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...

Aw blimey @Motherofmonsters that sounds tough, a long day then a long night! I hope today has some brighter points.
I am still in bed - DH and I are doing shifts this morning - but I am absolutely dreading today. I feel awful like full on flu and both the dc are being badly behaved and whiny and are fed up of telly, not to blame them as they are probably not feeling great and the whole situation is frankly shite . DH is v grumpy and fluey as well.
Just going to focus on getting to DS nap time (11:30) for a start.
Have a lovely party @squishymamma!! You inspire me with how well you're doing with that baby & DS.
@Chocolatetrifle do your boys like the goldilocks story? One of our fav (and easy) tuff tray set ups is 3 bears porridge that footprintsintheslow put up here ages ago - I have the pic saved in my quick inspiration folder!! Sadly we dont have any of those epic scales but dd loves watching the numbers on the electronic scales, and all the stuff for it is usually to hand!

I've tested positive for COVID DH is out of isolation and DS1 is still negative so they've gone to the party (it's at PIL) and I'm stuck here with DS2. Absolutely gutted

@squishymamma Oh bloody no that's awful. I really feel for you. Do you have any symptoms?

@Lostthetastefordahlias, I really feel for you too, entertaining small children who can't do things for themselves whilst ill is up there with one of the hardest going days. Thank you fir the Goldilocks idea, think I will try that.

@Motherofmonsters, hope today is easier for you. Hope DS is feeling a bit brighter.

Sending support to you all xx

@Chocolatetrifle no, that's the worst bit! Just a tickly throat I've had for over a week, I don't even really cough so much. Meanwhile DH is still coughing up a lung and really snotty but because he's done his isolation period he can go...I know DS1 is only 2 and has no idea what's happening but I'm so sad I can't be there to celebrate him. Getting sent lots of pictures which I don't know if it's better or worse!

@Lostthetastefordahlias sorry you and DH have been hit, good idea working in shifts. You could try games where you just have to lie down, like doctors or sleeping tigers? sending support!

@Motherofmonsters sorry you had a hard night, hope you manage to find time to rest today.

Aw no @squishymamma that is so upsetting and feels so unfair!! These past couple of years have really been the gift that keeps on giving havent they. Hope DS has had a lovely time and you are ok.
Thanks @Chocolatetrifle - it means a lot to come here and complain to people who understand exactly what its like to be stuck in/ be ill around little ones. Although I am off shift now and about to watch a bit of the second season of sweet magnolias so things arent all bad! Hope you are having a good day?

@squishymamma, sorry, you are not there at the party. Perhaps do another one for him when you are out of isolation? If it makes you feel better at 2 he doesn't fully understand a party thing anyway. It doesn't compare but when dS2 was about a week old, my in-laws and DH took DS1 to see Santa and I stayed at home after recovering from C-section. I felt a bit sad I'd missed the Santa trip but that was the first realisation I had that with two children I might not always be able to go to everything for both. I know this is a bit different though.

The tuff tray is going down well and it's good for small world things too.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, that's what we are here for, we've got each other's backs on here. Hope you feel a bit better tomorrow. Nearly bedtime. Enjoy some peace off shift.

Not much happening here today despite initial tuff try success.

Am tired and have period pain which makes me feel rotten and ratty and lethargic. Have made a jelly out of a rabbit shaped mould, that is today's achievement I think.

Sorry to hear you're not feeling great @Chocolatetrifle, hope you get a good sleep. I hate periods, best part of pregnancy is not having them

Hope you enjoyed your program @Lostthetastefordahlias! Hopefully you get a good sleep tonight and feel better in the morning.

Apparently DS1's party was a success, everyone had a good time. DS1 only napped for 30 mins though so was clinging to DH the whole time and then was an overtired bundle of energy when they got home. Was so good to see him though! Went out like a light but is whining a bit in his sleep, probably a lot of things to process from the day. That's DH's problem though as he does the night shift for DS1

I sat on the floor with DS2 for a while feeling sorry for myself after they'd left for the party, then cleaned the entire flat and watched trash TV until they came home
DH said it must have been nice to have a relaxing day and I said it's exactly like every day at the moment on maternity leave

Hope everyone gets a good sleep!

Hope you are feeling better today @Chocolatetrifle? A rabbit shaped jelly sounds like preschooler heaven
Well done for doing something positive yesterday @squishymamma and glad DS enjoyed himself!
I am feeling a bit less fluey thank god. I have completely lost my sense of smell and taste though which I am frankly raging about as some nice snacks were going to be the high point of the day!
Have got dd an elsa costume arriving by amazon later. Have resisted her pleading for princess dress up stuff for ages but decided its worth it today just to see the joy on her face - she’s so bored of isolation!

Oh no @Lostthetastefordahlias hope you get it back soon!

Everyone slept pretty well last night, and we've spent the morning playing with toys. DS1 got some finger paints so we tried those out, don't think he quite understands the concept so he stuck his whole hand in. It was carnage. Photo of the aftermath attached.

He also got a strawberry planting set so we're planning to try that out later combined with a venture outside, I didn't go out at all yesterday so will be nice with a walk (which is allowed). Still feeling fine, just done the online shop and about to attempt the ironing.

Hope everyone has a good day!

Good morning folks, I am fuming this morning as someone hit my car whilst I was parked outside a shop, and then they drove off without leaving any details. They have damaged the rear driver's passenger side. It's driveable, but there's no way the driver would not have known he had hit it. My boys were in the car which I'm more angry about, and my sister was the front seat passenger. I was literally in the shop for 2 minutes when two witnesses said they saw it and managed to get the first half of his reg. Have reported to the police and the former solicitor in me is determined to find him but I can't see it happening as there is no CCTV and only have part of his registration.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, ah, I bet your DD will love her Elsa costume. Hope you get your sense of taste and smell back soon. Glad you feel a bit better.

@squishymamma, lovely fingerprinting. Hope you enjoy the strawberry planting with ds1 and the fresh air.

How are you feeling today @squishymamma hope you are all ok. Like the painting. I got some fingerpaints but DS was just licking his fingers?! He had just had breakfast as well!
That is so annoying about your car @Chocolatetrifle - were the dc frightened? Must have been someone driving without insurance or over the limit? Hope it wont be too much of a faff to get fixed.
Hope work goes well this week @Scotabroad24!
I was hoping to get my sense of taste back today. Just has a strepsil and tasted nothing. So disappointed.
Going to make a den inside today and maybe get some water on the tuff tray. V uninspired after 5 days stuck inside.

@Scotabroad24, good luck for your return to work, hope it goes ok fir you.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, Did your DD like her Elsa costume? Sorry you still can't taste anything, it must really affect what you fancy to eat. Hope it comes back soon. It's so hard having to be indoors so much. My DS's were wondering what happened and dS1 said he heard the crunch but not bothered, shook up or injured so that's the main thing.

It's gale force winds here ( not far from Liverpool) and horizontal rain. Anyone else's older DC off school or preschool for half-term? DS1 doesn't have half-term at his preschool just through to Easter then 3 weeks off.

So far dS2 and I have dropped off DS1 and played kinetic sand and playdoh and made chocolate rice Krispie cakes with the bonus of mini eggs on the top.

The farm animals are on the tuff tray. I am a bit worried about putting water on the tuff tray indoors although I have mini rubber ducks and nets for hook a duck, I might leave that for outside.

@Motherofmonsters, how are you getting on ? How is DS's collar bone?

dS2 has settled fir a nap so it's an hour of work for me then collect DS1.

We have got outside for a little bit when the sun was out and did the hook a duck tray complete with fallen tree branch.

Sorry about your car @chocolatetrifle, what a nightmare. I'm glad no one was hurt and they aren't to shook up. Love the duck set up.

I hope your taste comes back soon @lostthetastefordahlias I hates it when I lost mine

We've had a hard few days with DS Fri/sat night he didn't go to sleep until 11am and was up early. Yesterday we had a meal out with DH's family and photos as FIL is retiring from the fire service. DS was okay for a bit in the restaurant but then lost himself and then was a bit out of control at PIL house after. I know it's not his fault but it's so frustrating, DD has worked out how to wind him up as well which isn't helping.

However today he has been loads better so feeling a bit more positive. His collar bone doesn't seem to bother him at all, only hurts when he falls over/runs into the garden gate.

We've been for a walk in the woods with PIL today and stopped at a really nice cafe for coffee/cake so had lots of fresh air.

Oh no sorry to hear about your incident @Chocolatetrifle, glad to hear nobody was hurt. Was it still windy out today? Great tuff tray idea!

@Lostthetastefordahlias hope your day went okay, it's tough being stuck inside. We used a lot of TV to get us through when we were all stuck last year.

@Motherofmonsters it's hard when you have times where they act out, even though you know they have a valid reason! Glad you had a good day today, hope the fresh air helps your DS sleep.

Having a bit of an odd time at the moment, DS1 is sleeping well but crying out in his sleep and then DH has to go in and shove his dummy back in. Not sure if it's nightmares or just a leap, but today he slept until 8.45am and may have continued if I hadn't gone in (because he really needed to get to nursery!) He also didn't nap at all today, so he was gone as soon as we put him to bed...as always my eternal worry is he's getting sick, but then I remind myself that there's no point worrying about something that may not happen! He's been happy and bouncy today though so I assume he's fine.

DS2 on the other hand has been fussy all day and is still wide eyed in his crib now, he's been doing 20 minute stretches of sleep so I'm wondering if my good luck with him sleeping through the night is up.

Hope everyone else manages to get a good sleep tonight!

How is DS1 today @squishymamma and how are you feeling?

@Motherofmonsters, did you have a better night last night?

@Lostthetastefordahlias how are you feeling today? Has you sense of taste come back?

Today's been mainly the DS's shouting demands at me to do things (also known as playing). There has been a lot of squabbling today. ds2 had his haircut. Tomorrow dS2 has his two year review with the health visitor which I think is completely pointless but I've filled in the questionnaires. Tomorrow DS1 is having superhero day at preschool. Nearly bedtime!
Hope everyone gets a good sleep.

Hello,

How is everyone?

DS seems to have settled down a bit and is back on his usual sleep pattern so that's a relief. DD is an absolute limpet and seems to be getting really tired so I'm assuming there's some kind of growing/learning happening.

We've had a good few days, went down my mum's yesterday for a play and have been for a big walk in the woods today with my mum, sister and her kids. Stopped for coffee/ice cream at the cafe which is a bonus.

DD asked to get out the bath to use the potty, she actually did a wee!!
Can I get her back in the bath to wash her... I cannot.

Evening!

I'm knackered DS1 turns 2 tomorrow and I only got out of isolation today so I've been running around like a crazy lady again. Made cupcakes for him to take to nursery and misjudged how much I needed to scale up, so now I have 44 cupcakes...

@Chocolatetrifle how did the review go?

@Motherofmonsters congratulations to your DD but also what a pain when they won't get back in! Glad to hear your DS is readjusting to everything.

Hope everyone has had a good day!

@Motherofmonsters, that's great your DD got put of the bath to do a wee! Usually a bath wee is very tempting in this house (for the DS's obviously!). Talking of the potty, I hit DS1 on the head with the travel potty this morning, an accident obvs but I felt awful!

@squishymamma ah, happy birthday to your DS1 tomorrow! 44 cupcakes! You deserve a medal!!
Hope you have a good day tomorrow.

Busy day here, superhero day at preschool for DS1, then DS2's review, which DS1 wore his captain America costume to. The review was absolutely fine. Haircut then for DS1 then the bakery and library for Lego session for us.

Did another tay activity to tie in with superhero day. Idea was to sort out the figures into heroes v villains then try to match the figure to the label, to get DS1 to practice phonic sounds, letter recognition.

Hope everyone has a decent sleep, I'm very ready for bed.

Anybody else's DC try to get on the tuff tray, sit on the tuff tray and try to throw it when having a tantrum, or is it just mine?

Ha my Ds loves getting on the tuff tray @Chocolatetrifle. He is a climber, but also he used to sit on it on the floor when he was smaller, so I can understand why he is confused.
I still feel pretty rubbish to be honest. No sense of taste still. Everyone else is fine and has been testing negative, so I have booked them both into nursery today (DH took them) to see if I can shake it with some rest. DD was hysterically happy to get back to nursery, insulting.
Hope everyone has a good afternoon.

Hope your ds settles back to sleeping through @squishymamma.

Sorry you're still feeling rubbish @lostthetastefordahlias, hopefully some quiet will help.

Having a rubbish day here, I was meant to be meeting up with a friend but she didn't reply yesterday when I checked it was still on and hasn't replied today so feeling a bit ditched. We're home as everyone is busy and DS won't do a walk without a friend as he just whinges and it keeps hailing as well. I'm in a grumpy funk and I can't get out of it. DD is slightly less clingy so there is that

Hi everyone, @Lostthetastefordahlias and @Motherofmonsters, sorry you are both feeling flat today. This weather is not helping at all.

We've got the dentist at 4, only I haven't told DS1 yet.......