Tag: mother

Categories
Family

Sick

Hi, everyone.

I’ve been sick and it is not going away.

I am a little better than I was but there is a cough that is not going away, and I also to feel constantly tired, runny nose, and a sore throat. Yep, not well at all!

 

Just a note to anyone dealing with this horrible flu…If you have too much cough syrup you get diarrhoea!

I had a few days of a cough not stopping and I overdosed on the cough medicine and ended up with a very sensitive belly. Just what I needed, another issue to deal with, and one that means that leaving the house is not a good idea.

Why is it not possible to just curl up and sleep for a while.

Why do I have to leave the house at all????

The problem is that I know the why.

I need to take kids to school and pick them up, plus after school activities. I need to look after my little boy and take him to care for the two days that he goes per week.

On the days that the kids and baby have been at school and care I have tried to rest. However due to being sick and not being able to do chores the house looks like a bomb has gone off.

Yesterday after the baby finally went to bed I folded and put away all the clothes that were waiting to get sorted. Now I can see and use the lounge. A small win really. Although after this effort I really wanted to have a nap. The nap did not happen as I needed to go pick up kids and go to the shops.

Are you currently struggling with the flu?

This year has been a horrible year with many people getting ill and the flu is meant to a horrible strain that knocks you out for a while.

It is just a pity that I don’t have a helper that can step in for me while I get better. A clone of me would be ideal. I could just power up the clone version of me and they can do everything while I rest and get better.

Let me know how you are coping if you are sick.

Sign up to my newsletter

Stay current with all the things that are happening on Mummy to Twins Plus One? Don’t miss a thing by signing up to my newsletter. This newsletter will list all giveaways and fabulous things that are happening.

Categories
Family

Panadol’s Online Resources for Parents

As a mother to twin girls and a little boy I want to ensure that all my kids are healthy and well. I’m sure if you are a parent or help care for kids that would be what you would like too. However there are times when everyone gets sick. One child might have a cold, a fever, the flu or if it was like our ongoing saga with tonsillitis it effected both kids until they were removed (the girls have been well aside from the common cold and illness since the removal of their tonsils.)

Shelley Craft, Buddy Bear, myself (Suzanne), the girls and our little boy. What fun the kids had, although the baby was teething and still is. (He cheered up once he got some Children's Panadol to make him feel better)
Shelley Craft, Buddy Bear, myself (Suzanne), the girls and our little boy. What fun the kids had, although the baby was teething and still is. (He cheered up once he got some Children’s Panadol to make him feel better)

When your little ones get sick you do your best to make them feel better. It could be cuddles, songs, yummy food, and favourite shows and of course some medicine to help your kids feel more like themselves and allow the body to get better, rest is best so that you can be well.

No matter how simple or common the sickness is you cannot help but worry about your children. When my kids are sick I am worried about them all the time.

Last Thursday the kids and I went to learn about Children’s Panadol (The kids were excited to meet Shelley Craft. Yes I watch The Block and therefore so do the kids) great new online resources to help parents care for sick kids and to also alleviate the anxiety that can go with sickness.

Shelley Craft from the Block and Dr Kimberley O’Brien who is the founder of Quirky Kid Clinic and also an expert in child development and mental health. Both Shelley Craft and Dr O’Brien spoke about how to have planning strategies to help parents deal with stress and anxiety when children get ill as it can be HUGE help for parents and children as well.

This talk was in response to a “new global survey of parents, including Australians, suggests that parents manage day to day mishaps and mistakes calmly, but still get stressed about the important things like helping their children through illness”

“71% of Australian parents fell anxious about fever/temperature and 66% feel anxious about their child’s pain”

Children’s Panadol have created the following tools to help support parents in managing their child’s health:

  1. Buddy Bear is an interactive animated website that allows parents to entertain children when they are sick. It is a good idea to create the different files before you need them as you can save them to your device. Once you are on the site you are asked if your child is a boy/girl. Then fill in age, email and add photo and your video will be emailed to you when it is ready. Get organised and download a few so you have them ready.
    While your child is watching Buddy Bear you can get the dosage of Children’s Panadol correct and not be so flustered and anxious.

    Buddy Bear - The great new interactive way to keep your little one entertained while you get the medicine sorted to help your child get better. Developed and created by Children's Panadol.
    Buddy Bear – The great new interactive way to keep your little one entertained while you get the medicine sorted to help your child get better. Developed and created by Children’s Panadol.
  1. The First Five Years Book – This fabulous resource is written by child health nurses to help parents with practical tips and tricks to help them understand the ups and downs from birth to 5 years old, help you enjoy being a parent, learn about major milestones, understand activities that your baby might be doing. You can read it online or download it.
  2. Bub Tracker App – This is a FREE App that helps new parents with advice on dosage for medicines, feeding tracker, feeding log and much more.“Parents do not sweat the small stuff, but worry more about the illness cause, recovery and prevention – especially mothers”
Children's Panadol Bub Tracker App - Great guide for parents
Children’s Panadol Bub Tracker App – Great guide for parents

I hate it when kids are sick. I wish I could make it all go away.  I also hate when I get sick, yes if kids get ill, I end up sick too! Perils of motherhood.

 

The tools from Panadol are a HUGE help to make it a little easier on parents and also kids. I have downloaded some of buddy bear’s interactive videos in preparation for Alexander.

Dr Kimberley O’Brien has 5 tips to help manage anxiety and soothe your sick child/children:

  1. Make a Plan. Having a plan removes second guessing yourself and the worry. Make sure that you include distraction and calming tools if medication is required.
  2. Know your tools. Have a favourite toy/book/game to help comfort your child. A personalised DVD that the child will be happy to watch would be of great help.
  3. Empathise. Try and see the situation from your child’s point of view and this can give you some insight into their behaviour.
  4. Do familiar things. If you can make sure you stick to your regular family routine. This will create a sense of normality at home and allow everyone to be more relaxed.
  5. Manage your anxiety. Call on your support network for help. You need a break if you are the only one caring for a sick child, a break will allow you to increase your quality of care and not get burnt out in the process.

 

“They are less concerned with diet, medication usage or what they are doing wrong – though parents of younger children worry more.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly parents of children aged 6-12 are not as ‘extremely ’anxious”

Teething and very upset. Mummy cuddles are very helpful. Photo taken in a darken room due to sleeping baby. Yes did not want to wake him.
Teething and very upset. Mummy cuddles are very helpful. Photo taken in a darken room due to sleeping baby. Yes did not want to wake him.

What are your thoughts on making a plan to be ready for sick kids? Well you are not planning on having sick kids, just how to deal with it.

I love the Buddy Bear videos and the bear is so magical to watch. You could sit for hours just being amazed at how cute and wonderful the bear is. Kids will love this as much as adults do. Give it a go, download and save some videos just in case you need them. Also check out the other online resources from Children’s Panadol.

Disclaimer: I went along to the media briefing about Children’s Panadol to learn ways parents can be less anxious and to hear about techniques that can help children when sick. I have had many times when the twins were ill, they then got me ill and now with a baby it will all happen again (Currently Alexander has a cold and is also teething. Joyousness it is not!). I think that the online resources that Children’s Panadol showcased are excellent, not only are they FREE, they are highly informative as well. Thanks to Children’s Panadol for the invite and allowing the kids and I to learn more about your online tools.

 

Categories
News

No Rorters Here

I must say that all this talk of double dipping and new mums supposedly rorting the system is hypocritical if you ask me.

New Parents - Hopefully will be still able to claim the parental leave.
New Parents – Hopefully will be still able to claim the parental leave.

The government voted for this paid parental scheme. It was structured with part coming from the employer and part from the government. Government minister wives have even made use of this scheme. It was all above board and if you were entitled to the parental leave payments why not let this help you if you are a new parent. It all helps.

Why is it that we are now having conversations about who works and who doesn’t. I for one would like to challenge any person to say that a mum that is a stay at home parent does not work. The only difference is that they are not in paid employment. This mother might be racing everywhere and going above and beyond for her family but this is not listed as work, due to no payment for said tasks.

Working mothers do it tough too. They drop their kids off at care or have family to come and help. Without care these mums would not be able to work and to contribute to society, their household and progress their careers.

It does not matter if you are in paid work or not. Looking after kids, family and a house is a big job as well. Doing this with a full time job is hard too. It is all a balancing act. No one is better or worse, it is just different.

It now seems like mothers are under attack. I know that is not actually true but that is the way it appears. Joe Hockey was asked if “Double Dipping” was fraud and he eventually said yes. Now he is back peddling. So I suppose in his mind all women/men that took advantage of this paid parental scheme, which is legal and was voted in by him and the current government are breaking the law.

 

“Social Services Minister Scott Morrison has said accessing both schemes is “double dipping” and “a rort”.

“Asked last week if it was “fraud” for mothers to collect both schemes, Mr Hockey said: “Well, it is”, but stopped short of using the word himself.”

 

You do have to qualify first to be eligible to get the paid parental leave.  Below is what you need to be eligible to claim. Taken from the Human Resources Government website:

  • be the primary carer of a newborn or recently adopted child
  • meet the Paid Parental Leave work test
  • meet the Paid Parental Leave income test
  • be on leave or not working from the time you become your child’s primary carer until the end of your Paid Parental Leave period

Just in case you are worried that paid parental leave might not be available for you, there is a note on the website that says:

“The current Paid Parental Leave scheme has not changed. It will continue to be available to eligible customers.”

Let’s just hope that it does not get changed at all, or very little if at all.

What are your thoughts? The government is now claiming that it is the parents fault for taking advantage of a legal scheme to help them spend more time with their new baby.

 

If there is a way for new parents to spend more time with their new addition why not take that up and give yourself more time to bond, and get to know your new little baby. It could be a mother or father that wishes to do this, and does not always have to be the mum that is claiming the paid parental leave.

Are you a new parent? Have you been lucky enough to get the paid parental leave? When I went on maternity leave with the twins I did not have this option and plus I was on a contract.

If paid parental leave was available when I had the twins and I was in full time employment I would have taken advantage, as it would have given us help when we really needed it. Caring for two new little people and not earning a wage was a shock to the system.

Let us know how this talk of double dipping is affecting you. What are your thoughts of all the back flipping?

 

Categories
Family

You said what? You must be TIRED!

Have you said something silly? That makes no sense? Or it could make sense but not at the time of day or the place when you said it?

Well I have! And it is happening more due to kids, being super tired and on the go all the time!

The other day hubby said this:

“I vacuumed the backyard and it is looking good”

Now I don’t know about you but most men or women don’t use a vacuum to mow their lawn. A mower is the tool of trade and it does the job quite nicely.

Maybe hubby knows something we don’t. The vacuum must put the finishing touches on his perfect lawn and makes it look amazing.

As soon as this came out of his mouth the kids could not stop laughing and I of course got the giggles. He was obviously very tired to be saying this.

Or maybe he wanted to vacuum as well? I will not stop someone who wishes to do more housework.

Daddy vacuuming the backyard! Yes that is the way he keeps the place looking a million bucks. You should try it! Man vacuuming by Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net, but grass added by me.
Daddy vacuuming the backyard! Yes that is the way he keeps the place looking a million bucks. You should try it! Man vacuuming by Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net, but grass added by me.

Earlier this week after I got home with kids from school I said the following:

“Get your luggage out of the car”

Then I got this reaction.

Lillian told me, while laughing.” Mummy you are tired! They are not our luggage, there our school bags!”

Maybe I was tired, but it does feel at times that I have heaps of luggage in the car.

 

Kissing and cuddling your daughter to then tell her "Good night" but this was at school drop off. Now I need to have more sleep if I'm doing this! Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Kissing and cuddling your daughter to then tell her “Good night” but this was at school drop off. Now I need to have more sleep if I’m doing this! Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

And there is this one that I said when kids started pre-school and sometimes still do it now and they are in grade one:

Saying  “Good night” when dropping kids at school.

Yes I know they are at school but maybe I have wishful thinking. Maybe I will get a nap or they will have a rest too? It does show that I am tired or brain is elsewhere.

Have you done this too? What is the weirdest thing you have said to the kids or someone else? Did you think it was a sign you needed to go back to bed? I do at times.

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

 

Categories
5 years and beyond

A Happy Mother’s Day

How was your Mother’s Day? Mine was lovely. The twins created cards at school and were very secretive about them. I was told not to touch their bags on Friday and that they will organize, well that is a first. It was only due to the cards being in the bags and the kids needing to find a place to put them so I will not see till Mother’s Day.

The twins secured a place for their secret surprise for me and I was told to stay away from the oven. The kids have a set of draws they call the oven and it is in their room. Not an actual oven. The surprises were put in the draws and I was told to stay away!  I did explain that when you hide things you don’t tell the person you are hiding the secret from where your hiding spot is. They did not get this and were more than happy to tell me where it was. Very funny!

The twins Mother's Day cards they made at school
The twins Mother’s Day cards they made at school

Yesterday morning I got woken by Julia excited about the cards and telling me to get up and go into their room so I can get the surprise. I went to their room with two very excited girls to be presented lovely sparkly cards that they decorated and wrote in themselves. I loved it and it is wonderful to have cards written in their own hand writing. They did a picture of something they like doing with mummy and underneath the teacher wrote what it was.

Lillian's card for Mother's Day
Lillian’s card for Mother’s Day

Each child’s picture and activity was different and very them. Lillian loves swimming with mummy and Julia loves reading stories and books. I thanked the girls for their excellent cards and told them how proud I was of them and keeping the secrets.   My clever girls are doing very well with their art and writing.  Did you get some great cards that were created by the kids? Did they have a lot of glitter on them? Mine did.

Julia's card for Mother's Day
Julia’s card for Mother’s Day

I then opened my presents to discover I have bright pink slippers and speakers for the computer. I have not had speakers for ages so finally getting some will be nice.

My stylish and warm pink slippers!
My stylish and warm pink slippers!

Yesterday we also visited family and had a lovely lunch with my nana, aunties, sister, mum and cousins.  It was a great day but a long one.

How was your Mother’s Day? Did you have a good day? Was it relaxing? Let us know.

Categories
Wednesday Wisdom

Be Led By Dreams

Do you ever have times where things get on top of you? The housework, kids, life and everything else! Currently I have a lot of things to do and don’t know where to start. I am seeing issues and problems everywhere I look, sit or even lie down there are problems! Due to looking at all the problems it is causing me to get angry and more stressed about the situation. Not good is it? No not at all.

Deep breath! AHHHH focusing on your breathing does help make you feel better. Oh and a camomile tea is needed!

Camomile Tea to make everything all right! Image courtesy of patpitchaya / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Camomile Tea to make everything all right! Image courtesy of patpitchaya / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I have so many dreams and things I wish to achieve but feel weighed down in the mundane and don’t get a lot done. Today’s wisdom is to focus on my dreams rather than being fixated on my problems. I will aim to work through one issue at a time and be calmer in the process. Harder said than done but this is my aim.

Be led by your dreams. Yes I need to think more like this! Image from Pinterest.
Be led by your dreams. Yes I need to think more like this! Image from Pinterest.

Do you see things that need doing and feel overwhelmed by it all? I know this happens to me. I will try and do one room at a time, and this in turn will give me more clarity to achieve my dreams.

I hope this has inspired you to follow your dreams and not let your problems overshadow your day and focus. Okay, now off to tidy up so that I can then live my dreams.

Categories
5 years and beyond

Pushing Boundaries

Running around and creating mischief. Image courtesy of chrisroll at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Running around and creating mischief. Image courtesy of chrisroll at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Are your twins competitive? Mine are. It is tiring and exhausting dealing with kids that argue, annoy each other and want to do the same as the other in the same space, time and with the same things. We nearly have two of everything so there should not be an issue. The issue arises when one child gets something of mine or one of something and then the other wants it also. This as you can imagine makes it hard from a mummy perspective.

So what do I do?

  • Tell the child with the toy/item that they have a certain time frame to play with it and then it is the others turn. This does lead to the child crying and screaming that they got it first but it does get accepted after a bit of time and explaining.
  • Once I have the toy/item from the first kid I then give the toy to the other child and they have some time to play with it.
  • You can make sure it is fair for each child by using a stopwatch or a timer from the kitchen. When the bell sounds the other kid has a go!
  • If all fails I take the toy away and then no kid can play with it.
  • If there is a complete meltdown from both kids I take all away and put them in time out or have some quiet time in their room or in the backyard doing something different. A change of scenery is best. Distract and change things around a bit always is helpful.

This age of pushing boundaries and doing more on their own is interesting. Kids are climbing more, hurting themselves and just being secret little explorers. Sometimes they are doing things that they have been told not to do and that is hard to deal with. Maybe I need to hide more things and put them at greater heights. We are already finding chairs and boxes around the house, these have been used by the twins to access things that they are not supposed to have.

Do you find that your kids are getting into things that you told them not to access! Have you found that your little people are having wonderful adventures and are just very busy with heaps to do all the time? I have and it does not stop! Maybe it is the fact of having two kids at the same age.

My hubby has asked what I want for Christmas and my answer is a holiday for me to unwind and relax! I know not very fair to the family but after dealing with all the chaos of kids, meltdowns and being the go between on everything a holiday where I sleep in, get cooked for, and can have some quiet me time is very attractive at the moment.

How do you deal with this active stage with your kids? I do organise things for the girls but they are active little things and always want to do more and explore. Send in your comments.

Categories
5 years and beyond

2 More Sleeps Till Transition

Girls getting ready to go to school.Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Girls getting ready to go to school.Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

My little girls have grown up so much. They have had nearly two years at pre-school and are busting at the seams to be off to big school (Kindy) soon!  They are still very small for their age and petite little things, however they are feisty and strong little people. The girls love a challenge and cannot wait for the challenge that Kindy brings them.

There is currently 2 more sleeps until transition starts for Kindy and as you can imagine, they are super excited. I keep on getting asked, “How many more days’ mummy till transition?”

Transition for those that don’t know is a day a week that pre-school kids go to the primary school to learn what Kindy and the big school are all about. They get introduced to their future teachers, see and experience what it is like to be in a classroom, learn what is expected and get to know the facilities of the school. The kids even get paired up with a year five buddy that will be the year six buddy next year so that they can show them around the school.

A friends child that went last year said it was very cute and lovely to watch her son hold hands with an older student and be shown around the school. Adorable.

I am very excited for them. Hubby is working from home that day so that he can be there for the first day. It will be a day to make sure to record with many pictures. I have said this before, it will be a strange thing to suddenly have two kids in school full time next year.

Did your kids go through transition? Did they like it? Did you think it was a good idea? What was the best thing for you as a parent? Send in your comments.

Categories
5 years and beyond

Swearing at Kids Is Not On!

Angry Man.Image courtesy of sumetho at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Angry Man.Image courtesy of sumetho at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

While on a train ride home I noticed a family. There was the mother, father, grandad and child who was a little boy. This little boy could have been five years old but looked small so maybe under five. Hard to know. My girls are small and always taken for younger.

The reason I noticed this family was due to some bad language. I am not a fuddy-duddy but when you speak like that to kids it is just not right. I do slip from time to time but make sure to let my girls know that this type of language and words are not on and I make sure not to speak like that. If I do it is to myself and when kids are in bed!

Now for the most upsetting part. The family moved to empty seats that were in front of me. These seats were facing each other to allow the family more room. The mother, grandfather and child came to the new seats first. Then the father.

When the father approached the seats he went off at his child something fierce. He said, “F*#K, why are we moving seats!  I don’t see why this will give us more room! This was all directed at his little boy. Why is this his problem? Does it matter where you sit as long as you are together?

If this is how he talks to his child in public what happens at home? Maybe I am a fuddy-duddy by thinking these things. How your parents treat you affects the rest of your life. My father was scary, mean and violent. I was terrified of him and wondered what he would do next. When I was younger I stuttered and was extremely shy due to this. I am not like this now. Kids are impressionable and they need to be nurtured not sworn at for moving seats on a train!

Have you encountered bad behaviour especially with language from parents towards children? Kids repeat what they see and hear. If you are swearing they will do it to you and others. Have times changed that much that this is acceptable? I never knew certain words like these until I was much older. Maybe it was my family or how I was brought up? Or is it a sign of the times?

What are your thoughts?

Categories
4 years and beyond Uncategorised

I'm Exhuasted, Are You?

My girls are nearly five years old and they are very good however have been at each other like nothing else lately. It seems that if one is playing with something the other takes it, one might be happy doing something and then want me to help them. I do a bit and then they get whingey when I say I need to go off and do something else. One child gets upset and wants cuddles all day and parts of the days or most of them have been taken up sorting out squabble after squabble. When it is like this nothing can get done at home and then mummy is drained and exhausted.  Does this happen to you?

Is it the age I ask? Most friends I speak to have the same problems but these friends have children of different ages. Having twins is difficult as both kids want to do things at the same time, and as a parent that does not have help, it is hard to be in two places at once (I am sure it would be the same as a single parent). Do you have twins or triplets? Has this happened to you at this age?

My girls are so close and love each other to bits, however it gets nasty very quickly. Is it due to the closeness? Or just the fact that they are always together that they get annoyed at each other? I know it just simple sibling rivalry however it does wear on my patience and sometimes my patience does not hold up at all.

As you might have guessed when they are tired and hungry the behaviour gets worse, like most peoples would, so not a big surprise there. So what do I do to curb this type of behaviour?

  • Tell them that they cannot hurt each other – The child that has hurt the other I take them away and put them in time out.
  • If the twins are fighting over toys, I take the toy in question away from both of them.
  • I give them warnings and if they continue their bad behaviour I separate them.
  • I explain that if they don’t behave then they will not be allowed to go to the park, or somewhere nice as a treat.
  • Put it in their context, ask them if they would like to be treated the way they have treated their sister. The answer is always “No!” Then I mention that if you treat people horribly they will do it back to you.
  • Tell them that mummy wants them to be nice and good to each other, I don’t want them hurting or upsetting each other. They seem to understand this and are good. (Well for a bit that is)

Part of the upsets have come from the fact that they are more independent and want to do more. As you can imagine, some things are fine for the twins to do and others not. If it is dangerous I will not allow it.  If I can , I have them help me, for example chopping up vegetables for dinner that is fine, as long as I am there to supervise.

Is there more chaos in your house lately? What techniques have worked for you? Do you have twins or triplets and encountered the same behaviour?

Did you manage to figure out a way to get peace in your household? How did you do it? Send in your tips and tricks to us so we can all learn.

 

Categories
4 years and beyond

I’m Exhuasted, Are You?

My girls are nearly five years old and they are very good however have been at each other like nothing else lately. It seems that if one is playing with something the other takes it, one might be happy doing something and then want me to help them. I do a bit and then they get whingey when I say I need to go off and do something else. One child gets upset and wants cuddles all day and parts of the days or most of them have been taken up sorting out squabble after squabble. When it is like this nothing can get done at home and then mummy is drained and exhausted.  Does this happen to you?

Is it the age I ask? Most friends I speak to have the same problems but these friends have children of different ages. Having twins is difficult as both kids want to do things at the same time, and as a parent that does not have help, it is hard to be in two places at once (I am sure it would be the same as a single parent). Do you have twins or triplets? Has this happened to you at this age?

My girls are so close and love each other to bits, however it gets nasty very quickly. Is it due to the closeness? Or just the fact that they are always together that they get annoyed at each other? I know it just simple sibling rivalry however it does wear on my patience and sometimes my patience does not hold up at all.

As you might have guessed when they are tired and hungry the behaviour gets worse, like most peoples would, so not a big surprise there. So what do I do to curb this type of behaviour?

  • Tell them that they cannot hurt each other – The child that has hurt the other I take them away and put them in time out.
  • If the twins are fighting over toys, I take the toy in question away from both of them.
  • I give them warnings and if they continue their bad behaviour I separate them.
  • I explain that if they don’t behave then they will not be allowed to go to the park, or somewhere nice as a treat.
  • Put it in their context, ask them if they would like to be treated the way they have treated their sister. The answer is always “No!” Then I mention that if you treat people horribly they will do it back to you.
  • Tell them that mummy wants them to be nice and good to each other, I don’t want them hurting or upsetting each other. They seem to understand this and are good. (Well for a bit that is)

Part of the upsets have come from the fact that they are more independent and want to do more. As you can imagine, some things are fine for the twins to do and others not. If it is dangerous I will not allow it.  If I can , I have them help me, for example chopping up vegetables for dinner that is fine, as long as I am there to supervise.

Is there more chaos in your house lately? What techniques have worked for you? Do you have twins or triplets and encountered the same behaviour?

Did you manage to figure out a way to get peace in your household? How did you do it? Send in your tips and tricks to us so we can all learn.

 

Categories
4 years and beyond Uncategorised

Happy Mother's Day – 2013

Mother's Day Lunch 2013
Mother’s Day Lunch 2013

Happy Mother’s Day everyone! Hope you are having a good day, I am. Today we had to be up early due to the twins swimming lessons and after I managed to do an aqua aerobics class. Then we dropped off our stuff at the house and went to a picnic. It was enjoyable but the only downside was when Julia rubbed sunblock in her eyes and was a screaming teary mess in the car. Thank god she was better with some time and tissues.

Once lunch was eaten by all then the kids played on the play equipment at the park. Now we are home and the girls and daddy are working on secret surprises for me.   The kids and I have a pressie for daddy as his birthday is tomorrow and he is at work and will be very late home. I thought it would be nice to celebrate his birthday while the kids were home and we can all spend time together.

What have you been up to this Mother’s Day? Did your kids and partner/hubby stick to The Mother’s Day Code? Have you been able to relax or has it been just another day with things to do? Mine is still a normal day. I am off to start a cake for daddy for his birthday and to start the soup for dinner.

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

Categories
4 years and beyond

Happy Mother’s Day – 2013

Mother's Day Lunch 2013
Mother’s Day Lunch 2013

Happy Mother’s Day everyone! Hope you are having a good day, I am. Today we had to be up early due to the twins swimming lessons and after I managed to do an aqua aerobics class. Then we dropped off our stuff at the house and went to a picnic. It was enjoyable but the only downside was when Julia rubbed sunblock in her eyes and was a screaming teary mess in the car. Thank god she was better with some time and tissues.

Once lunch was eaten by all then the kids played on the play equipment at the park. Now we are home and the girls and daddy are working on secret surprises for me.   The kids and I have a pressie for daddy as his birthday is tomorrow and he is at work and will be very late home. I thought it would be nice to celebrate his birthday while the kids were home and we can all spend time together.

What have you been up to this Mother’s Day? Did your kids and partner/hubby stick to The Mother’s Day Code? Have you been able to relax or has it been just another day with things to do? Mine is still a normal day. I am off to start a cake for daddy for his birthday and to start the soup for dinner.

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

Categories
4 years and beyond

The Love of Books

Do your kids love books and going to the library? Mine do, they just adore it. Going to the library is a big deal and a great outing for the twins. Last Friday we went to return books that we had borrowed and the girls wanted to borrow more. While we were there they wanted to read some books, which is really just looking at the pictures.

Reading books at the library
Reading books at the library and looking very relaxed
Engrossed in the books
Engrossed in the books

We borrowed so many books I am not sure if we will get through them all. The librarian mentioned we can borrow up to 20 books and encourage more books to be borrowed, as they like the idea young kids reading and being at the library. The twins wanted to borrow so many but told them that we can always come back and get them next time.

What books do your kids like reading? Do your children have a good library near them. We are lucky that the library has been revamped and it is very swanky now. With us in a digital age, books are not the in thing now. I am glad that my kids love them.

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

Categories
4 years and beyond

Time For Me

Why is it when you suddenly have time for you, the slot fills with something else to do and you never get to do what you wanted to do? I am aiming to get some sewing done but first need to think about what I would like to create first. The dilemma is that I have many things in my head currently, will it be pants, a dress, or a skirt? Not sure. I want to learn to do something different, but this takes some time to sit and analyse how to do something new.

I have set up the dining room table and will get creating today and tonight as I am keen to do something. As I have finished my exam and waiting for summer school to start I have more free time. I just hope that I can achieve what is in my head, only time will tell. You know what it is like, you have grand plans that are in your brain but sometimes they don’t come out the way you envisioned. We will see.

Are you finding that as soon as you have a free bit of time you suddenly get busy? Does this impact your things that you have been hanging to do? It happens like that for me. Send in your comments.

 

Categories
The Slinky Project

The Slinky Project

Hi all, I have been trying to lose weight and tone up. I am not that bad but don’t feel comfortable and would feel better if I lost more weight, I suppose most people are in this boat.  It is hard with kids, study, the house to maintain and other things in your life. I know these are all just excuses and other people manage it. The issue I have is that I cannot just take a walk as I have two kids that need to come with me. I do try and put them into the pram but then it limits where you go, at the end of the day if I am walking with kids in the pram it is better than not walking, right?

So my plan is to get fit and wonderful by my birthday. Yes I have a deadline and thought I would expose it so I will get motivated to keep to my timeline, good idea right? I hope so! Now if I fail, I will fail publicly. Maybe it will help me stick to it. My birthday is in May so I have about 7 months to have a good go at it. I have a number of kilos that I would love to lose, pounds or stones depending on where you live. However I would rather just see what the outcome is and if I lose my targeted amount that is just the icing on the cake.

So I have decided to start The Slinky Project™, it is a project to get me fit, toned and by the time of my wonderful birthday next year, looking like a new and improved woman. Some might call me a yummy mummy by this stage, well I can live in hope.

To ensure success this is what I will be doing to for The Slinky Project™:

  • Try and exercise a bit each day, walking, jogging, zumba, swimming, or aqua aerobics (anything that gets me moving)
  • Lower portion size
  • Eat less meat
  • More lean protein
  • Less sugar – no treats or only on special occasions
  • Hardly any alcohol (yes I know I do like a glass of wine sometimes for dinner)
  • Will try and get up early to fit in some stretching – find this hard due to loving my sleep, but will try as need to get motivated
  • Look at more vegetarian meals and recipes, so if you have some send them in!

So this is the start of the new me, or actually a new and improved me. I am still me, just would like to have less of me if you know what I mean.  My issue is finding time to exercise all the time, hubby works late and then he does not get home till late, so I cannot just leave the kids to go off and exercise. Thank goodness for daylight saving, more daylight and hopefully more opportunity to walk in great weather.

What do you do to make sure that you have time for exercise? Does your partner or family help you? Do your kids join in with you when you exercise or do kids helping make exercise redundant?  Has having a deadline for your weight loss goals helped you? Send in your tips and tricks.

Why not continue the discussion on our twitter or facebook pages.

 

Categories
4 years and beyond

4 Year Old Immunisations

The girls had their four year old health check today and that also meant getting their immunisations. Yes needles. Both hubby and I were a bit worried how it might go, so decided to not tell them about it until it was going to happen.

Health check all went well. We are still off the chart for weight although the weight gain is good for them, so good news. We are on the chart for height but they are not big girls, I would say petite and due to that we are on it but they are not tall. Who knows they will probably shoot up soon.  All other development milestones are good and other concerns we raised were noted.

Now we get to the point of getting their needles, the bit I and daddy was not looking forward to at all. After the shock of finding out that they were getting needles the twins were not impressed either. Julia started screaming even before the needle went anywhere near her. Lillian screamed and cried due to Julia getting her needles. One in each arm. Oh the joys, two needles not one!  Julia did scream “Get it away from me!” Poor little bunny. 🙁

Then it was Lillian’s turn and Julia put her arm up and said “Don’t hurt my sister!” “Get the needle away!” Poor girls it was like they lived it all twice due to having it done to their sister. An after thought, maybe we should have had another nurse do them at the same time or in separate rooms. I do think the separate rooms would have caused more angst. I for one had some tears in my eyes as it was very sad to see my little babies cry and in pain.

We had fish and chips to cheer them up and then went off to a birthday party for a friend of the twins . They filled up on sweets and were themselves until they reminded themselves about the needles or bumped their arm or daddy and mummy did so as well (accidentally mind you!).

Julia is finding it tough as one arm hurts more so than others. Maybe she moved a bit and it is more bruised? Who knows. I have given her some painkillers to sleep a little better as she kept waking for comfort. Lillian seems fine although her arms are sore if bumped but she is doing well. Julia is asking if she has to have any more of the painful needles/ouchy needles. This is the last one until high school so no, however I did not want to say, “NO you will never have another needle from now and high school (cannot imagine my girls in high school, how weird would that be).” What happens if they get sick, need tests, or have to blood taken for whatever reason. Then I am the bad mummy that lied that there was no more needles.

I am sure she will be fine and there will be no more needles but you never know. In the next couple of days it should all be better, but she is a sensitive bunny and does not deal with needles at all well. Have you found that your little one was good and did not cry or have an issue with their immunisation? Or was it a terrible thing, crying, screaming and making you feel just horrible. I do feel horrible, although it is for their own good. It will protect them from deadly disease and sickness.  Send in your comments.

 

Categories
4 years and beyond

Dress Ups

The girls lately like to dress up more when going out. Hats, crowns, glasses, and more. When we went to the shops the other day my princesses insisted they had to look the part. Do your kids dress up to go out? Is it in super hero clothes, are they dressed as fairies or just in everything they can put on? Send in the wild things that your kids leave the house wearing.

Princess Julia
Princess Julia

 

Princess Girls, all dressed up to go out
Princess Girls, all dressed up to go out

 

Princess Lillian
Princess Lillian