Tag Archives: Parenting

the sun did not shine, it was too wet to play…

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We’re dealing, at the moment, with Ruby’s first obsession.  If she’s anything like me, and I can see little streaks of behaviour that suggest that she is, then it’s the first of many many crazes.

Ruby’s first obsession is Dr Seuss, specifically, any and all things related to The Cat In The Hat.  We’ve been buying her Dr Seuss books since she was very little, because I really love to read them, and the rhyme and repetition, and frankly, slightly disturbing illustrations hold her attention when we read to her.  Cat In The Hat aside, her favourites are Hop on Pop, which she knows to the point of being able to recite it to us, and Green Eggs and Ham.  She won’t go to sleep without having The Cat In The Hat, and at least one one Dr Seuss book read to her.

A little while ago, my sister bought her the DVD of the Cat In The Hat movie that came out in 2004, and since then it’s barely come out of the DVD player.  Now, she and Darcy watch it every single day.

“Cat Hat” they both demand.  And they sit there, on the sofa, pretty much transfixed, until the end.  It’s 9:30 and it’s already been on once today.  I’ve not had so much peace and quiet and ability to get on with stuff, for, well, a very long time.

It doesn’t stay particularly true to the story, (as that would make for a very short film) and parts of it are pretty crude, no doubt contributing to it’s PG, and not U rating, but over all it’s harmless and quite funny.  And I think a pretty good job has been done on Seussing it up.

Anyway, I suppose I should be happy she’s not obsessed with Justin Bieber, like that three year old in the States, and that this little fad of hers at least has some intellectual and literary merit.  And if it keeps her interested in books and reading, it can only be a good thing, right?!

The Gallery – Motherhood

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Just over two years ago someone came into my life and changed it astronomically.  I anxiously awaited her arrival for nine months, pored over baby name books and cherished every kick (even the ones to the ribs).  Then, one Wednesday afternoon in late May 2008, she arrived, screaming and red, but perfect, and with her she brought joy and love and happiness.

And since that Wednesday, I’ve watched as she’s developed from this helpless tiny newborn, wide eyed, colicky, and always hungry, to the charming, sweet, funny, fiercely independent (“TURN, Mummy, TURRRN” when she wants to do something for herself) toddler she is now.  Oh, and she’s still always hungry.

There is nothing I love more than being Ruby’s mummy.

OK, I admit it, I’ve been an absentee blogger

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No excuses really, other than, this week is always a heinously busy one in the year because it’s Ruby’s birthday, and then my birthday and those two things keep me really quite tied up (the former, moreso than the latter).

I’ve been lax, and I know it.  There are so many things I’ve been meaning to write about and participate in and just haven’t.  They all began to mount up and I got a bit lost.

But I’ll try now.

1) Barcelona.  What a stunningly beautiful place.  Infact, that’s all I am going to say on that, because it deserves it’s very own post and I will do it.  Maybe tonight, now that my Sky digital has packed in, I have no excuses.

2) Ruby’s birthday.  My daughter is two! TWO! Her party was very sweet.  Our family and close friends came to celebrate my girl’s special day, even in the rain.  She got a lot of lovely presents, she hated HATED being sung to, and I made a very tasty cake.  The only downer was that I was quite unwell throughout the entire day, and took my sorry self off to bed as soon as everyone had left.

3) The wedding plans.  We went to Southampton for a very brief fly by to meet with the vicar who is marrying us.  She’s a lovely warm lady called Frances, and I am chuffed to bits.  We talked for an hour or so about our plans, our move to Southampton, what we were hoping to get from marriage and the wedding itself.  Then she said a little prayer for us at the end, and it left me feeling warm and fuzzy.  We are by no means religious, but we’re having a church wedding because the church we’re marrying at is tied to the primary school we both attended and it’s sweet and perfect and just right.  Even though we are not practicing Christians, the way Frances spoke about the church and the families who attend and the social activities, made me really want to start going when we move.  We won’t be living in the parish but I think we’ll make the effort to go anyway.

After the meeting with Frances we went for a meal with my brother in law and his girlfriend, which was lovely.  And the following day I popped down to the florist to confirm bouquets and corsages.

Which brings us pretty much up to date.  I started potty training Ruby today.  Taking the slowly slowly approach, but she is now the proud owner of no less than 30 pairs of knickers.  When we are at home, she’ll be in them, when we are going out, she’ll be in a nappy.  When she tells me consistently that she needs the toilet before the event, then I’ll try her in knickers.  If anyone has some advice, then send it my way.  Only one accident today, but I know this is going to be a long and very messy process.

Is it too late to do the Gallery this week?  Told you I’d been lax!

Toddler Party Planning

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It’s a beautiful day here in London, there is sunshine, a few wispy little clouds and best of all, it’s warm.  I threw my usual mummy uniform of skinny jeans and a t shirt in the wash and put on a skirt this morning!

Who knows, I may even go out wearing sandals today.

And weather like this really makes me feel proactive.  It makes me want to take the girls out, walk down into Tooting, have a look around the market and the fabric shop and pick up an iced coffee from Cafe Nero on the way home.  The fabric shop is definitely somewhere I’ll be heading out to today.  Ruby’s second birthday is fast approaching and now that she’s not such a little baby anymore, I’m putting a lot more time and effort into planning her party.  And that involves fabric because I’m going to be making some bunting to hang.  And I might even be brave and attempt to applique Happy Birthday on some of it.  But don’t hold me to that.

I’ve taken rather a lot of inspiration from Kelle Hampton, because that lady really does know how to throw a party, and am hosting Ruby’s soiree at the park.  Partly because I don’t enjoy cleaning stamped in cake out of the living room carpet, but mainly because we’ve bought Ruby a mini micro scooter and I know she’ll want to use it as soon as she’s ripped off the wrapping paper.  And what better place than the park?

There’s going to be tiny sandwiches, home made chicken nuggets, bowls of berries, lots and lots of little cakes.  But best of all, one very happy little girl.

Terrible Twos

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I hate to say it, but Ruby is behaving like, well, a big brat at the moment.  My little toddler-girl, usually so well behaved and sweet, is suddenly a screamer, a hitter, and worse, a biter.

I think I can safely say, we’ve hit the Terrible Twos in a big way.

I’m trying to ignore it.  I guess she’s reached a point in her life where she is desperately trying to communicate what she wants, but doesn’t quite have the vocabulary to get it across.  And even though she’s learning new words at a rate of knots, it must be pretty frustrating to not be completely understood.

But one thing I cannot, and will not condone is the hitting and the biting.  Poor little Darcy was on the receiving end of a very nasty bite yesterday that’s left her arm with a sore looking red ring, Ruby’s little teeth marks plainly visible even today.  Her sharp canines broke a blood vessel underneath the skin, and I am very fortunate Darcy’s mum is laid back and relaxed enough to be able to laugh it off.

So Ruby and I had a little chat.  I explained to her that it’s unacceptable to bite, and that if she does it again, she gets a time out, and I am hoping this Supernanny approach will be enough, because otherwise I am not sure how to deal with it.

I’ve heard that threes are in a whole new realm of naughtiness to twos, so that gives me roughly twelve months to sort out strategies and round the troops.

So I ask you, parents of toddlers, veterans of the Terrible Twos, what are your tips for surviving this and coming out the other side smelling rosy and with a smile on your face? I’d love to know!