Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

CRANKY40

The beauty of the tomy star was it made teddy bear patterns on the ceiling if it was dark. It doesn't happen straight away, it's a bit like Pavlov's dog. You have to do it for a while for it to work. The clock thing didn't work for us either and if he was up early (he usually was) he only wanted to watch Finding Nemo. I watched that dvd every morning for 4 years. I had one childless friend tell me that he was just being naughty but I knew he wasn't. We were talking about his sleeping habits just before and at 18 he is usually awake by 9am when his friends are sleeping until mid day if they have the chance. The plus side is I never have to call him more than once in the morning to get up for college. 

I was a bad sleeper when I was little. Our family doctor sedated me at one point and the injection that was supposed to make me sleep until morning lasted an hour. I'm still bad now (I'm 55) but I use youtube sleep hypnosis videos most nights. I don't watch the video bit, I have my phone face down on my bedside table. Until I had my son, the only people who were up as early as me were other peoples children. I was a fabulous babysitter though because if I slept over I used to get up with whoever I was minding and let their parents have a lie in. 

DancingInTheRain

Yes I agree @CRANKY40 that it's sleeping habits rather than naughtiness. DS1 can't wait to go to bed and regularly has a good 12hrs sleep. 

I used to be a good sleeper until I had children but am now regularly awake through night for a period of time, usually around 330 regardless of what time I go to sleep. I find listening to a talk radio channel quietly helps me get back to sleep.

Both boys were asleep by 715 last night (which is good for DS2) but then DS2 up at 5am 🥴, on the other hand we had to wake DS1 up at 730 😆

DH has a gig tonight, need to pick DS1 up from Beavers at 715 and then try to get both boys settled by 8 🤞

Tomorrow Mum is coming with me to watch the boys at their swimming lesson and then the 4 of us are going for lunch, letting DH have a bit of chill time as he'll be home fairly late tonight.

Need to do the end of month round up over the weekend ahead of my payday Monday & hoping to make a start on putting up the Christmas decorations too.

Hope everyone has a good weekend x

DancingInTheRain

(Early) End of month 'What We Owe The World' figures

Current scores on the doors are:

- Mortgage 31.12.21 was £46,415 now £42,995
- Credit Card 31.12.21 was £8,175 now £5,580
- DH Student Loan 31.12.21 was £5,285 now £4,300

WWOTW total 31.12.21 £59,875 now £52,895 (Total Reduction £7,000)

Total 'Free Money' 2022 = £3186.50 (October total £162.24) This got a good boost this week when I spent some vouchers we've had for a while and transferred the equivalent amount to the pot - £65

savingholmes

Great progress on your goals.

Another one who struggles with sleep here.

Hope you find a solution for you and your DS.

DancingInTheRain

Thank goodness it's Friday!
Have had the worst cold since last Saturday and still not feeling great. Definitely not Covid according to my lateral flow tests but oh I've not felt so unwell in ages 🙁 We did get some decorations put up last weekend but there's more to do, not pushing myself too hard. The boys are pleased with what we've done so far and are starting to feel that Christmas magic which is lovely to see.

Managed to keep on top of work and basic chores, DH has taken over cooking and bathing the kids as it's just impossible with a non stop runny nose. DS2 still being temperamental but sleeping a bit better than last week, still lots of room for improvement - I'd love my days to start with a 6 on the click instead of a 5 🙈

Plan for today is drop the boys at school then go to my hairdresser appointment before coming home to do nothing before the school run.

Not much else happening, really need to make a start on the Xmas gift wrapping so will see how I feel over the weekend.

I've removed my 'what we owe the world figures' from my signature as it was making me twitch each time I log on 😆 focus moving forward will be building savings while we're in a position to do so. Will make minimum payments on the mortgage/cc/student loan in the meantime, with a few tiny o/P's to round balances down to end in a 0 as that's one habit I can't stop 🤣

Hope everyone else is okay xx

savingholmes

Hope you feel better soon. 

Xmas wrapping.... hmm - that always feels endless. 

sashybo

There are a lot of nasty viruses about, my DD is just getting over the bad cold she had and my mum has been floored for over a week. Hope you’re feeling better.

I need to start wrapping as well, hoping to get started next week when the kids are at nursery & school.

DancingInTheRain

Another working week done. It's freeeeeeezing here - even had a little snow this afternoon!
It's been a much better week, got some lovely feedback from management for a small project I took on which was lovely and I'm largely over the cold I have, just have a lingering cough and slightly sore chest from all the coughing but definitely more energy than last week.
I did make a start on the Xmas gift wrapping but not done much, I have at least sorted everything into bundles for each household everything is at least organised and I am happy we don't need to buy anything else other than I need to take the boys to buy DH some little stocking fillers (he'll do the same for me), it's become a tradition that we take them somewhere like Home Bargain$ or B&M and let them have £5 to buy some small bits, they really enjoy it.
I also need to buy and send a few Xmas cards, sticking largely to older relatives who still appreciate a card and 1 or 2 people who live away that we keep in touch with but not bothering with more than that, will sort those tomorrow. The boys school encouraged the children to make a card for their classmates which has then been put on display in school, so they don't have to write any either
The children have had their nativities this week, they were both really good. They're such a lovely age to experience all the Xmas magic, it's definitely giving me a warm glow! With all the preparation for the nativities along with regular learning, both children have been really tired and are sleeping really well although DS2 was up at 5.55 again today so he'll be tired when I pick him up from MIL's shortly...
I took down all my old listings on Vinted and donated those clothes to a local clothing bank. I did list our outgrown Xmas jumpers and sold a few so that will be a few pennies to go in the free money pot for the month, currently stands at £53.80.
Had a lovely bit of luck at the weekend when we bought a raffle ticket in DS1's name and won £100, haven't added it to the free money pot as we're going to use it for our little trip away in 2 weeks' time so that we all get a treat from it.
Busy weekend as usual coming up, Squirrels and Beavers for the boys tomorrow, swimming for them both Saturday, DH has a gig Saturday night and the boys have a birthday party on Sunday. Also need to do a couple of Xmas gift exchanges with some friends in between all this!
Hope everyone else is well xx

beanielou

All sounding good 

savingholmes

Lovely win on the raffle. 

Good the new job is going well and you are appreciated. 

I really need to get on top of my wrapping too!