It was an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot zucchini - 10 / 10 thread - all welcome

[FrannyandZooey]

For anyone who wants a boost to their general health. The suggested goals are:

EAT 10 PORTIONS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY - if you don't usually eat much fruit and veg I would build up gradually or you could upset your digestion.

DO (AT LEAST) 10 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EVERY DAY - can be yoga, stretching or something more energetic. The plan is that the idea of doing 10 minutes is not too daunting, and having started you may well find you want to do more.

There are no restrictions on what you eat so long as you get your 10 fruit and veg as well. The focus is not on weight loss but on improving our energy levels and hopefully our general mood and well-being. Sign up below and post here to tell us how you're getting on and how you are feeling.

Basic guidance on what constitutes a portion of fruit and veg here and you can download more detailed information by following the link at the very bottom of the page

wombling I have grown out of that blue top
the black ones are still going strong

how's ds?

I WANT A GLASS OF WINE!!!!!!! it's sunny.

What does TooTicky mean?

Oh, yes. Update on illness situation. My silly old dad managed to stop drinling enough liquids when he started with D&V, and managed to dehydrate himself. He went in to hosp, as dehydration is serious for diabetics. While in there, they identified his blood count was low, and thought he had an abdominal bleed.

Thanks goodness, he didn't, and he is now home recuperating.

Unfortunately got to see the consultant with DS, as they are worried that his skull isn't growing, as his weight has stated to be a concern again, due to repeated colds and bugs since xmas. I am v concerned, but will have to wait until the 10th, the day before his first birthday as that is when we are seeing the consultanat.

Don't worry Fran, I grew out f it before the end of pregnancy too, I just used to wear it over a vest top, for a while, then retired it!

Oh I owe you an email about the clothes don't I.

oh wombling

you are really having it tough. I hope these thins are dealt with properly by people who understand how people worry and how to give infomration across.

Boco - you are not allowed to come in and type a few words and go you have to make us laugh.

Toot - FFS eat something or those trousers won't fit.

LL - I have a recipe but as toot says normal and chuck in lemon zest, juice and poppy seeds. I once used poppy seeds that had been with all my curry spices so it was a lemon, poppy seed and curry cake.

Oh that does sound scary wombling - hopefully it'll just be because of all the bugs. The waiting is the worst thing isn't it. This time last year we were waiting for the results of MRI scans to see if dd2 had neuroblastoma and I was a completely insane person.

Decided to go to London tomorrow as been too wiped out today and have had a headache for a couple of days that won't go.

Have had
grapes, plums, cucumber, carrot, spinach, tomatoes, apple, orange juice. Doing ok today.

Spent the day with a friend and was talking about my lack of success with the girls lately (that makes it sound like i'm trying to pick up ladies - but you know what i mean?) And she gave me benefit of her experience and observations which were useful, kind, made me kind of want to kill her with a big stick. Having your parenting criticised is rather difficult isn't it.

Oh dear x posts there, a demand for laughs and followed by bleak post.

Will try and think funny.

bloody hell Boco! do you really see this as your 'failure'? these phases are crap but not everything that happens in your house is down to you, please remember that
some of it you just have to be there to mop up the worse spills

Wombling am sorry about ds worries. Hope you get some better news soon.

Boco mate, this phase will pass (probably only to be replaced with new, even more horrible phase LOL)

I am also prone to beating myself up for my parenting skills when they go through a vile bit...but then they pass through it and return to 'normal' and then people compliment me on my beautifully well-behaved, polite, sensitive, thoughtful, loving boys and I and think ''really?'' and then realise I must have done something right over the past 10 years...

I hope you know what I mean and I hope you feel this is true for you too.
x

Boco, sounds crap! You really just don't want someone else to pick your parenting apart ever, it feels so patronising, and especially not when you are feeling so crap.

Also Boco, I agree with Fran, you are not the only parent, or the only person in your household, so this is not all down to you, and it will pass. It is so wearing and upsetting when you are going through it though isn't it, but won't be forever.

I do know what you both mean - but I just don't think I'm doing it well atm.

Usually, I do it pretty well, I'm good at being a mother. But right now I'm not that good, I haven't got much patience and I can't quite remember what you're supposed to do. I do really think that some of this IS because of me though, I'm not just needlessly beating myself up over it - when I have energy and feel good then I can distract and talk to them in a way that means they'll listen and just generally be positive and upbeat - but maybe it's ME going through a phase, of just being a bit down and sad.

Will snap out of it though and will all be fine, the break in London will help and seeing friends will help.

ok well I respect your instincts Boco and obviously you are vastly important person in their lives so what is going on with you does affect them

so you need some help for yourself first of all
to feel less tired and more happy

yes well, you re allowed to go through a phase too you know! No-one stays static...
I do think you are being too hard on yourself.
are your children old enough to explain a little bit to? For example, ds2 now knows that when I am feeling flat and a bit down, it is not his* fault IFKWIM. So he says ''are you feeling a bit tired then mum? '' and makes me a cup of tea rather than perhaps feeling he is in some way to blame.

I hope you get a change to rrecharge your batteries a little while you are away and get a little of your groove back, you lovely lady.

Thank you
Hopefully my groove will be waiting in London. And that's good advise FMF, will talk to dd1 as I'm sure she's old enough to understand. She's very angry with me at the moment.

oh boco

these things are phases and you have had loads go on and a rough ride.

If you do think it is you what is it about your parenting you are unhappy with?

What did you do before that you saw as good?

Why aren't you doing them now?

Have there been hard phases before that have passed?

parenting advice on the whole is crap because everyone has different ways of doing things. Just ask people who parent in the same way as you and will reflect what you do in a positive way. Like us!

I know nothing about this thread, but the titles are hilarious. Who on earth thinks of them?

oh look we have all jumped up and down we advice. Look at my questions.

We need 100 to come on and be a bit Ann with you I think.

fmv - i love you with your moon diary and phases. In my head you are under the catergory exotic hippy (with braclets)

not very exotic. But definitely hippyish

(though I am guilty of shopping at tescos sometimes )

thanks fizzbuzz - i can take credit for this one, but all us veggers are brimming with wit and humour you know

Oh no, friend today was very Ann and it nearly finished me off! (not criticising 100s very very good advice though of course) Friend said things like 'look, if you say something to them, mean it! Do it! You're in charge!' and I stared at my cup of tea and felt very very tired and the children ran around refusing to put on their shoes.

Dunno Bee. Just not in control of it. Want to be on my own. Want a break. Don't want to make dinner, don't want to clear up, don't care who had the toy sheep first or who hit who on the head, just would like everyone to be quiet and not ask me anything and for it not to be all down to me for a bit. Is nothing too big, i'm just moaning really, probably we all feel like this sometimes right?

yes
and I have already said this to someone today but your dc being cross when you are below par is GOOD
means they have a healthy developed ego and a belief they have a right to be treated well - v good