Springing into Summer with 2 (or more) pre-schoolers!

[GoodGrrrlGoneBad]

Here we are ladies- our old thread was still the Xmas one!

Join us here if you have 2 or more pre school kids.

Current hop topic is tantrums, but feel free to chip in about anything and everything!

Welcome trinity and yes, I can imagine definately challenging. Although at least at 2, your younger child can do more. Izzy is 18 months and she wants to be in the slide and all the stuff Freya does, but sometimes she is just too little!

Hiya Jewels- THats good news about the house -

We had ours valued and it has gone down unfortunately so altho we were thinking of selling and renting to save money as the rent for the same size house would be about a thousand less than we are paying . Its not worth it now unless our house goes back up in value. I like our house tho so im happy staying put anyway.

Nappy was pretty awful and down his leg (sorry tmi) so yes had to be quick to save the living room rug from any more stains.

Hope the gym wasnt too painful and yes its very exciting learning to drive - I loved it but dont think I would pass my test now if I took it

Melissa not well with a temperature tonight so I hope we all get some sleep poor thing is really not very well.

Hi Trinity , I have a 2 and a 1/2 and a 1 and a 1/2 year old as well as a 10, 17 and 19 year old but they are all challenging in their own ways

Oh yes I agree tracy, to rent a fabulous big house is the same price as our mortage (when we move we will be renting)

Of course, for a quick sale, we may well sell for less than we bought for. But, if you're going to do it, you gotta do it! So we are just going to...well.....do it!

Hopeing Melissa feels better soon

Hi All

Am back from holiday and trying to catch up. Hello to all newbies - don't like to avoid names, but there seem to be so many of you . I have 3.4 DD and 22m DS.

Had a great holiday - lots of hanging about on the beach and playing in the sea. My sandcastle skills have really improved. And it hardly rained (which was pretty good considering I only made it as far as France). Now I'm trying to readjust to the usual routine (and the terrible weather - so glad we didn't go for a British holiday like we'd nearly did).

Congratulations again, Tracyface. And J&G your plans sound really exciting.

Hi Chaotica - sounds like you had a nice time in France. Where did you go? We were an hour from La Rochelle and it was lovely.

We are going to brave camping in Dorset next weekend so I really hope the weather improves.

Melissa slightly on the mend thank goodness but she is feeling very emotional and grouchy about every little thing. THinking of taking out shares in calpol and nurofen as we have been through quite a bit past few days just to keep her temperature down. Just waiting for Isaac to get it now altho I shouldnt be so pessimistic I suppose before we go away for our little holiday.

Having another lazy day at home today so as not to spread germs around

We weren't that far from La Rochelle either, Tracyface - about 100 miles away inland for a week (with FIL, or 'outlaw' as I never got married) and then on the coast in the Vendee just north of la rochelle. We didn't go there (didn't see the point with toddlers in tow) but we did go to Les Sables d'olonne which was lovely and had a great beach for the kids.

(Their biggest fear to start with was the waves, which was hard after swimming in a lake near FIL's house. But they got used to it once they realised that the ocean wasn't really trying to get them )

Chaotica - La Rochelle is lovely even with toddlers and teenagers in tow. Infact we stumbled upon a little show in the Harbour which was there about 4 years ago too which had dogs in little dresses dancing and birds performing tricks and the kids loved it and we managed to drink a bottle of wine and pizza while it was on - so perfect!

We too have been to Sables and St Giles Croix de Vie (sp?) has so many great beaches and little towns around that area. Although the weather has always been so unpredictable when ever we have been it always seems to rain more on us there than in England.

We have decided to go again next year though as there is always so much more we want to see and always run out of time.

My two wouldnt go in the sea as they were much to frightened of he waves so well done getting yours in !

We are still having a lazy day at home this week as they are a bit under the weather and hope to be recovered for next week as I would like to go out - getting a bit stir crazy and spending too much time on laptop is not very productive.

Tracyface - La Rochelle sounds lovely I was quite surprised that the DCs braved the waves: they didn't to start with, although they got better every day. And they were put to shame by the toddler of a French Polynesian family who we kept seeing on the beach - the dad kept taking his son right into the breakers and just lifting him up out of the way - the boy did seem to be enjoying it though (thankfully!).

Hope you start feeling better soon.

I've just been exhausted since I got back. I need another rest...

Welcome back to all of you who have been away on holiday

We have a meeting at Freya's nursery tomorrow, and still need to get her a passport photo (I've no idea what for) for when she goes first time on Tuesday.

We walk past it every day on the way to the shops, and Freya always asks for a list of things she can do at nursery, to which I respond my telling her with some factual things and some not so (she has an idea that there is a climbing frame inside the nursery, as we have this sory book and their is a climbing frame in the nursery in the book) not sure how i'll get round that one

Anyway, we were doing the usual list of things to do at nursery and suddently I got really emotional, and couldn't speak and Freya was like 'what's wrong mummy?' so I had to make up this story about having some fluff in my eye. And then Freya wanted to look in my eye for the fluff, and I had to let her. She really was dissapointed not to see The Fluff. God what'll I be like Tuesday? Any hints and tips girls? I don't want to freak her out!

Hi All, sorry not posted much.
Hope you're all good!

Good luck with driving Jewels! Although i dislike driving and rarely do, i'm glad i have my license for emergencies

Kids are off the the zoo with CM today, and i have a day off! They won't be back until 5pm I'm determined to not spend it doing housework...

My friend gave me an exercise bike yesterday (which is still in the hallway) so going to attempt to get it upstairs (which will be a workout in itself), maybe have a go on it, then walk the dog. I've signed up to do a 10km run the end of Sept (which is flipping madness) but the friend that gave me the bike has signed up too, and she's less fit than myself, so at least we'll have company to do it!

3 weeks until our holiday! Going to see if i can find a Spanish phrase book somewhere, so i can make a dreadful attempt at speaking the language while we're there!

Hi everyone can i join please?

Im mum to 4 girls of 7,4,22m and 9 months.

Thankfully dd2 starts school in september (but only half days ) so will only have 2 at home with me!

Morning. dd1 23mo up from 9-230 last night. We have been potty training for nearly a week all been good only about 1 accident a day yesterday none but her sleep has got awful.
She keeps asking for the potty at night (even tho in pull ups) and seemed like nothing wrong with her just wide awake.

Woke up dd2 11mo and in between all of that DH decided to bring a friend home from the pub and talk drink and watch tv extra loud which properly woke dd2 up. Not impressed as I'd already texted him to say dd1 had been up for ages and I was exhausted. And they drank my birthday pressie champagne.

Argh not impressed. Rant over!

Sleepy- have also signed up for 10k run end of Sept did the 5k in June and was inspired. Don't know if that was a good idea..

How lovely 4andnotout I'd love to have 4 girls eventually. Am halfway there at least! But not on mornings like this one...

girls-Yes having 4 girls is lovely although everyone just assumes we must be trying for a boy, especially when we tell them that we are ttc!

My dd3 is nearly 23 months and no where near potty training yet, yesterday she took her nappy off, put it in the nappy bucket and then went and poo'ed in the garden

And as for sleeping, don't get me started! DD3 is a nightmare and dd4 will only settle if she is bfing all night in my bed I did have her sorted and sleeping in a cot but 3 weeks co-sleeping whilst we were camping in france at the beginning of the summer hols has buggered it all up I need to get her back into a routine as im sooo tired!

Hi 4andnotout

Girlsayear - rant is fully justified! I'd have been furious!

Good luck with the 10km! I'm hoping that plenty of dog walking and exercise biking will help prepare me. I hope!

Hi All,

girlsyearapart - completely justified rant. Tell him he has to buy you more champagne.
FWIW DD had a waking up in the night phase while potty training - she asked every five minutes for the toilet and it drove me mad but I think it's quite normal as they become aware they want to go. (DS keeps asking to get on the toilet (he's 23m too) but won't sit on there without his nappy on . He even pushes his sister off there when she really needs it ( (again)). I think we have some way to go!

10km Sleepy - I'm impressed!

DD is going through an angry phase at the moment and stamps her feet and strops a lot... Is this what I have to look forward to? While DS has taken to wearing DD's clothes and getting his hair done. He looks lovely , but I try to persuade him to change before we go out.

4andnotout - 4 girls and ttc? You are braver than me! (Although I might have kept going if I'd started younger...)

Good luck with the driving, Jewels

I know when you have two or more of the same people keep asking/assuming you want the other. We would both be happy with only girls.
Potty training went well today but the sleeping thing is a joke now.

She woke up at 830 then I put her to bed where she screamed her head off until finally calmed her down and she slept at 130. I woke her at 230 as didn't want tonight to be awful but no she's in bed screaming and has been for nearly half an hour..

I haven't been on for a while as to be honest have been having quite a hard time.

Just really tired and being pg always seems to ignite my complete resentment towards my ILs who do absolutely nothing to help out, despite living down the road. My DH says they can't do much as they are in their 70s but they manage to play golf, keep a house, go on camping trips (with a trailer tent they errect themselves) and go on massive treks. Not asking them to have the kids just come round and play with them and read stories to take some of the pressure off me. Anyway, rant over. I know being bitter is only hurting myself and must just ignore them but it's hard when my parents (who live a 6 hour drive from here) would love to be more involved.

But coming on here has made me laugh as I too have been atempting to potty train DD this hol. She is 2 in September and DH was really keen that I try and telling me she would just do it etc. I only just got DS1 out of nappies in June (he was 3 in May) but girls are meant to be quicker! I spent 2 days scrubbing wee from the carpet. On the third day (Saturday) DH took over. She was back in nappies by lunchtime!

On the subject of sllep. My DS2 (8 months) has satrted waking up a lot in the night. From about 4 months he stopped having a night feed and only occasionally woke up but all of a sudden he has been waking and is really inconsolable. Not sure if he is teething or what but it is very tiring. Any tips/ thoughts gratefully received.

Hope everyone is surviving the hols. Only 3 weeks to go and then DS1 goes to pre-school 5 mornings a week!

chaotica I am sure your DS does look lovely and at least you know when it is time to comb his hair there won't be a fight!

Becky that does sound really hard on your, with the ILs down the road and not supporting you at all. Maybe you just have to get tough and tell them? Next time you see them just say how you don't appreciate their complete lack of help. Or, really your DH should have thay conversation. But let's face it, it needs saying. Even if relations are 'frosty' in the immediate after-math, if they do some around and start being helpful, the ends are worth the means or whatever they say.

Well girls my husband and I attended the pre-pre-school show-around. And it is such a lovely nursery but I was feeling waves of emotion. And was welling up through quite alot of it. God knows what I'll be like tomorrow when I take her for 1 hour, for the first time. Any tips? I do not want to cry when we are there, as this'll just freak her out! Help please!

Izzy potty training is really the same as usual. She does go on the pitty after waking, and sometimes if she wants a poo she will go and get the potty and take it to me. But today, she came downstairs, grabbed a nearby bucket, squatted, and did a massive wee! (it was only a little bucket that comes with a childrens bucket and spade) and she was veryb proud of herself. She carried the bucket - after I had washed it out - around with her well into the evening, and even wanted it in the bath with her

Night allxx

Hi - can I join you? I have 2 boys, 6m and 19m.

It is lovely and fun most of the time but a bit mad at others you will know! I have to carry poor DS2 around with me as his (slighly) older brother just delights in hitting him on the head to annoy me. Trouble is the little one now wants to start crawling so think I'm entering a new phase of them both being mobile - help!

Looking forward to some chats and advice from others doing the same or been through it before, although the mere mention of potty training on here terrifies me!

Hi Loosey - i have 2 boys, 3yrs and 22 mths.

DS1 is potty trained, it really wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. He's been dry at night for a while now too.

Welcome loosey

Yes, the potty training is really not that bad. And you can tell if your child is ready, so hopefully you are both working towards the same thing I.E being out of nappies!

I had my driving lesson last night and it was a bit hairy for the first five mins. Then I was ok. Did driving around, roundabouts, 3 point turns and a bay park and managed to do these fine. Next is the dreaded reverse round a corner (I am shit at it) and the reverse parking (shit at that too).

Freya's first day was a but of a knightmare! She went in easily enough. When I came to collect her she gave me a great big hug and when I said to say 'bye' to the others she said she didn't want to go! And then she literally screamed and shouted and threw THE BIGGEST tantrum she has ever had, right there infront of all the nursery teachers and all the other mums. I even tried the 'last go on slide' technique and in the end I had to chase her, and physically remove her from the room, with her screaming the whole time. On the walk home I told her how upset I was about what had happened, and if she behaves like that today when I come and collect her, she will not be going again. HELP!

Hi All and welcome Loosey.

I have DD 3.5 and DS 22m

Potty training isn't as bad as you think it's going to be. DD did it in summer so we could spend a lot of time in the garden. DS is asking to sit on the toilet like a big boy (little does he know... ) but he insists on keeping clothes on so we're merely heading in the right direction...

Jewels - glad to hear your driving lesson went OK. I used to hate reversing generally - my second instructor was really good at explaining it all so that made a huge difference.

Jewels - Aw, poor Freya. At least it sounds like she enjoyed her first day. Maybe she'll be better when she realises that she can go back to nursery every day and play on the slide. It is hard (and a pain when you end up with a meltdown - I don't mean to sound unsympathetic as get my share) and I'm going to be fretting next month when our Freya starts preschool. (Even though she goes to a cm already - this seems different).

Morning all. Potty training continuing well only accidents she has are when the potty isn't close enough and she asks for it but she/we are too slow.
My friend who is a nanny said try for a week if it's really not working then stop for two weeks then start again if that helps anyone.
Sleep still major issue though. God knows what has happened to my perfect 7-7 sleeper..

On the plus side dd2's excema has all but cleared up the past few days and she has been able to wear some lovely summer outfits.

Holidays in a week and a half yippee!