December 2012 tantrums galore and they're not even two yet!

[SpottyTeacakes]

Hope everyone finds this and I haven't doubled up!

I've got really bad back pain and ds is spinning on his zebra crying. No idea why!

[MrsNutella]

new thread

And MN have edited the name for pidj.

See you all there soon.

[ddas]

Love that!

[PurplePidjin]

R loves Nina and the Neurons so I might do a science theme - textures for Felix, musical instruments for Belle, food for Bud, magnifying glass/kaleidoscope/coloured gels for Luke and essential oils on flannels for Ollie i only had to google one of those as well

[ddas]

Meant dd will be 2 at begginning of dec in that top message

[ddas]

That's all ds cared about for his 2nd bday- whether he got a cake

[ddas]

utopian dd will be 2 and know she'll be happy with cake and close family. Save the bday party stress till they are older lol.

pidge church hall with toys and cake sounds perfect. I'm thinking of the same for ds in the summer as our church hall has some outdoor space and allow bbq's. may have a theme of magical characters for kids to be able to dress up ie knights, dragons, princes etc

[PurplePidjin]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/2189810-November-2012-2nd-birthday-party-chat-Already

[PurplePidjin]

We're going to need a new thread soon, 990 messages

[PurplePidjin]

That's where R turning up a touch early is useful, end of November is easier.

Last year I didn't know that many other mums, so just had a stash of invites in the nappy bag and if I saw a mum I'd chatted to at eg playgroup a few times I invited them. I know the other mum from breastfeeding so quite a few were friends-in-common and actually it's been a good way to kind of firm up friendships that otherwise might have drifted iyswim? Think we invited 20ish and about 11 actually came. Then we shoved a bit of cake and a balloon in the appropriate number of party bags while the kids were busy eating!

[Barbeasty]

We didn't bother with a party for DD until she was 3, because she asked for one. We invited 4 nursery friends to our house and 2 came- twins!

People seemed to really start for 4th birthdays. We've done (or declined) all the softplays in a 10 mile radius, plus the one we held DD'S at, about 15 miles away.

I expect we'll be the same for A. Although I might try and get our NCT group together around then. Although 3 are now pregnant, due December, January and February- leaves 2 of us who aren't.

And yes Utopian you're projecting. But it's what we do!

[utopian99]

I love doing parties and cake but with O's birthday the 27th of December and only moving to the area in June I have no idea what to do! It's not like we have any of our original nct group, and obviously he's too small for school friends. He won't care so long as family are around I guess but I feel bad about it in advance because I'm projecting?

[PurplePidjin]

DN is in the summer holidays, SIL tends to go for the outdoors-running-getting-muddy type party for him too and always welcomes siblings etc as there's no limit on numbers when you're running round a country park!

Last year I did a joint party with a friend who'd dd is a few weeks younger, just toys in the church hall and some food. This year we'll probably do the same (she's due their second imminently so I've offered to do the party as her dd's present) as it's easy! if you're like me and enjoy these things

[Barbeasty]

ddas twin friends of DD have a bbq each year which is fab. DD has her first school party next week- whole class invited to a picnic in the park after they do a morning at school.

[ddas]

Since they've all had themes or been at bday venues feel we'll have to do something as ds already talking about what he wants!! We've always just had big BBQ, cake, kids running round etc so hopefully he'll still be happy with that and then whoever wants to can come- siblings, parents etc lol

[ddas]

Mean ds- brain really not working today. & yep total pita

[ddas]

& dd is still 3 as the youngest in the class due to an August bday!

[PurplePidjin]

ddas that sounds like a total PITA tbh, I would always assume parents stayed with 4yos especially ones that have only known each other a few weeks

[ddas]

Should say big not escalate

[ddas]

Since ds has started school- lots of bday parties. Some have specified that place small so no parents ect, others that only one parent. So far 1 I went on my own as said 1 parent and arrived to find everyone else had brought partners and some siblings. So next brought dh and that was a half half one & some has brought their other halves. they'd said for us to leave the kids and meet after but ds refused for one of us to leave so ended being one of the only parents to stay. Next party says nothing so not sure on etiquette on whether partners or siblings come etc. all very confusing but see how if every child brought siblings would get too escalate and require more party bags etc. Sorry if that makes no sense- feeling bit half asleep today!

[MrsNutella]

Wl more wise words.
DS has invented his own similar version of sleeping lions. He says "nai nai" (short for night night) and throws himself on the bed or sofa and pretends to snore. Or if he isn't standing near something he can throw himself on he does a little dance while making snoring noises and waving his arms near his head. I wish I had videos of more of his signs and dances.

pidj I tried bye bye and walking away... He crawled down a gap between the neighbours fence and shed into their garden - via some rose bushes. Fortunately they don't mind DS in their garden, they are away on holiday and their garden is open and easy to access so I could retrieve him.

Perhaps we were too close to home so he wasn't worried about me leaving him.

[SpottyTeacakes]

Hen do this weekend. Not sure how I'm going to survive as I've been in bed at 8:30 every night this week

[WLmum]

nutella teach him to play sleeping lions?

[WLmum]

What a wise bunch you are
nutella you doing ok? Fwiw I think every parent feels a bit of resentment now and then, even if it's only superficial. I guess it's about what you do with that feeling that counts.
For me, it's clouded by my mum being a single parent of 3 so always having to work really hard and full time when I know her ideal would have been to be a sahm. I feel bad for having choices she didn't have (and choosing differently) but I also remember how much I missed her and how sad I was being a proper latch key kid at 7 (same as as dd1), although I know that my dds always have a loving parent or gp in place if me.

[MrsNutella]

beasty and utopian thank you. I think I am, at times, on the brink of resenting my children. When actually it was my and DH's fault that the timing could have been better. But the points you make about making sure we have a balance for a happy mummy are very useful. Thank you.

DS is set to "mayhem" today. Can anyone recommend the best brand of earplugs/ear defenders/noise cancelling headphones....???

[Barbeasty]

To echo what others have said WL my mum gave up work when she had me. I was unplanned, or as she kindly put it a mistake.

She clearly resented not working, and I've inherited her constant worries about money.

I made the decision when I changed jobs a few months ago to go to 5 long days (actually the days aren't that long but commuting by train means I'm out of the house longer than I used to be), instead of the 4 days I used to do- which I could have flexed again to do the school pick - up every day.

I'm not going to resent my children (but don't get me wrong when if I win the lottery tonight my resignation letter would go in on Monday!)