make do and mend for tougher times

kidcat

born blonde - ouch ((hugs)) hope you are feeling better soon.

possession - it sounds like they are using the SEAL approach, which can be really effective, however if after reporting it yesterday it continued that is not acceptable at all. I would definitely recommend contacting the governors and also keep on top of school.

Possession

Welcome Jayney! You might want to note down that if I ever attempt to give you any gardening advice you should in fact do the opposite as I can kill a plant just by looking at it.
Ginny can anyone help you with the loft? It's hard work going up and down (or rather throwing everything down as I used to do) but you will at least have the satisfaction of a lovely clear loft. You'd better take a picture as it will probably never look like that again!
I went to Aldi on the way back from school and heard a couple discussing how the prices had gone up and they were cheaper in another branch. Does Aldi practice localised pricing does anyone know?
Kidcat it does seem like they are using that approach. We'll have to see what today brings I guess.

kidcat

possession I use one of two stores in different towns and have previously used stores all over the country and have never noticed any real price differences - doesnt mean that it doesnt happen, I would say its more likely that one manager is either quicker at increasing the prices or dlower at decreasing them in your area.

Welcome Janey

Ginny - you will need loads of help, we emptied ours at previous house but one, and we had been there ten years, it took us two weeks and it was hell. I never thought we would get to the end.

D&DD

HI Jayney I know how you feel when you've always worked and had two incomes it takes some getting used to going down to one but it can be done..
I found we saved money on things such as childminding fees,takeaways(!) and fast food dinners ,I now have time to mend clothes/stuff rather than keep having to buy replacements,less 'guilt presents' *haven't we all gone to the toyshop on our days off* ???,and as you say growing your own really helps

westcoastscot

:wave: Hi Jayney

Ginny how is your back/legs today? I have a day off and am really sore . So annoying as I have loads of things I want to do but just feel like sitting here drinking to - its soooooooo frustrating!!!

stiltwalker

Welcome Jayney - Hugs where needed (gentle ones for you, born blonde).

Rally excited here as when OH gets back from work (in about an hour) we are going off for the weekend to meet up with a few other families whose children have the same rare genetic disorder as our two. It'll be the first time we've met anyone else with the same thing. Have been talking with a few of the other mums on our closed FB group and I get the impression we're going to get on like a house on fire. DD so excited - she didn't want to go to sleep last night and when I asked her why she said "I too cited" - she crashed eventually as she was tired really then we had a lie in this morning.

!!!!!! was great last night - my Dad has been on a weekend course on how to make a traditional cumbrian basket and it now sits by their woodburner with the logs in it -it's beautiful.

Have a good weekend all. X

fuddle

Hi Jayney It is awful having to have to seriously think about whether you can stay at home with your children isn't it. Looking forward to chatting with you and no question is daft. I learned everything I know (and I'm no where near knowledgeable yet ) from the good people of these threads.

BB so sorry you have hurt your arm like that. It sounds like a nasty break! It's not your tea drinking arm is it?!

Possession the school I worked at swept under the carpet the children with SEN's outbursts. It was expected that they would do it and it was expected that us support assistants would say sorry to the child on the receiving on behalf of the child while the child was able to run off and play. We were told to never approach the issue for fear of a 'kick off' and that would show that we could not cope with the issue which ultimately would put our jobs at risk because if the child was withdrawn from the school the funding that pays our wages would be cut... and the school would lose a dogs body to do all sorts of other jobs to, while the SEN children were 'conforming'. The whole issue makes my blood boil. This is an Ofsted 'outstanding' graded school too.

The last little boy I worked with, I ended up being friendly with his mum. She invited me round for a cuppa while I was on maternity leave with eldest DD. We talked and talked about the issues with the little one being in that school, he truth not the 'he's had a good day' talk. From that moment on she pushed to get her little boy into a special needs unit. She was mortified he was allowed to abuse (because that's what it was) other children. If everybody is open about issues, if children are allowed to be worked with to help them with their outbursts or to find out what they need in order for them to calm down, then chat, then apologise then a consequence (because I'm a firm believer that all children need to be answerable for their actions... but it has to be appropriate for each individual child) then it has a better outcome for everybody. If my little ones went to that school where I worked I would be mortified that I had put them into the scenarios I saw daily. I feel for you P but I'm pleased DDD can help you out.

Oh i'm sorry, I went on too long. It's a past of mine that I'm passionate about but still reeling with anger over incompetence.

This brings me into a dilemma I have, again about stewing over incompetence, doing things I know is wrong and allowing peopple to walk all over me....

I've been working for 3 weeks now. Because we have only 3 children in the second sitting I've been going outside for the last 40 mins every day. It takes my counterpart 40 minutes to clean up after 3 children when I have already cleaned and put away the spare tables and chairs. I've been feeling a bit like she should do her fair share outside too anyway, but today a little girl left her cardigan in the dining hall so I went back in to get it for her and found the 3 boys alone eating their dinner while she's tucking into her lunch. I was seething. Still am. So what do I do? Do I just think it's £6.36 per hour, I get along with them fine, so what If I go out all the time. Or do I say that maybe we have a week out and week in and risk upsetting her (the dinner nanny before me is a friend of mine she's one of the 40+ mams I'm going to the Italian's with tonight and I know that she dare question the clique and her life was made a misery for that hour and a half she worked daily. I've been told to go in, do my job and get out again keeping the peace because it's not worth it.)

I've never really stood up for myself and I'm getting in a stew about this, which is why I'm inclined to just let it go. Still, I'm a boooogar for right and wrong and people pulling their weight. I do not like the feeling of being taken advantage of either.

Sorry non of this was OS... i'll get me coat!

ginnyknit

Aww stiltwalker, she is cited at the thought of the weekend, how lovely is that. Im sure it will be a good weekend for you all.

My Oh did a lot of basket making and was really good at it, its wonderful to see a basket grow.

I have sciatica which is bl**dy unfair as OH 's problems come from a destroyed sciatic nerve. I have a fraction of what he goes through and god help him. Apparently I am doing what is needed and should go back in a week if no better and the GP can say 'oh dear, suck it up and get on with it' her usual treatment for anything I get :rotfl: Its slighlty better as each day goes on reaching a crescendo mid afternoon then fading by bed time. Its making me a ratty s*d

Just bought a Rachel Allen pie maker from CS so its pies all round !!

Ds and DD's Oh will help with loft and we will be getting a skip on the day when DS books a day off. I can't even get in the loft so will have to be patient. Thank you for the sympathy D&DD, you always understand, I think we may be rather alike :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Hi FUDDLE - You have settled into the job so well and seem to be enjoying it I think it would be a pity to get put upon by the others you work with. I can see why you are concerned and I think it would be only sensible to raise the issue of the 3 children left alone unsupervised to eat whilst your colleague eats her lunch (presumably she was in another room?). Do you have a senior supervisor who oversees all of you? That would be the appropriate person to deal with your concerns. It would not make you popular with the other lady but if she is not sticking to the job she is paid to do then someone should know about it. I would also raise the issue of being alone supervising the other children for the 40 minutes, if there was an accident and you had to deal with it surely that would leave those children also unsupervised but outside in a playground situation which would not be sensible. If you are employed on the same basis it would only be fair to expect you both to do equal duties. Don't stew about it as that will only get you upset and that's not a good place to be is it? If you feel it would do any good could you speak to the actual lady concerned, or would that just tip you into the coals?
it's a tricky one and I would hate to give you bad advice and make the situation worse for you, you have to weigh up what the least disruption would be for you, leave well alone and stay quiet or tackle a problem diplomatically and risk being made unhappy - tough call little one! Cheers Lyn xxx.

fuddle

She was behind the serving hatch in the kitchen, so she could see the children. Safety wise, she was doing nothing wrong really, it's just there were 3 three year olds sat all on their own. She's supposed to eat after our duty is over. I'm thinking I'll leave it. After Christmas there will be an intake which will see a full second sitting and neither of us will be able to go out. I'll just stick it out till then. I could see the head about it but it's such a small issue I don't want to be a pest. I'm alright!

I was meant to get my toilet fixed this afternoon. I have to pick the girls up in 15 minutes I hope he comes after 4.

Gosh on a downer... must chipper up I'm going to the Italians later - Main, dessert and a glass of wine for £10