Trapped toddler parents: support through winter and beyond

[squishymamma]

Following on from the previous thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4292353-Trapped-toddler-parents-Inspiration-and-support-needed-through-the-summer-hols

Not the most inventive name but apt I think...

Morning,

DD slept without waking for 12hours and maybe would have slept longer but I woke her up when I was checking nothing had happened to her! First time ever. DS obviously woke up at 5.30 which never ever happens.

We've got baby ballet this morning and then DDs 2year review this afternoon.

Hope everyone else got some sleep to

@Motherofmonsters, are you still late? Any signs?

DS1 has started this really annoying thing where he whinge- cries -whinge -cries any time he's at home, he's not like this at preschool. So now I have two whinge -criers. Getting dressed for example is like the worst thing I could ask him to do, cue whinge- cry whinge- cry and dS2 is hanging off my clothes...

And breathe ........

@squishymamma glad the sleep is going well. I've had 3 nights of no milk bottle fir dS2 so that's something. Just a little drink of water. Given he's 26 months now it's definitely time to ditch the night milk

@Motherofmonsters, glad your DD had a big sleep too.

Glad you are coping ok @squishymamma - the first few months of baby 2 can be so challenging! (And indeed all subsequent months )
Glad your Dd was probably just tired @Motherofmonsters!
Thanks for the days out suggestions everyone. @Chocolatetrifle I still havent found a good garden centre in our new area. They are all small or have no cafe! Have heard of one with a petting zoo though so trying there next.
I took DS 17months to a baby/ toddler group for the first time today!! Have done groups with my DD but just never got into it with DS because so many shut down due to covid. He goes to nursery so he is socialised but it was so fun going to a playgroup with him!!

After my earlier moaning message, this evening I got some really lovely cuddles from both boys, it was very sweet really, so I've been thinking, it's not half bad this mothering lark really ( she says because both are fast asleep tucked up in bed not causing trouble!). Until tomorrow!

Sleep well hopefully everyone.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, no decent local garden centre? No garden centre cafe? I could not cope!

Morning all doing the night feed and catching up on the posts.

@Chocolatetrifle isn't it great that you can go through such a myriad of emotions in the course of a day? I regularly go from "you are the best" to "why on earth did I have kids" and back in the course of 10 minutes

@Lostthetastefordahlias glad to hear you had a good time! We also haven't been to many groups with DS1, did a singing class and some swimming lessons but everything was so sporadic because of covid and now he's in nursery so that time is over really. Hoping to do a bit more with DS2.

Hope DD is okay and your period made an appearance @Motherofmonsters.

DS1 is full of snot and was very whiny last night, DH reckons he's getting over the last of whatever cold we've had (always negative LFTs so who knows) and I'm praying he's not getting worse we've raised the end of his bed up and he seems to be sleeping fine though. He's discovered the YouTube Kids app and is watching loads of videos and belly laughing at them, it's so funny. I also never realised Blippi was an actual human man thought it was an animated series!

Hope everyone has a good sleep.

@squishymamma ha, Blippi got me through lockdown 1. We had him on every day. I can sing the excavator song word for word!

Hope Ds1 recovers quickly @squishymamma!! I looked at both my children in wonder at the weekend as for the first time in about a year neither of them had a hideous snotty nose. I am sure it wont last very long!
Had a lovely day with DD today, read practically her whole bookcase then went to town on the bus for lunch in Pret. Was slightly put out when no one got up for DD on the bus on the way home but perhaps iabu. Eventually an elderly lady asked if she wanted to share her seat. Not sure why I expect adults to get up for a 3 yr old but I would!
Have mini egg chocolate and the colleen rooney docu lined up for tonight, so I bet bedtime takes ages

May I present today's baking efforts: fairy cakes which actually set off our fire alarm! I was about to get them out as being just ready when this happened. Turns out dS2 turned the knob to 250 on the oven when I wasn't looking!

How is everyone?

We've had football and a farm shop visit and 'baking' above cakes this morning. This evening my friend is coming to tea so the boys are excited.

Hope you got your lovely evening in @Lostthetastefordahlias!

Nice cakes @Chocolatetrifle I've done that myself without even having a DC involved so I can't talk. Sounds like you've had a nice day!

We had a good night, both DC slept well and DS1's nose seems to be getting a bit better. I've been to brunch today with a group of girls I met through a work conference, took DS2 with me so obviously he was centre of attention. I even had a mimosa which tasted divine off to meet back up with DH and DS1 now. Planning to make bird food this afternoon with seeds and lard. Still no covid, tested myself this morning to be sure, and now our government has lifted almost all restrictions so no facemasks, no obligatory isolation, no social distancing...I'm in a bit of a party mood, must be the mimosa impacting me

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

Morning everyone how are things?
For the second week on the trot we've had a visit to the soft play centre this morning This time dS2 came too and was going crazy in there, he loved it. I had to help him round really a bit being 2,so I think I will be aching tomorrow, I've not done that much exercise in a long long time.

He has conked out for his nap now. Not sure about the afternoon, might get some arty bits out for DS1, he's happy with his Lego at the moment. Have got both boys a Tiny Tears doll each and they are enjoying playing with those too.

Hope everyone is ok.

Morning!

It is very wet and windy here and the kids didn't sleep so we are in full lounge mode. Haven't managed to put a bra on yet ha!
We (mostly me) have literally completed 14 jigsaws and made some Duplo cars.
Not sure what our plan is this afternoon.

Hope everyone is having a good morning

Sounds like a good sunday @Motherofmonsters! I am wfh today and missing my little sidekicks!! Going to collect from nursery in a bit. Dd told me she was wanting to go to nursery this morning which makes me feel better about it.
I need to get into the soft play later in the week @Chocolatetrifle - the weather has been so bad here for outdoor trips! Dd is loving her crafts and scissor practice and dollshouse etc so she is fine indoors but I really struggle to entertain DS (nearly 18 months) when its rainy all day.

Happy Valentines day everyone. Anyone had anything romantic happen. I don't think me and DH have said more than a few words to each other. From being busy not being grumps. We usually ignore it though.

Theyve been at school/nursery today and I've been sorting again. Cupboard under the stairs is now organised and the craft/games and general junk sideboard has been sorted.

I found the book that came with DDs baby annabel, I totally missed it made sounds, cries etc so I've put batteries in it. I haven't shown DD yet, I'm not sure if I'm ready for the noise.

That's good your DD is asking to go @lostthetastefordahlias, she must like it. I found 1-18monts the hardest for entertaining, I find they want to do more but don't have the attention or skill to do it

Happy Valentines Day! We also don't celebrate it but I had a warm feeling seeing all these men carrying roses about while I was running errands today

It's really hard to entertain them at that age @Lostthetastefordahlias I agree. Luckily DS loves cars and trains so we spent ages pushing them around I remember. Also played a lot with building blocks. But the days are soooo long when it's rainy!

@Motherofmonsters sounds like a nice productive day!

We've had an uneventful day, DS1 has been to nursery and DS2 has been very fussy so we've spent most of the day sat on the couch with me pumping his legs to get wind out (did not miss this part of having a baby at all...). So nothing exciting to report.

Hope everyone has a good night!

Happy Valentine's day

DS2 has started potty training himself Just refused to put a nappy on on Saturday, and followed his brother to the loo saying "brother pipi?" in a hopeful way.
So we got the potty out and bought him some pull ups, it's going pretty well so far...he's weed in the potty about half the times he has sat on it.

I've been working today and DH and DS1 have been at the RAF museum (it's half term here). We've just shared an M&S dine in for 2 meal, the DC stole all the churros

Hope everyone has a good night.

Not sure why I expect adults to get up for a 3 yr old but I would!

Aww, I would too. 3 year olds are still wobbly!

I've been to brunch today with a group of girls I met through a work conference

Aah that sounds amazing, though honestly in Covid times even going to a conference without making new brunch friends sounds like a really fun day out!

Best Valentine's Day present ever...DH just tested positive for COVID. I'm still negative so assuming it'll be heading my way soon...

Happy valentine's Day 💖.

@squishymamma oh no, how is DH feeling? Hope you don't start to feel poorly too. Hope your DS's are ok?

@Camomila, how was the M&S dine in? Was it nice? I got the Connie Caterpillar cake for pudding for yesterday's tea. I was in M&S this morning getting a shirt for my dad's birthday and had a look at the meals, they looked lovely.

@Lostthetastefordahlias how did your work go today?

We made a valentine's tea for MIL yesterday but nothing special today. I put up a few decorations and heart balloons for the DS's but I'm a bit of a sucker for turning any kind of event into an excuse for themed decorations!

Nothing else to report from here. This afternoon we just nipped to a poundstretcher shop that had 50% off so we picked up things like kinetic sand, dinosaur dig kits, arty things like glitter glue etc all half price. We also made the Gruffalo bites again.

Hope everyone has a good night

Well I have been doing really well at not totally losing my patience with the kids but I've cracked today. DD had cried, whinged and shrieked the whole day. Nothing has been right for her and she keeps changing her mind. DS has come back from school hyped up and has been sprinting around the front room, banging toys together and hitting DD when she does something he doesn't want her to.

Hope everyone is having a more successful time

Oh and the cat used the shower instead of going outside and the dog was sick everywhere in the kitchen 🤦‍♀️

@Motherofmonsters, oh no, sorry it's been a bad day. .soon be bedtime now.

I've not had much of a better day to be honest. DS1 got told off at preschool for messing around at lunchtime with some other boys. dS2 has been repeatedly saying pi** off literally all day. Ok, he has heard it from me perhaps once or twice but he will not stop saying it, including when out and about sitting in a trolley in the supermarket. I have failed as a mother of toddler and preschooler.

Oh and I've got ear ache and boys have runny noses again, probably from the indoor soft play.