Galen, Hope the visit from relatives went ok and you now feel relaxed. Why do relatives think that just because you are related they can be impolite and disrespectful by criticising and nagging when they wouldn't be like this with anyone else?! I hope they were nice to you.
Wendy, I wish I could have a new and bigger wardrobe as I share a small one with DH and it's so jam packed there is no point ironing anything as it would be immediately crumpled again. He won't let us get another one though as he says we own too many clothes including lots that we don't wear (he's got a point about the ones we don't wear that are taking up space).
Jas, Glad the party went well.
Swan, does your DS1 like his singing and is it something he asked if he could do? I think if DD started to get less good at ballet than the others but still enjoyed it, I would just let her carry on doing it the way she wanted to do it, but if she stopped making an effort to try to do it properly it might be a sign that she didn't really enjoy it and didn't want to do it anymore. I really don't want to pressure them to do things they don't want to do.
I am worrying about extra curricular stuff as well as the kids have only been back at school for 2 weeks yet I feel that maybe I have let them get overloaded with activities already and it will wear them out too much. Mondays DD does ballet but I have to take DS there as well which is less relaxing than staying at home. Wednesdays they see friends who they have been seeing since birth, Thursdays they see other friends they haven't known as long but one of them is DS's best friend his own age outside school and the others are girls who are DDs age rather than the boys she sees on Wednesdays and she likes to have friends who are girls. This Friday DD and a girl in her class want to have a playdate and I feel I have to let her have some playdates with friends from school as well. So they will only be able to spend time at home on Tuesday and we will have to do reading books and DD's spellings practice because we are hardly in during the rest of the week. It seems like a lot for them and I'm not sure if it is too much or not. When DS says he wants to do something eg football or something it will get even busier.
Starbear, you've done such a long list on a weekend!
Galen, just read that the visit did go well so that is good!
Grouchy, how old is GoJr? Just so I know what age my kids are likely to tell me to F off! What is the best way to deal with them repeating bad language they have heard at school?
Teamonster, your SIL sounds like a Saint! It's interesting what you say about middle class peer pressure to get your kids doing a load of extra curricular stuff. Is that a big factor in why people do it? I don't feel peer pressure but the children's 'playdates' are as much about me and their mothers socialising as the children so if I cut down on them I risk making the mothers feel I don't want to see them.
Wendy, that has made me laugh that swearing must "stay at school" - I am visualising them effing and blinding and shocking their teachers all day at school then coming home and saying "Oh Good Afternoon dear mother, please may I have a healthy snack".
It sounds like you are having a tiring time with your DS at the moment! Is there anything causing it?
Scatty, LOL @ full on fistfight in Science tent! Although I'm sure it wasn't funny for you at the time! The point is though, that all kids are blimmin naughty at times and we shouldn't feel it is only ours. It is comforting to know we are not alone!
Stuff done this weekend:
-did reading books Sat am in bed
-DD spelling practice
-kept dishwasher done
-iron school uniforms and DH shirt
-make school packed lunches
-get present for DD's friend to take to party earlier
-get threadworm treatment for kids (arrrrrgghh! I feel dirty and ashamed)