December 2012: we thought the terrible twos were bad, here come the threenagers!

[Barbeasty]

Spangly new thread.

Oh wow WL! Dd has had an appletiser and fizzy water with squash. Ds hasn't had anything fizzy. He tried my coffee once though, needless to say he didn't like it

I am lucky in that dds don't particularly want fizzies so don't have to battle. Would still say no though!

Yeah I think it's easier because we don't have it at home or when we go out, I don't like it really. Dd knows she isn't allowed it I don't mind appletiser though as a compromise. She's just lost her fifth tooth and is very happy

WL that's why you're my idol!

I've managed to encourage DH to largely give up Coke - so now we never have any fizz at home - and I'm hoping to keep the kids away from it as long as possible. At the moment they aren't keen on bubbles and the longer I can keep it that way true better.

And Hurrah!!! Glad your DM is home WL.

Wreck. You've made me nostalgic for appletiser....

Dh always buys a can of coke at the shop. It really pisses me off because 1) it's bad for you 2) it's a waste of money and 3) it sets a bad example to the dc.

R likes elderflower

The cousins (10 & almost 14) have arrived at Mum's. They have given DS sweets and some Coke he is super excited - he doesn't know them very well but he has never been shy and retiring.

nutella you may admire my medal from afar!! I'd be a bit pissed off if anyone gave my dds coke tbh - especially at 3.5 yo. I'm certainly not a saint parent and they get more crap than I'd like ideally, and far more screen time.

Haha nutella very much enjoying the description of your sweet blonde pfb as an arsehole!
If mine wake me up again tonight a la torture of last 2 nights I will not be responsible for my language!

He is awful. And even with 6 adults who are able to help out he is still exhausting. DD is easy peasy by comparison. I've been talking to DH about ADHD and DS. He thinks I'm mad I'm still worried about school.

I spent my first night away from the kids last night. It just hasn't been feasible before. We slept in a local hotel. The church bells woke me at 6:50 and I'm stiff from the crummy mattress. Probably still a better nights sleep than I've had the last two weeks. DH is still asleep bastard. I'm going for a crummy shower....

nutella how come you and dh had a night away?

I threatened to leave home this morning (only to dh) as dd2&3 are being so awful at night. T has had a cough tbf, and one night kept coughing herself sick so ended up sideways in our bed. Dd2 has got really anxious about bedtime and being on her own so gets herself in a right state before bed and panics if she wakes up so she and I swap beds - she goes in with dh and I go up in her cabin bed! I know she can't help it but bloody hell it's annoying! And exhausting. I've tried worry dolls, special toys made by me (stitched with love to look after her etc), mindfulness for kids, distraction games and basically anything I can think of. Everything works for a short time and then back to square one.

WL dd has started being really anxious. She won't go to sleep on her own, she won be left in the car whilst I pay for petrol or even put it in the car. We wrnt for a big walk with friends in petworth park and she kept worrying that Ds was going to get lost etc. It's not like her at all. Which days do you work? We could meet at wisely gardens in the summer holidays if we can find a day we can both do??

WL it was just a break and a rest for us.

Wreck and WL have you looked at the Mighty Girl page on Facebook? There are some great book recommendations on there for all sorts of things and I know I've seen a thing about anxiety in there too.

My nephew is almost 14 but honestly his social ability and life skills are really eclipsed by those of his 10 year old sister. It sounds horrible writing it but DH and I are learning a bit of what not to do. DNeph is a skilled manipulator and he never accepts no. I've caught him lying a lot too.

tangled that's a great idea. The only day I don't work is Monday but dm has a number of hospital apts on Mondays that I'm signed up for - will check dates and let you know (assuming Monday's could work for you?)
nutella I get quite a lot of mighty girl posts through - they're great! I do wonder with dd2 if some of it is related to dm and she doesn't know how to express it. She's always been sensitive so it's not totally out of character but the bedtime bit is new and seems to be getting worse. I think I'll discuss rewards and targets with her tom.

I'll have a look Nutella thanks.

Yes WL Mondays are a free day for us usually

Yay my 5k speeds have really come down - if I can stay consistent at this speed I'll start increasing distance (very slowly). Well chuffed.

WL woo hoo! Well done!! That's awesome. I've been doing a bit of jogging at my Mum's. Where I live is super flat. Here it is surrounded by the beautiful Pyrenees .... It's been bloody hard work! Hopefully I won't be too flabby slow when I get back home

Fortunately SIL was here for a few days and she got me going again. She is amazing, strong and super fit.

I hope you have a productive chat with DD2 and she feels happier.

Good for you nutella. Hills are a great work out and great for your arse - apart from the obv, super important for a strong back.
I think in the pmt danger zone - boobs are so sore - need to do max exercise to stop me being a she devil. As well as my run dd1 and I cycled (with T on my bike) to a lunch about 4 miles each way. Poor DH had to turn back as he had dd2 in the trailer which popped a tyre about a mile in.

We are finally home! But we need to take DS to the ENT I think he has grommets in both ears and his left has been leaking alllll day a sort of smelly waxy gooey wateryness. Not sure how I'm going to say that in German....

Plus I stepped on the scales worst idea ever so all eating will now have to be postponed until at least 2018.

But tomorrow we can have a relaxing day with kids and then Thursday we plan to return them to nursery and kindergarten. Hurrah for childcare!

DD turns 2 next week and I have no real ideas about toys for her. What would you but the future leader of the world? she might be a tiny bit stubborn and bossy

MrsNut might be a stupid question but is there a chance he's not hearing right which is causing your behaviour worries?

2yo presents... Grimm's rainbow, jigsaws, kitchen, dressing up and role play toys...

Geoffrey Possibly, but that wouldn't that probably only account for a bit of the holiday. He has had the grommets in for a year almost... And I haven't noticed his behaviour change much.
I think on holiday he struggled without a clear routine.

Rainbow is a good idea. She would like that. We have a kitchen. Perhaps it could disappear for a makeover.... Hmmmm otherwise I'm thinking a nice dress or two - she really enjoys her dresses and books and.... Hmmmm that's about where my ideas run out.

Dressing up outfits? Including those awful plastic shoes. Dd and Ds love them her own bag, a small one she can put all her important notes on how to take over the world things in.

I just got back from spinning and did jillian Michaels ripped in 30 this morning.

We went to arundel castle today which was nice.

Wreck they don't seem mad keen on dressing up not if they can run around totally naked instead but I will have a rummage at TKMaxx if I get the chance. I'll have to ask if anyone knows a good place for costumes...

And wow, get you doing all the sports, well done!!

But they would probably like awful shoes. Kids always like stuff like that which any reasonable person would hate. They're good like that