Mommypage Melanie from ?A Welcoming Hearth? on the Rewarding ...

Tell us more about yourself, your site, and your family. What motivated you to start your blog? Where did the name ?A Welcoming Hearth? come from?

I am a busy mum (aren?t we all) to four gorgeous children; two girls who are 9 and 7, and two boys who are 4 and 2. They certainly keep me on my toes, but I wouldn?t have it any other way. They are my life! I have been blogging for twelve months now and I love it. I think I am addicted. I have always loved to write, to jot down my thoughts and feelings. Being very shy and quiet in real life, I find that I can express myself in writing and can let people see the real me!

Reading comments and interacting with my followers is just wonderful. They are all such a gorgeous group of people. I write about the ups and downs of family life, the good parts and the bad. I can share all the different experiences that go together to make a typical day in my family?s life. It makes me happy! The name ?A Welcoming Hearth? came after a bit of thought. I wanted a name that made people feel warm and welcomed. Like a cat curled up on a rug by the fire.

You love to shop! What are you favorite stores to shop at? Do you know of any stores with great?deals?

I definitely do love to shop!? I must admit these days, with a large family; it is more like I love to shop for a bargain! I am a very good shopper and I can make a relatively small amount stretch a long way.

You have four kids! What would you say are the biggest challenges and the biggest joys about having four little ones?

My kids are my biggest accomplishment! They are just wonderful human beings. There is plenty of joy and plenty of challenges involved with parenting a large family. There is a fair bit of truth in the saying which says, ?The joys of motherhood are never truly experienced until the children are in bed?. Seriously though, it must be the most rewarding job out there; having these little people to talk to about everything and anything that comes up as we are going about our day. Seeing a caterpillar and a butterfly and explaining metamorphosis; talking to them about how flowers grow and how rain falls and how our bodies work and seeing their little faces as they understand things for the very first time. Seeing this completely dependent little baby blossom into an intelligent, thoughtful and caring individual. There is nothing quite like it. The challenges are making sure that they all have individual mommy time. Making sure that no one feels left out. Sometimes it is hard when you are helping Miss 7 with homework, helping Miss 9 with something on the computer, helping Master 4 brush his teeth and dealing with Master 2 who is overtired and having a tantrum at your feet, all at the same time! But I wouldn?t change a thing. Talking about my kids is a subject that I never get tired of.

What are some of your favorite posts that you?ve written?

I love books! Reading is one of the best gifts that you can give a child. This post is called ?Encourage a Love of Reading?. It is something very important and dear to my heart.

Here I have listed five ways that have helped me to overcome obstacles. I hope that they can help someone else too.

I am such an animal lover. Cats in particular. This post is called ?Mr Furry Therapist? and it shows pictures of my furry babies.

What are your absolute favorite activities to do with your family, indoors and outdoors?

I love doing things with my kids! I think it is so important for them to see that their parents want to spend time with them.?My kids love cooking. They love helping me make cakes and biscuits, especially my girls. My boys like it too but I think they prefer eating rather than cooking. They all love to paint and draw and love making cards for their aunty and cousins. Outdoor activities at home include taking lunch outside and having a bit of a picnic on the grass, putting on shows for me to watch and doing handstands and somersaults while I ooh and ahh! They love going to the park to have a run around and a play on the playground. The younger ones and I are part of a playgroup that has outings every week. This coming week I think we have painting in the park. We bring paints and they have big pieces of paper for the kids to create their masterpieces on. It sounds like a lot of fun.

From your experience, what are your top 5 tips for being a mom?

My top five tips, that is a difficult question. Even though I have had quite a bit of experience, I definitely don?t consider myself an expert on anything. I am doing my best and struggling along with the rest. My top five tips:

1. Relax ? Time goes by so quickly and before you know it your little newborn baby is all grown up. Enjoy each moment as it happens. Enjoy your children. Spend time with them. The dishes and housework can wait.
2. Make your home a haven for them. Let?s face it the world is a big scary place. Make your home welcoming and safe. Give them lots of cuddles. Let them know that you love them and value them.
3. Make sure that you give your kids a wholesome, healthy diet most of the time. Make sure that they get the right amount of sleep for their age. Help them to thrive. Look after them, they are so precious.
4. Our children?s minds are like little sponges. They have such a desire to learn. When they ask a question, or sometimes constant questions, it is because they really want to know. Take the time to explain things to them.
5. Trust your instincts as a mother. Believe in yourself and know that you are capable of great things.

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Source: http://www.mommypage.com/2013/01/melanie-from-a-welcoming-hearth-on-the-rewarding-feeling-of-motherhood/

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