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!

Sorry i posted at the begining of this thread and have not since been away on holiday for last 10 days but am now back so will continue to chat.

Both my in in laws and my own folks make me feel like a rubbish parent neither of them have had twins or evn two close in age but they feel they can comment all the time especailly on my older ds.

My DH had the snip 18 months ago as we def did not want more kids. It was really easy and he was sore for about 2 days but was soon back at work. We had to use other means for three months untill he was clear but it is nice to not have to think about pill etc now.

Has anyone else noticed that their daughters are really independant even when they cannot do what they think they can? my DD's are driving me nuts with the constant "me do it" shouts which always end up in a tantrum. They are def more of a challenge than DS was at this age!!!

Evening All

Glad you got the buggy sorted Jewels.

LM - I nearly got that buggy when we went on holiday (ended up with another one which was cheap second hand). I look forward to the day when we don't have a house full of buggies (but then I don't know what I'll do about carrying the shopping...). [bag lady at heart emoticon ]

I'm lucky - my parents and ILs don't get a word in edge ways about parenting unless I ask them (or if they do, I answer back). (I presume my "MIL" makes comments behind my back though...)

Welcome back Katedan. My DS is just as determined to do things for himself as his sister. At least they learn things quicker that way.

Will probably post on birth control later (am hating the mirena - have to find an alternative but I don't really want DP to have the snip) (although I don't know why...).

hi, can i join please? i have two pre-school dd's, hope is 4.1 and freya-mai is 3.1 (as well as two ds's who are 10 and 7) they both go to playgroup 3 days a week, and hope will be starting school in september. my main problem is tantrums, both girls have very good speech, hope is daytime potty trained and freya is almost there. they both eat and sleep well, and we dont use a buggy anymore as they like to walk.

I like the idea of ditching nappies forever but am really not looking forward to potty training my two girls. They are so stronged willed that I can see loads of accidents!!! they are not 3 untill the end of November so i don't feel there is a rush but I really want nappies to be behind us and I want to make the most of the summer months with no vests, not many clothes etc!! def not looking forward to ditching the buggy the school run will take forever!!!!

You may find it easier to potty train in summer though because any accidents and there are hardly any clothes to change! Freya was fully potty trained at 2 1/2, but she was ready. I had been introducing her to the potty from 1 year old (before and after naps and bedtime) so she was well prepared.

Have just started potty training with Izzy (16 months) and she is doing really well. I put her on before after naps the same, and she nearly always does a wee. Today, she brought me the potty and then proceeded to do a poo (in her nappy) but she does seem to realise that when she needs the toilet it shoukd be on potty, which is really cute.

Well we have had a shit day today. Do not get me started. Men are useless! I will leave it at that.

xx

Hi All and welcome Cherrymonster.

I second potty training in summer - even better if you have a garden as you can use the no-underwear approach (although I'll probably never forget seeing DD run up the garden in shock after doing a poo... ) She was potty trained at 2.5, although we still get the odd accident. I'm just beginning with DS at 18m; although he hasn't actually sat on the potty yet (he does know what it is though).

Sorry to hear you had a shit day, Jewels. Hope today is better.

today has been lovely thankyou chaotica. Apologies made and we are back to normal.

Bought water/sand table thing and we spent the whole day outside playng with it (the girls hardly got a look in!) I do recommend it.

Well ladies I am drinking chablis, and just about to ear scallops and salad (heavon emoticon]

xx

Glad you had a better day jewels, wow potty training at 16 months!! one of mine could not even walk at 16 months. Will def try in the summer. the weather today was lovley so it was probably a total waste spending it at soft play but all three (Ds had teacher traing!) went off and played together on all the big slides and I ended up wishing I had taken a book!!! a VERY rare day when I sat there with my cup of tea and took a breath.

Hi Cherrymonster and everyone.

Jewels - sorry about the bad day. I too had a shtty weekend and agree men are a bit rubbish sometimes. I spent the whole time being the shouty mummy and dealing with melissa's tantrums whilst he pottered around doing his own thing. aaargh! I just want some time to do my own thing sometimes even if it is shaving my legs! Its been a long old couple of weeks with Melissa's chicken pox and feel the need to escape.

Have hopefully scheduled my self in for a well earned hair colour session next saturday which means I get three hours to myself.

I have got a p & t pushchair but I was thinking about one of the long clumsy ones as I cant manage a side by side. Because Isaac cant see in the back of the p&t and I think its a bit claustrophobic ?

Had a bad day yesterday as went out to library and shops to buy pjs and melissa did one of her epic puke tantrums all over the pushchair and her clothes so ended up walking around the shops in her new pajamas!

I dont know how to stop her doing it . Its so yukky and frustrating.

Sorry for long moan x

tracyface I don't know the right thing to say other than I feel very sorry for you having to deal with the pukey tantrums...The only thing I can suggest is to ignore and just clean up the mess as per Supernanny?? I know that's easier said than done. I really feel for you.

Tried the new buggy out, it steers really well and both DDs comfy in it (not at the same time ) but I have realised the handles are quite low down so I have to really stretch my arms out to push it or I keep catching my feet o the wheels . So, feeling a bit naffed off that I made the wrong choice and now it's too late to get my money back as we've used it. Nevermind, it will just encourage me to use the Bugaboo more.....

Welcome cherrymonster.

I would also highly recommend potty traing in in summer, even if just for the fact you ca get the extra washing it produces dry!! We trained DD1 July last year, she was 2.2 yrs old. Did the G.Ford method of doing it in a week. She managed it in 3 days!! We went 'no clothes bottom half...' which seemed to work well.

LM xxx

God tracey that sounds horrendeous! (re the puke) I would be tempted to do the reward chart (if you are not already) and she minute she starts getting hyper, kneel down and explain in a very firm voice that if she does not calm down then XYZ. Honastly, I would not put up with that. I would be contemplating telling her there will be no toys/sweets/gow knows what unless that behaviuous stops!

And re the P*T yes, it is a bit tight in the back, but I guess if you are only using that back seat occasionally, it's not such an issue. I did find though having that seat meant Freya asked to go in the buggy all the time. Now the extra seat does not exist, she has not mentioned it even once, and seems happier just running around and looking for flowers and slugs. [as you know, my mum thinks she knows Freya better than I do)

P.S my mum kicked a baby snail yeserday on purpose and I was very happy when Freya told her off, and was upset that she had hurt the snail.

Re-edit***

P.S my mum kicked a baby snail yeserday on purpose and I was very happy when Freya told her off, and was upset that she had hurt the snail. [as you know, my mum thinks she knows Freya better than I do)

Lm - oh dear about the new buggy and the handle. Thats a problem I have noticed with different pushchairs is the height. I'm really small about 5 1" so find it good that the p&t handle moves down.

Might get a second hand tandem that someone is selling on my local netmums as its only £50 wasted rather than £200 i suppose when I also realise I made the wrong about getting a new pushchair

Hmm about the reward chart - i think she may be a bit young and I cant really take it shopping with me - oops sorry for sounding negative already at advice

She is 2 years and 2 months but does like stickers so maybe its worth a go. Her problem is that she does not like being strapped in the pushchair or car seat and wants to get out. Obviously I cant let her out in the car and try to let her walk as much as possible when we go out with the pushchair but then she wants to be carried rather than walk. She hasnt been walking that long (since 21 months) so she gets tired and is still quite clumsy and trips quite a lot.

OOPs I do sound like im making excuses for her I dont know why as when she does walk she wants to go her own way or in shops or on the escalator so she can be quite dangerous as she runs off and does'nt come back. So I probably put her in the pushchair for my convenience but thats when she cries so much and makes herself sick. I dont think she is clever enough to know that if she makes herself sick then I will get her out of the pushchair?

She hates the sick tho and gets upset when she has done it . Maybe I should leave her in it for a while and see if I can remind her of it the next time she does it but that sounds cruel.

I felt awful yesterday as when I got to the car I told her off for being sick in the pushchair and the lady next to me gave me such an awful look (like poor child couldnt help her self being sick and I shouldnt be telling her off)

I didnt have the energy to explain and it wasnt really any of her business.

Right off to try and make a reward chart to see if we can tackle this tricky behaviour before it gets out of hand.
Its really hard to know how much they understand about naughty behaviour and the consequences of their actions.

Evening all

Took my eye off the thread for a day and it ran away from me I'll try to catch up.

Don't know what bright ideas I can come up with for you Tracyface (you must have tried lots already). Can you have a (again supernanny style) "hold the hand/buggy or get in it" rule in shops etc. It took a while with DD but she's pretty good with it now. (She used to be a runner... Now DS is going the same way (I suspect). We got a wrist strap to threaten her with for emergencies as well - she grew out of it really fast.)

LM - pain about the buggy (most are too low for me and I end up with back ache).

Secondhand buggies can be great (I've had 3 - only ever bought one new one).

Went to a new adventure playground in the woods today, only to find that there was a digger working in the middle of it, even though the park was open... Is that safe/legal?? (is there anyone alive who would trust their toddlers with a working digger?). Maybe there are, but I couldn't risk DS running off in pure excitement so we had to go somewhere else. Lovely weather though, but we had no suncream as I thought we were going to be in the woods.

And my freeview box has died ...

...NO BEEBIES

(Back to old-fashioned parenting. Or, guess who's off to Tesco's first thing tomorrow )

So far so good with no Beebies . But then the weather is good . (Actually, I'm quite enjoying the quiet, and being able to say to DD that 'Beebies is broken' )

From how I'm acting, you'd think we watched it all the time but it's actually a couple of programmes each end of the day while I get breakfast/tea ready. Don't know whether DP will go out and buy one tonight though [hopeful emoticon?]...

tracey if I were you, I would try the 5 minute method. It is more a preparation technique than anything. So, when you are going to go out in the car, say to her
'in 5 minutes we are getting in the car, and you will be strapped into your car seat.' And do not argue back with any response that she doesn't want to (not even full blown tantrum, just get on with that you are doing)

Then, 3 mins before, you say again 'in 3 minutes we will be getting in the car and you will be strapped into your car seat'.

Carry on until it is 1 minute (obv the timings are irrelivent really, just the point that there is a kind of countdown) and then you put her in. Even if she catches on and days 'no i more minute!' you explain she has had 1 minute and it is time to go. I used this (and still do) with both girls and bit even works with Izzy who is not even 18 months yet. Basically, it removes and surprise, and there automatic reaction to say "no!". When Melissa is 3, you will get an invute to the traffic club, and this is a fun parent and child workbook that explains all about traffic, playing safely and carseats - maybe something you can put together yourself as a way of getting around her strapping in tantrums.

chaotica I know what you mean about beebies, I put it on at breakfast and before dinner and it seems just using it this way means when I do put it on bith girls just sit and I get 5 mins to myself! Anyway, hoping the freeview arrives soon. Or, just buy a new TV with it built in

jewels your 5 min plan sounds good.

I think DD1 is getting chicken pox. My niece has it. she was in contact with her nealry 3 weeks ago. She is lethargic (just keeps lying on sofa with thumb in) and slept for a whopping 3 hrs today! Bit snotty. Not off her food. What d'ya reckon?

It's a big party weekend next weekend....DD1's 3rd b'day party for all her little friends Saturday and a joint party for DD1's 3rd and DD1's 1st b'days for both our families (over 30 people!) on Sunday. Really hope they are not gonna be ill for that. We then go on hols the following week. Driving to Cornwall...hope they're not ill for that too.

Any chicken pox advice? I want them to get it, just maybe not this week!!!!!

Evening All

LM - could well be chicken pox (but you can't tell till the spots turn up, so it might not be). If your DD1 has it now, maybe she'll be better by next weekend (and if you're lucky, DD2 won't have it yet...). I hope they don't get it too badly (especially at what sounds like such a bad time). (Piriton syrup saved our nights, and theirs - DS wasn't too bad until he tried to sleep, DD needed it in the day too. Calamine cream was good with DS, but I think DD was in too much pain for it to work.)

DD is 3 tomorrow Must go and make a cake like a rocket ship (DON'T Laugh! ) I seem to remember that last year's was meant to be a train and looked like a tractor... But DD was too young to care then. (Now parental integrity depends upon it!) (But DP has been out buying 'components' )

Jewels - I like your 5 minute plan. Might use it with my DCs some time (at the moment, both are quite well behaved, but I don't think it will last).

Happy 3rd Birthday to Chaotica's DD

hope the rocket worked out ok? i picked up jane asher cake book in a sale for 25p that tells/shows you how to make loads of different cakes out of shop bought cakes (so not the stress of baking, just the 'creation' of something from a cake), there was a great rocket in there for next time!

all ok here, boys both fine, DS2 (15mo) walking, almost running, all over the place. bound to collect some bruises!

DS1 (nearly 3) fine, resisting bedtime at the mo, drives me crazy but hope it's 'just a phase'.....

Hi All

Rocket cake was great! (Don't know whether to preen or faint...) We used shop bought swiss roll and finger biscuits for the fins (and lots of chocolate icing); silver ball things for rivets (which DP insisted on) and jammy biscuits for the portholes. It was almost a disaster (not very steady) but worked quite fine enough for a 3 year old. Birthday in general was very good (only she's still up - over tired?? JKS I sympathise!)

Must go and eat something very savoury...

(Like the idea of a cake book though - I have a feeling that I'm going to be doing rather a lot of this.)

Hope all is well with you.

BTW before you all think I'm too full of myself, the rocket cake did nearly end up looking like a rather obvious part of the male anatomy

PMSL Chaotica

well done you and DH - like the rivets idea!

Cake sounds good and making me hungry - so off to scour the kitchen for something sweet to nibble. Poor Isaac now has chicken pox today so going to be another long week ahead of us. He seems to have it a lot worse than Melissa and its only the first day.

I agree the piriton is seems to help and calpol for the temperature but he seems to be coping with it so much better than melissa and hasnt really made a fuss.

Probably just jinxed myself for a bad night now

Wonder if LM came down with chicken pox or managed to escape for a few weeks - fingers crossed for you.

Jewels - Havnt had a chance to try the 5 min thing yet but I do hope it works as I havnt had the energy to go out this week.

Reading a good book at the moment by Sue Cowley called getting your little darlings to behave. Im not sure if I can recommend it quite yet but it is giving me positive vibes

Hi guys, sorry not posted for ages. Kids have been sleeping really badly and i've been busy with my new job. Hope everyone's good!

Dyl's speech is coming along at an alarming rate- i gave him a drink yesterday and he said 'thankyou' and this morning he ran at Charlie and Lola on TV and shouted 'Charlie!'

I'm a bit run down though- developed rosacea which is getting me down and (TMI I know) also got sodding thrush aswell now Off to the doctors this morning- which as you all know is fun with 2 toddlers!

At least the sun is shining though (for now) so i'll take them to the cafe for lunch afterwards.