Avoiding the January Blues

Embracing the cosy with fairy lights and early nights

Every year without fail I have a January Crisis. Every time I've had a baby, I've had an identity crisis. This year, both seem to have passed me by.

I think I've finally come to terms with the fact that January is always going to be rubbish (and February even worse). And three babies on, I know that 24-7 newborn craziness and the 'argh, I don't know who I am anymore' thing is so, so fleeting.

So this time, I'm embracing it all. I have stubbly legs and straggly eyebrows, the house is messy, I'm eating a lot of Covent Garden soups, I always have a little bit of baby sick on my shoulder. My expectations are low - if I end the day with five people (and a dog) asleep and with full tummies, I am a happy lady. The other stuff can wait.

Winter dog walks rock!

And as for January, who can be sad when there's a new series of One Born Every Minute on 4OD, a lovely log burner in the lounge, oodles of books to read for children and grown ups, Baileys to finish off (with star-shaped ice cubes, of course), winter walks on sunny days, big frosty skies to photograph and marvel at, soups to make, cakes to bake and lots of early nights to work on those dark circles.

And here I am, cosied up in bed, chamomile tea and a Molly-made cookie, fairy lights on, big stack of novels next to me, and a notebook for filling with plans of lovely things to do, places to go and people to see. What's not to like about that?