**German Chat**everyone welcome* - macht es euch gemütlich

[ZZZen]

reden wir weiter...

zzen - kids loved the beans - i dont eat them! havent opened the cheese yet - still had a bit from tegut left!
bought some onion bahjis and veg samosas - going to have them tonight then it'll feel like our old fridays in the uk!

yum samosas.... we had a lovely meal at an Indian restaurant not long ago. DEVOURED it, except the thin spicy bread they serve beforehand, don't like that, but liked everything else. Need a good Indian once in a while.

I like my baked beans but they have to be Heinz. I also violently dislike those American baked beans with all sorts of odd flavours mixed in. Igitt.

i love beans but they dot like me - i've got gut ache today from having a spoonful of them yesterday!!

all this talk of indian food is making me want to go and put them in the oven now!! need to go and do some housework to overcome the craving!!

oh tis not fair

I want indian

must cook one again soon

took me ages last time but was rather tasty

will think about the appointment

can I just ask what are your dc eating for breakfast now it's warmer? Dd has porridge sometimes in winter or a slice of toast with a piece of fruit. She's never that hungry first thing but nowadays she mostly has a smallish bowl of cereal with milk and say a peach or a handful of grapes.

I think the cereal (crunchy nut cornflakes, rice pops) and stuff like that is a load of sugary junk but can't really think of anything else as a quick and easy alternative.

She is not big on musli, sometimes has a yoghurt with a bit sprinkled on top and she doesn't like soft-boiled eggs.

why are they saying he needs to go Alice? Is it not settling at kiga, being disruptive or hitting other dc?

hi
well he is finding kindergarten

fun

but the lack of structure is not so good for him

and he is not a conformist
he is off kindergarten at the mo

breakfast for ds is a fromage frais raspberries and brioche

but he would eat that for all meals

I have never thought about Lidl/Aldi having British food week and what they would sell then. I'm always looking out for Aldi to sell frozen Brezn around Oktoberfesttime. Onion bahjis are so easy to make. I use a recipe I found online and it's a doodle.

Canella, I was going to recommend looking out for the Africa festival that is happening every year in Wuerzburg but this year's was last weekend, it seems.

we saw the tents from the car but we didnt make it down there - kids had walked for hours by then (they're only 7,4 and 2) so didnt think they'd manage more! looked good though!

whats the recipe for onion bahjis - can you find the link? We're loving those frozen Brezen in aldi's - had them yesterday with scrambled egg - i imagined shock/horror from anyone german but the kids loved it (and i had eggs to use up!!)

Canella, I use this recipe onion bahjis but I only use my own spice mix when I have time to mix and grind otherwise I use a curry powder with extra cumin. And I don't make my own mango chutney either (but I made my own Seville orange marmalade this year [smug]). We had Indian take aways yesterday (getting a new kitchen at the moment) and they must have packed another order in with mine (or given us a few things to try since some food was in smallish containers) so there is plenty left for tonight, hurrah.
I've never been to the Africa festival myself but I know it's really popular and my nieces loved it even when they were little. I think there is quite a bit to do for children.

wouldn't send my dc to a specialist because he needed a more structured environment or was non-conformist (although depends how exactly he is non-conformist I suppose). If you think his behaviour is in the acceptable range, I don't think I would do it personally alice but I don't know him or see what the carers see when he is at kiga.

There's no mad rush, is there?

ZZZen

shall i cancel then
flip

I feel out of my depth

not helped at the mo with ds being ill
he is dozing on the sofa

after screaming at me

that I was not looking after him

Think I will start a thread about five year olds again

Hi Alice, we went at my instigation because ds1 was having problems with his evil witch teacher at school, so I was very concerned how ds2 would get on, as his behaviour was a lot more challenging. I was sure he was dyspraxic, but they don't seem to have even heard of it, but he was dx with ADHD. I knew something was wrong though and did not consider his behaviour to be withing the 'normal' range. I wanted a dx, also becasue (at that point) we were going to be moving after a while back to UK and I'd been told it was an arduous process in UK, and wanted to do it in CH where it was a lot easier.

TBH I think I agree with Zzzen not to start it unless there's really good reason. Is it you who wants help and answers (nothing wrong with that of course) or is it the KG pushing for him to go? Do you think it is the lack of structure that's the problem?

Is there an alternative? Funnily enough I was going to ask on here. After I had to go in for meeting at KG cos ds3 hitting other kids, the Erzieerin (sp?) pushed a leaflet in my hand for an oranisation that met with kids and help them (being really vague, sorry) and promptly lost the leaflet. I wanted to ask if it was a good idea to get him some support, eg with anger management, or bad idea because he'd be 'labelled', - I just don't know how it works here.

If I find the leaflet I'll get back to you, as it might be useful as a 1st step.

Can you lot not get Heinz baked beans? We have them in our localEdeka, and it isn't a big one.

thank you earnest

it is hard to know whether to follow through on this

ds is different and maybe the only half english child that the kindergarten has had

but I feel in me there may be more, but I want him to be happy we have had a very difficult couple of years and am very unsure if there is an underlying problem

other than boredom and attention seeking

he is unwell again and is sleeping on the sofa

so need to rouse him in a mo

if we see someone
are we able to keep the findings ourself or will it all go along on a giant wave

That's the thing. I don't know. If it isn't some major problem though, I can't see social services getting involved, they must have enough drastic cases to deal with and not be that bothered about one half-English dc who isn't fitting in to his kiga routine.

Can you go and see someone outside your village without the kiga being involved to put your own mind at rest if you find his behaviour worrying? What does dh think?

Thing is if you're still going to be there next year and ds will have to start school, might be good to get to work on whatever needs addressing now and not leave it till then IYSWIM? Because if he is a non-conformist type, school might be a REAL struggle for him on that count but the structure would most definitely be there.

we may be staying well dh wants to

he wants to buy a small house down the road

anyway ds has been asleep for two hours
and is so drowsy when i rouse him

shall i just put him into bed

he wont sleep till tomorrow will he

feck knows what bug he is habouring

iam at a loss

reading htse posts sounds like everyone has had an eff of a week. My Dad who is 84 promptly had diarrhoaea last Monday holiday all over our carpet, then my pet cat whom my parents look after in Chester got run over, then my daughter badly sprained her arm on the trampoline. I am in favour of "recycling" it but German wife wants to keep it, and this morning dear son had tummy oain after maybe swallowing some tablets. I was asleep as I had a thunderous hangover when it happened but he was okay.

So if this week may be lucidly called a "bastard" then that is what I had.

My mum is from near Chester. I like it there. You really have had a crap week, haven't you? Mind you , dunno about counting in your horrendous hang-over with the other mishaps, you had a hand in that one!

Next week can only get better eh? Great your dad is still going (no pun intended) at 84. You've got good genes then.

I'm a bit wary of involving German authorities in my life in any way Alice, I don't know how Austrians are but I have a feeling once you call them in, you don't easily get rid of them again. I may be wrong. Listen talk to dh. If you both feel honestly there is some behavioural probelm with ds which is unlikely to resolve itself or would worry you long term if it did not resolve yourself, I think it is ok to call in professional help and get an informed analysis. You might get helpful adviceon how to move forward.

I would (being me) chose not to go somewhere the kiga had sent me tbh. Maybe I am just a bolluckshead about that kind of interference but who is the KINDERGARTEN to say your ds needs to see a psychiatrist? That's my take on it. You may be more laid back and less suspicious. Kiga carers aren't highly trained specialists exactly, are they? Mind you they do see a lot of dc so they know what is and what is not regular behaviour. Friends of mine whose dc had trouble with school have all had their dc analysed as having ADAS (I think it is sort of hyperactivity syndrome) for which they get pills. I don't think it isthe answer to everything personally.

What non-conformist things for example is your ds doing at kiga (if you want to divulge)?

Hi folks,

been busy these past few days and had hardly any MN time.

I tried the Lidl stuff last year, it was very hit and miss.

Ernest
Happy birthday to your DD.

Alice
What is your DS having problems with exactly? Has the kita suggested other solutions, or tried different options to help him settle?

Maninadirdl
Oh, that does sound like a shite week.

We had our very first sleepover last night so both DC are exhausted and almost ready for bed at 7pm. Despite sleeping for an hour at about 4pm. DD was here with her friend, they went to sleep after 10pm and were awake at 5am. DS was at his friends house, they were asleep a bit earlier and slept till 7am. Feel we took the wrong DC, next time we will have the boys.

Zen adn Lindt: Sweethearts. Sort of like the internet equivalent of laying yer head on some kind lady's breast while they say "there there better better".

(oh god I am sure that sounded pervy)

I unbelievably need a holiday. Last year we took a tent I found in a recycling centre down to Corsica. My son promptly crapped in my face in Restonica Valley in the tent at 3am whilst the effort of camping as a hardened (ish) desert camper from Saudi slowly became a chore. I used to love camping, now I hate it!!!!!

I was never a happy camper, it is all a bit too close to nature for me. Since having DC I would not even consider it. I might go for a weekend in a caravan, we quite enjoy it actually.

We had a good morning in Divonne, just over the border in France. They have a Sunday Farmers' Market there, lots of yummy stuff. Not much use to me as I am doing another Heilfasten week. Got to lose a couple of pounds before I go to Scotland next week for the Henny Night.

holiday : YES, having a dc crap in your face in a tent : well NO

Camping always sounds very idyllic but my experience of it (pitching a tent in the dark stupidly right next to a river we didn't see was there - idiots) and waking up about 5 am to find the tent flooded, pouring rain outside, the river risen, mud water EVERYWHERE.

That's so not me, I don't take that kindo fthing in my stride.

Listen everyone just an update on admylin. She's installed in the Lake DIstrict, the dc are at school, she has her gear with her, mostly in storage for the moment and she has dh set up in his new flat. So the worst of the hassle is through but dh is being a bit of a pain so she still isn't 100% at ease in her new life yet. She's looking into studying. Seems very busy so isn't making it to MN much.

Think we need to make a concerted effort to drag her kicking and screaming back on the German thread. I will get to work on that tonight.

Zzzen - really pleased you´ve updated us on admylin, I was beginning to get worried. Admylin - if you´re reading, get yourself back here and let us know how you´re getting on.

I bought loads of the salt and vinegar chipsticks from Lidl and gave myself stomach ache by eating 3 packets in one go. They´re absolutely delicious - really vinergary.

Camping is my idea of hell. We used to go camping every weekend when I was a child. We even used to camp at Christmas, in Coventry of all places. I bloody hate it. Mind you we did hire a motorhome for 3 weeks in Australia and that was fine because you´re outside for most of the time rather than stuck inside watching the rain come down as tends to happen in Britain.

Dd had a sleepover in Kindergarten on Friday. Unfortunately I don´t think they actually did much sleeping because she´s been in a foul mood ever since.

Likethe sound of those chipsticks. Yum...

Must lose weight... must lose...

I'm sure she enjoyed the sleepover but they don't get much sleep, I don't think. My dd still hasn't forgotten it. I think it's very brave of the Erzieher, I couldn't have handled 15 dc between 3-5 all on my own. Our Erzieher did. She took them all to the playground, then back to kiga for a meal and games and then had them all up at 6 the next morning, dressed, breakfasted and cleaned up.

Made me wonder if she was superhuman tbh

How's Frosch's baby then? And Frosch? We need an update. Should be back home by now.