Mom Hacks For Surviving The Winter Blues

It’s nice to have the routine back and settle in for those dark evenings, I love the Autum the wooly jumper seasons.  Iam definitely a sun baby and I can’t stand the damp and rain that sticks in your bones during the winter. That being said there is something about this time of year and the crisp fresh air, the colours change from bright and light to oranges and golds that reflect some of the most bed sunsets you will ever experience. I love nothing more than “fire lighting, warm stew, cosy blankets and good book kind of weather!

When the kids are small it doesn’t always feel that inviting and also when you have older kids whose hobbies include taunting each other (it’s how teenagers show affection especially boys come to think of it a lot of men do that also?!maybe it's how males show affection actually) when in close proximity for more then the allowed 20 minutes.

Indoor activities:

Are a god send during this time of year. If your family is the "type" of family that can enjoy a good board game or card game now is the time to stock up, I always add a board game each and a deck of cards to the boy’s Christmas list, Tip*They can be good for a child that struggles to talk about stuff or hates being “questioned”  it can get them to open up while ye play together, card games are perfect for that one on one time together at any age, from Snap and old maid to Crazy eights (my father use to date a women when I was a child, who every time I would visit this is what she would do with me and many years later I still remember our talks and how easy she made that transition for me and I carried it over with my children).

For the littles I recommend getting in the arts and crafts supplies, wrapping up warm and getting out on a nature hunt we always had some kind of nature corner in our home when they were little, I still have a small plate in my hallway now and they still add to it if they find little bits while out and about, it melts my heart when I notice them.

Pinterest is also a full of amazing craft ideas if you don’t already use this app I can’t recommend it enough it is my go to search engine. I've compiled a board filled with activities to help keep your little ones engaged and entertained.

Think Greens and Oranges?!!

They say "an apple a day" but they really mean an orange… This is the time to fuel your body with all the goodness, increase your family's fresh fruits and veg intake for your vitamins and minerals. Plenty of healthy fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Other suggestions I would encourage, is to start to include the following items in your cooking daily as they help build the body's immunity and have numerous other health benefits Turmeric, Ginger, Honey, Lemons, Black Pepper, Mint, Cayenne Pepper and Olive Oil (I’ll go into the oils individually and their benefits again, but Ladies ditch the expensive creams and lotions and buy yourself these 3 oils Olive, Coconut and Caster and your skin will thank you later, you use them in any way you can think of literally.) I keep these food items in my house all year round. But they are a must in flu seasons. If I even hear a sniffle I make a stew and hide the goodness inside, pour a warm lemon and honey drink with a sprinkle of black pepper “Hold your nose and down it goes”  I also stock up on some turmeric and ginger herbal tea, a spoon of honey(honey shouldn't be given to babies under a year old due to their inability to break it down) to sweeten and soothe sore throats and sinus congestion.

Take care of you!

Between sick children, school runs, after school activities, play dates, homework battles, the usual daily tasks, and what ever else life is throwing at you in this moment. No doubt you will have caught and struggled on through what ever little bugs and viruses our little germ carries brought home, it can really take its toll on us Moms. That's on top of the fast-approaching "holiday season worries" so try to take some time for yourself, our mood can suffer without the endorphins the sunshine brings and that is why we get the “winter blues” in the first place, find whatever makes your soul happy something that is just “for you” and do it every chance you get. The gym is one of mine and one of the reasons I love the back to school routine because it frees up my mornings again so I can workout, I crave it like you would your favourite thing, the feeling I get listening to good music, breaking a sweat and trying to walk but it’s more of  a crawl after a good leg day is what made me want to become a personal trainer, to be able to help other people feel the way I did.
A bath late in the evening when the children are in bed with some music( if you haven’t already noticed my real lifesaver is music if you've never had a solo dance party in your underwear in the bathroom or in the kitchen in a T-shirt cooking dinner your seriously missing out in life. Or maybe I've been on my own too long?! )  this one -candles and bubbles included, has been my escape and comfort since my babies were babies and I couldn’t leave the house after I’d tucked them in for the night. Find your thing Mama you will need it more now then ever. We often forget about ourselves until we hit a wall and by then we are to down to pick ourselves back up, children or life never say "oh wait mums having a bad day let’s stop for a while", we gotta learn to do it for ourselves. "You can't pour from an empty cup" but it's even harder to pour from a broken one. 

Make Friendships

Especially Moms who have  children who are similar ages to yours. When your home all day and night with very young children it can be lonely, draining and exhausting and who better to understand then someone going through it.  It gives us someone to share outings with to soft plays, playgrounds or walks to feed the ducks, (getting outside in the fresh air is still important and can really help if baby isn't settling well especially for their daily naps), someone to organise play dates with in each others houses while ye catch up over a cuppa, the children will entertain each other, I was unfortunately never a “playgroup” mum, my social skills leave a lot to be desired. I struggle immensely with social anxiety always have and I also struggled with “people pleasing” so I've become quite the introvert, it is something only time and lessons learned could fix , So believe me when I say I understand that making friends as an adult and especially a new mom can be daunting, but if you are willing to step outside your comfortzone or already are a social person (not only do I admire you hugely but I have questions?! How do you do it?!). A good place to start looking for these kind of groups is your local community centre or leisure centres, even the pharmacies and local health centres tend to advertisement for events in your area and it’s a great place to start. If like me that sends a flash of fear through you our forum page might be a good place to meet likeminded mums or form new friendships. 

The winter can be daunting but with the right tools and a good blog to read (self promoting much) with a hot cuppa in front of the fire, we can use these cosy cold dark evenings to create a time for family traditions, bonding and making memories that will last a lifetime.

 
**** these hacks and tips are only suggestions and from personal experience with my own family. Please tailor to your own family and their specific needs and dietary requirements these are just guidelines, I would never offer individual nutritional advice without knowing an individual's dietary needs  please do not take this blog as that.