Ya Gotta Giggle..

Well my trickster of a son cracked me up again this afternoon I still smile when I think about it! As I sat doing homework with my two older kids. My son who is in Junior Infants has just started homework and is doing his letter sounds also known as ‘Jolly Phonics’. To our great surprise he has really taken to doing his homework and was asking for more work to do, so I came up with the bright idea of doing some word exercises with him . I wrote down a list of words that he could sound out
and try to read. Now these were simple basic words nothing too challenging it was just to encourage him after all. So off he went sat, mat, pig….bar, far and yes then came fart (yes I did write it on the list he was not reading it wrong!). The look on his face was priceless, he was utterly amazed that for one his mammy wrote the word fart and another he could read the word fart! and then the giggles, laughter and huge smiles started and carried on for ages. It really is the little things in life that make it all worth while.The fun we had this afternoon with the word fart, it is a memory that will stay with me forever. Both he and I got such a laugh out of one simple ‘bad’ word...boys eh! ya gotta giggle….

Getting started - Who am I, in one paragraph?                                                        

I have to confess I always read the ‘About me’ sections when I come across an interesting blog and

yes I would usually form an opinion about how a blogger would write this section. Now I find myself having to write one about myself - how do I summarise who I am and what I am about in like a paragraph and sound interesting and impressive? You know when I decided to write this blog I had like a hundred ideas going around in my head about what I could write about and what I could feature in MY blog!! I knew or thought I knew what it was all about…. that was until I sat down to write the about me section!

After some mulling about and writing some things down and then rewriting some more things down I realised that sometimes like in life you just got to get on with it, do what you can and maybe come back to it later - if you get time that is!!

So I typed up my about me section as it came to me, no writing it down by hand first and no trying to find the best words to make me sound like I know what I am talking about. I am not a writer nor a journalist and lets face it I am no english scholar either. So I write it as I see it and attempt to neither insult nor exclude anyone. This blog is about me and my crazy, chaotic but fabulous life. This blog is about my journey through not just the challenges and struggles but also my journey through the good times and the fun times. This is my journey of how I juggle being mammy and being me. Now I just have to get on with it……

Cuddle Time!!  

Do we cuddle our kids enough?

I heard this very interesting conversation today about cuddles and kids and it made me think -  'Do I have enough cuddle time with my kids?' Am I showing them a good example of what a cuddle is and encouraging them in turn to enjoy and participate in cuddle time?

The answer is - I have no idea!!

By definition ''Cuddling is one of the best means of physical affection; it garners closeness, shows affection, and increases happiness. Cuddling releases a hormone which reduces stress and anxiety, meaning that it increases your mental well being as well'  WikiHow.

Looking back at my own childhood and my husband's childhood I feel we both grew up in although different families neither of us were deprived or overloaded with affection or cuddles. We both knew we were loved, wanted and cared for. However neither of us grew up with a lot of hugs, kisses and cuddles. I think it is a reflection of Ireland and family life at the time. We were a nation of minimum affection, don't talk about it and sure you'll be grand!

Thankfully times have changed and we are a lot more affectionate and open with our feelings especially with our kids. So I say with great certainty that I am affectionate with my kids, I tell them I love them regularly and give them hugs on a daily basis. However what about the issue of cuddles? There is a significance difference between a cuddle and a hug. I think of a hug is a short brief action of affection, you could give a hug to a family member or a friend. A cuddle on the other hand is more like a 'hug on steroids'. A cuddle goes much deeper and lasts a lot longer than a hug. Cuddles with your children are reassuring and relaxing. They build bonds and deep connections. They are a non-verbal way of showing you children that you love them, they are important and you just want to be with them. I think to have a proper cuddle you must sit or lie with your children and engage in the moment or cuddle. It needs to happen over a period of time otherwise you fall back in to the quick and brief hug category.

So do I cuddle my children enough? Yes and No...There are times when we have great cuddles and spent the time during the cuddle engaging on a deeper level with each other. We have what my kids refer to as 'family cuddle time' where we all have a big cuddle and shake each other about. On reflection this is more of a giant group hug but I would  not change it for the world. Hugs are important and I actively encourage them in our home.  However on reflection I think I don't spend enough time on a daily basis actually cuddling my children.

Now I could look at my daily life and analyse why I don't cuddle enough with my kids and beat myself up about it but you know whats the point? It comes down to the same old thing - not enough time to do everything and juggling 999 things at one time. So moving on from why not to how to and I think for me I need to prioritise cuddles and make them something so natural in our home that I don't have to prioritise and make an effort to have cuddles with my kids any more.    

My resolution -  cuddle more, do less!

I plan to bring more cuddles in to time spent doing activities like story time, watching TV and having a chat about their day.

I will let you know how I go....

                                                       

  

                                              

So True...