Separation Anxiety

Hey everyone, sorry it's been so long since my last entry. We've had a lot going on. My daughter turned 4 last week, so we had a busy time preparing for that. 

And then there is the subject of this blog. I enrolled my youngest son at a local preschool and he started last Monday. For a while now I've been saying that I need to get him used to me leaving him ready for starting at the school nursery in September, but I kept putting it off. So a fortnight ago I took the first step. I called the local preschool expecting a waiting list. No such luck, there was a space available from the following Monday! I wasn't sure I (erm, I mean he) was ready, but hey ho, at least I didn't have time to dwell on it.

Monday came and he was so excited to be starting 'big boy school'. I dropped him off, in he went all smiles and waves, while I struggled to hold myself together. I gave him a kiss and walked out, then promptly burst into tears as soon as the teacher shut the door! It was the longest 2 hours of my life! And I had to do this 3 mornings a week. 

Tuesday was a bit harder. The little man had worked out that mummy was leaving him for a bit and he clung to me like glue. And it has only got worse since. Yesterday he started crying as soon as we were walking up the drive to the preschool. And this morning he was screaming before we'd even dropped the big 2 off at school! He's fine once I've gone, and is perfectly happy when I collect him. But that initial reaction is horrible to witness.

It's absolutely heartbreaking. And I feel so so guilty that I'm leaving him there then just coming home by myself to have a coffee. I know it's for his own good, and he's got to get used to being apart from me at some point, but it doesn't make it any easier. And I'm finding it increasingly harder to fight back my own tears as he's clinging to my legs screaming at me not to go.

So, here's hoping he gets used to it sooner rather than later. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up! And I'll try and be back with another blog soon. 

The Right Way To Raise Children

What is the right way to raise a child? Who knows? Who has the right to tell you you're doing it wrong? 

Yesterday, I got quite upset by a friend's comment on my Facebook status. Maybe I over reacted? But the thought of being judged on my parenting skills deeply offends me. Basically, he implied that it was wrong of me to have 2 pyjama days in a row with my children. We had nowhere to go, the children don't object to playing in their pyjamas, I don't see the problem. But I was in tears at his comment. It got me thinking. Should I be taking them out and doing things on a daily basis? Or is it ok to have a few lazy days?

Another thing that always upsets me is 'he needs a haircut!' Erm, excuse me. He's my son, maybe it's up to me to decide he needs a haircut! My youngest is 2 and a half and he has chin length blonde hair. I think he looks cute. It in no way makes him look like a girl, as people tell me, he is quite clearly a boy. He will get a haircut if and when I decide it's necessary! 

Next on my list is people telling me I can't buy my eldest an Internet tablet because he's too young. Again, surely that's for me to decide? He was 5 in January and he really enjoys playing on my husbands iPad. We have decided that we would get him his own (nothing as expensive as an iPad, but a cheaper alternative) but he has got to earn it. We've found reward charts effective in the past where he'd need 5 stars to get a treat. Well since the treat is significantly more expensive than a kiddy magazine this time, we figured he'd need a few more stars, so his target is 50. A few people have said he's too young, but honestly, these days I think not allowing them to use the latest gadgets will only hold them back. The school they go to uses iPads in the classroom, so I think continuing the use at home can only be a good thing. 

Anyway, I won't waffle anymore, I'd be here forever if I gave you every example of people trying to tell me right way to raise my children. But really, my children are cared for, well fed, clean and happy. Who are these people to tell me I'm doing something wrong?

I'll be back soon with another entry. 

Dentist Drama

The other day was our six monthly family trip to the dentist. This is never a happy time! I'm a bit of  wimp. Anyone who knows the extent of the dental treatment I've endured in the past will wonder what the heck I'm scared of. I've had my mouth poked, prodded and pulled beyond recognition (quite literally), yet a simple check up fills me with dread! 

Well Monday was no different. I try my hardest to act like it doesn't bother me for the sake of the children. The last thing I want to do is instil a lifelong phobia of the dentist into them! But sometimes, I let it get the better of me. None of the children wanted to volunteer to go first so Daddy kindly nominated me! And, just as I had predicted, one of my fillings needed replacing. He asked if I wanted it doing there and then or if I would rather come back at a later date. As I was about to say 'I'll come back' Mr P got in there first with 'oh, just do it now to save her coming all the way back into town'. Thanks for that hubby! 

He then started to prepare the needle to numb it for me. There was no way I was letting him come at me with a needle while my children were in the room, so I hastily said 'don't numb it, it'll be fine!' So there I lay, having my tooth drilled with no anaesthetic at all. Give me childbirth over that any day!  I made the odd whiny noise and squirmed a bit, but all in all, I think I was quite brave. It was done in minutes and I don't think I've ever got up out of the dentist's chair so quickly. 

My daughter volunteered to be next and I'm ashamed to say, she handled it much better than I did! She has enamel problems on her back teeth and has already had to have 3 of her milk teeth filled (and she's only 3!) When he'd counted her teeth she just lay there and came out with 'have I got holes?' Sure enough, she needed 2 more fillings, and she just let him get on with it! Didn't move a muscle throughout. She clearly doesn't take after me! Then he tried to put the 'magic toothpaste' on her teeth. Her mouth clamped shut, and the gel ended up everywhere except on her teeth. Apparently it tastes nasty. 

Daddy and the boys were straightforward, no problems there and my 2 year old even asked for more of the magic toothpaste! Obviously he doesn't find it quite so nasty! 

Then we had to pay. Obviously the kids are free, but £17.50 for my husband to be told his teeth are fine and £48 for me to have a broken filling (that I'd payed for once) replaced! Bloody extortion. I could've had a decent night out for that money. All I can say is thank god I was maternity exempt when I had my root canal work done! 

So, tell me, am I the only person who makes a mountain out of a molehill when it comes to the dentist? And anyone else got a super brave little person who puts you to shame? 

I'm going to London, to buy a Heat magazine! :-D

As the title says, I'm off to London this afternoon for a girl's weekend. Two nights of peace and quiet. And by peace and quiet, I mean lots of wine and childish pranks between a group of 6 women ranging in age from 26 to 50! You'd think we'd have grown up a bit by now! 

But peace and quiet from the children it will be. No 'but Mummy, I'm not tired yet', or being woken at midnight for a cuddle, or having to get up at 5.30am because 'it's wakey up time'!!! I will be able to shower by myself (a rare novelty in my house) and will actually have time to apply my make-up instead of the usual slick of mascara I generally rely on to make me look remotely presentable! No matter how much I adore my children, I need the occasional weekend to myself to preserve what's left of my sanity!

Then, on the other hand, I can guarantee I will be pining for them before the train has even left the station! It will take all my strength (or my friend stealing my phone!) to stop myself from calling every hour to make sure everything's ok. It's not even that their dad isn't able to cope. In fact he copes better than I do at times! I just like to know exactly what my babies are doing. Are they hungry? Has the little one had a sleep? Have you wrapped them up well enough to play out in the cold? Of course, I already know the answer to all of my questions, my husband's not stupid after all. 

I have, however, prepared outfits for the children. Goodness knows what they'd end up wearing if I didn't! They'd probably still be in their pyjamas from tonight when I return home on Sunday. My husband just doesn't seem to get that my daughter really can't wear her yellow top with her pink trousers, or that leggings must ONLY be worn with tops that cover the bum. It's really not too difficult! But it just makes his life easier if I get their clothes out ready for them. He won't get it in the neck for getting it wrong then. 

So, London. I can't wait! We'll arrive by tea time tonight, have a nice relaxed evening with a few glasses of wine and a bite to eat. Then tomorrow we'll be hitting the shops first thing, followed by the matinée performance of We Will Rock You. I have promised my friend that I won't sing along (she thinks we're far too young!), but I was brought up on Queen! I'm not sure I'll be able to hold it in, haha! Not entirely sure what our plans for after the show are. Most likely some of the afore mentioned childish pranks will feature! Then Sunday will be more shops, a bit of lunch and then a mid afternoon train home. 

I'm sure I'll have an anecdote or two to tell for my next blog. I'll look forward to sharing my weekend with you all when I get back.

Snow... Not so bleughhhh?

Well, I have succumbed to the whining! My little darlings have had me playing outside in the snow!! 

Yesterday it was decided that the snow on the drive was better than the snow on the back garden (mainly due to the fact that there was no way of telling if the dog had taken a poo on the garden before the snow had fallen!) So I was forced to take them out yesterday afternoon to build a snowman. (see previous blog entry for my general consensus on snow!) My little sister now lives too far away to just pop round to play in the snow, she'd have to get a bus and they weren't running!

After much deliberation (and failure to get any snow to actually stick together!) we came to the conclusion that the snow was just too fluffy to build anything with. So we set about making footprints with our wellies and I hate to admit that I was actually having fun! That is until my eldest hit me full on in the face with a handful of snow. I screamed a little bit, and pretty much acted like a mardy girl, but I got over it and we carried on our snow play. 

My eldest decided he wanted to go for a walk, so off we went for a plod round the block. He came across a patch of untouched snow and decided it would be the perfect place for a snow angel. Down he got and started flapping his arms to make the wings and my other 2 thought it looked great fun. Now my daughter is about as brave as me at being cold and wet so I was a bit dubious when she got down on the floor to do one. Then in true drama queen style, the second her bum touched the snow she flounced up and screamed 'it's coooooooooooold' and burst out crying! I'm still not entirely sure what she was expecting of it?! Luckily it's a very small block, so before long we were home again. My daughter decided she'd had enough for one day and, much to my boys' disgust, we headed back inside. 

This morning all I heard was 'mum, what time can we play in the snow?' and 'mummy, I need to build a snowman', so I relented again. Yes, I've been out in the snow, 2 days in a row! The little ones had a mini snowball fight, then we build the eagerly awaited snowman! Now, he's no masterpiece, but considering I can barely bring myself to touch snow, I think he's quite lovely. And I can't wait for my husband to get home later and see it sat there on the front lawn. He'll never believe that I actually took the children out there myself! 

Having said all that, I'm fed up now. It's cold and wet, and I'm sick of looking at it. So if it could kindly melt away by the morning, that'd be much appreciated! I won't hold my breath though! 

Snow... Bleughhhh!

It's snowing! Yuk! I really can't get as excited as the rest of the nation over something so cold and wet. Snow makes me grumpy, fact. 

Walking to school this morning, there were countless children shrieking and throwing snowballs (well, not even snowballs, there's no where near enough snow for that!) at each other. The other parents must have thought I was a right miserable cow. Every time either of my older 2 so much as looked like they were about to pick any up I'd shout 'DON'T TOUCH IT!' in true neurotic fashion! 

It's not that I don't want them to enjoy the snow, but when they come crying to me that their hands are hurting because they're so cold, there's not a great deal I can do about it on our mile walk to and from school. I know it's difficult for them to resist it, but really, if they could just wait until they are at home this afternoon, they can play all they like with the snow in the garden. I can handle that, because when they start crying with cold/turning blue I can just bring them in and wrap them up warm. 

Last year when the snow hit, the kids drove me insane asking to go out and play in it. We still lived in our old house back then and the garden wasn't visible from the house, so I couldn't just let them out to play. There was no way I was going out there to play in it with them! Daddy was at work. So when my little sister informed me that her school was closed I had a brainwave. Teenagers will do anything for a bit of cash, so as much as she too hates the snow, she couldn't resist the offer of a tenner to come round and build a snowman with the little people! Yes, I paid my sister to build a snowman! Now we've moved, the garden is far more family friendly. The children can play safely outside whilst I observe from the warmth of the house, armed with towels heating nicely on the radiators ready to swaddle them when they've frozen solid! 

I hate the way everything slows down in the snow. The route to school is a steep hill and it's hard enough getting my pushchair up it on a good day. Throw snow into the equation and you've added a good 15 minutes onto the already half hour school run! My 3 year old had to stop and show me every single footprint she made!  There's only so many times I can say 'that's great sweetheart' without starting to sound sarcastic! My youngest, in the comfort of his pushchair, was still freezing. He cried all the way there and back. He kept knocking his hat off (something else that forced me to keep stopping!) and he hates being trussed up in blankets. Then there's the 50 children and their parents all crammed into the tiny nursery cloakroom, fighting for a space to change their wellies to school shoes! 

I hate it! Snow should only exist on Christmas cards! I vote hibernation! What's the point in winter anyway? Once Christmas has been and gone, we should just skip straight past all the miserable, cold weather. Summer is the way forward! 

So there you have it. My take on snow. Not my favourite weather, in case I hadn't quite made that clear! 

An Introduction

Right, where do I start? 

I'm a 26 year old stay at home mummy to 3 little monsters (who will no doubt become the main feature of this blog!) I met my husband when I was just 19 in the grottiest pub in town. He was 33, recently separated from his wife with 2 young daughters. Imagine my dad's face when I introduced him to my new 'boyfriend'! I don't think my parents thought it was the smartest move I'd ever made. 

Well, things moved pretty quickly. I moved into his flat after a couple of months, we got engaged after 9 months and were all set to marry by the time we'd been together for 18 months (between me turning 21 and him turning 35, 'so the age gap looked slightly less'! His logic, not mine!) 

I fell pregnant with my first child 14 weeks before the wedding (another awkward conversation with my very traditional parents!) and gave birth to a son in January 2008. 6 months later, on our 1st wedding anniversary, we found out we were expecting our second child! Our daughter came along in March 2009 after a very stressful pregnancy. Then, true to form, 6 months later we discovered that we were to have a third child! Our second son was born in June 2010. Phew! 

Ok, that's the family, now for more about myself. I'm a fairly confident outgoing girly girl (I still feel young enough to carry the title of girl!) My favourite pastime is shopping, although I have neither the time nor the money to shop as often as I'd like. I'm a very sociable person, I love getting together with friends regularly. I enjoy music. I have a very eclectic taste, ranging from The Beautiful South to Westlife to Rihanna to Kings of Leon. Totally random! I spend far too long trying to keep the house tidy (impossible when you have 3 little people to contend with, plus 2 extras at the weekend!) I love to read. I have lost countless evenings inside a book that I've picked up to read just one chapter of. What else can I say about myself? That's pretty much me, in a nutshell. 

So there you go. A little introduction to the person behind this blog. Enjoy.