pebbles

I'm a mother of 2 (5 and 3) and am in the lucky position (for me) that we've only ever wanted 2 children so are very happy with our family. However I have quite a few friends who have gone for 3 or 4 and not one of them have regretted it. Yes it's a bit more manic and a bit less time for yourself as a couple, but no regrets, and all of them have said that they finally feel their family is complete which they hadn't felt before. Some of them who are at home who have had at least the eldest at school haven't felt the need to get extra help (but I also know people who have loved having an au pair etc) - every person is different and go with what you feel is right for your family. Good luck with your decision - and as someone said above, I don't know anyone who has regretted having one (or two or three) more children :)

ooo good thinking thanks

Hi, we are wanting to spend a week in the Alps this July/August with our then 6 and 4 year old. Has anyone been in the summer and if so have you got any recommendations re accommodation and things to do. Due to better weather I think we are looking at Southern Alps Thanks

I'd also like to recommend Helen and Steve at Gardenia Gardens. I have been using them for the past 3 years for initially a big transformation job on our garden and also small continual maintenance jobs and can't recommend them more highly. My mother has just moved and has had to totally restart the garden from scratch as it hadn't been touched for 50 years. Helen and Steve showed her their vision and have literally transformed it into the most beautiful garden that is manageable for her but also suitable for her 6 grandchildren to run amuck. Please don't hesitate to pm if you have any questions.

I've been reading this thread with interest. We have two children (5 and 3) and I can honestly say I couldn't exist without our car!!! I'm in absolute awe of you all getting around easily without one. My father in law lives in Northampton and we visit him a lot. My mummy lives in Dulwich but too far for my kids to walk/scoot to and from as often as we see her. The things I love about having a car is that we can go anywhere and be home in a short amount of time in time for lunch/tea/melt downs/bed time. Personally (and please don't shoot me down) I don't think I would do as much with them as I do if we couldn't be home shortly - does that make sense? We have friends who live in the country and we regularly visit them. I'm not sure we would visit them as much without one. I've got a lot of friends in Dulwich, Clapham etc (I was brought up here) so I love the ease of being able to jump in the car in the evenings and go over to one of their houses. I don't think I would do this at night if I had to take public transport - I'm a bit scared of travelling in the dark! Again please please don't shoot me down but my son goes to a private school which is too far away to walk so we either drive the whole way (if the weather is dreadful) or we drive half way there and then scoot/bike the rest of the way (my normal day). It's far too far for them to walk before and after especially when they're tired so I'm not sure how I would do it without a car. As with a lot of things in life, you only miss something if you've had it which is why I would miss it. So as I said, I take my hat off to you all, but personally, I don't think I/we could get by without a car :)

Sorry to hijack this thread but I have a question. My youngest (3 1/2) hasn't had it yet. So when she does have it what do I do about keeping her at home when I have to drop off and pick up my eldest from school (we have to go indoors and queue up outside his classroom door and then they let them out one by one)? I'm not going to be able to rely on friends to drop off and pick up every day for the whole of incubation?? Would love to hear how people get around this issue? Thanks

I stand to be corrected but I think your toddler would have been contagious from 3 days before he got the spots until the last spot has scabbed over and from that last day it's 21 days before you can start celebrating. Fingers crossed

I have a basket with mine and to be honest I have never noticed the balance being a problem however i don't carry that much. I chose a basket rather than panniers as I did feel I would have to totally balance them out for me not to lose balance - if that makes sense

We have this sand pit - http://www.johnlewis.com/tp426-forest-deluxe-picnic-table-sandpit/p231331033 - which doubles up as a picnic bench as well - Honestly such an amazing buy. They spend hours playing in it - and love that we can just put the top on and they and their friends can eat. We also have a trampoline. I wasn't a fan of these as I felt they were an isaw BUT we relented last summer and i'm so so happy we did. No matter how cold they go straight outside after school/nursery and jump all afternoon. Good luck and I hope whatever you choose they will love :)

This website has just been written about in today's Sunday Times. Seems like it could be quite helpful to those who are moving away from ED and London. Clever idea. Basically people log in and can ask any question i.e. about schools, houses etc about any area and people local to that area will answer. http://lifeafterlondon.com/

Thank you everyone for all your feedback and experiences. I have read and Mr P and I have discussed. So we are going to try and stop her as her teeth are sticking out (whether this is due to thumb sucking or not we're not sure) but feel it's worth trying to stop the one thing that we can see as being the cause. So she has 2 things that soothes her - her bunny rabbit and then literally the moment she holds her bunny rabbit her thumb goes into her mouth. She only has her bunny rabbit in bed (hence why she only sucks her thumb in bed) but interestingly she had a fall at the weekend and we gave her the bunny to sooth her (during the day) and in went the thumb! So basically what i'm trying to say (and persuade myself!!!) is if we take away the thumb she will still have her bunny as her soother. But.... we are still at a loss as to how to take away the thumb. SBot - I couldn't find the medala - are you able to post a link please? Any other ideas most welcome

Sorry to put all the schools under one bracket however my kids go to Dulwich Prep and they have 20 weeks

Not sure about a reason but Dulwich day schools get 20 weeks holiday a year!!

Although bikes are brilliant I definitely find scooters are used more and are so much easier for us parents. We actually moved him at 5 straight to a 2 wheeler Micro scooter (think its a sprite) as felt it would last him for as long as he wants (I have one so I can scoot with them to school so if he wants to be scooting as an adult he can!!!). I was worried he would turn against scooting as it would be harder but he's found it absolutely fine and is still faster than I am!!! Definitely keep them scooting cos when they're tired it's easier to lug a scooter than a bike :)

Thank you Fuschia, indeed a post to make me hopeful. My 5 yr old boy is fussy as anything and my 3 yr old girl will eat absolutely anything that is put in front of her and more!! I no longer have battles as i just feed him what i know he will eat and she eats the same as us. I think i just think he will stop being fussy at some point and I'm hoping that school can deal with the issues rather than me!!! It's lovely to hear that there is indeed a light at the end of the tunnel so thanks :)

Yup dentist has advised to stop as will now be affecting her grownup teeth - even though they obviously haven't come through now.

So the time has come to stop my 3 year old daughter to stop her sucking her thumb. She only sucks it when she has her bunny rabbit which is only at night so we know we're going to go through a painful sleepless few nights but her teeth are beginning to look like Bugs Bunny so we feel it's about time. So...... tell me how? That horrible tasting stuff on her thumb Thumb guard???

I'm with Pickle. I've just got the two (5 and 3) and they have a bath (brush teeth in bath) into daughters bedroom where i read one book and then I say goodnight and then up to son's bedroom where I read another book and I say goodnight. I love this time as I lie down in bed with them and snuggle up. But they know that it's one book (or chapter) and then lights out - no messing. Downstairs for 7pm and a glass of vino (and Home & Away on sky plus) before Mr P gets home :) Neither has milk as they don't wear nappies at night so they have their last drink at tea time (although they do have water beakers beside their bed in case they wake up thirsty). Good luck, I hope whatever tweaking you do works.

Lovely business - I'll definitely buy from you as my daughter loves pretty clips Definitely grip as it's so easy for it to slide out and then to lose them (the amount of money i spend on hair clips!!!) My daughter (3) doesn't necessarily have a lot of hair but i've always found that the childs sized ones are too small so she has always had adult ones. I prefer snap clips (but i suppose that's because we haven't tried alligator clips). I love pretty ones that can match with her clothes :) Good luck and please do keep us informed xxx

I've only heard amazing things about DUCKS. There is a long waiting list though so you really need to get his name down. My son is at Dulwich Prep and it's also fabulous, you have to put their name down but there's also an assessment. Herne Hill, Alleyns, Oakfield and Rosemead are others you should look at. Good luck with your search. We are very luck to have so many on offer.

I think I feel although there's no law when there isn't a dropped curb, if there's a car in the driveway you shouldn't park over it however if there is no car then absolutely you can park there. What gets my goat though is when we are blocked in (or out) and we have a dropped curb (and white line) - especially when the culprit is someone a few doors down who is never ever in to move it. The amount of times i've had to take taxis with the kids to swimming lessons or the like as we couldn't get the car out (and no we couldn't walk as it was too far away). And so in answer to the OP, if there isn't a dropped curb then it's not against the law however I would hope that people would respect the space if a car was parked in the drive. I hope you sort out whatever issue you have

Oooo that's a good idea. Star Wars stickers. And then if he grows out of them Mr P might steal them for our room :). I wil go and look at NOHS now Thanks so much everyone Xx

Thanks, yes I think I definitely want to go neutral rather than a theme cos as we all know their likes change so quickly :)

So we're moving our 5 year old boy up to the attic room. This will be his room for the duration now so I'm aware that I want to get the taste as much as possible right so i don't have to go changing things in the future. He's 5, loves Star Wars, pirates, knights, rugby, tennis and is definitely a boys boy. Please please come and show me what your boys have got in their rooms - both curtains and anything else that are nice as I feel like i've been surfing for days and haven't got anywhere. Also please don't tell me to ask him as I have and he would have Star Wars, walls, curtains, carpet etc etc etc!!!! Thanks

When my son started nursery but continued to go to the childminders from midday I continued to pay her for a full day as she wasn't able to take an extra child to cover the 3 hours she didn't have my son (due to numbers allowed) - if that makes sense. If however they are school age and being picked up after school she would charge an after school hourly fee. Hope that helps