Our attempt at being MF!!

Lois_E

My kids won't tidy unless coerced either. I think kids who will tidy without a lot of input from the parents are fairly rare - although congratulations to anyone who's got one!

I'm paying £95 pm to BG for gas & electric ATM. It's a 4 bed detached house from some time in the middle of the 20th century. Getting the bill down is on my mental list of things to deal with. The previous owners have put in lots of non-standard lights which I think are probably not very efficient, and my kids are dreadful about not switching anything off. Soon I think I'm going to have some kind of incentive scheme for them if the week's electricity usage is low. It might motivate them to change.

CathT

I am pretty frugal with the heating and lighting too, such a waste of money illuminating the house. I even have one of the usage monitors I don't use. DH did set it up for me but there just aren't enough hours in the day to keep up with everything.

CathT

No job news yet.

Found £20 in my purse earlier, didn't realise I had it! Shame I had already got money out of the bank.

Am going to Spain tomorrow for a long weekend, I am sooo ready to go now! Am looking forward to sitting in the sun with a good book and eating delicious food. I am just coming to the end of 'The Olive Farm' by Carol Drinkwater and have really enjoyed it.

DD didn't go to bed till 10pm last night, it is really difficult at the moment getting her to sleep. Have just picked up her new blackout blinds so i'm hoping that makes a positive difference! Does anyone have any advice? She is 3 in September.

gratefulforhelp_2

um, probably you already have it right, but...

a fixed bedtime routine with a bath to drop her body temp
calm time before that routine starts
enough to eat and drink - maybe a snack before bed?
make yourselves very boring if you have to go into her - limit conversation and eye contact

it can take awhile but it will come good.

soooo jealous of Spain!!

yukkibear

Have fun this weekend, so jealous as well. Re dd, sometimes my dd won't go to sleep so we took all toys etc from her room so there was no distraction to play etc. Other than that, would only suggest the blackout blinds if it could be the light, so good luck x

SmlSave

Have a great time in Spain hun

gratefulforhelp_2

mum swears by having a trigger phrase you always say at bedtime, too, like "night night sleep tight" or whatever, helps to set up expectations.

AuntieMabel

CathT wrote: »

.

DD didn't go to bed till 10pm last night, it is really difficult at the moment getting her to sleep. Have just picked up her new blackout blinds so i'm hoping that makes a positive difference! Does anyone have any advice? She is 3 in September.

Only other thing I would suggest is once you have gone through the bed time routine and have her in her bedroom at say 7pm (or whatever time you have decided is 'bedtime'), don't let her come out of the bedroom again. If this is too early then start later and move earlier in half an hour steps every few nights. Read for a bit, or listen to a story tape so she can nod off to it (hopefully).You may have to stay with her for a bit, or keep going back in to settle her, but don't let her come out and start cavorting round the house. She'll get the idea that once she's in her bedroom the day is over and it's time to chill.
I did this with my 3 and it can be really hard work at the time but it does work. It's important (IMO) for her to have a bedtime, and you to have some evening to keep your sanity

HTH

CathT

Thanks all, we bought a new blackout blind last week so hoping that makes a difference. I know we haven't been consistent enough with her which is why she doesn't settle well. She just simply wants one of us there till she falls asleep - just wish she would do it independently. She knows what is happening next etc and happily walks up to bed and gets in but plays up if we leave (even when we say 'i'll be back in a minute' etc). Will take all of your tips on board thank you.

Grateful - did you send more clothes? Thank you very much xxx

Had a lovely relaxing time in Spain and remained money savvy much to my mum's amusement! I gave her Sterling when she withdrew Euros from the bank to avoid us both paying bank charges! I said this is why my mortgage will be gone in 10 years! Think something triggered though as she wants me to help her set up regular overpayments etc (something she has never considered) and for me to show her the various sites I use to maximise income.

Am off to look at some baby items later someone is selling locally - i think they are a bargain and one of them is a bugaboo pram which i believe are very expensive ?£800 ish new and sell for over £200 on eBay. Anyway, this lady has it for sale at £150 ono so it seems a bargain as well as an investment as I should recoup my money when I sell it on.

20 week scan later too - soooooo excited!!

Froggy-G

Welome back Cath! We missed you!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad you had a good time, you truly deserved it! :D:D:D