Comments on: The Little Book of Hygge, toddlers, and relaxation

By: Marie

Marie — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 20:18:19 +0000

As a Dane, I think ‘hygge’ is something that is quite hard to define. I’ve been thinking about it since my Indian colleague asked me what hygge is. I would describe hygge as having a good time that is not up-tempo. You can have a hyggelig night out if you go to bar and chat over beers or wine; going to a night club and dancing the night away is not hyggeligt.
About the candles: which candles do you have as your normal candles? In Denmark, we use tealights a lot and we keep them in holders outside the reach of small children so they can contribute to the hygge without the risk of fire.
Laura, if you need advice regarding travelling in Denmark and to Legoland, please get in touch – I would be happy to help you.

By: Hodge Podge: The Danish Thing | A Spirited Mind

Hodge Podge: The Danish Thing | A Spirited Mind — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 17:46:14 +0000

[…] Laura Vanderkam’s review of The Little Book of Hygge (which I have not read) […]

By: Barb

Barb — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 20:56:55 +0000

As a second-generation Danish-American, I’ve learned that, like love, hygge cannot be created, it sneaks up on you. And if you have a toddler awake, all bets are off. Your best chance for hygge is when he falls asleep in your lap to the hum of storytelling, or in 17 years.

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 18:58:17 +0000

Heh I do find it a LITTLE funny that you are complaining (light-heartedly, I realize) about an author forgetting that people might have toddler since one of the main criticisms I’ve seen (and share) of your books is that you forget not everyone has so much money. Privilege of a different sort, I suppose!

By: Rinna

Rinna — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 14:57:32 +0000

In reply to SHU. @SHU - you decided to go for a third??? (I also read your blog so knew that you were thinking about it.) Woohoo! Hope it goes well.

By: Sonya

Sonya — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 14:35:42 +0000

In reply to lauravanderkam. If only they could put as much creativity into creative writing assignments as they put into complaining, homework would be a lot less painful! Along with the lifesavers, my other big trick for complaints is deaf ears and distracting their attention to anything that might be remotely interesting. They reach an age when they are big enough to suck a lifesaver and still keep talking! :)

By: Sonya

Sonya — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 14:30:56 +0000

In reply to ARC. I learned this trick from my mum. There's a reason why the stereotype of grandma's with a purse full of peppermints exists! :)

By: Cate

Cate — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 09:33:00 +0000

In reply to Jennie.

LOVE that book! 🙂

Seems that a book on hygge for toddlers is just begging to be written! I bet the Danes are experts at toddler taming, the very though of entertaining tiny ones through wild winters with only 4 hours of daylight…

By: Marcia (OrganisingQueen)

Marcia (OrganisingQueen) — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 06:16:43 +0000

With Hygge as with everything time management or life really, expectations are everything.

If you lower your hygge expectations to 15 – 20 minutes at a stretch, there are easily ways to incorporate hygge with younger kids.

Cuddling under the blankets for a story, having some hot chocolate, watching 10 minutes of a movie, sharing a yummy treat.

I remember people asking when my twins were little how I got so much reading done and I said, “I’m prepared… always…. and I take any time I can get”. Granted, not easy to sink into a novel for 15-minute stretches but when the toddler is occupied next to you on the bed, take what you can get.

By: Marcia (OrganisingQueen)

Marcia (OrganisingQueen) — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 06:13:22 +0000

In reply to Jennie. Jennie, I loved the year of living Danishly. It was my last book of the year for 2016 and I happened to listen on Audible so the English accent was a special little delight :)