retired_bball3378

That's awesome mo :thup:

Wish we'd had one like that available.

michaelwoodcock

Brandon is four, five in June. Starts school this year, which is quite a scary thought. Full of energy and curious about absolutely everything, I'm told he is very like me at that age. He is enjoying being in nursery full time, and the staff tell me he is a leader, which I'm happy about, as I remember how hard it was as the shy kid. His reading and writing are starting to come on now, knows his alphabet, and a few key words. He is smart as hell, picks things up shocking ly quick, and recently learned to pee standing up \o/

He loves dinosaurs, but given my enthusiasm, that was inevitable, and his support for Arsenal is a sure thing (we watch most games together). Superhero's are a big thing for him right now, but given the fact I'm a comic geek, was bound to happen. Shockingly able to use a PC too, navigates the CBeebies website like you wouldn't believe. Even the trackball only slowed him for a few days

He seems to be taking the seperation of his mother and I alot better than people thought he would, which I'm chuffed about. He still see's me every day though, make sure we spend at least a few hours together.

Only "problem" is that he recently developed an invisible friend, called Wilber, who seems to tell him to do naughty things. Never had any discipline problems in the past, but Wilber is now a defence mechanism for him against punishment, "But it's wasn't me, it was Wilber!"

Christmas Day

I buy the best Christmas presents

Brandon and !

retired_holtml

Thanks James :thup: Cost €150 and basically took away 3 months worry about fingers and toes being there at birth. Money well spent.

retired_smilin916

Hopefully at 27, i'm a good 5 years away from being a parent, but i've got a question for all the parents here:

How do you handle the activities you give your children to do? I'm very sporty and I love football, so obviously i'd want any son i have to play football. If they don't like it at first, do you keep them at it? Or let them choose something?

I've often had a thought that when i have kids, i'll get them playing tennis from an early age (i played county level tennis and badminton) becuase how hard can it be to produce a England No1 in that sport

So are you pushy parents or not?

retired_red26

that picture is well good, for our last scan it wasnt very clear, i found the first one was the best. do you know what your having yet maurice or you waiting for the surprise?

retired_bball3378

We’ve just been through exactly that. Matt goes to drama club on a Saturday morning (which he loves) and then went to football in the afternoon.

He really didn’t seem to get into the football. Paid no attention to the coaches and would just run around randomly. They’d play mini-matches at the end of each session and I think he touched the ball twice in 3 weeks. He was just roaming around chatting to people and playing Power Rangers with himself…actually got smacked in the face by the ball cos he wasn’t watching (served him right).

He got a proper b*llocking after the last session – and he admitted to really not enjoying it. Whilst not wanting him to give up, it seemed a little unfair to make him stand in a field for a hour in this weather if he wasn’t getting anything out of it...so he didn’t go this weekend. I’m not too fussed – he’s not particularly sporty, but enjoys going to the gym and swimming – might try him with something else later – think he might enjoy mini-rugby, which might suite him a bit more.

We'll just keep an eye on what's available, and let him pick what he wants - judo or something similar is an option too.

retired_kris10nicole

Pffft, all you new parents have it easy. Try becoming an instant parent to a teenager, that's a proper challenge

retired_imran_ryd

Craig, I've started taking Ben to football training. It is very hard, because I am a very competitive footballer but until now, I have done very little to steer him towards football.
When they do individual things with a ball each, he seems to be quite good, he listens to the coach and does as he says.
When they have little games, he hasn't a clue, I don't think he really understands there are 2 teams.
He says he enjoys it and he has a few school friends who go, so I shall persist at the moment.
One problem we have, is that we don't have SKY, so we very rarely watch football on the tv. He sometimes comes to watch me play.
He is 5 very soon and so there is still plenty of time.
I admit to finding it fustrating when I take him to the park with a ball, and all he wants to do is go on the climbing frame.
If I fail with him, I shall just work on the next one.

retired_may0gan

When I was Matt's age I really didn't like football but my dad kept making me give it a go. I know it's quite a common thing for parents to wonder whether they are pushing their child more for their own sake then their childs but if he sticks with it, I'm sure he'll be thankful later.

Remember: people who don't like football are 22% less successful in life than those who do

retired_velvet01

can i ask you parents a few questions?

How old where you when you had your first child?
Was it planned?
What was your financial situation at the time?
ohh and what about your employment situation?

me and the missus really want to start a family, but our situation isn't ideal so we're putting it off untill we feel we have everything in place.