"Before I can be the best Mum or Childminder, I need to look after myself, and continue to do so everyday"

By my member Liane

I found the first module, re-balance the most useful for me personally. It really has given me a reminder that before I can be the best Mum or Childminder, I need to look after myself, and continue to do so everyday, even when life gets busy. I have tried to slow myself down and to introduce some Hygge moments into every day. I found that sometimes I was just so busy and worrying about everything, that I had stopped enjoying the little things. I have started to crochet a blanket, this is something that I am finding very relaxing and really enjoying to help de stress.

I have also made some alterations to my home, particularly my living room. The lighting was overhead and really bright, with one small lamp. I have added fairy lights into my living room to make me feel cosy in the evening, I have noticed what an impact the lights can have on the environment and the general mood. Switching off the over head light and using the fairy lights and lamp is warm, cozy and a calm atmosphere, this is much nicer to relax and enjoy.

I particularly like the statement in Meik’s book, Hygge is ‘like a hug without touching.’ It really makes you think about the things that make you feel warm, comfortable, and that you enjoy. As a family I have introduced the idea of a gratitude pumpkin for October, this has made us think of something every day that we are individually grateful for. This has been a great thing for me and my children, its nice to talk about the fact that it is sometimes only something really small that can make a difference to our day and that we are grateful for.

As a Childminder, I have an ethos of Love first! I have always liked to create a warm, nurturing home from home environment. I feel like Hygge has just clarified to me that what I am offering for these children is so valuable and that it fits with exactly what I felt was the right thing for my Childminding setting. Something I have started to do, and will continue to do, is explore nature with the children more. I have started to bring more nature into the setting for children to investigate and we are spending more time outside. I am already seeing the huge benefits that this is having on the children. Physically this is great for them, we are covering all areas of learning and the children’s well being is high. I am using some of the ideas from the Autumn Wanderlust Child, and I have started the Wanderlust Nature Study training.

The Hygge Accreditation has really helped me at a time where I felt overwhelmed and was struggling with work/ life balance. It has really made an impact on my home life and also my work as a childminder.