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...

45minutes late the GP was, DS did very well waiting that long but I can't say it was enjoyable. Definitely a bladder infection, we've got some antibiotics so hopefully that will help. He's absolutely terrified to pee and I can't say I blame him.

Ha that's brilliant @chocolatetrifle.

Oh @squishy mama I'm sorry your missing home, it must be hard.

Hope you are ok @squishymamma. Is there anything like a particular tea or snack or programme that would give you that comfortable feeling of home? I do hope your DH has not broken his foot for both your sakes - he has been through it lately hasn’t he!
Hope your poor Ds is ok @Motherofmonsters
How is his collarbone now?
@Chocolatetrifle I am going off to google that cloud sand immediately. My three bags of kinetic sand I bought in desperation in 2020 have got us through some very tricky afternoons these past 18 months. I love those little live pets - Dd has a puppy that snuffles and sighs and goes to sleep - its really calming!!
Dd was excited to be a ladybird from what the ladybird heard at nursery for world book day and I had a lovely day with DS just pottering around and he had a 3 hour nap during which I watched Sweet Magnolias instead of doing housework. Felt like I deserved it after a rushed few days at work with the blinking tube strikes!!

No broken foot thank God, just a bad sprain. He's on strong painkillers and crutches and has to wear a boot got some friends to look after DC while I went to pick him up and DS1 was inconsolable apparently so he got to watch YouTube Kids until we got back. He's absolutely knackered so we'll see how he is tomorrow.

DS2 was obviously an angel, but he is only 2 months old!

Thanks for your suggestions, will try a relaxation audio meditation from a hypnobirthing book I got when pregnant with DS1. Maybe I'll pop on British TV tomorrow morning, even if it's only CBeebies I'm feeling pretty empty of energy and our flat is a chaotic mess but finally, finally...it's bedtime

Sleep well everyone! Glad you had a good day @Lostthetastefordahlias. And I feel for your DS @Motherofmonsters, I get those every now and then and it's agony. Should start feeling better fast though, the antibiotics kick in really fast. Get him to drink a ton of water, the diluted pee doesn't sting quite as much.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, ah, the Ladybird sounds like a lovely costume. Glad you got a bit of peace time to yourself. Hope it's going well back at work.

@Motherofmonsters, glad you got the antibiotics for your DS, hope he feels better soon.

@squishymamma, how are you feeling today? How is your Dh?

I can confirm that the turtle on the toilet toy is a complete waste of money!

Evening!

Doing much better today thanks @Chocolatetrifle. Went to a postpartum meet which was really nice, got to see other mums I've gotten friendly with. DH is in pain but not too bad, and DS1 slept well and was happy to go to nursery today - minimal tantrums so that's helped a lot.

Tomorrow we will meet a friend (me and DC) and wait and see how DH is feeling!

Anyone got nice plans for the weekend?

Hi everyone, how is Saturday going?

Hope everyone feels ok, is the sun out where you are? It is here so I think that always helps. We've had football this morning for DS1 and we've taken both boys swimming this afternoon. I've quickly tried to do some work and cleaning in between.

Have set up a bug tuff tray and also set up a bug hotel in the garden.

Not much else to report from here today. Hope everyone is ok and gets some sleep. I felt a bit rotten yesterday, not ill but so tired and exhausted from the week so was a bit fed up but a lot better today. I find it so hard managing my two all week by myself even though DS1 is in preschool every morning!

Hello everyone,

I've had a good Saturday, DH wasn't working today for once so he got up with the kids and I stayed in bed. DS then wanted to make me breakfast in bed which was lovely.

This afternoon I've been on a craft day with my mum. She's been saying she's bored and wants to do something for ages but won't actually go so I went with her. She really enjoyed it and is going to go to the next one so that's a success.

I kinda had a bit of a meltdown a minute ago though. I've spent the afternoon in the dim making crafts with people much older than me and at home the kids were being unbelievably loud. Sprinting around in circles shouting, screeching. Honestly DD is not far off shattering glass.

DH did get us a Chinese takeaway though so that perked me up.

Your bug table looks ace @chocolatetrifle, did they enjoy it?
The weeks can be a bit of a slog, I find myself counting down to the weekend a lot

Ooh thats a lovely tuff tray @Chocolatetrifle, I will be stealing that idea.
How lovely to spend some time with just your mum @Motherofmonsters - cant remember the last time I saw mine without the DC. I totally understand the reaction to coming back into the chaos. Whatever I do to relax usually lasts about 2 minutes once I get home! Frustrating.
We went on a day trip to London yesterday - - we live 30 mins away now and Dd hadn't been since we moved out in 2020. It was lovely to walk along the south bank with them both agog at seeing so many people (we live in a v small village). We went on the London Eye but they both much preferred the £3 circus carousel . Today we have family round for lunch which I am regretting as I am a terrible cook and the house is a state!

I hope you enjoyed your lunch @lostthetastefordahlias!

We've had a lazy morning watching tv and playing bored games. Junior Monopoly went down well with DS.
We've just got back from a very cold and blowy walk on the beach. DD enjoyed picking up shells for her collection, DS was trying to make Sandcastles but kept picking all the really wet sand and getting annoyed

Hope everyone is having a good Sunday

@Motherofmonsters, , shattering glass, that made me smile, I know exactly what you mean! A beach walk sounds lovely, I would love to live near a beach

@Lostthetastefordahlias, hope your cooking dinner goes well and you enjoy having family around.

We've had a quiet morning in , tidying up and sorting a bit.

This afternoon we've taken the boys to see this exhibition, which they enjoyed and a walk around town.

Happy Sunday everyone.

@Chocolatetrifle looks like a fun exhibition. Great tuff tray idea too. Know what you mean about feeling rotten and about weekdays being exhausting. I have that Sunday evening feeling now - slight dread at the week to come

@Motherofmonsters I'm very wary of Monopoly as it never ended well in our family but we haven't tried Junior Monopoly, maybe its different? Love a beach walk.

@Lostthetastefordahlias hope lunch went well!

I'm now waiting for the Yorkshires to be done for our roast so having a minute. Made sourdough English muffins today, DS1 "helped" with the dough (ie got it everywhere and then ran off). He very much enjoyed the eating part though. Otherwise we've been watching TV and playing puzzles and with the train set.

Does anyone else's DH default to TV time every time they watch the DC? If we're not explicitly going outside, he's like "shall we watch something?" then puts kids TV on and stares at his phone. I mean he has a sore foot now but he does this even when he's totally fine!

Morning everyone, ds1 was sick twice in the night and was all hot so he's off now until Wednesday. Luckily he seems lots better now and is eating.

So far I've put wooden puzzles on the tuff tray and got some stickers out and foam shapes to make some pictures, and it's 9.06. Am sensing a looooooong day. dS2 has an attention span of about 2 minutes at the moment.

Morning

@Chocolatetrifle how is your DS1 today?

We had a very long day yesterday, went shopping and had McDonald's after picking DS1 up from nursery. Thought it had tired him out but he was up multiple times last night and had 2 massive poos so I think he's not used to all the grease perfectly fine today and has happily gone to nursery.

He loves his train set so we spend most time playing with that now. And puzzles, though he jams random pieces together and then celebrates like it's right...

Hope everyone has a good day!

He's a lot better thanks @squishymamma. Thank you for asking! Back to your question the other day my DH does put the tele but will try to play too with superheroes or Lego etc.

Today we've been to Sainsbury's first thing and we've played in the garden for a bit. I put some old daffodils and the little pots and pans on the tuff try and we made perfume!

Boys are into Goo jit zu's at the moment. We've only had a few episodes of fighting today. They both want exactly what the other has at the moment so have to buy two of some things and dress them the same. It's like having twins!

Hope everyone is ok.

Hello!

We had a good day yesterday, ended up going PILs for roast after school/nursery, bathed them there and headed home. They went to bed lovely but DD woke up being sick. We didn't get much sleep.. I think it was a combination of a long day at nursery/a giant bowl of ice cream with sweets and rushing bath/car/bed.

Today me and DD have lounged watching tv and doing loads of jigsaw puzzles again. She's getting really good at them.

DS came back from school hyped up. I ended up losing my patience with him. He unrolled loads of toilet roll while going to the toilet, wasted soap and pulled the towels off the towel rail. Then decided to sprint around the front room, running over the toys and then demanded I tidy them up. He wasn't very happy when I told him I wouldn't be buying him any more toys until he looks after/tidied them up himself. He did then tidy up so I'll give him that.

DD didn't nap so she's already asleep. I'm looking forward to DS going to sleep so I can reset for tomorrow. Sorry I've rambled on so much about me!

I'm glad your DS is feeling better @chocolatetrifle. Making perfume is a great idea!

Hope you've had a relaxing day after a busy one yesterday @squishymamma.

Turns out DD didn't eat too much food, she's been sick all night and this morning. She fell asleep on the sofa at about 7.30 didn't really wake up for the school run and is back asleep. Hopefully she'll feel better after a sleep.

Hope everyone is having a better morning

@Motherofmonsters your poor DD. Hope she feels better soon and that you all stay healthy!

Nothing much to report here, just nursery as usual. I'm having one of those identity crises again, we're trying to get DS2 to take a bottle so I can have a break but he's not super willing. Would be good to get out child free for a few hours! We're trying a new bottle so fingers crossed it works.

Hope everyone has a good day

Thank you @squishymamma, I can't understand why she's so much worse today then yesterday.

It's so tricky getting them to take a bottle, DS would only take NUK bottles with a silicone breast teat. Hopefully you'll find a bottle they'll like

@Motherofmonsters, oh no your poor DD. It's awful when they are up all night being sick. How does she seem now? It's good she's getting rest. Sometimes it can take a couple of days to really come out I think. Hope you are ok too.

@squishymamma, are you ok? I'm sensing you feel a bit down? I didn't breastfeed so can't offer much help with the transition to bottle but I used Dr brown, not sure if they are any good at helping with the change for your ds. Nuk might he good like motherofmonsters says.

Not much to report from here at the moment. dS2 went on his nap at 10 so I've quickly got my laptop out for some work. He's not napped much the last two days as DS1 was off preschool so he's a bit grouchy, I'm sure he's molar teething again too. He will only eat frubes at the moment. Not ideal but he says he won't eat the white (Greek) yogurt that is so much better for him.

I'm going to have a book clear out today. Some of DS2's books are too babyish now I think.

Hope everyone is ok.

She's still not very well, she keeps wanting to eat but then can't keep it down. Nearly got her trained on the sick bucket. She hasn't really moved much at all.

I keep meaning to do a book clear out but I really struggle with getting rid of them! I go to the library a lot with DS to so it's not like I need them.

Hopefully his teeth will come through soon and he'll get his appetite back

@Chocolatetrifle so kind of you to check in on me. I've had a bit of a wobbly week with my anxiety, I think because DS1 has been sleeping poorly and I forgot to make sure I had plans with people this week. DM is trying to pressure me to come back to the UK for a bit so she can "give me a break" but the thought of trying to entertain both DC with a break in routine and no toys/home comforts does not sound like a break

@Motherofmonsters I read somewhere that even though they can't keep food down they're still getting some nutrients from it, so maybe that's a little comforting? So hard when they're ill (my phobia doesn't help me either...) Hope she gets it all out today and you all get a decent sleep tonight.

My DH's cousin has taken DS2 out for a long walk so I have some free time and no idea what to do with it. Trying to restrain myself from doing housework and actually use it for some relax time!

@squishymamma I think you might need some time to just be you. Perhaps if you came back to see your mum , hard it is to get everyone over, she might be able to give you time in the days to yourself so you can relax and not do house jobs etc. It's her mother's instinct to want to look after you! It's so hard looking after the young DS's. I've been there with a very similar age gap as you.

@Motherofmonsters, hope DD stops being sick. Definitely better to use the sick bucket or potty rather than our hair to catch the sick I've found now.

This afternoon we are nipping to the reptile shop to get supplies for our tortoise but nothing much else.

Hey hope everyone's having a good day 😀 bloody hard work Isn't it

I hope everyone's afternoon has gone okay?

DD has either been sleeping or being sick which hasn't been fun. Luckily managed the school run in the pouring rain without her being sick. It got to 4pm and suddenly she was better, started chatting, walking around ate some food and didn't bring it back up so hopefully she's on the mend. She's just fallen asleep in bed but no idea how well she'll sleep as she's had hours today

DS1 has been awake since 1.30am. Nothing has helped - took him into our bed and he started stroking my face and throwing himself about, sat in his room most of the night half sleeping in the chair while he sang to himself...gave up at 5am and we've been watching TV, playing with the train and kinetic sand. My eyes are burning.

Hope you had a better night @Motherofmonsters and your DD feels better.