ryedalema

I'm not sure what's worse - I was at least 7 months pregnant when many people would come up to me and say 'Oh, I didn't know you were pregnant'. So...I look this fat all of the time do I? Perhaps I was a little over-sensitive, but grrrrrr. ;-)

So sorry to hear this idm - how is your Father doing now? Did the Police/hospital not even call your Father's 'In case of emergency' number? I thought that was standard fare for all incidents. They laboured the importance of having one some time ago..

G*sh I hope getting two families like that is really bad luck and not the norm around there. I think it's totally out of order for her to have to walk home with a strange man - what is that family thinking? Or do they just not care at all? We have a lovely babysitter - the daughter of my mid wife (Hi Steffi and good luck with your exams!). We give her more than the going rate because we really value the continuity of care with our monsters. She also takes our eldest daughter for swimming lessons - she was a bit phobic about getting in the water and now there's no getting her out of it. Steffi's never asked for more money when we've asked her to look after two children, and that worries me a bit. I'd consider that to be twice the job. But I've always asked her whether I've given her enough, never turned up early and docked pay and always made sure she gets home ok - thankfully normally her parents pick her up but I'd never never leave her vulnerable or in the lurch. That's just cr*p in my book! There should be a babysitting union or charter or something to prevent people taking advantage like this methinks.

They changed us to a 3pm class for some reason..We've managed to get to 2 out of 12 so far (and have just turned up two weeks on the trot when they were closed). Not their fault but we cannot manage the new time at all. The one next to Harris is five mins walk away and at 9.30 am. Plus you only pay for the ones you go to. :-) Big C will miss Miss Laura though - she really liked her.

Likewise could someone send me the number for Fiona Foster and also the number for the Homestall Road place? The number above is wrong...says 'not recognised'. Actually scratch that - I just doorstepped the teacher as she was heading for her car (bet she loves me!) Little C swapping ballet classes from next Saturday - hoorah!

We've all been up since 6.10 - I know that as we're training older child in a Pavlovian way with her new alarm clock. She's not allowed out of bed until it rings (when she gets to turn it off) and we're putting it back by ten minutes every few days - it's working a treat. I've an extra 30 mins so far. Youngest one on the other hand has had me up since 4-something-ungodly. And when I say all - of course my husband is still in bed. (Sounds of gnashing teeth and Mum/wife putting Deep Heat in his budgie smugglers!) (PS - he doesn't wear budgie smugglers - the words just make me giggle :))

There have been more than a few times when I've signed in using the electronic thing at the back, waited.....waited....waited. Eventually I've gone to the desk to ask why I've not been seen after 45 mins. 'Oh sorry, the nurse/doctor hasn't turned up yet'. Ggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

There are two male childminders at our nursery - Jesus (who cooks the meals and teaches them about gardening too) and Christopher. At first I was a bit nervous (especially around nappy changing) but my daughters absolutely love them. Our eldest follows Jesus around and loves his Friday cooking lessons. I'm a total convert and feel it's really good for the girls to have such caring male role models (as well as my husband, dad and brother) to learn from. I'm sure they wouldn't mind talking to your relative - pm me if you want me to ask them. xx

Oh dear - Aha! I think I was about 12.

That's a difficult one - is she off for long stretches at a time or is it one day at a time? You can ask her for sick notes if it is for an extended period (not sure what the length is nowadays though). If it were me I'd treat her the same as my members of staff at work where we have a return to work 'are you fit' interview, even if they are off for half a day. It's not onerous but makes sure that they are not coming back before they should, and also helps to uncover any underlying issues that might be contributing to the sickness. It is difficult to chastise 'sickness' with verbal/formal warnings but if you can find any evidence that they aren't kosher (have you looked at Face book, or does she get a sudden sun tan, for instance?) then you have much better grounds. It's so horrid when childcare is unreliable - as if we don't have enough to deal with. I feel for you as, if the sicknesses are genuine, then it's very hard to sort out something else.

Phhheeewwww - you take it really easy!! Offer's still there for fetching and carrying x

Fuschia do you need some help/support while you get seen? I'm on my own without the girls today (had to be a witness in a court case that ended at lunchtime) so if you need some help with the twins or just a shoulder please just say. My blood ran cold when you said you'd been shunted - I so hope you are/or will be ok!

You can buy positioners from most places (try www.kiddicare.com). This should keep him/her on its back.

We're getting him a professional photo session so that he has some lovely photos of him and the girls. (I might end up in some of the photos too - if they catch me!)

Me too - I had way too much DC and couldn't sleep for ages. But t'was lovely to see/meet you all!! xx

How about something remote control? Try this site - it always has good stuff + you can get recommendations with the search filter on the left. xx

Well we (or at least I) could do with your expertise :) Love to see you Narnia. (PS - am saving up points. Have done an hour of Davina and eaten nothing but Ryvita all day.)

I think the statute of limitations is up after 3 years. Sell it and don't feel guilty. Telling your colleagues (the ones you still keep in contact with) may make you feel better but may make them feel sad - why would you want them to feel sad? Sell and get yourself something nice - sadly I feel that the best bit about Tiffany's nowadays is the box (and I've never had one OH!) but I got my OH a lovely fountain pen and pencil set there and my daughters both have engraved rattles and baby hairbrushes? (I know - we're chav!). It's the stuff with 'I'm from Tiffany's' stamped on it that I loathe.

Oh - i thought it meant stays half with Ma, half with Da??

I'll be there from 8pm - I'll wait at the bar if you want as we've not booked anything. I don't mind being the embarrassing 'urm....are you an edf'er' person.

Yey - I'm going to get inventive with Diet C...ummm.. - DC on the rocks - DC straight up - DC with a twist. The possibilities are - what's the opposite of endless?

Wish! In my pre-children days I loved taking myself off for a sight seeing day in the City. Galleries, Southbank, Markets. Just don't do too many if you choose this - you get knackered and punch drunk really quickly. If bad weather going to the cinema by yourself loaded up with v. bad food seems so decadent (no-one can see you stuffing your face in the dark!)

Is he too young for festivals/gigs etc? You could be a really cool Aunt giving him his first tickets (although his parents may hate you forever - hmmm maybe not). And of course not saying that you aren't the cool Aunt already. Oh dear - I'm tieing myself in knots.

Oh dear I read this as 'want to buy a 13 year old boy?'!! (Note to self - must pay attention to detail!)

We took our daughter at that age and she loved it!