Freezing cold fun!



This is what we did at the weekend. Today is the end of the holidays and we're back to school and work. Is summer on its way yet?

Back to school!

So, the holidays are over and it is back to school time. I found this photo from last term which reminded me just how grown-up my little girl can be, and just how sweet my children can be! My little 5 year old school girl is reading one of her school story books to her 2 year old brother. Naturally he is wedged behind the sofa, but he is engrossed in the story, and she is able to read it to him!

Let's hope we'll be celebrating more academic and social achievements this term :-)

Fruit and veg

HOW do you get children to eat 5 portions of fruit and veg every day? This question troubles me frequently and I'd be glad of your advice.

At the moment my baby is absolutely fine, as the others were at his age. He loves fruit and veg and will chow it all down with glee. My 5 year old (pictured here) can understand the rationale that she has to eat a certain amount and so can be controlled through reward and punishment. I have tried to make the experience pleasant for her, but realistically we operate on bribery and threats. It is working though, so I'll leave it alone for now.

My 2 year old is the real worry. He seems to be slipping through the net and now barely goes near any form of fruit or vegetables. He doesn't seem to grasp the idea of reward and punishment and is fairly prone to throwing a bowl of fruit onto the floor.  I am now at the point of having to be super-strict (in my opinion... maybe this is just normal!!) and not giving him other kinds of food until he has eaten what he should. I haven't withheld any meals yet (where he would just eat carbs and protein) but I am offering only fruit as snacks. I am telling him to stay at the table and finish his food, but so far with not a huge amount of success.

My main successes have been boiled apple which all 3 children will eat endlessly, and smoothie drinks which come in and out of vogue with my eldest 2.

Let me know if you have found a way to get fruit and veg into your little ones!

What is the optimum number of children?

This is a common question amongst parents. No matter how many children you have people (yes me included) always ask "would you have any more?"

At the moment I answer with a definite 'no' and the obligatory eye-roll, but deep down have I really ruled out having just one more?

My three children are aged 5 years, 2 yrs 8 months and 1 yr 2 months. At the moment the youngest two are both in nappies, both still use a bottle (at least at bed-time) and both need me to dress them. All 3 of them still need to be watched most of the time so maybe the gap you have makes a difference.

People have asked what it is like to have three children, and my usual answer is that there was chaos with 2, so another 1 doesn't make too much difference. There are a few logistical issues sure. Walking down the street is one, cuddling them all at once is another, but as my 2 year old says "all aboard!". I spend a ridiculous amount of time doing laundry, and a considerable amount of my day is focused on meeting their basic needs.

Finances are definitely a concern and we had to buy a larger car when we had the third child. Good parenting is of course top of everyone's list of worries. I think this an ongoing challenge, but I comfort myself with the thought that I am constantly worried about whether a different child is getting enough attention, so each of them must be getting attention at some point! My eldest now gets some special time with me after her brothers have gone to bed and we spend quality time reading together. My youngest has some time when the other two are at school and pre-school, and my middle one gets attention when his brother is asleep. They all three love playing together so we're often able to play with all three together.

The best thing about having three children is the love they have for each other. They are very cute together, and definitely feel as though they belong together and want to play.

Some people are concerned about over-population and see having more than 2 children as selfish. They could be right, but I personally feel that if I can raise good citizens who can contribute to a better society then I'll have done my job. Time will tell how I get on with that one! For the time being though our eco credentials are that we are (mostly) using cloth nappies and the kids are vegetarian.

I regularly count my blessings that I've been given these three precious children, and my heart's desire is to be a worthy mother.

Let me know your optimum number! x

Entertaining the kids through the holidays

So, Christmas is over. Relatives have been visited, presents have been opened, vast quantities of food have been eaten, and we are left with a mountain of recycling to sort.

There is still a week left until school re-starts so what is everyone up to? We are trying to visit as many soft play centres as we have pre-paid passes for, and then getting through the rest of the day with a combination of playing with toys and watching TV.

Today we managed a walk / cycle around Haldon Forest and took our sandwiches with us, so I'm feeling like a healthy and frugal mum. Only one more week of cheap and active days out to organise!

Send me your ideas for winter holiday fun! x

Fed up of eating yet?

Hope you have all had a lovely Christmas! We have had a lovely time with our family and are now trying to get back to work and to tidying. There is so much to do around the house, and I'm trying to keep up with our post-Christmas sales for our business (www.serenity-baby.co.uk)

My cupboard is heaving with gifts of chocolate for us and the kids. As soon as I get them off to bed I shall be sitting down to watch some recorded Christmas telly and working my way through the chocolate mountain.

Our next conversations are how to make the Baha'i festival of Ayyam-i-Ha in February anywhere near as exciting and special as Christmas (for more info check out www.bahai.org). We are thinking of making a pudding with all of our leftover ingredients from the Christmas pud, and perhaps making an advent calendar.

Here is our littlest one enjoying playing with his new kitchen!

Mummy, can I have a cheese sandwich?

Can I have a cheese sandwich? This was Alabama's question on seeing the Christmas dinner spread!

Although as Baha'is our main festival is Ayyam-i-Ha in February, our kids were lucky enough to get presents from other family members. Their main present was this fab country kitchen - nicer than our adult one...

And Mummy even managed to make some stockings...