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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

Living in America... visitors welcome

964 replies

SuperBunny · 09/03/2009 19:14

East Coast
MaNanny - Boston
Twinmommytobe - Boston
MuminCT - CT
Greatgooglymoogly - NY State
Yesthereare4ofthem - NY State
Brooklynmom - NYC
alarkaspree - NYC
MKG - New Jersey
Mummimamma - PA
Poetmum - PA
Twirl - MD

South
Earlybird - TN
jabberwocky - AR
Sunchowder - Florida
Marls001 - Bentonville, AR
Tinpot - NC
MadameDeathStare- AL

Midwest
SuperBunny- Chicago
Dodgykeeper - Dayton, OH
Chocchipcookie - Ohio
MonkeyLover
KickAssAngel - Ann Arbor, MI
MumofFivemeanschaos

Rockies
Alipiggie - Boulder, CO
Ribena

Northwest
AnnieLaurie - Seattle, WA
Dooneygirl - Oregon City, OR

California
SittingBull - nr San Francisco
Califrau - Milpitas
loopsngeorge - Brentwood, LA
Syd - Manhattan Beach, LA
SofiaAmes - LA
LATyke - Redondo Beach
CarmenSanDiego - San Diego

Texas
Texan - Dallas
Tiggyhop - Houston
Vixie78 - Houston
BananaPudding - Austin
Cosmicdust - East Texas

Canada
Hellish - Ottawa
Shouldlistenedtomymum - Hamilton
Nooka - BC
Jacksmama - Langley

Exotic Islands
Anorak - Bermuda
cp - Trinidad
Barefeete - BVI

Brazil
Albert

OP posts:
AnnieLaurie · 23/04/2009 05:03

Oh drat, can hear DS2 stirring, going to have to leave the laptop, so going to post anyway...

DS1 is going through his challenging 'two's' phase. He is very energetic, quite a handful, likes to push boundaries etc, but is very sweet and loving underneath it all. His langueage is very good for his age.

He has for a few months now been doing the 'whiney voice' NON STOP, and gets very naughty. Tonight he stuck his hand in his milk cup at teatime and spat on the table. I know he was very, very tired, but it really pissed me off, and when he stuck his fist into his milk again, after a warning the first time he did it, I took him up to his room and left him to cry while I got ready to give DS2 a bath.

Problem is, after 2 mins I went in to talk to him, but he puts his feet up to push me away and pushes my neck with his hands and tells me to 'Go away'. As I said, he was very tired, but I am struggling to know what to say when he does this (which is quite regularly ). I dont like leaving the room cos it looks like I am doing what HE has told me to do, but I also dont want to stay and give attention to this behaviour.

Do any of you have any advice/thoughts on this? Is this standard 2 yr old behaviour - I am really hoping it is - or should I be worrying that my parenting skills are not very good to have produced a little boy that does this.

Obviously sleep deprivation from having 3 month old baby is making me fret about things more than I usually would

Right better get upstairs to deal with DS2, will check in later, hopefully for some words of wisdom from someone...anyone!

Thanks x

Original poster
SuperBunny · 23/04/2009 05:22

Shorts & t-shirts, Bunkups, hooray! The children's museum will be great. I am sure they will love it! Have fun. Enjoy Chicago I lived in Leeds too.

I think Iowa is similar to Indiana in that it feels like you are suddenly in 1988 when you cross the state line.

AL, I don't think DS1 is at all unusual. He has a new baby to deal with and is learning if/ when/ how to assert authority, control situations, be independent as well as all the other stuff that 2-3 yr olds do. I think it is a busy time for them.

I think, if it were me, I would say something like "I love you and I want to talk to you but I can't do that when you tell me to go away. Come and get me when you are ready for a hug" or something less wordy. I dunno. Being a parent is hard, isn't it?

DS seems to do stuff just to push me - he crumbled up his cupcake this morning and I told him if he did it again, I'd take the cake away so, of course, he did it again and I took the cake away and then he had a big tantrum but I was really annoyed that he was a) deliberately making a mess, b) deliberately doing something I asked him to not to

Anyway, I really don't think it is your fault. You are tired and stressed and he is, well, almost 3. That's what they do ime. Sorry!

OP posts:
Original poster
SuperBunny · 23/04/2009 05:24

Oh, my DS spat in my face this week. Not a proper spitting, more a horsey 'prrrrr' type noise but he did it in front of other people who were horrified. I don't think he meant it nastily but yuck. And . We had words.

OP posts:
AnnieLaurie · 23/04/2009 05:38

Thanks SB, that is reassuring! Anyone else got any ideas?

(at least darling DS2 is continuing to be the most placid, easygoing baby...so far!)

kickassangel · 23/04/2009 18:39

dd went through a bit of a 'intrigued by spit' stage, not so much spitting in my face, except as a by-product, but letting dribble out, and poking it around on the floor, blwing saliva etc.

the yanks are far more anti-spit than the brits, heaven help any of them who go to china.

yep, AL, they like to know how much they can get away with. just stay firm & have th odd glass of wine.

Original poster
SuperBunny · 23/04/2009 23:52

I am always appalled at the number of people who gob on the street. It's disgusting. I don't know if it is any different in the UK but it's no wonder DS is fascinated with spit and drooling. Today he licked a table in a cafe, spat filled his recorder with spit til it came pouring out of the bottom, put his special collection of polished stones & shells in his mouth. He's worse than when he was a baby!

Oh, he also filled a friend's sandbox with water so I now have to replace the sand. It's been a trying day

OP posts:
Original poster
SuperBunny · 23/04/2009 23:53

The spitting in my face was a by-product but revolting nonetheless. Kids, eh?

OP posts:
kickassangel · 24/04/2009 00:15

somehow, you think you'll get past it. i remember when dd was 2 weeks old & my parents had their ruby wedding party. needless to say, i had little to wear that was smart, except one white shirt & white linen trousers. between me having a bath & being ready to go, i had every type of bodily liquid deposited on me.

luckily a wrap around shawl hid it all nicely!

doesn't happen quite so much now, but she did find it hilarious to chase me with paint-covered hands the other day.

dooneygirl · 25/04/2009 02:52

I've not been to China, but DH's cousin lives there, and to hear him tell of the campaign to get the person to confine their bodily fluids to the proper receptacles was quite funny, indeed.

I had the weirdest thing happen last night. I was pretty sick, and took some generic Nyquil. I went to sleep, but was stuffy and it woke me up. Even though I haven't actually had one, it felt like what I was doing was a bad acid trip. I knew I was flapping my arms and walking in a circle, but couldn't stop it. DH wasn't asleep yet, as I went to sleep really early, and I couldn't stop yelling at him to come help me, even though he came and I didn't want him to touch or talk to me. When he talked to me, I could see the words flying out of his mouth, and thought they were going to hit me on the head. I couldn't stand to be touched, because it felt like a heavy gorilla was sitting on me wherever I was being touched. I saw black and white tie dye patterns that were throbbing to the beat of some unknown song playing in my head. I decided not to take any medicine today at all.

Original poster
SuperBunny · 25/04/2009 02:58

Dooney, stay away from the Nyquil! Sounds interesting, if a little scary.

OP posts:
dooneygirl · 25/04/2009 03:06

There was also a bit with my crossword puzzle book chasing me right before I woke up, and I had to think hard if that was real or not.

Not only am I staying away from the Nyquil, I'm staying away from the Dayquil also.

Original poster
SuperBunny · 25/04/2009 03:32

Wise decision

OP posts:
Original poster
SuperBunny · 26/04/2009 18:14

Dooney - are you around? And not insane on Nyquil? I have a q for you:

I picked up a prescription from my dr, only to find he had used my middle name rather than my last name . The receptionist said to send it off to my pharmacy anyway (I have to do it by mail), with a copy of my drivers license which shows my middle name and hope for the best but I suspect they will just send the script back to me, won't they? I know you know a bit about pharmacy stuff...

OP posts:
dooneygirl · 26/04/2009 23:43

Depends on the state, and what the drug is. If it is a C-2 to C-4 (you know, the "good" stuff, stuff with massive pain pills, or sleeping pills or things like Valium, Xanax, or some muscle relaxers, codeine cough syrup, etc) then it will definitely not work. If it is for just your normal run of the mill drugs, then they will most likely contact your doctor and verify it is for you. That can usually be done with a phone call.

I know rules like that vary from state to state, and if your pharmacy is say in New York, then it is a big no-go no matter what. Your Dr. was a big dumb-ass and it won't save him time in the end, because somehow he's going to have to get involved.

kickassangel · 27/04/2009 01:20

home made mac & cheese, with beer, on the decking.

mmmmmmm.

Original poster
SuperBunny · 27/04/2009 01:48

Ugh, I thought as much. It is for 'good' stuff and I have had problems with it before. Ah well, will just have to wait. Thanks Dooney.

Mac & cheese & beer sounds lovely. I have been dairy-free for a week (bar 1 minor mishap) and am craving cheese.

Today I have:

  • had a girly day out with my friend - we went to a beading store and made sparkly earrings

  • been to a knitting session at a friend's church

  • Made a delicious saucy chocolate pudding

  • been to the pub with some other friends. Coke is less than $1!

  • been to another church to see other friends in a Javanese Gamelan concert.

I am not sipping black tea and nibbling more cucumber sandwiches.

OP posts:
Califrau · 27/04/2009 02:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dooneygirl · 27/04/2009 02:34

Yeah, we're pretty wiped out here, too. Colin's croup has been coming and going for a little over a week. And Caitlin is definitely a bit sick. So they've both been in our rooms having coughing and breathing problems, and I can't get any better, because they keep me up all night.

This week is going to be crazy busy, as it is my birthday, and not only are my in-laws coming, but so is DH's aunt and uncle. And then that big charity thing that Derick's work paid for last year is happening Saturday, and we just got invited. I thought I had a dress, but I hate it, so I have to shop for one again. I think I'd rather just not go this time.

Original poster
SuperBunny · 27/04/2009 02:46

Not officially, Cali. I'm borderline atm. It's an experiment to see if it sorts out my eczema. It was actually meant to be for DS's benefit but he is happily scoffing cheese and cake and stuff whilst I am eating rice cakes

I hope everyone gets better: It's almost summer - no time for snotty noses and coughs and croup.

Have fun dress shopping Dooney.

OP posts:
dooneygirl · 27/04/2009 03:41

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I really don't want to go dress shopping. Not in the least little bit at all. Not even to Macy's.

Original poster
SuperBunny · 27/04/2009 03:50

Dooney, I am worried. Maybe you should have some Nyquil.

D'ya know what... my flies were undone a bit earlier and I thought of you. It was ages ago you had that problem but it still makes me think of you. Probably always will

OP posts:
dooneygirl · 27/04/2009 04:05

Maybe the Nyquil caused permanent damage to some areas of my brain?

Just like I will always think of you when I see recipes for homemade marshmallows. I seriously wish that I liked them, because if I did, you know you'd be finding pictures of them all over my profile.

Original poster
SuperBunny · 27/04/2009 04:20

lol and just a tiny bit and quite a lot

Dooney (or anyone else) do you have any good foodie books you have read? I have read a few recently and am hungry for more

OP posts:
dooneygirl · 27/04/2009 05:15

Like what kind of foodie book? Something along the lines of recipes, or foodie snobbiness or more along the lines of Fast Food Nation, or more of a what it is like to be a chef a la Anthony Bourdain? I've been stuck in a rut, and have been only interested in books about the science behind cooking. I've been reading things by Mark Bittman, Michael Ruhlman, and Harold McGee, and I can't remember his name, but I checked out a book called, boringly enough, The Science of Cooking by some British dude.

Mostly I stick to my food blogs, though. I just counted and I have 84 of them I read. I'm a BIG geek, aren't I?

Since I try to get all my food posts consolidated, can people tell me why Jamie Oliver is hated so much on here? I quite like a lot of his recipes, and they're going over huge with the family, especially with Colin. And I found, is it BBC4 recipes. Those are going over great, too.

StillOverHere · 27/04/2009 13:01

Just popping in to tell Superbunny that we went to the preview of the Harry Potter exhibiton at the Science Museum yesterday. The guides have some seriously toe-curling British accents from the Dick VanDyke school of acting. Lots of "toodle-pips" etc! I checked the website and they are still looking for guides with "authentic British accents" - they definately need us. On the foodie books have you read Feast or Eating for England both by Nigel Slater or Sausage in a Basket by Martin Lampen. Toodles!