Christmas with the Shaws
As we head into the festive season, we had the pleasure of chatting with mother of two and Micro Scooters ambassador, Samah Shaw. In this Q&A, we dive into the heartwarming traditions and joyous moments that make the Christmas holidays extra special for her family. Along with her husband and their delightful children, Spencer and Sienna, the Shaws embody the essence of a Kiwi Christmas with a unique blend of wholesome tradition and outdoor excitement!
Have a read and go follow the Shaws on Instagram at @ohmyshaw_ 😍
Micro: Happy holidays, Samah! First off, tell us a bit about your gorgeous family.
Samah: We are the Shaws, living on the North Shore. We have two children, Spencer just turned five years old, and Sienna is almost two and a half years old. They both love to swim, going to the beach, and generally being outdoors at every chance they get. We love to travel all over the world as a family, and experience other cultures. Both Spencer and Sienna have their own niche activities they enjoy too – Sienna is a huge fan of dancing and Spencer is really getting into his parkour.
Micro: Christmas is fast approaching! What do the Shaws love about Christmas?
Samah: All the family time – work and school finish up and we have a lot more quality time to spend together. The kids (and the parents!) love cruising down to streets where they have their houses lit up with all the Christmas decorations. It’s so magical and instantly gets us in the spirit, feeling joyous.
Micro: What are the Shaws doing this Christmas?
Samah: Very traditional – family and friends get together where we eat too much and try and have a quiet afternoon outdoors. This will consist of either going to the park or sitting by the pool, concluding in more food and hopefully a big sleep!
"The kids (and the parents!) love cruising down to streets where they have their houses lit up with all the Christmas decorations. It’s so magical and instantly gets us in the spirit, feeling joyous."
Micro: Do you have any specific family traditions that make Christmas extra special for you?
Samah: We’ve got a few – but our favourite quirky ones are; taking our annual Santa photo wearing matching pjs, leaving cookies and milk out for Santa – and reindeer food for Rudolph. Most of all – the kids LOVE their Elf on the Shelf friend, Ziggy. He comes by every December 1st and moves around all month, leaving small treats, activities, and silly antics that he gets up to. They look forward to it all year! I have a highlight on my Instagram for those wanting ideas – they’ve been very useful to look back on too.
Micro: Does your family enjoy getting outdoors during the holiday season?
Samah: We love our Christmas summer season and look forward to it all year. The kids don’t have school so we have the freedom to enjoy as much sunshine as we can outdoors. If we’re not in the pool, we’re having Micro Scooter races at the park with cousins, or finding ramps to scooter down.
Micro: What Micro Scooters do you have?
Samah: We currently have the Mini Micro Deluxe which is a 3-wheeler and a great introduction to balancing for younger kids. Both of our children love taking turns on this – and perhaps Santa is bringing us one more for this season so they can have one each! It’s a great incentive to be outdoors and enjoy some good ol’ Kiwi Fun in the Sun.
Micro: What have Spencer and Sienna got on their Christmas wishlists this year?
Samah: Ideally Sienna would love a unicorn, but I think Santa is going to have to settle for a figurine instead. Spencer is after a water soaker gun and some water balloons.
"If we’re not in the pool, we’re having Micro Scooter races at the park with cousins, or finding ramps to scooter down."
Micro: Any secret holiday hacks that help make your holidays run a bit more smoothly?
Samah: Filling up the kids’ backpacks with arts and crafts, some balloons, and small toys – so when they get bored, they can dive in there and always find something to do. Also, always having snacks on hand, no matter where we go. You’d be surprised how many arguments can be solved by a bag of Tiny Teddies!
Micro: Any final hot tips for other young families wanting to bring some extra special Christmas joy to their holidays this year?
Samah: Get your Christmas decorations up as early as possible so you can prolong the holiday spirit. For us, Christmas doesn’t just fall on the 25th of December – it’s a month-long event. You can always find free local events and activities online by joining community social pages.
