make do and mend for tougher times

Pooky

Yep, it's bike friendly. Just drive into the big compartments of the train. It's surprisingly easy. ( don't forget to check the requirements for driving abroad though, they've just introduced a new rule so you have to carry 2 disposable breathalysers as well as high viz jackets and stuff)

Tawny75

valk_scot wrote: »

Pah, it's only October, it's still fine for camping if she's got a good sleeping bag and clothes. Which I'm sure she does! Our Scouts do a Brass Monkey camp in January, I send the kids with two sleeping bags each, lol. One girl turned up with a thin sleepover type bag, argh, so she got one of DD's sleeping bags and they put the sleepover bag as a quilt over the top of them both and were fine.

Oh don't get me wrong, I know she will be fine, we have family camped in October too, I have her a decent Vango 3 season bag, and she has her groundsheet and two fleece blankets. It is strange for me though, I am her Guide Leader and this is the first county camp she has gone to. She is up for International Selection and will hopefully get to go to a Jamboree in Europe next year! 5 more of my Guides and Rangers are going for selection too and I feel quite useless by not being there...heheheh. Al and I will get a weekend to ourselves which is a bonus though, I have a feeling we will get all the Christmas shopping done.

mardatha

Oh I won't ever go, far too far away - but I just wondered. Ty both!

Byatt

I agree witht the posters who recommend children having mobile phones. I know it was instrumental in letting my DD venture further afield. She was older, can't remember the age now, as not sure when phones became cheaper to have.

Also, although it may be a step too far for some, you can "track" your youngster. I never had that but I think I might have if it had been available.

The biggest suggestion is to encourage your child to talk to you about anything. Often, you may need to bring up topics that are uncomfortable for you, but I am definitely in the camp where appropriate language to the age honesty about the things that could happen are vital. Children do get embarrassed but if they learn nothing is embarrassing to talk about with you because it's so nornal to talk, it does make a difference.

Byatt

jem132 wrote: »

Morning all had a bit of a bad day yesterday went to the optician and she found a lump at the back of my eye and one on the lens she told me she was referring me to the hospital for a mri scan and to make an appointment with my gp in 3 days I went straight. To gp can't get an appointment for 2 weeks what an earth is going on. PLUS my head is banging and iv got 58 cupcakes and quality cake to make and a party to go to at 6. My df will be so cross if we don't go already fallen out with another threw her not going to gatherings and letting her down so that's not an option. Oh well on words and upwards better start baking

Definitely as Mrs LW said, and otheres, call/see the Dr now. Even phone the help line thingy (sorry my memory is so bad these days)...and ask them.

Your eyes can't just be left for 2 weeks. Can you talk to the optician again? I imagine you were too shocked to ask questions, now might be a good time to call them. No waiting.

edit, and frankly s*d the friend, this is more important!! Is the headache related to the eyes? If she doesn't understand, she's no friend. Seriously. xxx

another edit, I'm not saying this to scare you, but to ensure you get answers or treatment sooner rather than later, or at the very least to put your mind at rest.

any yet another edit. I don't really *mean* s*d the friend, but really, your health is more important than a cup cake, and you need to let her know what's going on. I speak as one who used to put everyone else first. It doesn't pay.

xxx

Tawny75

Byatt wrote: »

The biggest suggestion is to encourage your child to talk to you about anything. Often, you may need to bring up topics that are uncomfortable for you, but I am definitely in the camp where appropriate language to the age honesty about the things that could happen are vital. Children do get embarrassed but if they learn nothing is embarrassing to talk about with you because it's so nornal to talk, it does make a difference.

I have to agree with this, I remember being laughed at when I was at school as I didn't know what certain words meant, no fault of my mum and dad it just wasn't discussed. I promised K from an early age that I would never lie to her ad if she asked me anything of a difficult nature then I would answer her truthfully. Yes, I flamed bright red when she has asked me about things she has heard others talk about, but I have answered her. She now knows that she can ask me anything, and I hope she feels she can tell me anything without judgement as well.

I do apologise, this post makes me seem very holier than thou and I don't mean it to, it is just how it has worked for us.

[Deleted User]

BYATT - You are lovely, loved all the edits in your message to Jem, we are still smiling!!!!! Don't ever change you're lovely just as you are, Cheers Lyn xxx.

lilmisskitkat

fuddle wrote: »

Thank you for all the advice re: kids' mobile phones. Now I know there are schemes I can look into it to find the best for us. I suspect DD may have an emergency phone earlier than 11 as we're allowing her to go to youth club.

There's a certain 'bad parenting' attitude here where parents are looked down upon if they give their children a mobile phone young, like the negative thoughts about children having tv's in their rooms, that kind of 'oooh bad parent' but I do what I think is necessary with my children and don't give two hoots... I know I'm a half decent mam, my children are a credit to DH and I and if anyone wants to think otherwise because of an emergency mobile phone then so be it.

We'll see.

De-lurking again It's the opposite round here, people can't believe that DD (she'll be 11 in a few weeks) has not yet got a mobile phone, not even an old one of ours :eek: The shock!:eek: lol. She is getting one at Xmas, she doesn't know about it yet but we made the decision long ago that she wouldn't be getting one until she was 11 and have stuck to it, some of her friends have had them from 5 or 6.

You make the decisions based on your own individual child, there's not right or wrong age (though i did think 5 was :eek: when my friend got her DD one). It is down to circumstances and if 8 is right for you so be it, just as 11 is right for us.

K xxx

Byatt

Tawny75 wrote: »

I have to agree with this, I remember being laughed at when I was at school as I didn't know what certain words meant, no fault of my mum and dad it just wasn't discussed. I promised K from an early age that I would never lie to her ad if she asked me anything of a difficult nature then I would answer her truthfully. Yes, I flamed bright red when she has asked me about things she has heard others talk about, but I have answered her. She now knows that she can ask me anything, and I hope she feels she can tell me anything without judgement as well.

I do apologise, this post makes me seem very holier than thou and I don't mean it to, it is just how it has worked for us.

I don't think it makes you look holier than thou.
My parents didn't tell me anything, I was so naive even at 18/19 and could have got pregnant and not known how! :eek::o Sex education in school was to say the least poor.

Decided early on with my DD I would be truthful, and often it's worse for the parent as you really don't want to shatter their "innocence", but OTOH, I would rather "shatter" it in a safe environment, than someone else.

jem132

Thankyou for all your thoughtful words we are going to go to our the a&email on Monday when kids go to school don't really want to trail them bless them any way I made loads of cup cakes and the dogs ate them lol x