We have had a horrific few nights with the girls – not only is Neve sleeping badly as usual, but her sister has now started to tag team. Last night I don’t think any of us got to sleep until around 3am, and with Mike heading off to the office in the morning whilst I have the somewhat luxury of staying at home (albeit with a teething baby), I cant help but feel a little guilty!

Looking at us both in the mirror this morning, we are a bit of an advert for not having children. Our hair is dry, our skin is grey and we could both do with a bit of a pamper. It has taken a while for Mike to get his head around the fact that pampering is not just for women, but over the last 10 months since Neve was born, I think I have actually convinced him that it’s ok for men to look after themselves too! The downside to this is that he now spends even longgggggggger in the bathroom than he did before!

We could both do with some much needed me time, so here are my plans to help Mike get the pampering that he needs without actually making him feel like he’s waved farewell to his masculinity (god forbid he shows the slightest element of sensitivity!)

Pampering for Daddies

• A close shave – for Father’s Day I treated Mike to a new razor, meaning that he can get rid of the stubble which seems to grow at an incredibly fast rate on his chin. I swear this man goes to bed clean shaven and wakes up with a beard, but there is nothing nicer than a clean shave followed with some aftershave or face moisturiser to make his face feel less tight and dry.
• Hand cream – there is something unbelievably relaxing about a decent hand cream – Mike used to work on the tools, and as such, the skin on his hands is nearly always dry and chapped. Massaging cream into your hands at the end of the day is amazingly therapeutic, especially when someone else does it for you! Needless to say that will most likely end up being my job, but at least it does my own hands at the same time!
• Face & Body Wash – When he gets home from work, getting out of his office wear and having a quick freshen up can instantly make him feel more human again, and far less snappy as a result. The Neals Yard Remedies Men’s Everyday Essentials kit not only smells amazing but includes an Purifying Face Wash to leave him feeling refreshed and re-energised, whilst getting rid of the grime and dirt that can build up during the day, especially when he’s visiting building sites or warehouses!
• A long bath. These days both of us are lucky if we get to sit down long enough to have a relaxing bath, and even then, it is normally shared with a wriggly baby, a splashing toddler or a mechanical flashing mermaid toy. We  have promised each other that at the weekend, we will take it in turns to have 30 minutes of pure uninterrupted bliss and have a soak in the tub. For me this is likely to feature candles and a bit of Heart FM, where as for Mike, a decent body wash and football on the radio is probably more realistic.
• Finally, do not under estimate the Jammies. There was  a time when even the prospect of putting on pyjamas would have made Mike look at me like I had lost the plot and laugh hysterically. However, after the Alder Hey Charity Family pyjamas we had at Christmas, Mike is now a total convert. There is nothing quite like getting into a pair of baggy lounge pants or pj bottoms to chill out in when (or should I say IF) the kids are finally in bed.

Does the Daddy in your house ever get to pamper? Would he laugh at the prospect?

What other tips would you try?

*This is a collaborative post*