midivydale

I dont have any feedback from this nursery I am afraid but a neighbour of mine has her boy there and seems very happy with it. You mentioned that part of the reason to move is to be closer to home. My son goes to Puddleduck nursery which is opposite Little Climbers and we are very happy there. I know that is not what you asked but just thought it was worth a mention.

Saffron Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well, according to uncleglen, you have to be > "38-24-36". > > I think it's highly suspect subtly to teach > children that "curvy bombshells" are somehow > necessarily sexualised and therefore less worthy, > just because some people see them that way. If > you only have one thing in the house with Disney > princesses on it, then your children aren't being > bombarded with that. They're being exposed to one > thing. I digress.... What exactly is meant by > "diversifying"? Do people really want diversity, > or do they want their own ideas of diversity? > > Maybe Disney should have disabled characters...? > Ah there was the Hunchback. Ok, perhaps, > non-white characters? ...Jasmine, Pocahontas, > Mulan. Ah, well, they're busty, so don't count > them (because nobody's worried about girls who > grow up to have curvy figues?). How about a > normal-sized little girl character? ...Lilo? What > about male characters? Clever--> ...Peter Pan. > Fallible--> ...Lion King. ...more on the way, but > controversial? > -->http://msmagazine.com/blog/2010/11/23/disneys-m > ale-execs-stop-movies-starring-girls/. Maybe > that's just oversimplifying: People write whole > dissertations on this stuff. > http://www.uky.edu/~addesa01/documents/ThePrincess > andtheMagicKingdom.pdf. And since children don't > live in a world of their own, if we consider > diversity and children, we are necessarily > in-taking ideas that encompass both women (and > men) and children. > > If you don't like Disney princesses etc, don't buy > them, fine. Why poo-poo them for other people who > enjoy them without feeling limited by someone > else's ideas? TBH, I don't think the OP's > petition does that. However, I'm left with > elusive idea of "diversity", and I'm questioning > philosophically exactly where that's going? Now, > I'm not saying that improvements can/can't be made > at Disney. What I am wondering is just what > exactly IS diverse? If we throw out all the > 'princesses' with that bath water, we've passed an > unwritten judgement. It's not always just a case > of media bombardment, sometimes it's a case of how > blinkered or open our own views are: > http://www.bustle.com/articles/17263-are-disney-pr > incesses-bad-role-models-not-if-you-consider-these > -feminist-moments. It's no wonder so many young > women now don't identify with feminism: > http://www.genderandeducation.com/issues/why-is-fe > minism-a-%E2%80%9Cdirty-word%E2%80%9D-among-teenag > e-girls/. Despite a hundred years of progress, > the slope remains, if not slippery, at least still > difficult to define for many young people. > Complex issue, and IMHO definitely not summed up > simply by inclusive/exclusive statements about > beauty or diversity, i.e. defining what something > is by defining what it isn't. xx As always - all very valid points delivered so eloquently by saffron. Personally, I would very much welcome some non white princesses and heroes. A matter very close to my heart. X

...whhaaaaaat?? Since when do you have to be 5'6", 54 kg, 34-26-36, to be considered 'attractive'?? Frankly, I dont think anyone is very worried about the poor girls (or now it seems the conversation has moved on to grown women) who grow up to have smokin' bodies... I support this campaign for all the girls who are constantly being told that they dont live up to what is for many an unobtainable ideal, and that they are therefore physically unacceptable.... I'll say it again: CHILDREN being told that they are physically unacceptable.. I also support this campaign as I hate adults sexualising childhood, and having childhood heroines with 'bunny' sexy bodies.. is wrong 'cause: 1 - I dont want my girls to be internalising a highly restrictive and deeply conservative understanding of what attractive is...(see above) 2- one of these days it would be nice to think that girls could be valued for who and what they are and not need to be ranked by their capacity to be f****able....... Yes yes and yes!

On the preggers note "We are pregnant" is a term i loathe, yes yes all for equality and sharing the experince. The two of you are becoming parents, but you two sure as hell are not pregnant.

I would be over the moon for pampering vouchers.

Welcome to the area

Actually not little nor irrational but people saying that my 2 year old has great rythm (he hasnt, he bounces around like any toddler) makes me want to scream out loud - every time. Or another one "bet we will see him on x-factor in a few years". Come on people - he is two!! Please let him be an innocent child, unaware of your ignorant predjudice for a few more years.

Thank you slh2009 for your suggestions and thank you to all of you who have send me PM's. Much appreciated

In hour house it is taking quite a while too, over an hour in our case. During my working days it is the only time I get to spend one to one with my son who is 2 1/2 so I have decided to let him take the time that he needs. I have noticed that since his speech has really developed that he is seeking out conversation alot more and really wants to talk about his day, ask questions etc and I do not have it in me to rush him. He needs to "talk it out" otherwise he cant wind down, or so it seems. I miss my evenings but think that with most other things this is probably a phase and he will settle himself sooner once again.

Parents of black or mixed race children, can you recommend a place in the area where I can take my son to have his hair cut? My boy is not known for his ability to sit still for any long periods of time so would be a bonus if they are quick and or are good at distracting young children. Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Hey Knomester, just to say that you are a brilliant mum however you feed your baby. I remember how emotional I felt about "giving up" breast feeding 4 weeks in due to so many problems. I felt I had to justify it to everyone I came across in a very timid, I have really tried kind of way. Sadly midwives and hv did nothing to ease this guilt. An american friend pulled me out if it, she said "enough with this "giving up" bull - honey you are moving on to something else". I loved that. You are doing amazingly x

Belle Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It probably depends on the child. I have a feeling > if I tried this, I'd come out to find my 2 had > convinced a passerby they were trapped! Yup, me too;)

Audrey, I just checked I's first shoes and they are the softer version, I remember the girl saying that his size was the biggest of that kind of shoe. The polarn & pyret suggestion is a great one too.

Hi, i can really sympathise. My son got his first shoes at 11 months and they were a 5F! He was a good wker by that point though but I was worried about the shoes being too hard for his young feet. We went to clarks wt westfield and the lady said the most important thing was to get the size right rather than worry about him being too young.

My favourite nursery?

Phrases that get on my nerves: "It was like" "And I was like" Oh and epic

Sorry, was typing an essay so I deleated as may not be that helpful. Go for it - you have nothing to lose. Happy to lend you my book if you like and can pm details of the lady I used?

I am so sorry to hear this, a very sad story for everyone involved. It really is.

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There is no excuse for this. However good or bad a > nursery / preschool is in other areas, security / > watching the doors should be the absolute minimum > requirement! > > And okay, sometimes an error happens, but they > should have been absolutely mortified, and it > sounds as though they just tried to shrug it off > which is pretty disgusting quite frankly. 100% agree

Yes please - do share x

I have seen it some waitrose shops strawbs. X

I really rate this nursery too. My son was about to start there last year but changing circumstances meant we couldnt proceed at the time. Get your names on that list quick;)

Great year ;)

V interesting saffron and I would love to explore this. In my experience the whole "positivity thing" is what made me crash in the end....i was so so so positive, prepared, open minded etc and it still went so very wrong. I wish that there had been if not as much but at least some focus during antenatal care which focused on intervention, emergencies, complications and those feelings that can come with such an experience. I am convinced that had some of these aspects been covered during my antenatal care I would have had a different story. So i would say hell yea to feelings of negativity, fear and anxiety as if processed correctly they could certainly prevent or lessen the severity of birth trauma and associated PTSD and PND.

Great topic! I will join you ladies too. X