Dec 2007 - Little People, Large Strops

[strandedatseasonsgreetings]

Will this do everyone?

Hey sorry just been busy!

Buzzy I hope DD1 has a fab time, will you be able to Skype her when she is away, that might help?

FO WTF? the gf contacted YOU!! I guess he really has shown his true colours, looks like you and the gf are well shot of him. I agree that it maybe time to change numbers.

DS had a haircut today, bloody stressful much tears and feeding of chocolate buttons to get it done!!!

DD is 4mo now! Getting a big girl, I have bought some 6-9mo stuff anf I have a feeling she will be in it before she is 6mo!! I am betting she will have doubled her birth weigh by 5mo!

Hi - sorry, you're right Clairey, we have been chicken poxed! Dd2 has them much worse than dd1 did and has been waking at night crying, which has obviously kept me awake so am totally knackered as well as stressed by the fact that I won't be able to get anything done this week, have to make lots of rearrangements/cancellations and have to think of ways to keep dd2 occupied and not too itchy without actually being able to take her anyway. Sigh. ANyway at least I've finally got them out of the way and they didn't get ill a day before we were due to fly somewhere on holiday...

BT - your baby is so cute! SHe's obviously thriving - are you finding you can enjoy her more than your ds as a baby?

Clairey - I think you hit the nail on the head about attracting nutters! Do you now think wc and his gf were behind all your wierd phone calls? I think you need to find someone nice and normal (easier said than done I am sure!).

Buzzy - that must feel strange having dd1 out of the country but hopefully she is having a good time. I take it you haven't been enjoying the rugby?? The only live match I ever saw in my life was England v the All Blacks in Auckland (I usually make sure if I am going to see a live sports match it's worth seeing - the only cricket match I have ever seen was in Jamaica where we just sat and drank beer all day, and I also saw England beat Germanly 5-1 in Munich!), but we were all pissed before the game even started because we had been watching England play football in the world cup that morning....The night before I had got really pissed too and bumped into a rugby player called Jeff Wilson in a thai restaurant in Auckland and told him that rugby was a girls game, woops, probably not the best thing to say to a member of the All Blacks!!!

Anyway that was a bit of a walk down memory lane, I loved my time in NZ!

Stranded - yes I think I am enjoying DD more, I have learnt a lot from DS and that does help make things less stressful with DD.
DS does get a bit neglected at times, poor chap but he is mostly good and patient apart from a few tantrums, and he adores his sister, and she thinks he is the funniest thing on the planet
I do try to make some time to do things with him and he is always so sweet, saying thank you spontaneously!
Still can't believe he'll be off to Big School next year!

[struggles to push head out from under a pile of essays, tutorial notes and general work stress] helloooo!

Am lurking atm but will be back soon - clairey re WC - what a twunt

sympathies to clara

DD is 6 tomorrow [strangulated sob]

oops didn;t finish my mini-post

buzzy - must be hard being away from DD1 but hope you enjoy the relative freedom as well

BT 4 months , glad DS has taken so well to his new sis

Ah good to see you all back

So where do I meet a nice, non nutty, non attached man then??

Happy birthday MiniSkidd!!

Hi everyone!! Nice to see you, so to speak.
The plague of the pox sounds awful Clara. Is DD2 getting through the worst of it now? Some children really do suffer with it.
BT your DS is being a star if he's coping well on the whole. It is a big adjustment for him. But maybe having an older [half] brother has helped him understand?
Clairey, I guess the usual...friends introductions, through work (small problem there I realise), through clubs etc. I just wish more of my friends would take it upon themselves to introduce me to nice men!
I was not looking forward to Rugby WC but in the end it has actually been quite fun having all these foreign teams here, quite the festival atmosphere. THe weather has been pretty awful though - just as well rugby is played in all weathers. Today for example is raining and 9 deg C. I won't be sad when it's over though.
DD1 comes back tomorrow night. You're right Skidd, part of me has been rather guiltily enjoying her being away, while also wondering how she's getting on. She did ring on Sunday which was nice.
Go the All Blacks on Sunday!

Hello, just back from parents eve...dd is now g&t and has an IEP am (and know you lot don't mind a shameless boast!)

Go your DD Clairey! Boast away. Both your DC sound exceptionally bright. Give yourself a huge pat on the back too. I wish DD1 had an IEP but her school seem happy enough to let me do the hard work and pay for her to go to One Day School 1 day per week - which is not cheap!

In fact while we're at it, I took DD2 along to something called Small Poppies last Saturday where specialist G&T teachers observe pre-schoolers to see whether they'd fit into a "G&T" kind of playgroup thing. I only did this because DD1's teacher at One Day School suggested I take her along (the playgroup is attached to ODS and is designed for 4-6 yos who are not old enough for ODS).
They gave DD2 the green light, although of course it's not a formal assessment at this age. I was quite :o :o too as I have this stereotype in my mind of how G&T kids behave based on my experience with DD1 and DD2 is not like her at all! Except perhaps that she is now "reading" quite a few words that she has memorised and is understanding phonics - which is very similar to my memory of how DD1 started reading at around the same age. So perhaps they are not quite so different after all.

clairey and can I just say that I predicted this long long ago?!! [slaps self on back heartily] That is brilliant - you must be so proud of her. What does the IEP say?

buzzy - about both your DDs too! And wow that DD2 can read a bit and understands phonics - that is sooooooooooooooo far from what my DS1 can do although I think my DD was similar at that age. I think you're absolutely right in identifying her as potentially G&T early on - it is just as important that G&T children have their needs met as children with other SENs. What is One Day School btw?

Poor DS1 was NOT happy this morning - we bought a new bookshelf from IKEA and put it up last night - he comes in this morning and completely breaks down that we have a new one and where is the old one etc etc.... what were we thinking? We know he can't cope with change. We should have prepared him, really need to start getting the hang of this [bad mother] On the plus side he says he has now gone off Fireman Sam [hopeful] - fingers crossed he means it [will secretly miss Ponty Pandy and Station Officer Steele emotion]

Skidd One Day School is run by a charity here called the Gifted Education Centre. Kids attend 1 day per week outside of their regular school and do enquiry based learning, i.e. not the curriculum. They have to complete regular curriculum work the other 4 days at their regular school. www.giftededucation.org.nz/onedayschool.html

Have just had a lovely weekend away - it is Labour Day here today. Just with the kids doing stuff like parks, playgrounds, mini-putt etc but all very enjoyable. And the All Blacks did win :)

Yay to the All Blacks - there must have been a HUGE party in NZ!
Clairey - that's brilliant that they have identified your dd as G&T and she has her own IEP (had to google that one!). I do seem to remember she was a very early talker, as was your ds wasn't he? I know dd1 is probably the best reader in her year and is doing quite a lot of Yr2 work but I don't think she's G&T (reading about what real G&T children can do - a friend of mine's daughter was on ORT level 10 when she started in reception, for example!)
Skid - I did have a little smile about fireman sam! One of the few dvd's we took to Pakistan with us was a Fireman Sam one, I think there were four "stories" on it and I was totally sick of all of them by the time she got bored of them! I hope you're getting the help you need with ds1.
I have started running, am doing the couch to 5k and have just completed week 5. Yesterday I ran for 20 mins non-stop. Boy it was hard though!

well done clara - very impressive - I have completely stopped running after deciding to do a half-marathon and then bitterly regretting it! My brother did a full marathon at the weekend though [proud]

re Fireman Sam I feel like I could go on Mastermind and win the amount I know about it - I spied someone on MN with the nickname "IsSamNorman'sDad" which made me laugh

My DD is also good at reading but not G&T I'm sure. She also has a friend who started reception on level 8 or 9 - but wierdly is still on level 8 or 9 I think...

Well done to All Blacks - not into rugby, just know DH wanted France to win - not sure why, maybe underdog thing - he still hasn't recovered from Ireland being knocked out yet

Thanks everyone. TBH I wouldn't have said dd was g&t just bright and a good reader... Though school said her vocab, comprehension and spelling is also v advanced for her age. Have a meeting on 14th nov to go through iep but gist of it is to encourage her reading at the right level for her rather than curriculum level and to try to develop numeracy etc so she isn't one sided. Because she is on free school dinners they also have extra funding for her to have small group and one on one time with another teacher and they are going to use that to help her develop her motor skills-atm she still has a weak grip on her pencil and isn't great with scissors etc as well as being useless at PE/skipping/bike riding etc. So all in all dd will be getting a lot of extra attention this year (feel a bit guilty about it especially as my friend's ds has dyspraxia and she is having to really fight to get him any help at all )

I love rugby but am really out of the habit of watching it and properly following it since having dc...same with F1 and football-still enjoy it if I catch it but couldn't tell you any of the facts and figures etc anymore. Only managed to watch about 3 matches of the RWC as well!

XH seems to have stepped up his game and has been having the dc regularly, whilst I moaned about him NOT having them before I have to say I've found it hard having them go to him every other weekend recently! I really missed them on Saturday while they were there and felt really lonely! There was a band playing in local pub so went along there in the eve and met one of my friends. Had a good time in the end, even got chatted up. Though disappointingly after he added me on fb yesterday I saw he had one of those ignorant anti immigration statuses on his page. So that's a no-go.

OMG at the no to immigration man - good to be warned off so early though... and good to be chatted up with such frequency

It must be really hard not seeing the DC all weekend but if it is going to be regular maybe you can start planning exciting trips/activities that you couldn't do before?

That is also really and unfair that your friend has to fight for help for her DS. Brilliant that your DD is getting so much support though

Just had a little peep at the postnatal club for DS2 and all their babies are talking in sentences!! My DS2 can say: no, hiya, mama, ankoo (thank you) and quack quack... he understands everything though so I'm not remotely worried - was just a bit shocked as I hadn't really noticed his language was not brilliant (neglected 3rd born)

I know skid, think I am giving off muchos pheremones at the mo! Although I was also one of about 3 women in there that night (and the only 'unknown') so that may have been a factor.

I'm sure ds2 is speaking at a normal level (how old is he now??), never compare to mner's babies! Besides which they are cute as they are learning to talk so you don't want him to do it too quickly!

absolutely - I LOVE that he can't talk yet - he is so communicative with his expressions and gestures and I don't have THREE little voices constantly making my head explode every day He is almost 20 months

My office mate and I were just saying how when you are young and beautiful you don't appreciate being chatted up/looked at admiringly and we would love to be transported back to our twenties for a day when we would scowl at builders and raise our eyes at the 20 compliments we'd get every day [wistful] - enjoy it girl

Oh he's definitely not behind then!

20 compliments a day?? Have never been that popular!

Clairey - fab news about your DD, you must be very proud!

Skid - that sounds pretty normal, think that was how much DS was talking around that age.

We all had a lovely holiday in Spain, just waiting for DH to download the pix from his camera to put on to FB!

Skid I remember getting slightly worried about DD about that age and actually going to the lengths of recording lists of her words to reassure myself that it was "normal". Now I can't get her to stop!!!

Clairey I think that's probably what most parents of g&t kids would say. And I certainly found that my mother said that about DD1 right up to the point at which we got her assessment done "oh no, she's just bright". And she's saying it again about DD2 :)

It is weird and rather schizophrenic not having the kids some of the time isn't it Clairey - kind of like you're properly single again! Enjoy it if you can. I certainly miss those time-out times these days. And it is MUCH easier to have a relationship and go out in the evenings and stuff without having to get a babysitter every time.

My birthday on Thur (40 again ). I fly out tomorrow night to Cambodia for 3 nights then over to Penang off the coast of Malaya for 5 nights. REALLY looking forward to it. My Mum is such a star for taking on the kids for 9 nights.

wow buzzy - that sounds AMAZING Are you going by yourself? If so, also [very impressed]

Glad you had a good holiday BT

Re DS2 I am not at all worried about his language - his understanding is brilliant and he is very communicative. It is funny seeing him develop after DS1 actually and being in awe at how good he is at loads of stuff - like climbing up stairs confidently (albeit holding a hand) and then realising, oh actually most children can do this at his age - DS1 has only just mastered it now!

Have the day off work today and dropped by DD's playground on the way back from picking up DS1 - I was standing by the railings to wave hello and when she saw me her face dropped in a oh-no-now-I-have-to-drag-myself-away-from-my-friends-and-say-hello kind of way. Then a friend of hers said, DD said you were annoying . Made me to think she already feels like that - imagine when she is a teenager....

Skidd - I'm sure children say those things about their parents all the time - dd1 certainly says it to my face enough!

Buzzy - also very at your trip. NINE child-free days, in SOUTH EAST ASIA!!!!!!!! Actually I did Cambodia on my own in pre-dc's days,. What an amazing place!

Has anyone used a sleep clinic? We don't know what to do about dd2. She is awake every night and can only go back to sleep in bed with one of us (usually me). She also won't go to sleep without holding our hand - I tried to force her to go to sleep with me in the room but not holding her hand the other night and she cried so much I had to give up. She couldn't understand why I wouldn't just hold her hand. She is difficult in lots of other ways too but probablyt just a normal almost-4-yr old way. Although she is very, very clingy to me and hates it when dh puts her to bed (we take it in turns).

Anyway I have ordered one of those disney princess night lights because she claims to be scared of the dark. If it doesn't work then I really think I will need to get some help because I am despairing! Dh and I never wake up in the same bed anymore and it just seems to be getting worse and worse...

oh no poor you clara Not sure what to suggest - sounds like she is going through a bit of an insecure stage - do you think it might have been triggered by anything? Or has she always been like this? If it's any consolation, DD used to be like that at bedtime and has gradually grown out of it - I think she is just naturally quite anxious and hates being alone

Hopefully someone else will have some more constructive advice - or maybe post in behaviour/development? Poor you, you must be knackered!

Hello everyone, sorry for another huge long absence from me, I'm not doing well at keeping up am I?! Still having loads of hassles with extension stuff but we're getting there (I hope) and it will be worth it. I've also had a new job packing dice at home which has been taking up most of my time but the money is handy and it gives me something to focus on to stop me falling asleep all the time! SIL has been poorly too so I've been helping out a bit with my DNieces so there's not been time for much else!

I'm glad to read you're all okay though!

Clairey fab news about DD, you must be so proud and you are perfectly right to boast! Sorry to hear the WC has been a twunt, at least you have seen his true colours though and can hopefully put him out of your mind!

Clara, sorry to hear that DD2 is having night terrors, that must be awful My DD also likes to be cuddled to sleep by me, not so keen on DH putting her to bed (he only does it Tuesday when I have to go to work before she goes to bed) as he doesn't snuggle her. If she wakes in the night she gets up, knocks on my door and then runs and snuggles into my bed before I've even shut the door! I am just too lazy to put her back into her bed, I'll end up sleeping in it with her and mine is far more comfy!

Buzzy, I am very at your holiday, your pictures on FB look fab! It must have been odd knowing DD1 was in another country but what an experience for her!

BT I can't believe how big Cara is getting, she is very cute! Bless DS and his haircut, I used to cut DS1's hair with clippers myself as he hated the hairdressers so much, thankfully the other 2 like having it done. DD has declared she is going to be a hairdresser when she grows up!

Skidd what a sad moment it must have been to realise that DS1 was definitely different to other children his age, I felt a bit choked when I read what you wrote Must be reassuring though that you are doing the right thing to get some help for him.