2013 ist schon da! A new Kaffeeklatsch thread for the New Year - living in Germany and Austria

[LinzerTorte]

All welcome - whether you're living in Germany or Austria, have questions about life in those countries or just want to chat.

Previous thread here.

MrTumbles I can't say whether it's the lack of caffeine or the (almost) lack of refined sugar but since giving them up I've been a lot more tired than usual.
If I was already sleep-deprived I don't think I could deprive myself of the little things like chocolate that get you through the day!
Fingers crossed your ds2's sleep improves soon.

Think the tiredness may get better antique as you get used to it. It did for me. But on friday i was beginning to feel rotten at work. I had lots to do so I had a cup of real, albeit weak, tea and a twix. I got a real buzz and got all my work finished! Not a good long term strategy but sugar and caff sometimes needed- like when driving home or trying to get through the day on little sleep. I can do no caff but need a little bit of sugar for the afternoon slump- discovered pumpkin seeds covered in black chocolate here and they are even healthy,oder?
Hello to everyone, in bed as still unwell and slow on my phone. Feeling better but taking it easy ....

Yep that's what I thought Antique and Plantanos long term it would be a good thing, but as I never get more than a 2 hour stretch of sleep nor more than about 5 hours in total per night (except when DS2 stays with the in-laws once each school holiday which is kind of like respite ) I just can't handle the transition phase of eliminating sugar just now... I don't actually feel any need to eliminate caffeine, as I don't have huge amounts and don't think what I have has a detrimental effect...

I fell asleep in front of the tv every night for a week after giving up caffeine this time. Amazing how much difference I cup of coffee a day can make. Like platanos I seem to have adjusted now, though. My concentration was noticeably better at work than when I've done previous projects as well, although I suspect that might be down to the vit d supplements, plus I made an effort to nap whenever I could to make up for the shortened nights from getting home late.

There's a special Kneipp parents' evening tonight at the kiga and I can't decide whether to drag myself there or not. I sort of pushed for it to take place, so I would feel bad to cry off, but dd doesn't want me to go and it's the only evening this week that I can spend with dh, who is away from Wed to Sat. Hmm.

cheas can you maybe ask one of the other parents to take notes for you and excuse you? That's what I've done in the past when I couldn't face a parents' meeting for one reason or another. I suppose it's kind of polite to have someone excuse you rather than not turn up without letting anyone know.

Platanos those pumpkin seeds sound yum! Don't think I've seen them here except in the Turkish shopbut ohne chocolate.

Antique where did you get your ginger and lemon tea? Sounds nice. I've had some green tea with ginger before and we all liked it.

Ds has just been to the ortodontist and he now has his 2 appointments for his next set of braces. Bad luck though, they go on the day before his birthday and he had asked to try and find a Japanese restaurant to go out for a meal on his birthday but he won't be able to enjoy it much. So either he has to postpone or celebrate in advance.

Lots of people giving stuff up at the moment... I often think about giving up sweets/ chocolate for lent but usually forget although in the past I have found eating less carbs, and less sweets was the best way for me to lose weight & after a few days I didn't miss them anymore. It's probably something I should consider again soon... Would be nice to lose some baby weight

admylin what sort I Japanese restaurant is your DS looking for? I know a fantastic (but tiny) sushi place. DP has been given a recommendation too but I can't remember if that is Japanese or also sushi.

mrtumbles your DS2 only sleeps two hours at a time?? DS has started sleeping a 5 hour stretch this week which has been a huge relief for me and my cold - which still consists of large amounts of neon goo

Hello everyone else!
DS didn't want to nap today, we really missed grandma - she was meant to be staying until Wed but flew to England today for her brother's funeral He'd had cancer for many years and they weren't close (he was a bit of a tool) but he was still her brother.
And I had my first trip out without DS, I went to the dentist... Ah well hopefully next time it will be a bit more glamorous

admylin it's more of a join-in doing Wassertreten and who knows what else evening than one to take notes at, unfortunately. Dd's teacher said a lot of parents had already excused themselves, but I did give the impression this morning that I might not make it.

Oh yes Nutella, 2 hour stretches if I am lucky... he did go a bit longer when he was newborn, but since 4 months old (so for the last 18 months) his average sleep stretch has been 2 hours - he had a couple of months of waking hourly, before I night weaned him at 11 months, and he has "slept through" - by which i mean 11pm-5am, so 6 hours, 6 times in 22 and a half months - last night he slept fitfully til 3am and got up for the day then, he had an hour and a half nap mid day (fell asleep in the car when I took him to pick up DD from recorder lesson) and woke of his own accord, quite happy - he did at least go off to sleep easily at bedtime, only about 10 minutes after I finished stories, turned off the light and settled down next to his bed, sometimes I sit by his bed in the dark for up to 3 hours...

I am rather dependent on coffee and sugar

I am glad most don't think I am a vegangelist! :) Great term, cheas! :)
But Tumbles, you are of course welcome to dispute anything I post. Unlike your father, I am able to respond with answers, but I understand you say you aren't open to changing, so we can just agree to disagree. Peace!

admylin, we had some lovely fluffy snow this afternoon, nice big flakes, but it didn't snow for long, and it didn't settle. Boo.
Shame about the dentist appt clashing with your DS's birthday. I guess we can't always celebrate a birthday on the exact day. I hope he is ok with it. Perfect teeth are worth it in the long run.

Our school uniform was very strict. Could only be bought from one shop, as it was a specific shade of blue for the skirt, and a specific blue for the blouse. We had to kneel to make sure the skirt touched the floor, i.e. wasn't too short!

Am back to trying not to be online too much, so signing off for now! Hello to one and all!

:) Lentils

Cheas for some reason during the night something you posted popped into my head - you said that the Feminist in you didn't want to turn the job possibility down because your daughter needs you - I was thinking that making decisions which take our children's needs into account, including putting them first, shouldn't be anti-feminist - I think that's getting things backwards; women shouldn't stop giving the needs of their daughters as much weight as their own careers, men should start to do it more too! Isn't it rather 80s/ Thatcherite style feminism to think that women should throw away caring qualities and attempt to be more "masculine" in their attitudes and priorities? What do you think? Is there some widely accepted Feminist Principle that clashes with that?

Morning!

Really should be out shovelling the rest of the snow off the drive but its still snowing so really cant be bothered. Sooooo fed up of winter - it was 18 degrees on Friday last week, I really thought spring had sprung but sadly not.

mrtumbles - your on going lack of sleep makes me exhausted just reading about it. I wonder how your ds2 can get through the day on so little sleep? What does he want when he wakes up? Does he settle again after a drink or is he just wanting to start the day? You have all my sympathy - my ds2 was also a terrible sleeper. I'm still thankful that he slept through eventually.

lentils - really amused by the term vegangelist - sorry I think that sums you up perfectly. My knowledge of a vegan lifestyle is limited but the definition of the word "evangelical" means ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause and thats how you come across when you talk about being a vegan. But I have every respect for you and your beliefs even if I dont share them (even slightly). But think thats also what makes this thread great is that we all come here with different beliefs & opinions - it would be dull if we were all the same!

nutella - glad you had a good time with grandma . Has she made some plans to come back again soon? Hope the cold disappears soon.

cheas did you muster up some enthusiasm for the kindergarten yesterday? Did you try on the bras that you ordered? Were they the right size? Well done to you and antique for giving up caffiene. I gave it up a long time ago - probably 8 years already and immediately notice the effect if I have one cup of caffienated tea now. Its just a stimulant hence the reason you feel exhausted without it. But your body will adjust eventually (although I still fall asleep sometimes in front of the tv). Couldnt give up sugar though - the thought of no haribos ever again would be too much.

admylin - well dont to your ds for sorting dd's film project - that sounds like way too much for that age without any teaching before hand. I braved Aldi last thursday and was equally shocked as you as to how bad tempered Monday and thursday shoppers can be. No bargain is really worth getting all that hassle.

platanos - hope you're on the mend soon. Seems to be a lot of porlyness on this thread lately.

Welcome bingeddy - hope the morning sickness settles soon.

Waves to anyone I've missed.

We had a nice weekend with my BIL & SIL and their little 18 month old girl but after they left on sunday dh both said at the same time "thank god our toddler years are behind us!". She was like a whirlwind - I dont think she stopped all day until she was asleep. My SIL looked a bit frazzled by it all - this is the couple who were the most un-children friendly before they had her and my BIL is still very good at avoiding most of the childcare. I'm not entirely sure but I think my niece might end up being an only child - not sure they could cope with the thought of another whirlwind coming into their lives!

I´ve just spent a good half an hour catching up on everyone´s posts. We´ve been without the internet for over a week. It really made me realise how much time I usually waste on the computer.

MtTumbles I can´t imagine coping for so long with so little sleep. I think I´d be mainlining coffee and chocolate to keep me going.

admylin sorry to hear about the arthritis. My brother has it really badly, but has it under pretty good control with drugs. He´s even cut down on his red meat consumption as that really made a difference. He´s very good at giving a weather forecast based on how painful his joints are.

cheas Have you come to a decision about the job? It´s very tricky when there are so many good/negative reasons on both sides. if you don´t take the job now are there likely to be other opportunities in the future?

By the way dd got a 1 in English even though she wrote the correct translations rather than the ones given to her by the teacher. There were lots of other 1s, so I presume he marked both versions as correct.

Hello to everyone I´ve missed. Hopefully now we´ve got the internet back I´ll be posting more often.

hupa we had no internet for a month or so after moving and I was amazed at how much time I suddenly had . Can't kick the MN habit though!

If only it were as easy as deciding whether to take the job or not. The audition process itself is extremely emotionally draining - invitations tend to be sent out only a couple of weeks before the audition date with a list of the orchestral excerpts they want you to prepare. Then the audition itself consists of playing the beginning of the first two movements of the Mozart concerto with an unfamiliar pianist - probably 5 min total max, so not long enough for any nerves to subside. That takes place behind a curtain, then the orchestra choose who should go through to a second round to play the excerpts, sometimes they have a third round if they can't decide. They may also demand the Strauss concerto as it's a principal oboe job - involves playing for a page and a half with no breaks to breathe (an oboist in the States recently had a stroke on stage playing it ). So basically just getting myself ready to audition would involve drastically upping my practice hours, actively seeking to make myself nervous in order to get used to it and just generally becoming unbearable for a few months!

Er, I was going to reply to more people, but the postwoman has just brought me some more bras, so I will be back later .

Finally have time to post now that DH is out in the garden; he's at home today as the big tree in our garden is (finally) being cut down, so I don't have as much MNing time as usual. FIL is arriving this afternoon to help out and the next door neighbour (who's getting all the wood for their stove) has also taken the day off work, so it's all hands on deck.

hupa Good news on the 1; it sounds like the teacher must have realised he made a mistake.

Ploom I thought spring had sprung too, but it's suddenly got much colder here - and last time I looked, snow was forecast for tomorrow. Think I might go on snow shovelling strike for the rest of the winter!

MrTumbles I survived on a similar amount of sleep for three months and that was enough to severely test my sanity... I don't know how you've coped for so long. Didn't you start sleep training at one point, or didn't that make much difference?

platanos Hope you're feeling better today.

admylin Yes, if I had grandchildren abroad I'd definitely want to visit them. I think my mum would like to come over but not without my dad, and his health always seems to suffer when he travels. We're not going back to the UK until August; it's hardly worth going at Easter when the journey takes the best part of a day (usually two days) and the DC only have just over a week off school.

cheas I don't normally have too much of a problem with straps slipping off, although they're definitely not tight. Bravissimo only have a small selection in my size IIRC (site doesn't seem to be working atm), but I've just ordered a couple from M&S in 30C to try. Annoyingly, however, the UK website no longer ships to Austria now that there's a German/Austrian site (which doesn't have anything smaller than a 32 back size), so I've had to have them sent to my parents' address. Someone - Nutella? - warned me this might happen with the M&S site; it's really annoying as even though shipping is cheaper/free, the selection is much smaller and I doubt there are as many bargains on the Austrian site either.

Antique My diet is very monotonous so I really need to introduce a bit of variety, plus I don't bother cooking for myself most evenings and will just make myself beans on toast/a boiled egg or heat up takeaway pizza. Oh, and I also need to eat more fruit and veg. And snack more healthily, as I only ever seem to snack on chocolate and biscuits. I bought lots of different types of nuts a few weeks ago, mixed them up and put them in a big bowl - and I think DH ate about 90% of them.

Hello to everyone else.

cheas wow, sounds stressful indeed! Good luck with the bras atleast.

ploom did you get the snow clearing done? We've all had to dig our thermals out again too - I had joyfully packed all winter hats and leggings and gloves away after those few sunny warm days!
Ho wis dd getting on with her brace? Did she get the 2nd set yet? Ds has been told he'll be having something with elastics on which is new to us as he hadn't ever mentioned that before so we still don't know exactly what he's getting just that he's getting it around May sometime, possibly teh day before his birthday.

Hupa what happened to your internet or was it a PC problem? I saw the good old telephone directory and Gelbeseiten in Rewe yesterday and said to dh we should get those, what if the internet goes off and we need a number? We'd be stuck.
Well done to dd for her test and for sticking to the correct English!

Tumbles I was thinking the same as ploom, how on earth does your ds2 manage on so little sleep (and oyu of course). Probably he power naps but they say dc of his age need 12 hours sleep a day!

That sounds nightmareish cheas -

I had that problem with the M&S site 2 days ago Linzer and ended up not ordering at all, as I'd chosen specific items and they weren't even on the Germany site :(

I also have a selection of ill fitting bras, but measuring the way the bra threads (which I searched for prompted bz the discussions on here) instruct makes me a 36 H (I think, counting up A;B;C;D;DD;E;F;G;H - although I am not sure whether any sizes other than D have a double... )!! I don't have the small back problem but it made me think that ladies with genuinely huge boobs must be measuring as sizes that don'#t even exist...

I don't know how DS2 manages, my guess is he gets a sleep cycle, often2 cycles, in between each waking (I do know toddlers have much shorter sleep cycles, about 45 mis on average where an adult is more like 90) and because he is waking naturally at the end of full cycles he is getting the maximum out of broken sleep, which obviously is not the case for me! Certainly he doesn't behave like a tired child - his language and physical skills are a bit ahead of his age, he's a bit above average size, he's a whirlwind but not in a hyperactive overtired way, just in a very climby mischievous, energetic toddler way... When he wakes in the night he wants me usually, not a drink, but when he wakes for the day he wants to get dressed, play and go downstairs and have breakfast, and even if it is 3am he is very certain and clear about whether it is a night waking (in which case he shouts and cries for me and wants me to cuddle him) or up for the day, in which case he is happy, bouncy, bright eyed and full of instructions and general talk and questions... I wouldn't usually let him start the day at 3am but it is very hard to stop him waking the others without bringing him downstairs when he decides to do that - more often he is up between 5.30 and 6am, which is fine as we have to be up by 6.15am anyway, and DS1 is up around then just as often - sometimes they play together til 6.15am and I can half snooze until I need to wake DD.

I had to stop sleep training (which was really about getting him to fall asleep in his own bed) a few times due to bugs and coughs etc (the curse of the 3rd child with siblings who between them must be bringing home every child carried bug within a 10km radius from school, KiGA, playdates, football training etc. plus he's rather sociable with other tots himself and picks up a lot on his own account no doubt), but we have made progress with falling asleep at bedtime, and I do get an evening several times a week (he goes to sleep a lot quicker for DH on my work nights on average of course but it is very good that DH now puts him to bed and I don't get home at 9.45pm to find him still up or crashed out on the sofa, which is what used to happen).

The general going to bed theme is improving, although you can't bet on it - he will take 3 hours if there is a film DH and I want to watch, but 20 mins the next night :) But that is typical toddler :) I sit by his bed in the dark and return him when he gets out, I say lie still the first few times then nothing, but he still needs to hold my hand... The first few night wakings (the first is usually before I've gone to bed) I can usually do the same, but he gets harder to settle as it gets towards morning and I almost always end up lying with him from somewhere between 1am and 3am, as I am usually too tired to sit by his bed holding his hand for an hour, only to have him sleep for 45 mins then need the same again, by then. He sleeps on my head though and plays with my nose and ears constantly in his sleep, but wakes when I stop him, so I can't fall into a proper sleep with him and usually feel as if I've only dozed.

cheas that sounds like a very intense audition process. I hate interviews so would definitely find what you've described a huge challenge

Linzer I am very sorry that my prediction came true :( I was really annoyed by the same thing when trying to order from the top shop website which was why I thought M&S might go the same way... Bugger.

ploom the next time we see grandma is June - when we will go there for a visit/holiday. We are really looking forward to it. They put a little pool in the garden last year which is salty rather than chlorinated so shouldn't be too hard on baby skin :)

hupa well done to your DD. But still odd if the teacher realises that the translations were wrong. Must be horrible for the teacher being made to teach a subject that they're not confident in

mrtumbles if DS2 settles better for DH would DH be willing to help a bit with the sleep training? I know that 10weeks with DS have been hard, I can't imagine surviving for 2 years on limited and broken sleep!

DS had his first immunisations today. He was not impressed but I fed him straightway and then he slept in the buggy on the walk home & stayed asleep for an hour or two at home. He woke to feed and has been feeding every two hours. He doesn't have a temperature but is definitely unhappy. I gave him a paracetamol suppository a while ago (seems to be less happy this eve)
He is now 59cm long and weighs 5.23kg (11lb 8oz). Can't believe how much he has grown! Well, I can because he is outgrowing his smaller clothes, but the speed he is growing at is amazing!

Nut, hope your DS is ok after his jabs, and sleeps well tonight.

Ok, perhaps I am slightly vegangelist! I try not to be on here, only offering an opinion on it when asked, or very relevant. I am probably a bit more vegangelist on my Fb, my feeling on that being that you can hide or block or delete me if you so wish! :) I do feel someone needs to be a voice for the animals, and I do wish someone had pointed things out to me a looooong time ago and I'd made the switch much sooner than I did. Actually, I wish I'd been raised vegan. I also genuinely believe meat and dairy consumption contribute significantly to lots of avoidable illnesses, and animal agriculture is devastating to the environment, and feel justified speaking up on these issues now and again, and consider myself in a similar position to the suffragettes and slave abolitionists, who in their day were mocked for their beliefs that women/non-whites were not equal to men. I don't think animals are equal to humans, but I do think they deserve to live. Right. I shan't say any more on this for at least a month! :)

And, woot, we have SNOW!!! A good five inches at least. And it is still snowing! Yippeeeeeee!

Lentils I have to say I feel like I've learned quite a bit about veganism from you on here amd on FB and find it all quite interesting. It's not necessarily a lifestyle I'd pick for myself. I am thinking of having a vegan week soon to try and force myself to think outside the box, as it were, with regards to mealtimes and what to cook.

Nutella Hope your DS is feeling a little better now.

admylin The tea was just a normal Teekanne one from the supermarket. It's in a yellow box and is called Ingwer-Lemon. I really like it.

cheas That does sound very stressful!

Sorry I haven't replied to everyone. I'm on my phone so can't scroll back up to reread posts.
Hope no-one's snowed in!

And something I've been meaning to ask but kept forgetting:
When did you move your DCs from a cot into a bed? DH and I were talking about it and realised neither of us have any idea about these things.

Ant, I am thrilled to hear that! :)

I'd love for DH to be snowed in tomorrow. It's walkable though, to his office, so unless the snow is literally blocking the front door, I guess off to work he will go! Boo.

I'd say move your little one when it feels right! DS (2.5) is still bed-sharing with us, it suits us all, and I don't see him moving out any time soon! We do ask him occasionally, if he'd like his own bed, and he says no.

MrTumbles I think DD1's problem was waking at the end of each sleep cycle - it's exhausting for the parent! At least your DS doesn't seem to be affected, although that must be small consolation for you when you're so sleep-deprived.

Nutella Hope your DS is better today. It's amazing how fast they grow at that age, isn't it?

Antique We moved the DC to a cot when they were about 2, 2.5. With the DDs, we had the added incentive of needing the cot for the new baby (although they spent the first 3-4 months in a bassinet so it wasn't needed as soon as they arrived).

Lentil I'm glad it's you with the snow and not me, as I think you appreciate it more!

Do you all have snow? None here, but DH is flying to Germany in about an hour and I was a little worried his flight might be affected when I read that Frankfurt airport was closed. He's flying to Hamburg though, and I don't know whether there's much snow there.

Morning!! Still havent had breakfast this morning - wanted to clear the drive before dh drove over the snow & welded it to the ground. That was the most snow thats ever fallen in a day since we lived here so not sure what'll be happening at the airports linzer. Think the snow is all in the north half of Germany - SIL in Munich had none yesterday - hope your dh gets to & from Hamburg ok.

antique - we moved the dc to a bed at between 2 & 2.6. Think we moved ds2 the earliest as he could climb out his cot even in a sleeping bag.

admylin - thanks for asking after dd & her brace. She's still only got the top one and is absolutely fine with it. The next appt is just before Easter but think they just plan to change the wire. Do you not feel a bit like they never really explain the plan about braces?? I'm quite happy to just go with the flow but then sometimes a bit of knowledge wouldnt be a bad thing.

Waves to everyone else - need to get in the shower & eat something!

Ha ha that reads like I'm going to eat in the shower - hunger is making me crazy!!