Crepeys who try not to look like creepy clowns....

[BeachysSandyFlipFlops]

Would that be OK?

Must try to avoid a thread switch on a Friday night

Yes, it seems loads darker recently. But the clocks go back on the weekend

Cocoa, I hope it goes as well as possible today. Very hard but has to happen.

Lovely dogs all - am cat person but can see they are just so much more responsive - esp. Molly's draculadog

Mrs S .... yet .... possibly (that's what happens to me these days)

Cocoa, thinking of you.

Cocoa, your DM may just feel lbetter when she sees him setlled & cared for in said home. I hope so. I know (bitter experience) there is little one can do in the face of that stiff-upper-lip behaviour. Take care of yourself - so much is on your shoulders atm.

Cocoa, hope all goes smoothly today. I think uncertainty is very hard -perhaps once he is settled, and the days have a routine, your dm will feel better?

Loving the pet photos.

Cocoa, thinking of you and hope it goes well today.

Rudy, I believe a lot in gut instinct! Hope they get to the bottom of it soon.

Good luck today Cocoa You are doing the right thing. I've been there, not all that long ago and things do feel better as lalsy says, once the elderly person is settled and comfortable in the Home. . Assuaging the guilt of your DM...well I don't know that we can do that for them. I'm sorry you're having to go through this.

I am also on the no pets bench. My beautiful cat died a long time ago and I am now allergic to pet hairs. Our lovely rabbit was eaten by a fox. We also go away a lot and I can't face wondering what to do about any pets. However the photos are all very lovely and do make me want another cat. Dogs...no thanks...

Rudy that sounds positive. There's a lot to be said for parents' gut feelings.

Still feeling decidedly under the weather but glad to have got through work last night without anyone guessing I was ill. A quiet day planned, with DD doing assignments, and anticipating DS2's arrival this evening...he's popping home for a few days. It's reading week apparently.

Cocoa, good luck for today and hope the settling in period goes well.

I'm off to the Next Step today.... if you don't have a tween dd, you will have no idea what I'm talking about! It's like Fame was for us. I will be surrounded by small girls with big bows in their hair, maybe wearing leotards or other shiny clothes, screaming loudly.....

It's a choice between that or sitting trying to do revision with ds Rock/ Hard Place.....

Thinking of you today, Cocoa . Monty cat and I send love.

Very fast check in to send best wishes to Coca on a very difficult day.

Rudy - it's taken me all my life to realise my gut instinct is actually pretty sound.

I on the other hand do not trust my gut at all. Have never had any instinct whatsoever about either of my children.

Am feeling quite a failure as a parent, tbh. DD2 is only NOW properly getting up, after I have been nagging her since 9am. She’s crying and wailing because her friends are going to Bromley today. I have offered to help her list stuff, sort it into different days, find out if her usual Saturday stuff is on, etc…she just despairs and weeps.

She really is too old for this and if we don’t get a grip on it now with her it’ll go on when it’s rather more serious. I want to, and can, help. But if she’s going to slam around in her chaotic room there is sod all I can do.

Reason for all this is that I found her screaming and wailing yesterday because she had done NO schoolwork (let alone music practice) and had 'all this stuff to do' for next week.

I am such a shitty parent, not supporting my children's learning at all. Now DP is swinging between being on DD2's case and saying 'why are you asking DD1 to get up' - I particularly resent this because he really resents it if I have an exhausted lie-in, even on holiday.

Cocoa, all the best for today

BD, I thought 'ratchets an eyebrow' was real and was trying to conjure a mental picture of you doing it, like a sort of time-lapse Spock

Just taken both animals to the vet for vaccinations etc. £290 And the Shuttlecraft failed its MOT. £600

Loving all these black cats. Have we had Crepey Coven as a thread title?

Rosebag, please don't let Sister catch you doing any more work while you're still sick. Put those feet up asap.

Auriga, your post suggesting Crepey Coven was no. 666.

Thinking of you today, Cocoa.

At hospital with DS. Now doing tour of various medical depth. Apparently it is a 60min wait for the ecg

Wailing, screaming, not getting up, not doing homework, not being organised, blaming it all on parents....sounds like business as usual in a house with teens MI. Don't take on so. You are supporting their learning. Of course you are, but you can only lead a horse to water. Leave them to it and go out for some cake. I have escaped my DD...too much with her 24/7. She is doing an assignement and I don't want to be there hovering and waiting to pounce on her dyslexic spelling. Let the bloody spell check do it...

Thank you Sister. Not working today thank goodness. Have taken headache pills and am cosseting self....in Starbucks.

Agree with Rose MI. You are so not an awful parent. They have to take some responsibility about organising their own stuff - work, social life, money, food etc etc as teenagers - while they are not actually independent and have you there in the background or how are they ever going to leave home for Uni (or wherever)??

Lying in bed until all hours is fine as long as you don't do nothing else ever.

Don't beat yourself up darling. Follow Rose's example and have some cake.

Auriga - that's the pets' health needs taken care of - what about your MRI??

They have to learn from their own mistakes. You can't be Mum for ever, MI.

When I think of the hell that was DS in early 20's (he had his teenage phase late) I am amazed to see him now, mid 30's, all grown up & chatting to his Dad about cam belts & me about life insurance. They do get there - eventually & become adults! We all did & I was a particularly vile & rebellious teen, which must have hit my parents hard as it was late 60's early 70's .

I don't think anybody on this thread sounds like a bad parent. Rather the opposite. MI - I was going to say pretty much the same as the rest they need to start organising themselves and to understand that actions (or lack of in the case of not done homework) have consequences. They have no right to tantrum and scream at you because of their lack of organisation - especially at their age.

Cocoa and BTM - hope things are ok with you both.

Have had flu jab - am hopefully invincible now.

Surgeon has walked me through it. No operation at the moment; instead, referral to pain consultant for epidural. Disappointed that surgeon didn't inject it himself but he doesn't approve of surgeons doing it. I'm relieved not to be facing immediate surgery & think it's the right decision but don't have a good feeling about the outcome. Think I'll probably be incapacitated for another six months & end up having surgery anyway. Hope not. Pain is grossly interfering with sleep and the meds make me feel unpleasantly giddy.

Shuttlecraft actually cost £659 (spookily close to 666 - is there something in the air?) so let's hope it keeps going for a few more months. It will probably help that I can't drive it

Glad to hear DD not the only one who's behind with half-term work. My involvement is limited to reminding her & pointing out the time & sometimes offering refreshment. She's good at remembering to take frequent breaks

Sorry to hear your back woes continue Auriga. Hope the epidural will bring you some relief.
Ds2 also VERY impressive re taking regular breaks from his work....