The mrs went back to work today after a year's maternity leave (yes, Thurston is one year old next week)... and it's just not worth me going to work (for a start, 2 children in nursery for a day is £110).
So far Annabelle's still asleep & I'm sitting watching Thurston slide around the floor like a (rather grumpy) circus seal.
This is easy! Now let's see if we make it to the end of the week with all 3 of us unscathed!
QuoteI'm sitting watching Thurston slide around the floor like a (rather grumpy) circus seal
Love it don't kids just make you laugh ;D ;D
I'm sure your all be fine ::). Don't let your guard down as soon as you say its easy the poop hits the fan ;D
Good luck ;D ;D ;D
Lucy
I presume you know that you can claim up to 80% of your childcare costs through tax credits?
Quote from: caroline7758 on March 30, 2009, 09:26:09
I presume you know that you can claim up to 80% of your childcare costs through tax credits?
Really? No, I didn't... is it means tested?
Probably, the system isn't designed to support "working" families despite what they say.....
I remember when OH went back to work after the second it cost half of her wages in Nursery fees (there were no tax credits then!) It was over £600 pcm.
I shall soon be in a similar position, although my children are now 19 and 16 (in April)...
:-\
Ollie check it out here
https://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx
lbb
Sounds like a good life to me!
Ollie enjoy it! I hadn't seen you posting recently and thought that you had "vanished"!!
How are the chickens doing?
Enjoy your life of "leisure" I would so like to be in your position!!!
Old Bird
;D
Ollie, I honestly wish you well, personally I wouldn't do that again for love nor money! ;D
I found having babies the easy bit in comparison, the post natal bit drove me potty and I confess I was relieved to go back to work after a few months! Of course now they are older they give us new challenges......I could be a housewife (well, lottie wife) now and be quite happy! ::)
Are you coming down today? Not seen you over the weekend Deb... :)
Quote from: saddad on March 30, 2009, 10:26:42
Are you coming down today? Not seen you over the weekend Deb... :)
Been in London, pm'd you.... ;)
Quote from: OllieC on March 30, 2009, 09:37:37
Quote from: caroline7758 on March 30, 2009, 09:26:09
I presume you know that you can claim up to 80% of your childcare costs through tax credits?
Really? No, I didn't... is it means tested?
Yes, and it's usually assessed on your previous year's income. Look at the site mentioned above or get your local CAB to do a calculation for you.
It will be Jeremy Kyle and Loose Women next ;D Don't let these mothers tell you it is hard and stressful. Its great. Stick a bit of washing in and have a coffee. Enjoy it. Its the best time with your children ever when they are little. Much better than nursery. Glad you are managing to arrange you life to do this important thing for THEM.
:o
EEEEK! Ollie, don't do it...daytime telly I mean, that way madness lies!
Best wishes with it all, now stop reading and get on with it, those nappies don't change themselves you know!
;)
Ollie how hard can it be, a couple of nappies, a drop of telly, bake a cake, bish bosh bobs yer uncle. :-* ;D ;D ;D
my youngest is 2 1/2 and a great help on the allotment. She has finally given up eating soil and is a dab hand at planting potatoes now ;D ;D
Got over the gravel fetish as well?
???
a pregnant colleague at work today told me her husband asked her what she was going to do all day when the baby is born cos
a) she is used to working long hours
b) babies sleep twenty hours a day :o ;D
he is serious lol
Quote from: saddad on March 30, 2009, 21:35:03
Got over the gravel fetish as well?
???
have you met my youngest??? :)
All small children go through it... Twoflower..
He's in for a rude awakening then Debster, several time each night at the very least... ;D
Quote from: debster on March 30, 2009, 21:36:09
a pregnant colleague at work today told me her husband asked her what she was going to do all day when the baby is born cos
a) she is used to working long hours
b) babies sleep twenty hours a day :o ;D
he is serious lol
If this is his first baby he'll learn ;D
It has to be the first or he wouldn't be saying such stupid things... :-X
Quote from: saddad on March 30, 2009, 21:39:21
All small children go through it... Twoflower..
No for the other two it was snails, and woodlice!! ???
;D did they try to eat them as well?
I think finding my eldest child with a squashed snail and green around her mouth the only thing she did that made me feel sick ;D
Gosh!!! I remember eating woodlice :o :o :o :o :o :o
Sorry Ollie meant to say this this morning,
having seen you at home with your children, I cant think of any one better to be at home with your
children
your going to do a very worthwhile job and be great at it.
lbb
yep its his first child,
and Ollie there is always someone on here to help you through the day ;D
This time last week I was just getting into Waterloo, having stood up on a crowded, dirty train for 40 minutes and paid £20 for the privilege. Then the mad sprint for the "drain" to Bank (another armpit/arse in face experience), finished with a half run, half limp across to the other side of the city. I would then spend all day getting abuse on the phone for things that other people have or haven't done, before doing the whole thing in reverse.
Today I'm watching Thurston play with a pumpkin, Annabelle's still asleep and I'm sipping on a nice cup of tea, trying to work out what that empty feeling is in my stomach... it's a lack of angst!
Hmmm, which one is best...
Enjoy! ;D
This is the best bit of the year as well. We will be going to see the ducks later on, plant some seeds. It easy to keep them amused, lots oning on :)
Last September my son aged 42 decided to leave his job of 20 years and go back to uni fulltime. The lifting of the stress was almost immediate, and he is almost human again. :) :) :) I know what you mean about the trains, what a nightmare, and to take all the abuse as well.
You'll get used to the different pace, and you've got the best job in the world - your children and their generation are the future of this country, a parent is 100% better than a nursery if it's possible.
Just don't turn on the TV - daytime TV is CR@P - take them the the allotment instead,
Made me think of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1TTXdsCtvw
Good tune, Steve! I looked up from it to see Thurston munching on a bit of sellotape... still, more vitamins than McD's!
Asbean, we're going 'round your gaff tomorrow, get the kettle on!
Actually, I think we might go fishing tomorrow, does anyone know if there's any Mackerel around the South coast yet?
Quote from: SteveJ on April 01, 2009, 15:59:46
Made me think of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1TTXdsCtvw
that made me think of this :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXOZrmupEf8&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXOZrmupEf8&NR=1)
Ollie there are deffinately mackerel off brighton and off southsea already but it is a little early
are you using feathers or spinning?
where would you be going?
lbb
Quote from: littlebabybird on April 01, 2009, 18:03:16
Ollie there are deffinately mackerel off brighton and off southsea already but it is a little early
are you using feathers or spinning?
where would you be going?
lbb
I reckoned off the end of the pier at Newhaven, using feathers or a shrimp rig. Annabelle is desperate to "dead a fish"! Fancy joining us?
We got some mackerel from the farmers market the other weekend - they catch off southsea
Quote from: OllieC on April 01, 2009, 18:44:23
Quote from: littlebabybird on April 01, 2009, 18:03:16
Ollie there are deffinately mackerel off brighton and off southsea already but it is a little early
are you using feathers or spinning?
where would you be going?
lbb
I reckoned off the end of the pier at Newhaven, using feathers or a shrimp rig. Annabelle is desperate to "dead a fish"! Fancy joining us?
Oh Ollie I wish,
lbb
Ollie, I hope you enjoy being a house husband. My friend's son has been one for 6 years now and it really works out well. Having seen you with the children at Wisley I know your children will be well looked after.
I hope your caught mackerell fishing is successful. We are off to Cornwall next week and my son has asked if I would take my grandson fishing. It's something I haven't done for years. We have carp lakes on the farm where we are all staying but I wouldn't know the first thing about catching them let alone eating them. My fishing experience has mainly been at the coast so hopefully we will be able to have a go at catching mackerell. At least I know what they taste like. ;D
Quote from: asbean on April 01, 2009, 18:50:13
We got some mackerel from the farmers market the other weekend - they catch off southsea
Yeh! and my knobs a kipper. I spend a lot of time out in my boat sea fishing. I would not expect to see mackeral in numbers for a least another 6 weeks in the solent.
Ace trust me there are deffinately mackerel off brighton and off southsea at the moment.
I know its early but tell them that
lbb
Do they swim in their leather caps. :P ;D ;D ;D
We didn't go in the end... I reckon we'll have 20 mins at the most (Annabelle inherited my attention span!), you know what it's like when you're bringing in 3 or 4 fish off each cast... well, even if some are about, it's not like that yet so I decided to give it a few more weeks.