Sashybo - Back Again

sashybo

Thanks for dropping in guys.

Redo, I hoped DD would be easier to toilet train but no dice, she is as stubborn as her brother. 

May give it another try over Christmas but don’t want to be too stressed out plus both DH & I will be working throughout. My mum had the magic touch with DS so maybe she can convince DD. 😂

Had a nice week with DH back at work and the kids at school. It was lovely to have the house to myself, even just for a few hours. DH working shorter hours this week so no full days to myself yet.

Went for my eye test a few days ago and getting new glasses next week. My prescription has only changed slightly which is good, my astigmatism is stable but my short sightedness is slightly worse. Weirdly only short sighted in one eye and the astigmatism is in the other.

Total cost is £159 for frames plus new lenses with anti glare coating. My work health plan will pay £135 of it, just need to claim it back once paid.

sashybo

Had a productive day yesterday, cleaned the kitchen sink, worktops, hob & hood, microwave and wiped down the cupboard doors & handles. Did the big cat litter clean as well.

Also cleaned round the edges of the dishwasher door (which was grim) and cleaned out the drawer on the washing machine. Then did a maintenance wash and also got one wash put away and another hung up to dry.

DH cleaned the downstairs floors when he got home.

Got some surveys done and have paid a bit more off my CC’s.

beanielou

That was very reasonable for your new glasses 

sashybo

Beanie, it's a local opticians, they only have two branches and they are always reasonably priced and friendly so I like going there. The optician there is very thorough and explains everything to you so you understand what's going on.

I did ask him when to start taking the kids for eye tests as my short-sightedness appeared when I was 7. He said there's no set age but he will try to test kids under 5 if the parents ask, although they need to use shapes as most kids that age can't read the letters yet!

I think I will only take DS if we have any concerns about his eyesight - so far he's fine and did have a wee eye test in nursery before starting school that was fine.

Was working early shift Friday and Saturday and now off for over a week as have annual leave. The following week at work is a problem as DH is working the same time shifts as me and work won't allow me to swap days as my job share partner is off sick. So now they have no one for 4 days instead of 2!

I have had to put in for lieu days as I have no one to watch the kids on those days. My mum is watching my great nephew one of the nights so it's not fair to ask her to have a 5 yo, 3 yo & almost 2 yo on her own overnight!!

I'm not guaranteed to get the lieu days at work but I've told them I won't be in as I have no other option. They aren't being very helpful and I get the impression they think I'm lying in order to get out of working Fri/Sat late shifts near Christmas. 😠 I'm quite annoyed as I have never asked them for any help in 4 years of working job share. I have issues with DH's shifts clashing with mine every 6 weeks but can usually work around it by swapping shifts or my mum helps with watching the kids.

I was actually quite upset when work were being obstructive with me over it and just wouldn't even consider letting me swap shifts. If I didn't have my mum providing childcare when DH & I work the same shifts - usually 2 shifts every 6 weeks - then I would be up !!!!!! creek as work have proven they aren't interested in helping me. Their "family friendly" policy isn't worth the paper it's written on as they trot out "it depends on business needs".

One of the managers actually asked me wasn't there anyone else who could watch the kids - well obviously not or I wouldn't be telling you I can't come in! The kids are too young to be left with people they don't know well. He then asked oh will this happen again - I told him that my shifts and DH's clash every 6 weeks and I usually manage and haven't asked for any help in 4 years despite it but this time I just can't work my rostered days, I have no other options! 😖 

sashybo

Took the kids to see a model railway exhibition in town yesterday as two of my retired colleagues were helping to run it. They both have their own model railway set ups at home but were looking after a friend's stand for the show. 

DS enjoyed looking at all the trains and DD enjoyed parts of it but got bored, especially as she wasn't allowed to touch anything or play with the models. Obviously they just looked like toys to her. So she spent a lot of time have tantrums and sitting/lying on the floor. I could tell who the grandparents were on the stalls as they were giving me sympathetic smiles/laughing at DD sitting with her arms crossed on the floor and her grumpy wee face. 😂 

DD was hard work all day yesterday, really grouchy and didn't want to co-operate at all. 😭 Everything was NO! Her new favourite thing to say is "You're HURTING me!" every time I have to grab her arm to drag her away from something and/or when she's refusing to hold my hand. 🤦‍♀️ 

On the bright side she went into nursery happily today and kept asking if she could go back over the weekend. 😂 

Put my Christmas bedding on yesterday afternoon so it's a bit more festive in my room ow.

I need to brush and hoover the couches today, have already hung one washing up and put another away. Now have the big nappy wash on, much reduced as it's only night nappies, wipes and the odd nappy when DD comes home from nursery now. Also need to wash the towels, give the bathrooms a wipe and clean the bathroom floors.

Hoping to get the outlaws presents wrapped this week and then we can send a parcel to them.

beanielou

Why does the thing with your work not surprise me.
As you say the policy not worth the paper it is written on.
Would it be worth speaking with your union?

sashybo

Yes the "family friendly" stuff is a waste of time, they're not actually family friendly and very grudgingly give job shares and act like it's all such a big inconvenience to them. How dare anyone have kids and have to look after them! 🙄 I will speak to my union rep if they don't give me the lieu days as I won't be able to go in. Don't want to lose any pay but I can't leave the kids to look after themselves!

Managed to get a good amount of housework done yesterday and we had roast chicken with roast potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts & yorkshire puddings. DH started off the chicken in the ninja before taking DS to his swimming lesson and made the yorkies when he got home. I did the veg whilst they were gone and finished off the chicken. Enough chicken left over to make a pie so will probably do that tomorrow.

I collected my new glasses today, just need to claim most of the money back for them now. I went to the Range and bought a few christmas decorations plus a new washing up bowl. They were selling tiny Lindor chocolate bears for 40p each so I bought 4 to stick in with presents for my brother & sister and their OH's. We're only doing small presents for adults £5-£10. I have bought socks & coffee for my brother and socks plus small things like sheet masks etc for my sister & brother's gf. Just bought a french connection body spray/shower gel duo for my sister's OH. That will do them plus their tiny chocolate bears. Wish I'd bought a few more actually as they were 2 for 65p so quite a decent wee stocking filler.

Tomorrow I have DS's nativity to go to in the morning, allegedly he's a shepherd but he's also a bit of a fibber so no clue really. They have filmed the play and will be playing it for us then singing some christmas songs and then we're having hot chocolate. I have DD's nativity next week as well!

Hoping to get started with the present wrapping tomorrow as well.

Need to get some hoovering done upstairs today, have already hung one washing up and put another away.

beanielou

The wee bears in Sainsbugs are 50p so that's a good saving.

Willowtree222

I really wish works would realise people have children to care for and act accordingly. It would make people far more flexible back if they had a company who understood and took it into account.

sashybo

That's good to know Beanie, they were 40p each which is why I picked them up, didn't even realise until I got to the till that they were 2 for 65p. Might get some more if I'm passing again soon. 🤔 

Willow - yes that's what's annoying, why does it come as a surprise to companies that people with children actually have to look after them and sometimes it will interfere with work. My work have made me feel like a liar and an inconvenience for asking for their help and it's pretty disgusting actually. I have worked there for 12 years and been off sick a handful of times, always helped them out and worked jobshare for 4 years without asking for a favour. My DH works for the same company in a different department so they know what his shifts are like!

Actually I don't know why I'm surprised, this is the same department who downgraded my job when I was on maternity leave and I had to either take it or move to a more inconvenient work location and do a stressful job for less money than the people already there. No thanks. 

Have had a productive morning so far, hung up one washing and put the dry one away, hoovered upstairs and the stairs and cleaned the showers.

Just heading out to DS's nativity shortly so that should be funny. Will make a chicken pie when I get back to use up the leftover roast chicken and some shortcrust pastry that was in the freezer.