All posts filed under: Parenting

The List: Ethical kid’s clothing

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Now that my kids are exiting the toddler years (well, two of them anyway), finding ethical kids clothing that is affordable is becoming somewhat of a task. Speaking to my cousin recently, she also expressed difficulty in finding ethically made clothing for children aged 5-15. It can be difficult to pass up the $5 t-shirt in Kmart, especially when kids seem to get through so many clothes because they grow 10 cm every three months or get grass stains on the knees of all jeans or food stains that just won’t come off. Is it worth spending a little more on ethically made clothing for kids? I think it is. Non-organic cotton fabrics, and other synthetically produced clothing contain toxins (given the chemicals they are treated with) that can seep into the wearer’s skin. I also think that if we teach our children to wear less but cherish and value their clothing from a young age, this will teach them good values that they can carry into adulthood. I know, I know. These days it …

A generous baby shower

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I’ve always had two thoughts and emotions about baby showers. I’ve felt somewhat uneasy about them, what with the fanfare, extravagance that seems to be the trend these days and potentially lots of unwanted gifts, but I’ve also loved the concept of gathering a budding mother’s closest female friends and family to initiate her into motherhood- or if it’s not for a first baby, having them around to share wisdoms, celebrate the start of new life and simply to shower her with love.  Our dear friend Sana was expecting her first baby (she’s since given birth) and asked me to aid her in running a flower crown workshop for her baby shower. The day focussed on giving, generosity and creating beauty- a perfect focus for celebrating a woman on the cusp of motherhood, methinks.  Read on to be inspired by Sana’s baby shower with a difference… What was the inspiration behind organising this event? Once pregnant, a few of my friends expressed interest in assisting to host a baby shower for me. I don’t mind …

A simple health trick

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Hello everyone! I have been absent for a few months around here. What with Ramadan, a new baby and the general demands of life with three kids, friends and family; things have been busy. More than this though, I have been struggling to be motivated to do anything outside of just getting through each day. Writing seemed like an insurmountable task that I simply could not be bothered for. I had no inspiration and just felt bogged down from the daily grind. In the past few weeks, I came down with a nasty viral infection which took some time for me to recover from and was really a reminder that I needed to take proper care of myself first and foremost. I think this is true of any mother, that we constantly place ourselves last. That we don’t take simple steps to ensure that our own health is sound. We know the oft repeated phrase, “if mum doesn’t look after herself she can’t look after anyone”, but I think that mostly, it’s something we just …

High-tech bassinets are totally a thing now

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For those of us who have kids, think back to your most difficult child, the one you brought home from the hospital terrified of because from DAY ONE they wouldn’t sleep anywhere else but on your chest. Or in your arms. Or only in the car. Or they didn’t sleep at all. If you were told back then that there was a bassinet that would: strap your child in safely detect when your baby moved and ROCK BABY GENTLY “chooses” which motion your baby likes best play soothing white noise simulate the sensation of a car how quickly would you throw your screaming baby into one? Half a second it’d take methinks. Anything to get some blessed sleep. Recently, one ultra high-tech bassinet, developed with MIT engineers (that’s what you need to get your baby to sleep people, a team of MIT ENGINEERS) has hit the market and another has been made by Ford. The car company. Yes. A car company has made a bassinet that moves your baby from side to side in a motion …

Conversations with kids

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Kids say the most hilarious things, and I wish I wrote down some of the things my own kids say more often. Here are a few things my little ones have spilled recently… When I came back from the hospital and J said to me: “Mum, why do you still have a baby in your tummy?” Me: “Umm… there’s no baby in there J. My tummy is just going to take some time to return to normal.” J: “Oh, ok. I don’t like it like that. It needs to be flat again!” Me: *tears streaming down my face… “This tummy stretched to carry all three of you!!” When asking why her 16 year-old uncle isn’t married yet… J: “Why isn’t Emmi (short for ‘Amja’ or ‘uncle’ in Turkish) married yet?” Me: “Because he is too young J, he’s still in school…” J: “Oh, so he can get married in the school holidays…” A few weeks ago she suddenly piped up with… “An-ne (or mum), I want to be exactly like you when I’m older…” Me: “awwww …

Postpartum reflections

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I’ve been following Australian actress Teresa Palmer on Instagram lately, and have been reading her posts over on her blog Your Zen Mama. She had her second baby just before I had my third, and she has been sharing her weekly postpartum reflections. I’ve really enjoyed reading them, it reminds me that I’m not the only one going through this at the moment. Her honesty is refreshing and the detail she goes into with her reflections is also actually really helpful. Inspired by her posts, I’ve decided to put a reflection of my own together, but I will not be doing this weekly because I HAVE THREE KIDS. It’s also taken me four and a half weeks (no, I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I gave birth) to get this down because I’ve been stumbling around in a mind-fog and drowning in an endless cycle of nappy changes, tantrums, sibling rivalry and swaddling wraps… So here goes: The Labour I’m not going to give y’all a recount of my labour in detail, because, …

I am not enough…and that’s ok

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Practically everyday at some point, the thought will cross my mind that, “I am not enough…” that “I don’t know enough…” or that “I am not smart/knowledgable/wise/patient enough…” That I’m not doing enough outside of the children. That my ‘career’ is not progressing, that I’m not doing enough for the community, that I don’t maintain connections with my friends enough, that I’m not helpful enough for my parents, that I’m not showing my care and concern for my husband enough… ETCETERA. I worry that I don’t do enough for the children. That I don’t spend enough quality time with them, or that I don’t organise enough activities for them, or teach them enough (I want to homeschool them, but haven’t really started doing anything homeschool-y yet). I face up to the gaping holes in my knowledge and wonder how on earth I am even going to homeschool my kids. And with a third on the way, I wonder how I’ll find the time to organise a homeschooling curriculum for them, or even lessons to do …

What I’ve packed in my hospital bag

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With two weeks to go till my due date, I finally put my hospital bag together, and guess what? It’s still missing some essentials. Here is what I’ve been able to throw in there for now… For me… Pretty bathrobe Cheap pyjamas because they will certainly go through a lot in the first few days Clothing that doesn’t look like pyjamas but feels as comfy as pyjamas so that when people visit I look somewhat presentable. Black stripe pants and top. Organic Maternity singlet Slippers Lush shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion A big fluffy towel Going home clothes Missing from bag… cheap underwear Tom Organic Maternity pads Weleda cream For baby…  Muslin wraps Dwell studio blanket, because the hospital gets cold Two body suits Beanie and mittens Bubba blue organic towel Bubba blue organic face washers Little Innoscents Wipes Tooshies by Tom Organic Nappies. I can’t believe how tiny they are! Missing from bag… Gaia skin care baby starter pack I am feeling that mix of emotions that is inevitable at this phase of pregnancy. …

Brightness is not a dim place on the horizon…

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I remember the first night that I was in the hospital by myself with my new baby. My family had left, my husband included, as hospital policy (in a public hospital) did not allow the husband to stay overnight. I was alone in a vacuous hospital, lights dimmed, with the constant beeping of machines, other patients around me, separated only by a thin curtain. It was cold too, as the hospital had its air-con blaring. I was alone for the first time with my baby. I was exhausted after a long and difficult labour. I felt like I’d been hit two trucks, not one. I could barely lift my arms up, let alone roll out of bed and walk to the bathroom. I literally needed my husband and a nurse to assist me to walk the few metres out of my room and around the corner to go to the bathroom. It was in this state that I was now left alone with a baby. All night my uterus churned as it shrank. In my …

Best on the Net

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It’s been a big week in the world, with much to ponder on. Here are a few inspiring, positive and thought-provoking links to make this week that much better… A beautiful new children’s book compiles tales from Syrian refugees. Carla Zampatti designed a uniform for Westpac and included a style for hijabis. Check out this Kickstarter for a company designing activewear for women who wear hijab.  Finland is taking their awesome schools further by abandoning subjects for ‘events’ and ‘phenomena’ in an interdisciplinary format. Speaking of teaching, here’s a video that explores how there is no scientific proof that homework improves performance in elementary school. BAN HOMEWORK I say! The biggest supermoon is set to hit our world tonight, but it’s cloudy and raining here in Sydney 😦 Did you read about the new screen time recommendations by doctors? About time they got onto this. Suzanne Barakat is an incredible ambassador for her religion, and this latest talk she delivered at TED is at once utterly heart-breaking but also motivating. She asks, what resources do …