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I feel very vane saying this, but the last few weeks - since the eldest said what he did - my children are letting me know I'm a good mum. They actually tell me.
I'm not sure I could stand looking at me in the mirror for too long!
I know what you mean. I don't mind a head and shoulders view but not the full length variety!
Glad that your kids are giving you such great feedback :D
I find mirrors quite challenging! 8-) Lone parenting is easy compared to looking in a mirror!! :o ;)
Hi there
Bubblegum I have only just managed to watch that You Tube video, it wasn't working for me before, it made me laugh!! I love it when he had to pick up the paper off the floor, I actually thought the cop might chase after him and do him for speeding again, they way he accelerated off!
I have also been thinking about the respect thing we were talking about and I think we don't need to insist our older children respect someone who doesn't deserve it, but they don't need to be rude about them either, so thanks for the brief think tank!
Sparklinglime, all your posts tell me that your are a FABULOUS mum and don't you never forget it girl! :lol: How much stronger do you need to be? My daughter and I were discussing how revolting we thought female body builders are!!!
And may I point out that Our children are our mirrors
Great point huh!!
Maybe one day I'll feel I've achieved something! I think that's the part that really frustrates me - and being on benefits!! I wish I could just enjoy being at home.
I so laughed at the "our children are our mirrors". I can just imagine my daughter's face at that.
Youngest is back at school today after his week off following his asthma attack. It's quiet without him.
Eldest should be home soon. He's having his last exam today - hurrah. Just need to dread August then 8-) Sorry... Just need to look forward to his results then in August, and cross everything that he does well and is able to do A levels.
Yes sparkling.....AND you have your OWN course to complete....don't forget your own achievements. I've just done my last big assignment this weekend, just two more short pieces to do :P :P
I know what you mean about the being on benefits thing but in some respects we can't win. If lone parents go our to work there will always be those who say "oh latchkey kids" and if they don't go out to work people wonder why. GRRR :x This is just one phase of your life and your plans to move ahead are chugging along, although more slowly than you sometimes want. Be kind to yourself!
I had a good day yesterday revising. Today - not so good. Daughter not too happy with new haircut, but then she's had about 8" cut off, and not in the style she wanted. Oh dear... :(
Then the 13 year old "thing" that took a while to calm down.
Well done for completing your big assignment! That must feel good. and good luck with the shorter pieces.
I'm looking forward to Wednesday. In my head I'm going to focus on cupboards ( lucky with storage here, as it is a small house) and try to get more organised. A few things can go now as my youngest is 10. He was only 7 when we moved here. A lot of 'young' board games and jigsaws for the charity shop. That will make room for a box to move things from the kitchen!
Oh yes, in my head I'm perfect! :lol: :lol:
Thanks Louise. This post meant a lot - and to be honest I thought I'd replied before.
I just need to accept this phase rather than moan about it. I seem to cope better with things when I accept them.
Well I think that's true for everyone, sparkling...and one of our biggest "tasks" in life is acceptance (of one thing or another :shock: )
Heh heh you have now mentioned the "c" word........cupboards! I am sure it would be a worthwhile task but I think you deserve a rest after college before you move onto domestic stresses. 8-) I am going to try and do the same myself (have a rest, not do cupboards :lol: :lol: :lol: )
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I might even sit in the garden on a chair!
Hey sparklinglime - It's Tuesday! Good Luck with your exam today
- Or if you have done it, well done, three cheers to you!
I hope it went well and you are now in a state of peace, accomplishment and pride! May your children cook the dinner and wash the dishes tonight and treat you like the heroine that you are! :D
Thank you so much Anna
I survived, having basically waffled for almost three hours!! I couldn't see the clock, had forgotten my watch and so panicked once the invigilator gave a countdown!
Answered all the questions - so what if they're wrong. I completed the course!!
My eldest has gone to the corner shop to get me a small bottle of diet coke. I feel I need caffiene! He's getting a big 'proper' bottle for him and the other three to have when they come home.
He was hoovering when I came to the house! Definitely brownie points - or should that be Scout points...
I'm glad its over.
WELL DONE YOU, WHAT A MILESTONE!!! WOO-HOO :P :P :P :P
Yay, lets party with sparklinglime! :D
I have plenty of sparkling water - but no lime (hence my forum name :D )
Eldest has got Girls Aloud blasting, so been bopping and loading the washing machine and the dishwasher.
I can't believe the washing :o I've not done any since Sauturday. Sadly, my 13 year old isn't always dry at night, so I've just had two quilts, a sleeping bag, bottom sheet and water proof cover brought down (never a row, it can't be helped) **faint**
HAVE YOU SEEN THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR TOMORROW????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can see my banister will be my washing line tomorrow :lol:
Normal service has been resumed. Much rather this than studying! 8-)
Good morning sparkling and welcome to the morning after :shock: I can see your house now, festooned with laundry like Widow Twankey's. If the kids were home they would be playing indoor tents! :P
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Enjoy your freedom sparkling-with-no-lime! Or have you nipped out and got some yet?!
Anna wrote:
Hi sparkling, reading your posts just reminded my how hard it is when we have 'some' involvement with other side of our children's family, we still want to be involved and feel that they are still a part of our lives even if they want nothing to do with us. Good for you sending the card, i guess there is enough water under the bridge with your ex for him not to use it as ammunition against you.
I think you should tell your son not to be disrespectful to his dad
I thought of putting "and me" pretty small in the corner! Hopefully they won't notice. I'm not convinced ex won't hit the roof though. He always told me how his internet "friend" in Texas wanted to get to know me - once the house was sold, I sent an email :D It wasn't nasty, but as my children had been involved in extreme religious brain-washing (which is why I did leave - I could deal with his women friends) I felt she needed to be reminded that she wasn't to be in touch with them as I would do what ever was needed to keep them safe.
He absolutely exploded. For once though I was the one who smiled sweetly and reminded him that he had wanted me to get to know her, and one of his favourite sayings back at him too. A moment where I felt confident!
I sent a card yesterday via that internet card place that gets advertised a lot!
I believe she's being admitted tomorrow, so sent it yesterday and it has arrived today. Had 'thinking of you' on the front, best wishes and the children's names inside in the middle, and teeny on the bottom 'and me'. The eldest and I sorted out the settings yesterday. He wanted the 'and me' to be bigger, but said no as he'd got so mad before (he's old enough to know some things now).
Just had a text to say thank you and she appreciated the sentiments behind the card.
Not replied, but shown the text to the eldest who's gone 'humph' and smiled at me.
I'm glad I sent it. She must be terrified. Poor her - look what she's got to look after her :lol: :lol: :lol: (meow)
Not done too badly with the laundry! Widow twankey would be proud :D
Not got any lime :( This is where I can be pretty bad. I just can't justify the cost, even though I can last me about 9 months, as I do just have a drop. Has to be that Roses cordial too, so would have to go to Bangor tesco for that. They don't have that in the asda in town.
I might do a home delivery next week - just for the lime! :lol:
Well done re the card and I am glad it was appreciated. You are very generous-spirited ;) ...although I know what you mean about the quality of her home after-care :shock:
You must have to be very organised with the shopping if the supermarket is some distance. I think you deserve some lime, if you can run to it!
I think its great that you sent the card, obviously she appreciated it!
Do that online tesco's shop - you deserve your Lime Roses cordial!!
I will on Tuesday - income support pay day!
So now instead of callling this thread "five weeks and counting" we can re-name it "five DAYS and counting"? :lol:
So now instead of callling this thread "five weeks and counting" we can re-name it "five DAYS and counting"? :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I can just imagine it with ice... Not that it's that warm here today!
:D isn't it funny that ice in a drink can make it seem more sophisticated? It's only frozen water! I would lurve to have one of those fridges with an external ice dispenser 8-)
I drank loads of lime during my last pregnancy, so much that I was lucky the baby wasn't :mrgreen: My favourite nowadays is very cold soda water.
Hope you are planning some relaxation this weekend, sparkling, after your stressful exam?
I'd organised a sandcastle competition for the Scout group on Friday, so the rest of the day was taken with that.
Then Saturday trying to smooth out things out between a Leader and some of the older ones. I've given up trying to get any money back from that Leader, as the things that were suggested I got, but seems I need to pay for them too (well, the Scout section - I'm not). This means the other leader is not impressed :shock: and it seems that there was a chance of WWIII breaking out.
I've told them Scouts will stand the cost and to drop the subject.
I enjoyed it :D And I'd like to hold on to that.
Saturday we had a bit of a buffet as Eldest and my daughter had finished their GCSEs and my course is over. Any excuse for a party!! Children ran riot and thoroughly enjoyed it. Hope the neighbours will forgive us - my daughter happy is a particularly noisy experience.
Yesterday I was sorting out my desk. Loads of shredding and filing to do that's just been left. I've done Scouts accounts so I can get some money back.
I too would love one of those fridges that you plumb in and it always has ice and cold water I'd have job fitting it in my kitchen. I'm almost dreaming about lime cordial by now! :lol:
My tutor phoned this morning and is trying to persuade me to study politics next - she was impressed by my essays (I could still faint at the thought of someone using impressed and essay when referring to me).
Now the next problem - I find I'm waiting for the tidal wave to come again. Things are too smooth... :?
Oh sparkliinglime, maybe this is it?? :o No more storms :o
So Politics eh? What do you think about that then?
Oh no. There will be a storm. There always is. Finding the strength to face them is the challenge.
I quite like the idea of politics - not sure if I'd find some things frustrating. She said there are jobs to be had by doing research within local government as well as within politics.
I think I've gone through so many social changes since my dad died (had to list them with one essay - shocking and upsetting) that I have an interest. My pet subject would be homelessness and lack of social housing to give homes at affordable rents. Here I pay £73 a week (just gone up), yet with the private landlord who sold the house I was payin £130 - and I left there at the beginning of September '05.
Need to be more protection too for private tenants. No one should be able to make someone homeless to make money.
:oops: I'll step off my soap box now... :D 8-)
I think I said something along those lines in an essay...
I soooo agree re social housing, If I ever won the lottery (difficult as I have now stopped doing it 8-) ) I have always said that the main cause I would support is homelessness prevention. I would want to regulate it so that nuisance neighbours were controlled, but the vast majority of people just want to live somewhere nice and look after it!
Sparkling, just enjoy "the calm before the storm". I know what you mean, it is difficult to relax not knowing where the next mini-crisis will occur, bit like Chinese water torture :shock:
I think anyone who has a passion and experience of a situation makes the best ambassadors for that cause. Go for it sparklinglime! This country needs more people speaking up and making a change.
Please keep an eye out for our new part of the site coming in August, our policy and research team will be looking into how the new JSA will be affecting single parents, we need your voice.
Thank you for the encouragement. :D I just need some self belief - well a good dose of it, actually.
The JSA does sound interesting.
One of the hardest exercises I ask people to do is when I facilitate one of my "confidence" seminars. Each participant is asked to think of a sentence that incorporates three interesting and/or good things about themselves eg "I am a loyal friend and I have lovely smile and a good sense of humour". They write this down and then repeat to themselves a few times. Their ultimate challenge (and this is where we have some emotional wobbles :cry: ) is when I pass round a hand-mirror and they have to say it to themselves as they look into it. How about "I am a great mum" into your mirror every day? :o
Louise