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

I have sewn emergency name tapes on tracksuit and wooly hats.

We haven't done our half term 'homework' task thingie. Although it wasn't set to dd, it was on a news letter.

I might rustle something up now and give to dd in morning

Ok. School. it just kinda winds me up. I feel like I did at the start of the sept term all over again.

I gave her a tracksuit top and bottoms to put in her gym bag, as requested on a letter. I didn;t go in to supervise her putting them in as they don't really like us doing that. DD came out with jumper still in book bag and pants no where to be found. Checked gym bag - nope. SO no idea, and they took alot of finding so I hope they show up.

dd had packed lunch as she turned her elegant little nose up at dinners. She ate 3 little choc cookies. She forgot about her yogurt, couldn't open her pot with dried apricots it, didn't fancy her pitta pocket sandwich even though she eats loads of pitta bread. She said she did put her hand up for help with the pot but no one heard her ask for help.

where are the luchtime staff? Surely the 1st day back little ones should get a little help here? Then she said she got a sticker for eating a good lunch but lost it I can believe they gave her it to be honest. Gah.

On more positive note it's the school pictures tomorrow and siblings can go in too OOOO what shall dd2 wear?

Still though, this sort of thing shakes my confidence.

Now, in-thread aibu. Aibu to send in a note asking them to promt dd to have a little drink of water during class time? They are allowed to help themselves but she doesn't, as she says she forgets. Last term she had very dry lips from the heat, and I have rambled on at length about her constipation so I won't bore you on that She really does need the fluid. Do you think it's asking too much?

Treeee

YANBU. In fact YANBU to go in there and 'discuss' the issue of lunchtime, as well as water. Clearly, the lo's need extra help, and its a pretty poor show if they can't even help them open pots to get to fruit. It really is. Am on your behalf. One of DD's friends has constipation issues and school have been good (eventually) at prompting him to drink during the day, and he's in a class of 30, so its not impossible to do. Personally, I'd take the opportunity to talk to someone tomorrow at photo time. But that's just me being punchy I s'pose .

DS back to school tomorrow. Didn't have much time with him as was playing florence nightingale to dh's vomiting bug. Dear god but what is that if not a true test of your marriage vows. He was pretty ill, but it did come with added male melodrama..

tree - well you know we have been having similar issues here and I have spoken to dd's teacher about it so definitley YANBU.

I went in to 'help' with class today and felt so clueless and nervous it really was like being back at school - only worse! Also, I have committed myself to all kinds of school stuff thinking I would have time this year but I just don't know what I was thinking of - I really don't have time during the school day when I have my own work to do.

The whole school thing is just very wierd on many levels, resonating as it does, and not always joyfully, with remembrance of school days past. I really like to see some of the parents then after a couple of days feel quite burned out and look forard to CM or dh doing some runs. I think there are just too many people all at once, perhaps and it makes me witter inanely and at increasing speed...

Dd OTOH is perfectly fine and has adjusted easily. And it's parent's day tomorrow. Must think how best to use my 10 min window. No doubt dh will berate me for not getting the most info.

Ah yes moodlum. Mrs Darwin wrote that 'nothing marries one so much as sickness'. So true.

Right. Thank you people. Do you think a real life word or a note? I worry that a word will be forgotton. A note might make me seem over official.

Why do I care? What does it matter? So long as she gets her drinks!!

How wierd this all is.

Moodlum - my sympathy. I hope it stays confined.

Do any of you use any alternative type things with your kids? I was looking at this and wondering....well, how it could cost that much actually I could nearly take her to have a consultation for that

Tree - just a quick note, being Florence Nightingale does take it out of you and I have chores to do before doing my ward round ha ha - I went to a homeopath with dd, after having done a lot of research on t'interweb, and she recommended a particular remedy that we do sometimes give her.

I think things like that don't harm, and even if its a placebo effect, can help. Unless you are ds, in which case you get the homeopathic pill and stick it up your nose to amuse yourself until you realise you cannot get it out of your nose and then panic.. But I'm guessing little tree may have more sense than that

That story made me rofl. Homeopathy didn't have the calming soothing or restorative effect you were hoping for in this instance.

We used Teetha granules [now buy chamomilla as its much cheaper] on dd and couldn't believe hw they worked. maybe I will take her along to a homeopath.

And also write this note to teacher. Nerves!! Will have to spell check lots.

Just quickly as baby waking - Tree - good luck with the note. Definitely NBU.

moodlum - hope dh recovers swiftly!

Tree, I hope the note does it's job then. You're right to, especially with her constpiation problems.
I thought that teetha was great too.

Acinonyx, how was your DD about you being in the class?
I've said I'll go in once I feel DD is properly settled and established herself. But I think she might be a little jealouspot if I'm with other children, and I don't want to effect her behaviour in the class.

My DD starts back tomorrow too - she says she's looking forward to going back. Good.

Oooo yes Acinonyx, tell us more about the stay and play thing. I'm worried about dd going ballistic when I left [were I to do same].

Did you feel huge in the classroom? I did when I popped in other day. I felt 9ft tall and really clumsy.

School photo's today. Went in early to get one with baby dd2. Hope they turn out nice, the professional ones we had done to marke dd2's Baptism won't be so great as dd2 was constipated and wouldn't smile. She jsut looked worried and sad

I wish my babies could poo!!

Off to write the note now. Will handwrite I think.

I was just there for a short taster session with a group of kids while the others went out to play. Dd looked rather nonplussed to see me (I had completely forgotten to tell her I would be going in) - I just waved but otherweise didn't interact. I will explain to her that I'm there to help with the class and not to play with her (in fact I won't be playing with her at all probably). I'll be doing some phonics activities with small groups.

DD seemed OK with me being there and didn't fuss at all - hopefully it will stay like that. I did the ativities with her when we got home and it certainly did increase ehr motivation having seen me doing this with the other children (dd can be fantastically stubborn wrt to any kind of homework).

I've taught teenagers and adults, and gone into primary classes as part of another related job, but it really did feel so different this time. I wanted to help this year in particular as I thought I would have more time but I think I have seriously miscalculated.

I just sometimes feel that I'm getting a bit overinvolved with school and it's not really 'my world' - hard to explain.

Aci - I completely know where you're coming from. Sometimes, with school I feel like a fish out of water - its hard to describe. My parents never helped out at school (partly because they were always working) and I feel that sometimes I over commit to compensate for that, and then get in over my head. This year I have really tried not to get involved unless under serious pressure to.

We have not had a good day in the moodlum house. Mini moodlum very sad to go back to school "but I just love you so much I want to stay with you.." then on return from school really difficult, really unhappy and distraught when he wasn't allowed a twix for supper . Its been a tricky four hours since he got back. . Yet again I find myself wishing I had just sent him to the same school as dd, then perhaps we wouldn't have these issues.

And, he found out today that he is the main part in the Christmas play - a Robin. Which thrills me, but apparently terrifies him.

(for me not him..)

Wel, today I asked dd's teacher if she wanted to me to pop her a note about dd and her action plan to battle constipation. She was lovely and said yes please, and she was doing really well. So I asked how, and apparently dd has told teacher all about needing a drink every hour, and has been getting water, finishing all her milk and asking for more, and the teacher said she has been reminding her too.

SO maybe the note won't be needed! I was very pleased that the teacher knew about it. They do well really, to even know who I am on about out of 30 of them.

Still think the school lunch thing a bit off though. However, focus on the positives.

Aw at ds being a robin moodlum.......do you have to make the costume? eek!

moodlum - my parents would never have got involved with anything at school either. This year I have kind of volunteered for everything to see how I get on. I'm an older mum so I have many friends past this stage - some got very involved, some got involved occaisionally, and some are very disdainful of school stuff. It is hard to explain - but probably fish out of water is close enough.

Had parents meeting this afternoon which was OK - dd has settled much better than we expected.

Costumes - double eek! I know dd has kings day after Xmas which I need to prepare as we are in the US the entire holiday. But she doesn't want to be a king - she wants to be a princess!! I think dd would be terrified at a major part in the nativity - I'm counting on her being a sheep or something - maybe a clump of hay

Hey everyone-its norfolklass...just changed my name cause was a bit bored!
Aww at your ds being a robin moodlum-thats fab! Do you have to do the costume? We haven't heard anything about the christmas stuff yet but can't wait! DS was Father Christmas at his nursery last year and MIL made him a fab costume which I let nursery have cause figured he'd never get it on again!!
Tree-glad your DD is drinking...think they all need a bit of gentle reminding sometimes but especially if there is a real need for them to be drinking.
Acinonyx-yay glad your parents evening went well...think ours is at the end of this month but must check the date!

DS went back yesterday and while he was itching to get back I would have liked him here for a bit longer...all the mothers were saying how pleased they were this morning cause they were back at school and there was me thinking Id actually quite like to scoop DS up and run back home to bed!

Still have friendship issues going on which is not nice. DS knew a little girl at nursery who has basically superglued herself to him and had been telling him not to play with anyone else and it was making DS very sad. So I spoke to teacher and to DS and we both said that it would be nice to all play together but if you don't want to play with someone you could just say "I don't want to play with you at the moment".

So this morning said child rushes up to DS in the playground while he was happily playing with someone and yanks him away...DS then shouts"Go away-I don't want to play with you" which then makes the little girl burst into tears. I know feel the worst person in the world because Ive told him to say that he doesn't want to play...but not quite so forcibly!!!!

Poor DS can't win at the moment-if he does what she wants and only plays with her then the other children don't want to play with him cause she is with him and if says "no" and plays with others then he is sad cause she is sad!

She is a lovely little girl as well and I really like her and her mum but her and my DS bicker and argue constantly and its like having 2 small pitbulls to separate. They are both very loud and very determined and very competitive,both only children and both the same star sign (which probably means nothing lol!) and are so similar its unbelievable. Both lovely children apart but together they are a nightmare!!

Ho hum...lets see what happens when I go to pick him up!

Well I think this is lesson the little girl has to learn I'm afraid. My dd tends to superglue herself to whoever is her favourite of the day and has been told severl times to 'go away!' or 'I'm notyour friend anymore' etc etc.

I've told dd that little children tend to say that a lot although it's not nice and better not to say that to your friends. I've also explained that most children wnat to play with different children and may not want to play with her all the time - and when that happens she needs to play with her other friends (also that she needs to keep being nice to all her friends and not totally drop them in favour of some favourite). Sigh. It's hard work this friendship stuff but she is OK and there are no tears over it.

I was rather mortified when she told me she had run away from one girl calling out 'I've got a new friend!' I explained at length that this is not a nice way to talk to your friends.

I think your ds has been very patient with his friend - a lot more patient than dd and her friends are with each other.

I agree with Aci, norfolklass, I think your ds has been more than patient. Girls are dreadful to each other, and I think boys are more patient (generally ).

Friendship lessons are the hardest to learn - when I asked ds if he liked a particular person he looked at me as if I was mad and said "no WAY. She actually makes me boring" for the little girl who is a fan of ds I think... I try and explain being nice, even if you aren't wild about that person, and they just don't get it atm.

Yay - I've just managed the whole putting a picture on my profile shenanigans, and ds is now on my profile looking unusually angelic with his best effort cup.

Oh that is cute - angelic indeed!

Aww bless him! Thank you-its nice to know its not me that suffering these friendship issues...its awful isn't it?

Am going to have another long talk with him tonight and see what he says...have already tried talking to her mum who it now appears is mightily annoyed with me and is now completely blanking me in the playground!! All I said to her before half term was "I think perhaps we should both encourage other friendships cause this isn't making these 2 very happy at all is it?" which I thought was very polite and friendly. I can't be dealing with all these school gate issues...I just want to be friends with everyone and talk to everyone just as DS does but perhaps Im in the wrong!!

Moodlum, he's a good-looking boy, isn't he? And a mightily impressive cup, too.

God yes, friendships are awful to watch aren't they? Dd1 seems to be doing a bit better so far this week. She talks every day about who her 'best friend' is, and it is different every day. Which I think is infinitely preferable to her previous obsession. And she does seem to have taken a big step back from the other girl, which I'm hugely relieved about. (I must admit to putting a bit of pressure on there) She is so desperate to have a best friend though - I imagine at some point it will all settle down and she will have a real proper best friend, but at the moment she plays with a different person every day and the whole idea of a 'best friend' seems rather inappropriate.

Good luck with it all ihearttc. I expect the other mother is just upset at dealing with the emotional fallout and will be fine about it all in a week or so when her dd has recovered from the shock! Speaking from my own experience, it is very hard to watch your dc being rejected and upset, and difficult not to feel angry with the other child however much you may rationally know that is unreasonable!

Acinonyx - I think we're entering your poo issues arena . Poor old dd1 had a bit of a 'wet fart' issue yesterday, and really pellety poos today (sorry if TMI, everybody!). What should I do????

Sounds like she's a bit stopped up. Fruit (not bananas), dried fruit (apricots are good but raisins will do), fruit juice (I find apple is good if they don't like prune), baked beans.

Could it be that she's been holding it in at school? Go easy on all dairy until her system is clear.

Yes I started out a bit resentful of dd's friends if they spurned her - until I found she was just as bad. These days I'm really trying not to get so involved.

awww look at him with that cup! Gorgeous.

Acinonyx, have you got family in the states then? Whereabouts you going?

ihearttc, oh no. It shouldn't come to the adults falling out. That mum sounds tricky, there probably wasn't going to be any way of not offending her.
My DD was upset in first few days of school back in sept as her little friend had been saying 'go away, I don't want to play with you today'.....I guessed that an adult might've suggested to her she say something like that, and tried to encourage my own DD to play with different boys and girls.
It's difficult enough while they settle into friendships etc, without parent's politics getting into it.
I don't feel I can invite anyone to play at ours unless it's this little friend - even though she obviously wants to expand her social circle, I just know that her (and her mum) would be put out if someone else came to play at ours.
Crikey. It's all so tricksy!

Oh and Tree, sounds good about the teacher and your DD's fluids

Aranea, cor it's difficult for them to time their poo just right these days eh? They only have a little window of time at home to go. I wonder if she is trying to hold it in all that time at school.

We're going to dh's family in Washington state - about 4 hours drive from Seattle. I just can't wait to get dd back to school after the 8 hour time difference. That should be interesting.

Must go to bed [zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz] so can't catch up - will be back soon