Trapped Toddler Parents: Surviving the summer

[Motherofmonsters]

Hi,

New thread for toddler support, ideas and general rants!

How’s everyone doing?
Ive got this awful cold/ virus still - seems to be getting worse rather than better.

Childminder called me Monday to say DD had come up with some spots on her back and she suspected chicken pox - but DD was absolutely fine, no temp, usual lively self. I took her to the pharmacist on way home who had a look and said he wasn’t sure and was possibly an allergic thing. Anyway the next day the spots had gone so childminder took her then and yesterday, only for her to throw up everywhere yesterday lunchtime and have to come home.

once again she seems fine again afterwards, but I do wonder if there’s something viral going on and coming out in funny ways.

So we’re having a lazy one today in front of the tv I think, and sod the cleaning I swore I was going to do.

I really hope I can start feeling a bit more human very soon. Aunt arrives tonight and we have a family get together tomorrow. All I really want to do is sleep.

@AliasGrape I hope DD feels better soon, my DS is not well at the moment, I’m just keeping an eye on him as has a cough and doesn’t want to eat much at the moment.

We are having a quiet few days before a busy time over Christmas. I’m learning how to play Minecraft on the Xbox!! with DSD who is 11 at the moment whilst DS has a nap.

Hello and merry Christmas Eve eve!

Sorry to hear you’re no better @AliasGrape. Hope the family gathering wasn’t too straining. I’ve heard there’s a lot of adenovirus going around where they have really random symptoms so might have been that. Hope she’s better now.

@BEE08 hope your DS is better too!

All this sickness going around and we’re not doing any better, DS2 now has a fever bless him. It’s his first birthday today (how??), he’s had an alright day despite being ill but now I’m lying next to him in the dark thinking of all the things I’d planned to do to prepare for Christmas while he was supposed to be at nursery…

Tomorrow is the big day in Norway and we’re hosting so I hope we don’t all get sick! Then to in laws Christmas Day and then sleeeeeeeeep. With Paw Patrol on in the background so we don’t get disturbed by DS1!!

Merry Christmas everyone

Hi everyone,

How are you feeling today @AliasGrape , it's totally fine to vent on here, that's what we are here for!

I've been busy this week getting the boys out and about as it's been a full week off for the Christmas holidays and we can't seem to stay in long at home without fighting breaking out. DH is off next week to divide and conquer.
I'm sorted for Christmas and wrapped everything so need to just prep food tomorrow and go to church and then have a large wine!!

Happy first birthday ds2@squishymamma . Hope his fever goes down.

Is everyone feeling festive? I find prosecco helps greatly.

@BEE08 hope your DS is feeling better too?

Thanks for the place to vent everyone. I felt horrific right up to yesterday - didn’t help that it coincided with a phase of truly horrendous sleep from DD. Yesterday was our wedding anniversary and we were going for tea at the pub but had to cancel - marking the third year in a row that we’ve cancelled it (it was our third anniversary 😂) or had it cancelled by Covid -
so that’s almost become a tradition in itself.

Anyway somehow amongst the coughing I managed to get us mostly sorted for Christmas,
so that’s good. And my aunt arrived late last night after a smooth journey thank goodness.

Family get together this afternoon/ evening was lovely and DD had a ball.

Tomorrow is food prep, a walk if weather is ok, and probably the christingle service. In the evening we usually have a little get together with neighbours actually in the street but the people who usually organise it are dealing with a lot/ ill themselves at the moment so it’s been shelved this year. There’s a couple of older ladies who are on their own as both have husbands in hospital at the moment sadly, so I’ve asked them to pop in late afternoon/ early evening.

@squishymamma and @BEE08 i hope your boys are both feeling much better.

That’s interesting about the adenovirus squishy I wonder if that’s what has been going on. Happy birthday to your DS and hope
you have a fabulous day tomorrow.

Hello and happy post Christmas. How is everyone? Have you survived Christmas? Ours has been OK. We had a terribly early start on the day itself, boys were up between 4.30 and 5 am. They enjoyed their presents. I had awful.period pain though which made me in a bit of a bad mood and I was super rude to my mother in law over her dog , which she brought to dinner.. I admit I was out of order really but I didn't want the dog there but I should have not kept mentioning it. Can anyone recommend anything I can take to help period ranting? Not the contraceptive pill or an antidepressant as I've tried both previously.

Hello!

Sorry to hear you had really bad period pain at Christmas @Chocolatetrifle we really got the rough end of the stick. I wish I had some recommendations for you. Don't worry about being rude to your MIL.
Glad the boys enjoyed their presents.

Ours has been okay, the day itself was good and fairly relaxed. DHs family came up for breakfast and then my family for lunch and the rest of the day.
Felt a bit bad as most of DS's presents were building things or games and we didn't really have much time to do it/build. I will have to remember that for next year.

We're struggling with behaviour, DD is really clingy, wingy and demanding. DS has just gone loopy. I threatened to throw their toys away today as they aren't playing with them and are just running around the house, winding each other up. I've promised them a no shouting mummy tomorrow. I think it's a mix of Christmas and DH is home for the week. His first week off since last Christmas...

I've seen a challenge online for 1000 hours outside in a year, I'm going to give it ago. There's no chance we'll be outside that much but it's something to work towards

@Motherofmonsters sounds like an interesting challenge. Isn’t that only about three hours outside a day? (If you have the kids every day). Think I could easily do that in the spring-autumn but not winter. We’ve mostly been hiding inside recently.

Hi everyone,

Sorry to hear about the period ranting @Chocolatetrifle, I do the same sometimes and haven’t found anything that works yet apart from taking a deep breath 5000 times a day and reminding myself it’s fine (then I end up shouting anyway…)

@Motherofmonsters behaviour just goes haywire in these holiday periods doesn’t it? DS1 has refused to eat anything but biscuits and hot dogs unless we bribe him with “eat this then you can have that” then it happily goes down 🙄 looking forward to getting back into a routine. I’ve also heard of the 1000 hours outside and was also thinking of doing that, we can encourage each other on here!

Everyone here has been sick the entirety of Christmas with some random virus that gives everyone different symptoms so I’m fed up and annoyed my entire holiday has been taken up with looking after sick kids. They’re still not 100% now but mainly just tired so hoping for some nice days before I am back to work Tuesday. Nursery has an inset day Monday and I’m dreading looking after the 2 of them alone, it’s pure ice outside and I don’t want to be cooped up inside…any ideas welcome!

I will definitely need motivation to do it, it's too easy to stay inside especially with two of them to wrangle!

Sorry that you've all been sick @squishymamma how very frustrating for you. I hope you get your nice days before you go back to work.
If you set up a village with their toys would they play or maybe some rice play with cups etc. Might pass some time for you to have a cup of tea.

Good evening and thank you for the period ranting and raving support. Each month I say next month I'll be better but it's getting worse. Im going toimprove my diet and vitamins and reduce caffeine and see if it helps.

@Motherofmonsters glad you are all OK and yes I know what you mean about the building things presents, we have that too with ds1, lots of fiddly lego. I only like to make lego houses ha! The 1000 hours outside sounds great and very inspiring.

@squishymamma sorry you've all been ill, it's exhausting looking after poorly little ones. How about making pasta shakers with dry pasta and bottles, Teddy bears picnic, indoor camping, melt some chocolate and decorate some plain biscuits, play with bubbles?

The kids are at a sleepover and DH has been out for an old colleagues leaving do. I've just gone to pick him up and give his mate a life to the train station. I'm soo not used to drunk people, also his mate has smoked a cigar in my car. It stinks.

Sorry you’ve all been unwell @squishymamma - hope you all feel better soon.

Gosh I’d have been cross about the smoking in my car @Motherofmonsters

We had a lovely Christmas period really, although I found hosting super stressful somehow - no idea why I’ve done it before plenty of times and there were only 6 of us total. I haven’t had to wrangle a 2 year old at the same time though. I feel like I was more getting through the days than enjoying them. And things have been really tense between DH and I for reasons I’m not entirely clear on. So that’s a shame.

Have I said any of this before on the thread? Totally unsure where I’m up to so sorry if I’m repeating myself.

With my aunt being here from abroad and wanting to get round as many relatives as possible we’ve basically been out every day on what I’m jokingly calling her ‘royal tour’. Lovely to see everyone and DD has been thoroughly fussed and spoiled too, but all a bit exhausting. Her eating is all over the place, sleep is crazy still and I STILL have the cold that keeps on giving, with added anxiety induced IBS.

I am SO looking forward to a normal week beginning the 9th Jan- back at childminders for DD, will try to persuade DH he needs to do a few days in the office, then on my non working days back to playgroups and park trips etc. Next week have no childcare but do still both need to work so that will be interesting, but at least hosting duties will be over!

Also I hope everyone has a nice NYE whatever you get up to.

we’re off out shortly to a light trail and then just a night in with buffet food - I have a bottle of fizz but don’t fancy it somehow.

Happy new year everyone!

@AliasGrape did you feel like your fizz in the end?
We did a buffet for my family and were in bed before midnight! Today we've had a walk and we are going my MIL. I promise to behave today.

Haha, have a good day on best behaviour @Chocolatetrifle ☺️

I had 3 small glasses of my fizz, I poured another but couldn’t manage it. Decided to try a baileys instead and didn’t drink that either.

We got absolutely piss wet through at the light trail. DH started it off in an absolutely foul mood but after a few meaningful glares from me seemed to perk up a bit. DD loved it though, and didn’t fall asleep on way home as predicted but instead threw a one-toddler party demanding songs from Alexa and showing off her dance moves till gone 10.30. My aunt went to bed shortly after and DH and I actually sat up till midnight for the first time in a few years. Was a nice afternoon/ evening in the end.

Aunt was meant to be off to another friend’s today then home from there, but that has been cancelled somehow and we’re still hosting for another night. Nevertheless Ive cracked on with a load of washing and we’ve also been for a walk/ scoot around the park.

Need to get DD a new puddlesuit her current one is useless - am determined to get out more this year even in bad weather. Any recommendations for any decent ones?

Happy New year to everyone, we had a dsy at home yesterday and did a little hunt for DS where he had to find little envelopes with numbers on with his had an activity to do in, we started this late afternoon and only did about 5, but he loved it. They were, drawing on a little bag with pens, decorate a gingerbread man, playing with balloons and duck lights for bath time.
@AliasGrape We have the puddle suit in the picture for DS form Morrisons, it is felelce lined as well so does keep him pretty dry and warm.

Ahh that hunt sounds so lovely @BEE08 ! I never do anything like that but it’s such a good idea.

We’ve had an indoor day today. I was the only adult looking after the kids last night so didn’t bother staying up till midnight. As it was I got woken up multiple times by the kids, so needed all the sleep I could get!

I’m not feeling much motivation to go out in the cold, especially as the kids are never enthusiastic to go!

Happy new year everyone!

Hope everyone is having a good week so far? We’re finally all back to normal just in time for the next illness and DC are back in nursery as of tomorrow, yay!

We had quite a nice day Monday, a little walk and a trip to the library. The library here is really impressive in the kids’ section with a little sensory play area and one of those projectors onto the floor where you can play football etc. DS1 had a very loud tantrum when he was pulled away from that and I ended up having to carry both DC back to the pram which was tiring!

DS2 is now slowly entering toddler territory (just turned 1), he’s started shaking his head no, pulling my hair while wickedly laughing and biting…so lots to sort out there. Sigh!

Anyone make any New Year’s resolutions? Mine is to be more positive and more present (ie not try to do 2 things at once or disappear into my phone)…we shall see how that goes with 2 toddlers…

How is everyone?

Hope work/school/nursery are all going okay.

I've had a busy week running around everywhere. DD had her first day at her new nursery at DS's school and loved it. DS has got a new timetable still part time but seems to be getting on okay (no phone calls yet) I've had a school meeting for him then we went to an appointment at the GP's to get a referral. The Man wasn't pleasant but he agreed to refer so that's something.
DD went to the dentist today and had to have a filling which has made me feel like the crappiest parent. No more sugar for her.

Evening everyone.

@Motherofmonsters don't beat yourself up about the filling, it's one of those things. I know you are not supposed to say it but, it's a baby tooth and it will fall out. I know it makes you feel awful but try not to dwell. Tomorrow is a new day. Glad ds is OK at school and your dd is OK at her new nursery.

My ds2 has had his second settling in session today at preschool and it's gone well really. Tears yesterday as expected but not as many today and he did walk in happy.
I've got a cough and cold, not covid. Don't want it for the third time!

New Year's resolutions? Try to be less of a psycho at times of PMT and eat healthier and try to listen to the boys with my full attention.