Blog : Little Lilypad Co

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The Little Lilypad is a lifestyle blog mostly written by a mum to two beautiful, cheeky and entertaining daughters. It is sometimes written by the Man on the Pad or by one of our baby bloggers. Occasionally we accept guest posts too. There is frequently talk of sustainable living, saving money, lifestyle and travel. It is hopefully helpful, sometimes funny and always honest.
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Category: Views & Ramblings

  1. Your children become who you are ...

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    Follow Me on Pinterest

    In the last 24 hours I have become a bit addicted to Pinterest. I found this, it needs no further words.

  2. Why should I be thankful? Thanksgiving is an American holiday isn't it?

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    Today is Thanksgiving.

    This is the American holiday of Thanksgiving which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. We all know that in Britain, it's not an official holiday but lots of American expats and tourists, as well as their friends and relatives, like to mark the occasion by coming together to eat a traditional Thanksgiving feast. Its origin dates back to1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens", to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It has been an annual holiday ever since.

    So why am I sitting here in the cold and windy UK, talking about Thanksgiving when it isnt even a holiday we celebrate. Our American friends think Thanksgiving is a perfect time to stop for a moment once a year and remember to give thanks. It's a time to be grateful for one's health, family, friends, job, home and having food on the table, so if this blog posts inspires you to do one thing, be thankful for the great things that surround you.

    I know that at this time of year, families worry about Christmas time for a plethora of reasons, from keeping everyone happy to having enough money to buy that "perfect" gift and the ideal Christmas card for your friends and family.  Although, you dont need to worry about finding a great card with the selection available at Hallmark UK. The holiday season is so much more than finding the right present, its about having the time to spend with your loved ones, having some time to yourself and having some have fun. 

    I have my health, my beautiful family, fantastic friends and amazing and exciting opportunities ahead, so today I will be thankful.

    Are you?

     

  3. Friendships are a funny thing!

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    Friendships are a funny thing and when you are little, they seem to be singularly the most important thing in your life (after cuddles with mom obviously)

    I watch my eldest daughter and her friends and in some ways she is very much like me, she has different circles of friends but maybe that is because I have encouraged that. I remember when she was at pre-school and she had her first “best friend” and one day that best friend wasn’t there and she was bereft. So began one of life’s lessons, people aren’t always there when you need or want them to be.

    Someone once told me that the older you get, the smaller the circle of your true friends and there is never a truer word spoken. I used to surround myself with lots of friends, I was always throwing a party for any occasion or even for no occasion and I became the one that “organised” getting everyone together. 

    Then life likes to throw you a curve ball (as it always does) and different things took priority. Not priority over my friendships but over the responsibility of organising everyone.  That curve ball focused my outlook on a lot of things and a lot of people. It made me realise who my true friends were. Obviously, there are two possibilities here, either I changed or I didn’t really know who they were until that very moment. 

    My family are the centre of my universe but my friendships stand important at their side. These are my true friends, the real friends, the ones you know, without question that you really can ring at 3am in the morning and they will be there. I am very lucky to have them and I hope that as my eldest daughter and they little one after her, grow up, they cherish good friends and don’t worry about the others. 

    Easier said than done but I got there eventually. Have you?

  4. What comforts you?

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    I am not a fan of a dummy or a soother. There, I said it.

    Opinion is genuinely divided over the use of dummies, as a breast feeding advocate I was always worried about creating confusion with the soother and I personally feel that you get to learn the different cries if you dont instantly use a dummy. This is not to say that I dont totally understand why parents use them and why some health professionals recommend the use of them. A friend of mine asked me why I didnt use one as her health visitor encouraged her to think about it as a "soother" and why wouldnt she want to use one to soothe her baby? (insert onslaught of mummy guilt here)

    I genuinely believe that babies react to the cues and comforts that we provide, whatever they maybe, whether that is a dummy, a special toy or a comfort blanket.

    Duckie - Blueberry

    We all need and take comfort in different ways and me choosing not to give my children a dummy or a soother doesnt make me harsh, it just makes me a mum with an opinion.

    They can take comfort with me.

    What comforts you?