November 2012 - Halloween costumes anyone?

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/2179741-November-2012-The-nights-are-drawing-in-again

Thankfully isles they are always very supportive about taking time off for sick children. I took Tuesday and Friday and DH did half days Wednesday and Thursday as she was sent home from cm each time. Last week I had a half day when she face planted and DH had to go to work in the afternoon. I consider myself very lucky!

Just doing a coffee run

Hope P, PR, and all the other ill and/or jaundiced people are on the mend.

DH took DD to DSD's birthday sleepover tonight and S has been beside himself without her. They are almost always together and I can't think of more than two occasions where S has been at home without her. He kept looking for her, told me she was hiding, got her plate out for dinner etc. It's lovely how much they love each other. Miss and YW remind me so much of when S was little - and it was lovely the way S followed DD with his eyes, and DD interacted with him, but their proper little friendship now brings me huge joy. The 50% of the time they're not fighting, obvs.

We had a total heart stopping moment when DH was trying to fix the broken tumble dryer and he tested it without the back on. DD and S were "helping" as they do with everything (S with his toy hammer) and DD got her outstretched hand within a millimetre of the rotating metal fan. Why are children just magnets for danger? I properly screamed at her and she cried but was then very unphased when we had a discussion about injuries and danger etc .

Cheers quiche!

Not better but determined not to whinge or gross quiche out with any more details.

Was appalled when I weighed myself this morning and having eaten a morsel or two more than fuck all for a week have only lost 500g. Is there no fucking silver lining to my cloud?

Also have PMT. So have the RAGE.

Injuries: DD1 literally threw herself off her bed this morning, scraped her thigh, and bruised her knee and forehead quite badly. Did it stop her from going and jumping on the bed all of 40 minutes later, while her face was still red from crying? Did it heck. So I agree, zamboni that they are danger magnets.

You must have had a real scare though with her near miss today. I shall chink my iced water against your

I really want to chink tonight but know I probably wouldn't stop at one glass bottle so will join the iced water party.

So far M has avoided any major accidents, or even close shaves. My sister and I are both sooo accident prone so maybe she's skipped that gene.

Am I right in thinking some of you work from home? If so, talk to me about it. I'm thinking of applying for a 2yr internal secondment. It's related to my degree (sort of) and would involve 2/3 days home working and then 3/2 days working out of either the Edinburgh office or travel across 5 UK sites (Sheffield, Cardiff, London, Aberdeen and Leeds). It's a massive jump from where I am at the moment (two pay grades) so realistically I'm probably not even in with a chance; but logistically I'm trying to work out if it's even worth me applying for. I think I'd really enjoy the job and I know I'd be good at it.

Isles i don't work from home, but as someone who has to spend biggish chunks of time away from home, i would just urge you to think about a) the practicalities of that, and b) the emotional tug of being away from M. You have your whole life to work your way up the career ladder, but M will only be small once.

Miracle night, F slept til 10 minutes ago without a peep, in her bed.

Have been thinking about our quiche mama and hoping all is well in her new home/job xx

I work from home p/t and study the rest of the time. I get nothing done when the girls are around except late evening when they sleep. I personally wouldn't want to have a job where I was away from them a couple of days a week - not just because of missing out, but because I would hate to be far away if they fell ill or had an accident.

I don't work but study from home. You need to be extremely disciplined and manage your time very well. When O is ill, i get zero work done, it's impossible, I would, however, not take on a job which involves travelling as a single mother. You need solid support for that and she needs stability. Sorry isles but I think in your situation I would not consider it.

In my experience you can't work from home with a toddler about, it just doesn't work. Obviously if they are in childcare then that is different.

However, to me the traveling side of that role is too much. (I have done the back and forth every other week ). Even if you did have a partner it is hard with travel and what happens if there is a delay somewhere and you can't pick up.

Your mentioned maybe seeing if you could transfer to another office. If you want a fresh start that might be better for you. I think isles you need to be concentrating on creating some stability for you as well as M. Stay in one job, one home, one place, for 2 or 3 years. Put down roots. Create a community. All this ping ponging about can't be great for either of you.

I hope is comes across in the right way isles you know I care as does everyone else. Xx

Isles I agree with the others, that job sounds like too much time away from DD. Even with the best childcare, kids need their Mums. I think when M is young isn't the time for making big career moves and extended absences - she needs your time and the mummy / child bond to be secure, especially with the other stuff going on. That might mean living more simply for the short term if money is a struggle. Fitting everything in with a full time job is a juggle enough without travel and nights away. Otherwise she might be confused and unsettled by having her time split between lots of different carers and a lack of routine. Sorry

I'm going to go against the grain a bit Isles and say I don't think it would be impossible to do the travelling role provided that you can live with being away from M regularly (and that is personal and only you can know) and you can arrange consistent, bullet-proof childcare for when you are away, so M has a comforting and consistent routine and knows when you'll be back each time. I don't travel consistently but do spend night/s away from time to time and it's perfectly fine for us and the DC, but they are only ever with DH or my DPs.

However, even if you can put that in place, only you can judge whether it is worth it in terms of salary/progression. I totally get why an organisational PITA arrangement could be in yours and Ms best interests - I genuinely feel it is incumbent on me as my family's main earner to ensure my career progresses so that we continue to have options. It is not simply that I do it for me - I feel a certain responsibility to do it for them too. On the other hand - it's ok to choose not to strive for the next stage sometimes if it's not a good fit with the rest of life. It may well be able to wait. Time is probably on your side, which is not a bad place to be.

Personally I am not sure I could cope with everything in my life plus regular and significant travel. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be for me. I agree that a degree of permanence in a location is good for stability and if I took a different role then I would move my family so we are all in one place.

If you did it, I imagine it would take a huge amount of organisation and drive to make it work. What if M got ill? A lot to think about I imagine.

As for working at home - I never do it except in emergencies. Can't work, less focus, more distractions and that's without the DC being at home.

Am I the last person EVER to know about the light up hob on the ikea kitchen?! Dh is ridiculously excited lol.

isles Personally I think it's the wrong time to be thinking of taking a role on like that. With everything else going on I think it would just be too much.

bplp Lol. We've had the Ikea kitchen since DD1 was 2 and you've just reminded me about it. Must change the batteries if I can remember where they are.

Awful weather here today. It poured all day. Luckily DD1 had a cinema party to go to so me and E pottered about the shops for a bit and then joined the party in pizza hut. I was sort of dreading it but it actually worked well.

Morning. My mouth still hurts. I am still fed up and grumpy. Have no idea what the fuck is going on it should be over by now. Going back to Dr tomorrow morning I think.

Arrived at hospital at09:29. Free parking. In and x rayed and driving away 09:44. Pretty good advert for the nhs in NI I say.

In other news freezing here.

In additional down at the bottom of the page news AF now 5 days late. Peri menopause I think I salute you. Feeling more bloated each day

Can't you go today pr?

This Chritsmas I have decided to spend less and enjoy more. And that is that. I'm looking at the sea having a gingerbread cappuccino.

Most Christmas presents are done a di have kept it minimal.

Christmas dinner is pit roast brisket. Yorkshire puddings roasties and sticky toffee pudding for after.

I a, v pleased with myself.

Smug face!

Typos, however, will be flung around in abundance

That sounds lovely wanda

I'm going to go back to trusty beef wellington this year with veg. Nothing special, nothing new, minimal hassle but something I only do at Christmas.

I think I have guests over new year so will make a bit more effort then.

If I am better.

The dr doesn't know what to do with me. She said if not better by today she'll be referring me. It's a virus, it should be getting better. So I could have gone this morning, but if it is to be referred to an ENT specialist it can wait til tomorrow, when maybe it will be better. Maybe.

This Christmas I will mainly be waited on hand and foot. Can't bloody wait. I just hope baby stays put so I can enjoy it more.

I'm pretty much done Christmas shopping. I have as usual bought loads for the girls but all bargains so am generally pleased. And I've enough to cover DD1S birthday too so that's sorted. Going to start wrapping soon.

I am wrapping on Wednesday night!!

I fecking hate wrapping. I am going to get the scouts to do it.

So I'm not that far ahead then!

pr I remember your hatred of wrapping. I love it but does get tiresome so I'm hoping that by starting early this year I can space it out and enjoy it. I'm very fussy when it comes to choosing wrapping paper and cards in general. Not sure why as I don't appear to be fussy about anything else in life!

Yes I vaguely remember complaining about it a little last year :o

I hate wrapping too. But this year I have a plan. Alcohol. That should help. Hardly bought anything though, 3 presents for o and 1 for each nephews and nieces.

Love a bit of wrapping here! Especially when supported by alcohol! I read recently about a pun on Edinburgh which does a 'don't wrap alone' night when everybody rocks up with their presents and sits together and wraps and drink pints. Sounds like the perfect idea to me.

I am sorry your mouth is still not better. It sounds so awful pr

p is feeling so much better now it is amazing. She looks better as well - she has been so pale for over a week. She even ate a decent dinner tonight so it seem like she is well mended. Thank goodness!

I love all the Christmas plan chat. We are doing two nights at in laws then back here for two nights then down to my parents for Christmas eve and Christmas night. I am looking forward to it massively. I have always loved Christmas at my parents and this is the first time we have done Christmas day with them since we had p.