were into september not long now frantic label sewing, shoe buying and general getting organised and breath!!

[bodenaddict]

hi ladies here is our new thread

Oh your poor dd and poor you as well. Thats absolutely awful and completely heartbreaking for both of you. Maybe a break over half term will sort things out-they are all completely exhausted.

Has the teacher said anything to you about it? What about inviting the little girl in question over for a playdate?

These friendship issues are really hard aren't they.

She's someone we've had lots of playdates with - we knew her before school started. And she is supposed to be coming over during half term, but I am now beginning to wonder whether that is such a good idea.

Hello all... I am mindmapping but have run out of things to put in my mindmap...look

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/preschool/848090-If-your-child-39-s-class-could-have-a-class

Any ideas? Peeeerlease!!!! - xxxx

Tea - I'm all out of ideas meself at the moment. My smaller one is at preschool - I'd like to see some photos of the children doing stuff, and some idea of what they've been up to. He comes home with all sorts of strange ideas "today I was a bee" that could do with a little clarification!

Aranea - I don't know about the half term visit, you might find that they get on really well out of school, although not sure that it would solve the problem when they go back - do you know girl's mum at all? Would she be receptive to a chat?

Parents' meeting went well - boy is a little star but then I knew that already!

I have another parents' evening to do tomorrow. In-laws have been in touch, we've got seven of them coming for a meal on Sunday.

I want some time off! Stamps feet.

golgi - congrats on P.M success!!!!

One day to go until H.A.L.F T.E.R.M!!!!

aloha ladies

I don't think I've got it in me, I really don't. I had to pick ds up at lunchtime today he was so tired. And I've got to sort DD a pirate outfit before bedtime - why - on the last day of half term when everyone is a bit frayed, do I now have to fashion some wretched pirate outfit. Gah.

Tea - I used to do the PTA newsletter for the school, so I'll look at an old copy of that for any ideas for you. Personally, I'd use the newsletter to advertise some 'being nice' lessons for those that uttered the 'either you help or...' comment.

Aranea - how heartbreaking. I wd try and have a chat with the other girl's mother. It could do wonders, I think.

Well done mini golgi!

I think we all deserve WINE tomorrow night. Its really quite a momentous event.

Almost snogs moodlum in glee - thanks please do - anything like that is of great use!!!

Poor little dd1. She was so miserable last night. The other girl's mum is lovely and spoke to her dd, who said she was fed up because dd1 had been trying to play with just her all the time. This is strange, because dd1 says pretty much the opposite and the teacher says they don't actually spend all that much time together. And in fact before the horridness at hometime yesterday my dd1 had apparently spent all day playing with someone else.

Anyway, X suggested that she meet up with us this morning so she & dd1 could walk to school together. Dd1 was still sad this morning and was much cheered by the friendly suggestion. But was crushed when we actually met and X refused to speak to her or walk next to her.

After school they appeared to be playing nicely but on closer inspection X was playing at putting my dd1 in a dungeon and my dd1 said she couldn't come away because she had to stay where X had told her to. Anyway, I have cancelled the half-term playdate as I think this is all pretty unhealthy. The other mum and I went to speak to the teacher together but she was quite surprised to hear there was an issue really and obviously hadn't noticed anything.

According to my dd1 she keeps being told she can't join in with games etc. I asked who she played with today and she said 'I think I should just get used to playing with myself really. No one in my class wanted to play with me today.'

She is sad that I have cancelled the playdate but I don't want to encourage this 'friendship' really. And I also don't want to send a message to the other girl that she can treat my dd1 that way at school and still be welcome in her house. (even though actually she is and dd1 would be thrilled to have her over)

Argh.

god, sorry, that was epic.

oh aranea

poor dd. That made me very sad for her. I think you've done the right thing. No playdate, and talking to the teacher - perhaps you could remind the teacher when you return from half term.

I don't know what to suggest. Deffo playdates with other people after half term. I promise that this was a similar situation to dd, and she did eventually come through it. There were lots of "I just wandered around the playground holding the teacher's hand" conversations, which did break my heart, but in your case, if the teacher now knows its a problem, hopefully she will be alert to it happening.

Poor rabbit.

Thanks for understanding. It is horrible to watch.

And - arg - what are we supposed to do with them during half term? I haven't given this nearly enough thought. Cancellation of playdate just gives me another empty day to fill (and this one needs to be filled with something special to make it up to her!)

Ahhh half term at last. Phew.
Hoards of relatives descend tomorrow. House is a mess. I don't care!

oh Aranea that's sad. Like Moodlum says, it's sounds like you've done the right thing.
She's not so upset like your DD, but my DD's been let down by her friend too. There's one girl from preschool in DD's school who we made a point of getting together with in the summer hols so they would have friendly face. But this girl doesn't want to know my DD now - almost like my DD is 'SO last year'.....but more than that, she almost behaves like my DD is competition, like establishing a pecking order and wants to have all the friends and would be happy if DD had none. (I'm sure I sound like I'm reading too much into it - they are 5 after all and aren't giving it any thought themselves, but that's how it seems to me). and I blame that for a lot of the crying and not wanting to into school in the 2nd week. (the girl hit and pinched DD a couple of times in that time). But my DD seems to have accepted things now and in spite of her not being especially confident and friendly is starting to play with other children.
It's going to take quite a bit of time I think to settle into their friendships -it's just horrid going through this time. I think if they hang in there, in time, they will have really good friends. And it won't be long before the other girls treat someone else the same way.
sorry, gone on a bit there.

Anyway, they seemed to have had a fun day today being the last day - they all came out happy. The staff were beaming too.
I took DD and my nephew to see 'up' after tea and told DD it was a treat as we're so proud that she's done so well at school.

DS got the 'Best Effort Cup'

Apparently he got it for being good, doing what the teacher told him, and doing good work. Am so chuffed. Later on I'll put a photo of him holding the cup on my profile

Well done minimoodlum. Oh you must be like a puffer fish with pride

Aranea -I think I would fall in a heap on the floor. You are managing it brilliantly and doing all you can. Oh poor dd. I welled up reading the posts.

paisleyleaf - I'm really glad your dd has been able to move away from it and not take it to heart. I hope all our dcs do go on to make good friends, well done you for being so positive

Our school has a friendship post, where anyone who has no one to play with can go stand. Then a year 6 'buddy' will come and pick them up and help them get playing.
I really hope it goes on after half term [in fact I'd like it there til she leaves ]. it seems to provide a real safety net. It is something anyone could suggest to ttheir school to aid the settling in period. Loads of mums have said how gratefull they are to the 'buddies' and I think there will be several year 6 six girls looking totally bewildered at various parties for 5 year olds as all the kids want to invite them to parties and playdates! So cute.

I will struggle with the girls being at school because as I was bullied, never made a core group of friends and was a total misfit till I was 14. SO first hint of normal playground tensions and I am either going to hit the bottle or hit the thread and plauge you all for advice and hand holds.

Thank God it is half term. Phew!!

I like the idea of the friendship post.

Very well done to small Moodlum on his cup.

Our first choice school (that we didn't get) had a buddy post. Great idea And the older children loved having the responsibility. LOL at them at the 5 year olds' parties.
It is something I thought I might suggest if the opportunity arises. In fact they're just getting their school council together with the older children, I might mention it as something DD can suggest to them.

Bravo littleMoodlum!
The schools seem so into rewards nowadays, it's great and really good for the children. I bet he's chuffed.

Thanks everyone for being so supportive! I sort of am in a bit of a heap about it really. I keep having rather hysterical visions of dd1 being forever in the role of class saddo who is so pleased to have people play with her that they can do what they like to her and she will keep coming back for more.

There is actually a buddy system at our school but I don't think it's started yet. I think it might start up after half term... maybe it will help? I think the older kids are trained to help the little ones resolve conflicts, which might be a really good thing.

Well done mini moodlum!! How lovely! And where is the photo?

Good luck with the relatives, golgi!

They made me watch Strictly Come Dancing. But I got my revenge by making them watch the X Factor.

Heh heh. I've never seen Strictly Come Dancing but am hooked on X Factor. Was so determined to watch it last night that even though I had a light-sensitive migrainey sort of headache I turned the lights off and watched from between my fingers! Should have just gone to bed if I'd had any sense really.

Had to lol at watching strictly between fingers! Hope you are feeling better soon.

So no school run today.

Whoooooopeeeeeeee!!

Although I woke up with a bad headache and general pants feeliong so not the lovely day of fun and crafting I planned, more grumps and snapping. They ahve gone for a walk with nanna so I am chilling out.

I do miss her about the place when she is at school.

I like your halloween name!

We had a very low-key day here. I had promised dd1 that we would do something special to make up for the cancelled playdate, but then dd2 came out in spots so we had to stay home! But actually I think it was probably just as well - she's knackered and a day of doing nothing much is just what she needed. We snuggled together with a lamp under her duvet while dd2 napped, and it was lovely. She pretended I was dd2 and read me a story.

I hope we get a low-key day. Although it doesn't really work with my children. They are like dogs in that they require a long walk twice a day to avoid them climbing the walls and biting the furniture.

Dd's school has a buddy bench. She also has yr 1 and yr 2 buddies but can't remember who they are Friendship issues can be agonising - we poor parents will remember them long after dc has forgotten and moved on.

I am an X-factor follower but I do sometimes watch strictly with dd who is keen on the sparkly dresses and dancing.

Those of you who have had parents' eveings - what do/can they actually tell you and what is useful to ask?? I am clueless and ours is next week. We have a form to make requests to the teacher in advance - did anyone do that? Not sure how much you can really cover in a 10 min slot.

Visited antenatal buddies and dcs today - have missed them as we are all at different schools around the county now.

We had a 10 minute slot at parents' evening - teacher showed us some of the things that he has been doing, gave us some photos to take away, and then showed us the books he'll be bringing home after half term. Told us he was joining in nicely, likes doing jigsaw puzzles...umm....

I didn't really have any questions, although I did mention that he can already read some words so probably could skip the first reading books which only have pictures! Although then I worried that I was coming across as "pushy parent" - my experience of being the other side of the desk influencing me there I think!