Friday night thread!

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Thought the rule was that the Fri night thread starts when the first glass of wine is drunk......

Ds (5) went off to school on his second day, the first time using LA transport. To say I am shaky is the understatement of the century. To make matters worse, the usual escort (who we met yesterday at pick up in my attempt to arrange some sort of transition plan) was off sick this morning and the driver has a hospital appointment this afternoon so it will be a different driver and car.

Have a few new pieces of marble run for him when he gets home and we'll have omelette as he cracks eggs as a de-stress activity

Sorry, i phrased that badly. The escaping seems to be the tipping point for dsil herself to admit that she needs more support (at 6m pg and 100 miles away, I'm limited in how much i can practically do - unlimited amounts of listening are a given!) because of how challenging dn's behaviour is becoming generally. I love my in laws very much and am terrified of getting it wrong and inadvertently offending them.

If anyone knows if i can do anything beyond "mmhmm" and having dnephew to stay in the holidays, please let me know. Oh, and I'd happily have dniece but she doesn't settle here, whereas dnephew sees it as a big treat. Not favouritism towards the nt child, or not intentionally.

Every one seems to have had a bit of a wobbly week, hope it all improves soon for you all, and Moose, the lack of communication there sounds awful, not to mention exhausting having to chase everything up and get it done yourself :(

Welcome Bigsnuggle :)

Congrats on little Zzzzz with the dressing and Speech improvements, sorry that the week has been difficult for you though, here .

Strange week here, ds had an astronomical meltdown when we were shopping at the beginning of the week, all the other customers seemed to be enjoying the show though as I tried to calm him down, but by then he had disentergrated into a high pitched squeel :/

He has, however, surprised me by having an excellent start to the new year, spent two days worrying over nothing it seems and has been a very pleasant boy for the last half of the week

Still, can't wait for 7'o'clock so I can crack open a bottle :)

Well we have had the aquarium water tested and thank goodness, we are allowed to buy the proomised fish. Going to collect ds and go off to get some. Exciting!
Glad the wobbly week is now over for everyone!

Star. at your dd.

Omg, I'm in pieces, glued to the window for a sign of Ds' taxi!!!

Fish!!!!!!

I'll think about serene fish swimming in nots fish tank!

Phew, he's back. Doesn't look especially stressed but asked to play with the tape measure.

One of the secondary girls in the taxi who he sat next to on the way and introduced herself yesterday seems to have taken him under her wing. She even fitted him into his booster seat as the taxi driver didn't appear to know how to do it thi morning

Was just coming along to hand hold for Mini Star's return, but have arrived too late.

Glad he's home safe. at driver not being able to do the booster seat though.

Well, I got a message to call the centre ds is going to next week about his dietary requirements. They're going to do a special menu just for him, rather than trying to adapt the main one to be veggie, coeliac, sensory and we've agreed on the contents of a food parcel I can send with him. Took the opportunity to go through his physical problems with them as well and am now feeling much happier about him going. I did think about calling them myself, but am walking the whole - pushy parent at the beginning of the school year - line at the moment.

not ds1 is after a fish tank. He has wanted one for years and we currently have a deal that he has to read all the books we've bought him about it and learn how to look after them properly and then we will discuss getting him a small starter tank, probably when he's a couple of years older. I love watching fish myself, but really don't fancy all the upkeep and tank cleaning etc.

I'm especially cheered by what I found in Ds' book bag though. I made a suggestion for a communication system I wanted to work with the school and showed them the design last year. Despite him having moved out of the nurture unti, with new CT, new therapists, new bags etc. - There it was, all filled in perfectly.

None of this 'well we need half a term for Ds to settle in, then it will be the run up to Christmas, let's review your suggestions in Jan, but not in the first few weeks as coming back from Christmas etc. bollocks that I always got in previous ms settings.

Hello everyone. This was an early start, wasn't it? Glad to meet new posters who like gin, you'll fit right in!

I may pop back later to chat, decided to take the boys out for tea as a treat with my Chiquitos vouchers. It's been a pretty non eventful start to the school year. All have settled in well. DS2 has gone down a set in science but up a set in English and in humanities so swings and roundabouts. Off now for fajitas.

Enjoy Chiquitos Ellen!. Their food is far superior to that other Mexican chain Chimichanga.

Hope the start of the year is going well for you all. Its okay here thus far touch wood.

Roll on half term!.

I've been in logistical nightmare.

DD1 - Special School 10 miles away. Taxi collects, but new driver, and new escort.

DD2 - Infant School just over 0.6 mile away.

DD3 - 0.1 mile away on foot/0.2 mile by car.

DH - MOT failed, so 5.0 miles away.

The escort and driver are new, so decided they could drop DD1 last on the way home. No problem. But one of the other parents, whose child would be dropped before DD1 can't be home before 4pm. So, they decided that DD1 can be either 1st or 3rd.

I'm having a polite stand off with them, by making them wait for me outside the house.

My afternoon routine:

DD3 pick up is 3pm. I actually collect at 2.55pm because I have to drive to the infant school.

DD2 pick up 3.10pm. Walk from car to school, then wait until gates open, then wait outside classroom until children emerge, then rally DD2 and DD3 to the car.

DH - drive from the infant school to the Junior school (just over 10 minutes) to get him there for his start time of 3.30pm (essential, as he crosses children over a main road to get the school transport because the school is so rural).

Drive back home.

DD1's home time is 3.25/3.30 if they drop her early, or 4.10pm if late.

I have told them I simply cannot be home before 3.30pm. Last year there were the same children on the same route, and she was dropped last, or if she convinced them to drop her first, they would see if I was home, and if not say 'sorry DD1, can't do it today'.

Today, DD2 was first out the door, but had forgotten her water bottle. So she had to swim against the tide to go back inside and get it, then I had to march her to the car, just got to DH's school at 3.29, and when I got back the bus was there blocking my driveway.

I'm simply not prepared to drive DH to work an hour early because the bus driver is using DD1 as a 'time-filler' to accomodate another parent. The previous driver used to manage to drop off all the children so all the parents were happy.

Oh, hello

Yay for chiquitos!
So glad star's ds has a lovely kind girl to take care of him enroute.
Moosemama - lovely to get a call you didn have to chase.

A less than tranquil start to ds fish. Smallest ds picked up a massive castle, staggered to he till and droPped it. Cue an extra 25 quid for fish. Almost cried. Esp.with asd ds wittering on about keeping it if we paid etc etc. Off to share star's wine.......

Both girls started new schools yesterday. Dd1 started her private school and had a few wobbles but seems happy enough.
Dd2 had a short visit yesterday but I got a call before lunch to pick her up as she was sick
I'm shattered and so are the girls.

Lougle, that does indeed sound like a nightmare. - now you've finished your taxi driving duties for the evening?

Not, yes - at least the activity centre seem to be on the ball. I thought they would be. They're long established and very highly recommended. Sorry about the castle.

Lisa, was dd2 actually sick? Is she poorly or do you think it was stress/anxiety?

My dd just gave me an 'aw' moment. She came and gave me a big hug and said "Mummy, I love your smell" - cue Moose's heart melting. If I didn't know better I'd think she was after one of the chocolate brownies she knows I bakes for her nursery teachers yesterday. If I'm honest with myself I know she was really referring to my perfume, but still .... aw.

Hi, I've not opened the wine yet, waiting on ex (well ex's grandparents as heaven forbid he'd take responsibility for his son!) to pick up DS and then I've got the night off, but I'll join you all with a bottle of coca cola.

starlight I think kids specialise in dropping you in it, when I had to go to DS's school once to pick him up as he'd been hitting, I had to go to the office for a meeting with HD, senco and DS. I said to him "now DS you know you don't ever hit", to which he replied "but mum you hit me last night!"

I didnt, I don't smack DS and told him this (after id picked my jaw up from the floor), and replied "ofcourse I didn't DS, it's not nice to make things up", but then he continued to argue that I did, as the hd and senco looked at each other and started writing notes!

That should say ht - head teacher... And I've not even started on the wine yet!

Boys home, and in a great mood thank goodness!

Oh Lougle, that sounds exhausting!

Yes, - yay for 14yr old girls with SN!

Sorry about the broken castle not. Did they really make you pay for it in full?

I know ped. I think I was protected from embarrassment by my anxiety about Ds. I was a bit 'my dd just told her teacher her daddy locks her in rooms on her own, but never mind coz I got bigger worries'! I suppose I'm a little bit concerned as we have had SS allegations before but tbh the teachers didn't especially look bothered, so maybe they themselves lock children up......