The D word that makes you miserable & cranky, the one that makes you obsess over everything.

Yes the big old diet word.

I am getting to that point of my weight now where I am out of breath just bending down to tie my shoes, walking up the stairs more than once to put washing away might as well be climbing mount Everest. Dont get me started on metaphors and similes of what it is like trying to having sex.

Every time I even start to attempt the D word, I immediately start to crave the things I would miss. I love my sugary tea, chocolate bars, white bread & crisps butties with lashings of real butter. Damn, no wonder I am a fatty!!

There are so many choices out there of what diet to try, low carb diets, calorie counting diets, points, syns, shakes and bars. How do you know which is the right one for you? How do you know if you are more likely to stick to one without giving up at every step. Is it about looking at what you normally eat anyway and seeing what your down fall is? For me its definitely Carbohydrates. I love chips, spuds & bread, Pasta & rice are my main food friends. So Do I go for a diet that uses them or one that cuts them out?

Its sooo confusing.

IF.. and I do mean IF!!! I start to diet, I may embarrass myself to stick to it by blogging about my darn cravings, and my moments of woe and misery.

Off to do some research now on which, how, and long term diets.

Wish me luck

I have had some great fun today clearing a small patch to plant some potatoes, and I have potted some mint, cleared the old runners from the wild strawberry patch ready for the new runners.

I have swept, clipped, pruned and weeded. I am totally pooped.

I have also spent the most part of my day shouting “put it down” “no !! Don’t pull that out” and various other phrases. My poor neighbours must think I am a total loon, or a really mean mum.

The kids enjoyed themselves though, they look so cute with their gardening gloves on. They are so impatient too, they check the containers more times than I do to see if anything is growing.

So far we have planted (in the last few weeks)
Carrots
Peas
Cucumber
Cauliflower
Sprouts
Potatoes
Runner beans
Strawberries (the normal ones, we already have wild ones)

The kids want to try pumpkins too, only for carving at Halloween not for eating

I never thought I would ever enjoy gardening. I can’t wait to see things starting to grow.

Do you grow your own veg? Would you like to?

So how do you battle it? How do you know when to feed them? And what to feed them?

I know ‘they’ say to feed kids through the bug, but I have always found the bug to really drag on when you do this. I much prefer to just offer fluids for minimum of 6 hours and not attempt to offer food until they start to ask for it. Usually hunger is a good sign that it’s passing.

When they don’t want to eat, what do you do?
For mine I simply concentrate on fluids and offer them rehydration fluids. They don’t always drink them though so what I do offer instead is a little lemonade with a tiny pinch of salt (mine have no sugar or salt health problems, do bear that in mind when offering this solution) they like the taste better than the rehydration sachets

The kids are ready to eat, what can I offer them?
Always think of BRAT food for the brats
Bananas
Rice (plain cooked)
Apple (sauce)
Toast

These foods help to bind, release slow energy and are less likely to be brought back up

If its an aggressive bug, it won’t hurt putting all the family in this diet for a day or two. It certainly lessens the clean up process.

Oh and as a fab way to remember how to spell Diarrhoea (Uk Spelling)

D – Doesnt
I – It
A – Always
R – Run
R – Really
H – Horrible
O – Over
E – Each
A – Ankle

Disclaimer – I am not a medical professional. Advice stated here is how I treat a simple basic tummy bug. If you are concerned at any time please seek medical attention !

OH NO !!!

“But Muuuuuuuum” I hear in that high pitched wailing screech that 5 year olds do best.

Never fear though my little minions, mummy has a plan.

Those Sugar Puffs that have been in the cupboard since Xmas, and the Honey Hoops I seem to have 4 boxes of, left over Easter eggs and some golden syrup come to the rescue.

I have created …

Chocolate Loopy Puffs !!! 

Chocolate Loopy Puffs

Pinkoddy is a Mum of 4 amazing boys, 1 of which has been diagnosed with Aspergers, and a second is awaiting diagnosis, her blog has many amazing links to help and advise folks if they are found in a similar situation.

I have seen Joy (aka Pinkoddy) interview folks before, and asked her how would she feel if I did the same for her. Lets just say she was more than excited and pestered me for an hour until I gave in and emailed her some questions.

1.  You have a house full of boys, do they fight a lot? Or do you have a zero tolerance on fighting?

They do fight, but I think all siblings do, no more because they are boys. It’s more bickering than fighting. I’m one of those parents that steps in for everything anyway so I don’t let them hurt each other.

Pinkoddys Boys
2. Does it upset you if people say “do you wish you had a girl?” ?

It doesn’t upset me because I would have liked a girl. What upsets me is people saying that I’m “obsessed” about it, especially as it was so hard to decide to stop having children when we love them so much.

3. Mealtimes, do you all eat at the same time and eat the same thing? Do you have any special diets/allergies you need to cater for?

Generally we try to all eat at the same time around the big table. Some nights it’s not possible with all the kids after school activities/dh work otherwise we’d end up eating really late.

4. I jokingly call you the breast feeding, cloth nappy, baby wearing earth mother, but I know how proud you are of your mothering achievements, what advice would offer to new mothers inspired by your way of mothering?

TBH I wouldn’t say I’m proud that I’ve done them but I am proud that I parent how I want and nothing has stopped me (despite professionals telling me to). My advice is just do what feels right for you – it’s easier that way.

5. Back to having 4 boys, I assume they like their video games, how do you monitor what they play? Do they want to play games not certificated for them?
They are only allowed to play at certain times – generally weekends, school holidays and special treats if they’ve achieved/well behaved. DH decides on the games because he knows everything about them. Rating has only been an issue with the oldest. Basically when he was 14 years old there were LOTS of 7 year olds playing COD. He was the only one NOT playing it at school amongst his friends. We said he could play it for a limited time if he acted more grown up, and if his behaviour changed it would be reverted back. He’s been really good with it. He’s not allowed to play anything like that until all his siblings are asleep too.

Games Her Boys Like to Play

6. You are a mother of special needs children, how have you managed as a family? Does it disrupt you much? What advice do you have to anyone who finds themselves in your situation.

You just muddle by any way you can don’t you. My advice is ignore other people. Even those who think they know how it is, don’t know how it is for you.

Pinkoddys World

7. About your blog, how long have you blogged for? When do you do most of your blogging?

I started blogging about a year ago in August. I’ve changed it so that I do most of my blogging when the youngest is at playgroup. Otherwise I end up cleaning and take no time out for myself. I also try and squeeze some in in the evenings when they are in bed.

8. Some people have been upset by what you have talked about in your blog. How would you like to reassure them if you had the chance?

I never intentionally upset anyone, even those I don’t agree with or like. If I’m asked nicely I’m even willing to change things and always give people the opportunity to say how it is from their side. As I said before no-one knows what it is like for you – so I would never judge anyone else.

9. Pinkoddy is becoming quite a known Internet ‘brand name’ how does that feel ?

LOL really, I don’t think so. I am not even in the tots100 100.

Visit Pinkoddys Blog Here

10. If you could interview anyone dead or alive who would it be ? 

My mom. I miss her terribly and to be able to ask her opinion on things and get some advice would be great.

Thank you to Joy, she really is a fantastic breastfeeding, babywearing, cloth nappy earth mother

Pictures are the property of Pinkoddy and should not be used without permission.

Start as you mean to go on I say

Today we have made a rota of what we are going to do. Snack times are set, and play time activities have been written out.

Today I got all the little ones dressed and sent them off to collect leaves, twigs, feathers and anything else they can find, for their arts and & crafts activity after snack time.

This is 3, 4 & 5 ‘Gluing’ (I call it OMG My floor, My table!!”

And this is what I made for craft time

ahhhhh Best sort of Craft ever !!!

By planning out and knowing what is coming next the tantrums and pestering from 4 is teeny. Normally she is always on and on and on.

Happy 4 = Calm Mum

I started up another blog to place my daily pictures, which can be found here - http://rillyroophotoaday.wordpress.com/

Each week is themed to make organising myself easier, and give me more focus.

A few friends have joined in with me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/groups/190521334425331/ (You are welcome to join if you like)

These are my themes for the 52 weeks.

Week 1 – Gardening World
Week 2  - Blue
Week 3  - The Letter P
Week 4  - Macro
Week 5  - Geometric Shapes
Week 6  - Food
Week 7  - Threes
Week 8  - Toys
Week 9  - Buildings
Week 10  - Landscape/Cityscape/seascape
Week 11  - Spring
Week 12  - Action
Week 13  - Vehicles
Week 14  - Plant Life
Week 15  - Numbers
Week 16  - Fruit & Veg
Week 17  - Water & Liquids
Week 18  - Spots V Stripes
Week 19  - The Letter F
Week 20  - Openings
Week 21  - Reflection
Week 22  - Animals & Insects
Week 23  - Summer Landscape
Week 24  - Children
Week 25  - Crowds/people
Week 26  - Out of Place
Week 27  - Black & White shots
Week 28  - Upside Down
Week 29  - Signs
Week 30  - A week in the life…
Week 31  - Leaves
Week 32  - Portraits
Week 33  - Wires
Week 34  - Light
Week 35  - Autumn signs
Week 36  - Purple
Week 37  - Texture
Week 38  - Patterns
Week 39  - Symmetry
Week 40  - Opposites
Week 41  - Sets
Week 42  - Clothing/Fashion
Week 43  - Technology
Week 44  - Lines
Week 45  - Toy Traveller (the same toy taken in various places/situations)
Week 46  - Body Parts
Week 47  - Education
Week 48  - Shopping
Week 49  - Christmas
Week 50 – Silver or Gold
Week 51  - Currency
Week 52  - Recap & Retake – Looking through the years photos, and attempting to recreate some using the techniques I have learned through the year

Attempt of a nice family photo

Finally it was time to get the bouncing, fizzing, explosive little ones into bed, and settle down with a large alcoholic drink and set to wrapping the huge selection of various shops.

We started the wrapathon at 8pm. Mr Rilly was building some of the larger toys to save time in the morning, and give them something to play with while we wrestle opening the vacuum packs and twisty little wire things. It took us until just past midnight to finish, which I thought was pretty good to be honest. Fingers crossed now they would stay asleep until a reasonable hour.. we wish.!!
There was a little gentle pattering of feet around 3.30 in our room and a gentle whisper of “Mum is it time yet”. Then it was just a simple case of keeping the awake one quiet enough to keep the others asleep, so we endured a couple of hours of kicking, nudging and general excited chatter just to give the others the chance of sleep.

6am came along slowly, but it eventually arrived. Excited toddlers and groggy teens, and even more tired than normal parents, we all line up and trundle down the stairs. Eager faces bouncing in front of me. The amazing part of parenthood is opening the door into the magical wonderland of Christmas, and hearing the squeals of delight as they see that Santa has been.

Reality thumps you in the ass soon after though, when you cant find the smallest child because they are buried in a sea of paper, and requests of “Set this up” “open this” and “IT DOESNT WORK”  4 long hours of wrapping and 20 mins to destroy all that loving preparation, seems a little futile really. I wonder if it would be just as enjoyable if we opened everything the night before and set it all up ready for playing with??

Thankfully presents were a huge success, no major disappointments, and those moments were usually ours and not the kids anyway.

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and all the best for 2013

Going back in time was a good start, traditional games like hunt the thimble, except no one uses thimbles so we hid a dice instead. Taking it in turns to hide, excitedly yelling hot or cold. It was a fabulous hour of fun.

We had another playtime, a game I haven’t played since I was a child myself. Blind Mans Buff, taking it in turns to be ‘on’ wearing a blindfold, hoping to catch someone. As always 1 & 2 were always the last to be caught, and the little ones never quite getting the point of avoiding capture and instead stand yelling ‘ here I am ‘

The most entertaining games have come from a pack of cards that have been hidden in the back of a junk draw. Showing the gang how to play simple games of patience, or group games like brag, fish and new games like cheat. Nice easy snap for the younger ones, and poker for the older 2, either way, cards can be entertaining to all ages.

Board games that have lay on shelves gathering dust while we played their digital equivalent, all the setting up already done for you, the automatic moving of the counters, and the easy total up at the end, again already done for you. The bit that we miss out on is the banter and conversation as you set up, the setting out of the board eases you into a relaxed family mode, the reading of the rules and discussions of how mum played with her parents and siblings differed to how dad played with his parents and siblings. The gentle accusations of cheating and jokes passing from side to side.

Maybe it’s something to try with your family?

Balance is the key to all family life, do you have your balance right?