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...

Oh that looks beautiful @Chocolatetrifle . Hope you had a good time.
We did painting outdoors in the end - I taped some paper to some old cardboard packaging and they enjoyed painting that. We also ‘planted’ some sunflowers in pots, I will be amazed if any grow after the manhandling they went through.
Dh is back today and we are going to a country park we havent been to before and to my parents for lunch.
Hope everyone has a lovely day.

Good morning all!

DS2 woke up every hour last night, I feel like a zombie. We have church today and a barbecue after so I'm just hoping to get by on adrenaline and lots of coffee.

@Motherofmonsters I also panic if DC sleep in, convinced they're ill or something! Hope DS is doing okay.

Happy belated anniversary {mention:BEE08}!@BEE08! Hope your DC enjoyed the stay and play.

We struggle to keep DS1 in the buggy unless we bribe him with food. Usually this is good except when we're late and he insists on walking at a snail's pace...

Yesterday we were out pretty much all day, had the photo shoot where both DC behaved really well then a birthday party for our nephew. DS1 has really warmed to his scooter but he goes so fast one of us has to run to keep up with him!

Hope everyone has a good day

Morning everyone. We had a good time yesterday at the stay and play, I’ve booed a themed dinosaur stay and play with lunch on Friday.
Today we are joining family for a street party on there street, Mums helping out so I said I would help where I could. We decorated cakes to bring and have some picnic bits as well.

Hi everyone, hope the weekend is going well.
Hope the street party is good BEEO8. I've so enjoyed getting into the jubilee spirit! Love it all .

It's rained all day, so we've done our rainy day activity, which is 'go to the supermarket '

We are going away in Tuesday so hopefully the rain eases a bit. We are going to Ribby Hall if anyone has been, any tips?

Have a relaxing evening.

Hello, hope everyone is okay?

Hope the party went well @BEE08.

I've never heard of Ribby Hall @Chocolatetrifle but looked it up and it sounds fantastic, you'll have to report back! Hope the weather is good for you and the packing/getting everyone there isn't too stressful.

We went to a local lake today that has a bit of a beach area, DS1 loved it and was paddling around for ages. I've definitely found that getting out and about is really important, if we're inside he tends to zone out and want to watch TV and is not so interested in playing. His language is really coming on too but he only speaks English, even in nursery! Hearing him say "yellow" (or rather "lellow") is just adorable...

Back to normal tomorrow after the long weekend, its supposed to be rubbish weather. Planning to go buy DS1 some new bits of clothes as he's now well into being 2 and is still in 18-24 month clothes for some things...

Hope everyone has a good sleep!

Hope everyone else had a nice weekend. @squishymamma @Chocolatetrifle We had a lovely jubilee celebration, the streets party was well thought out and there was some great games, like jenga and crazy golf for the kids to do as well as races.
DS won third price in the homemade crown competition, I just cut a crown out of cardboard and he decorated it. He was very proud and loved his bubbles as a prize.

I find that DS is much happier being out and out, even if it’s for a few hours in the morning or afternoon, he plays much better if he has been outside.

we went to see friends today, back to normal, work and nursery tomorrow.

Definitely agree about getting out. The major bonus imo is less tidying at the end of the day. Lockdown has given me an enduring horror of the endless tidying 😱
Predictably DS has got chickenpox now, had to take him round my mums and log on to work or it would have been the third week I’d been off - luckily it doesnt seem as bad as dds so far.
tomorrow I have told DH I am going to the office & he can sort it. Which he’s done by asking my mum as well 😂
We have a trial toucanbox to try on Thursday (I only work mon-wed), looking forward to that.
have a wonderful holiday @Chocolatetrifle !

Hello all, it's been a while!

How's your DS @Lostthetastefordahlias? And how was the toucanbox?

Hope your week has been good @BEE08 and that you're enjoying your holiday @Chocolatetrifle.

DS1 has been sleeping through the night, and I'm in shock (this post will absolutely derail it though I'm sure...) He's gotten a lot happier so we're just enjoying life at the moment, until the next difficult period. I'm really enjoying playing with him, we do a lot of repetitive things like filling buckets with water and transferring it to new ones but he seems to love it.

Going to a wedding this weekend and a couple we're friends with will be babysitting, I'm slightly nervous but sure it will be fine.

Glad to hear you’re enjoying an “easier” stage with DS1 @squishymamma !! Its lovely when it just all seems to be working well isnt it. Exciting about the wedding!
The trial toucanbox has saved us today, we have done a great glitter art picture, made some racing jellyfish and felt crabs and done some colouring, as we are all still stuck in due to DS chickenpox. That said I think you get a lot more for £15 on (my beloved) Baker Ross.
I have put Dd into nursery an extra day tomorrow as she is v bored of her brother being ill & I am v exhausted.
Have ordered a folding treadmill so I can hopefully do some exercise when DC are asleep & DH not back from work, excited about that.
Hope everyone has had a good day.

Hi everyone 👋 sorry not posted, I had no chance on holiday! Literally felt we did not stop. Luckily it all went well. That was our first family holiday, what with the pandemic etc.im so tired, looking forward to getting to bed!!

I got the Toucan box twice but I didn't carry in with it because I felt it was quite expensive and some of the things were very fiddly. I much prefer some Baker Ross too!

How is everyone?

How is the chicken pox now?

How is everyone sleeping?

Glad you had a good time @Chocolatetrifle , how was the place you stayed? How did the Ds enjoy it?
Yes I think overall the Toucan Box isnt good enough value for my preschoolers, I can see it being a lot better for older children.
DS chickenpox much better & all scabbed, he is day 5 today so looking forward to going out tomorrow as long as he doesn't get any new spots, thanks for asking. And he slept through last night (he was waking up itchy) so I feel like a new woman.
We have planted some sunflower seeds last weekend and they have come up already - highly recommend for short attention span toddler gardening!
Have a good weekend all.

Morning all,

I've just had to go mad and shout at ds1 who threw sand purposely in DS2's eyes from the sand pit. I have to say I did not deal with it in a calm parenting way at all.

The holiday was great for children, the accommodation was good quality, spotless,lots of activities and early evening entertainment fir the children. We've booked to go back next year. Ribby Hall village it's called and I can recommend it.

I'm feeling stressed already though! This afternoon however I have a few hours off parenting duty as I'm going to the theatre in Liverpool to see Joseph.

Hope everyone has a good day, glad to hear the poxis improving @Lostthetastefordahlias .

That's good about the sunflowers. Spring onions are other things which shoot up quickly so gives toddlers something to see quickly also cress for eggy heads as seen on Bing and peas.

Hope the wedding goes well squishy, do let us know.

glad you had a great holiday @Chocolatetrifle. planting seeds sounds like a good activity @Lostthetastefordahlias

Me and DS went to his swimming lesson yesterday and then to a dinosaur stay and play, he enjoyed it but got tried towards the end.
Today we went to the park with his sister. I had to change the dinners around a bit as DS was very hungry so I did a quick sausage pasta which he eat.

Hope everyone is having a good start to the week. How was Joseph @Chocolatetrifle ? Dinosaur stay and play sounds great @BEE08 . I am struggling to find much available in our local area, every class etc seems to have very long waiting lists.
Me & DD have met her teacher for next week today, then been to the shop to get smarties and read a lot of books. Its her 4th birthday next week so I need to get the preparations underway asap!!

Hi everyone,

Joseph was a great show , really enjoyed it thanks.
Ah, I've just ordered some uniform for dS1, he has two stay and plays next month. It's coming round quickly.
That's great it's dds birthday next week @Lostthetastefordahlias . It's nice getting everything planned for birthdays.

Not much to report from here today. Boys have been pretty good, ds1 has been so reasonable today it's almost like he is becoming quite grown up! He's 5 in October. I can definitely see an improvement in his behaviour, or perhaps it's just a good spell, probably that. dS2 is still being a bit whingey but guess that's to be expected. Took him to toddler group this morning which he enjoyed.

Put the letter flashcards and letters on the tuff tray for name spelling, recognition etc, phonics etc.

Hello!

Sorry I've disappeared I'm finding it hard to have motivation to do anything at the moment.

Your tuff tray is a great idea @chocolatetrifle. I'm glad you had a good holiday.

We went away at the weekend for a wedding, child free. We had a lovely time but it was 7 1/2hours in the car each way.

An educational psychologist came in to observe DS today so had a meeting with them. They didn't say anything new and actually sounds like he's doing much better than I have been imagining. They will send the school a report and then they will make an education plan for him. They seem pretty positive that once that's sorted he will be fine so that's good.

I'm now trying to get DD to go to bed but she's bouncing around even though she didn't have a nap. DS has left me with this question to ponder 'mummy what happens when you die, how many people will really miss you'

Evening all.

@Motherofmonsters I was wondering how you were? It sounds really positive for DS. What a great question from DS!

dS2 asked me today, 'remember when I was a baby?' I was like hmmm, yes funniy enough I do!
We've been ok this week. Pottering about, being outside etc, not much to report. Boys keep getting up at 5.45 which is not great.

Sleep well everyone.

@squishymamma how are you doing?

@Lostthetastefordahlias , how are DD's birthday plans going?

@BEE08 how is your week going?

Hi @Chocolatetrifle We are good than you. It’s been a busy week as I’ve worked more hours than usual. I finished early yesterday so me and DS went for a MacDonald’s as treat.
The tuff tray set up looks great.

Today we went to DS swimming lesson and then stayed in the big pool for an extra 45 minutes as it is so hot.

@Motherofmonsters it sounds like it went well.

Well it's definitely hot today, i had to sit down after doing the hoovering.

DS fell over playing with his friend after school scuffing up his face. I had to carry him crying all the way to the car. A wet paper towel and an ice lolly has sorted it out though. PIL have just asked if we want to go to the beach for a picnic and swim this evening, I may even have a paddle.

Good news about DS @Motherofmonsters . I mean the reports from his school - hope his face is ok.
Sometimes the “just” regular weeks are the best arent they @Chocolatetrifle . Jealous of the macdonalds and swimming @BEE08 !
I have been doing more hours at work to make up for some of the chickenpox weeks, have missed the DC but at least there is aircon there! We are in Essex, its been 33 degrees today. Dd had her first birthday cake at our church stay & play yesterday, she will have a party at nursery on the day and one at her gym for our relatives kids. I find it stressful tbh but she is enjoying the anticipation!
Have a lovely weekend all.

Hello, hello! This week has absolutely flown by.

Glad to hear all is well with you all, hope your DS' face is okay @Motherofmonsters. I had a very vivid flashback to wet bumpy green paper towels for bumps and scratches when I was in school an eternity ago when I read that!

It's been fairly warm here too but not so hot as its been there. DS1 has just been in nursery all week, we've been restricting his TV time a bit more consistently and its been helping his mood and sleep so that's good. Bought him some yellow wellies and now they're the only things he will wear, if we try to put normal shoes on its a crisis!

Tomorrow DH and I are going to the opera, I'm really looking forward to it! MIL will be babysitting so fingers crossed it goes well. DS2 has been a bit difficult lately, especially on sleeping in the day, so I'm a bit nervous about that.

Hope everyone has a good sleep. Any fun plans for the weekend?