The 2 (or more?!) Under 2 Support Thread!

[GrrrlWith2Boys]

Post your woes (or joys) here if you're currently tackling 2 kids under 2 (please say i'm not alone!)

DS1 is super wingey today and driving me batty...the slightest thing and he's whining and crying.

Have managed a 10 min walk with pushchair to get out of house. DS1 watching far too much TV, i haven't brushed my hair and the dog won't stop barking.

I need some gin.

too tired to elaborate but I write human resources software for a living - I know every effing thing there is to know about emploment law. I'm a total techno bore on it. Caswa - if I can help just ask but pending additional information your job is either safe or they have to scrap the role and restructure to say your role doesn't exist. Chaotica - after 5 years there is no technicality - seriously - you have a major decision to make here. Dont want to bore anyone with this but you either 1) take whats offered with a view to the long term 2) fight for what you are due 3) go for constructive dismissal.

loucee - meant to say hello - use whatever resources you have to maintain equilibrium. thats the law -you must find the path of least resistance.

supergrrrl - Im happy for you. brill.

loucee- 19mths and almost 12wks.

holy crap! both napping at the same time!

Same here (the napping that is, not the ages). I can't believe my luck, but it probably won't last more than a couple of sentences.

Went on a very long (for DD) walk to feed ducks, swans, geese (and cake to ourselves at regular intervals to stop DD getting stroppy), and managed to include a go on the swings (for me as well) and some puddle jumping. DD didn't fall in until right at the end, which was a bonus (and quite amusing), so if I'm lucky she'll sleep for a good long time.

Padboz -- thanks for the advice; as it is I've taken (1) since work does have to pay me SMP (which is not as good as their official deal, but better than a slap in the face with a wet fish (where does that expression come from??)). I could challenge them, and I think I'd probably (definitely?) win but if I did the ramifications for the whole organisation would be huge (can't really tell you what it is) and I might find my future employment in jeopardy. (I might just quit anyway and get myself an easy-going job where they don't take the piss quite so much, but I don't know whether such things exist ) (Besides, I actually like my job, so I'd rather keep it )

How's the day going, Supergrrrl (apart from the good news about the nap)?

Loucee did you make it to your appointments on time? I am getting more efficient with practice, but I met a woman at playgroup yesterday who has 4 DSs under five (and she isn't very old) now that must make it hard to get anywhere...

I wonder whether there'd be any takers for a four under four support thread?? (Which reminds me, I must get to the family planning clinic )

Don't know what to think of the separate beds story, Padboz (although I laughed) -- it doesn't surprise me at all. The first night I had away from DD (for work...) I thought I'd miss her terribly and instead I had meal out, had a bath and slept soundly all night. It was great

Have I used every emoticon in this mammoth post yet?? No

Still no... (Better go before I become emotionally confused...)

Padboz - thank you for the offer, I might well take you up on that once I know more. Its the beginning of a 2 week consultation on the plans, however she is awaiting expert legal advice before clarifying what my situation is. Im trying not to worry about it TBH, the last time I was on maternity leave I spent the whole time stressign about work due to a dodgy boss who got sacked in the end, so Im determined not to worry myself on matters that are out of my hands right now.

I have DD in nursery 2 days a week till March, then back down to 1 day to keep her place there (and to give me a break ). It was supposed to be 2 days till xmas but I found it so hard with the 2 of them that we increased it a bit longer I feel guilty about it but I just get nowhere with the house or basic stuff like doing a tax return which I still havent done

Hello everyone sorry have not been on for a few days but I think I may have a "hungrier baby" as she's been feeding every 3 hours or less, and taking 150mls (she is 3 weeks old) and this has been the same for about a week (so not growth spurt) anyway, trying to keep up!

Enough of my whinging (don't get me started or I'll not be able to stop!) have already started thinking about the dress and have seen a few I like. The thing is, do I buy now and guess at my size for April, or wait and maybe miss out of the perfect dress? Also, I am now 30, with 2 children, maybe what ?I would previously look for may look mutton-y?

And reading your all your posts about nursery and childminders is a great relief to me. Coping with my 2 girls is proving very hard and DD1 is taking the brunt of it. The relief is knowing that sending her to nursery/childminders for a few mornings a week or whatever does not mean I am a crap mum! And I think DD1 is getting bored with just me anyway. Why is there so much guilt attached to trying to be a good parent?!!

LOL pad, you know I can imagine DH and I doing the exact same thing. Sometimes a child free night and some alceehol = restful sleep rather than a night of gymnastic sex

We are moving house soon and there is a playgroup there which I want to join but am rather scared. Like the idea of the lots of smiling though Super and will start with that (what shall I wear? I mean like just ultra-casual stuff for crawling around in, or some nice jeans and a sick-free top?)

Wishing you all lovely weekends,
gemy
xx

(Note time of post... [yawn emoticon])

Why oh why is DS wide awake, cooing and playing with toys on the living room floor??

(I don't actually expect you to answer that, ladies! I need some sleep!)

hullo lovely people. fat with chinese and wine. Children didnt piss me off once all day. They kept kissing each other. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh......
settling down to watch bourne ultimatum and scoff the rest of the prawn crackers... dangerously close to happy

Aw choppedliver that's so sweet!

And isn't Matt Damon the sexiest man EVER??

And, I am convinced I am in the Bourne Ultimatum; I was in Waterloo station when they were filming the scenes and in one he ran right past me! Oh ok. I have watched it a few times and no sign of me Oh well. I'm sure if he had've seen me, he'd have fallen in love with me. Yep. Definatly....sighs and thinks of Matt in The Bourne Identity with his top off

Chaotica 4 under 5?! Wow that woman must be able to give some tips! One of my friends had 3 close together and said the hardest was going from 1 child to 2 as the first child hadn't ever known sharing her parents and from the Mum's perspective she was breastfeeding DC2 and found it hard just having DC1 to occupy whereas when DC3 came along DC1 was adjusted to sharing, DC2 had only known sharing parents and when she was breastfeeding DC3, DC2 and DC1 played together and DC1 was a big helper!

I did make it to toddlers (albeit 15 mins late) then went on to friends house and got home at 5pm, I was really pleased we had achieved it and the whole day was so great as DD1 didn't have one tantrum and was in really good spirits even though she missed her afternoon nap.

Choppedliver sounds like you had a great day, enjoy those crackers

We had a good day as well, I was shattered but a leg wax this morning made me feel a lot better about body (feeling really flabby 4wks post section), went into town for bit of shopping then we got home and have done loads of prep and made a sticky toffee pudding for friend's coming to lunch tomorrow.

Cazwa & Gemy I too was relieved about others sending DC to nursery/childminders - raise a glass and say "we are not crap mums, we are giving our children variety"

Supergrrrl your hard work will pay off soon I'm sure, once your youngest is old enough to play with your older child you'll be able to sit back and enjoy seeing the fruits of your labour.

Padboz thanks for the welcome. Interesting to know you can advise on HR issues, I think I will have a big one brewing (unfortunately).

cinema this afternoon! hoorah for popcorn, peace and time on our own. Going to wear heels and big earrings, just because i can!!!

i might even drive, even though i not driven for 4mths...

worried about leaving step MIL to have them both though. Only left them both with her once, and they were in bed. She was so bored she woke DS2 up to feed and change him!

Have fun, Supergrrrl!

god i missed them! i did enjoy the cinema, but i felt like i was missing a leg. i was a bit teary as we got close to being home!

Hello everyone
Wow, everybody has been writing massive posts! I don't think I've got much too say, except, god I hate packing, and moving house with 2 under 2 is hard work (especially when we're all ill - the dr said to me that I need to get some rest - Ha, no shit Sherlock!). Hopefully we'll be staying put for a while.
What did you see at the cinema Supergrrrl? Dh and I were discussing an idea for a hotel for parents who are having a night away from their kids, we decided there would have to be a bar in the room, TV at the end of the bed, breakfast served at 11 am and a no sex rule, it would be called Hotel Snooze - how sad are we?

Oh, Justabout. Sorry to hear about your weekend... Teething has a lot to answer for (assuming that is what your LO was suffering from) It can go on for months. I think that's what led to my 4am post on saturday morning as DS went right back to sleep once I (eventually) decided to give him some calpol Thankfully it was a saturday and DP was home so I wasn't a lone zombie trying desperately to entertain the two DCs. Still need more sleep though (but then, who doesn't?)

I hate packing too, Hazeyjane. When do you move?

And, Supergrrrl -- so sweet that you missed them.

hazeyjane- i am legend. it was alright- i'm not a big cgi fan, and the original versions of the story are better imo.

Ooh, where to, justabout? Me and dp are just in the process of working out where to go for our first proper holiday with 2.

Anyone else got any good ideas, experiences?? (Of the not too expensive kind...)

Maybe I should just go somewhere with good puddles... I did see a newspaper article once where a couple took their toddlers hiking to the himalayas -- apparently one child hated it and the other was most excited by the sight of a black cow... (me thinks that could be done in Devon!).

justabout at your pre bubbs adventures. Wow!

I'm saving for DH and i to go to New York on our own next summer. I have £214 so far!

On a more sombre note- looks like DS2 is teething, and that he'll be a noisier teether than his brother. Ick!

Evening. Teeth. Ugh. DD1 has 4 - count em - molars coming through. Hardly excuses her DREADFUL behaviour this last few days. What do you do with a child that deliberately pushes over her younger sister, clocks that you saw it and before you can react collects up favourite toys and puts them in the naughty box and puts herself on naughty step and then sits there grinning and saying 'Im not ready to say sorry Mummy, please can you go back in the living room... giggle giggle giggle'

I'M NOT IN CHARGE HERE!

ugh.

Gemy -hungry babies....hard work! dd2 looked like a beach ball with gloves glued on at 5 months. My HV said ' you need to use more common sense than you have been doing' because she was still feeding every 3 hours....

justabout - OMG. Sounds fab. reported? what kind of reported?

hazeyjane - moving is awful. We have film of me having a paddy after 3 days of moving about 8 miles down the road with a transit van because I thought it cheaper on buying first house to rent old house for a few more days and move ourselves and therefore not get removal men in. Film involves me sitting on a fabric sofa in at the bottom of the steep steps to our house in heavy rain refusing to carry anything else any further. I then kicked a fireplace and lost a big toenail. I haven't dared move since but if I do I'm employing the TA.

Holidays - too scared by far to put small people through travel to airport/check in/ take off ears/ hours of small people in a small space full of angry people who want to be having a good time/ landing ears/ baggage collection/ car hire/ navigation/ divorce proceedings that come with foreign travel. How do you deal with it?

Why does dd1 poo in the bath EVERY night now? I mean literally. shes 13 months and she waits as long as I can wait to put her in the bath. Give in - bath time - 5-4-3-2-1 splash-down - POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

have emailed DH to ask if he can come home. Hardly slept last night, DS2 screams if i put him down...i need help. Or valium

aw crap supergrrrl. it spirals down on those days... If all else fails get out the house -the noise fills four walls and bounces back at you.