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Original poster

Babystepping our way through February, with brews and pointy sticks!

769 replies

BlackCatTryingToFly · 14/02/2012 07:52

Hi all, Welcome to the new thread.

Oiii!,*Carrots, bessie, Zoo, Scout, Dlamis, and anyone I've missed - Over here!!!

[Brew] anyone?

OP posts:
Original poster
BlackCatTryingToFly · 18/02/2012 06:57

Morning all, Had another night of disturbed sleep. DD started crying at around 1.00am and didn't want to be in bed but we managed to get her to go back to bed and sleep after about half an hour. I stayed in bed till 6.30am so did better than previous nights.
I am o.k. but a little tired.

Hows everyone else?

OP posts:
bessie26 · 18/02/2012 07:19

DD1 was crying at around 6am, which is most unlike her. Not sure what happened as DH dealt with it & I fell asleep again!

DD1 has a birthday party for a friend at nursery this morning, so I need to put my socialising hat on & chat to lots of people I don't know.

carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 09:29

Good luck with the party bessie. Just remember all the other parents probably feel the same and are glad of a friendly face.

It is glorious sunshine here and mostly blue skies which makes it a lot easier to get up and going.

I am washed and dressed and just having a hot choc from dh's machine as dd used all the milk so I can't have a decaff tea

Dd has an activity so we have to leave sharp today. She also needs new riding gear so I will be more skint by the time I check back in again Shock

Dh and ds have been tasked with clearing the kitchen table. I have emphasised that I don't mean just putting it in a pile at one end, that I mean putting it all away or in the bin etc. I have also asked them to tidy the windowsills in the kitchen. I shall report back on their progress later (brace yourselves).

Ds has a friend coming to play again. Hopefully that will continue to go well but I would like the house a bit cleaner before that happens and think that since he made the mess and it needs tidied for his friend coming over then he should help tidy it up.

Sympathies to those lacking sleep. Twilight has woken me up two nights in a row being noisy in my bedroom. I also dreamt I was in labour Shock and have realised that I have really sore stomach muscles from horse riding which must have hurt in bed every time I moved. Grin

Have a great morning flying everyone!

Original poster
BlackCatTryingToFly · 18/02/2012 11:28

I have been watching cooking programs on telly. I am bored now! DH and DS are out this morning. Might need to go food shopping later, also need to catch up on a bit of laundry.

Anyone else around?
What do you have planned?

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carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 16:10

Hi BC. Did you find something to do?

I have been all over the place with dd and have to go out with her again tomorrow for a second opinion on a riding hat fitting. Typically the best fit is also the most expensive brand. It looks likely that it will have to be part of her birthday present to cover the extra cost. She seems quite happy with that idea as she really likes the branding. I was oblivious to stuff like that at her age. Shock

We now have 2 extra children as the wee boy who was coming round has brought his big sister too.

Dh and I have retreated to the lounge and are just keeping an ear out. The doors are opposite each other so we can hear without being oppressive.

While we were out dh and ds tidied the table and the windowsills. Dh also hoovered the stairs which was sorely needing done.

Since I have been home I have hoovered and dusted and slightly rearranged the lounge so that it would be pleasant to hide snuggle up in this afternoon.

Dd and I also cleaned out the guinea pigs as they were a bit more than fragrant Blush. The clean wood shavings smell lovely though Grin

I have still to hang a load of washing and put another load on and make tonight's meal. Otherwise that is more or less us for the day. It feels like progress and it is the weekend so some relaxation is in order.

What is everyone else up to?

carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 16:53

We have snow! Grin

Original poster
BlackCatTryingToFly · 18/02/2012 19:24

Hi Carrots, Do you still have snow?

I ended up just looking at stuff on MN then did some washing up and cooked dinner. DH and DS went food shopping. I still have to put away some dry washing.

OP posts:
carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 19:30

Thanks for the reminder BC - I still have washing to hang.

We do still have snow but only about an inch of it.

The dcs friends have gone home and they are pretty tired but tea is taking a while to finish cooking.

The dcs have tidied up though so the house is no longer depressing as long as I don't go upstairs. That doesn't feel so overwhelming now the rest is getting there.

Original poster
BlackCatTryingToFly · 18/02/2012 19:32

DS (8) is really pushing the boundaries lately. I'm dreading the teen years! He is already as tall as my shoulders and fairly well built. I hope I can figure out a way to deal with him cause lately I am turning into "Shouty mum" Sad.
Does anyone here have any advice?

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bessie26 · 18/02/2012 19:35

Riding sounds expensive carrots - I guess the safety equipment isn't something you can buy (or sell) 2nd hand?

We all went for a nap this afternoon as DH has a cold and didn't sleep well last night and kept waking me up with his grumbling It has rained a bit here, so DD1 & I went and jumped in some muddy puddles before tea Grin

Aftrr all that talk of training the DC the other day, i have started asking DD1(3.4) to put her clothes in the laundry basket after her bath. No complaints so far.

Tonight I need to do some laundry, finish the meal plan/shopping list, prep up tomorrow's lunch in the slow cooker and declutter some wine.

DH vacuumed downstairs while we were at the party this morning, am hoping to get him to do upstairs tomorrow Hmm

bessie26 · 18/02/2012 19:38

Have you read "how to talk so kids will listen"? I've seen loads of people recommend it on here & have read it, but obvs have no actual experience of putting it into practice with a pre-teen!

Original poster
BlackCatTryingToFly · 18/02/2012 19:44

Hi bessie, no I haven't read that one , will make a note of it, thanks. I seem to have forgotten about books lately, I suppose that's cause I've not been thinking that clearly and have had lots going on.
I have a book called "Toddling to ten" so I might have a read through that.

OP posts:
carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 20:11

It's tricky not being shouty mum when you are feeling a bit foggy yourself BC.

I agree that the books might help you refocus what you are doing. I usually don't remember everything in them but pick up a couple of tactics everytime I revisit them.

If you teach him that you are an authority and to be respected then your size versus his shouldn't matter.

I used to teach 17 and 18 year old boys/men who were about a foot taller than me and full of muscles and they did what I asked but I had the authority of the school behind me. It is much much harder in your own house.

Theoretically they often push the boundaries to feel secure. If you consistantly stick to what you have asked or banned or whatever then they feel more secure as they know where the boundaries lie. It is a lot easier said than done though.

carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 20:14

Dh has been excelling himself today.

He punished dd this morning for something that ds had done. Ds was beside himself because he felt so guilty that dd was in trouble for what he had done. Dh didn't see the problem.

Tonight there was only enough ice cream for 2 left. Dh gave it all to ds Shock causing an almighty row. Dd was the one who had asked for it in the first place. Again he couldn't see the problem.

And he claims he doesn't have favourites Hmm

I despair! Sad

bessie26 · 18/02/2012 20:51

I am on the laptop now, here is a link to the book. I have read it a couple of times in the hope that I can start doing some of the stuff it suggests now while they are young so I am well practiced by the time they are older who am i kidding

MrCarrots sounds like he has been very naughty today - does he do this often?

carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 21:05

Hi bessie. Dh definitely has a favourite but it is not normally so obvious. He does love dd but he is smitten with ds. He is very hard on her and far too soft on him. It is sooooo frustrating.

On the cost of horse riding front, my ddad pays for dd's lesson as he was desperate that she had the opportunity so it is just the kit that I have to come up with for that activity. He has also bought her some of that on and off. Sadly we pay for all her other activities which cost a small fortune every week. Shock

carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 21:09

I have just checked and you do seem to be able to ebay second hand riding equipment. I am a bit Shock that you can buy second hand hats on ebay as they need to be so carefully fitted and you need to know their history too (if you had been in an accident with one you would need a new one).

bessie26 · 18/02/2012 21:16

I guess it's a bit like buying/selling kids car seats? I wouldn't buy one second hand, but I plan to sell them when we make THE DECISION.

carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 21:20

Yes it is just the same bessie. I can sell it with a clean conscience as I know it hasn't been in an accident (FX it won't be ever) but I wouldn't buy one.

carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 21:37

Ooooh! I have just found out that the Olympic torch will come within about 3 miles of our house.

I feel a little more part of the country now Grin

bessie26 · 18/02/2012 22:09

I don't know where exactly the torch will go, but I have at least found out what date it will be in our town. Although I do like sport (athletics is my fave) I'm not really feeling that excited by the olympics (we've not got tickets for anything), but I think we have to take the DDs to see the torch.

carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 22:13

I am getting more excited now. I love watching the gymnastics and dd does gymnastics so should be keen to watch them with me now she is older.

We all love the athletics. I used to do the 100m at a very amateur level so Hussein Bolt amazes me.

bessie26 · 18/02/2012 22:21

Bolt is amazing. (I was more into 5/10km, never any good, but enjoyed it) The gymnastics is fab too. I would love DD1 to do it (I did as a child), but atm I don't see how we would have time. They both have swimming lessons, but that's all we seem to have time for - I guess once DD2 is a bit older we can start doing stuff in the mornings at the weekends. Perhaps that will coincide with the olympics Hmm

Scout19075 · 18/02/2012 22:25

The torch is coming through my town, too, and several of the neighboring ones. I figured it would go through Cambridge and thought I'd have to take Toddler there but since it's coming here I'll just walk down. Grin

The Scouts have had a family day out and have only recently got home. TS is tucked safely in bed (despite having no nap and being up way past his bedtime he was an absolute star -- he fell asleep in the car on the way home so was mostly asleep when we changed him/put on his pjs), MrScout's playing with his new toy and I'm in bed with my laptop (with hopes of being asleep soon).

carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2012 22:31

I don't have stamina bessie but I have strong thighs which made for a good burst. It would be laughable now though.

I did gymnastics as a child too but had to stop when we moved house. I fully appreciate how difficult the stuff they do is though, even when they make it look so easy.

I might watch some of the horse stuff too but usually disapprove if they get into very high jumps and other things which don't seem at all natural or fun for the horses.