Mission Crepe: no surrender

[Collymollypuff]

Here ya go...

Molly, I enjoyed the pics of DraculaDog :)

MrsS, that card was quite special. Even for your mother. My own dm has occasionally made some epic blunders of a similar nature and blathers about everyone being "over-sensitive" when the error of her ways is pointed out to her.

If it's possible to give your dd1 a trial period of being a day girl, then why not go for it? Perhaps she will then be so knackered, she won't have the energy for moaning. As for intervening to get them out the door in the morning, it's not necessary for "normals" who manage to get themselves to school on time despite perhaps dragging their feet. It is a whole different ballgame when dcs do not bother to get themselves to school in time, or indeed at all. Then you certainly get dragged into the equation, whether you want to be or not. The texts, calls and letters with a peremptory tone come to me, not dd. Dd's school has decided to tighten up with the sixth form across the board, which resulted in a crabby letter to me about her attendance. This arrived during half-term. It did not add to the overall joy and brightness in the household.

CV, it sounds as though exgf's mum is feeling guilty for having encouraged the relationship and having trouble dealing with her dd's unhappiness. I would have struggled to cope with dd having any heavy-duty involvement with a bf (or indeed a gf), as I know she would inevitably have got in too deep and been completely mangled when it ended. It would still be that way now and I hope that she continues her current "snog and move on" tactics for some time.

Monty, hope Brian does not make a reappearance in your house for a loooong time.

MI, big congrats on the positive feedback from an important source. Good luck with Draft 3. I can only begin to imagine the grit and perseverance it must take to tackle repeated drafts of one's magnum opus.

BD, I am so sorry that you have had to return to such a dispiriting mess. I'm afraid I have only experience of managing the bunch of twits I live with and cannot offer any constructive advice at all.

WAF, I hope your friend's funeral went as well as these things can go.

Herbs, congratulations on a triumphant first day. And well done to Hatty, too.

NU, I hope your dcs give you lots of nice treats for looking after the gcs so well. (I'm a bit jaundiced, as I'm finding looking after my dcs so taxing, I cannot imagine ever wanting to look after any other children ever again.)

I agree Stropps, it is not good to get texts/emails/notification of detentions, etc about lateness. Even when you know it is not your fault at all.
MrsS, that's why the weeks trial has to be with a proviso of her managing everything well!

Thanks for all good wishes-very kind and very gratefully received. Service was total testament to friend's talent, selflessness, loyalty and irreverance. Beautiful.

MI - praise from great source fantastic indeed.

My thoughts to all those with travails.

Oh Stropps, how are things now? Has dd settled in any way. I hated getting those phone calls and or letters re dd, usually about something dd had never told me, that started Dear Mrs Cremo, it has come to our attention, blah blah, we have concerns over dd, etc. I can feel the pit of my stomach clenching just remembering. It all feels so personal, but really Stropps , it's not. Remember there is only so much you can do.

Mrs s , sorry to hear of dd woe. And resulting pain in Arse for you. I'd just say careful of the give her and inch and she might take a mile. Stand firm Crepey! your ma is beyond the beyonds. There must be a " modern toss" retort you can send her -Thanking her for such an hilarious joke!!!

WAF , I hope yesterday was a celebration of a wonderful life and offered some catharsis. you are a wonderful friend.

BD , I could have written that paragraph myself. I really could. Even for the demoralising sense of being sold down the river and having been done over. I doubt our department will exist in a years time. Or it will be run by lovely enthusiastic kids my daughters age on zero hours contracts. Because years of experience and loyalty mean fuck all squared. And breathe. Gp says my blood pressure is ridiculous and I need to 'avoid stress' or I risk an amygdala hijack. I think I'm beyond that tbh.
BD as always, in mutual support and solidarity, I'm so pissed off on your behalf.

CV nice to see you Tablet in hand once more .

NU -above and beyond. GP

What, welcome back, and sorry to hear about ds troubles. I have a few of those myself, so sympathise enormously. Dd currently has agreed to come home at Xmas. But she retains radio silence much of the time, which makes me twitchy. I console myself with remembering that I went through a who,e lot of shite, trying to 'find myself' at this age too. I didn't really know who I was and had plenty of rage against everything, which needless to say evaporated in time. Ds will surely come back to you eventually. I really believe that.
Love to all on this wet Wednesday .

MrsS - I thought the same as MI. My ds leaves later than that but often isn't back till gone six, sometimes much later. See how she does. Your dm really takes the jammiest of jammy dodgers.

Dashing in but nice to see you CV and I reckon Stropps has it - she feels guilty (holiday invitations etc?).

Crem, look after yourself. And BD. And all others with work or family nonsense .

BD and Crem, re your work situations: I think the best I can do is to advise detaching from the whole thing as much as possible - but, as with our teenagers, it's far far easier said than done. There will be working life after this, and you will look back on this time as a nightmare you woke up from. I often go past the red-brick building MI and I used to work in, and remember how, at its worst, it felt like a prison from which I would never escape - as if my whole world was in those horrid four red walls. Now I look at the building and wonder how I could have felt that my life was completely encapsulated by it. So I would say, detach, stick robot-like to managerial correctness, breathe and survive. Although I have to say I would not have much patience with difficult staff member.

Anyway I am on here MNing because I have one of those Dear Mrs Molly emails from dd's school to reply to....

Stropps, I am sure I felt the same when my DC were teenagers so I do understand where you are coming from. The DGC do give us huge amounts of joy; I suppose it's all about stages in your life iyswim. DGD2 who was so difficult yesterday is only 2.5 yo so understandable really. She is so desperate to do the same things as DGS1 who is 4.8.

The two hours in the pool have tired me out again, but I must be getting fitter. We're off to Ilkley on Saturday to see the new baby (the one almost born on the kitchen floor), so I need to go and get a suitable gift this afternoon.

Aww how exciting NU

How lovely. I was in a dept store yesterday and a few of the baby clothes caught my. Oh the gorgeous things you can get! Happy shopping NU

Ooooh, NU .

NU, I long to be in your shoes.

I've drafted my response, and think I've got the tone and content right. Comments, please:

Dear darling Mr G

Thank you so much for your lovely concerned email about MollyMinor being late all the time.

I would like you to know that I resigned my post as Mother to MollyMinor years ago indeed, not that long after she joined your splendid establishment and although I now have dreams about maternal inadequacy, I am at a loss to know what to do about it.

If you would like to parent her, please do. We cant.

Love,
MrsMolly
x

Obvs I've deliberately left him scope to correct punctuation.

Brilliant Molly! Do send it, please

Oh bottoms!! I have lost a whole bloody post. Well, I just have to agree with everything that the wise and experienced Molly has said regarding work traumas, ... and teens who won't get the feck out of bed. And BD... Difficult colleague does need targets and formal verbal and then Written warnings if she's not towing the line. And you, lovely lady, only have one responsibility at the moment, and that is to your own wellbeing.
MrsS that card from your DM...
waf
tilly hope you're less tired today.
Glad health is better monty
.
CV you are to be congratulated on your patience with this woman. She can't let go because she has issues of her own. It's unhealthy to be involved with the DCs love affairs to that extent. They're children ffs. They will have relationships, get chucked , get hurt, all that stuff. She needs to get a life. Your DS is well out of it!

Right....DD is on a coach to a well known museum which is hosting tonight's Gala. ds2 is on a coach home somewhere on the M20 from his choir retreat, having had a great time. I have had my hair done and will shortly start the job of tarting myself up. It's black tie but quite an under dressed crowd so I am wearing a black evening tunic and silky trousers. Will try and link when not on the iPad.

Meeting with artistic director/producer is set up for Monday morning. I am scared. conS is excited. Script has gone through its fourth and I hope final revision and been duly emailed to said producer. DH has apologised for taking down to me.

Molly - love it. I'm going to keep it for future reference.

Cv - I have to wait for christmas for my new tablet.

Oh Rose, I think Monday morning will be brilliant. I can't wait to hear how much the artistic director/producer wants your script.

evening top

What a sophisticated top! Knock 'em dead.

Top is lovely Rose. I am as I never get to go to any smart events.

I am trying out a new cafe nears to work. The brownies are very chocolatey, nom, nom!

I am (a) going bonkers with mad clients (b) trying and failing to write teaching notes (c) consoling self with swanky press trip tomorrow...now, do I want a back massage or a facial in the spa? Humour me. I don't get out much.

MI, do either involve pain of any sort?

Rose - lovely top - like Tilly I dont get to go to anything glam.

Actually they get a bit tedious...I am grateful to be wearing trousers albeit, posh eveningy ones, when we have to use public transport. It's impossible in a long gown. This way I go in ballet flats and only have to put on heels when I get there. We could always have a crepey ball...and get trussed up in posh frocks for that....the idea has been mooted before.

MI, back massage!

Ooh yes Rose! Actually, Herbs' birthday bash is coming up...