new mother

I have now been at home for quite a while. I am happy at home but absolutely loved my job. My problem is that I simply cannot leave my girls with anyone. I don't feel they will get as careful attention from others and i feel that, given that I chose to have them, it is my duty to be with them. But as I say, I really envy women who do not have these concerns as I think it would make my life much easier and we would be much better off if I went back to a well paid job and found a nanny.

Far too young for Bea. Try baby sensory which is designed for younger ones who cannot move much as yet.

Yes, per the article. It is interesting, though, that modern med has made a condition out of a natural event. Arguably it is normal and preferable to be slightly jaundiced at birth!

After I made a mistake with property, someone once told me to buy the worst and, if necessary, smallest house in the best location. Not sure this helps but 330k would enable you to find something lovely elsewhere if you chose. Good luck!

I had understood that the increased fluid from formula flushed the br out faster than breast-feeding would have done.

I had the same pains without even an attempt to breastfeed! I wonder if it is from lifting the baby and unaccustomed weight stretching the various ligaments then settling down again....

Many thanks everyone.

Great shame for little ones who, of course, want to run around in the summer. Why does it seldom affect people abroad? Is it like British rail? The "wrong" type of pollen?!

There is a big difference in my view between "clean" dirt like temporary mud and a nursery needing a deep clean. The former is fun, the latter disgusting and arguably the sort of impression that should be communicated to ofsted. As regards toothbrushes touching, that is clearly unacceptable. There are various blood borne diseases that could be passed on in this way. Ugh.

There is a big difference in my view between "clean" dirt like temporary mud and a nursery needing a deep clean. The former is fun, the latter disgusting and arguably the sort of impression that should be communicated to ofsted.

Actually I had a thought. I reacted badly to something in their concoction, prob morphine and so was being sick constantly first time around. The pain of being sick made me ask for painkillers and so it began again. Second time around, I was wise to it so, when they tried to give me painkillers for the first unavoidable sickness from the spinal used for the op, I said no thanks, didn't need them, wasn't sick and all was totally fine. I wld have thought that an anaesthetist could hav worked that out but I suppose she could not tell how much pain I had or not, so had to play safe and give me more of the morphine...

Yes Wod, Graveney would be too far away, thanks. They defo want ED, partly because a lot of their/our friends are here and partly beucase they think ED still has some way to go. Cf Fulham for example where the housing stock is very similar but much dearer than ED, the shops better tbh but that takes time, but the trasnport WORSE(!).

Wod, Which results are you thinking of? On the basis of 5 A/C passes, Charter is actually better. Whether this means anything at all, given how easy it is nowadays to achieve it, is anyone guess, but those ar ethe cold nos. .

thanks very much for the replies. I had been assuming primary but, of course, seconadry is the real issue. Also, with stamp duty and the stress of moving both being very high, I tend to think that property is a long term investment. Their ch are currently at a private primary which they are hoping will not be nec over here.

Friends are moving over and have pretty academic children - I b and I g. They have a goodish but not huge chunk of equity from previous house and can afford a four bed effort over here. School is going to be the main determinant for them. They are not partic bothered about proximity to anything else. On this basis, where shouldthey go for? We are not at that stage yet so I don't feel my anecdotal Evidence - x children push a lot on the bus - is very reliable. Thanks

Whatever accent you have, it should be capable of communicating clearly with the rest of us. Being easy on the ear is an added bonus....

Don't bathe in the kitchen sink! It is completely unhygienic. We had a changing station with bath incorporated, first time around, but found the bath feature unnecessary. My husband used to bathe with the lo plus shorts so i could photograph the early baths. Then we had a white 45 degree thing and finally a fun seat thing that the baby sits in till quite large. Second time around didn't bother with the bath aspect of the changing station. Good luck! It's very exciting!

Fantastic! Bonne chance! (as they say in ED...)

Silver bowl from the silver vaults? Other small silver items... Some people will take offence at getting anything sharp like a letter opener as they are often deemed unlucky. "they cut love" supposedly (!)

No; despite my undoubtedly "dying to", as you correctly surmise, it would only encourage him in this ill-advised belief that women call or contact him....we have already seen the downside of that, haven't we? ;-) Lordy, the poor guy must think we are all nutcases...

Ben, come back to us! Any update?

See thread on other board where Ben from the States is searching for a French woman he met briefly.... Have you ever been given a tel number by a man? It strikes me as an American not British practice but then maybe I am just out of touch...am intrigued.... What are current dating mores?! Edited as used wrong term...

Mr Chas, your anti academies post was a spoof yes? It is hilarious...

I heard a little boy being dropped off by his father and saying, cheerily, "love you- have a good week, daddy". The maturity he was displaying and knowledge of the circs he is presumably dealing with brought a tear to my eye.

Apostrophes are just the thin edge.... I am so pedantic that I took the decision a few years ago to accept the appalling grammar everywhere, inc. the dead tree media, in the hope of reducing stress and extending my lifespan...