Inspire: Sharing my #preciousmoments in aid of Tŷ Hafan

As parents, there’s so much we teach our children. We help them learn to talk, to read, to use a knife and fork, to cross a road safely, to be kind and so much more besides.

Yet since becoming a mum, I’m humbled by how much my children have taught me too.

I’ve learned to see beauty in the most unlikely of places – my children continually pick dandelions and daisies when we are out and about, excitedly telling me they have got me a present. They don’t see a weed; they see a beautiful bright yellow flower. It’s the only thing they have, but they chose to give it to me.

They’ve taught me a lot about self-confidence too. I’ve learned to let go of my body hang ups, because my children are too young to even know what that is.

My children continually remind me to look for the positives in life.

They inspire me every day with their innocent outlook on life and the beautiful way they view things.

Inspire is the theme of this week’s Precious Moments campaign for Tŷ Hafan, the children’s hospice for Wales.

Based in Sully in the Vale of Glamorgan, it supports children with illnesses and medical conditions that mean they won’t survive to adulthood, and their families.

Sadly, Tŷ Hafan can’t give the gift of time to many of the families they look after. But they can give them the gift of precious moments to enjoy together.  And so, each week in November and December, Tŷ Hafan is asking people to share photos of their precious moments on social media to raise awareness of the work that it does and to help encourage donations towards the £4m it needs to raise each year to provide its services. I’ve already shared photos which to me represent cwtch and excited, and the photo I’m sharing this week represent the word inspire.

As I said earlier, my children inspire me every day. This photo was taken in September and it was the first rainy day of the new school year. I don’t think the photo does justice to how grey and miserable it was, especially as it came after a spell of sunny dry days. Our house was full of the usual chaos of trying to get three children ready to leave in time for school. I was thinking “Urgh, school run in the rain” and having visions of us all getting soaked through.

But then Little Miss E, my almost-six-year-old daughter piped up with “Ooh, Mummy, it’s raining! We can wear our new rain coats and use our umbrellas.” Little Man O, her four-year-old brother added, “And maybe we might see a rainbow.”

They were so excited, jumping up and down with glee about something so simple like using an umbrella, and the chance that there might be a rainbow (even though realistically it wasn’t sunny enough). Their attitude made me feel like I had been so grumpy and miserable, I decided to put my wellies on and splash in some puddles with them too.

I’m always so inspired about how such simple pleasures never get boring to my children. Here we are jumping in some more muddy puddles!

Moments like this are so precious. These little memories cost nothing but mean everything. These are the kinds of moments Tŷ Hafan wants to help create with the families it supports.

Just looking at the photos of some of the families inspires me too, as they embrace happiness and joy at the most difficult of times.

I hope reading about the campaign will inspire you to join in too. You can share photos or stories of your own precious moments on social media to help raise awareness for Tŷ Hafan and the work it does.

Or you could make a donation via their websitefollow.

£10 could pay for outreach play therapy for a family and their child.

£15 could pay for half an hour of physiotherapy to ease a child’s pain.

£23 could pay for an hour of support for a family.

But every penny you donate will help to make a difference.

You can also shop at any of their 31 charity shops across Wales, or donatefollowgood quality unwanted men’s, women’s and children’s clothes and accessories, bric a brac, homeware, books, DVDs and CDs. Goods can be dropped off at any of their shops or a free collectionfollow can be arranged. If you’re a fan of vintage, then check out the three Vintage Emporiumfollow shops they have in South Wales, as well as their eBay shopfollow.

Will you share your precious moments for Tŷ Hafan? You can share with me on any of my social media channels (the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook pagefollow, Instagram feedfollow and Twitterfollow) – and don’t forget to follow Tŷ Hafan on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and tag them in too.