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...

Hope the dentist trip goes away @chocolatetrifle.

DS wanted to do some painting so I've had to retrieve the tuff tray top from the garden and give it a scrub. I find painting so chaotic with them, it just gets everywhere but they had fun which I guess is the main thing.

@Motherofmonsters, the dentist went well thanks, it was just for check ups.

Painting is great in theory isn't it but it's just so messy.

Very much looking forward to bedtime and some silence, I'm so tired today, it's weary Thursday.

My DS's keep going fir trying to have full on scraps to hugging each other. I can't keep up. Slightly dreading the 3week Easter break from preschool already.

It's definitely weary Thursday.

I'm in bed with a cup of tea and a bar of mini egg chocolate. DS is still awake, I've given up and given him his tablet to play games in his room so he doesn't come out every 10seconds. I'll try for my parenting award tomorrow

That mini egg chocolate is delicious isnt it @Motherofmonsters.
I am finally feeling better and excited for the weekend, although I am still testing positive so I probs wont go anywhere until my 10 days are up (even though thats not the law anymore don’t want to infect anyone vulnerable).
Hope everyone has a good friday evening. We have pizza on the sofa in our pjs lined up.

Love, love, love mini eggs. I'm convinced, and always have been that the mini eggs with the yellow shells taste different to the other flavours, but no one else ever agrees with me!

In other chocolate news, I'm excited to have found these on sale!

@Motherofmonsters, how is your DS's collar bone now?

@Lostthetastefordahlias ah, glad you are feeling a bit better today. Pizza on the sofa in PJ's sounds like an excellent idea. Hope your sense of taste is back now?

@squishymamma
We've had quite a decent day, although both boys have both told me they don't like the other today. Seem to be playing together ok for now anyway. Tomorrow we have a playdate here for DS1's preschool friend. I've had the idea of setting up some sort of ice-cream stall for them tomorrow on the table, some ice-cream, flakes, sprinkles and sauce etc so they can make their own cones. Think it will probably get messy.

Looking forward to bedtime already, not long to go now...

Sorry that was supposed to read;

@squishymamma, how was your DS1's birthday?

Pjs and pizza is a fabulous idea @lostthetastefordahlias. I'm glad you're starting to feel better.

Love your ice cream idea @chocolatetrifle, it will definitely get messy!

His collar bone seems okay, he's pretty much using it as he should and I've given up telling him to be careful as he'll just do what he wants anyway. I spoke to his therapist and they said his body doesn't process pain the same so he will have a very high pain threshold. I just hope that won't affect its healing.

We've had a really good day here. We went for a nearly 3hour walk with my friend and her DS. It's absolutely knocked all energy out of DS so he's not really moved far from the sofa since. PIL popped up this afternoon which was nice. Babipur have a 70% sale on so I had a delivery from them, DD immediately had to try them all on. Even though she has an older brother she's a proper girly girl

Evening and happy Friday!

Have read all your posts but my brain is mashed so I won't risk responding and mixing up names just popping on to say DS1 had a fab birthday, so much so he didn't really sleep last night...don't know whether it was a tummy ache or just excitement since when he woke up this morning he went straight for the kinetic sand instead of breakfast. If you knew my DS1 you would know how strange that is! Crossing fingers he actually sleeps tonight, though it's DH on DS1 duty at night I always wake up anyway and then have to get up with both boys, zzzzz.

Tomorrow is a busy day, one of DS1's nursery friends is coming for a playdate (his mum and I are good friends too so looking forward to it!) and then in the afternoon some of my work colleagues are coming to meet DS2. One of them is bringing her DD who is almost 2, and has never watched TV in her life. Apparently they have one in the living room and she has no idea what it does. I'll have to run round turning all our devices off before they arrive

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend, looking forward to having more mental capacity to actually respond to you all!

Shocked face at 2 year old never having watched any TV @squishymamma!!! . I have three words to say to that-OMG!

Night all.

Happy Saturday everyone.

How is everyone feeling today?

I'm a bit miffed as the playdate mum messaged last night to say they can't come today as she 'forgot they were going out'. . This is after saying she was coming the day before, she has asked to re-arrange. I think I'll just wait for the Easter break now to do that, will see. I don't like being messed about!

Anyway, it's been football this morning and just general house jobs. This afternoon we will get out for a bit and will still do the Ice -cream stall for the DS's.

Hmmm that is so annoying @Chocolatetrifle - but I know I have annoyed people by cancelling when we have been a bit unwell or overwhelmed. But I would just say that - rather than saying I was going out somewhere else! Maybe her partner had double booked them? Still annoying.
Have fun with your visitor @squishymamma. I fully intended to be zero tv before I became a parent… but tbh getting snuggled up with them both on the sofa watching Zog or similar when its raining outside is one of the great pleasures of parenting I think.
I have finally tested negative so going on a walk this afternoon! Had to have an unscheduled shower after Ds mashed a rice pudding in his hair at lunch. Dd and I have been playing a new game this morning “Happy Chickens” by Galt, highly recommend for the 3yr old age group.

Wish I could come round with mine to join in with the ice cream stall - it sounds awesome!!

@Lostthetastefordahlias, glad you are testing negative now, enjoy your walk. I think that's what happened yes, never mind!

Talk about things squashed in hair, I had some hot cross bun stuck in my hair this morning and I've yet to figure out which DS stuck it in my hair!

@Lostthetastefordahlias, ah, you would be so welcome 😊.

A glass of rose and daffodils, it feels like spring here...

Evening!

Sorry to hear your playdate cancelled @Chocolatetrifle but what a nice evening with wine and flowers! Hope the ice cream stall went down well?

@Lostthetastefordahlias hope you enjoyed your walk and freedom! I was also intending to be a no TV parent but I really enjoy the interactions we have while watching programs, especially ones he thinks are really funny and he does his belly laughs

Our day was intense but nice, we managed to get outside inbetween visits and naptime which was much needed by all of us. DS1 was exhausted by about 4pm and refused to eat tea again, he seems to front load and eat tons in the morning then not a lot at night. I'm not worried about the amount he eats but I am slightly annoyed that he then wakes up earlier than he should (ie still tired) because he's so hungry. Not sure what we can do except stuff things unwillingly down his throat...which obviously we're not doing!

Nice chilled out day tomorrow with church and maybe a walk before we go home to our roast

Hope everyone is well!

@squishymamma, my DS2's appetite varies so much too and he's just a couple of months older than your DS1. I try to relax about it all now, he was weighed the other day and is on the 50 per centile so he's obviously getting enough. His molar teeth erupting bother him so much too, perhaps your DS1 is similar. If it's any comfort my ds1 eats so much more easily now he's a bit older.

Yesterday we had a birthday tea fir MIL who was 70, bittersweet after losing FIL only a couple of months ago but she enjoyed it nevertheless.

DS1 was 4 going on 14 all weekend, the attitude! dS2 is on his nap so I've got to some work. dS2 has my 24 hour infallible lipstick all over his face. He git his hands on it and it's not budging so he looks 'interesting' to say the least today!

Hope everyone is ok. How is everyone with covid feeling now?

Sorry for typos, silly phone!

Does anyone know how to get a toddler to stop licking you? I can't escape...

Both kids have been at school/nursery today, I forgot what silence sounded like! DS only slept 11pm-5am last night so obviously he fell asleep on the sofa after school and is now wide awake. I'm guessing it'll be the same again today.

I bet he's looking great @chocolatetrifle, DD is in the bath as she's covered in blue paint. She looks like she's had blue highlights in her hair,

@Motherofmonsters, hmm, think the only way is to be in a separate room from toddler at all times! .

Did your DS sleep better?

This morning we went to the garden centre and got a couple of pots and some fairy garden ornaments. This afternoon we are going to a playcentre, I fancy a sit down!

How is everyone?

Hi all!

@Chocolatetrifle glad to hear your MIL enjoyed her tea. I think family events like that are so nice as well as difficult after you lose someone, their absence is felt but you appreciate the others that are there that much more.

@Motherofmonsters I've not experienced a licking toddler yet! But my DS1 does like trying to stuff his food in my mouth, sometimes half eaten, bleh. I'd firmly move him away and say no, but when I do that with DS1 he has a tantrum

We're all recovered and back to normal, though DS1 is still sleeping badly at night due to some kind of leap so he's a bit grumpy and whiny during the day. I'm out with a friend and our babies now, waiting for her to come back with coffee!

Also extremely excited because I managed to book an amazing birthday gift for DH who turns 30 in May, I'm so paranoid about him finding out I don't dare write it anywhere so I'll tell you all then but a child free night it will be, at last, hurrah!

Hope everyone is well.

DD took so long to go to bed, that DS had fallen asleep on the sofa and then I had to wake him up at 7.30 so he had a good 12hours. He must have been tired!

We went to a toddler group this morning and had a good time. DD got upset as they sang her favourite song last and didn't want to wait. Now at home pottering around until we get DS.

Enjoy your sit down @chocolatetrifle.

I barely sat down as I was chasing after dS2! Think they enjoyed it. Obviously I'm now waiting for the next cold to develop after going!

@squishymamma, oh that sounds like a lovely plan for your DH's birthday. Not too long to wait for it too.

@Motherofmonsters, glad your DS slept a bit better last night and glad you enjoyed toddler group this morning.

I have just put some coins in water and balloons and some toy figures in a Tupperware container and water and put them in the freezer so the DS's can bash them free tomorrow.

Looking forward to bedtime, I feel like I've had a workout after that playcentre, I'm too old and unfit clearly.

How has the freezing objects gone down @chocolatetrifle?

I've just seen our toddler group for this afternoon has been cancelled and it's pretty soggy outside so we're home today. We did have our shopping delivered this morning so that was our bit of excitement.

Hope everyone is having a good day