Mummy Zen

A few months ago I came across the Secret Society of Happy People. They have a blog and a recent post talked about ‘Taken for Granted Happiness‘. It’s a short post with a simple message but I thought it was a good one to think about. It reminds us that as much as we might be dealing with ‘chaos’ in our lives; in the form of jobs we don’t enjoy, people who rub us up the wrong way, sad things that occur to us and our loved ones and other challenging situations….amidst all of that are lots of happy moments we take for granted and don’t stop to think about. The article suggests if we counted all these taken for granted happy moments in any given day, they are likely to far outweigh the chaotic ones.

So what kind of pleasant experiences are we taking for granted? The post suggests the following:

breathing, walking, running, thinking new thoughts, laughing, seeing a sunrise and the full moon, hearing words, songs, and birds chirping, the feel of a hot shower or hug, feeling–even when the feelings aren’t so happy, and especially when they are happy.

These might seem pretty basic but not when you imagine what it must be like not to experience any of those things listed. I’m sure we can all think of lots more examples. I know my husband’s very good at pointing out the bright side of things to me any time I’m having a bit of a moan or a mope about my day! Once you do focus on the easily forgotten happy moments, you often start to realise how good you’ve really got it.

Today’s been a bit of a tiring day for me. My son has hand, foot and mouth disease (such a nasty-sounding name for a fairly harmless virus) and is naturally feeling miserable. Unfortunately, that makes the day a little harder for me. He’s not interested in playing. He cries lots and the only way to placate him is to go out for a long walk or read to him. Whilst both those things are pleasant activities, at some point, it would be nice to sit for a few minutes out of the day and have a quiet cup of tea or be able to prepare my son’s lunch without constant loud crying. His naps are all messed up and brief at the best of times, which means I haven’t had a moment to do anything around the house. I feel like everywhere’s a mess and needs a good clean but I feel ready for bed and all out of energy by the time my son goes to bed.

However, if I stop to think about the happy moments in the day that I’ve taken for granted, I realise there’s not much to really moan about after all. I got outside a lot and so was able to enjoy the sun on my face, see the trees and flowers in bloom, watch lots of happy children running around in the park, had a nice chat with my mum….and despite all the general upset, I did get a few sweet smiles from my son and even managed to get a laugh out of him a couple of times.

Next time you’ve had a tough day or are feeling like you’re dealing with a particular kind of chaos in your life, try to take a minute to think back on some happy moments you’ve taken for granted during the day. I’m not suggesting it will melt away any anxiety, stress or upset, but I do think it’s a good exercise to get things into perspective and to remind ourselves of those little things we have to smile about. What happy moments can you think of from today that you’ve taken for granted?

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Last week ended up being a tiring one with my son suffering from a bad cough, cold and a bit of a fever for several days. He was thoroughly miserable and you could tell it hurt his throat every time he coughed and he must have got sick of me wiping his constantly runny nose. We had a couple of disturbed nights as a result too and daytime naps were all over the place. It’s a common enough scenario for anyone with young children, it’s upsetting to see them suffering and can make for long tiring days for the parent or person looking after them.

I’ve written before about colds and ways to try to avoid catching them and how to deal with them if you do catch one. I think my son had more than just a cold this time round though and it made me think about ways to deal with looking after a sick child when they are not fit for anything, have  no desire to play, are too ill to take out to usual activities or to mix with friends and just getting through a day can feel like a bit of a struggle. These are some of the things that helped my son and I get through a tough week and some other ideas I had for dealing with a child who’s unwell:

(1) Be flexible. Chances are your usual routine will be unsettled when your child’s ill. Follow their lead and if it seems like they want a snack at a time you wouldn’t usually give one, let them have something. If they seem like they want to sleep at a different time to when they take their nap, lay them down. They’ll soon bounce back to the regular routine once they are feeling back to normal.

(2) Fresh air. This depends to an extent how sick the child is but usually you can get them out for a walk at some point. As long as they are well wrapped up for the weather, it can do you both the world of good to have a walk somewhere. I found my son in much better spirits whenever we returned from a walk out in the fresh air.

(3) Keep hydrated. Both of you should drink plenty of water throughout the day.

(4) Do things differently. Accept that when your child is feeling under the weather, they won’t want to do what they normally do or play what they usually play. Try doing something with them in a different room of the house or show them something new that might bring a smile to their face. My son seemed brighter when we were in the kitchen or in our bedroom, rather than in his usual play area in the living room.

(5) Have some company. Whilst my son was too ill to go to a playgroup or to a friend’s house to play, I did still get him out in the pushchair to the park and was able to meet up with some mummy friends for a bit of a chat. It can be a good boost to your mood to see friends or to have a phone conversation with a friend.

(6) Rest when they rest. I hadn’t done this since my son was a newborn but decided to have a lie-down when he napped during the day and it really helped. I was refreshed when he woke up and able to give him all the energy and comfort he needed.

(7) Be patient. You might feel exhausted by their crying, clingyness or complaining but it must be pretty frustrating for them to feel unwell and not be able to do anything about it and maybe not be able to communicate what’s wrong to a parent if they are very young. If you’re feeling fraught, take a moment for some deep breaths,  roll back your shoulders and gently roll your neck from side to side to regain a sense of calm and to relax your body.

(8) Take a break. This isn’t always possible but if you have a friend or family member who can come and relieve you for a while, it’ll do you the world of good to have a little ‘time off’. My husband was able to come home a bit earlier than usual on a couple of evenings and it brightened up the day for both my son and I!

(9) Easy eating. Make life easy for them and give them foods they like and that are easy to eat and comforting to them. Don’t worry if they seem off their food. They’ll soon get their appetite back once they are feeling well again.

(10) Lots of love. Extra hugs and attention are important to provide reassurance when your little one is feeling under the weather. Let them know you’re doing everything you can to make them feel as happy as possible and to speed their recovery.

What works for you when your child is ill? Do you have other tips to share?

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I feel like I’m having a constructive week. Despite going to bed earlier, I’ve accomplished a lot more in a day than I do usually. I’ve been tackling some areas of clutter in our home and getting rid of stuff, I’ve done some baking, caught up with some non-mummy friends and in the evenings I’ve been reading and doing a few crafty bits and pieces. I’ve really enjoyed filling my time with more variety and feeling like I’m achieving more in a day.

Getting more done has involved quite a lot less time spent on the computer each day. I don’t spend loads of time on the computer in an average day but I do tend to use most of son’s nap time for reading news, other blogs, sending emails and writing my blog of course! In the evening when my son is in bed, I sometimes do a bit more of that, whilst my husband is often doing the same. This week, I’ve been confining my computer time to the day only and also reducing the time spent on it. So, I haven’t read any news and only read a couple of the many blogs I enjoy reading but it’s been time well spent in other ways.

The non-mummy friend I saw yesterday isn’t working at the moment. She was telling me how she struggles to get things done and misses the satisfaction of working through a list of tasks at work and feeling in control of what’s to be done. She told me she imagined having a baby helps to give your day a sense of structure. She’s right to an extent. I have to get up and start my day around 7.30am every morning and the day is naturally split it up into sections around my son’s naps, meals and bedtime. However, it’s easy to ‘waste’ a day faffing around and not actually doing anything, even with a baby.

The way to get around that, as I think this week has shown me, is to set yourself several very small tasks. For example yesterday, as part of my de-cluttering project, I tackled one big basket in our living room that had a bunch of baby-related stuff in it, from the old NHS pregnancy book my doctor had given me about two years ago, to instructon manuals for baby-related equipment and scraps of sentimental paperwork I wanted to put in my baby book. It didn’t take too long to sort out but it was great to deal with it and get rid of a lot of rubbish I’d been hoarding in there. In addition to that task, I needed to mop the floors and do some cooking in advance of visiting family. All small tasks, but all useful to accomplish and easy to fit in around looking after my son during the day.

It can be a challenge to do things when you’re at home looking after a baby or toddler and I’m not suggesting you should have a rigorous schedule or plan of events for each day! Using the snippets of time you do have free when they are napping or happily engaged in an activity where you can be doing something close by is a good way to fit in a little more though. Dealing with a nagging task might not seem like something to spend time on but as with my basket de-cluttering yesterday, it’s often easier and quicker to get done than you imagined. It’s nice to cross those things off the list! It’s also nice to sit and do something for yourself that you don’t do as often as you like, such as reading, some simple crafts or cooking, depending on what you enjoy.

How do you spend your days if you’re a stay-at-home mum? Do you find it difficult to get stuff done during the day?

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Photo taken on our last ski trip to Norway

We’re going on holiday on Saturday, skiing with my husband’s family in Colorado. I got to thinking about holidays from my childhood and the many fond memories I have. Probably my ealiest holiday memory is when my parents took my two older brothers and I to France when I was four. It was a great family trip. However, I have more vivid memories from a later trip to Italy…..

When I was 8, my parents took me to Italy. My dad had been learning Italian at night-school and was keen to practise with some natives. My parents didn’t have a lot of money but we travelled around various parts of Italy for a couple of weeks, using the Let’s Go: Italyguide for travel on a budget. It was such a great experience. The Italians love children so I was always being given little gifts and treats from shopkeepers or extra slices of dessert in restaurants. Already at age 8 I drank black coffee which surprised all the waiters. We saw stunning historical sites and beautiful art and architecture, Italian stalions on their Vespas and glamorous signorinas, even Peter O’Toole and Andreotti (alas, I was too young to appreciate these minor celebrity sightings!). We also watched fascinating drug dealers in action one evening from our hotel window in Rome!

There were little mishaps along the way, like my mother and I jumping on a bus and it pulling away before my dad got on, or the day I locked myself in a restaurant toilet and couldn’t get out. When I did finally get out, I was greeted by a cheering small crowd and a young waiter carried me down the stairs to my unsuspecting parents who were totally oblivious to what had happened. Needless to say, I got some extra dessert after the ordeal!

A child’s outlook on a holiday differs greatly to that of an adult. They are in awe of new surroundings, delighted by the differences of the place and open to adventure. As adults we easily lose that sense of adventure we used to have, as we get exasperated about delayed flights or increased airport security measures. Maybe the hotel isn’t what we were expecting, maybe the challenges of travelling with children are getting us down. It’s a shame to lose sight of the fun and joy of new experiences one gets from going somewhere new.

Our expectations have a lot to do with our enjoyment of a holiday too. We’re all probably guilty of counting down the days to a forthcoming trip and having an idea in our head of what it’ll be like, what we’ll do each day and how great it will all be. Once we get there, if something isn’t how we’d expected it to be or doesn’t go to plan, we feel disappointed. Children, on the other hand, don’t have these kinds of expectations. To them, it’s an adventure waiting to unfold and they’re ready for any eventuality.

So, I’m going to look at my holiday with the enthusiasm of a child! Rather than get annoyed by the added security measures currently applied to all flights going to the US, I’m going to get excited about this being our first ski trip as a family. Instead of dreading the 10 hour flight and wondering how we’ll keep our son happy on the plane, I’m going to remember what a good baby he is and be well-prepared, so we can keep him as content and entertained during the journey as possible. If he cries a little and we get some dirty looks from fellow passengers, so be it! I’m looking forward to getting away, being with family, doing some skiing, enjoying meals and good conversation, taking in the scenery and natural surroundings. These after all, are the fun simple things that make a good holiday.

What childhood holiday memories do you have? What kinds of places or types of holiday have been fun for your family?

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When I was pregnant with my son, I had only two good friends with babies and neither lived in the same city as me. One doesn’t even live in the same country. My husband and I moved to a more family-friendly part of London a month before my son was born. I knew there were lots of other mums with babies nearby and everyone had told me it’s easy to make friends when you have a baby but I found it hard to think how I’d meet people that I really liked and anyway, did I really need new friends to talk baby stuff with?

After the first couple of weeks and once my husband had gone back to work, I found myself missing work and adult interaction. I would bombard my husband with questions and conversation in the evenings because I hadn’t really spoken to anyone all day! I realised I definitely needed to get out to some groups and activities for some adult conversation.

My first outing to an organised class with baby was when he was 8 weeks old. I went to a post-natal yoga class and at the end, the teacher brought out tea and biscuits so we could sit around and chat. I couldn’t put my finger on it but there was something really nice about being with some other women who had little babies just like me and had been through a similar sleep-starved first couple of months.

I joined a local mums group and went along to a coffee meet-up one morning. It was a simple gathering of 8-10 mums sat around a table in a cafe, getting to know one another. It sounds cliché but we shared stories of our births and struggles with feeding and sleeping. There were a few women I met there who seemed very down-to-earth and fun and we’ve gone on to become good friends. One has since moved away from the area but we still keep in touch and make visits to see one another. With mummy friends, it’s not just that you have a baby in common, I think it’s more the sharing of experiences as your little one grows and you both go through different stages. Your mummy friends know exactly what you mean and what you’ve gone through so you don’t need to give any explanations as you do with friends who don’t have babies.

As the babies grow, they play together and you get some decent conversation and company at the same time. Contrary to what one might think, it’s definitely not all baby talk but at the same time, it’s ok if it is.

The local mums group I belong to was set up a couple of years ago by an American woman who having moved to the area, realised there were no organised groups of any kind and so decided to set up her own. The group now has 300 members, mums with children from ages 0 to 5. There’s a website with details of activities going on in the surrounding area, school information and listings of our meet-ups and events. There’s a weekly e-newsletter that gets sent out to all the members, informing everyone of what’s going on that week. We organise a big summer picnic in the local park, Halloween and Christmas parties and do things like movie nights and pub nights. It’s a great community feel, belonging to a group like this.

Mothers hear about the group mostly by word-of-mouth. The doctor’s surgery seems to be a prime place for striking up conversations with other mothers who are sitting in the waiting room with their children. The playground in the park or the singing sessions at the local library are also often places where mothers get talking and someone who belongs to the group suggests to another mum that she might like to join.

If you’re a new mum looking to find some mummy friends in your area, check what’s on in your neighbourhood. Local libraries, council-run children’s centres and parks are all good places to start. You’ll probably find other mums smile at you as you walk down the street and even if you’re the shy type, striking up a conversation with another mum at the doctor’s surgery, in a coffee shop or wherever will probably prove to be easier than you thought. For some reassurance, here’s an article talking about how a woman’s social life improves after they’ve given birth!

Do you have a close network of mummy friends? How did you meet them and what do they mean to you?

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I read in the Sunday Times newspaper yesterday about Nick Clegg, (Leader of the UK Liberal Democrat Party) and his tirade on parenting guru Gina Ford. For those of you who haven’t read or heard about it, he criticised her rigid approach and compared her book to following an Ikea instruction manual. At one stage, out of exasperation, he decided his own parental instincts were the way forward:

“I will never forget — in the middle of the night, Antonio woke up. Miriam said to me: ‘What does the book say?’ I remember saying to her: ‘Okay, we have got to stop this. I have subcontracted my parental instincts to this book’.”

I think the article could refer to any parenting expert. I didn’t ever read Gina Ford but I did read a couple of other parenting books in the first few weeks of my son’s life. Like Nick Clegg, there was a particular day when I felt complete despair at those books and decided I didn’t need them anymore and that my husband and I were more than capable of making our own parenting decisions with our baby.

The truth is however, for a first child particularly, most educated adults look for a book or two to help them on the path to parenthood, as they would when tackling any new aspect of their lives. Nick Clegg referred to the Gina Ford book as an instruction manual but I think that’s sort of what people are looking for. Not literally of course but in the sense that they need some guidance as to how to handle a little human! It’s a natural response to put away the book once you feel you’ve grasped what’s needed or learn to trust your own instincts.

Parenting books are fairly recent to society, probably because many of us don’t live with or very close to our parents as used to be the case in previous generations. New mothers would do as their mothers did.

Some parents are fervent believers in particular parenting methods because they have worked for them and their children. Some people like to have a rigid schedule to follow and some people don’t. Parenting books can be helpful in providing an overview of what you can expect from a baby and there will likely be some tips that work for you and some that don’t . The ‘shh pat’ technique for example never did work very well with our son but one of my mummy friends still uses it with her one-year old now if she wakes up in the night and needs settling.

I’m pleased Nick Clegg feels as a father that he knows best how to deal with his children. I am a firm believer that our own parental instincts are a great lead in parenting but they do take a bit of time to develop or for us to feel that we can trust them. Whether you agree or disagree with Gina Ford’s methods, I don’t think she deserves to be on the receiving end of such harsh criticism. As someone whose parenting book has sold over a million copies worldwide, she has obviously helped a lot of parents  and her methods have been successful for many.

What do you think about parenting books? How helpful did you find them? Was there a particular book or method that really helped you through some of the more challenging aspects of dealing with a new baby or frustrated toddler?

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Photo by Tiny Fizzy Pop

Happy New Year!

As we start off another year, I’ve got my 2010 diary all set, birthdays written in and forthcoming appointments noted. As much as I like using my phone and email for day-to-day matters, I haven’t yet made the transition to using an online calendar and still like to have a physical diary to carry around and look through to see what’s coming up.

I’ve gone through phases with diaries, from detailing everything with my thoughts for each day, to keeping it plain and simple as just a record of appointments  and notable dates or reminders. Last year I started what I think is a nice compromise between the two and began a one-sentence journal, as suggested by Gretchen Rubin of the Happiness Project. I think it’s a great way to commit to keeping a diary without feeling like it is a chore to write something. Your one sentence can be as basic, literal or abstract as you like. In addition, I make a note of any classes I go to, any exercise I do and friends I meet up with.

My mother kept a sporadic diary and a couple of years ago came across one that she’d written when I was about age 5. It was really interesting to read what she’d written. Notes about a particularly heavy snowfall that year, me being ill and my dad working late, meals she’d cooked and randomly, the cost of some groceries. It was a good example of how things that seem like mere everyday details to you, can prove enlightening insight for another generation.

On a slightly different note, but still on the topic of keeping a record of the year, is the baby book. I was given one by a family friend around the birth of my son and it’s a book to record all the notable developments from his first year of life. I wasn’t always good about updating it in a timely fashion and I have to admit that it was often my husband telling me that I should ‘write that down in the baby book’ that got me to write in it before we both forgot when our son did something for the first time! I took advantage of the Christmas holiday to finish it off and aside from adding a few photos, it’s now complete.

My mother-in-law kept meticulous records of both her children’s first years. If I ever ask her when my husband first did anything, she can refer to it and tell me precisely what age he was and in what context it occurred. Again, a great example of how meaningful a record of a year can be.

Some people use blogging as a way to journal or keep track of their activities, hobbies or skills. My mother is a keen gardener and almost self-sufficient with her extensive fruit and vegetable garden in the south of France. She’s planning on starting a blog this year following the planting, growing and fruition stages of her garden. Whilst I don’t have my own garden and am not particularly green-fingered myself, I will be enthused to see what she is working on and producing. I can also appreciate that it’s the kind of record a future generation would be interested in reading, as an insight into how a grandmother/great-grandmother spent her time.

Writing a diary or however you choose to record a year, is a great gift to future generations. No need to make it feel like a creative project, even the smallest details or the things that seem totally uninspired to you can reveal something fascinating for someone else. If you’re not already, maybe you want to think about keeping a simple record for 2010. The one-sentence journal is an ideal way to do this if you feel reluctant about it, are pressed for time or not sure how to start.

Do you keep a diary or any kind of record for the year? Have you done a good job of noting details of your children’s developments and achievements?

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My little baby boy turns one tomorrow! Everyone says ‘they grow so fast, the time time goes so quickly, bla bla bla…’ but isn’t it true? My son is such a joy and has given my life a whole new enriching perspective. It’s been a wonderful year, full of all kinds of new challenges and experiences.

I thought it might be helpful to new mums out there especially, to share a few things I’ve experienced, learned and thought about this past year.

5 things I wasn’t expecting from motherhood:

1. To feel so tired so often. Even once the sleepless nights are a distant memory, it’s still tiring work being a stay at home mum. An early night feels like a real treat to me these days!
2. To find enjoyment from such little things. Examples include: smiling at my son and seeing him smile back at me, the first time he ate any new kind of food or meal, watching his excitement when he’s grasped a new skill….
3. To have so much fun! Sometimes I feel guilty that while others are at work I’m running around the flat squealing and laughing with my son, or getting to enjoy being outside with him on a sunny day.
4. To feel fulfilled without a career. Before having my son, I had an interesting job working for an international auction house. I thought I would miss the deadlines, the research and the buzz of the art world. Instead, I am more than happy being a stay at home mum.
5. To rely so much on a new peer group of mummies. I’ve made some great new friends in my local area who all have similarly aged babies. I see them almost every day and they are like a lifeline to me. As well as sharing questions, advice and suggestions on our children, we also just have a lot of fun and enjoy each others company. I’d feel lost without them.

5 things I’ve learned from a year of motherhood:

1. Treasure every moment. They really do grow, change and learn so fast that you don’t want to wish away any time. Enjoy them at each stage of their development.
2. Follow your instincts. I’m a firm believer that doing what feels right often is right.  I think you get more attuned to your child’s needs so it becomes easier to know what they want and how to deal with certain situations.
3. The difficult times don’t last! Those trying first few weeks, surviving on barely any sleep and feeling like you can’t cope soon fade in your memory. There will be other obstacles of course but it’s those tough times that help us to really appreciate the good times.
4. Getting out lots is good for baby and you. I remember going to a postnatal yoga class when my son was 8 weeks old. It was raining and I had to take the pram on the bus for the first time to get there. I made myself do it and was so glad I did. Being around other new mums did me the world of good. I think my son has also benefited from being taken to a variety of activities. He enjoys being around other babies and it’s got him used to being in different environments.
5. Routines work! As much as you might not like the idea of having a routine with your child, it makes life easier for baby and you. They benefit from knowing what’s coming next throughout the day and you know when best to schedule activities/outings.

What do you remember learning or experiencing from your first year of motherhood?

Photo by Jenny Downing

This week I’m following a ‘Yogic diet’, also known as an Ayurvedic diet. My yoga teacher asked for a couple of volunteers to trial the diet for a week to help her with something she’s writing. Always one for a challenge, I was keen to participate. (It’s not a diet to lose weight, more a kind of eating regime).

I’ll provide you with a couple of links at the end of this post for those of you interested in finding out more but here’s the basic idea…. Ayurveda is the traditional medicine of India, originating over 5,000 years ago. Its focus is on re-establishing balance in the body through diet, lifestyle, exercise, and body cleansing, and on the health of the mind, body, and spirit.

Firstly I had to identify my Ayurvedic type, of which there are three: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. There’s then a corresponding list of foods for each type and the object is to eat the foods that are ‘balancing’ and steer clear of those that are ‘aggravating’. As expected, caffeine and alcohol are to be avoided and the more fresh fruit and vegetables eaten, the better. Your stomach should ideally be 50% food, 25% water and 25% empty.

For my yoga teacher I am keeping a food diary that has to be submitted once the week is up. It’s the first time I’ve kept a food diary. It certainly makes you more conscious of what you eat when you know somebody else will know about it! I don’t think it would be so effective if my yoga teacher wasn’t going to be reading it.

Being a vegetarian, I thought I would find this ‘diet’ a breeze. Instead, it has been quite challenging but in a positive way. It’s given me an insight into my eating patterns and tendencies and I have had to be more creative with certain foods. As a couple of examples, in an effort to eat seeds I have had pumpkin seeds sprinkled on my porridge and sunflower seeds in a salad. That’s another thing – salads. Generally I rarely eat salads in the winter, instead prefering something warming in the cold weather, like soup or jacket potatoes. I’ve really been enjoying the salads this week and have made a tasty variety to keep them interesting.

We get a box of organic vegetables delivered to us each week so eat fresh, seasonal vegetables on a very regular basis. This week though, I had to go and buy a load more to last me the week. It made me wonder if we really do eat a lot of vegetables or do I make myself less-nutritious lunches in an average week?

I’m enjoying the questions arrising from following this ‘diet’ and the need to think a bit broader when deciding what to eat for a meal. If nothing else, I will have gained a good look at my own eating habits and will have learned to be a bit more creative with the food I eat.

Have you ever kept a food diary or followed a diet that’s forced you to be more creative with food?

Find out your Ayurvedic type here and list of foods to eat here.

When you think of childhood memories, Christmas is probably a time you remember quite well. An annual celebration, excitement, family time and  traditions all serve to establish memories (hopefully fond!)

I remember helping my Dad wrap presents for my Mum on Christmas Eve, staying up late and going to midnight mass, leaving out a mince pie and a glass of sherry for Father Christmas and a carrot for Rudolph, waking up one Christmas Eve convinced I’d heard Santa’s sleigh bells. As a family, we’d often play board games in the afternoon after the excitement of all the gifts had died down and would usually go for a walk for some well-needed fresh air and to stretch our legs.

My husband’s family have some distinct culinary Christmas traditions. They always have French onion soup on Christmas Eve and duck for Christmas dinner. The duck tradition has a nice history dating back to his parents first Christmas together just weeks after they were married and while being far away from the extended family. My mother-in-law still has the hand-written recipe card where she wrote the duck recipe that had been memorised by her husband (the Christmas budget wasn’t enough to buy the cookbook!).

In a very enjoyable and inspiring post on her blog Serene Journey, Sherri Kruger, mother of two, writes about her chosen theme for the Christmas holidays being to create great memories. She lists some ways she plans to do that and there are some lovely suggestions like having a tea party for the females in the family, enjoying a craft day with family or friends and hosting a movie night. It reminded me how fun it can be to create your own traditions, fun activities and memories as a family. (Read Sherri’s post here).

As parents to young children, you have the opportunity to create your very own family traditions, experiences and memories that will bring happiness to all the family. It can be fun to think of what these might be or get ideas of something new to try. They might be particular activities you do all together or specific recipes you make and enjoy as a family. Often the simplest things give the greatest pleasure because it’s the sharing and togetherness involved that gives a sense of family fun and will help form happy lasting memories.

What are some of your family traditions or special memories? If you have a very young baby, do you have ideas of things you want to do this Christmas to start a family tradition or a particular activity/meal you can all enjoy this Christmas and for those to come?