Durham / North East Meet Ups - 2012

[juneybean]

Hello hello! Here I am with good intentions to behave and show up to some meet ups since I utterly failed in 2011!

So we need ideas for daytime meets and of course we must not forget our night time meets

[b]Daytime Ideas[/b]
Beamish
Saltwell Park, Gateshead
The Giants Den, Team Valley
Botanic Gardens
Beach (in the summer of course, unless we want airborne children!)

Okay so ideas for January daytime, I think cake is definitely in order so I propose the one that's next to Ebony, the huge place, down some steps, uhh... Slug & Lettuce is it? CAKE!

January night time? Is this something we want to plan? I know we're always poor after Christmas!

[juneybean]

Me and nurseries just don't get on, I've worked/been a student in about 7 and only 1 of those I'd send my child to.

[StealthPolarBear]

that's worrying :(
How is everyone?

[spiffysquiffyspiggy]

Poor W. I can't believe the attitude of the other school, so glad he got in to the one he's at. Don't think you have to worry about DD not standing up for herself though . Give her a couple of weeks and she'll be trying to run the place...

I'm having SPB so feeling good at the moment! How did the work situation go? Did you find a new job?

[KaraStarbuckThrace]

Indith, poor W, hope he is okay and the accident doesn't knock his confidence. I hope the school dealt with it in a sympathetic way (I should think so with OFSTED around!). I am really shocked at the preschool's attitude, that is a pretty disgusting attitude and potentially very distressing for any child affected
Juney I guess I must have been lucky, the nurseries down here that I have sent DS to have been excellent, though one I looked at and rejected I was not keen on at all.

SPB - how's it going, my lovely?

Leggy Monday's I am normally home from about 1.15pm, but I can come home a little earlier if you want to stop by for a coffee or something? 16th I'll be coming to Durham so will see you then if you are coming!

[Indith]

School were fine, they have been brilliant with him.

Juney what was it about the places you worked that made you feel that way?

I think we were very lucky with ds when he was a baby. Cranmer Hall in Durham is just the most wonderful little nursery you could ever hope for. Busy Bears where ds went for his 15 hours is very good but you did have to prod them about some things.

I am shattered as usual. I would quite like to give birth soon. Need iron levels to come up first and need to sort the loft, I know there are some baby clothes in there somewhere! Oh and order the hose and liner........but my weekends keep being busy!

SPB how are you settling back into work and the travel? No coffee and cake this month so we must aim to get together. D was very put out at missing out on playing last time.

[juneybean]

First one as a student was the staff bitching about the parents constantly, about what the children wore, manager seemed a bit inept.

Second one as a student was the one I'd send my child to but it was Council run.

Third one was all right actually, I forgot about it before.

Fourth one as a supply, and the staff constantly bickered with each other, ratios were never adhered to, level 2's were left in charge of rooms, I was often left to my own devices as a supply, sometimes the manager would ask me for help on things. I despaired.

Fifth one was the one last year which was full of horrible staff who would swear in front of the children and generally didn't give a shit as long as their wages were paid on time.

Sixth one was the one I lasted one day and walked out when a child was pulled across the carpet by his trousers.

Seventh one I was aghast when I had taken a group of children to the toilet and there were no hand towels so I put my head out to ask for some (on my first day) and was told to just "get them to shake their hands"

[juneybean]

P.S. I think part of the problem is I see it from the other side and I probably pick up on things that may not even bother you (the bitching for example)

[Indith]

[stickyLFDTfingers]

juney that's scary. It is so hard to tell from a visit what's going to be the day to day care. My Mum and Dad have it now - very unhappy with the standard of care my Granny's home are giving so are looking to move. It's not easy having to rely on other people, especially when there's profit involved.

[juneybean]

I hate thinking about retirement homes as well, I'm a total sucker for old people and I hate to think of how they might be treated. As much as I love old people I couldn't work with them, it'd be too heartbreaking.

But your right, nurseries blither on about how difficult it is to turn a profit, but they'd not still be doing it if there wasn't money to be made...

[KaraStarbuckThrace]

Juney, that is awful. I would be really hurt if I thought the staff were bitching about me and DS's clothes. I send him in fairly scruffy but clean stuff - basically clothes that I don't mind getting wrecked! But I know some parents send their kids in much nicer stuff (more fool them). And I have the same thoughts about nursing homes as well.

[juneybean]

you're not your * in my post hehe

But exactly, I hate the bitching about parents, at the end of the day they're paying our wages. I mean I could use extra money at the minute but I just get panicky when I think about having to work in a nursery, I'd rather go without the money :/

[spiffysquiffyspiggy]

I've been really lucky with nursery, although there are some staff that I prefer there are none that I really don't like. And the key workers each child has had are brilliant. DS2 has his current one twisted round his little finger. He jumps into her arms in the morning and spends most of the day getting carried round he doesn't get away with that at home. Most of the staff have been there since DS1 started and we have a bloke as well which I'm really happy about as it adds a different dimension. I'm sure they have a few words to say about some of my requests- no shoes inside, fed on expressed milk, blw etc etc but they do what I ask which is what I'm bothered about

Only negative was when we got a letter saying costs were going up because they wanted to reward the staff but the staff didn't actually get a payrise I may have encouraged them to take action on that point

[LeggyBlondeNE]

gulp So erm Juney ... know anyone who's worked at the Durham Uni nursery? We've had an akward week is all, so am a bit paranoid (totally different stories from two carers on how T adjusted on her first day back. General opinion so far is to trust the keyworker's version. We haven't asked for them to clarify the confusion because within two half-days back in nursery she had sores on her bottom so we've been dealing with the nappies as a priority).

In fact I nearly did an AIBU - 5 hours between changes? Surely that can't be right?! Or are disposibles often left that long?

[juneybean]

No but I did got for an interview there for supply and they rejected me!!! I don't know if it's because I was overqualified or whether I'm just crap in interviews -sadface-

Usually nurseries have changes at 10am and 2pm (and obviously ad hoc if there's a stinky nappy!)

But as a keyperson, if my charge had a sore bottom I'd be mindful of checking more often than that

[stickyLFDTfingers]

no leggy that's definitely not right. Poor little bottom, I used to hate it when they got sore. But that was when they had a stomach upset or something, not because they'd had a half day at nursery

We didn't use the uni nursery - when we first looked at it they did short days, not sure if that's changed now. Both mine went to YW - which I have to say was really good (from what I could tell!) for my two. However, there has been a bit of a changeover of staff, and they missed a child a school pick up last term which I was a bit about, glad I'm not relying on them now.

[stickyLFDTfingers]

btw hi leggy I don't think we've met in person!

[Indith]

:( Leggy sorry T has had a bad week. Anything else that could be causing her sore bum? I assume you've not had that issue at nursery before and they won't have changed their changing habits will they?

I know a lot of people who have used/use the uni one and all very happy with it.

[spiffysquiffyspiggy]

That seems a really long time for a nursery to leave a nappy. Mine seems to change them every couple of hours costs a fortune, definitely more often than I would . Can you tell them you want her changed a set number of times? I swear by Metanium for sore bums. Don't let it get on cream carpets (thanks for that DS1) but it has done the trick when my lot have had some really sore bums.

suggestions- Is it a new type of nappy, one that she's not used to? DD always got sore when she needed to go up to the next size. She'd be weeing too much for the size she was in so it wasn't getting absorbed as quickly as it should have done so sitting next to her skin for longer. Course it is probably just sods law that it has happened now, to make you worry about nursery.

[LeggyBlondeNE]

We have had this problem before, usually when she's teething but in the baby room they were very proactive, increased her rate of change (which was always more often in there anyway) and were very on the ball. Since she moved to the toddler room she's had a sore bottom much more often and although she's been teething a lot in that time, it was worse at nursery than at home. Plus last time, when we asked for more frequent changes it took a couple of days to filter through and they reverted back again as soon as she'd healed.

Anyway I had a word with the manageress on Friday morning and she's been changed nearly hourly since!

We've been burning through metanium, but now my new plan is to have her barrier-creamed with a paper liner at every change so even if they miss a poo for a short while or her nappies get overfull she'll at least have some skin protection. Anyway, this is probably a discussion for the Nappies forum!

Hello Sticky! The uni nursery opens 8-6 these days which is fine for us, although we'll have some awkward moments when I have to do a few 3-6 practical classes later this term. You'd think they'd build in time for the lecturers to get there... (not that I'd want her in nursery til 6, poor mite would starve!)

[Indith]

Hopefully the message has stuck now.

Dd always got a sore bum when teething, even at home. She would get so sore she would bleed poor girl. I used to use a cloth wipe with aqueous cream (the bog standard excema stuff) to wipe rather than water so as to not dry the skin out then metanium. The aqueous cream did help. She actually has a little scar on her bits as it got so bad once it blistered and got infected, she needed a combination of fungal fighting cream and steroid cream to heal it!

In other news....

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW FOR MIDWIFERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am more than a little scared. Not to mention hoping they can offer me an earlier interview date as they've asked me for March 2nd and I cannot exactly commit to that one!

[stickyLFDTfingers]

ooh indith! What a corking reason to bring your midwifery interview date forward, how can they say no? . Will be crossing everything for you.

leggy sounds like they're better hours these days. Really we all ought to work 9-5 to accommodate child care hours. Then of course the hours should shrink to 9.30 - 3 so as to accommodate school hours. I'm not working atm, tho each time I look at going back I get scared about sorting out the childcare.

Tho right now I seemed to have solved that problem. It's called the Xbox, and I have two 7 year olds and two 4 year olds completely enthralled by it. They are eating fruit at the same time, so I think I get one positive and one negative parenting mark...

[Indith]

Oh fuckity fuck the original e-mail said to contact them if you couldn't make it and request an alternative date. I did that and the reply I got was spectacularly unhelpful. It says they may have a later date but nothing sceduled yet. What the hell am I supposed to make of that? Going to have to ring in the morning but I'm really scared! [pathetic]. I mean I have no control over my availability for the interview date but that isn't their fault is it, I'd go for an interview tomorrow if they'd let me butt hey will have half a million other people to interview and fill the places so I suppose they are not that bothered about being flexible. Argh!

[LeggyBlondeNE]

Ooo fingers crossed. At least they should be used to dealing with pregnant women who are bags of nerves... ;-)

What's your EDD?

In other news, my SIL who came out to dinner in December arrived in Durham last night (kids in tow, furniture and husband to follow tomorrow!) and is interested in cake on Monday, so I shall redouble my efforts to clear some time and come along.

[Indith]

EDD 21st Feb so interview date is 10 days over. Have done 14 days over before which would be handy and 3 days over which is also doable. At teh moment I quite fancy 37/38 weeks!

Been on the phone ot them this morning, attempting to sound all proper and reasonable but just gabbling (head all over the place). There is a session on Feb 9th which would be just perfect but it is full. If anyone drops out of it they will let me know (please, please please let someone drop out!) otherwise I can play it by ear so long as I keep them updated (taking someone to hold baby during tasks so I can feed in between isn't a problem). Although no date yet for later session it is very likely there will be one later in March so if the worst comes to the worst and I go and give birth the night before the interview or something then as long as I add them to my list of people to phone I shouldn't miss out. Really don't want to have to reapply next year just because I can't make the interview. Don't want to have to reapply at all I want to nail the interview and this time next year be getting ready to start uni in March!

Think am going to come on Mon, I'll just keep dd off nursery and tell them I have an appointment in Durham that means I won't be able to pick her up so she's having the day off. Screw them if they complain, she isn't settled well enough to leave her for dinner yet.