Parenting
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When is cow’s milk safe for my toddler?
My bully beef baby boy is growing so well, you guys! His budding personality and infectious giggles are the highlight of our day (Kari included!) and we love watching him grow into a real little boy. On his first birthday, I had begun to wean him off formula, introducing a growth milk slowly. My wallet enjoyed the relief! My Hubstopher appreciated the efficiency behind simply pouring, versus the mind-numbing time suck that comes preparing formula bottles in the middle of the night.
And then, the unthinkable happened. It was 11pm, on a Sunday night, and we had run out of growth milk. I don’t know, somewhere along the line, my spreadsheet brain forgot that we needed to stock up! Aaack! The shock! The horror! I knew that baby boy would be waking up soon, for his feed, and I had to make a plan quick!Enter: cow’s milk.
I must admit, I was going against what I thought was my better judgement. But I had no other choice. I decided to give the kid cow’s milk, hoping that his digestive tract wouldn’t, you know, explode on me. And guess what, you guys, he loved it. Granted, I had to mix a little bit of his growth milk with the cow’s milk (for the taste). But ever since that day, he exclusively drinks cow’s milk and his tummy has yet to show me the middle finger.
So, in true spreadsheet style, I decided to Google cow’s milk and whether I’m being the worst parent in the world, for giving a 14 month old milk from the udder of an animal. (So dramatic). Here’s what I found, you guys:
1. It’s high in protein and salt Cow’s milk has a high content of protein and salt, making it unsafe for infants under the 12 month mark to consume. It’s just not as easy for them to digest. But once your kid has had that first birthday, their digestive systems are mature enough to digest animal milk proteins.
2. Milk allergy is a real thing
Food allergy’s occur when your immune system tries to protect you against something that you may have eaten. Because your body is trying to work this foreign matter out, you are left with symptoms, which we would then recognize to be an allergy. Introducing your baby, too early, to cow’s milk could cause damage to the digestive system, resulting in milk allergy. Should you introduce cow’s milk to your toddler, and it doesn’t agree with them, the following are symptoms of a milk allergy: wind, bloating, diarrhea, stomach rumblings and aches, rashes around the mouth and chin, itchiness and swelling, vomiting and nausea.
3. Cow’s milk is amazing
Cow’s milk is a rich source of calcium and vitamin D, which helps to build strong teeth and bones, and is crucial for bone growth. Milk also provides protein and carbohydrates, giving your toddler all the energy he needs (you know, to jump on your couches and write on your walls with permanent marker…kidding!) Introducing cow’s milk to your child’s diet, as early as 12 months old is a great idea! This will set him up for a lower risk of stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and hip fractures later in life.
4. What about fat-free and low-fat milk?
Whole milks are preferred, when it comes to your toddler, unless a doctor has recommended a low-fat milk due to high risk for obesity. Kids need a higher fat content of whole milk, anyways, to help them maintain their normal weight gain. Whole milks also assist the body in the absorption of vitamins A and D.
5. Is there such a thing as “too much milk”?
Yes, yes there is. Giving your child more than 4 cups of milk a day may affect their diet, since the milk will keep them full. If your toddler is thirsty, offer water, but since your toddler should be eating soft foods by now, try not to offer a milk bottle too often. This is one of the reasons why I loved the switch! My kid wasn’t eating solids as often as I would have liked and it was because the growth milk (and formula) sustained him and acted as a meal replacement.
References:
Parent 24
Babycentre -
Moms, have you heard about the ‘Fiver Party’ trend?
What if I told you that “no gift parties” are the new in thing? Yes, I’m being serious. Okay, let’s start at the beginning. Hands up, if you’ve been to more kid’s parties in one year, than you’ve been to actual, grown up parties. In fact, taking your children to birthday parties is high up on the list of standard “things to do when you’re a parent”. But the thing is this, guys, it can get quite pricey if you’re attending copious amounts of birthday parties on the regular!
Well, one genius mom came up with the “Fiver Party” concept and it’s now trending in America and Canada.
A Fiver Party is basically a birthday party where all guests are encouraged to bring money ($5) towards a big ticket present that the birthday boy/girl’s parents would buy. Yes, you heard me Margaret. Instead of trekking to the shops to find that reasonably priced (but it doesn’t look too cheap, ya know?) gift, you can literally chuck some cash into a cute birthday card and take that along with you to the party.
Moms, all around the world, have expressed mixed emotions with regards to this concept. I mean, think about it. How would you feel about taking a R50 note to a birthday party, instead of a gift? Some are calling it tacky. Other’s say that it just doesn’t feel right to go with nothing but the cash. Other moms include cute stickers or a sweet treat, with the moola…. just so that it doesn’t feel empty.
But the vast majority love the idea! In fact, many of them are choosing to have Fiver Parties for their own kids! They say that their children have way too many toys already and it’s a brilliant idea to be able to put all the cash together to buy one big ticket item that the child really wants.
I have mixed emotions about it though. I mean, for starters, some moms just feel awkward about asking guests to bring money to their kid’s birthday party. But also, I really love the intention that goes behind every little birthday gift. My one friend made the cutest little bow-bedecked socks for Kari’s birthday last year. Another friend knew that she loves tutu skirts, and that’s what they got her. Kari was over the moon! Another friend gifted her with awesome reading books, that we’re still using today. I’m a sentimental at heart and I love that we can use these things and know that they were gifted with love.
BUT I’m not totally opposed to a Fiver Party. I love the convenience. It’s money smart (especially if the child is a bit older and is willing to save or invest the cash into something worthwhile). It’s also a great way to ensure that your kid isn’t focused on getting as much as possible… nipping that materialistic spirit in the bud. Besides who wants piles and piles of unused toys in their house, right? Your Fiver Party can even fund an experience (a trip to a cool destination or maybe an adventure that your child has always wanted to try).
Anyways, here’s where you come in, friends. What do you think about the Fiver Party concept? Let me know in the comments section below.
If you’re keen to host a Fiver Party, but not sure how to ask your guests for cash instead of a gift, you can use one of the samples below:
Sample 1
This is a NO GIFTS party, since we’re trying to help (NAME) focus on the joy of spending time with friends, rather than on receiving gifts. For those who would still like to bless (NAME) you’re welcome to gift him with no more than R50 that he can put towards something special he’s saving for.
Sample 2
Please note that gifts are not required. If you would like to give one, you are welcome to help (NAME) buy that big gift that he has his eye on. You can pop your card and cash gift into the gift box at the party.
Sample 3
This is a NO GIFTS party. Instead, (NAME) is proud to be able to raise money for his favorite charity. (NAME) will use half of the money collected to buy a small gift for himself and then donate the rest to (CHARITY NAME).
Sample 4
(NAME) is having a fiver party! She is saving for a (BIG TICKET GIFT) so if you choose to bring a gift, she would appreciate a R50 in a card.
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Your children are watching you
Your children are watching you. Yes, that sounds like the synopsis of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Ooooooooh.
Okay, my cryptic opening line may have you scratching your head and reaching for your phone to scroll through Instagram. Sorry, Candice. I was having a moment. But now that I’ve pulled myself towards myself, allow me to explain.
The other night I realised that my kids were watching my behavior. In a nutshell: one of my kids let slip that they could see how annoyed I was “the other day”. I literally did a double take, because, dude, I wasn’t annoyed on that day. Maybe it’s just my face. Seriously.
But it got me thinking: maybe my spreadsheet brain (aka the way I run my household) comes across as being annoyed or angry all the time. When, in retrospect, I’m just trying to get chores done so that we can all chill!
But what do the kids see?
What do they see when I’m annoyed with hubby (even though I’m low-key not thaaaat angry). Or when the lady bumps her trolley into mine at the supermarket, and I give her a death stare. Or when I come home from work, ready to vent and end up speaking so much nonsense about my co-worker because she deserves it.
What type of “normal” am I instilling in my kids?
I had this revelation a few years ago that as wives and women in our homes, we set the tone and the atmosphere, to a large extent. I guess this varies from home to home, so I can only speak for myself but I do believe that as a mom and wife, you have the power to manipulate the energy in your house. And your response to a situation is the best teaching tool for your kid.Last night, for example, “someone” (okay, fine, it was me) had forgotten to buy electricity (we have one of those box things). So we sat in the dark for like an hour. When the power shot off, I could feel that anger bubbling. Man, I was so pissed off at myself AND my Hubstopher, because he was meant to remind me to get the electricity token.
It was one of those moments of anger where I didn’t feel like caring what everyone else was going through. I just wanted to bathe in my anger, as if it were a bed of roses, and pretend I was Madonna.
But the atmosphere at home was already pretty somber, since we had to sit around and wait while Hubstopher drove around trying to find an outlet that was “online” to get the electricity token. And that’s when I had one of those “a-ha” moments where I remembered that I have the power to change the atmosphere in my home. This was a teaching moment. So instead of acting cray, I gathered my kids and we sang songs together. Literally, a whole karaoke experience, in the dark. It was the best time!
The night could have turned out so differently and I probably would have gone to bed hating on my hubby and knowing that my kids are walking on eggshells because mom is angry. Instead, they (hopefully) learnt a lesson in “taking da lemons and making da lemonade.” (Totally said that with a Jamaican accent).
Anyways, what’s my point? Well, I guess my point is that sometimes all we need to do is take a breath and ask ourselves: “how do I want this to turn out?” and “how can I positively impact the atmosphere in my home”. And, more importantly: “what do I want my kids to see?”
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Human trafficking: Should I be sharing my kid’s photos on social media
The child abduction scare has literally left our parenting community reeling and, to be honest, the frantic (false) voice notes and Facebook shares are not really helping us at all. As I’ve said before, I’m all for REAL news and information, but when you start spreading mass hysteria, you’re kinda not allowing people to make informed decisions. As a blogger I’ve been so aware recently with regards to the type of information I share about my kids online. Should I be sharing my kid’s photos on social media? It is with these questions in mind that I contacted three legit organizations – namely A21, STOP Human Trafficking and Missing Children SA – to find out what I should be doing to safeguard my children, online, against child abduction. They’ve given me some really great information with regards to human trafficking and social media.
Missing Children SA
Missing Children SA assists our SA Police Service in finding people that have been snatched, and strives to create a national awareness around abduction. One of the things I learnt through the org is that the first 24 hours after a person goes missing, is the most crucial. There is NO TIME to sit around and hope that they’ll pop up somewhere!Bianca of Missing Children SA agrees that Facebook is a dangerous platform since predators use these social sites to follow your routine. When posting to social media, avoid tagging your location or even where you’re going to, with your child. She says that posting photos of children could potentially put your child in danger, so make sure that your privacy settings are set in a way that only friends and family can see your posts. Make sure that you know everyone on your friend list! This includes Instagram! Block the weirdos. Having a great Insta following is not as important as potentially having a perv oogle at pics of your family. Bianca also recommends that you keep your under 18 away from social media. They don’t understand the potential dangers of it yet.
A21
A21 is probably one of the most well known nonprofit organizations fighting against human trafficking. The organization has one mandate: to free slaves and those kept in captivity, from bondage.I chatted with a representative from the org who explained that perpetrators sell online social media images online or use it to recruit children. She stressed, however, that abduction does not necessarily lead to human trafficking – children can be abducted for other crimes. “We have seen the past two years, through the Resource Line, that with the recruitment method, abduction was only 2% and false job opportunities stood at 62%. We are not ignoring the fact that children are being abducted, but we need to public to report it to the correct departments in order to take action,” she explained.
A21 hosts the National Human Trafficking Resource Line (0800 222 777) but you’re also able to contact the following organizations who assist with missing children, should you have a query or question: Childline, Missing Persons, Pink Ladies.
STOP (Stop Trafficking Of People)
Another non-profit, aimed at combatting all aspects of human trafficking within South Africa and Africa, is STOP (Stop Trafficking of People). The org aims to combat abduction and human trafficking through advocacy, raising awareness and victim support.Bertha Bresler of STOP shared such good information with me and really helped me to put things into perspective, when it comes to my child and social media. For starters, she reiterated what the rest of the ladies shared: it can be dangerous to upload pics of your child onto social media. Bertha says: “The thing is when someone is looking to exploit another human being they would look for different things that a normal person might not notice. So to me a picture of a baby is a picture of a baby it’s cute and that’s that. But to someone with ulterior motives, it becomes a “treasure hunt”. They would look at the background for clues, like landmarks. They look for logos that would give away where the child goes to school or where they play sport, even the malls they hang out at.”
Bertha mentioned the growing trend where parents hashtag their child’s whole name (freaky guys, I did this!) So basically we’re giving a stranger your child’s face and complete name, thus creating a false sense of familiarity, should the person meet your child in public. “Putting your kids name on the outside of their backpack is also a no-no,” says Bertha.
“When you put a picture of yourself, or your child on the internet you don’t really know what happens to it after that. And even if you do delete it it’s still on the internet, it’s basically impossible to erase something from the internet. People can save it or screenshot it and they can do with it whatever they want. There have also been cases that we have heard of where pedophiles have taken pictures that people have posted of their babies and/or kids and photoshopped it – turning it into a pornographic image.”
Some more tips from STOP:
1. Consider replacing any personalized items like rucksacks, lunch boxes and other items that visibly show off your child’s name to people they don’t know.2. Make up a family code word. If you’ve sent someone to pick up your child – they should be aware of what the code word is so they’ll know not to leave with anyone else. Or if your child is at a friend’s house and somebody or something is making them feel unsafe, they can call you and say the code word to you over the phone so you’ll know to get them out of the situation.
3. Say no to body secrets. When a child is sexually abused, they can often be told not to tell their parents about what has happened to them, and to keep it a secret between them and the abuser. Teaching your children to never keep ‘body secrets’ is important and they should know to tell you immediately if somebody has touched a part of their body and asked them to hide it from you.
4. Tell your child that if they are being followed or chased by somebody, to start running in the opposite direction to the car. This will buy them a few crucial moments as the car turns around.
5. If your child is feeling lost or unsafe, there is no guarantee that there will be a friendly shop owner or police officer around to help. Tell them to find a mother with kids if they are in danger or alone.
6. We often pass children having tantrums in adult’s arms. In fact, we’ve seen it so many times, a lot of us have become immune to it. Teach your child to scream out words that would alarm others can be very useful if they ever end up in a dangerous situation. Phrases such as ‘Who are you?’, ‘Help!’, ‘Leave me alone, I don’t know you!’ and ‘Where’s my mom and dad?’ will all arouse suspicion and alert others to the danger.
7. If a stranger tries to take them, tell them that all manners are out of the window – and they are allowed to hit, scream and make a scene in order to attract attention.
If you’d like to read more, Bertha recommends the following articles:
Pedophile Warns Parents
Protect Your Family From AbductionRight… so that was a lot of information to take in. I know that moms everywhere have formulated their own opinion about this topic, and hey, it’s your kid, do what you feel is best. But I sure am planning to take extra steps towards making sure I’m not putting my kids in a compromised position, on social media. How this will affect my blog… not sure yet! Will I find a way to still share about them, who knows. I don’t have all the answers yet, you guys. But I do know that my babies lives are way more important than a social media following.
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Human trafficking: Keep your kids safe from abduction
As I type this post, I am shook to my core. I mean, I am in no way an expert on human trafficking. But having just spent a good few minutes online, reading stories of child abduction, my world has suddenly become a lot more shakier. Human trafficking is on the rise in South Africa, yo, and woman and children are being targeted. Have you begun to educate your little one on what they should do if someone grabs them? Do you have a plan in place, to keep your kids safe from abduction? Are you also freaking out a little bit, on the inside? Allow me to reiterate: aaaack!
Okay, now that we’ve sufficiently settled down, friends, I need to tell you that we have to make sure that our small children know about the bad people who are trying to steal kids. Draw pictures, watch Youtube clips, act out scenarios, if you must! But this epidemic is something that is rife and we can’t ignore it any longer. I’ve read horror stories of attempted kidnappings in popular shopping malls – the children were literally right next to their parents, when it happened. I’ve watched video clips of a mom crying her heart out, as she talks about her little boy who is now missing for a whole month. I even did myself the disservice of watching clips, taken in rural parts of Asia, where a car simply stops in the middle of the street and someone jumps out, grabs a kid, and hops back into the car, never to be seen again. Yes, it has sufficiently freaked me out for the rest of my life.
We need to put a plan in place, that will help us to safe guard our children. This is what I found online:
A few safety tips for children:
1. When out in public, you guys, you HAVE to keep an eye on your children at all times. And not “across the road” kind of keeping an eye. Stay close to your little ones. Inspect your surroundings. Is anyone acting suspicious? Guys, we need to put our phones down (me, I’m looking at me, yes with my own eyes) and keep our attention on our little ones.
2. Teach your kids that its okay to be rude to an adult when they don’t feel safe. This includes shouting “NO!” and “STOP!” when they are feeling compromised. Heck, my child will punch you in the face if need be!
3. If your kid is a social butterfly, who may be comfortable talking to strangers, teach them that it is NOT OKAY to go anywhere with a stranger, without mommy or daddy’s direct permission. Children are generally very trusting and yes, they need to be taught this, you guys!
4. Have your child practice their scream, should they be in trouble. Have them take a deep breath and let out their loudest, deepest, most annoying “yelp”. Practice it at home.
5. Should your little one dissapear in a mall or public setting, begin shouting out their name and what they are wearing. Ask passersby to do the same and pass it on. At this point, everyone in the vicinity will know that the child is missing and what the child is wearing, thus drawing attention to the child and hopefully swaying the perpetrator.I am looking into purchasing a GPS tracker for my little ones. I’ve even considered getting one of those kiddies leashes. Have you guys thought about ways to keep your children safe from abduction and human trafficking? Please share your thoughts, tips and ideas with me in the comments section below.
Resources:
Protecting your child from human trafficking
Protecting your child from sex trafficking
Protecting your kids from abduction -
Ear piercing for kids: doing it right
So the great “when to pierce your kids ears” debate had me trolling the interwebs for hours. I mean, how else was I suppose to know whether my child is old enough to get her ears pierced?! Ear piercing for kids suddenly became a tad more complicated than I had initially thought it was. We sure do have A LOT of opinion about EVERYTHING. People seem to care a bit too much about how other people are raising their own children. And hey, I get it, who am I to speak? I have a blog and I tell you guys how I do things, right? Fair enough. But I’m not out here giving you the stink eye for not doing it the exact same way that I do. Who has time for that anyways? (Don’t look at me, I can’t even remember if I brushed my teeth this morning.)
Anyways, Kari is almost four years old and yes, I did not have her ears pierced when she was a baby. I just figured that she would be too little to understand the pain of a freshly pierced ear, or how to care for it. So I chose to wait until she asked for it. And even on the day of the actual ear piercing, I still wasn’t sure if she was ready for it… even though she had asked for “rings on her ears” pretty much every day for two weeks. How was I to know if the kid could handle it? Well, here’s what I did, you guys, and I feel very clever for doing it:
I pinched her ear lobes.
Yep, I know, genius. Somebody should call Carte Blanche immediately.I pinched the girl’s lobes while explaining that having her ears pierced will be a bit eina. She said she is aware of the pain and still wants rings on her ears please. I also explained that in order to get “rings on her ears” the aunty will be making holes in her ear lobes. She was like, bring it on mom! And then I explained that once the rings were in her ears, she would have to look after it. With bling earrings comes great responsibility. She nodded her head in anticipation. Okay, she was ready.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKwQzYZ3KM8&feature=youtu.be
Guys, I can’t say that I’m going to blow your minds with this but after investigating my options I actually preferred taking her to a good ol’ fashioned Sterns for the actual ear piercing. We were very blessed to know most of the staff at the store, so she was already at ease. (The lady in the vid is her aunty) I appreciate that both lobes were pierced at the same time and besides for the 5 seconds of “ouch!”, Kari was good to go!
So what am I trying to say? Is three years old the best age to pierce your kids ears? Should you rather go to a jeweler and not a professional piercer? Am I Super Duper Mommy – the best parent in the whole entire world – and everyone should bow down at my feet and feed me chocolate? Well, I mean, feed me with chocolate all you want. But no, I am not the best or the cleverest or the most knowledgeable.
The truth is: I know my child better than you do. And you know yours better than I ever will! And so, my dear friend, allow me to say this: Take all your mommy wisdom, add some practical knowledge to it and TA DAHH! You too can be a Super Duper Mommy, parenting YOUR kid the way YOU know best! So there you have it. No lecture. No “my way is the best way” monologue. Heck, I don’t even have tips for you this time around.
But hey, if you’ve come here for ear pierce tips, I’ll share some with ya:
1. Since baby’s immune system is still developing, it is suggested that you wait until they are atleast 6 months old before creating an “open wound”.
2. Rubbing ice on the ear lobe for 20 minutes will numb the lobe and reduce the pain.
3. If you want to be extra you could also get a dermatologist or pediatrician to do the piercing.
4. Ask your chemist about a topical medication that can numb the area.
5. It’s preferable to use surgical stainless steel initially since some people are allergic to certain materials (white gold etc).
6. Try to avoid swimming for a while after the piercing. Remember that it’s considered an open wound and can be prone to bacterial infections.
7. Keep the earring in for atleast six weeks after the initial piercing, to give the area enough time to heal.So there you have it. Drop me a comment below if you can think of any other shweeet tips or advice to pass on to other mommy’s who are thinking about getting their kids ears pierced.
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Cake smash alternative: First Birthday Paint Session!
Okay, so you’re a mom and you’re scouring the internet for ideas on how to document your little one’s first birthday. But for some reason, the idea of having your baby dig into a cake is just not appealing. That’s okay. You’re in a safe place, you can confess. Maybe playing with food is not your scene. Or maybe you feel like you need a fresh approach to the whole thing. Well, guess what, Michelle of Cutepix Photography now offers moms a first birthday cash smash alternative: The First Birthday Paint Session! You guys, I LOVE this idea! And yes, I know, the way I gush on and on about Michelle’s work is a bit dramatic. But trust me, it’s sooooo well deserved! She is super creative and I love that she thinks out of the box. I mean, her latest shoot with Jo was pretty darn sweet! Scroll down for proof.
I love everything about a paint session photo shoot, you guys! For starters, as I’ve said, smashing cake might not be your baby’s thing. In fact, Kari cried through out her cake smash shoot, because she did not like the texture of the cake on her hands. She would totally have enjoyed a first birthday paint shoot!
Jo really got into it. Once he had the paint brush in his hand, he somehow knew that he is meant to use it to paint on the canvas. (I told ya he’s a genius!) He loved messing around with the colors and, yup, ended up painting his hair. Messy, but it made for such great pics AND double score: messy play is such a great teaching tool anyways.
Michelles paint session package only costs R800. That’s a freaking bargain! Included in the package:
– A photo shoot of your kid painting. You get between 60 – 80 photos.
– She provides the canvas and paint. The paints are all non toxic and kiddie friendly.
– You get to keep the masterpiece at the end of the shoot (This is SUCH a brilliant idea for a gift!)
– At the end of the shoot, you can pop your kid into a bubble bath at the studio, for an extra little photo shoot, complete with baby and bubbles!
All for R800. Madness, I tell you!
If you’re not sure why I think it’s madness, please do have a look at the photos that Michelle took of my little ones. You’ll see that her work is quality. She also has a lot of patience which makes it easy for kids to be calm around her. I highly recommend her services! For more check out the Cutepix website. For bookings, please email Michelle directly. She is a busy lady so book your time slot asap!
(Clip note: Cutepix Photography is based in Nelson Mandela Bay)Other photo shoots Michelle has done for me:
Jonahs First Birthday Nautical Themed Cake Smash
Jonahs Newborn Pics
Cadbury Oreo Enrobed Party
Kari’s First Birthday Carnival Themed Cake Smash
Williams Family Photos
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936 Pennies: Discovering the joy of intentional parenting {Giveaway}
The thing about children is that they grow up so flippen quickly. I mean, one minute you’re staring down at your perfect bundle of joy and marveling at their newborn freshness and the next, you’re hunting down a bundle of – uh – poop, that your toddler has left for you in a misplaced nappy. It’s all fun and games really. But my point is that it goes by so quickly! How do you make the moments count? Well, for Jojo’s birthday play date I gave a few of my close friends a copy of Eryn Lynum’s wonderful book, 936 Pennies, and asked them to have a read through it and let me know if it’s given them new insight into how they parent their kids.
Eryn’s story
On the day of their baby dedication, Eryn and her husband were given a jar of 936 pennies. The jar contained a penny for every week they would raise their child until graduation, and they were instructed to remove one penny each Sunday as a reminder, placing it into another jar as an investment.At some point every parent realizes time is moving swiftly, and they ask themselves, How am I investing in my child? Through personal stories and biblical examples, 936 Pennies will help you discover how to capture time and use it to its fullest potential, replacing guilt and regrets with freedom. Meanwhile, your kids will see how simple choices, like putting the cell phone down and going on a family hike, will make all the difference. Together you will stretch time and make it richer.
Craft a family legacy in tune with God’s heartbeat as you capture a new vision for your children and learn the best ways to spend your pennies.
936 Pennies has been a great reawakening for me. I mean, I am one busy mama! I am involved with alot of projects and if I’m not careful, it can totally eat up all my time and leave nothing for my little ones. Are you like me? Maybe you’re not. Maybe you actually have all the time in the world (hahaha I know, right, that’s a nice dream) but you still don’t know how to make every day count. That’s okay. You’re not alone, my friend.936 Pennies encouraged me to find my own penny jar and fill it with 936 coins. As you remove a coin each week, you are weighted with the value of each day… you begin to realize that every single moment with your child is SO important! I mean, there’s only 936 weeks between birth and 18 years! It really helped me to keep things in perspective and to be intentional with the way I spend my time. Here’s what my friends had to say about it:
“This book is unlike anything I’ve read regarding the time we have with our children. The figurative weight of the jar is thought provoking and challenging, yet the author leaves one feeling empowered and not so overwhelmed that you feel like the task is impossible. The most insightful chapter is “Derailed” (side note, the chapter names are quirky and unique) because having a newborn is teaching me this lesson – I might plan my day but most days my baby daughter determines what I will get done and I’m beginning to embrace it. Lastly I found value that the author makes special mention of parents who have adopted a child.” Bianca Smith (Pictured with baby Emily here)
“What a shock to realise how little time we actually have with our children. This book his teaching me how to grab every moment and maximize the impact on my children’s lives. I will definately continue to use the things I have learned. I have never before had such a visual illustartion of time. (I didn’t actually start my own jar. But maybe I will) It’s such a good idea. I recommend this read for very parent no matter how old your kids are.” Cindy Charles (Super mom of 2 by birth and a 3rd by love)
“Being a new mother i did not think i would be able to relate to this book, but i do….. The author is very real and forth coming which i love. I love the fact that scripture echos her thoughts. I especially related to the part in chapter 7 where she speaks about her fear of her son having autism…. When my Eden was a few weeks old to me it looked like she does not make eye contact and other ” signs” of autism. It was a real fear and im afraid i infected my husband, but we prayed about it and it took some time but we have no fear anymore……It’s hard to describe in a few line. But this book opens your eyes and serves as kind of a weapon to intentional parenting.” – Erroline Davies (Mommy to little Eden)
Giveaway
What do you ladies think about the 936 pennies concept? Is it something that you’d like to try out in your own home? If you do purchase a book and give it a go, will you please drop me a comment or inbox to let me know how it’s helped you? Also, I have a few copies of the 936 Pennies book to giveaway! AAACK! Yes, I’m serious! I want to give a copy away to you AND a friend! To enter simply:
1. Make sure you’re following me on Facebook
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook
3. Like the post
4. Tag your friend in the comments section
5. Share for a bonus entry (not compulsory)
Winners announced on Facebook on July 31st. -
Jonah’s first birthday nautical cake smash photo shoot
Learning that I was pregnant with our Jo came as a huge surprise. Let’s just say he was the sweetest surprise, out of all our surprises (another post, for another day). So when it came to celebrating his first birthday, I knew without a doubt that I needed to do a cake smash session with Michelle of Cutepix. Do you guys remember that Michelle took Jo’s newborn pics and Kari’s carnival themed cake smash? Anyways, I chatted to Michelle about having a first birthday nautical cake smash session and was THRILLED to hear that she still sources and makes all the props for the shoot AND she makes the cake. Seriously, all we had to do was rock up and smile. The result? Priceless! Check it out:
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First birthday party alternative: The birthday play date
Now while I love my fat cheeked child very, very much, I did not have the energy to plan an elaborate first birthday party for him. I mean, as I’ve asked before: Is a first birthday party really necessary? Yes. The answer is yes. Any kind of party is necessary, in my books, because: PARTY. But while I do love me some cake, I did not want to have your typical party for Jo for a number of reasons. Enter: The birthday play date. Combining the festivities of a party with the chilledness of a play date was the exact way we wanted to celebrate Jo’s first birthday. Here’s how it all went down:
The invite
I messaged a few close mommy friends (whose kiddies are 1 year old and under) and asked the pair to join Jo and I for his birthday play date. It honestly didn’t make sense to invite older kids since I wanted Jo to have fun with little ones his age. A 3-year old and a 12-month old plays differently, if you know what I mean. Anyways, I told the moms to expect a morning of chilling out and having fun with their little ones. Aint nobody got time for make up and heels.
The decor
What decor? Hahaha. Kidding. Remember I said that Jo went for a first birthday cake smash? Well, we converted a room in our home into a play room and used the cake smash pics to decorate it. We filled the room with toys and gadgets that would be suitable for kids his age. You’ll spot the Baby Womb World baby crawler in one of these pics (it’s gorgeous, I’m sharing more about it next week!) and the An African Salad Busy Box – that one was a huge hit. Although there were couches for the moms, I wasn’t too perturbed about the adult seating area because I figured we won’t be doing much polite-sitting with a bunch of 12 month olds crawling and todding around.
The entertainment
I was also so blessed to receive some amazing kiddies gifts from Christian Art Media, which I could pass on to the mommy’s. These include chalk board Bibles and nifty colour-in cards. The moms pretty much entertained each other. We shared birth stories, talked about poo nappies and compared teething woes. It was the best time! We also discussed the amazing 936 Pennies book by Eryn Lynum. In this book, Eryn talks about intentional parenting and how to prioritise your time, in order to maximise the 936 weeks you have with your kid (from birth to 18 years old)! I’m going to tell you more about this in June and do a giveaway. It really is a remarkable book!While I’m on the topic of entertainment, one of my play date party ideas was to get the mommy’s to interact with their little ones. I must admit, I had planned a few mommy/baby games and activities, but we just never got around to it. Honestly, I think we all really needed some adult time and to feel as if we’re all completely sane. I mean, you can’t understand how much weight a “me too!” holds, when you feel like you’re losing your mind.
The food
I ordered a yummo platter for the moms, some coffee and juice (did I say coffee? because COFFEE) and one of my besties, Bianca, made delicious cup cakes. For the kiddies, I had some fruit out. I mean, since they are still so little, loading them with refined sugars is probably not a good idea. I also made small party packs with yoghurt, teething biscuits, a marshmellow fish (okay just one sweetie, shame) and soft chippies.
The end result
Priceless! The amount of car seat snoozing selfies I received, from moms who were so thankful to get a break, indicated just how much of a good time the little ones had. Jo also had so much fun and I was glad that we got to celebrate his first birthday exactly how we needed to.
