Snappy Presents

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It's coming up to a busy time of year for us with birthdays; between the months of March and September we have a total of sixteen family birthdays! That might not seem that many to others, but we only have four for the remaining six months of the year, it does mean that when it comes to Christmas time I haven't been completely zapped of all inspiration.

And this is the problem; after a while it gets very difficult to find meaningful and worthwhile presents for certain family members, especially when they are the more senior members of the family. They've reached the point where they have most things and also are able to purchase anything they'd like in between special occasions, whereas the younger family members are still trying to find their feet with their finances and so it's easier to buy them things that they need.

Added to this though is that the children are all growing up and the youngest child (aside from The Boy) is seven years old while the eldest is celebrating her seventeenth birthday in a few months. I'm a little out of touch with what teenage boys and girls like, it's quite some time since I was one and therefore it's making me quit discombobulated. I think probably the easiest thing is to buy an iTunes voucher as all the teenagers have either iPhones or iPods and they can download which ever apps they'd like to use. I'm pretty sure that Angry Birds or Cut The Rope are staple dowloads for everyone including my husband's nephew, and my teenage niece probably spends most of her time on Facebook.

photo

When it comes to  buying presents for the older generation, I find that you can't really go wrong with a photo mug! Practical and easy to create, especially with a photo mugs iPhone app which actually allows the user to snap a photo and instantly upload and edit it, adding any text and then paying straight away. Perfect for finding a present on the go!

Capture

That's three presents to go, just need another thirteen! Any ideas?

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Twinkle, Twinkle, It's Gone Too Far!

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So while I'm in the mood for confessing to parenting fails, take a look at this photo of The Boy's beautiful bedroom and tell me the small issue…

photo

It's a small fail and you might not even register it as one. First look at all the things that are in the picture, work your way around the photo…

  • a soothing colour scheme with a rather lovely tree (even if I do say so myself) stretching over his bed
  • a monitor to hear his lordship if he wakes in the night
  • a fun bedset
  • cuddly toys
  • a bedguard to stop my gorgeous boy from falling out and hurting himself
  • Oliver Monkey
  • a soothing mobile

Which one shouldn't really be there? Which one is the item I feel is a parenting fail?

Some might argue it's the bedguard as apparently children need to learn how to not fall out of bed. Personally I'd rather The Boy do this without breaking his arm or nose, or by ending up with a black eye. Therefore the bedguard stays.

Surely the cuddly toys and Oliver Monkey aren't a problem? Every child has cuddly toys on their bed, and while they do tend to take up the bottom third of his bed, he is actually not occupying that space allowing Ludo, Peppa and friends to remain in situ.

I'm pretty sure no-one's going to try and argue with me about the monitor.

You'd be correct if you identified the soothing mobile as the problem. Next month, The Boy will be four and we are still using his cot mobile at night to help him get off to sleep.

I know.

We bought it before he was born and have used it every night since he arrived home. It plays three tunes although I have no recollection of what the first two are, as we have always found the third to be the magic melody; 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'. For some reason it has always had the most soothing effect on him, and I still know all the verses to it from when I used to sing along with it when he was a baby. The mobile comes on holiday with us and for weekends away, to London, Cornwall, Butlin's, you name it and it's been there!

Occasionally we attempt a story CD or a gentle musical collection to try and coax him into the land of nod. 'Guess How Much I Love You' is his favourite, but the problem there is that he lies awake listening to it and then wants to start joining in with the actions. We humour him with it occasionally, hoping that he'll drift off quickly but it never seems to work, and we end up resorting to 'Twinkle'.

The main issue with using 'Twinkle' (aside from the fact that it is intended for babies) is that it runs off batteries, and I can't even begin to tell you how many we've bought over the past (nearly) four years. We've come to the conclusion that the cheap yellow ones from the Scandinavian furniture store are pretty pointless as they last about three days, and this is why we ended up buying some rechargeable batteries last year. They worked very effectively until my mum replaced them, didn't realise they were of the rechargeable variety and threw two of them in the bin.

And so we find ourselves facing the issue of what to do with 'Twinkle'. Do we try and phase her out? He surely can't still listen to her when he's 17?! Aside from anything else, the screws holding the battery compartment shut have no thread left on them and are a nightmare to unscrew.

Tell me; do you use music at bedtime? Does it help?

Please tell me you have a parenting fail?

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Hello, My Name Is TheBoyandMe And I Am A Prude

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"What are they called?"

"Umm, that's mummy's chest."

"Mummy, how did I get in your tummy?"

Thanks to whoever told him it was a special seed; it means I can continue avoiding the question.

And my personal favourite at the moment:

"How did I get out of your tummy?"

"How do you think I got out?"

I have a friend to thank for that answer, completely turns it around and exempts me from having to deal with the situation. Although, said friend actually had a c-section which is a far easier birth to explain to a child.

I'm all for not telling lies to children; I had a loving mother who wrapped up answers in cotton wool to protect me, all done with the best of intentions. However, it now means that I won't have people lie to The Boy; we just water down how much truth we tell him.

The problem is that (in the same as I still have to go to the toilet before meals) I have learnt behaviour resulting in difficulty answering certain questions. Years of not calling body parts their proper names (it was just a front bottom or a back bottom) and of not being comfortable with my own skin, means that my son doesn't really know what I look like underneath my uniform of black. I've never showered in front of him, although he has seen me in underwear when getting changed.

I didn't breastfeed past three weeks and none of my friends have had breastfeeding children since he was under two years old, so he's never seen the female breast in a natural environment. He flobbles me on my cleavage, when he was an older baby he used to tuck one of his hands down my cleavage (in case he forgot where it was, I think), and occasionally he looks down my top to check the unnamed items are still there. I know that I can call them 'breasts' or even 'boobies', but calling them boobies sounds a little Sid James-esque and intrinsically wrong from a three year old boy. Likewise 'breasts' makes him sound like he's about to perform a mammogram.

Hence 'chest'.

But it's the 'how he was birthed' issue which is causing me problems.

As a teacher I know all the theory; only answer enough to satisfy their initial question, then provide a titbit more information each time. When it's your own child, it's a different kettle of fish. DO I present him with the concept of a mysterious orifice which he was squeezed out of? Because I know my son and I know what will come next:

"Can I see it?"

HELP?

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"Are We Nearly There Yet?" (Guest Post)

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It seems highly appropriate that I publish this guest-post on my blog, as right at this moment in time, Mr. TBaM is shoving our luggage into the boot of the car as we head off to Butlin's for a short break! In this stress-free family car travel advertorial, Isabelle from Passsmart.com (the UK service for learner drivers) presents a variety of ideas to minimise the anxiety of getting there. I'm off to pack some fruit and ditch the chocolate!

Long car journeys can be stressful at the best of times, but when you've got the children in the back and they're asking "Are we nearly there yet?" every half a mile, it doesn't get any easier! In this article we're going to take a look at some tips to keep the children happy and occupied in the car, and, no matter how many little ones you've got to keep entertained, it's sure to help make the ride a little smoother.

Classic travel games

Remember the travel games you used to pay as a child? Well, they work just as well these days! Classic travel games like the 'Number Plate Game' (where you make up sentences using number plate letters) and 'I Spy' are all fantastic ways to make the journey pass a little quicker. Best of all, they won't cost you a thing!

Don't forget to pack the fun stuff

Make sure you've packed some games and activities which will allow you to get some quiet time in. Whilst games like I Spy are great for keeping the children entertained in the car, they're also pretty noisy! Taking some activity books or a portable games console will help you get a bit of quiet time during the journey, and will also make sure you're able to keep your concentration on the road instead of what's going on in the back.

Be careful with the sweet treats

We all know the best part of a long car journey is having a big bag of sweets to munch your way through, but children, sweets and sitting still don't really mix. Instead of bringing sweets and chocolates for the journey, pack some healthy snacks like trail mix, raisins and fruit salad. OK, they'll probably be less enthusiastic about their in-car snacks, but at least you won't have to deal with a sugar high mid-journey.

You don't have to cut out the sweet things completely, though. If you do let them have a few treats, make sure it's just before you stop off for lunch or a toilet break, to ensure they have some time to burn the excess energy off before they get back in the car.

Stretch your legs

It's important that you take plenty of breaks when going on a long car trip. Not only will the children need a chance to run around, but you'll also need a break from being behind the wheel. Take plenty of chances to stop off and refuel (the car and you!), because although it may take you a little longer to get there, you won't arrive feeling cramped and grumpy!

Take a comfy change of clothes

We all know children can get through clean clothes at an alarming rate, so make sure you pack some easily-accessible spares. It's also a good idea to pack a fresh pair of pyjamas to make things a little comfier when it comes to nap time too.

It's essential to make sure the little ones are comfy as well as entertained, because sitting uncomfortably for that amount of time can make even the most grown up of us irritable!

2013-04-26 13.28.29

Pan-Fried Swordfish With Sweet Potato, Pepper & Stilton Salad

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Fish is a favourite food in this house, and I've been challenged to produce a selection of recipes using fish which are high in Omega3. Quite a challenge for a vegetarian!

Swordfish is considered quite a delicacy and often found in Mediterranean restaurants. It's also a really good source of Omega3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and there have been numerous studies which show that people who eat plenty of fish, tend to experience less dementia and memory problems in later years. Omega3 DHA can also help children with ADHD, and there are links between DHA and better general concentration.

Please note that children under 16 should avoid eating swordfish due to the mercury levels.

Ingredients:

  • For the swordfish:
    • swordfish steak
    • half a lemon
    • dill
    • olive oil
    • black pepper
  • For the salad:
    • Lettuce leaves (I've used a mixed Bistro salad)
    • broccoli
    • sweet potatoes
    • mixed coloured peppers
    • olive oil
    • soy sauce
    • honey
    • half a lemon
    • stilton
  1. Peel the sweet potatoes and chop into wedges. Slice the peppers into strips and put in a baking tray with the sweet potatoes.
  2. Mix together 1 teaspoon of olive oil with 1 teaspoon of honey and drizzle over the vegetables. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes.
  3. While that's cooking, heat a frying pan with a teaspoon of oil in it.
  4. Place the swordfish steak into the frying pan once it is hot and sear quickly on both sides to caramelise the outer crust, before turning the gas down to cook the steak through more slowly.
  5. Squeeze half of the lemon into a pot and mix with 1 teaspoon of dill and a grind of black pepper (technical term). Pour over the steak ensuring both sides are covered. The steak should take between five-ten minutes on low-medium to cook. Turn the steak every few minutes to cook evenly.
  6. Rinse the salad leaves and shake to drain, place it on the serving plate.
  7. Mix together 1 teaspoon of soy sauce, half the lemon, 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of honey and drizzle over the salad.
  8. Remove the sweet potato and peppers from the oven and scatter over the salad.
  9. Chop up a matchbox size of Stilton and sprinkle over the bed of salad.
  10. Once the swordfish steak is cooked through, place it on top of the bed of salad.

Swordfish salad

This recipe has been posted as part of my collaboration with Fish is the Dish's 'Healthy Happy Hearts' promotion. They have a selection of recipes available which form a six week plan designed by dietician Dr Jane McKenzie, to improve health by eating two portions of fish a week, one of which is rich in Omega3.

healthyhappyhearts

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

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Two health alerts in the space of a few days, it's like I'm becoming a public service!

However, when an e-mail from Cancer Research UK dropped into my inbox earlier, there was no way I couldn't share the information.

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, and as someone whose father was diagnosed with bowel cancer six years ago it is something very relevant to me. Discussing the digestive system is often considered icky or inappropriate, I don't care. Receiving a phonecall from your mum at 5.30pm on a cold Friday evening in November when you're the only person left in the dark school, telling you that your dad has cancer and needs to have a 10cm length cut out of his bowel as soon as possible; that's inappropriate. He'd only been to the GP because he was feeling a bit faint and weak, yet a few hours later he'd been sent to hospital and was attached to a two-pint blood transfusion for severe anaemia from the blood loss through his stools.

Bowels = poo.

POO!

Deal with it. We all do it, why it's such a no-no to discuss it is beyond me.

The symptoms of colorectal (bowel) cancer can include

  • Bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in stools
  • A change in normal bowel habits to diarrhoea or looser stools, lasting longer than 6 weeks
  • A lump that your doctor can feel in the back passage or abdomen (more commonly on the right side)
  • A feeling of needing to strain in the back passage (as if you needed to pass a bowel motion)
  • Losing weight
  • Pain in your abdomen or back passage
  • A lower than normal level of red blood cells (anaemia)

Bowel cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the UK after breast and lung cancer.

In the UK more than 41,000 people are diagnosed with large bowel cancer each year.

More than 85 out of 100 bowel cancers (85%) are diagnosed in people aged 60 or over.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel diseases causing inflammation in the bowel.

Having very severe ulcerative colitis (or Crohn's disease) for many years increases your risk of bowel cancer.

Probably about 1 in every 100 cases of bowel cancer (1%) is due to ulcerative colitis.

(This is one of the reasons why one of my best friend's had her colon removed last year at the age of 35. She was so bedbound that she was incapable to caring for her three year old daughter.)

Screening currently works via testing for blood in the stools, and then examining the inside of the bowel. Cancer Research UK are introducing Bowel Scope Screening as a matter of screening before the symptoms occur, through six pilot centres. By 2016, everyone in England should be invited to have a test at the age of 55. Current screening exists for over 60s or those at high risk.

I urge anyone who has the above symptoms to visit their GP as soon as possible. Bowel cancer has one of the best recovery rates.

That's why my dad lived to hold his first grandchild.

new grandfather

Measles Epidemic 2013

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I normally stay well away from controversial subjects as I dislike confrontation. However, I have always felt very passionate about the MMR and parents' responsibility to protect their children through immunisations. I did not spend nine months carefully growing The Boy and go through that labour to bring my child safely into the world, to have his health compromised unnecessarily.

South Wales is currently seeing an epidemic of measles with a huge reach. Until now it's been fairly safely ensconsed around the Swansea area, but today I had an e-mail from The Boy's nursery. Measles is spreading very quickly through the schools in the area as many of the pupils have had their first MMR but not the preschool booster. I wonder if parents think that it is something which only needs to be given once? I know that The Boy should have had his preschool booster around Christmas time (3 years and 4 months), but because of his constant ear infections and low immune system due to repeat courses of antibiotics, I spoke to the nurse and delayed it until around now. He should have had it last week, but we were in Butlins and missed the appointment. Following this alert from his nursery, I will be phoning the GP in the morning to get him 'jabbed' as soon as possible.

The alert from the Health Protection Team for Public Health Wales, states that a few cases have been seen locally. That means it's spreading from Swansea, and they have serious concerns about an outbreak in schools. The alert states that if our children have not had their preschool booster, or (when older) have missed a vaccination, that parents must contact the GP, health visitor or practice nurse to be vaccinated now!

This is the exact wording from the Health Protection Team's alert:

Measles is highly infectious and is spread from person to person by coughs and sneezes. Early symptoms include a cough, cold, high temperature and conjunctivitis (painful, red eyes). A red, blotchy rash appears 3-7 days later which usually begins on the face and spreads down over the rest of the body. The person is usually quite ill and often prefers to lie quietly in a darkened room. Serious complications can occur.

Any child who develops symptoms of measles should not attend school for four days after the start of the rash.

It is not for me to tell you to get your child immunised, but so far there have been 541 cases of measles in south Wales, with 100 of those in the last week alone.

For more information on Measles, please visit the Public Health Wales site here.

The BBC news report can be found here.

Through The Hole (Flashback)

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I love bringing my son up in the town which I grew up in. Every experience he has is imprinted with the memories of my siblings, friends and I doing exactly the same thing, echoing the past, mirroring my actions, with a twenty or thirty year gap.

Our town has many parks, indeed it's known for it, and one of those parks has a plethora of play opportunities. Huge sweeping fir trees with gargantuan hiding spaces close to the tree trunk, woodland dells, Victorian pathways, aviaries with tweeting canaries, and overrun hedges.

In the small playground area, there is a hedge. It's an ancient hedge riddled with pathways which have been explored by children for generations.

And, as these photos of The Boy show from this Spring and the past two, it's a favourite with the next generation as well.

Through The Hole

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