We're AVIDly buying Agnes, Anya & Ash (all very WISE buys!)

[OllieinOrange]

Time for a new thread.....

Bloss, I am indeed a bag hag! Actually, I don't have that many. Will you be teaching French or Spanish, or both?

I need to order DD1's uniform. How many cardigans should I order? She is a messy child and will be going 5 mornings. 2 or 3?

carciofi Maybe three cardis so you don't have to stress about laundry? Can't see the bag in your link but I'm sure it is gorgeous and fit for a bag-queen like you . Can you take it easy today and do something nice for yourself, DD1 and snuffly baby? Maybe all of you have a long nap after lunch?

morag That skirt would totally be OTT for any events I am attending nowadays so I think I'll give it a miss. Sometimes I like to choose clothes for an imaginary glam life where I am ten years younger.

Fritzi, unfortunately (for me!) DD1 has not napped for over a year. Coffee and playground, maybe. Thanks, 3 sounds like a good number. It is this bag, it is half price on go-british.

Was just about to order the pink Nicole Farhi top when I noticed it is linen and handwash only, not for me, in that case.

Fritzi, I do the same. Or I buy things I used to wear to work (i.e., that need ironing!).

Carciofi - get 3 cardies. They get dirty.....and lost (even when you iron tags into them...) More is definitely better!

Sorry to post and run. Life very frantic at the moment - about hal is fun and the rest nose to the grindstone stuff, so could be a lot worse

Gorgeous day here, which helps!

Lovely bag Carciofi and good call on the top front. Hope coffee does the trick! 3 cardis for sure.

MrsJ aargh, how annoying. Hope all was remedied quite quickly.

Annie your DD's sounds adorable. Hope being busy makes the working week fly by.

I really like the name Harper, not for one of mine, but I'm quite taken with it. Seven I'm not too sure about. A friend of mine named her son, who was born at the same time as DD, Seven. Am not sure what she'll make of these new developments..!

Apuski gorgeous, gorgeous dress. Good luck for the interview. What news on house developments?

Fleecy have a lovely rest of holiday; sounds idyllic.

My Mum has finally stepped up and taken DS out to the bank with her. He's really wound up by all these new arrivals to the house and she has a habit of telling him off for ridiculous things (ie not using his serviette correctly at mealtimes. HE'S 2.8 FFS) and he's really playing up. Poor guy. DDs front teeth coming and she's majorly wound up. Two more relatives arriving tomorrow. I'm just about coping, but if my sister rings one more bloody time to ask me to make sure there's enough confetti, I may scream.

morning all

red sending you a coffee!

carciofi go for 3 if you can - makes life easier. My DD2 is constantly losing bits of uniform (despite me endlessly sewing on name tapes!)

Have posted separately about what to wear for a driving day if anyone can help - especially with tops (jacket? - I have nothing suitable!)

Red, when is your Sister's wedding? You are doing an amazing hostessing job. You are obviously a very chilled out and laid back person. It's hard on the DC when their routine is suddenly changed, isn't it. You've got a difficult few weeks ahead of you what with the move and all but come September it will all have been worth it as the 4 of you embark on your new adventure. Keep smiling .

Obviously overly-emotional as your post made me tear up a little Pickled. Thank you; very kind, supportive words.

The wedding is on Saturday and we head down to the venue on Thursday morning to get everything ready (DH cannot wait!). The move is pushed to the back of my head atm, but my anxieties about it are certainly making everything going on now seem more ordeal-ish than it maybe is.

Legs comment lovely and just what I needed - my cousins, sisters and I are locked into this ridiculous thing to do weight/size/looks as my Grandmother was very, very odd about it all when we were growing up and together as a family. As a result, have been feeling a little scrutinised.

Onwards and upwards.

Just lost a long post..
pickled, lovely post to red
red, get through each hour, breathing deeply, and when dh is finished, delegate all to him!
There was a rant about boyfriend jeans with buttons on the calf for rolling up. Everyone has them round here!
Went to the childminders house this morning. Really happy with the set up.
DS sent home from school as poorly. Some calpol, toast and honey later, he is right as rain. My quiet afternoon is shattered though!
carciofi, French in school and A level Spanish in the college, to 5 schools, via video link.

Hi Red, sounds like you're doing an amazing job with everything. Hope the people around you can help you a little more - just tell them what you want them to do! DH and I drove past your soon-to-be-street on Saturday as we had a whistle-stop tour of areas to narrow down our options. I think we're going to wait and see what happens with selling the house before seriously looking for a house to rent but I'm keeping an eye out in case something perfect comes up.

Bloss, I would love to spend a day round your way just for the people-watching opportunities!

Sending NY and Annie extra dollops of energy to get through their busy spell!

I've just got back from lunch at a neighbours, with a few children DS1's age around. Poor DS1 has had his first taste of a peer being deliberately mean to him - being called smellypants and encouraging the others to hide from him. He was so bewildered about why anyone would be like that, and putting on his 'brave' face when he doesn't want to cry. Breaks my heart, I guess I can't protect him from everything but it's very hard!

Oh apuski, how awful for both of you. It seems to be a rite of passage though.
Lol at people watching round here. I am at swimming and it's mostly the bf jeans and hoodies. And hair scraped back.

apuski Boo-hiss to mean children . It is so heartbreaking but I fear it will get worse the older they get.

red Sending you strength! Deep breaths...

emo Have to check out your thread as I'm not sure what a driving day outfit is . Sitting in the car all day driving? Or am I missing something?

Any tips for calming down DD at bedtime? She doesn't cooperate with anything and it is driving me MAAAAD!!!! Just snapped at DH too who came home late despite promising her to be home early. I think we all need a holiday. Until then I'll need a glass of Prosecco.

annie Your relationship with your DDs always sounds so perfect. Please tell me they misbehave sometimes and you get snappy with them too. I feel like I don't appreciate DD and DH enough.

bloss I am surprised your dad got a tan from holidaying over here but I am glad your parents had a good time. Great you found a childminder you are happy with!

carciofi Fantastic bag!

Where are looby, zembo and verity???

annie I didn't mean to critize or upset you with my comment. All I wanted to say really is that you always seem so appreciative of what you have despite your DH being away and pressure at your job. I am just so frustrated with so many things in my life...

I think we are all human - it is so easy to think others have the perfect relationship/life but the reality is that most people spend parts of their life being unhappy and it is completely normal. Always good to strive for happiness though :)

fritzi it is a "track" day - so driving various cars at very high speeds around a track. No doubt will bring out the worst competitive behaviour of the otherwise all male group!

apuski awwww that's rotten - did the other mothers hear what was going on? If they did I hope they stepped in. I used to say to DD1 when something like that happened that the other child wouldn't make friends if they behaved like that, would they? and didn't DD have some nice other friends...

Annie and Fritzi, appeciating those whom we love and taking pleasure in the little things should be on our 'to do' list every day, don't you think ?

Every now and then DH and I have to make a determined effort to 'be nice to each other'. It's all too easy to take each other for granted.

Fritzi, I'm sorry that you are feeling frustrated. For me, overcoming my frustration is all about regaining control in my 'sphere'. Sometimes that might mean a heart to heart with DH (where I try v. hard not to critisize him), a period of self indulgence (where he is left 'holding the baby') or a frenzy of internet activity (looking for support/inspiration). What things could you do to help you get back in control? Oftertimes the decisions that we make can seem to be shrinking rather than expanding our horizons. If that is the case, a little creativity is called for .

Back later for some more light hearted chat.

Everything still one million miles an hour here!

The sainted Mothers Help is on holiday in Crete (how very dare she?!) 5th birthday party on Saturday. Travelling to DHs graduation on Thursday so having to rearrange work meetings/find additional childcare for DD.

Fully subscribe to the 'occasionally shouty/shrieky mother' school of household management here. I am trying to work on it - and DD is usually a happy little thing, so I don't think my ccasional bellowing has a damaging/lasting impact (fingers crossed...) I do try and apologise to her if I think I have lost my temper due to tiredness/work pressures, as that is blatantly not her fault.

Apuski - that is such a shame. I have encountered similar - and also, much to my mortification, caught DD being quite nasty to another child. I think they all have it in them TBH, although at 4/5/6 I think girls can be worse than boys.

Ordered and tried on a dress last night that was quite revolting, so that is going straight back. Have kept a bargainous cross body brown leather handbag though - £22! Can't link because of stupid work internet -was from Very.

Sorry to hear your woes fritzi. Would a burst of shredding help in the short term?
I feel unstimulated at home and sometimes wonder why I thought I would enjoy being sahm, or sometimes why I had dcs at all. They will be much better off with a child minder who has chosen that career path with a mother who is fulfilled and challenged, able to plan for jaunts to Paris or New York (okay I may be dreaming on that point!)

I am eagerly awaiting my NaP order and working my way through a French grammar book while dd plays. Professional development I think they call it. Which is what my Paris trip would be too !

Morning all

apuski I think emo has hit the nail on the head here; it is something that many kids do at some point, and what you hope is that the parent or carer they are with does something about it. I couldn't begin to count the number of playdates I've some away from where one of my DSs has been "picked on". But I find it such a help if the other parents are noticing it and trying to intervene.

bloss, fritzi and others, IMHO there would be something wrong with us if we didn't wonder whether we'd made the right decision to about staying at home/going out to work/juggling the two. Isn't it a perfectly natural "is the grass greener?" thing? And I really do believe that a bit of self-doubt is what makes up better at what we do, even if it doesn't feel like that every minute of evey day.

Remind me how old your DD is fritzi? Is she old enough for you to "put her in charge" of bath/bed time? She could run the bath, put in the bubbles, say when it's time to get out, read stories to you/teddy. I've done this with DS 1 & 2 at different times and they do enjoy the feeling that they have some control. Just a thought.

Hi all
Back from NYC and somewhat embarrassed by my overexuberant posting. Really, it was very exciting and I thoroughly recommend it as a holiday getaway (imaginary or otherwise!) as for the A&W it is reallly both avid and wise, as so many of our faves are so much cheaper.

I almost finished a long post yesterday when my leechblock (anti-procrastination device) shut down my internet access. Thank god for leechblock and productivity but it was annoying!

MRsJ and WAN many congrats. Apuski I agree completely with AB0. Red it sounds like you are coping remarkably well, but it is especially irritating to have annoying FAMILY stay - they should be helpful, and I find it very grating. Annoying houseguests who aren't related don't seem to have the same capacity to push your buttons, either. Hope it continues relatively smoothly.

Annie, NY, and others on the Shouty Mummy front: my lovely nanny (who is very wise and we are her 5th family!) points out that we were all shouted at and have come through unscathed, and sometimes kids need to hear shouting and then see that you love them anyway. And it's impossible not to!

And also pretty much every relationship counsellor in the world will say that arguing in front of your kids is a) inevitable but b) if you keep it respectful (even if you are shouting, no namecalling etc) and show them how to resolve it afterwards it's an important life lesson. I have to say that my DH is an exemplar of never having seen constructive arguing and has had to be trained extensively in this matter :)

Further to the Missing Imaginary Friends, what about Hells, Roma, and Bonsoir?