Cotu positive parenting november

*FREE DIGITAL MAG *ISSUE 29 *NOVEMBER 2016

Confessions Of a New Dad

RAINBOW BABIES

Logan’s Journey With Microcephaly

What if School Taught Kindness

COVER: PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX BOLEN OF SHUTTER DARLING PHOTOGRAPHY LLC Gowns by Sew Trendy Accessories.

Mothers: Heather, Hillary, Kaila, Sara, Ashley and Hannah

ed’s letter Hello lovely people

ABOUT US www.childoftheuniverse.co.za PUBLISHER 2Luni Media EDITOR Linda Navon 071 346 8138 linda@childoftheuniverse.co.za OUR “Little Boss” Carmen Ché Jardim SUB–EDITOR, NATIONAL SALES & MARKETING Cj Stott Matticks 082 900 1010 candida@childoftheuniverse.co.za ADVERTISING SALES MAQNAGER Clinton Stebbing 076 657 4139 clint@childoftheuniverse.co.za DISTRIBUTION & RESEARCH Lee Coulter WRITER Dani Jardim dani@childoftheuniverse.co.za CONTACT NUMBERS TEL: (011) 462-2900 0110 262 643 0110 468 737 DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editor, advertisers or endorsers. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are both accurate and truthful, the publisher and editor accept no responsibility for inaccurate or misleading information that may be contained herein.

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Yay… I hear most people say… 2016 is almost over! It’s been a rough year for most people and right now I think the time is right for some much earned relaxation. Whether you are going away on holiday, or staying home… just relax, read, sleep and nourish your system for 2017, as it’s going to be an amazing year – well, I firmly BELIEVE it, so it just has to be so.

We have already started with ‘silly season’ it seems.

There are decorations going up in shopping malls, which excites the children, and makes us parents groan in despair… how could this year have passed by so quickly.

Meet little Logan and follow his story with Microcephaly. We also go into detail about this condition to raise awareness and funds for other children with the same condition.

Friends, please start making arrangements with your neighbours or local kennels if you are going away over the festive season. Last year the shelters were overflowing with pets who had been left at home to fend for themselves. There is always someone who will take care of your animals, and if you are stuck for ideas – please call us.

Our magazines are usually published by the second week of each month, reason being that, once again, we are not conventional. We like to delight our readers with something fresh and insightful to read once you have gotten over the month end rush, and can put your feet up with a nice ‘cuppa’ tea, and consciously relax with us.

Enjoy the rain, and be water-wise!

Till next month – be well.

Much Love

Linda

* Show Previews *

Suitable for Pre-Primary Schools & Grade 0 – 3 1) World Big, Me Small Gav, who is afraid to start Nursery School because he’s so small, gets a big surprise when he meets other colourful friends - some of whom are half his size!

Themes include: School, home, family, friends & pets; body image & self-esteem.

2) Four-Season-Trees Talking Tree tells his four-seasons story - to the delight of Fuzz & other furry creatures.

Themes covered: Seasons (Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring); trees (seasonal changes, uses of wood & importance of tree preservation).

3) Simply Safe.

When naughty Baby Gnome is left in the care of Nanny, he gets up to lots of mischief...

Themes covered: Home safety (injuries, shocks, choking & suffocation); road safety (traffic, robots, stop signs & zebra crossings); school safety & water safety.

4) Water & Wind Rainbow Bob cycles around - from the ground, along rivers & into the sea, then up into the sky where the clouds fly, and down again with the rain.

Themes covered: Water cycle (rivers, the sea, vapour & clouds); weather conditions (sunny, windy, stormy); importance of water (cleaning, drinking, growth).

5) Big School Book Unless Gav & Mandla can find the missing letters from the alphabet tree, they won’t be able to write their story!

Themes covered: Introduction to Big School; books & libraries; numbers (time & sums); alphabet & punctuation.

6) Health & Hygiene When Ma & Pa monkey explore a trash heap, they learn about health & hygiene the hard way!

Themes covered: Bad eating habits & substance abuse; manners & general hygiene (dental care, sleep, exercise & sport).

7) Green Earth Two villains, Slick & Slime, pollute Pooie the dragon’s water, giving him serious indigestion!

Themes covered: Land pollution (littering), atmospheric pollution (smog), noise & water pollution (oil & trash); the environment; recycling; endangered animals.

8) Shapes, Colours & Sizes As Chimp shops for the perfect outfit for his Musical Extravaganza, he is thrilled to discover a world filled with wonderful shapes, colours & sizes!

Themes covered: Shapes (circle, square, triangle); colours (primary, secondary, shades); sizes (big & small, short & tall, wide & narrow); musical instruments & Rainbow Nation.

9) Space Travel Aldrin Starbuck & his dog - Roger Moonunit, go in search of treasure, and find themselves travelling in all kinds of amazing vehicles, including a Time Machine!

Themes covered: Transport (land, sea & air); Time (past, present & future), Outer Space (satellites, rockets, planets, moons & stars).

10) Easter Bunny’s Birthday Balloon!

It’s Easter Bunny’s Birthday again & Smartypants surprises her with the biggest balloon ever!

11) Caterpillar’s Christmas Dream When a green caterpillar falls in love with a beautiful, blue butterfly, he dreams of getting wings for Christmas...

* Commentary on Puppet Shows *           

“Fabulous shows!” (Greenpark Nursery School) “Fantastic shows!” (Pebbles Nursery School) “Wonderful, interactive & informative!” (St. Mary’s) “Excellent & most enjoyable!” (Maylill Nursery School) “Well done! Beautiful Props” (Little Owls Pre-Primary) “Very Colourful & Interactive” (Stepping Stones Pre-Primary) “Cheerful, colourful & exceptionally well carried over to kids!” (Karen’s Play) “Excellent visual-aids, super music & lots of energy!” (Ladybird Nursery School) “Children were entranced by wonderful puppets!” (Mouse House Nursery School) “Great fun! Educational, interactive & held children’s attention” (Crawford Preparatory) “Always so energetic & well performed. Kids love them” (Treasure Island Nursery. School)

* Inventory * What is included in the sale 1.

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+ 80 Beautiful Handmade / Imported Puppets. + 100x Props / Backdrops / Costumes. + 85x Original Songs (Written & Sung by JA & JRH Durno).

11x Pre-Recorded Scripts (on CD & Hard Drive, Typed Scripts included).

11x Handmade Storage Boxes (colourful, waterproof, washable & compact).

2-Part Puppet Stage & 2 Boxes (lightweight, black, waterproof & compact).

Full Sound-System (Amp, Lapel Microphone, Adaptors, Cables & all extras).

Lighting (Clip-on Black Lamp, Adaptors & Extension Cable).

• Training of Puppeteers will be available, at a pre-arranged additional fee, and on mutually convenient dates

* Contact * Visit our Puppet Page, & make friends to see more Puppets: https://www.facebook.com/gav.eldorado

Contact Jolanta on: Tel/Fax: (011)726-1919 Tel: (011)726-8128 Cell: 083 699 0382 SA Code: +27

The Post-Partum Anxieties of Fatherhood: Confessions of an Introvert

by Jonathan Church

A man reflects on the difficulties of reconciling introversion with fatherhood.

In the hours and days after their first child is born, parents are deluged with copious felicitations from every kind of acquaintance. They receive cards and flowers and gifts. They happily share pictures via text with family and friends, and may also be inclined to dump pictures on social media, proudly displaying to the digital world a new citizen of the human race that they themselves have wrought.

They grin in acknowledgement at those who express commiseration with their lack of sleep, and take comfort in all manner of advice about post-partum hardships from doctors, parenting books, and online scarymommy.com articles.

Yet one thing that is surely among the more common occurrences but is nonetheless like an elephant in the room, not easily discussed or even openly acknowledged amid the feverish onslaught of felicitations and logistical obligations and rigid feeding schedules, is the threat of post-partum anxiety.

It is true that mental health professionals, obstetricians, and anyone with an inkling of the rigors of childrearing are acutely aware of the potential onset of post-partum depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or the general disquiet that comes with being overwhelmed by an immense new responsibility that severely and immediately transforms one’s life as he once knew it. The basic competence with which he has managed his own personal affairs in life is suddenly thrown into doubt.

There is a dread that shocks the core of his self-esteem.

As a man who has been a father for less than two weeks, I have not experienced depression, OCD, or a loss of self-esteem. I do not doubt my competence, nor do I feel a debilitating sense of helplessness in the face of unforeseen adversity. Yet sure enough, I only became a father in the last two weeks, and already I feel like a failure. I don’t say this because I got careless and dropped my newborn daughter on the floor, or because I let her mother oversleep and miss a feeding, or because I was oblivious to her mother’s texts about going into labor while I was feasting and drinking with friends at happy hour, and only got home in time to drive her to the hospital and let her deliver at the door of the emergency room.

None of that happened. Nor has anything catastrophic or melodramatic come to pass. Nor do I feel besieged by guilt about not being rich enough to provide her with a lavish home and lifestyle like a Hollywood movie star, or because I did not secure a place in an elite preschool three or four years from now.

All the anxieties natural to an introvert—not having enough time to oneself, constantly being barraged by nagging spouses and children in need of attention, the delirium of too many sensations for too long a stretch of time— are beginning to emerge.

The reason I already feel like a failure is because I am an introvert, and as an introvert, I worry about my ability to address the enormous emotional responsibility of caring for a child. All the anxieties natural to an introvert—not having enough time to oneself, constantly being barraged by nagging spouses and children in need of attention, the delirium of too many sensations for too long a stretch of time—are beginning to emerge. It’s not that I fear the loss of my personal time and space, because an introvert will find his personal time and space like an animal in the wilderness will find his sustenance. Personal time and space, like grass for a cow, or sunlight for the plant, is a matter of survival, a matter of health, a matter of staying sane and at peace with life. But because I cannot run from my introversion and the reclusive demands to which it gives rise, I also cannot run from the fear that my child will eventually, when she grows older, mistake my introversion for neglect.

Introverts live their lives in a solipsistic bubble, the extent of which varies from a cool reserve to a complete withdrawal, meant to be regenerative but which can make an introvert seem like a misanthrope or a hermit or a narcissist. It’s never one or the other—cool reserve or complete withdrawal—but a range that can manifest in the same person at different times depending on an introvert’s current emotional state. At times, an introvert is simply content to sit quietly in a crowd and watch and listen. At other times, an introvert is so drained from social interaction that he can barely stand to be in the presence of other human beings, and runs to the nearest sanctuary he can find.

An introvert like myself can easily come across as selfish, anti-social, or narcissistic.

The more sensitive to external stimulation he is (I am on the more extreme end), the more selfish and anti-social and narcissistic he can appear. But his withdrawal is only a physiological response to overstimulation. While an introvert appears aloof and uncaring, people around him may not know that his retreat and withdrawal can make him feel sad, depressed, or inadequate. He desperately wishes he could convey that it isn’t a pure aversion to humanity that makes him aloof, but a temporary intolerance for external stimulation after a succession of sensations from the realm of human experience.

An introvert is like David Thoreau when he wrote: ‘I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.’ There are only so many faces and voices he can encounter before the synaptic networks of his brain sputter and derail like a train that tries to go too fast on its rails.

Sure enough, our occasional frictions have spilled over into parenthood.

This predisposition can easily invite trouble in relationships. I have written elsewhere about difficulties in my relationships that stem in large part from being an introvert. This includes my fiancée, the mother of my child.

Sure enough, our occasional frictions have spilled over into parenthood. We have gotten testy with each other, sometimes to the point of name-calling and profanity, which means I have already broken a promise to myself never to incite hostility in the presence of my child like my father did (though a corollary benefit is I have gained an even deeper appreciation of my father’s own struggles with introversion in an era when the cultural awareness of mental health issues was perhaps not as advanced and inclusive as it is today, and qualities associated with introversion perhaps carried more of a stigma than it does today, some thirteen years after Jonathan Rauch wrote a well-received article in The Atlantic about ‘caring for your introvert’).

The occasional frictions between me and my fiancée as we adjust to parenthood are not solely a function of my introversion.

Some can be traced to the basic post-partum challenges alluded to above, like anxiety rooted in the intensity of her maternal instincts, which have her constantly on guard, in contrast to my more easygoing nature, which is not scrupulously on watch for every little thing that can go wrong with our child. She worries about things that I don’t, like whether I’m going to trip while holding the baby because my walk-around-the-house shoes are beat-up fifteen-year-old Nike Air Prestos with the soles falling off (what can I say, they are comfortable!). That disparity in the degree to which each of us worries about things erupts in disagreements about what should and should not be done to address each other’s parenting preferences. The disagreements can often manifest in prickly remarks that, as they accumulate over time, can boil over like a hot cauldron of resentment and contempt.

It’s just the sort of thing that can break down an introvert: the chronic accumulation of beckoning calls, needling jibes and barbs, and expressions of frustration and resentment. It has put me so much on edge at times that I have gotten short with her, finding myself running around too much for too long, feeling overwhelmed, like I was never going to be able to read a book again, or write an essay, or simply take time alone to think about and reflect on, for example, the experience of being a dad. One morning, in a moment of frustration, I blurted out: ‘I’m not trying to be a 24/7 call boy!’

Things were ‘under control.’

Then I sat down to read a paragraph in a book while I was waiting for my fiancée to finish getting ready before we left to go to a pediatrician appointment.

It wasn’t because I no longer wanted to care for my daughter or her mother. It wasn’t because I do not want to be there in times of need, or in cases of emergency. I said it precisely because I thought everything was going well. I was upset she did not share my belief that everything was going well. My daughter, fiancée, and I all had had a decent night of sleep. I had completed my morning chores, or at least the important ones. Things were ‘under control.’ Then I sat down to read a paragraph in a book while I was waiting for my fiancée to finish getting ready before we left to go to a pediatrician appointment. Maybe I can’t expect to have hours at a time to myself, but I can certainly try to steal a few minutes here, and a few minutes there, to read, to gather my thoughts, to take a deep breath.

My fiancée walked into my office. Thinking she caught me slacking, she chided me for delaying our trip to the pediatrician. She said it in a tone that made me feel like I should feel guilty for taking a moment to open up a book. It was apparent that we disagreed about what constitutes a situation that is ‘under control.’ As a result, I got the impression that she was never going to stop thinking of things to do, whereas I liked to do things piecemeal, a little bit at a time, according to a plan, whereby everything does not have to get done at once; tasks could be prioritized, completed incrementally, allowing for breaks, sleep, rest, conversation, and other activities associated with healthy living. We did not have to labor 24/7 like taskmasters preparing for war. I understand that in the general sense, the work never ends when raising a child. But I was striving to balance the need to get things done with the need to take breaks. Some kind of dynamic equilibrium was the goal. It was becoming clear, however, that she believed she was putting more into parenthood than I was. It was becoming a cause for nascent agitation, which then became cause for outright acrimony.

I wanted to communicate to her that I was merely attempting to establish an equilibrium.

Her view, however, was that we were only a week into this thing, and the round-the-clock priority was our child. She was right, but an introvert who has spent three days in a hospital constantly interrupted in the wee hours by doctors and nurses, and then five days constantly running around with little time to sit and work and think can get a little stir crazy. My outburst was the spontaneous combustion of a man who felt he had completed his chores for the time being and wanted to take a moment to himself, then felt a hot irritation run up under his skin when he felt she chided him not because there was a task left unfinished, but because he wasn’t doing something. This was a consideration that was extremely unwelcome to an introvert, because taking alone time is what an introvert must do if he is to remain sane. And he wants is to remain sane, not only for his own sake, but for his child’s sake, and the child’s mother’s sake. An introvert taking time to himself is no different than a patient who needs his pain medication, or a baby who needs to be fed if she is to stop crying.

The raw biological love that exists between a parent and child is one I have grown accustomed to in the last week

But it sounded terrible, like I was in denial about the responsibilities that lay before me. My fiancée was not unwarranted in the wicked stare she gave me. It did not make me feel good. She was confronting me with the possibility that I was failing my child (and her).

The raw biological love that exists between a parent and child is one I have grown accustomed to in the last week. To fail one’s child would be a terrible twist of fate, and I want to do what I can to avoid that fate. Was I already failing to do what I need to do to avoid that fate? It is a frightening question to ask, because I know the same tendencies will continue. I will forever be drawn to time alone, time to dwell in my thoughts, time to emotionally recuperate from the incessant stimuli of daily life in the society of family and the confines of domestic responsibility.

There are many introverts and others who may decide not to become parents in order to save themselves the trouble. I can understand their point of view. I have even thought to myself over the last week: what did I get myself into? Was I enamored with the idea of having a child but not the reality?

Yet for all the pitfalls, I have been amazed to realize what satisfaction I derive from being witness to my child as she urinates or defecates on the bassinet in the middle of changing a diaper, whose derriere and haunches must be wiped because she squirts mustard-colored poop every time she has a bowel movement, who needs to be burped, who darts her eyes left and right in intense curiosity as her cheeks lay skin to skin with my neck. Even when I am anxious to get back to a book I was reading, or a football game I was watching, or an essay I was writing, I cannot help but smile to myself in amusement and contentment that I get to watch her squirm around while I make sure she has a clean diaper. All of that is true despite the climactic protest that I would not be a 24/7 call boy.

Nothing can prepare or condition an introvert to find enjoyment in the constant interruptions of parenthood except the experience itself. Only the reality of when labor is announced by contractions, bleeding, and water breakage; the reality of driving to the hospital at midnight; the reality of the delivery room filled with masked physicians in aqua blue body suits, cool as ice as they manage the chaos of childbirth; the transformative moment when your child is handed to you, and you see your daughter enter into the world. Out of nowhere it seems, a newborn baby is handed to you. Like a cub out of the wild placed at your doorstep.

You learn a whole lexicon of new words: vernix, colostrum, merconium.

You witness the dedicated, serious medical attention, the shots, the weigh-in, the reflex check, the respiratory check, the heart rate check, the response to stimulation, and more tests. The cutting of the cord. The not-knowing-how-to-act. The wrenching pit in your stomach as it dawns on you this is for real. It’s all happening without even a decent night’s sleep. You’re in a daze, being introduced to all these new inventions of nature and nurture. And then there she is, a little alien creature. Your child.

Crying, squirming, kicking. You listen to the advice of the nurses. You pose for a picture. You look at her and cannot turn away. Then you endure three days in the hospital. You learn how to change diapers.

You learn how to swaddle, and how to put a child to sleep when she has the hiccups. You listen to lactation consultants help her mother figure out the mechanics of breastfeeding. Then, you leave the hospital and spot mosquitoes. You thrash at them before they have a chance to pounce on her, in this age of Zika. And finally, you arrive at home, and feel the urge to sing the ABCs, and read to her from infant books about Hansel and Gretel, or Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. You look forward to reliving the fairy tales of your own childhood, by retelling them to your own child.

In short, I have succumbed to the joys and toils of fatherhood. But that does not mean I am always happy. It does not mean I don’t feel the need to get away from it all. It does not mean that I don’t succumb to the emotional needs of introversion. It does not mean I do not worry, as the reclusive demands of introversion call me from within, I am destined to fail my child.

It’s all happening without even a decent night’s sleep.

You’re in a daze, being introduced to all these new inventions of nature and nurture.

My view is that parenting is an art, not a science.

I say this as one who is new to parenting, so I cannot claim to base this opinion on a lot of firsthand experience. It is an opinion derived from secondhand observations of how family, friends, and even strangers deal with their own children. It is derived from observations of how children interact with themselves, with each other, with adults, and with the world around them: their impressionability, their short attention spans, their susceptibility to peer pressure and marketing and cultural influences, their whimsical desires, their fits and starts, their profound need to believe that the adults who watch over them are safe, trustworthy, reliable, and interested in what they are doing with their lives, and what they are going to do with their lives. Finally, it is derived from the wisdom imparted to me by older folk whose experience with parenting now extends to being grandparents, and who invariably say that there is no standard approach or rule of thumb. Every parent must find his own way given the personality of his child and the dynamic of his own emotional constitution.

If parenting is an art, a child is a work of art.

Bringing it to life, i.e. raising a child, involves skill and talent and instinct and all the feeble attempts to apply what one reads in how-to books and websites. But as a work of art, children are also an obsession, a constant call to attention, a calling as profound and mesmerizing as Pygmalion’s sculpture, which was granted life by Aphrodite when its creator, the sculptor Pygmalion, gave it a kiss. Like Pygmalion’s creation, a child subsequently develops a mind and heart of its own.

Once granted life, what will the child think of the parent who raised her? These are the questions that haunt a parent, especially one who worries that his introversion will be mistaken for neglect. I can only hope my child comes to understand that the inner life to which I am so attached has made much room for contemplation of my love for her. It may seem like a haunted house from the outside, but inside there is a dark, silent cellar in which a great love is stored, hoping to be discovered when the child looks into the eyes of her parent and finds a mystery that fascinates her rather than a mystery that scares or repels her. That is the hope of a parent who is an introvert.

BELOW THE BELT

Looking after your bladder and kidneys

By Judy Beyer

Along with your liver, your kidneys and bladder are your body’s waste removal system. They eliminate waste products found in your cells and help get rid of toxins – not only toxins derived from food, pesticides or a contaminated environment, but also those caused by stress. So it makes sense to look after these organs holistically.

What are the most common problems affecting the bladder and kidneys?

•Incontinence, or the feeling that your bladder does not empty completely.

•Not being able to hold as much urine as you did before.

•A blocked urethra (the canal through which urine passes).

•Infections.

•Kidney stones •Blood in the urine.

When should you consult your healthcare practitioner?

•When you have a urinary tract infection (find the symptoms http://floraforce.co.za/urinary-tractinfection/ here).

•When you constantly feel the need to urinate.

•When you feel pain during urination.

•When there’s blood in the urine.

•When any of the above symptoms are accompanied by pains, chills, fever, vomiting and exhaustion.

Here are some tips to help keep your urinary tract happy: •Hydrate, but don’t overdo it. According to US nephrologist Dr James Simon, ‘Contrary to popular belief, no studies have proven over-hydration as an effective practice in enhancing kidney function.’

Drinking more than the recommended four to six glasses a day probably won’t help your kidneys do their job any better.

•Ditch the junk food and eat more healthily. Your kidneys can deal with a lot, says Dr Simon, ‘but most kidney problems arise out of other medical conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.’ Prevent those conditions with healthy eating and the occasional detox (see below).

 Exercise regularly. Yes, we know – we talk about this all the time! The benefits of exercise go much, much further that simply toning your booty for the beach. Regular physical activity can also stave off high blood pressure. Again, don’t overdo it. Over-exertion can put a strain on your bladder and kidneys. Keep it sensible.  Use supplements and herbal remedies with care.  People tend to self-medicate when it comes to natural remedies. And there are always those who believe that a higher dosage of a remedy/vitamin is more beneficial than the prescribed dose. The truth is that excessive amounts of certain vitamins and herbal extracts can harm your kidneys. It’s always best to talk to your herbal practitioner before embarking on a course of natural remedies.  Quit smoking. Smoking can damage blood vessels, which decreases the flow of blood in the kidneys, inhibiting their ability to function. Smoking also increases the risk of high blood pressure and kidney cancer.  Do you take over-the-counter medications? ‘Common non-prescription pills like ibuprofen and naproxen (NSAIDs) can cause kidney damage if taken regularly over a prolonged period,’ Dr Simon says. Chat to your healthcare practitioner about monitoring your kidney function and finding alternative and healthier ways to control aches and pains.  Get regular screenings for kidney function. People diagnosed with high blood pressure or diabetes should have their kidneys screened regularly as part of routine care for those conditions.  Give your bladder and kidneys a rest every three days. Feel pale at the thought? There’s no need to worry. It’s not complex or demanding – simply a minor detox that’s guaranteed to make you feel chirpier. And for those of you prone to getting kidney stones, this simple cleanse will vastly reduce the chance of recurrence.

For just one day, eliminate these foods from your diet: coffee, alcohol, fizzy drinks, foods that are very high in protein, salt – all of which make your bladder and kidneys work twice as hard as they need to.

Instead, include these foods: fresh juices – anti-oxidant-containing blueberry, carrot (purifies the blood) and grape (a mineral-rich juice that helps eliminate uric acid); raw vegetables – asparagus (stimulates kidney function), spinach (a detoxifier), celery (a mineral-rich diuretic), beetroot (detoxes the kidneys) and white beans; herbs – nettle, dandelion (both diuretics), parsley (excellent for cleaning kidneys).  Improve your urinary system with Buchu – this indigenous herb acts as a bladder antiseptic, relieves irritation and inflammation, fights invasion by micro-organisms and prevents urine retention (it has a diuretic effect on your kidneys). Read more about buchu in our herb library and buy it online here.  Learn to relax. Stress is the silent killer, raising blood pressure and affecting your entire body.

There are many approaches to dealing with stress – we recommend that you consult your healthcare practitioner to find out which suits you best.

So, pay attention to your diet, get some exercise, breathe deeply and give your urinary system a dietary treat every few days. We wish your bladders and kidneys a long and healthy life!

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What is Microcephaly Microcephaly (my-kroh-SEF-uh-lee) is a rare neurological condition in which an infant's head is significantly smaller than the heads of other children of the same age and sex. Sometimes detected at birth, microcephaly usually is the result of the brain developing abnormally in the womb or not growing as it should after birth.

Microcephaly can be caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Children with microcephaly often have developmental issues. Generally there's no treatment for microcephaly, but early intervention with supportive therapies, such as speech and occupational therapies, may help enhance your child's development and improve quality of life.

The primary sign of microcephaly is: A head size significantly smaller than that of other children of the same age and sex Head size is measured as the distance around the top of the child's head (circumference). Using standardized growth charts, the measurement is compared with other children's measurements in percentiles.

Some children just have small heads, whose measurement falls as low as the first percentile. In children with microcephaly, head size measures significantly below average, possibly even below the first percentile for your baby's age and sex.

A child with more severe microcephaly may also have a backward-sloping forehead.

When to see a doctor Chances are your doctor will detect microcephaly at the baby's birth or at a regular well-baby checkup. However, if you think your baby's head is smaller than normal or isn't growing as it should, talk to your doctor.

Causes Microcephaly usually is the result of abnormal brain development, which can occur in the womb (congenital) or during infancy. Microcephaly may be genetic. Other causes may include: 

Craniosynostosis. The premature fusing of the joints (sutures) between the bony plates that form an infant's skull keeps the brain from growing. Treating craniosynostosis (kray-nee-osin-os-TOE-sis) usually means your infant needs surgery to separate the fused bones. If there are no underlying problems in the brain, this surgery allows the brain adequate space to grow and develop.



Chromosomal abnormalities. Down syndrome and other conditions may result in microcephaly.

•Decreased oxygen to the fetal brain (cerebral anoxia). Certain complications of pregnancy or delivery can impair oxygen delivery to the fetal brain.

Infections of the fetus during pregnancy. These include toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, German measles (rubella) and chickenpox (varicella).

Exposure to drugs, alcohol or certain toxic chemicals in the womb. Any of these put your baby at risk of brain abnormalities.

Severe malnutrition. Not getting adequate nutrition during pregnancy can affect your baby's development.

Uncontrolled phenylketonuria (fen-ul-kee-toe-NU-ree-uh), also known as PKU, in the mother. PKU is a birth defect that hampers the body's ability to break down the amino acid phenylalanine.

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Complications Some children with microcephaly are of normal intelligence and development, even though their heads will always be small for their age and sex. But depending on the cause and severity of the microcephaly, complications may include:       

Developmental delays, such as in speech and movement Difficulties with coordination and balance Dwarfism or short stature Facial distortions Hyperactivity Mental retardation Seizures

Preparing for your appointment If you've just learned your child has microcephaly or you suspect your child's head is too small, you're likely to start by seeing your pediatrician.

However, in some cases, your pediatrician may refer you to a pediatric neurologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do 



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Write down your concerns about your child, including those regarding small head size or delayed development. If you're worried about your child's head size, try to get the hat sizes or measure the head circumference of as many first-degree relatives, such as parents and siblings, as possible for comparison.

Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Someone who accompanies you can help you remember information you get from your doctor.

Write down questions to ask your doctor.

For microcephaly, some basic questions to ask your doctor might include:       

What's the most likely cause of my child's condition?

Does my child need additional tests? If so, do these tests require special preparation?

What treatments are available?

What course of action do you think is best for my child?

Is there a treatment that will return my child's head to a normal size?

If I have additional children, what are the chances they'll have microcephaly?

Are there brochures or other printed material that I can have? What websites do you recommend?

Tests and diagnosis To determine whether your child has microcephaly, your doctor likely will take a thorough prenatal, birth and family history and do a physical exam. He or she will measure the circumference of your child's head, compare it with a growth chart, and remeasure and plot the growth at future visits. Parents' head sizes also may be measured to determine whether small heads run in the family.

In some cases, particularly if your child's development is delayed, your doctor may request tests such as a head CT scan or MRI and blood tests to help determine the underlying cause of the delay.

Treatments and drugs Except for surgery for craniosynostosis, there's generally no treatment that will enlarge your child's head or reverse complications of microcephaly. Treatment focuses on ways to manage your child's condition. Early childhood intervention programs that include speech, physical and occupational therapy may help your child strengthen abilities.

Your doctor might recommend medication for certain complications of microcephaly, such as seizures or hyperactivity.

Coping and support When you learn your child has microcephaly, your emotions might include anger, fear, worry, sorrow and guilt. You may not know what to expect, and you may worry about your child's future. The best antidote for fear and worry is information and support.

Prepare yourself: 

Find a team of trusted professionals. You'll need to make important decisions about your child's education and treatment. Create a team of doctors, teachers and therapists and other professionals who can help you evaluate the resources in your area and explain state and federal programs for children with disabilities.



Medical specialties your child might require include pediatrics and developmental pediatrics, infectious diseases, neurology, ophthalmology, genetics and psychology.



Seek other families who are dealing with the same issues. Your community might have support groups for parents of children with developmental disabilities. You might also find online support groups.

Prevention Learning your child has microcephaly can raise questions about future pregnancies. Work with your doctor to determine the cause of the microcephaly. If the cause is genetic, you and may want to talk to a genetics counselor about the risk of microcephaly in future pregnancies.

‎Logan's

Journey with Microcephaly

By Charnel Rea Muller – Logan’s Mother

We have been blessed with the opportunity to try out the gait trainer for Logan to assist him in being mobile..

For those of you who don't know, Logan weighs a whopping 13kg, and gets really heavy at times...

This little angel of ours now knows how to throw tantrums when he is in a position he doesn't like...he wants to be in a standing position most of the times, which makes it difficult for us with him being so heavy...not that we are complaining because this little man is healthy!!!

So these pictures are us showing how blessed and proud we are of him and thankful for the opportunity to try this device... Look at me mommy...

Logan's feeds for the one month...31 tube sets and 31 x500ml feeds with pediasure, thickener and 1000mls MCT oil.

If you would like to assist with Logan’s care please contact Charnel on

What is the Micro Miracle Foundation?

The foundation was started when Logan was diagnosed with Microcephaly in 2015.

The medical bills are extremely high and so the foundation was started to help children with Microcephaly and closely related neurological problems.

The foundation is not funded in any other way than the fundraisers & events that are arranged in aid thereof.

Please see the Fundraising & Events tab for more information on past & upcoming fundraisers.

What is Microcephaly?

Microcephaly is a rare neurological condition in which a baby's head is smaller than the heads of other children of the same age and sex. Sometimes detected at birth, microcephaly is generally the result of the brain developing abnormally in the womb or not growing as it should after birth.

Microcephaly can be caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Children with microcephaly often have developmental issues.

Who is Logan?

What can be done?

Logan was born on 4 February 2015, and diagnosed with Primary Microcephaly on 20 July 2015.

His journey with microcephaly has just begun....

Generally there's no treatment for microcephaly, but early intervention with supportive therapies, such as speech and occupational therapies, may help enhance with a child's development and improve quality of life.

CONTACT INFO

Non Profit Company Registration no 2016/081818/08 NPO 174-438

Phone: 011 028 8152 support@micromiraclefoundation.org.za http://www.micromiraclefoundation.org.za/

RAINBOW BABIES

A rainbow is a promise of sunshine after rain of calm after storms of joy after sadness of peace after pain of love after loss.

A rainbow baby is a baby born following loss. These mommas are just 6 out of the millions that experience pregnancy/infant loss every day. Some speak out. Some stay silent. Some have lost many. Some try for months or years. Some meet their sleeping angels.

All loved and never forgotten.

Photography Alex Bolen by Shutter Darling Photography, LLC

By Laura Pinger and Lisa Flook

Walking to class one day, one of us (Laura) saw a young student crying and waiting for his mother to arrive—he had split his chin while playing. When Laura got to class, the other students were very upset and afraid for their friend, full of questions about what would happen to him. Laura decided to ask the class how they could help him.

“Caring practice!” exclaimed one of the children—and they all sat in a circle offering support and well wishes. The children immediately calmed and they continued with their lesson.

This is what’s possible when kids learn to be kind at school.

Various mindfulness programs have been developed for adults, but we and our colleagues at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, wanted to develop a curriculum for kids. Every school teaches math and reading, but what about mindfulness and kindness?

We ended up bringing a 12-week curriculum to six schools in the Midwest. Twice a week for 20 minutes, pre-kindergarten kids were introduced to stories and practices for paying attention, regulating their emotions, and cultivating kindness. It’s just the beginning, but the initial results of our research, coauthored with Professor Richard Davidson and graduate research assistant Simon Goldberg, suggest that this program can improve kids’ grades, cognitive abilities, and relationship skills.

Why teach kindness to kids?

The school environment can be very stressful; in addition to any issues they bring from home, many students struggle to make friends and perform well in class. Being excluded, ignored, or teased is very painful for a young child, and we thought it could be impactful to teach empathy and compassion.

When other kids are suffering—like that boy who split his chin—can we understand how they might be feeling? Kindness bridges those gaps and helps build a sense of connection among the students, the teachers, and even the parents. Learning to strengthen their attention and regulate their emotions are foundational skills that could benefit kids in school and throughout their whole lives.

On top of that, having classrooms full of mindful, kind kids completely changes the school environment. Imagine entire schools—entire districts—where kindness is emphasized. That would be truly powerful. Teaching kindness is a way to bubble up widespread transformation that doesn’t require big policy changes or extensive administrative involvement.

Running and studying a Kindness Curriculum If you had visited one of our classrooms during the 12-week program, you might have seen a poster on the wall called “Kindness Garden.” When kids performed an act of kindness or benefitted from one, they added a sticker to the poster. The idea is that friendship is like a seed—it needs to be nurtured and taken care of in order to grow. Through that exercise, we got students talking about how kindness feels good and how we might grow more friendship in the classroom.

Another day, you might have found students in pairs holding Peace Wands, one with a heart and one with a star. The child with the heart wand speaks (“from the heart”); the other child (the “star listener”) listens and then repeats back what was said. When there was a conflict between students, they used the wands to support the process of paying attention, expressing their feelings, and building empathy.

Our Kindness Curriculum combines creative activities like these, as well as books, songs, and movement, to communicate concepts in a way that is understandable to four year olds. Our instructors taught the curriculum with active participation by classroom teachers.

The Kindness Curriculum is designed around the ABCs — or, more specifically, A to G: 









Attention. Students learn that what they focus on is a choice. Through focusing attention on a variety of external sensations (the sound of a bell, the look of a stone) and internal sensations (feeling happy or sad), children learn they can direct their attention and maintain focus.

Breath and Body. Students learn to use their breath to cultivate some peace and quiet. Instead of listening to a meditation, we played a song from Betsy Rose’s CD Calm Down Boogie, “Breathing In, Breathing Out,” while the children rested on their backs with a beanie baby on their belly. The beanie provided an object to “rock to sleep” with the natural in- and out-breath, while the breathing calmed the body.

Caring. Here, we teach kids to think about how others are feeling and cultivate kindness. We read the book Sumi’s First Day of School Ever, the story of a foreign student who struggles with English, and brainstorm ways to help a student like Sumi—as simple as offering a smile.

Depending on other people. We emphasize that everyone supports and is supported by others through the book Somewhere Today, which describes acts of kindness that are going on in the world right now.

Students learn to see themselves as helpers and begin to develop gratitude for the kindness of others.

Emotions. What do emotions feel like and look like? How can you tell what you’re feeling? We play a game where the teacher and students take turns pretending to be angry, sad, happy, or surprised, guessing which emotion was expressed, and talking about what that emotion feels like in the body.

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

Forgiveness. Young kids can be particularly hard on themselves—and others—and we teach them that everyone makes mistakes. A book called Down the Road tells the story of a girl who breaks the eggs she bought for her parents, but they forgive her.

Gratitude. We want kids to recognize the kind acts that other people do for them, so we have them pretend to be various community workers like bus drivers and firefighters. Then, they talk about being thankful to those people for how they help us.

Sixty-eight students participated in the research, with about half going through the Kindness Curriculum and the other half measured as a comparison. To investigate the impact of the curriculum, we tested children before and after the training period.

The results of our study were promising. Students who went through the curriculum showed more empathy and kindness and a greater ability to calm themselves down when they felt upset, according to teachers’ ratings. In an exercise with stickers, they consistently shared about half of them, whereas students who hadn’t gone through the curriculum shared less over time.

They earned higher grades at the end of the year in certain areas (notably for social and emotional development), and they showed improvement in the ability to think flexibly and delay gratification, skills that have been linked to health and success later in life.

This was a small study, and we’d love to see deeper investigations into our Kindness Curriculum in the future. For example, what happens over a longer time if we support students’ practice throughout the year and into the next school year and beyond? If parents got involved in the curriculum, they could provide powerful support as well.

“Students who went through the curriculum showed more empathy and kindness and a greater ability to calm themselves down when they felt upset, according to teachers’ ratings.”

“Kindfulness” in daily life Mindfulness and kindness go hand in hand, so much so that the phrase “kindfulness” accidentally (but aptly) came out in one of our conversations and has stuck with us. While we administered a specific curriculum for the purposes of our study, any teacher or parent can bring the principles behind it to bear on their interactions with children.

The first key is simply to model mindfulness and kindness. For example, what quality of attention do we bring when we interact with our kids? Do we give them our full attention—eye contact, kneeling down to speak with them, asking questions—or are we distracted? Kids are extraordinarily observant, and they pick up on whether we are paying attention to them. By modeling behavior, and through our interactions, we show them what it’s like to be seen and heard and to be compassionate with others.

Another simple activity is to relax and feel the natural breath for a few moments during the day.

Kids need to be active and run around, of course, but they can also benefit from cultivating a bit of stillness. For example, when Laura enters the classroom, she or one of her students rings a bell, which signals students to listen until the sound ends and then feel five in- and out-breaths together. This practice settles students and gathers their attention so they are more ready to learn.

We can also help kids reflect on their emotions, which sometimes feel overwhelming, and change their relationship to them. After a child calms down, we can sit with them and reflect on that feeling. Which part of the body felt angry, happy, or upset? All emotions are natural, so kids shouldn’t feel bad about experiencing them; we can teach them to cultivate a kinder attitude.

For example, a parent might say, “When I feel sad or angry, it doesn’t feel good in my body. But all people have feelings. Feelings help us learn about ourselves and others. I can be kind to myself no matter what feelings come. I can get better and better at learning from my feelings.”

And, by the way, practices like these are equally useful for parents and teachers, who are struggling with stressful workplaces or busy classrooms. For teachers, brief practices with students many times during the school day allow everyone to pause and be fully present to themselves, each other, and what is happening, whether it is pleasant or unpleasant. For parents, mindfulness and self-kindness training allow them to be more present with their spouse and children at home and with their coworkers at work.

Finally, to combine the concepts of mindfulness and kindness, we can teach caring practice to our kids. These phrases work well for children: May I be safe, may I be happy, may I be healthy, may I be peaceful.

When the boy split his chin, the other four-year-olds got together to do this practice: May you be safe, may you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be peaceful.

And these wishes can be extended further: To my entire classroom, my school, my neighborhood, my whole community…May we all be safe, may we all be happy, may we all be healthy, may we all be peaceful.

In the midst of their distress, the children found comfort and support for themselves and their friend rather than feeling upset and worried. They later shared with him that they had offered him these wishes. It’s these small changes, spread across classrooms, that could make schools more kind—and educate a new generation of more compassionate and connected citizens.

This article originally appeared on Greater Good, the online magazine of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, one of Mindful’s partners.

Laura Pinger and Lisa Flook share their lessons from creating a "kindness curriculum" for young students.

Laura Pinger completed her M.S. in communication sciences and disorders and is currently a Senior Outreach Specialist at the Center for Healthy Minds (CHM) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, at the Waisman Center. She develops and teaches research-related mindfulness-based curricula for educators, students, and parents.

Lisa Flook completed her PhD in clinical psychology at UCLA and is currently a scientist at CHM. CHM has been investigating the impact of mindfulness-based practices in educational settings with students, teachers, and parents.

4 Shows in 1” Featuring Mel Botes Band & Marcato (Ben van Zyl, Pieter Smit, Euan Nel, Charles Geer & Jerry Spangenberg) - 12 TOP SA musicians on one stage – all from the STORM stable!

“4 SHOWS IN 1” is a combination show of four of Storm Produktionz’s most popular Theatre productions – tribute to PINK FLOYD, BOB DYLAN, DIRE STRAITS & SIMON & GARFUNKEL featuring old favourites – Bridge over troubled water, Knocking on Heavens Door, Sultans of Swing, Blowing in the Wind, Brick in the Wall, Cecilia, Wish you were Here, Wake up little Suzie, Money for nothing and many more!

FIND & BOOK ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION IN SOUTH AFRICA lovetostay.co.za is your green heart guide to eco-friendly accommodation throughout beautiful South Africa. We partner with all kinds of accommodation establishments that operate in an eco-friendly, sustainable and responsible way. So whether you opt for a luxury boutique hotel or rustic tree house, you can feel good knowing your holiday supports a place that serves the environment and community in a positive way. To help you make these good choices, we are committed to growing a wonderful selection of urban and country, luxury and rustic green accommodation options where you will love to stay!

Search for your next green getaway on www.lovetostay.co.za by location or type; the Check Availability & Book Online green button will enable you to check real-time availability, make a booking & secure online payment through the Nightsbridge booking system at no extra charge.

WHAT IS ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION? Eco-friendly accommodation is defined as a lodging establishment with structural features that minimize the impact and footprint on the environment; as well as well as those that follow green living, sustainability and eco-friendly practices.

WHAT ARE GREEN HEARTS? Look out for the Green Hearts Seal of each establishment. We are proud to showcase all of our members and love to highlight their specific efforts to protect and conserve the environment. Seals display between 1-5 Green Hearts as awarded to them for their positive Green Acts. Here`s more info!

What it Means to Play Safe in the Sun… It’s so important to know the dangers of exposure to the sun and also how to reduce the risk of skin cancer which is the result of skin cell damage that begins in the lower part of the epidermis (the top layer of the skin). At least 80% of sun-induced skin damage occurs before the age of 18 and only manifests later in life.

Reducing the Risk The good news is that the risk of skin cancer can be reduced by respecting the sun and following these tips: • Avoid direct sunlight between 10 am and 3 pm.

Stay in the shade or under an umbrella as much as possible • Wear protective clothing; wide brimmed hats and UV protective clothes / swimsuits • Wear sunglasses with a UV protection rating of minimum UV400 • Always apply sunscreen regularly (SPF of 20 – 50) according to skin type. Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of race, age or sex. People with fair skin have a higher chance of getting skin cancer while dark-skinned people are still at risk.

• Avoid Sunbeds and Sunlamps • Spot-the-spot: Check your skin carefully every month (follow A, B, C, D, E rules) – find more info here…

Screening CANSA has five mole-mapping dermoscope devices called the FotoFinder used to examine moles and help reduce the risk. Every client with suspicious skin damage is referred for an intensive skin evaluation. Examinations are available at some CANSA Care Centres.

People with albinism are the most vulnerable for damage by ultraviolet radiation. CANSA successfully lobbied and helped to ensure that the government now supplies approved sunscreen (aligned to the CANSA Seal of Recognition standards) at adequate levels of supply at public hospitals.

Get to Know the Lingo…

Knowing your skin is important, but knowing what terms like SPF, UV, UPF and spot-the-spot means, is just as important – especially when it comes to staying safe in the sun.

• SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and is usually found on sunscreen bottles – it’s a measure of how well it protects your skin against UV rays and indicates how long you could spend in the sun before burning when protected by sunscreen, compared to when you have no sunscreen on. CANSA encourages the use of SPF 20-50 according to skin type.

• UV refers to ultraviolet light emitted by the sun.

UV rays have disruptive effects on skin cells, which cause sunburn, and can result in skin cancer.

• UPF is similar to the SPF indication on sunscreen, but UPF is usually found on clothing. It indicates the Ultraviolet Protection Factor of clothing, sunglasses and hats, to protect you against the UV rays of the sun.

• Spot-the-spot is a term to encourage you to do self-examinations on your skin. It’s important to keep a track of marks, moles and spots on your skin and to make note of any changes. Make sure to follow the ABCDE rules when doing these selfexams.

Skin Cancer Common in SA South Africa has the 2nd highest incidence of skin cancer in the world after Australia, as far as Caucasians are concerned.

Myths •

• • • •

The sun is only dangerous in summer or on a hot day Sunscreen will protect me completely from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays One or two cases of sunburn won’t result in skin cancer People with darker skins are not at risk for getting skin cancer Sunbeds are a safer alternate to obtain a tan

The Truth About Tanning There is no such thing as a healthy tan – even a sunless tan…

In recent years there has been a considerable increase in the use of sunless and self-tanning products such as sprays, mousses, gels, pills, nasal sprays & injections called Melanotan 1 and 11.

Melanotan 11 has serious side effects, and may induce malignant melanoma. CANSA warns against this product.

Tips: Sunscreen & Protective Garments

Although some self-tanning products contain sunscreen, it offers minimal ultraviolet radiation protection. It does not provide protection from the ultraviolet rays of the sun and CANSA strongly discourages individuals to use any form of tanning product.

With credit to TED-Ed. Original video at Why do we have to wear sunscreen – Kevin P. Boyd

FOLLOW THESE TIPS 1. Use an Effective Sunscreen • We have raised our Seal of Recognition standards & requirements for sunscreens. In addition to current SA standards, as of 1 April 2013, sunscreens bearing our Seal need to comply with the European Colipa Standards.

• Our new CANSA Seal of Recognition logo (CSOR) appears on approved sunscreen products and is a guarantee that the manufacturers of these UV protective products have complied with CANSA’s strict set of criteria – see new logo to the right.

• See list of CANSA’s SunSmart Sunscreen Partners…

• Be sure to use a sunscreen with an SPF of between 20 and 50 & 30 and 50 for fair to very fair skin.

• Products usually expire two years after manufacture – don’t use a product that has been opened and used after a year has passed.

2. Apply Sunscreen Correctly • It’s important to know the best SPF for your skintype • Always apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you go outside and re-apply at least every two to three hours

3. Wear Protective Clothing • Wear sunglasses with a UV protection rating of UV400 • Wear protective clothing & swimsuits and thicklywoven fabric hats with wide brims – avoid caps where the neck & ears are exposed • Buy SunSmart garments & apparel… – look out for CANSA’s swing tags (right) & SunSmart Choice logo (top right) on clothing, hats & summer fun accessories.

Educate & Protect Children • Our youth should take special precaution when spending time in the sun – two blistering burns before the age of 18, can dramatically increase the risk of getting skin cancer later in life.

• Parents and schools need to play an increasingly important role in educating our youth re being SunSmart. Unfortunately a recent study shows that most schools are not SunSmart. Read more…

Article courtesy of CANSA

Tel: 0800 22 66 22

It’s about making a difference one meal at a time! Eat green! By pledging to eat plant-based meals every Monday you will be munching your way towards a healthier body, a more sustainable planet and a more conscientious approach to eating. Love your veg and they’ll love you back! Green Monday is a global initiative promoted by Humane Society International (HSI).

Watch this quick video explaining why you’re onto a good thing when you support GreenMondaySA.

Goodbye Blue Mondays! Start your week by pledging green! Get your friends, family and colleagues to get on board too.

Conscious Life Magazine

Smoothie Bowl – Berrydelicious!

One of my all time favourites. Perfect for a hot summers day or for those quick on the go mornings!

Ingredients: • • • • •

1 cup Mixed frozen berries 1 banana 1/2 cup of milk or coconut milk.

Whey protein or vegan protein powder 1 Tsp xylitol

Instructions: • Blend all of the above ingredients together • Scoop a spoon of Greek yoghurt/coconut cream into a bowl • Pour the smoothie around it, add a few nuts for a crunch element • Toss in some mint to garnish and sprinkle some poppy seeds for fun!

Enjoy

Super Fruity Summer Smoothie It’s been a very hot start to the summer season so I have welcomed more fruit into my life with open arms!!

Sometimes cooking doesn’t need to be about slaving over a hot stove or spending lots of time in the kitchen, but rather about putting together an array of all your favourite fruits into a delicious smoothie recipe.

Ingredients: • • • • •

Spoon of Buttanutt spreads (Macadamia) Raspberries 1 passion fruit h2cocosa coconut water or milk Spoon or two of yoghurt - add more if you would like

Instructions: • Blend all of the above ingredients together • And VOILA! A super healthy summer Smoothie!

Enjoy

Actress, Anji Woodley is no stranger to the lights, the cameras and the action. But what she really enjoys doing …. COOKING! For more info, follow Anji on social media:

Conscious Life Magazine

This recipe makes approximately 16 bit size square of coconut berry pieces.

Ingredients:

◾2 Cups Coconut Butter ◾2 Cups Berries (I used raspberries and cherries) ◾1/2 Cup Raw Honey ◾1/2 Teaspoon vanilla extract ◾1/2 Teaspoon Fresh Lemon Zest or 1 Drop Lemon Essential Oil ◾1 Tablespoon Maca Powder (Optional)

Instructions:

◾Melt coconut butter over medium low heat until it’s smooth and creamy. Turn off heat and set aside. ◾In a food processor mix coconut butter and berries together until smooth. ◾Add raw honey, vanilla extract, lemon and Maca powder if using. ◾Mix all the ingredients together and pour into a greased 20 x 20 cm pan. ◾Refrigerate for one hour or until the bars are cooled ◾Cut the bars into squares and serve. ◾Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Sign Green Monday’s pledge to eat green every Monday and help save the planet

Bean Bunny Recipe Credit: Genya Gluckman for Green Monday SA

Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2 onions, chopped 2 cans of chopped tomatoes 1/2 can of tomato puree 4 baby marrows, sliced (optional) 1 punnet of button mushrooms (optional) 1 teaspoon (5ml) cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon (15ml) ground cumin 1 tablespoon (15ml) ground coriander 2 tablespoons (15ml) ground turmeric 1 tablespoons (15ml) of garam masala 2 cloves of garlic 2 tins of butter beans 2 loaves of bread, cut in half and hollowed

Photo credit: House of Vizion

Conscious Life Magazine

Instructions: • Heat oil in a pot.

• Add garlic, onions and all the spices and cook until onions are translucent.

• Add in baby marrows, button mushrooms and fry for 10 minutes.

• Add in 2 cans of chopped tomato and tomato puree.

• Put on a very low heat and let simmer for between 30 minutes and 2 hours.

• Add butter beans and cook for 5 more minutes.

• Fill each half of the loaf with the curry.

• ENJOY!

Come rain or shine, it’s time to be water wise!

South Africa is enduring its worst drought in 23 years, and combined with late seasonal rains, persistent high temperatures and an increased demand on the system, Gauteng residents have been urged to use water responsibly.

The province has recently been in the grip of a heat wave, and with dam levels dropping and taps in some areas running dry, Rand Water recommended level two water restrictions be implemented. These include: -

No watering and irrigating gardens between 6am and 6pm No filling of swimming pools No using of hose pipes to wash cars, paved areas, etc.

Some reservoirs have run low or dry as water is being used by consumers faster than it can be pumped in. The high demand on water was due to the high temperatures experienced throughout Gauteng. Residents in some areas faced shortages, having to rely on tankers for their supply of water.

Even though the high temperatures have passed, and rain is predicted, the bulk water system in the province is still under severe pressure and water restrictions will remain in place until further notice. In the meantime, residents are being urged to change the way they use water.

To help save water at your home and work, here are a few water-saving tips:

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Shower rather than bath Take shorter showers Fix leaking taps and toilets Install a water-saving toilet flush system Close taps when brushing teeth or shaving Don’t rinse dishes under running water Use a pool cover for pools Report leaks to your local municipality Where possible reuse water

It’s predicted that 2015 will be the hottest year in South Africa’s history, and with a scorching, dry summer forecast, the water supply interruptions could get worse. In this situation level three restrictions would be enforced, where water use would be limited to certain times of the day. Additionally, if residents or businesses are seen flouting the water restrictions, they could face heavy fines.

Many South Africans take it for granted that we can open a tap and get clean, running water.

However, in light of the severe weather conditions being experienced in the country, it’s up to every citizen to be responsible for their water usage, and to use this resource sparingly.

With volatile weather increasing in frequency, isn’t it time you protect yourself and the important things in your life?

Get the right cover for all your needs, by phoning 0860 13 13 14 and speaking to an Indwe Risk Services advisor today.

People have varying amounts of tolerance to pain and the same is true of their pets. Some dogs may yelp and cry at the least discomfort, whilst another my not limp on an injured leg until it’s extremely damaged. Cats are notorious for being stoic and not showing that they are in pain.

Knowing your pet and his habits and behaviour is often the trigger to realizing he is hurting. You need to know what is normal for your pet, to be able to tell what is abnormal for them.

The skill of observing with a critical eye can be learned by anyone, and it starts with a genuine love and interest in your pet, his behaviour, posture and habits.

Often the first sign of pain in a family pet is the feeling of the owner that “something isn’t right” There are symptoms to watch for but often the first sign of pain in a family pet is the feeling of the owner that “something isn’t right”. When that impression remains for several days, a trip to the vet for a checkup is a good idea.

Symptoms of Pain: Vocalizing Your dog may whine when he rises from a sitting position or yelp when he jumps down from a chair. He may whimper when you massage a shoulder or make moaning or groaning sounds when at rest.

Your cat’s purring may actually increase, or he may be meowing incessantly or differently. Panting is normal for dogs but constant panting in the absence of exercise or heat is unusual. Cats in pain may have a faster and more shallow breathing pattern than normal. They may also even pant.

Conscious Life Magazine

Posture Know your pet’s normal posture at rest, as well as his normal gait. Sometimes postural changes may be very obvious e.g. our dog may limp with one leg or may appear to walk in an awkward, hunched position holding his front end and back end at uneven heights, or your horse may stand with his head in a lowered position. (When he stands with his head lower than his knees, it should set-off major alarm bells). If you know your pet’s “body language” , it will be easier to see when there is a deviation from the normal pattern.

Level of Activity Owners accustomed to a pet who follows them from room to room may notice the animal staying in one place instead. The dog may lay down, get up, circle and lay down again repeatedly trying to find a comfortable position and may have difficulty getting up after laying down. Cats experiencing pain often move around less. But depending on what hurts, they may still move around the same amount, just differently. They may move with a limp, or go more slowly up or down the stairs. Horses may show a decrease in activity or be reluctant to move, or may lag behind the rest of the group.

“Cats in pain may have a faster and more shallow breathing pattern”

Conscious Life Magazine

“Your pet may avoid social contact, or growl or snap..”

Heart and Pulse Change Animals in pain will often have an increased heart/pulse rate. The rate often noticeably speeds up when the painful area is touched or moved. You can enrol in a pet’s first aid course, or ask your veterinarian or veterinary nurse to show you how to check and measure your pet’s pulse rate.

Behavioural Changes Your pet may avoid social contact, or growl or snap when you touch part of his body or manipulate a joint. He may withdraw from petting and be reluctant to participate in play activity. Some dogs may become more needy than usual and seem to be asking for constant attention.

Incessant licking, scratching or chewing of one part of the body is a visible indication of itching or pain and an increase in drooling is another sign of a problem.

Be aware of changes in your horse’s behaviour in his turn-out group. Very often bad behaviour in horses have been attributed to them having a nasty character, but these unwanted behaviour patterns – swishing of the tail if you pass to close to their hind quarter, bucking, or dropping of the shoulder may be due to the fact that they are in pain.

Cats in pain are more likely to bite and scratch. This is true even with their owners and other familiar people. This is particularly true when a person touches or moves the painful area, or if the cat anticipates you touching or moving the painful area.

Cat’s may have a decrease in self-grooming when ill, or may groom excessively in an area with a wound. If your cat suddenly hides under beds or in cupboards it is s sure sign that he is in pain. Should your cat start to urinate or defecate outside his litter box it may be a sign of back/joint pain. They will struggle to get in and out of the litter box and also with the posture needed to defecate, and as a result may become constipated.

Feeding changes Animals may lose their appetite when they are in pain or appear unusually tired or lethargic. Be aware of their feeding habits and pay attention to their feeding routine and changes to these routines. When they do go and eat and experience some pain in their mouth or the cause of their pain is related to their teeth, then they may drop food/water out of their mouth whilst eating/drinking.

Appearance Animals display facial expressions that their human companion recognize as part of the personality of their pet. A change in expression or physical appearance may be an indicator of a pet who is in pain.

Ears laid back may be unusual for the animal and a vacant stare that replaces the attentive look, or eyes that seem constantly tired and sleepy may be subtle clues of a joint that is aching or an injury that needs treatment.

Strained, tense nostrils, mouth and prominent chewing muscles, flattening of the horse’s profile, as well as tension seen above the eye area is a sure sign that your horse needs the vet or blacksmith or some dentistry.

Treatment for Pain Relief: Seek advice from your vet as soon as you notice your pet is in pain to determine the cause of pain. Prompt treatment can halt the progression of serious illness and relieve discomfort quickly.

Finding the cause of the discomfort can often lead to treatments with pet medicines that will control or even eliminate pain for the animal. Please do not self-medicate your pet. Many fatalities have occurred with caring pet owners medicating their pets with human medicine. You can cause your pet severe distress and even death by giving your pet medicine meant for human beings.

Natural Medicines: Eco-Vet has a portfolio of registered natural medicine designed for treating various painful conditions. EcoHeal is a must in your fist aid kit for pain and sudden onset injuries, while Eco-Joint has been created for the treatment of animals with acute and chronic joint strains associated with mainly soft tissue injuries.

May be effectively used before hard exercise to protect from work induced injuries. Is an effective remedy for use immediately after hard exercise as an aid to recovery. Eco-Arth is a natural remedy for the treatment of animals with chronic joint problems associated with degenerative disease, and had seen many animals regaining their mobility.

We love animals, NATURALLY Erika Bornman CEO-Eco-Vet www.ecovet.co.za

Conscious Life Magazine

Delicious Hamper of the awesomely healthy new My T Iced.

The latest creation from our friends at My T Chai, these iced teas are filled with goodness, delicious natural flavours to cool you down this Summer. We are hooked and we know that you and your friends will be too!!

To enter email your addresses and your phone number to my-t-iced@childoftheuniverse.co.za Subject: Subscribe. T’s & C’s: Only open to SA Residents, Competition Closes 10 November

EVERY HOME NEEDS A LOVING PET! THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS WAITING TO BE ADOPTED – PLEASE REACH OUT!

Conscious Life Magazine

ONE treat challenge!

No Guts No Glory they say.

Trust us, we know how difficult it is to pass by that Giant Aero Slab at the checkout counter when the slab is calling out your name and saying, "EAT ME!" and every fibre of your being is crying out "I need it, just buy it."

Ooooh the temptation... ...But know your sacrifice will not be in vain: You will be helping to buy a security fence that will protect orphan children with a safe and secure place they will call 'home' YOU can do this! We are asking that YOU simply sacrifice one (just one, or two if you prefer we don't mind) TREAT: ‌And rather donate your R50, to help us secure our 'Homestead' at our Children's Village with a much needed SECURITY FENCE. So c'mon make your mark and then SHARE the CHALLENGE. Post a pic of what you are giving up to our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/doorofhopeSA

with much appreciation to our advertisers, contributors, endorsers and our readers namaste