Parenting Pep Talk #18 – Petite Pudding

Parenting Pep Talk is a weekly series of guest posts all about encouraging other parents by sharing some of our happy moments, the advice that has worked for us and some positive words of encouragement.

 

Today’s post is from Zoe who blogs at Petite Pudding.  Over to you, Zoe!

 

Hi, I am Zoe, and I set up www.petitepudding.com in March to keep me out of mischief whilst I am on maternity leave and to try and give some advice and reassurance to other parents. I am a neonatal nurse with over 6 years experience working with babies and families, and I hope that by sharing my knowledge and skills I can help other parents through their journey. Mostly I juggle my two kids and two sausage dogs whilst my partner works crazy shift patterns and my house springs yet another leak!

 

1) Tell us a little bit about you and your family

We have recently moved into the family of four category, we have our big boy Archie who is four and is nicknamed Pie (I used to call him chie-pie as a baby, I don’t even know why) and our recent addition Ruth who was born in December who is Pudding, of the Pud, Pudste (she is gonna love that when she gets older, eh?) Both my husband and I are Neonatal Nurses and we attempt to juggle some crazy shift patterns around two children and two sausage dogs!

Zoe from Petite Pudding shares her family moments, encouraging parenting advice and positive parenting moments for the latest Parenting Pep Talk guest post

2) How would you describe your parenting style?

I would love to say we are laid back and easy going but due to how chaotic our work life is and the fact that it can easily spill over into home life we are quite regimented! We have a routine and we stick to it like clockwork everyday; everyone has to know what’s going to happen next because we have to move childcare between us with total fluidity.

 

3) What’s your favourite thing about being a parent?

Watching the kids interact with each other and seeing their little personalities develop, but sometimes my favourite thing is bedtime (having two children can be utterly exhausting!)

 

4) What piece of advice have you been given that you found especially helpful?

Learn to accept the things that you cannot change! For example one day my son was playing nicely in his toy box and I closed my eyes on the sofa (I was heavily pregnant), I could hear him playing next to me, I opened my eyes 10 minutes later and some how he had managed to get a blue pot of tester paint from somewhere and had painted the magnolia wall in the living room…

My Mum also came up with a fantastic tip when Puds was still having a night feed, she wouldn’t drink cold milk so Mum suggested I slept with the carton of milk in a muslin so that it was warm! Fab idea, and it worked like a dream, no more faffing trying to get milk warmed up.

 

5) What one piece of encouraging advice would you give to a new parent?

Remember that what ever you are going through there is someone out there who has been through exactly the same thing. You are not alone and if you need some advice or moral support get yourself down to a local group or join an online forum.

 

6) Can you share one of your favourite parenting moments?

My favourite parenting moment of late was watching my son climb up on a chair next to the babies moses basket the day after we brought her home and pretend to read a Harry Potter book to her. It was so sweet, he didn’t know I was watching he was just telling her all about the story, then he reached in and touched her hand. It made me shed a tear, and I don’t think it was just my hormones, it was a truly touching moment.

 

7) Anything else that you would like to share to encourage other parents?

When we had Pie, we read a great book called ‘French Children Don’t Throw Food’ – it was hilarious and it really influenced how I wanted my kids to behave. If I had to offer some words of wisdom to parents I would say that you need to have children that adapt to how you want to live, don’t do things because it’s what everyone else is doing or says you should be doing. Find your own path and remain true to yourselves. Remember above all else that eventually your kids will grow up and move away, so don’t forget who you are whilst you raise them.
Thank you Zoe for sharing your positive parenting moments and the advice you have found helpful.

 

You can connect with Zoe on the following social networks:

Facebook
Twitter
Google+

 

If you’d like to share some of your positive parenting moments on the Parenting Pep Talk, then let me know in the comments below and I’ll email you with more details.
Parenting Pep Talk - a series of posts sharing encouragment, advice and the positive moments of parenting

9 thoughts on “Parenting Pep Talk #18 – Petite Pudding

  1. Oh Zoe this was a lovely read. I can’t believe you are so new to blogging – you’ve achieved so much. Oh my word the blue paint – just wow! What a thing to wake up to – unbelievable!! Also, I love your comment about parenting the way that’s right for you and your comment ‘don’t do things because it’s what everyone else is doing or says you should be doing’ is spot on and so many people should listen to this – invaluable advice. Enjoy your maternity leave lovely – don’t let blogging take over! #ablogginggoodtime

  2. I love that last piece of advice. Sometimes it seems as though everyone has their opinion on how you should be raising your children, but actually, they will adapt to your lifestyle, and you need to be true to yourself rather than trying to squeeze a square peg into a round hole. #tribe

  3. I love your last point in particular – it’s so easy to get swept up in focusing 100% on your kids and forgetting who you were before you had them! Brilliant piece Zoe, it’s lovely to get to know you a bit better x #triballove

  4. It’s great to see Zoe featured. I enjoy reading this series as a new parent because it’s so encouraging to hear from others about their experiences. #TribalLove

  5. Oh my goodness sounds like you have a regimental structure in your home. We are soon to be a family of four too so I’m intrigued by how you do things. #ablogginggoodtime

  6. Ohh Zoe that’s so sweet! The story about him reading her Harry Potter almost made me cry too!! How cute!

    Lucy xx

    #TribalLove

  7. Oh lovely read! The touching moment was really lovely, bless him, I would have been bawling like a baby! How sweet of him. Also like what you say about encouraging other parents about not forgetting who you are. Very important!!

  8. What a lovely post, Zoe. I agree that it’s important to remember that no matter how bad things get, you’re not the first person to go through it. I kept having to remind myself of this when we were going through no-sleeping hell. Someone else, whether it’s a friend, family member or fellow tribe member, will always be able to offer advice…or at least buy you a cup of coffee/glass of wine! #ablogginggoodtime

  9. I loved reading this Zoe such a great post. Your calmness and sensitivity but also great humour all shine through. I love that last statement: eventually your kids will grow up and move away, so don’t forget who you are whilst you raise them. fabulous advice!!! Thank you for linking up to #ablogginggoodtime great series Louise. ❤️

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