Hap-PEA New Year!

Welcome back to all my fellow frozen peas! Introducing a very cute new member of the Pea Family, discussing new years resolutions and mum tips on how to keep warm!

Author

Caroline Parker
January 10, 2026

Happy New Year, Pea Family! 2026 is here and my gosh, it’s COLD! Honestly, we may as well all be frozen peas at this point.

Now, let’s talk New Year’s resolutions. How do we really feel about them? Because they kinda give me the ick. It’s such a weird concept when you think about it. Midnight hits on December 31st and suddenly we’re meant to change - something or everything. We’re not Cinder-fucking-ella. The clock doesn’t strike twelve and we magically wake up as people who meal plan, exercise consistently, and don’t feel a random, urgent need for a Diet Coke at 9.30am.

The truth is, so many of us (definitely me included) are just trying to survive this really hard, really full stage of life. With three kids and now two dogs, most days feel less about thriving and more about keeping everyone fed, loved, and locating at least one matching sock.

Not every day is perfect, and that’s okay. Especially after Christmas, when parents carry that extra pressure of making it magical. Creating those memories. The smiles through exhaustion. Who frikkin knew that WE are the Christmas spirit - WE ARE FATHER CHRISTMAS??!! Parents are Christmas and that certainly didn’t hit me until I had kids.

Instead of big resolutions, I like to scroll through my phone and look at the highlights, and let’s be honest, the lowlights of the year too. Because by now we’re usually screaming “bring on 2026” and forgetting the small but important wins that quietly happened along the way.

Maybe you spent more time with your extended family. Passed a hard test. Got a promotion. Perhaps you survived your very first year as a mum. Learnt a new recipe. Or maybe you just managed to smile every day for at least a second.

Those photos help us remember the softer moments, especially after a heavy Christmas when everyone’s tired, overstimulated, and living on leftovers and Red Bull.

I don’t really do New Year’s resolutions like “lose weight” or “save money” (boring and booooooring). For me, it’s more this: I’m going to stop burning myself out just to feel like I’ve achieved something.

Burnout isn’t an accomplishment. Rest isn’t laziness. Surviving isn’t failing. And doing less doesn’t mean you are less.

So if you’re heading into the new year feeling tired rather than inspired, you’re not alone. Maybe this year doesn’t need big resolutions. Maybe it just needs a little more kindness towards ourselves and others...and possibly more tea.

Oh and I’m also starting ADHD meds this year, so weeee shallllll seeeeeee how that goes. I’m so over being mentally exhausted. My brain feels like old-school TV static with the black and white lines and horrid screeching, while everyone else seems to have the fun ADHD symptoms. I can’t even sit still to watch TV or fall asleep without doing something like knitting.

PS…we got a dog! I get mega broody when my kids turn one (hence why all my kids are two years apart). Olivia’s nearly two, and I’m definitely not having another baby, so a dog it was - HA! Her name is Doris, mostly known as Dory.

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The Hunting Wives
Girrrrrl!!!!! it’s smut essentially. Brilliant.
ITVX

Stranger Things
Love it or hate it, it is a great series and totally bingeable if need be. The finale dropped at 1am on New Years Eve - ICONIC!
Netflix

The Traitors Season 4
I’m obsessed. I always have been, and always will be a Traitors Stan. I really hope they give us another celebrities one too this year.
BBC1

How To Get To Heaven From Belfast
Definitely going to be watching this one. It’s a story of three women who attend the wake of an old classmate and they uncover a dark mystery. Light thriller with humour, perfect.
Out 18th January on Sky Atlantic

As Kyle and I discussed in our Don’t Touch It episode, Olivia has been upgraded to a Yoto Player from the Yoto Mini! We love the Yoto Mini so much and it comes with us when we travel, on sleepovers at Grandma’s, for music time downstairs and so much more!

The Yoto Player was the one thing we made sure to bring from the U.S. to Grandma’s house and then to our new home, as it gives the children a sense of consistency. They use it to listen to books and music, whether they’re off to bed and or playing with their toys. I truly believe it reduces their screen time and invites them to play more independently.

Use my discount code AFF-DONTTOUCHIT10 for 10% off your order! I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as we do!

Minimum spend £59.99/€69.99/$69.99/AU$129.99
Code can be used once per customer

*AD

It is FREEEEZING in the UK right now! Between school runs, forgotten gloves and radiators that never quite warm the house, staying cosy is the priority! Indoors, I’m living in cosy soft layers, big jumpers, fluffy socks and a cuppa (I know I say “Don’t Touch It!” but it’s that cold right now, grab it while the tea’s hot!).

So for all my fellow frozen peas, here are my top four products to keeping cosy at home…

Once you have it, you’ll never look back!

These are SO good on dog walks!

Great for keeping warm at your desk.

So soft and snuggly.

I know we’ve all gotten used to hibernating indoors over Christmas, but when we do eventually venture out for the school run, work, or just life, it’s all about wrapping up - cosy coats, snug scarves, and super soft comfies.

I still can’t believe I started a podcast this year - WILD. Go me! From February I’m going weekly, and I’ve got a YouTube channel just for the podcast. It would honestly mean the world if you subscribed. You’ll get weekly episodes plus some bonus vlogs!

My first guest is a soon to be mum of 3 and honestly one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. We laughed so hard filming this episode. Any guesses to who it could be? 

Only a few tickets left for my live event! Grab them while you can. I can’t wait to drink tea, chat, laugh and sing with you all. To those who have brought tickets, I am overwhelmed with excitement to meet you! My goal for 2026 is to be WITH you more, and this event is just the beginning…

Looking back at Don’t Touch it 2025…