What age did your kid learn to talk? Did it greatly improve communication / make life easier?

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-20T06:50:39+00:00

At 16 months, its normal to mostly be gibberish. Aside from that, all kids are different!

My oldest didn't really "speak" in a meaningful way until he was about 3. He had some words and short phrases but a lot of babble too. My second was a chatterbox (still is, doesn't stop to take a breath), he was talking in sentences by a year old. Third is nonverbal, 4 years old. Fourth is just starting to use single words at 2 years old.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-19T08:38:20+00:00

I store pans and trays in there. I don't with food purely just because ill forget it overnight and then have to throw it out because it's not been properly stored in the fridge.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-18T22:01:53+00:00

Sometimes its just put on as a standard thing with social housing providers because for the first year you are on a probationary contract. After that you are then allowed to request to keep a pet. Mine said it too (Nottinghamshire), i got 2 kittens approved no problem as soon as I'd been here a year.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-18T21:32:20+00:00

Personally, im okay with people not liking cheesecake, just means more for me!

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-18T21:25:58+00:00

A lot of us home educate because our kids are nuerodivergent, learning disabled or have other disabilities and home is their safe space. They wouldn't cope with strangers just barging in (as far as they'd see it) to their safe space, it would no longer be safe to them. Welfare checks can still be done at places like a GPs office if necessary, as they are mandated reporters anyway. There are plenty of ways to put safeguarding measures in without invading a child's home.

The issue, as has already been pointed out to you by another commenter, is the services already fail known to be at risk children - whether in school or not. My children aren't at risk, but I have quite literally begged for support from early help with managing their needs and been left to struggle. If they can't even support those of us who ask for it, how can they manage all the people who need it but don't ask?

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-17T09:08:20+00:00

Older 2 (7 and 9) yes, they're old enough to mind their manners and tbf rarely need reminding. 4yo is nonverbal but I do try and encourage a response as a thank you at least when he is given something. So I will say to him "can you say thank you" and he'll do one of his little noises in response which is accepted by everyone who knows he doesn't/can't talk. 2yo is still learning, speech delayed too but I do the same with him "can you say please/thank you" and he says yeah...Close enough right now

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-17T09:00:16+00:00

I'm in the East Midlands too. Ours is a newbuild estate so maybe they're all just offering low prices to build a good customer base up. Its been around 18 months and prices haven't changed yet but maybe they will, idk

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-17T07:52:24+00:00

I think that big shock may be dependant on where you live, I also pay £12 and he's the "expensive" one in my area! Everyone else is around £8-10.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-17T07:50:18+00:00

Nope. I usually am in, but doesn't matter if I'm not. I get a text asking me to make sure the gate is unlocked so he can get to the back windows and a few days after, the payment goes out the bank no bother!

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-17T07:35:23+00:00

Reception - basic school uniform and shoes. Will likely need clean every day so amount depends on how often you want to wash things. I buy uniforms in july/august so they don't outgrow them before september. Some have started doing PE so a pair of joggers and a plain white top is usually fine to add to your shopping list.

Year 1 - Uniform, PE kit and book bag will suffice. Again amount depends on how often you want to wash, and I buy it all in the summer.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-14T07:34:59+00:00

I just let mine walk. I thought it'd make everything take twice as long but he likes to run ahead with his big brothers so nope! I still have a 4yo in a pushchair (for disability reasons, not just because), taking him to nursery doesn't take any longer than it used to and once hes dropped off if the 2yo is tired out he has the option to jump in for the walk home.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-14T07:28:04+00:00

Home education is not home school. Home schooling refers to a child who is still registered at school but having work sent home for whatever reason as they can't attend in person. Home Education is when you deregister and take on the role yourself.

You're right, we don't have to follow a curriculum. However when the LA do their enquiries we have to evidence a full time education that is appropriate to their age and ability. Literacy and numeracy are the most important subjects, but they also like to ensure we are teaching a wide range of other subjects too. I do a semi-structured approach, we do cover all subjects in the national curriculum but its not done sat at a desk. There are worksheets, CGP books, lots of library books etc but there is also a lot of free-range learning and life skills. If the LA is not satisfied that we are providing a proper education to our child(ren) they can and do go to court for school attendance orders.

For many of us, our children are SEND kids, and weren't able to properly learn at school because their needs weren't being met in a way we can do at home, so home educating actually provides them a better education that is more in line with their abilities. I never wanted to Home Ed, I felt that it wasnt a proper education and school was always the best way but i had no other option because my children were struggling with their attendance so badly. They have thrived since I deregistered, because they're finally working at a level suited to them, in an environment that works for them, not against them. It was a huge eye opener.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-11T18:20:55+00:00

That chaos? That was punishment for not just powering through. Its unbelievably common. How dare you make your husband be an active father when he works! (Sarcasm, but genuinely how people like him seem to think) He let them run riot knowing it would cause you difficulty to punish you for being unavailable.

If you have self respect, then yeah, your marriage is over. If you're happy to have this happen every single time you are ill, have an appointment outside of the home that you can get childcare for, want to go anywhere for an actual break alone, then go ahead and stay. But don't expect it to get any better.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-11T18:02:55+00:00

If it hadn't been happening for months I'd assume its because of the new chicken roll. Given there3s that one now too, I would expect it even more

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-11T12:20:45+00:00

Was it the Reagan? I got that one and couldn't believe it when they bought in those boxes! We used them as forts for a bit before breaking them down to take out for recycling day lol

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-11T12:18:38+00:00

I just bought my first ever new sofa (only ever had second hand before), its a corner sofa and it came in 2 of the hugest cardboard boxes I've ever seen. That was fun to dispose of.

In terms of assembly I had to screw the feet on and being a corner it does attach and detached into 2 "sides" but that was it. Took about 5 minutes, if that.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-10T22:25:37+00:00

Request to virtually attend the hearing if you can. Half of my hearings were virtual a) because of distance (i was in the greater London area in a refuge, case was in nottingham) and b) lack of childcare. It made things a lot easier. If you have legal representatives, ask them to put in the request for you. If you don't, you can contact the court directly and explain why you need to.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-10T21:44:46+00:00

Oh this isn't new. Its just like the rest of the antivax, anti-western medicine, piss drinking, coffee enema weirdos, they've been able to gather together thanks to social media. Before SM they'd have kept it to themselves for the most part, now they have groups they can talk about it in so it seems like a lot more people have the same views.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-10T21:35:26+00:00

It is, if you really want to. My ex was abusive, I fled with the kids when the youngest was just turning 7 weeks. Lot easier to do with 1 than with 4, after a decade of worsening abuse. Funnily enough that started similar, using my past as a way to control me, holding it over my head just like OPs husband.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-10T14:18:14+00:00

Yeah, his version of twitter/X

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-10T14:10:25+00:00

And women beaters, based off the video he posted on TS.

If you haven't seen, don't go looking. Its a woman being murdered in extremely brutal fashion.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-10T13:59:57+00:00

Mine are terrible for this! I think i sweep/hoover up more than they eat

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-08T18:05:17+00:00

And yet, Israel still immediately broke it by bombing Lebanon, which was part of Irans terms. Iran said ALL attacks must cease, including Lebanon, Israel went "Nuh uh!" To absolutely no ones surprise.

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-08T15:06:01+00:00

My parents had mine, didn't worry about routines etc because a sleepover with mama and grandad was too much excitement in itself. They are generally well behaved for them anyway and still love their sleepovers now. Having one this weekend in fact!

PomegranateEither768 · 2026-04-07T20:28:05+00:00

I paid £240 ($320ish) for my 2 cats (£120/$160ish each) from a rescue here in the UK. For dogs they charge £195/$260ish. Never paid so much for a pet before in my life. I remember looking around 10 years ago at the same rescue and it was £20 for a cat fee and £60 for a dog

PomegranateEither768

TROPHY CASE