EDUCATION • HEALTH • WELLBEING • LIVING • BEAUTY • STYLE • TRAVEL
MAGAZINE
SPECIAL EDITION SPONSORED BY MERCI MAMAN
Celebrating Motherhood #MyJourney
cherubsmagazine.com
Inspiring Everyday Family Life
Spring 2022 • Issue 15
Contents Spring 2022 • Issue 15
Motherhood = Family, Happiness, Love and Contentment. For the first time in Cherubs history we have a front cover that is very different to what we’re all used to seeing. The wonderful brand Merci Maman has just launched their #myjourney Mother’s Day campaign and as you can see, I was very lucky to be part of it. This spring, we celebrate motherhood in all its glory. We talk about the tough times and the good, the struggles it brings to us and the joy we feel when they achieve the smallest of things. Can we all take a moment to celebrate ourselves? Give yourself a standing ovation, you deserve it… every day in fact. The library of thoughts and actions that go into the title ‘mother’ is indescribable, and we’re not credited enough for it. So, give yourself a moment to appreciate just how much you’re needed on this planet – it’s called Mother Nature for a reason you know! Enjoy this season in all it’s colourful glory, fill your house with £1 bunches of daffodils and know that the colour they give represents the ray of sunshine that you are. Well done mama, you’ve done the world proud. Wishing you all a wonderful spring, enjoy this special edition. Peace, love and tulips
Sevim x
Features 10 20 26 30
Thank you mummy Fun in the kitchen How motherhood impacts your marriage Smelling sweet
In this edition 4 32 40 52
What’s on this spring The power of pink Lost learning Ask the nutritionist
A taste of ... 28 36 48 54
Style Education Health & wellbeing Living
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Follow us on social media for regular updates @CherubsMagazine Style Editor: Antonia Sanchez–Toomey Healthy Food Editor: Christianna Karaolis Designer: Chris Webb Printers: The Roma Group Bio Picture: Merci Maman - Will Edgecombe
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While we take every care to ensure details are correct the publisher will take no responsibility for errors or omissions. Readers are advised to check information published with individual advertisers and take legal advice where appropriate before entering into any transactions. Where prices or dates are quoted they are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change. Unless specifically stated the publisher does not endorse any product or service appearing in the magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher.
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WHAT’S ON
What’s On This Spring It’s that time again – Easter 2022 and to celebrate we have some eggciting events and activities to keep your little cherubs occupied. Want more? Follow @younglondonist on Instagram for even more fun.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Embark on a transformational journey to becoming a beautiful butterfly, based on Eric Carle’s much-loved book, and wind through sculptures of juicy fruits and a cosy chrysalis along the way. You can also explore the seasonal plants in the Gardens, with tulips, bluebells, magnolias, and cherry blossom all bursting to life as well as the Children’s Garden and the current Zadok Ben-David exhibition that explores the fragility of the natural world. When: 2-18 Apr Where: Kew Gardens How much: Adults £19.50, children £5 kew.org
Easter Egg Hunt The Lindt Gold Bunny Easter hunt is back this Easter! Discover stories from the people that visited, lived and worked at Hampton Court Palace. Match up the name of the important palace character on the trail to the red ribbon on the bunny statue at each location. Explore the gardens and enjoy a play in the Magic Garden. When: 2-18 Apr Where: Hampton Court Palace How much: Adults £27.90, children £12.60, under-fives go free hrp.org.uk
Easter Duck Trail 25 giant ducks have been hidden around the wetlands and you need to find them all and identify their names in order to win a tasty treat. Collect your trail card from the information desk, explore the grounds and check out the wildlife. It is £1.00 per trail as well as the cost of entry to and there are lots of arts and crafts too. When: 2-24 Apr Where: WWT London How much: Adults £14, children £7.54, under-fours go free wwt.org.uk
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100 Story Hotel An new immersive exhibition created by Discover Story Centre alongside author and illustrator Rob Biddulph. Expect to find a world of play and storytelling with a mystery that children up to the age of eight have to help solve. When: 2 Apr-ongoing Where: Discover Story Centre How much: £3 plus entry to Discover Story discover.org.uk/event/story-hotel
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WHAT’S ON
Teach Rex Have you got a dino obsessed child? Then Teach Rex is the place for you as they use life-like dinosaurs to perform a 45-minute show delivered by teachers, educating children about the anatomy and life of one the most mesmerising creatures that have ever roamed our planet. The show is teamed with effects, music and gives children and their families the chance to get up close and personal with these fantastic, realistic beasts. Children will be greeted by baby dinosaurs and given a ‘Dino Booklet’ which includes a variety of educational activities and you will be provided with crayons as part of the ticket cost too.
Summer Lights Festival
When: 10 Apr Where: Twickenham Exchange How much: £11-£15.40 exchangetwickenham.co.uk
When: 20 Jun-20 Aug Where: Canary Wharf How much: Free canarywharf.com/whats-on/summer-lights-jun-aug-2022
To celebrate the beauty of natural light, and the long summer days, the Canary Wharf estate are going to be transforming their outdoor areas into sparkling, colourful and inviting spaces for families to enjoy. While in the area you can also visit the Crossrail Roof Gardens, play free mini-golf and check out the Yinka Ilori basketball court. A great free day out.
Elderflower Fields This small family-friendly festival is a perfect way to introduce little Londoners to the festival scene. You can expect friendly families, wild adventures, locally sourced food and plenty of music and art to warm the soul. The festival places an emphasis on wild living and celebrating the great outdoors so you can expect a variety of performances, activities and music to fit with this theme. Get closer to nature in the surrounding Ashdown Forest, go star gazing, try your luck at an adventure sport and enjoy the eclectic line-up. When: 27-30 May Where: Pippingford Park, East Sussex How much: Adults £150, children over three £75, under threes £8 south.elderflowerfields.co.uk
Dominique Gonzales - Foerster An immersive, supernatural and sensory environment by artist Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster. Adults will love the literary and cinematographic, architectural and musical, scientific and pop references while children will be into the lights and immersive elements of this exhibition. Plus it is in the heart of Hyde Park so can be combined with a park visit, a boat trip on the Serpentine, a snack at one of the surrounding dining establishments or a picnic. When: 14 Apr-4 Sep Where: Serpentine South Gallery How much: Free serpentinegalleries.org
Power-Up This hands-on, fully interactive gaming event features the very best video games and consoles from the past five decades. From Pong to Pacman and Minecraft to Mario, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a retro games fan, a serious gamer or just want to beat your family at Mario Kart. When: 2-19 Apr Where: Science Museum How much: £8 sciencemuseum.org.uk
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Easter Trail at Tumblestone Hollow Follow the trail around Tumblestone Hollow, a magical adventure playground in the gardens of Stonor Park. Children can get exploring and playing as you make your way through the trail together. Solve the puzzle and bring it back to the Visitor Centre to receive a treat. When: 9-24 Apr Where: Stonor Park How much: Adults £9, children £11.50 for children over 105cm stonor.com/tumblestone-hollow
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WHAT’S ON
Arrives at Warwick Castle One of the UK’s leading family attractions, the historic Warwick Castle, has announced a brand new attraction to their already impressive offering of spectacular shows and unmissable events for this spring: the world’s first Zog Playland.
Engaging their playful imaginations and exploring the interactive range of activities, children visiting the Zog Playland can take on the roles of Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout while immersing themselves in this much loved story.
Inspired by the loveable dragon who was brought to life in Julia Donaldson’s much loved Zog books and with the help of illustrator Axel Scheffler, the new area has been developed in partnership with brand owners, Magic Light Pictures, and is set to open on April 9th.
Designed to create an inclusive and accessible play experience with stepfree access, multi-sensory experiences, and access to Princess Pearl’s Tower, the area will also include activities to aid development for young children.
Based on the literary series second book, Zog and the Flying Doctors, the playground combines sensory and physical play elements for children up to the age of 10, as well as accessible activities. Featuring colourful dragons, dragon wing zip wires, crawl tunnels, rope swings, Princess Pearl’s Tower, and dragon slides, Zog Playland will offer plenty of opportunities for children to immerse themselves into the magical world they know and love from the popular book and film.
Meanwhile, the popular Zog and the Quest for the Golden Star interactive trail will also return with some updates for the new season and will offer children the chance to actually meet some of the key characters from the story – including Zog, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout. To extend the fun and give your family time to take on all the fantastic attractions on offer at Warwick Castle, ultimate Zog fans are invited to spend the night in the castle grounds with the returning Zog Stay and Play package. From 27 February onwards,
guests can choose to bed down in cosy Woodland Lodges or Medieval Glamping Tents, where they will find special Zog goodies. For the final surprise of the day, one of Warwick Castle’s brave Knights or enchanting Princesses will pop in for an exclusive storytime – and even Zog himself will come to wish super fans a good night before bedtime! The new Zog Playland, as well as the Zog trail and other popular castle attractions will be accessible with Warwick Castle’s annual Gold pass (£65pp) and Silver pass (off-peak only, £45pp), adding even more ‘roar’ to these popular year-round admission options. Zog Stay and Play packages start from £149 for a family of four and include bed, breakfast and one-day park tickets on selected stay dates.
For more information head to www.warwick-castle.com 6 | Cherubs Magazine
020 8154 3664
Drop-in workshops for ages 5-18
Summer term: Sundays 24 Apr - 17 Jul SCAN TO
BOOK www.chickenshed.org.uk/sunday-shed
Easter Tales
Tales from the Shed
Join us for some egg-stra special Easter fun with our shows for younger children aged 0-6yrs.
Sat 9 - Thu 14 Apr 10am & 11.30am | £7 Meet some new characters and join in with the singing & dancing. There’s plenty of fun to be had by all.
23 Apr - 16 Jul Saturdays 10am & 11.30am | Ages 0-6 | £7
020 8292 9222 www.chickenshed.org.uk Registered charity no 1012369
020 8292 9222 www.chickenshed.org.uk Registered charity no 1012369
WHAT’S ON
Are you ready to party? Oh yes, we are!
Festivals up and down the country are gearing up for a summer like no other so whether you’re looking for a local London family friendly festival or wanting to go further afield for your music fix – we got you covered. Grab the kids, the wellies and the glitter. It’s time to start planning your summer with our favourite picks of child friendly festivals for all budgets; from fabulous freebies to extravagantly expensive and everything in-between. Want more? Follow @younglondonist on Instagram for even more fun.
Elderflower Fields
This small family-friendly festival is a perfect way to introduce little Londoners to the festival scene. You can expect friendly families, wild adventures, locally sourced food and plenty of music and art to warm the soul. The festival places an emphasis on wild living and celebrating the great outdoors so you can expect a variety of performances, activities and music to fit with this theme. Get closer to nature in the surrounding Ashdown Forest, go star gazing, try your luck at an adventure sport and enjoy the eclectic line-up. When: 27 – 30 May 2022 Where: Pippingford Park, East Sussex
How much: Adult tickets are £150 and children over three are £75 with underthrees only paying £8 per ticket.
City Splash Festival
City Splash is a new Festival bringing festival vibes to South London. The line-up is massive with the likes of Protoje, Barrington Levy, Mr Eazy, Kranium and lots more Reggae, Afrobeats and Dancehall artists (over 60 across six stages!) Expect to find the biggest names in Caribbean street food. Kids of all ages are welcome. When: 29 May 2022 Where: Brockwell Park, Brixton How much: £34.50 for adults and £19.50 for kids aged 10 and above.
Wild Words Festival
Do you love a good story, books and poetry? Then Wild Words festival is the one for you. A laid back vibe where families can enjoy spoken word performances, theatre shows, crafts, author panels and workshops. For kids and younger teens our headliners are Annabelle Sami (author of the hilarious Llama out Loud series and the Agent Zaiba Investigates books) and Mitch Johnson (author of the adventure books Kick! Pop! and Spark!) Expect a families tent with a silent disco as well as cool camping and street food. The festival is on Colesdale Farm, which is so close to Enfield that you are barely leaving London (which is always a bonus). When: 3 – 5 Jun 2022 Where: Colesdale farm, Hertfordshire How much: £120 for adults and £60 for kids.
The Cambridge Club
The Cambridge Club returns in 2022 as a full weekend festival for the first time with an unparalleled line-up of Disco, Funk, Soul, Blues and R&B icons that will bring musical magic to the Cambridgeshire countryside. The festival offers a three-day feast of music, arts and culture – featuring comedy, talks, interactive experiences, family entertainment, and delicious food and drink, as well as a leading line-up of musical
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WHAT’S ON artists. Line-up includes: Diana Ross, Nile Rodgers, Gabrielle, Trevor Nelson and lots more. When: 10 – 12 Jun 2022 Where: Childerley, Cambridge How much: Adult weekend tickets start at £130, kids 6-17 are £66.95 each and kids under five are free.
Latitude Festival
This beautiful Suffolk festival pulls in big names each year like Bastille, Lewis Capaldi and Snow Patrol in 2021. The site is magical – arranged around the Latitude Lake (home to the kids’ area), and it has won the 2018 Best Festival Awards. You can expect plenty to keep the kids entertained including pizza making, circus shows, pond dipping, crafts and pizza making. Latitude is the closest grown-ups can get to a real festival experience (pre-kids) with the tiddlywinks in tow. When: 21 – 24 Jul 2022 Where: Henham Park, Suffolk How much: £226.80 for a family.
Camp Bestival
Great Exhibition Road Festival
Celebrate all things science, art and culture in this iconic London location. This family festival is inspired by Queen Victoria’s Great Exhibition and brings together well known London institutions such as the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Parks, Serpentine Galleries, Natural History Museum and Imperial College with a line-up of over 150 live events and activities each year that entertain, educate and delight families of all ages. Keep your eyes peeled for the lineup and get booking. When: 18 – 19 Jun 2022 Where: Exhibition Road, South Kensington How much: Free.
Timber Festival
Swap the files for a forest in this family friendly festival that celebrates nature, art and music in a sustainable way in the heart of the National Forest. Expect a chilled out smaller festival vibe with lots of attention to details and plenty of activities to keep the family occupied. Celebrate British folk tales, have a dance to the woodland DJs or try your hand at some of the circus and woodwork skills. There are also National School of Forestry Workshops for the whole family which sound particularly interesting. When: 1 – 3 Jul 2022 Where: The National Forest How much: £128 for adult weekend camping tickets and £42.70 for kids aged four and above.
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This award winning family friendly festival is organised by Rod da Bank and his wife Josie and really places children (of all ages) at the centre of everything. From wild adventurous pursuits in the Wild Tribe area (with mud-slides, child-led building areas and drumming circles) through to the world’s biggest bouncy castle to get your bounce on. There is also go-karting, fairy tales and (bedtime) storytelling from Cbeebies, Cosmic Yoga and raves from Big Fish Little Fish and vintage fairground rides. The science tent will captivate and educate while the youngest of ravers can enjoy soft play (yes!) and sandpits or catch a spectacle from Cirque Bijou. Brush up on your circus skills, learn to walk the rope or admire some late night cabaret. The theme for 2022 is ‘Desert Island Disco’ and you can expect plenty of glitter, shimmering costumes and dazzling entertainment. There is a new Disco Stage landing for 2022 and you can attempt to break a world record alongside other festival families as you do the largest disco dance. Camp Bestival always has big names headlining the show and as well as
up and coming acts in the smaller tents. This year you can expect bangers from Rag & Bone Man, Rudimental, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Sister Sledge and Example. There are also a variety of camping options available including eco-camping and several glamping options available. Bring it on! When: 28 – 31 Jul 2022 Where: Lulworth Castle, Dorset How much: Adult tickets start at £190 and there are a variety of children’s options.
Deer Shed
Rather than having kids zones (they’re not zoo animals), the festival is completely accessible by everyone, of all ages and at all times. Sport, literature, theatre, arts and crafts, workshops and science are all themes you and your family can enjoy. To top off this, the line-up includes Nadine Shah, Django Django and John Grant – with more to be announced in due course. When: 29 – 31 Jul 2022 Where: Topcliffe, North Yorkshire How much: Adult tickets: £150, child tickets: £30- £70, infants: free.
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“Thank You Mummy” Merci Maman, is a timeless brand offering original and charming personalised jewellery and has won the hearts of many all around the world with their sentimental pieces. Merci Maman translates to ‘thank you Mummy’ in English and the founder’s aim was to celebrate the bond between mother and child through the brand. This spring, they have brought together five women, including Cherubs editor Sevim Safer, to share their journey through motherhood, the challenges, the rewards and most of all, what motherhood has taught them. Sevim was extremely lucky to have been part of this whole campaign, and she felt honoured to be telling her story alongside four wonderful and inspirational women. Merci Maman have a range of pieces from £39, to be hand-engraved. Purchase online at mercimamanboutique.com
Here, Cherubs presents abridged versions of interviews with the five mums, conducted by Merci Maman’s Eve Langhorn. You can also read the full versions on the brand’s website. Enjoy.
E. Please introduce yourself K. Hi I’m Kelly Knox, I am a model and activist for the representation of disability, in fashion, beauty, motherhood and all about that self-love. @itskellyknox E. So how did you find your journey to motherhood?
K.
Kelly.
Motherhood is the most magical, beautiful, exhausting, challenging journey ever. I feel so blessed and so grateful to have my two children. Children have a really clever and unique way of showing you ways where you need to show up more, and heal, and they just give so many gifts. Even though when you give birth to your children, you’re also being birthed as a mother, and that’s a very precious and beautiful thing. I absolutely love being a mum and I’m loving this journey, I just feel that it’s very emotional knowing that these two little people are going to be on this journey of life with me forever. It’s all about love and kindness, and care, and nurturing, and I feel so happy and lucky – no matter how hard it is at times it’s always so precious.
E. What is the most rewarding, and the most challenging aspect of motherhood? K. I think the most challenging thing is the 10 | Cherubs Magazine
no sleep bit, because when I miss out on so much sleep it really does affect me, I can feel quite anxious, my mind plays tricks on me, but when I’ve had that nice bit of sleep I feel like ‘right I’ve got this’. I think with my first born he wasn’t keen on sleeping from the get-go, so that was a massive ‘oh my god, is this what it’s going to be like’, so the second time round I was completely prepared for
the same. But with Elsie she was totally different, like we all are, a completely different baby and she slept from the get-go. I thought ‘is this how babies are meant to be sleeping?’ until she got to about four months and teething happened,and then it all went downhill. Even now, the other night there were four of us in the bed together with Jensen we co-slept for a very long time but I think it’s nice because I breastfed him until he was two and I feel like having that time together in bed, and feeding and bonding was so rewarding. So, even though it is a massive challenge missing out on all that sleep, it’s also the most rewarding because I just feel like having that time together, being up all night, plus the feeding, has given us that bond and that love.
E. What has being a mother taught you?
K. We’re just capable of so much more than what we believe, and everything and anything is possible. I think we’re chosen to birth because we have the magic and strength... mothers are the only beings who can transport a soul from one plane to the next - isn’t that just magic?
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E. Please introduce yourself H. I’m holly from @thebodypositivemum, I’m 34 and from Portsmouth. E. So tell us about your journey to motherhood?
H.
Holly.
It goes back a little while! My eldest is 13 years old, I was 21 when I had him, so I was a very young mum and maybe not in the right position, but with my first I felt like I had to get everything right, I felt like everyone was watching me. I’d say I was quite a strict mum, there was a routine for everything, and it felt like I was doing everything wrong, and I couldn’t get anything right. I had a huge age gap between by second and my third, so I’ve got an eight-yearold and a four-year-old. With my eight-year-old he was planned, and I wanted him so much that it was no pressure, I felt like if I got it wrong it was okay. I didn’t care what anyone thought so there was no routine. When I had my eight-year-old we coslept, there was no routine and I felt like I got it right and I’ve noticed a huge difference between the two and the way they love. Sonny, my eldest is very reserved, won’t really open up whereas Luca is very affectionate and loving, and I knew that I had to change how I parent as I got older. And then finally Roo is four, he still sleeps in my bed, but like I said with motherhood I have learnt so much along the way. I don’t regret anything I’ve done but I feel that I’ve learnt lots along the way. My children literally complete me, they grow me massively as a person and they’ve sculpted me to be who I am as a person today. Everything I do is for them, so I always want them to be in a world that accepts people for who they are. So although they are boys, and you kind of forget about boys when having these conversations, I want boys to see women of all shapes and sizes and be like ‘that’s okay’. one thing I will always teach my children is always to be super kind, that’s my biggest thing. You can be annoying, you can be rowdy if you want but just always be kind.
E. What is the most rewarding and the most challenging aspect of motherhood? H. I’m going to start with the challenging one first, so for me it’s to get my children cherubsmagazine.com
to like each other. The screaming and the shouting, the fighting, it’s relentless. I think with three boys there is a lot of testosterones in one room. Especially with such big age gaps, if I’m planning a day out not all of them are going to enjoy it so that’s the most challenging for me, something that we can all enjoy but also finding tasks that we can all do together and connect with each other I find that really difficult. One on one time, that for me is so hard to get and one thing I struggle with. Rewarding, the most rewarding thing is when I wake up in the morning and Roo is just lying there and he smiles up at me. He’ll look at me or
brush my hair, he doesn’t even need to do anything but it’s just the way he looks at me, my eyes, I can see how much he loves me. And that for me, that’s my morning, it sets me up for the day to power through and go ‘right let’s do this, let’s get on’. So, it’s not anything that they’ve done in particular for me, it’s the love that they show me, it’s the perfect thing about motherhood.
E. Summarise motherhood in one word for me
K. Rewarding. Cherubs Magazine | 11
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E. Please start off by introducing yourself
S.
Hi! I’m Sharlene, my Instagram is @curlylittledreams. I’m a mum of two boys and I’m also a stepmum. My stepdaughter is 15, I’ve known her since she was three years old which is crazy. My boys are four and nearly two.
E. Tell us about your journey to motherhood
S.
It’s been good! Having my first son, I think I was really lucky as the birth was amazing with him. I felt like I got into the swing of things quite quickly. Breastfeeding, that was tough, even with both my children but I think overall I am doing okay… maybe ask me that later on at school pick up!
E. What is the most rewarding and the most challenging aspect of motherhood?
E. What has being a mother taught you?
Sharlene.
S. Definitely the most rewarding is just seeing them grow and develop. Their personalities, starting to see that come through and see who they may be is just wonderful. Hardest is lack of sleep! Trying to have your own life as well as being a mother, I find that balance quite tricky. Personally, I feel like I lost a lot of that and I’m trying to get my confidence back. It’s a juggle, a big juggling act for me.
S. Patience, definitely! Before motherhood I had absolutely no patience at all. It’s weird because I know I’m still quite impatient but when it comes to my own children I’ve learnt how to be patient. Don’t get me wrong, there are days where I definitely want them to do things faster but I’ve learnt patience. Also when it comes to my children, I feel extra protective as I think most mothers do. E. Summarise motherhood in one word
S. Juggling.
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E. Tell us about your journey to motherhood?
H. I always wanted children. I wanted five until I had my first and realised what hard work it is. I decided to have my guys close together because I knew that it would be easier in the long run to get the hard bit all over and done with at once. I was so fortunate that I fell pregnant very quickly each time. I am forever grateful for that because so many others aren’t so lucky. So, in that respect i’m very lucky. I recently went through a cancer diagnosis which was a tough time for my whole family. It was hard to navigate with such young children and it was hard for them to see me so ill. We got there though and my advice on that is that communication is key. Kids are very resilient but they’re also very perceptive and the more I tried to hide things the more anxious they got. So, I made sure I was open and honest at all times with them.
Helen.
E. What is the most rewarding, and also the most challenging aspect of motherhood for you? H. The most rewarding time is seeing my children happy. I cannot get enough of them laughing and joking. My biggest fear is them suffering from mental health issues or being bullied at school. Sounds extreme but you hear such awful stories. I’m just desperate for them to be happy in life and happy in the skin they’re in. To me, the most challenging is chilling out. Sometimes I feel all I do is yell at them. The juggling is really hard, being a fulltime working mum, and I sometimes need to be more in the moment and savour my time with them. E. What has being a mother taught you?
E. Could you introduce yourself? H. I’m Helen Addis, I’m 43 (eeek), a mum of three kids (Archie 12, April 10 and Belle nine) and features editor at ITV Lorraine. I’m also founder of a social enterprise business called The C-List, which is a cancer community support platform. It has lots of tips and tricks videos to help patients get through their treatment as well as a curation of cancer-friendly beauty products. @thetittygritty
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H. Motherhood has taught me not to sweat the small things in life. It’s not possible to be perfect at everything. It’s also made me appreciate the world and nature. There’s nothing better than just staring up at the trees and making up weird and wonderful stories (with the kids... not on my own!) E. Summarise motherhood in one word. H. Everything.
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E. Could you introduce yourself? S. Hello lovelies, I’m Sevim (best known as
Sev) as when my full name is called I feel like I’m in trouble. I’m also known as The Mrs, Daughter, Sis, Oi, the Cook! However, the best title I could have ever wished for is mummy to twins! I am the Publishing Editor of this very magazine – Cherubs, which is the must-have parenting publication in the UK and I have built this business all around the above titles to what it is today.
E. Tell us about your journey to motherhood?
S. I find the unknown challenging. Of course, there are the everyday challenges that being a parent throws at you however, I do find myself getting on with it because you have no other choice. Not being able to fully know what is going on in the minds of the two people I would give my life for scares me. By that I mean, the unknown on how they’re feeling at school, problems with friends, school work, is there anything they worry about, are they unwell and they don’t know how to express it? All those things challenge me every day as a parent because it’s beyond my control and I’m not always able to deal with it when it needs the attention. I’m rewarded every day just by them calling me Mummy. Even though they over use that word more times than I can deal with, it’s a wonderful feeling. Watching them master small challenges, draw a picture, say a new word, even putting on their own socks gives me pure joy and I wouldn’t change that feeling for anything.
E. What has being a mother taught you? S. That my parents were always right, even when I rebelled and they came at me with lectures and unlimited hours of debates, they were right. Even when they camped outside the nightclub waiting to pick me up at god knows what time in the morning, they were right to do so (even though I could have used a whole different vocabulary at the time.) They did the best they could do to keep us as safe as they could and for that I owe them everything. That only registered when I became a mother and I only truly appreciated the lengths they went to protect us. I will do the same for mine… with the safe knowledge that they too will appreciate it some day in the future. Additionally, mothers rock. There isn’t a time in our life where we only have one thing or person to think about (how nice would that be?) We should have a standing ovation every day for everything we do (don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way saying dads shouldn’t) however, we turn this world around and for that, I’m highfiving every Mama out there doing her utter best to keep everyone going. E. Summarise motherhood in one word. S. Miracle.
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Photo credit: Will Edgecombe
Sevim.
S. After being told (in my early 20s) that having children was not really going to happen for me and I would really have to explore different avenues into having them in the future if it was something I wanted, you can imagine the feelings I felt as a woman. Not only that, trying to explain that to my now husband on our first date was a very interesting conversation and thankfully he was game and a huge support when it came to exploring our different options. By a miracle, and I mean miracle, while going through all the research, I fell pregnant naturally with twins! It was a very touch and go pregnancy as my health issues were playing a huge part in me being able to carry them safely, in fact I spent a majority of it bed-bound. But if that’s what it meant to have them safely, then that’s what I did. I spent seven months feeling fearful every day, were they ok? Was I going to be able to look after them? Two babies, how were we going to do it? Afford it? How was I going to work? Everyday, there was a different thought and every day I grew more afraid. I went into labour six weeks earlier than planned and to say the labour story was dramatic would be an understatement, but hey, that can be another time. Safely delivering a boy and girl, knowing they were both ok and safely in my arms, I found all those fears I carried with me during pregnancy slowly left my mind. As parents we continuously think about the future and how we will handle certain things, but you make it work and becoming a parent is more about the here and now. When I think back to my 20s with the knowledge that I would possibly never have my own children, the feeling gutted me every day. However, now, despite going through a really difficult and challenging pregnancy, the end result was pure magic. My journey to motherhood was definitely a story, but one I love to tell time and time again because of my happy ending.
E. What is the most rewarding, and also the most challenging aspect of motherhood for you?
LONDON
PAR I S
Mother’s Day gifting P ER SON A L I S E D W I TH L OVE
C O MP LI M E N TA RY P E RSO NALI SAT ION
ENGR AV ED BY HA N D IN 24 HRS
F REE D ELIVERY OVER £150
M ERCIMAMANBOUTIQUE.COM
BEAUTIF ULLY PACKAG ED
TRAVEL SPRING
Let’s make the origami flower! Spring is definitely the season for pretty colours and glorious flowers. The masters of kids craft toucanBox share a step-by-step on how to make your very own origami flowers.
You will need: A square of coloured paper. Your hands of course. And that’s it!
Instructions:
Start with your square piece of paper as shown.
1. Fold the square in half, to make a triangle.
2. Fold the triangle in half again.
3. Open the fold you just made and make sure the folded line is facing upwards.
4. Fold the points on the base of the triangle upwards as shown.
5. Repeat step four.
6. Turn your flower over.
7. Fold back the sides of the flower as shown.
8. Repeat step seven.
8. Turn your flower over and marvel at your pretty origami creation!
ToucanBox is an established crafting and creative thinking brand in the parenting and children’s sector, delivering hand’s on crafts to children through the letterbox, and championing the need to introduce science, tech, engineering, art and maths to children from the ages of 3+. Something for every little one to enjoy!
Website: toucanbox.com 16 | Cherubs Magazine
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SPRING
MOTHER’S DAY GIFTING WITH ALL BY MAMA
Cupid Seed Bead Necklace £16.95
SKY – small fairtrade, organic cotton tote bag – £18.50
Mother Like No Other Canvas Pouch £15.00
Loose Leaf Tea Gift Set Tin With Silk Sari Wrap And Tea Diffuser – £29.95
Someone Little Hoop £22.00
Best Nanny/Mum hanging heart £10.00
Mama Bear Hugs £10.00
Joy XL Black Studded Leather Backpack Changing Bag – £315.00
Neon Pink Heart Wall Hanging £10.00
Instagram: @allbymama_network Facebook & LinkedIn: @allbymama Website: allbymama.com cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 17
SPRING
Home Edit Scalloped Wall Light
Salt & Pepper Mill
£104
Cottagecore is a huge trend this year, embracing the charm of the English countryside. Think florals, rustic pieces, and lots of texture for a comforting nostalgic look.
£107 Litfad
Hudson Home
Orchard Pink Emulsion
£27.50
Fired Earth
Large Paddle Board
£14
Habitat Juggle Jug
£27
Oliver Bonas
Spindle Back Chair
£180
Garden Trading
Website: tailormadeliving.co.uk Instagram: @tailormadelivingstore 18 | Cherubs Magazine
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SPRING
Cottagecore Wallpaper
£42 Per Roll Laura Ashley
Henley Wooden Cake Stand
£49
Hunter & Co
Cabbage Dinner Plate
£11.50
Partridge Art Print
Arket
£55
Hudson Home
Cypress & Eucalyptus Diffuser
£29
Plum & Ashby
Floral Napkins
£3.99
H&M Home
Ceramic Vase
£39.99 - £79.99 Zara
cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 19
SPRING
Fun in the Kitchen with Neha @squashedpickle
Rainbow Spaghetti Rainbow spaghetti is such a good material to use for sensory play. This spaghetti is so easy to make and my little one loved playing with it. Babies and toddlers will enjoy exploring the colour and texture of the spaghetti and as it is edible there are no worries about them putting it in their mouths.
Ingredients
• • •
Spaghetti Food colouring Zip lock bags
Method
1. Cook the spaghetti following packet instructions. 2. Drain and pour cold water to stop cooking. 3. Put food colouring with a splash of water in zip lock bags. 4. Divide spaghetti into five and add to the different zip lock bags. 5. Mix well, to help the colour disperse, if needed. 6. Leave for five mins, then rinse the spaghetti under cold running water to set the colour.
Cornflakes Cookies
You can also eat this with cheese and butter or add to salads.
These cookies are really delicious! My son loves baking, especially mixing and cracking eggs, so this is a fab kitchen activity to do with kids. The cookies are crispy on the outside and delicious and cakey in the middle. You can use any mix-in (chocolate chips, dried fruit, sprinkles etc). I have used raisins and sprinkles in this recipe.
Ingredients
• • • • • • •
150g self-raising flour 45g raisins (or choc chips) 60g corn flakes (a little crushed) 125g butter (soft) 100g caster sugar 1 egg Pinch salt
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180c. 2. Using an electric mixer whip up the butter and sugar till it’s creamy. 3. Add the egg and beat. 4. Fold in the flour and salt. 5. Now add your raisins or chocolate chips and mix until you have a delicious cookie dough. Using a teaspoon take the cookie dough and roll it into the corn flakes. Make sure they are all coated and pressed in, forming a ball. 6. Place the balls apart to allow room for spreading, on a lined baking tray. 7. Bake for 15 minutes until golden. 8. Cool the biscuits for five minutes on the trays before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
20 | Cherubs Magazine
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SPRING
Scotched Creme Eggs A fun and easy Easter treat which is a fun kitchen activity for big kids too (shhh!) I’ve used a brownie kit and it’s super easy and tastes great!
Ingredients
• • • •
6 Creme Eggs Ready brownie mix (I use the Waitrose mix ) Chocolate sprinkles Frosting
Method
Hash Brown Cups Here’s a super easy way to make edible breakfast cups. Load them with anything you like... eggs, beans, sausages or even a miniomelette. Below we have a mushroom omelette, one with beans and one with a baked egg - Enjoy.
1. Make the brownies as per packet instructions. The Waitrose mix I have only needs butter and eggs, so please check the back of your mix to see the requirements. 2. Set aside and let cool. 3. Once cool, crumble the mix and add a tablespoon of frosting. 4. Mix well with your hands. 5. Take a handful of mix and put it in the palm of your hand. Place the Creme Egg on the mix, press and shape the brownie mix around it so you have an even layer. Try to keep the egg shape. 6. Roll the eggs in the sprinkles and press down to secure sprinkles. 7. Refrigerate for 30 mins until the egg has set. Cut and enjoy!
Ingredients
• • • • •
2 medium potatoes (grated/squeezed) Handful cheese (grated) 4 tbsp butter (melted) Salt and pepper Your filling (egg, beans et cetera)
Method
1. Preheat the oven at 180c. 2. Start by peeling and grating the potato. Squeeze out all the liquid and set aside. 3. Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl. 4. Using a greased muffin tin, spoon in the potato mixture. Using your fingers press the potatoes into the bottom and up the sides of each cup. Bake the hash brown cups for 20 minutes. 5. Remove from the oven and add your eggs. Bake for approx 12 minutes until cooked. 6. Wait 10 mins and they will come out with a spoon. 7. Season and serve! *Oven temp/timings will vary depending on oven and amount of potatoes. This recipe makes four large muffin cups. Please adapt if you are making smaller cupcake cups.
cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 21
SPRING
Plants Glorious Plants Great gifts for any plant lover in your life. Every home needs a bit of green… or two, or three.
Plant Dust Cloths
Sanctuary Green Planter Mister
£8
£8
Patch Plants patchplants.com
Plantsmith Houseplant Perfecting Care Mist
£14.99
Dunelm dunelm.com
John Lewis johnlewis.com
Watering Can of Dreams
£10
Patch Plants patchplants.com Plant Scissors
£25.99
Bloom Box Club bloomboxclub.com
Grow Green Book
£8.99
Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com
Botanopia Potting Tarp
£35
Beards and Daisies beardsanddaisies.co.uk Hyindoor Bulb Vase
£15.99
Amazon amazon.co.uk
UBS CHER RITE FAVO
Sloth Planter
Veritable – Smart Garden Indoor Planter
Urban Outfitters urbanoutfitters.com
Selfridges selfridges.com
£16
22 | Cherubs Magazine
£175
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STYLE - ADVERTISING FEATURE
Frugi Celebrates Cornish Roots for spring/summer ‘22 Frugi are delighting in pure nostalgia by journaling a rainbow road trip right on its very own Cornish doorstep. Bringing to life the craggy cliffs, sandy shores, vibrant blooms, and rolling fields of Cornwall, Frugi’s playful, colourful Spring/Summer collection for babies, toddlers, and children is now extended to include older kids up to 12 years. Frugi, which means Fruits of the Earth in Latin, is bursting with energising newness and core bestsellers with all the clever details you expect from this leading sustainable children’s clothing brand. This includes reversible styles, interactive appliques, and clothes with extendable cuffs, waistbands and shoulder straps that are designed to grow with the child. It’s reassuring to know that 90% of the Frugi range is made from GOTS certified organic
cherubsmagazine.com
cotton with the balance being made from sustainable or recycled materials. With pieces and sets perfect for newborn gifting, older kids adventuring and sibling and parent twinning, Frugi has something for all children. The baby and toddler ranges are from Tiny Baby up to 4 years with loser fitting items to fit beautifully over reusable TotsBots nappies, Frugi’s sister brand. With a wider mission to help raise the next generation of eco-heroes, Frugi donates 1% of annual turnover to charity, and in 18-years has so far donated £1 million to various causes. To help drive forward the need for sustainability and to keep children’s clothing in circulation longer, Frugi has a long-standing partnership with thelittleloop, the UK’s first shared
wardrobe for kid’s clothes. This innovative subscription service means every garment gets more lives, more love, and has less impact as a result. With 122 Frugi styles to choose from, parents can sign up to rent a bundle of clothes and enjoy them for as long as they want. Once these clothes are outgrown or no longer wanted, they can be returned and swapped for something else. Swapping clothes instead of buying can save over £900 per child per year! As most single-use plastic hangers end up in landfill, Frugi uses only FSC certified cardboard hangers made from recycled materials throughout the store and in all operations. And for gift purchases, customers have the choice to wrap in a colourful Furoshiki organic cloth, a stylish eco-friendly touch for special occasions.
Cherubs Magazine | 23
SELFCARE
Cherubs Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing Kelly Simpkin-Clarke on her new range of hair care and essesntial products for women to use whilst having their own bathtime! SEVIM: Hi Kelly, so lovely to meet you and thank you so much for talking to us at Cherubs Magazine. We are so excited to hear about WeTwo and be able to share with our readers the wonderful products you have bought out for us mums. Tell us all about WeTwo. KELLY: Thank you Sevim, it’s lovely to be part of this wonderful parenting publication and share our brand with you all. I developed WeTwo for all women. Created to offer the solution for women, no matter their life stage, and provide them with a collection of safe to use, naturally infused, kind and nurturing haircare and body products. Acknowledging that women’s bodies change throughout their lives, this range of products will support each key moment, offering an indulgent but very practical womankind support system for body, hair and overall wellness. 24 | Cherubs Magazine
Q
Why was it important to you to create this brand specifically for women? KELLY: Women want more than practicality when it comes to their own wellness, and today’s woman seeks a system that spans a multitude of requirements; physically beneficial, indulgent, luxurious, safe, natural and environmentally friendly, practical and delicate enough for every-day use, all of which can be found in the WeTwo range.
my body and hair with a product that was suitable during pregnancy, ahead of that journey and then post-birth – there was nothing out there, and while I experienced significant physical and body balance changes, I longed for the right product to support at each stage. Dwelling on my professional credentials I created WeTwo,
WeTwo is committed to nurturing women during each stage, and have developed a first-to-market range of haircare and face and body washes to support them at each key moment; from post-puberty until later in life… and all the way through pregnancy.
Q
Why have range?
you
developed
this
KELLY: As a professional Hairdresser, and mother, I identified a need to support both 020 8154 3664
SELF CARE
and sought medical consultation to ensure that my balance would also be medically safe for use pre, during and post pregnancy, ensuring that no ingredient would cause harm when penetrating the bloodstream, particularly through the scalp and body.
Q
Tell us more about the ingredients used?
KELLY: While pregnant I also became very involved with using essential oils for my own pregnancy issues like aches and nausea and so it was important that I incorporated the use of essential oils into my brand. I have been very careful to ensure that no ingredient can be ingested or been used in medicinal amounts, and so are perfectly safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
conceive, I knew that it may not be easy for me and I could potentially be unwell and have a major flare-up post birth but it was something that I was willing to risk. Pregnancy had to be planned, I had to remove certain medications for over a year before conceiving, medications that were too strong and potentially harmful to an unborn child. Medications that could have caused miscarriages, more than ever I wanted to ensure that everything I used or ate was completely safe. That was when I threw out my whole bathroom cabinet and started fresh with safe, clean products. On doing so I realised there was nothing out there in the haircare market for pregnancy, post pregnancy and at times when women need a little bit of extra support.
Q
Why did you partner with Claire Mellon on the development of the WeTwo Prescriptives range? KELLY: Claire was my obstetrician, during my pregnancy with both of the children. We formed a professional and personal relationship during and since. When developing the wider range of WeTwo products, I knew she was the right person for me to share this journey with, for more reasons than one.
Q
Do you have any plans for further product ranges?
KELLY: Yes, a menopause haircare range, a regrowth tonic, a new form of botanically infused Epsom salt bath soaks for use during pregnancy and menopause to balance hormones et cetera. SEVIM: Thank you Kelly, it’s been a pleasure speaking to you.
Q
What role did Claire play in the development of the wider range of WeTwo products?
Q
Some of our readers may also suffer with underlying health conditions, you have been diagnosed with Lupus, did you factor this in when creating the product? KELLY: Lupus is a condition that can itself cause issues with pregnancy, there is a high chance of miscarriage when trying to
KELLY: I worked closely with Claire as an advisor and I went to her to check that all ingredients used were safe for use during and post-pregnancy. That was when the idea of the intimate wash was born. CLAIRE: As a gynaecologist, I felt there was a real need for a feminine product that was safe and comfortable for women to use at every stage of their lives. WeTwo’s Prescriptives Intimate Wash is soothing, and fragrance-free, supporting the body’s microbiome and leaving it clean.
You can find the WeTwo range at www.wetwolondon.com cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 25
SELF CARE
How motherhood impacts your marriage By Nadia Patel When I had my daughter three years ago, I realised there was so much information and advice on what to expect during pregnancy and becoming a mother. However, what no one ever talks about is the impact that motherhood can have on your marriage. In fact, in many cases, even you and your spouse won’t talk about it. Some things are just so overwhelming and confusing, you can’t put them into words.
However, satisfaction with your spouse is one of the biggest predictors of overall life satisfaction so all the time and effort that you spend investing in your marriage is well worth it. Children are great imitators of behaviour, and if they see you sharing a strong loving relationship they are more likely to get on with their siblings, friends and develop strong relationships in the future themselves.
Moving from being a couple to a family of three is exciting, exhilarating and wonderful. It’s also exhausting, exasperating, and worrisome. Studies show that almost twothirds of new parents have concerns about their relationship that did not exist before having children.
Here are a few simple things that I found made a big difference for me.
Having a good relationship with your spouse post-baby can be really challenging. When many couples become parents they may become more distant and their relationship more ‘business-like.’ Time to relax together is replaced by endless to-do lists. You are both constantly ‘on duty’. Domestic duties double and so does the bickering. Sleep can be scarce and there is little time and energy for intimacy. Everything can get heightened with no time and energy to resolve.
Be direct Ask your partner what you need from him. As women, we often believe that if we state what needs to be taken care of, a man will automatically volunteer to do it. Men respond better to direct requests.
Say, Thank You When your partner does what you want, thank them. You may not think that this is fair (especially if you don’t feel appreciated) but this makes them more receptive to further requests and niceties breed a good atmosphere. By appreciating someone you teach them the art of appreciation.
Make a date with yourself Schedule some time out for yourself, in the same way that you do for your children’s activities. Use this time to either do things on your own that make you happy or with friends that keep you connected to who you were before you had children. Bringing a happier, more fulfilled person into your marriage makes for a happier marriage.
Enjoy time together Set aside at least some chunk of time each day to be alone together, even if it’s a tired twenty minutes after the kids are in bed, refresh your connection with each other. Open up, talk and laugh. A good relationship can only be sustained if you share your feelings, fears, and needs. I believe that there is a misconception that good marriages just happen. If you marry someone you love and get on with, you can have a good marriage. However, really good marriages take time, effort, and commitment. When positive energies radiate from spouse to spouse, the whole family benefits.
Facebook: nadia.j.patel Email: nadiapatelcoaching@gmail.com 26 | Cherubs Magazine
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SELF CARE
Water Dos and Don’ts By Registered Nutritional Therapist Sophie Trotman DipION mBANT CNHC
Every single cellular reaction in the body takes place in water. Signs of dehydration include fatigue, constipation, dry skin, headaches and even kidney stones. However, despite the well-known benefits of adequate hydration, water often falls to the bottom of our priority list. In the clinic, when I conduct food diary analysis, I often observe suboptimal water intake. Read on for some tips on how to stay hydrated and healthy.
Dos Drink two litres of water or more a day General guidance is to drink at least two litres of water a day. You may need to drink more if you do regular exercise, if the central heating is cranked up or if it’s a summer’s day. Body composition may also increase your water requirement. Include herbal teas Non-caffeinated herbal teas contribute to your water count. Buy a range of herbal teas to add variety to your hydration efforts. Herbal teas also have the added benefit of being a source of antioxidants. Furthermore, many herbal teas offer a myriad of benefits for digestion, sleep, and relaxation. Loose-leaf herbal tea is a ritual and a treat. However, for a quick herbal tea on a weekday, I love the organic Pukka Tea range. The Three Mint tea and Lemon, Ginger and Manuka Honey tea are my everyday favourites. I often recommend their Peppermint & Licorice tea to clients who like to eat something sweet after dinner as it is deliciously sweet and can often satisfy that craving.
Use large glasses If you use large glasses for water, you will be more likely to drink more throughout the day. This sounds ridiculously simple, but it helps! If you use small glasses, you will end up drinking much less. Try it and see for yourself. Opt for high water content vegetables Tomatoes, celery, peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, spinach and broccoli all contain more than 90% water-by-weight. Include a variety of these vegetables in your diet and reap the benefits of hydration.
Don’ts
These chemicals end up in our bodies. For women, this is particularly bad news as these chemicals can mimic oestrogen. We want to avoid oestrogen build-up in the body, as this can contribute to painful periods, mood concerns and even some oestrogen-related cancers. Secondly, we all know that plastic bottles are awful for the environment. There is no excuse to still be purchasing plasticbottled water in 2022. Use a water filter, of which you can buy many.
Drink coffee or English breakfast tea first thing
Use squash to flavour water
Upon waking, our bodies are already in a state of mild dehydration. Coffee and caffeinated tea further dehydrate the body. Always have a glass of water before drinking your first coffee or tea of the day. I like to keep a large glass of water on my bedside table and drink it before getting out of bed. This makes it easy and sets me up for success in the day.
Most squash contains large amounts of added sugar. Excess sugar can cause inflammation in the body, negatively impact gut health, cause weight gain, low energy and anxiety. In addition, many squash products contain artificial sweeteners. We should also avoid these as they pose a variety of concerns including inflammation in the gut and exacerbation of sugary cravings.
Don’t buy plastic-bottled water The reason for this is two-fold. Firstly, plastic leaches chemicals into the water.
Use fruit and herbs to naturally flavour water. I like to add a squeeze and a couple of slices of orange with some sprigs of thyme. Delicious!
Sophie sees clients for virtual one-to-one consults and does workplace wellness talks. Website: sophietrotmannutrition.com Instagram: @sophietrotmannutrition cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 27
STYLE
Style Edit Blue Oxford Shirt
Je Suis Bien T-Shirt
£45 Cos
£35
Woman Pullover Cashmere Knit Sweater
Hush
£99
Look 1:
Lily Silk
Back to Basics Ted Baker Satchel
£150 Next
Many of us are entering a new phase of hybrid working, partly working from home and partly back in the office. It’s out with the sweats and in with a relaxed uniform created to reconnect us with much loved wardrobe staples and elevated everyday pieces.
Boyfriend Jeans
£75
Hush
Wide Leg Trousers
£138
Cardigan
£95
& Other Stories
Reiss
Celestial Pendant
£95
Astley Clarke Khaki Cargo Jacket
£89
Hush Woven Bag
£573
Milaner
Stripe Sweater
£35.99 Mango
New Balance Trainers
£80
Matchesfashion 28 | Cherubs Magazine
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STYLE Embroidered Sweater
£29.99 Zara
Hot Pink Trousers
£29.99 Zara
Floral Dress
£165 Platform Sandals
Next
£225
Gold Bag
Russell & Bromley
£89
Apatchy
Floral Blouse
£79
Look 2:
Dili Grey
Florals & Colour Diamond Sun Necklace Oversized Shirt
£65
£1,200
The Alkemistry London
& Other Stories Little Softie
£1,250
You won’t go wrong this season with a ubiquitous floral print. This season’s florals gave a distinctly nostalgic appeal with frills and lace detailing. If you’re feeling playful, strike a pose in fresh, bold colour pops of tangerine, pink, purple and acid greens.
Mulberry
Lace Maxi Dress
£120
& Other Stories
Styled by Antonia Sanchez-Toomey Website: tailormadeliving.co.uk Instagram: @tailormadelivingstore cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 29
BEAUTY
Smelling Sweet! Switch to A Natural Deodorant Stinky underarms really are the pits, excuse the pun. I’ve got lots of friends who worry that switching to an eco-deodorant will mean just that – sweat and smells. But I promise you this is not the case. Yes, there’s always an adjustment period whenever you switch a beauty product, so I’d make the change now rather than in the height of summer. I’ve been using a natural deodorant for years and have tried and tested many of them and picked my favourites for you below.
One thing to note is, if you’ve got sensitive skin, you might want to avoid the ingredient bicarb of soda as that can cause irritation. As for why to switch? Probably the biggest issue with traditional deodorants is the plastic packaging. Currently in the UK we only actually recycle 32% off all plastic, which means most of what goes in our recycling bins ends up in landfill. Also, it’s whether you want the ingredient aluminium in your deodorant. It’s what stops you sweating by blocking your
pores. But it also stops your sweat glands doing what they are designed to do, which is to regulate your body temperature and release toxins. A natural deodorant will be aluminium free, so allowing your armpits to breath but also neutralising the odour at the same time – genius. So here’s a natural deodorant round up that I know you will love. All of them are vegan and cruelty-free.
Bloomtown
£10
This deodorant smells divine, and the bar lasts forever (three months-plus) plus it comes in a recyclable tin. I love their Lavender & Rose Geranium scent. The deodorant is bicarb-free, which makes it great for sensitive underarms. It’s also paraben free, sulphate-free and palm oil-free. bloomtown.co.uk
Wild
£15
For plastic-free, compostable refills delivered straight to your door try Wild. You buy a forever deodorant case and then get a refill subscription for which you can choose from a whole host of scents. The great thing with this brand is that you have the option to choose from their normal natural deodorant or their sensitive bicarb-free version. wearewild.com
Scene
£12
Handmade in Cornwall, Scence make gorgeous smelling natural deodorants. The ingredients include organic coconut oil and mango butter, so it really glides onto your skin. Plus, they don’t use bicarb of soda. The packaging is 100% compostable as it comes in a cardboard push-up tube, which makes application really easy. My favourite scent is the Perfect Rose. scence.co.uk
Zeroella
£7.90
Zeroella makes another natural deodorant that lasts such a long time. It comes as a bar in a compostable cardboard box. The deodorant comes in three scents, and uses all natural and organic ingredients and is paraben-free, but it does contain bicarb of soda. I’m currently using their Rosemary scent, which got a firm approval from my five-year-old this morning, “mum you smell scrummy!” zerolla.com
Pitt Balm
£6
If you’ve got a zero-waste or refill shop near you then Balms etc might be the brand for you. It comes in a tin which can be refilled at over 100 stores around the UK. Alternatively, you can buy it from their online shop. Use your fingertips to rub a pea-size amount onto your underarm after a shower. Just to note, this deodorant does contain bicarb of soda. uk.balmsetc.com
Karen Maurice – Website: n4mummy.com Instagram: @n4mummy 30 | Cherubs Magazine
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diamondsbyfabio.com
My
goal is to provide a bespoke service, allowing clients as much input as possible into the creation of their jewellery. It is a truly unique experience, embedded with thought and sentiment from the client, coupled with the highest level of craftsmanship.
07709 095665
@diamondsbyfabio
DIAMONDS by FÁBIO
BEAUTY
The Power of Pink With Amy Conway @bbpro_amyconway
Pink is one of those universally flattering shades- but especially when it comes to makeup it’s a tone that can instantly brighten skin, whiten a smile and even add that sparkle to the eye! My top tip is choosing the right tone and formulas, so opt for a blue undertone pink and creamy finish that you can add to your makeup bag to instantly lift your look. Here are a few of my favourites! MAC Eyeshadow x9 in Dusky Rose
£26
The looks are endless to what you can achieve with this palette, with a mix of mattes and shimmers you can easily create pretty fresh spring eye looks into sultry rose gold glam. maccosmetics.co.uk
Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Stick Balm in Woppin’ Watermelon
£18.50
This is such a flattering product, a pop of colour and glow all in one that’s great for handbag touch ups! johnlewis.com
Adeola @adeolagboyega
Bobbi Brown Golden Pink Loungewear Cream Shadow Stick
Fenty Beauty Stunna lip paint in Unlocked
£20
Now this is such a gorgeous statement lip, paired with fresh skin and a few coats of mascara – ideal for a date night look! harveynichols.com
32 | Cherubs Magazine
£25
Jasmine @jasminepdesouza
The most long-wearing swipe of colour, these Longwear Cream Shadow Sticks do not budge. Pink Sparkle is such a great shade to brighten the eyes for an everyday look. bobbibrown.co.uk
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BEAUTY
Amy’s Mother’s Day Picks Whether you are treating yourself (because let’s face it you deserve it) or treating any of the amazing women in your life, these are the beauty gifts that really say thank you!
LIPSTICK LOVER MUMS Just A Hint Extra Lip Tint Set
GLOW GET ‘EM MUMS Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit Sugar Glow
£45
£42
bobbibrown.co.uk
Because every mum deserves to feel like a Hollywood star! boots.com
SKINCARE MUMS Glam Glow Glow on: Exfoliate & Hydrate Set
£53
Bring that ‘at home’ spa experience to the mum who deserves a pamper. glamglow.co.uk
MUM TO BE Bloom & Blossom You’ve Got This Mama Gift Set
£24
jojomamanbebe.co.uk
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Cherubs Magazine | 33
READING
Spring Reading
Recommended by Pickled Pepper Books
A Small Boy Dreaming Big
By Sav Akyuz – 0-3 years This gorgeous book is almost entirely wordless as it is intended to put a special focus on the beautiful story told through illustration. A young boy longs to be grown up like his big brother, but when his wish comes true, he realises that actually, being little is just about perfect for now!
Baby, Sleepy Baby
By Atinuke – 0-3 years Based on a Nigerian lullaby sung to Atinuke by her father, this story delights in the magical moments shared with a whole family and their baby at bedtime.
Babies & Toddlers
Frank and Bert
By Chris Naylor Ballsteros – 2-7 years Reading this picture book will make you want to go and give your best friend a great big hug (and then play some hide-and-seek). An enchanting tale of friendship and fun, the exploits of Frank and Bert will have you rolling with laughter. 34 | Cherubs Magazine
020 8154 3664
READING Edie and the Box of Flits
By Kate Wilkinson – 7 years+ When Edie finds a mysterious box on the underground, she does the sensible thing and takes it to her dad who works in Lost Property. What she doesn’t expect is to find herself taking care of the magical family of Flits inside and helping them to find their missing brother. A brilliant adventure set against the backdrop of the London Underground, perfect for young Londoners!
Early years
Books to get them reading for pleasure Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good
By Louie Stowell – 8 years+ A sensational start to a new series from Louie Stowell. Combining fun illustrations with hilarious narration from the God of Mischief, this book is guaranteed to make you giggle as Loki tries his best to be good. We can’t wait to find out what trouble Loki will get themself into next!
Indigo Wilde and the Creatures at Jellybean Crescent
By Pippa Curnick – 5 years+ Indigo Wilde is the adopted daughter of world-famous explorers so she is used to chaos, but when the latest magical creature escapes from its delivery box, things really get wild for Indigo and her little brother. This colourful rampage is so much fun you’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting for book 2.
The Bird Singers
By Eve Wersocki Morris – 8 years+ In this ethereal tale, the myths and legends of Poland come to life in the Lake District, where Layah’s family are trying to enjoy a holiday despite the rain. As she mourns the loss of her dear grandmother, Layah starts to think she can actually hear her voice. And as the holiday takes on a dark twist, Layah begins to wonder if the myths might just be real.
10 Middle Ln, Crouch End, London N8 8PL 020 3632 0823 • pickledpepperbooks.co.uk Instagram: @PickledPepperEnfield @pickledpepperbooks Twitter: @PickledEnfield cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 35
EDUCATION - ADVERTISING FEATURE
Is your child overly competitive? Does it cause them emotional distress? Role Models are the experts when it comes to instilling essential life skills in young children. Louise Treherne, Director of Character Education at Role Models, gives the inside scoop to Cherubs. You may recognise some of the following traits in your competitive child:
• • •
Wanting to win at all costs, including a willingness to cheat to ensure this outcome Being rude and unpleasant to their peers, siblings and competitors An almighty fallout or melt down when they don’t win.
We’re often told competitiveness is healthy, it drives motivation and helps us to strive to succeed. But what about when it causes emotional distress for your child or those around them? The first thing to recognise is that comparison is completely natural and normal. It is completely human to compare, it’s how we are wired. The choice point is around what we choose to do with the comparison. We can either use it to judge ourselves negatively and feel threatened or we can learn to use it for inspiration and connection. Here are three ideas to consider when supporting your child with an overly competitive approach.
1. Focus on mastery rather than winning For many children the competitiveness comes from a place of who won? Who was fastest, smartest or earned the most points? Try to help your child focus on the importance of mastery as opposed to instant success. We compete, train and work hard at our craft to develop our mastery and talent, not just to score the points. These empty wins might feel like the most important thing at the moment, but the real challenge is to make sure our skill or talent runs deep. Your child could look to famous sports people, adults at home and the way they take on board feedback and accept the ‘losses’. The losses teach us more about our performance than the wins. 2. Scarcity & fear vs abundance Unhealthy competitiveness is often steeped in fear, based on a scarcity mindset. Your success threatens me because I now have to fight harder as there’ll be nothing left for me. If your child’s mindset focuses on there being a limited amount of success available, this is likely to be driving their fear and emotional distress at the prospect of losing. Think about ways to illustrate the
Role Models have a range of courses and sessions – both online and in-person – which help children explore their feelings and worries. In-person 4 and 5 day courses are running throughout the Easter holidays in London. Scan the QR code or visit rolemodels.me to find out more. We also have a specific online sessions for children aged 5-7 called ‘Is it all About Winning?’ and another for this age category called ‘All the Ways I’m Smart’. 36 | Cherubs Magazine
point that there is plenty of opportunity for different ways and chances to experience success. There are enough to go round and enough for everyone to have their moment, therefore someone else’s moment of success doesn’t take away from your potential to experience success. 3. The healthiest form of competition If your child sees competition in everything, take the opportunity to help them consider competition with themselves. Some might argue that the healthiest form of competition is that which we have with ourselves as this helps us reflect on our own progress and focus on how we can improve. Rather than always comparing their performance against others, find opportunities to help them reflect on their own progress; have they achieved a quicker time, increased their score or developed in some way since their last attempt? Our natural instinct is to compare ourselves to our peers but for many, this can be disheartening rather than motivating. Challenging ourselves reminds us that we’re looking for progress not perfection.
For children aged 8-10 we have a session on ‘Emotional Resilience’ and for 11-13 year olds a session on ‘Comparison Culture’. Louise has a degree in Psychology, 12 years experience as a teacher, including 5 years as a Senior Deputy Head at a London Prep school. She now works as a Professional Coach and Educational Consultant.
020 8154 3664
For the achievers of tomorrow. Palmers Green High School Nursery is a nurturing, fun and inspiring environment, educating girls aged 3-4 years old. See us in action; book a personal tour today. PGHS Nursery 85 Wellington Road Bush Hill Park EN1 2PL 020 8886 1135 office@pghs.co.uk www.pghs.co.uk
EDUCATION - ADVERTISING FEATURE
A unique new Early Years experience Outstanding north London Prep School launches new 4+ provision.
Successful north London school group, North Bridge House (NBH) is introducing a new entry point to its high-achieving Prep School at the edge of Regent’s Park. From September 2022, the independent co-ed day school will admit children from age 4, building on its current ‘Outstanding’ provision for 7 to 13-year-olds with Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes. Renowned for its impressive track record of 11+ and 13+ exam results – celebrating 15 scholarship offers in 2021 – North Bridge House Prep School will continue to prepare children for entry to the UK’s top senior schools, now with a new Early Years curriculum designed specifically around this long-term goal. “Reception is the start of pupils’ whole school career here at North Bridge House Prep School, and our Early Years curriculum has been mapped around pupils’ educational journey from start to finish,” says Headteacher, James Stenning. Broad, knowledge-rich and purposeful, North Bridge House Prep School’s Reception curriculum aims to instil in children the knowledge and understanding needed to reach developmental milestones at EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and beyond. “Our curricular design is focused on developing depth of understanding and mastery of concepts to readily prepare Reception children for the challenges of the key stages ahead, ensuring each stage of their learning journey is seamless with the next,” says Assistant Head, Penny Lee. The new Early Years and Key Stage 1 provision in Regent’s Park will expand on
NBH Prep School’s specialist, individualised curriculum, maintaining small class sizes and incorporating everything from Philosophy and Forest School, to French, Drama, Music and Sport. Children will benefit from a rich and varied academic and extra-curricular programme from the outset of their education, progressing to a Key Stage 2 curriculum designed to further build cultural literacy. “Our curriculum is grounded in the strongest evidence about how children learn and retain knowledge in the longterm,” says NBH Prep School Headteacher, James Stenning. Rather than study humanities as a ‘topic’ - as many primary schools do - we teach Geography and History as discrete subjects at KS2, taking children beyond the basics and equipping them with a deeper contextualised understanding, he explains. The progressive, forward-thinking school prides itself on teaching content to be remembered, not just encountered. For example, rather than simply ‘doing the Romans’, pupils at NBH Prep School learn key terminology relating to that period, so that they not only understand who Julius Caesar was, but are able to place him and the Romans in time in relation to Jesus Christ and 1066. While the children still get the opportunity to enjoy dressing up as Romans and Greek Gods, by the time they reach Year 6, they are competently answering questions such as: “Civil disobedience was more important than legislation during the civil rights movement”. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
The addition of a General Studies course in Year 5 reinforces the school’s unique knowledge-rich curriculum model, with pupils studying modules in Politics, Philosophy, Economics, Film Studies and Art History. To all this, the school’s new Early Years and KS1 provision will add an exciting opportunity for children to access a progress-enhancing curriculum from the very start of their education. Initiatives such as Forest School and Philosophy will teach the various soft skills that aid higher cognitive abilities, including critical thinking and information processing, while key problem-solving skills will be embedded into all aspects of children’s work. The school’s new Early Years facilities have been innovatively designed to create multifunctional internal and external teaching spaces and will include the children’s very own rooftop science garden, affording them the opportunity to learn and play amongst nature. With floor-to-ceiling windows, classrooms will facilitate maximum daylight and use sustainable products as much as possible. North Bridge House Prep School is a popular choice among North London parents who want the option of the UK’s leading destination schools, or a stressfree all-through education which does not compromise on academic excellence (internal students are prioritised for places at the high-achieving NBH Senior Schools). Now accommodating children from the start of their school journey, NBH Prep presents a seamless approach to individually preparing pupils for every path to success.
Book a visit at northbridgehouse.com/open or call 020 7428 1520 for more information. 38 | Cherubs Magazine
020 8154 3664
North Bridge House
New tion 4+ Recep ep, r entry to P Regent’s Park
North Bridge House is on a constant journey of getting to know and understand every child as an individual, realising their true academic and personal potential through specialist provision at every school stage. NURSERY & PRE-PREP WEST HAMPSTEAD 2 - 7 YEARS FRIDAY 25 MARCH
NURSERY & PRE-PREP HAMPSTEAD 2 - 7 YEARS TUESDAY 22 MARCH (NURSERY) THURSDAY 24 MARCH (PRE-PREP)
PREP SCHOOL REGENT’S PARK 4 - 13 YEARS FRIDAY 11 MARCH
SENIOR HAMPSTEAD 11 - 16 YEARS THURSDAY 17 MARCH
SENIOR CANONBURY 11 - 18 YEARS THURSDAY 24 MARCH
Book an open day at northbridgehouse.com/open or call 020 7428 1520
EDUCATION
Lost Learning By Aimee Hart @hart_at_home
It’s fair to say our little munchkins have had a challenging 24 months. Never did we expect that ‘March 13th closure’ to result in the amount of time away from the classroom that it did. My daughter is now in Year 2 and she has never known an academic year without disruption. Even this current one has seen her isolating with “that which shall not be named!” But being back in the classroom, back in front of amazing teachers and back socialising with their peers does not alleviate the worry that they have lost learning, missed experiences and had their knowledge paused. It worries me too. As the Deputy Head of a primary school I have seen the stress on families, children and teachers to keep the treadmill of curriculum turning while in or out of school but there has been an impact. There has been lost learning. There are gaps in our children’s education. I think saying it out
loud and realising every child is part of this makes it seem less daunting and less individual. Children are not robots and, even before the pandemic, children progressed at different rates and had different gaps in their learning.
little) support the government is providing. Since home learning, the internet is now flooded with amazing online resources, tools and platforms that can engage your children and give you the information you need to support them.
Ofqual produced a report that stated; on average, Primary aged pupils were two months behind in reading and three months behind in maths. There were also some findings that showed older primary students had not lost learning in reading as this was easily targeted from home. Obviously these studies were generalised across the country and I know everyone had a very different experience with home learning. But let’s think about the now. It’s easy for me to sit here and type ‘Don’t worry, all will be fine!’ Because I don’t know that and I don’t know your child. But be assured that all schools are working tirelessly to support a patchy curriculum and use (the
This is definitely not me suggesting you continue teaching when the children get home from school. No-one has the time for that. But, it’s worth checking in with your child’s class teacher on one thing you could practice at home that they’ve noticed. The most vital things children have missed over the past 24 months fall into: social, emotional or educational categories. All equally as important and all can be supported at home. On the next page are some really helpful tips on what you can do to help your kids.
Website: myevelynandme.com 40 | Cherubs Magazine
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EDUCATION
Social This one may mean you have to force a few slices of cake and cappuccinos down you! Now that the majority of children’s play centres are back open, making play dates with children from their class. Offer play dates at home with different children or just take opportunities to visit the park for your children to meet other children. The social element is huge for the younger children and one that has been immensely overlooked. Children in the Early Years settings rely on experiences with other children – learning how to play together, share and turn take – something that can be difficult for an adult to replicate.
Emotional This is a tricky one, mainly because children have dealt with a lot and have had their
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main caregiver around a lot more than before, or in the case of the little ones, have had prolonged time with them when they are in a given setting. This creates emotional anxiety and can mean not being as open to learning – or seeing their teachers as an adult they can trust. It has also led to children not being as resilient as they used to be because of their social gaps (see above). I strongly believe in positive affirmations when it comes to dealing with emotional anxiety. Repeat to children: you are strong, you are smart, you are brave, you are enough.
Educational I know how difficult it is to be ‘in the know’ with what your children learn or need to learn and often it can feel like another language. During the spring term your child’s school will usually send out an academic report or arrange a parent’s evening. This
is the perfect opportunity to get an insight into how you can help or if there are any areas you can help with. Aside from that, complete homework together – making sure they (and you) understand what is being asked. Finally, read with your child as much as possible. Even if they are not fluent readers, read to them. Expose them to language. An amazing app I’ve used with my daughter and in my school is Reading Eggs – a subscription that personalises the learning of phonics to your child. My final plea is that you try not to worry about where your child is at. Don’t stress (too much) about SATS, phonic tests or grading. Communicate with your school and they will happily provide support and resources if they feel it’s necessary. You have the power to support the gaps in their social, emotional and educational learning by being present and interested in who they are and what they can achieve.
Cherubs Magazine | 41
EDUCATION - ADVERTISING FEATURE AS GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
Why Choose Mount House? The Cambridge AS Global Perspectives course is a ground-breaking and stimulating course that stretches across traditional subject boundaries and develops 21st Century transferable skills. It is both cross-curricular and skills-based and taps into the way learners of today enjoy learning, including teamwork, presentations, projects, and working with other learners around the world. The emphasis is on developing the ability to think critically about a range of global issues where there is always more than one point of view.
We have seven pillars of success. AS LEVEL THINKING SKILLS
Analytical thinking underlies all rational conversation, argument and enquiry. It is characterised by a meticulous and rigorous approach to the nature of the argument being discussed. It involves the analysis and evaluation of information and the development of a range of intellectual skills that aid the use of reasoning to reach clear, logical 1. A Small School 5. Foster Individuality and Self Confidence and coherent judgements within a given context. During the course, Classstudents sizes – Mount House is committed will much improve their ability to analyse any argument to maintaining small class sizes. This is, At Mount House we recognise that each presentedthe to them seeto what the conclusion is, what undoubtedly, best – way maximize student is reasons unique are and our aim is to the learning of each any individual student. encourage develop this individuality, being presented, assumptions used and any flawsand in the reasoning.
For information Findmore out more about about Sixth Form andat Mount House School www.mounthouse.org.uk Open Days, please call or by calling 020 8449 6889 020 8449 6889 or emailing admissions@ or visit the website mounthouse.org.uk www.mounthouse.org.uk
Teachers – Everyone knows that a good whilst nurturing any talents and building teacher makes all the difference to a child’s upon them. Students are encouraged to enthusiasm for a course. All the teachers have a point of view; other students are AS LEVEL CITIZENSHIP at Mount House are experienced, highly encouraged to listen to their peers and qualified professionals with a will strong track value different opinions. In this course, students learn more about such concepts as We also look to record of success. recognise and reward success, knowing identity, democracy, power and justice and will be encouraged to that it leads to a growth in self-confidence. approach different viewpoints and opinions in order 2. Strong Academic Performance It is critically, a virtuous circle; to success leads to confidence whichsurrounding leads to greater success. gain a deeper understanding of contemporary debates Mount House has produced some modern citizenship. The course encourages an active and excellent, and rapidly improving, public 6. Preparing students for the World of participatory approach to citizenship, examination results in recent years. A including Work the opportunity to vibrant classroom environment conduct individual research and in anan area of personal interest. enriching academic and co-curricular A Mount House education extends programme ensures that students leave beyond the confines of the classroom. Our with a love of learning, confidence, a firm ‘Skills for the future’ programme begins as LEVEL valueAS system andLAW fully prepared for the students join us in Year 7 and continues challenges ofLevel their future until they leave ushelps to go on to university. Our AS in Lawlife. fosters students’ interest in law and Students are expected to take part in the them develop knowledge and skills relevant to further study of law 3. Bespoke Approach to Maximise Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and and other subjects. Students will develop theirextra-curricular knowledge of the Potential other activities as they movelaw, through KS4. In the 6th Form, all law in England, and the interaction between morals, justice, In the Mount House environment students will take our unique ‘Life Skills’ and technology. They willand also study Criminal Law andthem Tort.through their everysociety child is motivated, enthused course that will lead supported to maximise their highest subject choices, UCAS applications and academic potential. Whatever their to their successful completion of an academic GCSEstarting LATIN point, students are Extended Project Qualification at AS level. challenged with work that will extend GCSE LatinWe is designed to helpto students their knowledge and stimulate. teach students be 7.develop Outstanding Pastoral Care independent thinkers, of we and understanding the encourage vocabulary, syntax and accidence of the themLatin to develop theirand ownalso thoughts, ideasliterature, Mountvalues Houseand caters for those of all faiths language, of ancient society and opinions. and none. Its environment fosters mutual through the study of original texts. respect and tolerance. Mount House 4. Serious About Co-Curricular Success instils a sense of right and wrong and promotes excellent behaviour in all areas Art, THE drama and music FOR promote of school IN life.BUSINESS We provide a happy, secure ACCREDITATION LANGUAGES individuality, personality, self-confidence, environment where students enjoy their [FRENCH] self-discipline and team work. All Mount schooling and feel that they belong. House students will course have compulsory Communication with parents is a high This is a fantastic to boost employability and develop lessons in these subjects until the end of priority and the excellent relationships knowledge of languages for the world of international business. KS3. Opportunities in choirs, orchestras, between school and home are a key This blended learning course involves seriesin ofthe practical ensembles and school productions will afactor school’s popularity; this was be available to everyone. Mount House recognised by the ISI school inspectors. assessments to develop students’ speaking and listening, reading encourages all its students to participate and writing skills in a business context. It is suitable for students in as many sporting and extra-curricular Sarah Richardson whoas have previously studied French to GCSE activities possible. Head level. Mount House School
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OPEN DAYS
“An Excellent Independent School”
/ Saturday 25th June 2022 / Saturday 24th September 2022
Recommended by Muddy Stilettos
Hadley Wood
/
Independent
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The Telegraph
If you would like to visit Mount House and see our School in action or would like to register your child, please visit www.mounthouse.org.uk or call 020 8449 6889
Co-educational
/
Ages 11–18
Mount House School, Camlet Way, Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire, EN4 0NJ / admissions@mounthouse.org.uk
EDUCATION - ADVERTISING FEATURE
in Enfield Cherubs caught up with Maria Lourdes Vazquez, founder and teacher at Rtsy to find out how this wonderful art school came about and just how important Art can be in one’s life. Tell us the reasons behind creating RTSY, The Creative School of Art? I have been an art teacher for 20 years and have loved teaching children of all ages. In 2017 I started a workshop called Creative Mess and it was very popular. We had children attending ranging from four to 11 years. I wanted to share my knowledge and passion with the children in our local community and realised that many primary schools did not teach fundamental skills and techniques in art. I wanted to share my love, enthusiasm and passion through my teaching and create exciting art that made them feel proud, happy and impressed with their outcomes. During Covid I had time to reflect and had a vision of having my own unique art school that would bring imaginative, creative, arty children from all areas to work on amazing projects. Together we explore watercolour techniques, painting on large canvases, drawing with coffee, and many more experimental exciting mediums – it’s extremely fun! What makes RTSY different from any other Art School in London? Firstly, the children have teachers and
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practitioners who are passionate about art. We are located in a peaceful place and are surrounded by inspirational, beautiful organic scenery. In every lesson we listen to classical music and the students have a great opportunity to learn advanced art skills and use materials that wouldn’t be found in a school environment. We will be inviting specialist artists to be our guest speakers in the new term and we hope to hold art workshops and organise gallery trips as a group. Do you have to be good at art? Not at all, art is a journey, it takes years and maturity to perfect skills. If your child loves drawing or making marks on paper and you want to encourage more development, this is the place to have fun, explore materials, discover creativity and make new friends. How fundamental is the importance of art in a child’s life? Art plays a valuable role in a child’s mental health and this is being recognised in today’s society. Engaging in arts interactions with our communities can help with many
problems that young children are facing, such as anxiety, loneliness, depression, stress, insecurities and lack of self-confidence. Art is a very powerful tool that can help a child express themselves and understand the world around them. It has been proven that children who engage in art activities see long-term benefits in their academic and social lives. For teens, expressing themselves and having a safe space to work in is vital. Through creating art they can express emotions, record thoughts in a different and fun way that enables them to open and talk. In RTSY, creativity is important and we believe it promotes identity, development and helps students find their place in the world. Art can create a feeling of community and social connection, and help students gain new friends and achieve a sense of confidence and joy. If a child is shy would you advise a parent to take them along to RTSY? Yes, RTSY is a warm, friendly and welcoming environment with small classes. We take time to get to know your child and make them feel united with the rest of the RTSY kids. Spring term dates are 26 March to 2 June 2022.
www.rtsythecreativeschoolofart.com rtsy.contact@gmail.com
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BROOMFIELD SCHOOL
A LOCAL SCHOOL FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY
IS YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER IN YEAR 5? THINKING OF JOINING US IN SEPTEMBER 2023? You are warmly welcome to come and visit us at one of our coffee mornings for a school tour Thursday 3rd and 17th March 9.15am BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW ON OUR WEBSITE https://www.broomfield.enfield.sch.uk/coffeemorning Follow us on our social media channels for regular updates on school life
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EDUCATION
Bring On The Games By Hari Neocleous from The Maths Nuts & Curious Maths
Did you know that board games can help our young mathematicians grow? Here, in my first article for Cherubs, I open the doors to the world of primary education and hope that I can spread some maths love. One of my classroom hooks is my passion for game-based learning and below are three brilliant games that you can play at home. Not only do they have my stamp of approval as a primary maths teacher but they’re great fun for all the family (and it’s aiding the little ones minds in maths without them even knowing.) Win, win!
Shut The Box My first game is called Shut the box. Familiar to some of us as a ‘down the pub’ game. You have an open wooden box with 12 numbered blocks which you flip down, making a satisfying ‘bang’ sound. Let’s say two people are playing a game with five rounds. A round consists of each player rolling the two dice, again and again, knocking down the total they’ve made until they can no longer continue. Imagine the first round. I take the box and make sure all the wooden tiles are standing up. If I throw a 5 and a 3 that makes 8 so I can knock down the ‘8’ tile. I can also knock down the ‘5’ and the ‘3’ or even the ‘4’, ‘3’ and ‘1’. It’s my choice which numbers I choose to knock down as long as they make my total of 8. It’s still my round so I throw two dice again and this time I throw double 6, so I need to either knock down the 12 or think of different ways to make 12. I decide to knock down the 10 and 2 as 10+2=12. In my next go I throw 5 and 2 making a total of 7 so I knock down the 7. I keep throwing the dice until I can no longer make my total. My round ends and now I must add up the numbers that are still standing up. That’s my score for Round 1. Player B begins their round by flicking up all the tiles. They roll two dice, make their total and knock down tiles. If they can’t make their total their round is over! They add up the numbers remaining and that is their score. The person with the lowest score in each round wins a point. If you’re lucky you may end up shutting the box in
one round! That means you knocked all the tiles down and you have won yourself a round. Whoever wins the most rounds is the champion!
Game Benefits • Develop addition skills. • Explore number bonds (the different ways of making a total). • Work on subitising skills with dotty dice (instantly recognising •
numbers without counting one by one). Memorise doubles.
Game Variations • Play with a 1-9 tile box or 1-12 tile box. • Have the option to roll one dice if you need a lower number. • Play the four-player version where you all have your own set of •
wooden numbers. Play with playing cards, Ace, numbers 2-10, Jack equals 11 and Queen equals 12. Alternatively, make your own 1-12 cards to flip over.
Games = A Social Connection + Making Memories 46 | Cherubs Magazine
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EDUCATION
Nine Men’s Morris Also known as Mills of Nines, this game has been traced back to ancient times. There’s something quite magical knowing you’re playing a game that has been on Earth for over 1,000 years. Nine Men’s Morris is like the precursor to chess. A game where you plan ahead, think strategically and try hard to outwit your opponent. Each player has nine different coloured counters. Players take turns to move their counters and create lines of three called ‘mills’. Every time a mill is made you remove one of your opponent’s counters from the board. Reduce their counters down to two and you win the game! There are three distinct stages, the placing stage, sliding stage and flying stage. I’ve taught this game to children as young as seven years old, teaching the rules in mini chunks.
Game Benefits • Planning ahead. • Decision making skills. • Visualising lines of three. • Develops strategic thinking (blocking and optimum positions to control).
Game Variations • Make a ‘ping’ sound every time you make three in a row as a •
Photo credit: @KubiyaGames
•
reminder to remove a friend’s counter. (Smiling essential.) Model strategic thinking by ‘thinking out loud’. For example, ‘If I remove this counter you can make a mill in your next go, by sliding this counter here, whereas moving this counter is a better move as you have no adjacent counters.’ Discuss the ‘optimum’ spots to occupy. In noughts & crosses corners are desirable but this isn’t the case in Nine Men’s Morris. Discuss why…
Ubongo So this is a firm favourite when grandparents visit. The African designs and beautiful colours are a visual treat. Ubongo is an easy-to-learn geometric puzzle game. Each player lays out their 12 polyominoes (tiles) and takes a puzzle board. A player rolls the dice to reveal which trio of tiles they will use. The timer is turned and players race against each other to be the first to solve the puzzle. Make your tiles fit onto your puzzle board by rotating and flipping shapes. The first to solve shouts ‘Ubongo’!
Game Benefits • Great shape and space puzzle. • Develops visualisation skills. • Practise rotating and flipping shapes as you problem solve. • Develops perseverance. Game Variations • Feeling confident? Flip the boards over for the next level using • •
four polyominoes. Use the gem scoring system and work on arithmetic skills too. Play solo against a timer or invest in the 3D version. I want this!
HARI SAYS These games are fun, accessible and perfect if you have a spare half hour. One thing they all have in common is the quality time they give us as a family or as friends in the classroom. Turn taking, kindness and good sportsmanship are also benefits. It’s a safe way to explore winning and losing and how you handle defeat in life. Don’t make a big deal out of winning, instead praise them for their strategic thinking or kindness. We laugh and chat as we play and these games have been my secret weapon to help children love maths – be careful not to blow their cover, game-based learning should be packaged as ‘let’s have fun’ and not ‘time for homework’. cherubsmagazine.com
HEALTH & WELLBEING
“Happy birthday to you” sang the child… to the sink Sinks across the land have heard the sweet tunes of happy birthday to you more times than we’ve had hot dinners. Who knew that the most famous song in the world was going to be the tune that became the reason why children washed their hands properly (well, as well as can be!) We’ve rounded up the must-have hand wash for those special ‘birthday’ moments. Moisturising Hand Wash Grapefruit & Organic Tea Tree
Children’s Hand Wash
£4
MooGoo Milk Wash
Childs Farm
£12.00
£7.50
Holland and Barrett
Neals Yard Remedies
Little B Hand Wash
£8
Bramley Products
Foaming Hand & Face Wash
£4.50
Scrubbingtons
Don’t forget the adults… Caring Hand Wash 300ml
£9.99
Nursem Hipp Kids Soft & Foamy Handwash Duck 250ml
Berry Smoothie Hand Wash 200ml
Hipp Organic
Green People
£3.75
48 | Cherubs Magazine
Eczemafriendly
£12.50
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
How the Covid-19 Pandemic has evoked anxiety in children and teenagers By Marilena Andreou - cognitive behavioural psychotherapist Does your child react strongly to change and uncertainty? Have you noticed their emotions have been affected negatively during the Covid-19 pandemic? Is the anxiety affecting their school performance? During the pandemic, children and young people have been faced with many challenges linked to change and uncertainty. They have had to frequently readjust their lifestyles according to the government guidelines. Everyone may respond differently to change; some may feel excited whereas others may worry. Intolerance of uncertainty is a risk factor in developing generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and other problems; it also plays an important role in the tendency to worry. People who worry excessively react strongly to uncertainty; therefore they appear to be intolerant of uncertainty. Generally children can find it difficult to cope with uncertainty, even pre-pandemic. However the pandemic has exaggerated the intolerance to uncertainty for many children, which can cause high levels of distress and can lead to depression and anxiety issues. Understandably this can leave parents and caregivers feeling very concerned about their children. How do we cope with uncertainty? For those children who are intolerant of uncertainty,
the initial response when faced with it could be to attempt to eliminate or avoid it. For example, by seeking reassurance or avoiding certain activities. Does increasing your level of certainty turn out to be an effective way to worry less? The answer to this question is always no. Fundamentally by learning how to respond more effectively, this can help children feel more empowered to be able to alleviate their anxiety. In turn, this can improve their interactions with others and overall school performance. Strategies that can help children deal with uncertainty to improve anxiety: 1. Normalise it: Uncertainty is a normal part of day-to-day life, remember that it is unusually higher during the pandemic. It does not always mean that something bad will actually happen. 2. Learn to tolerate the uncertainty: Lots of things frequently change during the pandemic (such as school guidelines and rules about social interactions). Learn to be okay with the uncertainty as a lot of things are out of your control. 3. Refrain from avoiding uncertainty altogether: By actually looking for opportunities to experience more uncertainty (in small steps) this can help
you to learn that you can cope. For example by trying an activity you have never tried before. 4. Practice worry time: Schedule some time in the day (up to 15 minutes) to think about the worries that are on your mind and you can also discuss them with an adult , then move on. If you find yourself worrying outside the scheduled time, write them down on some paper, postpone them until worry time and refocus on another task/ activity, then continue with worry time later on. 5. Talk to someone: This could be a parent, a relative or a teacher. It can be helpful to talk about your concerns with someone as they may be able to help. Parents/ guardians can encourage children to be more open about their worries and not to keep them bottled up as this can cause more distress. Seek professional help (if you need to), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the gold star treatment for anxiety disorders. In conclusion, although the pandemic has evoked anxiety in children, it is important to be able to take some practical steps to reduce anxiety levels, and this could also improve their overall school performance.
Website: inspiring-minds-therapy.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
Wear’em out this spring… and never look back. The wonderful Lauren from ‘Wear ’em out pads’ educates us on why reusable period pads are the future and the damaging effects our sanitary wear is having on the planet.
My name’s Lauren and I wear reusable period pads, and not just that, because I love them so much I created my own UKmade brand. Wear ‘em out is taking the world by storm and has brought the conversation of reusable period pads firmly into the mainstream, having been listed in Glamour magazine online as one of their ‘7 best reusable sanitary pads for a more sustainable period’ only last week. They even went as far to describe our pads as ‘One of the most stylish and sleek reusable sanitary towels brands around’. But let’s go back to why I’ve been wearing reusable pads for over 7 years, and why I built a brand that is being now being sold all around the world, and shouted out in magazines (Glamour was not our first rodeo, we’ve been spotted in Stylist, Cosmo and loads more, including this one obvs). I first made the switch to reusable when I learned about the damage disposable pads
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were doing to the planet (more on this later) and even more worrying, the damage they were potentially causing to my hormonal health (again, I’ll go into more detail later). With all my new found knowledge I felt I had no choice but to begrudgingly step into the reusable pad game.
At this time the only pads that I could find on offer were so ugly, and made with such a basic design that I didn’t feel any compulsion to talk about them – and the very real reasons why I made the switch – with my friends. So, this much-needed conversation still wasn’t being had and
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
in fact only reinforced the shame I had already been feeling around my periods. Fast forward five years and by then a full convert, I decided that there was a huge opportunity to bring not only the ‘reusable period products’ conversation to the fore, but also, to bring a reusable period pad that people were happily shouting about, and happily sharing with whoever they came into contact with. Due to its (in the words of Glamour mag) ‘stylish and sleek’ design, and the confidence in which it gives the wearer, Wear ‘em out really was making waves in not only reducing landfill but also reducing period shame and I could not be prouder of what we’ve created. Now, let’s get down to the nitty gritty, why we should consider the switch and how to go about it. Here are a few facts for you to wrap your head around:
•
200,000 tones of menstrual waste hits UK landfill per year in the UK, this waste takes between 500-800 years to decompose due to the fact that these products and their packaging are made up using 90% single-use plastic (the equivalent to 5 carrier bags per pack). And it’s not just where it ends that causes the problem, all the energy, materials and transport it takes to make a single-use product has to be factored into the bigger picture.
•
4.8 pieces of menstrual waste is found per 100m of British beaches being cleaned, due to the high plastic content these items must never be flushed, not only do they create a huge cost for the water companies in unblocking the sewers, they do also end up as food for our sea-life, or part of our picnic when having a day at the beach.
There are reportedly up to 3,000 toxic chemicals found in currently disposable menstrual products, these toxins are said to be playing havoc with our hormones. Women’s Voices says: “Research shows that many of today’s menstrual and intimate care products contain a host of chemicals linked to cancer, disrupt hormones, and unnecessary allergic reactions.” The scary stuff is that currently the UK has no legislation in place to say that the disposable companies don’t need to list the full ingredients on the packets, meaning we cannot make informed choice about the products we are exposing to the most absorbent part of our bodies to for up to a week every month.
With this knowledge you can make an informed choice, although I know it’s not as straightforward as that. So, here’s my top ‘how to’ tips. 1. Go at your own pace, wear them only at home to begin with, or maybe even just at night. It might feel more comfortable for you to just start wearing them when you’re not even on your period so you can get a feel for them and get used to seeing them in your wash. 2. Have a little read of the reviews left by our customers on our Trustpilot, you’re
not alone in your fear of switching. 3. Connect with me on the socials @wearemoutpads and ask me anything, I’ve been where you are, I know it can feel weird and scary, the unknown always does. But, once you’ve had all your questions answered, and you’ve taken the leap, trust me – and many of our customers – when we say they’re a game-changer.
Website: wearemout.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
Ask The Nutritionist With Christianna Karaolis from Eat Happy Feel Good
Q A
Which oils are good or bad? How much oil should I use? Are oil sprays good?
To keep it simple I’ll talk about which oil is definitely good – olive oil. Studies show it’s good for heart health, full of nutrients and powerful antioxidants. It’s smoke point makes it a good choice for most cooking that isn’t too high temperature. Keep the best quality extra virgin olive oil for salads and drizzling – it’s best eaten raw to get all the health benefits. Avocado, sesame and coconut oils have even higher smoke points so are also good choices for cooking. However coconut oil is very high in saturated fat so only use occasionally. Generally I avoid using corn oil, sunflower oil and canola oil; they’re high in Omega 6 and they’re unstable, so when heated can produce harmful compounds. How much oil to use depends, how much fat is in the rest of the meal, what your health status and goals are. I always advise including a small amount of fat in each meal – it’s important for satiety, enjoyment and absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. In the UK, the recommendation is to get no more than 35% of total calories from fat – that’s approximately 20g for women and 30g for men. It’s important to get most of this from healthy fat sources such as olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocado. If weight loss is a goal, then it’s best to be mindful of quantities – a single tablespoon of oil can contain 120 calories. Oil sprays can be a great way to cook using minimal oil, but again, it’s advisable to use an olive oil one.
Q A
Are plant-based milks better than dairy? Are they more calorific?
Great question but the answer isn’t simple because it depends on the plant-based milk we’re looking at. Some are wonderful quality with minimal ingredients and make great dairy alternatives. Others are full of additives so my advice is, look at the ingredients. Plenish and Rude Health are good brands. With regards to nutrition, we don’t actually need milk to be healthy; there are many other sources of calcium including green leafy vegetables. However, if you like it, there is no reason not to include it in a balanced diet. Some people struggle with milk – ranging from minor digestive issues to full lactose intolerance, in which case, avoiding dairy milk would be best. As for calories, again it depends on which plant milk and which fat content dairy milk – skimmed, semi-skimmed or full fat. Generally, almond milk is the lowest calorie with around 15 calories per 100mls, compared to around 65 calories in 100ml of full fat dairy. Oat milk is fairly similar to semi skimmed milk in terms of calories. Coconut milk is beautiful to cook with but it is a high-calorie food. Personally, I like almond milk in my smoothies – it’s low calorie, neutral tasting and an ideal base for any flavour; but I like the creaminess of oat milk in my tea. Which milk you choose depends on your health, nutritional needs and preference but I can’t say that one is overall better than another.
Q A
Is counting macronutrients the new diet?
Counting macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate and fat) isn’t particularly new – many diets and lifestyles have been designed around having lots of one or very little of another. Depending on what’s popular in the media, attention shifts. Protein seems to be the star of the show at the moment with lots of emphasis on getting enough, which most of us do. Carbohydrates are receiving attention for all the wrong reasons and are often demonised when in reality there are many highly nutritious sources of carbs including vegetables, beans and fruit. Fat has been misunderstood in the past, but now we know better. Most of us really don’t need to count macros, a well balanced diet will provide enough of each. In situations such as if fat loss or building muscle is a goal, then it could be helpful to count macros. And in some health conditions such as diabetes or PCOS, different macro ratios may help but this is highly individual and should be managed under the guidance of a health professional. In my experience, not enough attention is given to micronutrients – vitamins and minerals and this is where many of us may have insufficiencies that could lead to health concerns. Fibre is another nutrient we don’t monitor, but probably should because most consume much less than the recommended daily intake of around 30g. Aim for a varied balanced diet, with foods from all three macronutrient groups and lots of vegetables and you should get all the nutrition your body needs.
#lookafteryou
If you’d like to have a consultation with Christianna, contact her on 07851 680211 or christianna@eathappyfeelgood.co.uk 52 | Cherubs Magazine
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INTENSE ZONES THERE’S INTENSE, THEN THERE’S BLAZE. It’s new, it’s unique, like nothing you’ve experienced. A test of your strength, stamina and willpower, you’ll run, lift and fight. Blaze will push you to your limit and beyond. An overload of light, sound and energy will power you through your workout. Our instructors will challenge, push and support you, to achieve results you never thought possible. A Myzone heart-rate belt will track your performance every step of the way. With your heart rate streamed on digital screens, you’ll work your body at just the right intensity to get the most from your workout. Get ready to feel the burn and join the tribe #Blazetribe
LIVING
EatHappyFeelGood
Batch cooking = weekly balance These recipes are all about making mum’s life easier! I’m going to show you how batch cooking one simple base recipe of seasoned mince which you divide and freeze, can then become delicious meals in minutes because most of the cooking time and effort has already been done. You can use any mince you like; beef, chicken, plant based, pork or even a combination. I use beef as it’s my family’s favourite.
Ingredients
• • • • • • • •
4 large onions, finely chopped 4 tablespoons olive oil 2kg beef mince (5% fat) 2 tbsp tomato puree 2 cans chopped tomato 2 large courgettes, finely grated 2 cubes veg stock Salt and pepper
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Method Cook the onions in the olive oil until softened. Add the mince and cook until no pink remains. Add the tomato puree and cook for another two minutes. Add the courgettes, canned tomatoes, vegetable stock cubes and cook for 30 minutes till reduced. Season well. Let it cool. Divide into four and freeze – food bags are great for this. Each portion then becomes a meal for four people.
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To make it bolognese You can simply defrost, add another can of chopped tomato, heat through, add some basil and it’s done. Or, to up the flavour and veggies, cook some mushrooms, carrots and celery in a little olive oil, add the defrosted mince, a can of chopped tomatoes, simmer, add some herbs and your veggie-loaded bolognese is ready.
To make it chilli con carne Defrost the mince. Put 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pan and add 2 chopped peppers. Cook for 10 minutes to soften. Add 1½ tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp cumin, 1½ tsp paprika, 1½ tsp ground cinnamon. Cook for two minutes stirring continuously so the spices don’t burn. Add the mince. Add ½ tsp chilli flakes, another can chopped tomatoes, 2 cans kidney beans. Simmer for 20 minutes. Taste for spice and seasoning and add more chilli or seasoning if needed. Serve with rice, vegetables and lime.
Walnut Chocolate Balls Ingredients
• • • • • •
80g oats 100g walnuts 150g medjool dates 20g cacao powder 40g maple syrup Optional but very yummy extras: dark chocolate & sprinkling of sea salt
Method
1. Put the oats, walnuts, dates, cacao and maple syrup in a food processor and pulse till the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs. Don’t over-mix, keeping a little texture is lovely. 2. Take a spoonful of mixture and firmly press together. Roll into a ball. 3. Melt the chocolate and either dip the balls into it or drizzle over the top. Sprinkle it with salt and place in the fridge to set. 4. Keep in the fridge.
To make it a pie Defrost, add 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, a can of sweetcorn (drained) and a couple of handfuls of frozen peas. Put into a pie dish, top with mash and bake till golden. You can absolutely use store bought mash for convenience. To up the veggie intake you can make the mash with half potato half cauliflower. Delicious with some gravy!
Note: if you don’t add the chocolate you can store in the freezer where they keep up to three months so you can just grab one whenever you fancy it.
Website: eathappyfeelgood.co.uk Instagram: @eathappyfeelgood Cherubs Magazine | 55
PARENT LIFE
By Henry King
I was more than a little apprehensive when my wife and I decided to have our first child. We had not been married for very long and I was still wrapping my head around that momentous event. The idea of adding children to the mix was almost
more than my tiny mind could handle. It was not helped by the fact that we had a couple of friends who were early to the party and took great pleasure in letting us know what was in store for us. In the time-honoured tradition, we booked ourselves onto the local NCT course. I will admit, I was quite sceptical about going to these classes. In fact, it is fair to say that my wife had to pretty much drag me to the first one. I remember speaking to my brotherin-law, Gregg, who was due to have his first child around the same time. The feeling was mutual. We were, rather arrogantly, not particularly interested in making new friends and misguidedly thought we would pick up relevant information and advice in the weeks preceding our due dates through hospital visits and chats with family and friends. Both of us quickly changed our tune once the first few sessions were out of the way. It was obvious that we would have been completely out of our depth had we not educated ourselves about the various antenatal challenges ahead. Full disclosure, I did draw the line at a threehour breastfeeding class, complete with knitted woollen breasts as props, and only stayed for half of the allotted time, leaving
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under the pretence of an expired parking ticket. Attending a course like that made us realise how little we knew and how unprepared we were. It also helped us see the value in meeting other like-minded parents at a similar stage of life with the same anxieties and concerns. This was a daunting realisation as it highlighted our knowledge gaps and generally played to our insecurities as firsttime parents. We really did not need any more fuel poured on that particular fire! From that point onwards, we found ourselves frantically googling, scouring the web for relevant blogs and buying endless parenting books. My house is littered with these things, most are only half read. In parallel to this somewhat panicked experience were our wives who had managed to find about 15 different mothers groups, signed up to several different podcasts and had identified multiple resources to ease their minds. They were cool, calm and collected. We however, were not. We had our first children and muddled through this wonderful yet bewildering 020 8154 3664
PARENT LIFE systems and groups catering for mothers, there is very little provision of the same types of service for fathers, or least ones that are engaging and done in a way that is not cringe inducing. This was further confirmed by numerous conversations with other dads and more research. What we really needed was a single source of accurate information that could provide reassurance and help us prepare for short and long term, family related considerations. We wanted insight and knowledge to help plan for the road ahead. To be forewarned is forearmed… so the saying goes. And so, Gregg and I decided to set up ‘Hank’, a new service designed to equip fathers and fathers-to-be with the necessary knowledge that will help them overcome the many challenges they will face when raising a family.
experience. My wife and I then decided to have another. I was a bit more clued up by this time, although there was still a lot of room for improvement. Our experience of life during the run-up to having our first children and then the early years of fatherhood got Gregg and I thinking. While there are many support
Hank offers a curated programme of inperson ‘Hosted by Hank’ events and ‘Hank Online’ sessions that are delivered by a trusted network of specialists. Local ‘Hosted by Hank’ events are also an opportunity for like minded fathers-to-be and fathers from the same neighbourhood to meet each other in a relaxed environment, have a beer and take a break from work & home life. Here at Hank, we do not pretend to be experts on fatherhood or parenting. In fact, we are still learning. Every day is a school day. The list of topics covered by Hank is
long and continues to grow, ranging from antenatal guidance; financial planning; schooling options; mental and physical health; childcare options; child development and cooking, to name but a few. Feel free to check out our website: www. hellohank.co.uk. Hank is focused on fathers, but partners are very welcome to join our sessions as well. Below is a selection of online and in-person events that are coming up. We hope to see you soon!
Online Bachelor to Baby Maker Monday, March 21, 2022 First Aid for Dad Wednesday, April 13, 2022
In-Person
Please check the website for venue details Dad Bod – Keeping Trim Saturday, March 19, 2022 How to Plan for Your Child’s Education Wednesday, March 23, 2022 Responsive Parenting Wednesday, March 30, 2022 Looking after Hank Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Website: hellohank.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 57
Social Skill Building By Reena Anand
As a mum of two boys (Evy who’s autistic, aged eight and Eashan, neurotypical, aged six), I’m passionate about finding strategies that can work well for both my children. So, I wanted to share how I’ve created an environment at home where I can support them with social skills. Social skill building doesn’t have to be restricted to school and the more we can do to consolidate our children’s learning, the better we’re empowering them for the future. Here are my top tips: 1. Demonstrate empathy. Consciously let them hear you role-modelling empathy in real-life situations such as checking in on a neighbour or asking after someone – this way they can hear the language you use. Evy would get flummoxed if he wanted to ask about someone but didn’t have the words available to him. Over time, he’s learnt to label feelings and I also taught him some stock phrases. I was so proud recently when we went to see my ill aunt and he said, “I’ve made a cake for you to enjoy with a cup of tea, to make you feel better.” This was momentous for us! 2. Practice turn-taking. We regularly focus on this at home and weave its relevance into so many of our conversations. Partly this is because Evy can be more dominant,
which can feel unfair to my youngest, but also because being patient is a life skill they will both need in order to function in the wider world. So, I let the children know that we’ll be practising turn-taking at say, story-time this week. I might say to Evy: “Today I’m going to pick the bedtime story we’ll read and tomorrow it’ll be your turn.” I always give them a heads-up so I can tackle any objections there and then. 3. Let them lose. You know that cute thing we do when we fudge our moves in a game to engineer our child’s victory because basically, we love to see them happy? Well, this isn’t always helpful. Evy especially likes to feel in control so can dissolve into a meltdown if he loses but I’ve come to realise that if I don’t create a space where he can express his big feelings safely at home, I’m setting him up for a huge shock when he interacts in the real world. I pre-emptively support the boys with words they can use if they win or lose (“congratulations” and “better luck next time”) then see how the game unfolds. If Evy loses (the game and his temper) we later have a reflective conversation on reactions and managing our big feelings. 4. Observe gratitude. Children sometimes lack awareness of other people in their
lives. So, to remind my two of all the wonderful people that make up the tapestry of their lives – from friends and family to learning assistants – they create virtual birthday messages and ad hoc cards of appreciation for others. This reminds them that there are a bunch of people always rooting for their happiness. 5. Go team! Teamwork is a key ethic we imbue at home especially because of Evy’s proclivity to always be the ‘leader’. We love Lego because of the ample opportunities to build, innovate and work as a team. We have structured play where one person is the engineer, another the builder and another the supplier. This helps to develop communication skills as each character explains what they need or where to place pieces. 6. Understanding facial expressions. Evy can now label expressions but there was a time when he couldn’t. One strategy I use is to point to the faces of people in a book and ask questions like: “Why do they look so worried?” Or, if there aren’t any pictures then ask: “Can we think of a similar word that means glared?” Children love a challenge, so it’s rare that I get any resistance to this.
You can find more tips and hear about my autism parenting journey at: Instagram: @Asian_Autism_Mum • Facebook: @AsianAutismMum Website: reenaanand.com 58 | Cherubs Magazine
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Photo credit: Sarah Angel Photography
PARENT TRAVEL LIFE
REDISCOVER THE JOY OF RUNNING A BUSINESS
B E CA US E W O R K IN G F OR Y O U R S E L F CA N B E T O U GH. BUT YO U D O N ' T N EE D T O D O IT A L ON E .
JOIN O UR CO MMU N IT Y A ND CO NN EC T WI TH FE M AL E B U SI NE SS OW N ER S O NL I NE A ND I N P ER S ON A C RO S S HE RTS , E S S E X AND NO RT H L ON D ON . @THEMAMAHIVE WWW.THEMAMAHIVE.COM
TRAVEL
The Most Colourful Places In The World By Paulina Joukov Hidden away from crowds of tourists, these most colourful places in the world are truly inspirational. Artists and writers have found inspiration in these colourful destinations. So, fairytales do come true, and a visit to any of these places will surely be a life-changing experience for you too.
Cinque Terre Italy
Tulip Fields
The Netherlands Pink, white, orange and purple, Holland’s tulip fields are magical in all the colours of the rainbow. The best place to see the amazing tulip fields is in Keukenhof and you can admire the beauty for free. The marvellous fields are fifteen minutes walking from Keukenhof. However,
continue for another fifteen minutes and you will see even more beautiful tulips. You can enjoy this colourful view between April to mid-May, during the tulips’ blossom. The big tulip fields are a short trip from Amsterdam, so it will be a wonderful day trip to the Netherlands’ countryside. In addition, you could rent a bicycle like the locals to admire the breathtaking flowers.
Whether it’s a grey winter day or blue-skied summer day, Cinque Terre is colourful in any weather. The beautiful houses have a view of the blue sea and create the most colourful picture. Moreover, every village you visit in Cinque Terre is more colourful than the other, with houses painted in yellow, pink, red, and orange tones. So, together with the blue sea and green hills, the Cinque Terre region in Italy is one of the most colourful places in the world. This colourful journey begins in La Spezia town, a great port town and departure point of Cinque Terre train. Travelling around Cinque Terre by train is best since the train passes each of the villages, so you can go and return to any spot whenever you want during the day. 60 | Cherubs Magazine
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TRAVEL Nyhavn
Copenhagen The picturesque port once inspired one of the greatest children’s book authors to write the Princess and the Pea. Yes, number 20 townhouse was once home to Danish Hans Christian Andersen. Colourful Nyhavn was a lively central port, where you could hear sailors’ calls in almost any language. Today, the renovated Nyhavn is where locals come to relax at the end of the day. Dinner with jazz music, watching the sunset over the boats and colourful townhouses, is a remarkable experience.
Chefchaouen Morocco
Hidden away in a green valley, just two hours from Tangier, is the bluest and most precious gem Chefchaouen. Painted in blue and white, with colourful decorations, Chefchaouen is the brightest place in Morocco. Similar to the Greek island Santorini, the quaint streets and architecture captivate the most serious traveller.
Wroclaw Poland
The largest city in Western Poland, Wroclaw is one of Poland’s hidden gems. Wroclaw is a charming off-the-beaten-path destination in Europe, and its colourful architecture makes it one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The most colourful spot in the mediaeval market square, where you can take in the lively atmosphere in one of the restaurants around.
Legends say that the unique colour choice dates back to the 15th century when Jewish people lived in this small town. Therefore, the blue colour symbolises the sky and the connection to god. While Jewish people are no longer residents of this small town, nonetheless the place preserved its beauty throughout the years. Today, this small town attracts thousands of tourists, so be prepared to meet excited crowds around every blue corner.
You can get to Colmar from Basel in Switzerland or any major city in France, by train. So, put down a visit to Colmar in your European holiday itinerary. Another great option is spending your entire vacation only in Colmar. Either way, there are many things to do in Colmar except to take pictures of the most colourful place in France. For example, cruising the canal, shopping in the covered market, and tasting Alsace wine.
Burano Island Italy
One of the three famous islands near Venice, Burano is the colourful one between the three lovely Italian islands. A boat trip away from the mainland, Burano’s bright-painted houses are a great offseason vacation destination. While you can go round the island in two hours, you will end up spending an entire day just taking pictures. The charming fishermen’s houses along the bridges together with the many canals add to Burano’s beauty. This adds to the postcard-like image of one of the top five colourful places in Europe. A visit to Burano is a great day trip from Venice, great for lace shopping and Aperol afternoon drinks with views of the Venetian lagoon.
So, be sure to grab your camera and good walking shoes for your stroll in the colourful lanes and old town. From winter to summer, the colourful Wroclaw will greet you with a warm welcome, and Polish pierogi stuffed with potatoes, cheese, or fruit.
Colmar France
Colourful half-timbered houses, flowerdecorated canals, Colmar is a magnificent French town where fairytales come to life. The beautiful canals will lead you through charming alleys into open squares. Here, fishermen used to sit and talk of the day’s adventures and tales of the sea. Read the full blog over at saveatrain.com/blog/most-colorful-places-world
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TRAVEL
Top Tips to Travel with Kids Stress-Free Everyone loves a holiday – the chance to get away for a few days or even a few weeks, coming back and feeling fresh and raring to go. However, when you have kids, the seemingly simple process of travelling to your holiday destination can seem like a chore, and it may prevent some from going on holiday at all. The Edit by Silver Cross has put together some top tips on how to travel with kids, to ensure your holiday goes as smoothly as possible.
Timing is key When going for a ferry or a flight or even working to a check-in time at a staycation, give yourself more time to get there when travelling with children. It’s best to expect the unexpected, and by giving yourself a generous time buffer you can handle your children’s needs and still get to your destination on time, without too much added stress. 62 | Cherubs Magazine
Snacks to the rescue
Pack light and go with the flow
There’s nothing worse than making headway on the motorway only for your little ones to start complaining they are hungry. Food keeps both hunger at bay and keeps your children entertained, so planning out a snack routine and packing plenty of food and drinks is key to a stress free and smooth journey away with your kids.
You’re leaving the comforts of home, and this can be daunting, and as a result you may be tempted to try and pack everything you use to look after your children on a dayto-day basis. As well as weighing down your car or bag for the plane, this is a recipe for disaster from a mental perspective as well.
Keep your kids in the loop If your child is old enough, it’s always a good idea to chat to them about the trip ahead of time. Younger children especially can get confused or stressed when they are out of their comfort zone, which can lead to tantrums and a more stressful journey for all involved. Talking to your child, explaining where they are going and why, will help them to process the journey and will hopefully minimise confusion along the way.
The trip is destined to be unpredictable and trying to keep strictly to the routine you’re used to at home is likely to fail, which will result in both you and the kids being more stressed. Pack light, with essentials such as favourite toys, snacks, and spare comfy clothes. To a degree, having a stressfree trip relies on you embracing the unpredictability and going with the flow.
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READING
The best books to read this spring Recommended by Sara Bragg @sarabraggwriter Spring has finally sprung and it’s finally warm enough to sit outside and read a great book (or two). Here are six brilliant reads to enjoy, from unputdownable thrillers to heartwarming fiction, there is something for everyone.
What Might Have Been
Black Cake
The Paris Apartment
Lucy is at a crossroads. She’s just left her job and has no idea about her next step. It almost seems like fate that on that same night she meets Caleb and runs into Max. Should Lucy get to know Caleb better? Or should she go to London and reconnect with Max again after he broke her heart? Perfect for anyone who has ever believed in destiny and soulmates, or wondered what your life might look like if you’d made a different choice.
Juggling lives and crossing continents, Black Cake is the extraordinary story of how the inheritance of secrets, betrayal and memories can shape a family for generations. Byron and Benny are reunited at their estranged mother’s funeral when they discover a puzzling inheritance. First, a voice recording in which everything Byron and Benny ever knew about their family is upended. Second, a traditional Caribbean black cake made from a family recipe with a long history. Will their mother’s revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever?
An atmospheric and utterly addictive murder mystery set deep in the heart of Montmartre. Welcome to No.12 rue des Amants, a beautiful old apartment block, far from the glittering lights of the Eiffel Tower and the bustling banks of the Seine. Where nothing goes unseen, and everyone has a story to unlock. There was a murder here last night. A mystery lies behind the door of apartment three, but who holds the key?
By Holly Miller Hodder & Stoughton, £14.99
By Charmaine Wilkerson Penguin, £14.99
By Lucy Foley HarperCollins, £14.99
One Night on the Island
Wahala
The Sanatorium
One cottage. Two strangers. Every great love story starts somewhere. Cleo arrives at a cabin on a remote Irish island to find a tall, dark, stubborn American who insists it’s actually his. With a storm fast approaching, they reluctantly hunker down together. It’s just one night, after all. But what if one night on the island is just the beginning? Following Cleo and Mack through heartbreak, selfgrowth and friendship, One Night on the Island is an uplifting, moving love story for fans of The Holiday, Lucy Diamond and Jojo Moyes.
Three mixed-race friends, Ronke, Simi and Boo, are living in London. When Isobel, a lethally glamorous friend from their past arrives in town, she is determined to fix their futures for them. Cracks in their friendship begin to appear. When she is driven to a terrible act, the women are forced to reckon with a crime in their past that may just have repeated itself. Perfect for fans of Queenie and Expectation, this is an explosive, razor-sharp tale of love, race and family.
Unexplained disappearances at a sinister hotel (and former sanatorium) in the Swiss Alps spell trouble for vacationing detective Elin Warner in Pearse’s disturbing closed-community thriller. Elin is there to celebrate her estranged brother’s recent engagement. But when they discover his fiancée has vanished without a trace, Elin realises everyone’s in danger. And anyone could be next.
By Josie Silver Penguin, £7.99
cherubsmagazine.com
By Nikki May Transworld, £14.99
By Sarah Pearse Transworld, £8.99
Cherubs Magazine | 63
HOME
7 Tips for Stress-Free Property Management for New Landlords If you’re a new landlord, you may find that managing your property can seem overwhelming.
Secondly, you may still be dealing with the pandemic impacts:
Firstly, you need to know how to take care of your property, so you maximise your rental return and profit, which includes the following activities:
• extra commercial cleaning needed • socially distanced property viewings • dealing with changes to eviction notice periods • difficulty in securing good quality tenants
• • • • • • •
ensuring the rent is at market price screening tenants to ensure they’re suitable collecting rent from tenants keeping tenant vacancy rates low consistent communication with tenants providing maintenance and repairs managing the budget.
64 | Cherubs Magazine
That’s why we’ve put together a list of seven tips for stress-free property management to help you navigate the operation, control, and maintenance of your new investment properties.
Tip 1 Create a Strong Online Presence If you want to secure good-quality tenants, you need to ensure you have a robust online presence with high-quality images and strong online reviews. Ideally, your property will provide stylish living spaces that are highly desirable for all tenant types, including millennials, professionals, young families, and retirees. Savvy landlords create living spaces that reflect the lifestyle of various types of tenants, which is beneficial, especially with many people choosing to work from home. 020 8154 3664
HOME
Tip 3
Tip 6
Get Your Property “Rent-Ready”
Consider Local Housing Lettings
Before you list your property, make sure it is ready for potential renters. This means making sure it is safe, well-maintained, and clean.
If you have had challenges renting your property, consider local housing lettings. Of course, you will want to ensure that your property is looked after with quality tenants, which is what we do as part of the REKA Home Finder Scheme.
Now is the time to tidy up, declutter and fix the items that need a handyman. Also, consider if you want to rent your property furnished, unfurnished or partially furnished.
Tip 4 Host Virtual Walk-Throughs Virtual walk-throughs are popular for showing many people the features of properties at the same time. There are two categories of virtual reality that are useful for property management: 1. Semi-immersive virtual reality. This type of virtual reality allows prospective tenants to be partially in a virtual environment through high-resolution 2D photos, 3D photos and videos. The prospective tenant views the details via a computer or phone. 2. Fully immersive virtual reality. This is the most realistic simulation experience, complete with sight and sound. The virtual environment is created from highresolution models, images and videos combined to create a new reality. It is like physically being in the property.
Tip 5 Tip 2
Include Extra Incentives
Ensure Your Property Is In A Good Location
Landlords that include extras will attract good-quality tenants that want to stay longer.
A good location has never been more important than now, with people living and working within a confined location.
These extras can include the following:
If you haven’t already bought your investment property, ensure that it is within walking distance to pubs, restaurants, shops, parks, and public transport. Remember to advertise the key features of everything close to the property to encourage potential tenants.
• • • • • • •
extra storage space fast, reliable internet service Netflix subscription cleaning gardening accepting pets allowing renters to pay one lump sum every month to cover all utility bills, council tax, internet, and rent – this is especially important for HMOs.
Our REKA Home Finder Scheme allows landlords to rent their properties immediately through local authorities in London and receive London housing rates. In some cases, landlords will receive a topup on the housing rate. In addition, we provide a cash incentive of up to £1,000, with a two-year tenancy agreement with fully vetted quality tenants. What’s more, the rent can be guaranteed in some cases, so there is no cash flow loss if there is a vacancy. To find out more, visit our website page, www.rekaproperty.co.uk/home-finderscheme.
Tip 7 Choose The Right Letting Agent The final tip is deciding if you are going to be on hand to deal with maintenance and repairs (as well as finding tenants) or if you will appoint an agent to do this on your behalf. If you decide to find an agent, make sure you find someone reputable that you can talk to. You want to build a strong working relationship with them and make sure they can help look after your tenants and your investment. Find out what their property management service includes and excludes, so you know what your time commitment will need to be. At REKA Property Management, we help manage our clients’ property and help landlords keep up to date with COVID health requirements. If you want peace of mind with your property, call us on 020 3286 6468 or email us at Admin@RekaProperty.co.uk
W W W. R E K A P R O P E R T Y. C O . U K cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 65
LASTLY
5 minutes
with Ben
Anderson He makes us LOL on a daily basis with something as simple as putting the recycling bins out and when he’s not entertaining us with his antics or filming epic scenes with the drone, he’s busy being a wonderful dad to five kids. Yes five! Instagram @thediaryofadad
Your bedside reading at the moment is… Underbelly, the novel by Anna Whitehouse (@mother_pukka). It’s a fascinating read that I’m recommending to everyone especially those who are involved in social media.
Which album will you have on loop and never be bored with? The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Favourite podcast when you have five minutes peace...
When you’re not running around after five kids, you are…
I’m a huge fan of The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett.
Catching up on my huge backlog of Netflix series.
Three things you always have in your glove compartment?
Favourite aftershave?
Baby wipes, a Fruit Shoot, a kid’s toy that I’ve caught them trying to smuggle into school.
Insta or TikTok? Instagram.
Ultimate food weakness? Lamb kofte. Whenever I see it on a menu, it’s like everything else disappears!
Coffee or tea?
I love the idea of being a real coffee snob but I always end up going for tea. 66 | Cherubs Magazine
Currently Issey Miyake for Men.
What gives you instant calmness? When the kids are all asleep of an evening and I sit down on the sofa and hear the Netflix loading sound.
If you needed to hear a voice of comfort, who would you call?
Next destination on your list is… Dubai. We’re considering a move out there so we will be house hunting.
You can choose one superpower… Pause time so I can actually get stuff done and catch up on sleep.
What language would you love to learn? Spanish.
How would you describe yourself? Hardworking, Loyal and easy to get along with.
The mantra you live by? Life is too short to get stressed out by the silly things.
My dad. He’s probably the only person I know who is more chilled out and relaxed than me.
020 8154 3664
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