We’re here on this amazing, beautiful world for such a short amount of time, surely we need to make the most of it? (Picture: Sarah Whiteley)

Settling down into the comfy, oversized seat, I reached into my bag.

‘Theo, here’s your popcorn,’ I whispered to my son. ‘And pass your sister’s pick and mix to her please.’

We all munched our way through the trailers, then our chosen film, Elf, began.

As the familiar tones of Papa Elf filled the cinema, jingle bells delicately playing in the background, I smiled over my children’s heads at my husband, Tom.

There were just a couple of days before Christmas and as Immy, four, had already finished nursery for the year and today was six-year-old Theo’s last day at school until January, we’d decided to take the day off work.

We’d kickstart our holidays by going out for pizza, then heading to the cinema for a classic festive film.

‘We should do this more often,’ I thought contentedly, as I picked out a giant strawberry jelly from my own pick and mix and popped into my mouth.

Because although this scenario doesn’t sound like anything special, it was something we rarely did. In fact, thinking about it, it’s something we’d never done.

We’ve been to the cinema as a family before, of course, but generally only on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon – the only time in our busy week we could squeeze it in – and even then, the trips have been rare. 

They spend so much of their little lives rushing here, there and everywhere, they deserve a break too (Picture: Sarah Whiteley)

During term time, we’re usually too caught up in the humdrum monotony of everyday life, juggling work and childcare, to fit in a night out.

Between getting up, bundling our children through the early-morning routine of eating breakfast, getting dressed, brushing teeth, getting them to nursery, school and logging into work, before picking them up and getting them to their various dance and swimming lessons, there’s very little time for anything else.

No time to treat ourselves to an evening at the cinema – or indeed, anywhere – especially on a school night.

Even on a Friday, Tom and I have always been aware that there will be no lie-in on a Saturday because Immy’s ballet lesson starts at 9am.

And after Theo’s piano lesson finishes at midday, already a fair chunk of the weekend is done and dusted.

We’ve never wanted the children to give up their various classes for the sake of a trip to the cinema though. Swimming is a life-skill, and they loved the other ones too much.

But there’s no denying all of these things have ended up, to an extent, dictating our lives.

That is why this Christmas has felt like such a treat.

Tom and I have always been aware that there will be no lie-in(Picture: Sarah Whiteley)

With work, nursery and school all closed for a couple of weeks and my gym sessions and the kids’ classes also on pause, we have been free to do exactly what we want.

After our trip to the cinema, we let the kids have an easy morning, before friends came over the following afternoon for some seasonal snacks.

That night we all went out to a local park for a light show, where we let the kids buy a flashing light sabre and go on the ferris wheel and the merry-go-round.

It wasn’t particularly late when we got to the bus home, maybe 6.30pm, but still, it was far later than we’d ever been out with the children on a school night.

For the rest of the break so far, we’ve gone to pantos, let them have pyjama days and had Theo’s school friends and their parents over.

We haven’t been confined by the clock, constantly checking the time, saying no to lovely plans and making sure lights were out by 8pm.

The sense of freedom it’s given us has just added to the magic of the season.

At the end of the summer holidays, I remember hearing so many friends saying how they were desperate to get their children back to school. ‘They just need the routine,’ they’d say.

But I now feel completely the opposite. I’m dreading getting back to ‘normal’.

Clearly I’m not alone either as earlier this year, TikToker and recent graduate Brielle posted a video of her crying after starting her first 9-5.

I’m dreading getting back to ‘normal’ (Picture: Sarah Whiteley)

‘How do u have time for ur life?’ she asked her viewers tearfully. While the response to her emotional post was mixed, I totally understood where she was coming from.

We’re here on this amazing, beautiful world for such a short amount of time, surely we need to make the most of it?

I understand that the structure of having regular, good nights’ sleep and following meal patterns is good for kids, but, for me, life is about far more than waking up, going to school or work, then going to bed, ad infinitum.

And not just for me and Tom, but for Theo and Immy too. They spend so much of their little lives rushing here, there and everywhere, they deserve a break too.

That is why I have already decided on my New Year’s resolution. Next year is going to be about breaking out of our ‘routine’.

Admittedly, not enough to exhaust Theo and Immy or to the detriment of school, but to create a better balance of adding new experiences into their weeks.

If they miss their swimming lesson or dance class every now and then, what does it matter? Or if we are out of the house post-6pm and they have to skip a bath before bed, is that so bad?

Of course not.

This Christmas season has shown me this is what makes life worth living. And it’s something I’ll be carrying on the whole year through.

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I’m dreading getting back to ‘normal’