sophiechristophy

Why would anyone not have one? Who likes cleaning? I can't believe it took us so long to get our cleaner.

Hi there, My 1 year old sounds as though she is losing her voice! She hasn't been crying, or coughing, it seems totally weird. She has been teething really badly over the last week, and had a bit of a temperature on tues/wed, but that is it. Anyone else experienced this? I am thinking doctors tomorrow... Oh, and she seems happy as usual. Any thoughts? sophie

Bluesuperted - I totally agree, the name of this thread is so sexist! In fact, Seeing as she's paid with my husband's wages, I suppose our cleaner is technically his and not mine at all!!!! I know I know, they're OUR wages...

I agree cuppa tea - expecting a 1 year old to help with the housework is a little unrealistic...

To put the cost of a cleaner into perspective, to our family it is a cost of ?2 per day to have our cleaner come once a fortnight for 3 hours. Having her is amazing, and I see it as a cost of being a SAHM, because we spend so much time in the flat, having it thoroughly cleaned once a fortnight makes all the difference in the world and takes a lot of the pressure of me and my husband. It is definitely worth it, even though we are living on one teaching salary and are budgeting very strictly. I would rather spend my 'spare' time in the day (e.g. when my baby is napping) making meals from scratch and keeping on top of the daily washing up/laundry, rather than stressing about having to do a big clean.

Minder - it's amazing how much fun stuff you can discover you already have when finances push you to be a little more creative than you might have been before!!

Just wanted to say I am feeling really blessed and happy to be a stay at home mum today - all the budgeting and hard moments feel very worth it right now. Sharing the positive vibes! xxx

Teaming up with a school directly might be a good idea also from the point of view of being able to match uniform items to meet with the uniform requirements that a particular school might have? Agree with canadianlisa - I am sure there are young people in our area in similar situations that would benefit. For girls uniforms, there is also a great centre in Brixton called The Baytree Centre, who's service users might benefit from second hand uniforms: http://www.baytreecentre.org/archives/0010about_the_baytree_centre/index.html

I do think it's hard, reconciling being a stay at home mum against the experience of growing up as a girl these days, re: what snowboarder said. There doesn't seem to be a place in society for the role - I definitely think that the expectation is that women go back to work after having children. There doesn't seem to be much importance placed on the value of a mum being their full time for her children - that the other options are just as good so why bother staying at home. Which then I think makes it hard for women who do stay at home. Or am I just a paranoid sahm??!!!!

Hi everyone, I am staying home full time with my daughter, who has just turned 1. Most mum's I know have gone back to work by now, at least part-time. My question is, are there any other mum's out there, who are at home full-time? Why do you choose to stay at home full-time? My mum stayed at home with me, and I want to do the same for my daughter (even though it means being pretty much totally broke living on my husband's teaching salary...). Would love to hear others thoughts. Sophie

My midwife at kings, Clemmie, was absolutely brilliant :)

Hmmm, if it is the right food for babies.... controversial alert!

The Orangery at Kensington Palace: http://www.hrp.org.uk/kensingtonpalace/Foodanddrink/Orangery.aspx

extra virgin olive oil :)

Hi Elizabeth - hope everything goes really well with your pregnancy, and look forward to meeting you once you are on maternity leave! I just accepted you to the FB group. Sophie

Saffron! Sorry to miss you - see you at the next one! Sophie x

Just a reminder - we are meeting at 10am at the Horniman on Friday. The back gate into the Horniman is shut at the moment and you have to skirt all round the gardens, just so you know! Sophie x

Hi Leta, I have Pmd you. Sophie

Hi - just to let you know I am running cookery courses for 6th formers about to start university in September. I have posted more info in the family classifieds section. PM me for more details. Sophie Christophy Pop-Up Cookery School

For those who love busybees at the Horniman- apparently attendance numbers have been low over the last few weeks, so don't forget to go if you want it to continue :)

Another vote for Norway.

There will be a meet=up at the Horniman Museum, at 10am on Friday, 27th May (for storytelling and catching-up after). Hope to see you there! Sophie

you're welcome everyone! have one of my best friends to thank, she sent it to me. x

Knomester - we're coming for dinner at your house!

i want to print it to put it in my bag and pull out in those wobbly moments!