Due April 2009 - Episode 14: Fanjo Warriors attempt to be "clean" during this thread?? NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!!!

[PuzzleRocks]

And so it continues...

Mar
29 Mar : WhatFreshHell, DS 2.4 born on Easter Sunday
30 Mar : BabyBolat: 1st timer

Apr
01 Apr : Rachelinscotland: DD 3 years, and DS 2 years in March
01 Apr : Chickenbalti: DS 4 years DD 17 months
02 Apr : BoffinMum: BOY! dd(21) ds(10) ds(7)
02 Apr : MathsMummy27: GIRL! DD 3 years
03 Apr : skiingone: DC1
03 Apr : purlease: 1 m/c, 1 DD 3 years
03 Apr : Kalikaroo: SURPRISE! (28), 1st timer, lives in Scandinavia (but too shy to say where!)
04 Apr : Bleuravin
04 Apr : Bumpalump
04 Apr : babypringle: 1 DS 2yrs 1 month
06 Apr : ToastnHoney: first timer
06 Apr : Mummyontherun: DD 22 months
07 Apr : Picklelala
08 Apr : LuLuBai: 1 DD born 02 Apr 07
09 Apr : Oddeyes (30): GIRL! DS 17 mths, 1 mc. London
09 Apr : Barbarella: 1st timer, TRIPLETS
10 Apr : hopeful1
11 Apr : mrsfossil: 1 DS 6.5
11 Apr : Bubbaluv: 1 DS 1yo
11 Apr : SpringySunshine: BOY! 1st timer.
12 Apr : Brettgirl, 1st timer
12 Apr : Mumblemumhome4lunch (37, Swindon): DS will be 4 on 11th April, DD 2yrs and 1month
13 Apr : Dungungirl(30): BOY! 1 m/c, DS 4 years
14 Apr : AuldAlliance: DS3.8 BOY!
15 Apr : claireykitten: GIRL! DS 12 months
15 Apr : electra
15 Apr : Sarahmum: DS 10yrs
16 Apr : tristaleejac(25): 1 ds, 3 years
17 Apr : Surprisenumber3(32): DS1 9 DSS 9 DS2 5 GIRL!
18 Apr : gingersarah: 1st baby
18 Apr : salbysea: (28) 1st timer
19 Apr : Kittycatisgettingfat (29) 1st timer
21 Apr : B52s: DS will be 2 and a quarter
21 Apr : Staryeyed
21 Apr : Schulte
22 Apr : PuzzleRocks: DD 21mths GIRL!
22 Apr : soon2befamilyof4 DD 13 months.
24 Apr : conkertree (27): DS 17 months
24 Apr : Bronze (Gawain) - 4th DC
24 Apr : Frekkles
25 Apr : Swaliswan: DD 17 months
27 Apr : Bicnod
27 Apr : Carameli
27 Apr : ilovesummer 3rd dc
27 Apr : purplemonkeydishwasher DS 3yo
30 Apr : Nutty Taff (27) DD nearly 5 GIRL!

Too keen, even

I only need to pass Level One (ie the first year, but I can't call it that anymore because it may take two years ), which means getting 40% or more in every module. But I've created a huge mess for myself because I missed so much last semester with lots of morning sickness (& also, to be honest, being too stressed out of my head with issues with DH to concentrate on doing anything at home) & as such need to do a load of resits already. As it stands at the moment, I'll do those resits in August along with my exams for this semester, which I'm going to have to drop out of soon to have the baby. So I'll be doing those pretty much blind as well.

There are a couple of options - I can do what I've just described, I can just give up & start from scratch next year, or I can stop going to uni now (as Maternity Leave, really) do well enough in my Autumn resits to pass in August, then return to uni at the beginning of next Feb to pick up where I've left off, so I can continue throughout the whole semester.

It does seem like the most sensible plan (going back to uni with a 9 month old instead of a 6 month old feels a lot easier, I think - never mind the vastly reduced stress in August & over the coming months before then, trying to do as much reading / keeping up as I can for the Spring semester) but it does set everything back an extra year - it'll make my 3 year course 4 years long. It also feels quite a lot like a failure, even though I couldn't have predicted the problems I had in early pregnancy...

Just picturing Schulte surreptitiously popping items into the box while pretending to be busy doing 'proper work'.

LuLu - it's because I have an underactive thyroid since DD's birth so I had to go see a consultant once in each trimester to monitor my thyroxine levels. And while I am there, they do everything else as well - heartbeat, blood pressure etc. I feel very well looked after although I did see a different person each time.

I don't really have to make a decision until August, but if I stop now then I don't have to keep trying to go to lectures at 40 weeks pregnant & keeping my head afloat with reading material / lecture notes from that point until June, or whatever. I think I know what I have to do, but it's not at all what I'd planned It wouldn't be so difficult if I hadn't fallen behind on things

oddeyes - yay for mat leave

BB - yay for scouting for Barbarelly hope shes ok!!

LuLu - eat those biscuites mrs lolat used bottom cream

Kitty - yay for......well everything really you seem to be having a fantastic day ..long may it continue

Schulte - go home you crazy lady!!

Springy - good luck with your descisions xx

glad you are all happy with your buddy's so far i still have a few pairings to go but the bulk is done and i will finish off tonight

going to have a bath and go to bed for a bit so see you later xx

Springy no advice whatsoever about what your best option is I am afraid, even trying to understand the various options does my head in, sorry all I can say is take it easy!

Springy loads of people do 4 year courses - all the language students for a start. And then architecture, medecine and lots of other subjects take much longer.

Don't let it worry you. 4 years may seem like forever now, bt in the grand scheme of things it certainly isn't.

9 months was actually the age with DD where I started to really feel I 'got the hang' of her and felt I could take on other stuff too.

& if I do Autumn resits in August & flunk them, I suppose I still have the option of just repeating the whole year from scratch - which will mean having to go back in September, but having a clear run at it without pregnancy (but with a 6 month old instead!)... Obviously that's not Plan A.

"medecine" - Doh!

honestly you would never guess I went to uni myself with my utter inability to spell these days. All the blood has obviously left my brain to circulate around the vast bump.

Schulte - great that they are looking after you well.

My only problem with my 4 year course isn't about my age, but DS's age - I was looking to finish the course, do my PGCE (another year) & then get a job immediately, looking to have the next baby as soon as I'm entitled to paid ML (I know that's a bit cheeky, but...). The thing is, if I add another year to that, it's going to create a bigger age gap between the children. & as we're looking to probably have more than 2 (haha, we'll see ) I don't want this one to be isolated from his siblings by a big age gap.

I suppose I could do the 4 years of my lengthened degree, get any graduate job, have the new baby & then pick up the PGCE afterwards. It just isn't at all what I'd planned - but then what has been!

I do get the feeling that 9 months would be a lot easier to handle than 6 months. It's obviously impossible to know, but it seems like a big difference at the moment...

I hope you're okay Nutty - bath & bed at this time of day isn't indicating that you're skipping around merrily without any pain xx

Springy can you not have another baby while you're at uni? Or is that too much hassle?

Springy I don't think there is any right or wrong when it comes to age gaps. But if it helps a friend of mine is 8 years older than his sister. They both felt like they had loads of individual attention - growing up almost as 'only children' but now that they are both adults they are extremely close.

Another friend is 9 years older than his brother and a whopping 17 years older than his sister - he has a great relationship with both and is almost like a third parent (but a lot more fun than the real ones) to his little sister. He loves taking her out and treating her like a little princess.

Both these families have a lot less sibling rivalries, childish rows etc than ones where kids are more 'traditionally' placed.

Having a baby this year has been a complete pain - maybe next pregnancy I won't suffer so badly with sickness, etc., but it's impossible to tell. This year isn't a distaster because I only need to pass & it doesn't count towards my final degree. After this, it's going to start dragging my final grade down, so it's not really feasible

& LuLu, I do agree with what you mean about age gaps to an extent. DH has brothers aged 18 & 10 years old & they get on fine. But the youngest isn't really part of it. DH & the middle brother are good friends & have a lot in common, but they aren't very close with the 10 year old in the same way. It's not so bad that way around, I don't think, because the 10 year old gets to be the baby of the family & have lots of attention. If the big age gap was at the other end (as in the eldest child was the one isolated from the others), I think it'd cause more of an issue. It's all a long time off now anyway, but it does worry me.

Hey Springy, this sort of stuff I do know a bit about, from professional and personal experience.

IMO there is an argument for either starting the whole degree course again in October or repeating the final year, in terms of being able to get the best possible mark. You need to get a first or 2:1 to ensure good career opportunities.

You also need to make sure you have the best childcare possible, which will probably mean a university nursery, if you can get a place (time to put names down now!)

Then in terms of the PGCE it would probably be best to train on the job, which would give you the maternity pay if necessary. This would mean an immediate salary after graduation.

Teach First

Graduate teacher programme

PS Da Boff was in the first batch of the PGCE people who trained on the job! And the rest is history!

There you go - Boff has the answer as usual

Sheffield University Nursery - half the price of our university one!!

Oh good, I was waiting for Boff to come along

I've already been in touch with the university nursery, but need to finalise the details - I pretty much only remembered that this morning, though

I don't really want to start from scratch next year if I can help it, for a few reasons. I'm so frustrated because I wouldn't have any problem at all if it wasn't for the pregnancy - I genuinely am very talented at my subject & completed the whole A level to a good A grade standard in one year, alongside my other A levels - I CAN DO THIS. It's so incredibly annoying.

Good call on the training on the job.

OK Springy, can you get some tutoring out of them to help you whizz through your assignments? We do that sometimes if we like people, and if there's a good reason, like pg.

What is your subject?

English literature. I have a meeting with my departmental personal tutor on Thursday, as well as a university financial adviser tomorrow so I can see how various options will affect our monetary situation. It's all pretty much at the department's discretion, though - they can be as (un)helpful as they like, & I'm not sure how it'll pan out.

Hey, the nursery looks lovely! Lucky little George!

Yeah, our student union is repeatedly voted the best in the country - most famously because of the drinking, but also because of things like the nursery It's funny how my priorities have changed since applying