'supporting each other through really tough times'

[Deleted User]

Mulling over this peer pressure thing that seems to be overtaking younger and younger children, I remembered a small incident from when DD1 was around that age that was perhaps the turning point for her and me that stopped me from feeling the guilt about not making her a clone of everyone else because we were careful with our finances. She had just gone up to the Junior School and the uniform was slightly different to the Infant School one and included a dark green cardigan. My step mum had a knitting machine and made us two, right colour, right pattern which saved me much cash over the ones from the uniform shop, perfectly acceptable by the school but the children took the mickey for a couple of weeks about her being too poor to buy a real one. She ran the whole gamut of emotions from being upset with them, upset with me, upset with life in general, hard done by and then I heard her one day in the playground as I dropped her off in the morning, one particular little hothouse lily was being particularly irritating and my DD bless her, turned round and in one of those small silences which happen occasionally in crowded places said VERY loudly ' Well, my nanny loves me enough to give up her time and make things specially for ME, and she makes nice warm things like my cardigan - yours is ONLY from the shop, doesn't your nanny love you enough to make things for you?' the taunting stopped very quickly after that, she was befriended by some lovely kids who had parents like us and soon became the child who everyone wanted to go home to tea with because her Mummy made home made things and she had pets and her Daddy grew things to eat - it's a eureka moment when it happens, and it surely will some time soon!!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

Hardup_Hester

When my kids were younger they refused to have 'blue & white stripey' food in their lunch boxes, there are 2 ways round this, either to take everything out of the packet or give them home made treats, no wrapping then to be teased about.
Hester

fuddle

You are all such tonics. Thank you

GQ your fingers must be so sore typing all that about the sheets. I have it in my minds eye now and will store it for when needed. I'm dreaming of my grandmas pastel stripy winciette sheets now and actually remember tearing a thread bare one! I wonder if she middle to sided it!

I guess it happens all over time. Maybe grown up parents fuel it too. I altered (badly but did the job) a green dress of mine for DD8 Tudor day. She looked good and it did the trick... Until we got to school and saw girls with goldy, maroon offering complete with skirt hoop etc. DD didn't say anything and wandered off pleased to be in costume. Whenshe got home she said to me 'mam next time I want to be a Tudor queen not a Tudor peasant'. Bother.

I went to school in those types of uniform Lyn. Again by my grandma but I got the skirt to match complete with thick white elastic gathered at the waist. The girls have school jumpers... Jumpers being the problem. At £7.50 I chose 2x of them each (when we moved at Christmas) instead of the cardigans at £9.50 each. They so want cardi's like the other all girls with te dilemma that eldest is ready for the next size up so could get cardi's but eldest jumpers still fit youngest who will feel very left out if not replaced. I don't know what to do but I am not buying youngest cardi's when there's 4 jumpers that fit her! Going to have to think of a sweat hearting here I think.

Still, if this is all I have to worry about its a good period eh? Kids!!

boultdj

What's with this dressing up in costum's for school marlarky? When did it start?
I know if it had been asked for in the 70's[juinor school] me Gran would have gone barmy at 'em and told 'em she had bill's to pay and food to buy and no money to waste on rubbish like that.

kidcat

boultdj - my youngest has a dressing day per half term, its a bone of contention for me or has been in the past, I am now very fortunate that my friend can run her a costume up without any issue - but its usually a letter on a Friday that they need such a costume by Monday! And they are never simple stuff you have in either, there has been Victorian, Superhero, Literary character, Egyptian and aztec this year!

Its DS15!! birthday today and we went to our Sunday regular breakfast place - they made a huge fuss of him and he was thrilled.
He is now waiting on our IT friend arriving to help build his PC.

I however have come home and my stomach feels awful, so am getting worried his birthday meal will not work so well.

fuddle

Boult its a nightmare. The girls school have a 'day' every month. It's all voluntarily (of course they want to join in!) and those on packed lunch can pay £2 to have a 'day' lunch. The next one is a 'Scottish' day. I'm tempted to invest in face paint, at least they can join in without costing me an arm and a leg or a 'special item' in their packed lunch.

boultdj

Just a weekend's notice! Are they mad?!
Like I said, was never asked for stuff like that in the 70's and not having kiddie's in the family I'v never come across it before.

Hardup_Hester

My grandchildren frequently need to go to school in costume, same thing letter on Friday, costume on Monday, fortunately DD is handy with a needle & I can usually provide any fabric needed, but she & I both think it's a bloody nuisance!

nuttyp

Fuddle, my two girls have been exactly the same growing up. I never bought the school uniform with logo's on, just cheap asda same colour ones. And at a really bad time, we bought some from the lost property box at school. Our school did a second hand uniform sale at the end of each term.

When shopping my girls were embarrassed by the 'value' stuff I bought. I remember one day in Tosco, and we were about to buy something tinned. DD saw this man buy the dearer brand with a nice photo on the front. She asked why we didn't buy that one, I said its because we can read very well and were clever. She said can that man not read then?? He looked at me and smiled. I think he knew I couldn't afford them.

We still buy value stuff, I am proud that I do as it means we can live a varied life. As in if its reduced we get a treat.

I am suppose to be packing today, we are going on our 'sun' holiday tomorrow to scarborough. So far we have a quiltcover and sheet packed and the kitchen bits n bobs. I am not motivated at all. I know we are very lucky to be even going away for 4 days. My mum gave us £20 to have a meal out, we will get about 3 as I never go to expensive places :-)

Right must start some packing, will try and pop by later for a catch up then I will next chat on Saturday. Please send some nice weather to us for the next few days......

boultdj

fuddle wrote: »

Boult its a nightmare. The girls school have a 'day' every month. It's all voluntarily (of course they want to join in!) and those on packed lunch can pay £2 to have a 'day' lunch. The next one is a 'Scottish' day. I'm tempted to invest in face paint, at least they can join in without costing me an arm and a leg or a 'special item' in their packed lunch.

By 'special item' in the lunch box do you mean,national fare/dish? If so you can use oatcake's, scotch broth, iron brew, tablet or shortbread.