Dec 08 - tears, tantrums, giggles and piddles - and that's just the mums!

[traceface]

Or maybe piddling whilst giggling is just me?
It's so sunny here I feel Spring has sprung - where's that daffodil emoticon gone? Had a friend round this morning for a natter and cake - muchos snot and tears but all good. Think I might go for a little bike ride now to blow the cobwebs away.
And no vag - not a chance!
rubs don't you dare spend all your time tweeting - your first loyalty is here!

No no cock ups.

jam, Summer is right - test NOW!!!! Come on - we're here and waiting...

Ok trace just gone back to your pics.

Remove everything from your worktops hide in the oven if neccesary (we hid our toaster in the oven when selling our old place). Things like is that a dishcloth on your taps? Just have a small container that you can put all that sort of thing in and hide it when viewers come round.

Insist on photos from the back. Make sure nothing is lying around is that a high chair in the dining room, move it so its not seen in the pics.

Basically you have to take everything that is not deemed as essential and hide it for the duration of your house sale. Put it in the loft or box up and garage.

I personally wouldnt do the audio thing.

Get some pots or hanging baskets with lovely bright flowers in. Gardens are so boring at this time of yr if people can visualise things growing it helps.

Things like dressing your beds (ie nice cushions) and having specific viewing towels which match your bathroom that get put out nicely when you have viewing or when the pics are taken

I know it all sounds a bit bonkers but that sort of thing works.

I would be talking to your EA about the sort of people they are marketing your house too. As I would imagine they have a list of peeps looking to spend x amount and if your house is int hat price range they should be encouraging them to come have a look

Also turn your main lights on makes the rooms look bigger

trace read this thread

Trace I think your house looks great and not too small at all, but I agree they could have done a better job with the photos! In the bedroom, could you get a shot including the window? And your view at the back is lovely.

And wot is wrong with paper shades I ask?

Jam: am up for Wed - shall we try a picnic in the park? Or do you want to get some food into yours before coming over? Def test! I seem to remember you weren't 100% averse to having three.

Summer: my sister used to live an hour from my mum and that was bad enough. They used to 'pop in' all the time. If she did move I think you'd have to insist on so e definite ground rules - and get DH to stick with them. Like NO KEYS. Actually, just move .

thanks for the feedback so far guys I feel abit cheeky asking them to take more pics, but I guess I'm paying them a lot of money to sell my house! Jam I planned to move high chair and stuff from on top of the dresser, and didn't realise he'd already done the dining room picture! Would it be rude of me to ask, when he comes on Wed, to take lots again with less on my surfaces?

No you are paying them, and its in yours and their interest to sell the house so presenting it in the best way is advantageous to you all.

Effie boys are at nursery until 12.30 and have packed lunched their but we could do a little cake picnic.

WG - what a total cow. I am [shocked]ed for you. HOrrific MIL.

Thank you all for enquiring about my Dad and MIL etc. I'm so sorry I've been out of range - but Dad's tumour hasn't shrunk, but nor has it grown or spread. Hurray! MIL is doing well and finds out tomorrow if it's cancer. Fingers crossed. My Mum waiting on some news from a blood test in 2 weeks time as she's been having a few issues.

PD - I cannot believe someone thought you were your child's granny. They are clearly total donuts and should have gone to specsavers. I can sympathise, though, as my hair is nearly entirely grey now and it's too depressing!

Jam - test test test!

Trace - great tips from Jam, really fantastic. We piled loads of stuff into the car when people were coming round and sold fairly quickly.

Looks like we might have to move out of here sooner than later - ie. June, although asking landlord to extend to end Sept if we can. He wants us out at end of tenancy (ie 3rd June) as it's easier to let a property in May/June apparently. We want to stay til the end of Sept. Ho hum. Let's see what happens. If we do have to go, then think we'll be renting in Hertford-y area. Any tips?

Rubes and Lady - you are noticeably quieter on here since joining Twitter. Weep.

No no no ladies, I am not quieter. Truly! Hey, I posted three times on Sat! I came to London yesterday morn anyway and won't be back until tomorrow evening (so can't peer at your pics yet, Trace, but sounds like you've got great advice from the girls. Yesterday I was seeing chums and today was more relaxed. I was going through my London wardrobe this morn and can wedge myself into an evening gown from my former glory days for this posh judge's dinner on Friday. My upper arms ruin it a bit these days, even though I can somehow get the zip up, but what the hey. I have also found some high silver sling backs that I've only worn twice so they'll do an' all - I've a silver clutch bag somewhere so I'm done.

Going through my wardrobe has set off the glooms, though - being in London generally. I don't have any money and when I think about my old life, although it's v shallow, I think about amazing holidays and armfuls of nice clothes (most of which no longer fit me, ha) bought with no thought to the cost - and today, I was buying socks for DD1 and wondering if my card was going to be refused! I know that sounds stupid. I am waiting for a refund from the Revenue and it keeps being delayed, and I really need it. If I rent out my London flat from the end of the yeaar, I will have to tart it up as it's v shabby - and I don't have the ccash. Anyway, enough of these moans (for now, I've a feeling there will be more of this, sorry). On the bright side - the girls are just adorable. They are with me and they've just been so lovely. Obviously I wouldn't swap them for my formerly glamorous life, but I get wistful.

Invis, I hope your tummy bug has gone (and yours, WG). Good to see you back on here, Beans, and crossing everything for your lot.

SL - how serious is your MIL about moving, do you reckon?

Jam and Trace - get you, with your pregnancy scares! Hope in both cases you get the right result - Trace, haven't a clue if it would show up yet. Like Summer, fear of pregnancy is preventing a lot of action around here. So is DPKs big trial, he can scarcely remember our names at the moment, poor fella.

It's VAG who is being quiet as well! Twitter is a bit annoying but I feel sort of locked into it now! Only spending a few mins a day on it though. AS IF it could ever replace you lot...

Off to bed to read the paper. Might see Rubes on the way home tomorrow. G'night lovely girls.

Must have been a weird collection of random things as have started bleeding this morning. Must stop thinking DH has super sperm that can penetrate through the pill.

Beans fingers crossed.

LadyT I hear ya. As much as I adore my boys and the life that I now have. I really miss that lovely nice salary with practically no outgoings that meant I could buy nice handbags and clothes and jet off to lovely places skiing and the such.

Phew Jam. Or is it phew with a teeny bit of disappointment?

Lady sorry you are down. Money problems are very worrying though, always at the back of your mind. I miss pre-kids life quite a lot sometimes too, though I never had loads of cash so don't really notice the change there as much, more just the time to myself.

MIL is deadly serious. I think it will happen and there is fuck all I can do about it. Talked to DH about it last night and he reckons that MIL needs to move from her big house that is not in great state of repair soonish, which I kind of agree with. She also thinks she should not stay in her village as it has no doctor's surgery or facilities, and if she ever can't drive she is stuck there (although she can drive fine at the moment). And as all her friends are in the village she thinks she should move nearer to us. I have told DH that I think it will be an absolute nightmare and he hasn't disagreed but says that there's not much we can do about it. I just don't want to spend my whole life being the miserable one who says to DH, "No i don't want to see your mother twice this week, tell her no". God, it's so depressing.

Right DD awake gotta get her.

Argh my bloody coffee machine is bust, getting a new one, tried to get some of those instant things that are meant to be like filters but due to hurry and having both screamers in tow got some weirdo pod things for some machine. Bummers. I have some instant but it's really old and will taste yuk. Bumholes, I need coffee.

Oh boring child eating post coming up - DS has been eating some new foods! He seems to have got the hang of trying things, which is good. He doesn't like lots of it, but has eaten and liked bacon, mango, garlic bread this week. And tried peas, mange tout and lots of other stuff (but didn't like). And then last night he ate risotto! But DD ate more, she's sooo flipping greedy, I also don't need to do any more than just chop stuff up a bit for her and it just disappears. Amazing! She's also getting to be a right little traditional chubby baby, bless her with rings of chubble on her arms and legs and a big round face. Awwww.

Hello ladies, sorry have been crap at posting DS2 is wanting lots of attention and really enjoying chatting so I kind of feel I should spend a little more time giving him my full attention, not so much for him, but for me. I'm feeling him grow up before my very eyes, I don't want to miss anything.

That's not to say that everything is rosy and I'm having lots of happy fulfilling mummy days, quite the opposite. It seems his new found conversational abilities have improved his ability to argue with me. We spend a lot of time arguing. Yesterday was a bit of a nightmare, we went to a cafe I love which is quite child friendly, except that they have coffee bean chocolates on the tables. I managed to keep him out of them until right at the end of lunch he managed to grab and handful! Wired doesn't even start to describe him.

Oh gotta go post more later.

Hey everyone! We had baby meltdown last night and both screaming from about 4.30 onwards. Was heinous. Put DD2 to bed at 5.45 and DD1 at 6.15!!! Thought we'd have a ridiculously early start this morning and as DH was away, I was dreading it. BUT neither of them stirred til 7.15, by which time I'd had a shower and was dressed. Marvellous. And unheard of!

Can you believe that DD2 is now 9 months old? I really can't - it's extraordinary. But at the same time, neither can I imagine life before her either! I sometimes miss the time I had just DD1 and me, so think will have to somehow make time for just her and me. I have Tues and Weds with DD2 as DD1 at nursery and it's lovely. But feel I should do the same with DD1 some time.

I have just bought her the most fantastic kit from mothercare. She's really into playing with dollies and things. It's lovely as she really uses her imagination, which is new. She isn't very good at playing on her own, but at the weekend, was absorbed by friends baby dolls, so I got this proper bargain on the mothercare website it's amazing value ! Although I wouldn't have paid £60 for it as it's full price! And I got a little cupcake matching dolly for £8. It's quite weenie, but will do the job. She'll get home from nursery tonight and be so pleased. I'm actually excited about it!!!

DD2 not crawling yet, but she is definitely trying really hard. She's got terrible separation anxiety at the moment - if I leave her on the floor playing while I go to the loo or anything, the screams are appalling - it's quite wearing.

MIL gets her results today. DH is in Germany with work, but am going to wait for him to find out, rather than me call her, although I would love to. Just don't think it's my place to.

SL - feel your pain with MIL moving near. I love mine and get on well with her to the point of sometimes feeling like she's my spare Mum, but I wouldn't want to live closer than an hour away - would do my nut in as she'd want to come round a lot. And that's a MIL that I love!

Veg - we too are at the arguey stage - pretty hard work, isn't it?

Sorry, when I said meltdown from 4.30, I meant pm, not am luckily!!

Oh, SL, I am having palpitations on your behalf. Luckily last week's shenanigans mean I don't think my mil wd ever do it. One consolation I have is my mum had a horrific relationship with her mil and while I loved going to see grandma when I was really little, as I grew up I cd totally understand my mum and I also found grandma strange and distant.

Beans - good luck fir the rest of results due. Glad it hasn't spread in your dad.

Unclackered ladies - hope those are good results for you.

I am slowly recovering. Appetite has vaguely come back, first proper pooh for days/weeks, wound getting a bit better but still weeping, pil gone, and dad and LF here to save the day. I still spend most of the day in bed though and can't seem to shake it off. Dh says he can always take another week off if necessary. Am aware I've got to start doing this on my own at some point though. I can honestly say I have never felt quite so crap in all my days.

Might look into a postnatal doula, but even the thought of organising it seems too much.

Lovely (last minute) afternoon with Lady and the girls. Gosh minilady2 just adorable and minilady1 lovely as ever. Wow what a talker! Successfully polished off 2 bottles of wine and had a very civilised train ride home. Hope yours was too Lady Both kiddies well asleep by 730!

Beans, nope havent really been on Twitter all that much. have actually commited the Twitter sin of all sins and unfollowed a heap of people I didn't know which is probably quite rude but I couldn't keep up with reading them all! Will still tweet now and again, but hasn't sucked me in - yet.

WG, not sure. I'm thinking it's a bit hard to comment on your mil when it's just written down. Too hard to get the accurate feel of it all, but I must say that stalker type thing she did is crossing the line. I hope you can sort things out one way or another. Likewise SL.

SL - ds has been eating weird stuff too. Tinned tuna and mayo mixed with peas and rice the other day and he had some sushi on the way home oday on the train then got annoyed when it was all gone

Arti, how are the worms? eek

Vag hope ds has the coffee bean chocs out of the system!

Jam, are you pleased with the unclackered result or not? I'm on Yasmin now and I love it! - Don't feel half as bad at the time of month that I normally would. I must admit our trip confirmed for me that 2 kids are just right for us, as it was highlighted how it was quite easy to travel with 2, but three would be quite a lot more work, mainly given that everything is catered for in families of 4. I just couldn't face giving up any amout of travel / holidays etc, but at the same time, want to be able to take kids with me on many more holidays if that makes sense. But everyone has different views / wants / needs with life, so hope it's the outcome you wanted - likewise Trace.

Trace - just quickly looked at your pics. Great advice from Jam. I would also add, try and de-personalize (is that a word?) your house ie get family pics off the wall etc for the viewings / photo's. Clear all / any stuff from worktops and floor etc and turn on lights like Jam said. Yes get them to take photo's again, as problem is, although it's in their best interest (the Agent) to get maximum for your house, the difference in commission for the amount they would lose by taking quick photo's they've put no effort into, isn't a great deal in the grand scheme of things, so most of them just get in there snap away really fast and get on to the next one, unless of course it's millions of pounds worth. Sad but true.

Ta ra Zoe

I've been avidly following Jam and Trace's testing tales - I hope you're both happy with the outcome? I was convinced you were pregnant Jam, as you mentioned recently you were considering no 3, so an 'accidental' slip up in contraception could have been on the cards. And talking of slip ups, Arti did you ever take the MAP after your drunken night of passion?

Yesterday I'd convinced myself I was pregnant, and had gone from wondering about testing in the morning, to calculating due dates and arranging birthday parties by the evening. But my period arrived last night, ho hum, there's always next month. I had no symptoms at all, but no PMT symptoms either which was got me wondering as that was my only sign with DD

SL your MIL's plan sounds like a nightmare for you, but I doubt there's much you can do as she sounds like someone who can't be budged once she's set her mind to something. Have you told her your own longer term plans, to move to Bristol area? I think the best thing you can do is set some ground rules straight away - no calling round without ringing first, no leaving your DCs alone with the dog etc etc. I forget, do you have a FIL as well? If so, what are his thoughts, or does he just do as he's told?

Have you spoken to the EA Trace? I've never sold a house, so have nothing useful to add, but all the suggestions that have gone before sound really sensible

Good news about your Dad Beans, isn't that the second test that has shown the tumour hasn't grown now? Have you heard from DH about your MIL? I hope she recieves equally good news. My parents got DD that set for Christmas and I think it was half price - the changing bag bit is the biggest hit and she loves having her own little bag to take to places. Was DD1 thrilled when she got home?

LadyT I'm with you on the feeling wistful for days gone by, but the times we do get a weekend to ourselves we find the house is too tidy/quiet/big without DD and we will the time to pass quickly - the grass is always greener, isn't it? But if you have financial concerns, rather than just fond memories, it puts the pressure on. Poor you, being faced with not having your bolthole in London. Could you consider renting it as a holiday let? A bit sporadic in terms of how often it will be leased, but then at least you could block out some weekends for yourself and still use from time to time

Pleased to hear you're recovering a step at the time WG, obviously recovery it not in anyway linked to the departure of MIL

We've had the most gorgeous couple of days - I took DD swimming yesterday morning, and for the first time she properly trusted her floaty suit and was happy to swim around without me. She does this bizarre vertical, running through the water thing, but it is oddly effective. Then we got home to a voicemail invite to go to the beach with my old antenatal group, so we sped off and collected bucket loads of stones and soaked up some rare March sun (it was warm enough to be down to a t-shirt - madness!). Today we went to Mums and Tots and followed that with a picnic in the playground with the other mums and more March sunbathing. Such a treat to spend our days like this. However she has gone without a nap quite happily for the last 2 days, today I even put her down and she just chatted to her toys for about an hour before I got her up again. I'm gutted about this, as she's only started napping for more than 20 minutes at a time since Christmas and I've LOVED my 2 hours free time every afternoon and the garden is benefitting loads.

Ta ra Rubes

Oh, just seen the weather report - we've had the warmest temperatures in the country for the last 2 days, lucky me . Hope I've nit made anyone jealous (well, only a little bit) I thought it was gorgeous everywhere

Hello Ladies

What a gorgeous morning. I will even forgive the birds singing outside the DDs' window at 6.15 and waking them up. We have a huge camellia in our new garden and it's burst into gorgeous pink blooms which are making me happy.

I've been following the pregnancy scares with baited breath. I did take the MAP after my night of, um, drunkenness, and I now have my period so no frights here. Jam, are you going to start trying now? And Zoe, good lick with your efforts, sorry it wasn't to be this month.

Lady, pretty please share those lighting websites. Our living room is half painted now and I'm so excited to see the back of the nasty yellow walls. I think we are going to go for wooden floors. Our floor parse aren't in good condition at all but I'm thinking I might get away with sanding, waxing and polishing them. It's a risk though as once the whlole carpet is up we may realise they are beyond repair and then we will have to quickly source alternatives. I think we will go with engineered wood if that happens. What do you have in your new pad LadyT?

WG, I'm glad you are beginning to recover. I wonder whether they should have offered you a transfusion after the birth. It seems harsh to leave a new mum in a condition they no will cause weeks of fatigue just at the time you most need energy.

Spot, are you lurking? Are you and B back in hospital? Is the tube back in? I might try posting on your FB wall as you have gone v quiet everywhere. Thinking of you.

Trace, have the new photos been taken? If not pick some fresh flowers for the table and living room, they always brighten a place. And get the garden photo taken on a sunny day, maybe from ground level to focus on your land rather than the field. I would also add a photo of the childrens rooms to emphasise it's a family home. I wouldn't remove family photos etc. There isn't an overwhelming amount of personal stuff on show and if you remove all photos etc it starts to lose it's homely feel.

Rubes, I'm loving your photos on FB at the mo. Your DD is going to be gorgeous.

MoM, Jolly, how are the babies and how are you?

And Deids, you continue to be so quiet. Are you still feeling down? I hope not.

Anyone going away for Easter? We are off to Dorset to see some friends for the Easter weekend but otherwise it's all about DIY. I get two weeks off work. I cannot wait. It will be so nice to spend some proper time with the girls and really settle in to our new home.

Hello ladies! Yes, super morning. Jealous of your camellia, Arti, how divine. Will post more later this morn but just for now, here are the links to two we used but there are quite a few on the web. We also bought some lighting from Amazon, can you believe! Flooring - we have...quarry tiles in entrance hall and downstairs bathroom, natural slate tiles in kitchen, natural coir stuff in living room and on stairs, then most other places are sanded and varnished floorboards. DP hired a very heavy duty sander and did it with a friend (it is very hard work and the fine sawdust gets everywhere). I would recommend this rather than buying your own little sander! It is amazing what the really heavy ones can do. Anyway - www.periodstylelighting.co.uk/ and www.period-lighting.co.uk

Rubes, it was so lovely to see you yesterday - cor blimey, that wine went to my head! It's been a while since I have done two bottles at a lunchtime! Your DD looked beautiful and DS is such a sweet little chap. We had a smooth journey back as DD1 nodded off on the train, so it was nice and peaceful. She hasn't done that for ages.

More in a bit.

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for the hats effie! You are the neatest knitter I have ever seen. Amazingly professional, thanks so much .

Thanks for the cards ZJ, summer and ladyT. I hope I've thanked everyone who sent me anything. Do forgive me if not, my brain is all over the place. I missed our appointment to register DD2, oops.

pingu Congrats! How lovely to have another thread baby to look forward to.

PD at that awful woman. How very rude.

WG Blimey, your MIL is very strange.

ZJ Sorry it wasn't your month. Loved hearing about your lovely day in the sun.

summer Eeek, I'd mention moving to Bristol asap. If she only knows you and DH then you'd be seeing her all the time.

spot Lots of love to you, DP, T and B. We found it really hard to keep DD away from J's feeding tube and various other wires and lines. Explaining to her how important it was not to touch helped a little bit, but they are still too young to understand properly. Lots of distractions might be a better bet.

I'm not sure where to start here. I find it quite strange that J should still be in my tummy! She has put weight on, although dropped down from the 50% to the 8th centile, now 4lb 9.5 - still teeny. She is feeding well although has kept somewhat to the strict neonatal feeding schedule and goes every 3 or even 4 hours at night. That seems a bit long to me but I'm feeding her on demand and that is what she is demanding. We sometimes struggle to get her latched on though. Her mouth is only tiny and if she doesn't open her mouth really wide she latches incorrectly which is horrendously painful. After struggling initially with a weak suck, my nipples are proof that there is no longer any problem there! Once we get latched on properly we are fine but I've got one cracked nipple and I've had conflicting advice from the HV and different midwives over whether to rub some milk in and let it dry or get some lanolin on it. Any ideas anyone?

DD1 is very interested in the whole BF thing. She tells everyone that 'Baby J drinks milk from mummy's bust'. Bust sounds very incongruous from the mouth of a toddler!

trace You are right about the temp thing. Because they measure it all the time in hospital I find I'm much more concerned about her temp than I ever was with L. Oh and my organs are fine I think! Although my blood pressure is still lurching all over the place. How long did it take you to get back to normal BP wise after L?

Wow, its all change on the house front, everyone's moving! It looks like we're moving in two and a half weeks. I cannot imagine how we are going to manage it all. I'm trying to convince DH that we need to get the movers in to pack for us! I've only seen the new house once too and I'm getting the wobbles about it!

Oh JB - sounds like she's doing ok, just get the milk in her! I used lanolin and kept on feeding from the nipple. Hurt, but it got used to the sucking eventually and went back to normal.

MIL is FINE!!! It's not cancer! So so happy. V relieved for her. Phew! It was a rotten appendix that had fused with her bowel. V unpleasant, but she's out of the woods now - hurray!

We've been asked to move out by our landlord by the end of August, so Hertfordshire, here we come! EEK and SHIT! And yay! We're all moving!!

Lady and Rubes - sounds a lovely meet up - well done!

ZJ - DD1 has also as good as given up her sleep. I don't really mind as means she's in bed by 6.30 and out cold! But I do still often put her in her room and she happily plays with her dollies and teddies and it means I get an hour to get a few chores done!

xx

DS1 has a friend over to play (he has a half school day today) so the boys are fairly well entertained. So I have a little time, hopefully uninterrupted to MN.

JB I'm really pleased things are going as you'd hoped. Beans is right, feed off that side. As far as what to apply, your own milk is better than lanolin as there is less chance of introducing a bug to your nipple from the tube. However, it really depends on what works, if she is giving you a decent amount of time between feeds and the lanolin works and gives you some relief then stick with it. I sent a message to the BfN lady I originally contacted. She had had a bad day and was really boosted to hear how things had gone for you. She said if you feel like writing a little note on your experience she would love to put it in the BfN newsletter.

Lady and Rubes, ah for the days when I could get through a bottle of wine and still be able to negotiate the ride home. Now I think I would be arrested for being in control of minors whilst under the influence. I'm such a lightweight.

I do love your photos on FB Rubes, your Lo's are just gorgeous.

SL like WG I'm having serious freak outs thinking of your MIL moving closer eeek.

WG your MIL is still mental, so passive aggressive, its quite horrible.

Beans I'm so happy you've had some bad news, it still.must all be very painful for your MIL but still good that once its healed that's it. How is your dad's recovery from the operation.

I forgot to tell you the tale of the scary Dutch women. She has been bugging me to meet up so as it was sunny I suggested the park. Ulterior motive, park is neutral and so I don't have her over staying her welcome at mine. I told a white lie and said I had to leave by 4.15pm as DS2 hadn't slept so needed to get home to cook his tea. At 4.05 I started packing the boys up ready to leave she said her daughter needed the toilet so could she pop in and use my toilet (the park doesn't have one). I said ok but just quickly. She was on her bike and we had walked so I said I would start off as she could meet me at the house as she would be faster but she wasn't yet ready to.leave as her kids needed to put their shoes on etc. She said no she could walk the bike so we could all go together. She then proceeded to take 10 minutes to get ready to leave! Also the kids were a nightmare to keep together on the way home as her kids are a bit mental. When we finally got home at nearly 5 I suggested she not bring her bike into the back garden as she was only here a couple of minutes. She said "well I was planning on staying for 45 mins". I told her again I needed to cook the kids tea straight away and have Jordi in the bath by 5.45.(it was now nearly 5). She seemed amazed that I was getting annoyed at her. I told her that DH was away in London so it was only me doing dinner, bath and bed. She said that's ok I'll just stay 30 mins. Aaargh. Well she came in and I just ignored her while I cooked and sorted DS2 out. Bless him he actually acted the part very well, showing genuine signs of being tired and hungry. I put his dinner down for him but in the mean time her kids literally ripped my place apart. They pulled out all the boys easy to reach toys and carpeted the whole house in them. There was toys everywhere. Is actually tried up before we left for the park so that when I got back I could do the dinner and bedtime thing then have an easy night myself. Now instead I had a tsunami to clean up after. Finally nearly 40 mins later when DS2 was losing it because I was trying to make him eat dinner when her kids were causing disaster right were he wanted to join in, she finally said, "are we interrupting? Would it be easier if we left" I just snapped yes at her and thankfully within a few minutes she was gone. But I was left with a complete tip of a house to clean up. I haven't heard from her since so hoping she has got the hint finally that I just don't Luke her. Was I being unreasonable to not want her back at that time, should she have understood that?