10 annoying and distasteful habits of a nursery child or pre-schooler

We love our children dearly, but sometimes they do things that make you just blink in confusion and if you question these little people about their actions, I often get the response "because I did" as if that is a clear and concise answer.  I remember once when Josh was younger, he and his 2 small friends locked themselves in the bathroom and then much crying and tears ensued.  Luckily, we knew how to unlock the door from the outside and let them out.  Another time, a friend told me that her two young daughters (the same two that Josh had locked himself in the bathroom with), who are 3 and 5, locked themselves in their bathroom and then preceded to flood it.  When she asked the older, usually more responsible and better behaved one, why she didn't tell her that the younger one was flooding the bath, the 5 year old explained "that she was tired."  Again, is that an explanation, only to a small child.

So I ask myself the question, already knowing the answer and welcoming your comments, but am I the only mother, or does your nursery-aged child or 4 year old also have these annoying habits too?

1.  Not wiping their noses when they have a cold and letting it run into their mouths, I think that is such a disgusting habit and here's a picture to prove I am not exaggerating.

2.  Not covering their mouths when they cough, you have probably guessed that my child recently had a cold.

3.  Picking their noses in public and eating it, I really think that is one of the worst habits a small child has and my son often tries to kiss me after doing that.   Or I have seen children at the children's centre do that and then play with the toys you just touched and I just think to myself so nasty.

4.  Passing wind or farting at the dinner table and then looking at you, all innocently as if to say, "what did I do?"

5.  Eating food that has fallen on the floor, even after you have told them not too.  Sorry but no 3 second rule in my house, that is just repugnant.

6.  Not washing their hands when they have gone to the toilet even after you have told them too, yesterday I had to explain to my 4 year old explicitly, why it was so important that he wash his hands after he use the toilet.  I thought to myself, really, but I guess he truly didn't understand about germs and bacteria.

7.  Eating food from a stranger, friend or family member, which you have just told this said person they do not eat; because when YOU give them this food e.g. mushrooms they don't eat it.  This seems to undermine your credibility, but I am sure every mother knows that, that is the nature of children.

8.  Ignoring you and pretending they can't hear you when you call them.  When I was young that wasn't never allowed to happen because there would be severe consequences for such behaviour.

9.  Not sitting down at the dinning room table to eat dinner, but constantly running up and down, back and forth as if on a race track.  Really, can someone explain to me, why that is really necessary, because I just don't comprehend the necessity of such behaviour.

10.  Finally, feeling it is necessary to drench the entire bathroom when having a bath, again, why is that necessary?  Not really distasteful, just absolutely unnecessary and annoying.

The mumpreneur project: What is an appropriate present for a 4 year old?

The mumpreneur project: What is an appropriate present for a 4 year old?: The Cake Wars......... I ask you the question, what is an appropriate present for a 4 year old? Leap frog leap pad 2 power, or books , ...

What is an appropriate present for a 4 year old?

The Cake Wars.........

I ask you the question, what is an appropriate present for a 4 year old?


Leap frog leap pad 2 power, or books, train set  or cake?
 
As you guys know, it was my eldest son's birthday on Monday and last Saturday he had a birthday party.  My husband's best friend, who was also his best man at our wedding, came late to Josh's birthday party and brought presents for the children.  He brought a very cute outfit for the baby, it was lovely and for the birthday boy he brought a cake.  I was a little astounded and confused by the present, so I just had to ask if this was really Joshie's present.

So I had to ask "Did you buy a cake for Joshie?"
"Yes" the family friend replied.  "Why?"  I asked still perplexed, why would anyone buy a big jaffa cake as a present for a 4 year old, it didn't make any sense to me, I couldn't understand.  "Because it is his birthday!" He clarified, it didn't clear anything up for me, I just didn't get it and I told him so.

Then the cake controversy was forgotten by me, okay so four days later, the said friend, rung my husband at work and gave him an earful for the entire hour on the phone, whilst he was on his lunch break at work.  Our friend had spoken to his sister, who he said, felt that a cake was fine to give a 4 year old as a birthday present.  Moreover, he also added that had he given the said cake to his nephew, he would have been over the moon.  He felt that my response had been unwarranted, we were ungrateful and I should have made my comments about the inappropriateness of cake as a present, behind his back rather than too his face.

I would rather my son had received no present than cake, I had considered this person a friend, clearly I stand corrected.  If I consider you a friend, I feel I have the right, to tell you the truth to your face, what is the point of saying it if you are not there to hear it.

So what do you consider an appropriate present for a 4 year old?

Kids parties have changed since my day!: Part 2

So what did Josh get?

Joshua had initially wanted a "numberjacks" cake, however there was no "numberjacks" themed party packs on any of the party websites I used; such as partydelight.co.uk or partyparade.co,uk.  So in the end Josh decided on the octonauts, in doing my research for how I should decorate the room and what I needed to purchase for the small event that had begun to escalate, to something much bigger than I had intended; I became intimidated and anxious, as I noted earlier.  

Kids parties had really changed since my day.  They had now become an big extravagant affair, almost like a wedding, way outside of my budget.  Which my husband had suggested should be £20, clearly he has no idea about children parties.  Here are some of the octonaut parties I found, which put the fear of God into me (although technically it was already there).  So, what did my son get in the end? He had  a normal children's party, with cake, snacks, pizza ,party bags and juice for the kids.  Ham, cheese, dips, humus and bread for the parents (which most didn't eat).  My nephew complained that he had come expecting chicken and rice.  I had a whole load of games arranged including a pinata, pin the tail on the donkey, musical statutes and pass the parcel.  

I had over thought and over planned the day, nineteen 4 year olds, some were younger and a few were older; couldn't really play the party games I had planned.  They struggled with 2 games of pass the parcel, the prizes were given away as gifts and  the music for musical statues wasn't loud enough, above the din of 19 children and their parents.  In the end the children ran around in the garden letting off steam, playing with balloons, in the tent and eating snacks and pizza.  The mothers' kept telling me how brave I was having all these kids in my house, that just made me more nervous.  Nevertheless, that was unwarranted, once they started eating they were fine.  The bulk of my eldest son's school friends left after 2 hours, whilst I was feeding the baby and they didn't even get cake or to bash the pinata.  Nevertheless the smile on my son's face was priceless, when blowing out his candle and his feedback on the party was "Fun!"

Thought I would share this inspirational website with you!

10 Absolutely Amazing (but totally doable) parties

Kids parties have changed since my day! Part 1

My eldest son turned 4 on the 14th of October, so towards the end of September with approximately 3 weeks to go I decided to throw him his first real big party with school friends (from nursery), friends from church and family, after my previous idea was dismissed by my husband.  

How hard could it be I?  Or so  I thought.  I mean basically it would be just a cake (which my sister - Evie Ogundipe, as Joshua's godmother would make and decorate), 

balloons, food for the kids and their parents and a few party games and a party bag with sweets, jigsaw puzzle, crayons and cake to take home.  Or so I thought, luckily I had my niece Ashleigh-Ann Scott, to tell me about themed parties, nevertheless as I began my research into other kiddies parties, especially with the theme he wanted - it was like entering the twilight zone - a surreal world where parties were big, bash and bold.  

Children's parties have now become like mini weddings, I blame the USA, it is a real big business.  My cleaner says that "it's not really about what the children want at all, rather it's about the parents wanting to show off and keeping up with the Jones'!"  I have to admit that my research has lead me to agree with her, children's parties are now ridiculously extravagant and may possibly take a year or more to plan.  Who has that much time in their life?  As the mother of two young children, running her own business, even with the help of an au pair, I don't.  Moreover, I must admit that if I could have afforded all the new fangled stuff, that make up a children's party in the 21st century, I would have had them.  How sad does that make me?  Really sad I think; but they really do look great to an adult and from my son's response to the pictures - to a small child as well.  

So, what are these things that I couldn't afford and had me "freaking out", in shock and feeling my age?   What had me wondering, what had happened to children's parties since my day? When all you had was pass the parcel; jelly and ice cream and we didn't even have pin the tail on the donkey or a pinata. Now children's parties have all of that, but they also have to be themed.  They have children's entertainers, which cost a minimum of £155 per hour, games stations (prices available on quotation) luckily at 4 Josh was much too young for that.  Face painting at a minimum of £85 and bouncing castles or ball parks which can only be hired for big  indoor venues from September to March, thus my house is too small.  Now that I have had my rant about the impressive looking, yet expensive world of children's parties, back to the children's party my 4 year old wanted and actually got.  

Find out what Josh got in part 2......