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Hello.Again.Kitty

Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 19:37
Yikes, the converter kit for the Apple is 300 quid! Steady on! I think I like the look of the Vibe. Has anyone seen that in stock anywhere here? Or does anyone have one I could push around for ten minutes?! Shame, a friend of mine here had one, but she's now back in the UK. It was a very different beast to the Sport though, much chunkier, for one... and the bottom seat hadn't quite resolved the comfort issue of the back bar - on the Sport, the padded seat rests on top of it, so you only have an issue when you want it reclined and your child is too tall for it (simple solution = don't recline it), but the Vibe, from what I can remember, had the bar padded, but the seat padding sewn in underneath, so that the bar always formed a lip.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 14:55
buffets... and nights away in 5* hotels (not that we do that often)... and having a bit more disposable income. ... that's about it really.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 14:46
no, you wouldn't have to pay tax on previous years' earnings, but it is highly likely that you wouldn't be able to receive a pension, say, because you wouldn't have paid enough National Insurance.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 14:40
If there's no irritation, I leave it. If it's getting thick and there's any redness on the skin, I rub some olive oil on it then gently wash off at the next bath. :) same here... although when it did get thick on DD, her hair came out when it came off! Since then I just leave it. She still has a bit left (4 years old!) but I treat it with Head & Shoulders... it is, after all, of the same kind of thing as dandruff.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 11:56
I went to school in France and the school days for secondary were lessons start at 8h and carry on until 16h30, with 1h30 break for lunch. I had to get the school bus at 6h50 to get in for 8h. 6th form was even "better" - 8h-18h, so 9 hours of lessons and 1 hour for lunch, bus at 7h and back at 7h, to have dinner and then do homework... ... and I used to dream of living in a shoebox! Gosh, yes, I worked as a French conversation teacher in a secondary school in Arles and the hours the children had to be awake were barbaric, particularly as the catchment area for the school was huge and some children had to get the bus at 6 am and would arrive home at 8pm, because of the bus routes, IIRC. It clearly had an effect on their ability to concentrate on school-work during the day. yup... properly hardcore, but I think it only really worked because we had Wednesday off and boy did we need that mid-week break! Still, in comparison, the UK school day is positively part-time!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 11:38
I went to school in France and the school days for secondary were lessons start at 8h and carry on until 16h30, with 1h30 break for lunch. I had to get the school bus at 6h50 to get in for 8h. 6th form was even "better" - 8h-18h, so 9 hours of lessons and 1 hour for lunch, bus at 7h and back at 19h, to have dinner and then do homework... ... and I used to dream of living in a shoebox! <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 04/10/2011</em>
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 11:22
345 quid new? Sold. I think the Pear converter thingy will be at least a couple of hundred all in, and I'd probably be able to sell the Apple for a reasonable price here given that it's only a few months old and 3,000dhs in Just Kidding. Is it worth going to one of the stockists here for a push-around or will the Sport do the trick, do you think? And KB, did you like the one you had? I've got a little run-around in the UK and tbh, hardly every use it! Sure, the P&T is heavier, but it's still lighter than either of my children and it's so much more manoeuvrable (plus comes with a hand pointed front to clear a passage!)... I'm only now considering downgrading because DD really shouldn't need to be in a buggy any more and DS is getting to the stage where he doesn't need to be either... well, in a few months. I *think* the series goes E3 -&gt; Classic -&gt; Sport v1 -&gt; Sport v2 -&gt; Explorer -&gt; Vibe
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Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 09:11
just make sure you tuck it right in down the sides so that it can't be loosened and act like some kind of duvet.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 09:02
Anyone else find it ironic how people like her with such twisted views are the ones who's children would benefit most from a nursery etc. I don't actually think what she said was twisted, and if you reread it, there is some kind of moderation in there. She's not pushing complete subservience, just saying, you know, if you have kids, it's not then to pretend they don't exist while you get back to your "real" life"... which is a fair point. So she was just the only one who wrote a letter about it. It'd take about as long to write that letter and click send as it does to post on this forum, so if that's suddenly a criteria of being a bad mum and ignoring your kids then... guilty as charged, m'lord! I won't stand for a sudden witch-hunt. I know some stay-at-home-mums who are quite frankly incredible in their dedication. I know some mums who have made childcare their careers, who I find incredible too (although that would be my personal idea of h3ll). These women, unlike me, never seem to be short of interesting ideas, never tire of their children, are always enthusiastic and engaged and their children undoubtedly are better off for it. If you've got a tireless, social, enthused mum who's got an imagination to match your own, then why on earth should you need to be packed off to nursery?! I'm one of the middling SAHMs... I need balance. Children and childcare just doesn't cut it for me, much as I love it (at times), I need a different kind of stimulation and achievement (or more like "different kinds"). That's why I study. That's why I do my cakes. That's also why, ultimately, I will go back to my career. All these things make me a happier person, so that when I'm with my children, I am also happier and more enthused. Sure, there'll always be some women (oh, AND MEN) where you'll wonder how and why they ever had children, but that really is their problem and their alone. The same goes for blokes... I once had a boss who rather proudly (he was a prize t0sser) declared that he hadn't seen his children in 3 months (he was in London and they in Ireland, so hardly a long flight away)... the youngest was about 4, I think. Anyhow, I thought, fine... you'll never realise what you're missing out on, what you'll never be able to retrieve, but you're too far up your own [cough'> to even care.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 04 October 2011 - 08:22
and also, far better that a woman has a job and feels intellectually fulfilled that be sat at home, bored out of her mind, hitting the gin and resenting the very existence of her children. But of course... everything in moderation. As a mum, I wouldn't be comfortable with racking up 60 hour weeks, but part-time or even a moderate full-time... yeah. Heck, after 4 years, I'm ready for a change!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 03 October 2011 - 22:11
yeah, you can get an adaptor to take Maxi-Cosis... it's about £20 online. I would also highly recommend getting the double UV cover and the travel bag for flights. Absolutely get it in the UK, or get relatives to get it and bring it over. Kiddicare do the Sport double for £345 new, but to be honest, I got mine second-hand in fantastic condition with the car-seat adaptor, rain-cover and UV cover thrown in (oh, and the cocoon - waste of time) for £200... but that really was a bargain. I got to the house and apparently there was another person already on the way! The sport is pretty much indestructible - keep the tires pumped up and you'll be good to trog around for years - and you can buy individual spare parts for pretty much every part of it. DC - you know what I think of the Pear... sell your Apple and keep happy memories of it. If you're canny, you'll be able to sell the Apple for more than you'll but the P&T for and then when you're done with that, you can sell it here in Dubai for what you paid for it in the UK. Actually, thinking about it, I might well be selling mine soon.
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Latest post on 03 October 2011 - 21:50
or have a look at [url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Caketastic-Dubai/111813822218118'>Caketastic Dubai[/url'>
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 03 October 2011 - 19:55
The vibe is the newest/latest edition and is generally heavier than the others, but I think has a few of the bug-bears resolved (stiff brake on the previous models especially). I think the e3 is the oldest with the explorer and/or sport (I have the Sport) being tweaked versions of the E3. I think I have the first version of the sport (about 3 years old) and the only difference I can see between it and the v2 Sport is the rather handy clip (on the v2) to keep it closed when folded. Other than that, it's the difference in price!
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Latest post on 03 October 2011 - 10:56
:(. He took forever to go to sleep and only slept for an hour, whereas he normally has at least an hour and a half in the morning and three hours if he's had a restless night. And he's woken up crying, so he's clearly not had enough sleep. Off to take his temperature again... I'd say it's probably worth a trip to the Dr... molars are horrid, but wouldn't be that extreme.
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Latest post on 03 October 2011 - 10:55
Oh, and you can also put boys in tights. Just don't tell their friends :D (or put photos on Facebook!). Until their best mates asks for crunchy pics for their stag do! Don't worry... I have a whole stash! lol
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Latest post on 03 October 2011 - 10:17
aww, bless you hot-house flowers! It's not like you're going to be lounging by the pool in winter over there. Layer up (hat and gloves especially) and take most of it off as soon as you get indoors. You'll be wanting a vest (longsleeved), trousers (or skirt and tights), jumper or cardigan, socks and some warm bootees, along with a hat, mitts, snowsuit (although a cardigan and wind-proof jacket will to just as well) and thick blanket and/or footmuff. If you're planning on just taking a sling, make sure that legs, feet and hands are covered - it's not the cold, but the wind/rain that's bad. I've been out in -12 before in a t-shirt and jumper when it was bright blue sky and no wind. It's actually far easier to manage your baby's temperature when the environment is cold that when it's too hot... and it's better for a baby to be slightly cool than too hot. Bear in mind, also, that room temperatures are likely to be around 18-20 degrees - which is fine and will feel warm. Adapt what your baby wears in bed to this - in the UK, I would dress them for bed in a onesie (hands bare) and a 2.5tog sleeping bag... and that's it, although some people would also put a vest on underneath. Judge your baby's sleeping temperature by their bodies, not their hands or feet. Don't let him sleep in a hat, nor pile up blankets over him.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 03 October 2011 - 09:01
i slept bit it was fit-fall (is that the right word) ..... "fitful" A sense of foreboding is standard issue with my Dubai experience. :(
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Latest post on 03 October 2011 - 08:59
there's a signposted exit off SZR (which goes straight into the Marina Mall car park) - go towards Jebel Ali, past the first Marina exit and the Mall exit is before the second marina exit... I don't drive so couldn't give you numbers.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 03 October 2011 - 08:56
I still don't cook with salt for the children and they don't have sweets at all. I was really an4l about it with DD to the point where I was buying biscuits sweetened with fruit juice instead of sugar and would lick the salt off a chip if she fancied trying one, but then your second child comes along and you kind of get a grip - a pinch of salt isn't going to kill them, nor is a bit of refined sugar once in a while going to instantly rot all their teeth. I know that my kids (and I, in fairness) have a healthy, balanced diet and of course I am in control of that. We don't buy crisps and biscuits so they're not around to nibble, which means that when we go out, the kids can have the tempting cookie because it's the first one they'll have had in a good few weeks! Sure, they like it and sure, they'll ask for more, or ask for an ice-cream every time they go past a stall, but there's a very simple solution for that... just say no.
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Latest post on 02 October 2011 - 22:03
You know your son - is this pretty normal for him or is this very, very high? I'm just asking because DD will have a very high temperature at the drop of a hat (generally at the start of a cold) - she's a warm child anyway and her normal temp is 36.9/37, so anything under 38.5 hardly registers... if I notice she's hot, she's invariably already at 39-something and I only really get concerned if she gets to 39.9/40 (which she does quite often.). She always responds well to medication, so fevers aren't a worry... DS, on the other hand hardly ever gets fevers, so I get concerned when he's at 38... 39 and he's already down to a nappy and being dosed up.
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Latest post on 02 October 2011 - 21:51
I dont get what the problem is. There could well be some confusion because some people also call squashes "juice" (so like the bottles of Robinson's or, er... Tang that you then have to dilute to taste)... these drinks are indeed pretty worthless nutritionally and because they're essentailly pure sugar, they're just as bad as giving kiddo a can of coke (well, maybe not quite as bad!). Fresh fruit juices are great... in moderation, and as long as they're not swilling around the child's mouth for ages (sipping) because they are very acidic, for all the yummy goodness.
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Latest post on 02 October 2011 - 17:30
IMO, don't start giving your toddler juice. Just give him/her water and milk. edited by AnonDubai on 02/10/2011 it's not poison, though - we're talking juice here, as in fruit juice, not "squash" which is full of gunk? I don't think juice is bad. Of course her child can still drink it. I just don't think it's good to make a habit out of it. That is only my opinion. exactly... as with anything, in moderation. A glass a day with a meal is a great "treat" and a great source of vitamin C... I always find that if they kids have gone off whatever fruit I've presented to them, they can "catch up" with some fruit juice.
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Latest post on 02 October 2011 - 17:07
hehe - DD went to bed, as normal (mummy was a bit too busy to read her a story) and by morning, she had a little brother. Sometimes it's just that simple!
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Latest post on 02 October 2011 - 17:05
IMO, don't start giving your toddler juice. Just give him/her water and milk. edited by AnonDubai on 02/10/2011 it's not poison, though - we're talking juice here, as in fruit juice, not "squash" which is full of gunk?
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Latest post on 02 October 2011 - 14:51
I found that my two will take or leave juice, but will always ask for milk! Check the ingredients list for the juices - even allegedly fresh and/or "pure" juices, because an awful lot of them have added sugar. If the juice is a thick, syruppy nectar, dilute even more. It's also a good idea to let them drink juices at meal-times, rather than sipping them over the course of a few hours, as this allows their saliva to neutralise the acids and prevent tooth decay. Never, ever give juice in a bottle with a teat because again, this encourages them to just sip it in dribs and drabs which is really bad for their teeth. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 02/10/2011</em>
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Latest post on 02 October 2011 - 12:14
And that works just as good? Perfect, saved me some pennies there. Thanks. Yup, it sure does! I don't wet mine at all, just make sure it's absolutely clean (not sticky) and dry and be firm. I actually smooth down the icing first with my hands and then finish it with the spatula. Use cornflour liberally if you need to roll it out though - far better results than with icing sugar - roll out, flip back onto the rolling pin, position, smooth down, trim and finish. Ready-rolled can sometimes be temperamental, so you may still need to roll it!
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Latest post on 02 October 2011 - 12:02
Lakeland in MotE... or you could just use a thin plastic spatula or knife - as long as it's not serrated. I use the spatula that came with my mixer.
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Latest post on 02 October 2011 - 09:45
Yeah exactly:) nice post! but the problem is, in this part of the world, it is unfortunately not the case! No, I know... which is why keeping yourself informed and up-to-date is all the more important. There's a thread on the main site about where a professional's duty of care ends and where a person's responsibility begins... Drs can still prescribe anti-histamines for children, because they also tell you the exact dose and frequency. It's generally not advised (although we've all done it) to go "aww, well, she's got the same as last time, and I have half the bottle left, so, yeah, what did he say? Every 3 hours? Yeah, I'll just do that again"... but even that is leagues apart from walking into a chemist, asking for some Actifed and them not even checking to see who's it for, let alone briefly reminding you of the recommended dosage and counter-indications. Certainly in the UK, if a chemist did that, and something untoward happened, s/he'd be in deep, deep trouble. Just because infant medicines with anti-histamines are still available over the counter here, doesn't mean to say that they are safe, because they're not... those children still died. Maybe the UK and US are being over-cautious (I did hear that the over-dose was something like double quantities and I think you have to be really daft to do that, but hey, some people obviously were - didn't read the label, thought they were doing the right thing, etc... ) but hey, better to be safe than sorry.
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Latest post on 02 October 2011 - 09:15
You need to ask her pediatrician before you use any medicine and that includes zyrtec.. I always get a bit jittery about these threads asking for medication advice for children - the best and only advice can come from your paediatrician and self-medication on a "best guess" basis could be very dangerous. Any medication with antihistamines in it is no longer available over the counter in the UK and US for under 6's (they're trying to make it not for under 12's) because of a number of fatal overdoses in the US. I don't know the details, but basically, parents self-medicated their children and the children died. That's enough for me to go "you know what, I'll hold off that one". Paracetamol is the safest medication for children (and indeed for adults) - it is indeed an anti-pyretic (lowers fever), but also a pain-reliever and mild anti-inflammatory. It's the main ingredient in most adult cold remedies, so it can't be that useless! There are plenty of other ways to clear noses - menthol and/or eucalyptus balms being the easiest... side effects are non-existent (aside from being able to smell that minty goodness from the next room!) and they do really work. Rub some Vicks on the back and chest, put some loose clothes over the top and Bob's your uncle.
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Latest post on 01 October 2011 - 20:04
HAk i get what you are saying but where does personal responsibility start? In UK law it's all down to what is considered "reasonable". Is it reasonable to expect Joe Bloggs to have the knowledge and expertise to assess his own eyesight and eye health to the level of a competent optician? Is it reasonable to expect Joe Bloggs to know of all the different contact lenses on the market, along with potential hazards, side effects and ultimately, which one is best suited to him? Both important aspects can be easily covered by a couple of simple questions and don't mean to say that the client needs to be dragged in for testing at every opportunity. The one thing I can't get over are Chemists here... oh-so happy to hand over drugs that in Europe are prescription-only and they don't even ask who it's for, let alone give a gentle reminder of maybe dosages or counter-indications... I'd far prefer them to do so than have to read on here every so often about parents who are wondering whether to give their babies adult medication... or medication that's been banned for under 6's in the UK and US due to .... oh wait... infant death! Anyhow, we're digressing... the OP was actually bringing up the fact that some so-called opticians here were giving mis-diagnosis, which in a way is worse than no diagnosis, although potentially equally as harmful. --- CM - it is, however reasonable to expect a diabetic to know that s/he shouldn't be tucking into sweets. Obese people... well, there's always the debate of disease or will-power where that's involved, just like smoking addiction. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 01/10/2011</em>
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Latest post on 01 October 2011 - 19:48
Also, it's not really his problem whether I choose to wear the wrong lenses or not, it's up to the individual and their common sense isn't it? Not sure that totally makes sense but you get my drift. And therein lies the difference between a proper optician and a salesperson who flogs optical aids - one has a duty of care to look after the health of your eyes, the other will happily sell you anything regardless. At the end of the day, no it's not his problem if you don't heed his advice and through your actions go blind, but hey, that still kind of sucks... in the same vein, why bother going to the doctor? Just go to the chemist, buy some anti-biotics (they're all the same, right?), some anti-inflammatories (far better than painkillers...) and a weird potion your uncle's neighbour swears by and sort yourself out... not the chemist's fault if you keel over, no? I guess he could have asked what the problem was and given you some tailored advice...
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Latest post on 01 October 2011 - 19:39
paracetamol? That's all I use on myself, let alone the kids! (got a stinking cold at the moment and paracetamiol's working on it, along with some Vicks vaporub) Besides, Zyrtec's an anti-histamine, isn't it? <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 01/10/2011</em>
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Latest post on 01 October 2011 - 19:37
HAK - agree and don't agree - i usually don't buy 6 months supply at a time, so don't get eyes tested everytime i buy. But i go to the same optician and have done for the past 6 years so i trust him. True - my UK optician recommends every 2 years and I pretty much stick to that (have bought a whole year's supply to bring over here!), but my point was that the optician I walked into here didn't know me at all - first time customer and all - and didn't hesitate in giving me what I asked for with no questions asked - not even "when were you last tested?"...
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Latest post on 01 October 2011 - 17:57
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2044028/Rowan-Atkinson-hints-Blackadder-reunion-Fifth-series-cards.html but he said it needed to be in a society that was claustrophobic and hierarchy ....... maybe Dubai; Baldrick could be the hoseboy, Mirander Richardson could be [b'>[i'>THE[/i'>[/b'> Jumeirah Jane and Blackadder..... umm Blackadder... the cowboy financial advisor! Oh, do write to him! lol! [oh, and how come this is in p, B &T?'>
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Latest post on 01 October 2011 - 17:49
I was amazed (but not) when I walked in to an opticians' here and asked to buy contact lenses... they didn't know me from Adam, never asked to check my sight, nor to see an up-to-date prescription, nor to check the health of my eyes to see if the lenses I was requesting were correct for me. I really, really do have to question what planet the opticians, pharmacists and some of the doctors here qualified on... if at all. I am surprised that you need a prescription to buy contact lenses in the UK. I used to wear contacts, and I bought them in three different countries (USA, France, and Taiwan), and I never needed a prescription to buy them. for me it's a no-brainer - if you need a prescription for glasses, contacts should be the same! Not least because you actually need a professional to check that they fit properly - there are different diameters, after all... and torics and whatnot. I've been wearing contacts for 17 years and only ever remember part of my prescription. Eye health checks are especially important to do regularly because contacts affect the blood supply to your eyes and if you wear them too much (as almost all of us do, cos the recommendations are ideally 8-10 hours a day, 6 days a week) then the little blood vessels start working into your cornea - this obviously needs to be monitored and will affect what type of lens you can actually wear - if you wear them too often and are unaware of the state of your cornea, it can affect your eyesight and damage your eyes to the point where you can't wear contacts any more. That would suck.
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Latest post on 01 October 2011 - 16:13
yes, it's also important to get your child's feet properly fitted, in terms of length and width and choose appropriate shoes that are supportive and supple (and flat). Clarke's, Start-rite and Ecco are good - you should be looking for brands that do a range of half-sizes and widths. Fashion shoes are generally not very good for growing feet and once your daughters get a bit bigger, avoid higher heels at all costs (Suri Cruise is going to have issues) because wearing higher heels often, while your tendons are still growing actually stunts the growth... I lived with a young woman who actually couldn't put her foot flat on the floor and when barefoot, had to walk around on tip-toe, all because she wore heels day in day out from a very young age.
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Latest post on 01 October 2011 - 16:06
I was amazed (but not) when I walked in to an opticians' here and asked to buy contact lenses... they didn't know me from Adam, never asked to check my sight, nor to see an up-to-date prescription, nor to check the health of my eyes to see if the lenses I was requesting were correct for me. I really, really do have to question what planet the opticians, pharmacists and some of the doctors here qualified on... if at all.
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Latest post on 01 October 2011 - 11:37
I think it helps to [b'>accept that your baby is not a problem to be fixed, but is a little human that you are learning to live with[/b'>, nobody instinctively knows what to do from day one, we all stumble along the way. Her needs deserve to be met as much as yours do and you are the only person she can turn to for help, you are her whole world. Right now she needs your help with sleep and over time, she can gently learn how to do it herself, but hopefully without losing trust that whenever she really does need you, you will still be there. +1 OP... if you're unsure of what to do, step back and look at the situation... if you still can't see a solution, step back some more. What works for some, won't for others - my two were always good sleepers during the day (2 hour naps and at 4 months old, it was the in joke that none of my friends ever saw my baby with their eyes open!) and if anything, if they got woken early and were too tired at bedtime, they didn't go down as well. Introducing solids did diddly squat to them sleeping through the night and boy were they good feeders (DD started at 4 months, slept through at 9, DS started at 5.5 months, slept through at 11)... they both would wake for night feeds 2-4 times a night and needed them - no comfort issues there, so please assume that when a baby wants milk, it's actually because it wants milk and not because it's "trying it on to get attention" (which they are, but to get you to feed them!) Anyhow... your baby is unique, so should your approach be. Good luck! <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 01/10/2011</em>
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Latest post on 01 October 2011 - 08:50
I recall once taking on of my charges (when I was a nanny) to a music group. There was a woman who's little girl was quite a big girl. The one week she missed the lesson, all the mums (including her 2 "bff's") made fat jokes at her little girls expense. . That's horrid! But I guess that if these women weren't picking on the little girl, they'd be gossipping and b*tching behind their reception desks at work... There are horrid people like that all over the place who really have nothing better to do... just as there are plenty (the majority?!) who are lovely. The great shame is that the lovely ones are less vocal about being lovely than the b*tchy ones about being nasty pieces of work!
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Latest post on 30 September 2011 - 11:48
Oh you're not the only one... And TBH, I don't think we're missing out much. I've heard first hand how these mummies who later become friends b1tch n moan about eachother behind their backs. No thank you. No for me. well, then, they were never really friends in the first place, were they? I have no time for pretend "friendships" and won't play that game with people, so, as I said, like-minded people tend to gravitate towards eachother and with one notable exception, every single person that I consider a close friend here is entirely genuine and utterly lovely.
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Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 20:07
first pregnancy, I could smell a cut cucumber 3 meters away... think about a weekend in Marrakesh would be like!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 18:30
and to add if you are doing playgroups etc daily, you're doing a lot more than me! I'm up for a maximum of two playdate/playgroups a week, more often its one. Toddlers might enjoy an outing but ultimately its time with mummy that is more important for them developmentally and a lot of the social events are more designed for the mums to get out of the house in a chid friendly way. yeah, and playdates are one thing (with one or two other mums), but I feel really uncomfortable in larger groups (yup, really!) and generally avoid the largest ones unless I know someone there, who then gets the dubious pleasure of me sticking close for the duration!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 17:34
no, never pay an agency to find you work... once they have your money, where's the incentive to lift a finger?! Recruitment agencies get paid commission by the company when they successfully place a candidate... and it's generally a nice commission, so no, don't pay them anything... not to find you work nor "convert your CV to Gulf style"
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 17:28
hmmm... tricky! You could try just managing the situation, so for example, hosting round yours so that you son feels slightly more empowered and reassured... or organising a particular activity so that they are focussed on that rather than each-other... or you could go somewhere where they don't have to be next to each other if they don't want to be, but you can still talk to your friend... or meeting your friend socially when your children aren't around?
Hello.Again.Kitty
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 16:00
Thanks HAK, I really don't know how you manage to find the time to play agony aunt to everyone on here! I shouldn't really because I have so much on my own plate as it is... I may have to seek help for it before long... a proper addiction! It'll pass though... one of these days I'll just wean myself off and HK's Top Tips will be a thing of the past! One thing my health visitor said, which was very apt, is that it generally takes about 6-8 weeks for Eldest to realise that bubs is here to stay, so that point is very much the climax of the jealous behaviour... it does get better though!
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 15:55
We followed BLW and it's worked really well. Once you get your head around the fact that the child will not starve himself and eat how much they want/need, then all is well. You see, I've got a friend-of-a-friend who really, really went for the BLW approach and it really, really didn't work out for her baby... she was devastated because she had to reassess her approach and, in the face of her previously bouncing bubba losing weight and not eating anything, had to move to purées and start again the traditional way. That's also why I'm a great advocate of not seeing any approach (in anything regarding birth and childcare) as the be-all-and-end-all. If you really bear in mind that there's no right or wrong, there's no possibility of "failure" or "backtracking" to get stuck on... just different approaches to get the same job done!
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 15:47
Don't worry about it - just because you may happen to have children the same age, doesn't mean to say that you're going to be bosom buddies with everyone you meet. You'll find that just as at work, you'll have close friends, a circle of good friends and a wider circle of acquaintances. I've made some really good friends though my children, just as I've made some through the internet, through my work or through my uni course(s). You don't have to be a socialite to get on! It may help though to think of it in terms of work - you know, like to get a project done, you'll have to "get on" with a team of people - no-one's asking you to be best mates, but just to be nice, have a bit of pleasant chit-chat and that's that really. You'll find like-minded people in any situation... If it's any help, only of my friends set this[url= https://www.facebook.com/Social.Phobia.Anxiety.Parents'>group[/url'> up for parents who face exactly this kind of issue. You're not alone, believe me! <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 29/09/2011</em>
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 13:16
Bless yer - it's not an exact science! There are so many different schools of thought and approaches... and even the recommendations change regularly! My main pointers would be: - let your baby lead the process in terms of appetite, pureed/ mulched or finger foods... - the earlier you start (not before 18 weeks), the more you'd have to look out for adverse reactions, but if there's no history of allergy in your family, then chances are, your baby won't be allergic to anything - avoid salt, sugar and processed foods - start as you mean to continue - the goal is to have them eating your family meals, so by all means cook the venison hot-pots or chicken and apple goujons from the books, but if you only eat curries or spag bol at home, then you're kind of going to be facing a bit of a let-down! - remember mealtimes are just as important socially as nutritionally - children will learn their eating habits and manners from observing the adults around them, so try to have meals together and also try not to project your own personal food-related dislikes onto them. Don't stress or fuss about how and what they're eating - that's a one-way trip to a "fussy eater" (who isn't actually by nature, it's just that s/he's been taught to be.. by the fussing, stressed out parent/carer) - never assume that a baby won't like something or that it will only like certain things. My two will happily eat smoked salmon, sun-dried tomatoes, chilli, olives and curries and have done for as long as I can remember. - always give water with meals, but carry on giving the milk too. If you are breastfeeding and weaning on demand, then you will hardly notice the transition. - if you have set mealtimes in your household, stick to them. Sit at a table... together. Don't use the time to go do some chores or read your book and don't chase bubs around shoving morsels in his mouth whenever he doesn't realise it. Think eating [i'>habits[/i'>... and healthy ones at that! Basically, it's not rocket science, no two children are the same, no book has all the answers and they all get there in the end!
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 15:44
I think I kind of went with a veggie "main meal" and a fruit "pudding" - lots of apple, banana, porridge (ok, not fruit or veg!), carrot, peas, sweet potato, parsnip...
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 12:54
LOL... flapping arm syndrome! hehe - everything's a syndrome nowadays! M - it's a perfectly natural reflex... I do it even now when I'm falling asleep (not flapping my arms, but a big uncontrolled twitch as my muscles are relaxing). It's not something to be feared or repressed... it's just natural and although it may make them stir, because it really is so close to the sleep threshold, they will go to sleep on their own very shortly afterwards. I remember having to gently hold DD's arms as she fell asleep because her arm-twitch was so marked they literally flew over her head... DS never seemed to, or rather, his, like mine, is more of a leg-twitch.
 
 
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