June 08 - 118 (and counting) sleeps till Chistmas, but don't tell Deb!

[EddieIzzardismyhero]

Welcome to our new, cosy thread. Log fires, big jumpers and Christmas shopping .

What do you mean it's still August?!

Didn't go and see the Pope, I'm not Catholic, and was at work anyway! DH had it on the TV for a short while out of interest, but C was very unimpressed, declaring 'I no like the Poke, I want to watch Beebies'! I don't think she's anticatholic (I hope not, both her godparents are RC!0 just very Por-Beebies! He will henceforce be known as his Pokeness in our house.

On the plus side, I think everyone in Glasgow was worried about traffic today and the roads were eerily quiet - although not around Bellahouston Park I imagine. It's a nice park, by the way, which my Grandfather remembers fondly visiting for the Empire Exhibition in 1930 something... and it also houses the Charles Rennie MacKintosh designed House for an Art Lover, which is rather nice, fact fans.

I think I am developing SPD, by the way. Any top tips Puree/Valium or Knitting? I remember that both of you suffered badly - still very mild here, but seems to be getting worse by the day - I'm nearly 31 weeks now.

I am in the library and supposed to be studying. Make me stop looking up Double Buggies, where to get replacement shoulder strap things for our maxicosi cabriofix and other such things and read about Prostate cancer imaging please. Only 6 more days and it's all over for a while. I need to stop procrastinating....

That should read Pro-Beebies! I don't know what por-beebies is!

I've been to a wedding at House for an Art Lover. 'Twas luvverly.

Roads eerily quiet here too. I was in the office for 8am after leaving early to beat the traffic!

H&S, we're having similar issues re: potty and have given up for a while. We thought he was showing an interest, and even bought him pants which he absolutely loved. He insisted on wearing them, then got upset when he wet himself, so we've packed everything away and will try again in a month or two.

spider, I'm relieved to hear that! Although I still think she's a little bit naughty for even mentioning it.

DG, lol at being in a huff with the pope ! You all know my religious views I'm sure, but regardless of all that this pope's shameless cover up over the paedophile scandal makes him one evil man in my eyes. I'm absolutely fuming that one penny of my tax has being used to help him rally his troops in this country. End of rant . .

Biscuits, the only advice I can give you really is to do as little as possible . And always keep your legs together like a lady! (And resist the temptation to punch anyone who says "if you'd done that in the first place you wouldn't be in this mess"!).

Thanks for the tips on presents and lol at wrapping up Alex's stuff! The HappyLand suggestion is a good one. Don't think I could cope with the Leapfrog thing - the boys have enough plastic tat noisy toys to last a lifetime! Not sure M's really into anything - he just likes to crawl after Alex and take whatever he's playing with!

Right, off to bed .

lol at wrapping up A's old toys! what is nsc? something second child

and lol at the pope 'rallying his troops'. I really don't get the whole Pope thing anyway, God's spokesperson on earth and all that . and agree that his comments about women, paedophile priests and condoms are offensive.

time for bed - early night for us

Darn, missed Knitting. My suggestion was going to be books, because they would be too babyish for A and therefore all M's, iykwim.
H&S same problem with the potty training here. Awareness good, but no interest in the toilet. He usually says (in the bath) pee coming, pee coming, and then pees. But whenever I offer the toilet/try to put him on it he gets stressed out and insists on peeing in the bath. () He's never pooed in the toilet.
He also won't sit on the trainer seat. He insists on standing (I blame DH...) but a friend was around last week and she thought the seat was a bit loose and unstable (she has 2 girls, one potty trained - she is 5 tho!). So, we looked at alternatives in Mothercare when we were there and immediately discovered that we've been using it wrong. It goes under the normal seat not over. Things they never tell you...

I am so cold today! It's freezing here!

Biscuits and DQ do you both have exams soon? I have an exam in October and I woke in a cold sweat at 5am when I realised I have less than a month and haven't started studying...I don't even know how to.

Ooh, funny sstandup talking about the NCT on Mock the Week! Hehehe, they'll be on about his comments (negative) about the NCT leader bfing a nine year old on here in seconds, no doubt!

We've not made any potty training attempts here. I'm not the only one am I?

I'm resisting all urges to engage in Pope chat - mostly because I'm in a huff! I laughed at your comment about the Pope as God's spokesperson on Earth Neenz - I feel a bit the same about the Queen as head of CofE. All that chosen by God stuff makes me

Am now off to watch question time!

All the pope/monarchy stuff is amusing as I can accept it all in the middle ages - William I genuinely thought God made him win at Hastings (something certainly did becuase he was nowhere near close in the pre-battle polls). Then again, everyone thought Halley's comet was an omen. But in 2010 I can say I'm hugely sceptical of both Pope and Queen.

DQ love the fact that my 'oh is the wee coming? Do you want to get on the toilet? No? Never mind.' counts as potty training! Have you bought a potty? If no, then I'm further ahead.

I'm having a good think about it now though because of the balanitis. He's going to be prone to that whilst he's in nappies. Plus, DH has just put pictures on facebook of him as a child. MIL says he's 2 1/2 in one of them, and he doesn't appear to be wearing a nappy.
Mind you, the other one claims to be summer 1976, which was apparently a really hot summer, hottest on record etc. And he's wearing a coat and gloves.

Oh, called DG DQ by mistake! Sorry!
Also, good progress on the sleeping. May the plan continue to go well.

No potty here! I did start a thread on potty training if that counts . Are you suggesting I'm a bit of a drama queen by reverting to my old initials

Biscuits I like his pokeness, but I read it as his pokieness, and have decided I like that even better! I have no strong views on the Pope, other than I went to Vatican city on holiday about 10 years ago and coincedentally ended up seeing Pope John Paul II. He was about 3 feet away from us at one point and is probably the most famous person I have ever seen in person. Anyway, after that he became 'our' pope if you see what I mean, and I do think he was much more liberal and in line with my personal views - the new onw just isn't as good!

J is not toilet training (mostly because I haven't organised myself to go to mothercare and buy a toilet insert) but I have propped him on the toilet a couple of times before his bath and he has managed to poo on the toilet. But then he went on to poo in the bath so not such a result as it sounds. DS1 was in with him and made such a fuss J is now paranoid about the toilet and a bit suspicious of the bath.

Hello, I was tempted to go and see the pope, even though I'm not catholic and very far from agreeing with the catholic point of view on many issues, especially about women. It still seemed special in that it was a such a continuation of a type of worship that did so much to shape Scotland.

And I wont comment about the sex abuse scandal except to say that all the major churches in Canada were implicated in the same, along with emotional abuse, in the residential schools system set up to educate our native peoples. Anyways, my point is that us non-catholics should definitely campaign to stop abuse and reform the system but this isn't an exclusively catholic problem, all organized structures where children are involved (religious or not) have to watch for it.

I had a major emotional breakdown yesterday because of all the stress of trying to learn a new career and take care of the kids and the school secretary has reduced me to tears two days in a row, all about returning proofs for school pictures that I didn't put in with the order (not the ones I'm ordering, the other ones. Apparently I had to get in the car and drive 12 miles to drop them in to a school my child doesn't even go to - because the photographer wont process the order without all his proofs back (bullsh&t)) :(

DH is busy at work and isn't really the type of person to be sympathetic and offer a cuddle. I was crying at dinner and DS1 came and spontaneously gave me a hug and then Fraser came over too. DH had just told me to get a grip. I feel really bad now that a four year old is providing my emotional support. he was so sweet last night and told me he doesn't want school pictures anyways and can we take different ones at home.

(The whole school thing is a bad combination of a woman being on a power trip and me being sensitive. Apparently "everyone knows you have to return all the proofs", I felt belittled and hurt and since I grew up in Canada I often feel like I'm doing things all wrong for here and I feel like I don't belong.)

Sorry you are feeling low AH. Hope today is better.

I am tired and sulky this morning. dh worked late (till 9) then texted to say he has going for a pint (fair enough). Then texted at 10.30 to say he was getting food (fair enough). I went to bed and woke at 1.20 to find he wasn't home which woke me up completely. He came in 10 mins later having fallen asleep on the last train home, missed his stop, woken up 4 miles down the line, claimed he couldn't get a taxi and then walked home.

I couldn't get back to sleep until after 2. Peter then woke at 5.20 and of course I had to get up as DH had only been in bed for a little over 3 hours.

Going out now, so will stop ranting. Sorry.

Ah I feel like that with mark. He's no use when I'm upset and I can't talk to himabout emotional things. That woman sounds like an old bag and if I ever cone to scotland I will hit her for you.

Spider again I have been through the same thing with mark 'one drink after work'. Sympathies.

Got my first proper psych therapy session today.

Sorry you're down AH and thanks for the v sensible post about Catholics . The school secretary sounds like a particular type who will probably be reducing to tears everyone who is feeling at all sensitive, whether it's caused by not being a native, tiredness, anxiety, difficult child... That sort of petty bullying is horrible, and so bad for a school when the secretary represents the face of the school to so many people. My children often hug me when it hasn't occurred to DH that I need a hug rather than "constructive criticism".

Spider I never sleep properly until I know DH is safely home, too.

I don't want to get involved in a debate about the Pope but I would say that a lot of the political views people on this board express are very much in line with Catholic social and economic analysis. The vehement comments against unfettered capitalism are echoed by the way the Pope emphasises that a society should look after its most vulnerable, and people should work together as a community.

Even people who dislike Catholicism need to recognise that it's a very large and influential movement, which is capable (and in my view, doe) use its influence to achieve social good.

The Catholic church undertakes enormous amounts of charitable work, and gets people to look outwards from their own lives and see how they can help other people.

People who the state ignores can find themselves embraced by people working within the Catholic church. For example, there's a priest in Liverpool who does a lot of work with refugees. He's set up a womens and childrens group, helps with their asylum applications, even houses them in his own home when things are desperate, tries to find help for women who have been through appalling experiences. If people are going to talk about the truly dreadful things that have happened within the Catholic church (and it's fair enough that they do), then it's only fair that they also acknowledge that the institution and the individuals within it can also do a great deal of good.

Sorry, end of rant

J has spent quite a lot of time this week with no nappy on and we have had one little puddle on the floor. He likes getting on and off the toilet seat and will sit on the potty but hasn't yet used them, as soon as you put a nappy on he does a massive wee, so it seems he has the control but not the inclination. Not too sure where to go from here.
Moneysaving tip - I bought a toilet seat from Argos for £10 then saw pretty much the same one in Lidl for about £3, so got another one for upstairs.

AH - how ridiculous, could you post them to the photographer? She sounds like a loon.

Amber - hope it goes well.

Dewin - according to my MIL her 2 were using a potty from about 3 months . I've had all sorts of snipy comments about it from her.

Ps no potty training here either

Pps good post Rolf

Hello all - been ages (years??) since I was on mumsnet! Been sucked in again looking for advice as we learn to cope with ds starting school, and I feel guilty posting on other threads and not saying hello on this one!!

Hello systems! How are you?

Dewin, I absolutely love the nappies you sent me, thank you so much. They are so cute with their gingham check. You must have had enough for twins to start off with if you still have loads left for your next LO!

Abdn, about your rubbish day - tea time is the worst sometimes. I felt the same when we came to Britain, that I was doing everything wrong and it was really embarrassing. I was only 8 then but I know how you feel! And I think DHs think being at home with the kids/working PT must be the life of Riley so try not to let yours upset you cos he doesn't understand how little things can hurt.

Spider, for you about your DH staying out so late! Missing his stop, what a divvy . Anyone else found themselves going back to non-swear words now the kids are repeating? Divvy is one of mine . 5.20am is Not Good, sympathies

Rolf, you're right, the Church does many good things, and it's a shame they are overshadowed by the foot-in-mouth incidents. Also I think the secular media like to bash the Church (eg adoption agencies who don't accept gay couples) without ever celebrating the good work. I have to say I felt very close to God when I visited your church . The Tonight programme on the Pope's visit last night was quite interesting. It did make me think about the good things the Church/Pope promotes as well as the things that make me go .

We have got so much toilet training apparatus I could open a shop. I bought a trainer seat, but it was too small, so I bought one that goes under the seat and we use the first one in the other toilet (which it does fit). When a DT asks to go on the loo the other one invariably wants to go too so I have them both on at the same time in separate toilets (usually reading a book). I have got two regualar potties downstairs which my sis gave me, then I bought another regular potty and a 'potty chair' like this for upstairs, cos T didn't like the regualr potty so I thought the potty chair might be better. Well of course they both love the potty chair so I have had to buy another one. Still no sign of being trained yet despite all that! I'm going to wait till November after our holiday and lock us in the kitchen for a week with no nappies on.

Hello Systems - your initials are KT on FB, right? Or is that someone else . How is your LO getting on at school?

Abdn -some school secretaries have a lot to answer for. I know just how you feel about not belonging though , it's one of the many reasons for us to move back to the UK. It's had me in tears here many times.I hope that things seem better today, nearly the weekend. I always think of you as so settled as you have the support of friends around you. Have you sat your dh down and talked to him about how you're feeling?

Systems - lovely to see you back, what's the problems with your ds?

Potty training - we have one, he sometimes sits on it, that's it!Think we've had 2 wees in about 4 months.

Neenz - love that you're going for a week long lock in, in the kitchen. When I potty trained Stefan I did it in half term when we didn't have to go anywhere as otherwise it's too stressful for everyone concerned.

Rolf - good post.Is your house finished now?Workmen finally departed?

Spider, I'd have made him get up at 5.20!

Sybil, we've had the pooing in the bath with big brother too, ds1 hates it, ds2 is much more matter of fact.

Felt very guilty today that Ethan doesn't have access to pre school like most of his peers on here so we actually did painting and sticking this morning. Made a fire engine which ds2 really praised Ethan for when he came in from school, was lovely.

Forget the potties, tantrums, absent dh's, school secretaries etc, tell me the sweetest thing your lo has done today.

Here's mine - when Ethan goes for a sleep now one kiss is not enough. Instead he covers us with kisses, with his running commentary "head...cheek...more cheek....eye...more eye...nose...ear...more ear" etc etc....It's a delaying tactic but very sweet.

Ok I really must go but Knitting, if you wanted a new toy for M, Ethan has loved his Playmobil 123 farm It's the toy he hasn't tired of at all and plays with it most days, but maybe it's a bit old for M?

Am fine thanks, yes Neenz am KT on FB. Life's a bit manic as usual, although has been eased by dp resigning from work in Spring, so suddenly he's the main childcare person which feels a bit odd - but nice! (He's shattered though, even though we've kept Caitlin in nursery 3 days / week - he doesn't realise how easy he has it!) I'm working full-time now (hence off MN for the most part). Still loving our new house more than I thought possible!

Caitlin is doing really well too, she seems more like 3 than 2, but she is Extremely Strong Willed too so we have our work cut out a bit

Ds is doing well at school, loves it, but he's exhausted and having only-just-turned-4 we are struggling with getting there on time (with Caitlin in the mix too it's chaos), so I put out a desperate plea yesterday and got masses of fantastic advice which has really helped. I don't know how anyone parented before mumsnet! Then got into a slanging match over toilet training (he still has the odd accident, was really late to potty train and not quite 100% yet, and someone was suggesting that in similar situations kids should be kept out of school so I got defensive) but hey, that's mumsnet too

AH that secretary sounds horrible! I get my emotional support from the kids too, you are not alone!