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So how are the holidays going so far?

67 replies

magso · 24/07/2008 17:56

Ds broke up from school tueday lunch time, but had 2 strike days off last week too ( + sports day and end of term meetings etc), so it feels like the holidays started last week. I had a lot of things lined up but feel like I'm flagging already! I was hoping ds ( who is very flitty and lost without school) would be able to entertain himself for longer this year (the odd minute or so!). Hows it going for everyone else?

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tibni · 27/07/2008 20:20

Bubble bath, shower gel and liquid soap seem to be ds mess method at the moment. Its amazing how he can sniff out the hidden stash.

So far he has cut his foot (climbing, no shoes on) and got his finger stuck in the hole in the middle of his beloved DVD!

On a positive note he has tried melon (food issues so new foods are a big thing here) and he is using language to request / dictate what he wants and where he wants to go (another breakthrough).

BriocheDoree · 27/07/2008 21:16

yep, sudocreme a favourite for us too...DD rubs it on her face (like mummy does with moisturizer...so at least she's imitating) but then realises she can't get it off and rubs it EVERYWHERE trying to get the stuff off her hands. Keep finding new hiding places and usually can't find it when poor DS has a sore bottom when he's teething!
On the plus side just got back from a lovely week in the Alps but it's back down to earth with a bump tomorrow as DH is back at work. At least we've got no appointments next week and DD doesn't have to wake up early to get to school (not a mornings person, unlike DS!)

Tclanger · 27/07/2008 21:28

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Seuss · 27/07/2008 21:40

Caught ds spray-painting the walls with deodrant the other day. We are braving the cinema tomorrow - wish us luck! (Tell me there's no Kung Fu in Wall-e?)

magso · 27/07/2008 23:10

Yep Ds had a thing for sudecrem smearing (better than his previous preferred medium!) but now it 'magic potion' made from whatever he can lay his hands on (juice and shower gel are his current favorites!)Wet soggy toilet paper is also a favorite ingredient but not yet on the ceiling TC! However that advert for upsidedown sunspay has a lot to answer for!!
Did you get the finger out the DVD Tibni? I usually fing hand above the head works to release stuck fingers!

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ouryve · 28/07/2008 19:02

Our TV speakers have sudocrem stuck in all the little holes. It's been there a few years and simply will no shift. I went at it with a sewing needle, but it just sticks to itself so well.

The screen also has a couple of small hairline cracks in it, but that's another story involving anything even vaguely resembling a hammer now being banned. We're putting off replacing it with an LCD TV for as long as possible.

jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 28/07/2008 19:24

Awful today. DS2 went to a friend's to play. DS3 screamed for 2 hours because ds2 hadn't said goodbye to him properly then when he stopped ds1 started. We went to B&Q and ds1 has pinched me repeatedly adding bruises on top of already present bruises. He has worked out that if he pinches the hand I am using to hold him I can't let go/move my hand away. But I don't say 'no' or 'hands down' or 'stop' which he likes

My Mum has them tomorrow. I'm off to work (phew).

magso · 28/07/2008 20:06

JJ that sounds painful!

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Graciefer · 28/07/2008 20:08

Day 2 (or is that day 4 included the weekend?) of the holidays here, has been ok thus far, only a few a small amount of grey hairs added to my hair/DH's beard so far.

Took DS2 to hospital for several bloodtests today whilst DH had DS1 at home, came home to the great news that neither the pc monitor, sofa, several items of furniture, walls and carpets in the lounge, hallway and dining room are no longer at risk from sunburn, as they have all had a good coating with factor 30, curtiousy of DS1.

We have finally moved our make-do bedroom from the dining room (although not back into our bedroom, we have decided a 6 month stop over in DS2's bedroom is in order first, grrr DIY), so this means DS1 now has his playroom and most importantly his trampoline back.

I think this is going to take quite a lot of pressure off of us, good thing really as direct payments telephoned today to tell me they are coming here for us to sign contracts next Monday, which for all intents and purposes will probably mean that we will not be in a position to use them until 2 or more likely 3 weeks into the 6 week holiday.

DH is also threatening to ban DS1 from the garden if DS1 persists in removing all the gravel from DH's beloved pot/container plants and taking it to his bedroom.

I shouldn't laugh really but the stairs where like a scene from Hanzel & Gretal yesterday, with little pebbles leading to DS1's bedroom.

There was a pile of gravel in the middle of his room, goodness knows how he managed to sneak it past me and DH as he must of made at least 6 trips (perhaps a modern day Fagin type career awaits for me).

Not really doing our part for the environment, with at least 1 yellow pages/phone book getting trashed per night in DS1's room, DH did hang out 3 lines of washing today, so theres my offset.

Fingers crossed this is as eventful as the holidays get.

jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 28/07/2008 20:14

Oh graciefer we must get together. You are welcome here anytime. We have lots of locks on doors, high fencing and a trampoline.

My holidays have just got better. I have texted ds1's old nursery key worker- she is lovely and has looked after all 3 of my boys at some stage or another. She has holiday booked next week but has said she'll come and work for me instead. DH says I am looking 'much happier'

Graciefer · 28/07/2008 20:18

Sphil, I hope DS1 is feeling better and you have got some rest.

Ouch JJ, that sounds really painful, did DS1 enjoy the playscheme?

ouryve, ditto on the speaker hole thingie, our tv speakers have what I hope is chocolate in them (haven't dared the sniff test), I have tried to remove it several times to no avail.

I can also relate to the tv bashing, there is definately something to be said for the good old CRT type tellys!

Graciefer · 28/07/2008 20:23

Crossed posted JJ, will definately try to arrange something over the holidays, will e-mail next week or something, when we are summer holiday acclimatised.

Graciefer · 28/07/2008 20:23

Crossed posted JJ, will definately try to arrange something over the holidays, will e-mail next week or something, when we are summer holiday acclimatised.

jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 28/07/2008 20:31

Excellent. I know what you mean. I feel like a rabbit caught in the headlights at the moment.

Seuss · 28/07/2008 20:44

We were doing so well today. Successful trip to the cinema, successful play in paddling pool, uneventful meal-times. I even had time to tidy up before being invaded by family tommorrow, which I think is where it started to go wrong. I was multi-tasking by running their bath and putting washing away whilst children were frolicking gaily around me - or so I thought. Just as I put them in the bath my parents turned up and they were holding our patio lamp which they had found in the drive - apparently having been flung from upstairs window. I breathed deeply and was just getting into the hairwashing when I slipped and whacked my hip on the bath and clunked dd on the head with my chin. Again, I breathed deeply and was just finishing off when dh shouts from garden (where he is doing a diy 'project') 'who's thrown a b*y glass out of the window'...I have dispatched dh to buy booze for tommorrows family do, whether any will be left by morning depends on how well ds1 goes to bed...wish me luck! Sorry - had to get that off my chest!

Saker · 28/07/2008 23:06

Finding it quite hard. Ds1 who is NT is very demanding because he gets easily bored and has tons of energy - he wants someone to play football with, or he wants to undertake loads of elaborate craft activities or make a short animated film! I had him booked to do hockey and table tennis today at the local leisure centre and both sessions were cancelled because of lack of interest. Ds2 also wants a lot of attention. He is enjoying painting and crafts and things quite a bit now, but it is like a very young toddler doing it and he needs constant supervision and help. He also wants me to play with him but his play/organisational skills are not up to his ideas - so he says stuff like "Let's play shoes" or "Let's play porridge" but he doesn't really have a clear idea of what that actually means. I can cope fine with either child by themselves (although DS2 can be a handful) but together they are difficult because they both want such different things. They play together a small bit but I can't help resenting all the siblings who are entertaining each other at this time of year or who can at least participate in the same activity at the same time.

Plus I'm constantly feeling that I should be doing more for both of them, especially Ds2 who needs so much input into everything. Guilt trips everyday.

Arabica · 29/07/2008 00:12

DD being lovely so long as she is outside as all she wants to do is push a doll's buggy around. If indoors she likes pulling all the newspapers off the sofa, which is hardly in the sunblocked-television league. DS, 7 and NT, a whingeing nightmare. Have lots of activities planned.

Arabica · 29/07/2008 00:14

...sorry posted too soon, that should have read, have lots of activities planned for DS to do so that he doesn't get a chance to be bored.

deeeja · 31/07/2008 09:31

Today my 5 year old ds has been manically lining up anything that is not stuck down all day. He has even lined up the clothes pegs. Dh is at home and is impressed with the tidiness , but no-one is allowed to touch anything. I have run away upstairs leaving dh with autistic 3 year old and 20month old crazy one watching Thomas. 5 year old is manically organising kitchen cupboards. It is spooky. The rest of the day will now involve tantrums when everything is inevitably moved out of place again. I am shattered and was up last night when 5 year odl and 3 year old kept getting up all night, and then this morning had to clean up fox poo (bleugh) from the garden so kids can play in it. I have had 1 and a half hours sleep, and have had mini-row with dh about the fox poo and cleaning it, and why it should be done. Stress from lack of sleep, I think most likely. The washing machine has broken down.
Today is going to another mad mad mad day. I may as well brace myself....

ByTheSea · 31/07/2008 09:48

DS2 was out of control yesterday. He threw things at me and trashed the living room and hallway and was oppositional about everything all day long. He really finds the holidays hard and needs more structure. I hope today will be better.

magso · 31/07/2008 11:26

By the sea - I hope you have a better day, and Deeja a better night!
Ds came home from his sn session and said, Mummy! You haven't cleared up my bedroom! ( thats because it is a pointless task - ds will only tip it all back out again to find one toy!) I do have a cunning plan! I collected up some toy catalogues and will give ds the job of finding pictures to be labels for his toy crates! Doubt it will make any difference - but it might keep him busy. Ds has a very unusual sense of order. Could do with some help from yours Deeeja.
Also had upset with DH over mess -the bedding was still on the line when he wanted to go to bed! Will try to do better today!

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BriocheDoree · 31/07/2008 12:41

DD driving me mad today, tho' not really her fault. Just that I'm trying to talk to DS (only 1) and every time I point something out, e.g. "Look DS, there's an aeroplane", DD starts off "not aeroplane, not aeroplane, OK, OK, not aeroplane..." DH never home before 9 p.m. at the moment either so makes a long day with no conversation beyond "ba" (DS) and "juice" (DD).

ancientmiddleagedmum · 31/07/2008 12:48

One week in and it's chicken pox for my autistic DS, builders in the garden so we can't get out, it's 80 degrees in here and I can't take him to the playground cos he's covered in spots and the yummy mummies would freak out. There have been quite a lot of swear words coming from this ancient old mum's mouth!

Tclanger · 31/07/2008 14:37

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jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 31/07/2008 20:04

My back has sodding gone!