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Dec 08 - The One where they take on the world (school)

957 replies

DeidreBarlow · 17/09/2013 19:59

New thread

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
beans37 · 19/09/2013 22:06

Hello! Very tired as only back from hospital at 5.30 tonight.
Will do more of an update tomorrow if I can.

Tory (Victoria) arrived at 10.57am yesterday, weighing 7lbs 13oz; a whole lb more than her sisters. I felt every ounce! Fanjo & bumhole ruined, but she is a delight. Lots of thick black hair like DD1 started out with! Greedy little bugger. Shredded nips. God knows how I'm going to cope. Feeling overwhelmed already.

No time for a catch up read yet, will have a beak tmw.

Who won the sweepstake? Thanks Sybs for being messenger xx

ShadyLadyT · 19/09/2013 22:09

Ah, good to hear from you, Invis. Glad all ok and DS has got off to a flier at school. Just on way back from book launch of a friend in Notting Hill. God, I miss London Sad Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. When will I ever go and not have it make me feel sad and terrible? I haven't lived there full time for nearly five years. And it's still home and where I really want to be. I just want my flat back. Waaaaaaah again. Must pull self together.

Rubena · 19/09/2013 22:21

Welcome home Beans. I LOVE her name, and also the shortened version. Nice job work SmileThanks
Wishing you a brilliant sleeping baby!

Aww Lady, at least you are just a train ride away. The girls (and future sibling Wink) will thank you for their upbringing with fresh air and space!

ShadyLadyT · 19/09/2013 22:21

Crossed with you there Beans with my whinging little post. Congratulations and much love! Sorry she biffed her way out a bit and you might feel crappy now but bet you heal superfast - c-sections do, and wounds from regular births probably much the same. I think Rubes may have been the closest as she said 8lb girl. Be really easy on yourself! My obs said eat lots of meat for healing - no good to me, of course, as a veggie, but maybe you can get stuck in! Look forward to hearing more when you feel up to it Xxx

Rubena · 19/09/2013 22:22

Nice job work? No idea. You know what I mean. Great baby making!Grin

Rubena · 19/09/2013 22:23

No I said boy! But my weight / time of arrival was close! Kayz was closer

ShadyLadyT · 19/09/2013 22:27

I know you're right Rubes (the fresh air is definitely nice, it's one of the few big pluses) but I am such a fish out of water. I only get to go in maybe once a month and it's always a real rush, not like sleeping there, living there, hanging out. Ho hum. At least I don't live somewhere more remote (to me) like Devon, Cornwall, Suffolk etc.

ShadyLadyT · 19/09/2013 22:33

ZJ needs to examine the data Grin

How is your leg, Rubes?

What time does everyone get up in the morning? I have to get up at 7.15ish to ensure DD1 is at school on time (and we only live over the road). It feels too early. Mind you, we do have a routine which starts when the girls are carried up to our bed for milk in the morning. So have probably made rod for own back.

Rubena · 19/09/2013 22:40

Thanks Lady, leg doing a lot better. Had follow up physio and been at the gym a lot this week on the cross trainer to build strength and some slow running. It's really feeling good.

Ds has to be at school for 840 so if we walk I leave about 820 and get there slightly early, (or leave slightly later if we drive if I am carrying on anywhere) so get up around 715 ish as well or 730 recently as dh has been on leave (although he's at work on call tonight Hmm don't ask - sigh) and when he's home he sleeps later do doesn't bring me up a coffee like normal which is what gets me up! But actually kids often wake around that time so not early for us.

JumpJockey · 19/09/2013 22:47

Beans congratulations! Lovely name, sorry about the bits but they'll get better. Lots of black hair, how amazing to look at your two blondies now!

Feeling a bit sad for S at the moment - last few days she's been really not happy at handing over at all, back to peeling off me and weeping, have realised it's prob because her teacher has been off all week (poorly family member) so her second week of settling in, a process they initiated to get them feeling more confident and happy in the classroom, has involved 2 different supply teachers. :( not sure what we'll learn at the parents meeting next week given that the teacher hasn't been there.

Also this effing strike happens on what will be her second proper day of full time school. I sympathise with the teachers but the timing is bloody awful - we're meant to be settling them into a routine, they have a week without their regular teacher, then as soon as you say "right this is what school will be like, full day and lots of fun" then the next day they're not in. Hardly the best way to show them the importance of education and commitment - a 4 year old isn't going to understand the reasons the teachers are on strike, it will just look like having a day off.

ShadyLadyT · 19/09/2013 22:56

JJ, we don't have a strike...er, that's to say I haven't heard. Maybe our lot aren't in the relevant union. How muddling for S Sad And how upsetting for you too. It's such a sensitive time and all most unfortunate when they really need some consistency. It will get easier for her, poor baby. Hold your nerve.

Glad your leg is on the improve, Rubes. Good news.

Mckayz · 20/09/2013 07:16

Congratulations Beans. A really lovely name!

JJ, we haven't been told about a strike so I am hoping we don't have one.

KiwiPanda · 20/09/2013 07:24

Hello everyone! Just popped in to sta congrats to Beans, lovely news and gorgeous pic on FB.

Hope everyone else is well, haven't even been lurking so god knows what I missed!?

DD1 hasn't started school yet which probably makes her the last? Bloody school and bloody building work. She starts on Monday and I couldn't sleep last night fretting about her. She had a meltdown the other day because she didn't want to be alone with her granny, god knows what she will be like on Monday. I was irrationally sleepless worrying about what she will eat (will she forget to tell them she's vegetarian and end up not eating anything?) and if she will be ok. Doesn't know a soul there.

Any advice much appreciated. Not sure who needs it more, her or me Wink

Rubena · 20/09/2013 08:02

Hope you had a calm ish night beans.
JJ haven't heard of any strike here? But poor S, there are a couple of kids in floods of tears every morning at dss school. I've told him today to try and make friends with one of the boys cause he's sad. The other is a girl he was at nursery with but he barely talks to her. I am going to have to dig out my iron for his polo shirts as the wrinkles don't seem to be dropping out in the airing cupboard, and ironing it each morning with my straighteners is time consuming Grin he must be the only kid who won't wear his jumper as he gets too hot inside.

Kiwi, at dss school you mark down on a sheet whether you want them to have Meat, Veg, Jacket pot, or Halal and can change it daily if you want. Then they are given the appropriate wrist bands before they go into the dinner hall. Maybe it's similar?

DeidreBarlow · 20/09/2013 08:28

Congratulations beans. Your DD3 is a beauty! Gorgeous name too

JJ poor S. it's really unsettling for them having supply teachers this early on. I remember one little girl when DD started who was peeled off mum every morning and on occasion had been known to run out of class after mum. She was fine after a few weeks. It just took her longer than most. But now I see her running in most daysSmile. S may just need a bit longer to get used to it. I had heard about the strike but only in the news, nothing from school.

Rubes excellent news on the leg! I've been a slob all week, so am off for a run once DCs in school. Need to burn some calories as I'm out with friends tonight. Food & drink. Not been out in ages!! I may fall asleep in my starterGrin

OP posts:
Arrtttiiieee · 20/09/2013 08:36

Huge congratulations Beans. Lovely name. Can't wait to hear the full birth story. What do the girls think of Tory?

JJ, poor S, the absent teacher sounds really unfortunate. It's particular sad that they have changed substitutes. Could they not put an experienced teacher from another class in? I think S's reaction is really normal, DD2's teacher was ill for one day on Monday and DD2 did not want to go in on Tuesday.

Kiwi, don't worry re lunch. All schools are so used to vegetarianism, halal requirements, allergies etc. They have to be organised about it and they are. Make sure you tell them that L is a veggie just in case she forgets. My DD2 only vaguely knew two people in her class and already has lots of friends so don't worry a out her on that front. She will be fine and so will you!

The new au pair is driving me a little loopy. She is like a helpless extra child. I have had to teach her how to make toast, boil pasta and use a microwave; the idea she is meant to prepare the kids' meals is laughable. She holds DS like a hand grenade which she is terrified will explode on her. On the upside we had an impromptu night out last night which we can now do with a free babysitter resident.

beans37 · 20/09/2013 10:25

Oh gosh, Arti, that's quite tough with au pair. She'll soon get the hang of it, I'm sure.

Kiwi, do let the teachers know re vegetarianism and I'm sure they're used to dealing with various dietary requirements with things like nut allergies out there.

I have boobs like footballs this morning!

Birth story? It isn't very long! As you know, had a couple of false starts, which was weird with third! You'd think I'd know by now! You all know about my Tuesday drama and Group B Strep etc. So was told after sweep to go home and if I started having regular or my waters broke, to call them and go in.

3.50am, lower back contractions lasting for a minute every 10 mins. Immediately! Thought I might ease in a bit more! 5.30 my waters broke and contractions every 5mins and much stronger. Called hospital and we went in. Had the midwife who very first booked me in at 7 weeks, was lovely. And she acknowledged DH, which he was chuffed about! Much sorer contractions and more frequent. Hopped onto the blessed and worshipped Gas and Air at about 9 as was struggling. She examined me at 10.30 and was only 7cm, but desperate to push. Had a total swearing tantrum that I was only 7cm and started weeping. She said it could be quite quick anyway and not to despair. It was rather amazing as she didn't really say much throughout the labour, until it came to crunch time. She said that by the time someone is on their third, it's best just to let them do what their body tells them rather than instructing. V interesting. So I started pushing 10mins later and Tory popped out just before 11. She got a bit stuck with her eyes peeping out and someone else came in to help a bit. Man, that was stingy! I had a drip of antibiotics at some point, but don't really remember. It was such a blissful feeling when she came out, such a relief!

Had a really loud snoring lady in the bed next to me on the ward, which was a shame! But it was fine. Just wanted to come home though. And now here we are and real life starts. DDs are so very thrilled, its quite heart warming. DH being a total star and doing everything. Cooked an amazing steak with homemade chips and pepper sauce last night. Deeelicious. And DD3 (!!!!!) went to sleep from 10.30-midnight, then again 2.30-8am. Loving this honeymoon period!! Now been asleep since 9. My sister is on her way for a visit too. Hurrah!

Anyway, sorry, longer than I expected. Feel in a sort if fog of tiredness !

Piles v sore. Anusol not making much inroads at present. Dreading that first poo....

JumpJockey · 20/09/2013 11:20

Beans hello darling! Lovely lovely birth, god bless the G&A and it sounds like you had a super midwife. Beautiful pictures on FB, she's an absolute cherub and DD1 and 2 Grin look pleased as punch.

Here's the strike story - sorry to be bearer of bad news and hope most of you manage to get away unaffected www.teachers.org.uk/

Kiwi poor DD having to wait while all her friends are at school - re school lunch they will have veggie food available, she should be fine. Are there any other kids you see in the park who are also starting at that school and not there at the moment, IYSWIM? Or might the school be able to point you in the direction of other kids? Maybe you could ask them to send an email to other parents in the same sit so you can meet up and introduce the children?

Rubes ironing with straighteners you ninny! Grin

Arti, au pair sit sounds tricky. Can you do batch cooking for her to nuke? (DH is picking up a microwave from Argos today, hurrah and huzzah!)

Well S went in with her godmother today, who does a 'walking bus', so I waved her off and she looked pretty cheery, report is that there was no crying or clinging so looks like it's the separation from me rather than school itself which is the issue. She's been so used to DH doing drop-offs that it is a big change. Next week the whole class does mornings, so with any luck a) another little friend that she's very fond of will be there to help her, and b) there will be such bedlam that she won't be able to cling on! Grin

Rubena · 20/09/2013 11:38

Beans, that sounds as idyllic as a natural birth could possibly be Smile really well done and she's lovely - I really love how you've shortened her name that way.

Great news JJ, funny you said that, as the little girl that normally cries a lot at ds's school was all cheery and happy, and her grandma was dropping her off - she told me it's only when her mother drops her that she's upset.
Yes, our ironing board broke about 4 years ago and I never replaced it as I never iron, except rare circumstances where I put a towel on the table Grin so the straighteners were a good emergency idea, but I really need to iron 5 shirts on the weekend so i'm not faffing around every morning!

DS has been so tired and refusing to walk to school as he can't keep up and is too tired, so another buggy board will need to be purchased I think. I sold the last one on eBay as it wasn't a very good fit but I've found a better universal one. it says up to 20kg though, and I think ds is already 19 so would it be too much?

Still in a massive state of confusion over what to do about work / nursery / mil etc. Oct is just unusually busy as I have 4 full days of revolting horrible annual training / exams, as well as 2 trips, but I have all of November off and not much in Dec so thinking I should see how it pans out, but I'm getting MAJOR cold shivers at the though of how much mil would have to be here in Oct and further more, even whether she COULD help out for all of it in Oct, but I guess I have no choice. I'm going to desperately try and palm off at least one trip, hopefully 2 although the 2nd one is not very desirable so will be a hard sell to anyone!

JumpJockey · 20/09/2013 11:50

Actually Rubes we have an 'official' buggyboard Maxi that we don't use any more, would that be any good to you?

Rubena · 20/09/2013 12:11

OH thanks JJ, but I think if it's the Lascal maxi it fits but is awkward on the buggy we have - the only one I've heard fits it ok is the bumprider so looking at that one, but worried he will soon be too heavy for any / all of them.

JamInMyWellies · 20/09/2013 13:06

Beans lovely although I am skipping over the hurting bits. Wont be addressing that until I really need to.

Arti god au pair sounds a bit of a pickle. How about instead of childcare you use her for housekeeeping?

Rubes I snorted my breakfast out my nose this morning when I read the straighteners as an iron. I too am pissed at the amount of ironing that the boys polo shirts are causing and I bought trousers from JL instead of M&S and they need bloody ironing too.

Am having a bit of a preggo wobble this wk. I feel enormous and the spd thing is really getting me down also have got pretty much a permanent ache under my bump and the only shoes I can get on are trainers. I know its not much in the grand scheme of things but with the other two it was not this hard. Am a grumpy moany old cow.

poisondwarf · 20/09/2013 13:11

Beans lovely birth story. I forgot about all the hassles when you go to the toilet afterwards though. Not fun. Have you had many visitors yet or are you keeping them at bay?

Kiwi I'm sure it'll be fine on the veggie front - there's no way in this day and age she's just going to get a lump of gristle dumped on her plate no questions asked like we did. Mine don't eat meat either and they would always ask if they weren't sure - I'm sure your DD will be the same. It's not an issue at school for us as the DCs have packed lunches but I overhear them asking if things are vegetarian at other places, and I don't think I've ever told them to.

Speaking of school dinners, have I heard right that infants are all getting free dinners from next September? Just a shame they are a bit grim at DCs' school.

Rubes is it polo shirts you are ironing or shirts? Gosh it would never occur to me to iron a polo shirt (or anything really - I'm never actually really sure if we own an iron). I bet my DCs are the scruffiest at the school. Every year there is a photo of all the reception classes in the local paper and of course I'd forgotten to put her hair up when DD's was taken so it probably looks like a bird's nest. Do any of your OHs know how to put hair up (those of you with DDs)? Mine doesn't and it's a bloody pain.

Seems strange that some of the DCs haven't started school yet - feels like DD has been there ages. She had her first books home in her book bag this week and several lists of words to learn. They've even already put them into their literacy groups. Blimey, they don't mess about do they?

School strike - we got a letter about it. All the teachers are off bar 2. Unlucky for those 2 classes! Not an inconvenience for us - tbh it will do the DCs good to have an extra day off school.

Thanks for all your thoughts on DS.

Kayz yes I think our DSs are pretty much exactly the same age (March birthday). I’m hoping it’s just a phase but who knows! I was hoping he might get better over the summer holidays but he seems to have got worse. Hope your assessment goes well – whatever the outcome it will hopefully give you some pointers as to how to deal with your concerns. I’d be interested to hear what advice they give you.

Deids although DS is in Year 2 you are right in that his teacher has only known him for a couple of weeks so that is quite soon for her to be taking action - to be honest though I’m going to grab the opportunity with both hands if it means an issue can be identified and there might be extra support on offer. It might take the pressure off us a little at home.

Vag that’s interesting about DS’s assessment – I wonder if they’ll do something similar here. I think we’ve spoken before about the issues they have with concentration and your description of DS sounds all very familiar – massive concentration span when it’s something he’s interested in, getting easily distracted by others, staring into space (usually inventing something!). I do think you’re right about it being all very repetitive at that age – how can we get them engaged in stuff that’s (let’s face it) not very engaging? I wonder if I should home educate .

LadyT & Invis it’s reassuring to hear your stories, and the rational part of me knows that he will be fine in the end. But without the benefit of hindsight it’s difficult to know how to deal with the here and now and whether pushing him or leaving him be is the right thing to do – I veer between the two, but if I think that the school has got it in hand I will feel much better with the leaving him be approach, as that’s what my instinct tells me. It’s all too much pressure at that age.

I have no issue with DS having an assessment, a statement, or being labelled as having special needs (although to be honest I can’t see that happening). I’m just surprised as we had kind of assumed that he was simply at the lazy end of the spectrum but nothing unusual, and we’ve never had any indication from other teachers that there might be something to be concerned about (because I suspect he’s just flown under their radar more than anything). Anyway I’ve got an appointment with the teacher after school so I can hear it all from the horse's mouth.

Phew what a megapost! Can you tell this is my first child-free Friday? I had big plans of being super productive but I've managed one lot of cooking and that's it so far.

Rubena · 20/09/2013 13:16

The trousers are fine. They are from the uniform shop. Bloody brilliant actually as they come out of the machine and I hang them up in the right shape and they're like new. The polo shirts are the anti stain ones from M&S but they look a bit wrinkled so he comes out of school looking a state if I don't iron them as he un tucks his shirt and won't ever wear a jumper - If he did I wouldn't bother.

JamInMyWellies · 20/09/2013 13:23

Gosh PD sorry I meant to comment the other day about your DS.

I worked for some time in the SN unit within a mainstream primary. If there is a problem beyond the usual lazyitis that boys have, this teacher has spotted it very quickly into the beginning of term. Which is great! If he is statemented it doesn't necessarily mean that funding will become available for him .What it means is there will be a plan in place which you and school have to agree on which will help him reach his best learning potential. It is a good thing that she has asked to meet with you and offer help. Great teaching.