My December highlights

Magic moments throughout December, why Christmas felt different this year, a few free things I've created for you and Substack posts that I've loved lately.

If you are new here, welcome! I’m so happy to have you here as part of this lovely, supportive community of mums. I’m Jenna, a mum of 3, a Coach for Mums and I live by the sea in South Wales.

Here on The Motherhood Connection, I love writing about:

• ways to ease your overwhelm and cultivate self-compassion as a mum

• tips on how to take imperfect action and live a life that feels good to you

• the small moments of family life that bring me joy

• honest reflections on motherhood

Every fortnight, I also publish a Motherhood and Creativity interview, where I share the words of creative mums who inspire me here on Substack and beyond. They share their words of joy, strength, creativity and community in motherhood and there’s so much wisdom in every interview.

I’d love for you to be part of The Motherhood Connection community, all you need to do is subscribe below and you’ll receive my weekly (ish) posts.

I’ve been writing the post on and off today in between the post lunch slump, making dinner and now in the lounge while the kids are occupied. Hoping I can get this finished in the next 30 mins before I start the kids bedtime - let’s see if I can! (I did it, but it took me nearly an hour - late bedtime for my youngest, wish me luck!!)

My December highlights

I hope you all had a good Christmas and a restful Twixmas (is that what we call it?!), and if you didn't, then I hope there are moments in amongst it all where you can give yourself some compassion.

I've loved reading all of the 2024 round up posts lately but I’m not ready to reflect on 2024 and all of its lessons yet.

I'm giving myself the whole of January to reflect and continue to go slow, instead of rushing into planning for 2025.

But, I thought I’d look back over December and share my highlights with you - it was actually lovely to do this as there was so many lovely moments throughout December.

The first week of December was the week of shows - the school Christmas show and my daughter’s musical theatre group showcase. I watched 4 shows in one week and loved it!

Lots of cold and rainy winter walks with my youngest - I love bundling him up in his cosy onesie.

Cosy mornings on the sofa reading with my youngest while my eldest two kids are in school

Taking those moments for me whenever I can.

Not the best photo but I was trying to capture the 150 or so blackbirds that like to gather and chatter at sunset every afternoon, in my the tree at the back of my garden!

My 7yo reading a Christmas book to me while I did some crochet (I attempted to make a Christmas blanket for my mum but definitely didn’t give myself enough time - I’m going to work on it this year, make it huge and add some pom poms to the edges and my mum can have it next Christmas!)

Christmas morning before the chaos began!

Keeping up with my at home workouts throughout Christmas - I actually credit doing these workouts with keeping my mood a whole lot more stable this Christmas.

This was in my TBR pile by the side of my bed for about a year, I finally read it a few days ago and inhaled it in a day and half - one of my fave books of 2024!

Our walk along the Pier a few days ago - one of those walks where you literally have to drag everyone out the house saying they don’t want to go, then they have fun when they are out!

My daughter setting up her little bracelet making studio the other day and how colourful it all looked made me so happy.

My Christmas Gingerbread blanket is still in progress, I decorated the gingerbread house yesterday, it’s wonky but I’m hoping it adds to the homemade charm!

I’d love to hear your December highlights, let me know in the comments!

I definitely felt different this Christmas

This is the first Christmas probably since my Dad passed away 6 years ago that I haven't felt completely overwhelmed and stressed in the run up to and over Christmas.

I'm putting that down to a few things:

• the fact that my grief has morphed and changed over time

• I unapologetically prioritised myself on Christmas Day too - that meant doing an at home workout and getting out for a family walk

• kept cooking simple on Christmas Day

• in the week or so before Christmas, I ran my ‘7 days to ease festive overwhelm’ series (have a look over on my Notes or on my Instagram) and I feel like maybe for once I took my own advice!

• listening to this podcast episode put me in a different mindset before Christmas:

  

Free resources for you

I don’t talk about these enough, but I’ve created these free resources for you as my subscribers, to support you as a mum. Just click on the pink button to access all of them, hope you enjoy and let me know if they resonate with you.

• 5 Mini Pep Talks for Overwhelmed Mums

• 15 Self-Care Tips for Mums (that you can do even while you’ve got the kids)

• You Can Make This Work - a mini coaching session on how to take those first steps towards making your dream a reality.

Substack posts that I’ve loved recently

I have to say there has been so many amazing Substack posts that I’ve read lately - curling up on the sofa with a cuppa and reading them in amongst the Christmas chaos has been something I’ve looked forward to.

Here are a few of my favourite reads:

• One Hand in the Awesome Jar from

  ✨Shaunté Shayde Ledger

• 7 tips for getting shit done when you have small kids from

  Sophie Hines

• Lessons from Meltdowns of Christmas Past from

  Kaitlyn Elizabeth

• I did an oracle card reading for us, for the year ahead by

  Beth Kempton

• 20 things I’d like to remember from

  Jodie Melissa Rogers

• A soft closure from

  Lauren Barber

And so many more!

Work with me in 2025

If you’d like to start 2025 by setting feel-good goals, taking small (totally do-able) steps, that create long-lasting change then just think of me as your personal cheerleader who is going to support you in making those changes!

I’ll boost your confidence by reminding you of your strengths, of all the times when you’ve done hard things before and how amazing you already are - let’s get started and make incredible things happen for you!!

I’ve got space for 2 mums to work with me in my Rediscover YOU 12 week one to one coaching experience, and also space for 2 mums to work with me to create their very own 12 week Bespoke Self Care Plan - you can find all the details for both of these here.

And finally, a thank you

Thank you to all of my subscribers for reading my posts and for all the likes and comments - I appreciate every single one of you!

I’d love to hear from you in the comments, let me know:

• What were your December highlights?

• How did Christmas feel for you this year?

• What have been your favourite Substack posts that you’ve read lately?

You might also like some of my most recent posts:

• Motherhood and Creativity Interview #20 - Vicki Lesley

• Motherhood and Creativity Interview #19 - Zofia K-Stanley

• My November highlights - plus, I talk about getting out of your comfort zone and making a change, my TV and book recommendations & Substack posts I’ve loved recently