Trapped Toddler Parents: Surviving the summer

[Motherofmonsters]

Hi,

New thread for toddler support, ideas and general rants!

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I've gone quiet, as usual it's all chaos in my house. My cat has been missing for about 4 days but has just come screeching in through the door so that's one less worry.

DS has been doing afternoons at school and seems to be getting on okay. No phone calls yet... Having an argument with the school about them holding off on his EHCP so I've got a meeting to discuss it on Wednesday. I don't believe they are following the process but this school seems to get away with doing what it wants. I'll see what they say then I might put a complaint in.

DD has got a cold and has been a sleepy (obviously not at nighttime) mess. She's perked up a little bit today but not 100% and I'm sure I'm getting it to.

I'm with you @aliasgrape on the falling asleep in their rooms, I've done it twice this week and the weeks I haven't I've fallen asleep on the sofa.

I'm glad you've had some good quality time with DS2 @squishymamma, I'm sure DS1 will love it to

I hope everyone is feeling better @Chocolatetrifle

How is everyone doing?

Quieter day here as DD went to nursery. She had a good day, went through 3 lots of clothes!

I got DS to do quite a bit of maths work this morning and he came out of school really happy. We drove across town to the shop for me to realise I left my wallet at home. PIL live 2 mins away so popped in for a cup of tea instead.

DD is already asleep so now it's time to do DS's bedtime

Hello hello

Glad to hear it’s been a good day @Motherofmonsters. Has DD gotten over her cold now then?

We’ve gad a good day, today was DS1’s day for quality time and we spent most of it outside at the park. Was bloody freezing though, I’m still cold now! Then we did some painting and of course some TV time as I was absolutely knackered…

Going to Christmas markets with a friend tomorrow though it feels a bit early to me, much rather wait until December.

Sat next to a sleeping DS1 now and don’t really want to go out to the living room as DH is doing my heading today, has been really short with the DC and just useless. I had a 10 minute shower this morning, which is rare as I never have time usually so have them usually at night, and came out to DC still not dressed and him ambling around “cleaning” which consisted of putting some bowls and cutlery in the dishwasher (not even all of them!) Hope this phase passes soon and I become more attracted to him again otherwise we’ll be fine roommates for the next few decades…!

Hope everyone has a good night!

Hi folks, sorry I've been quiet I've just been fed up as I got the tonsillitis and was feeling really rough and was fantasising about booking myself into a hotel so that I could just be alone. However, I didn't and got some antibiotics yesterday, and now I feel transformed. I've also been going to bed at 8 since Monday and conking out most of the night so fingers crossed that's sorted now. My DS's both seem better now too.
Today I took dS2 to toddler club in the morning and this afternoon has been some work, cleaning, tidying etc. DH has gone out for a bit with some friends and I've just settled the boys asleep. I guess I'll go to bed!
Tomorrow we are going to a Christmas fair in the morning.

Nothing wrong with roommates squishy, most of the time I end up sleeping in with either ds1 or 2. That's married life here anyway!

That's great your DS came out of school happy @Motherofmonsters and well.done doing the maths work with him thats brilliant.

@Chocolatetrifle I’ve heard tonsillitis can be excruciatingly painful, so feel for you and glad you’re better now x

@squishymamma so often men don’t seem to have any sense of priorities and end up doing something that could wait. At least he did something I guess - my ex would probably have been sitting drinking a coffee the whole time!

I'm glad you're feeling better @Chocolatetrifle hopefully that's your stint of illnesses for a while. How was the Christmas fair?

How was the Christmas market @squishymamma? Do you get lots of snow where you are?

Yesterday was DH's birthday but he went to Twickenham with his dad to watch the rugby so left at 7am. Will be back at some point this afternoon as it's a nearly 6hour drive away. We had a standard Saturday of visiting my mum in the morning and MIL in the afternoon.
DD is feeling better but now I have it and feel awful.

Not sure of the plan for today, probably need to start potty training DD.

What's everyone else up to?

It’s rainy here so think might just stay in for the day with the kids (if I can stand it!). They don’t actually have much time here since doing 50:50 parenting, so in a way think it’s nice for them to have time together playing in the warm. During the week they’re out most of the day at school/nursery. I might entertain myself by attempting some baking!

Morning all.
We had a good day yesterday - gave the house (minus bedrooms which still need a lot of work!) a really good clean - I did bathroom and stairs/ landing whilst DH entertained DD, I’d already done much of the kitchen the day before too. Then I took DD to the park to meet a friend whilst DH finished off, mopped floors etc. The place has been a shithole for weeks so feels good to get back to a reasonable standard even if it won’t last.

Then in the afternoon some good friends of DH came over, two couples one of whom we haven’t seen since our wedding because Covid/ babies/
them living at the other end of the country. DD absolutely LOVED having visitors and was really good sharing her toys with the babies and ‘helping’ to look after them - a one year old and 5
month old. Then we all went to a mini Christmas market/ light switch on in a nearby village. Actually went ok - I thought would be really difficult to manage DD who hates being in the pushchair these days but it was too crowded and dark to safely let her walk as she’s not the most reliable at holding hands (and reins just lead to her lying on the floor refusing to move). She was ok though, mostly in the pushchair distracted with various foodstuffs from the market and a light up plastic wand friend bought her, then did have a little walk and actually was very good at holding my hand.

Today we’re meeting them all for breakfast before the non-local couple travel back.

Morning all, @AliasGrape that sounds like a lovely day.
We are having a quiet weekend in, OH went out for a leaving for yesterday for a few houses and I did some work and the food shopping. Today The weather isn’t nice so I might do some baking with both DS and DSD.

Morning all!

@Motherofmonsters good luck with potty training! Hope you’re feeling a bit better today. Lots of Lemsip!

@AliasGrape nice to have a good clean. I haven’t mopped our floors for weeks and they’re minging, should probably do that today. Enjoy your breakfast! Always so nice to see people you don’t get chance to
see very often.

Hope baking goes well and DC behave @Stayingstrongish and @BEE08!

We had a good day yesterday, it was a tiny German Christmas market and DS1 loved it because he got a chocolate muffin. Then we went to a couple’s house we know for tea, which was also nice.

However DS1 ate only sugary food yesterday and went to bed late so he’s a bit of a nightmare today. It’s also -8 degrees brrrr. So we’ll probably be inside quite a lot! Maybe we’ll take a page out of everyone’s book and do some baking…

Have a good Sunday!

Hi all they all sound like lovely homely, comforting days. I hope you feel better soon @Motherofmonsters . Minus 8 already @squishymamma , keep cosy!

Ok ish weekend here, we won lots of chocolate at the Christmas fair so we have made rice krispies cakes. Boys are in an arguing phase with each other so not so idyllic times in the house because it all just seems to get so hectic, fights break out etc etc so we are going out soon to town to look at their Christmas decorations.

Hope you all have a peaceful day .

Sounds like some lovely days have happened!

I for some crazy reason decided to have a big tidy up toy sort. Kids actually helped/ let me box some up for SIL who is due any minute.

DH is back from London and I'm curled up in bed as I feel awful. 1st cold of the season and it's floored me. The kids have watched far too much tv. DS isnt looking to grand so hopefully he's not next

Hello all,

sorry you’ve been poorly @Motherofmonsters ,
hope you’re feeling ok now.

I had to collect DD from childminders today - she’d started with a cough this morning just really as we were getting in the car. Childminder was happy to take her, but called me at lunchtime to say she had been sick - the first time from coughing so much but then again without coughing a bit later. Really can’t complain as in over a year of her going to childcare this is the first time we’ve ever had to pick her up (or keep her off) but was bloody awkward timing with work for both DH and I. Typically it was me who took the hit, but we have had a conversation already about how it can’t just be like that as the default, and he’s said he’ll do at least half the day tomorrow so we will see.

DD slept for an hour once home then was more or less her normal self just with a cough, but just as I put her in bed she was sick again (I think from coughing but not sure?) and feels very warm now so not sure how tonight will go, poor little mite.

My beautiful bedroom that I spent yesterday afternoon and into the evening getting clean,
tidy and fragrant now smells of sick so that’s confirmed it for me that no good can come from housework and I’ll go back to my usual slovenly ways 😂

Hope your DD is feeling better this morning @@AliasGrape , how is she?

How are you feeling @Motherofmonsters ?

I'm in a bit of a weird mood currently, feeling irritated a lot with everything and I'm not sure why, hopefully it will pass soon!

Thanks @Chocolatetrifle Unfortunately she’s not too good. She was sick again just after I posted and then again a few more times - basically till we’d run out of all bedding for both her and my bed and were down to towels! She woke up all perky again and demanding breakfast but in the time it took me to have a 2 minute conversation with DH she fell back to sleep and is dozing on and off now.

Its weird she’s clearly not well at all - hot, pale,
cough and the sickness, but when she’s awake she’s still absolutely full of beans and wanting to climb/ play etc. Which is good I guess, though a sleepy poorly child would be easier to manage rather than one charging round with sick in her hair chanting ‘I bin ‘ick, I not well’ in what I can only describe as a celebratory tone at 2 in the morning 😴

Oh no @AliasGrape hope she feels better soon. Glad we aren’t the only ones that end up having to use towels though not ideal!

@Chocolatetrifle i know what you mean, I’ve put my grouchiness down to the weather. Dark and miserable doesn’t make for a light and happy mood!

Hope you’re feeling better @Motherofmonsters.

DS1 slept terribly last night, we think he may have been cold. DH ended up sleeping in with him while I took DS2. We travelled to work together today as it’s finally too icy to bike, and started a good chat about life as we’re both feeling overwhelmed and down about things. DH confessed he’s started treating home as another workplace (he works in a nursery) because otherwise he can’t cope. I don’t really know what to do with that information or how to make it better. Maybe these years are just to be survived?

Anyway not much exciting planned this week, just work and getting everyone into bed at a decent time. My DM and DSis are coming to visit this weekend so we’re really just focusing on getting to that. Goodness that sounds bleak!!

Hope everyone has a good day.

Oh it sounds like a terrible sickness bug that poor you, nights like that are the worst and then it's trying sort all the washing and drying the next day. Hope you have a calmer day @AliasGrape.

That's good you had the conversation though @squishymamma best to get things out in the open and clear the air.life with small children is really hard but you never think about it when you are pregnant, or trying to get pregnant because at that point all you want is the baby and then the baby grows and becomes a demanding toddler etc etc and it continues. Throw life stresses in along the way and sometimes its very hard! Obviously there are plenty of good times along the way too.

I find myself lacking in patience at the moment plus there's so much whining. Looking forward to dS2's birthday soon and Christmas though so not all bad.

How is everyone getting on ?

I've managed to pull myself out of whatever funk I was in and am getting on with things. Just nipped to Wilko's with dS2 to get lovely old fashioned (some would say 'tacky') Christmas decorations, think tinsel, foil ceiling decorations. Totally not on trend, but they remind me of my childhood! Not putting them up yet, just wanted to get them in. dS2 has also just had a haircut.

Hope everyone is ok.

I’m in a bit of a panic today as we got the dreaded call to pick DS1 up from nursery as he’d been sick. He’s currently asleep on the couch but we had a period where DH was at work (I had to pick up) and DS1 was whining and wanted comfort and I just couldn’t do it. I kept pacing back and forth and patting him on the head at random intervals. Still can’t sit next to him now. Wouldn’t wish this phobia on anyone. But fortunately DH is alright with sick so he’s going to step up should it be needed.

Otherwise DS2 is fine and happy. DM and DSis come tomorrow for the weekend from the uk so I hope everyone is well then!

Have a good and less eventful night than us…

Hope he is ok now Squishy and he's not been sick. Have a lovely weekend with your family.

Thanks @Chocolatetrifle, he was sick once more but then slept fairly alright, has a fever though but the paracetamol was what made him sick the second time we think so going to try and get some food in him first. Hope everyone else is good!

Hope your DS is feeling better @squishymamma

DD ended up hitting a wall Tuesday and slept pretty much on and off all day - between coughing. Was sick again a few times that night.

Wed morning seemed better again, then dipped again and that’s been the pattern really. No more genuine sickness as in the stomach bug kind, but has coughed so much she threw up every night - I’ve given up remaking the bed to be honest. Last night was horrendous - she wanted to go to bed at 5.30 and I let her because she seemed shattered, but then she was awake about 9 till gone midnight all lively again and no settling here. Finally went back to sleep only to wake herself up coughing (again to the point of being sick) about half an hour later. Eventually settled her back but was just wired myself and could not get to sleep - then started with the most awful stomach pains/ sort of trapped wind type feeling but nothing was easing it until I eventually went to the loo about 5.30, then fell alseep for an hour before DD woke up.

What a shitshow of a week. DD has watched about 8 hours of tv a day, more probably. I’ve had maybe 4 hours of sleep (broken) every night since Monday and not even that last night. I could throw up I’m so tired, but DH finished a bit early to take over and sent me to bed and can I bloody sleep? Nope. DD then had an absolute screaming meltdown wanting me, so is now on the bed next to me watching Bing again.

Sorry to hear that @AliasGrape , what a dreadful week for you. Really hope you can get some better sleep tonight. How about having a nice hot bath first. Tomorrow has got to be better. When it's such an horrendous day, tomorrow has to be better, it just has to, fingers crossed for you. Some days it's literally bloody survival.