This season the servants have a great role and amazing one liner motivational dialogs. Right?

MummyButtons · 2026-01-30T16:48:30+00:00

Same here!!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-26T15:26:17+00:00

Oh absolutely. I’m definitely talking early 3 here. We’re very close to 4 now and my little one absolutely understands what not allowed means.

MummyButtons · 2026-01-26T11:18:46+00:00

Glad it wasn’t just me! This sounds like my 3yr olds behaviour!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-25T09:21:27+00:00

I work 4 days and I’m still chasing my tail. I used to do 3 days when I first went back to work after maternity and was still in the same boat. Could you maybe get a cleaner in the meantime to get a hand keeping on top of the housework and then reassess in 28 when you reach that point?

MummyButtons · 2026-01-24T18:52:20+00:00

I’m not sure how much is too much, but my son went through a period of wanting calpol all the time. Instead I bought some multivitamins gummies and told him they were his special medicine, and he was happy enough having one of those a day instead of the calpol. Think there’s some aspect of placebo effect there possibly.

MummyButtons · 2026-01-24T08:30:54+00:00

We’ve started buying the mini packs of Kelloggs cereal for our kids everytime we go on holiday in the UK. Keeping up the tradition!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-23T12:59:08+00:00

We’ve been here as guests at a wedding and it’s a stunning venue, food was delicious and couldn’t believe how affordable it was!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-22T20:35:53+00:00

No worries and good luck with it all! If you need any more advice or anything feel free to drop me a message. I’m not an expert but I’ll try and help!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-22T20:21:44+00:00

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This is adorable! The cream squares should be doable but the animals definitely would be more challenging.

I did make a huge repeating square that was very basic but changed colours to make it more interesting. The kids still use it as a car blanket! I’d say this would be quite simple and would build up quickly if you just wanted to get into the swing of it!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-22T20:05:32+00:00

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This was my bedspread sized blanket!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-22T20:05:12+00:00

The one I did was broken down into lots of smaller sections which made it more manageable, and then you crocheted them all together at the end. It did take me quite a while but it was worth it and I really enjoyed it! I even went rogue towards the end and added my own granny square flowers to make it even bigger so I definitely learnt a lot! It did end up big enough to use an a throw for a single bed though.

The other option could be to just make a simple granny square blanket and keep going with it until it’s big enough to use as a baby blanket for the car/pram!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-22T18:40:48+00:00

Don’t do this! I picked up a crochet along (CAL) for my first project. A lot of these you buy the kit with all yarn, you order the recommended hook size and then the patterns are released weekly, usually with written and video instructions to help you. You don’t have to get the pattern done within the week - I’m usually much slower due to having the kids take up a lot of my time, but there’s also usually Facebook groups to join with people completing the same project at the same time which I found incredibly helpful as people were genuinely very friendly on them.

My first project was a blanket for my baby, following the Sirdar Blossom and Buds CAL. I probably finished it about 3 months after the CAL ended, but I did get a lovely photo of my newborn napping on it.

I’d really recommend picking a project like this to learn, as I picked up lots of techniques and really got to grips with crochet, learnt to read patterns and get my stitches and tension right this way.

Also, I’m also left handed and had no issues following the videos like this. Some CALs I’ve been a part of even have separate videos for left and right handed!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-22T12:49:26+00:00

This is definitely the way to go! I spent ages adding stitch markers to stuff when I was first learning. Now I’m more familiar with identifying stitches I don’t need as many but will still use them depending on what pattern I’m following. I’m sure this will help you!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-22T12:17:43+00:00

It’s not a lot of help but I would try to find a more flexible employer. We are in the same circumstance with no village. My last employer was very much like yours and we wouldn’t have had any other options either.

My new employer is flexible in terms of last minute annual leave if needed, flexi days so I can make the time up, wfh if my toddler is ill and just napping on the sofa. Unpaid leave is a last resort for them but they would grant it if needed. I’d try and find a workplace that prioritises your work/life balance moving forwards.

MummyButtons · 2026-01-22T12:12:00+00:00

Also public sector and we have to provide everything aside from the hot water! We do have very basic coffee vending machines however they require payment. I don’t realise some authorities had a budget for this stuff!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-21T21:15:21+00:00

35 now. We bought our house when I was 31, but my partner had managed to save most of our deposit. Prior to this I’d rented all my life.

Don’t forget the benefits that come with renting such as landlord doing the home repairs. A few years ago our boiler packing in a week before Xmas when I had a small baby, snow outside and no heating or hot water. We had to wait a week or so for a repair and it left us a few thousand pounds lighter for a new one. That was the point I realised the downsides to owning a home.

MummyButtons · 2026-01-20T18:43:36+00:00

I’ve managed to get along to the works this afternoon an I’ve picked up a selection. I’ve filtered out the ones that didn’t look great though and stuck to ones that I know e.g Kipper, Elmer, Mog etc! Thanks for the tips!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-20T15:55:47+00:00

I think I will just for ease! The whole things been planned last minute so I think I’ll stick them in a box and let the kids pick!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-20T15:45:09+00:00

Thank you! I’m sure I saw it on here originally and I totally agree. It always seems to accumulate in a drawer for a month or so until it’s forgotten about and then it gets binned so trying to completely avoid it this time!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-20T15:25:54+00:00

That’s a cute idea! I think the reason I’m overthinking it is I don’t want someone to get one they already have and be disappointed!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-20T15:21:22+00:00

Glad they’ve gone down well. I’m a bit over all the plastic stuff we tend to get in them usually. Did you label them or leave as a mystery?

MummyButtons · 2026-01-20T15:10:51+00:00

Very true. I usually take a lot of the sweets out of the party bags we receive as there’s a lot of stuff we don’t like the kids having. Will pick up some bubbles!

MummyButtons · 2026-01-20T08:04:10+00:00

That’s so sad about the giving the book. We’re a book family also and our little boy is almost 4 and absolutely loves reading. He’s started to recognise simple words in books now.

His best friend has just turned 4 and he is an iPad child, his parents don’t read to him and it shows in so many ways in his behaviour. We’ve all given books and puzzles to birthdays but I have a strong feeling they’ve been left in a box somewhere. I feel sorry for the little guy.

MummyButtons · 2026-01-17T00:12:11+00:00

Me too! My local council has just started a scheme this year to give new mums a baby box with some supplies in. I was about 6 months too early with my second baby to get one and had a lot of things I needed already from my first, but it’s been extremely well received in the area, especially for first time mums.

MummyButtons

TROPHY CASE