I'm not a bad mummy just because....

[Triggles]

I spend a lot of my time beating myself up because things aren't perfect around here, and I've realised that it's a waste of time and effort. Perfect is impossible ... EVERYONE has their little issues.

SO.. I'm not a bad mummy just because...

... the boys occasionally have cereal and toast for supper (or some other odd food combination that DS2 is fixated on and DS3 copies!)

... DS2 sometimes gets extra time on his DS just so that I can have a few minutes to relax and regroup

... DS2 kicks off in a room full of people and has to be escorted out of the room (despite people saying he's spoiled or doing the tutting thing - WE know it's a sensory thing in a crowded room)

... DS2 wears clothing inside out and backward often when around home (at least he is TRYING to help himself to get dressed! I don't have the heart to point it out some days)

... DS2 wears his school jumper to school even on hot days (the TA can generally talk him into taking it off, but it is an ingrained part of his morning routine for dressing and he WILL NOT alter it!). Comments from others "Isn't he roasting?" and "It's far too hot for a jumper today!" sigh

... DS2 is late to school every single day (by prior arrangement with the SENCO, HT, TA, and teacher as DS2 cannot cope with the frantic early morning chaos). I still get raised eyebrows and tuts from other parents who are leaving as we are arriving.

What things have you simply come to the conclusion that this is just the way it is.. different, but not necessarily bad?

Wow what start in life.

So glad I came across this thread. Forgot to give DS6 (ASD/ADHD dx) his meds this aft and so we've had one hell of an afternoon.

This is us:

1. DS only wears shorts and t-shirts. Jumpers and long pants (especially jeans) are just not worth the hassle.

Peeing down rain today and cotton shorts and tee with no socks to go to Sainsbury's, though he did compromise on a coat (but not zipped).

1. DS will live off dry pasta, cocktail sausages and choc spread butties and has done for last 3 days. As long as he eats I'm past caring.
2. The sole reason I have Sky is so that DS can fuel his David Attenborough obsession and I can hide in my room catch up on some housework.

I could go on, but he's shouting me again.

How many days til school are back........

oh, we struggle with the reading diary as well. it's because they keep sending home those stupid magic key books. He doesn't like them - can't relate to the magic stuff. He has tons of books at home that we read instead. It's brought up to me repeatedly that his reading book doesn't get changed out frequently enough. oh well

triggles Oh dont get me started on chip, biff and fucking kipper
He much prefers non-fiction.

Ds1 had an obsession with David Attenborough too..in the end I got him the box set from amazon!

His current "things" are: Victorian Farm, Top Gear and WW1 and WW2.

I have always thought that I was a bad mother for letting ds1 watch so much tv/dvds, but its all educational and I have ds2 to think of too..

My sons current choice of reading book is a book about potato recipes.

Try explaining that to the head teacher

We don't record the books we read at home, just the school books. If we wrote down all the home books, we'd need another reading record every month! Besides, they've moved him up a couple levels in reading, so I can't see where the problem is, as it's obvious he's reading at home.

Saying that, I'm a little concerned they are moving him up levels - he can read really well, but doesn't always understand what he has read.

Dd managed to swerve Biff and Chip et al completely because she could read well before she started. She can choose her books from school but often just reads stuff at home. Her diary notes that she read the Oxford English dictionary, Argos catalogue, Beano and Dandy weekly and football programmes. Her teacher gives her the stickers regardless.

Glad to see that not only my DS obsessed with David Attenborough.

If I have to watch him and his giant egg again I'm gonna scream......

Yes, I drove to the Imperial War Museum last weekend. If you're coming from the mini roundabout opposite Westminster, go down the road towards the IWM, under the bridge and take a right just before the IWM, followed by an immediate left at a (pub?). There's parking down there, but think it's only free/usable during weekends, but you could check. Actually, a lot of people seem to park out on the main road directly outside the IWM but I'm not sure I'd risk it.

ah, another Argos catalogue reader here! Thank goodness! They must think we're nuts as each time they come out with another one, we go pick up 2 or 3.

Triggles Snap! dd keeps asking when the next one is out because they keep advertising and she is convinced they only do that with a new catalogue out. We have to have at least two, one solely for dd and a spare.

we had one in the car and one in the house - and the bloody shop drives me crazy - I hate it!

Just found this thread and could have written that, myself, Triggles. Only DS1 won't wear a school jumper, even when it's freezing. It was a battle enough to even get him to wear a vest or t-shirt under his polo shirt.

To add a few more:

DS1 not trained until 7 and not fully dry day and night until now!

Not even started to train 6yo DS2, yet. He's not ready. I feel no guilt at all.

And DS2 is only recently out of his buggy - unless he is poorly, when he loses muscle tone and can barely sit up, let alone walk.

DS2 eats a diet heavy in oven chips and meat and fish in a crispy coating of some sort.

I don't read to DS2. He won't let me.

DS2 keeps his socks on his toy shelf. If I put them in his drawer, he empties everything out until he has them all paired up.

ouryve - DS2 still in his Mac Major quite a bit. It's getting a fair few comments from other children, which makes me wonder if we should soon request something more like a chair and less like a buggy ...

We worked and worked at building up his stamina over the last summer holidays and through the autumn, so he could do the school walk without it every day by Christmas (barring icy days, when we'd both end up arse over tit). It took a little longer to get him out of it in busy or strange places, though. That was more a case of something clicking in him one day when he understood that "wait" meant he had to stand still and not try to pull away or roll on the floor.

Little bit OT but yes you can park on the main road directly outside the IWM - and it's free on Sundays (rare for London!).

ouryve ur DS sounds like mine

Wears shorts almost every day and won't wear a jumper. A coat? No chance.

Somedays, he looks freezing. He swears he's not. Def not worth the hassle.