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

[PinkDaydreams]

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

Hope today goes better for your DS @Chocolatetrifle - let us know. We had a lot of upset when DDs key person changed at her old nursery. I found it useful to ask them to be honest and also to contact me if she was inconsolable for too long. Sometime staff may think it is their job just to not make it an issue for the parent if you see what I mean? Also one of the staff said the same as whats been said here that objects and pictures can be more important than talking - can he take a comforter? We found having pictures of nursery and DD’s new keyworker at home useful (she was happy for me to take a picture of her picture on the staff board, but I obviously asked!) and we would say oh I wonder what Paula is having for her dinner etc just to build that attachment. I had forgotten about all this until you asked - she can’t wait to get to nursery now - so hopefully this will be a short phase!

@footprintsintheslow I had massive post holiday exhaustion its the mental comedown as well I think! Hope you feel better.
We were running really late for bedtime yesterday so of course we had a poo in the bath incident last night from DD, and DS nearly grabbed it before I could whip him out of there. Grim. Got a whole day at home with both of them today due to no car temporarily, need to think of the old lockdown ideas!!

Hi everyone, so DS1 has been to preschool and it was much better thank God. Yesterday, we did lots of positive talking about school and looking at pictures of the school and people etc on their Facebook page. Also, read a lovely Usborne Starting school book I found on Amazon, which thanks to Prime, arrived yesterday and he seemed to like it, it was really relatable. Thanks @Motherofmonsters for the story idea. Funny you say about talking about the people @Lostthetastefordahlias, I've been saying, 'oh X will be having her tea now', 'Y will be getting ready for bed' etc. Kept him busy first thing and DH took him, he was fine, got to their door and burst out crying! He went in still crying but at least he went in. When I picked him up he was clearly not in the state he was in on Monday and he was settled and has said some positive things about it and said he made a friend so onwards and upwards fingers crossed. See how tomorrow goes now.

@squishymamma, hope your DS was happy to go in this morning? It's so hard when they are upset.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, how is your day at home going so far?

Thank you everyone for the support and ideas, it means a lot x

Glad it was a more positive experience today @chocolatetrifle.

I'm so tired, a church group was doing an event at a local park so we popped down with some friends and spent 4 hours there. The park was so busy so it was a lot of running between two kids. DS gets a bit overexcited and can get a bit to boisterous so needs watching and DD seemed to have got very confident on equipment so was trying to kill herself constantly. My friend has one DS who can be left to his own devices so she got to sit down for it, totally not jealous at all

Good evening!

@Chocolatetrifle so glad to hear it went better today. Fingers crossed this is the beginning of a better period!

@Motherofmonsters totally understand that, my DS needs constant supervision because he immediately goes for the most dangerous thing he can. My colleague's DD is so chill, she just sits there...I see positives and negatives with both, but it would be nice to get a breather not sure how we're going to cope with 2!

DS woke up today full of a cold so he's not been to nursery. Was waiting for it to happen really, he was sick constantly for like 3 months when he started in his previous nursery. Not been too bad though, just tired but struggling to sleep as he still has energy. DH took the day off to look after him and I didn't get much work done as my home office is in the living/dining room not much else to report. Assuming we'll have to keep him off tomorrow too, fingers crossed he manages to sleep well.

Hope everyone had a good day

@Motherofmonsters, yep, with you on that. Both my DS are love wires, love playground equipment, will try to climb everything and anything there also at home. DS2 is always now climbing up onto dining chairs, the washing machine, up onto the top of the toilet etc. Both are off in different directions at a playground and looking for the nearest edge to hang off from!

@squishymamma, hope your DS feels better and gets a good night's sleep.

*live wires

Question of the day from DS1, where is Bing's mum? Does anyone know ?

The eternal mystery of Flop TG my DD has gone off Bing for a bit as I find Bluey much less annoying!!

I read that as the eternal misery of Flop 😆 We like Bluey here too - I love the little 'life lessons'.

My DS2 is a climber too @Chocolatetrifle exhausting isn't? Not much going on here, am trying to get on with housework but the DC are messing things up quicker than I can tidy.

Hope DS feels better soon @squishymamma and that he managed to sleep ok.

Flop does well to put up with Bing, he is always whining. Think I'd be miserable living with Bing too . Flop's voice is also odd, how on earth does he remain so calm? Did you know you can get Bluey toys and figures now? I've seen them in Argos and Smyths.

DS1 has been to preschool, psyched him up and distracted him best I could since 5.50 am then he cried at their door. Apparently he soon forgot about it and had a good time so I'm thinking definitely some progress being made hopefully.

Hope everyone has a nice afternoon.

@Chocolatetrifle I think even the parents being forced to watch Bing have loads of questions too 😂😂my DD just wants to watch YouTube videos now. Of kids playing, and they’re basically just adverts for all the toys they have 🙈
Good news about DS getting on better at nursery!

We were at the beach this morning. Which DD loved. But I found it stressful. We were both soaked!

We've never seen Bing...or Bluey...they're not on Norwegian kids TV. Might have to see if they're on YouTube!

@Chocolatetrifle so glad to hear DS is settling better after you leave him.

Good night's sleep here, DS much better but we've kept him off 1 more day to be safe. No fever or anything so assuming he's fine to go back tomorrow. DH is on duty and I'm "working" (not being my most productive)

I keep waking up in the middle of the night with major anxiety. 2 nights ago I was convinced the baby had died because I hadn't felt him in a while (he's kicking away as I'm typing this) and last night I was convinced DS had died in his sleep and had to keep going and checking. Had similar anxiety in my first pregnancy and it drives me nuts! Not to mention I'm tired all the time because I'm not sleeping well...

Anyway rant over just needed somewhere to vent. Hope you all have lovely afternoons!

@squishymamma, ahhhh, sorry to hear about you feeling anxious at night. Can you try a lavender pulse point roll on? Tisserand do a lovely one, I wonder if it's ok in pregnancy? Some people get very vivid dreams during pregnancy don't they? I suffered more with horrendous restless legs. Hope you feel better soon. Glad baby squishy is kicking away. Any concerns just call your midwife and perhaps they can schedule an apt to listen to the heartbeat? Glad DS is feeling better today.

@BeHereNowx32, a beach trip sounds lovely. Know what you mean though, a lot of things are lovely but then in reality they are stressful! At least your DD has had a lot of fresh air.

We have been growing crystals, yes actual crystals out of a kit DS1 wanted. We have made a plaster of paris mould, and had that set overnight and today we poured the crystal growing bits in and the dye. Apparently it grows crystals in 3-7 days. Am doubtful it will work and now my hands are completely purple and kitchen is a mess but hey ho.

Here's a photo of the 'crystals'. Let's see what happens in 3-7 days

@squishymama, sorry to hear you're suffering from anxiety, it must be hard.

Glad Preschool is going in the right direction @chocolatetrifle. I've seen the crystal growing things on YouTube and you might be surprised.

We've been to a new park this afternoon for 3 hours with my sister, her kids and my mum. I'm all tired out, definitely helped having an extra person, my mum was on DD duty. My car is off for its MOT tomorrow so we'll be at home, no where is really in walking distance for us.

Does anyone actually keep a tidy house, with kids?! Please share some tips! 😅 my DD did nap for 2 hours yesterday, but I decided to close my eyes too lol.

Hope everyone doing ok today, and all feeling better. We just having a garden day today. Collecting snails 😅 x

When you find out please let me know @BeHereNowx32 The only times my flat is tidy is after the DC are in bed/before they wake up. I occasionally manage a big clean on Saturday mornings (DH takes DS2 to the supermarket with him and DS1 gets to play cbbc videoggames on my laptop).

@BeHereNowx32, sometimes I give the DS's some wipes and ask them to 'help me', then I quickly try to clean the bathrooms or something. You can get a little toy cleaning caddy from Melissa and Doug and it's quite good for them to pretend to help to clean. Failing which, throw all the toys into the cupboard of death under the stairs.

I have made the mistake of suggesting we sort out the shed which is full of toys...now they are all over the garden, but at least the sun is out!

Here it is:

@Camomila 😅 sounds like you’re doing fine! It’s actually never tidy in our flat. Feel claustrophobic with everything all over the place!

@Chocolatetrifle that’s so cute. My DD would love it. Thanks x

I found the answer to getting things done... a mud kitchen. My DD has been playing at her’s for ages! Just moving sand, shells, pine cones with water. 😍 we got our’s from Studio. But could do it just with some pots, old bowls and spoons etc.

Hope everyone having a nice day! X

@BeHereNowx32, that sounds great, glad your DD has had fun with the mud kitchen.

It's been raining here. We have been to a garden centre to meet a friend, which was nice, although I ended up so sweaty chasing after both DS whilst trying to hold an adult conversation.

Last night was a different evening as we went to the local carnival for am hour (before it got too rowdy!). DS1 bounced happily for ages on a bouncy castle but I was a bit nervous of him being on it, is that normal? I went on a teacup ride with DS2 but it was a bit fast!

Hope everyone is ok today.

@BeHereNowx32 we love our mud kitchen bit we also just stick pots and pans and random food on the tuff tray and she loves that. I'm going to whisk up some aquafab (chickpea water) tomorrow as I used three tins of chickpeas today. Then I'm going to dump in the tuff tray with the two kids in the middle of it.

Evening and thanks for the kind words everyone I've not been too bad yesterday and today, but I'm having some wisdom tooth issues so I've been a bit grumpy...poor DH and DS

@BeHereNowx32 what a good idea with a mud kitchen! Our flat is pretty clean atm because it's still relatively novel (moved in June) but our last flat was really bad, I'm only really motivated to clean the kitchen each day and the bathroom once a week

Never seen those crystals @Chocolatetrifle, you'll have to keep us updated on the outcome. Sounds lovely with a carnival and yes, I'd get nervous too - especially if there's several bouncing around in there!

Today was one of those days where I spent a lot of time dreaming about when DS will be a grown adult and have his own place so much whining and complaining and clinging! He did then nap for almost 3 hours though so maybe was just overtired after being ill and at nursery in general? Didn't do anything exciting. Nothing planned for tomorrow either, might try to go for a walk or something to break the day up.

Hope everyone has a good night!