Let’s Talk About Internet Forums in General

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And Mumsnet in particular.

For anyone who missed it, the official launch of the Mumsnet Bloggers network was yesterday. Me and hundreds like me are now being fed directly to their Blogger Network Site as and when we update. They also have some ‘famous’ bloggers working with them but the main number of bloggers are also MN members.

Now, a lot of MN members like being anonymous. They change their user name frequently (this is allowed on MN, BTW) to keep their privacy intact. In fact, a lot of MN users don’t even like telling people they use MN.

I, personally, don’t get either of these attitudes, but each to her own. What ever makes you comfortable is fine with me.

But I was thinking about why I and millions like me even use MN and other parenting networks and had a very unoriginal thought. It’s because it proves we are not alone in this great ocean of parenting choices. That others have been there before and others will be there after.

Like I said, not original. But it was really brought home to me yesterday after I posted the following story from this week:

(Note: Copy and pasted from this thread that I started yesterday)

“So my mobile rings and I see it’s my son’s day care.

The manager is on the other end and she’s saying ‘Hi, how are you?’

To which I reply, ‘I’m fine, is my son okay?!?!’

‘Yes he’s fine.’

To which I had to reply ‘You know what? He’s not even there. He’s home sick.’ blush blush

Of course, she had no idea he wasn’t there as she hadn’t been in the fledgling room yet today. And she was calling about something completely different…”

And 4 or 5 different people posted that they had done very similar things. And I felt a little less loony!

And that’s the power of MN. Not just that we come together when people need us, whether on a live labour thread or a cry for help with an ill child. Not just that we have a good laugh and lots of in-jokes.

It’s that we are never alone.

No matter how loony we are being!

This Past Weekend My Leg Was Quite Bad

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after a week of a 28 pound child spending most of his time in my lap, on that leg, it’s not surprising.

Sitting on the floor, which I used to do all the time and prefer to sitting on a chair, hurts. A lot. Especially if my leg already hurts.

But, for the first time ever, on Saturday, Adam came over to me and took me by the hand and asked me to sit on the floor and play with him. He usually prefers to play by himself so him asking me to play was momentous.

So, despite the pain in my leg, I got down on the floor. We looked at books and pushed cars around and, for some reason known only to him, held the pieces of the big puzzle in our hands. When I tried to lay them out and put them together, they were very decidedly picked back up and put back into my hands!

Iggle Piggle Card!!

Did it hurt? Oh hell yes.

Did I do it for long? Not really. Maybe 20 minutes.

Was I happy to do it? Oh hell yes.

And I think that’s the thing non-parents and even, sometimes, my husband, don’t understand about being a mummy. That you’ll do anything for your child. Even cause yourself pain, lose yourself sleep, hold your bladder or not eat, if your child needs you for something.

Granted, playing on the floor or not playing on the floor is not a need, per se. But my son asked me very directly to join him for the first time ever. He came over to where I was sitting on the sofa and took my hand and most definitely asked me to sit on the floor with him.

And so I swallowed my pain and went with him.

And would do so again in a heartbeat.

I Definitely Speak English Now

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as opposed to American.

I say ‘That was nice’ when I eat something yummy.

I ask ‘What is she called’ when told about new baby.

I say something is quite, i.e. ‘my hands are quite bad today’.

Things are ‘good fun’.

I use wanker and bollocks for swearing.

I also speak a bit of Irish as I definitely say ‘craic’ on a regular basis!

When my family tease me or call me on it I say ‘I live here. Of course I try to speak the language. Just as I would if I lived in a country that didn’t speak a form of English.’

They concede I have a point!

Today Our Family Welcomed A New Member

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Simon’s sister had a baby girl just after 1330 London time by Caesarean Section. Once again she had a child who just didn’t want to vacate the premises as her due date was 10 days ago!

Everyone is fine and our new niece is gorgeous. I have already bought pink things. ::nods::

Some might be wondering how this is for me, as this baby’s older brother was born 3 weeks after Adam. It’s perfectly fine.

Simon and I are thrilled with our only child and are content that he will remain an only child. I’m 42. I have many and varied health problems and, as anyone who reads this knows, Adam was a bit of a miracle, after nearly 2 years of trying.

So Happy Birthday to my new niece. You are the best birthday present your Grandad has *ever* gotten.

Some Conversations During My Day

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“Excuse me, ma’am,” I said to the, literally, little old lady standing in front of the hard rolls I want, “May I just grab those?”

“They put too many in the package,” She noted.

“I freeze them then heat them in the oven for 15 minutes. They come out hot and delicious and fresh tasting!!” I explained.

“Young lady, at nearly 90 that is much too much work!”

“Fair enough!”

Text messages between my husband and myself:

Me: talking to my dad on Skype at 4.

Simon: Say io for me. (DYAC!)

Me: what if I want to say Callisto?

Simon: You can’t. You just can’t.

Me: What will happen?

Simon: The end of the world.

Me: Could be interesting.

Would You Believe…

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Adam is ill again? Fever, vomiting, diarrhoea (which I can never spell the first time). This included a lovely puke at 0023 this morning. Oh and a runny nappy around 0200.

I am really beginning to think he has an allergy. His eczema flairs horribly after he’s been playing outside. We spent quite a bit of time outside on Sunday. Sunday night his eczema was very bad in big patches. Monday morning the first fever appeared.

The GPs don’t seem to be listening to me when I enquire if this is more than just bad luck. I get knowing looks and metaphorical pats on the back when I suggest there might be a greater cause.

We will be seeing our Health Visitor on Friday for his 2 year check and I am going to see if she can get him referred to allergy or paediatrician or someone who can maybe run an allergy test or something and see if I am right.

Even if he’s too young for treatment, maybe we can adjust his diet or be ready to react when he’s been outside or something.

And if she can’t do anything? Mama Bear is going to come out at the GP next week.

The same Mama Bear who came out and insisted I get some tests and not just keep taking sleeping pills when I stopped sleeping about 4 years ago. The one who got me a diagnosis of Fibro and pain clinic management and acupuncture.

So watch out. Here she comes…

It Has Recently Occured to Me

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That I don’t think I’ve ever posted about why I am Tee.

And Tee I am. All over the ‘net.

On Mumsnet and elsewhere I am Tee2072. I can’t tell you what the numbers mean. It’s a secret. Really. It is.

But the Tee part of my name came about just about 10 or so years ago when my brother’s oldest daughter, S, was learning to talk.

I was living in California then, close by to them, and saw my niece several times a week. And was referred to as Aunty Robyn. And S would say ‘T!’

We assumed she just couldn’t say Aunty so all that came out was T!

I have a vague memory of discussing with my brother and sister in law whether or not we should encourage her to use my full name or not. And I realized I liked it that she had a name for me no one else had.

When my brother, who is a big old geek and hosts this site and my company website and blog and just generally keeps me up and running, set up our family domain, on which this blog sits, he asked me what I wanted my email address to be. And I said Tee.

And so TeeMail (see what I did there?) was born.

And then I joined some message board that needed a user name. And I chose Tee.

And now I am Tee2072 all over the ‘net.

I still have TeeMail.

This is Tee’s Blog.

My company is Designed To A Tee.

And lots and lots of people call me Tee.

All because a wonderful little girl, who is now 11 and starting middle school in the fall, couldn’t say Aunty.

Or so we presumed…

 

I Just Want To Put Here

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For the record that Sheppard’s Pie made with leftover lamb and veg is not as nice as made from raw and slow cooked. It was edible and had fresh mash but it just wasn’t the same.

In other news, we haven’t found a new place to live yet but our landlord is being incredible and not only letting us go month to month starting in August but is also slightly reducing our rent. He’s also agreed to reduce it further if we decide a new place is just not available and we agree to sign at least a 6 month lease.

In other, other news even if we don’t move we are having a massive clear out. Our hope is to lose at least one bookcase and to get rid of all of Adam’s baby stuff. *sniff*.

Which reminds me. Look who can drink out of a cup: –

Look at MEEE!!!!

Playing With My Son

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Today Adam and I are off to view at flat at noon so have spent the morning playing in the house. He watched some CBeeBies, managed to draw on the front room door while I was on the phone, so had timeout (it wiped right off, BTW), played with his barn and then sort of wandered around so I asked him if he’d like to play with puzzles? He loves puzzles so I got an enthusiastic nod of the head.

Now anyone who has read this blog for more than 2 seconds knows I have some minor mobility issues so playing on the floor is very very hard for me. Alas, the puzzle Adam picked was this Tractor Floor Puzzle that his aunt and uncle sent him for his birthday

I love this puzzle with it’s big colourful pieces and interesting ending shape but it has to be put together on the floor or a table. Adam isn’t quite up to sitting at the table so on the floor I go. Which hurts.

But I do it anyway, because it’s a chance to sit with my son and do something we both enjoy. Once it was together I suggested he grab one of his board ones that can be done sitting in my lap but he was done with puzzles just then.

So maybe I can’t play with hours on the floor, or run around after him the way Simon does, but we do play. In fact, he’s just brought me a board puzzle. I think we have just enough time to do it before we have to get ready to go out.

 

Just A Quick What The Heck Is Going On Update

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Adam ill again.

Me swamped with work.

Simon swamped with work.

Looking for a place to live.

Trying to keep up with household and business accounts.

Couple of evening video gigs.

Simon’s parents down this past weekend.

Adam adding words daily including ‘Oh Dear’ from his grandad this weekend! This culminated in him deliberately dropping food off his highchair yesterday saying ‘Oops. Oh Dear.’

So life is good. If a bit frantic!!!