I was complaining about Ben 10 earlier - but poor little bear is really not happy, and is now asleep on the sofa, red cheeked and grumbly. If evil cat wakes him I shall not be responsible!
So I am here, desperate to go to the loo but not daring to make the nose, and typing really really really quietly. I am wondering about drs - it seems like a normal sort of childhood chill, but I could be wrong. I shall worry about that as I go on. Poor little bear.
And I have very nobly gone on Amazon and ordered some Ben 10 dvds. Shudders at the thought of sitting through them, but it will be a boost to a very lack lustre little bear.
Showing posts with label little bear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label little bear. Show all posts
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Little bear is fourious again
Little bear still can't pronounce 'furious' correctly.
Yesterday afternoon little bear was sitting on the sofa with a multitude of soft toys, half threatening to go to sleep but getting louder and louder. He wanted me to go upstairs and fetch his book for him. I thought that this was a bad precedent. He thought I was being totally unreasonable and an unfit mother not to dash up and down stairs for him. He got angrier and angrier that I refused to drop everything I was doing and dash upstairs to fetch his book when he wasn't actually doing anything. As little bear sobbed to OH, 'I asked five times with 'pleases' and she still didn't go.' OH could barely stand up for laughing.
You really do need a will of iron when it comes to five year olds. Little bear carried on, and on, and on. I was not moving for him. I kept strong by thinking that any future wife of his would not thank me for waiting on him hand and foot. There was complete stalemate. We would still be arguing about it now if little bear hadn't needed to use the toilet and went up there anyway.
This morning little bear announced that his tummy was still rumbling. I refused to guess what he wanted to do and told little bear that he could do his own thinking. 'But thinking's hard,' little bear protested. I may have some work to do on this.
Yesterday afternoon little bear was sitting on the sofa with a multitude of soft toys, half threatening to go to sleep but getting louder and louder. He wanted me to go upstairs and fetch his book for him. I thought that this was a bad precedent. He thought I was being totally unreasonable and an unfit mother not to dash up and down stairs for him. He got angrier and angrier that I refused to drop everything I was doing and dash upstairs to fetch his book when he wasn't actually doing anything. As little bear sobbed to OH, 'I asked five times with 'pleases' and she still didn't go.' OH could barely stand up for laughing.
You really do need a will of iron when it comes to five year olds. Little bear carried on, and on, and on. I was not moving for him. I kept strong by thinking that any future wife of his would not thank me for waiting on him hand and foot. There was complete stalemate. We would still be arguing about it now if little bear hadn't needed to use the toilet and went up there anyway.
This morning little bear announced that his tummy was still rumbling. I refused to guess what he wanted to do and told little bear that he could do his own thinking. 'But thinking's hard,' little bear protested. I may have some work to do on this.
Sunday, 22 April 2012
Little bear is well dressed
Little bear came dashing in from the newsagent with OH, absolutely thrilled. "I've seen an eagle!" he announced happily. OH stood behind little bear and shook his head. He mouthed silently, "Crow."
On another note, little bear is very happy. I have been raiding my friend, ebay, and I have just totalled up my spend to @£40. That is including postage and has netted six shirts, ten t-shirts, three sweaters and a lightweight, leather look bomber jacket from Next that looks unworn. The shirts and t-shirts are okay, but little bear really, really loves the jacket. I know he didn't sleep in it (or at least he wasn't wearing it when he was calling for me at 3.30am because he couldn't find his rat) but he came downstairs in it this morning.
Little bear is currently fine for socks, undies, vests, school wear and jeans. With a little luck I will not need to buy him any thing more until the new school year in September. The clothes I have got are fine for a five year old to play in, some look as new. After looking at some of Matalan's stuff, it really has paid me to get the stuff from ebay. Earlier in the month I also got him four pair of pyjamas (another £28 spent there, but they were all new) and Matalan aren't doing pairs of pyjamas any more, they are selling tops and bottoms separately, and I certainly couldn't have go four pairs of pyjamas for that - it would have cost at least £10 more. And two of the pairs of pyjamas were Dr Who pyjamas, with cheap transfers that I know will not wash well, but cheered little bear up.
All the 'new' clothes have been washed. They have joined the huge, vast, heap of ironing that seems to have tripled in the last four days. I know what I will be doing for the next few evenings.
On another note, little bear is very happy. I have been raiding my friend, ebay, and I have just totalled up my spend to @£40. That is including postage and has netted six shirts, ten t-shirts, three sweaters and a lightweight, leather look bomber jacket from Next that looks unworn. The shirts and t-shirts are okay, but little bear really, really loves the jacket. I know he didn't sleep in it (or at least he wasn't wearing it when he was calling for me at 3.30am because he couldn't find his rat) but he came downstairs in it this morning.
Little bear is currently fine for socks, undies, vests, school wear and jeans. With a little luck I will not need to buy him any thing more until the new school year in September. The clothes I have got are fine for a five year old to play in, some look as new. After looking at some of Matalan's stuff, it really has paid me to get the stuff from ebay. Earlier in the month I also got him four pair of pyjamas (another £28 spent there, but they were all new) and Matalan aren't doing pairs of pyjamas any more, they are selling tops and bottoms separately, and I certainly couldn't have go four pairs of pyjamas for that - it would have cost at least £10 more. And two of the pairs of pyjamas were Dr Who pyjamas, with cheap transfers that I know will not wash well, but cheered little bear up.
All the 'new' clothes have been washed. They have joined the huge, vast, heap of ironing that seems to have tripled in the last four days. I know what I will be doing for the next few evenings.
Friday, 20 April 2012
Little bear is fourious again
Little bear is being very entertaining. He got a pair of underpants out of his drawer, looked at them and then marched over to me in absolute fury.
"These are 3-4 year old!" he shouted. "I fourious! I am five years old!"
It was really bad that OH and me couldn't stop laughing. We really couldn't. We were practically crying with laughter as a red faced and furious little bear waved the underage pants at us and stamped. It isn't going to help his self esteem, but he was apoplectic with indignation. I keep promising myself I won't laugh, and failing. And he can't pronounce 'furious' properly, which doesn't help.
On the bright side, it means that a cull of the clothes in his drawers should be easier. Of course, this Saturday he is determined that he is going to scan ALL of his books into his toy omnimatrix, every single one, and all of his dvds. I'm going to leave him to that one.
"These are 3-4 year old!" he shouted. "I fourious! I am five years old!"
It was really bad that OH and me couldn't stop laughing. We really couldn't. We were practically crying with laughter as a red faced and furious little bear waved the underage pants at us and stamped. It isn't going to help his self esteem, but he was apoplectic with indignation. I keep promising myself I won't laugh, and failing. And he can't pronounce 'furious' properly, which doesn't help.
On the bright side, it means that a cull of the clothes in his drawers should be easier. Of course, this Saturday he is determined that he is going to scan ALL of his books into his toy omnimatrix, every single one, and all of his dvds. I'm going to leave him to that one.
I don't think I can win.
Last night little bear came home absolutely exhausted - I guess its the new term, all of his classmates seem to be suffering. He did his home work with some encouragement, refused piano practice and had a melt down because one of the words in his word list to copy out (short list - it isn't tough homework) was 'Mrs', and he didn't believe that it was said the same as 'misses'. Little bear, in fact, told me he was 'fourious'.
He agreed that the dyed shirts looked good, and decided he would wear the pink one to see his girlfriend, as pink was her favourite colour.
Darling father came down for moral support. He looked at the tired little bear and asked if little bear would like some rice pudding. Little bear considered the matter solemnly and said, yes, he would like a little rice pudding.
I looked at darling father and asked, 'Do you have any tinned rice pudding?' Darling father shook his head. I sighed. 'I don't either.' So off I trotted to the lovely newsagents and got some tinned rice pudding. Little bear had four spoonfuls and then said it had given him tummy ache and he didn't want any more.
I didn't say anything.
After OH went out last night, little bear had a looooong bed time. I finished the stories, sang the songs, and then went up and down with the usual plaintive calls of, 'I'm scared...' or 'I can't find my Omnitrix', or 'I'm too itchy.' I would be more sympathetic to the itchy if I could get cream on him. I put talc on him.
'What does this smell of?' little bear asked. I sort of sniffed and guessed.
'It smells of roses,' I said, tucking him up and hoping he'd take the hint.
'What colour roses?' asked little bear.
'Yellow ones. Now, off to sleep.'
'I only like red roses.' said little bear.
'There's three red roses in there,' I said. 'Now - go to sleep!'
Five minutes later he came down to find darling father and me eating some rice pudding. Little bear looked at us with big, orphan eyes. 'I really like rice pudding.' he said.
'You can have some for breakfast.' I said. 'Now - bed!'
So little bear had rice pudding for breakfast and really enjoyed it. And when I think of the rubbish that is in sugar puffs and cheerios, I am very tempted to cook some home made rice pudding over night in the slow cooker.
He agreed that the dyed shirts looked good, and decided he would wear the pink one to see his girlfriend, as pink was her favourite colour.
Darling father came down for moral support. He looked at the tired little bear and asked if little bear would like some rice pudding. Little bear considered the matter solemnly and said, yes, he would like a little rice pudding.
I looked at darling father and asked, 'Do you have any tinned rice pudding?' Darling father shook his head. I sighed. 'I don't either.' So off I trotted to the lovely newsagents and got some tinned rice pudding. Little bear had four spoonfuls and then said it had given him tummy ache and he didn't want any more.
I didn't say anything.
After OH went out last night, little bear had a looooong bed time. I finished the stories, sang the songs, and then went up and down with the usual plaintive calls of, 'I'm scared...' or 'I can't find my Omnitrix', or 'I'm too itchy.' I would be more sympathetic to the itchy if I could get cream on him. I put talc on him.
'What does this smell of?' little bear asked. I sort of sniffed and guessed.
'It smells of roses,' I said, tucking him up and hoping he'd take the hint.
'What colour roses?' asked little bear.
'Yellow ones. Now, off to sleep.'
'I only like red roses.' said little bear.
'There's three red roses in there,' I said. 'Now - go to sleep!'
Five minutes later he came down to find darling father and me eating some rice pudding. Little bear looked at us with big, orphan eyes. 'I really like rice pudding.' he said.
'You can have some for breakfast.' I said. 'Now - bed!'
So little bear had rice pudding for breakfast and really enjoyed it. And when I think of the rubbish that is in sugar puffs and cheerios, I am very tempted to cook some home made rice pudding over night in the slow cooker.
Thursday, 19 April 2012
The cost of a taxi
I have been trying to explain to little bear how much things cost. This has not been successful so far, but I am persevering.
Little bear would like to take a taxi to the piano lessons. In this weather I can truly understand it, as hanging round in cold bus shelters waiting for unreliable buses is not pleasant. Little bear has never done any of the travelling during the summer, either, so he associates the trip there and back with cold, wet, dark waits. What has made it worse is that I had been changing buses which meant a particularly cold damp wait in a shelter that is built like a wind tunnel. I have changed where we change now.
I sat down and explained to little bear that we couldn't always take a taxi, because it cost money. We only have so much money, and that has to be shared for everything, like food and other treats. I then made a fatal mistake. Little bear has been after some Ben 10 figures. I loathe Ben 10, but most of the other cartoons seem worse. So I pulled up the figures on Amazon and explained that this figure would cost the same as two taxi rides, this figure would cost the same as half a taxi ride - trying to show him that if you spend money on one thing then you do not have it to spend on another.
It didn't work. Little bear couldn't believe his eyes! Look at all these figures - wow, that's a thingummy, and that's a wotsit - yeah, yeah, mum, forget about how much a taxi costs, look at this amazing bit of plastic tat!
I shall persevere.
Little bear would like to take a taxi to the piano lessons. In this weather I can truly understand it, as hanging round in cold bus shelters waiting for unreliable buses is not pleasant. Little bear has never done any of the travelling during the summer, either, so he associates the trip there and back with cold, wet, dark waits. What has made it worse is that I had been changing buses which meant a particularly cold damp wait in a shelter that is built like a wind tunnel. I have changed where we change now.
I sat down and explained to little bear that we couldn't always take a taxi, because it cost money. We only have so much money, and that has to be shared for everything, like food and other treats. I then made a fatal mistake. Little bear has been after some Ben 10 figures. I loathe Ben 10, but most of the other cartoons seem worse. So I pulled up the figures on Amazon and explained that this figure would cost the same as two taxi rides, this figure would cost the same as half a taxi ride - trying to show him that if you spend money on one thing then you do not have it to spend on another.
It didn't work. Little bear couldn't believe his eyes! Look at all these figures - wow, that's a thingummy, and that's a wotsit - yeah, yeah, mum, forget about how much a taxi costs, look at this amazing bit of plastic tat!
I shall persevere.
Monday, 16 April 2012
Little bear is missing the point
Last night, after the bedtime routine, little bear came downstairs, clutching Ratatouille and saying very solemnly that he had come downstairs to let me know that there were three books on the floor and I should go and pick them up.
OH and I fell about laughing. He had probably carefully stepped over the books on his trek downstairs. Of course it wasn't the point - he wanted to have a hug and a cuddle, and wanted to put off sleep a little longer.
OH went upstairs and picked up the books, which I think was a tactical error. However the hugs and cuddles are always there.
OH and I fell about laughing. He had probably carefully stepped over the books on his trek downstairs. Of course it wasn't the point - he wanted to have a hug and a cuddle, and wanted to put off sleep a little longer.
OH went upstairs and picked up the books, which I think was a tactical error. However the hugs and cuddles are always there.
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Little bear did not have a good time
I picked up little bear (in the middle of a hail storm, I did not appreciate it!) and he was not entirely happy. He had been good at the club, but he was very grumpy and tired - they had taken him on a walk at it was seven miles. I am not sure if it was actually seven miles, it could well have been if they were wandering up and down a canal for half a day, but little bear was very clear. It was too far! The lady at the handover was very tactful saying that they had had a nice walk but little bear had got tired, and everyone was at different stages, which is fair enough and little bear was probably among the youngest. He was likely the most vocal.
He grumbled all the way home (at least 100 yards) but was mainly inaudible due to rain, deliberately stood in a puddle and complained his feet were wet, and once home he lay flat on the sofa and refused to move. Then he grumbled through dinner, complained loudly about his ankle hurting and his knee hurting and that he couldn't walk. He was doing a comedy limp as he staggered to the foot of the stairs and OH had to carry him up.
Once in bed he couldn't bare to stand up to get undressed, couldn't bare to get out of bed to get a story book and generally groaned and cried out about his ankle like a professional footballer. As you can probably tell, I suspect he was milking it.
However I do think he went on a longer walk than he is used to, and that he was very, very tired (he was asleep, as far as I can tell, within five minutes of me leaving him), and his legs ache. He will almost certainly be stiff tomorrow. Which is a shame.
Tomorrow we have to be out of the house at 8.30 to go to the dentist. I know I am going to have my hands full, and after all his Easter Eggs I am going to have trouble bribing him with chocolate.
He grumbled all the way home (at least 100 yards) but was mainly inaudible due to rain, deliberately stood in a puddle and complained his feet were wet, and once home he lay flat on the sofa and refused to move. Then he grumbled through dinner, complained loudly about his ankle hurting and his knee hurting and that he couldn't walk. He was doing a comedy limp as he staggered to the foot of the stairs and OH had to carry him up.
Once in bed he couldn't bare to stand up to get undressed, couldn't bare to get out of bed to get a story book and generally groaned and cried out about his ankle like a professional footballer. As you can probably tell, I suspect he was milking it.
However I do think he went on a longer walk than he is used to, and that he was very, very tired (he was asleep, as far as I can tell, within five minutes of me leaving him), and his legs ache. He will almost certainly be stiff tomorrow. Which is a shame.
Tomorrow we have to be out of the house at 8.30 to go to the dentist. I know I am going to have my hands full, and after all his Easter Eggs I am going to have trouble bribing him with chocolate.
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Little bear goes for a walk
Today we walked to the library - without little bear complaining! It is a nice little stroll and the sun was shining. Little bear had a lot of fun jumping around the cracks in the pavement.
He then had the momentous task of choosing books. Sigh - one of them is a cookbook for children. I can see kitchen happening in the future. I also picked up one or two books from the book sale (I will never learn). One was a book about the sun, appropriate for little bear's age. One was a book about trees, appropriate for little bear's age - yes, four more books for little bear. Still, that means I may be able to lose four books from upstairs if I am cunning.
Then there was a trip to the butcher next door. The meat doesn't look that nice, but they do an extremely good frozen mince and they also do scotch eggs as desired by little bear, and they quite a few little odds and ends. I nearly bought a cauliflower, but remembered that we were having chilli tonight, and cauliflower wasn't really on the menu.
Then we walked back with token complaining from little bear. Now he has found another Easter Egg so we are locked in a battle of wills. He obviously wants to scarf as much fat and sugar as possible in the shortest time, I am trying to protect him from the effects of stuffing himself with chocolate relentlessly. This will go on for some time.
He then had the momentous task of choosing books. Sigh - one of them is a cookbook for children. I can see kitchen happening in the future. I also picked up one or two books from the book sale (I will never learn). One was a book about the sun, appropriate for little bear's age. One was a book about trees, appropriate for little bear's age - yes, four more books for little bear. Still, that means I may be able to lose four books from upstairs if I am cunning.
Then there was a trip to the butcher next door. The meat doesn't look that nice, but they do an extremely good frozen mince and they also do scotch eggs as desired by little bear, and they quite a few little odds and ends. I nearly bought a cauliflower, but remembered that we were having chilli tonight, and cauliflower wasn't really on the menu.
Then we walked back with token complaining from little bear. Now he has found another Easter Egg so we are locked in a battle of wills. He obviously wants to scarf as much fat and sugar as possible in the shortest time, I am trying to protect him from the effects of stuffing himself with chocolate relentlessly. This will go on for some time.
Sunday, 8 April 2012
Tooth!
A sneeze finally dislodged my crown, it is sort of hanging on, but would go at the first bite of any food. However I am still not able to open my mouth properly. I have drunk far too many cups of tomato soup, but I ate some porridge off the side of a spoon, so at least I have a lining to my stomach.
I can't swallow tablets, and haven't managed to get some soluble ibuprofen (which is probably what I need) but I could probably manage alcohol.... Best not.
Little bear has been fair to middling monstrous about chocolate today. Once again I have not given him all the eggs he has for Easter. They will be rationed out. He is still a little under the weather - he had an unheard of afternoon nap (unheard of until this latest do) and asked for bedtime at 6pm. I am about to go up and join the fray.
Really tempted by alcohol, but I can't see it going well, especially as small quantities of porridge and custard are the most solid linings to my tummy. I'll stick to Ovaltine. At this rate I won't even get the benefit of losing weight!
Little bear is sounding ready to sleep - I hope he is okay to meet his 'girlfriend' on Tuesday.
I can't swallow tablets, and haven't managed to get some soluble ibuprofen (which is probably what I need) but I could probably manage alcohol.... Best not.
Little bear has been fair to middling monstrous about chocolate today. Once again I have not given him all the eggs he has for Easter. They will be rationed out. He is still a little under the weather - he had an unheard of afternoon nap (unheard of until this latest do) and asked for bedtime at 6pm. I am about to go up and join the fray.
Really tempted by alcohol, but I can't see it going well, especially as small quantities of porridge and custard are the most solid linings to my tummy. I'll stick to Ovaltine. At this rate I won't even get the benefit of losing weight!
Little bear is sounding ready to sleep - I hope he is okay to meet his 'girlfriend' on Tuesday.
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Timing is everything
We didn't go to the dentist this morning. Little bear had been feeling hot and cold all yesterday, he slept from 5pm yesterday to 7am today. It wasn't straight through - he required a few cuddles during the night, but I am calling it a chill - not serious, but he is not happy. Also there have been a few flakes of snow which make our local buses faint.
Tomorrow he is supposed to go on an outing. Saturday we are supposed to go and see darling uncle in the first time for ages and ages. This chill is almost as good timing as the chickenpox the day before his belated birthday party.
Glass half full - we have had some really lovely cuddles.
Tomorrow he is supposed to go on an outing. Saturday we are supposed to go and see darling uncle in the first time for ages and ages. This chill is almost as good timing as the chickenpox the day before his belated birthday party.
Glass half full - we have had some really lovely cuddles.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Little bear's day does not improve
We spent some time this afternoon sitting together, a few cuddles, watching tv and me watching him play a computer game (he insisted I watched).
While I was making tea he fell asleep. He was so deeply asleep that he didn't wake up when OH came in. He slept through tea and everything. He was grumbling in his sleep a little and so we gave him some calpol (he was red hot!) and he barely surfaced for that.
He will be up at 5am, no doubt, absolutely starving. However the dentist is off, and I am keeping a weather eye on him to see if he merits the doctor. I am verging towards flu, as he has a lot of those symptoms. I am also panicking about the possibility of all sorts of other things, but that is just being over anxious mum. He is tired, he is running a bit of a temperature and he is a little off his food.
I'm off to bed now, to see if I can get some rest before an intensive cuddle day. He has been getting better each day and fingers crossed he makes the day trip with the school out of hours club on Thursday as I have already paid a fortune for it.
While I was making tea he fell asleep. He was so deeply asleep that he didn't wake up when OH came in. He slept through tea and everything. He was grumbling in his sleep a little and so we gave him some calpol (he was red hot!) and he barely surfaced for that.
He will be up at 5am, no doubt, absolutely starving. However the dentist is off, and I am keeping a weather eye on him to see if he merits the doctor. I am verging towards flu, as he has a lot of those symptoms. I am also panicking about the possibility of all sorts of other things, but that is just being over anxious mum. He is tired, he is running a bit of a temperature and he is a little off his food.
I'm off to bed now, to see if I can get some rest before an intensive cuddle day. He has been getting better each day and fingers crossed he makes the day trip with the school out of hours club on Thursday as I have already paid a fortune for it.
Monday, 2 April 2012
Books, books, books, books, books....
Little bear has insisted that we count all his books. We have got to 350 and I am insisting on taking a break.
This does not include sticker books, colouring books and dot to dot books. However it does include all the tiny board books he has now outgrown. This is not a good thing. You see, it is now a lot harder to 'lose' some of the tiny ABC board books as little bear will be keeping count.
I suspect it is on par with the vast quantities of soft toys that are all his favourite and are all scared without him. In other words, he is making sure that we throw out as little as possible. The house is going to sink.
I think there are about 150 more books to go. Not looking forward to them.
This does not include sticker books, colouring books and dot to dot books. However it does include all the tiny board books he has now outgrown. This is not a good thing. You see, it is now a lot harder to 'lose' some of the tiny ABC board books as little bear will be keeping count.
I suspect it is on par with the vast quantities of soft toys that are all his favourite and are all scared without him. In other words, he is making sure that we throw out as little as possible. The house is going to sink.
I think there are about 150 more books to go. Not looking forward to them.
Little bear wants to clean up
I told little bear he couldn't invite his girlfriend (!) over as the house was too untidy. He is now on a mission, though a bit scattergun in his approach.
Although he is now watching that awful Ben 10 and being quiet. He is also muttering about an afternoon nap. I will just take whatever comes along. He is still so tired.
Although he is now watching that awful Ben 10 and being quiet. He is also muttering about an afternoon nap. I will just take whatever comes along. He is still so tired.
Little bear is tired
Little bear slept from 5pm to 7am - with some interludes. I had a very disturbed night. Especially as every time he seemed to turn over he would shout for me, then go straight back to sleep.
Lucky him!
He is quiet today, but a lot better than yesterday. Thank goodness it is the holidays, he does not have any obvious symptoms that would keep him off school, but the poor lad is exhausted! I am looking forward to an interesting school break.
Lucky him!
He is quiet today, but a lot better than yesterday. Thank goodness it is the holidays, he does not have any obvious symptoms that would keep him off school, but the poor lad is exhausted! I am looking forward to an interesting school break.
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Little bear's fun day
Little bear had a Change 4 Life Fun Day. It was hell. It was over crowded, badly planned and despite having some good info it was bewildering. We left as soon as we could and got ice creams.
Little bear did not win the egg painting contest. The little info I had out of that was that one of the winners had an egg that was dressed like Cinderella. Please let us escape this next year! And little bear had refused categorically to guess the name of the rabbit. He couldn't guarantee he would be right, so he wasn't doing it. That was the end of that! So I put 'little bear's mummy' next to a name at random. I wasn't allowed to choose my own suggestion, either, so any 'adult' suggestions, or even Stew, Pie or Mustard, were not allowed. We didn't win the rabbit. I was relieved.
Little bear is still exhausted. This morning he dragged himself downstairs and lay on the sofa. He declared he didn't want to go to sleep AT ALL. He is off for Easter Holidays and I think it is in the nick of time. However I can see the holidays stretching ahead of me with a five year old who is actually a tired little man, trying to keep him amused. I intend to make shameless use of soft play.
Little bear did not win the egg painting contest. The little info I had out of that was that one of the winners had an egg that was dressed like Cinderella. Please let us escape this next year! And little bear had refused categorically to guess the name of the rabbit. He couldn't guarantee he would be right, so he wasn't doing it. That was the end of that! So I put 'little bear's mummy' next to a name at random. I wasn't allowed to choose my own suggestion, either, so any 'adult' suggestions, or even Stew, Pie or Mustard, were not allowed. We didn't win the rabbit. I was relieved.
Little bear is still exhausted. This morning he dragged himself downstairs and lay on the sofa. He declared he didn't want to go to sleep AT ALL. He is off for Easter Holidays and I think it is in the nick of time. However I can see the holidays stretching ahead of me with a five year old who is actually a tired little man, trying to keep him amused. I intend to make shameless use of soft play.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Little bear is pushing boundaries
I am beginning to worry about little bear. He is showing signs of being completely exhausted, such as trying to get a nap before school. And he is behaving fair to middling appallingly. This is usually a sign that he is sickening for something.
To be honest, I suspect he is still suffering from the after effects of the chicken pox. I know I am being a fussy mummy, but he is soooo tired, too tired to get to sleep at night, sleeping later than average (6.50am today!) and generally not happy. Once upon a time it was a fortnight off school. Now it is five days, and I was pushing it keeping him off the Thursday and Friday after he was diagnosed. At the end of last week, after his first week back at school, he was completely exhausted. This week he seems just as bad, if not worse! Thank goodness he is off school next week.
Yesterday there were two memorable incidents. He had an ice lolly after martial arts (all over his suit - marvellous) and was nice and sticky. He got sticky over the computer desk. So I asked him to go and wash his hands. I think my words were something like, 'Okay now, sweetheart, go and wash your hands please and we can have a nice cuddle.' He refused to wash his hands.
Routinely I let things go, but to me this was just ridiculous. So I was firmer. I shouted. I escorted him to the stairs. I escorted him up the stairs, step by step, with him shouting furiously that he would never wash his hands, NOT EVER!!! Then he dashed into the bathroom and locked the door. He was not washing his hands and he was never coming out. He even ignored the lure of washing his hands in Grandad's sink.
Then he found an excuse that he didn't want to wash his hands because of a cut. So I got him to open the door, washed his hands with a new sponge and looked at how open the window was all of a sudden. I had had the window ajar, and it is never locked as it is the fire escape window, but now it was wide open. 'I had it open for some more fresh air.' Little bear said artlessly, 'Because I needed more fresh air so I opened the window. For fresh air.' He had opened the window planning to climb out and thought better of it! All this fuss about washing his hands.
The second incident, which to me was far more worrying, was during dinner. We had some very nice, natural smoked haddock, which little bear loves. 'I've got a bone,' little bear wails. I sigh because the fish was sold as boneless, but say, 'Never mind, just spit it out.' Little bear says, 'No!'
Little bear has his moments but normally does not refuse to spit something out that he doesn't want/like, and we couldn't let him swallow a fish bone! To be honest, it was probably just a tiny bit of hard skin from smoking, as it was lovely fish and well prepared. However I could now cry. Little bear has been really enjoying his fish, and now he is saying that he will never have fish again because of bones, and I worry that because he got himself so worked up and stressed, he won't touch one of the few healthy options he would genuinely tuck into. By the time we had managed to get him to spit out the offending piece he was almost hysterical.
This sort of awkward, irrational defiance usually means little bear is about to have something really, dreadfully gruesome. I am hoping I am wrong and it's just the embers of the chickenpox virus.
As I type he is stretched on the sofa, making the sort of little grunts that usually mean that a nap would be a possibility, and we are about to get him ready for school! He is five now, not two or three when naps were a good thing.
It's a 'normal for five, but mums worry' situation, I suppose. I am sure he will be far too active for me to keep up soon. I wonder if I will ever stop worrying.
To be honest, I suspect he is still suffering from the after effects of the chicken pox. I know I am being a fussy mummy, but he is soooo tired, too tired to get to sleep at night, sleeping later than average (6.50am today!) and generally not happy. Once upon a time it was a fortnight off school. Now it is five days, and I was pushing it keeping him off the Thursday and Friday after he was diagnosed. At the end of last week, after his first week back at school, he was completely exhausted. This week he seems just as bad, if not worse! Thank goodness he is off school next week.
Yesterday there were two memorable incidents. He had an ice lolly after martial arts (all over his suit - marvellous) and was nice and sticky. He got sticky over the computer desk. So I asked him to go and wash his hands. I think my words were something like, 'Okay now, sweetheart, go and wash your hands please and we can have a nice cuddle.' He refused to wash his hands.
Routinely I let things go, but to me this was just ridiculous. So I was firmer. I shouted. I escorted him to the stairs. I escorted him up the stairs, step by step, with him shouting furiously that he would never wash his hands, NOT EVER!!! Then he dashed into the bathroom and locked the door. He was not washing his hands and he was never coming out. He even ignored the lure of washing his hands in Grandad's sink.
Then he found an excuse that he didn't want to wash his hands because of a cut. So I got him to open the door, washed his hands with a new sponge and looked at how open the window was all of a sudden. I had had the window ajar, and it is never locked as it is the fire escape window, but now it was wide open. 'I had it open for some more fresh air.' Little bear said artlessly, 'Because I needed more fresh air so I opened the window. For fresh air.' He had opened the window planning to climb out and thought better of it! All this fuss about washing his hands.
The second incident, which to me was far more worrying, was during dinner. We had some very nice, natural smoked haddock, which little bear loves. 'I've got a bone,' little bear wails. I sigh because the fish was sold as boneless, but say, 'Never mind, just spit it out.' Little bear says, 'No!'
Little bear has his moments but normally does not refuse to spit something out that he doesn't want/like, and we couldn't let him swallow a fish bone! To be honest, it was probably just a tiny bit of hard skin from smoking, as it was lovely fish and well prepared. However I could now cry. Little bear has been really enjoying his fish, and now he is saying that he will never have fish again because of bones, and I worry that because he got himself so worked up and stressed, he won't touch one of the few healthy options he would genuinely tuck into. By the time we had managed to get him to spit out the offending piece he was almost hysterical.
This sort of awkward, irrational defiance usually means little bear is about to have something really, dreadfully gruesome. I am hoping I am wrong and it's just the embers of the chickenpox virus.
As I type he is stretched on the sofa, making the sort of little grunts that usually mean that a nap would be a possibility, and we are about to get him ready for school! He is five now, not two or three when naps were a good thing.
It's a 'normal for five, but mums worry' situation, I suppose. I am sure he will be far too active for me to keep up soon. I wonder if I will ever stop worrying.
Monday, 26 March 2012
Success - eggs boiled with vinegar!
Thank you Justamum and Savvy_Sue from MSE! Eggs with vinegar do not crack.
Little bear came home, looked at my attempt to prepare a nest and was very disappointed. I had got a smallish snack pot, glued brown paper on the outside, put pieces of green paper and scrunched up brown paper on the inside and hoped that it would look somewhat like a nest in grass. I hadn't been able to get out to get brown paint (considered mixing it, considered track record, got brown paper out), so I decided to go for the plastic pot option rather than papier mache.
I thought it looked okay. Little bear solemnly shook his head. He wanted a tree.
In little bear's defence he is doing a very good impression of middle to outright exhausted and was desperately trying to nap at 8am this morning. I have no idea where to start with a tree, I have no desire to start with a tree, and I have no idea what little bear thinks is going to make the dratted tree. Especially one big enough to look right with a hard boiled hen's egg.
Little bear doesn't want to enter this competition as he doesn't think he is going to win. This is not an attitude I want to foster. I am scratching around for ideas to make decorating boiled eggs fun for a tired, uninterested and irritable five year old with a mum who does not do decorating anything because I am rubbish (and fairly exhausted and uninterested with it).
Next year we work on the tree.
Little bear came home, looked at my attempt to prepare a nest and was very disappointed. I had got a smallish snack pot, glued brown paper on the outside, put pieces of green paper and scrunched up brown paper on the inside and hoped that it would look somewhat like a nest in grass. I hadn't been able to get out to get brown paint (considered mixing it, considered track record, got brown paper out), so I decided to go for the plastic pot option rather than papier mache.
I thought it looked okay. Little bear solemnly shook his head. He wanted a tree.
In little bear's defence he is doing a very good impression of middle to outright exhausted and was desperately trying to nap at 8am this morning. I have no idea where to start with a tree, I have no desire to start with a tree, and I have no idea what little bear thinks is going to make the dratted tree. Especially one big enough to look right with a hard boiled hen's egg.
Little bear doesn't want to enter this competition as he doesn't think he is going to win. This is not an attitude I want to foster. I am scratching around for ideas to make decorating boiled eggs fun for a tired, uninterested and irritable five year old with a mum who does not do decorating anything because I am rubbish (and fairly exhausted and uninterested with it).
Next year we work on the tree.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
The difference between boys and girls
I don't know where little bear got the idea, as I do try and keep an eye on input, and I try and weed this stuff out, but there are limits to what mums with five year old boys can do. All I can do is give him guidance, and try and give him a clear idea of what is or is not acceptable. One day he will be courting, and the behaviour I tolerate or fail to tolerate could make a big difference.
However it does not help when I am giving little bear hell fire and brimstone for pulling his trousers down and showing his bottom to the neighbours (not naughty or defiant, just joking around) to have darling father and Nice Mr Next Door laughing helplessly behind me.
What boys and girls find funny can be very, very, very different.
(also, would I get into trouble for giving the older men hell fire and brimstone as well - they probably wouldn't notice)
However it does not help when I am giving little bear hell fire and brimstone for pulling his trousers down and showing his bottom to the neighbours (not naughty or defiant, just joking around) to have darling father and Nice Mr Next Door laughing helplessly behind me.
What boys and girls find funny can be very, very, very different.
(also, would I get into trouble for giving the older men hell fire and brimstone as well - they probably wouldn't notice)
Little bear has a few toys
Little bear has bullied OH into digging out all his toys. Suddenly he is vastly attached to them. Or, to be exact, I can't get rid of any.
And trust me, the ones in the picture are only a very small selection
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