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While I agree with the pps that 10 month old babies definitely do not know what they are doing and do not understand "no" - I have never seen a 10 mth old act the way you describe. The worst I have seem them do is scratch someone when they trying to grab them which is obviously unintentional. I have never see a young baby hit or pinch in the manner you describe. That is not to say there is anything wrong and I am sure someone will soon respond who has seen babies that do the same things.

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73 but old house and very drafty

Anonymous wrote:
I thought your movie was silly and not at all reflective of the people who have nannies but entertaining none the less--my only problem would be that there are a lot of dumb people in this world who would take your book as a reality and it just isn't--not even close.

My goodness, it was just a satirical movie. Artists use all kinds of scenarios to provide comic entertainment. The are not designed to be taken seriously but to be found amusing. Insulting the author is out of order and reflects more on your issues than on their abilities as authors.

I get all sorts of snide remarks about my full time nanny who I still keep even though my DC is in school until 4 most days but they do not bother me because I am completely content with my decision to have her. I know I love my child and I know my child is happy so others' opinions are like "water off a duck's back". I can watch this movie and laugh with the rest of them because it’s entertainment - period.

Anonymous wrote:We have friends who have sent/are sending their children there, and they are happy with the school. The kids who have graduated have gone to first-rate colleges. That said, for these friends, bilingualism is a high priority. It's not for us, and when I toured the school, I came away with the sense that investing that much time and effort in learning a second language required tradeoffs that I personally was not happy with. For ex, they don't have a science lab for the early grades (to the best of my recollection), and more broadly, once they switch to the half-English/half-second languge format, I am skeptical that the instruction in the second language can be as rich as the instruction in English--primarily because most of the kids are never going to have the same fluency in that language as they do in English. Yes, many of the kids end up going to the same colleges as graduates of GDS, Sidwell, etc., but I felt that although the destination is the same, the journey isn't. So we decided not to apply.

(Just to clarify--it's not that I think the academic standards are not rigorous; it's more that I'm concerned about the depth, breadth, and creativity of the instruction.)

I agree with PP. Also if you have access to SAT scores WIS students do not do as well as the other schools mentioned here. We were really attracted to the second language opportunity but in the end decided against WIS for the reasons PP stated.

Anonymous wrote:When my DD went to her playdate for pre-school, I mentioned that we were going to a playdate and that mommy would take her in the room but then all the mommies had to leave for a few minutes but I'd be right outside. .

Your post has great advise - not criticizing. Just to let OP know that in some schools the teachers come in and get the kids from the waiting room - they put their name tags on a table, the kids are asked to pick their name tag and follow the teacher. I think this happened in two schools we visited. It's just if the child is really worried and relying on mum to take her in and stay for a little while this may not happen. Other schools of course do allow parents in to settle the kids. DC had play dates in 6 schools (last year) so we had a variety of experiences.

I put the emphasis on play but told DC that a teacher would come and talk to him so he should try to answer all the questions he was asked/do any tasks he was given even if he is not really sure. That is the only "pep talk" I had with him. I told him he had to visit these schools so that he could decide which he liked best. He had no idea he was the one being assessed.. As far as he knew he was going to play with some children and probably talk to a teacher. He really enjoyed the play dates and always came out happy. I really think the schools do a lot to put kids at ease. If I remember all the schools gave the kids a little memento as they left.
I also tried to pick times, if we were given the choice, that DC is at his best wrt to his mood.

Anonymous wrote: My mom is one of my best friends in the world (she also lives out of town) and when I talk to her that's how it feels. DH would never discuss the kinds of things with his parents (like feelings/frustrations/stresses) that I talk about with my mom all of the time. Its all just mundane updates from both sides...we ate dinner with the so-and-sos, we bought a new dishwasher, blah blah blah.

Men seldom do talk about such things no matter how close they are to their mums.

I just today received e-mail notification that they will be having a 3 day weekend sale this weekend with 65% off furniture items. I can't for some reason post the link on here but I am sure the same info will be on their website.

We have a delightful child that we feel very blessed to have. However DC's was a very difficult pregnancy which involved my spending 4 months in hospital quite literally fighting for mine and my kids' loves, losing DC's twin @ 28 weeks, twin staying in-utero until 32 weeks when I had an emergency c-s, living through anxious weeks of NICU, watching other babies lose their battles etc. As a result I was completely traumatized by pregnancy and childbirth and avoided it for two years. When I decided I really really want another it did not happen. I must add that I had DC at 38 and I am now nearly 43 so that also has a bearing and I am also dealing with health issues that stemmed from my pregnancy and others that developed subsequently. Whilst I am seeing a specialist soon after a long wait, I have started grieving for the child I might never have. I guess because I am so scared the Dr will tell me its too risky and that would signal the end of hope. I would love to adopt but DH is totally against it.

I really do feel blessed in having my DC and I do not take for granted the fact that I have a child and many women never do. So I know it is not a tragedy just me wanting to love another child. I hope I don’t sound self indulgent.

If you have been there how have you reconciled yourself and moved on?

So sorry about your bereavement but so happy about the B9 result. thanks for the update and all the best.

I feel for you because my 5 y/o does the same thing and it breaks my heart. Anyway I was quite taken aback the other day when I told him that I may lose my job because my firm is downsizing - thinking that would make him happy. He only turned to me and said "I hope that doesn't happen because we won't have enough money" (I always tell him that the only reason why I work is because we need the money).
I think our little ones know what pulls our heart strings. They know we hug and kiss them and give them extra attention whenever they tell us they need us and sometimes these words are just a euphemism for conveying their need for a few minutes of TLC they know will come from those words.
As long as they have a good carer who provides the right amount of attention and stimulation, while being with mommy will always be preferable, I don't think pine away in the time we are away from them.
Cheer up.

Anonymous wrote:so would an overall "high average" get him into some of the best schools or not a chance?

Obviously I cannot speak for the schools and believe me, people do not disclose their kid's scores (except anonymously on DCUM) so it is very diffucult to anwer your question accurately as I do not know what other children who did and did not get in scored. Whatever I say is at best purely a guess. I am assuming that my DC got in partly because of scores. However I have also heard that schools take other things into account as well, such as, child's ability to separate happily, child's interpersonal skills, how they perform during the "playdate" etc.

Again Gook LucK