Work and Motherhood

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There are many things that I like to share on this channel, and as I write this blog as I am listen to a Podcast called Happy Mum Happy Baby, and inspired me to write this blog check it out via this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNzdqv0FFKI

It also inspired me today because I went for a interview as I am looking to work outside and do Childcare work as I want to help other parents, not just via this blog but face to face too, but it is tricky because I need to work around school hours and I know there are many parents in the same boat as me and my husband (my son’s dad), works so we have to manage it so he gets to work on time and I am there in Epsom, as I travel from Wimbledon at the moment each day, for when my son comes home from school.

You have to do what you can. but I feel often you can’t win as a parent as you do have to do what works around your children, and parents have had to give up work because they can’t afford childcare to do so and becomes expensive and I don’t want to miss out on spending time with my son, so it is tricky.

I have watched many debates on TV, who remember Kilroy, heard people say you should be staying at home to look after your child or you need to work instead of living on benefits, and feel we’re getting it wrong, which is not true. Ok so it was up to us to want to be parents and we made that choice, but we are produced to produce, not saying that people who don’t want children are wrong, not at all, its just fact. It’s is up to personal choice and I knew I always wanted to have children, and shouldn’t feel guilty in wanting that, it’s part of the reproductive system and why we grow to carry a child even when you don’t want to and so we shouldn’t be hearing “Your getting wrong” it is up to what works for your family. Money isn’t evil it is what we need to survive and I am building other income streams, such as I write books and sell on amazon and want to build my own second hand shop online, and I am not doing all that because of the money but because I enjoy writing and want to be making a living in the books and selling other products of my own and teach others to do the same.

We need to look after ourselves and working ourselves to the bone is not, but doesn’t mean we have to drop everything but have a balance and do what financially will make you happy and ignore judgement, you are your own person and do what you know will work not by somebody’s else’s choice.

Life is about living and lets work together to develop ourselves and build our learning as we parent our children and as said you are not on your own, and I’d like for you share your opinion on this. Please leave do so by adding a comment below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Spending time with my son and building his skills

It is so important like all parents want, the best for their child and have a good relationship and gaining trust, because children will have emotions and feelings which as a parent we need to respect, and so doing different activities can help with that.

Took Henry to the Cinemas for the first time during the holidays and a great way to spend time together

Playing games that is not a competition but that you can do together. My son loves spending time with me and my mum playing Lingo. This is game show on TV, but you can download the APP which is free and helps with their knowledge of different words and spelling, and often we, including my step dad will get involved.

Do the chores and dance around the house. I talk about this a lot because to help get my son ready for school I would often put on some music and dance before my son had to go to school and would often when cooking dinner would put some music on. I will sing to him but he tells me to be quiet when I try, and so don’t think mother (me) will be on X Factor or The Voice anytime soon, but some kids love it, and how me and Henry bonded was by sharing the love of dancing listening to some good music and as a kid myself it was a tradition at a kids birthday to play musical chairs or statues, and learned the times table via music. It is a cassette tape and using music to learn the times table.

Let them take the lead on some tasks. Now my son is getting independent, I will when shopping have him carry the trolley or put items into the trolley. Getting them involved is a great way to like shopping, as often as a kid I would play up, and Henry would often get upset when shopping, but now he is alright and be somewhat in charge so I allow him that freedom, and helps him be more responsible.

Get fit together. Last week me, my son was on his scooter and wanted to go by the river and then I began to run to keep up with him and really enjoyed it, so going to make it a weekly thing at the weekends, to take Henry on his scooter and I am going to put on my running clothes and run. Getting fit together helps with keeping it going and energize and enjoy the nature around you and just spending that time together helps me want to keep doing these type of things together, and is fun.

Use bath time to have a chat. When my son has had baths, I will sit on the toilet seat and sing or talk and because they are relaxed and so are you, it is good to catch up on their day and why not read to them too. Now he has a bath his dad who mainly does bath time will have him practice kicking his feet which was advised by his swimming teacher, and it can be such a lovely way to share the day and how they did at school. So would recommend.

Get ready for bed. Once my son has had his wash, bath or shower I also use this time to get ready for bed too. I will stay up a bit once he has gone to bed, but not all of the time, but make sure there isn’t too much light. It is good to have a good night sleep and wake up together in the morning, and have breakfast together and get ready for the day. I will leave my son to get dressed whilst I go upstairs to make the beds and do encourage my son to make his own bed and just sets the tone for the day ahead.

So today my son has gone back to school and will would like to reflect on them. I may do this as a video, but I will see.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie L.M X

Getting back to normality and usual routine

Yes it will be time to return to the usual routine and that means travelling, making dinners for Henry and writing in the mornings, and in the evening and managing my content around all that and preparing my son for school, and the week my son goes back he will be going on a Residential trip with his class at school and so making sure he has everything he needs for that.

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It is going to be checking transport and managing my time to make sure I check my emails and I am nervous always am, but that is because I want it to go well and everything goes to plan.

Thankfully my husband tends to wash his clothes for school and am grateful for that, and I will be making sure that I wash Henry’s bedding as it is hard to get these things done everyday and so I wash his bedding at the start of the week, Mondays and that he has completed his homework and written down what he has been learning whilst on half term and put it in his bag and folder for school to encourage him to share what he did during the school holidays and going to do a photo book to help and you can do this on google and is a great item to keep, and also getting him excited about seeing his school friends again, and this term he has a new teacher, he spends time in a different classroom and planning for when it comes the changing of the weather and that I have sunscreen for when we have warmer weather and be good to play out in the garden again after he has finished school and fit in some learning after school, and what he has not learned at school I have been teaching him at home, like today we learned about the Solar System, because on the news there will be astronauts going to get near to Jupitar and wanted my son to know about it as these things are historical and something that should be taught.

I will be recording this to go into his book so his teacher can see what he has been learning and continue to do this too and share the different the topics we have been teaching Henry, and his dad (my sons) dad put up a world map on the wall so he can learn about the world and different countries.

When it comes to kids it is knowing when to start and when they have had a different schedule to when they go back to school can be a huge adjustment still, and I mean for everyone.

It means setting the alarm again, if you haven’t done this throughout the half term, with my son who is an early bird, he never lays in but is awake early all the time and this can take its toll but I don’t set an alarm only when he goes to his holiday club called Youngstars, but whilst he at school I can take my time taking a shower and putting make up on, but I tend to feel a bit lost after the half term, and my son does get separation anxiety.

So yes time to get back and we have a few more days to still have of this half term fun, but then it is all systems go again and I bet the weather will be lovely which is typical but living in Britain you never know.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Getting through the school holidays

I did create a Easter printable but because it has been half term I couldn’t get it done on time so will save it, and I have found it hard to get things like that done. This is what inspired me to write this blog, because it is real life. I am never going to cover over the cracks, because it is hard to keep kids entertained especially for two weeks and there is another half term around June and then it is the summer holidays.

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This is not to say that I don’t enjoy spending time with my son, I love him to bits and is my priority, it is just that its hard to plan when especially when it comes to money. There is travel and as always there are engineering works being done this Easter holiday and glad that we got things done in terms of travelling to places the first week as the second week it will be bus journeys and avoiding places that get busy, which living in the city is tricky.

So I check first of what is on locally and what new experiences we haven’t done or places locally that we haven’t visited, and can I get there by bus if I can’t use the trains.

I check the weather and what facilities they have. I make sure that my son and I have gone to the toilet in case these facilities are limited, and will bring snacks with me, but most museums have facilities inside, but buying food from them can be expensive so I will do a packed lunch and have dinner when we get home.

We was going to go to Battersea Park, and it completely free, they do have a Go Ape there, which you do have to book, and a zoo which you have to pay to see, but if you didn’t want to do that it is a still a great park to go to and plenty of places to sit in the sun with a picnic and can walk along by the river and they have really built it up with shops and restaurants and it just a pleasant area to go. I decided we will will do this in the second week and today go to a local park and wall along the river. Its jus nice to be outside, especially when it is sunny and warm.

Remember your sun cream when it starts to increase in temperature and plenty of water to hydrate.

I do plan ahead, and still learning to be save and budget better for these holidays, and mainly for when my son goes to a holiday club to Youngstars and set money aside for this, but currently budget per holiday, as it depends on how may days and weeks it is.

I used this holiday to get my son’s hair cut, buy new shoes for when he goes back school and trainers. I would suggests Clarks as a good place to get your child’s feet measured and to get my son’s hair cut there are, where I live in Wimbledon a few places we can go and you don’t need to book, and the price differs for the week and days, and already budgeted for that, but not for the holiday club so going to set a system to help myself on that, and set aside money for that, and I do have savings so thinking that I will be use this for that as haven’t been sure of what I want to use my savings for.

I do budget each week now that has helped and if I can pay for things with cash then I will, you can check online if a train stations has lifts and if they are working checking the different train lines and some trains depending on where you are travelling will have toilet facilities on them and not all stations in London have toilet facilities, and would say to invest in a portable changing mat.

If your kids are older and toilet trained but you fear accidents, there are portable potty’s you can buy and the one we had was flap packed, and easily to carry around. I do still take a change of clothes and wipes, of course not flushing down he toilet but in an appropriate bin.

I have been using the evenings to write my blogs and when my mum has been looking after him in the day and if you can get help and relatives offer to help you get errands done take them up on it. My son is now responsible enough to play whilst i have a shower but younger children when you have older children can be a juggling act, and so if you can hav support then never refuse.

I hope you have already had a good Easter holiday, and that it continues.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X