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You are here: Home / MOTHERHOOD / Kids / So, that was Christmas

So, that was Christmas

January 2, 2013 by Molly 12 Comments

Nearly two weeks ago I made a decision to relish every second of the holidays and not spend any time at all in front of my computer. For that reason, I missed the blogging boat with posts about Christmas Day and New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I’m capturing it all here, because it was too special not to save.

Last year was a tough one. Long working hours, not enough family time and barely any holiday, family loss, high stress levels and a distinct lack of sleep, all made it less than perfect. But I smell new beginnings, big change and some exciting plans in 2013. All made concrete by an amazing ten days together as a family, with time to talk and realise that we actually rather like each other.

On the first morning of the holidays – Christmas Eve – we took our toddler to a routine hospital appointment for her hypermobile joints and she was given her first “Christmas present”; a pair of special insoles for her new “grown-up shoes”. She was thrilled. I considered telling Father Christmas to eBay the rest of her gifts, but thought he might not approve.

We followed up the riveting hospital visit with an afternoon making magic reindeer food (the glitter helps Rudolph fly, apparently)…

Making Reindeer Food

And writing very important letters to let a certain person know he was to help himself to a homemade mince pie and a sip of Amaretto (he’s gone off Port), but that the carrot was for his reindeer.

Father Christmas' letter

This is the first year Frog has really “got” Christmas. She was completely absorbed with her letter writing and reindeer food preparations. The excitement rubbed off, so that by the time she was fast asleep in bed I was as wired as I used to be when I was little. I now understand why my mum and dad used to love Christmas so much.

Christmas Eve ended with a special tea (prawn starter for Frog, with fishfingers to follow and, later, a steak for her mum and dad, washed down with champagne). We like food.

Toddler eating prawns

Then the big man arrived and sorted the gifts. I didn’t realise he’d got quite so many until I saw them all wrapped up together, under the tree.

Father Christmas feet

Christmas presents under the treeChristmas Day passed with present opening and playing, eating and drinking, a crisp country walk (with a new umbrella) and a bit more eating and drinking.

Christmas DayIt was an eye-opening day, with no tantrums or tears, just lots of laughter. It’s a funny thing, holidays. The (self-proclaimed) Northern Love Machine and I had no idea just how stressed and exhausted we’d both been until we stopped.

Shutting the door on the world and just spending time together, the three of us, we realised things have to change this year. Frog spent every day of the holidays – starting with Christmas Day – asking if it was “still the weekend?”. Turns out our two year old is more perceptive than we thought and relishes weekend time with us just as much as we do. She couldn’t believe it when, time and time again, we assured her that yes, it’s still the weekend.

Boxing Day was spent playing with new toys and reading books, baking and turning leftovers into freezer fodder, before a mammoth six days away. We went up north to see the NLM’s side of the family and to Devon, to see mine. Lots of driving but – again – not one tantrum from our diva child. As soon as she heard it’s “still the weekend” any sign of moodiness vanished.

Time with extended family saw cuddles with a gorgeous new addition, a delicious meal out, cousins playing together, more presents, wine, a night out at the pub, walks in woods and on beaches and a 1am toddler dancing show in front of Jools Holland (the one and only time she’s ever been allowed to get up and hang out with the adults post-bedtime, except for when she’s been poorly).

Woods

Rock pool

Sandcastles on New Year's DayFriendsFamily midnightSo that was the holidays. And now they’re over. 2013 is going to be a big year for us. Lots of changes we hope plus putting some exciting plans into action.

And how is my toddler feeling about the return to routine and non-weekend time? Oh, she’s totally fine about it. Honest.

Grumpy toddler

***

By the way – something odd happened to my subscriber list last year (I love how last week is now last year) so if you’ve subscribed via email before you may need to resubmit your email address to continue getting posts in your inbox. Sorry about that.

 

Filed Under: Kids, MOTHERHOOD Tagged With: change, Christmas, eating, family, New Year's, plans, time together

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Comments

  1. Sarahmumof3 says

    January 3, 2013 at 11:38 pm

    aww what lovely photos, sounds like you had a much needed relaxing time over Christmas, I hope that 2013 brings about the changes you want x

    Reply
    • Molly says

      January 4, 2013 at 8:58 pm

      It was a lovely holiday. Great to get some perspective and time away from a computer screen! x

      Reply
  2. jane @ northermum says

    January 3, 2013 at 8:55 pm

    She was merely grumpy as.mummy Jane didn’t rock up….

    Reply
    • Molly says

      January 3, 2013 at 9:17 pm

      Yep. This is true. Treacherous child.

      Reply
  3. Ms Xpat (@MsXpat) says

    January 3, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    Certainly looks like a you all had a lovely magical time. Happy New Year.

    Reply
    • Molly says

      January 3, 2013 at 9:18 pm

      Happy New Year! x

      Reply
  4. Alison @ Not another mummy blog says

    January 3, 2013 at 8:38 pm

    Fantastic post. I love how you captured your Christmas (and I LOVE the footprints that Santa made). Your family looks ace x

    Reply
    • Molly says

      January 3, 2013 at 9:18 pm

      Those footprints were genius – an idea from my friend. Shake ‘n’ Vac with a stencil. x

      Reply
  5. Circus Queen says

    January 3, 2013 at 2:28 am

    What a lovely time! The reindeer feed is a great idea! I know what you mean about really getting into Christmas for our children. We went to see Santa’s reindeer at Bristol Zoo and then again at the Eden Project. Talitha didn’t quite “get” Christmas but she’s got the opening presents thing down for sure! Wishing you balance and beauty for the New Year. xx

    Reply
    • Molly says

      January 3, 2013 at 8:25 pm

      It really was a lovely time – and the reindeer at Bristol Zoo sound brilliant! x

      Reply
  6. Brinabird says

    January 2, 2013 at 10:47 pm

    It’s always great the quality family time! We had a very quiet Christmas just the three of us and it was awesome not having to worry about anyone else but ourselves! I hope 2013 is a good one for you.

    Reply
    • Molly says

      January 3, 2013 at 8:25 pm

      Sounds like the perfect Christmas to me. x

      Reply

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Hello and welcome! I'm Molly Forbes - podcaster, presenter and blogger with a passion for positivity, confidence and body image chat. Regularly writing and vlogging about empowering female issues from a motherhood angle, I also cover lifestyle and fashion topics for like-minded mums who want to rediscover themselves after having children. Thanks for stopping by! Read More…

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Trying this thing where I live in the moment, cele Trying this thing where I live in the moment, celebrate my wins and stop focusing so much on my fails. I’ll let you know how it goes 😬✨🤞
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[Image description: Molly in the bath with pink water, holding a glass of prosecco. She has her eyes closed and is smiling.]
The self-isolation ends today so I’m planning a The self-isolation ends today so I’m planning a hike this weekend with my favourites. I don’t even care if it pours with rain, everyone is grumpy and I can’t open the thermos cos my husband’s screwed the lid on too tight. 
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I’ve missed the outside and it’s only been for two weeks, which feels pathetic to admit given that so many people are trapped at home perpetually, either through lack of accessibility, having to shield, or having little or no support for chronic health conditions or mental illness. 
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I’m so aware of how privileged I am to be able to go outside and stand under the sky on top of a big hill this weekend. I won’t forget it, or lose sight of that, for a minute. ✨
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[Image description: Molly and her two daughters, age 6 and 10, stand on a hiking trail with a valley behind them. They all wear outdoor hiking clothes - boots, jogging bottoms and jumpers - have their arms in the air and are smiling.]
Hey! Are you a teacher in a school with dwindling Hey! Are you a teacher in a school with dwindling budgets? Or maybe you run a kids’ club or youth group that relies on donations to keep going? Then I’m looking at 💥YOU💥
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On Tuesday November 3rd I’ll be hosting a ✨FREE✨ Body Happy Kids workshop at 2pm. There are 10 places up for grabs and you can apply via the link in my bio. These places are reserved for those that can’t afford the regular sessions (which cost £25 a place / £125 a group).
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It’s a one hour, evidence-based interactive workshop giving an introduction to body image and children, how it intersects with well-being, safeguarding and attainment and what you can do to make your setting a “body happy” one to give kids the best chance to thrive. 
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You also get a free course notes booklet, activity pack and attendance certificate for CPD journal purposes too ⚡️
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So far this workshop’s been delivered to over 150 teachers, lecturers and youth workers both in the UK and further afield, since it launched back in June.
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If you do have the budget then you can book onto one of our paid sessions now via the Workshop link in my bio. (Shout out to the brilliant team helping to deliver these sessions @effinitupfaye @amysnellingpt @bodyconfidencecards & @lottie_storey !) 
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Hopefully one day we’ll be able to deliver these in person, but for now they’re all taking place on Zoom.
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Tag someone you think could benefit from the opportunity, or let your kids’ school know! (PS there’s a downloadable info doc on the website you can send them for more info 👀) SWIPE ➡️ for testimonials 💕 #BodyHappyKids 
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[Image description: A yellow slide with pink and blue patterns and the logo spelling “Body Happy Kids workshops”]
It’s been a crap day - for no reason other than It’s been a crap day - for no reason other than I’ve hit a wall after 11 days of self-isolation. (Sharing this with the caveat that I know I’m hugely privileged and many others have it far worse, but toxic positivity is a thing and I think it’s important to share the less-than-shiny stuff too, particularly on an app that can trick us into thinking everyone else is living their best life every day.)
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Today I woke up feeling numb. Literally nothing. I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed. I just lay there looking at the ceiling trying to ignore the daylight outside. Until a huge bolt of anxiety hit and stayed in my stomach all day. Usually I’d go for a walk, or a swim, or just have a chat with a pal on the school run, but that’s obviously not possible right now. 
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This year I’ve invested a huge amount of time, brain space and emotional energy into a piece of work that recently finished. I expected to feel relief when it was done but instead I feel... weird? Like, a bit bereft, lost, anxious. A bit out of sorts, and not sure what to do with myself. 
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I’ve got zero motivation to start the next big work thing on my list but also finding it super hard to just sit still and give myself some time and space. Plus, self-isolation 😬.
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So instead of trying to go all jolly jazz hands and force myself into denying the funk, I’ve decided to sit in it for a bit. Feel the feels, as they say. Allow myself to be grumpy, irritated, anxious and a bit sad and lonely. 
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It’s ok not to be happy all the time. It’s ok to feel the messy stuff. Solidarity if you’re feeling it too. ❤️ #MentalHealthMatters 
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[Image description: A photo of Molly in her kitchen, her face covered by messy hair, holding a mug. Her daughters play in the background and there’s an unemptied food bin on the kitchen counter. She is not smiling.]
(REPOST: I’m reposting this with just the body-s (REPOST: I’m reposting this with just the body-shaming tweet and without the paparazzi photo of Billie Eilish that accompanied it. Someone rightly pointed out that everyone sharing the photo doesn’t help Billie and on reflection I agree - it just gives more power to the person who took her photo without her permission.)
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That said, I stand by the sentiment of my original post. Ain’t nothing wrong with a “mid-30s wine mom body”, or any body for that matter. #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #BodyHappyMum 
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Thanks to @alexlight_ldn for originally highlighting the absurdity of the original body shaming tweet (written, by the way, by a 29 year old man hiding behind a faceless avatar, which says it all I think). 
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[Image description: A graphic showing a tweet which reads “In 10 months Billie Eilish has developed a mid-30s wine mom body. Next to it is a photo of Molly in underwear with the caption “I’m 37, a mum and drink wine. Here’s my glorious body!”]
Self-isolation uniform as standard ✨ (PS She’l Self-isolation uniform as standard ✨ (PS She’ll always be my baby. May she always know how lovely she is 💕)
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[Image description: A photo of Molly sitting on her sofa with her 10 year old daughter. Molly is wearing pyjama bottoms and a sweatshirt saying “Good Enough”. Her daughter is wearing leggings and T’shirt. They are both smiling.]
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