Summer holiday and potty training

So we've reached the potty training years. I was in no rush but after a friend came over and showed how it was done Mina was ever so keen to start. The potty had been part of the furniture's for a while and only sat upon occationally but now she ment business. It went extraordionary well and the following weekend she was almost dry, with only a few accidents, then it turned the other way. She stopped even being bother going. Now we're on the second attemt and it was going ok (using the new approach of just putting her on the potty without asking). Its now been two weeks and its still a round to the potty every 15 min (when she sits in the buggy she is dry for up to an hour). How long is this gonna go on for? I am going slightly crazy and its very difficult getting anything done, let alone leaving the house. Yesterday I had to do some arrends and put a nappy on so I didn't have to take her out and put her on the potty in the shop every 15 min. When we got back I took it off again. I don't know if this confused her but she must have wet 6 pants in under an hour so the nappy came back on. Today she is at nursery with no nappy and about 10 set of changes so we will se how it goes. I can just say, its nice to have a 'dry' day.

Good mums are no Sir Allan Sugar candidates

Being the best mum you can will only take you so far. How can you be a good mum when you cant even get a job for yourself.?
OK, we might be in a recession but lets face it, first time mothers, or should I say women in their 30's who have not been climbing the career ladder since graduation, have never been a hit on the job market.
What annoys me the most is that it seam to be impossible to even get a foot in the door, just the same old automated email response. Thank you for applying, we've had an overwhelming response but......unfortunately you've not been successful. WHY WHY WHY??? I have everything they've asked for - Am I too good?!
I never advertise that I have a small child as I know it will be looked upon as a risk rather than a strength and besides, this is illegal, to discriminate against women in a particular age 'baring' group but I know it still exists. Who will find out if your CV's don't even get to right desk.
However I think I am going to change my tactics. Pretending being 'old me' doesn't get me anywhere, you can probably read between the lines when looking at my employment history - from career hungry to part timer. Yeah it is definitely time to take a new approach.
After all who is not going to give it its all after being at home for 2 1/2 years....

You know you're a mad mum when...

you get excited over cleaning the bathroom. I don't know what excite me the most - having friends over or actually preparing for having friends over. I cant find the time between all the cooking, washing and tidying so I invite people over, then I have to do it, it sort of gives me an excuse to give the house a proper going over. Luckily for my family, I invite people on regular basis (my husband is not so amused when getting told last minute that he has to cook up a feast for all the friends I have invited over to celebrate one of my many Swedish traditions and more).
However, our house now sparkling clean after having two lots of gatherings this Saturday (spontaneous catch up with friends from Brighton and the unmissable cheesy Eorovision song contest).

My new best friend - just wet and wipe

I am completely in love with Duzzit, the sponge eraser. I've long been hooked on on the firbre clothes and always include them when giving gifts, new baby, new house, getting married you name it. You always want more fun-time and spend less time with your rubber glowes.....
I came back from a friends house earlier this evening, helping her to move into a 6 bedroom house in the country and she is so efficient when it comes to moving, she will have that house in order in a few days. Wathcing her wizzing around with a sponge and duster (I was mainly there to look after her son, having my own daughter with me as well) I got a real urge to clean my own house?!. I bought the sponge a while ago but havent found the time...well I will be including these in my gift packs from now on - absolutely amazing results, maybe not as environmently friendly as I first thought after reading the directions for use, but it is a stain remover after all.

I dont know what to do with myself

I didn't get the job....of course it upsets me but at least I KNOW after weeks of being in the 'reserve bank' - suppose employers can do what they want these days when people are so desperate for work. I don't know how I'm gonna afford to keep my girl at nursery (and its only 1day per week), I have lost all means of income, and all in the last month. Its ridiculous how expensive it is to have your child at nursery - what I used to pay for 2 days / week is the equivalent of what my Swedish friends pay for a full-time placement per month!!
Well, what shall I do? Whenever I have a day when I can be productive (when Mina is at nursery that is) I run around like a headless chicken. Starting new tasks, trying to tie up on going projects, cleaning the house etc etc.
So what will I achieve today? and where should I start? Looking for work, rewriting my CV, clean the house, do the weekly shop, continue with my online training course, homework for my evening course, advertise my business to the local community, paying the bills.......or should I have a rest?

Staying clear of the news

My biggest downside of motherhood is my hyper sensitivity. The news of this little 2 year old girl who was raped has just made me turn off the radio (which is on constantly in my house) because I just cant cope with it, its sooo awful, there's just no words.    

Still reading the Sunday paper

You can never just sit down and finish a task when you've got a toddler running around in the house. Let alone such an luxurious thing as reading the paper. So I will rant on about last weeks topics as I slowly finish each section of the paper, it usually takes me until the end of the week. I read an interesting article about open air nurseries, to me not anything new, as these nurseries are inspired by principles used in Scandinavia where we have a fresh-air education and the children learn by exploring the world around them. But unfortunately not everyone can fit their children into the only London based Chelsea nursery.

Big fat mama - shame on you!

Maybe there really should be a test, that you have to pass of course, before being allowed to have children. Just look at the link below and you might agree. Its just not fare, these poor kids future is already ruined (if someone doesn't give mama a big slap). And what is it that is so difficult about open a jar of baby food??? Junk food  

Even I converted to jared baby food eventually, after being a complete food snob and would rather skip a meal and stick to the breast if I couldn't find organic vegetables that I then stayed up all night cooking which Mina then didn't eat anyway. It didn't help attending a weaning session where baby jar food was compared with fast food. And that is so not true! For all your mothers who would like to keep a little of your sanity - jar food is absolutely fine, no other products are more researched and pure. And hey, they do organic ones too! 

Bless you mummy

Not all days are a frustrating battle (and no days are without a big bunch of toddler love).

Today we're having a strictly staying-at-home-day. The weather is horrible, we're skint (cant wait for payday, well husbands payday actually), got a lovely leftover roast chicken in the fridge and my husband did all the washing-up last night so I have only minor house cores.

Mina is having a nap so I have forced myself to some ME time (reading the paper and blogging). I find it almost impossible to switch off, there is always something in the house that needs doing but at least I have my little helper. Mina has been charge of the laundry - filling up the washing machine, hanged up the washing and when folding clothes Mina matched the socks, bless her she is only 2. And when I sneezed she goes: Bless you mummy!

When she wakes up were going to bake a loaf of bread and have some more quality mummy-daughter-time.

Here is the result 

 

London public transport is not for us

It gets me soooo angry traveling on the under/overground with a push chair ( I cant imagine how the wheelchair users must be feeling).

Taking the overground train from Camden town is just a joke, they've all got fancy electric gates which could accommodate a double buggy but what's the point when you're then faced with about 40 steps and all strong males runs pass you!? I wont go on, just want to add that I was welcomed with another 25 steps at my end destination. After a quick pit stop I fought my way on to a packed bus and know I had to get off to face another battle of stairs at my next underground station. So here are some useful sites to keep those legs strong.

Running to keep fit and Log it 

I need a day off to create this....

Mina is at nursery, first day back after Easter break. Phuw!

Some ME time. I therefore thought I spent today creating this 'crazy mum' blog. 

Somewhere where I can share my crazy thoughts and rant on about mother hood and the difficult task of getting your own life back.