Diary of a Neurotic Mother

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Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Holiday
2007-07-03 14:32:00
It's raining it's pouring the old man is snouring. He went to bed and hit his head - I wish, maybe then this blasted rain would stop! Can you believe we're in July? I've been away on holiday. Big mistake, never go on holiday during Wimbledon fortnight. We should've known that goingon holiday during this great British sporting tradition would spark disaster. In fact we were actually quite lucky. Yes, it did rain but just a bit and the sun came out too so all in all it wasn't so bad.  
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Childminder away
2007-06-20 13:07:00
We're rushing around like headless chickens today because the childminder is away on holiday. It's a nightmare. I'm in work and then the husband and I will pass on the stairs as he heads off and I take over! She was with our lovely neighbour yesterday and she seemed to really enjoy herself. When I got back they were sat on the lawn outside playing. Apparently she'd been good all afternoon but she started moaning when I turned up - they know how to work their Mums don't they!
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Colds
2007-06-19 16:01:00
We all have colds in our house and I hate it. I know it's not a major illness but I can't stand not being able to smell anything. The husband asked me what I wanted for tea last night and I didn't care - I can't smell it so what does it matter. The house reeks of Vics vapour rub - or so I'm told. I'm sure it's true because my eyes are constantly running. My nose is bright red and sore and I want my Mum! The only good thing about the cold and losing my sense of smell is the fact that I can't tell when the daughter has pooed which means the husband, who isn't poorly, is having to change the majority of nappies.  

Croup
2007-06-13 14:06:00
The daughter has croup and hardly slept a wink last night - poor little thing. The cough is unbelievable, it really does sound like a bark or a sealion. I really, really hate her being ill - I don't cope very well with it at all! She's been to see the Doctor and he didn't seem too concerned but I've just spoken to the Pharmacist and she says that in severe cases they get admitted to hospital! So, you know what's coming don't you? Should she be in hospital? Is it more serious than the Doctor made out?

Climber
2007-06-12 13:30:00
So, I was bragging previously that I'd climbed Snowdon, I'm paying for it now as my toe is black - very attractive. Anyway, I think the daughter is in training for a similar expedition. She is climbing onto everything and she does not seem to care in the least when I shout at her to get down. She has a plastic chair which she climbs onto and most alarming is my coffee table. She wonders over and sort of looks around as if making a point that she's not up to anything and then BAM - she's up and waving her arms in the air. I despair....
More About: Climb , Limb

Night out
2007-06-07 15:40:00
I had a lovely night out last night with my friends. A well deserved night off if I do say so myself. A lot of the people I went out with have children too so there were lots of stories being passed around. It made me feel quite homesick actually. I was only 10 miles down the road and the daughter was in bed but I was missing her! Before I went out her Daddy was putting her to bed. I went upstairs and she put her arms around me and just clung on for dear life. It was a lovely feeling. I left thinking "She loves me!".
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Hot weather
2007-06-06 18:35:00
It is so warm today. This leaves me with a number of dilemmas. 1. How shall I dress the daughter? Do I go for a sunny, arms bare ensemble or do I go for cotton cover up? I don't want to be seen as a bad mother. She has factor 50 sunblock on. Oh I don't know. Go for arms bare and people may think I'm irresponsible because her delicate skin is being exposed. Go for cool, cotton cover up and I may get told I'm over heating her! 2. Next dilemma - How do I dress myself - a 30-year-old mother with bingo wings. I think it's definitely cool, cotton cover up for me!  
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Mountain climbing
2007-06-05 13:30:00
On Saturday I climbed a mountain. I don't mean some tiny little hill joined by Jack and Jill and it was certainly higher than the one marched up and down by the Grand Old Duke of York and his 10,000 men. On Saturday I climbed Snowdon. Oh yes, THE largest mountain in Wales and the second highest in Scotland, England and Wales. On Saturday I thought I was going to die on a cold mountainside clutching a Mars Bar and a bottle of Evian. On Saturday I was on top of the world and I thought I would return home triumphant to trumpet players and street parties. I was wrong.  
More About: Climb , Mountain , Climbing , Bing , Mount

Stay at home Grandmas
2007-05-31 17:30:00
What's happened to stay at home Grand mas? You've either got one or you haven't! When I was little I wanted a Grandma who knitted - I had two who could do this - I also wanted them to have a coal fire and bake scones - lost out on that one. One was a typical older woman - she'd sit and tell me stories for hours. The other drove and was, and still is always out. At 81 she can still be seen whizzing up and down, she ferries her younger sister about and they look quite funny with their bodies wrapped inside her sport bucket seats which read "Fast and Furious". I promise I am not joking!  
More About: Home , Stay

Walk, walk, walk
2007-05-30 17:11:00
For ages now and I do mean ages, I've been complaining because the daughter hadn't walked. Lots of people told me to be patient because I'd soon be fed up once she'd gained her confidence and was off. I hate to say it but they were right! She is completely confident now and toddles up and down really proudly - she's quite fast too. That's not a good thing. Yesterday she climbed inside a wicker basket which her toys are normally kept in! She was sat there as proud as punch but boy did she scream when it was time to get her out.
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Baby steps
2007-05-24 10:43:00
The daughter is walking so much better now. Still just taking little baby steps but she's getting there. She was with her Daddy all day yetserdya and when I came home I couldn't believe how her walking had come along. She actually tottered over to me. I'm getting quite suspicious about this new found confidence. How come she can totter around with Daddy but when Mummy is around her legs seem to be locked and she just HAS to be carried everywhere? Am I being taken for a ride?
More About: Baby , Step , Steps

Vegetarian Week
2007-05-23 11:31:00
It's National Vegetarian Week in the UK and so I feel as though I have to put my hand up and admit the daughter doesn't eat meat but she does eat fish. Not a real Vegetarian I know! I have to admit it wasn't a decision I took lightly. I was in a panic about it for a long time. I had an image of her being unhealthy and pale with brittle bones! I was also concerned that she'd stick out like a sore thumb at birthday parties. I don't want her to go to little Savannah's bash with her own paper plate full of carrot sticks and hummus. In reality, it's nothing like this.

Get Down
2007-05-22 12:22:00
The daughter has learnt a new word - "GET DOWN". She proudly says it over and over again, practicing her excellent vocabulary skills! I'm such a proud Mum. She's picked it up because I am constantly telling the dog to "Get down of the sofa". Isn't it strange how they mimic you? Yesterday she told everyone she saw to "Get Down ". Even I was told off. I was putting clothes in her wardrobe and she pushed me away declaring"Get Down". This morning I was in bed, the husband's turn to get up. She came over for a kiss but then she pushed me away declaring "Get Down". You're getting the picture aren't you. Why can't she learn to say "Love you". I say that to her everyday too.

Osteopath
2007-05-17 11:30:00
My back, well actually shoulder blade, has been killing me for ages. It's been gradually getting worse as the daughter has been getting heavier - there is obviously a connection. I am carrying her around on one hip, I always have a nappy bag, I twist to get her in and out of the car, I stoop to help her walk, I pull her pram up three steps to get into our garden and I also use that route to lug shopping bags. I've got a hard life haven't I? So, with all this in mind I decided to go and visit an Osteopath. All was going well until she asked me to strip down to my underwear...  
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MMR
2007-05-16 12:30:00
The daughter had her MMR vaccine today. I was nervous about it all night - more so than all the others. I just accepted she'd have them. This one seems different though. I suppose it's because of all the negative things that've been written about it in the media. What do you do though? Let her have it and worry that there could be a link to autism or do we refuse to give her the injection and then, heaven forbid, she could get measles which can lead to blindness or death. The decision is hard enough for any parent but for one as neurotic and paranoid as me? You might as well light the match and watch me explode.  

Zoo
2007-05-15 11:27:00
We went to the zoo on Saturday, it's just a small one not far from where we live, we weren't sure how much the daughter would like it. We've taken her to bigger zoos before and she's just sat in her pushchair and not really been that interested but she loved this one! It was a really great day out. She went on the baby swings and loved being pushed by her Uncle - a little bit high I thought but she didn't! There was a chimpanzee show. We sat in a small auditorium and the chimps came in from outside - they were behind a glass wall! I wasn't sure what the daughter would make of it but she loved it. She was dancing in front of them and generally having a great time - it was only to get better when she was introduced to the goats!    

Dog loses
2007-05-10 12:58:00
We have a little dog in our family and bless him, I think his life has changed beyond all recognition since the daughter came along. We were really aware of bringing home our little bundle of joy - I'm talking about the baby - and we were keen to include the dog. When I came home with her in my arms I passed her to the husband and fussed the dog. We both tried hard to make him feel part of the family. I know he's only a dog but he'd had our undivided attention for five years! Anyway, we've had sulks from the dog and small growls aimed at the baby - very unnerving but he's surrendered now and even given up his bed for her - yes, the daughter can be found sitting proudly in the dog basket.

Maddy
2007-05-09 12:00:00
The neurotic Mum is getting serious today. I just wanted to pass comment about little Madeleine McCann who has gone missing in Portugal. I just can't get the little girl out of my head and her poor family too. Everytime I see her parents on the news I just well up and if the daughter's around I pull her in a bit closer,hold her tight and kiss her. I just can't imagine what they're going through. As time goes by I worry that it won't be a happy outcome but we just need to cling on to any small hope that she may still be alive. Please God, she is.

Tantrums
2007-05-08 12:22:00
The daughter has hit the terrible two's - a few months to early. We've had a couple of tantrums, usually when we've taken some potentially dangerous artefact from her grubby little mits. You'd think it was the end of the world to listen to her. She has a lifetime of playing with ballpoint pens ahead of her. I don't know what the fuss is all about.
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Heartbroken
2007-05-02 15:45:00
The daughter has broken her mother's heart. I feel like a knife has punctured my beating organ and every beat is a painful reminder of what she's done. At just (nearly) 15 months old she's rejected me. I picked her up from the childminder yesterday and for the first time ever she did not want to come home with me. The childminder passed her over to me and she wriggled back into her arms. I was trying to act like I wasn't bothered but my eyes must've betrayed me because the childminder said "Oh they're all like this with me". I could've cried!  
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Hands-on Dad
2007-05-01 16:10:00
It's all over the news today that Gavin Henson - y'know, the tanned rugby player going out with Charlotte Church, is going to go to ante-natal classes with her. Now, I like celeb gossip and read the glossy mags with the best of them but why is this little gem newsworthy? Is he doing something that men shouldn't do? When I attended my ante-natal classes the husband came with me. In fact there were equal numbers of men and women. I have to say that the men asked the majority of the questions too. The husband wanted to know exactly how much water there'd be if I happened to break them on the sofa at home and another man wanted to know if they could bring their own pain relief in! Not sure what he was after but either he has very strong paracetemol or he was suggesting something illegal!
More About: Hands , Hand , Hands On

Hair bear bunch
2007-04-27 11:35:00
The daughter has got so much hair it really is quite unbelievable. She was born with a mop of very dark locks - strange really because I'd had a dream that I'd give birth to a black cat! Pregnancy dreams can be so strange - maybe this time I was being told something. She does have loads of hair and she scratches too. Anyway, the hair has just got thicker and thicker and it seems to grow out rather than down! It looks really pretty but it's a nightmare after she's rubbed her porridge fingers through its roots or there's stray glob of Calpol from the teething fuelled night of cries.
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Dilemmas, dilemmas
2007-04-26 11:07:00
So this mum has a dilemma. You see not only am I a neurotic mother but I am also a neurotic worker, friend, wife, daughter, sister....You get the picture? The company I used to work for have asked me to do some work for them and at first I agreed. Well, you know the saying - 'Flattery gets you anything'. In the cold light of day I don't want to do it but I'm worried they'll think badly of me if I back out now. Aaahhhhh!!!! Why do I do this? I'm a 30-year-old married woman with a daughter and still I let so many people treat me like a child. Or rather, I let them make me feel like a child. I think it's about time I grew up.
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Baby steps
2007-04-25 15:28:00
The daughter's only gone and done it - yes, she's taken her first steps! What an achievement and she's managed to please everyone. Her Daddy and Mummy were present, she walked to her Nain and her Great Nana was in attendance and, if that wasn't enough, she is celebrating her 81st birthday. Such a good girl!! I've waited so long for this, well 14 months. I don't think she even realised she was doing it because when she did she went flat on her bum and has refused to move since. Is this called progress?    
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Pig tails
2007-04-24 11:22:00
The daughter has had her hair up in pig tails for the first time this week and she looks absolutely adorable. I know we all think our children are gorgeous but my little girl really is! Where have the past 14 months gone? Now she can wear her hair up and shout "Mam" at the top of her voice it'll be the "I'm leaving home" scenario before you know it. At 14 months she's classed as a toddler too but she's still my little baby. I can't believe how her speech is developing too. She says "Hiya", "Yeah", "Ta", "Da" and "Mam or Mmmaaaaaammmmm". This seems to be the only word that she shouts and repeats over and over and over again. You know what though, I LOVE it.
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Alien husband
2007-04-19 12:46:00
Something has happened to the husband and I think he's been taken over by someone or something else from some far away land. He's always helped around the house and with the daughter but suddenly he seems to be doing EVERYTHING. He had a day off with her yesterday, he took her for her booster, took her for her haircut and when I came home he'd done all the ironing!! What is going on? I know I should be grateful and I am but I'm starting to look on his body for lovebites or scratches!  
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It's a.....
2007-04-18 14:02:00
GIRL. Yes, the sister-in-law is having daughter number three. At least she'll save some money, she already has lots of lovely pink items. She was hoping it would be a boy to make her family complete - her words, but as her Mum has told her "Go for a netball team". Joking aside, she doesn't mind as long as it's healthy - which the scan shows that it is. She says she doesn't mind but when I said "You won't go for number four though will you?". She replied - "Never say never".

Husband did well
2007-04-17 12:14:00
Well, I went away for the weekend - first time I've left the husband and daughter since she was born 14 months ago. I have to say the boy did good. He did annoyingly well actually, I mean I still wanted to come back feeling rested but needed! I couldn't find fault in anything - and believe me I tried.
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Trip out
2007-04-12 17:26:00
The daughter is with the childminder today and they're going out on the bus - she's so professional and lovely. There's no problem with her at all but I still feel a bit nervous that the daughter isn't with me. Do you think this anxiety is normal? My major complaint with nursery was that she was stuck indoors and now she's getting fresh air EVERYDAY I still feel nervous. There is just no winning with this neurotic mum!
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Maternity clothes
2007-04-11 18:08:00
Pass me the maternity clothes please or rather, Can I have them back? Friend, you know who you are. Don't panic husband, I'm not expecting baby number two. However, I've just been into town with the idea to do some retail therapy. How out of fashion am I? Everything is baggy, smock tops are everywhere - I can't believe that I take 14 months to get rid of the baby bump and now I'm expected to hide my slim, ok,ok - slimmer - figure under billowing floral hippie-chick tops/tents. I am most annoyed and for the price of them I might as well dig out the massive pregnancy clothes.
More About: Clothes , Mate , Maternity , Cloth