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Original poster

To wake four sleeping children, then drag them to the shop in the pouring rain?

411 replies

PomBearEnvy · 12/01/2011 21:08

Okay I need advice, have posted here because its the busiest place. My Dc are all sleeping, aged 7yrs nearly3yrs and 18months.

I have an aquaintances newborn with me who I am looking after unexpectedly after a frantic phone call. Newborn is three weeks old, mum has been taken ill, rushed to A&E. She is a single parent and has no family nearby, I only know her through mother and toddlers.
Baby was dropped to me half hour ago by her very elderly neighbour, there was no-one else to take him when she was taken ill, he would have gone into emergency care Sad

I have nappies and clothes, but baby is usually breast fed. I am no longer feeding any of mine. I dont have formula.

Its pissing down outside, all the kids are fast asleep and will object to being woken or walking anywhere,I dont own a double buggy, no longer have a sling, and dh is working away.

How the fuck am I gonna get a newborn a 18month 3yr old and poorly 7yr old to the shop and back. aggggghhh!

Its a 6/7 min walk there, I could run in under 5mins, should I do that do you think? Leaving them sleeping? Or waking the seven yr old and talking to him on the homephone from my mobile? would that be insane? or is it more insane to try and get them all up and there with only one buggy and torrential rain.
Someone HELP!!!

OP posts:
BrokenBananaTantrum · 13/01/2011 13:37

This thread has been amazing.

I am so glad that baby is ok and that you got some help.

I hope mum makes a full recovery.

:) :)

sakura · 13/01/2011 13:38

oh, I've just read this thread! it blew me away. You're so kind, I hope the mother is doing okay.

wukter · 13/01/2011 13:39

Well done Pom, you've been brilliant. People are so good. you, and everyone that helped.

How sad that a woman with a newborn was so low and so alone Sad I hope she pulls through.

PacificDogwood · 13/01/2011 13:44

Oh, my, I couldn't bear to post on this thread last night as I had no practical help to offer.

So sad about the baby's mother - I hope she will be ok.
I am so glad you got help and that people volunteered their time/money/effort.
It does restore my faith in humanity to hear about these kind of things in the midst of awful things happening Smile.

I hope you will get some rest and the baby will be well looked after and loved with its grandparents.

Leo35 · 13/01/2011 13:44

So glad that the baby and his mum have some family support around now. Glad also that you had practical help from medics and other MNetters.

Hope that you get a chance to recover in the next couple of days (and that your DC is on the mend). Take good care of yourself. You have done a wonderful thing, although you must feel as if you have been through the wringer.

Thinking of you all.

aStarWithHerOwnWays · 13/01/2011 13:45

This has made me cry Blush People can be so amazing and the world can be such a kind place. I really hope the baby's mum can start to see that again soon. Well done everyone

Eglu · 13/01/2011 13:46

It just goes to show that there are amazing people who will help. What a lovely taxi driver for example. And well done the mner and her family. You have been amazing pombear. Hope the Mum gets the help she needs.

atmywitssend · 13/01/2011 13:48

Well done Pom - you are an amazing person. Thoughts are with the poor little baby, its Mother and family, really hope that it all works out well.

dilbertina · 13/01/2011 13:57

I must admit I did wonder if this was what was happening with the mum last night, espec. when the GP was trying and failing to track down the hospital admission, but since you had already informed the authorities and they were on the case I figured there was no point suggesting it, other than to worry you further. So sad about the mum, hope she is ok.

You did brilliantly Pom, I know you barely know then mum but you must have struck her as a wonderful, warm person who she could trust her baby with, and you have proved her right. Well done!

berri · 13/01/2011 13:59

Gosh what an incredibly amazing yet sad thread at the same time. So many kind people out there.

SecretNutellaFix · 13/01/2011 14:00

Well done Pom- so glad that people can come to the aid of strangers without pausing.

Guacamole · 13/01/2011 14:01

How terribly sad. Pombear you did an amazing thing for someone in desperate need, well done!

Vallhala · 13/01/2011 14:05

"In the end a localish friend who doesn't have a car rang around and got through to a taxi firm who got formula to me from the 24hr garage, they refused to take payment for journey (which would normally be £20ish at that time of night) and the driver insisted on paying for milk out of his own pocket!!"

That's just had me in tears. What a darling!

And you are too, Pom. You must be exhausted, you poor love.

I hope so very much for a full recovery for the baby's mum and that she gets all the help that she needs.

Val x

hatwoman · 13/01/2011 14:08

blimey what a story. well done pom. and well done to the mn-er and her family and the taxi driver. it really does go to show that the world is FULL of good people.

I hope the mum recovers and that the baby can go home soon

2blessed2bstressed · 13/01/2011 14:11

I never cry - but this thread had me in tears. I saw it last night but felt too useless to post as I'm hundreds of miles away. What a kind, sensible and warm person Pom is (which this poor lady must've realised), and how lovely of the taxi driver. Also, to the "wishing to stay anon" MNetter and her family - you are all fabulous too!
I just hope now that the mum gets help and makes a good recovery x

allfurcoatandnoknicks · 13/01/2011 14:13

Just when you think the world is a horrible place, something like this happens, to prove that yes there are some decent people still out there. What an amazing thread it has had me in tears, for the baby, the mum and you pom and im a cold hearted bitch lol

Seriously though you did an amazing thing pom. That poor mother must have been so desperate.

MsKLo · 13/01/2011 14:15

That poor lady to feel so desperate

My best wishes to all involved x

MsKLo · 13/01/2011 14:17

I feel for the baby too who myst have felt so bewildered to not have mummy there. Hope baby managed to feed ok in the end as that must have been weird for him too.

welshandproud · 13/01/2011 14:19

Another in tears here! Wishing the mum lots of help,love and support so that she can see just why her life is so important.

Keep us updated Pom.
You are so very kind.

bluesheep · 13/01/2011 14:22

There are some truly wonderful people in this world, and that poor woman found one of them last night.

Pom you are amazing, as is the wonderful MNetter who helped, the brilliant and generous taxi driver (name and praise the firm I think!) and the lovely GP and midwife.

I hope you can get some rest today Pom, and if karma is true then I'd buy yourself a lottery ticket as well.

Finally I have my fingers crossed for that poor mum and her baby. Hope mum is recovering well and gets the help she needs, and that she's back with her baby soon.

Poledra · 13/01/2011 14:22

What a sad and also heart-warming story. Pom, you are a wonderful, kind person and the taxi driver and the MNetters and theri families who were such a help.

The poor mother though Sad; the only person she could think of to look after her baby was an acquaintance. It sounds like she was very isolated and lonely. I hope she gets the help she needs to get through this.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 13/01/2011 14:22

I read part of this thread at 5 am this morning. So heartwarming that so many were trying to help.

Such a sad situation, I really hope the mum is ok and gets the help she needsSad

I'm so glad you got as much support as you did Pombear.

CoronaAndLime · 13/01/2011 14:24

Blubbing like an idiot at this.

Some truly lovley people on mn.

MinnieMummy · 13/01/2011 14:25

I've only just read this and I'm amazed on all levels, so heartwarming. HUGE well done to you Pombear and to the anon MNer as well.

Poor poor mum though. Hope she gets stronger soon and is able to be back with her baby soon. When she's well again do tell her to come on here and join us! (not to update her situation, I mean just to be one of us)

cestlavielife · 13/01/2011 14:31

sad for the mum... but thank goodness mum had the presence of mind to choose pom to hand over the baby too...well done ...

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