oopsithinkthatwasme

The hovel (bramley&teal online)

Bobblw Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Only decent ones in my opinion are metal ones - > last forever > > Sigg or similar > We got some small ones from either eBay or amazon > personalised with children's names > > They can actually be frozen if not too full > Or camelbak are not bad plastic ones

lovely prams, but think cheap - it's only 2 weeks

Hello We'll be packing our car to the hilt when our littlest is almost 2 and would love recommendations for a travel plan - the Maclaren we have is pretty large . Thank you thanks thank you! Kate

I'll be getting that too!

We go to worth matravers often (10 mins away). Stayed somewhere there once called purbeck cottages and can highly recommend - apart from guy who owns it a bit of an arse (but you don't meet him so it's fine). Worth has a great pub with lots families and ?3 pasties. However, you need a car. Swanage is amazing for kids.

I'm weighing up options. Tried mattress in his bedroom but like a scarf he creeps in to that repetitively too! It can make me quite cross. Thanks for moral support x

I am taking the term 'inappropriate anger' to mean lashing out and hurting other people when angry, rather than expressing anger in other ways. And it can help to teach kids how to control the more physical impulses as it could well land them in trouble. I definitely think children need to express anger and we need to help them do it in a way which will be ok at school and with peers and other adults.

Hmmm although I totally have to say children usually are much more likely to act out with a parent than with a carer. When I get home on Thursday (the day my 2 spend with their nanny) they often kick off far more than usual about 30 minutes after she has left. She normally says they have been angels all day! So it might help SM's case if he acknowledged that. Plus he has the energy to pre-think strategies for managing outbursts, i.e. the sledge as alternative to bicycle idea would work with my children, but try thinking that through when you're making breakfast, late for work, dressing and clearing up poo, walking the dog, etc. Anyway.... food for thought all round.

As a psychologist (although not working with children but have learnt and discussed plenty on ongoing basis with team members who do) I think SM is spot-on in his approach. It's about picking from his advice what will work for your child/ren, rather than saying one thing won't work, so dismiss the lot as bad advice. Really kind, lengthy and well considered post in my view.

Although it is about a cat, Goodbye Mog is an excellent book in my family's opinion. Although I find it terribly sad and have to hold it together while reading.

thanks everyone this is all very helpful. we have a crate and i'm making sure at certain times he is in the crate so i can just focus on my 2 boys - like reading a story, etc. i think it's getting a bit better too - just requires me to be very attentive to times when children and dog are together. love the idea of a separate room, although a bit too late for that. although will put stairgate on children's bedroom to make them feel secure from puppy in there.

that's brillaint. thanks for all that. looks like i can't avoid sleeplessness, but these are startegies I hadn't thought of.

this is a fascinating post to me and is making me think a lot about my own parenting. I don't let my 4 year old son hit me when he's angry or any time. He does get angry quite a lot (boys have a testosterone surge at 4 & 14yrs and it affects their emotions quite a bit)and he does occassioanly hit me, albeit gently, if he's really cross. I put him on time out for any physical aggression towards me and we use the 'say it with words' or 'draw a picture' of how angry you feel, to let out the anger. reading through this I am questioning whether I am too hard on him.... i certainly don't want to make him afraid of his anger. i'm just worried ashis dad doesn't live with us, that hitting might continue when he's bigger and become a problem if i let it happen. anyone know if it's something children naturally grow out of? thank you

Hello I'm sure this thread has come up before but how have people managed children getting into bed every night. My son has had access since he was 2.5 yrs, but in the last 6 months he's found it hard to get back to sleep again and everyone is getting very tired and grouchy. Sticker charts hold little interest, and gifts don't work either. Taking him back to his own bed obviously works but it feels like it never ends as he gets up over and over. Plus, he starts crying and saying he's scared which then may wake his younger brother (and is just hard!). I know I've bought this issue on myself and have ruled out almost all the obvious solutions, but tips appreciated. Thank you Kate

Hello I'd love some advice or ideas from forumites. On Thursday last week we got a new puppy in our home. He's 11 weeks old and a whippet. He grew up in a house with a 1 and 3 year old child and he's very comfortable with children and gentle with them. I have a 1 and a 4 year old, and on day 1 everything went well. Kids and dog snuggled up on sofa and my 4 year old son was overwhelmed with love for 'his dog'. (The puppy was always allowed on the sofa in his previous home, so although it's not perfect for us, it's pretty much the only thing wrong). My 4 year old Nico has always been quite scared of dogs, even though he's stayed with lots at his granny's house. No reason for this as he's not had bad experience. Anyway, as days have gone by the puppy has got more and more confident and bouncy! We've alrwady stopped him jumping up at the children and he's brilliantly easy to train so far. However, my older boy has got more and more nervous and now jumps, squeaks and runs away every time the puppy approaches. I am sure the puppy is beginning to sense this, and I don't want this situation to escalate. I tried some quiet time this morning with puppy and boy. I protected Nico by letting him sit on my knee and we approached the puppy who was sleepy and I helped Nico to touch different bits of him and talk about how the puppy feels, etc. Nico was quite tense in my arms, but he did go along with it. Is this the best approach? Does anyone have any tips? I'd love some advice as this is my first dog. (it's also quite a sensitive dog and dislikes shouting - something Nico tried this morning to get the puppy out of his way). Many thanks Kate