Moos

I take great pleasure in telling people I live in Peckham, and watching their faces.

I don't see why this topic couldn't be discussed here just as well as in the East-Dulwich-specific part of the Forum. Far from being the 'main part' the Lounge actually gets more traffic.

Sorry, my mistake, I'm talking about an old one posted in May. Admin?

It's in the Wanted, Offered & Recommendations part of the Forum. Was this not where you put it? Sometimes the moderators will move posts if they think they are in the wrong room.

Yes please, BBW.

I'faith, odd's bodkins. No, I'm just feeling as though I ought to be skipping about in my motley. Not working for me, sorry, PGC. Even though it's probably medieval for filthy.

By the way, you have to make swearwords up to get them past the censor. Teefuckinghee. See?

I suggest that an important step in expressing your rage without bullets or stab wounds having to be involved is learning how to swear properly. Eff this? Propermotherfuck that.

Oh - and there you go, everyone is different. There's me saying 'get out of the house' because my experience was that I hated being in alone all day. And then other mothers say 'chillout and stay in with the baby'. So basically, do what works for you, which may not be what worked for your best friend/your mother/your NCT teacher.

Be kind to yourself. This is my absolute toppest tip. Most of the 1st-time new mums I hung out with were as unwise as I was: constantly fretting, lots of self-blame and self-doubt, often convinced that decisions we were making now would impact our babies' lives forever, not eating properly, trying to do too much, trying to be perfect and hold it all together. Eat well. Don't skip meals. Rest as much as you can, even if in snatches. Remember that you are as worthy of love and care and protection as your baby. Do what makes you happy and feel secure. Let people help you, let yourself be vulnerable and in need of help. Actually, make people help you - sometimes even willing helpers need guidance!

Saw LKOS a couple of weeks ago courtesy of LoveFilm. Brilliant, but rather shocking.

Fill a bag with all the stuff you need for a baby for a whole day. For me that would be a change of babygro, a cardie, a hat, sunscreen, nappies, wipes, that instant handwash stuff, a muslin, a rattly toy, teething granules, and perhaps some boiled cooled water. But then I'm a crazy control freak, other mothers may have been quite capable of coping with less! Then get out of the house and don't go back till you feel like it. Let routine sort itself out another day (if it's important to you). Get on a bus -top tip - my baby slept immediately on buses and that gave me a precious few minutes' reading time! Go for a walk, meet friends, go shopping, find a mother-and-baby group. Feeling stuck in the house is awful, and feeling your freedom to go where you want when you want is lovely.

- Buy a really good sturdy sling (not a Baby Bjorn) that you'll be able to carry the baby in for several months. It's the only way to do any jobs around the house when you have a small baby*. *not that jobs around the house can't wait, but sometimes all you want to do is just get on with hanging up the washing or something, and it's frustrating when bubs won't let you put him/her down.

???? :)-D

Hona, we said we would keep the nicknames private.

Jeremy is channelling Louisa.... go gently on him, the shock when he comes to could be fatal.

Oh 'eck, that was me, wasn't it? I think we frostily agreed to disagree in the end. Ah me... happy days. I haven't been in the Warehouse for ages - used to go every week for my cheese but then Mootown mooved. *makes resolution to have a wander in at the weekend*

That would be marvellous. I would love, love, love to see Peckham have something posher than ED, just for the fun on the Forum. Good thinking, Louisa.

Er, excuse me - Honaloochie B belongs to me and RosieH. We feed him on honey and hats and we're not sharing.

*giggle*

Well, OK, yes, I did make Selfridges up. I just thought it might add to the general frothing going on.

Ha ha, this is great! I hear Selfridges are looking for an ED site too. Oh yes. The MotherShop is coming to land.

Strawbs, you so did not.

I crossed with PGC, and thus missed the opportunity to say Oh sorry, I thought it was a small rubber duck that one had to give to one's neighbours.

Sshhhhhhhh! ED Borders, Citizen, ED Borders. EDMummy, I'm sorry. I am a very silly Moos.