Hey Blackbird! Welcome to our nutty corner of the woods.

After the last yukky few weeks of the year, xp and I have decided to 'divide and conquer' the kids. He takes DS for a few days to a week whilst I have DD, then swap over so we have alone time with both of them. I feel slightly sucky that I couldn't face so many weeks with no kinder and the both of them together by myself . But then again we all enjoy the break.

I'm really feeling conflicted (or something, too hot to think) - poor DD. She isn't sensory and was a pretty Zen baby....but...well...I can't help but be sad she has picked up the 'bad' side of DS and his tanties and anxiety. She is nearly 4 and I think quite sick to death of always being in the background. I think her starting kinder herself this year will help, she is getting restless like most of them do at this age and I'm glad she will have something all to herself

Mitch has discovered Star Wars, and it's been a life saver. He found a game xp bought for the wii - Lego Star Wars and although I didn't think he should play it the little fella has negotiated his way though nearly the whole game all on his own (i'm no bloody help!). He could play it for days on end, but he doesn't. It's worked wonders for getting him to do other things (make bed, get dressed) first.

He really achieves something on it - there has been a couple of almighty tanties but once I managed to get him to trust himself and to BREATHE...and think.....and let his head cool down, he actually DOES IT!!! So brilliant for his confidence and it's got to the point that he will put the controls down on his own and 'have a break mum'.

He plays about an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. I know it's probably too long but if anyone argues with me they can kiss my shiny white botty. DD gets time with me, I get time to do stuff and his confidence in himself has grown.

Thankfully a family therapist I pulled into the fray has pointed out my plan to enrol DS in Aikido this year was not the way to go. With him starting school this year she thinks it would be waaaay too much for at least the first year and I totally agree with her.

I'm not talking to him too much about school. He is busting to start but if I give him too much info he tends to build up quite a tight idea of what is supposed to happen and if it doesn't work the way he has imagined it will that's where the trouble starts .

Christy - I'm sorry to hear about Matildas kidney, I was positive there wasn't going to be much damage...I still hope it's not too bad. She has been so amazing about it all. Wish you could move to Melb and put her in Mitchell's school. I bet she would love it as much as he does.....and then I can have more of a piece of you! I go to call you all the time...then something happens - you know the drill