Due in Dec 2007. Enough already, bring on the babies!

[suey2]

hellloooooo?

insy - yes I see what you mean about teenage girls being a bit of a handful, but then at least they don't tend to get into fights and end up in a police cell. We have a friend with a 14yr old boy and it is such a nightmare because the boy knows there is nothing his dad can do (he is a single parent) to stop him doing whatever he wants. At least with our toddlers we can scoop them up and put them wherever we want!

skiddale - I often see the hoodies hanging around our village and hope ds 'turns' out ok - it worries me, feel sorry for your friend esp being a single parent and having to deal with it
someone said to me once that boys were like dogs and girls like cats - sweeping generalisation but a fairly good rule to follow!

Hey everyone. Currently at home, had an awful morning culminating in me having a huge row with 2 of my colleagues and storming out of the morning meeting. I'm still and upset because I've been put under so much f*ing stress over the past year and some people still seem to think that me and my lab staff so Sweet FA. Won't go into details as very complicated, but I so can't wait to go on m/l. Feel like going to my GP and getting signed off with stress but know it's my poor lab staff that will suffer the consequences, plus in the middle of a recruitment drive.

Bouncingturtle - Have a bath, relax, watch some rubbish telly and you'll be ok. Don't let them get you down. Just tell yourself its not long to go now. What is it about work today? Everything's gone crazy!

oh dear bouncing, how awful. How long until you go on ML? Long bath and a lie-down sounds like a great plan

Insy - love the boys are dogs and girls are cats analogy - seems to apply to everyone I can think of, children and adults alike!

Just had awful visions of my lovely little boy becoming a hoodie... I hope he turns out ok, sensible and hard working.

Sorry everyone is having stressful times at work. I am having money stresses yet again. Just need to get everything up to date and then altho tight everything will be fine.... just seems everytime I get something in place and know where I am at something else happens to mess everything up and bring us back to square one.

Just filled out the bloody maternity allowance forms and the reality has hit home that I will be getting £112 per week... last time I actually got maternity leave when I had a proper job, and got three months full pay and three months half... am questioning why I ever left.

Yes bath sounds lovely, so will do that
MM - Yes, that amount of money is quite scary! Dh and I have been saving like mad to try to reduce the shortfall between SMP & my salary!

I really want a nice bubble bath now... Not finishing till 7 tho so unlucky to happen.

I just want to be able to some forward planning.... but the planets or some other force seem to be against me.... oh well must soldier on.

I know SMP is woeful, isn't it? I am lucky that I get 'full pay' but as I am living on a student grant, that isn't that much more than SMP - at least I don't have to make the adjustment though

Why did you leave you old job MM? Is the temp one better? If so then it probably worth it despite everything - there's nothing worse in this world than having to go to a job you hate everyday

bouncingturtle - I second the bath and crap telly idea - add in chocolate/biscuits etc for good measure, sorry your having a rubbish day

mixedmama - sorry didn't mean to make you worry about hoodies too I just want to keep my ds little forever!
Money is such a pain - I thought we were doing ok till I realised I hadn't factored in xmas shopping at all! most are homemade gifts which is ok but still seem to have loads to buy - thank goodness we're not entertaining anyone this year that'll save some money! 112 doesn't ever sound enough to me, it makes it hard for dh to take paternity leave as well as he only gets 100 or so a week so our monthly income will plumet if he takes 2 weeks in one go, last time we spaced the days out over the year which worked quite well.

Bouncing, sorry you had an awful morning - I would go for the bath and rubbish telly option and throw in some choccy and a trash mag (for in the bath) for good measure.

Am lucky that will not be losing out on too much money whilst on mat leave as I should get 90% pay due to being below the lower earnings limit. Doesn't stop me worrying about money though, am seriously starting to panic about Christmas etc. Plus Car is due service in Nov, DH's work truck due MOT & Tax in Dec and Car due the same in Jan. Plus car will need a new steering rack before MOT and even a reconditioned one is over £200 without fitting... Arghhh!!!

Never mind, in 8 weeks or so I will have a lovely, snuggly new baby to cuddle and nothing much else will matter!

x-posts Insy! Great minds and all that...

exactly beckle - baby in arms and nothing else matters

Will be losing the money from my daytime job though (not that boss is too reliable about paying me, mind you - means I get a nice chunk of it all at once every 6 weeks or so)

Wow.... actually DH wont get paid at all if he takes Paternity leave.... had not even thought of that - you see this is what I mean about things just popping up.

Skiddadle - I left because i had been there 3 years and had been the receptionist but also done a fab secondment in another department which was so full on and wanted to move into a similar role. Plus, my manager recruited a Senior recpetionist over me (not that i wanted to stay receptionist but didnt want soemone else to be - childish i know) and we had never got on and that was the final straw. Plus, I went back to work too soon with DS (4 months) in a great PA role, but just found the stress of leaving him with ILs etc too difficult so switched to temping... when DH decided to quit work and start some ridiculous business with a friend. All just went wrong all at once really. Sorry waffled on there. temping has been great for experience etc tho, except this last switchboard booking, which is nauseating.

By the way Mixedmama - how did the meal go?

MM - is your DH still running his ridiculous business? Is it going OK? Must be v. stressful if you don't know how much money's coming in every month. At least babies are cheap though, 2nd babies even more so, and breastfed 2nd babies even more so!!

Hello all,
WEll we have moved and am exhausted. In work today doing interviews, appraisals and handovers and have just been trying to catch up with you lot!

buzzy best of luck. Horrible grieving process to go through, but you will have a fabulous DD at the end of this who will bring you much joy, I am sure.

macdoodle I sent my mat pay form a week ago- jus the matB1 and the form- I guess they check out your NI number to ensure you have made sufficient contributions to qualify.

caz10 couldn't agree more about the laser surgery. I was -7.50 with an astigmatism and had the surgery 4 years ago. Never have to wear glasses at present. At my surgeon had had the procedure done which is always reassuring.

How was the cuzza mm?

Getting nursery delivery weds, so will be making up hospital bag- cant wait! MAkes it all very real. Painter and decorator starting weds too, and new carpets in 2 weeks. Can't wait to have a little home for LO with rows of freshly pressed babygros!

Every time I worry about my boy turning into a horrible teenager, I think of my nephews in Edinburgh. They're 12 and 14 now or something like that and both are very charming, funny and well behaved. I'm not being biased, they're not blood relations, they're DH's brother's kids.

Hi everyone, I'm new to MN, due 23th Dec but have to have elective section due to two prolapsed spinal discs, so in hospital at 38 weeks on Dec 11th.

Can I join your club (feel like the new girl at school)

Yeah it was really nice... we are planning another for chinese in november if anyone is interested.

Skid - he went back to work months ago as I just had to put my foot down. He is so easily led and listened to his stupid friend far too much. They are now trying to sell said business when I told them it was pointless in the first place... hopefully he has learnt his lesson and will listen to his much more informed wife in future.

welcome slippeddisc. what a nightmare!
I am lucky- no back pain at all- but if i can't manage to avoid it, who stands a chance? (resident physio)

Hi slippeddisc - there are quite a few 'new girls' joining as the time draws nearer! I am due on 11th Dec but unlike you I probably won't be having my baby then!

Suey - congrats on the move

MM glad the curry was good