Category: News

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Less Intelligent: I don’t think so!

Working Mum,Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Working Mum,Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Why is it that there is a study stating that mothers are less intelligent than other women who don’t have children? I for one consider myself intelligent. I am not in Mensa but have successfully finished a post graduate degree while looking after twins and kept a distinction average. This is not an easy feat.

Before kids I was a person who was doing well at her job and was climbing the corporate ladder. I do want to have a career but also wanted to have kids. I understand women who don’t want to have kids and concentrate on their careers. This is great and fine. Why does the sudden introduction of motherhood make me less intelligent than the career woman who does not have children? Stupid study if you ask me.  It is a choice and if you want kids, have them, if not don’t. Analysis of intelligence is not going to prove anything, other than some people are focused on their career and others accept time out to have a family. I could have told you that without a study!

Mothers who work, juggle all things very well, kids, work, home, meals, and kids activities. I hardly think that this looks like you are less intelligent. I am not sure why intelligence comes into it at all really. Do fathers get this questioned about them? I don’t think so? Why is it that women are seen as the lesser here?

Satoshi Kanazawa is the person behind the study that women who are mothers are less intelligent, he has also “used research to make the case that black women are inherently less attractive than non-black women” (Washington Post, Sourced: 21st August 2013). I for one think that is terrible research and a horrible thing to say. I think his theories are rubbish personally. What about you?

“According to reports, his latest findings allege a direct correlation between a woman’s intelligence and whether or not she chooses to become a mother. More specifically, his findings indicate that women with higher IQs are statistically less likely to become mothers.” (Washington Post, Sourced: 21st August 2013)Maybe this is right, but many high performing women and men who do have high IQ’s have kids. Again it might just go back to focusing on your career and not really wanting children. Some people want kids and others don’t. This is not news!

What are your thoughts? Do you think this is rubbish or has some truth in it? I for one just think if you are focused on other things and have never wanted kids that is your choice. People and couples that never have children focus on their careers and have more disposable income due to not having kids to spend it on. They also put more time into work and that leads to promotions and more money. This can happen for a working woman but as the article from the Washington Post said:

“…the workplace has not changed enough accordingly. Even in workplaces with so-called family-friendly policies, “the CEOs are not leaving the office, by and large, early afternoon to see their daughter or son act in a 2nd grade play.” (Pamela Smock is a Research Professor affiliated with the University of Michigan’s Population Studies Center, quoted from the Washington Post article)

I for one agree with the statement that the workplace has not changed. Even though organisations claim they are flexible and family friendly they still require you to commute to a job that can be done all online. I do understand that from time to time a meeting at the office is needed. This is fine and can be arranged with notice. As a woman who would love to get back into the workforce, use her skills and also earn money for the family a role working from home is ideal currently. However these roles are hard to come by and mostly these jobs are given to existing employees that have proven themselves to the company already. From previous experience businesses like to make sure you are doing the work and pulling your weight. I think that this would be obvious to the employer and if the person does not meet the targets or KPI’s then they have every right to warm them or even fire them if the job that they were hired to do is not being done.

With all the technology that is at our fingertips now I don’t understand why we are not harnessing the workforce of talented mums and dads that are looking after kids at home. A job share or even part time employment to test the waters might be ideal. If organisations are flexible and allow tasks to be done at night time and some during the day why not hire people that can work remotely. You don’t have to pay for a desk, the organisation has less overheads and you can still hire quality staff. As a person that is looking after her twin girls this would be lovely in the ideal world. What do you think?

Send in your comments and thoughts. Do you agree or disagree? You know where I stand.

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News

To pierce or not to pierce

Do you have your ears pierced? Does your child? Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Do you have your ears pierced? Does your child? Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Gisele Bundchen has copped some flak for piercing her 7 month old daughter’s ears. I for one would not do it so young, but don’t see an issue if this is your preference.

I have my ears pierced and my twin girls have already expressed a desire to have theirs done also. One question has been asked by my girls, “Will it hurt mummy?” Well it does not hurt badly but it is a little sore but not for long.

When I got my ears first done it was with my mum and my sister and I was about 7 or 8 I am not sure. I do remember that I got them pierced in Innisfail, North Queensland while we were living on our 50 foot boat and travelling up the coast. My dad was not happy but mum decided since we really wanted it and were older, we could get it done, again we wanted it due to mum having hers pierced and wearing earrings. We wanted to be like our mother.

My main issue with not doing it to the girls when babies was the cleaning and looking after the ears and what happens if they get infected? I think that the girls can better look after it when older and have a better understanding of what is involved. That said, maybe it might have been better to do it as a baby as they would not know it was painful and have no memory of it. Now that the twins are older they might get upset if it is sore or might think it would be scary.

It is not something I am forcing them into, if they want to get their ears pierced that is their decision, and I will support it. I don’t think we as parents and the public should criticise Gisele’s decision to pierce her little girl’s ears, many do this and don’t get this kind of attention.

I don’t have an issue if you pierce your baby’s ears, it is your decision to make and think people should worry about bigger and greater issues in the world. Who cares really if someone does this, how does it impact on you and the world? All this attention to this issue is just like the next door neighbour being a busy body. Are we Gladys Kravitz from Bewitched? I think not! How about we just focus on what is important and the piercing of a kids ears is not one of them.

Have you pierced your daughter’s ears as a baby? If you have not has your child expressed a want to have them done later? I want to make it an event that you take your little girls out and make it memorable like what my mother did for me. My mother had a nice day out with her father and then she got her ears pierced, so would like to replicate that if possible.  Send in your stories and comments.

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News

Do Babies Cost That Much?

Can you afford to have a baby?
Can you afford to have a baby? Image courtesy of anekoho at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Having a baby in America is meant to be the costliest in the world, and after reading an article from the New York Times I am in agreement. I am not sure how any person can be financially okay after they have kids, the costs would cripple me and our family here not to mention many others.

Why is it so expensive and why is it that America does not have a system like Medicare in Australia?

One woman in the article was told that she would pay in the range of, $4,000 – $45,000 to have her baby. Why such a big range? Why does it cost so much?

In the article it also states that:

“The average total price charged for pregnancy and newborn care was about $30,000 for a vaginal delivery and $50,000 for a C-section, with commercial insurers paying out an average of $18,329 and $27,866, the report found.”

And another big questions is why is it that “Two decades ago, women typically paid nothing other than a small fee if they opted for a private hospital room or television.”

What has changed?

I don’t know…… What are your thoughts? I for one would like to understand the reason for making things so expensive!

For me living in Australia we are lucky to have a great medical system. I know some and most whinge about it but we are very privileged to have mostly free medical care. If you are in trouble or sick, the hospital will help you no matter if you have private health care or not. The doctors will treat you no matter what, it is health care for all.

If you are not a person that wants to go through the public health care system and I can understand as you might have a preferred doctor that only operates at private hospitals and you will need to pay for private treatment if that is your choice. If you are also in a predicament that you need to access the care now and not wait for elective surgery then that is a different matter and you might be in a tricky situation, and I can understand that private might be the only way to go rather than waiting for the public system.

All this aside, we are fortunate to be able to not have to pay a small fortune in case of emergency or sickness falls on us or our family. From my understanding, correct me if I am wrong, that if you are ill or something bad happens that means you need hospital care in the USA you end up paying a fortune. This can mean people might lose their houses, and savings.

I for one like the idea of my country caring for all no matter how rich or poor we are. It is a duty of care that I think we all need. We all pay taxes and contribute so we all deserve great healthcare no matter who we are. It is a right not a privilege.

When I had the twins I was booked into a private hospital as the other ones where we were staying in the city did not make me feel at ease. The private one seemed nice, had what we were after and offered the care that I would need and also to the babies.

To access private care here, you can get some money off if you have been with a private health care insurer for over 12 months and have opted for package that will give you maternity and hospital care for pregnancy.

Cute little foot of new born baby
Cute little foot of new born baby

If I was in the USA when I had the twins I dare say we would have lost our house due to the hospital bills. The twins and I were monitored each fortnight until 28 weeks we had to have scans to make sure they were not suffering from twin to twin transfusion syndrome. Not sure how much that would have cost us, and glad we did not have to know.

In the article from the New Yorker it mentions that doctors are charging inflated charges for everything, from medicines, antiseptics, tests, and so on.

One lady that was interviewed in the article, Dr. Marguerite Duane said that she  “was flabbergasted by the line items on the bills, many for blood tests she said were unnecessary and medicines she never received.”

How is giving a couple bill shock helping them with their pregnancy and soon to be child? It is just going to stress them out no end, send them broke and cause more problems.

I don’t live in America and I don’t know what it is really like. I can only go off media and articles that I read from real people. So if you have a story about what happened to you please let me know. If I have got it completely wrong let me know as well.

I think if I was going to move overseas I would go to France, Denmark or Canada.

Let us know your thoughts. Why is it that having a baby is that expensive? Don’t they want the population to expand, if they make it so hard people will not have kids.

Why not continue the discussion on our Twitter , Google + or Facebook pages.

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Dear Julia

Australian Parliament, Image from: http://www.spiritland.net/aust_parliament.htm
Australian Parliament, Image from: http://www.spiritland.net/aust_parliament.htm

I would like to say thank you for being such a strong woman and for all your achievements as our Prime Minister. I applaud your decision to have the vote yesterday and let the party finally decide what leader they want. Just a pity on the outcome, well from our perspective and also yours.

My girls who are four sat up and watched the news last night, it was late and one of my girls in particular was very upset at the outcome as I.   The girl that was most upset (there were tears and crying) her name is also Julia and she wanted to tell you that she is “Sorry that you lost your job” She wanted you to continue your term and go to the next election.  My Julia is working on some drawings to send to you, and as she said, “It will cheer Julia Gillard up” and I hope so. Now to figure out where to send them to?

It is a pity that your term has been shadowed with the leadership debate constantly. I think you are a great role model for women and girls, you have shown them that you can be prime minister if you wish, be brave, be strong, and achieve your dreams.

I’m not sure if Mr Rudd will be able the second time round to give it a good go, maybe this is just me but I feel that the way he sat in the background and undermined his own party was not good and shows his character. Again maybe it is just me. I think that the way you have handled yourself now and three years ago has been when you challenged Rudd while still prime minister it was open and honest and the party voted for you. He should have walked away from politics then and allowed you to run the country without the question of him taking the leadership back. Well that is the way I think it should have gone, sad it did not happen.

Every time a girl baby was born in our family my nana, the girls GG (yes we have a GG but it is not the Governor General, it is short for Great Grandmother), she joked that they would be the first female prime minster of Australia. I am pleased that a woman was PM but sad that my family cannot be the first now, also not sure if my kids would ever want to be a politician. As they are only four you never know it is still early days.

Thanks for all your hard work and I respect the job and way you went about it. Well done from myself and my girls.

Suzanne, Julia and Lillian.

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Breastfed to Get Ahead

A study in the UK shows that breastfed babies have a 24 percent better chance of climbing the social ladder. Yes an odd thing to study, climbing the social ladder.  Basically the study shows that the babies who were breastfed had better outcomes, better education, and that led to of course a better social standing.

In the article from news.com.au, it mentions the following:

“In the 1958 group, 68 percent had been breastfed compared with only 36 percent in the 1970 group, said the study”

It amazes me that in 1958 only 68% were breastfed and then in the 1970’s only 36% were breastfed, that is a massive drop. I wonder what it would be like today. As you will see below it is obviously due to the convenience and popularity of formula that this happened, and also if you had issues with breastfeeding then formula would be the way to go and that is perfectly fine. I breastfed my twins for 95% of their food for five months and did formula in the evening due to trying to keep up and make more breast milk, it was hard, but I needed the break so took to using the formula in the evening. I was very pleased I could do it for so long and managed to have a little bit for their breakfast until a week before they were eight months, after that it dried up. No more breast milk, to my upset, but it was also to good as I was expressing so it was good to not be linked to the machine anymore.

If you are interested this baby food timeline is a great list of history and very informative. Formula and other ways to feed your child was happening long before the 1950’s and of course the 1970’s.  One reason baby formula became more popular is possibly the fact that it was cheaper to purchase in the 1950’s so that allowed more mothers to feed their babies formula. In the 1970’s more improvements and the fact that hospitals gave free samples made more mothers want to use the product so it gained in popularity. If you would like to know more read more on the history of infant formula.

I know that many people cannot breastfeed, have issues, have had surgery and are just unable. The study is looking at if skin to skin contact all the time when you give the bottle to the baby does the same thing as feeding from the breast. I gave my girls mostly all breast milk and had to do it from bottles so I wonder if that is classed as bottle feeding or breast. I would say breast but you might get someone saying the baby is not having direct contact with its mother so it is not. At the end of the day I gave what I thought was the best start for my little girls. I also think that formula now days has gotten much better and if you are a parent who is doing it the formula way I think there is no need to judge or upset their decision even more.  There are reasons why you do what you do and that is your role as a parent and not mine to judge you.

I do agree though that breast is best if you can, it has all the right things in it to give your little person the best start in life, even if you cannot do it for long, everything helps.

Do you think breast milk helps you climb the social ladder? Not sure if it has helped me, I was breast fed and I don’t believe that I have moved up from my station in life, although I have continued my education, creating and doing things to build things for me and the family. Maybe that is a part of it. Who knows? Or it just could be my DNA, or personality?  Let us know what your thoughts are.

Send in your comments.

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News Uncategorised

Is it Earhart's Electra?

Earhart in the Electra cockpit, c.1936 (original source: http://e-archives.lib.purdue.edu)
Earhart in the Electra cockpit, c.1936 (original source: http://e-archives.lib.purdue.edu)

I was always fascinated with Amelia Earhart and her attempt to fly around the world. I think she was a great woman of her time and history. Women normally in the 1930’s and earlier did not fly planes, some did but it was very few. According to Wikipedia: “On May 15, 1923, Earhart became the 16th woman to be issued a pilot’s license (#6017)[42] by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI)”

So 16 women who can fly is not a great number at all, and achieving it at this time in history was a great accomplishment.

Lately there has been talk that they have found Earhart’s plane and possibly the camp where she and Noonan (her navigator) survived for a time. A sonar image off the island of Kiribati might show where the Electra (Earhart’s plane) ended up. This article also reveals bottles and items that were found at a camp that is now believed to belong to Amelia Earhart.

I am not an expert but cannot see what everyone has seen in this sonar image, I just see a line but as said, Not an expert so I might have missed the detail that I should be looking at.

While at school I did a talk about Earhart and her great career. I thought she would have lived if she was able to land on an island and it looks like this did happen. She survived for a time but since no one knew where she was and she could not contact anyone she died on this island or one similar.

I am inspired by Earhart’s strong will and her achievements. It shows me that no matter what women/girls set their minds to, they can  do. I do find it sad that she was never found and a part of me wishes the story was very different. It would have been marvelous to have found her and Noonan in time, so they could fly another day.

On the official Amelia Earhart website there is the below quote from the letter she wrote her husband in-case she did not return:

“In a letter to her husband, written in case a dangerous flight proved to be her last, this brave spirit was evident. “Please know I am quite aware of the hazards,” she said. “I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.”

Were you inspired by Amelia Earhart as a child or even now as an adult? Did her achievements inspire you to fly planes as well or achieve in your chosen field?  I admired her single mindedness and strength of character that allowed her to follow her dreams.

Send in your comments.

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Is it Earhart’s Electra?

Earhart in the Electra cockpit, c.1936 (original source: http://e-archives.lib.purdue.edu)
Earhart in the Electra cockpit, c.1936 (original source: http://e-archives.lib.purdue.edu)

I was always fascinated with Amelia Earhart and her attempt to fly around the world. I think she was a great woman of her time and history. Women normally in the 1930’s and earlier did not fly planes, some did but it was very few. According to Wikipedia: “On May 15, 1923, Earhart became the 16th woman to be issued a pilot’s license (#6017)[42] by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI)”

So 16 women who can fly is not a great number at all, and achieving it at this time in history was a great accomplishment.

Lately there has been talk that they have found Earhart’s plane and possibly the camp where she and Noonan (her navigator) survived for a time. A sonar image off the island of Kiribati might show where the Electra (Earhart’s plane) ended up. This article also reveals bottles and items that were found at a camp that is now believed to belong to Amelia Earhart.

I am not an expert but cannot see what everyone has seen in this sonar image, I just see a line but as said, Not an expert so I might have missed the detail that I should be looking at.

While at school I did a talk about Earhart and her great career. I thought she would have lived if she was able to land on an island and it looks like this did happen. She survived for a time but since no one knew where she was and she could not contact anyone she died on this island or one similar.

I am inspired by Earhart’s strong will and her achievements. It shows me that no matter what women/girls set their minds to, they can  do. I do find it sad that she was never found and a part of me wishes the story was very different. It would have been marvelous to have found her and Noonan in time, so they could fly another day.

On the official Amelia Earhart website there is the below quote from the letter she wrote her husband in-case she did not return:

“In a letter to her husband, written in case a dangerous flight proved to be her last, this brave spirit was evident. “Please know I am quite aware of the hazards,” she said. “I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.”

Were you inspired by Amelia Earhart as a child or even now as an adult? Did her achievements inspire you to fly planes as well or achieve in your chosen field?  I admired her single mindedness and strength of character that allowed her to follow her dreams.

Send in your comments.

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News

Blue Mountains Bicentenary Flyover

Toy Plane - Ready for the flyover
Toy Plane – Ready for the flyover

Tomorrow we will experience the Blue Mountains Bicentenary Flyover, and I cannot wait. The last two days it has been foggy, wet and of course rain so not the best weather, so hoping that tomorrow we will be able to see some planes. It is between the hours 10.00am – 2.00pm, so that at least gives you enough time to be part of it all.

Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy this spectacular event with more than 60 aircraft including the famous RAAF Roulettes from recommended viewing locations (see “Community Events” page for activities at each location): 1. MELROSE HALL PARK – Emu Plains, from 11.00am, 2. GLENBROOK PARK – Glenbrook, 7am – 2pm, 3. FAULCONBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL – Faulconbridge, 8am – 2pm, 4. LAWSON PUBLIC SCHOOL – Lawson, 10.30am – 1.30pm, 5. BLUE MOUNTAINS GRAMMAR SCHOOL – Wentworth Falls, 10am – 2pm, 6. THE CARRINGTON HOTEL – Katoomba, paid event brunch $60pp, 10.30am – 1.30pm, 7. MELROSE PARK – North Katoomba, 7am – 1pm, 8. THE GARDENS – Blackheath, 11am – 2pm, 9. MOUNT VICTORIA MEMORIAL PARK – Mount Victoria, 11am – 2pm, 10. HARTLEY HISTORIC SCHOOL – Hartley, 10am – 3pm, 11. O’CONNELL AVENUE CAFE & STORE – O’Connell, 11am – 2pm.

It is a wonderful event and cannot wait to be a witness to it. I will not be here for the next one in another 200 years. According to the organisers, the flyover is a celebration for:

“To celebrate the 1813 crossing by the three explorers, the 2013 Bicentenary will be a crossing by air, the first ever flyover for the Blue Mountains and the largest ever civilian flyover in Australia.”

For viewing sites:

1. Melrose Hall Park, Emu Plains

2. Glenbrook Park, Glenbrook

3. Faulconbridge Public School, Faulconbridge

4. Lawson Public School, Lawson

5. Blue Mountains Grammar School, Wentworth Falls

6. The Carrington Hotel (Chimney), Katoomba

7. Melrose Park, Katoomba North

8. The Gardens, Blackheath

9. Mount Victoria Memorial Park, Mount Victoria

10. Hartley Historic School, Hartley

11. O’Connell Avenue Cafe & Store, O’Connell

The girls at pre-school were creating paper planes and colouring in pictures of planes. They are obviously getting into the spirit of the flyover. Are you going to be at any of the sites to witness the celebrations?

I hope to be with the twins so they can see

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News

Your Doctor is just a click away

Have you ever been in this situation, you are ill and urgently need to make an appointment to see a doctor but cannot get one? What about dealing with kids and trying to make a phone call to make an appointment to a doctors or say a massage therapist? Why not try using the Internet to sort out this issue and calm you down.  Fancy booking doctor appointments online, yes it now can be done!  If you have access to more options and the ability to book online will help you get the appointments you need and want.

Everything seems to be online now. You can book tickets to concerts, movies, shop for clothes, and order groceries all from the convenience of home.  You don’t even need to change out of your pj’s.  So why not be able to book a doctor online?  Well this is now a reality with 1st Available.com.au

win 12 months Private Health Care paid for by 1st Available.com.au.
Win 12 months Private Health Care paid for by 1st Available.com.au.

So what is 1st Available.com.au?

1st Available.com.au is a service that allows you the customer to locate a doctor or healthcare provider online and make an appointment. This can be done via your mobile, tablet or home computer.  How clever and convenient.

1st Available.com.au
1st Available Symbol

If you see a doctor or healthcare provider with the 1st Available Symbol then you are able to book online with them. Easy right?

If you are a doctor or healthcare provider you can register with 1st Available.com.au and be listed so people can find you quickly.

 

Why should you join 1st Available.com.au?

  • 1st Available.com.au is a 24 hour, 7 day a week operation. This is not like ringing your local medical centre to find that they are closed and you have to wait till tomorrow or next week to get an appointment (If they are not open on weekends)
  • Not only is the service 24/7 you can access it via your mobile, so wherever you and your phone is a doctor or appointment to a massage therapist is a click away.
  • As stated, everything is online why not healthcare and booking doctors’ appointments, this would make life so much easier don’t you think? I do, with twins it is hard to have a phone call go well without me telling a child to be quiet. Organising appointments online would be a dream come true.
  • If you register now you will be in the running to win 12 months Private Health Care paid for by 1st Available.com.au. Cool don’t you think? If you don’t have cover, just pick one and the costs will be covered for an entire year! If you are currently in a fund the costs will be covered if you win, how cool is that.
  • Membership to the 1st Available site will always be free. Access to healthcare providers is the aim
  • Convenience, need I say more.

Why not give it a go and see how easy it is to use. Sign up and of course be in the running to win 12 months Private Health Care paid by 1st Available.com.au. Tell your mates, enter now, gotta be in in it to win it.

Bloggers that promotes the services of 1st Available.com.au have a chance to win the following:

  • A family trip to the Gold Coast (max four people), 2 night’s accommodation PLUS a pass to the Problogger 2013 event – I hope to win this as a family holiday would be much needed now. Tight budget, stressed and tired family. A recharge on the Gold Coast would definitely be in order. As a blogger attending Problogger would be a dream come true. So wish me luck!
  • A day spa treatment package. The prize is for themselves and their partner at spa centre of their choice.
  • Five further bloggers deemed to have linked the most creative posts, as decided by the 1stAvailable.com.au Executive Team will each be awarded a $200 cash prize

Wishing you luck and I hope that I am a winner as well.

Suzanne

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Why Super is Not Super

Our new piggy bank
Think the coins will come in handy!

I for one would love to have heaps of money in my superannuation account, but alas due to the GFC and also looking after kids this is not be so. Hopefully it is just for now, and the bank account will rise in the future. I for one have been listening with interest about the call to tax higher income earners for their super, but it appears that the lower income earners are not having it easy either.

I do understand that taxing the rich more is sensible but I for one have never understood why our money that we are saving for our old age is taxed so heavily. Why can’t we just save this money with little tax threat, or maybe none at all? The more you can squirrel away the better, and the less you would rely on government pensions. I for one think that if you make saving for your retirement harder it ruins what you are trying to achieve. What about you?

My personal opinion is that you should not be taxed on any of it, and it should be able to provide for your old age. People are living longer and things in life are much more expensive. Grown up children are staying longer and longer with their parents, so adding to the costs of older parents who by this stage might not be working and only relying on their super for income.

I also found this line incredible in Peter Martin’s article today in the Sydney Morning Herald, see below:

“A middle earner on the average male wage gets $1293.”  

Why are we setting out differences between male and female earnings?  Why are we still making the distinction that men have a different wage compared to women? What would be the average middle earner wage for women? Where is this scale? I hope that I have not earned a female wage ever, just a wage. I don’t want to be treated differently due to gender. I would like to be just paid accordingly to my skills and ability. Maybe if I was paid a male wage my superannuation figures might look healthier? Who knows? People would never admit to giving you less money for being female. Interesting line in the article don’t you think? What are your thoughts?

If you are like me and your eyes glaze over when all intricate details of superannuation is discussed, this page from Wikipedia about Taxation on Superannuation might be of assistance.

I would make the rate that everyone pays the same for superannuation, as the more you put in only helps the individual and takes the stress away from the government to provide. So they are doing themselves an injustice to stop us saving more money.

Why not continue the discussion on our Twitter or Facebook pages.

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Red Nose Wipes – Support a good cause!

Red Nose Wipes - Sids For Kids
Red Nose Wipes – SIDS and Kids

Do you buy baby wipes? I purchased so many when the twins were young.  Why not purchase a brand that also helps SIDS and Kids.  Red Nose Baby Wipes are just the thing. They are excellent wipes and also help a good cause. A percentage of sales from the wipes will fund vital research into stillbirth, safe sleeping practices and support services to bereaved families

What is SIDS and Kids? Well the short answer is SIDS and Kids is an organization that helps parents handle grief, fund research into why babies and children die and what can be done. According to the SIDS and Kids website:

“In Australia each year over 3,500 families experience the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or child, either through stillbirth or during the first month of life, from sudden unexpected death in infancy (SIDS or fatal sleeping accidents), SUDC (sudden unexpected death in childhood) or accident.”

Not much is known to the causes but the funding will help find solutions and hopefully unlock the reasons why this happens. So what can you do to help. How about purchase a pack of Red Nose Baby Wipes or go to the Adelaide Pregnancy Babies & Children’s Expo on Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th of March 2013.

Aussie Wipes (who will be at the Adelaide Pregnancy Babies & Children’s Expo – you need to look for SIDS Red Nose Baby Wipes) has partnered with SIDS and Kids to launch its new range of baby wipes to support research into sudden infant death syndrome all year round. The aim is aiming to sell over one million packs per year to help fund research into stillbirth, SIDS and safe sleeping practices. So why not give them a helping hand, visit the stall at the Adelaide Pregnancy Babies and Children’s Expo and purchase a pack or two.

Perfect for your baby and child: Red Nose Baby Wipes are specifically formulated to be not too wet and not too dry, dermatologically tested, pH balanced and hypoallergenic. They are available in scented and unscented 100 wipe packs and 30 wipe travel packs. They are the only baby wipes in Australia accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council to help manage our forests and are dermatologically tested to be delicate on baby’s skin.

If you want to purchase, Red Nose Wipes are available from the SIDS and Kids online store, bulk orders only of nine pack of 100 wipes per box for $35.90 + p&h www.sidsandkidsshop.org or www.aussiewipes.com.au

Hope you enjoy the expo on the weekend if you are in Adelaide. Let me know what it was like.

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News

Accept the Breast

Breastfeeding your child is natural and is not news, however when a woman in Queensland was forced to leave an aquatic centre it becomes news and an issue. It is 2013 and women have the right to breastfeed in public and it is not against the law.

The woman in question had her other two older kids at the pool and she was feeding her 11 month old baby girl while she had her feet in the pool to keep cool from the heat.  A staff member came up to her and told her that she had to stop feeding in the open.

The staff member offered alternatives such as going to a change room or putting a blanket over the baby. As it was a very hot day a blanket would not be appropriate and according to the article the baby pushes them off so it would not have worked. The older kids were happily playing in the pool and if like me you are the only adult to supervise; this would mean making the other kids get up and come into the change room with you so you can feed the baby. Not ideal at all.

Breastfeeding in public is legal and that should be that.  In an article in the Sydney Morning Herald it discusses that asking women to leave or move while breastfeeding is still happening, although it is inhumane.

I think the lady in article, Liana Webster should have stayed there and refused to move. I would have. What would they have done, call the police?  I do understand wanting to leave and being so upset that she just upped and went home. I can relate. It is not the same, but my local aquatic centre has stopped one of the sessions for the crèche, which means that days that I have the kids and a fitness class is on, I cannot go. I was in tears as I only got told after paying to go, to then find out that I was not able to do it due to no child care. (I got my money back thank god for that, but I am still very upset about it and left the centre in tears)

I am amazed that we are still so backwards in our thinking. We can look at the naked body, or a woman in a bikini but a woman feeding a baby is bad and considered something to cover up. I for one think that a mother feeding their child to be a great sight and a lovely image.

Breastfeeding is covered under Australian Federal Law and this is an excerpt from the Australian Breastfeeding Association’s website:

“In Australian Federal Law breastfeeding is a right, not a privilege.

Under the federal Sex Discrimination Act 1984 it is illegal in Australia to discriminate against a person either directly or indirectly on the grounds of breastfeeding. Direct discrimination happens when a person treats someone less favourably than another person. For example, it is discriminatory for a waiter to decline to serve a patron who is breastfeeding. Indirect discrimination happens when an apparently neutral condition has the effect of disadvantaging a particular group, in this case women who are breastfeeding. For example, an employer may impose a requirement on all employees that they must not make any breaks for set periods during the day under any circumstances. Such a condition would particularly disadvantage women who need to express milk” (https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/breastfeeding-and-law/legalright)

Organisations should follow the law and not create a climate that makes mothers want to leave, if any other patrons of the pool had an issue with it they should either move away or look away for the required time it takes to feed the baby. Why is it that the mother needs to relocate, why it can’t be the person who finds it offensive? I for one don’t think it is offensive but if you don’t want to be around it, leave. Why make the mother and the kids leave.  She has every legal right to be there and so has everyone else, we just need to have a broader acceptance and understanding of others.

Has this happened to you when you were breastfeeding? What did you do? Send in your comments.

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News

Rainy Holiday Monday

Rain rain go away!
Rain rain go away!

Today it has not stopped raining. It has been nice to have the garden watered and the seeds for the grass growing well, however parts of the country are flooding so I am not happy about this and would like the rain to stop now. It was nice to spend the day inside with the hubby and kids. We tidied up a bit, although the areas that I would have liked are still a mess, but I suppose with kids bored and it raining what can one expect?

So if you are in the zones for the bad weather please be careful and stay safe. The bad weather is due to ex-tropical cyclone called Oswald bringing flooding to parts of Sydney and Queensland. According to the Sydney Morning Herald article about the weather states:

“A severe weather warning has been issued for large swathes of NSW for destructive winds, heavy rain, abnormally high tides and damaging surf, with the north of the state already copping the brunt of the bad weather.” The prediction tonight is that rainfall could hit 150mm and wind speeds will get to 100km/hour so bad weather and best to stay indoors.

Bundaberg is being dealing with extensive flooding and as has Ipswich, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. So bad weather all round. According to a Courier Mail article about the bad weather it states:

“Government expecting major flood damage in Bundaberg with the Burnett River running at 40 knots – so fast that rescue by boat will be very difficult and the force of the water is such that houses could be completely washed away.”

“Premier Campbell Newman, said the velocity of the water flowing through north Bundaberg meant houses could be swept from their stumps.”

Hubby said that 40 knots is  74km/hour so that is fast water indeed.

So I am hoping that it stops raining and people stay safe. Hope you are all o.k on this rainy day.  Have you been affected by the bad weather?

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News

Ninjas wear pink shoes too

Pink Shoes
Pink Shoes

In the news recently was a story of a little boy who for his first day of preschool he wanted to wear pink shoes. His mum explained that the shoes he was so taken with were meant for girls and he did not care. The mother decided if he was not fussed, then why not let him wear them.

It was not until the mother posted the innocent picture of the boy dressed ready to go to school on her Facebook page then family and friends suddenly had issues with her decision.

The boy who is only five years of age, said “”ninjas can wear pink shoes too.” So he obviously does not have an issue with colour and was okay with the shoes. Why is it that we as a society have ideas and thoughts on what kids or others should do or wear?

Children don’t see what adults see and to the child pink is a colour and has no meaning on being girls or boys. My girls play dress ups and have worn some most outrageous things to preschool. I have not let it stop them and their creativity. If I was to do the same thing to my girls then they by rights they should not have work boots, I must say that they are coloured purple but I did try and find the brown ones like daddies.

The only people with a problem about this were the adults, the child and immediate family were fine. In the essential kids article it stated that other kids at the preschool thought the shoes were good and even had many positive comments on them. According to the child’s mother, no negative comments were made about it.

Have you been in this situation? Your son wants to wear pink shoes or something that is meant for girls? Did you let him wear it and if so how did it go? When I was still pregnant with the twins, we decided not to find out the sex. In the classes at the hospital we were put in groups and asked if we had a boy would we dress them in pink or have pink in their wardrobe at all; my hubby was the only man to walk with me and other ladies into the yes side of the room. There was more in the no side of the room if that gives you any indication on what the leanings were towards.

I think you need to give your child a chance to express themselves and to explore dressing up and having fun. Imposing your ideas on the situation is not a great thing to do, the poor family has had to endure comments “the harshest of which came from the boy’s great aunt, who wrote “that sh*t will turn him gay”.

I believe that ninjas can wear pink and any other colour for that matter, they are ninjas after all. Telling a ninja what to wear might be a deadly exercise that will not end well. What are your thoughts?

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News

Would You Survive?

I don’t believe I could survive on $35 a day, could you? In The Sydney Morning Herald “Jenny Macklin, federal Families Minister, has told reporters she could live on the Newstart allowance of $35 a day.”

According to the article, “more than 80,000 single parents were moved from the parenting payment to the lower Newstart. The Australian Council of Social Services chief executive, Cassandra Goldie, said the changes would leave vulnerable people – the majority of them women – between $60 and $110 a week worse off.”

Prices of food have gone up, electricity prices have gone up, and other essentials are not cheap. I think $35 a day would be very hard for a person by themselves and impossible to live well, but factor in looking after kids as well. All the things that a child needs would not fit into this budget as well as caring for an adult as well.

God help you if you got sick and needed to buy medicine. I recently went to the chemist when the twins had tonsillitis and the medicine and painkillers cost well over $50, so that is the daily allowance blown already. You would hope that you had food in the fridge and pantry, as trying to feed yourself and the family is hard with nothing. That said, what about when it gets cold or too hot. How do you make sure that your little ones don’t boil or freeze.  Paying for electricity or gas might make it impossible to have these services at all, so going without is the only option.

Living with this budget would mean that there would be no extras just the basics to survive. No presents or treats, no replacements for things. If you have kids that have constant growth spurts, you would need to purchase or find new clothes and shoes for them. It is a tough ask on $35 a day.

In the Sydney Morning Herald article it states that having a “low rate of Newstart could be a barrier to people getting employment.” I agree as, you need to present yourself in the best light to get a job. Organisations won’t hire someone that does not present well, and has not got the means to get to the job. If you have limited finance, you cannot purchase a suit/dress/skirt/makeup/pay for transport/pay for childcare/food to stay well to enable you got get the job and also not get sick, and much more. Money helps you get the job, and gives you more help to get to the next step.

I do understand that some people don’t get jobs or want them. However the majority want to be off the allowance and better themselves via a new job that allows more financial freedom, for them and their family. The government needs to increase the allowance so it is not under the poverty line and more able to keep up with the standard of living in 2013.  I do agree that Jenny Macklin should live on $35 per day for a month, but not in her house that she is used to. She should be in controlled conditions and this for example would be a flat or house of a person that has to survive on $35 a day.  Also being limited to her new surroundings, she would need to not have credit cards or any help, only the money from the allowance would be allowed. If this experiment does happen, I am sure she would not like it or survive. It is an unrealistic ask and only a rich politician who has never had to do it would would state stupidly that she could live off $35 a day.

So Ms Macklin I challenge you as well to live off $35 a day and see how your fare! I think you need to give it a go as you have already told the world you can do it. Your supporters and party will not appreciate the fact you are not backing up what you say.

According to the article, “The acting Greens leader, Adam Bandt, whose Melbourne electorate has the highest proportion of people in public housing in the country, said he would spend a week living on $35 a day next month.” Well done Adam Bandt, politicians need to do more of this. I hope you are not going to be in your house but somewhere less well off to replicate what it would really be like.

What are your’re thoughts? Send in your comments and why not continue the discussion on our twitter or facebook pages.

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News

Chocolate Makes You Brainy

Chocolate for an improved you!
Chocolate for an improved you!

If you looked at the heading of this post, you would say “really does chocolate make you smarter?” Well according to “The New England Journal of Medicine in the October issue contains a paper written by Franz H. Messerli M.D. on the relationship between the per capita number of Nobel Laureates that a country has produced and its level of chocolate consumption.” Yes there is a relation to how much chocolate a nation eats and its cognitive performance as a population. Interesting right!

I know it is hard to believe but it all comes down to flavanols. “Flavanols have been shown to slow or reverse the drop in cognitive performance that often accompanies aging. It so happens that cocoa is a rich source of flavanols.” (Kasey Edwards, How chocolate makes you smarter)

Don’t think that Australia is up there as a huge chocolate consumer or even having the highest number of Nobel Laureates, we have 13  and as you can imagine Switzerland has the highest chocolate consumption and of course nobel laureates. Maybe eating more chocolate high in flavanols is a good idea.

In Kasey Edwards article, “How chocolate makes you smarter” she asks how much more chocolate do we need to eat to make us smarter? Well…

‘The minimally effective chocolate dose seems to hover around 2 kg per year, and the dose–response curve reveals no apparent ceiling on the number of Nobel laureates at the highest chocolate-dose level of 11 kg per year.’ “In short, the good doctor is telling us that the more we eat, the cleverer we get.”

So when you are eating chocolate this holiday season or at any time during the year, you are improving yourself by eating the chocolate and each bite will hopefully make you smarter and maybe younger.  So don’t panic when offered another choccy.

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News

Healthy Dad = Healthy Kids

Climbing like a monkey
Climbing like a monkey

In an article by Nicola Conville, ‘Dads determine child obesity’, on Body and Soul:

“A recent Australian study has found having an overweight father quadruples a child’s chance of being overweight, even if they have a mother of normal weight.”

The study looked at more than 3000 two parent families over a four year period. Weight was looked at when the child was 4-5 years and when they were 8-9 years old.

It is interesting to note that if the mother is overweight and the father is normal or skinny, it does not seem to matter, the change happens when the father is overweight. Interesting don’t you think!

As the article states when the father at the dinner table refuses the vegetables or some other food, then the children follow. This can make it very hard to have kids eat good and nutritious food. In my situation we eat very well and the kids don’t eat the good food. I do try and hide it in other things to make sure they get what they need. It is very hard with fussy eaters. Maybe hypnosis might work with the fussy eating issue…Just a thought.

Parents need to be careful of what behaviours they are modelling for their child. If you don’t eat a particular food, chances are your child might not want to as well. This has flow on effects, if you don’t exercise or participate in any sport or exercise the child will not want to do so either.

If the family is active together this shows the child that it is fun and a part of life, not a chore and something to hate. If it is integrated into what the family does it is a normal part of family time and will be adopted by the child as a normal thing.

In the article it has great suggestions for getting more active with kids, here are some of mine:

  • Go for a bush walk with the family, why not take a picnic?
  • Walk to the shops if it is close by. Take the pram if the little kids get tired. You can always stop at the park and let them run around and have fun. (in the article but we do it too)
  • Go swimming with the kids.
  • Do yoga or some stretching or activity at home.
  • Fly a kite. (in the article but we do it too)
  • Dance to music.
  • Get involved in a sport, running, soccer, or anything that your child might be interested in. We will aim to do that next year as we have tried soccer and that did not work, little athletics seem to take people next year so we will see.
  • Games in the backyard, tag or anything that is active.
  • Play dates with the kids friends; they end up running around and playing more especially if you go to a park or if you have a good backyard.

What are your thoughts about this study? I do agree that if the child sees you not eating a certain food or doing something they will copy you. It is what is taught and you need to teach, do and model with the right foods and behaviour. However this sometimes is hard when you have a person who does not follow your good eating habits and exercise ideas. Also a treat every now and then is o.k if in moderation; well that is what I think. You don’t want to make your kids feel like they are missing out.

Send in your comments and why not continue the discussion on our twitter or facebook pages.

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Mothers Punished For Working

On way to the uni for the exam
On way to the uni for the exam

If you are a mother and have 2 kids and want to work you will not get much for your efforts. Sad to hear, but it is true.

According to an article by Stephanie Peatling in the Sydney Morning Herald due to having children, tax, child care costs and lost benefits, women are earning as little as 20 cents for every dollar. Is it any wonder that women are not returning to work?

There is no incentive to do so.

Also if you start to earn more money the more you lose in benefits that help you actually work in the first place, so a lose lose if you ask me.

I do understand that the benefits need to help people that need it, however if you lose the benefits that help you put your kids in care, how do you afford to work to earn the money?

I’m not understanding why women are still losing more their pay. Kids are a joint effort, the father or partner needs to help out too. The way this article reads the woman is the one that ends up getting less money and that is all just because she wishes to go back to work and try and get child care for her kids. Again the article does not say that men are disadvantaged due to this.

Aren’t men in the family with the kids and the women too? So therefore the solution to have everyone get access to jobs and be paid well should be a priority for all not just women.

It appears like one person out of the family is penalised for wanting to work and that is the mother.

According to the article:

“The worst situation was for families with two children where both parents earned an equivalent full time wage of $40,000 a year.

In that case, the woman kept only 20 per cent of her take home pay if she worked three days a week but 17 per cent if she worked full time.”

In the article it says that you need to have a high earning partner and you also need to earn a decent amount to actually get more in the hand:

“Families needed to have one partner earning $100,000 a year with the second earning about $60,000 a year and only have one child for the woman to keep more than 60 per cent of her take home pay.” This is still not right, you lose 40 per cent of your pay but it is an improvement on the other examples in this article.

I for one don’t see how earning this is possible with 2 kids to care for (hang on this example is for a couple with 1 child – so I would get less since I have 2 kids, Oh the joys), get to and from school and get to a day job all while caring and doing things as a mother.

This to me would only be possible if your workplace was flexible and you could work remotely part of the time or solely from home.  For me working from home is ideal, I earned a very good salary in the city, however the city is 2 hours away on public transport faster in the car.

However when you mix in caring for the kids and of course school drop off and pick up it is impossible to be everywhere for everyone. Also putting kids in child care negates earning any money at all, so I am not working currently (Until the dream job appears that allows me to work from home, then I will work, or until the kids are at school and more self-sufficient)

Basically the extra costs are due to child care costs. Due to the second child you fork out more money, no matter what the couple earned as soon as they had 2 children the woman took home much less from her pay over a couple with one child. I suppose this is obvious but it does not help the country and the population if we are saying just have one child as you will not earn any money if you have 2.

What to do if you have twins or more children?

You instantly have the second or third child and this gets very expensive for couples.

If you don’t have family or friends to help, child care is the next best thing, although expensive.

I have always thought that the more women that worked or contributed to the economy we would be better off. Although to do this women and families need help to allow them to do this. I am not sure what can be arranged and any fix would cost the government money in regards to benefits for families.

However in the article it states that, “If an extra 6 per cent of Australian women worked, the size of the economy would grow by about $25 billion a year, the Grattan Institute modelling found.”

Due to this great increase for the country and our economy maybe it is an important issue for the government to ensure there are benefits for women and families to allow us all to work. Having more money in the households all over would be a great thing for the individual and the family itself. What things and opportunities could you be exposed to with more funds? Who only knows as it is a guessing game without the funds to allow.

Ms Elizabeth Broderick who is the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner has said that “”Your brain isn’t delivered with the placenta” and ”My advice to all young women is to remain attached to the labour market”.

I do agree and that is why I have continued online study to keep my brain active and to have adult conversation. Also a completion of my Master’s in Project Management will allow more job opportunities in the future.

I do agree to it is a good idea to keep a job to be in the workforce, as women we are the ones that care for kids, aging parents and the sick. Due the caring and the breaks from the workforce we are left with a lower superannuation pay out and less to live off in our old age. Working also helps if there is a breakdown in the relationship and you are secure with your own ability to earn and have savings.

Money is power and allows you to have freedom to do things and go places.

However while I do agree with Ms Broderick in reality it is harder when you live further away from the city that allows you reach your earning potential, and you have no family to help and child care costs are too expensive that it eats up all the money you would earn. So if it is not going to earn me any money currently there is no point working, although I do miss it.

I want to work to help our family build our little empire and to also build something for me as an individual. While there are no flexible options and help to care for kids I will have to stay at home with my adorable and wonderful twins.

Ms Broderick also said, ‘”You can be committed to a family and a job and not have to choose.” I find this hard as this is dependent on how much money you have to pay for care, and if you have family to help you look after the kids. If I worked in the city and had the type of job I had before I would earn a decent amount, but it would be full time.

How do I get kids to school?  I would have to be at the office when they need to be at school in the Blue Mountains, and I would have to be in Sydney. Then who picks them up?  There is no guarantee when I would get home as I might be stuck in meetings and not get home till say 7 or 8pm.

I would have to hire someone to be there for the kids for before and after school.  Ms Broderick’s comment I believe is only so, if you have help and money to allow you to work. I currently have to choose not to work due to no help and no money. What about you?

Do you work as well as having kids?

One of my friends does and she only gets an extra of $30 a month after all the child care has been paid plus other bills.

Is it worth it to only get an extra $30 a month? I don’t think so? But that is me.

Have you got a flexible office?

Do they allow you to work from home?

Or have you started your own business to allow you to have your own hours and the flexibility?

 

PS. If it was up to me this is what I would do:

1. Give all working parents benefits to allow them to have subsidised care for all kids.

2. Mandate companies and businesses to have more flexible options and working arrangements. Maybe come into the office 3 days a week or work remotely and come in 2 days. Or it could be all done via a work from home arrangement. With all the technology and infrastructure we have, why do we still need to be an office these days?

3. With everyone moving further away from the cities and the jobs,  why not adopt a more flexible approach to working? All companies that I have worked for rave and rave about their work life balance and flexible options but they have never let me experience it. Working from home was never granted even after being at a company for over 5 years and my role was as a web designer that was all done online. Go figure.

Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.