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Baby steps leaving footprints in the Winter snow

887 replies

roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts · 13/12/2011 14:12

OP posts:
roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts · 19/12/2011 17:50

I am a bit Xmas Sad

Ds had a friend round to play today. I put loads of effort in to make sure there were activities for them to do, which they all seemed to enjoy, but ds just couldn't be "nice" the whole time. It is so depressing.

The friend's mum was lovely about it and very tolerant but her ds was in tears at one point because my ds spoke sharply to him. We are going to end up very lonely at this rate. My cheeks were burning with shame. It makes me just not want to have anyone over at all as it is so upsetting.

The house was fairly tidy but now looks like a bomb exploded in the kitchen and I just want to cry. No one told me it was going to be so hard.

OP posts:
AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 19/12/2011 23:43

Oh, Carrots. Xmas Sad

I made oat biscuits this evening - nom nom.

I had a reasonably productive day without t'internet - will try it again. I even tidied one of my much-neglected hotspots. Xmas Smile

We finally made our Christmas tree decorations, which are now drying in the oven.

Must go to bed.

BlackCatinaSantaHat · 20/12/2011 07:43

I have been up since 5.00am with DD.

I am not really sure what I have planned for today. DH has to work again but should be off as from tomorrow for Christmas (Unless work decide otherwise).

I think I have to do the usual stuff: washing up, clothes washing, keeping DC entertained.
From tomorrow I will be able to concentrate my efforts on buying/wrapping the last of the presents and the food shopping. I haven't bought anything for Christmas dinner yet. Not sure what we are having. I'm not vegetarian but I don't like dealing with anything that looks like it was an animal or bird.(Squeamish emoticon).

AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 20/12/2011 09:10

Hands BlackCat a

Feeling tired this morning after my late night.

I have just realised that Christmas will be a nightmare. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day we're visiting family for the afternoon/evening.

However, to get DS to bed in time we need to leave by about 6pm, which simply isn't going to happen. We can put DS to bed while we're out, but he doesn't sleep in the car so we'll have to wake him up (and he'll stay awake) on the way home.

When that happens he is tired & grumpy the next day. That will be pretty wearing since we have 2 day visits in a row followed by a couple of days staying with my parents.

DS is nervous of strange people and especially so of other children (my nephews will be staying at my parents' too). It's much worse when he's tired. He also wakes more when he's sleep deprived.

I'm grumpy too thinking about it as I will either have to forgo my naps or rush around like a mad thing trying to get ready for all our visiting.

The kitchen is a complete mess, ugh. Need to go & have a shower. I'll try to start wrapping some presents later.

I'm going to turn off the internet again as poor DS is fed up with me being on the computer already. Blush Off to give him a big cuddle to cheer us both up.

BlackCatinaSantaHat · 20/12/2011 09:21

I think I may need a bit of motivation to get things done today.
Anyone around to get me going?

roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts · 20/12/2011 09:41

Hands everyone a motivational Brew and Biscuit and tries to ignore the Christmas Wine as it is a touch early to start on that, even in the circumstances.

It looks like we are all struggling a bit. Hopefully it is the dip before the high.

I have realised that I have left a load of washing in the machine since Sunday (ewww!) so have to rewash that and then wash dd's party dress as she has her school party tomorrow. I should shove in ds's party gear as well as his party is on Thursday. There are a lot of extra little things to remember right now.

Apart from that it is a matter of unearthing the kitchen once again after last night's dodgy play date.

I also have a meeting at the bank which I must remember to go to. I plan to set up a Christmas account and a monthly direct debit into it while I am there. Hopefully it will ease the financial pressure this time next year. I think flylady will approve.

Once that is done I have a few more cards to write that I received from people I didn't expect to which always brings a Xmas Smile

We also have a parcel under our tree now which is torturing ds getting ds very excited.

COME ON EVERYONE We can do it and try to do it with a forced smile on our faces too Xmas Grin (((motivational hugs to everyone)))

OP posts:
BlackCatinaSantaHat · 20/12/2011 09:48

Thanks Carrots.

Have loaded washing machine (Yay!)

Next get DC to eat more breakfast.

Then get dressed and start other jobs.

bessie26 · 20/12/2011 15:03

have done laundry & meal plan for over xmas - we are going to do individual salmon fillets for the non-veggie option on xmas day as they are easy (just pop in tinfoil with some olive oil)

I need to write the shopping list (DH is going tonight) but DD2 has just woken up early from her nap - arrrgghh!

GossipWitch · 20/12/2011 16:39

Help I am now flapping and panicking, I think I have done all presents however I am now stuck on food I wanted a three bird roast, but I am now thinking I'll have to do turkey instead, my nans coming for dinner too, my boyfriend will be coming on boxing day instead of xmas day due to unforseen family circumstances, I still haven't seen a flake of snow, a fair few presents are still unwrapped, the stockings are larger than originally thought and need to fill them a bit more, particularly the boyfriends, I only have 2 days free to wrap and shop, and the house is in chaos, however very impressed with my cat as he has been in the house for 24 hours and hasn't pooed anywhere!!!!!! any suggestions would be very welcome :(

roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts · 20/12/2011 18:55

AAAAHHHH! Gossip first have a Brew or a Wine now it is after 6.

Then sit down and write a list of everything that you need to do.

Then take each day between now and Christmas and figure out when you are going to do each thing. Write this down.

Then delegate any job you possibly can.

Then have another Brew or Wine and get started.

I would imagine that the shopping is priority as it can be wrapped in the evenings etc. Most shops are open later into the evening this week which also helps.

Can you bulk out the stockings with things you would have bought anyway such as toiletries, pyjamas and new undies or have you done that already? Primark fleece sleep suits are only £6 for dcs and fill up a fair bit of space. You get them for adults too but you and dp may not be in that zone yet.

Or be clever with your wrapping and wrap little things in a box, in a box, in a box, that sort of thing?

John Lewis were selling MASSIVE gingerbread men. They did cost £5 each but they are huge and would fill up some space.

As for food, have you every had a turkey crown? My parents do this if they don't have an enormous crowd of meat eaters on Christmas day. There still seems to be plenty of turkey.

Will you do another Christmas style lunch with your dp on Boxing Day or will it be more informal that day?

Ignore the chaos of the house, just get your sink and kitchen tidy enough to make cooking tolerable and if you are eating at table then get a great big bag and shove everything cluttering up the table into a big bag and deal with it once the chaos is over.

Let us know, step by step how you are getting on.

OP posts:
bessie26 · 20/12/2011 19:19

gossip suggestions for presents or cat pooing?

carrots sorry to hear about the playdate, do you know if something in particular set DS off? Or was he just in a grump?

angel i feel your nap time pain! Will he sleep in the car on the way there? We have my family coming to ours on Xmas day, and then we are going to ILs on Boxing Day. There is no way DD1 will nap on boxing day (all her cousins will be there to play with) so she'll HAVE tonap on Xmas day which means my family miss out on seeing her ILs are also awful at sticking to a schedule, so the chances of the kids yea being at 5 so we can get them both home, bath &bed at a reasonable time (& without falling asleep in the car in the way home) are lzero. I find DH to be particularly useless in these situations, so it's always me being the naggy one pointing out that we need to get them fed etc. may have to risk having a chat with him about this later, but will no doubt end up with him getting in a grump!

That's my rant over, who's next? Xmas Grin

roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts · 20/12/2011 20:21

Oh dear! Stress levels are definitely rising if serene bessie is also verging on rant status.

I remember the traumas of fitting in nap time very well. It is highly stressful and those without dcs needing a nap have no idea the misery they are causing if they make their nap time impossible.

My dsil has appauling time keeping skills and ruined many a social occasion, which we had carefully planned round nap and meal needs, by being an hour or an hour and half late and was oblivious to the misery it caused us. She has dcs herself now and strangely is very careful about when she will agree to meet people etc Xmas Grin

Mine used to drop off in the car very easily so I would use journeys to events to fit in a snooze for them. I would even set off early and drive around a bit near home to get them off to sleep, come home and have a Brew watching the car from the window and then set off for real, just so they got a long enough nap.

Routines go to pieces over Christmas if you are not careful.

If it is any consolation, once they are the age of mine, you can bend the rules massively, as long as it is just on rare occasions, and get away with it.

OP posts:
roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts · 20/12/2011 20:22

Gossip what are dp's interests, likes etc and we can see if we can think of appropriate stocking fillers?

OP posts:
bessie26 · 20/12/2011 21:48

carrots their sleep is the one thing I do get arsey picky about! As their DM I feel it is my responsibility for them to get the sleep they need. I want them to go to bed happy, not sobbing because they are over-tired. MIL seems to think I should let DD1 stay up late "for a treat" on special occasions like Xmas & birthdays, whereas in reality it would just mean a lovely day ending in tears.

Sorry, I'm ranting again!

My DH would like fudge, a bag of nuts, one of those fact books men like to read in the loo (one year I got him a little electronic maths test thingy & he spent ages beeping away in the bathroom!) Some easy-to-match socks, golf balls.

The DDs stockings are too big too! Especially DD2s, she already has everything (via DD1) so we are struggling to find anything to get her! Her stocking is mainly filled with bath toys! And I realised today that her present from us hasn't arrived yet - contacted the seller via amazon today, but doubt it's going to get here on time Sad

roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts · 20/12/2011 21:57

bessie I totally agree. (that from the mother who is filling out a sleep log for a clinical psychologist) Good sleep is the corner stone of everything else. Next time your MIL gets tricky about it tell her our story and the mess that sleep problems can cause.

A bag of nuts is an excellent idea. Dh would love that too. He can eat a bag a night if he is training for a long distance run. He would also love golf balls and a maths gadget and easy to match socks. Infact he seems to have a penchant for really bizarre socks at the moment but they are, at least, easy to match.

OP posts:
AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 20/12/2011 22:47

Yes, I agree, bessie.

DS can't be relied on to sleep in the car any time of day or night - sometimes it'll happen, but often it won't until he's 2 hours or so past naptime. The plan is to do naps at home (so I can have a sleep too!) and then go travelling.

Well, we'll have to wing it. I still can't decide whether to have a nap or cook Christmas dinner on the 25th. DH says he's happy with beans on toast so that's no worry. Wink

How did you get on in the end, BlackCat?

Thanks for all the motivational posts, parsnips.

We had a good day today. A man came to put new tyres on the car (which DS enjoyed watching).

Went to the supermarket and got ingredients for baking presents.
Decluttered some paperwork
Cleaned the bottom of the fridge
Tidied the kitchen
Wrapped first present
Dealt with laundry
Managed to stay off MN Grin

Tomorrow it's meeting a friend, then shopping. I need to start my baking too - I'll make a fruit cake for DH who's away at the moment and I want to get it sorted before he returns on Thursday evening.

Definitely going to bed soon. Please shoot me if you see me anywhere on MN after more than 5 minutes has elapsed.

BlackCatinaSantaHat · 20/12/2011 22:58

Hello, having a late night here,(probably not a good idea as I was up so early!).
Must go to bed soon.

Anyway today I didn't do a lot but I managed to hoover DS bedroom which hadn't been done for a while.
Cooked the dinner
washed up
and tried to keep the DC entertained.
Am hoping tomorrow I will get more done.

roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts · 21/12/2011 10:05

Morning all!

I slept in this morning Xmas Blush so we had a bit of a chaotic morning and dcs were a little bit late for school.

So far I have:
washed and dressed
done a little ironing
put the dishes in the dishwasher
made several trips to school with forgotten items Xmas Hmm
taken by boots and socks off as my boots have a leak and were making squishy sounds - bleurgh!
finally sat down with my breakfast and a Brew

OP posts:
roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts · 21/12/2011 11:08

Have decluttered our bedroom a bit, decluttered the kitchen table and scrubbed the kitchen worktops.

I need to do a bit more ironing but seem to have found myself back on here. Xmas Hmm with a Brew

OP posts:
bessie26 · 21/12/2011 16:42

Ugh, I hate wet socks.

I've done some laundry, sorted the present pile into 2 boxes (one for Xmas day & one for boxing day) - lots stil need wrapping though! Tidied the dining room a bit, threw out moon sand put some toys in a pile for the loft, re-tested humidifier & put out to dry ready to send back (it keeps switching off after a few mins), took DD2 to be weighed, made lunch, cleaned toilets (all I have done from house blessing this week), put chili in slow cooker for dinner.

It's DHs last day at work today so I'm hoping he can help me with house blessing tomorrow, and finding homes for some of the stuff cluttering up the dining room.

Tonight I need to write a to-do list & try to work out when I'm going to do stuff!

roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts · 21/12/2011 20:11

I now have a line of bags in the hallway, each containing gifts to be delivered on various occasions. There are also bags in the spare room to be taken with us on Christmas day. It is like a military operation!

Many of the gifts were delivered today on our travels though so we are making some progress.

I did more ironing, hung out another load of washing from our leaky washing machine, organised a school Christmas party, dealt with a medical emergency (dd had an accident and may have a breakage - not a serious one though so don't worry) and I am now planning to track down some chocolate - otherwise the spare massive toblerone is in serious danger.

OP posts:
BlackCatinaSantaHat · 21/12/2011 21:01

Hi all, I have been too busy to get near computer today.
Did the food shopping this morning then we did a bit of last minute present buying (hopefully that's it now). Cooked dinner then went wrapping some presents. I think I will try to wrap a few more before bed time tonight.
I will probably have to do more wrapping tomorrow too.
I am aiming to have it all done before Christmas eve.
Not sure if the house will be tidy by then as the DC seem to undo any tidying I get done Xmas Hmm.

Has the toblerone survived Carrots?

Bessie I think I may have to follow your idea of a to do list.Xmas Smile

right I'm off to do more wrapping!

roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts · 21/12/2011 21:07

Toblerone is (currently) intact as I found some Brazil nuts instead Xmas Grin

I am using a day by day to do list too. It makes me feel a tiny bit calmer.

I am ridiculously excited though Xmas Grin

Poor dh.

OP posts:
bessie26 · 21/12/2011 23:17

My friend came round, and then just as she left DD2 woke up, so I have done no wrapping & haven't written my to do list.

Bed now, will do stuff tomorrow [hopeful]

AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog · 21/12/2011 23:40

Hope your DD is okay, parsnips.

We went to play with a friend then spent the rest of the time in town and got back late. DS went to bed hideously late so I didn't get any time this evening and he'll be grumpy tomorrow, but that's my own fault for giving him a late nap.

I'm officially panicking now. I'm busy tomorrow morning, Friday morning and Saturday afternoon and I need to:

  • find & wrap all but one present
  • make sure I've got enough presents for DH (and panic appropriately if I've not Grin)
  • make and wrap 4 lots of biscotti (but not while DS is around as they've got nuts in)
  • do a supermarket shop
  • visit the farm shop to get a chicken (if they have any left)
  • send electronic Christmas cards (ie most of them)
  • contact family re DS's nut allergy
  • plan & cook meals
  • keep on top of laundry, tidying etc

On the plus side, I've made a fruit cake for DH today. He's away so that'll be a nice surprise for him on Christmas morning.

Tomorrow:
Take DS swimming
Make a start on biscotti
Make a start on wrapping
Work out what to have for dinner

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