My Parenting Secrets

There's an elephant in the room when it typically comes to groups of parents getting together. I'm talking about the competitiveness. The one-up-manship. The judgement. 

I like to think that my closest friends and I don't participate in this, however I will hold my hands up and say that inwardly I have judged parents who I am not that close to. When my friend's daughter didn't walk until nearly two and mine started at nine months, I can honestly say that not once did I think how much better mine was over hers, we constantly reassured her that she was just into different things and I know I was quietly concerned, not smug.

Unfortunately, not everyone is like this and a relative recently confided that her best friend regularly makes digs about how her daughter still sleeps in their room at nineteen months. While that's not for me and yes, I'll admit, it's not conventional, I'd certainly never say it to her face and make her feel as if she were in the wrong. Nobody's at harm, right?

So, with this in mind I'd like to step forward and offer up ten of my parenting secrets that either make me a really bad or a really good mum, depending in where you stand!

1. My toddler's rarely allowed juice. Only on special occasions and only then with food. It's water or milk in our house.

2. I prefer my children to not have too many character or branded items of clothing. I prefer plain, neutral or non-labelled items, too many cartoon characters in my opinion is tacky. The same goes for toys and books too. I much prefer to encourage my children to embrace and use their imagination, create their own characters or when reading a book, imagine what that character might've looked like without television or film dictating it already. Typically, I don't buy such items myself, but leave it to family and friends as it's easier to tell people what they like by listing characters and films

3. I let my toddler eat some meals on the sofa and she often eats at a separate time from us. And all with the television on...

4. Toddler only wears her pyjamas all day if she is ill. The baby rarely leaves the house in his sleep suit.

5. I have absolutely no issues telling your child off along with mine if I see them fighting.

6. Sometimes I let my toddler watch cartoons on my iPad in bed so I can eat my dinner in peace.

7. I'm a cuddler, I cuddled my eldest to sleep until she was over a year and I'm doing the same with my youngest. I don't think it does any harm for your children to know you love them. 

8. My toddler regularly sneaks into my bed at night and snuggles with us. I'm okay with this. Most of the time. Sometimes baby joins us too. Four in the bed and the little one said...

9. If the baby drops his dummy on the floor (indoors) I pop it in my mouth and then give it back. 

10. Until recently my toddler still had a dummy at night. She still has a bottle at bed. She's three.

So there, I've revealed what I think puts me in last place in the mummy race...but yknow what? My children are clean, healthy and happy. So what if my toddler can name all ten Disney Princesses but forgets to take her knickers off at the toilet sometimes? And so what if my baby laundry is constantly piled high because I dress him so much? We function well.

Would anyone like to share their 'parenting secret'?

Clare

P.S. I swaddle my baby too...and he loves it!

Gigging Outfit on a Budget

With Autumn now approaching and my body being a baby-free zone once more, my thoughts have turned to the colder months ahead and the plans that the husband and I have; we've got tickets to a few concerts coming up and I am looking through my clothes thinking 'its time'. You see, I don't buy clothes often. In fact, for me to buy myself anything is pretty unusual...I'm not a martyr, I just don't buy unless I need; this can have it's downsides as I often wear things to death.

It's not that I don't enjoy shopping, I love shopping and I love spending money, it's the guilt that sets in after...the 'I should've put that towards xyz for Moo'.

But I've just had a baby, I'm feeling un-body-confident again (in pregnancy I tend to embrace the bump but outside of it, I'm quite self-conscious) and I think that it's high time I bought myself a few basics to update for this A/W. So I started shopping...and I only got as far as H&M...

What can I say about this season other than...damn. It's beautiful. Women's and children's wear had me salivating so I've thrown together this little number which I think is suitable for travelling and gigging...

Super-stretch treggings £12.99

Crinkle scarf £4.99

Oversized top £6.99

Loafers £14.99

Bag £19.99

Braided belt £1.99

iPhone case £3.99

Lip pencil £2.99

Nail polish £2.99

If I were to buy this entire outfit (little accessory and cosmetic treats included) it'd cost me £71.91. How often can you say that you can buy an entire look for under £75? Not too often. Oh, and yes...I know treggings don't actually require a belt, but it's cute and you can always sling it around your hips for a bit of texture!

And because I'm not 100% selfish (and my children are equally as rock and roll as I am), here's a couple of on-trend children's looks suitable for rocking...or playing, yknow...whichever they prefer (in Bear's case, sleeping and looking cute).

Denim jacket £14.99

Dress £7.99

Ballet pumps £5.99

Leggings £3.99

Bows £1.99

Chinos £5.99

Shirt £5.99

I'm loving Autumnal fashion at the moment, how about you?

Clare

Please note this is not a sponsored post but something I stumbled upon independently whilst shopping. All images belong to H&M United Kingdom.