ARE YOU FEELING FESTIVE?

Are your little ones feeling festive? With another week of solo parenting starting and Christmas rushing in fast, we're trying our best to keep the magic alive even if we're all a bit frazzled. F is totally buzzing about Christmas and has finally revealed his Santa letter to us after weeks of asking – cue *ahem* Santa Claus rushing through an order of one red bike and a bell to his elves – no stress there then. I've been assured that Santa can of course bring him the exact bike he wants as the elves make it from scratch, no flies on this kid.

After last weeks low I'm taking a vow to be kinder to myself. So I'll be doing lots of playing with F, catching up with dear friends, taking some me time where possible and roping in a babysitter for a night out, avoiding the manic last minute shop  – who am I kidding, I'll still be doing that but hopefully with an air of calm around me and taking some time to pamper myself. After all a happy mama makes a happy babe.

In the last week we've managed to feed Santa's Reindeer, eat mince pies on a steam train, watch a Christmas film or two, visit Bath Christmas Market and decorate the tree – not a bad effort. Today we'll try our hand at baking butter biscuits, decorating them with colourful icing and I'll just keep playing Christmas music until I'm feeling festive.