June 08 - 42 days til Christmas, and Deb is coming home!!

[KnittingisbetterthanTherapy]

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Aw, AH, it's not so much a comparison thing as just interesting what each child is doing - at least that's how I find it . It's great that F has potty trained but I'm fully aware that A is nowhere near ready for this!! I'm not worried - he'll get there .

Leaving aside F's other milestones, do you think he's potty trained earlier cos he can watch his older brother ?! I'm just hoping that M will be a little quicker cos he can copy A!

DS1 was actually earlier on toilet training than F, it's what gave us the incentive to start with F (we just told him we ran out of nappies) realizing DS1 was well trained by this age. But DS1 has always been very body-aware, crawled and walked early, is obsessed with trying to do a headstand etc. It's the verbal and the drawing side he's been delayed on.

AH I wouldn't worry about comparisons, well done F on his success! C's friend who's the same age as her (so early July birthday) potty trained in about 2 weeks just after her birthday. I am most definitely not Bovvered! We had some early success a couple of months ago but the C changed her mind, so given my current condition we've held off on trying again properly until after the new arrival. I've a feeling Granny will get roped in... although saying that, tonight she did ask to have a wee in the toilet on her way up to bed and performed, so perhaps she's ready and it's me who's not!

I didn't know you were worried about DS1 .

Thought M was going to be earlier than A to walk but he is really struggling - but we think his head is too heavy and that's why he keeps toppling over . (And I'm only half joking!).

AH sorry to hear you're worried but great that you have a good teacher you can trust, that makes such a difference.

Knitting not sure whether the older sib thing helps with the potty training, like I said Caitlin is copying Liam in all the potty behaviours, apart from actually doing anything in it! I'm sure that will help a bit when she really is ready but honestly I think it's mainly one of those developmental things.

Fri night had such a bad night with Caitlin who was still running up and down stairs at 10pm (in various costumes - including a full pirate get-up at one point) that I pre-empted it and really shouted at her to stay in her cot when I put her down, at her first escape attempt. So much so that Liam came in and said he was scared of me shouting. I am crap at shouting and it felt awful. And then, she stayed in her cot, played and sang to her toy for 10 minutes and went to sleep. I wonder if this is the toddler equivalent of controlled crying ... not pretty but I have to think it was the right thing to do as she was so tired today and have tried all the understanding and behavioural techniques I could think of to get her to stay in bed the past few weeks. So shouting it is - but I hate it!!

Debinthedales it will be then , then you can all keep calling me deb, it's so much easier.

Today's news, our removal van(huge massive truck) is now parked in the village, the driver is flying back to the Uk tomorrow and will return with another man on Friday to pack our stuff up and go!We have just booked our flights for Monday 22nd, and our stuff will be delivered on Tuesday 23rd, YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Hooray Deb! Where do you fly to?

Abdn I didn't know you were worried about DS1. It's horrible isn't it? DD1 is still having trouble at school, or, more accurately, school is having trouble with DD1. But she can be awful and then can be brilliant. I took them all to a children's concert at the Philharmonic yesterday, and DH couldn't go so although my Dad came I'd have had to deal with any problems on my own. And she was great - loved the music, loved looking at the instruments. I'm starting to set things in motion to get some help but the most difficult times are when I feel that she is different from the other children in her cohort.

Have you got all the chunky pencils and hand exercises sorted out for DS1?

Rolf etc. we've been told to encourage him to play with lego etc for fine motor skills. We're so lucky to be up here because he's still in nursery instead of reception for another year and I'm hoping that year will make the difference with his writing skills. (He has caught up verbally so that's not an issue - there's a tiny stammer but I've noticed a few of his friends have it to). He's completely fine except for not wanting to hold a pen so I'm trying not to worry but I'm tutoring a dyslexic 13yr old boy (friend's son) in math at the moment and I'm seeing how bad an inability to write can be (the boy's more than bright enough in math actually, but often writes the questions down wrong and doesn't want to show his work on paper so can go wrong in his head. I'm trying to link what he's doing with the math that I use on a daily basis (he wants to be a scientist) to encourage him and show him that eventually you do need to write it down).

Oh well, I'll have to be patient re: M then . He's such a nightmare to nappy change that I'm tempted to potty train him before A tbh .

AH, is your dh dyslexic. Is that what you're thinking with DS1? Dh is mildly dyslexic and with two boys I know I'm going to be hyper aware of it as a possibility. I think that's why dh went into IT - he's very successful but hardly ever has to put pen to paper. His writing and spelling are terrible, and when he reads to the boys he often reads words incorrectly. He was never diagnosed as a child but then it wasn't v well known in the 80s and 90s and is still not v well handled in school.

Sorry for the ramble .

On a positive note, both boys slept through til 7am for the fourth night in a row. Feel like we've turned a corner .

Knitting I still can't believe that your little baby is sleeping better than Luke! Even my sister's 5 month old sleeps longer. Luke seems to be OK at everything except sleeping and crapping in anything other than a nappy! Sleeping is a major downer - yesterday was 4.45 . He's started getting incredibly rough too with his play and hitting with a closed fist!!!. It's the poor cats I feel sorry for...

One piece of excellent news I've had is that Luke has a place at the school I fell in love with. He was 3rd on the waiting list and they've 'moved things around' and he now starts in April. Funny how they found him a place as soon as I said I wanted to put the twins on the waiting list isn't it? It's a really old fashioned private school with loads of emphasis on sport and the 3 rs. They never get great Ofsted reports because they are so un-pc and to be honest that's why I like it!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend and Deb you must be absoultely wetting yourself with excitement!!

Hi don't know if you remember me but here I amd and have Libralady here aswell, Just to let you knoe that we are doing OK, DD nealry five, we are changing schools for her have had issues with her that are being solved, DS born June 08 is lovley, nearly potty trained but he has been so much easier than DD. We are still doing B&B and busy but I now work in the library as well.

knitting no, DH isn't dyslexic so I'm probably all worried about nothing and DS1 is just really not into art and therefore not had practice with a pen.

Amber sorry Luke is still not sleeping well - eventually he will be happy to wake up and watch TV on his own though - that's how we handle DS1's early starts (5:45 this morning which is still wayyy more human than 4:45 though I realize and we both went back to sleep after parking him in front of the TV. I'm so pleased for you re: school though!

waves to five

Millpond sleep clinic was fab woth DD and can highly reccommend it.

Hi five (still listening to the archers) and libra. Interesting you say that re millpond as another friend raves about them. Fingers crossed tho knitting that things better now.

Amber good news re school-

Hi five, good to hear you and libra are both doing well.

Congrats on the school Amber

Deb, hope the packing is going ok, it is hell though isn't it!

Is luke still into Dora or has he changed allegiance?

Ah sorry re your worries on ds1 - sounds like teacher good tho.

Excellent rugby and nice weekend - although getting a cold now. Thanks for nice words re dr- am less stressed about it now.

Who is watching x factor /strictly and I am a celebrity tonight?

That's good AH, sounds like it could just be a time/practise thing then?

Hello to five - course we remember you! Good to hear all is well.

Amber, pleased you have found a school - although I would be a bit sceptical about the "we don't get good OFSTEDs cos we're so un-pc" line. OFSTED aren't remotely interested in a school being pc - they want to know that the kids are happy, being challenged and are making progress .

I'm about to watch Strictly and really really hoping that the hideous AW is voted off tonight!

AW stil there but I blubbed when The Soldiers came on

I missed that bit 5 , just turned on for the last five mins. I'm gutted that AW is still on and think I will stop watching now - she's a vile cow and I'm hugely uncomfortable with this reinventing of her as some cuddly old lady .

S quite happily watching Chuggington so I thought I'd take 10 minutes to catch up properly!

System great to hear that you had a good chat with the teacher at the school. It must be such a relief that they're on board.

Spider I thought 'awwwww' at P wanting W to play with his choo choos. S loves playing with his choo choos just now. I was ridiculously excited when some extra track I ordered arrived last week so I could make a bigger layout. He's decided he needs 'more tunnels' now though.

H&S glad you're feeling a bit better about your results. If I were in your shoes I think I'd probably hold off till January - not because of worry about the tests, but to take pressure off while you're all away so you can make the most of your trip.

Abdn Sorry to read that you've been concerned about DS1 and glad that his teacher sounds good. Great for you that Fraser is potty trained! I'm not to stressed about potty training at all. I suspect that we might leave it until the Spring too, unless S starts getting really keen. I'm hoping the later I leave it the easier it will be.... I can understand why you're keen though Neenz with three in cloth! Did I read Knitting encouraging you to get out the pampers? Have you given up on the cloth Knitting?

Thank you for all the reminders of pelvic floor exercises. I'm rubbish at remembering to do them. If I could remember every time I'm on MN I'd be popping out ping pong balls myself . Good news that you don't need to go down the surgery route though Rolf

Glad you got Luke into the school you wanted Amber.

S is now begging me to play choo choos so I should go.

Hi Five and Libra!! I don't think a sleep clinic would be any use as he sleeps like a log but just is an early riser. Two days running though he has been up at 6 so maybe a good sign!!

H&S - Luke will still watch Dora but he is now massively into Ben 10 (which means I now know everything from what Ben's mum and dad are called to all the baddies names and all Ben's aliens!). Makes Xmas easy though.

I wish Luke liked trains!!

Aberdeen - very jealous at Fraser being potty trained. My friend came round yesterday for lunch with her boy and he is also potty trained. I got Luke to watch him on the toilet and then Luke said he needed a poo in the toilet! However when I tried to put him on it (with the adaptor seat) he screamed and begged for a nappy! I need Luke to be toilet trained by the time he goes to shcool in April - fingers crossed it's ages away!

I haven't done any pelvic floor exercises to i'll be on the Tena lady's soon.

Knitting the school has come out overall as satisfactory and looking at the Ofsted report it seems that where they fall down a bit is where children may need more help. It's also very competitive which again Ofsted thinks leaves some kids out - I like that fact that it's not about taking part it's about winning - but that's me and lots of people would disagree with me and think me a bad person. Thing is, they set entrance exams so most of the kiddies there are bright. Also what impressed me was out of 30 pupils leaving for secondary school 17 got a full or part scholarship to the best independent schools in the area which is unbelievable (another school of the same size got 2). The kids were all really lovely and happy and the head knew everyone by name - it was lovely! Luke will probably end up being academically challenged and it'll all come back in my face!

Feeling Siiiiiiick...

Oh Dewin you have all my sympathies. You must be shattered too after Iestyn being ill - how's he doing? And how are you managing with work - have you got a lot of teaching at the moment? What a good job you got those proofs done though - must be a good feeling to have a book coming out and nothing more to do on it at the moment!

Very excited about Deb's move going on apace.

Hi five and libra!

All well here, apart from having had another night of C running up and down stairs till 10 until I shouted her into submission though it's hard 'cos she is dead funny with it.

Very proud of my boy this morning though, we were early to school and he stood in line for more than 5 minutes! something he has been really struggling with. I had to hold his hand and he was banging his head into my leg over and over again to cope with it, but he did it without running off [proud emoticon]. And his teacher noticed and got them to go in the instant the bell rang so he wouldn't have to wait any longer and we could chalk up a success.

Well done your DS, systems. Fab that you are seeing some encouraging signs.

Amber the school sounds good, is it fee-paying then? What sort of scholarships did the kids get eg full or part-payment of fees? I don't like private education but DH does. dont think we'll be able to afford it anyway so thats that argument settled. wouldnt criticise your choice cos of course you want the best for Luke but i think all kids should get the same education so money doesn't give the privileged few a leg-up. but its hard to make that ideological choice when others are still choosing private for their kids iyswim. hope you dont think i am being critical of you cos i am not, just the system .

It's going quite well potty training with Esther, she is about 60/40 in favour of going on potty now v on the floor and tonight she actually said 'i need the potty' and then did a wee on it (I previuosly have had to cajole her onto it when I could see she needed to go, that was the first time she has actually asked for it .)

We have been stuck in for a week now and it is so boring and frustrating! But Daniel has some jabs tomorrow so my mum is coming to do potty training duty and i get to go out. i am prob the only mum looking forward to her baby's injections.

Lol Neenz! Thank goodness you posted - I thought I had killed the thread!
Also thanks Systems. I'm just so tired with Iestyn being ill because he hasn't slept for a week (well, obviously, he has slept, just not through the night and averaging 4 hours...). He's still not 100%, DH has gone, and I'm teaching tomorrow.
I also have massive stress at work due to my boss's skullduggery. I so don't want to go in!

Going to sleep now. Please, everyone do sleep dances and get those sleepy sleepy vibes going. I'm sure I'm not the only one who needs them!