Take Five...

SOCIAL work assistant Janine Scrivens is currently on maternity leave, looking after her two-year-old daughter Daisy and son Finley, who turns one on Sunday. The busy mum, from Leek, is married to education development consultant Joe, who is 31.

JANINE Scrivens is one of those people who makes motherhood look effortless. Calm, smiley and patient, she enjoys spending time with her two children but also makes sure she and husband Joe have time to themselves.

The 30-year-old says: "I love being with Daisy and Finley, and sometimes I get up as early as I can in order to get all my jobs done before they wake up – just so I can devote as much time to them as possible.

"But the evenings are mine and Joe's. We have a strict bedtime routine for the kids, which means they are fast asleep by 7.30pm every night. And we're so lucky, because even when they're poorly they sleep straight through – we never get disturbed.

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"This means Joe and I can spend quality time together every night, relaxing, watching television and doing silly things like playing cards."

Daisy has been attending Buckingham's nursery in Leek part-time since she was 11 months old, and a few weeks ago Finley started attending a couple of days a week, ready for when Janine returns to work.

She says: "I do miss them when they're there, but it does give me a bit of time to myself. Recently I've been able to decorate the house, which although isn't exactly relaxing, it does feel refreshing.

"We've put Daisy and Finn in the same room, and have decorated it in Toy Story style, meaning Joe can have the spare room as his office. We've also redone the front room and have updated our family pictures on the wall, Joe is a really good photographer, which looks lovely."

When the family is together, they enjoy spending time at Tittesworth Reservoir or Rudyard Lake. Janine says: "We have an annual pass at Tittesworth, and go about three times a week. Daisy and Finn play in the playground, and we walk down to the water before having a treat in the café. It's a lovely place to hang out as a family."

Janine also enjoys hanging out with other mums.

"I like going out in the evening occasionally with my friends. We might go for a meal or for a quick drink at the Quiet Woman.

"And even though our kids aren't with us we usually find ourselves talking about them!"

Janine is also not afraid of expanding her knowledge, and is hoping to sign up for a course at Leek College in the new year.

"I did a counselling course after Daisy was born, which I really enjoyed, and I want to do something arty this time. I think it would be a really nice way of having an evening to myself, and learning something at the same time."