Festive Frugaleers gather round the (best value and carefully researched) Christmas Tree for support, advice and chat. All welcome.

[needastrongone]

New thread.

Will catch up in a bit but popped by to say lonely thanks for the gloves.

I'm girlie on the pop Sea, she'll feel so much better.

I've been on omeprazole for excess acid, it's like a headache but in your stomach.

He has my intelligence with regard to literature and history etc, DH can’t even write an email. However, the maths - well that’s from DH and his side. He’s the lucky kid that could have gone down either route (ignoring the fact he hates English!) but loves the mathematical life. The natural charm and good looks is all me

He is a good lad though, just quiet and under confident.

girlie I’m sorry for your DD. I hate comparing children but DD had similar. It’s hard. I’ve no answers. DD was hurt many times by girls she thought were her friends. It wasn’t until she was mature enough to choose friends who valued her as an individual that she started not giving so much of a shit about the others. Her friendship group is small but select. I admire her confidence at 16 to choose to be with a set of people that are very far from the ‘in’ crowd. It’s time and maturity that your DD needs, you can only be there to love her and support her. And the fact that you always are will help enormously, promise.

Funny isn’t it lonely, how the small thing of a card arriving on time matters so much. Or not.

seacow, I would have her on gin at this stage if she slept more for you, and I’m only half joking...

Sorry if I’ve missed folk, I think it’s one of those weeks for us all.

Thanks Need and Lonely its so hard when they are breaking their hearts and you can't help them, I always had one or two very close friends which was fine until we fell out and then it was the end of the world! I feel like one of her 'friends' in particular uses her but then dumps her when someone better is about I tried to put this to dd gently but she wouldn't hear of it. There are about 280 kids in her year at school so hoping she can find someone who really values her.... also suggested she have a friend from school over to stay in the hols but she's not sure.

I always get reminded about sending my Great Aunt a Christmas card (she is 103yo I always do but still get reminded every year

That’s EXACTLY the same situation as my DD girlie, any better offer and this particular friend dumped her. She WILL see it for herself eventually but it’s hard to watch. It’s called parenting teens I believe, different but just as hard. X

Aah need he sounds awesome!

Girlie friendships are so hard. I do think they get more confident though. Even DD1 is managing more tricky situations now that a year ago would've had her in bits. They'll get there with support and a listening ear and your DD has that in spades xx

Lonely thank you for the reflective stuff it'll be perfect for our evening trips!

I agree fluffy about weight and money link. Have made progress with both but a long way to go with both!

Today I was reminded again just how much I pop into a shop to buy stuff. It's quite ridiculous.

I am not feeling remotely festive, I've brought Cagletini to bed as she wouldn't stop crying. Cluster feeder extraordinaire. I did get my first huge smile today though. Well I say 'I' but it was actually my boob she smiled at.

This is all ahead of me with dd

My Dd has lovely friends mammy so not inevitable .
Watched a bit of Olympia em
Dd has been twice this year

So jealous pink next year. Next year I’m going. For sure. if I can afford and get tickets and the plane trip to London and hotel and buckets of primark shopping

cag I’m not feeling very festive either. But oooh first Smiles!!!! So lovely. Ds is super smiley. Love that. When I get him up in the morning give he looks at me for a bit then grind his big toothless grin. It’s fhe best. He’s started trying to laugh we think too. He can’t chuckle or giggle yet. But just sort of coughs once while he’s smiling and goes “heeeha” it’s the cutest. And he does it at the weirdest things. Yesterday it was catface. Today the couch. #weirdo

We Skyped mil. She noticed I’d sent everything addressed to “grandma” instead of “maman” dh explained maman means “Mummy” in French. She said she knew that but why did it matter. In being over sensitive and she has rights. I lost it. Told her it was grandma or nothing. And took ds away from the screen. Dh is a bit but he does get it. He says I did the right thing. #phew

I’m also feeling exhausted and just a bit meh. Can’t be bothered really. I’m still doing things but have lost all enthusiasm for it. Tomorrow is my works do. I have a dress. I have a shiny new bag. My outfit looks awesome. But I’m not fussed about going. Once I get there it’ll be fine and I’ll have a great time as will dh. Ds will be with my parents and he’ll be fine. We’ve left him before so it’s not that. It’s just me. Being meh.

I feel as though I’ve put zero thought into Christmas even though I’ve listened and bought things people have mentioned.

I’m looking forward to Christmas as it’s ds’ first one but feel we should be making more of a fuss. But also he’s not going to remember it so what’s the point. Meh.

I think (as I said to dh) I’m tired. It always makes me feel rubbish. Good sleep and I’ll be ok. 😉

She has zero rights. You can't have your child calling another woman mummy even if it is in another language

Christmas my ds are older now and I know the rules have changed, but it used to be the case that reflux babies were allowed solids earlier as they stayed down better. Could your dd take her meds in some yogurt?

When ds2 went onto Ranitidine he was a different baby, he became so much easier to manage and slept all night, before that he hated lying flat. I remember having to carry loads of bibs to match every outfit as he used to puke all the time. I can't remember when it all stopped but I think it gets better when they can naturally be more upright.

I'm exhausted and really want to go to bed but DH stripped off earlier and then went off to the pub. So I'll have to make it up before I get in. Grrrrr.......

Oops! That should read 'stripped off THE BED earlier'

Tayto
pink** there's been a little bit of it already & she's only 7

Marking my spot as I've just realised I haven't posted on the new thread yet. Will catch up properly in the morning.

Crikey it's late! Have had a productive evening, finished 3 etsy orders, dp will post for me in the morning, and done a big swathe of the baby blanket for ds' lovely teacher, who is off on maternity.

Can't wait for the end of term now the pressies are wrapped and stashed as all the dc are so very tired.

Staying home to finish painting the living room tomorrow. In true form, it is exactly half done . This is the fourth time (judging from the existing paint) that I have got this far. Then it is meal planning and list making. I have a lot to do, and I'll get panicky and not enjoy christmas if I forget something everything.

em very well done. She doesn't deserve to look at your beautiful boy if she can't be civil. Calling her mother ffs.

Expensive(ish) day today, dinner out for me and OH for my sisters birthday. Cheap pub though which was good. And been in ill all week so worth it for my mental health 😂

Christmas The book is called Cure your child with food - The hidden connection between nutrition and childhood ailments" by Kelly Dorfman. It has literally 18 pages of detailed information on how to sort out baby reflux all cross-referenced with the medical literature. I think it might be big help for your dd.

My ds was a bit different. He was always on the edge of meltdown day and night, and consoled only be bf. He woke every 2 hours for 4 years, and for 9 months of that his nose was completely physically blocked so that I had to hold his mouth open at night in order for him to breathe.

Everybody told me that it would settle when he was a year old too, but they really were not right about that.

The whole problem just melted away on day when I took wheat and dairy out of his diet. He's 7 now, and still recovering from the knock-on effects of having been on bad food for so long.

I'm so glad to have got to this bit of the month. The house buying has now exchanged contracts, ds's tooth is out, I got my science grant, and dh has started his new job. What a fortnight we've had though. I think we could do with a week of hibernation to recover.

I've managed to get the house all clean for Christmas, including all cobwebs tidied away, I've sorted out the cupboards, and the grocery deliveries are all booked now, and presents wrapped.

Now we're rebuilding lego models to get ready for Lego battles on Christmas day.

Girlie your poor dd. I'm dreading secondary school for dd

Seacow I would be just like you wrt the juice but I think you've tried everything else so it's worth a go. She might not even like it!

Em well done for standing up to her. She's crazy.

Today I need to food shop and that's it. Didn't get home until 12:30 and then dd woke up at four I'm really tired. Dh has gone to get his hair cut but his van has a flat battery so he had to take my lovely car. Hope he's grateful.

at Tayto, that would have been funny!

Didn’t sleep well and have lots to do. DH still poorly.

em, you did exactly the right thing, exactly the right thing indeed. Good for you.

Re DD, it’s her school friends that are the lovely solid bunch, it’s home friends that cause her the problem, high school was and is her safe place.

I forgot yesterday that the M&S wrapping paper and cards are half price. That was my spends in there yesterday, that’s next year sorted.

Just booked a Sainsbury’s delivery for Thursday without a problem, and have sorted out the things I still need.

Need I went into M&S too they had loads half price! All their decorations, loads of chocolates and Christmas gift packs.

That's handy to know re the M&S discounts need.
Wreck high school has been a revelation for dd after a pretty torrid time at primary. She has a wonderful group of friends and is like a different child now. Girlie so sorry your dd is having a hard time, children can be so cruel.
Today I've got a circuits class, football and then the work Christmas meal tonight. Tomorrow is busy with Messy Nativity at church, my god sons 18th birthday lunch & then the Christmas party and carol singing at the cricket club. So a busy time, but all good stuff and not too much spending.
I've started my extra hours at work and am so looking forward to the extra money.
Thanks for your good wishes for ds, he's now much better and will go back to school on Monday for the last week of term. He is going to do 3 of the mocks he missed & he'll do the other 4 after the holiday. School have been fabulously supportive. He has had more time off school this term than in his previous 4 high school years.

Em you totally did the right thing re mil.
Well done need ds, that's good going.

Girls are awful to each other starts around yr2 imo. We have had mixed but dd has a small group of solid friends.

Was going to do all sorts today but running dd to the walk in as her ears are still hurting.

Some of you are so organised. I've got loads to do but DC keep being ill. I'm going to have to burn some midnight oil