Rainbows End

How mums can remain calm and in control amid the hustle and bustle and frantic pace of Christmas - a few quick tips: • Make lists – you get a great sense of satisfaction from ticking things off. Congratulate yourself on every job done! • Don’t try to be a cross between Delia and Nigella – cater for Christmas in your way, and if that means getting everything ready made from M&S, Tesco or Lidl, then so be it. No-one is expecting 5 Michelin stars on 25th December, better to have a cool and relaxed time for everyone concerned. • If time is against you, then be very smart about priorities. It may be a disaster if the presents from Santa are not under the tree on Christmas morning, but who will really care if the canapés don’t appear? Delegate tasks and take some of the load off: • Ask someone – dad, grandparents, or an auntie or uncle, to take all the kids to a Christmas movie. It will give you a couple of hours off and provide a fantastic treat for the little ones, as well as the grown up! • Even very small children can get involved with jobs like setting the Christmas table and tidying the house. You will be amazed at how well a three year old can clean the bathroom sink given the right encouragement. • If you have guests for Christmas dinner then ask them to bring a course with them. It will be a small thing for them to bring a prawn cocktail or a Christmas pudding, but could be a load off your mind. Stay in control of spending at this time of year - we're all guilty of maxxing out credit cards and overspending around now! • Don’t even try to keep up with the Jones’s (who are they anyway?). Your kids will remember the magic of Christmas, so concentrate your efforts on creating a little bit of magic of your own. • Make a big deal of traditions like leaving a glass of sherry (wine, port, beer or whatever), a mince pie and couple of carrots for the reindeer. It doesn’t cost much, you get to drink the booze, and the kids feel the Christmas spirit real time. • For kids under two, a big box full of blown up balloons on Christmas morning is a great start to the day. Loads of fun for all the family. • In the run up to Christmas, for kids of all ages, a walk in the woods collecting Christmas goodies such as pine cones, holly and anything with berries on is infinitely more magical than a trip to the local shopping centre. Buy a can of gold spray paint and customise your collection when you get home.