Goodliz

I was stunned. It was so sad to watch. But amazing when she recovered.

My son (year 3) does Kumon English at the herne hill centre. He started it last year so this is his second year. Chose to do it because he is an August child (one of youngest in year) and he was struggling with literacy. I honestly think it has helped him a great deal. Now on top table for english in class at school etc. I also think some of it is an age thing too. As Growlybear says you get a booklet to do every day so there is a lot of committment needed. On holidays etc you can take a break if you need to - just let the centre know. I also sometimes get my son to do extra booklets if there is a special day coming up like birthday or christmas etc. To be honest, he hates doing it so I am not going to pretend he likes it - on the plus side he does his school homework with enthusiasm becuase it is not Kumon! I would do the maths too but it would work out too expensive as I have another son who will probably start it at some point too. Hope this helps.

Check all your cupboards for rotting food. I once had the same and found a bag of rotting bananas that I had forgotten about at the back of the cupboard - gross. Once I got rid of the bag of bananas (which had loads of maggots in it by the time I found it) and cleaned the cupboard the fly problem went. Had it once too with a pineapple!

I would just add you can't please all the people all the time. I had this dilemma with Powerpramming when i first named it. The name Hummy Mummies is great I think. It did make me think first of all of smelling like BO (humming) but so what? At least it makes people say, 'What's that?' It would not put me off going but as I don't have a baby and cannot sing I won't be joining you :'(. It is a great concept. Good luck and choose a name that you and your members are happy with. If they all like 'Hummy Mummies' stick with it.

This is awful. I get it even when not preggers and have had it for years and years. Particularly annoying for you with the arms too - I only occassionaly get the arms. I find the best thing to do is get out of bed and go and sleep somewhere else. If you have a spare bed, on the sofa or on the floor. I spent most nights in the later stages of both pregnancies sleeping on the sofa. There was something about getting onto a cooler surface that helped. If I cannot be bothered to get out of bed and sleep elsewhere I take the covers off me and let myself get really cold until I have to put them back on. For some reason this works. As Pickle mentioned Potassium is supposed to help. I also read it can be to do with low sodium - whether that is true I don't know but a nice excuse for a packet of salt and vinegar crisps. Good luck. x

Hi Monkey, Just saw your post and it made me think of my youngest. My 2 were totally different. Number 1 son - Loved organised activities and groups from what I can remember. Number 2 son - Hated them. I tried a few and won't mention the names as that would be unfair to them. In the end I stopped bothering and to be honest it saved money. He just did not want to get involved at all and would just cling to me or sit on my knee. Things he did (and still does) like were playgrounds, going to the park and having friends round. Both boys were very well behaved a nursery etc. Could be down to child's personality. And of course kids always seem to behave better when not with their parents :) Liz

Yes, sounds like colic. My first was like that from the day we brought him back from hospital. Usually passes at about 12 weeks - seems like ages when you are living through it every night though! You have my sympathy. We found turning hairdryer on for a bit of white noise helped and the baby stopped crying. By number 2 we were wiser and we would take it in turns to put the baby in the pram and go for evening walks down Lordship Lane and around and about - feels like the last thing you want to do with a newborn but it really did help to get out of the house. Crying does not seem as bad when you are out. Good luck. The colic stuff works too like infracol. Apparently they call weeks 1-12 the 4th trimester. They say the baby cannot hold it's spine straight or something so wind gets trapped and caused immense pain - poor little things. xxxx

Alan Medic Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have fond memories of Halloween in Ireland. We > didn't have any trick or treating and like Otto I > think it's one too many things imported from the > US that's not needed. We had games at home and of > course a barmbrack. What you got in your slice was > as exciting as anything. I'm curious but does > anyone play Halloween games at home anymore? On Saturday when kids were with cousins we did bob apples (duck apples) and had a halloween quiz. Did not let kid do trick or treat tonight.

Thanks so much everyone. Liz x

Thanks for the ideas. I knew there would be great ones. Pickle, I did a quick search for the box but with no luck. So I'll look out for your link. Thanks, Liz

The little lego is driving me mad. Just wandered if anyone has some good storage tips/ solutions for it. Thanks, Liz

I was thinking home insurance too. Personally i would not try and pursue it in terms of trying to look for blame and getting someone to pay for it. You did not see it happen and I doubt anyone will admit to being in the wrong. I would also not try and make any enemies on the school run either - is it really worth it? I would just put it down to bad luck - gut feeling is the buggy was causing an obstruction - it can be a real scrum at school pick up time so the buggies have to be well out of the way - not just for adults falling over them but mainly kids as they are not usually looking where they are going. What a pain in the neck but you may find your home insurance covers it - fingers crossed.

I have a feeling that one of the stalls in the market off Rye lane might have them (the one with the pet shop and heel bar in). Not 100% but not to far to travel if they don't.

YOu could speak to Dave Small who runs the after school club that Whirly mentions and see what their plans are for the half term. Incase you do not know, it is right by the reception classes in the Lythgoe building hall. The cost of it is very reasonable. Otherwise there is Holiday Drop Off at Dulwich College (I think) and Scamps. Plus the childminders etc. Good that you are planning now as it can be a right panic.

My children went to Gumboots too. Very nice place. If you do a search on the forum I am sure you will find it mentioned on other threads too.

My oldest son went to an independent nursery - Gumboots until he started school and my youngest son went to a school nursery, Goodrich until he started school so I have experience of seeing both. Apart from the obvious difference which is the hours (half days) and school nurseries follow the school terms (so no childcare during Oct half term, Christmas, Feb half term, Easter, Summer half term and summer holidays) the biggest difference I saw was that the children are with the same children every day which I thought was nice and familiar. At non school nurseries there will be a variety of children who all attend on different days so the mix of kids will change each day normally. I don't think either solution is better than the other. If you have the luxury of being a stay at home mum or work part time (like I do) then the school nursery is really nice plus it is a good introduction to the school system and staff. You asked about education - I think all nurseries have to follow the same curriculum for the pre school age so they all do the phonics stuff. I know Gumboots did phonics and the routine there was very set. Someone also mentioned kids from all different walks of life being at the school nursery - this was also the case at Gumboots too. For me it comes down to what suits you best according to your work and the hours you need to keep. Both my sons had a lovely time at both places. Now both are at school I don't have any regrets about either setting. Go with what feels right for you and your child. Hope this helps - reading it back I don't think it does really! Edited to also say that some children at school nursery were picked up by childminders for the rest of the day so it can also work if you need childcare for a full day.

There is a shop unit on the ground floor of the Whitgift Centre in Croydon that is taking stuff. I think it only opened yesterday and they are taking anything that can help the people being rehoused. They are due to be rehoused on Monday I think they said. They need all kids of stuff. I brought towels, blankets, toys, clothes, colouring in books, a few toiletries etc and it was all very well received so they must be needing it. Hope this helps those who are looking for somewhere to donate. I also noticed things like ironing boards, pots and pans etc, jars of food. They also need buggies.

fuzzyboots Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have to say that, whilst I use "Fuzzyboots" as > my username on the Forum, I am very open about who > I am (Trish Cummings, who teaches Sing and Sign > classes in Southwark and Lambeth) when I'm posting > any comments/messages. > > I am frustrated by the often very heated, sniping, > ubercritical and holier than thou exchanges when > non identifiable usernames are being used. If one > has an opinion, then why on earth "hide" behind a > username. I often feel that usernames are misused, > in order to allow the user to spout insults and > criticisms, yet remain anonymous. > > Am I just not "getting" the point? Is there a > spirit of Forum contributing that I have > completely missed? > > I just don't understand. It all feels a bit > curtain twitchy and self appointed moral > guardianish at times, without people actually > standing up and being counted for who they really > are. > > Or is that just my perception? > > Fuzzyboots/Trish Cummings ;) Completely agree with you Trish. Goodliz/ Liz Stuart!

I would imagine that an organisation/ group of people with their own political motivations organises these things - using the families loss as a vehicle to get their own message across. Sorry I am not very articulate but to put it bluntly I think these organisations hijack these kind of things to encourage it all to kick off and don't really have the concerns of the affected families at heart. Just my opinion and i do not have any facts to back up this opinion.

This site has some discounted balance bikes www.newitts.com I would recommend getting one.

redjam Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hmm, my daughter always chooses the 'pirate' > option in a pirates & princesses party. Her > outfit consists of the following: > > plain stripy t-shirt > big homemade skull and crossbones badge > (cardboard, safety pin, sellotape) > homemade eye patch (cardboard, elastic) > bandana, tied round hair > jeans, rolled up > dastardly scar, using face paint > > Cost = zero I agree. All the above and I have also noticed lots of kids sporting 'mum's belt slung diagonally across shoulder and waist' when it is pirate day at school. Would not bother buying an outfit - although they are nice. Cut off scruffy jeans or trousers too.

As an exercise teacher I can say that the instructor will make sure they do not let you do anything too much. They will have all doors and windows open I am sure and probably teach the class in a more gentle format than usual. The teacher will also be qualified in ante and post natal exercise so the needs of you and your baby will be top of the list - not making you 'go for the burn' in this heat! So as QueenMab says: 'Now get your gym knickers on and get down there!' You will feel much better for it.

supergolden88 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > hmmm I guess I could try that first. My daughter > tends to get overly emotional so I am expecting > this to turn into a huge drama no matter which way > we go about it. > > She is also very very attached to the thumb > sucking (only at night) so it's going to be hard. > > > do you get it in boots? I think I got it in Sainsbury's or just a regular chemist.

I don't have experience of this but just used the stuff you can get to stop biting your nails. This worked first time on my oldest son who was very attached to sucking his thumb. I tasted it when he did and it was revolting.

Beckenham Spa and Lewisham (think it is Ladywell Leisure Centre) tend to be more relaxed i think but check in advance. You can get 185 bus to Ladywell. I have taken a 3 yr old and a 6 year old by myself to both pools.