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Children, Family, FAR Photography, Mothers

A Mothers Day Tribute

For me mothers day is both a happy and sad occasion, as I lost my own mom over 20 years ago but I am very fortunate to have a “surrogate” mom in the form of my mom in-law! So I thought I would post a Mothers Day Tribute, to celebrate mothers everywhere and thank them for all that they have done and continue to do for us!

This is one of my favourite poems and I dedicate it to my beautiful mom in heaven and my amazing mom here on earth! You have both touched and shaped my life in so many ways and I would not be the mom I am today if you were not for both of you!

A Mother’s Love

Helen Steiner Rice

A Mother’s love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God’s tender guiding hand.

I have made a video tribute to all the mothers and mother figures out there that sacrifice a great deal daily for their families. I am so grateful and proud to be a mom! This song “Footprints in the Sand”, by Leona Lewis, has always reminded me of my own mom, knowing that she may not be here with me but is always watching over me.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/kclPlYt2Upk[/youtube]

Children, Family, Parenting

Top 5 New Baby Essentials

 

Having a baby is a truly life-changing experience. It’s a brilliant time, full of expectancy and excitement. But it can also be a time of nerves and anxiety. Luckily, there are plenty of places you can go to get advice. Ask your family, your doctor or a health visitor, and speak to other mums – you’ll soon realise that everything is going to be fine.

Before the baby arrives, it’s a good idea to make sure that everything is in order and that you have everything you need. You’re not going to have much free time once your baby is born, so get prepared now. There are five essential items that every baby will need to thrive in the first few important months of life.

Top 5 New Baby Essentials:

1. Car seat
There’s no avoiding it – if you’ve got a car, you need a seat to keep your precious baby safe. They’re readily available, but always buy new. It’s just safer that way.

2. Baby bottles
Even if you’re going to breastfeed, you still need bottles to deliver expressed milk. You’re going to need a range of sizes because before long, your little one will be drinking more than a small bottle can hold. As well as bottles, you’re also going to need baby grows and plenty of nappies. These are the main necessities for any new-born baby, so think about stocking up now.

3. Stroller
After a few months your baby is going to start to want to move and explore. A stroller is basically a mobile support frame that allows your baby to get around before they can do so completely unsupported. You can pick up strollers – also known as baby walkers – without spending a fortune.

4. Baby bouncer
Before they get mobile, you’re going to need somewhere stimulating to put the baby when you aren’t holding him or her. Baby bouncers are safe and fun ways for babies to take in their environment, while allowing you to get on with the many things you need to be doing. You’re going to be busy, so this is a valuable item to have.

5. Crib/cot
Although it might not seem like your baby is ever going to sleep, you need a comfortable and warm cot for them to rest in. This is a really important place for a baby, and if it’s somewhere that they feel comfortable, you may even be able to get a couple of hours sleep yourself! Always buy a respectable brand name.

Images: Pinterest & ©FAR Photography

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post

Be Inspired, Children, Family, Life, Quotes

Super Mom or NOT?

 

super-mom-quote

I guess I know deep down in my heart, that although I would love to be the perfect mom, I am not. I sometimes raise my voice(the poor neighbours!), bribe my kids, forget stuff, allow them to eat junk, let them stay up too late – but ultimately I know that I love my children unconditionally and they give that same love in return!

So this is for all those mom’s out there that although they are not “perfect” or “Super Mom” in the worlds eyes, they are perfect in their children’s eye’s!

Image source: Pinterest

Children, Education, Family, Lifestyle, Parenting, Parenting Advice, Websites

How safe is the internet for our children?

How Safe is the Internet

As a parent you would certainly not allow your child to hop on a train or bus unaccompanied and travel into unknown territory where they could encounter unsavoury characters and be exposed to potentially harmful situations. Then it may also be safe to assume that you would not allow your child to roam cyber space unsupervised? We cannot deny that computers and the internet have become part of our everyday lives but in the same breath we as parents need to be responsible for our children’s exposure to this technological world.

 

As a family we are quite computer or tech orientated but as with the monitoring of TV, it is our responsibility to ensure that our children are protected and aware of the potential dangers of exposing themselves to the digital world out there. I think that firstly you need to monitor the amount of time children spend on the computer and the internet, give them set parameters to adhere to and set consequences if these are not met. It is also important to encourage children to spend time outdoors, not just focused on a screen for hours on end! Most importantly, as with television, make sure that you have parental control software installed, on your home or child’s computer. Installing software like K9 Web Protection is essential and the best way to ensure your children are safe from potential online predators or exposure to unsuitable web content.

 

I feel that it is important to implement these measures early on, as soon as your children are computer literate. You will be amazed at how tech savvy children are, even from preschool age and just how easy it is to innocently stumble upon unsavoury content. In my mind the best policy is not to take any chances, install the necessary software and educate your children about the internet, as soon as they are old enough to understand. Making them aware of the fact that it is not safe to give out their personal details over the web.

According to stats from K9 Web Protection, one in four children have unwanted exposure to inappropriate pictures each year and nine of ten children aged 8-16 have viewed pornography on the Internet, often in the process of doing homework.

I also feel that exposure to Social networking sites, like Twitter and Facebook should be held off for as long as possible, young children are not mature enough to understand the potential threats that they may be exposed to by using these sites.

So most importantly, we as parents, need to beware of what our children are doing when it comes to internet and computer usage and keep the line of communication open at all times, so that they will feel free to ask questions at any time.

Source:©FAR Photography

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