Dec 2007 - Little People, Large Strops

[strandedatseasonsgreetings]

Will this do everyone?

Clara - is it a direct flight? If so you should be pretty much fine. Its all the hanging around in airports that does children's heads in.

Tantrums here have eased off very slightly. I think its just that she is absolutely obsessed with transporting everything and anything around in whatever container she can find, she's got no time to be angry! Also with making everyone cups of coffee etc with her new teaset. She's turned her oven into a shop counter and sells coffees and ice creams. So from my experience the trick is to hit upon something that they're really interested in that will distract them for long periods of time....

Our dog/puppy got hold of DD's "tigey" (dodie equivalent) last week and chewed one of its eyes off I managed to get to it before DD, sewed it up and washed it. DD doesn't appear to have noticed it too much - just complained he was wet! Perhaps I should have used it as an excuse...although she's actually pretty good with it really, just needs him for bed.

Happy Birthday to all the 3 year olds! Evie still has 3 weeks to go until hers, its quite nice that it doesn't interfere with the Christmas excitement TBH (although I wasn't thinking that this time 3 years ago!). I have bought a doll's house and furniture for DD for Christmas from ebay and also some Sylvanian animals, for her birthday she'll be getting a bike

Clara, lol at your joint birthday comment... my Mum actually did give me a joint for my 15th birthday, and some hash cakes As for boundaries, DD is always pushing them, her most common phrase to say is "I not" which she uses when you ask her to stop doing something. She definitely does things deliberately to wind her brothers up too. I think 3 is harder than 2 because they are proper little people now and know their own minds but are still too young to realise that other people matter too IYKWIM? Its all about cause and effect (I smash DS1's lego, he screams!)

Dundee , hello and congratulations! Glad the heart murmur is not too serious, must have been a worry!

Skid I like your comment about DD 'lording it' over DS1, my DS1 definitely lords it over both of the other 2! Re School, I have been unable to get DD into a preschool as the one I put her name down for closed, as did a couple of others here which meant there was a shortage of places. She may get a place at the school nursery after Easter (she's not funded until then) although might not until September. I don't mind too much although I think it would do her good to go somewhere now! Only problem is they will want her 5 afternoons a week straight off which might be a bit much. Our babies are growing up too fast

BT, 2 hours is nothing for holding wee, I'm sure DD is part camel! She went this morning and then not again until 4.30 this afternoon. This is quite common for her! I took her nappies off on Thursday as I knew I'd be at home for a few days and its not going too bad. She still doesn't know how to let it go but other than a puddle on day one there have been no major disasters (touch wood), just wet patches in her knickers. It does worry me a little that she holds it for so long, she can start to go then stop it and then not let it out for 2 hours or more. I've tried giving her more drink today to encourage more weeing but she's refusing it, even when I give her ribena instead of water - I think she's onto me...

Clairey, ooh, exciting about the job! It is daunting, I'm not sure how I'll be when I start looking into doing 'real' work again after DD goes to school! My advice on dummies would be not to worry too much about it unless it a)bothers you or b)he never takes it out. When DS2 was 3 we tried to lose it but he didn't sleep well in the day and was overtired at night, when he was nearly 4 he decided to give it up himself and threw it in the bin, after a week he had a visit from the dummy fairy Cutting the teats off is a good way for them to give it up themselves too. IMHO I don't think it hurts them to have it for comfort at bedtime, you wouldn't take a snuggly or teddy away!

Right, off to sort the kids out, we have snow snow snow here so they are hyper-excited about the morning!

I think we are going to stop the potty training for a few weeks, DS did a wee on the floor and then a poo on the sofa. He didn't realise he had done it until afterwards.
He won't sit on the potty or the toilet anyway.

Oh dear don't say that BT! I'm determined to start on Boxing Day!!!

Did you make it home OK clara?

When is the job interview Clairey? Good luck!

Skid, we went round to DD2's father's place on Sunday and were given 5 parcels for her, all wrapped in Xmas paper. When I asked which were for Xmas and which for birthday he said "oh they're kind of all for both". Sigh. Two of them were from his sister and mother.

Well I've also decided to give internet dating another go (dabbled a few years ago without much success). So far have been messaging 2 possible "matches" and have coffee with one of them tomorrow - wish me luck!

Yay we're home! The journey ended up being fine, the plane was only delayed by an hour - we were very lucky though as the plane the day before was cancelled and Gatwick was closed the next day....the roads were ok until we got to Gloustershire and the snow got heavier and heavier....anyway we got back just about in time, the roads were definitely dodgy later on that night.

Loving being back. The dd's are really enjoying the snow, although dd2 really feeling the cold. I am enjoying the shops, especially the supermarkets! Only problem is everything keeps getting cancelled because of the snow - eg the santa train we were meant to be going on today, plus we're not sure whether we'll be going to my family on Christmas day as planned. How about everyone else? Anyone else worried about the journey?

Buzzy - oooh how exciting about the dating, will be interested to hear how it goes! I hope he's nice.....

Glad you are back... does this mean you will have a new user name?

Ah yes I have been thinking along the lines of Dunbeingstranded or Strandednomore - what do you reckon?

I like the second one best!

Merry Christmas everyone :)

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas! It's almost over here, we've had a nice sunny day - children swam in the sea with Grandma while I watched :)

We've had a great day. DS has loved all his presents.
We took his dodie off him this morning and have told him it has gone - we gave him an extra present which is to replace his dodie.
He has cried for it a few times but we managed to distract him.
He asked to go to be and I said to DH that I thought he was asking because he thought he would get his dodie back - and yes he cried and cried and said "I really miss my dodie "
In the end he decided he wanted to go back downstairs, and I took him back down and sat with him on my lap.
He then decided he wanted to go to bed again but this time not a word about his dodie, he went straight to sleep!!
Hope it carries on!
We're off to PILs tomorrow for yet more presents so hopefully that will also be a big distraction!

Anyway hope you all are having a good Christmas.

I saw your FB message BT (Kara) - good for Daniel!
We had a good - albeit laid back - Christmas Day. We opened our presents here at home in the morning (including new bikes for the dd's - we are still waiting for it to thaw enough for them to try them out, hopefully tomorrow!), then drove to my brother/SIL's house for lunch. It was a cold buffet so mimimum amount of work and all the better for it.
Yesterday was starting to get a little stressful as it's still too cold to go out and do much, everyone we know is caught up with family etc and all the dd's toys are still on the ship. However, we managed to buy a car this morning and everyone seems to be in a much better mood.
Hope you are all enjoying the holidays.

Happy new year!!

Happy New Year Buzzy - still a few hours to go here....

Where is everyone?

Happy New Year!!!

Trying to get los to bed so they can have some drinkies, no doubt Stranded!

BT - have they been trying to get them to bed for four days?

Oh - do you actually think they have real lives?

(in my defence this is a very strange time for us with not much going on so I probably am on MN far too much...)

Hi clara! So glad you made it home ok. Must be very weird going from hot hot to snow! We're having a pretty good Christmas break here weather-wise, lots of sun.

BT I tried potty training for 4 days with DD2, gave it a really good go but like you I just don't think she has the necessary control. She would sometimes say "need to go on the potty" with wees running down her legs, other times I would just find a wet patch. I'm going to put her in pull-ups for the next month and keep practising sitting on the potty regularly then give it another solid go.

She had a nice birthday on the 30th although DD1 managed to sprain her ankle, ouch.

BUzzy - we tried again with DS with similar results. He did a wee next to the potty but he just happened to be standing there.

So yes I don't think he has developed the necessary control yet. Will try it again in the next couple of weeks.

Happy New Year everyone!

Good going on the dummy bt, ds said he didn't want to give his in the end and I must admit I was slightly relieved as I felt like it would be a nightmare if he did give it up!

Went to my friends' for NYE-all the gang bar one together for the first time in ages. Really nice evening, lovely meal and lots of champagne

How is the dating going buzzy? I think I'm too scared to even try!

Hey all, hope everyone had good Christmasses and New Year! I have not been absent due to having a real life, just no time DS2 and I had a cold at the end of term then DS1 had some virus for 5 days or so over Christmas (achy, snotty, hot, headachy, off food, etc), then DH and DD got it so due to lack of sleep/activity I feel as though we've had no break at all! We did take the children to Pizza Hut and Toys R Us to spend their Christmas money today though which was nice, first day DD has eaten more than a couple of bites in a week or more! Despite being poorly she is doing fantastically with potty training and after learning 2 of her little friends use the toilet she is now using that instead of the pot! I think it helps that she only goes 3-4 times a day (the boys always went at least once an hour when they were training so its taken some getting used to!). I think when I run out of nappies I'll try her at night too as she is always dry in the morning and won't 'go' in her nappy.

BT and Buzzy, the couple of times I tried potty training DD before she was the same as your LOs, she didn't have any control and didn't really seem to know before she went. I really don't think its worth upsetting them by trying too much before they are ready (as I did with DS1 who was a NIGHTMARE to potty train and I'm certain its just because he wasn't ready and I wouldn't give up and wait a bit )

BT, well done to Daniel on giving up his Dodie, how is he doing without it? As much as he has loved it, if you give him a couple of months he probably won't even remember it (DS2 didn't and he was almost 4 when he gave his up totally).

Claiey, that's how I felt when DS2 had his dummy, hence why he had it so long! We tried when he was almost 3 and he couldn't/wouldn't sleep without it so he got it back!

Buzzy how did the date go? I'm glad DD2 enjoyed her birthday, how is DD1's ankle now? Your Christmas pics on FB look fab , we had freezing fog and grey slush - lovely!

Clara, welcome home! I bet the temperature change has been really hard for you all as well as everything else being so different for the girls, especially DD2. How are you all settling in now?

Hi FO - glad you had a great New Year's Evem sounded like fun :)

Beckle - he has asked for a couple of times, but we distract him and he seems fine without it. He sleeps really well without as well!

Beckle, sounds like you've had a hard run of it. If its any comfort I have a terrible head cold at the moment too, even tho it's mid summer! Well done to DD on the potty training.

Clairey and Beckle, well the one meeting for coffee has turned into 1 proper date for his birthday which was on 27 Dec plus dinner (BBQ) at his house and I cooked pizza here at my house one night plus the day with the kayaks - those are his kids on the FB page (the ones that aren't mine!). He has 2 kids aged 7.9 and 10.5 and DD1 really hit if off with them and both my kids like him. He also lives literally around the corner which is convenient. However I must admit to feeling rather ambivalent and I can't work out whether its because I've become too attached to my single lifestyle or I don't feel enough of a physical attraction spark with him. I actually do like him alot, we're very compatible in many ways. But he is rather overweight (not obese but quite big - he's 6'3" so that's part of it). Anyway I'm going away tomorrow camping and he's away too for a bit so let's see how we feel in a couple of week's time

ooh buzzy, how exciting. Have you ... ahem done anything? Surely that will tell you if you fancy him or not? I hope you do because he sounds ace - but then again if you don't then better to know early on. Still exciting eith er way though!

BT - well done to Daniel on giving up his dummy. Following your advice i know have DS2 on a strict dummy only for sleep routine - so-far so good - apart from DD who rushes to get one the moment he squeaks!

beckle - poor you not what you want at Xmas. Glad everyone id feeling a bit better now though

clara - welcome back, bet you're feeling chilly - must be lovely to catch up with friends and settle into a permanent routine though

clairey very of your New Year's Eve. Our plans fell through as our friend's DD was ill so we ended up watching telly and going to bed at about 12.05

Xmas was lovely though - feel like I really bonded with DD and enjoyed enjoying my DC for a change instead of constantly nagging them to get dressed, brush teeth, we're going to be late blah blah

Back in the swing of it again though - and tomorrow is DS's first day at preschool how has your DS got on clairey?

Lol at Skid going straight in for the details But yes, we all want to know!

Went for lunch with a few school mums yesterday, was good to get to know them a bit better although I did spend quite a bit of time just chasing ds around (pub was empty so was a bit lax about making him stay at table-too busy chatting)

Beckle am of dry mornings, although dd has started to want to try and we've had two dry mornings from her now. Am going to wait til we get two or three is a row and then try without a pull up again [scared]

Didn't get shortlisted for job I went for so am now feeling a bit crap and unemployable.

Oh Clairey sorry about the job. It's TOUGH at the moment though so please don't think it's you. Have you seen anything else you fancy? I'm still not sure what I want to do. I want to have a crack at writing but it's not a realistic "career" option. I also thought of training as a counsellor but now they have trebled the tuition fees (or have they? Has it actually been decided yet?) I can't see how I am meant to afford £27k for a three year degree course????

Well dd1 started school yesterday and dd2 playgroup today. No tears from either so I was pretty happy. Dd1 was a little quiet when she got home though so I am not sure if it is all a bit overwhelming. I am also worried she is going to be bored as there is no sign of them doing any writing or maths or some of the other stuff she has been doing.

I am trying not to be, but I am a little intimidated by the "mums at the school gate". Luckily I do have a couple of good friends whose dc's are at the school, plus I have started to meet a few other mums through them. But there are lots of people who just sort of look at you...anyway I am sure it will be fine in the end....just got to get through this bit...

Buzzy - if you don't fancy him, you don't fancy him. I remember saying the same to Clairey. I think you just have to enjoy it for what it is, but I got myself into a pickle going out with people with whom I had no spark. Not saying you don't, just going on what you said in your message. Keep us up to date!

Skid - I know what you mean about the nice, relaxed time over Christmas. Already I have found myself getting really stressed and shouty over the past two days. It doesn't help that I have to drag dd2 with me to drop off and pick up dd1, which she doesn't understand. She was having a tantrum this afternoon because she wanted to stay at home and watch Ben and Holly....

Clara I know I am being silly, it's just one job. It's just cos ds starts preschool on Monday and the thought of being at home without any dc makes me feel like I am living up to the Jeremy-Kyle-watching-scrounger image He is only in for three sessions though so realistically it isn't much time!

Glad school went ok. They won't be doing much maths etc yet if it's like dd's school. Foundation stage here is pretty much just playing. But they have said to me that dd is very academic and so chooses the number or letter activities over other things-hopefully your dd1 will be able to do the same and so not get bored.

Hope you settle in at the school gate too