Ole

Every time ds goes on a play date we have tears at the end because he wants to stay longer. I have tried doing warnings (10 minutes and then we have to leave, 5 minutes, 2 minutes, etc) but it is not making a difference. It is exhausting. He also does it for after school club (cries or pulls a face when he sees me!). I get it that he is having fun, but it is exhausting, and at school it is embarrassing. Any ideas? I have also done 'no TV, tablet, no bedtime story' routine but it does not seem to be effective. I have tried ignoring and appearing blas? but it just delays things (as we do eventually need to go!). What would you do?

Needed to write a report on whether it is ok to knock down a wall between kitchen and sitting room. Need report to get permission from freeholder to carry out work. If anybody can recommend a firm / individual please pm me. Thank you

Anybody send their kids to Beavers? We are in SE5 and I know there is one in Camberwell but wanted to find out if there are any others (East Dulwich or Herne Hill area). Thanks

About 4 years worth of child's clothes and toys, to Europe

I don't think I am posting this in the right section but I don't really know where else to post this.... Can anybody recommend a shipping company?? Thanks

Oimissus, yes this is what we think too. I just need to hear it to make the guilt feeling go away. Thanks to everybody who have replied and pm'd, there will be lots of other holidays, I guess I just needed the reassurance that it is OK.

redjam, I am confused about my feelings, one minute I am happy about the new job the next mournful that I am having to sacrifice the holiday for it. I can't blame employer they are not making me do anything; it is a job offer so I could take it or leave it but opportunities like these don't come often. For various reasons start date is not negotiable. I am just frustrated by timing that's all.

Hubby is sad but supportive, son is unaware yet, the rest are saying 'if that's what you've got to do, then that's what you've got to do'.

We have to make a choice. If I stamped my feet I'd probably get away with it, but it is a fantastic opportunity and don't want to jeopardise it. The thought of this holiday has kept our spirits up through a difficult year so what I really want to do is throw an epic tantrum, but we are trying to be grown up about it and book something fabulous for later in the year. Anybody have a similar story or am I being mean for putting work first?

Are there any more news on this? Walked by it this morning and there are no signs of activity.

Somebody please correct me if I am wrong, but GP practices get paid per person on their books, not by how many people they see (unlike dentists I think, who get paid per patient they see). If you own a practice, the more people on your books, and the fewer GPs you hire, the more profit you will make.

I think it is very badly judged,I would be very annoyed too, regardless of whether I had a boy or a girl at that nursery. Having said this I don't know what I would do about it; probably grumble to friends and family until they tell me to shut up, ignore that it is going on at the nursery at all and downplay it with son as much as possible, and sigh with relief when the week is over.

yes oimissus, some weeks ago I had to have a word with ds about some of HIS antics.....

I always knew that perhaps the day would arrive when ds would come home from school crying because his friends did not want to play with him. It has happened today for the first time (reception) and they will probably be best friends again tomorrow but it still breaks my heart to think that the innocence of babyhood is going to slowly disappear.

Thanks Peggoula, we don't know where to go so any suggestions welcome! We've been to kardamili but that was in June for our honeymoon. The sea was quite cold I remember.

Has anybody been to southern Greece during the May or October half term and is it Ok for a beach holiday? (water too cold, restaurants etc closed, rainy and bad weather). We really want to go but can't face it (or afford it) in August. Thanks for any tips!

I use Ecco calf length boots, I have had several over the years of buggy pushing around the parks and pavements of SE London.

Join a local NCT class, you'll meet mothers/dads in the stage of pregnancy stages as you.

Yes,the behaviour the OP mentions is very annoying and it does surprise me that the lifeguards don't do anything unless you specifically ask them. However, viewed from a different perspective, it is equally annoying when passive aggressive fast swimmers do their very best to let everybody in the pool know that they are the fastest and strongest swimmers and everybody is in their way and the pool just isn't big enough for them and really what they ought to be doing is crossing the channel which would be a doddle for them, clearly, but since this is not a realistic option (given that in the morning they must don their very tight lycra and cycle to work as if they were doing the last lap round champs elysees), they are resigned to sharing the pool with us substandard slow swimmers so please unless you can do a length in under 1 second can you just stand back and watch how the masters do it. [goes and shelters underneath a desk]

My 5 year old has asked for a Hot Wheels set for Xmas, but am wondering if he is too old for this and will get bored of it after a few goes?

Threaten to withhold carnal relations unless he takes the day off. A civil servant who can't take a day off to look after a sick child???

Hi, how about getting a few picture books from the library about learning to use the potty? I read the one about the little princess and the potty to my son (I can't remember the name and I don't have it any more) and it seemed to interest him. I'm sure the staff at the library will be able to suggest picture books on the subject that you can read to him and see if that makes him more interested?

I am looking for a freelance graphic designer who could design a logo and a website for a company I am setting up. Later on we will also need sales and marketing material. I thought maybe somebody on the family room might be interested. Perhaps you are a stay at home mum or dad who is a graphic designer, or you work part-time and want to do extra ad hoc work. If this is something you might be interested in, please drop me a PM. Thanks!

stress_head, really feel for you because I also spent a couple of years stressed out of my mind for no obvious reason (healthy baby, happy husband, good work-life balance, etc) but I still had really bad insomnia because of stress. I found that of all the typical relaxation remedies, reflexology really helped and after an intensive 3 month weekly appointment schedule now I go to sessions ad hoc when I feel the insomnia slippery slope approaching. If anything, for a whole hour I had no phone, no e-mail, no baby, no husband, no nobody to answer to. Bliss. Edited to say I missed the bit about your father being in intensive care. It sounds like you have had more upheaval than normal. I'd say you definitely need some 'you' time.

What I meant to say is that unless you are willing to fry your brain totting up your chances, or you are a mathematical genius capable of doing complex mental algorithm or whathaveyounot, the best thing is to sit the tests, apply, and hope for the best. I say this in good humour. It annoys me that getting a local secondary school seems to boil down to pot luck and that there does not seem much point in even thinking about what school you'd like your kid to go to. Oversubscription issue, and I admit I would not have the first clue how to come up with an alternative solution. They could at least write the policy in Plain English though.