Category: Views & Ramblings

1. How do you share parenting over the Christmas period?

   Posted on 10:55am Monday 7th Dec 2015

   Christmas is a time for families but what about if your family isn't the one you imagined when you were having your children? What if Christmas morning isn't about everyone lazing around in their PJ's as you are conscious of the time and getting your children to see their Dad on Christmas Day? If you rewind my life about 8 years or so, it was very different to the one I have now, I was freshly divorced and trying to work out how we were going to make sure our young daughter had the best Christmas, when that meant she wouldn't be celebrating it in the house she had grown up in.

   Divorce is never a nice experience but we have always managed to maintain good communication for our daughters sake and tried to balance the celebrations evenly so she gets to spend time with both families. As she gets older, she has more of a say in where she wants to spend her time and whilst sometimes one of us might be a little put out, maintaining her happiness is key for us both.

   This isn't something that we face alone as there are many parents across the UK that have to deal with the Christmas dilemma each year and research commissioned recently by the Family Friendly Working team shows the challenge that many families face.

   

   Christmas is magical when you are a child and whilst our view might get a little more jaded as we get older, as parents we spend so much time trying to maintain the magic for our children. Every year, Father Christmas is pulled around the world by flying reindeer in his quest to deliver presents to billions of children. However, by age 7 1/2, 45% of youngsters will question the legitimacy of his existence, leaving parents lost for words as they struggle to respond to this interrogation .... although sometimes, this question is easier to answer than "Why isn't Daddy here on Christmas morning".

   My daughter is now 10 years old and being fully aware that her iPad comes from the Apple Store rather than the elves workshop, the magic of Santa might now be disappearing but with a little sister to now open her presents with on Christmas morning, she chooses to stay with us and that is her decision, which is the most important.

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2. Top tips for pumpkin carving this Halloween

   Posted on 9:02pm Thursday 29th Oct 2015

   Do you and your children embrace Halloween? It has become a big celebration in the past few years but many of us are fairly clueless about what Halloween is all about. In fact most people don't know that famous magician Harry Houdini died on the 31st October and 71 per cent were unaware that the original Jack O’Lanterns were made from turnips rather than pumpkins like today.

   There are many people around the world who have a phobia of Halloween, but only 24 per cent of Brits were able to identify this condition as “Samhainophobia”. Only one in seven adults have been either ghost hunting or on a ghost walk during their lives and one in five believe you’re more likely to experience something paranormal in the country instead of the city.

   So do your children think Halloween is scary or just an excuse to get dressed up, go trick or treating and carve pumpkins?

   

   Pumpkin carving is simple to do and retail sales of Halloween products in the UK are expected to reach £240m this year, a 4% growth from last year’s £230m. Whether you’re demonstrating your own artist flare or nurturing your children’s, pumpkins are one of the easiest ways to partake in the Halloween spirit. So here are our top tips for carving the perfect pumpkin!

    

   • Make an adventure of going to "pick" your pumpkin. Let the children select their own and they will become invested in its creation.
   • Pick a good fresh pumpkin with no bruises (and one that has a flat bottom so it won't roll off anywhere).
   • Cut out the lid on an angle, not straight up and down. This way the lid won't drop inside the pumpkin when you replace it on top.
   • Scoop out all the pulp ..... and then some. You can roast the pumpkin seeds if you are so inclined but usually I can't wait to get rid of them and the mess the pulp makes!
   • Hug the pumpkin in your lap when it's time to carve the features. It's easier to carve when the face is gazing up at you and it is even easier if you have a pumpkin stencil. It is *not* cheating, it is being resourceful!!
   • A carved pumpkin can go soggy very quickly so don't make your creation too far in advance! To try and keep your pumpkin fresh spread something like Vaseline on the cut edges to seal in moisture. 
   • While a real candle is lovely, an LED candle is a much safer, cost effective and longer lasting way of keeping the light flickering!

   

    

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3. Make A Wish : Pampers Unicef Partnership

   Posted on 9:33am Wednesday 28th Oct 2015

   When was the last time you made a wish? What did you wish for? Oooh in fact, don't tell me as it might not come true (that is what my Mum always used to say anyway).

   But what about making a wish that really can help make dreams come true?  For 10 years the Pampers® and UNICEF partnership has had only one wish: to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus everywhere! On the 10th birthday of the Pampers Unicef campaign, they are asking you to watch their "Wishes" video of babies making wishes around the world to help protect babies at risk from newborn tetanus.

   For every view of this video, Pampers will donate 1 life-saving vaccine.

   And every time you share the video on social media, Pampers will donate another life-saving vaccine.

   That's 1 view = 1 vaccine and 1 share = 1 vaccine.

   Since the Pampers-UNICEF “1 pack = 1 vaccine” campaign began in 2006, they have helped to eliminate maternal and newborn tetanus in 17 countries. This means that an estimated 500,000 newborn babies have been saved and a vaccine has reached a mother and her baby every second. However, there are still 21 countries where the disease remains a threat.

   It seems incredulous that in parts of the modern world, a mother and her baby are unable to get the medication they need to survive and whilst it is a different circumstance with my own daughter suffering from asthma, I know how desperate you can feel as a mother when you need medical intervention, so I cannot imagine not having the resources at hand to help my child survive. 

   So how can we help?

   • For every heart-warming picture you share of your LO’s birthday wish on social media using the #PampersUNICEF Pampers will donate the cost of one vaccination
   • For every time you share the Wish Film, Pampers will donate the cost of a vaccination.

   So if you have never shared one of our posts, I ask you to share this one. Wouldn't you wish someone would do that for you and your child?

   

    

    Just one small gesture really can make a huge difference to mothers and babies around the world.

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4. How to make the morning school run a little easier

   Posted on 10:10am Tuesday 27th Oct 2015

   How much do you love your morning routine?

   How often are you left repeating yourself over and over again? What do you want for breakfast? Have you eaten your breakfast? This is our morning routine, does yours look similar?

   

   I don't want to plead with my children but I can't force feed them either, so what are your choices when you have limited time and limited appetite to contend with? I frequently make smoothies or milkshakes for myself so when I was introduced to Up & Go, I was more than a little intrigued. Up&Go, is Australia’s No. 1 breakfast and is a breakfast you can drink on the go – with six yummy flavours to choose from; Banana & Honey, Chocolate, Mixed Berry, Strawberry, Iced Coffee, and Vanilla.

   Breakfast is the most important meal of the day but 60% of Brits skip breakfast at least once a week, so with Up&Go you can grab a nutritious breakfast while on the move. Children need energy after a night's sleep so skipping breakfast is not something I advocate but giving me an nutritionally balanced alternative containing as much fibre, protein and calcium as a bowl of cereal it can be a healthy and smart choice.

   So if we can be tempted by the delicious flavours (the sweet Vanilla was my particular favourite), does it make a difference and save time on our morning routine? Take a look for yourselves ....

   

    It won't be for everyone but it works for us and at £4.99 for a pack of four, I know that it will be going on next weeks shopping list.  

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   Disclosure:  This post is in association with Up and Go.