trinity

The Nappy Lady Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Anna75 - Good question. I was very positive about > birth as my Mum had 6 children and had always > talked to me about birth and told me very positive > things about it. Interesting Molly, My mum had 5 of which 4 were born at home. The last one was born in a hospital only because it was the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland and the doctors were refusing to come out to home births because of the danger. I picked up her positive attitude towards birth and home births in particular and always expected my childrens' births to be straightforward. This coupled with midwives confident in home births and a hospital close by meant that I was very happy to chose a home birth.

I went back to work full at 8 months also and found the transition fairly straightforward. I didn't change my feedding pattern at all. Fed her in morning before work, expressed at lunchtime for the first month but eventually dropped that slowly, fed her as soon as I got home at 7pm and continued to feed through the night. As we were co-sleeping this wasn't a problem. When I dropped the expressing I just gave formula instead. I didn't bother with getting her to take a bottle. Instead she would just drink from a beaker. At 7/8 months your milk is well established and it shouldn't be a problem not feeding during the day. Also I would feed her over weekends, holidays etc and the supply was always fine. In fact once my 6 month contract finished and I was at home full time again I was able to feed her entirely myself once more.

The main ones are DCPS Ducks Herne Hill but some children come from no nursery at all.

Just like the kids I am only allowed something from the hard work jar if I have been very good!. Some days I am very very good;-)

My kids don't get any pocket money. They are expected to do household chores as part of family life. However they do get treats for very good work at school or if they do something particularly kind at home. They are allowed to take a treat from the 'Hard work jar' which is usually filled with small sweets or small toys.

TJ - not quite sure what the problem is. You seem to be a bit disturbed by something I wrote. As a local mother who takes her children to school by car and whose school also has a problem with inconsiderate parking (not me I always park well away and walk in :)) )I thought I would make a couple of reasonable suggestions one of which I implement on an informal basis at my kids school. I know a bit about Goodrich school and have passed it often but not at a time of day when the school run is on (as I am doing my own school run) so have no direct knowledge of the impact of the poor parking at Goodrich. Doesn't mean I can't have an idea and I am always keen to reduce the impact on cars in the neighbourhood. I thought I was being helpful.

A school entirely populated by 4 year olds?:-S

I have had 2 girls go through DCPS nursery. One was there for 2 years (Jan birthday) and the other for one year (June birthday). Both loved the experience and didn't feel adrift in a sea of boys. The facilities are superb. The 2 year experience is better though as all of the activities run on a 2 year cycle. Did you have any particular concerns? I am very happy to answer via pm.

I am not very familiar with the school but is it possible to open another entrance to the school in order to spread out the area over which people are parking. I know that there are also walking buses to Goodrich. Could this idea be tweaked so that children could be dropped off at designated points on surrounding roads and walked into school from a short distance.

Keef Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Breastfeeding a baby is never offensive > > Well clearly to some people it is. > > and if someone finds it so they need to adjust > their attitude > > Nice. > > But you then go on to say that a mother could be > discreet, which seems to be the ideal solution > doesn't it? > > Just to be clear, I think women should be able to > feed wherever they like, but I also think they > should try to be discreet, and should respect the > views of others. The point I was making was the difference between people finding breastfeeding offensive and and those who find being near a women breastfeeding makes them uncomfortable. The difference is that people who find it offensive are not satisfied with a woman feeding discreetly. The example of localmama is a perfect example. Their reaction is unreasonable and should not be respected. Those who find themselves being uncomfortable when a mother is feeding her baby are satisfied when it is done discreetly. This is reasonable for mother, baby and bystander. This view should be respected.

Keef Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- but equally, women should respect > the feelings of someone who finds it offensive. I don't think we should. Breastfeeding a baby is never offensive and if someone finds it so they need to adjust their attitude. Some people may find themselves uncomfortable around breastfeeding women in which case mothers can be discrete. Yesterday I had a conversation with my 11yr old son about the subject. (They had been discussing it at school because of the case of the lady being thrown off the bus for feeding her baby.) He said - if people don't like seeing it they can just look away.

I tried the puree route with no1 but he never took to it and so with subsequent children they only ever had what we were having but cut up small or a bit mashed. In addition (bit worried I'm telling you this) but I would also give the babies my food after I have given it a quick chew. Does no-one else do this? I know that my mothers generation did it and I wouldn't do it if I had a raging cold but my kids seem to survive ok on it.

Cator Park in Beckenham have kilts. The older girls wear navy pullovers and the younger ones red jumpers. Not on 363 route but relatively close. This is their website if you want to have a look. The best pictures of the uniform are in the prospectus. http://www.catorpark.bromley.sch.uk/content/prospectus.asp

People iron babygro's!! My rule is that I only iron shirts (and my nice clothes). We manage about 1 load a day for 6 of us (also including 3 sets of PE kit). I must have very low standards:-$

skidmarks Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am glad I live in a country where I can cross > the road where I feel safe to do so without > breaking the law! I would like to live in a country where children, the elderly and the less able are provided with safe and easy places to cross the road when roadworks disrupt the permanent crossings. Particularly when those roadworks continue for weeks and the crossing in question is used by so many people.

Domitianus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I agree that parents agreeing a practical solution > amongst themselves is positive. I am not so > comfortable with the fact that some appear to be > trying to 'enforce' this rather than seeing it as > a type of voluntary code. I agree entirely.

Domitianus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Does it matter? Fact is. whether one is an > Alleyn's parent or not - they can still choose to > obey the real law rather than the made-up law of > the Alleyn's "We own the roads" posse. It's good news is it not that peer pressure rather than laws can improve the traffic congestion outside a school. KC should not have been asked to turn around but aside from that its great that parents can come up with a partial solution to this problem

I viewed the situation described in the original post slightly differently ie that Alleyns parents, having realised the problems that drop off traffic cause on that road, have decided that they will operate a one-way system for Alleyn parents only thus reducing the impact of the school run. In this case there was confusion between the original poster and the parents dropping off as to who the rule was applied to. Perhaps they thought she was a parent trying to pick up her child.

My understanding is that most nannies are employed because they do not meet the criteria for being self employed. I have reporoduced HMRC's guidance on the subject below. If a nanny claims to be self employed you will need to be very careful because the deemed employer of the nanny will be liable for tax and national insurance if an investigation takes place. It is possible that a nanny may be granted self employment status by HMRC but that is on a role by role basis and does not automatically transfer to new roles. FRom HMRC...... Employed or self-employed? In order to answer this question it is necessary to determine whether the person works under a contract of service (employees) or under a contract for services (self-employed, independent contractor). For tax and NICs purposes, there is no statutory definition of a contract of service or of a contract for services. What the parties call their relationship, or what they consider it to be, is not conclusive. It is the reality of the relationship that matters. In order to determine the nature of a contract, it is necessary to apply common law principles. The courts have, over the years, laid down some factors and tests that are relevant, which is included in the overview below. As a general guide as to whether a worker is an employee or self-employed; if the answer is 'Yes' to all of the following questions, then the worker is probably an employee: Do they have to do the work themselves? Can someone tell them at any time what to do, where to carry out the work or when and how to do it? Can they work a set amount of hours? Can someone move them from task to task? Are they paid by the hour, week, or month? Can they get overtime pay or bonus payment? If the answer is 'Yes' to all of the following questions, it will usually mean that the worker is self-employed: Can they hire someone to do the work or engage helpers at their own expense? Do they risk their own money? Do they provide the main items of equipment they need to do their job, not just the small tools that many employees provide for themselves? Do they agree to do a job for a fixed price regardless of how long the job may take? Can they decide what work to do, how and when to do the work and where to provide the services? Do they regularly work for a number of different people? Do they have to correct unsatisfactory work in their own time and at their own expense?

Kingsdale runs a bus service for pupils I believe

According to the Maclaren website they are at the baby show at Excel this month. Maybe you could view this buggy and some of its competitors there? (That's if you can get out of the house given your buggy problems!!)

Great looking buggy - are you sure it folds with seat in both directions? The video only shows the folding with seat facing away from you. I know that is key for you.

Breastfeeding should continue even if you have food poisoning/tummy bug as long as you feel up to it. Edited to say : Just make sure that any medicine you are taking for your upset is ok for breastfeeding mothers.

I have always found it extremely difficult to find a full time nanny for my 4. I think many nannies only want up to 2 and I have seen some nannies specify only one child. I advertised for a full time nanny about 2 years ago on this forum and didn't get a single reply even though I was offering excellent rates and 3 of my 4 were at school. Are yours all preschool?

My washing machine repairer said that the only brand he would buy is a Miele. One word of caution though. A friend of mine has one and she has found that now the warranty has run out the parts are extremely expensive ie the initial cost is 2-3 times other machines and so are the parts.