to be impressed that I am able to both neglect and spoil my children at the same time.

[ditavonteesed]

according to my mum that is.

...How does that one work?!

I think.

Keep 'em on their toes - I like it

Was she not meaning it as a compliment then?

definatley not a complliment. made me giggle though.

I guess it is possible to do that by (for example) giving them sweets or new toys all the time to shut them up or letting them play out as late as they want to keep them out of your hair but I don't imagine that's what you've been doing, she probably just wanted a dig.

So you shower them with toys that will hurt them??

well done. a miserable failure in all directions then.

What do you do? Give them £100 quid and send them off for the day saying don't come back before bedtime.

My DS is spoilt in many ways. Only child, LP family so gets lots of attention and gets to play what he wants, watch what he wants etc. But then again I can neglect him when he's playing - like now - but surely its good for him?

Sounds like a pretty cheap dig from your mum I'm afraid though.

well the neglect side refers to their lack of a vest one day when they went round in winter, their mucky feet yesterday after playing in db's garden all day, there grubby faces after eating dn's chocolate birthday cake and the fact that no matter what i do their hair is always a mess.
apparently dd2 is spoiled and that is why she is struggling to settle at school because she is used to getting all the attention all the time (my eye I am far too lazy for that).
anyway cnt beat a parent for making you feel bad. I quite like the contridiction though. anything good is all them (which it is and am very proud), anything bad is all me.

mother's come out with some real gems don't they? I am all for grubby kids means they've had great day, we don't do vests either looks like mine are doubly neglected

dirt=fun

My ds2 (2) is currently covered in the following;
water - from "painting" the fence
sand - from sand pit
paint - from crafting
strawberry juice - from his pudding
vasoline - he just loves the bloody stuff

The bathwater is going to be a VERY funny colour tonight!!!!

DS is drinking tomato soup from his cup. He put it there, he can drink it. I am mumsnetting from the sofa. I am deciding whether to wipe his face or just throw him into the bath later on...

Oh hang on, he's licked himself clean.

I am also mad and going to be unable to cope with
dc's - we seem to be just fine
chickens - had for 3 years and we also seem to be doing fine
dog - again all going very well
a wood burning stove - not got one but want one, apparently it will be to much hard work for me.
another dog - going to keep that one to ourselves until we get it
cant remember what else but basically most of the plans I make and chat through with mum, think I am starting to learn my lesson here.
only having a moan really, mu is lovely and helps me out loads.

anyway sounds like my children are cleaner than all yours (just got out of the bath).

Before his bath my 2 year old was covered in

Maple syrup
Dirt
Apple sauce
Red sauce

It was like I was making baby soup, not giving him a bath!

Mine have just come in from bashing each other about with a giant cardboard tube in the garden so we have sweat, mud, blood and tears ( smallest one got a bit of a wallop ) and chocolate ( to cheer him up again )

If I leave them for long enough it will dry and drop off ...

Vests!? The woman's mad, ignore ...

Oh vests, don't start me on my mum and mil on vests. According to my mum I can be too strict with mine yet she constantly says how well behaved and good natured they are And while we're on subject of the backhanded compliment mine told me that she really admired "my lack of ambition" ie how I was happy with my house, job etc and hadn't made the same mistake as her and my dad of "overreaching" re the area I had chosen to live in.

never once seen point of vests... weird garment - never used in my house!!