Pickle

I have the opposite problem - children that love the taste of medicine and will try all manner of approaches to try and convince me something is sore! A great future in premiership football ahead perhaps?

My brother is a Christmas Eve baby and I'm 6th January, both equally rubbish. As children Mum was super strict about us getting separate gifts for each occasion. Our birthday parties were always held about a month before, or in February due to NZ schools being on their summer break at that time, so none of our friends were ever about, but at least it meant we got a 2nd lots of presents! As an adult I think it's great having a birthday close to Christmas, gives me an excuse to ask for expensive gifts!

We went to Bromley about this time last year - cheap and cheerful. We got there as it opened and didn't have to queue at all. I figure the kids are too little yet to fully appreciate the Oxford St type experience so Bromley was as good as anything! We saw the most rubbish Santa ever here in NZ yesterday (at a museum) but my 4 year old thought it was the best thing ever, so obviously I'll get away with the cheap option for a while yet :))

Morning Yorkie (evening where I am). Hope your little one gets better quickly - my son picked up the East Dulwich cough before we left for NZ, which is over two weeks ago now, and he's still coughing. Like your LO, he doesn't have a temperature and seems fine otherwise so I'm just keeping a close eye on it for now. According to Mr Pickle, who's still in London, Cher got kicked off last night - so it's between One Direction, Rebecca and Matt - I'm hoping Matt wins! I fully appreciate the lack of life I have that I'm on holiday on the other side of the world yet still concerned with the goings on in X Factor! I guess it also says something about my hubby, who has a house to himself and the ability to go out partying till all hours without a grumpy wife to deal with - he turned down a night out with the guys he plays hockey with and sat in by himself watching X Factor :)

Personally (and it's just my opinion) I would stay at home for that little bit longer. You say you are confident you could get work in 6 - 12 months time, the financial gain isn't huge, so really what difference would waiting 6 months make... other than you would gain 6 months more with your baby and perhaps not feel so bad about going back to work once your youngest is over a year old. I work part-time, but it's 100% from home and done in the few hours a week my kids are at creche or sleeping in the evening. It's not much, but enough to make me feel like a different part of my brain is functioning again. That said, I didn't take it on until quite recently and my kids are now nearly 4 and 2.5, so I've had a few years being "just" a Mum which I enjoyed. At the end of the day, they don't stay babies for long. If you have the option to spend time with them at this point in their lives I say go for it - a lot of people don't have the luxury of choice so you're lucky (although it does mean you're faced with this dilemma!). Good luck with whatever you decide. P x

Having been to the main EDF drinks last month I highly recommend it to anyone in the family room looking for a night out in good company. I did know a few people there already which helped, but everyone I spoke to was lovely, it's a very friendly welcoming atmosphere. I plan to drag at least a few of you with me once I'm back in the UK!

Congratulations (officially!) Ruth! I had exactly the same worries when I found out I was pregnant with #2, based on my due date my son was going to be 17 months, couldn't walk, and was very much still my baby - so I was stressing from day 1 about what I was going to do. I asked a couple of local Mummy friends if they would be happy to be on standby, which of course they were fine with, so I felt happy. Of course then I got ill, and needed to be induced at 37 weeks. Sod's law that both my friends were away on holiday at that time! I ended up putting all my ill feelings aside and my in-laws came from Scotland to look after C (at which point they'd only seen him about 3 times in his life, had no idea what he liked/disliked - I ended up leaving an instruction manual the size of a novel!). Thankfully my induction was quick, so I went into hospital at 9am one day and was home just a few hours after M was born, was in hospital for less than 24 hours in total. And the agreement was that as soon as I arrived home the in-laws would leave... which thankfully my lovely hubby stuck to, and sure enough they were gone before I had to start catering for them and resorting to hard spirits to calm my nerves (never good with a few hour old newborn to feed!). I guess what I'm trying to say is that it will all work out. Whether your plans work out or not, things will fall into place. I'd be more than happy to be on standby for you :) Pippa (still enjoying the sunshine here in NZ, sorry to have missed the snow... not!) xx

Afternoon Moos! Hope all's well you and the little ones. We're just off to play in the warm sunshine... B)

I'm here in the middle of the night, but I guess it doesn't really count given that I'm on the other side of the world!

I saw a number of people with P&T's on my way to NZ last week. Most were folding them completely at the gate and put them in travel bags, which looked like a bit of a faff but I guess ensures it won't get damaged.

My son didn't walk until he was 21 months - his ankles were (and still are) very weak and he's double jointed which doesn't help. We had him checked out at Kings when he was about 19 months old and they didn't have any cause for concern at all. It meant I had 6 months with a baby and a non-walking toddler, however in some ways I think it made my life a bit easier as at least he couldn't run off! My husband's family have a history of bottom shuffling followed by late walking, so we knew it was "normal". My daughter walked at 13 months, obviously takes after her Mum :) (although was a complete pain with it, as unlike her cautious brother tends to go head first into everything)

It's a nightmare isn't it?! I did mine quickly before I flew to NZ, as knew once I was here it would slip my mind. Ended up putting the closest schools (with Goodrich first as it's our closest community school) and a variety of random local schools that I haven't even looked round. This is one of those times where I don't feel old or responsible enough to be handed this responsibility. I'm firmly in denial of the fact that my baby is even old enough for school :(

Good luck vibes being sent your way from NZ :) Hope all goes well x

I'm off to NZ today, otherwise I would have been happy to arrange this. If nothing's been done by the time I get back (5th Jan) I'll put my hand up. P x

Magic Moments is fabulous, my two children are very happy there and I'm almost sad that my older boy is leaving to go to school nursery in January. You book a regular slot each week, and can go as little as one morning if you want to (I started with one morning, they now go three). It's only 2 hours, but I find it amazing just how much you can fit into 2 hours when you're determined enough! It runs term time only.

They are very sensitive to change. With hindsight C started to fuss and refuse milk before I knew I was pregnant, it would have been in the very early stages - I didn't realise I was pregnant until I was about 6 weeks at which point it all made sense (as did my NEED for sausage rolls and sudden dislike of red wine, very unusual for me!).

My son self weaned at around the 11 month mark - I was in the early stages of pregnancy with #2, which I'm sure was the reason as my milk obviously changed (perhaps this rings true in your case?! ;-) ). It all happened quite naturally, I never had problems with engorgement, but was very sad that it came to an end before I was ready! When no. 2 came along she more than made up for my sadness by refusing a bottle until she was 14 months!

I'd love to say I will join you... however I'll be about to land in NZ... where it's SUMMER! I'll think of you all in the snow while I'm sipping my chilled glass of chardonnay in the sunshine ;o)

I've been driving since I was 17, as in NZ it's common to get your license as quickly as you can (the city I'm from had pretty much non-existent public transport). I have been driving in London since the moment I arrived as quickly decided when living in Clapham that I'd rather have a Vespa than crowd my way onto the Northern Line at rush hour. When I had my first baby I didn't drive very often to begin with, as we did find everything was on our doorstep. Now, with 2, I find we drive a lot - they are too big for a pram, yet not quite able to walk as far as we need to at times (to Sainsbury's from our house is a bit of a trek, for example). Also I find a lot of the things we do for entertainment are much easier to get to by car (Crystal Palace Sports Centre, Beckenham Spa etc - all doable by bus I guess but much easier by car). I think you cope no matter what, it's just what you're used to! P x

I think it is true to a point regarding groups of Mums at playgroups - although rather than intentionally blocking other people out they probably form their "fortress" due to feeling a sense of relief from knowing other people there. I know exactly what you mean, and personally have never been brave enough to try and approach a large group. I have always found it depended on the playgroup as to how friendly it was. At some groups I found myself gravitating towards the nannies/childminders as found them a lot easier to talk to than the other Mums, and never quite worked out why that was. At Goose Green playgroup there was a lovely childminder (Julie) who always made me feel very welcome - eventually I got to know a lot of the other Mums so it got easier. I'm now in a weird kind of transition phase - kids are too old for playgroups, go to creche 3 mornings a week meaning by the time they've lunched/napped it's quite late in the afternoon and sometimes we can go a whole week without seeing other Mums & kids. A lot of my existing Mum friends are now back at work for most of the week, and our kids will be at different schools, so my old support network isn't really there anymore. C starts at Goodrich nursery in January, meaning he'll be away 5 mornings - but I'm hoping to get ourselves a bit more organised and use nursery as an opportunity to meet others. Although I do enjoy the sense of freedom I have now I do sometimes find myself looking enviously at Mums with small babies, as I enjoyed life when it consisted of planning out a week of playgroups. My ability to approach strangers will be put to the test next week when we start our 5 week stint in NZ - my parents still work, so I generally try to find groups to go to with the kids. Thankfully NZ is a friendly place and people are welcoming, but I have to build myself up to 5 weeks of "oooooh, you speak like the Queen". Which I don't.

This is such a big issue in our household! On the rare occasion that my in-laws come and stay (these occasions are getting less and less as time goes by, it's safe to say our relationship isn't a good one) they are a complete pain in the backside. They are incapable of making even a simple cup of tea, always go out for lunch towards the end of the kid's naptime (to the Village, because it's much nicer down there, would you not consider moving there? It feels MUCH safter doesn't it? The restaurants are so much nicer, etc etc etc....), arrive back at the house around 4:30pm then moan that they haven't had time to see the kids before I "insist" on giving them tea and putting them to bed. In the evenings they don't like having the TV on, it's much nicer to sit and chat... apparently. Sure, if you've got things to talk about and "chat" doesn't mean "argue strongly about opinions on topics which you have no knowledge". Grrrrr. Thankfully the last two times it's been time for visits Mr Pickle has kindly taken the kids to see them in Edinburgh, leaving me to enjoy life without inlaws (as well as wonderful time without children - as much as I love them a couple of days without them is heaven!). I'm off to visit my folks in NZ next week. My Dad is (bless him) babysitting for a whole day while my Mum, sister and I go for a pampering session, lunch and shopping - he has no idea what he's signed up for, but is very excited. Being a typical late 50's kiwi male he can't even boil an egg, but I'm sure the kids will do fine on icecream, sweets and crisps for the day, and thankfully they can both use the toilet now so no need for nappy changes. Both of my parents are great at taking the kids out, doing fun things with them, and just generally being helpful. I think a lot of it is to do with the Mother-in-law relationship that so many of us seem to have, and having spent 8 yeras attempting to forge a relationship with mine I've now almost given up. A shame really, but life is to short!

They've relocated to somewhere in Nunhead temporarily while the refurbishment is done. I think this has been due to happen for a couple of years!

I can only echo what others have said. My son has always been small, was in newborn sized clothes for at least his first 6 months, and now wears size 2 aged nearly 4. He's just broken the milestone of the 2 stone mark (28lbs), and dropped off the red book charts by the time he was a few months old. I got such ridiculous advice from healthcare "professionals" when it came to weaning that I lost all respect for them (health visitors) and trusted my instinct. He's a happy, healthy boy - never going to be a rugby player though!

Awwww, Sally - such a shame that the pox meant we couldn't meet this week as planned :( I'll try to pick you out of the crowd at the meeting on Tuesday (I'm about 5'4, short mousy brown hair, kiwi accent). We can get something sorted once the boys start nursery together in Jan x

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