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...

I totally understand @squishymamma, I get real anxiety about coughs. As soon as they clear their throat or do a single cough I get such a knot in my stomach I feel sick. It's then all I can think about until the next day and they don't do it again.

@Motherofmonsters, oh that sounds like a successful day yesterday, well done! Batman imaginext sound perfect too, we love that here.

@squishymamma, I understand the anxiety too. I had terrible anxiety when we had lots of tonsillitis in the autumn and it really got me down.

Try to take some comfort in that spring is here and summer will be soon and hopefully better weather and fewer bugs. I think it's natural to be worry as a parent about things like you describe. The last few years have been far from normal in which to raise a young family and I know I have personally struggled a lot during lockdowns. You have a preschooler and a baby and I think that bugs are really common during these years, people tell me it settles at school to an extent. The pandemic has a lot to answer for it really does. I get very nervous when mine get I'll but I'm trying to be more confident that I know I can help with medicine, calpol etc and I will always get them seen as soon I can even for reassurance.

Morning!

The plumbing has fallen off under our kitchen sink! Water everywhere...
I've cleared up the floor and shut the door on it. That's a future me problem

@Motherofmonsters, oh no! That's terrible. Hope you can get it sorted.

I put the tuff tray in the garden with a washing up bowl, water and washing up liquid and the test tubes and pipettes so that kept them amused for a bit

Thanks for the comments @Motherofmonsters and @Chocolatetrifle. Glad to hear it's not just me, though it's sad that we all get nervous - I guess you're right, just part of being a parent.

My blissful maternity leave has come to somewhat of a sudden end, without going into boring detail there are now several things I have to work on with concrete deadlines that others promised they'd do and now don't have time for...currently sat on the couch with my laptop open and a sleeping DS2 in a stool I'm bouncing with my foot. So glad DS1 has nursery!

Will be meeting one of my mum friends and her DS for a playdate later, even though they go to the same nursery and are in the same class

@Motherofmonsters oh no what a drama! I leave a lot of stuff to future me too, she always seems to hate past me for that reason sounds bad but for me that would go straight onto DH's list of things to sort

@squishymamma that's really annoying. Are you obliged to do it though if you are on maternity?

It's been a sunny afternoon here. We've had some garden time, couldn't have coped doing the staying at home thing if it was wet every day.

Looking forward to bedtime.

@squishymamma how frustrating they've left it to you to do. Can you claim the time back at a later date? I hope your playdate went okay this afternoon.

Glad you got out in the garden @chocolatetrifle, sunshine makes all the difference.

Okay day here, toddler group in the morning. DD decided to wear her witches costume. A bigger boy had taken to pushing her around a bit and knocking her over, luckily she's used to DS as a brother so didn't let it get to her. I do wish his Gran would step in a bit more. I found myself having to keep telling him not to touch her.

Came home and had quite a bit of work come through so I shipped DD off to my mums for an hour then picked up DS.

It's a tricky one, I don't theoretically have to do it but if I don't we'll deliver late and it's a project I pushed for pre kids (has been going on a while!) so I feel somewhat responsible for ensuring we do our part on time. I do have some help so I'm hoping they will do most of it.

@Chocolatetrifle hope the days pass fast so you can get back out into society again!

@Motherofmonsters sounds like a nice day, it is annoying when other parents/guardians don't do their bit. Does the gran not notice or does she not care?

Our playdate was lovely, I get on really well with the mum so we had a good time. DS2 was a bit fussy but we managed.

DH had a meeting tonight so I solo parented bedtime, DS1 spent over half an hour eating supper then weed all over the changing table. No tantrums really though so could have been a lot worse. I'm looking forward to my own bedtime

Hope everyone has a good sleep!

Thank goodness the weather is so pleasant. We've been outside so much, got some water balloons on Amazon, which always go down well. Have put water on the tuff tray and the rubber ducks. Have also got DS's to hunt the garden fir 'interesting things' and we've glued them to some paper and stuck to the wall. Feeling tired and achey still. Testing positive still but DH tested negative this morning and he's only day 5.

How is your work today @Motherofmonsters?

@squishymamma, ah, totally understand why you feel responsible for that project. Hope you can get it sorted, try to delegate as much as possible.

It sounds like you had a lovely time in the garden @chocolatetrifle.

I've done zero work today probably should have done some but need DH as his diary is to be booked up for me to add stuff to

My friend invited us out for a walk with her group today in the woods a bit further away than we normally go to. It was lovely, and got quite hot. Slightly chaotic with 5 kids under 3 and 4 dogs though.

I've got the biggest headache so I'm hoping for an easy bedtime

It sounds like you had a lovely time in the garden @chocolatetrifle.

I've done zero work today probably should have done some but need DH as his diary is to be booked up for me to add stuff to

My friend invited us out for a walk with her group today in the woods a bit further away than we normally go to. It was lovely, and got quite hot. Slightly chaotic with 5 kids under 3 and 4 dogs though.

I've got the biggest headache so I'm hoping for an easy bedtime

I hope everyone is having a good morning.

It's beautiful here, it feels like a summer's day! We've just got back from baby ballet, DD actually followed some of the moves.
Got loads of calls to make and she's fallen asleep so that's a bonus. Not sure what we will do this afternoon, probably just potter about

@Motherofmonsters hope your headache has gone. Glad the ballet class was good today. Not much to report from here still. Just alternating garden time with the Tele. dS2 has a cough with the covid and dS1 is negative now just still has the thickest snot I've ever seen. I'm still positive on day 9. Feeling better but still achey at times with a bit of a cough.

It's 3 weeks until Easter and we've eaten all the eggs and done the Easter crafts that I'd got in.

Hope all is ok. @squishymamma, how is the work project going?

Sorry you're still feeling a bit rough @chocolatetrifle, when can you end isolation, was DS2 the last one to get it.
Theres always more Easter eggs to buy!

We are going away for a long weekend with the in-laws. I've given DS a small suitcase and DD a bag to fill with toys they will want to play with. It's looking like it'll just be a load of random junk....

@Motherofmonsters, my day 10 is tomorrow. Ds1 is back to preschool on Monday. DS2's 10 days is up next Thursday. Hopefully he'll be negative before that. I know we don't have to isolate anymore but we have done and will do until we each get negative, although obviously dS2 can't isolate by himself!

A weekend away sounds lovely, plus the weather is supposed to hold I think until next week. I hope you have a lovely time.

I don't think I'll be testing after tomorrow though, I don't think they recommend it beyond day 10. Have to be careful though as my mum is vulnerable with a heart problem.

Glad to hear you're feeling better @Chocolatetrifle and that the weather has been nice so you could get out.

@Motherofmonsters enjoy your weekend! At least they're not responsible for packing their clothes, DB was allowed to do that once at the age of 10(ish) and he packed a load of toys, one pair of trousers and his favourite pj's. Nothing else, not even a toothbrush

Work is going alright, DS2 had a long sleep today so I felt quite productive. DS1 is doing well, not much to report there.

My anxiety levels are sky high atm as there's loads of tummy bugs going around, everyone I talk to seems to be in the middle of one. Absolutely dreading it hitting us...

@squishymamma, hopefully you won't get the tummy bug. From my experience we have only truly had one terrible tummy bug that hit 3 out of 4 of us , so the odds for a lot of sickness and tummy bugs are low I think. And you will cope if you get it because we just do, we do get through it. Try to think that you might just not get it.

I've tested negative today on day 10, hurray. Only dS2 left as still positive but he's only day 4, so don't really expect it yet. I'm feeling a lot better, aches and pains are gone now so fingers crossed that is it.

Today started with the DS's having a look at my make up bag so both had a little go and of course ended up with mascara in their hair and eyeliner all over their cheeks .

Not much else really today, still lovely weather so garden time again.

Any plans for the weekend? Ds1 is anxious about his football class tomorrow so I'm hoping to go with him to see if he will stay. A bigger boy knocked into him so it's knocked his confidence and the last time he went he was off colour, so hopefully we can start again tomorrow, will see how it goes

Going away on holiday feels a bit like hard work. DS is absolutely crazy, sprinting around the house and is still awake. We've got them in the same room so here's hoping they don't wake each other up.

I'm also annoyed at DDs nursery as when I picked her up at 3 she had been sleeping since 1 and then her nappy leaked in the car.

I hope DS enjoys his football @chocolatetrifle it's frustrating when their confidence gets knocked by others. Hopefully DS2 will be negative soon to

Hope the holiday is going well @Motherofmonsters. That's really annoying about the nap and nappy. I've often wondered how often nappies get changed in nurseries. Not experienced that you see as DS1 was toilet trained when he started preschool as he was 3 and a half. Perhaps mention it, if it happens again.

Ds1 was ok at his football, o took him and stood and watched and he was happy with that so that's good.

I'm feeling a bit off, have earache.sonce last night, not sure if covid related.

Looking forward to bedtime, I'm literally falling asleep as soon as DS1 goes asleep around 8.30 to 8.45 and then waking up at about 11 pm.

Just realised the clocks go forward tonight so that's even less sleep tonight now!

@squishymamma, how are you getting on today lovely?

@Chocolatetrifle glad to hear your DS1 enjoyed football, rubbish that you still aren't feeling 100% though. PIL informed us the clocks were going forward, I'm gutted

@Motherofmonsters hope the holiday is going well! In our nursery, it's not so much that they don't change the nappies but more that they are rubbish at putting them on properly they're always wonky or loose so if he wees a lot or has a big poo it's game over.

Thanks for checking in on me @Chocolatetrifle, anxiety is up and down but not too bad atm. DS1 had a great time sleeping over at PIL but was a little limpet when we came to pick him up, think he was terrified we'd leave him again. Will see if it affects his sleep tonight!

I'd planned to fully enjoy only having DS2 with a lie in and a relaxing day...ended up being wide awake at my usual time of 6.30am, gave up and got up then proceeded to clean the whole flat at least its nice now.

Church tomorrow and a roast, not much else planned. Maybe a nap! Hope everyone has a good day.

Happy Mother's Day 🌻🌹.

I had awful earache that kept me up all night, at one point I thought my ear had exploded, so luckily got seen by the walk -in -centre first thing and I've now got an inner ear infection and got some antibiotics, probably covid related.

dS2 is still testing positive on day 7.

Hope everyone is having a better day!

@squishymamma enjoy the roast dinner, is it Mother's day in Norway?

Happy Mother's Day!

Oh no @chocolatetrifle, that sounds horrible. I'm glad you've been able to get some antibiotics for it.

The holiday is going well apart from I can't eat mussels and thought a few would be okay on Friday. It was not, worst sickness I have ever had. All okay now though.

We went for a swim this morning and FIL has cooked a massive roast.

Hope everyone has a good day

Hello!

@Chocolatetrifle not mother's day here, that was last month. Had a fab roast though sorry to hear about your ear but hope the antibiotics kick in fast for you!

@Motherofmonsters oh no, how rubbish! Glad you're feeling better now. Love swimming, haven't been for ages - should definitely take DS1, he'd love it too I bet.

We've had a nice day, DS1 wanted to be outside so DH and I took it in turns and he played happily for ages think we have some kind of cold or something though as we all have tickly throats, even wee DS2 bless him. Hoping for a good night's sleep so we feel better!

Otherwise not much else to report. Trying to fully appreciate these "easy" days before something switches again - DS1 has just been so happy recently, I'm convinced it's not going to last

Evening!

How is everyone?

Did the colds stay away @squishymamma?

How are you feeling now @chocolatetrifle?

We are home now, and had an amazing time away. No one wanted to go home.
I've unpacked half the stuff but will sort the rest tomorrow.

Hope everyone has had a good day