Archive for August, 2010

submitted by Angel Conradie, a  mom to a teenage-almost-adult ADHDer,
author of the blog Angelsmind, maker of fabulous cupcakes
wedding planner, tattooed cat slave… come play on my rollercoaster!

This is a great idea to share. Good for us and the environment too.
My mom sent it to me. She got it from someone who got it from someone.
I’ve tried it and it’s even watertight.

1. Incision – cut RIGHT AT the NECK.

2. Stick the plastic bag up through the NECK of the bottle which you have just cut off, and put cap on.

Better than the plastic clips that you have to buy!

Other useful recycling plastic bottle links:
Things you can do with plastic pop bottles
Recycling Ideas For Plastic Bottles:

Jayshree Sita, mom to 2 gorgeous, lively kids, Amishka 9yrs and Vishen  5yrs.  She traded the glamorous life of a chartered accountant to become a teacher. She’s also an aspiring writer and artist who is passionate about self-development and keeping her family happy.

I have just put the phone down after chatting to a wonderful friend and began to ponder, what makes her so wonderful? I don’t see her too often because we are both very busy with our own families and work, and we only chat telephonically about once a month. We know each other since we met as nursery school moms outside the school gate about 5 years ago.  So, how do I conclude that she is wonderful?

Well, she is extremely honest, open and sincere. She shares things directly from her heart, and trusts me to be caring in my response.

In our conversations, she listens with patience and attention and always has an encouraging, if not inspiring word for me.

When we chat, the topics may be simple, but there is a great depth of reflection on our life experiences. For example, we talked about her little boy who got very ill and had to be taken to hospital. Thankfully he is now better. What she shared with me was how this experience made her reach deep inside herself to connect with herself spiritually.  This led to my sharing my own recent need to find my spiritual strength and how I am faring on this journey.

She has a truly optimistic perspective on her life and the world, despite the fact that she has experienced many hardships in her life.  Warmth and good cheer are her constant companions.

She gives me motivation and moral support to follow my dreams.  I cherish her sincere words of support, which are like life-giving rain to the seeds of my dreams. She inspires me to be a better person.

I admire her as a woman who is progressive, yet has respect for the traditions of the past. She values her family greatly and always has time for the elderly as well as the young ones. She is a successful self-made business woman, and also has a wonderful partnership with her husband. She is devoted to her children, yet balances her needs to be an individual. She is both glamorous and humble.  She is extremely intelligent and worldly wise with an amazing knack to connect deeply with most people. She has used this strength to carve herself a very strong niche in the business world.  All these qualities make her a wonderful role model to those around her, and I would love my daughter to be influenced by her as a very special “Auntie” figure.

Mostly, she makes the time to actually talk to me, and have a conversation that is meaningful, despite having lots of other things demanding her attention.

Before our conversation this afternoon, I was feeling a bit under the weather and just feeling myself sorry. But now, here I am writing this reflection which is making me feel pretty awesome and special wonderful  friend!

by Fiona Ingram, a  South African writer who loves books, travel, animals, antiques, and adventures of all kinds! Read Fiona’s author site and find out about her recently published children’s adventure novel

The theatre production of Jock of the Bushveld will open at  Joburg Theatre this week. There’s also an animated full-length  3D  feature movie in the making. For those of you who haven’t read this well loved book,  let me tell you something about this wonderful children’s book.

Jock’s History

Jock of the Bushveld is a true story by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, recounting his adventures in the Lowveld in the late 19th century, with his dog, Jock. The book tells of Fitzpatrick’s travels with his dog, Jock, during the 1880s, when he worked as a storeman, prospector’s assistant, journalist and ox-wagon transport-rider in the Bushveld region of the Transvaal (then the South African Republic). Fitzpatrick later recounted these adventures as bedtime stories to his four children. Rudyard Kipling, a good friend of Fitzpatrick, also took part in these storytelling evenings and eventually persuaded him to collect these tales in book form. Illustrations for the book were done by Edmund Caldwell, a brother of Mary Tourtel, creator of Rupert Bear.

The book was first published in 1907 and had an extremely warm reception, being reprinted four times in that year alone. Since then it has achieved the status of a classic South African book and has been also widely read abroad—more than one hundred editions have been printed and it has been translated into Afrikaans, Dutch, French, Xhosa and Zulu, amongst others. Jock was saved by Fitzpatrick from being drowned in a bucket for being the runt of the litter (he would ruin the litter if left with them). Jock was very loyal towards Percy, and brave.

Sir Percy’s History

Eventually after five years of transport riding, tsetse fly infected all Sir Percy’s oxen and he was ruined. He walked penniless into Barberton, all the way from Louw’s Creek, found a job and also a wife, Lilian Cubitt, whom he married. After that Sir Percy relocated to Johannesburg and was then employed by the Johannesburg mining group, the Corner House. He gave Jock to a friend of his, who in time gave the dog to a trader who had a store in Mozambique at a place known as Old Pessene. There Jock was killed one night when he rushed out to attack a stray dog that was raiding the fowl run. Jock killed the thief but was then shot when his master mistook him in the darkness for the other dog. Jock permanently lost his hearing when a kudu cow kicked him. Loss of hearing is attributed as one of the main reasons he died, as he could not hear Tom Barnett when he called him, and was mistakenly shot, because he was thought to be the dog killing chickens on the farm.

Jock was an English Staffordshire Bull Terrier. There is a statue of Jock in front of the City Hall in Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Jock at the Movies

The 3D animated feature film of  Jock of the Bushveld is in the initial stages of production, with 26 artists, animators and technicians busy in their Johannesburg studios. Some 59 scenes have already been completed using the latest computer-assisted animation, and soon the project will be marketed abroad. Another big scoop is the involvement of some big names in the entertainment industry such as musical writing superstar Tim Rice, and local singers Johnny Clegg and Nianell. A major coup for the filmmakers is Archbishop Tutu’s involvement. He’ll be lending his sonorous voice to a small but key part involving spirituality.

An important part of the movie marketing plan is to focus on education in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, which is the setting for Jock’s story. Corporate sponsorship will contribute to community upliftment and awareness.

Books vs Movies or Theatre

Kids love movies of books, and sometimes see the movie first. Although parents may worry that the movie is a substitute for the book, this is generally not the case. It’s a golden opportunity for parents to suggest that they add to the enjoyment by getting the book/s. Similiarly with the theatre production. Parents can encourage their children to get onto the computer and look up everything they can possibly find about the movie, the plot, the characters, the actors—it’s all reading, whether in book or electronic format. Once hooked on a great book, any child will return to that beloved adventure time and time again. I will be seeing the show next eweek and doing my review.  So watch this space for more

Kerry Haggard is mom to Daniel (5) and Matthew (2), the two most beautiful boys that ever there were. She spends her weekends hunting the suburbs for that elusive combination: a restaurant with good food where her boys can play without breaking the furniture and crockery. Follow her on Twitter: @KerryHaggard

As a point of principle, a while ago I refused to go to the Twigs restaurant at the Garden Centre on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue at the lower side of Rosebank – even though it has one of the nicer kiddies’ playgrounds in a restaurant near my home. The food was good when they got your order right, but the service was indifferent at best and shocking at worst. Apart from my own bad experiences, I could no longer deal with my husband’s grumpiness about the place, as it was his orders that they seemed to mess up the most.

So when I saw that the restaurant had changed to munch, I took a deep breath and arranged to meet my friend and her grandlets there on Saturday afternoon. What a pleasant surprise!

The covered patio now goes around two sides of the building, and the décor is mostly white with touches of lilac. All very elegant, and very Parktown North. The menu is much smaller, but I think that allows the chef to be more focused. The hamburgers are still to die for, the roasted butternut and beetroot salad special was hearty and tasty, and my friend’s fish and chips looked outstanding. They still have the pizza oven, and although pizzas are not on the menu, it seems that they have pizza specials each day according to inspiration or available ingredients.

Munch also has a kiddies’ menu, with classics like toasted sarmies, fish fingers and baby pizzas (which looked big enough to satisfy my appetite) – basic food, but the kind of food that little people love.

The staff are interested, attentive and friendly, although it took a lot of waving to attract enough attention to get the bill.

Main courses for adults are between R50 and R70 per plate on average, while the children’s food is around R30 per portion.

The good: The playground has been updated a bit, and is still a huge hit with the littlies.

The bad: There isn’t a bad – we had a great time, ate good food, and look forward to going back.

The ugly:  You need to use loos which belong to the GardenShop nursery.  They are  dingy, dark and far away from the restaurant, and there are still no changing facilities to cater for littlies with junk in their trunk.

Click here for more info about munch

by Lihle Z Mtshali, the mother of an awesome daughter and columnist for the Sunday Times.   Find her on twitter @lihle_z

I would tell them that people who work for the government, which includes teachers, are on strike because they want to be paid more than they’re being paid now, so they can live a better life. But unfortunately when they strike other people suffer because nurses are on strike, too, and so there is no-one taking care of patients at hospitals. What is fortunate is that there are ordinary people who are willing to go to hospital to help take care of the sick people.

by Joy Dembo, married, with an 18 yr old son and a 25 yr old daughter.  Recruitment Response Handling Consultant and Freelance Copywriter, vegetarian and animal lover.  Here’s her blog.

I would make it clear to a child that if there was no exploitation, there would never have been a need for unions, collective bargaining and strikes, in the first place.  By the same token, I would explain that sometimes workers make unreasonable demands and then try and bring companies, Governments etc to their knees by striking and causing chaos and loss of production. I would make it clear that you cant just down tools to get what you want! You must have a valid gripe before you can consider striking.  I would also impress upon them the need for compromise on both sides, during negotiations, much like negotiating a bed time, or how much TV they are allowed to watch. In short, I would explain that “downing tools” has a place in the labour market, but only if  it’s organised and legal, AND only if the strikers are not providing an essential service. If the police and medical sectors strike en masse, lives will be lost and that’s not ok!

by Sue Maher,  a high school maths teacher, married for 11yrs and  mother to two delightful little girls, Leanne in grade 2 and Allison in grade 0.

I tell my kids that the teachers would like to get paid more and they are allowed to strike. This means they can stop working because they are having a disagreement with the government.  They are not, however, allowed to hurt anyone or break anything. Those teachers who are behaving very badly are not doing what one is supposed to do when one strikes. As a teacher, I feel that the  strikers who are behaving very badly  are losing credibility with their students.  How do you behave like thugs and when the strike is over walk into your classroom and expect your students respect you?

by Jeanine Ozrechowesky, PR consultant and passionate mother to 2 16 yr old twins, Gabyu and Nina. Find her on twitter @JeannineOrz

I tell them that there are many sides to the story. That the civil servants do deserve more money but that their behaviour is unacceptable. That the government should get its priorities right and pay the people whose services we need the most, the salaries they deserve.

By Jacqui Janse van Rensburg who has lived in Johannesburg all her life. In her 42 years she has been a daughter, a sister, a wife, a girlfriend, an employee and is a CFO, but at last she can celebrate being a MOMMY! You can find her on twitter @JaxJvR

I am doing a collection of premmie baby stuff to drop off at the Netcare Hospital that has taken in the 60 premmie babies because of the strike. They need clothes, nappies, bum cream, dummies etc. email me at Premature60@gmail.com and we can arrange drop off/collection times, then I am taking it through on Sunday.

What motivated me to do this, my story:

Matthew was born 5 weeks premature. The night before the caesarean, the nurses took me on a tour of the Neo Natal ward, so that when I saw Matthew in the ward, I would be more used to the idea, and fore warn is … How ever the saying goes.

I was horrified, and clutched my bulging tummy as I walked around and saw all those tiny little bodies, looking like little plucked chickens, with tubes, drips, breathing apparatus, their desperate parents sitting next to them, exhausted, but full of love and hope.

I thank God daily that Matthew came out strong and healthy, and didn’t spend any time in the Neo Natal ward, much to the surprise and delight of all in the maternity ward.

So this morning, when I heard on 702 that 60 (SIXTY!!!!!) premmie babies had to be moved from the Helen Joseph hospital because of the strike, my heart broke all over again, and I have been in full drive mode!

The NetCare hospital that has taken in the babies (and their mommies) are not asking for a cent, but would appreciate any donations such as nappies, caps, premmie baby grows, gowns, etc.

So … I am volunteering to be the collection point for anyone that want to donate, and I will deliver to them on Sunday.

Send me an email to Premature60@gmail.com and I will let you know where you can drop off your goodies.

With a heavy heart, I ask you to please help me to help these little souls.

Jacqui

by Laura Allmayer,   co-founder of Journey2Joy, mom to two little people, compulsive blogger and twitter addict. When she’s not blogging  she’s planning baby showers and helping moms prepare for their new babies.

Earlier on today I heard a government spokesman say that schools are urged to sacrifice the September holidays to catch up!

I nearly crashed my car I was so outraged at the audacity of this!

Our children are being intimidated, abused and hauled out of their classrooms and the good old government seems to be doing the bare minimum to protect these children!  But they want the CHILDREN to sacrifice their holidays to make up time lost due to decisions made by UNIONS!

Seriously I have a good mind to open water hoses on dear  JZ and his gang of merry men!

What lesson are our children being taught by this strike? That when things don’t go their own way they can throw a tantrum, hurt people and it’s ok! That they do not need to consider the big picture and look at how things affect the world at large?

Aren’t these the things we, as parents, try and teach them NOT to do? Don’t we teach them that it is unacceptable to throw a tantrum or punch their sister when they don’t get their own way? Don’t we try and teach them about consequence and how their actions affect others?

I don’t doubt there are government employees who should earn more but then I know of private sector employees who are paid barely minimum wage. We all could do with more but we all don’t fight, destroy and spread destruction.

Something that also fascinates me is that all these people hell bent on fighting the government, all voted for the very self same government and will do so again when next we vote.

by Tanya Kovarsky mother of baby Max, a magazine editor, and 8-time Comrades Marathon runner. Aside from her family and friends, she considers chai tea, her Blackberry, running shoes, baby jogger, Grey’s Anatomy, Glee and Twitter among the great loves of her life. Follow Tanya on Twitter @TanyaKovarsky

What to shop for, how to sterilize bottles and what to pack for the hospital are important lessons for feeling like you’re organised and leading you to believe you’ve got the whole motherhood thing sorted even before you give birth. But there are so many things that are unwritten and unsaid before you have a baby that when the ghastly does come around, you either think you’re a freak because the book never said so, or curse at the world for not having told you (though if I had a rand for every time someone said “You’ll never sleep well again”, I’d have been able to employ a fulltime night nurse!).

So if I could tell new moms-to-be or new moms what they really need to know so they don’t feel completely freaked out and alone (compactum lists and birth videos aside), the list would look something like this:

-         You might battle with your new identity. You have a new job description, and it’s okay if it’s a challenging transition. No one goes from being a regular employer to a manager with huge responsibilities without difficulty.

-         You might not love motherhood at first. Bear in mind that loving your child and loving motherhood are two different things. You will probably get to love it, but it’s tough, and it’s okay not to want to shout about the joys of motherhood from the rooftops.

-         Your marriage might be challenged. With the hormones, added responsibility, fear, less time together and different ways of doing things, things could be a little tougher. I remember sobbing many times if my husband came home two minutes after he said he would, and shouting every swear word I knew. In hindsight, this was irrational (read: childish), but at the time, it felt like things were falling apart.

-         You might not hang up those maternity pants (or anything elasticised) after you give birth. While you might have dreams of leaving the hospital ala Brooke Shields in designer jeans, your reality is more likely to involve big-waisted pants, along with a large T-shirt to go over your sore, melon-like boobs. Many months later, and I’m still not sure how that extra flap of stomach skin that one develops during pregnancy is supposed to disappear, ever, without the help of a nip or tuck.

-         You’ll probably feel kak for a long time. Between the dark undereye rings, your untouched hair roots, and the still-to-be-shed pregnancy weight, you might feel more D-list than A-list and more slummy mummy than yummy mummy.

-         You’ll be afraid. Very afraid. A lifetime of responsibility? Yikes! It’s very scary.

I wish I could say I had a matching list of how to get over the post-birth woes, but I don’t. What I do know is that it helps to know some stuff is normal, and that other new moms everywhere are wearing their baggies, losing sleep and fighting with their hubbies about whose turn it is to change the poo nappy. But just like a baby’s stubborn wind, it does eventually pass. Seriously.

provided by Matthew Ballenden, dad to Isabella & owner of the Fresh Earth Food Store, an organic health store and vegetarian restaurant with a  great online store.  Visit their website to find out more.

Good nutrition can play a complementary role in a child’s treatment. When a child’s diet is balanced and healthy, his (or her) ADHD symptoms may be a little better controlled. Studies show that children with healthier diets tend to behave and perform better at school. Chances are that these desired effects extend to the home as well.

We suggest parents offer their children a variety of foods from as many food groups as possible at each meal or snack. By doing this, your child is more likely to get a better balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats—all of which the body burns at different rates.

Hunger surges can also create problems. A child who is hungry is apt to have more difficulty maintaining his concentration, frustrate more easily, and can become more irritable. Eating at regular intervals throughout the day helps keep tummies from growling and feeling empty.

Skipping meals and snacks may also produce low blood sugar levels. As a result, children are more likely to be cranky and moody. Foods that are especially high in processed sugars may spike blood sugar levels. Spikes in blood sugar may result in energy bursts and more active behaviors. Soon after the spike, blood sugar levels often fall resulting in sleepy, cranky, moodiness. This is sometimes referred to as the “spike and crash syndrome.”

A small percentage of children with ADHD have sensitivities to certain foods or food additives, such as colourings or preservatives. Eliminating these substances from the diet may improve the ADHD behaviours; however, before indiscriminately eliminating multiple foods, be sure to discuss any dietary changes with a physician and/or nutritionist. If your child eats a fairly good diet but could use some improvement, ask your homeopath about using a multi-vitamin supplement while you work on his/her nutrition.

Whilst it is usually thought of as a condition that affects children, there are also a significant number of adults who continue to show symptoms of ADHD. Diagnosis is usually by a doctor or educational psychologist. Teachers and parents are often the first people to notice symptoms.

ADHD is generally characterized by an inability to pay attention, being hyperactive and acting on impulse without thought for danger or consequences. Other symptoms may include:

Leaving projects or work unfinished

Fidgeting

Inability to sit still

Unable to follow instructions

Being clumsy or accident prone

Not responding to discipline or rules or behaviour

Irritability

Reckless and unpredictable behaviour

The causes are uncertain, but there are likely to be chemical imbalances in the brain. Other contributory factors include diets high in sugar, food additives or stimulants, nutrient deficiencies, cigarette and alcohol exposure, maternal smoking during pregnancy, low birth weight, food intolerances and lack of Essential fats. The following dietary measures may help:

Avoid sugar – cakes, biscuits, sweets, fizzy drinks etc.

Avoid refined carbohydrates – white bread, white rice, white pasta, white flour etc.

Avoid artificial additives – sweeteners, colourings, flavourings, preservatives.

Eat small regular meals and snacks – to keep blood sugar levels stable.

Avoid foods to which you may be intolerant – wheat, dairy, chocolate and additives are common culprits in children. MSG, oranges, soya, peanuts, corn, yeast and eggs are also worth considering.

Include sources of Essential fats in the diet – oily fish, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and avocadoes.

Read other article on the Fresh Earth website

by Sally Shuttleworth , mother of Emily (6yrs) and Elliot (4yrs) highly values the support and advice of other mothers, since her mom died when Emily was 7 months old.  Sally co-owns  a company which manufactures and imports high quality baby/toddler products called Dizzy Dots. Visit their website here

You are not alone if you dread dinner time in your household. This is in addition to the general mayhem of trying to prevent the dog from getting the best bits (he knows just where to sit!), to trying to keep the bowl upright on the table.

Toddlers are meant to be picky eaters! Developmentally, they need less food in year 2 as their growth slows down. Sitting down for a meal requires focused attention that even some adults struggle with. They have woken up to the fact that they can make decisions, and have learned the word “no”.

Use creative tactics, and if you have a child that doesn’t eat very much, then every bite counts. Eating a bag of chips will affect how much he eats of the good stuff. Secondly, giving in to your child when you would rather he had eaten an apple, gives him the message that he can push you each time. So, he just says “no” to every healthy alternative until he finally gets what he wants.

Some ideas:

Dipping: Toddlers love to feed themselves. Put a selection of sauces into little colourful containers and dipping foods (chicken fingers, sausages, roasted butternut, halved tomatoes, eggs etc) and play a dipping game.

2. Drawing pictures: Use a plastic table cloth and allow your toddler to use his yogurt as paint whilst you spoon food into his mouth.

3. Change the environment : Avoid the high chair by taking a toy truck into the garden and get your toddler to drive it to each depot, loading a meatball at each point.

4. Reduce the juice : If you are giving your child juice with his or her meal, then cut it back. In fact, get rid of the sippy, non-spill cups with teats at mealtimes and stick to an open cup. The motion of drinking properly will also help strengthen your child’s jaw for chewing and speech development.

5 Your child won’t starve himself : If you say “no” to the one thing he wants to eat (like ice-cream) & move on to bath time, it won’t take him long to work out that if he doesn’t eat it, he doesn’t get fed.

6. Expect the unexpected : Toddlers need between 1,000 and 1,300 (good) calories a day, but they won’t eat this in evenly spread chunks. Aim for a nutritionally-balanced week, not a balanced day.

7. Offer a nibble tray: Put bit-sized portions of colourful food, such as thinly sliced apple or halved grapes, avocado pieces, carrot swords, cheese building blocks, egg canoes etc. so he can snack regularly. When a toddler doesn’t eat for long periods, it messes up his sugar levels and makes him grumpy, resulting in bad behaviour.

8. Loading: Putting nutritious, familiar favourites on top of new and less-desirable foods like building blocks is a way to broaden what he will eat.

9. Drink it: Blend a smoothie so he gets the nutrients without realizing it.

10 Respect tiny tummies : A young child’s stomach is the the size of his fist. So dole out small portions at first and refill on request.

11. Child-sized tables: Children are likely to sit and eat longer at a child-size table and chair where their feet touch the ground.

12. Let them cook: Children are more likely to eat their own creations, so, when appropriate, let your child help prepare the food.

The most important thing is to RELAX. A healthy and happy attitude towards mealtimes is so important. Take the stress away, and you may be surprised at how easy and fun it all becomes.