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Original poster

Trapped toddler parents: support through winter and beyond

991 replies

squishymamma · 20/12/2021 07:54

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...

OP posts:
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39
Original poster
squishymamma · 04/04/2022 19:33

DS1 slept 4 hours today and seems to have gotten rid of his fever, still a bit of a sore throat and cough though. He's now chatting to himself in his room, hoping he manages to sleep better tonight!

Hope everyone is doing okay.

OP posts:
Chocolatetrifle · 04/04/2022 19:51

@squishymamma cross posted as I was just going to ask how your DS1 was doing. Glad he slept well today and good the fever has gone. How are you?

dS2 is still being sick now and again, mainly just water.

I've really struggled today as always when stuck in and ill. It's been a long day.

Motherofmonsters · 05/04/2022 11:52

Hello

How is everyone today, I hope the sickness has ended for you both!

Usual Tuesday morning here, went to a group this morning. It's a church one so it was Easter themed, they did a little story with puppets to explain about Easter/Jesus. They gave them some chocolate so DD was thrilled.

Orchard toys have lots of Easter themed Activity sheets for free.

I'm going to try and do more activities with them over the holidays. I probably leave them to it too much and then they end up falling out so maybe some structure will help

Chocolatetrifle · 05/04/2022 12:50

Hi, @Motherofmonsters, that sounds like a really lovely group, glad you enjoyed it! Thats a good idea about the Easter sheets, I will take a look, Twinkl do them too for free.

Sickness has stopped here thankfully, ds1 hopefully back to preschool tomorrow and he finishes for Easter on Friday. Still drained and under the weather as I feel like my body is saying no to everything other than a cup of tea and a lie down. I've work that I've not done and cleaning but I'm not tackling them today, tomorrow is a new day.

We've had the goo-jit-zus out and imaginext and we played dollies but nothing very energising. I've got some slime in so maybe do that later.

Tonight I'm going to have a soak in the bath and pretend I'm at a fancy spa, do my nails etc, so if I look ok it might make me feel better Grin.

@squishymamma how is your DS1 today?

Original poster
squishymamma · 05/04/2022 14:58

Glad to hear you're all better @Chocolatetrifle. Sounds like a nice group @Motherofmonsters.

DS1 is getting over his cold and went to nursery today but DH has a tummy bug and I'm not feeling great so don't think we're out of the sickness woods yet. Worst feeling ever seeing DS1 blissfully unaware knowing he'll probably get it Sad fingers crossed we can contain it but we'll see.

Enjoy your spa night @Chocolatetrifle I'm jealous!

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Original poster
squishymamma · 05/04/2022 18:02

DS1 now been shipped off to PIL as DH is definitely ill and I'm getting there...really really hope he doesn't catch it!

DS2 bringing more milk up than usual but not really "being sick" so unsure how he is...

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Chocolatetrifle · 05/04/2022 18:25

@squishymamma oh no, I hope it doesn't get bad for you all.

DH got me a bottle of the original Lucozade this afternoon and I swear it's made me feel better, not had it in about 15 years or something.

Hope you get through the night squishy.

Original poster
squishymamma · 06/04/2022 10:03

We made it through and I managed not to be sick! I am currently working up the energy to bleach the apartment before DS1 gets back in the hopes he doesn't get whatever it is. It was fairly "mild" for a tummy bug for both of us so we're not 100% sure it was that, but better safe than sorry. Means a mountain of laundry though. DH is still curled up under a blanket but seems the vomiting bit is over...

So so thankful for PIL that live fairly close and were able to take DS1, though obviously I still had to get up to sort DS2. He doesn't seem to have whatever we have so fingers crossed it stays that way

OP posts:
Original poster
squishymamma · 06/04/2022 10:04

Also @Chocolatetrifle I love Lucozade, also haven't had it in ages! Can't get it here though sadly, their sports drinks are rubbish. Hope you feel even better today!

OP posts:
Chocolatetrifle · 06/04/2022 14:46

@squishymamma so glad you got through the night and you weren't sick. Hope DH feels better soon and dS1 enjoyed his sleepover.

I've caught up with the cleaning and done some work so feeling a bit more in control.

Hope the day is going well.

Motherofmonsters · 07/04/2022 21:04

Evening!

How is everyone feeling today? I hope all the sickness is gone.

Good day here, I took DD to ballet and then had a load of work to do so MIL had DD for a while so I could catch up. Picked DS up from school and went to MIL where they ate ice cream and ran around. Came home and cooked them tea but didn't fancy anything and I am now eating super noodles on the sofa

DS got put in his reading group for school, he's right at the bottom group. I totally knew he would be and have always said I'm not worried about his learning I just want him to like school. However I find myself a bit saddened by it and I can't put my finger on why.

Chocolatetrifle · 07/04/2022 22:27

Evening,

Have had a weird day, ds1 vomited everywhere in the middle of the night last night so has been off preschool yet again and will be tomorrow so Easter break starts early here. Spent the day doing mounds of washing and putting the tumble dryer on , trying not to worry about the potential cost! It's poured down here.

@Motherofmonsters, do you feel that you have enough support for DS at school with regards to his reading? Try to flip it around and plan what you can do to help, keep going to the library etc, can you get any reading books based on his favourite interest/character or TV programmes? Remember, just because it's that group at the moment, it may not always be! School is such a long journey for them and all we can do is encourage and support along the way.

Sleep well hopefully, can hear dS2 banging his head against the cot sides. He hit me on the head with a banana earlier.

Original poster
squishymamma · 08/04/2022 07:05

Morning all,

@Motherofmonsters used to love supernoodles but tried them again a few months ago and they were disappointing, not sure if my memories are rose tinted or if they've just gotten worse but it was a sad time Grin I think it's really normal to feel sad about things like reading groups, I tried to write out an explanation but it wouldn't come out sounding right but I also feel sad in those situations and it's not because of DC's performance but something else. Maybe the label and values society put on this kind of thing? I don't know, it's hard.

@Chocolatetrifle oh your poor DS1, he has had a rough time lately eh? Hope he feels better now. And that you do too!

DH and I are better now, PIL kept DS1 until yesterday so we went to pick him up and then did some errands etc. Think we all have a cold though, everyone is coughing away and DS1 is a waterfall of snot (he started at the weekend though so not surprised). He has his Easter lunch at nursery today but he's still asleep so I need to go see if he's in a fit state for it, he did a lot of coughing last night.

Hope everyone has a good day!

OP posts:
Chocolatetrifle · 08/04/2022 08:23

Hope ds1 enjoys his nursery Easter lunch @squishymamma. I don't think things taste like they used to when we were younger , probably because they've taken out all the additives etc! See also Pot Noodle!

I've been up and down in the night as I was paranoid there was going to be more vomiting, but luckily there wasn't.

Inspired by Motherofmonsters I printed out some free Twinkl spring sheets, so I've got them out to have a look out today. dS2 however has other ideas and thrown everything I got out on the table onto the floor in a temper. Hope everyone has a tantrum free day.

Chocolatetrifle · 08/04/2022 10:57

I am definitely not managing to have a tantrum free day. dS2 is screaming instead of actually talking and all I've heard is 'no', 'i don't like him, he's an idiot '.

Motherofmonsters · 09/04/2022 12:25

Afternoon!

Thank you @chocolatetrifle and @squishymamma i think it's a mix of feeling bad that I haven't made him practice more and the pressure of 'succeeding' at school. My family are naturally quite academic, top sets etc so I kind of expected him to be but I also knew he wouldn't be?? I don't know kids and the emotions about them are just odd.

Hope you're having a less tantrumy day @chocolaretrifle.

Today is going okay so far. DH is working so I took DS to rugbytots for the first time. I was so nervous after the martial arts fiasco but actually he did really well. Rugby is a much better fit for him.
We've done some Easter activity sheets this morning, they were both sat at the table colouring quietly. That has literally never happened before..
DS coloured in some numbered paper eggs and we've been taking in turns hiding them around the house. DS has forgotten where he has hidden two though...
I think DD is coming done with something, she keeps crying for cuddles randomly. No sickness or fever I've just got that feeling

Hope everyone is having a good day

Chocolatetrifle · 09/04/2022 21:18

@Motherofmonsters, how is DD? Hope she's not getting poorly? The table activities sound like they went well.
I think we just don't want to see our children struggling with anything and we want things to come easily to them. Also I guess we must remember they are not us and they their own little people, and they will be good at different things etc. We also just want them to like school and get on essentially. I try to get DS1 to practice writing his name etc and some days he just throws the pencil or crayons and another day he will try his best, I guess he's 4 so have just to remember that and his emotions are literally all over the place.

Today we've actually been out and had a decent day, shock horror! We've been to a local fair and it was lovely.

Sleep well everyone x

Motherofmonsters · 09/04/2022 21:41

She's been poorly this afternoon just really tired and sat on the sofa the whole time. She didn't eat her lunch and just had fruit. She fell asleep at 3.30 so I let her have a little sleep, she was still unhappy until dinner time where she perked up and ate all her tea. She then took forever to go to sleep so I've only now finished bedtime. It's been a looong day although it hasn't been stressful as DD was to immobile for them to fall out and DS was in a good mood.

I'm glad you've had a good day @chocolatetrifle. It's nice when you go to something and it goes well.

Chocolatetrifle · 09/04/2022 22:03

@Motherofmonsters, hopefully DD will he ok tomorrow after some sleep tonight. Get yourself some treats and put your feet up.

Original poster
squishymamma · 10/04/2022 18:06

How are we all doing today?

We've had a good weekend, went out for a little road trip and hike yesterday and to a playground today. DS1 is sleeping badly again but in a generally good mood, his speech is coming on more and more so I think that's why. We've also been out and about during his nap so tomorrow we'll stay home and hopefully he'll get a good few hours.

Hope your DD is okay @Motherofmonsters

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Chocolatetrifle · 10/04/2022 19:48

Evening,

We've had a decent day too, I'm not sure what is causing this good fortune this weekend but we are not ill and the DS's are also in a decent moods. We got the sandpit out and have pottered around at home.

Hope everyone gets a good sleep.

Motherofmonsters · 10/04/2022 22:18

She's much better now thank you. She used to be like it quite a bit when she was younger so I think it may have been teeth related.

I'm glad you've both had a good weekend.

We've had a good day here although cheating a little bit as PIL took the kids out for the afternoon. We cooked tea for them when they brought them back, DD went to sleep in 10 mins instead of 2 hours so that was a treat

Original poster
squishymamma · 11/04/2022 09:40

It's a whiny day here today from both DC. We had loads of plans today to pack for the cabin (leaving tomorrow) and go to the library but I can't be bothered so am currently lying on the sofa with the TV on. DH running round doing everything himself for a change Grin only because its his DP we're going to and he is motivated to get everything ready for it!

Hope everyone else is having a less tantrummy day.

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Motherofmonsters · 11/04/2022 09:55

Sounds like you've got the right idea @squishymamma, I hate getting ready to go away. I hope your day gets less tantrumy.

It's the first day of the holidays today and it's pouring down. Will probably go down to my mum's this afternoon. DD is playing with her Sylvanian families and DS is playing with his Kinetic Sand. He's been playing with constantly for about a week a

Chocolatetrifle · 11/04/2022 21:47

Evening all,

How did the first day of the Easter holidays go @Motherofmonsters? Did your DH sort the packing @squishymamma?

Had a bit of a whiny morning but that's because DS2's tummy is still.off it seems. It was so cold here today, I got the tuff tray with some Easter painting out outside and the sandpit again but it was very chilly. DH is off after tomorrow so will hopefully get out for a few day trips etc.

Sleep well everyone.