate goes well @squishymama. It's nice when you can get prepared for the day before they wake up.

I get to go to the opticians today, I'm looking forward to an hour to myself. Its in town so I'll have a mooch around the shops.

@squishymamma I don't think I've worn make up since 2019! Well done.

Cannot really split them up due to logistics of house. We have 3 bedrooms and DD1 in one, us in one, twins in another. DD1 has her chapter of her book in our bed before going to hers so both other bedrooms are "engaged" iyswim. The only other possibility is to wedge a bed into our room - wouldn't really fit - and then make DD1 use her own room for stories. Rubbish for her and I make enough sacrifices without having a preschooler in our bedroom, no more reading at night or other things!

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff, yes I think that's what it is, the gunk is slowly dispersing now.

I honestly do not know how you manage to get twins to sleep, it's hard enough doing one at a time. It's so ironic that it quite often is not the lovely relaxing time of day it's supposed to be. It's bloody hard work bedtime!

Totally get the pensioner fantasy by the way. I often just want to go to a hotel by myself for the night, tuck myself up and turn the phone off!

How was bedtime tonight?

@Motherofmonsters how is DD today? Is she any better? Hope you enjoyed a bit of time to mooch in the shops.

@squishymamma, hope you had a lovely time with your friend. Fantastic that you got to glam up before hand. It makes so much difference I think, if you feel better in yourself, it can help the day go better.

I'm a bit flat as DS1 was crying at preschool again. His main teacher is off for summer and I thought I was doing him a favour sending him for a few mornings over summer to keep him used to it. Now I'm thinking I should have just kept him off until September when he can go every morning and be in a routine with his main teacher. Hopefully he will be better on Wednesday. Not sure why he's crying as the other teachers seem lovely too, he just wants to be with me but I'm totally not a smothering mum, I'm trying to help him spread his wings!

Had a nice afternoon anyway at a local farm/ice-cream and playground place.

Hope everyone has a good sleep.

DD is fine, DS has just thrown up all over his bed... I'm feeling iffy but not sure if that's just in my head. Off to bed in the hope of getting an hour before I have a horrendous night. Obvs DH is out drinking tonight where there is no signal.

Oh no @Motherofmonsters hope you all had an okay night and you're not feeling too bad...and that DH isn't too hungover to help today!

@Chocolatetrifle it's so hard to know what to do with such long summer breaks, isn't it? We didn't get the option as our preschool shut for summer, and we're switching to a new one anyway, but I would probably have done the same as you. DS will begin again either the end of this week or beginning of next and it's so hard trying to get him back into some kind of routine. Hoping he settles in well to this new place, he has a little friend there already (as much as they can have friends at this age!) so that might help.

We had a lovely playdate but DS was shattered afterwards and thus really grouchy, having meltdowns for no reason. Put him to bed at a normal time but according to DH he woke up loads (I slept from 9.30pm to 7am ). Just having some TV time while I wake up and get ready before we play, probably outside. Today we're going to IKEA to get some last bits for the apartment before work and all the craziness starts again next week.

Hope you all have a lovely day!

@Motherofmonsters, how was the night? Hope you were not sick and DS not sick any more?

@squishymamma, glad you had a good sleep and good on DH for sorting DS in the night for you. How many weeks are you now?

We were up early today despite the DS's not being ready to get up at 5.45 IYKWIM. So they have been 'overtired' ( whinging) and I've been on a go slow (knackered and feeling too old for all this). Anyway, we had some garden time early
( neighbours probably still in bed) and they were delighted to see snails and a gigantic spider living in our outdoor tortoise enclosure, they got their little chairs out and sat looking at them for ages, it was actually really sweet.

This afternoon we are going to look at garden stones as we are getting our garden done this autumn so I think they will probably like that.

Hope everyone has a nice afternoon.

Evening!

@Chocolatetrifle I'm 21 weeks, so over halfway now. Feel like a whale compared to last time, I know you show earlier with subsequent children but seriously...not looking forward to the end result!

We had a lovely day, DH went back to bed when I'd gotten up then DS and I went to the shop. He fell asleep in his pram on the way back and had a lovely long nap while I tidied up, watched some YouTube videos I'd wanted to watch and made muffins. Felt like one of those perfect mums again, doesn't happen often at all then we headed to IKEA and for the first time did so after eating, instead of waiting and eating there. Oh the difference, we were much less grouchy

DH is now putting DS down for the night while I eye this huge pile of ironing I've been putting off...if only I were allowed wine to chug while I got on with it

Hope everyone has a good night!

I have not felt this bad in a very long time, DH was going to stay home for a few hours this morning so I could get more sleep and then got sick to so we've been taking in turns going back to bed. Being sick with kids is not fun.

Hope everyone is having a better day

Hope you are finding the second trimester ok @squishymamma! Sounds like a lovely day. Sometimes I despair of DD’s behaviour then realise she is just hungry and she is fine after a snack! That makes me sound awful haha but I dont think she knows she is hungry herself!
@Motherofmonsters do hope you have not fallen prey to the stomach bug.
@Chocolatetrifle hope Ds starts to have better days at preschool - who knows, while it is difficult now it may have been worse if you did take him out for the summer. My DD’s key person she loved left and she hated it but overall it has made her more confident at nursery as she has several adults she likes equally and can go to with any issues.
@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff I feel you with the logistics issues. Due to the property market we are stuck in a two bed, two bath place with two children who will only sleep in a room on their own - so DS is in a cot in the large bathroom It is fine, but in no way ideal and I would not give up my bedroom space either (that is also DH’s office anyway!!)
We have had a LONG day with DS off nursery with an endless endless cold that sounds a bit chesty now so I thought I better keep him off. Usually my day with just DD so she was not in a good mood. They are both off tomorrow as well so praying for a less irritable mood for all of us.

Oh @Motherofmonsters I didnt see your post somehow - that sounds awful, hope you start feeling better really soon - in the mean time do everything you can to make it in any way easier for yourself!!

@Motherofmonsters feel better. Sounds like torture 😔 hope you get some rest x

@Motherofmonsters hope you feel better soon.

DS2 also started throwing up last night, then this morning we got an email from nursery saying norovirus was going round the babyroom. Luckily its my day off so the DC and I are having a quiet day at home watching tv, playing toys and eating plain pasta and apples.

My top tummy settling food (all Italian poorly kids seem to love it) - get an apple and grate it on the widest setting of a cheese grater, then squeeze on lemon juice and sprinkle on sugar and eat

Thanks everyone, feeling lots better today. Food still isn't my friend but I'm functioning. I think DS needs a medal from yesterday, he literally amused himself all day. DD kindly slept 7-3am as well so I got a decent block.

Sorry your little one has been sick to @camomila, hopefully it doesn't hang around for you.

Sorry to hear about these sickness bugs. Get well soon @Motherofmonsters, being ill and looking after the kids is so hard.

Hope your DS feels better soon too @Camomila.

Fingers crossed everyone feels ok by tomorrow.
Felt so tired this morning we just went on a walk and then spent all afternoon with some sand and water on the tuff tray outdoors, and had egg sandwiches for dinner as I couldn't be bothered to cook properly - has actually been a lovely day in the end.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, that sounds like a lovely day. Sometimes it's when we make less effort with things, including meal times that everyone is happier! Hope you get a good rest tonight.

How is everyone feeling now?

We had DH's Nan's funeral first thing It was lovely. She did so well getting to 100. I just couldn't stop thinking that if she had not been born, the whole family would not be here including my children. Seems silly thinking it really!

DS1 had preschool this morning, he was a bit teary again but I felt better after speaking to one of the teachers. We are persevering and hopefully he will settle fully in September onwards when he will go every morning.

Nipped to a garden centre this afternoon, which had a little play area which was nice. It's been sunny but I'm sure it's going to turn to rain tomorrow.

Hope everyone gets a decent night.

@Motherofmonsters how are you now? Being sick with little kids is the pits.

@Lostthetastefordahlias ha! Cot in the bathroom is just the kind of thing you would never imagine doing before kids, but when you have them, you just do what works!

Last night was better but tonight DT2 got out of bed, stripped, found some of her twin brother's clean PJs in the cupboard, put them on and then pretended to be him.

I was very stern but looking back that is actually a bit funny 🙄🤣

@Camomila the sugar and apple tip sounds yum! Tempted to try it myself even though I'm not poorly!

So sorry for all of the illness, there seems to be alot of it going around.

@Chocolatetrifle glad the funeral went as well as it could. So true, I often think that about family or even friends, or "if I hadn't done this/met this person/been to ..... Then I wouldn't be where I am now".

Miserable rainy day today, food shopping to be done when there's a break in the weather and I was hoping for a people watching trip to Costa, Ds is as nosey as me and enjoys watching the people and cars drive past the windows!

Morning all, how is everyone?

It's a rainy day here. Thinking of nipping to a shop for a couple of supplies/ things to pass some time with soon. Just been watching one of those slime making programmes on YouTube though .

If anyone likes dinosaurs I got a couple of these eggs from Amazon, they are a bit like bath bombs, you just put them in a bowl of hot water, they fizz and then little dinosaur parts are left and you can build the dinosaur, quite entertaining.

@PinkDaydreams, trip to Costa and people watching sounds like a good idea! Hope you get some cake too!

Morning!

Hope everyone is feeling better. Glad to hear the funeral went well @Chocolatetrifle, obviously funerals aren't my favourite event but I think they're quite lovely when the person has had a long and good life, much to reminisce over.

DS has started in his new nursery, yesterday was his first day so we were only there an hour or two and stayed with him. Today we stayed a little then went off for a walk and a coffee, mooched around the shops a little. It's been really nice! Just got a text to say he's sleeping and they'll let us know when he wakes up so we can come get him. I'm happy he's settling in well because I go back to work on Monday, and though DH is still around I feel better knowing DS is having a good time and enjoying himself.

No idea what to do this weekend, last weekend before the craziness of the work week kicks in. Might attempt some meal prep which I never do!

Hope you all have a good day despite the rain

Well the Costa trip hasn't happened sadly, left the house and the clouds opened getting us soaked! Cue screaming son as he hates getting wet but won't have the hood up on his pram or the rain cover. We've come home for pyjamas and hot milk instead!