make do and mend for tougher times

fuddle

I lost my best friend at the age of 11, a year after I lost my dad. It wasn't in horrible circumstances but natural causes that came out of nowhere. If you ignore the panic attacks and the anxiety I have now, because that's down to many, many things that have happened since childhood and probably about losing the security of my dad.... but ignoring all that I am typing this to tell you all with little ones that having been through loss as a child I coped. Being a child, somehow, helps with the grieving process. I can't explain why. I just wanted to support you with little ones and put my hand in the air to tell you that I'm alright.

Watching Countryfile as I type this. It's all very upsetting the talk of GM crops and dwindling food stocks.

kidcat

How sad that so many of our children have experienced these things, apparently there are certain procedures that will follow that the LA set down but these are not made public. I have decided to call again in the morning and then contact DS caseworker and see if they can get more information. It may be that they can assist as DS is likely to find it very hard to cope with,



ETA - stiltwalker, I remember the days of having to do the whole playbarn thing with them, it was all loads of fun until the next day when I ached but oh the fun.

Popperwell

Possesion they are fortunate and lucky that you are there, when I was young Mum was there for me too but if she was working my Gran was at the bottom of the street...

Evie74_2

Possession - Unfortunately we had to tell DD what had actually happened - it was all over the school in any event. I was rather shocked by how much detail some of the children knew - either from the TV or from overhearing their parents I suppose.

The world is a depressing place sometimes

Evie xx

Popperwell

I think children do cope Fuddle and sometimes we the adults make things more difficult.

It depends on the age of the child I suppose, perhaps more difficult when you are a teenager? Or perhaps every case is different.

becca-2012

Hello. I have never posted here before but have been reading the thread for about 8 months. I can never completely keep up! Would it be ok to join you?

I split up from my ex about 4 months ago and really need to sort out my life. I have two little ones and luckily they seem to be coping well. Thank you for all the tips I have stolen over the months and sorry for not join in before.

fuddle

Pops I'm really nervous about the school holidays I just don't know how I'm going to stimulate them for that long a time.

A weekend is fine as we'll carry on taking the dog out for walks. My youngest has a birthday in the hols so another day filled. The library have craft sessions on once a week so we'll go to all of those. £1 per child so it'll be £2 a week. We have a park over the field but can only go early in th morning as the kids that get on there later have a foul mouth normally and I find it uncomfortable with the youngest. Indoors, there'll be TV/DVD time, computer games online and there's the family wii but as any mam with a half an ounce of eeeeek that's too much now will know, that's not to be relied upon.

I'm lucky that my eldest is very interested in reading so if she's bored she'll just take herself off to her bed. Youngest is leaning her sounds and liking to copy words to write. They both love to draw and paint. We make our own playdoh and they do enjoy jigsaws. They have their toys in their rooms and umpteen cardboard boxes to make ships/rockets/tents. They don't play out because we're on main road but I will tie the front garden gate up and let them minibeast hunt in the front. Their sandpit is more like a pond now.

Eldest is fairy cake making queen and youngest is flapjack queen. They can do it without my help now and that makes it more exciting.
I'm going to struggle with no car, I know that.

fuddle

Hi and welcome becca I love that you've pinched some tips Looking forward to chatting with you

kidcat

becca - welcome, quick settle in before GQ has you brewing tea for everyone. Although I have leftover cake if anyone fancies some

DS knows all the details, hard not to in a small town with it splashed all over the papers. What the papers havent reported Facebook has covered the rest.

Our kids finish school this week, so I am planning some trips, have found a little bit of money I had forgotten about and am considering taking kids away for a few days even though OH wont be able to go as he has no summer holidays booked. My parents are not happy with the idea but I quite fancy the idea of travelling without OH - I think it may be less stressful.

Evie74_2

Thanks Pops - it seems to have worked!

The summer holidays are indeed almost upon us. I am very, very lucky to have help from my mum and stepdad as regards child care. They live close to my office and so I drop the girls off with them while I'm at work and pick them up when I finish at 2pm.

They mainly potter around at home - painting/drawing/crafts/baking/garden games/DVDs, or go for a walk or to the park or library. My parents are National Trust members and the girls get in free with them so they have the odd day out too. I am so grateful to my mum and stepdad as they save us a fortune in holiday child care - they say they enjoy it and they do have a very close relationship with both DDs. I hope they will all have happy memories of time spent together.

Of course this summer is a little different as DH will be out of work from 1 August so he will be on hand for the girls too (although my parents are hoping to have them a lot too!)

Evie xx