Children - Inspired Living SA

Be Inspired, Cape Town, Children, Family, FAR Photography, Featured Posts, Parenting, Parenting Advice, Poems

My Top 4 Bits of Parenting Advice

I have never really been someone who readily dishes out unsolicited parenting advice – I think I have been burnt once too often by the reaction you get from some people, so now I mostly just smile and nod knowingly! So rather than call this advice, we will file this list under the title of “I wish I knew Then, What I Know Now!”

My Top 4 Bits of Parenting Advice

First up – cut yourself some slack; you most definitely are not expected to be the perfect parent, especially the first time around! Just remember all children will eventually “eat”, “sit”, “walk”, “Sleep” – so don’t sweat the small stuff and do not compare your children with their peers or yourself with others parents (it’s dangerous). We all get there in our own time.

Let your children discover the “world” for themselves, try not to be a helicopter parent, calculating your child’s every move, constantly doing everything for them – it’s exhausting and they do need to find out stuff for themselves. Sometimes they need to “burn” themselves to find out that something is indeed “hot”! Which certainly does not mean you should not protect your child but be careful to not “over-protect” them.

Remember to look after yourself and remember to put yourself first sometimes. Nurture those relationships that are important too, especially your marriage. You are of no use as a parent if you are constantly stressed out, take time out for yourself, find a hobby, read a book, get a pedicure (yes even Dad’s!) – you get the picture!

Last but certainly not least remember to enjoy your children, laugh with them, talk to them, especially as they get older. Very often we are so busy with our own lives; we forget that our children are “people” too. Make time to share family meals, get to know your children, find out what makes them tick, what they like or what they don’t! You may not always agree or get along but that’s life. Just remember that someday they won’t want you around or want to talk to you and then it may be too late!

Walk A Little Slower Daddy

“Walk a Little slower, Daddy.” said a little child so small.

I’m following in your footsteps and I don’t want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast, sometimes they’re hard to see;

So walk a little slower Daddy, for you are leading me.

Someday when I’m all grown up, You’re what I want to be.

Then I will have a little child who’ll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right, and know that I was true;

So, walk a little slower, Daddy, for I must follow you!!

~author unknown

Images: ©FAR Photography

Children, Education, Family, Featured Posts, Lifestyle, Websites

Mammabella

My Community Feature this week is somewhat different as it is more of a cyber-community feature. Both my husband and I are rather passionate about education, both in our immediate family enviroment and in the greater community around us. We are always on the lookout for new and innovative ideas and concepts, like the one that I am about to introduce to you.

The website is called Mammabella, which is a fun website developed out of the need to create both an interest and appreciation of the Afrikaans language. Afrikaans is spoken natively in South Africa and it is the third most spoken mother tongue in the country. Most English-speaking schools, in South Africa, require Afrikaans to be studied as a second language, which can be difficult for parents who do not speak the language themselves and are not able to assist their children. Mammabella could be instrumental in encouraging learners from a young age to enjoy learning this language.

Who Is The Person Behind Mammabella?

Kirsten Rossiter, is the creator of Mammabella, she is a home-schooling mom of 3, a musician, songwriter and graphic designer. “Mammabella is a true extension of who I am and what I do – I love music, language, art and teaching.”

Why Did You Create Mammabella?

Mammabella started off as a challenge…to encourage my children, to want to learn Afrikaans. I began by making up funny, catchy songs in the car, in the kitchen, in the bedroom…anywhere…to try and teach them a basic Afrikaans vocabulary, made up of day-to-day things. I have been very impressed and surprised by the impact these songs have had on my children, they have grown in confidence in their Afrikaans vocabulary and actually started showing an interest in learning the language. After this personal success I decided to make my music available to other families too. I hope that Mammabella helps spark an interest in other children and encourages them to learn Afrikaans and enjoy it!

Where Does The Name Mammabella Come From?

The name Mammabella is one that is very close to my heart. Princess, a special Malawian friend to my daughter, Bella, used to call me Mammabella, in other words Bella’s mother. I was never Kirsten to her, only Mammabella…and I fell in love both with her and the cute little name she gave me. Shortly after she moved back to Malawi, my ideas for this site began to form, and there seemed no better name than Mammabella as a way of remembering little Princess.

What Can You Hope To Find On The Mammabella Website?

The website offers fun, sing-along songs, catchy tunes and entertaining pictures that will take your children on an Afrikaans musical adventure and while at the same time giving them a foundation in basic Afrikaans vocabulary. A selection of modules are available on the website, along with registration details and costs. Mammabella is currently offering a free introductory module, so pop over to their website and start your Afrikaans Musical Adventure!

Each song that you purchase forms part of a module that includes the following:

To find out more about this fun and inspiring website click on over to Mammabella or email them on [email protected]. You can also follow them on Twitter.

Images: Mammabella

Be Inspired, Children, Family, Life, Parenting, Quotes

All the Things Children Need!

AS my children are growing up I am realising more and more that it is so important to teach them how to be “little people”, all the material things in the world are not sufficient replacement for what we as parents – “big people” can teach them! It is a constant process and each day we are faced with new and different challenges, I think the most important thing is getting the basics right. Go back to old traditional values, teach them good manners, respect, loyalty, the list goes on – if we can get these things right, we can equip them for so much throughout their lives.

So at the end of the day it’s not about what we can give them but about who we can help them become!

Image Source: Pinterest

Be Inspired, Charity, Featured Posts, Life

Newkidz on the Block

One of my goals or challenges for 2012 is to find more ways to give back to my community. I consider myself and my family to be extremely privileged but along with this comes the tendency to become complacent and take what you have for granted! I never want to lose sight of the needs of others that are less fortunate than I am and I think it is also very important to encourage our children to be part of some kind of outreach project, to help maintain a well-balanced perspective in their lives!

A project that I have come across that struck a chord is Newkidz on the block, which is a non-profit organization (062-837-NPO) whose major concern is that of the plight of orphans in South Africa.

They are based in Cape Town, South Africa and they are currently involved in projects in local communities throughout the Mother City. They aim to expand their services throughout South Africa in the future and to become a national name in outreach projects that improve the living conditions for vulnerable and underprivileged children in South Africa.

Mandela Day 2011 - Beach Cleanup

Newkidz was founded in 2007, after a successful home make-over, at the Masigcine Children’s Home, which was completed in just ONE weekend. A group of friends from Cape Town, South Africa, saw a need at a Children’s Home for abandoned and orphaned children in one of the local communities called Mullein, just north of Cape Town. Originally the team volunteered their time on weekends but they soon realised that more focused time was needed, to meet the needs of the community concerned.

The main aim of Newkidz is to build sustainable child–support networks in communities and link them with foster families and children’s homes; the organisation promotes foster care to the general public and offers guidance to foster families. Newkidz facilitates the renovation and maintenance of children’s homes / foster family accommodation and places of safety with the help of corporate sponsors.

Zanethemba Kidz Haven

[quote style=”1″]So that is who we are – a group of friends who love God and children, especially orphans and have decided to make a difference in this world. Children are not able to care for themselves so if they have been orphaned; the responsibility falls on those in their community to be their parents by fostering or adopting them. ~ Newkidz[/quote]

So how can you get involved? A project that they are currently running is the Heatherdale Children’s Home – Mural Touch Up Project and they are in need of volunteers to help with painting, this Saturday 25th February. Please sign up and help this worthy cause!

You can visit the Newkidz on the Block website to find out more or you can contact them directly to make a contribution:

[note color=”1BE0CC”]Michael and Hilda de Beer: Telephone:+27(0)219815425 Fax:+27(0)866725152 Mobile:+27(0)798755745 Email Address:[email protected][/note]

Children, Family, Food, Healthy Eating, Healthy Living, Lifestyle

The Low Down on Trans-Fats

I have always been aware of maintaining a healthy body weight, what foods I eat and making sure I exercise regularly. Don’t get me wrong I like a delicious fillet steak and chips as much as the next person but that does not mean that I am oblivious to the health implications of eating something deep-fried in oil!

With an alarming percentage of women in SA being overweight, obese or inactive we cannot ignore the fact that consumption of unhealthy foods, is not helping the situation. With these factors in mind it is not surprising that Trans-Fats have been banned in South Africa.

What exactly are Trans-Fats?

Trans-fats are formed, when converting liquid plant oils into a semi-solid spread, like margarine, a so-called industrial hydrogenation process whereby the vegetable oil is exposed to high pressure and heat with hydrogen gas bubbling through it, in the presence of a nickel catalyst.

Under these conditions hydrogen atoms open up double bonds converting unsaturated fats, in liquid oils into hardened saturated fats. Unfortunately some (+/- 40%) of the newly created saturated fats are not 100% identical to pre-existing natural saturated fats. This is due to the fact that they have a “kink” caused by the molecule undergoing a structural change from cis-configuration to a trans-configuration at a double bond usually in the middle of the molecule. Chemically trans fats may be identical to certain natural fats but structurally they are different due to a “kink” in the middle of the molecule. You are basically taking something natural and making it unnatural! The double bonds in unsaturated fats make them less stable and more vulnerable to oxidative damage (e.g. they go rancid very quickly)

What are the health risks of eating Trans-fats?

Eating trans-fats provides no known benefit to human health, however there is definitive correlation between a diet that is high in trans-fat content and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels can translate into an increased risk of coronary heart disease, which can be fatal?

Serum trans-fatty acids are associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer and there is also an association between fat stores of trans fatty acids and breast cancer in post-menopausal women.

Other emerging risk factors are coronary artery disease, insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia and heart failure.

Last and certainly not least, trans fatty acids contribute more to weight gain than monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Where can we find these nasty’s?

Trans fatty acids can be found in items like certain margarines, baking shortening, oil used for deep-frying chips and chicken, confectionary items such as rusks, croissants, pies, crackers, cookies, doughnuts etc.

So how can we avoid these potentially risk causing fats?

Well the only way to avoid these risks would be to avoid eating food containing trans fatty acids, as I said previously it could be difficult to avoid them altogether, it does however require you to make more informed decisions on what food products you buy and or eat.

What does the new legislation in SA say about Trans-fats?

The basic low down on the law, is that food products are only allowed to contain a maximum of 2% of trans fats. Major fast food outlets such as KFC, Steers and Wimpy have already aligned themselves with legislation and changed their fats to be trans-fat free. Other major retails chain are in the process of ensuring that the products they sell fall into line with these new laws.

Ultimately the law can only dictate policy, it is up to us as the consumer to be aware of the products we are buying or consuming and exercise a healthy, wholesome approach to food. Especially when it comes to the health and well-being of our children! 😀