Mr and Mrs K's New Journey to a Debt Free Life.

boo2410

My son went to nursery at 3 when it was free!!! When the day came I was dreading it and envisaged him kicking and screaming and generally being upset. He just strolled in without a backward glance, not even a kiss :rotfl::rotfl:. He's been like it ever since, both at his first school and again when we moved here and he had to make friends all over again.

I do think nursery gives children a really good grounding and nothing really fazes him now (he's almost 10).

Send your son to nursery, I bet he will absolutely love it.

AlexLK

boo: I do hope we have a similar tale to tell in a couple of months time . There is still that feeling of dread in the back of my mind, wondering who he will make friends with, wondering if he will get on with the teachers etc. He is quite clever for his age, OK I'm sure all parents say that but we have ticked off many "developmental milestones" attributed to a three year old already.

Orange_Ena

AlexLK wrote: »

Orange Ena: Are you trying to say you don't believe I'm good at sharing my toys?

This probably sounds the sort of thing some crazy stay-at-home-mum would say but I have to admit, I hate to think of leaving him in a group of unknown people (both children and adults) .

On another note, we have seen the first episode of Educating Yorkshire ... Mrs. K. said in some ways in brought back memories of her school (the girls caked in make-up, so nothing too awfully horrendous). Clearly, they had chosen the worst children to partake but what can one expect calling their son "Kamrrem", honestly, I felt like screaming at the screen :rotfl:. OK, I have a slightly "unusual" middle name but it's not a name my parents made up. As for the girl, Bailey, my, my she obviously had a lot of issues. Something I did observe were the teachers hardly setting a good example of how to dress themselves: the Head's brown shoes with comedy socks and cufflinks made me want to heave, as for the deputy who couldn't wear his tie in the correct position the less said about that one the better. At least if an ex-public schoolboy were running the place an example of how to dress appropriately would be conveyed to their young, impressionable minds.

Well Alex, I've known you about 10 days and you still haven't offered to lend me a posh pen. I do think you have sharing issues :rotfl::D;)

Awww your son would soon get to know the other kids and adults so they really wouldn't be unknown people for long

I fear you've turned into that awful name snob, Katie Hopkins. :eek:;) I went to state schools so have no experience of private schools but I'd much rather a head teacher wear comedy socks and cufflinks than a tweed jacket with the leather elbow patches that I imagine private school heads to wear :rotfl::rotfl:

wegle

AlexLK wrote: »

Mrs. K.'s family have been getting themselves involved in my marriage ever since I had my "breakdown" as they condescendingly call it with a little smirk on their features. In fact during the time I was in hospital Mrs. K.'s father threatened to "knock out" mine. Yes, as you can tell things are strained.

Thank you for the support. At least this time they did not cause an argument between my wife and I, in fact in the end it was her who asked them to leave. Still, I do wonder if there is any truth in what they said she had told them (basically being that she'd leave if she didn't think it would result in me doing "something stupid").

The music teaching is actually going far better than I thought it would - I'm really quite enjoying it.

This is appalling behaviour!! We all have a whinge and a moan to our family when we're annoyed with our other halves, but it is their job to smile, nod, agree with you, make you feel a bit better and then stay out of it!! Mrs K is a grown woman and perfectly capable of making her own decisions on how she runs her life and who she chooses to spend it with. I don't really have any advice to give but just wanted to you to know that I feel for you and don't in anyway believe you should have to put up with this. How will they feel if one day one of them goes through a breakdown of their own. Mental health issues are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at anytime in their lives. Treat others as you would wish to be treated, how hard it that!!

Re your son and nursery. I definitely think you should consider it. Learning to make friends and have confidence within a group is invaluable and this will be the first step on that process.

I watched a bit of that yorkshire school programme, it was hilarious. Just remember that the point of these shows is to shock and be entertaining. They are by no means representative of the whole school system. It's like the benefits shows that come round every now and again and paint the picture that all benefit claimants are lazy scum with flat screen tellys. Maybe true for a few but certainly not all. Also I bet for all those idiots on telly last night there is a pupil at the same school diligently studying in the library and on their way to a great education and career.

7roland8

AlexLK wrote: »

. There is still that feeling of dread in the back of my mind, wondering who he will make friends with, wondering if he will get on with the teachers etc. He is quite clever for his age, OK I'm sure all parents say that but we have ticked off many "developmental milestones" attributed to a three year old already.

Well I think one of a parent's dutys, rather than ticking off developmental milestones, is to make sure your child is confident and sociable and if he does not mix until he gets to school age he will be at a distinct disadvantage - not being used to lots of children around, not knowing how to relate to teachers and maybe not being one of the friendly crowd that all knew each other at nursery.

I was a stay at home mum but went to mums & toddlers etc with both sons to get them into a social network - you cannot wrap them in cotton wool. There were Christmas parties and Santa visiting and all extra events such as trips to local parks that they would have missed if just at home with me.

FlubM

Please, please don't judge all state schools by the one you saw on TV but I do know where you are coming from re appropriate dress etc: my daughter and I both decided against one school as the headteacher was wearing bright orange fake tan - bad enough (in my old fashioned & reactionary view) if it had been a headmistress but this was a headMASTER:rotfl:. Call me old fashioned and sexist if you like but I simply coudln't take him or his school seriously (what on earth were the governors thinking?) but took heart from the fact that my eleven year old felt exactly the same as I did about this.

AlexLK

I just wrote out a long response only to lose it when I hit "submit".

Anyhow, here goes, sorry this is not going to be quite so coherent as the reply I wrote out only to lose.

Orange Ena: hahaha, you could buy a pen from me, though? Honestly, do you really believe I have "sharing issues"?

I just want to protect him from the "big bad world", I don't want him to stop being the happy little boy he is now.

What's wrong with a bit of tweed? I am aware I did come over as a bit of a snob in that last post, I have been trying not to judge on appearances.

wegle: Thank you. We have got to go out with Mrs. K.'s family at the weekend as it is her mother's birthday. I'm dreading it for obvious reasons, though I know I'll hardly say a word, they will have plenty to say to and about me.

Our son will be going to nursery, Mrs. K. wants him to and if I'm honest he is starting to stress my parents out now they struggle to keep up with him, doesn't mean we are both apprehensive to let him go.

I do realise the purpose of the school programme, for the most part I found it hilarious!

Roland: Thank you. I have to admit I am a bit of a "box ticker", Mrs. K. hates it .

FlubM: :rotfl: hahahaha, you have cheered me up just imagining the fake tanned Headmaster! :rotfl: And, no, I'm not judging all state schools by the one on TV.

heartbreak_star

Alex, you might want to protect him from the "big bad world"...but that might also make him vulnerable when he gets older.

Nursery is awesome for an only child. I loved it, apparently...and mum told me after my first half day I sulked because I had to come home in the afternoon

HBS x

AlexLK

LOL, I do hope he enjoys it as much as you lot seemed to. He is enjoying swimming a lot, so whoever it was who made that suggestion, thank you.

Got my two violiners from last week this evening, so currently wondering how they have got on with the work I set them. I've wrote to the awkward credit card company today; just how hard can it be to PAY someone?

fc123

AlexLK wrote: »

LOL, I do hope he enjoys it as much as you lot seemed to. He is enjoying swimming a lot, so whoever it was who made that suggestion, thank you.

Got my two violiners from last week this evening, so currently wondering how they have got on with the work I set them. I've wrote to the awkward credit card company today; just how hard can it be to PAY someone?

Hi, all, sorry, but been AWOL but been keeping in touch by reading bits during the day but we now have no broadband at home (which is my posting time) as turned out we were sent a faulty hub . Another 3 working days before we get connected.

So, in breach of my own self imposed rules of not posting when I am at work, I am doing a swift post The hardest bit about having your own business is that as the boss one has to exercise huge dollops of self discipline.


It's all sounding positive on the whole Alex but the in laws popping around for...well...a pop seems a bit off in my view.

Is it something to do with what they see as the lack of 'A Proper Job'?
I promised to write something as we haven't had 'A Proper Job' for 27 years in my father in laws eyes. :rotfl:

I am so glad you are planning the childcare now as when Mrs K goes back FT, you will have your 3 jobs (and none of them 'Proper' *said tongue in cheek*).

Some forward planning to what gets allocated each day would probably be helpful and I don't know how you 'cut' the workload with your furniture partner, but you want to be able to perform your role as best you can but be able to fit the music lessons in too.

From a strangers point of view, you actually have a lovely, flexible set up within which to earn your income and connect with your son on a day to day level. OK, it may not be a 120k pa / 8 weeks hols garnished with supposed 'status' but those jobs aren't suited to every temperament.

The fixed earnings from music lessons is great for budget planning and every week you know £x will come in. You will have to allow for tax though and keep a separate record so don't forget to add 25% to what you want 'in hand' to the hourly rate

I know customers/suppliers want to meet at their convenience but you can allocate met-ups for when you have childcare in place.


I can see you managing a SE income of around 2k pcm within a short space of time...which isn't too shabby. Sounds like A Proper Job to me.

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Will you have time at home to batch cook and do a bit of housework so Mrs K isn't run ragged all W/E?

You may have to bring in some Time Saving things too...like never cook one lasagne, if you are going to chop + cook, double the quantity and make 2 and freeze one for another time. Eventually, you'll have a freezer full of home cooked meals that can sort out a night when you don't have time to cook.
Online supermarket shopping for essentials like loo roll frees up a lot of the drudgery (monthly is even better) and you can still buy fresh food locally.

I have some 'Old Wives Sayings' that I found helpful...don't know if they are for you but they do ring true sometimes.

The best is 'If you do what you have always done, you will get what you always got'


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'The more you do, the more you can do'.

I'll pop in next week when I am back online