Letter to my kids

Every so often I send a letter to my kids saying how much I love them and how glad I am that they are a part of our family. I leave it under their pillow or stick it on their bedroom door. Sometimes it is just a post-it-note. They are always so happy to receive one.

Carmen 36

Watch your child sleep

Watch your child sleeping. It seems simple enough but you would be amazed how many of my friends don't do it. Take a look - they are just gorgeous, and so peaceful.

Fifi 24

Hold my hand

My 9 year old son is always trying to grab my hand when we are walking. I am often walking in a frantic pace trying to get somewhere and forget how important it is to him to hold my hand. When I do, the look on his face is wonderful.

Jonathon 31

Kids' art

I don't know about you, but we have endless amounts of kids' art from kindy to early primary school all vying for a spot on the fridge. We decided to have an 'Artist of the week' whereby a piece of art from one person was displayed on the fridge for a week. The following week would be the next child's turn, and so on. It was amazing how, as young as the kids were, they were fine with their art not being displayed if it wasn't their week, and how they noticed and appreciated the other child's work.

Sue 49

Sick of ending up with 10 or more cups

I was sick of ending up with 10 or more cups in the sink or in the dishwasher that has only been used once for water. We decided to give each child their own cup (you can buy cheap clear plastic ones at most supermarkets) and had them decorate it with a picture and write their name on it. Now after they use their cups they are quick to rinse them out and put them on the dish rack ready to use the next time. Gone are the days of washing a thousand cups!

Harry 40

Getting together with family and friends

When getting together with family and friends for meals the same routine seems to unfold every time. After eating the kids disappear to watch a video or play the Playstation while the parents sit around chatting. I really wanted us to spend more time together even if only for a short time. So now we invite everyone to present an item, for instance, a musical recital, a drama piece (e.g. charades) or read a piece of poetry or excerpt from a book. You will be surprised that even the shyest of children enjoy doing this. Everyone just loves it.

Penny 40

Pillows with Fabric Paints

My kids have all decorated their pillows with fabric paints. We buy small square pillows, made from polished cotton, from one of the big discount shops. First outline the picture that your child has drawn with a waterproof laundry marker, then colour the picture in with fabric paint. You will need to heat set the pillow when it's dry in the tumble-dryer so the pillow will withstand numerous washes and last a lifetime. I have just touched up my daughter's pillow - it's 6 years old and has withstood many a rigorous washing. I have now discovered pillow-slips with zips, which makes the whole process much easier. They are also a great inexpensive gift for very special people who you know will cherish your child's early artwork.

Marielle 40

The Pleasure of Parenting

As every parent knows we can derive endless pleasure from our children. They have the ability to evoke a multitude of memories in us all. They can take us back to a time when we were children ourselves oblivious to life's responsibilities and in world of our own. They make us realise that its not life or death if we eat dinner late, that odd socks are not a problem and that a bedtime story is more important than the dishes. For some of us they rekindle the intense bonds we felt as parents of tiny babies.

When we become parents our lives become full of responsibilities that cannot be ignored. They can be overwhelming and often stop us from enjoying time with our children, which is what parenting is all about.

This blog aims to provide some ideas that will help keep and create memories of our time together alive and precious.