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Why Mother’s Day Means More To Me Now Than It Did Before
I wanted to write this post for last years mothers day, but as we all know, life just gets so busy and I put it aside. Now, that I get to experience yet another Mothers Day, I thought it high time I put pen to paper. Yesterday (the 11th of May, 2019), as we celebrated my son’s 2nd birthday, I sat watching my children run around and explore… busy, adventurous and with a zest for life that, I must admit, I wish I had. I sat there thinking about what their lives would have turned out to be; if I had died (I know this sounds depressing, but stay with…
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What I Want My Girls To Learn From Caster Semenya
Imagine the possibility of taking a sneak peak through the looking glass of your little girl’s future… not to see what she might become, what career path she may choose to follow, or who she may choose to love and share life with… but to anticipate some of the struggles and challenges she will face, some of the criticism she will endure, some of the opposition she will confront. Now take that little girl, with all her fanciful dreams and unbridled aspirations, and tell her about these struggles, challenges, criticism and opposition you’ve seen (for these things will surely come!). But what would you want her to leave that conversation…
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Why we should talk to our children about voting, X’sê!
As parents there are many topics we just never discuss with our children, especially when they’re younger. Perhaps because we think they’re not ready for it, or that they wouldn’t understand it; perhaps because we just don’t have the energy to explain, or to face all the awkward questions that may follow. With the General Elections on May 8th just around the corner, here are 5 reasons why we should talk to our children about voting. We have a voice… One of the most powerful aspects of democracy is that the voice of the people matter – and that it matters because the voice of every person matters. It’s not…
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If I Could Throw Tantrums Like A Toddler!
I find myself in somewhat of a predicament at the moment. You see, I have 3 primary school children and 2 toddlers. Well, one has just become a pre-schooler, but I don’t see any difference – yet! I find myself enjoying the school going children far more than I am the toddlers at the moment. I hide my head in shame! Shouldn’t I be enjoying every stage of every child? In a perfect parenting world right! Toddlers are, in my opinion, the craziest, messiest, most infuriating, emotionally unstable, unreasonable, frustrating, tiring little people you could spend time with… and couldn’t imagine your life without. – Stuff Moms Say And yes,…
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The Kids Gym opens in Cedar Square
An action-packed space for SA kids to get fit The number of South African children suffering from obesity doubled in six years, according to recent reports, with the country’s children at risk from poor nutrition and the sedentary lifestyles that have become synonymous with increased access to tables and other technologies. This is all in an environment where it’s just not safe for children to be sent to ‘go out and play’ unsupervised. The Kids Gym, now open at the centrally located and upmarket Cedar Square in Northern Johannesburg, is the answer for parents wanting to take their children to a non-competitive space that nurtures a love for physical activity,…
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Geocaching – Technology and 21st Century Fun
In this day and age, while technology rules the roost, getting our kids outdoors can be difficult. Surfing the Web on Ipads, “connecting” with friends through social media apps on smartphones, or (if you’re old-school) playing games on Xbox or PlayStation, often takes preference over getting out, running around, rolling on the grass and jumping in the pool. I for one don’t like seeing my kids stuck inside when they could be enjoying the great outdoors and making memories. I have nothing against technology, however, I do feel that there needs to be a balance between incorporating it into our daily lives alongside good old fashioned Gross-Motor activities. If you’re…
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Should I Be Sleep Training My Child?
I’ve come to the point where I seriously think I need help – sleep help? Do I? That’s the question I have been asking myself so much these past few weeks. I keep telling myself that it will all end soon. Doesn’t it? I never had to sleep train my older 4 children. My eldest 2 sons just slept through. I mean, they woke up early and that was fine, but they generally slept from 7 pm to 5 am. My 2 daughters slept well. They would feed, sleep until about 1 am, feed and sleep until 6 am. I’m totally clueless at this point! However, this last little guy…
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Mom Guilt vs Teacher Guilt
There are so many changes happening in my life right now… “Mom” choices I’ve needed to make… You know the kind; when your decision directly affects the life of your family in a way that goes beyond what the kids eat for breakfast. Its taken its toll on me, but I’ve had a few months to reflect on where I need want to be. Searching myself, figuring out what is important right now, and even confronting the sense of self-imposed guilt that comes with putting ‘self’ first. Let me tell you the story… We’ve been back in South Africa for just over a year and I haven’t been blogging that…
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Motherhood Isn’t Perfect, So Why Do Some Parents Pretend It Is?
I’m about to have a little rant, discussion (on motherhood)… I hope you don’t mind! The fact that some people think parenting can be perfect, baffles me! Seriously, it does. I read a post on Facebook the other day, which clearly stated that any mom can go shopping in peace, have enough good sleep, doesn’t need to cook with a baby in one arm and that a mother can even go to the toilet without disruption, and mothers who lament that they never have a moment’s silence, where buying into nonsense, and bullshit! Yup, it said that! This post basically said that mothers can do life without ever being disrupted?…
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What Type of Holiday Should You Choose With a Baby on the Way?
It’s becoming more and more popular for pregnant women to take a holiday (sometimes known as a babymoon) before their bundle of joy arrives. But how do you decide where to go on holiday? After all, you’ve got to be extra careful now, plus some of the more adventurous travel activities are out of the question. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you have to miss out. There are still plenty of options to choose from, and we’ve picked three of the best to get you started. Here are the holidays you could book if you have a baby on the way. Want some sunshine? Try a beach trip The world has…
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Teaching my children how to give back.
Living in a world that is saturated with self-glory. How can we as parents remind our children of the importance of giving back? I’m not sure if you all remember the alcohol craze that consumed Facebook a while ago? The NEK Nominations flooded social media – if you were nominated you had to down a drink of your choice, and then challenge others to do the same. It was around this time that YouTuber Brent Lindeque from The Good Things Guy decided to make a change. He encouraged us to change the NEK nominations to the RAK nominations. (Random Acts of Kindness) and turned a drinking challenge into a helping hand and inspired…
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From A Broken Teenager To A Doting Mom – My “rags to riches” story
As a kid I remember crying myself to sleep many nights. Not understanding why I didn’t have a father. Broken. My parents got divorced when I was very young, and consequently, my father was absent from my life until the day he died. I remember all too well watching my friends with envy at birthday parties, or sports days, or even just school drop-offs. To me, it seemed as if they had perfect lives… Simply because they had their dads there. I grew increasingly bitter and angry because I felt like a piece of my life was missing – a piece that should have been there like it was for…
