Amy Nation, tells us all about life as a Weston-super-Mum to her baby daughter, Lexie.
Hi Amy! How's life? A bit topsy turvy but OK.
What do you like about living in Weston? I like the fact that there are plenty of child-friendly places to take children and that you can go down onto the beach and have a bit of fun before all the tourists turn up.
Anything you’d change? I think I would change the selfishness of people when you are trying to walk around town with a buggy, also the lack of slightly cheaper baby clothes shops
Where would you like to be right now? And who with? I would like to be at the Harry Potter Theme Park over in America with Lexie, her dad and her godparents.
You’re involved with the Children’s Centre in Central Weston. Tell us about that It's great. I take Lexie to the ‘Stay and Play’ every Monday morning. It lets us meet other mums and their children and I’m able to get my confidence up. It’s a brilliant place for Lexie as well, as she gets used to the environment of having other children around, some older than her and others the same age so she gets to grow up and make friends her age. The Centre also holds a health visitor drop in clinic, allowing us to get Lexie checked up easily without having to go to our doctor’s.
So how, as parents, can we take ownership of what happens in our local community? I guess by making our voices heard about important issues, as we need to make sure this community is safe for those growing up in it. By either making a Parent Committee that meets up once a month, then having one or two representatives and taking our concerns to the Council.
Tell us about your work at Weston Hospital. Well, I do paid work there at the holiday club. There is a nursery at the other end of the building and more often than not the children come to us from them but, in the past year and half or so, we have started taking on children outside of the hospital so everyone is welcome. I often work from 8am - 6pm about 2 days a week and have done for the past 5 years. During the summer holidays, we take the children on two trips. Just to break it up a bit. We also do things at Christmas and Easter and we make the weeks themed as well so we do different activities on different days like cooking or arts and crafts. The kids love coming every holiday, they sometimes don't want their parents or who ever brings them to leave but, once they start playing with the other children, they go home with the biggest smiles on their faces, most of all when they have made something. It’s a fantastic feeling to know that you have helped them make something. It’s a long day but its themost rewarding job and its made me realise that I want to go into childcare full time.
Share a Mummy Moment with us. When I go into town for something and I don't get Lexie a little toy or some clothes, I feel guilty. Also when she is crying for me and she launches herself from her daddy's lap just to get to me faster then gives me a filthy great big grin.
What are your hopes for the future? For Lexie to grow up big and strong and to be herself.
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Runner Up - Neve Tait