Moos

Earlier in the thread, the absence of a conductor was commented upon. In the days of conductors, they used to help people with bulky shopping, folding pushchairs and so on, and the driver would wait for the conductor's signal before moving off. On my bus to work I seldom get to a seat before the bus lurches off, and I'm not carrying a baby and a folded buggy. I don't blame mothers for wanting to keep their babies in a pram, it's just a lot safer and quicker, and people are so quick to sigh and roll their eyes when someone holds up the bus. Any call for mutual consideration and courtesy should be applauded and taken to heart, especially for city-dwellers who live cheek by jowl. We should always think about whether we can do more for others, be prepared, and be thoughtful of others' perspective. However, I am also not sure that it's reasonable to ask bus-convenience to be the primary factor in selecting a pram: it's unlikely to be where the pram spends most of its time.

Thanks Mellors, much appreciated. Useful to know it may take a few weeks and good to hear your son has now happily settled. We're a bit of a gloomy household at the moment!

Hi Helen There's also a Summer Babies club (June/July/August) who might be having meetings you could go to. Although I'm not sure whether anything's been organised recently on that front as I imagine a lot of the June and July parents have their hands fairly full at the moment.

Helpful advice needed, please! Our excellent shared nanny will be leaving us soon to start a family of her own. We have decided to put our 3 yo son into nursery part-time once she leaves, as we believe he will be happy in an environment with lots of other children: he's a gregarious and confident little boy. This is week 2 of the settling-in period, and it's not going well. Of course, we expected that there would be difficulties as toddlers don't like change, but I would love to get advice from other parents on whether there's anything we can do to make it easier for him. He says he doesn't want to go while he's at home, often saying 'But I'll be all on my own', and is becoming increasingly tearful and clingy when his nanny drops him off. The staff report that he is OK while he's there once they've calmed and distracted him. I thought I'd got over the overly-anxious phase of being a mother, but I'm finding it very difficult to accept on an emotional level that there isn't something we can do to soothe his fears and make this easier for him. I still believe that at his age and given his character, part-time nursery is a good choice for him and he'll have fun once he's settled in. But at the moment, it's breaking my heart.

Not especially helpful, but I love the extravagant Arthurian Victoriana of the name. I'd want to live there for that alone - though I bet residents have to spell it a lot.

I'm with MM. Receipts are necessary for the business record. But for small cash transactions, they're not necessary for the customer. On a separate point, I don't understand why receipts for card transactions have to be so enormous. If I buy a single item on my debit card, why do I need two receipts from one till that between them are longer than my forearm?

snowboarder Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- ....and WHY DOESN'T HE LIKE > STRAWBERRIES??? What's wrong with carrot? yeah, mine's an anti-strawberry sod as well. Hates bananas, hates raisins. Weird kid.

What everyone else said. And let's list what we know our friend sb has accomplished. No successes? You must be kidding. (those of you that know her personally can be of a big help here):- - you've taken care of him his whole life, and made sure he's happy, warm and fed - you've raised him to have confidence in himself, and to expect love - for every time you've got annoyed with him, I'm positive there will have been dozens when you put it aside and put his needs first there, I've started, who's got more? There will be absolutely loads.

OK, so back at home and time for a little more. R&C's experience will be much more valid than mine, as an elective must be quite a different affair from the rush of an emergency C-section. But some things to think about:- - there will be loads of people in the theatre- 12? 15? so be prepared - I was anaesthetised from below the chest, not sure what your options are but worth discussing in advance and making your preferences clear. It's a bit freaky being conscious but completely unable to move your body, be mentally ready. It helps immensely that the team is very calm, very professional and clearly know what they're doing so I was able to trust them to take good care of me, which they did. - after my son was born he was whipped off to be weighed etc. before I could see him, and after a minute or two my husband was summoned down from his place by my side to pick him up. He then brought our little boy to see me a good few minutes after he'd been born, all wrapped up. No chance of the nice skin-to-skin, perhaps because I was still anaesthetised though my arms were not. - Father and son were sent to the recovery room, but I was left in the theatre for quite a while (well, it felt like quite a while) before I was moved and could join them and have a proper cuddle and first attempt at feeding. I think if you plan better than we did all of this may be unnecessary. Not that it was disastrous by any means but if I'd known this was how things would be I'd have asked for more immediate contact with my boy, to have him delivered onto my chest if possible (my husband thinks it wouldn't have been, though) and definitely that we would not have been separated. During the operation they are very firm about keeping fathers/birth partners on the mother's (i.e. non-business) side of the little curtain, but afterwards my husband had to walk past the operating table to pick up our son from the paediatrician, and saw my un-sewn-up insides, which I think he'd have preferred not to see. Probably part of the unplannedness of the whole thing, but best avoided. There's also a mental barrier to the c-section experience, it took me a while to get over the sense that I had failed to give birth properly (whatever that means), which is silly as logic surely dictates that a proper birth just means that you healthily deliver a healthy baby! Since you'll be in King's for a couple of days, I'm sure it's worth taking the advice someone gave here recently and asking for a breastfeeding counsellor to visit you - one can't get too much help. Do PM me if you want any more info but in the meanwhile hope it all goes very well and let us know how you get on. Best Moos

Hi, sorry no time to post now, more later, but in short:- -had planned a regular hospital delivery which escalated to emerg. C-section -wasn't what I wanted BUT -felt very safe and well looked after by fantastic senior registrar and her team -they explained everything well and were v. reassuring and professional -birth is amazing and joyful to experience even in a theatre. Will never, never forget the first wobbly cry, the huge bearded anaesthestist roaring 'It's's a boy!', the overwhelming emotion and beauty of the arrival of one's child - 3 day stay in King's afterwards was OK-midwives very nice and patient though very busy. Food awful, get visitors to bring some, you'll be hungry! - recovery a bit slower than for vaginal birth, you have to take it easy, which was difficult for impatient me. Scar sore for a few months but otherwise quickly felt normal. It's fine. A few things to think about and prepare for though, will post later. Best of luck!

Bah. Edited due to recovery of mental health.

I agree with helena hb. My 3 yo shouts No! Mine! and the response is We share toys - it's X's turn, you can have a turn in 5 minutes. Then you have to keep to your word.

I'm so relieved that turned out to be a photograph of a bird.

This is great. Now drinking's in the mix, too! Should keep the thread rolling for a while. *passes the popcorn*

Has jrussell got a new posting name? I'm especially liking "If she is going to smoke whilst pregnant, at least do it in private". I mean, by all means poison your foetus. But at least have the decency to be ashamed of yourself while you're doing it. Priceless.

I might let my cat breed. That might start something.

I do like Prosecco, honest I do. But after a while it starts to feel a bit soft and a bit bland and you do start to hanker after its big brother. And then you check your wallet and think again. However, giggirl, didn't you know? Black coffee is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cooler than white, and always will be. Just as whisky is cooler than vodka and red wine than white. Don't ask me why, I don't write the rules.

ludoscotts, have been having the same dilemma wrt my 3yo... he loves Toy Story but am concerned that he won't be able to sit through a whole film. Also my mum (who hasn't seen it) rang me yesterday specifically to warn me against taking him to see it because it's 'too scary' and 'too emotional'). So now if I take him and he freaks out it's all my own fault.. damnation.

Jah Lush Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Plaistow. That's in Cornwall, yah?

Red devil, are those sponge bullets? Look great! ;-)

Just ratcheted it up a fraction for you, *Bob*.

I'm considering water bombs for my local cat nuisance. Will let you know if I ever get organised enough to get a stash ready to lob.

I was going to suggest Kids Company too! Their work is inspiring.

You can definitely have more than 100%. 150 is 150% of 100. But you can't be "110% committed to this project" within the bounds of logic, and you also can't say it without being 100% of a tosspot.

No, I wasn't being sarcastic. I find it sad.