Smiler

Aaah, have a loveky day. I had tulips, chocolate granola in bed with two "helpers" helping me to eat it, and a card saying "happy mud die"!

I don't think au pairs are paid enough to be in sole charge of under twos, even if it is allowed/insurable, which suspect it isn't.

Oh, and sympathies, know how exhausting it all is.

I did night-weaning, during a week of work, with help from mr smiler, using dr jay gordon's method (can find it online) 5 nights of horrible crying ( we cuddled her, gave water in a sippy cup etc and continued co-sleeping), but then carried on breast-feeding in the day until she was over two. Still not an amazing sleeper but at least it solved the feeding issue!

Townley, those grammars are all super-super selective, would need a non-selective back-up plan! And they are single sex.

Totally agree about woman-blaming media coverage, and the postcode lottery for IVF. A friend of mine in her early 30s was told that because she'd conceived but had a miscarriage, the clock would start again on the 3-year wait for IVF. Horrible. She moved to a different area (unconnected reasons) and they said she could have one NHS cycle in a few months time. It's unfair that the access is different in different places. Mr Smiler understands now, after we went through secondary fertility issues, he tells all his friends who are dithering about children to go for it.

Bishop, people like that, of the "they will just have to fit in", "everything will be lovely, la la la" school of thought often don't get a shock, they get the easygoing/sleepy babies, grrr!

If invited to a religious wedding or christening it is v difficult to get out of it! I do admit to making faces sometimes or even moaning ( to fellow athiests totally unconnected with the couple), but have genuine goodwill too. Churches are quite happy to take the cash for these one-off events, they know the score. I object to the fact that to have a chance of places for the children at the most popular local state school (not ED) one of us would have to attend church for years on end, have the children christened, ideally attend church too etc. Churches beefing up attendance with the carrot of school entry. Those families would surely not attend that or indeed ANY church were it not for the school admission. I don't blame them, don't think will do it myself, not because it'd be hypocritical (have no problem with that), but because it'd require a massive time investment and restraint and possible lies to the children. Urgh.

Mini mode (boots) are small.

I nightweaned my one year old using Dr Jay Gordon approach, 5 nights of hell but worked, and continued to bfeed her in the day until she was over two. She is still not the best sleeper mind you.

That's right bobbiebear, there is no flexibility to do what you are suggesting (which would be my choice too). In theory and by law, schools and local authorities have flexibility to enable children to start in reception a year later, but almost none allow it, presumably because then lots of people might want to do it and it could make planning difficult and increase admin costs. In Scotland, the Government mandates that this option must be offered, and the majority of parents of children eligible to defer have chosen to do that.

There are a few tests, eg blood clotting, that you have to have done at kings, but GP doesn't tell you! So wait for ages then get to front to be told that they can't do it. Grrr.

Aah, I think it's nice!

Buggie, hope the job goes well. would not recommend graze boxes, had several as a free trial, most options are 100cal plus for one segment of the box, most tasted grim (and I am not by any means a fussy eater) and the healthier options weren't appealing.

Have looked into healthier options for eating when out and about (am not organised enough to do packed lunches often), boots shapers ( dull, but lots of sandwiches around 8 points), Sushi from wasabi (but not the pots of curry/soups) is tasty, but low on veg. Pret is tricky, everything smothered in bloody mayo! chicken raita wrap is 8, crayfish and avocado salad (minus dressing) is 6, porridge 5 (before topping). At least they have started showing nutrition info, unlike Upper Crust, who don't even provide it online! Grrr. For ready meals, Cook! Frozen one-pot lunches are good, lots of veg and between 7 and 10 points. And microwaveable. And covent garden soups. Skinny grande latte is 3 or 4 points. Soups can be good or bad, have been checking the content. It has made me realise how much really unhealthy food is everywhere, is quite hard to find low-fat/sugar stuff, and am not even low-carbing! Girls have just declined the hairy bikers' tea! Bag of shite.

Congratulations on your engagement Trish! I put on weight while engaged (people kept telling me would lose weight due to the hassle of organising a wedding, but I eat more when busy/stressed!) but the good news is weddingy dresses (traditional or not) can be v flattering! Mine had to be let out (the shame!) but still looked good. Pickles, that's jammy! Well done pebbles, great start! My scales still broken so will need to weigh in at Ww nr work on Monday, it was v busy this week! Many office workers looking determined! My post-xmas weight not as bad as had feared (healthiness since new year), but still not great. Not done much exercise yet, will go tomorrow! Just made a nice tea for whole family from hairy bikers' diet book, which quite like.

Yes yes pebbles, teatime at weekends is brill as places tend to be quiet and you can avoid dealing with the kids' tea! Know what you mean about the lie-in, nunhead mum, could you not have a lie in til 9ish and then the exercise? DVDs at home are good as don't need to go anywhere. Am also going to dust off the hulahoop as can do that in front of the TV! Welcome midivydale!

Happy new year! Am in! My scales have broken (not my weight, honest!) But think have about 20lbs to lose. Have just stopped breastfeeding which think will help, no longer feel as hungry. Am hoping to weigh in at WW 5 mins from work on monday lunchtimes. Wish could stay for meetings, but only get 20mins for lunch. The weigh in itself should motivate though! My main problem - other than v bad eating habits! - is finding time and willpower to exercise. I commute to work 3 days a week and get up at 6am those days, littlest daughter (2) doesn't sleep well and is often awake til beyond 8pm, up in night etc. In eves am shattered. Weekends are busy with the usual domestics, family stuff etc, although am going to try to go to gym or something one day every weekend. Have asked our excellent CM to have littlest smiler for a couple of hours each tues morning when eldest is at school (CM goes to a nice playgroup then, littlest smiler doesn't go to any at the mo, just the CM's and a music class with the CM another day) so can go to gym, but feel guilty about that as my girls have a v long day on the days when I work, and littlest has speech delay (so feel a bad mum for prioritising exercise over time with her, argh). Will try it for a few weeks and see how it goes. My brother recently lost 2 stone in a team effort at work, healthy eating and exercise, which has inspired me, as his habits were similar to mine, he says it's really helped with his joint pain (I have this too).

I personally wouldn't say anything at all unless directly asked, and even then would be v careful. I would also not engage at all in comparisons or discussion about what the child can do. My daughter has speech delay and was seen at 2 by a speech therapist (they don't see children before that age, there was a wait of several months, am not in dulwich). She didn't babble, had v few sounds, but did point, wave, and was social etc. She now has a lot of words but is still behind with her speech and getting help. Also having regular hearing tests, which are quite difficult at that age! The hearing doctor says it's common for young children to have some degree of hearing loss for a while after colds, minor ear infections (that are unnoticed byparents), even if they don't have glue ear. Pugwash "What has been noticeable that his mother rarely converses with him, she talks around him and at him but not with him." Bit judgmental there! How do you know how she talks to him when you are not there? It can be difficult to engage with children when you have visitors and are making drinks, hosting etc. Am chippy about this because have had some comments from "friends" along the lines of "do you talk to her enough?", "well MY son has great speech because we did X, Y, Z" etc. Grrr.

Urgh, baby showers, awful! Jellycat and lamaze colourful toys are nice. Or crackly fabric books.

Books with flaps to lift. Vehicles.

Oh no. Love the frankenstein response, had thought of that too! Hs disney store stopped selling them? We have a hideous plastic barbie horse that had a long mane and tail, got totally knotted, was a ball of sticky fibres, so back in the summer I gave it a haircut. 4yo daughter wept and wailed. The other week she found it in the back of a cupboard (had hidden it as was fed up with the complaints and sad eyes) and got upset again. Had taken the line that we don't chuck stuff out just cos it's not perfect anymore, but caved in and ordered a new horse for xmas. The new one has arrived and turns out has no bloody hair! It has plastic moulding smooth mane and solid tail. She will not be at all impressed!

Bobbaz, they used that excuse with us too, but for unsocial hours, if they cannot keep staff on those terms then they need to pay them more! I bet the main problem is pay.

Used it in 2009/10, didn't find it v good, mainly because the manager at the time was terrible; and also the good staff kept leaving, there was really high turnover. I got the impression the wages were poor. The physical space wasn't great, especially outside. There were a couple of incidents that made us lose confidence. I think they get outstanding because of being a large chain that has all the policies etc to tick the ofsted boxes. The "satisfactory" nurseries we used before and after were way better in our experience, mainly due to low staff turnover. But it was secure, good selection of activities and food, our daughter was content there etc. most of the staff were very nice, and good with the children. And was some time ago!

What knobhead employers! I agree with Molly, consider moving to a childminder for the whole time, or another nursery with longer hours. Our eldest daughter moved nurseries several times for various reasons and always settled fine, it wasn't ideal but not too bad. Our youngest has a fab CM, which for us has been a million times better than any of the nurseries. We don't Iive in ED anymore or would recommend her!