Oh wow, I feel empowered and inspired by your post and your comment M and S. I need to be a tree too. I can be a tree.

Skype! Definitely skype, it's fun and interesting. Freya loves seeing Tom on skype. Maybe he could take a toy (not her most favourite though) that she loves and show it to her on Skype. He could make a big deal of putting it in his bag when he goes. It could be fun.

2 lbs. white fish (tilapia) – marinate in juice of one or two limes (I used a lemon) for 15 minutes

½ c. coriander

½ c. coconut milk (you can by tiny cans at the Asian market at St.Denis and Jean-Talon, but presumably elsewhere)

1 tsp. peanuts

1 tsp. cumin

1 clove garlic

Grated ginger (1/4 inch)

Whir all the ingredients beside the fish and juice in a food processor. Toss on the fish. Put in the over for 20 minutes and voilà! Delicious dinner with rice and veg.

Hi there,
I ordered the miracle, magical, voodoo teething necklace this morning, your post could not have come at a better time. Freya has what appears to be both a cold and teeth problems, though it's hard to tell. So I'm eagerly awaiting it's arrival. She was up most of last night crying. Sigh. And she's miserable today.
H

Oh and Jen, which seller did you use on etsy?

Forgive for being a bit thick, is the necklace for biting on? Or is it literally that the 'voodoo' of the amber or witch hazel has a healing property? And do you let them sleep in the necklace? I'm curious and in awe.

Laughing out loud nodding in agreement and touched to the core.

Oh S, you are absolutely right, those moments of understanding are sheer joy. Today F was in the mood to tell us all the body parts she knew and there turned out to be a fair few more than we had thought; chin, mouth (quite tricky to say), toes, belly/tummy (kind of squidged together). And last night she 'showed' me (by taking my finger and pulling) what she wanted - her aquadoodle of Peppa Pig. And it was such an achievement for us both. We were so proud of ourselves.

The back arching I know only too well, and I don't have much to contribute other than distraction. We have begun to say 'no' firmly at times and walked away from a tantrum, but it's a delicate balance, I don't always want a fight.

And just now 'mama' is the only thing F wants, at all times, in all places and particularly when I'm trying to cook and she has decided to hang out at my feet in the kitchen. It's getting to be rather infuriating. Solutions? None so far (other than 10 minutes of youtube which I don't like to resort to). Occasionally an interlude in her highchair with colouring crayons or some such activity buys some time.

To sandwich the bad with the good, I want to share two more delightful things: F's desire to shout out 'I got it' at the moment in her proudest voice. And her sheer joy in doing action songs now - the wheels on the bus, incy wincy and tap tap tap... as seen on FB.

M - this is fabulous.... I'm thinking about getting a slow cooker, so please anyone with a great reliable recipe could you post so that I can convince my hubby that this is the way forward!

Hi C,

I am of the same mind when it comes to eating. Mealtimes should not be a battleground. As soon as they are there will be eating issues later. Feed N what you eat. When he doesn't eat offer him a little more milk before bedtime, that's what we do. I have a couple of things that she will eat that I sometimes offer, if she's ill, or off colour and I know she can't handle eating a full meal, like the muffins I mentioned but usually, if she doesn't eat we just end mealtime without fuss.

Toddlers do not starve themselves, and if he's eating at daycare and has some fruit and veg in the week (even if it's only at daycare at the moment) then that's fine.

Give yourself a break.

Stay cool.
H