Apple
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Hi,

I was a real telly addict as a kid, so I'm trying to ensure that my daughter doesn't grow up the same or even worse. I encourage her to watch Dora or Diego, 'though, as I like how educational they are and also that they can teach her a little Spanish. I've also found some videos of some of my favourite '70's kids' shows - Mr Benn, Bagpuss and The Clangers - wonderful !

Hi,

I'm in England - from Surrey originally but now living in Derby. It's good to hear people talk about O levels, as you don't hear much about them now. I did them, too, although my little one's only 1 - hubby and I are old parents 

Angela

More.
She was used to me signing more and eat, saying do you want more to eat, so thinks more means eat somehow. So signs more when wants food.

My Iona did exactly the same, but saying "more" very clearly when she was hungry. She's now got the idea that that's not what it means, but she hasn't started signing or saying "food" instead; she just cries!

I've been signing to Iona since just after she was born (I worked with adults with learning disabilities so it's somewhat second nature to sign as I talk), and her first sign was about 3 months ago (she's 10 1/2 months now). That was "daddy", which she learned to sign really clearly, but she gave it up about 2 months ago. She was starting to try "mummy" after that, but now doesn't bother with that, either. It's like I've read they do with speaking: she seems to learn a sign or a word, use it all the time for a week or 2, then give up that and go on to another one, then come back to the original one later, along with lots of others. At the moment her favourite sign is "milk", which she signs whenever she wants a drink.

Angela

I'd not heard that, but I had heard that older fathers had an increased risk of a child with autism as a latest theory. My husband's just a few months younger than me, but so far Iona seems fine.

Hi,
I was beginning to feel like I was some sort of geriatric here    with everyone thinking being a mum in their 30's was old, 'til I read LongTallDrink's post. At last, someone who had their daughter at the same age (almost exactly) as me! Iona was born when I was 41 1/2, and she's 10 months old now. We're still hoping to give her a brother or sister, 'though we understand it might not happen now, but having had older parents myself (Mum was 40 1/2 when she had me) I know how important siblings are when you're still young(ish) when your parents die. It would have been nice, maybe, to be younger parents, but David and I only met when we were 37.

Anyway, like someone said, I think I've got more patience now than I would have had when I was younger. I'm also happy to have given up work now, too, as I've been working in the field for 17 years, so I don't feel like I'm missing out as I might have done if I'd been younger. Overall, I'm really enjoying being an older mum.