December 2008 - Summertime and the children are easy......

[sybsie]

Ha ha ha ha....we wish!

Here's to a lovely relaxing summer and cheery new thread for us all.

Thanks for that link Beans, such a simple and yet powerful poem, I think I'll slot it in a letter in her card so she can read it when she is ready to, and keep the card simple, as Jam suggested.

Can I just throw into the conversation, how much I hate the terrible twos. This child is determined to break me, and will persist on a daily basis until she does so. Today's stand off was over a biscuit that she'd crumbled and then wanted sticking together so she could eat it whole. After 20 minutes of wailing and throwing herself around like some tortured soul, I asked her why she was crying. She replied "my can't remember", which upset her all over again and the thrashing and wailing resumed. Hurrah for living in the countryside and the open space between us and the neighbours

Oh ZJ that is very sad. I have no idea what you could say but I know what you mean about sometimes things people say really resonate and you come back to them. I don't know how you can express that to your friend though.

I was speaking to a friend yesterday whose husband has been similarly shit for her birthday. What is wrong with them all!

ZJ v funny re the biscuit. The perfect example of toddler logic.

Hey Ladies,

I lost you all in the whirlwind of business that is currently engulfing me. I thought I'd have hours of reading to catch-up on but it's been a quiet month for the thread.

ZJ, so sorry about your friend's mum. I'm too late I know but for what it's worth I would have reminded her what she said about four grandparents. I prefer when people acknowledge how utterly shit losing your parents is, she will remember that comment or at least she will remember thinking how lucky babies with four grandparents are.

Lots of sympathy with those suffering a lack of birthday effort. DH buys me "experience" gifts then never delivers the experience. This year he "booked" me on a photography course which I would have loved except he didn't book it at all. He just wrote in the card some d sweet message about me going on the course but I was left to identify the course, choose the dates, book it on our joint account and find babysitters when his work overlapped with the course.

Talking of birthdays I think Rubes had one yesterday. Happy birthday Rubes!

Veg, I can't believe you only have a couple of weeks left in the Netherlands! Will you miss it as much as you first missed London?

Lady, isn't little lady3 nearly here???? What's the delivery date? Who will have your girls while you are in hospital? Are they excited?

Sybs, MoM, I'm viewing houses in your neighbourhood on Saturday! It's all part of Operation Downsize So I Can Take A Career Break. Although finding school places is proving a nightmare.

Right I'm off to sit a three hour programme management exam. Been on a course all week. Utter snoresville. I think I might fail and I'm not sure I care. It's really time for that career break!

Arti, it's a smashing area to live.

is it normal to feel exhausted so much od thw time? ? DD3 up with teeth half the night and I'm zonked. DD1 & 2 kept awake last night too, and consequently v tired at school today. both their class teachers recommended that they were too tired for swimming after school today, so we skived off.

Oooh, Arti, where are the houses? What sort of time might you be in the area?

Totally smashed it on my first event as PTA chair. We raised way more than last year and the compliments were flying. Yahoo 2 fingers up to the previous grumpy chair.

Brilliant girl, Jam! There's a satisfaction in chairing a meeting well, isn't there? I love cutting all the crap and keeping it flying along.

I am way behind I am afraid due to my stupidly crazy fortnight - I have got most of it done now except I've still got one massive piece of work left to be in after the weekend (and DD2's party today, she is 4 on Mon) - and then more organising and tidying here - then MIL arrives on Mon (I know I am ungrateful, but I am dreading it as relations between us are currently at rock bottom) then I am off to London on Tuesday morn. Going into hosp at crack of dawn on Wednesday.

However, I WILL be on properly for a catch up before I go into hospital if it kills me. Love to all.

Lady!!!! Only three days to go! Gosh I'm so excited for you. Good luck with the op and please post photos in our FB group as soon as poss. I am on tenterhooks over the name!

Jam you are a superwoman mother of three PTA president. Well done.

Beans, I'm afraid I think tiredness it normal with three. I'm having to be more disciplined about going to bed early and not fading about in the evenings.

Yesterday's reconnoiter of our potential new neighbourhood was very successful. We loved the area, our friends sold it well! Sybs, we are looking in the village bit and then very slightly east of that. We saw three houses we could afford mortgage free and they were all very nice. I think we are going to do it! The only stress is finding decent schools with places for the DDs. That seems an impossible task right now as the good schools are full and you can't even go on the waiting list until you move and then it could be months. Short of home schooling then for a bit I can't see many options and I'm not sure home schooling is for me. I hate how oversubscribed school are in this city.

Arti, I know it would be bending the rules...but could you start renting the tiniest flat you can find in the area so you have a local address to get on the waiting list right away? If a space came up though and you suddenly had to start the kids at school it would be a school run and a half. But it's a thought.

I reckon I have got another couple of hours to do on this big piece of work and then I only have tidying and sorting to do and I will feel wonderful. I have pushed myself to the limit this last fortnight to do all I need to and the thought of getting there makes me feel dizzy with joy. I can start properly focusing on the baby. As to the name, I think we are almost there, but DP wants her first name and third name to be reversed. The second name is set as it was his Granny. I am fairly ambivalent about that name but one of DD1's middle names is Alice which was my Mum's beloved Mum so I do understand the desire to do this. I would not mind the first name and the third name to be reversed too much, but I think it doesn't work so well. We shall see! If I get this work done I will definitely be back on for that catch up.

It's funny actually, because the Granny that DP wants to remember in DD3's name is his Dad's Mum, whom my MIL didn't like. She will be quite miffed.

Lady I think it is par for the course for mil to be miffed about names. When we announced dd2's name, mil just kept saying how we should think about it. Then she rang to say she'd spoken to Bil and sil (who are abroad) and said 'its a thumbs down from Australia'.

A flying visit to wish Lady all the best for tomorrow xx

Eeeeeeeeee Lady! So close!

Good Luck tom Lady. So exciting. xx

Good luck lady! So exciting to have another thread baby. Is anyone planning another?

ZJ did you decide on a 3rd?

Good luck for tomorrow, Lady. We'll all be thinking of you.

Really good luck tomorrow Lady.
Sorry I've been a bit quiet, dealing with quite a difficult baby at the moment and DD1 has a horrible ear infection and wouldn't stop crying this evening and to my eternal shame, I screamed at her as the other 2 were driving me potty. We've been to the doctor who said it was a really nasty infection and gave her antibiotics. now I feel so ashamed of myself. aaaghhh. parenting is so bloody hard and I feel like such a bitch. she's in bed now. hopefully asleep soon. I've apologised a lot and given her a lot of hugs. hope it's enough.

Why does my one year old just NEVER sit quietly and watch some telly like the other ones did. I am reaching the end of my tether with interrupted sleep and general screaminess. feeling rather low.

oh and DD2 has started sayong how horrible she is and that no one loves her and she doesn't love anyone. I'd like to go and bury my head in the sand somewhere and hope it all goes away and when I come out, they'll be well adjusted young women and happily married.

and I'll still be 39.

Oh Beans, I am so sorry things are tough. It is so hard to tell proper illness from shamming, isn't it? I know with my lot that, however vile I am (and I can be really horrid), we are all back to normal in the morning. Get some sleep. Things will look better tomorrow. And DD2 is just testing you - keep repeating how much you all love her and point out XYZ at school who she plays with. It will pass.

So much love and luck for tomorrow, Lady. How lovely to have a new daughter. Can't wait to hear your good news.

Love to everyone else XXX

Thanks Sybs. am about to have a large glass of wine. all in bed, but DD3 still screaming away.

three girls is generally gorgeous, I promise. today is just a bad day lady x

Just popping on wish lady all the very best for tomorrow! So exciting.

Oh beans we all have horrid parenting days. I know I've had my fair share. Enjoy the wine and don't best yourself up. You have 3 very young DDs and it is tough some days. Be kind to yourself. I do hope DD1 feels better in the morning too.

I am now working 5 days a week in my current job . I told my boss I wouldn't just leave them in the lurch when I go (my timing couldn't have been worse). So she asked if I could do more before I finish to try and get them sorted so that my replacement had a fighting chance of getting her head around the job... I feel bad for leaving so I said yes. Don't get me wrong the money will come in handy. But I haven't worked a full week since before I had DD...that's 8 yrs ago!!!

I hope all goes well tomorrow Lady.

Beans, everyone has days like that. I'm sure tomorrow will be better.

Thanks lovely friends. you are all smashers x