"The things I learned from my mum."

My mum taught me a lot about how to raise happy and healthy kids. She taught me that children need lots of fresh air, good food and love. She taught me that children should have some freedom to explore, time to use their imaginations and lots of time outdoors.

But it’s what she did behind the scenes that I remember the most.

When I became involved with the Dettol Mission for Health Campaign, I began remembering just how many little things mum actually did for me and my siblings.

She always used to fold down our sheets before bed. As we were brushing our teeth, she’d peel the sheets down ready for us to slip underneath them.

She used to always make our favourite spaghetti. My sister liked a little bit of pasta sauce, my other sister like heaps of pasta sauce and I didn’t want any. I preferred mine plain (I didn’t know what I was missing!).

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Dettol. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100 per cent authentic and written in their own words.

She knew I liked Golden Delicious apples. I was always too busy playing to sit down and eat during the day and I’d run in at least twice a day, grab an apple and run straight back out.

Mum could make any vegetable taste delicious. A little bit of garlic, a little bit of olive oil and cabbage, spinach, green beans and capsicum were instantly delicious. There was no need for her to hide veggies in our meals.

Now that I’m a mum, I know how important it is to cook, clean and clothe my children. I know how important it is to hug them, kiss them and tuck them into bed each night.

I also know how important it is that I buy my son’s favourite bread rolls, my daughter’s favourite toothpaste and my other son’s preferred apples (he’s a Red Delicious fan).

The kids never realise exactly how far I go to make sure they are happy, healthy and well-cared for. And I don’t want them to know. My job is to take care of all the little things, just like my mum did, and leave them free to be the happy, healthy, funny, amazing kids they are growing to be.

The Dettol Mission for Health videos highlight what it means to me to keep your family healthy. It’s not the expensive toys and the grand gestures but all the little things we do for our children that they never even realise. We never tell them, we don’t need thanks. Having happy and healthy children is all the thanks parents need.

In this video, I talk about exactly what my mum taught me about raising a healthy family and how I pass those lessons on to my children. I’d love to hear about all the little things you do for your kids that your mum taught you. Leave them in the comments section below.

What are the little things you do for your family’s health? Share them in the comments section below – we’ll be giving a $100 Dettol Prize Pack to our favourite three!’

Dettol has made a series of videos celebrating the little things you do for your family’s health, check out Darren’s story below. 

 

There are countless little things you do for your family’s health every single day. From putting fresh fruit on the bottom shelf so the kids can reach it, to turning hand washing into a fun game – it’s the little things that all add up. They often go unnoticed, so we set out to celebrate, support and share all the excellent work you do as part of our Mission for Health.