Trapped Toddler Parents: Surviving the summer

[Motherofmonsters]

Hi,

New thread for toddler support, ideas and general rants!

Well after saying the above about bedtime, tonight has been a nightmare and I’ve given up after an hour and left DH to deal with it.

Impossible to suss out what works when it comes to naps at the moment. Thought we were golden today with just under an hour after swimming about 1.10 till 2 - anything over an hour or after 2pm usually messes bedtime up but if I let her go to many days without a nap I get an overtired mess and weirdly lots of night waking. So I thought today should have been fine but apparently not.

Thank you for the back sympathy/ solidarity though, Ive realised since how little care I tend to take with it - sitting in weird twisted positions, not always lifting properly etc. Need to be more aware.

Hope everyone else is having a more peaceful evening and successful bedtime than here!

I am dreading that stage of not needing a nap but sort of still needing one …

DS still sleeps 12-2. I love it.

DD has just screamed for 45mins as she wanted to sleep in my legs but wanted them to be a circle... Like a perfect circle. Could not get her to understand my legs don't bend like that. She's been full on screaming and only stopped as she flung herself head first off the bed and then would let me cuddle her.

I've just come downstairs to DS getting a freeze pop out the freezer, go in the front room and he's got a knife out the drawer and just been sneaking ice poles and cutting them open. He very proudly told me he didn't cut himself...

Oh what a stress! And so rational re the legs!

I have messed up a bit today, my car was due an MOT and I forgot remembered just in time and we went over to the garage. The problem is where we live has nothing in walking distance, not even walks (rural but the road our house is on is a country one without pavements and cars absolutely zoom by.

DH is dropping us at the park which is nice but I also know it’s a non too subtle way of him chivvying us out so he gets the house to himself which is really irritating, but DS will enjoy the park, so I’ll do it.

Oh no @Motherofmonsters I hope things eventually settled and you got a decent nights sleep. That is funny about your DS proudly telling you he didn’t cut himself,
although probably not at the time. Reminds me of finding DD had got the top off my expensive shampoo bottle, poured it all over both herself and the bed and when I walked in sort of cheered ‘Look I did it!’ whilst doing a little celebratory dance. Think she was quite shocked that I didn’t join her in being thrilled at this achievement!

Hope the car goes through no issues @Neverfullycharged and you enjoy the park - my DH is very good at offering helpful
suggestions to get us out of his way the house too!

I have to do some work today and a teams meeting I can’t get out of but have no childcare, so it’s going to be interesting.

Well, it started raining and I know we should just wear puddle suits but I have to say the park in the rain isn’t much fun, as the equipment is all wet! So we came home and we are having a quiet day. I don’t see that it matters - he doesn’t chill at home much.

I need to hide some toys though. He has too many and so doesn’t play with them properly.

Thats a pain for you, having to work with your DD around - I just couldn’t! I potentially could have when DS was around eight/nine months but now, no chance!

Hi everyone, sorry to hear of the nightmare bedtimes last night and the leg circle demands! How scary with the knife too! My DS1 put one of those toddler toilet seats over his head once, came in and said look at me! Luckily it came off.

We've had an old morning and dS2 has just gone in his nap so ds1 is having 'quiet time' , watching the tablet while I tidy the morning and lunch mess.

We've made some biscuits as boys wanted to bake as we've not done any in ages and been to the library. We've also drawn emotions faces onto balloons, something they have seen on the TV too and it was DS1s idea. I'm being quite relaxed about screens at the moment, only one week of school holidays left and all etc etc. Oh, I got a Peppa Pig finger paint activity out which they just refused to do. Looking forward to routine again.

Hi all, it’s been a while…everyone surviving the end of the school holidays?

DS1 has a cold now so I’m on high alert for any coughing, have put the Calpol plug in thing on and have heard no coughing fits since so seems like it might be working. DS2 is in the midst of the 8 month sleep regression and it’s exhausting. We’ve done a lot of Formula 1 watching today which DS1 loves because he has toy racing cars, went to a playground (before his cold became apparent) and basically lazed around. Nothing much planned for tomorrow, we’ll see if the no screens rule holds up!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend :)

I like the balloon idea @Chocolatetrifle !

Hope your DS is better tomorrow @squishymamma

Went to a play cafe place with my sister on Friday, not cheap but DD had a really good
time.

Saturday we had a quiet lazy morning, then DH took DD for a run around the fields and to feed the ducks - I was meant to go with them but decided to have a nap instead, good decision!

Been to the seaside with the inlaws today. We went to somewhere about an hour and 40 minutes away which was probably a bit too much for her, think it might be time to start thinking about some in car entertainment options - ideally I’d like to avoid screens but I’m not sure what else
there is. She had a lovely day apart from that though, we took a gamble and set off for home again after 6 - she was asleep before we left the car park, did wake up once we stopped at home but must have been so shattered she fell straight back to sleep once we got her in bed.

Also I meant to say that I found DD completely exhausting today. Funny and cute and lovely to see her enjoying herself but there were several points where I just wanted to run away from the stubbornness and the refusal to go in the pushchair, hold my hand OR use reins - and when I insisted on either of the latter two she’d just sit on the floor and refuse to move. Good job we were there all day as it took so bloody long to get anywhere. My in laws who came
with us were exhausting too, in different ways. At one point DH and I left them all
being exhausting together supposedly to find the public loos but actually we nipped into the pub and had a quick secret drink/ 15 mins peace before going back to it and
claiming there had been a queue.

We did have a lovely day, but it’s all so
much work sometimes.

I absolutely love you snuck off for a drink @AliasGrape. I usually tell mine to pick toys to play with in the car it usually works quite well, if not I feed them snacks. I don't usually go too far with them though. Sounds like you've had a good weekend. It's hard when they're being really stubborn.

How is DS1 @squishymamma,

We've had a busy few days, Sat we went to the beach for the day with my sister, her twins and my brother. They had a lovely time, absolutely shattered when we got back and then I remembered I defrosted a joint to cook roast. No idea what past me was thinking.

Yesterday we went to Glendurgan a national trust place with PIL as they're members and they had a bring a family along deal. The kids loved it, they had a massive hedgerow maze and a beach. They did loads of walking, I think DS ran the whole way around. DD was all about the buggy but did manage to walk quite a bit.

Today we are off to PIL for a roast at 4, not sure what we will do before then. I'm hoping for a quieter morning.

Totally understand what you mean about the days being exhausting. Some days are exhausting good because you've had a great day out etc but other days are exhausting draining. I've had loads of draining days. We've had an ok weekend, sorting uniform, washing, labelling for DS1, can't believe he's starting reception. Also lots of cleaning, tidying etc etc , throwing away old toys, books. An end of summer sort out really.
We've been to speke hall, rugby tots and swimming and had a playdate this morning at the playground with one of my friends and her daughter.

How is it September this week. Yesterday I was all for the holidays finishing because it was one of those days really, but I'm going to try to make the most of this week

Hope ds1 is feeling better today @squishymamma.

I also love the quickly grabbing a drink whilst pretending to be on the loo @AliasGrape , brilliant!

Evening all!

That really made me laugh @AliasGrape, I love that you are both on the same page. True teamwork 😂

We’re having a car crash of a night here, DS1 is his normal energetic self but has a really tight chest and cough. And now apparently a sore throat because he woke up crying about 2 hours after we put him to bed and nothing is working, we’ve done the steam shower in the bathroom, cold drink of water, hot squash (rejected), Vicks on the chest, half a dose of Calpol as obviously we have forgotten to buy more so that’s all we had…

Took him into the living room so we could watch the end of our program and he quietened down but obviously when we then turned the TV off he started up again!

I’m supposed to be going on a work trip tomorrow morning and am seriously considering cancelling as not sure how DH will cope even though it’s only 1 night. DS2 is still in the thick of the 8 month sleep regression and is in with us, refuses point blank to sleep in his own bed so we’re constantly running back and forth to check he hasn’t fallen out!

All a bit of a mess really. Any sore throat suggestions we haven’t tried? He’s literally his usual self apart from this bloody cough!

Anyway hope everyone has a better night than me and gets some sleep!

@squishymamma , sorry to hear about ds1. Can you get hold of some ibuprofen neurofen for children? I find that better sometimes than calpol because it helps with inflammation. Hope he feels better asap.

I'm having a monster of a day and I'm in tears, and I'm telling you lot because you ladies don't judge me.

So , we went to town this morning my dS2 had to be carried out of The Work's and he starts swearing, really loudly, something he picked up from me, I'm really ashamed.

Then this afternoon a friend visits with her baby and my ds1 again says I want you to go home and dS2 keeps repeating this swear word over and over again. Ugh, I've failed them because I've sworn and dS2 knows and repeats it and how will I get him to stop?

Sorry you're having a rubbish day @chocolatetrifle. You are definitely not failing them! I'm sure loads of kids have picked up swear words. I think I've read before to just not react when they say it and make it a boring word. .

Okay day here nothing exciting, I could have gone to the beach with my sister and her friend but I couldn't be bothered. Think now the end is insight I've lost all motivation to do anything. We just went to my mum's and played this afternoon

Im sorry you’ve had such a rotten day @Chocolatetrifle - absolutely no judgement here. The swearing is definitely a common thing and a phase, and it must be so hard when you’re in it but you’ve definitely not failed them. My DD has definitely heard me swear far more often than I’d like to admit. I hope your evening has been calmer and you’ve done something nice for yourself.

Hows your DS now @squishymamma ?

We looked after my nephew who is 8 today, he’s very good with DD and she loves it when any of the older kids are around. Took them to the park to meet a friend of mine with her two sons, one of whom is nephew’s best mate from school, then to a cafe for lunch and then another park. DD didn’t nap at all so I’d hoped for a quick
and easy bedtime but she still put up a bit of a right.

My main issues at the moment are her refusing to hold hands/ walk the way I need her to, and also putting any old crap she finds on the floor in her mouth - then thinking it’s a game and running off with it still in her mouth putting the fear of god into me that she’s going to trip and choke on whatever it is. It’s become a big thing - she constantly does it for a reaction now. Oh also her refusal to get into the carseat
and having to fight her into it - although I’ve found bribing her with a sweet works for that, not stellar parenting but honestly I get so cross and het up about the car seat thing (which usually comes after an epic battle to get her to leave the park/shop/ whatever and then hold my hand as we walk to the car and not lie on the floor in protest whilst putting stones in her mouth) so bribing with sugar usually seems a fair trade off by that point.

Thank you both, it helps to vent. I'm just tired and running out of ideas to pass the time and looking forward to routine again I guess.

Hope everyone has a good day and everyone behaves!

Hope today has been better @Chocolatetrifle

I worked for a few hours this morning, an hour before DH started work and then an hour whilst poor DD watched tv 🙁 Can’t wait for childminder to open again next week. Then we went to a local farm shop/ cafe that seem to have branched out into being a bit of a play centre. I’d pre booked/ paid otherwise I think I’d have driven away when I saw how jam packed the car park was. We booked the ‘play barn’ which didn’t have that much DD was actually interested in, so I paid another £3 to upgrade to being able to use the outdoor play area, which is also where you can sit to eat and order at the cafe. No tables at first, then when we finally snagged one we ended up waiting 45 minutes for our food - a cheese sandwich for DD and a scone for me (most of which DD also ate), so not a wildly successful trip really although DD was happy enough.

This afternoon we made flapjacks from an allegedly healthier recipe I found online - they’re not very nice at all which serves me
right really, should have got the syrup out as nature intended when it comes to flapjacks!

I know what you mean about the healthier versions of things, we know they are better for us but they don't taste the same! @AliasGrape

Hmm, today has been long. We went to an indoor soft play this morning which was quiet, so it actually was quite pleasant. We've pottered about this afternoon and went to a small playground. It's been ok, boys are well but dS2 is really bad tempered at the moment, I've let them watch so much Tele, I've hardly read any books with them.and I've fed them slush drinks and Barney bears for treats today because it's been eadier. Ds1 won't sit to do any practise writing books I'd got in for starting reception, if he does he gets frustrated and throws the pencil. Soooo, tomorrow is September and I'm going to be all new routine Mum etc etc and get myself in gear and motivated for next week.

Hope everyone gets a good sleep.

Hi everyone! DS at nursery tomorrow and Friday - I don’t normally work Thursdays and Fridays but am delivering some training. I will miss him loads, but the one good thing about it is not having to meal plan, serve meals, clean up after meals …

DS has eaten next to nothing this week. A few mouthfuls of cereal for breakfast, skipped lunch, a few bites of pasta / fish fingers / veg for dinner. It’s a worry.

@Chocolatetrifle my DS is younger than yours but very easily gets frustrated and does hit when that happen. I’ve actually been intervening less with other children and I let them sort themselves out with toys and so on which stops him hitting. But I do worry I’ll be the subject of an AIBU thread one day

@AliasGrape our farm is £10 each, insane really.

Hi all

Sorry I’ve been so quiet, we had the nightmare night with both DC on Monday (DS2 woke up loads too despite not being ill) then I was away with work Tuesday and Wednesday.

@Neverfullycharged my DS1’s appetite goes up and down constantly, he didn’t eat any tea tonight and regularly refuses food but then eats loads other days. Toddlers are weird beings. Hope your work went well today!

@Chocolatetrifle I swear at my kids more than I should, it’s hard. You’re doing a fantastic job, and I hope your new month start is going well!

DS1 is better now, still has a cough but can breathe properly and is sleeping well again. He’s had a bit of a tantrummy evening tonight though, nothing was right. So he got put to bed early.

DH and I are off to a wedding this weekend that’s kid free and a while away by car so DC are going to their DGP, I’m so ready for a break!!

Morning all,
How is everyone? I'm feeling better than earlier in the week, when my boys' behaviour was dreadful.

I've been getting everything in order for ds1 starting reception on Monday. dS2:is cutting a big back molar so I'm assuming that is responsible for his temper at the moment, I think they get the last ones before 3, so 3 more to go.

This afternoon we are taking the boys to the cinema to see Minions, they've never been before so will see how long they last. We got cheap tickets, so just an experience really.

We had a park playdate yesterday which was fine. We are not allowing YouTube videos anymore so I'm seeing if that makes a difference on their shouty behaviour. It's our wedding anniversary tomorrow ! 12 years.

Hope everyone is well, enjoy the break this weekend@squishymamma .