Dog I feel for you. People lack empathy. Just because you child is screaming and freaking out and Mom is slowly, (and rightly, I might add) getting angry herself, does not mean you beat them. Good grief. I had one incident with someone making a crass comment and I said, "When you start concerning yourself with you fat ass, come talk to me about my parenting." I got a shock look and she walked away. The thing that got me most was this woman got up from her table at the cafe just to come and say something to me. The nerve.
Tree! Welcome back!
Tea Meeting up with H for the kids is the best thing. My DH's mom said that although she had a rough time with his dad, she never would speak ill of him and would remain cordial. For cooking, I let DD watch tv, but it doesn't keep her attention very long so we pull up a stool for her to stand on and she has a set of wooden food so I put a couple of items in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon and she pretends she is cooking... I give things to nibble on too, like carrot or something. She is sort of watching TV too. I would suggest unplugging the TV... when he sees it doesn't go on, he loose interest. lol OUr TV is wall mounted and it makes a difference.
Moose Not that it is a great idea by any means, but just to get DD in her room; switch the stuff in her room for where she is in your room. I know, it does just make a mess in your room, but at least she is in her room. We had to do the same. I'll tell ya though, having stuff hanging around in your bedroom makes you sort it faster. Wish I could come and help... I get a perverse kick out of organizing and cleaning... it drives DH nuts sometimes. Have you seen the show Ace of Cakes... I love the designs.
Funny thing this morning while watching Elmo's World; with all the talk of running too. Elmo say's "Want to know what Elmo's been thinking about today, (as he does the occasional stretch), the door starts rattling, he goes over and opens it to find, a Marathon of runners! I thought it was funny anyhow.
I love DH to death but sometimes, I wonder how he can manage a kitchen and service and all that. The other day I said to him that all DD's clothes were folded in the basket on the dryer and I'd put them away after I went through her drawers to remove the stuff that is too small. An hour or so later, he's getting her dressed and he says, 'Oh, DD has no pants (trousers). What is she going to wear?" I just stopped and looked at him and shook my head... the laundry/library (lol) door is off of DD's room; he didn't even need to take a step to open the door to see the clothes in the basket. When he was making dinner the other night as well, he calls back to me, (I'm in the library... so posh of me... I should post a pic on FB...) "Do we have veg for DD". I come out, and say "What?" and he repeats it... he's standing right by the fridge! I go to the fridge and pull out all the veg and say, "Yes, we do". Clearly rocket science is easier. Anyhow, just had to share my 'when DH is being thick' story.