Grateful for Growing Up

growing up strong

I've read somewhere in my eight years of parenting that there are magical ages in the growing up spectrum. Eight is one of them. And on the eve of my eldest turning this magical age I can reflect on just how much Junior has grown. They say eight is the age where children learn empathy and understand compassion. I believe this to be true, I have watched my boy grow into a loving and energetic boy who has sensitive, contemplative moments.

The second magic age is four. And my second boy will be turning this magical age in November. And whilst he is not quite there yet, I am seeing glimpses of compliance and cooperation amongst his desire to assert his will 24 - 7.

With both my boys being out of baby and toddler hood, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love for this new phase of our life in living and learning and growing together as children. 

Strangely, I also feel that I have somewhat grown up this week too. A certain sense of clarity and direction and purpose has poured out of me. 

This week I am grateful for growing up - individually and together as a family.

Happy Days
Nicola

This is the first grateful linky post for Nurture the Little People. Pop on over to Maxabella Loves and see what others are grateful for this week!

Friday Night - Movie Night!

popcorn, movies = family togetherness

When I was growing up, we often had a Friday Night family game night. We'd all sit around the dinner table and play Monopoly or Scrabble or Uno. Music would play on the record player and we'd enjoy treats like chocolate or crisps as we spent quality time together as a family.

Jump ahead 25 or more years later and I have developed my own family togetherness ritual - Friday Night Movie Night. This entails an evening of early easy dinner and baths, everyone in their jarmies and a classic family movie to watch together.

Tonight we are making homemade pizzas and watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the original with Gene Wilder). Our movie treats include popcorn, icecream spiders and chocolate dipped strawberries for desert.

I look forward to our Friday night ritual, especially in winter. It is a great way for us all to connect and wind down together after a busy week of school and work, preparing us for the weekend ahead.

Do you have a weekly family ritual that gets you enjoying quality time together?

Happy Days

Nicola

Nurture the Little People

carefree and fun, feeling nurtured

Hello and welcome to Nurture the Little People! 

On this blog you will find useful information to support you in your journey as parents and caregivers. My goal is to share with you my experience and what has worked for me. And to provide you with a valuable resource when all else fails. 

I believe that it is our role as parents, to provide the most nurturing and supportive environment for children so that they grow up to be resilient, feel loved and worthy and are confident in reaching their full potential.

My posts will be based around six main themes:

Touch - integrating massage and healing into your child's life as a way of bonding and expressing love

Fuel - food glorious food - what you eat and what you child eats is the most fundamental way to nurturing our bodies

Play - sharing ideas and exploring new ways to play imaginatively and with nature

Read - we love books and will share with you our favourites and new finds and essential reads for the parenting journey

Create - craft based fun, using mostly recycled and repurposed goods 

Big People - adults need nurturing too! Explore ways to give yourself the time to re-energise so you can Nurture the Little People in your life.

You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back.  ~William D. Tammeus

I look forward to connecting with you in the future!

Nicola