I guess Florence has got to an age now where she is discussing things at school and she obviously comes home with questions derived from those conversations. ‘Is Father Christmas real Mummy?’ was bound to come up at some point and this, while she is just about to turn 8, is the year. My answer? ‘Well of course Flobo, of course he is real…’ I want her to keep the magic so why would I answer in any other way?! Though it’s not as simple as that is it?!

When she has had a seed of doubt put in her head what can I do to reassure her that she is still young and definitely doesn’t want to grow up too fast? Well I tell her what my parents told me, that if she believes, then he will come to her and that the reason these other boys and girls don’t believe anymore is because they have lost their magic and of course that can mean only one thing, that Father Christmas can’t visit them anymore. I tell her that Father Christmas STILL comes to me because I am a believer – and I am. I say it with conviction, I say it with meaning and I say it with gusto because I want this magic to last us a lifetime and if it can’t do that then I want it for as long as possible. Thankfully my little girl still believes and our magic is retained. I like this. I like that she isn’t running at life and wanting to be too big too soon… Why would anyone want that?!

My friend from Mummy Endeavours has a 12 year old who is very mature yet she is still very definitely a little girl. Wise and sensible and totally fashionable but she is still young and still hasn’t gone past that point into teenager-dom. I want Florence to be like her and for now, that magic to be kept in tact thank you very much! And thankfully Florence thinks the entire Mummy Endeavours crew are super brilliantly cool and wants to be just like them so I feel very lucky to have such good friends!

Sometimes in front of  her pals she pretends to be bigger, more grown up, sassier… And this is fine too because like in the film ‘About A Boy’ when Hugh Grant says ‘sometimes you just need a bit of camouflage’ sometimes you do just have to fit in, but… I like that when she comes home she is 7 nearly 8 and wants to be just that. She plays with dolls, she curls up on my lap, she believes in Father Christmas, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny… the lot! And SO SHE SHOULD! Because it’s good to keep the magic!

I love this about Florence and I love that this week she has been playing with a Lottie Dolls stable, horse and doll because like her this is a doll that doesn’t want to grow up too fast and this is a doll that little girls (and boys) like mine might like to ask Father Christmas for because we totally give it the thumbs up! I love that the Lottie Dolls are not too grown up, not too made over and not too glam. I love that they are girls just like my girl and I suppose that’s why the charm of them has captured Florence!

Lottie Dolls have a great philosophy, they say that they recognise how precious childhood is and in the face of growing pressure – from a variety of sources – how short it can be. They dream of a safe and uncomplicated place where kids can be kids, where the great outdoors is there for the exploring, where curiosity-led discoveries are a daily occurrence, where the imagination can run wild and where the only limit is bedtime and their vision, when they first created Lottie, was to develop a range of dolls that would empower children to be them-selves, to be imaginative and adventurous and – most of all – to have fun. They believe that childhood should be an inclusive place where every child belongs regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability. And have made it their mission to do their bit – no matter how small – to protect childhood.

I am SO with them on this one and so very definitely think that if you’re looking for something to ask Father Christmas for this year, then a Lottie Doll should be high on your list!

We also think they are very beautifully made and LOVE the details to the stable! Well done Lottie Doll – long may you, like Father Christmas, last!

This set was gifted to us.

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