November 2012 - Bring out the paddling pools

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/2124734-November-2012-Roll-call

I hear ya.

P watches me put my makeup on most mornings so is suspect makeup will be a discussion point sooner rather than later. Mind you, I remember I used to pass my
Old makeup on to my mum as she had never had the money to buy her own. This was when I was maybe 14. She was very delighted to wear mascara!

My point is that maybe some of our children's behaviour comes from us, some from beyond the family and some just from their own intellect and personality.

I was just pondering over what things are pink - worms, naked mole rats, naked humans. Anyway, I was watching an advert for children's shoes recently where the shoes came with a tablet device/make up compact. Really? Really??

I do think the gender stereotypes come to the fore when they go to nursery and mix with kids who's parents might have gone full out for the boy = my little asbo T-shirt / camouflage trousers and girl = my little princess / bling pink vajazzle style. Also a lot of the women who staff nurseries are quite old fashioned / traditional in their views of gender roles. It may well be nursery where P has learned her view of good vs bad people. I know we have to let them out into the world but I sometimes get sad when J comes up with something I disagree with that someone else has taught him. PFB much!!!!

My niece is 3, has never spent anytime in the care of anyone but her feminist Mum and has a big brother. She's imprinted on him like a chick fresh from the egg and has no concept of pink = girls. A cousin's very pink little girl had a pirates and princesses party for her 4th. There were 10 identikit princesses, 3 (boy) pirates and my niece who wanted to go as a pirate. I think she felt really strange to see no other girls wanted to be an adventurous pirate. My sister said it was really sad as the girls just watched the boys and my niece have a whale of a time in the ball pit / climbing toys as they were constrained by their dresses. I don't want any DD of mine to be stuck on the sidelines passive because of a bloody dress.

Am not against make up but I never wear it. Not from any feminist stance but because I am far too idle and skin sensitive to bother. The last time I slapped a bit on DD1 was about 3mo. I didn't even wear it to work the last year or so, but that was a more "sack me, sack me" gesture than anything else.

Maybe my girls are girly girls. I am already studying youtube videos on hairsryles for DD1 though. I could do without having to learn makeup too right now :o

Tablet device for kids shoes? How does that work? I was flummoxed by the app they use in clarks to measure feet (they don't really measure feet here so we got DD1's feet measured when in the uk in April). It literally shouted at her where to put her feet. She was shocked into submission and I just gawked :o

It is a pishy pretend tablet which slides out to reveal awful allergy inducing makeup.

Maybe you should get a shouty box pr!

Yes to the things other people teach them! P suddenly started referring to things she bashed herself on as bad and wanted them smacked. She looks at me a bit consternated when I don't immediately smack the table or the floor. I suspect that was granny - I have no great issue really but it is bizarre watching them acting out behaviour you don't recognise

Can be interesting though. Thanks to DD1 who regularly bollocks LO and her dolls/us I know exactly how creche tell the kids off. They seem to have several scripts that I have effectively adapted for home use. Nothing scary, just words/phrases to use that I wouldn't have learned anywhere else. That I assume most French people use actually. DH is always just vaguely amused but I scribble them down and read them out when the occasion arises :o

An example of when external caregivers can be very helpful.

Shawshank Redemption is on. Turned it on just at the Saddest Scene Ever

I don't need a shouty box :o

I have to say amsad that DD1's nursery adventures are coming to an end. They have, on the whole, been v good with her. Have to admit they have been a bit vocal about ishoos that were none of their business (MIL, for example, thanks chatty dd1 for broadcasting our private life) but it was all done with the best intention I think.

School will be another matter. There will be no handover every day, but anything important will be noted and put in her bag. If the teacher ever needs to talk it will be re a problem, not general chitchat.

Which is fine, as DD1 is ready at 3.6. But this time next year it will be LO, and I can't believe my baby will ever be ready for school at under 3! Creche say she will be. But she seems so young....

I only started wearing dresses at 30!

Slow developer.

I wore a dress for my interview. The last time before that was my wedding day. I wish I could look as lovely in a dress as Pass.

Nope. But it might be the American spelling? . It is certainly acceptable to my non spell checked phone anyway. As is ruapedantqueenofvalium. :o

VQ J has a camouflage hat - its the whole boys = my little soldier aspiration I hate!

According to google tis the Spanish spelling. Knew my gcse in spanish would come in handy one day. What can I say. Am multilingual what what. :o

is gender universal.

As is non-gin'd tonic

Cheers!

Diarea

Dyearea

Diearea

All cool with mr iPhone here

Yw. Vajazzel is vaginal bling I think you miss used the word.

Day two done. Tomorrow we will be done. H is really unsettled tho with not sleeping properly and new surroundings , so many people. Off to eat ice cream then sleep.

GT it was sarcasm / hyperbole

Lol. Thought you meant bajazzel.

PR

Ha ha you should all come here and go back In time where gender stereotype is rife.

My parents were determined I wasn't to be bound by gender stereotypes but went a bit too far IMO. I wasn't bought dolls AT ALL until I was about 6 or so and really expressed a desire for Sindy. And when I was doing my life saving awards aged about 9 my mum bought me boys pjs for doing my in clothes swimming. I was mortified. I wouldn't have cared about the colour it was the style.

I think these days girl power has done a lot. There is no shame in being a girl and being feminine. Doesn't mean you are not an intelligent being with a world of opportunities.

My boys are definitely boys. They like trains and dinosaurs and Lego. They wouldn't wear or own anything pink or purple for anything. However they love their teddies and push them around in their (blue) toy pushchairs. They both have friends that are girl. They help me look after J. They have a mother who nurtures and comforts them but also fights their corner. They have a father who changes nappies, washes up, vacuums and plays with them. They are being raised to be tolerant of people that are different from themselves. I don't think it matters how boyish they are so long as they treat other people with respect.

We had a wedding yesterday. Lots of girls in pink frills and ruffles. F rocked her blue and yellow dress and shiny new navy shoes. Which we bought yesterday - and on walking into the shop, I commented to dh how pink everything was. A pale, insipid, wimpy pink

I do wear dresses to work though, after years of trousers. But that is as much to so with my altered body post-pregnancy and trying to feel a bit feminine.

Oh and yw, re: the omeperazole, F has capsules with enteric coated beads in, which literally will not dissolve. Is that what J has? She slept better last night, in with me, but managed 8 hours with only the odd shriek.

J is still on 20mg omeprazole which is the highest dose they will prescribe until age 2. We have losec mups bp which are a pinkish coloured tablet that we dissolve in water. It breaks down somewhat and we skoosh into his mouth via syringe. We were misprescribed the capsules you're talking about once and pharmacist was very apologetic as she said they weren't suitable for for J.

J's sleep is back to atrocious... Waking basically for a cuddle. Not sure job to rectify as he gets extremely loud and I'm not sure waking dd will help. He's also been ready to start the day from 5.30am...too early for mummy!