Dr Christopher Green, Saint and saviour of parents everywhere, author of babies, toddler taming etc. Buy these books now they are a worthy investment and largely responsible for my sanity, as a bonus they are also witty, entertaining and non preachy.
Find your local soft play emporium. Kids love these places, they can run, climb and jump to their hearts content while you can sit, drink coffee while its hot and catch up on your reading, lifting your head now and again to supply the critters with juice. They also do birthday parties for a reasonable price what more could you ask for.
The Park
Go here whenever the weather allows as kids are best appreciated in wide open spaces, take a picnic, stamp around in wellies and enjoy your little people for they will grow up all to soon.
Establish your own space as soon as possible. My kids are only permitted in my bed on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The bedroom is our sanctuary, our grown up space where toys and ironing are banned. Amazingly enough cartoons just don't work on that telly!
Start as you mean to go on. Tiny kids love to copy Mum and Dad and are eager to please. Make the most of this as it will not last, and teach the little monsters to put their toys away and their clothes in the washing basket.
Accept that your house will never be tidy. Don't fight it, this is the way it is going to be till the kids leave home, besides a clean house is the sign of a dull life. Oh and by the way the neighbour with the spotless house most likely has postnatal depression and/or OCD.
Accept that you will be poor, kids cost a fortune and it gets worse as they get older. The good thing about this is that you can get them to chores for money. All that dishwashing is good for their hands after all!
Get them into mother and toddlers, playgroup, nursery as soon as possible. This is good for them and great for you. Enjoy any time that you get to yourself, that ironing will still be their tomorrow.
Stop and smell the roses while you can. In the chaos of raising small children it is all too easy to forget to enjoy them. Sticky hands and cuddles will be over all to soon so make the most of it.
