Wellbeing

Janey Lee Grace’s Family Matters

The latest news and holistic views to keep your clan in tip-top health

A WOMAN’S WORKI

f you feel like you don’t have enough time for yourself, it’s no surprise. A new study claims that hardworking mums devote one third of their waking lives to carrying out chores for their children. The research was commissioned by online shopping service Milk&More and revealed that this means you can expect to put in around 27,250 hours in your lifetime shopping, cooking and cleaning! Unsurprisingly, three quarters of the 2,000 women surveyed said they need a few more hours in the day to get everything done. We say, put down the duster, pack up the hoover and spend some more time playing, laughing and dancing with the kids!

Fact file

“A new study from Brigham Young University found that becoming a parent is associated with lower blood pressure, particularly among women”

It’s a girl thing

New scientific evidence has shown that in times of stress (which isn’t advised when you’re pregnant) such as a war or natural disaster, there’s an increase in the number of females born. Researchers from Oxford University have found it is possible that high levels of the stress hormone cortisol somehow make it more difficult for male embryos to implant in the womb.

DID YOU KNOW?

A recent study has shown that miscarrying has been linked to low levels of zinc and copper

The power of saying yes

Earth mother Janey Lee Grace reckons it’s all about having an easy-going attitude

This year I’ve decided to ditch New Year’s resolutions and aim for just one thing in 2012 – happiness. I loved The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin (£16.99, Harper). The author, a mum of young kids who was moaning about the hassles of parenting, would spend bus journeys to school with her daughter making phone calls, thinking about the day ahead and wishing it was over. Then one day her little girl stopped to examine a flower. She suddenly got a wakeup call and realised that one day soon she won’t be needed to accompany her daughter on the school journey.

This anecdote really made me stop and think how much of my kids’ lives I miss in my general busyness. I’m so caught up in the minutia of life with youngsters that I don’t stop often enough to just kick through leaves and jump in puddles. I was shocked to find how often I use the word ‘no’ when answering my children. I managed 14 before breakfast was over! Often the ‘no’ comes when there hasn’t even been a question. With gargantuan effort I have tried to be mindful and to start looking for ways to say ‘yes’. It’s amazing how often you can say it if you’re creative. ‘Yes, home-made pizza – what a fab idea, let’s do that tomorrow,’ or, ‘your dolly looks beautiful in her natural lippy, let’s find a good colour for her.’ Incredibly, the power of saying ‘yes’ rather than ‘no’ changes how happy you feel. As Gretchen Rubin says: “The days are long but the years are short.” So, start enjoying them.

Article by

Janey Lee Grace

is a holistic lifestyle expert. She is the author of Look Great Naturally – Without Ditching the Lipstick (£8.99, Hay House)

Discover more

Article by

Janey Lee Grace

is a holistic lifestyle expert. She is the author of Look Great Naturally – Without Ditching the Lipstick (£8.99, Hay House)

Discover more