Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Chatting and Stepping! Stepping and Chatting! (and the odd rant!)

965 replies

carrotsandcelery · 30/04/2012 09:38

Come inside for a Brew and a Biscuit and maybe even a Wine if the mood takes you.

A thread for chatter and nonsense Grin

OP posts:
CatsSleepAnywhere · 06/05/2012 16:09

I'm afraid it's nowhere near finished but if I ever do get it finished and it looks any good then I will put it on my profile. Smile
It is a picture of scenery, mountains, trees, and a lake --it will be when it's done--. I'm copying it off a calender picture. I'll just have to snatch a bit of time here and there to do it.

DD is being hard work today and throwing tantrums about everything and anything. I'm just putting it down to her age and frustration!

CatsSleepAnywhere · 06/05/2012 16:12

Zoo hope things improve for you soon.
Are there many children who play out in your street?

We are quite lucky in that respect as there are lots of kids playing out here so DS often plays out when the weather is good. If the weather is not good though
it makes things a bit harder.

liveinazoo · 06/05/2012 16:19

none play out round here cats

dd2 has just returned from friends house full of beans

fingers x it stays lighthearted

educatingarti · 06/05/2012 17:20

Zoo - I'm in a rush but I'm really feeling for you with DD2

I know it is hard to give more attention etc and it is not possible to have so much support from DP as you would like!

My suggestion would be: Put 2 youngest to bed tonight. Then sit dd2 down in kitchen with drinks ( hot choc or squash or whatever you have she likes) and chat. Try and keep a really calm voice (hard I know when you are feeling so angry) Tell her about how tired and angry you feel when she acts up, rather than just demonstrating it! Use "when you do.... I feel .... sentences" Ask her how she is feeling when she is acting up, if she knows why she is being such a monster doing all these things. She may knot actually be aware of why but encourage her to keep talking about her feelings and accept what she says about her feelings even though you don't accept her behaviour. Use "so what you are saying is that you feel... when I/dad/db do...." type sentences. My guess is she is feeling overlooked, having less attention than other dcs - this may not be actually true but it may still be how she feels.

Ask her what she thinks could change to help her feel better. Hear her out on this even if you don't agree with suggestions! Then explain to her that there are aspects of her behaviour that are going to stop. Be very specific about this eg - Waking anyone in household before 7.00am, deliberately winding up siblings, taking/breaking anyone else's toys, trashing room etc. Give a clear example of consequence that will happen every time she does one of the behaviours ( Pick something you know you can carry through on - maybe taking away her nintendo DS for half a day?) It actually doesn't matter too much what it is you do as long as it is something you can do consistently! Reiterate that being in a family is like being in a team. Everyone has to pull together. ASk her to imagine what a football/netball/swimming ( pick a sport she knows something about) team would be like if one member was deliberately tripping up the others. She needs to be good team member.

Explain to her what she can do when other siblings are annoying (ignore or talk sensibly to you/dp about it). If there are some reasonable complaints from her about behaviour from siblings that get to her, agree that you will stop ds/dd from doing x or y ( but only a couple of the most reasonable of these - don't make a rod for your own back).

Don't accept over the top stroppy shouty responses. Keep saying "talk calmly and I will listen". Try and keep your voice calm too!

Then talk to her about being grown up and acknowledge she is older and more grown up that ds/dd. She needs to show more grown-up behaviour. In return you will allow her to stay up later. If possible agree a short mum/dd2 one-to-one time for a time in the next week. It might just be half an hour hot choc and chat when others have gone to bed, or varnishing her nails for her on a Friday night after others have gone to bed, or whatever.

I know it is hard to give more attention when you are sooo tired, but think of it this way: You are already giving her a lot of attention for her bad behaviour. If giving her some positive attention will help, then you could end up with a better behaved dd and expending less energy overall!

Is there anyone/grandparent/aunt who could take her out somewhere for a couple of hours ( even just for a walk) while you have a bit of rest and respite?

If this sound too bossy, please ignore. I don't mean to be but am aware my inner teacher can get a bit loud at times!!

liveinazoo · 06/05/2012 17:58

not bossy arti
im that desperate asked kits early what to do with her!

i have been ignoring them bickering whilst painting.ive been looking at tesco recipe pagesSmile

CatsSleepAnywhere · 06/05/2012 18:18

Hope all is going well!

CatsSleepAnywhere · 06/05/2012 19:09

I am running out of energy now and feel tired! I still need to get DC bathed and ready for bed

< wanders off to kitchen in search of a snack and Brew (coffee to keep me awake) Wink >

carrotsandcelery · 06/05/2012 19:22

Yay!

OP posts:
carrotsandcelery · 06/05/2012 19:22

WARNING VERY PROUD MUM COMING THROUGH

OP posts:
carrotsandcelery · 06/05/2012 19:23

Dd got 2 first places and a highly commended in the show today.

I am stunned, but also very, very proud of her Grin

OP posts:
CatsSleepAnywhere · 06/05/2012 19:29

Grin Well done! carrots DD Grin

carrotsandcelery · 06/05/2012 20:17

Grin Thanks Cats. I am so chuffed for her. I didn't expect that at all. Grin

OP posts:
liveinazoo · 06/05/2012 20:46

whoo hoo DD carrots

im sooo pleased for you.what a great weekend its been in the carrot house what with ds managing the sleepover!Grin

i have tried to call a ceasefire with dd2
i have made a feelings book.each page has a smiley happy face a red angry one and a blue sad one.
ive asked her to write in it every day,aimng for 2 happy to one sad/cross
today she put happy i let her paint a plasgter door plaque and mirror had for her birthday and playing at friends house.sad hasnt seen dad for ages and upset as had been told was going to go to a indoor play place that has stuff for older dcs.its 45min drive away so i couldnt take her-dp had planned to take them but has been unwell again
ie explained its ok to be sad but not to make everyone else unhappy and that writing how she feels will help her get it out in a grown up way

fingers x.she cried a lot and we had cuddles and shes in bed now.the other 2 are already asleep having had individual stories

i feel drained but hopeful ive made some impact

i also feel desperately sad for dd2Sad

im heading off now to try recharge for tomorrows shenanagins as we have may bank holiday

fingers x tomorrow starts at a civilized hour for us all!Smile

Scout19075 · 06/05/2012 20:57

Not long home so will go and catch up.

Would anyone like some popcorn?

carrotsandcelery · 06/05/2012 21:17

Popcorn sounds like a real treat, thanks Scout.

zoo that sounds like a very good move today. I might steal that idea for ds as he can feel emotions and have no idea where they have come from. It sounds like you connected with her and she was able to express what was up with her a bit more clearly. WELL DONE! Poor you and poor dd2. Sad Dealing with disappointment is very hard, even as an adult. At least you got to the bottom of it and made her a little more self aware too.

Can you ask dp not to offer plans until the day he appears to take them there? Would he listen to that request if he saw her book? My parents were very good at keeping promises but dh's dad was terrible for disappointing him and his dsister. It is better to say nothing at all than to let them down.

It has been a very busy and very tiring weekend in the Carrot household but it has also been a very successful one. Dd definitely needed a confidence boost so I am ridiculously happy for her.

We do have tomorrow off but dh has to work. We are planning a peaceful day, although we have the dogs to walk and I promised to help ds make a telescope with a construction toy he has.

OP posts:
Scout19075 · 06/05/2012 21:38

Had a good day and a grand adventure with my boys today. I have one exhausted Toddler. I'll probably go to bed soon, too.

bessie26 · 06/05/2012 23:00

Huge congrats to teenCarrots, glad you had a good adventure scout, and well done zoo with DD2. I am definately stealing that idea! Also agree with carrots about not promising things until the actual day whenever possible.

Sorry if I missed anything else, have only read thread v.quickly & must goto bed now

CatsSleepAnywhere · 07/05/2012 06:52

Morning all, I feel like this ----> Grin this morning. Not sure if this is how I should be but it feels good!.

educatingarti · 07/05/2012 10:09

Zoo - well done - It seems like you really connected with dd. I really like the idea of a feelings book!
Carrots - well done to your dd too.

I am feeling grrrr and Angry and Confused

So much for early nights.

I was in bed by ten last night and turned my light out at about half past. Still didn't get to sleep until 12.30am and then slept for just an hour and woke up and slept for another hour and woke up etc etc all through the night! I feel shattered!!

I've got loads I need to do today, but I amy need to go back to bed for another couple of hours first!!

carrotsandcelery · 07/05/2012 10:18

Arti that is the trouble I am having with early nights as well Arti although last night I went really early as I was shattered and ended up awake at 5am Confused

I definitely need to wind down for quite a long time before bed Arti. I can't really fly in the evenings. I need to laze about if I want any hope of sleeping properly.

Twilight on the other hand, went to be when I did and has only just got up Shock

zoo I think we will be introducing your feelings book today. Ds is on a mission to irritate and cause a row wherever he can. Dd was happily pottering around minding her own business and he has done everything he knows to get a rise out of her, culminating in messing up a little lipgloss set she was given for her birthday Sad He then screamed his head off in the hopes that I would give dd into trouble [crafty] but fortunately I asked dd what had happened and she showed me.

They were both sent upstairs to get dressed and he is still up there. I have no idea what he is up to. I am pretty sure he is not getting dressed, but I am enjoying the peace and happy for him to play in his room really.

I am not really sure what to do about the lipgloss. Confused

OP posts:
educatingarti · 07/05/2012 10:24

Carrots
Can you make ds pay for a new lipgloss set from his own money?

zzzzz

CatsSleepAnywhere · 07/05/2012 11:13
Grin

AIBU to be this happy?
I don't know if this is normal. I haven't felt this happy for a long time!
I feel like a cheshire cat. Grin Hmm

Please pull me up on it if you think this is odd!

CatsSleepAnywhere · 07/05/2012 11:16
carrotsandcelery · 07/05/2012 11:39

Cats it is lovely to hear you feeling so cheery. You are spreading the joy as you have made me Grin too.

Arti I was thinking that. I don't really like her having the lipgloss but that is not the point really is it.

The other difficulty is that to make him go to the shop and buy it will cost us a fortune as we live in the countryside so I would have the diesel and parking to get there.

I thought about looking for it online but I am not sure it would have the same impact as going in the shop and parting with the cash.

I could just make him give her the cash for it.

What do you think ladies?

Dd phoned a friend to come and play and ended up being invited to play there instead. We have just seen 2 newly born calves and some older piglets. Sooooooo cute!

OP posts:
liveinazoo · 07/05/2012 13:48

id get him to just hand over the cash if you arent keen on her havng it anyway

the day started badly again,resulting in another return to bed but i was adamant this wasnt going on all day so i got up and dragged walked them briskly into town to buy cheap cat collars with bells so they get used to them before they are "let loose"
4 hours later on dd2 has any energy left for mischeif the other 2 are exhausted-

am planning to put the bee movie on this afternoon for them and play cinemas

i suspect if dd2 wants be difficult at least she wont be able drag the other 2 in as they havent the strength leftSmile

I AM IN CHARGE!!!!!