Share the little things you do as parent to be in with a chance of winning a £100 Spabreaks voucher + a copy of Happy by Fearne Cotton

[SorchaMumsnet]

Nobody’s perfect, but when it comes to parenting we often give ourselves a hard time, doubting whether we are doing a good job as we juggle everything life throws at us. It's something Fearne Cotton talks about in her new book, Happy, and to celebrate, Orion want to hear about the little things you do as a parent.

For many of us, life can feel like it's moving too fast, with pressure bearing down on us from all sides - whether that's from work, family or social media. As a result, we find ourselves frazzled, and – too often – feeling blue.

It's a subject close to Fearne's heart. Drawing on her own experiences, and including expert advice, Happy offers practical ways of finding joy each and every day. With workbook elements such as written exercises, simple practical ideas, and visualisations, Happy is full of tricks and reminders to help you start and end the day well, get in touch with your creative side and unlock that inner happiness.

To be in with a chance of winning a copy of Happy plus a £100 Spabreaks voucher (valid at over 700 spas), just tell us about the little things you do each day that make you a perfect parent, just the way you are.

This discussion is sponsored by Orion and will close at midday on 15 March

Books T&Cs apply

I take time to listen to my children, we have family dinners and regular movie nights at home, no distractions allowed such as phones or computers.

I love my kids' individual personalities.

I reward good behaviour and correct in a measured way. Never make a remark a character assassination and we do not name call in my house.

I believe a warm and loving home environment is the foundation of any decent, kind human being. I tell my children that I love them, just as they are and I hug and kiss them good night every evening.

Pretending that I love Ben and Holly's Magic Kingdom and being 'grateful' when my lie in is disturbed by my kids worrying that I am missing it! Dragging myself downstairs bleary eyed at top speed so I catch the whole episode!

For me it's finishing work on a Friday, meeting dd(5) at the school gates, chucking her and the dog in the camper and setting off on a big weekend adventure.

She has to sit up front in a high back booster as there are no seat belts in the back, so we have plenty of time to really talk and it's just us (and the dog) for a couple of nights. Roll on summer.

Putting phone away.
Cuddling them till they don't want to be cuddled anymore.
Lots of bedtime books.

These things make us all happy.

Reading the same book 25 million times over makes me feel like a real mum.

Sometimes I even do the voices.

Being in the moment and enjoying how they use their imagination -and joining in too. There is no such thing as perfect either :)

bed time, when it's lights out time, and I lie in the floor between their beds and make up a story for them. I did it once and now they make me invent a new story every evening!! Sometimes my brain is so tired from work and worry but I always make myself, I get them to join in with ideas and that gives me all kinds of insights into what is important to them.

Bedtime, having cuddles and stories and songs. No matter how frustrated I can get or silly they can be we always end with a song and I love yous and it makes me proud to see them snuggle down to sleep knowing they feel safe and loved.

Whenever DD is happy, I feel reassured that we're doing just fine at this parenting malarkey. She's pretty awesome so something must be going right.

I certainly wouldn't call myself a perfect parent, but there are moments in the day when I think I'm doing alright. They ask for cuddles and chats every day, and I try to do well as a parent by giving them time and love. They are so kind and loving to others and great little people.

My 5 year old is a real Lego fanatic so we just take the time to build together. It's a great wind down for him but also brill as an instruction following exercise! It's a great way to encourage his imagination too if we just do an "off Road" build. Most importantly he tends to chat more when it's just incidental (rather than me firing questions at him) so I often learn more about his day when we just play together. As an adult it's also great to just take the time to play so it's a win win situation for us both 😍

For me it's first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
In the morning we all gather together in our big bed and have breakfast in bed, still all warm and snuggly before we start the day.
At bedtime ny phone in away and I give them all my attention for bath, stories and snuggles again. Its really lovely to start and end each day together no matter what has happened in between.

Not over scheduling is important to me. So when it's the holidays or we have time off altogether as a family, I try to 'book in' days where we have nothing planned - days where we can be utterly spontaneous. I think modern life lacks this, what with all the clubs, birthday parties and general running around we all do now. We can't even cope with visitors popping round unannounced any more. Everything is totally scheduled. So I try to plan not to schedule...think there's irony in that somewhere...

9yo cleaned the bathroom today - result.
5yo did some dusting.

I rewarded them with a pile of rocks and a burnt dinner :)

oops that was for the Count Olaf thread

Lots of hugs, for no reason. I have an internal hugometer that needs topping up through the day so it doesn't get too low

Indulging in their interests a bit - whenever one of mine has had a particular interest, I've always done research into how I can get them more involved, even if it's ended up fading it still makes them feel they are listened to and their choices are important.

I like to make my dcs a white hot chocolate when they get in from school.
I also really listen to them and ask them about their school days.
I think to myself that little problems to me can seem like huge problems to them so I like to encourage them to talk as often as possible.

I go with the flow as much as I can, I would say that the best thing that I do is I never break a hug, I always wait for him to break the hug, you never know how long they need. I don't pretend to be perfect and sometimes I shout when I shouldn't, I will always apologise if I have shouted when I shouldn't. It is important for him to know that it is OK to be wrong sometimes.

Even on the hard days we have to get outdoors and top up their (& mine) cup with fresh air, imagination, exploring and laughter

My children tell me I give the best squishy hugs (fair to say I could do with losing some weight). I figure if we're all having several hugs a day, we're doing okay.

I always ask them about their day. Sometimes they say they cannot remember, so around the dinner table, I make it a habit to go around the table for each one to say a piece of news about their day.

I try and make time to have a cuddle and read a book to my 2 every day as my little ones love this

Listening and saying 'I love you' every single day -and remember no-one is 'perfect'!

I try to listen to my kids 100%. Try to avoid other distractions.