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You don’t need fluoride to keep your kids teeth clean {Pure Beginnings}
As we near the end of Dental Health Awareness Month, I am reminded of a time, back when I was a little tiger, when pretty much all of my friends at pre-school had some sort of a rotten teeth or gap situation going on. Mind you, I’m sure that their parents weren’t overloading them with sugary treats. But, hey, let’s keep it real, there were some things we just did not know about back then. Like the fact that the fluoride you find in your regular toothpaste is actually a chemical compound, containing the element fluorine. In its pure state, this element is actually extremely corrosive and poisonous. Not exactly something you’d want to be giving to your kids, right? The truth is this, you don’t need fluoride to keep your kids teeth clean.
I didn’t even know that fluoride was a danger. And then I realized that most toothpastes have a warning printed on the box/tube. Something along the lines of: “If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, obtain medical help or contact a Poison Control Centre right away.” And guys, I’m going to be even more honest, I’m not even that much of a “crusty” mom… like, I seriously don’t think that a little bit of fluoride is going to kill my kid. But if there is an alternative, that is safer for the smallies, then why not simply choose that? Did you know that you don’t even need fluoride to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride has no nutritional value to the human body.
This is why I was a bit more excited (than a normal person would be about toothpaste) when I received a Pure Beginnings press drop. My toddler is actually not a fan of “normal” kiddies toothpastes because she claims that it burns her mouth. So I was curious to see if she would love the Pure Beginnings Organic Kids toothpastes.Considering all the negative effects of fluoride, the Pure Beginnings fluoride-free toothpastes all contain xylitol and are safe to swallow. They hold antibacterial properties and provide tooth and gum protection, freshening the breath naturally. All the Pure Beginnings toothpastes are vegan, contain certified organic ingredients and have been carefully formulated using no colorants.
My little Missy enjoyed the lovely Vanilla Mint toothpaste, designed for kids 3 years and older. The yummo Berry toothpaste is designed for kids who are just starting out on their toothy journey. It’s actually recommended that you start cleaning your little one’s mouth from 4 weeks old already!Pure Beginnings believes that using natural alternatives are a better, safer and more effective choice for you and your family. And at R36.95 per tube, I would say it’s definitely worth it! The cute characters on the tubes have become household faves. Our Missy specifically asks for the monkey or the birdie, when its teeth brushing time. I’m just happy that she’s excited about brushing her teeth again!
Have you tried the Pure Beginnings Organic Kids oral care range? What’s your fave?
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Best hobbies for full time moms
Being a full time mom is no small feat, you guys. You know what I’m talking about… it’s when your every single waking moment (and hey, sometimes even those sleeping ones too) are consumed with your kids. And, I mean, we can’t even help ourselves sometimes! Mommydom can get pretty overwhelming. But, lady friends, we need to take back our time! When last have you tried something new or spent time doing something that does not involve your home, hubby or kids? Exactly. This is why I’ve put together a list of best hobbies for full time moms. Full time moms, like you and I, who simply don’t know what it feels like to do something without your kids. Here they are:
Bust out your inner creative
Okay so when I talk about being a mom and being creative in the same paragraph, I know you’re probably thinking about doing arts and crafts with your smallies. Well I say NO! I challenge you to spend some time doing something creative for no reason at all other than the fact that you enjoy it. Maybe you love music or to knit or draw. Or maybe you are an avid crafter or writer (who is tired of retelling the same bedtime stories over and over). Dedicate some time, every week, to bust out your inner creative. There is no better fulfillment than seeing your work of art afterwards!
Read a book, yo
If you’re into reading (and I’m not talking about Facebook status updates, you guys) why not start or join a book club? My best book memory (that’s the same like a normal memory, but with a book) was when I was a member of a very cool book club. We had two very simple rules: 1. It was compulsory to purchase a copy of the book of the month (that way you can grow your own library) 2. Each person has a chance to nominate a new spot for our monthly breakfast meeting (and it must be someplace we’ve never been before). It was such a great way to explore new parts of the city AND really get excited about reading again.
Explore the outdoors
I can’t recommend Geocaching enough, friends! Geocaching is like a modern day treasure hunt. You register to the Geocaching community (via a phone app) and you are then shown a map and given clues, to find the various caches (treasures) hidden throughout your city. You are even able to plant your own caches. So super cool! If you love adventure, I highly recommend this activity. It’s also another great way to explore your city – or take a mini road trip and explore other parts of the country!
Eat
No, seriously, eat. I mean, does this not sound like thee BEST hobby to have? If you love cooking, why not try out various dishes every month for your hubby or even a group of friends. You could even take it one step further and join a culinary school or start a supper club with your friends, where you get to explore various eateries around your town. Having a theme could add an element of fun!
Get active
Keeping fit and healthy holds more benefit than just a way to fill your time. Joining a gym is a cool idea, because most local gyms offer interesting classes that do more than just offer up a great work out. A Zumba dance class or even a martial arts fitness class is a fun way to stay active. But hey, let’s be honest, we’re not all into physical activity. (And by “we”, I’m talking about “me” I do love watching a good soccer game, though! A few of my mom friends are avid sports watchers and enjoy betting on their favorite sports. Whatever your scene, make sure you’re doing it with lots of snacks!
What are some of your favorite full time mom hobbies to do? Hit us up in the comments section!
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Celebrate Oral Health Month with Sunstar GUM Soft-Picks Advanced {GIVEAWAY!}
Did you know that September is Oral Health Month? Yes, friends, a whole month to remind us to look after our teeth and mouth! The thing is this though, how often have you skimped on your oral care simply because it feels like such a basic necessity, that surely the very basic of tools (toothbrush etc.) is enough. But the thing with oral health is that you sometimes do need to put a little bit more effort in, to ensure that your pearly whites remain, well, pearly white. Oral health is basically not garanteed simply because you know how to brush your teeth. Which is why I love the Sunstar GUM products. I mean, besides for the fact that they look like something out of a James Bond movie. Sunstar GUM wants to give one of you a hamper worth R695, packed with Sunstar GUM’s quality oral care tools! Keeping reading for more deets…
Sunstar GUM Soft-Picks Advanced
You guys, I love the Sunstar GUM soft-picks. These are the only curved dental picks currently on the market. These babies are designed to easily reach every tooth – yep, even those way at the back of the mouth – ensuring that unwanted visitors (like food etc.) are kept out of those narrow spaces inbetween teeth. The tapered rubber bristles easily dislodge food and plaque from in between the teeth whilst gently massaging the gums.
Friend, fellow-blogger and business woman, Theresia Muller, tried them out. She mentioned that when you have braces, it can be a bit tricky to dislodge food and keep the gaps inbetween your braces clean. The cool thing about the new Soft-Picks Advanced is that they now come in various sizes – small, medium and large – which is helpful in keeping the various interdental spaces clean.
“Firstly, I really like the carry case, which is perfect to keep your soft-picks on hand, when you’re on the go. The small picks are suitable for those hard to reach in between places. The larger picks help to keep my actual braces clean – it’s nice for inbetween the metal plates. It helps to get into the gaps where your tooth brush just can’t reach. Also, with it being made of rubber, it makes it flexible and I find I can reach in the back much easier than I would with a normal toothpick. I recommend using it in conjunction with the other Sunstar GUM products – such as the orthodontic tooth brush and mouth wash.”
Because the bristles are tapered, you can also be sure that the oral care tools are safe for your kiddies to use. The smaller sized soft-picks are great for dislodging food out of little braces! But, besides for braces, you guys, I love keeping a pack of these in my handbag for all those possibly embarrassing moments, when you have food stuck in your teeth. Sunstar GUM makes it easy for us to practice good oral health care all year around!
Win with Sunstar GUM!
Sunstar GUM is giving one awsome My Spreadsheet Brain reader a fabulous oral healthcare hamper to the value of R695! To enter simply follow the rafflecopter prompts below. For an extra entry, share the competition post on Facebook OR tag a friend. -
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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Switching off to switch on
So being ill the past few weeks has really put a damper on my otherwise banging itinerary. I mean, hello, my blog is called “spreadsheet brain”… I have ish to do! Being constricted to the confines of my bed totally killed my vibe, if you know what I mean. But it helped me to put some things into perspective. A spreadsheet brain selah moment, if you will. I call it “switching off to switch on”. I know. I’m so wise and stuff.
For starters, my kids are growing up you guys. Have you ever taken a long look at your child and thought to yourself “oh wow, you look different today.” Well, that happened to me every single time I opened my eyes last week. I mean, yeah, I slept the days away as if I was in a time vacuum, devoid of all human emotion and thought process. But hey, it made for some interesting conversation when I eventually woke up. Like “so you say today is actually Tuesday?! Wait, what month is it?” And also, “What?! You’re almost 4?! When did that happen?!” It kinda kicked me in the head and made me want to hug their faces for a few minutes longer each day. And I mean, sure, I’m talking about the cute smallies but I’m more referring to the growing teenager who will be finishing high school next year, too.
The shock to my system at realizing that my kids are growing up, also made me realize that I am getting older, yo. And with it comes the added benefit of like, seriously taking care of my health. What do you guys do to, you know, “take care of your health”? I’m sure it involves eating your veggies and actually doing some sort of physical activity and all of that. But do you also stock up on multi-vitamins? And what sort do you use? Yes, I’m using this blog post to get information from you guys. Love me for me.
I also realized that I haven’t spent time with my husband in a very long time. I mean, sure, he’s been particularly annoying lately but what does he smell like, now again? I remember a time where I use to lean into him, while we were sitting in church, just so that I could catch a whiff of his glorious “Chris smell”. (Stalker alert) So last week, while I was laying in bed, looking particularly attractive, I’m sure, I caught a glimpse of him getting ready for work and it hit me… I can’t remember what he smells like! I haven’t smelled him in such a long time. Also mainly because my nose is so blocked, they should investigate the components of my mucus, and use it to build unsinkable boats. I could be a millionaire you guys. Anyways, I digress. I’ve been thinking of scheduling a monthly date night. Oh don’t look at me like that Patricia – yes, we don’t have regular date nights. Its not even because we have a lot of children… its more because two of them are under the age of four and we literally have like, one babysitter. But my near death experience (okay, fine, call me dramatic if you must) reminded me that I need to put in some regular quality time with my Hubstopher. What do you guys do for date night?I also had a revelation that I need to spend more time with my parents and siblings. I’m sure they’re not sitting around, with baited breath, waiting for me to come and lay on their couches and drink their tea. But I do miss the folks and almost dying last week (cough) made me realize that I need to value the time I have with them. I’m very much a loner, in the sense that my whole day revolves around the moments that I get to be at home in my pajamas. I get it, I may come across as an extrovert, but I’m as introvert as they make ’em! But hey, you only have so many hours in a day and so many days in a lifetime and I guess spending majority of it alone at home, or busy with work, kinda doesn’t make sense if you’re not making time for the people who matter.
So those were my moments of revelation these past few days. You know that thing that people do, when they are mimicking a mind blown… like “Kapoooof”… well, picture me doing that right now. Kapoooof.
Anyways, what’s new with you, friends? Come, lend me your news. (That sounded weird, I actually don’t know why I typed that. You’re free to ignore it and move on with your day.)
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Update: A letter from a sick persons bed
If you’re reading this please know that my common sense has prevailed and prevented me from running with the completely morbid opening sentence that I had originally intended for this piece of writing. Hello. Welcome. Shalom. How are you? I’m fine, thank you. Well, I’m 100% percent sure that my body is healed and it just has to catch up with the truth that it’s healed, if you know what I mean.
The past two weeks have been completely insane, as far as weeks are concerned. Besides for singing my tonsils out at our church conference and DVD recording (only to later discover that, oh joy, my tonsils aren’t very happy about being sung out) I’ve also been really not healthy through all of this. Couple that with a strangulated hernia, and Bobs your uncle who is actually a doctor and telling you that you can’t leave your bed for a whole week.
For those who don’t know what a strangulated hernia is, congratulations. May this dreaded fate never befall on you. Okay, okay, maybe you still want to know what it is, anyways. Well, for various reasons that I shall not go into over here because the drugs are kicking in fast and I don’t know how much longer I can hold up with this banter, just know that some moms suffer from a condition called Diastasis Recti. This occurs post birth, when your tummy muscles have separated and cannot find their way back, thus leaving a gap down the middle part of your belly. This also means that the muscles are not protecting or encasing your intestines etc. An umbilical hernia (what I have) is when the intestine gets a little bit too friendly with your belly button cavity, and slips into that spot, gets stuck there and then throws its toys out of the cot. Okay, it doesn’t actually have toys to throw out of the cot, but it does get really painful, since all blood circulation is cut off etc. This can lead to a damaged colon, infections and even death.
So yes, all of this (minus the death part) happened to me on Saturday, at the church conference. Literally, on the bathroom floor, for all the world to see. It was very exciting, in a “everyone can see me crying for my mommy like a baby aaack” kind of way. A kind doctor gently pushed the intestine back into place (yes, with his finger) and the pain was immediately gone. But he insists that I have it surgically repaired. Now to get my medical aid to agree. Woohoo. Not.
Anyways, couple that with a severe case of tonsillitis and the fact that I can’t hold food down (extreme nausea, like every waking minute) and you’ve pretty much got the pilot episode of my newest reality show… Living in the Loo with Luchae. Hahaha I literally just made that up. I told you the drugs are kicking in fast.
But hey, it’s not all bad, you guys. For starters, I get to rest this week, which I wasn’t planning to do, to be honest. My very clever friend told me that I need to work on my physical wholeness… so I’m picking up the flack, and getting my body back on the healthy track. (And that was not meant to rhyme, but here we are, rhyming now). So that’s what I’m focused on right now.
I have so much blog stuff that is literally sitting up here, in my head, just giving me dirty looks. For starters I have a whole blog post dedicated to the child abduction thing. You won’t believe the level of frustration I’m feeling. I mean, I even did the homework!!!!! Now to actually get the info typed out. Meh. I also have two fantastic competitions that I am meant to run. Maybe next week? Okay, fine. Next week.
But other than that. Nothing interesting going on this side of the world. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along…
Clip note: Thank you for all the beautiful messages, Whatsapps and attempted phone calls. I haven’t really been taking calls due to eina throat. I’ll respond to messages eventually, I promise.
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Life lately: I get it, I can be annoying sometimes
You know those annoying people who are bright and cheery all the time… you know, the type of people you want to throw a stapler at. Well, that’s me. I’m that person. I can be annoying sometimes. I’m bright and perky majority of the time, and I don’t know how to make it stop. Actually, I don’t think I want to make it stop. But I had a brief encounter with a major grump this week and the look of annoyance on his face, at my over the top cheeriness, literally made my inner Jessica Day cringe.
Granted, the bloke isn’t someone in my friendship circle and I fortunately don’t have to deal with him often, at work. But his annoyance at my exuberance (look at all my big words) really cut me for some reason. I even apologized to him for my excessive cheer, saying “I’m so sorry for being annoying all the time”. He grimaced in reply, his facial expression giving off feelings of: “damn straight you are!”
In hindsight, me apologizing for being perky was like me saying “I’m sorry for being who I am”. Or “I’m sorry for not being who you want me to be”. And then it got me thinking… who am I meant to be anyways? Do I want to stay true to myself or do I want to be the type of person who makes other people happy all the time.
Anyways after having a few deep conversations this week, I had a massive revelation about identity and what that even means. I realized that being who God has called me to be is far more important than making people happy or striving to be perfect.
I guess it means if I want to be joyful and cheery, while farting rainbows and glitter and singing songs about love, then that’s exactly what I should do and who I should be! But it also means that if I’m not feeling perky or if I’m not having a good day, it’s okay to show it. I mean, I often “put on the cheeriness”, even on a day when I’m not feeling cheery, because I know that’s what people expect. But by doing so, I’m not staying true to myself. I’m being what other people want me to be. It’s unnatural. It’s tiring. It’s disastrous.
Anyways, said offender emailed me a few days later and I replied with a perky “Hi there, hope you’re well!” even though his initial email did not even offer me a greeting. I was like, take that you grumpy ball of grump, kapow kapow! He probably rolled his eyes at my reply. He probably wishes I would go far away. He probably needs a hug.
And then it hit me: I’m not annoying. He is annoyed. (Kabooom, mind blown!) Just because I don’t fit into his perfect little box of “how people should behave” doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with me or my personality. It just means that he needs a bigger box, maybe.
So whatever your default… whether you’re the serious one or the sporty one or the one who can quote movies. Whether you’re the over the top diva or the business minded analytical thinker or the smart mouthed mover and shaker. Whatever your personality or character traits may be, know that you are the product of a grand design. And trying to cover that up, to please other people, is like rubbing a little bit of “bland” into your uniqueness.
Putting on a mask is sooo last year anyways. Put on the mask of your face rather. Okay that’s just weird. I guess what I’m trying to say is: it’s okay to be the YOU that God created. He kinda knows what He’s doing.
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My husband unfollowed me on Instagram and other completely unnecessary wifey drama that he puts up with
How’s your “completely unnecessary wifey drama” looking? Well here’s mine: the other day my husband – the only one I have – unfollowed me on Instagram and I was outraged!
Is nothing sacred?! I mean, unfollowing me on Instagram is basically the same as unfollowing me in LIFE! I was flabbergasted. And while I sat there, fuming, in a pile of my own feelings, I decided to drop him a very heated Whatsapp message just to let him know what I think of him and his uncouth behavior.
He responded with a smirk emoticon (gasp – the audacity) and a one liner that said “I’m teaching you a lesson”.
Uhm, hello? This husband of mine – the only one I have – was under the false pretense that he could teach me (his most cleverest wife) a lesson. How hilarious. How insulting. Something had to be done.
I obviously had a very strongly worded reply ready, like only a wife will have. We carry strongly worded replies around with us, in our hand bags, like one would a tazor or a pepper spray. It does the same amount of damage.
Anyways, my reply was going to say something along the lines of: if he feels this passionate about education, he can gladly get a Funza Lushaka Bursary and learn how to do it professionally. But I was like, no, let’s not do that. Let’s bring out the big guns. We’ll play a little bit of “whose shoulder is the coldest”.Mind you, I realized my genius because it is, in fact, actually seriously cold in real life, anyways. Winter has made a comeback (and she’s brought reinforcements). So my cold shoulder would be in 3D, thanks to the weather.
Anyways, minutes turned into hours (it’s cray how slowly time moves when you have a vendetta and a plan) and I cold-shouldered and only replied to his messages using “mmms” and “if you want to”. I was convinced that I was winning.
But just to make myself feel doubley better, I chatted to concerned friends and they offered advice such as: “Steal his phone and follow yourself” and “Kick his ass” and “Shame, maybe he’s trying to be romantic.”
One even suggested that I put my anger to paper, and so I wrote a clever poem about it. It goes like this:
I once had a husband named Chris
Who has always been top of my list
Until one day the ham
Unfollowed me on Instagram
GASP! I know, what a diss!Please, hold the applause.
Anyways, ladies, this story does not have a happy ending. Or any ending at all actually. The chop is still not following me on Instagram. I am now filing for divorce.
Kidding!I’m honestly not that cut up about it. This whole post was written in jest. I love the bugger and his guitar-player fingers (even though one of those traitor fingers hit the unfollow button, but let’s not dwell on the past.)
It’s just been a funny story to tell people. You know, the unsuspecting ones, standing around the coffee machine, who don’t really care… and possibly don’t even know what my name is.
But all jokes aside you guys, this must be said: the only time I’m bugged about my husband not following me on Instagram is when I feel like I’m looking particularly cute today. I mean, how do I show him? Right? We all know that one cannot simply Whatsapp your dude a cute pic of yourself without looking like a complete dweeb. It has to be all mysterious and accidental and like “by the way, look at what you married, you’re welcome.”
Anyways, so that’s my completely unnecessary wifey drama for the day. What’s yours?
Clip note: People have been asking me why he wanted to “teach me a lesson”. Well, I accidentally unfollowed him first and then re-followed him. But The Gram does not forget. And so lessons had to be learnt. Oh Internet, what a complicated web you weave.
Clip note of a clip note: Before you say “Oh my gosh, this woman seriously wrote a blog post about her husband not following her on Instagram.” Yes, Margaret. Yes I did. And you just read the entire thing. Surprise!
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Can you please stop falling for fake news?!
My friends, I love you. But I seriously need you to stop falling for fake news on the interwebs. I mean, seriously. No, they did not find a mermaid off the coast of Jamaica. And no, there has not been a UFO siting in Japan. And for the love of all that is good, NO, Facebook is not going to delete your account unless you copy and paste a poorly worded status update.
The thing about hoax news is that it can be damaging. That’s right. I said DAMAGING.
Ask the teens, from Durban, who can’t leave home because someone played a prank on them by posting their pics on Facebook with the caption “look out for these two, they are stealing children”. Do you guys know that in India, atleast 20 people have lost their lives due to mob justice because of Facebook hoaxes of this nature?
And what about the mother and daughter whose pic was stolen from a social website, and then used in an article claiming they are having a sexual relationship. Not such a fun time for them, I’m sure. Heck, I’ve even been the target of a Cat-fisher – you know, someone who has used my own photos, to spread lies. It happens. And when we unknowingly share these stories and articles, without checking the facts, we become a catalyst – part of the PROBLEM and not the solution.
And I hear you, friends. You don’t mean to cause harm. You actually want to help out, which is why you’re sharing that article warning your friends not to flicker their head lights at night because it’s a gang initiation. And I totally get where you’re coming from. I mean, sure, I want to be kept informed too.
But if you’re telling me that they attempted to rip a child away from his father, in a mall in Cape Town, you’re making me paranoid about having my own kid ripped from my own arms. What you didn’t tell me is that the guy shoplifted and the undercover security guards were trying to apprehend him.
And sure, I want to know about missing people and want to do my part, by sharing the information. But friends, if the person was found like, 6 years ago, then WHY are we still re-sharing these posts?! Surely there are more urgent reports that need our attention? Checking the date/facts literally takes a couple of minutes.
Please, don’t get me wrong, my lovely friends. I want to be kept informed with the latest news. I really do. But please don’t tell me about impending disasters, fake diseases I can catch in elevators, fake comets about to hit earth and fake reports about poisonous foods on the shelves of our favorite stores if you haven’t double checked the news source and date of the report.
The scary truth is this:
1. Fake news travels faster than real news.
2. The fake news is usually quite horrifying/scary/freaky, and it has the potential to unsettle a large amount of people, unnecessarily.
3. Fake news can create an under-confidence in, say for example, the police force or your local government or even your schooling system. And hey, this isn’t an open door for a debate. I’m not asking you what your thoughts are on these institutions. All I’m saying is, don’t spread lies about it.
4. Fake news comes with a price, you guys. It lowers our trust in actual journalism, it lessens the value of actual scientific research, it damages the reputation of businesses who might not deserve the backlash and it creates a misinformed public who then makes decisions based on the wrong information.
5. It’s just not lekker man.So that’s all I have to say about that. Do the right thing.
Image: Freepik
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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
