The joy in your heart when your baby sleeps before 8pm.
And the panic thereafter that your baby may just wake up in the middle of the night to continue the play he forgot to finish before sleeping off

Ovems:
Thank God for this thread and the first topic which is sleep routines. My son will be 2 years old on Thursday. In order to establish a bedtime routine which ended up not working, then we were still nursing before bed, I had to get into bed with him. Now we have stopped breastfeeding but that pattern has remained. No matter how sleepy he is he won't get into bed on his own to Sleep. He would rather wait till I get into bed with him. Please how do I break this pattern?
Cc Zaynie, Blank, AlphaHandMaiden, etc.

My son is 5 and won't sleep if I'm not in the room.
My daughter will say " I want to sleep on you" she like sleeping on my tummy.


Yes we cosleep.

babylove01:
Zaynie, Blank, AlphaHandMaiden,

Good Evening
I have to back my small madam before she sleeps unless she's extremely tired. Although she's 16months now but I want to try and stop it but nothing seems to work. Please help oooooo

She just wants to feel your body warmth.
Put her to your chest to she sleeps.

sayoberry:
Hello mamas.

I haven't adjusted my routine. We now sleep by fire by force when its 10pm. But it involves loads of cuddling and petting. "My babies, come and hug mama"

Two days ago I went thru one major episode with them. One of the moments I dislike most- when they start to cry uncontrollably at once (makes me want to run away)

My morning routine is scattered all over the place. I'm not a morning person at all. But all in, I'm still sane

I'm not a morning person too.
Sometimes I cry in the morning from the sheer stress of waking up and getting everyone going.

Pettyperty:
Hello everyone. Mum of 5 here. No routine, no time table, one messed up mother. I haven't done my hair in 2 years. First child 8, 2nd 6, third and fourth 3 and last baby 1.(Hope I'm not ranting much)

I have no nanny, help. I used to try to be all perfect and all. Wake up cook, clean before office but I started looking like a mess. Hubby helps but it's not easy having toddlers mehn. most times when I have to travel due to work, my hubby takes care of the kids and all. I have tried to be organized a bit but my toddlers don't make it work. And the nature of my job is the kind my boss can say "start packing, traveling in a week"
I remember one time I was told to pack 7 hours before flight.

Working mums, may God bless our hustle

You're the real MVP!
More power to you.

zaynie:

My son is 5 and won't sleep if I'm not in the room. My daughter will say " I want to sleep on you" she like sleeping on my tummy.

Yes we cosleep.

Hahahahahahahaha! I give up. So no hope for a change anytime soon?

Pettyperty:
The joy in your heart when your baby sleeps before 8pm.
And the panic thereafter that your baby may just wake up in the middle of the night to continue the play he forgot to finish before sleeping off

Hahaha hah

sayoberry:
Hello mamas.

I haven't adjusted my routine. We now sleep by fire by force when its 10pm. But it involves loads of cuddling and petting. "My babies, come and hug mama"

Two days ago I went thru one major episode with them. One of the moments I dislike most- when they start to cry uncontrollably at once (makes me want to run away)

My morning routine is scattered all over the place. I'm not a morning person at all. But all in, I'm still sane

How's it going ma? Are they consistently sleeping at 10 now? More muscle to your elbow!

Have you any help with the children by the way?

So, a friend had a medical emergency and I ended up sleeping at her place for 2 days, long story. She has twin boys that are 5years old and a 2 year old girl. OMG. Those kids ran circles around me. Twin mamas, I raise hand and cut cap for una.

I could not and still cannot tell them apart. They even have scars in the same spots. They have name bands but they kept stylishly switching them. To get them ready for bed was a nightmare. But I remembered Sayoberry and made sure they slept in separate rooms by 8pm. After crying and refusing to cooperate, they eventually slept off by 9:30pm or thereabouts. The girl was such an angel and even tried to help prepare their meals.

It was a new experience for me. I now have a healthy respect for twin mums.

blank:
So, a friend had a medical emergency and I ended up sleeping at her place for 2 days, long story. She has twin boys that are 5years old and a 2 year old girl. OMG. Those kids ran circles around me. Twin mamas, I raise hand and cut cap for una.

I could not and still cannot tell them apart. They even have scars in the same spots. They have name bands but they kept stylishly switching them. To get them ready for bed was a nightmare. But I remembered Sayoberry and made sure they slept in separate rooms by 8pm. After crying and refusing to cooperate, they eventually slept off by 9:30pm or thereabouts. The girl was such an angel and even tried to help prepare their meals.

It was a new experience for me. I now have a healthy respect for twin mums.

Couldn't help laughing at your story! I imagined you coming from your routines to chaos of some sort!!

You can encourage their mom to start trying routines perhaps it'll reduce her heart ache in the long run....

Still on the sleep matter, my smallie changed patterns a bit. He started sleeping once he returns from playgroup at about 5pm. Then he wakes up between 10 and 11pm I give him cereal and of course he refuses to return to sleep!

The dilemma I also have sitting in bed with him till he sleeps of course means I also fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the night and remember all my undone chores!!!!

I got up this early to see if I can make good on getting to church early. But alas here i am on naira land *sighs*

I'm hoping this week will be easier. I'm going to try planning meals

Maybe we can discuss morning routines next?

Especially for the working mums!

Will be back to share mine

Happy weekend everyone

Hi mamas, good to have this thread and I believe I am welcomed.
I have two questions, but I will go with the first one first. How do I get my 15 month old son to eat home made meals. He only tolerates cereals and he shuts his mouth tight to other meals.
I have tried amala, rice, spaghettini, indomie, plantain, semi etc to no avail. He does well at creche and still breastfeeds.
Pls help me mamas.

hotmomma:
Hi mamas, good to have this thread and I believe I am welcomed.
I have two questions, but I will go with the first one first. How do I get my 15 month old son to eat home made meals. He only tolerates cereals and he shuts his mouth tight to other meals.
I have tried amala, rice, spaghettini, indomie, plantain, semi etc to no avail. He does well at creche and still breastfeeds.
Pls help me mamas.

..


Sounds to me like a case of "see finish" lol

When do you plan to stop breast feeding?

Do you also prepare the meals for Creche or ten school provides it?

Try to reduce the fuss around his meal times. Place a plate in front of him and if he refuses after ten minutes pack it up!

Eliminate juices and snacks during the day too.

You can also try feeding him from your plate.

Offer foods he can est himself- bread, dodo, chips etc

babythug:
..

Thanks ma'am for your response.

blank:
So, a friend had a medical emergency and I ended up sleeping at her place for 2 days, long story. She has twin boys that are 5years old and a 2 year old girl. OMG. Those kids ran circles around me. Twin mamas, I raise hand and cut cap for una.

I could not and still cannot tell them apart. They even have scars in the same spots. They have name bands but they kept stylishly switching them. To get them ready for bed was a nightmare. But I remembered Sayoberry and made sure they slept in separate rooms by 8pm. After crying and refusing to cooperate, they eventually slept off by 9:30pm or thereabouts. The girl was such an angel and even tried to help prepare their meals.

It was a new experience for me. I now have a healthy respect for twin mums.

Loooolll. I imagine


Babythug, they slept yesterday 9:40pm

We are making progress. What I did was take to that let them play advice. When we get back from school I take off their uniforms and say "go and play outside" the rush of energy is too much. They usually play inside and I end up picking up things and all. The outside trick is da bomb. Except I get to scrub them afterwards (sometimes )

blank:
So, a friend had a medical emergency and I ended up sleeping at her place for 2 days, long story. She has twin boys that are 5years old and a 2 year old girl. OMG. Those kids ran circles around me. Twin mamas, I raise hand and cut cap for una.

I could not and still cannot tell them apart. They even have scars in the same spots. They have name bands but they kept stylishly switching them. To get them ready for bed was a nightmare. But I remembered Sayoberry and made sure they slept in separate rooms by 8pm. After crying and refusing to cooperate, they eventually slept off by 9:30pm or thereabouts. The girl was such an angel and even tried to help prepare their meals.

It was a new experience for me. I now have a healthy respect for twin mums.

Lol.
The kids must have had plenty fun confusing you.

babythug:
Still on the sleep matter, my smallie changed patterns a bit. He started sleeping once he returns from playgroup at about 5pm. Then he wakes up between 10 and 11pm I give him cereal and of course he refuses to return to sleep!

The dilemma I also have sitting in bed with him till he sleeps of course means I also fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the night and remember all my undone chores!!!!

I got up this early to see if I can make good on getting to church early. But alas here i am on naira land *sighs*

I'm hoping this week will be easier. I'm going to try planning meals

Maybe we can discuss morning routines next?

Especially for the working mums!

Will be back to share mine

Happy weekend everyone

If its like pur place, they nap for 2 hours every day and sleeping for additional 5 hours .
That's recipe for night vigil o .
Its either they cancel nap in school or he doesn't nap for more than 2-3 hours after school.
Some parents even beg us not to let their kids nap CP's they end up not sleeping when they get home

sayoberry:



Loooolll. I imagine


Babythug, they slept yesterday 9:40pm

We are making progress. What I did was take to that let them play advice. When we get back from school I take off their uniforms and say "go and play outside" the rush of energy is too much. They usually play inside and I end up picking up things and all. The outside trick is da bomb. Except I get to scrub them afterwards (sometimes )

Somebody cannot kill her self joor.

Hello Mamas in the house. Please I will like to know at what age a child should start writing.
My son's (2yrs4mnths) teachers has been complaining that he is not doing well at school, that by now he should be at least writing figures '1-4' and alphabets 'A & B'. The only thing he can do is scribble figure 1,though he can read and identify 1-20 and A-J. When his teacher complained, we registered him at lesson(taken by his class teacher), I pick him up by 4 and he naps immediately he gets home most times for like 1-3 hours, so weekends is only time we have to teach him at home. His proprietress also complained today when dh went to pick him up.
Please what can I do to help him catch up at school and he is easily distracted, can hardly get him to concentrate on anything for 2 minutes. Kindly share any method(s) you have been using with your kids.

cc Aunty Zaynie

Pettyperty:
The joy in your heart when your baby sleeps before 8pm.
And the panic thereafter that your baby may just wake up in the middle of the night to continue the play he forgot to finish before sleeping off

hotmomma:
Hi mamas, good to have this thread and I believe I am welcomed.
I have two questions, but I will go with the first one first. How do I get my 15 month old son to eat home made meals. He only tolerates cereals and he shuts his mouth tight to other meals.
I have tried amala, rice, spaghettini, indomie, plantain, semi etc to no avail. He does well at creche and still breastfeeds.
Pls help me mamas.

My son does same thing. Sometimes I just serve a little portion in his plate and set it down for him to play with. In the process, he eats a good amount of it, while the rest serves as decoration for the floor

livelystone:
Hello Mamas in the house. Please I will like to know at what age a child should start writing.
My son's (2yrs4mnths) teachers has been complaining that he is not doing well at school, that by now he should be at least writing figures '1-4' and alphabets 'A & B'. The only thing he can do is scribble figure 1,though he can read and identify 1-20 and A-J. When his teacher complained, we registered him at lesson(taken by his class teacher), I pick him up by 4 and he naps immediately he gets home most times for like 1-3 hours, so weekends is only time we have to teach him at home. His proprietress also complained today when dh went to pick him up.
Please what can I do to help him catch up at school and he is easily distracted, can hardly get him to concentrate on anything for 2 minutes. Kindly share any method(s) you have been using with your kids.

cc Aunty Zaynie

Your school is setting unnecessary bars for your child. They are moving faster than he can catch up. That little boy is doing lesson already and closing by 4? Poor boy
My daughter is about the same age too and she can only write 1 and 2 confidently. She can't write any letter yet and even though her class mates are way ahead of her,I'm not a bit bothered!
She will catch up soon enough, I'm very sure of that. Cos I keep comparing with the school I teach, we're not so gungho on what a child can write but what a child knows.
Your own dey identify 1-20 sef.....
Abeg he's still a baby joor. Let them chill a bit.
If you don't mind, let him go back by a class to reduce the pressure on you. But to find ways to help him write, I can't think of much.......
Focus on what he needs to know.
Mastering 1-50 (split in 10s)
Colours(10), once he knows the colours, move on to the different shades of each colour.
Shapes (at least 10)
Domestic animals
Wild animals
Animals and their Young's
Etiquettes. Using magic words, table manners, sharing, settling disputes, not hitting.
Self care. Taking care of belongings, potty training, washing hands regularly, putting on shoes and taking them off, dressing and undressing self, keeping things where they belong etc.




See the listed above are what schools like his forget to teach a 2 year old. A child would learn how to write sooner or later but some 6 year olds still can't wear their shoes the right way.
Let the school bother about him, that's why you're paying his fees. Let the teacher think about how to help him, that's why she's a teacher.
Like my supervisor in my previous school would say, you can't expect a parent to pay almost half a million in a year and you will still say the child can't read, mbok what were you employed for?


Does he grip his pencil well. Google proper way to grip a pencil (pincer grip) and get a big triangular pencil for your child. It helps them write better.
Also teach him writing rhymes for example number 2 is curve and a dash, 3 is curve and another curve, 6 is curve and tuck it in etc
If his pencil grip is not strong then he can't write zit.

His normal attention span is his age plus one= 3 minutes. So you have 3 minutes of number identification, 3 minutes of number formation, 3 minutes to reinforce what he learnt. And he's gone





I would say chill but then I've always been a laid back teacher that doesn't put pressure on her pupils and at the end of the day, they still blossom.

2 years 4 months...........


That is only 1 month older than my daughter and she can write 1- 87 and A - Q in English, benin, Greek and Russian!

Lol!!! , she can't write Jack! Yet! She holds pencil well and all but na abadabidi.... aka jagajaga we still they write! Lol

She knows how to recite 1 - 10. Not always in the right order And can sing the abcd song asides from that her identification of the individual numbers or letters na fluke! Even with colours we have phases where one day she is spot on and the next day everything is one colour .... So today, everything you ask her is orange.... next week everything is green!

Am I bothered.... nope! I think at that age there are other skills they can learn. And still catch up with academics later on.

Bear in mind in some societies formal education does not even start till like 4 or 5 years old. Before that everything is one big song and dance.

Personally I think he is still too young for all the extra lessons and pressure. The teacher should ease off oh jare! Children pick up easily on when the adults surrounding them feel they are inadequate, so please she should not start damaging his confidence on top not being able to write 1and 2 from the womb!

I won't even start any active teaching or reading lessons till my dd turns 3.

Lovely thread.

zaynie:

.........A child would learn how to write sooner or later but some 6 year olds still can't wear their shoes the right way.........

Well said!

Thought to share this here.


True Life Story:

When I was in primary school, I used to be very dull - always coming last in the class, always scoring zero. The punishment in those days was almost unbearable as the teacher, in addition to the flogging, would always ask my fellow students to form a circle round me and sing very derogatory and demeaning songs for me. School life in those days was a hell of an experience for me and the encounters were always seriously disgracing and embarrassing.
One day, I decided to put an end to these bitter scenarios and on that particular Friday, upon arrival from the school, I took my time to really study hard. Deep in my heart, I was resolute to put an end to these dullard songs and terrible floggings once and for all. Never again will they have cause to sing dullard song for me. Never! I resolutely promised myself with great determination and zeal.
Then came Monday and all the students were being called one after the other to come and read the passage on the chalkboard. It was soon my turn and as the teacher called my name; I quickly recited the whole passage to myself to be double sure. Satisfied that I have mastered the passage convincingly, I marched confidently to the chalkboard. Unfortunately for me however, I needed to collect the long ruler from the teacher and that was it! The teacher shouted at me, called me terrible dullard names and with loud disgusting remarks, she handed the long ruler to me, with prediction that I was going to get it all wrong again.
Immediately, I went blank! I got to the chalkboard, pointed the ruler to the first word but no sound came out of my mouth. I literally forgot everything that I have taken a whole weekend to study. As I stood transfixed to the chalkboard, the long ruler shaking terribly in my shivering hands, so many thoughts rammed into my brain: if only I didn't have to come in contact with this teacher before coming to the chalkboard; if only she didn’t shout so loudly and so fearfully as to drain all my confidence and courage away; if only I didn't have to collect the long ruler from her; if only she had shown a little faith in me, a little confidence, a little encouragement; if only.. if only,..
I stood there, the shaking ruler in my hands, hot tears streaming uncontrollably down my cheeks. I felt completely frustrated. I have let down my parents (I have promised them I was going to break the jinx that day); I have let down my elder sisters (who took the pain to put me through all the weekend); I have let down myself. Then the songs started. I was left alone in the ring formed by jeering and clapping students and teacher. I was made to shamefully dance, amidst tears and intense pain to the dullard songs again! I wept. I wept very bitterly. I can still remember that incident today as if it happened just yesterday. The weeping was not just because of the songs and the floggings, but as a result of a deeper scourge, an inner feeling that I didn't deserve that treatment that day.
Since that fateful day however, I stopped trying. After all, the best of my efforts have not been rewarded and compensated accordingly, I resigned to fate and adjusted to floggings and beatings. Those treatments did not seem to affect me anymore than a toddler beating an elephant with straw! I have developed very thick elephant skin. I was in a world of my own afterwards; completely detached from any active classroom experience. I wasn't gaining a hoot from the class; I wasn’t making my contribution; I wasn't affecting anybody and nobody was affecting me. I was always looking forward to 2pm for the sound of the closing bell when I would really be free from the prison called school, where the teachers were wardens and my uniform, prisoner's uniform! As I kept moving upwards into higher classes, the situation dragged on, deteriorating really, every other term. I knew I was bound to drop out someday...
Then a new teacher was transferred to our school. He was to handle my class. After getting used to us for about two weeks (which I later learnt he spent in studying all of us individually), he gave us first his first assignment -that we should bring flowers to the school the following day to be used as teaching aids. As usual, I didn't take any flower to the school the following day, I was expecting the usual treatment - dullard songs and floggings... But no! This teacher was different. No songs, no flogging, only insistence that I should go back home and bring my own flower. Since I was always welcoming any opportunity to 'escape' from the prison no matter how short-lived, I enthusiastically jumped out and some moment later, I was back to the classroom with my own flowers. Then it happened! The event that transformed my entire career!
The teacher looked at me, then at the flowers and announced to the class that my flower was the best in the class that day. So, they should clap for me. Me? Clap for me? It has never happened before. It was a dream too real to be true as thunderous round of applause filled the air, FOR ME! So, there is anything in me, anything I can do that will attract more dullard songs and floggings? The teacher did not stop there, he used my flowers to demonstrate in the class that fateful day.
Up till today, I am not too sure whether my flower was actually the best, I guessed he used the gesture to encourage me and bring me back to the class', not as if all that mattered to me that day, all that mattered was that I was clapped for, not jeered at; celebrated, not embarrassed and that was the singular event that changed my academic career up till today. I just loved this new teacher. He was completely different from others that have handled me right from Primary One. He loved the children passionately. He reached out to our very hearts and we were all endeared to him - the brilliant and dull ones alike, He broke the wall between us. We all felt like human beings in his presence. He turned the school environment from prison yard to party for me. His passion was obvious and contagious. I became active again. I participated fully in the class knowing full well that even if I miss the point, he would not crush my spirit.
With new interest in him. I had renewed interest in the subjects he taught me and subsequently in all the school activities. The real me came out! The giant in me was unleashed! The potentials were exhumed! By the end of that term, I moved from the last position in the class to second position in the class! Though the sudden transformation sounded incredible but it was true. That is my true life story. Till I left primary school, I didn't score any position less than second. I became unstoppable, and though it was not the norm in those days, by the time I got to Primary Five, all the teachers in the school concluded that I was too brilliant to pass through Primary Six. I wrote common entrance examination when I was in Primary Five, the first of its kind in my area in those days and when the result was released, I took 9th position out of hundreds of candidate that wrote the examination in the local government!
(Culled from The passionate Teacher, Adebare Egunjobi)
A good lesson for our teachers.

babythug:


Couldn't help laughing at your story! I imagined you coming from your routines to chaos of some sort!!

You can encourage their mom to start trying routines perhaps it'll reduce her heart ache in the long run....

Routines help me more than the kids because I have to always be in control and I like knowing what should come next. Being spontaneous is not my strength.

@Zaynie, I agree with what you wrote. There was a time that I was very particular about such things. Then I went to a foreign country for a long while and decided to put them in school there. First day back, I thought they would be superstars as per they were in higher grades than where they were put into there. My oldest returned and spent the whole day practicing how to tie his shoe lace. He said even KG babies were tying their laces and he was the only one who couldn't.

So many things that they took for granted were things that my kids were struggling with. Learnt not to put put too much stake on academics (reading and writing) but just let them be kids and learn age appropriate tasks.

hotmomma:


Thanks ma'am for your response.

Have you tried the tips? Any improvements?

blank:
@Zaynie, I agree with what you wrote. There was a time that I was very particular about such things. Then I went to a foreign country for a long while and decided to put them in school there. First day back, I thought they would be superstars as per they were in higher grades than where they were put into there. My oldest returned and spent the whole day practicing how to tie his shoe lace. He said even KG babies were tying their laces and he was the only one who couldn't.

So many things that they took for granted were things that my kids were struggling with. Learnt not to put put too much stake on academics (reading and writing) but just let them be kids and learn age appropriate tasks.

"Unfortunately" we are bigger on academics in this part of the world. I mean the other day someone was encouraging me to put my toddler in reception class where they would do some academics ie numbers and letters for eg. It made no sense to me!

I try to balance it out with my children by exposing them to other stuff as much as is within my power!

Who's watching the bbn eviction show?

What is this thing Ebuka IS wearing biko?

mitchyy:
PRESENT!!!




Tyconcepts (Come and unwind)
Enkaydewdrop (This one might never see my mention)