Family of the Week: Rawson

What are your top tips for getting children to do what you ask?

We usually offer our children a reward for getting things done. Sometimes it can be a cuddle, other times it can be a story or maybe a tv show or something similar. To be honest they are both usually pretty good at doing as they are told. Only the occasional tantrum when they are tired.

What family task takes you the longest?

Getting ready to go to anywhere! Two boys; shoes, coats, hats, bags and then to get them in the right car seats with seat belts on can sometimes be a challenge at 8.45 in the morning.

Have your children ever really, really surprised you? How and why?

The things our eldest son Hugh says are so thoughtful, for example, ‘Mummy, I know it’s morning because the birds are singing outside my window.’ Our youngest son, Sam, spots the tiniest things everywhere, from a crumb on the floor to a tiny money spider outside on a leaf.

What’s your favourite family day out?

A trip to the seaside. Any one of Yorkshire’s stunning coastlines are full of beauty and perfect for families with children.

What hobbies/pastimes do you enjoy as a family and separately?

My hobby of baking has now become my business that I share with my Mum and sister in running Doyly’s Tearoom in Bolton Percy near Tadcaster. Tim is a cameraman and has worked on videos for our website. He also turns his hand to gardening the grounds. The boys love being at the tearoom and farm and help out by collecting the eggs, feeding the chickens, bake new recipes, etc. Tim also likes to go running and hill walking and I do Zumba. We also attend our local church.

What’s the hardest thing about being a parent?

Tiredness is the greatest struggle for us. We have two wonderful boys that have never slept well. Hugh is getting there but Sam is still waking up a lot in the night.

What’s a typical evening for the grown-ups once the children are in bed?

We watch box sets on TV, a glass of wine and a grown up meal. We also like to plan our days out and find new and fun with things to do.

What’s the best thing about weekends and why?

The mornings. The boys spend as long as possible in their pyjamas, then once they’re dressed they play games in the garden and Tim and I do household and garden chores. They both wash and vacuum the car and scrape up leaves with their diggers.

What’s the children’s favourite food/meal?

They both adore spaghetti bolognaise. It’s a staple weekly meal in our house. I make it from scratch including the sauce and add lots of grated vegetables!

What can your children not live without?

Being outside. We spend lots of time on the family farm, in our garden come rain or shine, or a any National Trust gardens, Newby Hall or Flamingo Land to name just some. We are constantly going for walks either on ride on tractors, bikes or scooters. We collect things we see to remind of us our walks like conkers, leaves, sticks and stones.

What is your child’s favourite book and author.

Stick Man by Julia Donaldson (Sam), Gigantosaurus by Jonny Duddle (Hugh).