Fantastic Things You Get Away With When You Have Kids By Tracey Clayton

Today’s post is a guest post by the lovely Tracey. Here is a little more about her:

Tracey Clayton is a full time mom of three girls. She loves cooking, baking, sewing, spending quality time with her daughters and she’s passionate for writing. Her motto is: “Live the life you love, love the life you live.” Find her on Facebook.

And now onto her brilliant post:

Fantastic Things You Get Away With When You Have Kids By Tracey Clayton

For most people, myself included, parenting is a full-time occupation. But unlike most people, taking care of my three girls for me is all about fun and joy, where every moment is a cherished memory for the future.

And just because you have children that does not mean that you have to stop having fun. On the contrary, it gives you numerous opportunities to get away with re-living your childhood and experiencing your childhood fantasies – without getting a funny look.

Buying Toys

When I was young, unlike my girls, I would get toys only for the holidays. And even then not everything I hoped for. Barbie dolls and Legos were my top choices.

I spent hours building houses and then imagining it was mine, and the doll was some later version of me. I managed to pass that love to my girls.

So now, when we all go to the toy store, I spend hours walking among the shelves and I am able to buy toys I like. Always giving my girls something special, I fulfil my desire and play with them as well. And when play time is under way, the girls think their mom is the best for playing with them. Lucky them.

Decorating the Rooms

It was difficult sharing a room when I was a girl. There was no choice, nothing to make it mine, and present myself through my little corner of our family home.

Basically, the thing that defined me were my toys and clothes, and my perfect room was reserved for my imagination.

When I became a mom, I had a chance to make my plans a reality. Now still, when I clean their rooms I also have an opportunity to make adjustments. And even though I get strange looks from my husband, I get only a few more years of this. Until then I plan to savour every last minute of it.

Watching Cartoons

Disney movies were my favourite while I was growing up. Cinderella, Snow White, The Lion King are just some of my most beloved and cherished cartoons. And now I have a chance to re-watch the classics of my childhood with my girls.

Not only that but I get to watch all the new cartoons that come out, when I take them to the cinema. They have become my excuse to go and watch Frozen and Cars. What’s bad about that?

After-Dinner Dance Special

Dancing after dinner has become a real tradition in our house. I would just turn on some music and grab my youngest and start dancing. Naturally, the entire family would end up joining in. We even came to putting on a choreographed show for their grandparents on Christmas. It’s just too much fun, and no one ends up judging me for it.

Singing Out Loud

I can still sing in the car like I did back in my teens. In those days my favourite band was NKTOB and my dreams revolved around going to their shows and buying all their promo materials. But times changed, and other things became popular.

For some time now, whenever I drive the girls somewhere the song remains the same: “Mom, play One Direction”. The band has become a household name, and both me and my husband know the songs by heart. It is no wonder then that we came to sing the tracks to the top of our voices, even when the girls are not with us.

Baking Sweet Things

My girls adore me for the cakes, muffins and cookies I make them. And since all of us have a sweet tooth, we don’t really need a reason to make sweets anymore. The best thing about it is, I get to bake with my girls, passing down old recipes and making up new ones we all enjoy.

Another great thing involving sweets is all the sweets they receive as presents. With all that chocolate around, I sometimes help myself to it, without anyone noticing. This is my little secret.

Bouncy with The Entire Family

As a child I always wanted to go and try out jumping on a trampoline, but there was no chance for it then.

Hiring jumping castle for adults and kids, became our newest and best tradition as a family we could all enjoy. We came to hiring it for the birthday party of our oldest, and now it has become a weekly event. Not only do the girls have fun, but both of us get to bounce and enjoy the fun. It is also great exercise, and a childhood dream I can get away with as an adult.

In the end, the most important thing is having fun with your children. We spend our time parenting enjoying it, making it simpler and satisfying our childhood fantasies along the way. Try it out and you will realize how great it can be,

Don’t forget to leave some lovely comments below 🙂