Crepeys in the Long Grass of Life

[CointreauVersial]

Thanks Beachy for the frisky title suggestion.

Well, here we all are!

Appalled and saddened by this herbs. Are there significant cultural pressures on this woman?

None at all. He's just a bit of an alpha male, and she's oddly hung up on creating the 'perfect' family.

those poor poor girls Herbs, always being 'second best'

MI - DD1 done good :)

Here I am seething due to gross incompetence....

I know. Oddly, the dad treats DD1 like a princess, getting her hot chocolate in the middle of the night, for example, but pretty much ignored DD2 for the first year of her life. They are also the only people I know who use smacking as a formal method of discipline. But only the dad does the smacking.

PAGING DR FREUD.

That's so sad, Herbs. I have two friends with three girls who are the 'easiest ' families I know. Their girls are all so different, but muddle along together well.

Rudy, we had an excellent Country Cousin or Universal Aunt, who lived with ddad after his operation last summer for a month. We were in and out the whole time, but it took the worry out of him being on his own. She had a car and took him on outings, shopping etc. It worked well.

DP's dad really wanted a girl. Had four (4, iv) boys.

MI, you must be the special DIL then - having produced two girls?

Sadly, DP's dad died about 10 years before I met him.

His mum was dead chuffed but mostly went on about how much DD1 looked like her. (When she wasn't going on about my geriatric courage in defying all gynaecological odds in reproducing at such a death-defying age. Well, not in so many words but you get my drift.) She was an admirable woman in a hell of a lot of ways, mind. (Though I got the distinct impression she also thought I was a huge great heifer.)

God the MIL relationship is difficult to get right, on both sides.

There is a element of drama llama itis happening on this holiday and it is not from One Of the Children.....

Drama llama Beachy?! ;)

Tell us more....

Oh MI, that is exactly what my MIL said when DD was born. Everyone else thought/thinks she looks like me (actually her face-shape is DH's) whilst she said DS looked/looks like me (well, he has my nose and thick hair!) but he was the spit of DH

Could it be a male drama-llama?

I am feeling frustrated with DH as every sofa I ask him about is too big/too small/too old-fashioned. He has not the smallest clue about fashion/style so I don't know why I am asking him. So I have canvassed opinion on the ones I like and it is unanimous that he is talking out of his arse

Lots of 'Shall we all do this?' and 'We all need to do this'. There is a certain push back from the rest of us at being herded like baby elephants and he is Not Amused

Still, it's sunny and the are included!

I have just done a long post and lost it .....

Rudy, so pleased that your mum has made a decision - for what it's worth I think it is the correct one. I hope that your plan isn't too difficult to follow and that it allows you some family time as well?

Herbs, I am appalled at your DFr's comments - absolutely dreadful; I can't believe that there are people like that in this day and age. I know I was pleased when DS recently had a baby boy, but it was more a case of it's nice to have one of each, if you see what I mean.

The shopping trip was another waste of time; however, we called into Costco on the way home. When we went back to the car there was a woman sitting in the front passenger seat of the car next to us breastfeeding her baby - I smiled as it's always something I like to see. Within seconds I was aghast, though, when the car engine started and the car drove off, with mum and baby still sitting in the front seat. Who does this in this day and age?

MI, congratulations to DD1, that is seriously good stuff.

Rose, you really ought to take some time for yourself otherwise you are going to burn yourself out with worrying.

You might have DC with revolting rooms - I have a DH whose study is a no go area for me; I would say that he doesn't leave discarded food in there, though.

Rudy - what NU says (and BD seconds) re: feral. Smiling at dog eating biscuit on DS's bed, BD.

Thanks for PM BTM.

DD1's room smells of sweet hay and even more bizarrely charcoal, most of the time, and occasionally an unpleasant sweaty perfume smell.

DD1's room smells far more straightforward.

Herbs, that's grim about the girl family.

My suggestion for a thread title (which could work for September or indeed any month, not having August in it ) is ...Some have Crepeness thrust upon them.

Where's Wilbur?

Yes, where is Wilbur? Maybe she is working hard. Or on holiday already?

Aah, holiday stress.....my sympathies, Beachy. Often it's the release of pent-up work-related tensions early in the holiday that cause the worst rows. I remember DSDad having at least one explosion every holiday, but once he got it out of his system he'd relax a little more.

Rose - take care of yourself, you sound exhausted.

Well done, Inferiorette One! My own eldest Darling Daughter is being anything but darling at the moment - moody and hormonal doesn't even cover it. The Y8s take the week off, during which they put together a whole-year performance of Joseph - more fun than boring lessons, no? But every afternoon I am met by a snarling, door slamming, thunder-faced child, who has had the "worst day ever". We popped to the shops after school yesterday to find a party dress for DD2, and she was so dreadful I made her go and sit in the car.

Yuck with all the filthy bedrooms. The DDs are both big milk drinkers and I am getting more than a little annoyed at all the glasses of greenish yogurt I keep finding everywhere.

I'm wearing the Boden crepey dress today - anyone else?

And we can't possibly put August in the title of the new thread. We won't make it that far!

I vote for Schools Out For Crepeys.

Given that I have just been asked to do a feature interviewing teachers of blind kids the day term finishes. Ho yes.

Before we leave this thread please can someone tell me what the title means?

Sorry to hear about your DM Rudy. Critical illness affects everyone and it's not selfish to think about that, you're the one who will have to plan for all the eventualities.

Well done to mini CV and glad to hear offspring of MrsS and Rosebag had good journeys.

I don't let cleaner go in DD's room unless it's respectably tidy. She's learning!

Like your method of festival-going QQ

Stropps, wow! You're on fire, woman! Good for you. Where in Surrey?

I think we will go to Norfolk for a week and Scotland for a few days. I have to say that I am at the prices of holiday lets in UK - I can see why people go on a package holiday to Greece or Italy, as it often works out cheaper. I quite like the idea of pootling on a train for a few hours to holiday destination, and no hassle with flying - checking in hours ahead, removing shoes, belts etc etc. So I am going to book an apartment on the beach for a week. I swim whatever the weather is like, and we can go into Norwich when it rains.

Rudy, glad your Mum has made a decision.

Herbs, how horrible about the family with girls. My cousin's daughter put photos of her children on FB yesterday - she has four girls and has just had a boy, but no sense that she was desperate for a boy at all, and saying that the girls want the next one to be another sister. She's 28...

Auriga, I just try to get DD to lift stuff off the floor. Thankfully she generally manages to get all underwear/socks and most other clothing needing washing into her washbasket!

Schools Out For Crepeys definitely suits me

Aruiga, it was felt to be appropriately summery but also a bit nudge-nudge

DD2 is making chocolate brownies for her teachers (I blame MrsS, who gave us the cookbook). I need to cook supper...and don't want to.

Bah. Thought the bullying was better, but it would seem not. A selection of heartbreaking quotes from DS:

DS 'None of the girls want to play with me, and the boys just want to fight with me. So I don't have anyone to play with.'

Me: 'What about B? He doesn't do fighting.'

DS: 'He doesn't hold my hand'.

'M [drama friend] said he didn't want to play with me, and that he wanted to play with N instead.'

Pointing to graze, 'it's where the boys pushed me over. No, they don't push anyone else. And yes, they do get told off...'

On the plus side, he just totally OWNED the stage at his drama show, and remembered all his many lines, and was funny and charismatic. So up yours, moronic bullies.

Oh Herbs But great that he did so well at the drama show - no surprise, though - he's a natural

Hello all, just back from a very mellow couple of days away.

Rudy, I am sorry to hear about your dm, but good that a decision has been made. It is absolutely not selfish to think about the impact of this on the wider family - it is essential I think. Difficult, but essential.

And Rose, I hope you get some rest, it sounds nerve-wracking but good that he is having a good time.

MrsS I agree with you about holiday let prices and pootling and trains - we like all that too .

And herbs, .