Proof she wasn't scared of dogs before

OK, so this was taken over a year ago, but this is 'Jack,jack' my mums dog.

Isobel either spends her time patting him or telling him 'night-night' thereby sending him to his bed.

Yesterday I told Isobel that we would go and see him on Friday, she pointed to her face and said 'dog' again.

Hey ho I'm sure it will be fine, if I just RELAX about it....

Going to the dogs

I have lovely neighbours, beyond lovely neighbours, wouldn't swap them for the world neighbours.

But on Monday we had a bit of an incident.

As they often do, next door had taken in a parcel for me (this postal service isn't why I love them, but it helps an Internet shopaholic like myself). Isobel and I popped round to collect the parcel.

Their little dog Toffee came running out and knocked Isobel to the ground and while he didn't bite her face he did open his mouth.

I scooped little girl up, but for the next hour she kept pointing to her face and saying 'dog obel'. She even told her daddy.

Now, I'm not cross, I don't think the dog is dangerous (though I do get the fear if I think of possible outcomes - mutilation and the like), my neighbours are mortified; I am actually more concerned about making sure isobel isn't afraid of dogs,

We will pop next door and see toffee again.

Can anyone offer any advice? Please not about the dog, no muzzles etc, just about making sure my little girl remains phobia free.



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Drinking and driving

I hope she isn't going to shmesco in her pjs.

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Hip to be square

There is something about colouring in the lines that
makes me want to rebel a little.

But I am awfully proud that my little girl is mastering the art.

Well she colours particular bits.








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Deal maker

Bartering and bargaining are two things I'm not particularly good at.

I love eBay but I get caught up in the auction and can often end up paying more than I meant.

The one time I visited a souk I got to freaked out by the attention that I got as a blonde foreigner to stand my ground and haggle. (that's not to say I wouldn't love to be one of those women who travels the world and has a house full of exquisite bargains to illustrate her tales.)

I have resolved, as a parent not to engage in haggling with my child, but all know what happens to those resolutions - we grow wiser!

Imagine my surprise this evening when I visited my unusually unsettled little girl in her room and she first presented me with her chattels and a request for 'mummy's bed', which was greeted with a no from me; where upon she re-adjusted her bid to a 'cuggle?'

She received her cuggle simply because I was stunned at her audacity.


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Feel the love

Nursery really have a handle on this single parent thing, even if I am their only one.

I got a valentines card




But, (hmph) PD got one too...




They know that mummy is more special as mummy's had glitter

And, look at all the other hearts I got too




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Potty training - lesson one

How to read on the loo.




As you can see, we haven't got to the 'lift lid' or 'remove tights' lessons yet.


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Bedfellows

As a girl when you first share a bed with someone new you know it will certainly not be an unselfconcious event.

There may be nights of sleeplessness and tummy ache in an attempt to avoid any embarrassing draughts.

You may even get up to go to the loo in the middle of the night in order to not be overheard and perhaps to re-brush your teeth.

You will cling to the edge if the bed and accept even the smallest of token duvet corners so as to be a good bedfellow.

There would definately not be an invitation for others to join you at so early a stage.

When do we learn these rules?

Isobel comes into my bed; sleeps diagonally; snores loudly; brings with her twittwoo, tully and baby; and thinks nothing of her trumpet pj trousers.


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(practically) Wordless Wednesday

Fifteen minutes playing with rice and cups.



Thirty minutes playing clean up



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Voice coach required

I live in fear of becoming an ineffective parent, you know the sort, the children tend to be brats for whom they spend their lives making excuses. I don't know what's more annoying the cajoling and pleading for better behaviour or the bratty behaviour itself.

I just do not want to have a child that no-one wants to have around.

And so far I don't

But...

Isobel sometimes laughs when I say 'No' and there are some battles I really can't be bothered to fight.

I don't give into whining, I try to distract but there is an element of whining. Tantrums are short lived and definitely for show. Crying as her I leave her at nursery I am sure is now a habit.

While Isobel isn't a brat, I do know I have to be firmer.

I don't plead with her to let me change her nappy I just put a firm hand on her tummy and she stops wriggling; I don't beg her to get in the pushchair - I can get those straps on even with a struggle.

So, I'm not a complete push over.

I do think if perhaps my voice was less audible to dogs and dolphins I may get a better reaction.

Forgive me Supernanny for I have sinned

I have allowed my daughter to sleep in my bed.

Just the once mind.

I'm not sure where she gets it from

But my daughter is very bossy.

It started with the Barbera Woodhouse esque command 'sit', whereby she would position me exactly where she wanted me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7lZnxrF694&feature=youtube_gdata

Then we had '(get) up'.

Now we have 'comon mummy'.

Or continuing with the dog training theme (no comment please) we had 'walk' whereby I would be led by the hand out of her way or in the direction I was obviously supposed to going.

Now we have 'carry'; 'dance'; and my favourite one of all

'cuggle'.




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