Category: Parenting

Top Tips For Nesting While Waiting For Baby To Arrive

Parenting / 2 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Many couples find themselves nesting like crazy in the weeks and months leading up to the big day with a new baby on the way. Nesting is instinctual for expectant mothers – it’s their way of preparing their home for the arrival of their little one. If you’re finding yourself nesting too, here are some top tips to help you get prepared for your new arrival!

Via Pexels

Clean Your Home From Top To Bottom

This is an excellent opportunity to give your home a good deep clean. Tackle every room in your house, and be sure to clean all of the nooks and crannies that tend to accumulate dust and dirt over time.

If you’re short on time, try using a steam cleaner to clean your floors and surfaces quickly. Steam cleaners are great for getting rid of built-up dirt and grime, and they don’t require any chemicals. You can use them on various surfaces, including carpets, tile floors, hardwood flooring, and countertops. 

Declutter your living spaces

Once your home is clean, take some time to declutter your living spaces. This will make it easier for you to move around once the baby arrives, and it will also give you a little peace of mind knowing that there’s less stuff for you to worry about in the weeks leading up to the big day.

Stock Up On Supplies

Once you’ve decluttered your home, it’s time to stock up on supplies! Make sure you have plenty of diapers, wipes and other essentials on hand, as well as newborn clothes and blankets.

As well as stocking up on baby supplies, be sure to try stocking up on some groceries as well. When you are out shopping, pick up an extra pack of dry goods or frozen meals to put aside for those days when you won’t make it grocery shopping.

Setting Up The Nursery

This is what all parents look forward to the most, but it can also be the most stressful. It is important to remember that your baby will be tiny for a long time, and you will soon outgrow the nursery. Therefore, you do not need to go overboard with the decor, especially if it’s a boy or girl theme, because they won’t look at it anyway.

The essential items are, of course, the nursery furniture. You may want to invest in a few pieces of furniture for the nursery – a crib, changing table, and rocking chair are a few essentials. These may cost a bit more than what you had expected, but they should last years and see through a few children!

Set Aside Some Time For Yourself

Although it’s essential to get your home ready before the big day arrives, you should also set aside some time and space just for yourself! Take advantage of this opportunity to relax, unwind and pamper yourself – after all, and it won’t be long until your little one is here and you’re up all hours of the night with them!

Try reading a book, watching your favourite show, or taking a nap. You can also spend time with family and friends – it will help keep your mind off things like baby showers and other stressful tasks that need to be done before the big day arrives. Plus, having fun is good for your mental health!

Nesting is a great way to prepare for your new arrival, but it’s important to remember to take some time for yourself as well. Relax and enjoy this special time in your life!

3 Top Tips To Care For Your Family

Family / 2 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Taking good care of your family’s health is essential if you want to ensure that everyone in your family has a long and healthy future free of major diseases and illnesses. A healthy lifestyle and regular checkups are just some of the ways you can take care of your family. Take a look at the following list of helpful hints for keeping your family healthy and happy.

Image via Unsplash

Encourage physical activity on a regular basis.

An estimated eighty percent of American adults and children are not getting the recommended amount of physical activity to stay healthy. That is a total of four of the five people who participated! One of the best ways to keep both your physical and emotional health in control is through regular exercise.

Make an effort to incorporate a healthy amount of physical activity into your daily routine. Taking a stroll to school, stopping by the park on the way home, or going for a bike ride with your family on the weekends are all examples of ways to include physical activity into your daily routine. Even a game of bowling or a few hours of gardening count.

Eat healthily.

Is your diet healthy? Do you know what constitutes a healthy diet? Having your cake and eating it too does not have to mean only drinking water and eating only salads. You may eat healthy while also having your cake and eating it. Just remember to enjoy junk food and other high-fat and high-sugar foods in moderation and to eat well-balanced meals on the other days. Every day, consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, as well as a healthy amount of carbohydrates. Using wholemeal pitta as a base and spreading tomato puree and low-fat cheese on top, you can make your favorite junk foods healthier. Kids love it, and it is a healthy option that tastes fantastic.

It is possible to avoid significant health problems including heart disease, type II diabetes, stroke, cancer, and other disorders by ensuring that your diet is well-balanced.

Make sure you are taking good care of your mental health.

Our mental health is just as essential as our physical health, and many of us overlook it. Our families’ emotional health is equally as important as our physical health in light of the current state of affairs we find ourselves in. It is important to find ways of supporting a child with anxious feelings. Everyone, including children, may benefit from incorporating a little mindfulness into their daily lives. You can color or concentrate on your breathing if that helps you relax. Practising mindfulness can be extremely beneficial to your mental well-being since it enables you to center yourself and reconnect with the present moment.

Fantastic Advice for New Parents: Family Happiness Tips

Family / 2 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Being a parent is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. But, it can also be one of the most challenging times in your life, and there are so many things that you may not have thought about before becoming a parent. However, there are some things that all parents need to know- no matter what age they are when their first child arrives- and these tips can help make your parenting journey more manageable. They will also bring more happiness into your home.


Trust Yourself


Being a first-time parent can be very scary, full of many unknowns. Trusting yourself to make the right call for your child is a big part of this journey, and it can lead you down paths that may seem more difficult than others, but they are going to guide you towards being a better parent in the long run.


Practice Self-Care


Being a new parent means sacrificing time with family and friends, so having some alone time every now and then or even just taking times during your day where you have 15 minutes of downtime from your child is so important. It will help you to not only recharge but also stay sane during your parenting journey.

Your self-care routine as a new mom should include the following activities:

  • Get enough sleep: sleep is an essential part of self-care. Ensure you get adequate sleep regularly.
  • Eat healthy meals: your diet will affect your mood and energy, so you should ensure you’re fueling your body with good foods.
  • Take breaks when needed: put the baby down in a safe place and take a few minutes for yourself to do something that relaxes you, whether that is reading, taking a bath, or watching your favourite show.
  • Cracked nipples: You may experience cracked nipples when you start breastfeeding. Therefore, you need a way of caring for cracked nipples to return them to the right condition. Lanolin cream can help soothe the pain and speed up healing time
  • Take a relaxing bath: Add some soothing essential oils to your bathtubs like lavender, chamomile, or rosemary oil
  • Exercise: Taking walks with your baby, doing prenatal yoga, or light weightlifting are all excellent exercises for new moms

Be Kind to Yourself

Being kind to yourself is one of the most critical aspects of keeping your family happy. It may seem easy enough for non-parents, but it is more complicated than you think when you are a new parent. However, you can be kind to yourself by making time for yourself each day that is not about your baby.

Try to keep your social life alive by inviting friends over or going out once every few months so that you do not feel too isolated. This way, you will have opportunities to talk about adult things other than just work-related topics, giving yourself an outlet away from all the stress of parenthood. These little acts might seem insignificant on their own, but they can add up when done regularly.

Accept All the Help You Can Get

Asking and accepting help may seem difficult at first, but it is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family. It can be difficult to let go and allow others to help, but you will create a sense of community and support that will benefit everyone involved. Friends and family want to help – let them.

There are many ways they can help, from watching the baby while you take a break to grocery shopping or even cleaning your house. If people offer to help, accept the offer graciously. Not only will you get some much-needed assistance, but you will also be strengthening your relationships with those around you.

Be Flexible in Your New Parenthood Journey

Flexibility is vital for adapting to the many changes that come with being a new parent. Things will not always go according to your plan, so be prepared to roll with the punches. There is no right or wrong way to do something as a parent, so go with the flow and let yourself be open to learning as you go. It will help you to be less stressed and more patient as you navigate through this new chapter in your life.

Adjust Your Expectations

Every parent has expectations of what parenthood will be like. However, it is essential to remember that things may not go as planned, and you must be flexible. So please do not get bogged down by the small stuff; enjoy your time with your child and let the rest work itself out.

One of the most important things to remember as a new parent is that you are not perfect, and that’s okay. Accept that you will make mistakes and permit yourself to relax your expectations. You don’t have to be a supermom or dad – try your best and enjoy this new chapter in your life. As your child grows, they will teach you what works best for them, and slowly but surely, everything will fall into place. Until then, take it one day at a time.

Seek Opportunities To Bond With Your Baby and Make Memories

Bonding with your newborn is a cherished experience that will be filled with lots of cuddles, laughs, and tears. There are so many beautiful moments to enjoy during those first few months, so take the time to soak it all in. Whether you’re reading stories, singing songs, or taking long walks together, make sure you’re spending quality time with your little one. You’ll cherish those memories for a lifetime.

In addition to bonding, try to create some unique traditions with your family as soon as possible. It could involve weekly meals together, playing games on holidays, or setting aside specific days for special outings. These traditions will help to anchor your family and provide consistency during what can be an unpredictable time.

Find your Tribe

One of the best things you can do as a new parent is to find your tribe – a group of people who will support and encourage you and who you can rely on for advice and friendship. It could be friends from before you had kids, other parents you meet through activities, playgroups, or even online parenting groups.

Having this support system in place will help make the challenging early years easier. Knowing that you have someone to talk to when things get tough – or to share funny stories about your kids with – can be reassuring. Plus, it’s always nice to have people to celebrate milestones with.

Live in the Present Moment

Practice mindfulness with your child every day so that you can be fully present when it matters most later on. As new parents, you may get distracted very quickly because there is just so much to take care of. Try to focus intensely for short periods throughout the day while playing games like peek-a-boo, patting their back until they fall asleep, giving them tummy time while singing songs, etcetera. With enough practice, this type of engagement will come naturally over time. You might also want to read up on meditation if you find it too hard to stay focused.

Talk About Money Decisions With Your Partner

It is one of the most vital conversations you will have as a couple regarding your family. Money is one of the leading causes of stress in relationships, so you must be on the same page regarding financial planning and budgeting. Discuss your goals for the future, how you want to save for your child’s education or future expenses, and what kind of lifestyle you hope to provide for your family. It’s also essential to be honest about any debt you may have accrued and develop a plan to pay that off together. By communicating openly and honestly about money, you can avoid many potential conflicts down the road.

Conclusion

Parenthood can be very challenging, even for seasoned parents. However, new research shows that there are ways you can increase your family’s happiness. Promising statistics show that including these tips in your lives will help to improve the well-being of both you and your child.

3 Tips for Balancing Out Parenting and Self Care

Parenting / 2 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Image credit 

Practicing self-care as a parent is something that feels a little too far out of reach at times. Being a parent, no matter if you’re a mother or father is really just an incredibly tough job. It’s a job that you’re constantly doing around the clock and there aren’t any breaks or timeouts like a normal job may have. Regardless, parenthood is simply a beautiful experience that reminds you of how far you’ve come with your little one. While we’re taking care of our children, we can’t neglect ourselves either.

Parents tend to constantly put their children or others before themselves. This can be good, it shows your dedication, but it does mean that sacrifices are made such as sleep and even a decline in health. It’s important to focus on self-care habits as these affect the mind, body, and soul. Here are some ways to help change your mindset so you can begin focusing on your little ones and on yourself too.

Do not guilt yourself for your needs

Parents tend to guilt themselves for not putting in enough time and energy doing other things. Self-care tackles mental health and it can be a way to help improve your mentality as well. You need to first start with yourself and understand that you’re not a bad person for wanting to have time to yourself.

You’re not a bad parent for wanting to take care of yourself and tend to your needs. If you want to tend to others’ needs, such as your children, you need to focus on yourself so you can properly be there to help the ones you love. So first begin getting it into your head that you need breaks, you deserve breaks, and you have to take care of yourself.

Know that your sleep matters

Parents and lack of sleep go hand in hand, it’s the dark truth, but it’s something that eventually gets accepted. You may have even seen some funny memes online about the lack of sleep that parents get. While it may be one of the facts in life, it’s important to know that your sleep matters and you have to try and get it.

You can look into getting a Moses Basket for your baby and have it right next to you at bedtime, this way you can immediately tend to your baby in your room and get back to sleep. Alternatively, you can talk with your partner about taking shifts and days in balancing out who will tend to the kids and who’ll sleep.

Think of the little ways to get yourself feeling good

There are plenty of ways to help your soul feel good such as eating your favorite sweets, getting yourself a little gift you’ve had on your wish list, but you should think about the things that will make you feel physically good as well. This includes eating healthy meals that will nourish your body. A healthy meal is going to drastically help in giving you more energy and making you feel physically better. The same can be said with regular exercising, even just doing a bit of movement each day such as walking can do wonders to how you’ll feel. 

Plusnet Modern Day Fairy Tales – Rapunzel Rewritten

Parenting / 4 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Plusnet have teamed up with Larry Lamb to re-imagine a trilogy of classic fairy tales for the digital generation. Recent research suggests infrequent readers are on the rise between 6-16 years. Giving these classic’s a modern day twist will appeal to children under 10 and give them a positive way to use technology. 

We were asked by Plusnet to re-imagine our own fairy tale favourite and received a box of supplies to help us. As a family, reading is very important to us and a main topic on our blog. Some classics are rather outdated for our modern day technologically advanced world. 25% of parents today admit to changing the story lines of classic tales to fit modern day values and we were excited to rewrite a classic ourselves.

Plusnet - Jack and the Beanstalk

Using the Amazon Fire HD10 we watched the Plusnet trilogy to give us ideas. The trilogy includes Cinderella, Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk. 

With the books, pens, pencils and stickers, the girls set to work deciding which story to rewrite. In the end they decided on Rapunzel, and wanted kindness to save her instead of a Prince. 

Rapunzel Rewritten

Once upon a modern time, a young Rapunzel sat on her bed, daydreaming. Rapunzel had been locked up in her tower by an evil witch, Mother Gothel, who was jealous of her beauty and long, magical hair.

Plusnet Once upon a time online

As Rapunzel sat daydreaming, an idea suddenly came to her.
“Perhaps if she booked a pampering spa day, Mother Gothel may feel happier and beautiful and set me free.”

Rapunzel uses her smartphone to begin searching for spa days and books Mother Gothel in at a luxurious spa, offering full day packages.

Rapunzel pages 2 to 3

Now Rapunzel just had to find a way for Mother Gothel to get there without knowing about the surprise.

Rapunzel realises the next day, Mother Gothel would take an Uber shopping to buy supplies for Rapunzel. She changes the booking just in time the next morning.

Mother Gothel is surprised when her Uber pulls up at a luxurious Spa retreat. Before she can say a word, a member of staff whisks Mother Gothel through to the spa, handing her a fresh bathrobe and fresh youth smoothie. Mother Gothel relaxes, allows her hair to be dyed and enjoys her pampering session at the spa.

  • Rapunzel pages 4 to 5

When Mother Gothel returned, she thanked Rapunzel for planning her surprise spa day. “Thank you, Rapunzel. I feel amazing now and I see that keeping you here is wrong. Sorry Rapunzel, you are free to leave, the Uber is outside waiting for you.

The end.

What do you think of the girls ‘Rapunzel Rewritten’

Blanket Fort Building Challenge

Parenting / 4 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

We received a Blanket fort building challenge from Time4Sleep who are aiming to build the world’s biggest blanket fort! We received an essential fort building kit to join in the fun and build our own forts at home.

Blanket Fort

A better world starts with a blanket fort.

Blanket Fort Building

We love building blanket forts, it’s one of our go-to ideas when the weather is miserable so we couldn’t wait to get started! In the end, we actually made several forts, each slightly different from the last.

Fort Building Challenge Kit

With the summer being so up and down we have spent a good week building different forts with our kit from Time4Sleep. We received Fairy lights, bunting, wooden pegs, a torch, popcorn boxes, popcorn, bed sheets, a chalk board sign, an iPad stand and blanket fort book.

Popcorn and blanket forts

The girls absolutely love snuggling up with the lights on, watching a DVD or their tablets cosily in their forts. I filled their popcorn boxes up with a mix of popcorn and sweets and they have spent hours together enjoying films or books and redecorating their forts, making sure their ‘Girls only’ sign is on display at the entrance!

Benefits Of Blanket Forts

Building blanket forts is so much more than just fun for kids. Blanket fort building enhances children’s cognitive skills such as problem-solving and planning. Social skills such as cooperating and negotiating are needed and the building itself builds practical skills too.

Building Forts for fun

Children are free to let their imaginations run wild as they decide on their building plans and how to decorate inside. Once built, blanket forts create a cosy safe space to relax or play in. With lots of miserable days this summer, blanket forts have kept the girls amused quite a lot.

Another benefit is silence! The girls love their blanket forts so much they often disappear for an hour or so at a time. Izzy especially loves being able to snuggle up in a blanket fort for hours on end and is silent the entire time.

Do your kids love building forts too?

The Baby Detective Blog Tour

Book Reviews / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple
Baby Detective Blog Tour

I received The Baby Detective by Sarah Norris to review, a parenting book unlike many others I’ve read. This book doesn’t dictate what is the right or wrong way to care for your baby. Neither does it tell you which parenting style to go with, instead, it gently guides you through caring for your newborn.

The Baby Detective

The Baby Detective

Sarah Norris gently guides you through investigating what the problem is and why it is happening. With 25 years experience as a maternity nurse caring for hundreds of new mothers and families Sarah developed a new method. The unique AIM (Assess, Investigate, Modify) method to help parents solve the challenges any new parent may face.

Sarah Norris

A Unique Parenting Book

New parents can often feel confused and overwhelmed with unasked for advice, tips and tricks to care for their newborn. This book encourages parents to use their own tuition rather than telling them what to do. This book will give you the confidence to care for your new baby with confidence. Solving each challenge you face from sleeping, feeding, routines and winding.

Different Case Studies

Each case study is unique and as a parent of 2 daughters myself, I’ve faced most of these problems. Looking back at my own experience these problems sometimes took month to solve due to conflicting advice, especially with Eva. Sarah’s explanations of looking for clues as to what affects your baby is fantastic for new parents. I honestly wish I had a book like this to hand as a new parent. Everything a new parent will face with their newborn is covered. From environmental factors, biological states,temperamant and emotional response.

Record Keeping

Sarah explains how record keeping can help new parents keep track and solve problems. From feeds taken, winding times and issues, sleep patterns and issues, nappy changes, Sarah makes record keeping seem a breeze . She also goes on to explain whilethis can be reassuring it can also increase anxiety at times. If this happens she explains what to do in that situation. This kind of book would have been helpful when I had Eva. I became obsessed with weighing Eva weekly until she was over a year old. Because she was born at 4lb 14oz, then dropped to 4lb 4oz due to jaundice, I was constantly worrying. Record keeping can be useful, but it needs to be kept simple and not become obsessive as Sarah explains.

How To Be Your Own Baby Detective

Rather than tell you which problems may arise with a newborn Sarah explains situations she has faced with new families. With each challenge the parents face The Baby Detective explains how to assess the situation, investigate the problem and make modifications. This method can be applied to big and small problems even those minor day-to-day issues.

Planning

The Baby Detective covers planning ahead using AIM. This can be applied to family gatherings at home, medical appointments or treatments. It can also be applied to Social events away from home, foreign holidays and as baby develops. This in depth look at planning helps you plan aheadwith ease to suit you and your babies needs.

Winding Your Baby

An in depth look at winding, why your baby gets wind, anatomy of babies stomach will help you understand what is going on with your little one. This will fill a new parent with confidence instead of leaving them feeling clueless. With an extensive look at winding techniques that will help your baby you will quickly become a winding expert!

Useful Tools And Equipment

As a new parent all the baby products everywhere can be really overwhelming. You can feel really unsure what will actually be useful day to day and how to use them. Sarah looks at each tool and why you may need it, reasons it can be useful. She also explains how not to overuse items like pacifiers and tips for sensible use. Each item is fully broken down again, filling a new parent with confidence that they are doing the right thing to comfort and care for their newborn.

What Is Normal

As a new parent knowing what is normal for your baby can be very confusing and scary. Again Sarah gives an in-depth look at every part of a newborn. From skin colour, umbilical cord, eyes, arms, feet, noises and crying. The Baby Detective also looks at head shape, appetite, wind, hiccups, breathing and temperature, febrile convulsions and sleep. A look at birthmarks, urine, feaces and constipation, menstrual blood in baby girls and skin rashes will leave you confident in caring for your newborn.

Where and How To Get Help

As you face new challenges you may require support and have no idea where or how to get help. Sarah makes this easier for new parents by point5ing out exactly where to get the help you need and how. From other peoples opinions, hospital, community midwives, health visitors, GP’s, consultants, maternity nurses and support groups. Whatever help you need, Sarah Norris has compiled an extensive list to make finding help easy.

Emergency Action

We have all faced a newborn screaming, having a total meltdown whilst feeling overwhelmed and exhausted ourselves. Sarah offers some fantastically useful advice and suggestions for this situation. Sarah provides comforting ideas for your baby, an emergency routine to reset and calm a baby. These aren’t long term solutions but will help you get back on track and continue with the AIM method in desperate times.

Genuinely Helpful Parenting Book

Having read The baby Detective, I love Sarah Norris’ way of looking at caring for a newborn. I remember too well how stressful those first few months with Eva were. I never felt confident that what I was doing was right and everyone felt I should try their way. It’s very overwhelming and stressful but The Baby Detective would make that time much easier for any new parent. I genuinely couldn’t recommend this book more, it’s unlike any other parenting book I have read.

First Parents Evening This School Year – Feeling Proud

Family / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

The girls first parents evening for this school year came round quickly. I’ve missed several of Eva’s due to the school’s lack of organisation, cancelling then rebooking for the same time. It can be rather frustrating before you even get to the actual appointment. Luckily things have really improved this year and we attended last Tuesday.

First Parents Evening This School Year - Feeling Proud

Previous Parents Evenings

I love hearing how well Eva is doing and finding out any concerns we can resolve. My main worry is that the teachers miss far too much. I don’t feel the last few teachers have spent enough time around Eva to get to know her and how she is actually getting on. Her first teacher was amazing, she had Eva figured out instantly, worked out issues we could work on together and I couldn’t have been happier. Ever since then it hasn’t felt the same at all.

Frustrating

Eva’s last school report mentioned she needed to find an author she loves which infuriated me as at the time she had re-read ALL of the Harry Potter series 4/5 times and loves any J.K.Rowlings book she has discovered so far. For her teacher to have missed this huge obsession of hers was a shock to me.

The report also said she needed to read a variety of books, anyone who has read our blog for some time will have seen several of Eva’s book reviews. She literally reads anything and everything! She’s even bugged her dad to help her find more material and ended up reading a few of his old Commando comics. We visit the library almost every week and the girls quite often reach their 14 books limit. She is known as a bookworm yet somehow her teacher missed that for an entire year!?

Improvements

I’m glad the school has finally organised a better booking system for parents evening as it meant I can book both appointments closer together. As I don’t do the school runs, I try to make a point of attending parents evening myself.

Big girls off to school!

Eva’s Parents Evening 

Eva’s appointment was first, we met with her teacher in her classroom and we looked at Eva’s report so far. I have to say I felt immensely proud to see Eva is working above expectations. Her teacher had such lovely things to say about Eva, how clever, happy and kind she is. I had to breathe deep not to cry in all honesty!

Her teacher admitted at first they missed how well Eva was doing but moving her seat helped and she’s doing fantastic. To hear she writes amazing stories at school too was lovely. I left that classroom beaming with pride! Eva’s teacher seems perfect for her this year and I am so pleased she is getting the praise and encouragement she deserves in school as well as at home. 

First Parents Evening For Izzy

I have to admit I was nervous about Izzy’s parents evening. Having not been to nursery, I was unsure how she had adapted to school life. Whilst she was a little emotional in class to start, Izzy has grown much more confident and really enjoying school. We told her teacher about My Mood Stars and sent them in the next day for the class to use. I explained I hadn’t sent Izzy to a nursery which her teacher hadn’t realised. We discussed how instead we learnt through play at home. Her teacher seemed quite pleased with her progresss far although her full observation wasn’t due until this week.

Izzy showing Happy Stars

Due to being born with tongue tie we discussed her speech issues and the school feel she will improve with some sessions which is great! To hear she has a best friend already was lovely but to hear her friend has cerebral palsy and Izzy is extremely caring and helpful with her is absolutely beautiful! Izzy has such a caring, motherly nature that it doesn’t surprise me but makes me so proud of her.

Feeling Proud

I can’t really explain just how proud I feel of my girls, they are beautiful inside and out. Their teachers this year are both fantastic and I love that they have got to know the girls well already. The fact a teacher has finally realised Eva’s abilities is brilliant and I can see why Eva’s confidence has been boosted these last few months. Even if it has come with a little attitude at home, haha! 

Have you had your first parents evening yet this year? How did you child/ren get on?

Izzy’s First Term At School

Family / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple
Izzy's first term at school

Izzy’s first term at school went surprisingly well. I was a little nervous for her to be honest but after running straight off to the paint table on the first day, I knew she’d settle ok. She goes into class happily each day and comes running out at home time happy. Starting reception has gone fairly well!

First Term

Izzy’s First Term – Toilet Training

As some of my regular readers may remember, Izzy started toilet training a few weeks before starting school. I am extremely thankful she’s managed a whole term with only one small accident at school. I expected a fair few more accidents! Izzy is confident using toilets anywhere, she can change herself if she does have an accident too which I am really pleased about. 

Pranking Teachers

Anyone that has met Izzy will know she is a joker! She loves to make people laugh and has a fantastic sense of humour. Izzy made this clear to her teachers from day one. For the first week or so children wear name badges to help teachers learn their names. Izzy is of course Isobella, so we reminded her this is what was on her name badge. Obviously Izzy’s mischievous brain decided that was a great way to prank her teachers. 

Several teachers spent a while calling Isobella, she acted oblivious. A learning support aid sat with her for a while and asked if her hearing was ok. She told Izzy teachers kept calling her but she wasn’t responding. Her reply? ‘I can hear them fine but I prefer Izzy!’. So of course the LSA suggested changing her name label to Izzy but she refused, leaving teachers confused all day! 

When the Mr collected her at the end of the first day he asked for Isobella, the teacher laughed and asked if he meant Izzy and explained what had happened. Izzy came bouncing out laughing her head off as she had pranked her teachers on the first day of school!!!

Making Friends

As anyone with a 4/5 year old in reception will know, you never hear the full story! Izzy says she has no friends yet according to the Mr comes out chatting to other children daily.

Eva was meeting Izzy at the dividing fence between upper and lower school for the first few weeks. Unfortunately, this led to Izzy getting upset each time Eva went back to class. I was also worried this may make it harder for Izzy to make friends at break time. The girls weren’t too happy about it but I encouraged them to play with their friends and catch up on the way home from school instead. 

Lunch Times

Izzy has a mix of packed lunches and school dinners across the week. She gets on well with her school dinners but I’m finding packed lunches can be tricky for her. She struggles to open her drink and some packets so occasionally she has come home with half her lunch & drink untouched. We have been using half term to teach her to do these things properly so hopefully next term there won’t be any issue.

Getting Ready

The idea of getting both girls ready each morning filled me with dread to be honest. Eva isn’t one for just getting on and doing what’s needed, she needs constant reminders which can be stressful! Thankfully Izzy is ready in under 5 minutes and can mostly dress herself, put on her shoes etc. This makes mornings easier than I had imagined, now I’m only left chasing one child around.

A Great Start

Overall, Izzy has had a great start in reception. She likes her teacher, loves the sandpit, paint table & play dough (nothing new there!) and seems to be getting on ok. She has moments where she say she doesn’t like school, but that’s more because she’d rather snuggle up with a film and mummy! 

How did your little ones get on in their first term?

Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 & Multivitamins

Parenting / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple
Basserrs Vitamins Omega-3 & Multivitamins

Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 + Multivitamins Orange Flavour Pastilles for 3-6 years come in a juicy orange flavour. We were kindly sent some samples to see what we thought about the multivitamins.


Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 + Multivitamins Orange Flavour Pastilles
These Bassetts Vitamins are tasty, soft and chewy multivitamins. With no added sugar, natural flavours & colours, Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 + Multivitamins Orange Flavour Pastilles contain some of the necessary nutrients to help support the health of three to six year olds.


Giving Your Child A Smart Start


With children starting nursery or school around these ages it gives you peace of mind knowing your child is getting some of the essential vitamins each day. Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 + Multivitamins Orange Flavour Pastilles contain Vitamin B6 to support normal psychological function and Vitamin B5 which contributes to mental performance to support a smart way to start the day.

Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 % Multivitamins

Izzy’s Thoughts

Izzy thought the chewy multivitamin was juicy and delicious! She said it reminded her of trying the juiciest orange she ever had. She thought it was so juicy she could just squeeze all the juice out of it to make orange juice and drew this picture of the ‘juiciest orange ever!’. It’s definitely a thumbs up from Izzy.

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*Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a healthy and balanced diet