Ruth_Baldock

Yak, I was in a tea-group...er...group, and it's how I met most of my baby friends. So definitely a good thing you're aiming to do it! I'd like to join in, but I'm not sure how well recieved my toddler would be if everyone just has well behaved newborns :S

Audrey- I take my 15mo old swimming there and it is LOOOOVVVERRLLLY. All new and clean and warm. Nice! Excellent family changing room facilities if you wanted to take your baby there, when s/he arrives. Didn't know the served Starbucks though. I hate it to. Ahem. *runs off to get a latte*. I'd definitely put up a poster, also maybe worth putting something up in House (cafe/gallery, am assuming you know it) as I've seen lots of Mum and babies and bumps (I have one of each. Smug) there. They'd be happy to let you put one up, if you wanted, they do love a good bump/baby in there. Saturdays also good for me, I'll coax Mr B to look after Cheeky S, unless anyone wanted to bring their partners in which case he could chat to them about what it's like 'good' and what not to do (come in from work to a 3wk old and say 'whats for dinner?' whilst observing that his wife has not yet got dressed yet. He learnt fast...)

Audrey; didn't realise there was an SE5 forum, too! I'm also from Camberwell. I'm 23wks, due between the 12th-15th July (no one can seem to agree on my actual EDD!) with Baby 2, who is a girl! It would be lovely to organise something! I was going to suggest day-time meetups for the second/third time Mums but since Cheeky S was ill from October-pretty recently, I held back. If anyone is around in the day-time, would anyone be interested in day-time meetups? My little boy is 15mo. Evenings also good now that my Husband isn't working every night like a mentalist. Any suggestions for places to possibly meet in the near future?

My husband always talks about doing this, he wants to move to Edinburgh, or somewhere in Scotland in general. I'd go for it if I didn't think I'd be totally isolated because I don't drive. One of the real possibilities for us was when we were possibly going to move to Toronto, for his work. It didn't work out, but I'd love to make a huge change like that one day. Possibly with a driving license to hand.

Also, wanted to add, that getting off the bus with our p+t feels much safer than with the Bee, although did take a week or so to get used to.

Good point, reneet! I'm like you, whenever me and Mr B argue I think the world is coming to an end, should I start googling for a divorce solicitor etc, whereas Mr B doesn't ever think that at all. My parents didn't argue, until the very end, so I associated arguing/disagreement with everything going to pot. I too want my children to see that disagreement and rows, as long as they are resolved and each party re-assured and made to feel happy, are totally NORMAL. One of my husband's friends refers to people who are careful with money as being 'really Jewish', also refers to things as 'gay' a lot. No swear words there, but it's incredibly offensive. Again, I would rather S said 'Oh sh*t' than did any of that, ta very much.

Also, it's worth bearing in mind that the post is entitled 'swearing IN FRONT of your kids', not 'swearing AT your kids'. BB, as you have outlined, you have a family history which has a different implication on how you feel re: swearing to the rest of us, therefore your answer would be 'No, I don't swear in front of my children'. Fine. But to imply that everyone who swears within earshot of their children is 'chavvy' and so, moral-less, uncouth, uncaring is erroneous and actually really offensive.

BB; Whilst I can empathise about your family background, I (and I think Mrs Handbasket ;) ) had more issue with it being implied that because of a few words, our entire morals/behaviour followed those which are categorised by the ever-changing phrase 'chav'. I think we all know what it connotes, I don't think anyone would give two hoots if someone alluded to their social class, which is a whole other kettle of stereotyping fish, but rather that the implication was that swearing = totally moral-less parents. I would also like to add that my Rabbi, full of morals, once said 'Oh, fuck, the kosher wine order has been totally bollocksed up'.

We did, mainly because I had my last labour in mind; 3 hours before I got to meet S, at least I knew the end product was a boy. I would have hated everyone else knowing that yonks before I did.

Glad he thinks that way :) It's unfortunate that a lot of other people don't, if you see what I mean. He's very right about how it's used, he sounds like an estute chap! Also, laughed out loud in a very glamourous manner at your story. Think you handled it exactly how I hope to in the future (my son is only 15months old atm.)

Buggie; same with Seb! Sharp little nails even though we clip them three times a week. Or so it seems. S does a good line in headbutting and boob squishing at the moment. Lovely.

I'd be inclined to agree with your son, but not about it being a derogatary phrase about people living in council accomodation (don't really see why this is 'bad', to be honest...) It's meant to refer to people being a bit moral-less (indeed, someone once asked me if I considered the fact that I wasn't married to my son's father as being 'chavvy'). Perhaps even a bit anti-social? I don't think I'm making much sense. This is all very convuluted, but here is a good (if not wordy) blog article about it, in terms of discourse (uni hat on!) http://www.bickerstafferecord.org.uk/?p=239

BB100 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > helena handbasket Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > > I would much rather have my son hear me say the > > odd swear word then have him learn to say > things > > like chavvy about people. I might hear Thomas > and > > his friends yell "dammit" from the other room > once > > in a while, but I have never heard my son use > > nasty terms about anyone and he does not know > to > > make value judgments about people. > > I was referring to chavvy as a state of being and > behaviour. Everything we think and say is value > laden unless they are absolute truths. Erm, exactly? Aren't you still implying that our behaviour is, and thus we, are chavvy? I hate hate HATE the term 'chav' anyway because it pidgeon holes and has so many connotations. Hell, I even over-heard someone at John Lewis say 'Ugh, I would never buy one of THOSE PRAMS, they're so chavvy!'. ITS A PRAM. /rant

July 12th, or 13th or 14th or 15th. No one can seem to agree! The first fortnight of July or thereabouts. We had the cheeky 15month old in the black phil and teds, sitting right by the door, if you were paying attention to that sort of mundane thing ;)

Seb was an absolute bugger (whoops, swearing...) for this when he was getting used to his teeth, circa 5mo old.

Hi 'D' ;) We looked into getting one, because I am very clumsy and thought four wheels was better than three, but when we tried one out, I found it quite difficult to steer/handle. But then again, I am short and a bit of a clutz, so this was no surprise. I suppose it's because 4 wheels looks less 'streamlined' than three as well. I wish I could just push both babies around in a wheel barrow or similair, really.

I didn't do NCT, much to my chagrin and idiocy, but I did do the NHS ones and they were really great! We had three evening classes, and it was all quite open and relaxed and we were able to ask any questions we wanted (including my winner 'What if my baby doesn't like me?'). You could always go along to one class, see if it's for you or not, and if not, let the MW running it that you probably won't be back for the next two sessions?

Belle, TNL and H-H, I totally agree with you. This weekend, I dropped a large glass on the floor and it shattered. Husband and Cheeky S were next door in the living room and I shouted 'Oh for F***s SAKE!!!!'. I could hear S going 'Ooooh' and then joining in when my husband tutted. He always points at me, with a sombre little face, when he hears me swearing out of anger but not in general conversation. Must be the tone of voice I use. I do try to curb my swearing, as does Husband, but I do slip up and to be honest, if S ever swore I'd put him straight, but equally, I'd rather he was letting out a few expletives than the umpteen amount of other awful things he could be doing.

Mirabelle; yep at Kings. I too had my scan at Kings; at 11.15 (got seen at 11.30 in the end). Perhaps our paths crossed? Ha, anyway. Glad it's not just me having the 32wk scan, now I feel quite lucky to be having one and 'helping' with ante-natal medicine. I do love Kings, for reasons like this...

Hi Ellen, I think I was just 'lucky' with my first; head-down from 21wks and engaged from about 36 weeks! EVerything I have been told/read over the past day or so has told me not to worry one jot, and to relax (and have another donut, ahem...) Am feeling slightly better about things, thanks everyone

Fuschia; that's interesting to know! I always wondered what they did in the rooms at the 'back' of the unit, so to speak. Also, v reassuring; thankyou!

LEDF: You're nicer than I am! I made no such promises; just threats.

No one else having an extra scan has ascared me :( on the form it said 'follow up-growth' but consultant said it was just to check position waaaah I dunno!!! Still on the brightside I have something new to worry about and also 'a fantastic cervix' yet again (have been told this before, must have the Gisele of cervixes or something...)

Just a quick one; has anyone had a baby with a transverse lie that then changed into the cephalic (sp?!?) position later on? Had my anomaly scan today, baby is transverse (noooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). I'm having another scan at 32wks, which is apparently normal practise now (...really?!) and then one at 36wks. If baby hasn't shifted by then...well...it kind of goes without saying what the outcome will be. Any anecdecta anyone? No chance of an ECV either, so that's out of the window.

Thanks, I should know all this. Everyone thinks I am being paranoid, I call it being prepared!