We May Be Crepey.......

[CointreauVersial]

.....but we are still Stylish (if not Beautiful).

old thanks its all ok, I can see that for the supportive gossip! But thought you all seemed nice, I'd stay anyhoos...I've never been a prolific poster..had a bit of spell on fly threads a few years back.

Thanks for all approvals, I've spent ages lurking on threads then surfing for stuff that I like and nods in the right direction. I can only describe this as a loss of fashion sense re weight/body image, being postnatal and err nearing a certain age.

The school gates, I have never really cared that much I have dropped off with hair wet and pink shiny face to being daytimey dolled up for lunch. But basically thought I'd made nice friends through reception and year 1, but realised one person seemed to leave me out and also turned out to be the person I'd looked up to. I felt quite hurt, so I guess I just want to go dressed nice but certainly not overdone just to bolster my confidence really, I'd love to casually sweep in and sweep out with my usual light make up.

I was ruffled a bit after the frumpy thread too!
Right gearing up to make purchases, well one thing at least.

Will take time to look for kankle coverers and a coverall coat! Thanks so much

prissy mc try hards yes I've definitely seen fifty shades of judges bitch
large glasses ooooo I know that's considered controversial at my school gate fest, I've heard negative comment about two ladies who wear em even in the dimmest of sunny days!

Maybe I need a good talking too, not new clothes!

May I offer you the British expat wives at the school gate, none of whom work, who spend their entire day at coffee mornings, playing tennis or getting their hair and nails done, and bitching about the school. I was the only working mother in the whole primary school, apart from one of the teachers and they either a) bitched about me to my face "Why did you have children to give them to a succession of Filippinas to bring up?" "Do you regret not marrying someone who could support you?" - hello 195os! b) bitched about me behind my back or c) ignored me. The non-Brits were much better behaved. Two of the Mums were having a lesbian love in, and thought no-one noticed.

Don't do school gate any more, as they go on the bus, and no more Brit expat mothers, as they're at an American school. The American mothers are all normal - jeans and T shirts or shirts, no competitive dressing up, and lamenting the fact they cannot work due to visa issues. And of course, they luuuurve my accent.

At UK primary school the Mums were faabulous. They used to go round to someone's house for coffee and a spliff which would turn into pizza and wine for lunch, after which they would float back to the school for pick up.

Oh my mrs I'd like the pizza and wine though! You've had to adapt a few times. Snooty glasses and big bulky coat are looking good at the mo.

Seriously thanks for the perspective, I've had a txt to meet one the school mums who isn't part of clique, much more normal. I still feel like I'm growing up. Right off to shower kids have been fed n dressed again.

My week is going utterly pearshaped with DH away. I have the logistical nightmare of Parents Evening on Wednesday (this is where we meet the teachers and learn what the little dears will be doing this year). This would not normally be a problem, as I could leave the DDs at home for a couple of hours alone, but DD1 has been asked to give a presentation (this is a huge honour - only four children have been selected). I can't leave DD2 alone, and our regular babysitter can't do Wednesday. I have a friend who can have DD2 from 6.30, but this doesn't give us enough time to get the train out to the school to be there for 7.15. I have asked DD2's friend's Mum if she can have a sleepover there, but if she says no, I don't know what to do. Aaargh!

Oh mrs s I feel your frustration.
I'd hate having to cope with all that this week. Hope you can get ds sorted out.
The eBay bidder who left it a week to cough up has finally paid me.
Biatch! What's with waiting a week FGS . Do you want my beautiful wares or not???
In a small miracle a customer told me I was lovely and helpful today and how polite I was.( this in spite if not sleeping a wink last night as was too hot)
Gold star to me. Ha!

It is A Good Day

I got Very Cross today and took the fuse out of the TV. Right now, I am revelling in the power that I seem to have. Dd is grovelling because she has a programme she really wants to watch at 9pm. Bwahahahaha.

I am vaguely worried that my lickle furry baby, aka The Dog, is going senile. Today he dug up a mouse's nest, but instead of dispatching the contents (a bunch of babies) which would be his normal MO, he carefully picked 2 of them up and then brought them to me. He placed them gently at my feet and then gave them a loving lick (the mice, not my feet). The mice were soggy but unharmed. However as they were only titchy babies I do not rate their chances of survival. I stuffed them back in their roofless nest and hope their parents will come back. Or maybe something will come and do a mercy killing in the night. I am a bit weedy about such things.

That probably doesn't belong on an S&B thread, does it?

MrsS, I am sorry that things are stressful this week. I hope the sleepover for your dd2 will work out.

Yes! Sleepover is happening! Yay! So on Wednesday I have 3 hours training, from 1.30 to 4.30. I then have a meeting from 4.30 to 5.30 which will over run because it will be stuffed full of men who like the sound of their own voices. DD1 will get home for 4.30, poke something to eat in her face, and then go to St Lazare to meet me for 6.00. I will run up the road to St Laz with a red and sweaty face and we will throw ourselves on the train as it is about to leave, arriving at school for 6.45. Job done. The home straight afterwards to arrive around 9.30 post presentation.

Tomorrow I will have to go through the 150 applications for the job of my assistant and shortlist 5 (max) to interview. Ooof.

Oh god mouse babies. baby animals of any kind make my eyes leek. I am hopelessly mushy on the inside . And your doggy too- q odd behaviour innit? Sweet though in many ways

Sorry if I sounded smug in my last post. I am very unused to any form
Of appreciation in my job. Usual conversations consist of either rage or outrage.

Crem, you didn't sound smug in the slightest. Appreciation should always be appreciated.

MrsS, I do not like the sound of your Wednesday. I hope everything goes more smoothly than you anticipate. I also hope you find a supremely helpful and efficient assistant.

I am beginning to think I am truly an unfit parent. As I feared, the new and improved dd lasted about 24 hours post-holiday. We are now at each other's throats again and she seems intent on completely trampling on me at every opportunity. Whenever I go out of my way to do something for her (which is pretty damn often), she is sweetness and light for about 30 minutes and then kicks off again about some other "dreadful" thing in her life. Her latest wheeze is to storm out of the house as soon as you cross her (by asking her to do something very minor for you, for instance) or follow you round the house ranting at you. She is reminding me far too strongly of her late father, which is a very bad thing. I do not know how to deal with it as it makes me feel like my home is somewhere I would rather not be. I am rather glum.

Oh dear, Ruby, sorry to hear that.

Still, I do take a bit of comfort from knowing I am not alone. Ho hum.

hearing about these teenagers is a bit scarey. I hope your dd settles down soon stropella I must admit we are very weak with tv and screen time access, everyone has there own electronics, I would have to v v v losing it to take fuse out of tv I make sure we read and gym regular so I'm ok with it all......I know how to take away controllers though.

mrsS nice one, sometimes the mums just have to stick together and help one another, I find ime personally and those I know it's always us mums having to organise everyone sorry if I'm doing anyone's DH a disservice.

Yuk to the mice, I have beetle things in my porch they don't seem that bad now, I confess I Hoover the, up if I catch them.

Strops and rubes. I feel for you as I have been through this with dd aged between 13-15. Can I offer any reassurance at all that it will pass and the demon vampire loon that now inhabits your children will eventually move out and you will have your lovely kids back again.
Dd now 17 gave me such hell for years but she has reached the other side .
I have no real advice except to pick your battles. Strength and patience in equal measure and believe you are doing your best for them.
Dd also lost both her natural parents at a young age( I am her adoptive auntie mum)
We have had some dark days stropps and she would not share anything with me.
It did help to get her some short term counselling ( if your dd could stomach it) with Cruse. my dd now volunteers for Cruse young advisors team and they have v good peer counselling groups - overseen by brilliant adult team.
X thinking if you

Ruby and strops re your losses, sorry my last post seems insensitive now.

Btw dd has sacrificed 3 mobile phones to the septic tank when I have lost my rag completely

Post like crems ^ make me smile, it's what's great about mn

"demon vampire loon" - ohyesohyes, I am recognizing that description.
I am trying to pick my battles, but given that we have a lot on our plate one way and another at the moment, I am short on both strength and more especially patience. Dd refuses to countenance the idea of counselling, although Camhs have said she meets their criteria we have not heard anything further from them and she says she won't go anyway.

Living, no worries, I didn't see anything insensitive at all about yr post.

Ruby, we currently have the wireless access switched off as well :)

Oh, I'm glad you said!

Would cahms do a visit to try and break the ice? Is there a counselled at school, most schools have one even if they are not based there.

Dd has refused to have anything to do with the school counsellor. They offered her appointments last term, but she didn't keep them.

Difficult for you, I'm sorry I don't have any further advice. I hope you are ok and have support

www.winstonswish.org.uk/foryoungpeople/default.asp?section=000100010001&pagetitle=Young+People
Good resource here. Dd would not countenance counselling either for ages and naturally your situation is vv different.
Maybe show her the website and see if she's interested.
Courage to both if you Stropps