Trapped Toddler Parents: Surviving the summer

[Motherofmonsters]

Hi,

New thread for toddler support, ideas and general rants!

Happy birthday 🎉🥳 @Motherofmonsters hope you had a good time.

Tell me about the air fryer, I know nothing about them but seem to be the thing at the moment along with a slow cooker and heated clothes dryer. Got a slow cooker but cannot see how the heated clothes dryer would work properly. Love that you cooked rhubarb instead of chicken!

I have invested in an electric blanket and a weighted blanket for the winter.

How do you feel about the school meetings this week @Motherofmonsters.

@AliasGrape hope you enjoyed your break.

@Neverfullycharged how old is DS? Does your DH like doing anything alone with Ds? Swimming or similar? Then you can get a bit of alone time?

We've been pumpkin picking and to a spooky maize maze and had swimming lessons and rugby tots this weekend,not much fighting either luckily!

I’ve been so rubbish at posting here but I have been reading along.

How did the assessment go yesterday @Motherofmonsters? Was thinking of you.

@Chocolatetrifle bet your hair doesn’t look so bad! I want to go short but my hair is really thick so it’d look a bit like a bush or a triangle. Sounds like a nice weekend!

@AliasGrape hope you had a good time.

Our weekend was a real mix, Sat was nice but Sunday was a total mess. DS1 just won’t listen to us at the moment and he scooted off on his scooter and just kept going, I ended up having to sprint after him shouting him and then exploded and properly shouted at him, picked him up and carried him off (luckily we were close to home) in full view of a load of parents. Felt like a terrible mother but I resigned for the rest of the day and made DH do everything. Not my finest day. It had just built up so much over the past few weeks and combined with my terror that he’d get run over…

Anyway every day is a new day and my patience has returned somewhat. DS2 is just not sleeping well at all and refuses to sleep in his own bed so I’m running on fumes! And wondering if this is it, refereeing children and working loads and considering a second job because we need to pay the bills and still can’t afford to buy anywhere…not what I envisioned when I was young and naive 😅

@squishymamma , yes, similar, in fact it looks like a mushroom I think.

Try not to worry, we all have those days. I had a half hour argument with ds1 this morning as to why he doesn't have a packed lunch at school, because they get their dinners paid for for 3 years. He was screaming and crying and all, had to boot him in the car to get to school and then he was fine.
Hope tonight is a better night for sleep for you.

Hi Everyone,

Assessment went okay I think, he just had a few questions for me and observed DS for a couple hours. Now I have a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the outcomes and recommendations so they can make plans to reintegrate him into the classroom.

Definitely not a terrible mother @squishymamma. I've absolutely lost it with DS on (more than I would like to admit) occasions. It's especially hard if you are not getting any sleep.

I've got a few mins before I pick DS so I'm scrolling on my phone savoring the peace and quiet. Not sure of our plans this afternoon, DS wants to do jigsaw puzzles so we'll do that for a bit.

It's DDs birthday on Sunday and we are having family over for a 'princess tea party' my house is in absolute state so probably should sort that out.

How is everyone's Saturday going?

I've just got back from a 3 hour birthday party in a hall. They had a magician as entertainment. DS loved it, I don't think my ears are going to stop ringing.

Now off to the shop to get the last few bits for DDs party tomorrow

Sounds like a fun party (for the kids!) @Motherofmonsters. Hope DS’s party goes well.

We've also been at a birthday party today for MIL and our niece combined. It was nice but always very loud and intense and I end up dealing with both kids because DH is too busy chatting (and it’s the other way around if it’s my family). DC have 6 cousins on DH’s side that are all teenagers and their cousins love playing with them so that’s always cute to watch.

We also went on a really long walk and DS1 scooted most of the way, including up some very steep hills. Both fell asleep on the way home so we have put them to bed at 7pm 😅 we will see how early they get up tomorrow morning!

Evening all, hope you've had good weekends?
How was dd's party @Motherofmonsters , ? Hope it went well? Good luck for Tuesday's meeting.
All ok here. Had a hairy moment Wednesday after school when ds1 pushed his friend twice in the playground. Had very stern words with him and apologised to the mum but I was mortified. The mum was ok on the outside but I'm sure she must have been upset. I'm really hoping he has learnt not to do it again. He's been good other than that.
We've had a decent weekend. It's DS1s party next Saturday at a playcentre. We have 14 in total so I'm hoping it will go smoothly......

Hi, hope everyone had a good weekend. @Motherofmonsters I’m glad DS had fun at the party.
I was poorly last weekend with tonsillitis, so this weekend we went to soft play. It was busy but not as busy as I thought It would be and DS loves the slides in the soft play. Today we had a lovely Roast pork and am currently watching Hocus Pocus 2.

Hi, how is everyone doing?

I’m sat in the almost dark in DS1’s room because he’s suddenly resisting bedtime with a vengeance, he was sat up with his eyes closing refusing to lie down and sleep. Now gone but we’ll see what happens during the night - last night DH ended up sleeping in here because he was up from 3-5am…

I feel like I’ve lost my inspiration in how to play with my kids, especially as what works for DS1 doesn’t for DS2 and DS1 has no interest in letting DS2 join in. We’ve had to have words several times about kicking his brother! Any good ideas? (They’re 2.5yrs and almost 10 months for reference)

I wouldn’t worry about pushing @Chocolatetrifle I think it’s common at that age and the mum saw you told him off and apologised to her. Can’t expect you to do much more really!

@squishymamma my youngest is about the age of your oldest and my oldest is five, so I’m trying to remember what they enjoyed playing together when they were littler… think I did a bit of things like kinetic sand with cookie cutters and dinosaurs… also jelly play in tuft trays as my youngest wanted to put everything in their mouth. But the jelly did get quite messy so I didn’t do that too often!

Also mega blocks, so the oldest would make things like robots or spaceships with the blocks and then I would make some towers for the youngest to enjoy knocking over.

Hello!

How was everyone's weekend?

Weve had a mostly good one. Yesterday we went down to my mum's in the morning with my sister and her kids. Left for lunch at PIL's and then FIL, DH and DS went for a laddy afternoon to watch the local rugby. Me and DD stayed at MIL to keep her company as she's still recovering from her hip operation . It sounded like DS had a great time and he played on the pitch with some kids after the game. He was asked if he wanted to go to U6's training which DH took him to this morning and he got okay. They're going to keep going, it's £10 for the year!

Today has been a bit iffy, mostly good but we were trying to sort out some bits for the business and the kids were doing their best, running around, shrieking, winding each other up behaviour. We had a roast dinner and they calmed down after that.

Hope everyone is okay

Hi all, I've typed a few messages and then hsd problems posting so I'll keep it short today! DS1s party was on Saturday and it went well. This morning I just drove into the rear of another car, poor other woman was shocked and I'm mortified. No harm done though other than minor car damage luckily.
How are you all?

I'm glad your DS's party went well @chocolatetrifle. It's a bit daunting when there's lots of kids coming.
I hope you're okay after your bump,

I'm struggling a bit today, I've had a couple rough nights in a row and it's all dark and muggy here. DS had a good session at school this morning and he's got therapy in a minute. They've started doing formal assessments which he hates but we're getting through them.
I've challenged them to make me a Lego house each so I'm having a quiet cup of tea.

Ah thanks for the suggestions @Stayingstrongish! My youngest loves putting everything in his mouth atm so I’m trying to find activities that work with that. He managed to eat some chalk the other day!!

@Chocolatetrifle hope you’re okay after your bump, it happens to us all (just over a month ago for me!). Glad to hear DS1’s party went well.

@Motherofmonsters i know how you feel, we’ve had a row of tough nights too and a cold on top so we’re knackered.

I’m currently playing with DS2 in his cot because I’m tired of chasing him all over the place and I wanted 5 minutes. DH is picking DS1 up from nursery then it’ll be a battle from then till bedtime. He’s testing every single boundary and screaming a lot at the moment so it’s tiring.

On a positive (ish) note he learned how to escape his cot the other night so he’s going into a toddler bed. This is insane to me! We’ll see if he manages to stay in it. We have invested in a gro clock so will report back on if it was worth the money or not.

Hope everyone is good! DS2 has now realised he’s actually a prisoner and so I must run…

Hi everyone, sorry I’ve been quiet. We had a lovely holiday in Dorset - just blissful with DD out all day every day on the beach in all weathers (though apart from 2 bad days we were very lucky with lovely sunny days), she had a blast. My in laws are odd with DD, they never seem that interested really despite them being the ones to invite us to gatecrash their holiday house for a week - it’s like they like the idea of her but can’t cope with the reality. They just kind of did their own thing all week and didn’t spend much time with us, but DD still enjoyed having them around in the morning most days, and they did watch her for a few hours so DH and I could have lunch and a quick drink together on one of the days so that was kind.

Been back a couple of weeks now, feel like it’s been nothing but washing, catching up with work and trying to get on top of our tip of a house - have had a massive sort out of the living room and managed to at least limit the toy explosion there, although It’s still not perfect by a long way. Trying to redecorate our bedroom and get some decent storage in there too, then plan is for me to actually move into it as I’m still sleeping in with DD - will see how that goes! Also a cough for DD keeping her up at night, which I then caught. And my birthday - but that kind of came and went without much fanfare really, DH cooked a nice meal and DD made me a lovely card and helped me eat my birthday chocolates haha.

Speaking of sleep - we’ve had a run of three horrendous bedtimes - she’s not going down till gone 9, then up and down like a bloody yoyo in the night. In general she’s acting like someone has given her a six pack of full fat coke at all times, absolutely giddy and wild most of the time.

@Motherofmonsters sorry you were struggling yesterday, hope today is better

@Chocolatetrifle - sorry about the bump too - I’ve been there!

@squishymamma i know what you mean about everything going in the mouth limiting play options. DD is 2.2 and still everything goes in the mouth - I mean everything. I had such visions of doing lots of sensory play, crafty stuff etc as a mum but I get really dispirited when she just eats everything. I do do taste safe/ edible stuff sometimes but it’s not even really play - she just sits and eats it like another meal and if that’s what we’re going to do it’s far easier to just make her a sandwich 😂

It's exhausting when they start getting everywhere isn't it @squishymamma I used to have a biggish travel Cot in the front room that I would put DD in to try and contain her.

It sounds like you had a lovely time away @AliasGrape and made a great start to sorting your house.
We have no storage in our bedroom either at the moment just clothes on freestanding rails. Eventually we'll get proper built in wardrobes but they're so expensive.

The weather and my mood hasn't really improved. I just want to curl in a ball and stare at my phone, I feel like I'm being a right grump, I have just come on so I think that's probably why. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I sent MIL an innocent how's your day, the weather is rubbish text and she's sent FIL to pick up DS and take him on his errands. Think she must have sensed it somehow.

So nice you get on well with your in laws @Motherofmonsters. I totally get that grump feeling, I’m the same. Have been off with DH for no reason, he’s probably getting really fed up with me now!

@AliasGrape glad you had a good holiday. Maybe your in laws just like having you there but also want to do their thing, my in laws are like that too. Sometimes FIL forgets himself and thinks he is alone and in summer at their cabin when it’s just the two of them he wanders around naked…you can see where this is going. Scarred for life. Your last comment made me laugh, I feel exactly the same way, why put in so much effort when you can just give them food in half the time?

DS2 slept fitfully last night, lots of coughing and some nightmares I think. Then DH went to tell DS1 to go back to sleep and I went after him to tell him it was okay because it was wake up time anyway and DS2 fell out of our bed. He’s fallen so many times I feel like a proper neglectful parent, but he was fast asleep and I was gone all of 10 seconds. Terrible I know and no excuse.

Anyway DS1 is all whiny and needs constant attention so I’m going to try and give him uninterrupted attention for at least 10 minutes tonight and see if that helps. Fingers crossed DS2 lets me!

Hello, how is everyone?

I’ve been in a rubbish mood today, DS1 scooted off on his kick scooter right into a crossroads, fortunately it’s not very populated with cars but dangerous enough and I was shouting and shouting for him to stop. So now he’s had that confiscated. Plus DS2 still has a bad cough and is very tired and whiny which I know is not his fault but for some reason it’s so triggering! So I’ve been really regretting becoming a parent tonight. Basically made DH do everything though I do it all in the mornings so I don’t feel TOO bad about that.

Hope you’re all okay.

@squishymamma sorry you had a testing day yesterday, at least your ds1 is ok but I know what you mean about not listening. Hopefully your dS2's cough will pass soon and things will become more peaceful again for you.

I had a dreadful end to an ok day yesterday. My ds1 and his 'friend' were playing heading to the carpark after school when the play became rough and before I could stop him for some unknown reason ds1 kicked this boy on the cheek. I was absolutely mortified. My ds1 hasn't done this before. For context this boy came to his party last Saturday and was extremely rough in the playcentre grabbing my Ds1 pulling his hair etc. My DH had to go in to stop him as his mum was talking. Anyway I really don't want my Ds having much to do with this boy as whilst my ds is not an angel for some reason bad things just happen when they are together. He's been told off and we've taken his tablet permanently and I'm literally going to have to walk him a different direction as soon as school finishes so he can't play with this boy because I can't risk anything else happening. I feel so down about it to be honest.

Please don't worry @chocolatetrifle, sometimes they just forget themselves and I'm sure he understood it was wrong. I know where you're coming from there is a boy in DS's class who is very rough and I dread them being together. He caused problems for DS at the kids party the other day, we've got another one now and I'm sure it'll be the same. His mum doesn't care that he's like it, at least I intervene when DS gets too much. Hopefully a bit of space walking the other way will help.

How is your day going today @squishymamma

I'm having a crappy day again, the kids were both up in the night and they are being annoying. (Being polite there) everything is nananana at each other, or fighting or winding each other up. I might go down my mum's for an hour for a chance of scenery

@Motherofmonsters thanks fur the solidarity. Hope the party goes well for you today. I just want the day to end so I can go to bed and hopefully I will feel stronger about this incident tomorrow. It has really, really knocked me for six.

Hope you're okay @Chocolatetrifle I hope bedtime is going smoothly and you can have a bit of peace

Thank you @Motherofmonsters , means a lot. dS2 has vomited twice this evening so hopefully we can get through the night without any more. Hope you are ok too xx

Oh no @Chocolatetrifle just what you need! Fingers crossed there's no more for you.

How is DS2 @Chocolatetrifle? Hope you made it through the night without too much hassle. I wouldn’t worry about DS1 either, these things happen and you dealt with it swiftly. It’s hard when you see them being badly influenced. Hope you manage to keep them apart.

Sorry to hear you had a rubbish day @Motherofmonsters, hope you all got some sleep tonight and have a better day today!

We’re having a horrendous time atm, DS2 still coughing his lungs up, we think it’s RSV but he’s not bad enough for the GP if that makes sense. But he wakes himself up coughing so isn’t sleeping and so is really grumpy. DS1 came into us at 5am this morning and has also been grumpy. I’m in a rubbish mood anyway so this has not helped and I’ve done a lot of shouting already before 7am. Sometimes I really do think I made a mistake having kids, we are all miserable and my DH and I’s relationship is basically non existent now. Feel like our entire lives have been ruined. 😣 I know it’s just a period and I’ll feel better as they get older but right now it’s insanely hard. Glad I have you lot to rant to as I can’t exactly say these things to people in real life, ha.

No plans for today except to survive! Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday