S U M M E R 2022 . # 22
Take me home
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HO HO HO...
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‘Tis the season once again… and considering the circumstances, it feels like it’s not just Santa that only gets to visit everyone once this year! But through all the twists and turns and ups and downs, we did it! We made it through 2021 by the skin of our teeth. If we’ve learnt nothing else over the last couple of spins around the sun, it’s that family is as important as it’s ever been. To those who haven’t seen their loved ones, and won’t be able to again this festive season, our true Christmas wish is that families across the country and indeed across the globe can be reunited sooner rather than later. On the topic of families, don’t you just LOVE our cover family for this festive issue of KIDDO? We’ve never seen a crew rock ugly Christmas sweaters quite so well as comedian Josh Hawkins and his gorgeous wife Catherine and daughters Billie and Bobby! We caught up with Josh (aka @hijosh) and his fam to find out about their recent move to Adelaide and some of the secrets behind Josh’s laugh-a-minute viral Instagram vids!
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Mark Le Messurier joining the team to offer us some parenting wisdom on cultivating a new, gentler approach with our kiddos (just in time for the silly season!) We also share the beautiful surrogacy story of @the_real_dads_of_adelaide Brendan and Matt and find out some of the realities behind becoming a parent using a surrogate in Australia. From our KIDDO family, to yours, we wish you a sensational (and safe!) summer with plenty of sunshine and good times. May your Christmas be merry and bright, your families be functional and your batteries included! Until next year…
Charlotvte + Li
Publisher Charlotte Chambers Content Manager Olivia Williams Editor Olivia Williams Editorial Contributors Rebecca Morse Madhavi Nawana Parker Miriam Weir Helen Connolly Jana Rushforth Henry Williams George Archontidis Simon Blacket Ros McDonough Dr Daniel De Angelis
We welcomed back KIDDO fave, Madhavi from Positive Minds Australia to talk about dealing with the dreaded c-word…conflict! Whether it’s squabbling with siblings over toys, name calling, sibling rivalry or fighting over who had the green bowl first, every family has
The Project Company PO BOX 1083 Glenelg South SA 5045 Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of the publisher. Whilst all care is taken, the publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. KIDDO Mag is a team effort and if you have any suggestions or questions, make contact! We would love to hear from you. hello@kiddomag.com.au
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LISTEN UP — KIDDO CHATS PODCAST
In the last few shows we’ve been tackling the big issues! We talked puberty with author Michelle Mitchell… namely, how to break down this tricky topic with our tweens and establish ourselves as a trusted go-to person and reliable source of info on all things growing up.
Photographer: Kate Dyer @hellourbansafari
Art Director Caroline Gliddon
We also welcome some new and returning contributors to this issue, with counsellor, teacher and author
And that’s a wrap on our first season of KIDDO chats! 22 episodes and still going strong!
Cover Cover Stars: Josh, Catherine, Billie and Bobby Hawkins
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to deal with conflict in one way or another and Madhavi has some tips on how to avoid fanning the flames on the family fighting! And in our final episode for the year, we had the absolute pleasure of chatting with @the_real_dads_of_adelaide Brendan and Matt (who’s story is also featured on page 24 of this issue) about their journey to parenthood via surrogacy. Expect brutal honesty, plenty of laughs and the odd Kardashian anecdote! It was a sheer joy to round out the year by speaking to these hilarious, engaging and warm human beings about starting their family. An episode not to miss!
KIDDO CHATS EPISODES Episode 20: How to talk to kids about puberty Episode 21: Dealing with kids and conflict Episode 22: Becoming a parent via surrogacy Listen on your podcast app
headshots product photography website content social media urbansafari.com.au @hellourbansafari
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Opening Early to Mid 2022
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Design for Life
by Normus Homes
Home is where the heart is. There’s no place like home. These age-old adages about the family home ring true because we know our houses are more than just the place we return to every day. They’re where our families are growing and our memories are being made; home is the place we make our own.
A home that will grow with you The team at Normus design stunning custom homes that are also adaptable and capable of evolving with you and your family. By making innovative design changes today, you can enjoy enhanced liveability tomorrow. Having an accessible home makes sense for everyone – whether you’re a young parent pushing a pram, have aging parents or grandparents visiting or living with you, or need special accommodations for a family member living with a disability. Normus offers the flexibility to create a home that is built for people at any stage of life and ability, one that is also prepared for when life throws you circumstances you may not have expected... and does it all with amazing style.
Design for Life This exciting new initiative from Normus offers flexibility to accommodate families looking to build their forever home and families living with disability in custom homes. Normus’ bespoke Design for Life floor plans offer an added element of accessibility and ease in every design.
Step-free travel throughout the home
Wider doors and corridors for enhanced mobility
Slip resistant surfaces
Larger step-free bathrooms
Most people dream of living in a brand new home they have designed and built, forever, but what does that look like? How many homes these days are actually built to grow with you? To accommodate your family's changing needs without any compromise on style? Using 30 years of award winning experience, Normus can guide you through the important steps to creating a truly bespoke home design for your life.
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Reinforced walls to support future grab railing
Building a better life
Experience the Normus Difference
Design for Life can incorporate both basic or extensive elements when designing and building a truly bespoke ‘liveable’ home.
Visit the Display Home Collection during open hours to experience the Normus Difference and discuss your new bespoke forever home with their Custom Homes Consultant.
A liveable home is designed to: - Be easy to enter - Be easy to navigate in and around - Be capable of easy and cost-effective adaptation - Be responsive to the changing needs of home occupants Design for Life’s custom home solution is designed specially to future-proof your most significant investment – your home. Considerations are made to heighten safety features, mitigate tripping hazards, slippery surfaces and narrow transitional spaces, as well as offering spacious rooms for added mobility; all so you can live in your home for longer, from young growing families to empty nesters wanting to age comfortably in their home.
normus.com.au/design-for-life Custom Homes Consultant 0409 888 632 Office 8363 5744
START PLANNING YOUR 'FOREVER HOME' TODAY. KID D O F E ATU RE
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Have a very virtual Christmas Santa and his friends have made a special visit to The Parade in Norwood this year, and your family can take part in an augmented reality Christmas trail to find them! All you’ll need is your smartphone or smart device and you can be part of the festive fun and hunt for a whole host of Christmas characters (think cheeky elves, dancing snowmen and the big guy in a red suit himself!) hiding around The Parade. HOW TO JOIN THE FESTIVE FUN: •
Download the free CreativiTek app and visit one or all eight of the locations listed here, following the Christmas on Parade footpath stickers!
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Use the app to scan the sticker and watch Santa and his friends come to life!
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Jump in and join the Christmas characters for a video or photo and make sure to tag #christmasonparade so everyone can see your adventures.
Letters from
Santa
The team at KIDDO love the festive season and this year we’ve been in touch with Tinsel the Elf, Chief Elf and magicmaker at the North Pole Post, who’s main role is to sort all the letters to Santa from children around the world. Tinsel the Elf wanted to share a bit about what happens up there in the North Pole and how your kiddo can receive a personalised letter from Santa himself this Christmas, through the magic of the North Pole Post. We got onto the elf-ophone with Tinsel to ask a few questions about how to write a letter to Santa, what new goodies are available from North Pole Post this year, and get some sneaky intel about what treats Santa likes best on Christmas Eve! How do we write a letter to Santa? Santa loves to receive post and always enjoys a drawing or handmade Christmas
mini STARS
LOCATIONS: We've got some insider knowledge from Santa's helpers on where you might find Santa and his friends along The Parade! IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS
Santa and the Star • The Parade Main Pedestrian Crossing (South Side) • Margaret Street Murals
Get your kids into the Christmas spirit with Christmas themed colouring sheets! Available from 13 December 2021 until 11 January 2022, colouring sheets can be collected from the Norwood Town Hall Customer Service desk, all council libraries and in a variety of retail outlets in the city.
Santa and the Reindeer • Entrance to Parade Central • Nuova Apartments Foyer (between Cono and Johnny Slicks Barber Shop) Elf and Snowman • Norwood Oval • Bendigo Bank Laneway Entry
Kiddos can colour to their hearts content and then —using the same free CreativiTek app from the augmented reality trail— can scan the coloured page and watch the image come to life… in the colours they used!
Three Dancing Snowmen • Queen Street and The Parade (North-East Corner) • Parade Pavilion
For more Christmas activities in The City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters: npsp.sa.gov.au
card. Once you’ve written your letter just pop it in an envelope addressed to Santa. Then leave it somewhere Christmassy – like under your tree or in a stocking – and a Post Elf will magically collect it. We also have magical letter writing kits in our shop too! What is the most popular product at North Pole Post? Our most popular product is definitely the letter from Santa, and is also Santa’s favourite letter to write. On his vintage typewriter Santa types personalised letters which are all unique. Right down to the child’s special achievement this year, favourite Christmas activities and even the Elf who packed the letter! Can you share any new products you have this year? We’ve been busy elves this year and there are a few new magical products! Gingerbread the Elf is making customised Santa treat boards on beautiful sustainability sourced pine from right here at the North Pole. Mistletoe has been making magical keys, which are perfect for homes without a chimney. We’re
also excited to have Elf letters, a fun memory match game, Christmas activity blocks and even Mrs Claus is sharing her recipes too. Give us the scoop… What treats does Santa like best on Christmas Eve? Santa does get quite peckish delivering presents and his favourite treats are homemade biscuits and cookies, he especially enjoys gingerbread. He loves a glass of milk on Christmas Eve, though on a hot night delivering presents around Australia a cold beer or lemonade is always appreciated. northpolepost.co @northpolepostco
Star Academy's preschool program 'Mini Stars' is designed for our littlest Star's taking their first steps into the world of dance! For students aged 2.5 to 4 years, our "Mini Ballet" and "Funky Dance" classes combine the perfect balance of dance and fun!
PROPS, STORYTELLING, MUSIC AND IMAGINATIVE PLAY children
Through the use of
develop the foundations of dance technique and performance skills. staracademy_adelaide staracademy5000
www.staracademy.com.au | 100 Grote Street, ADL 5000 | 8211 9384
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ENTERTAINING
Entert aining with family and friends can be a breeze this festive season with our range of abundant, beautifully-presented, freshly-made food platters & boards available at Frewville and Pasadena Foodland.
EASY DONE!
Not all entertaining boards are created equal and a lot of care goes into creating the freshest and tastiest selections which start from $20. Choose from housemade sweet or savoury pastries, gourmet cheese, antipasto, barbecue chicken, seafood, brioche sliders, fresh fruit, sushi and more! Yo u c a n n o w o r d e r o u r s t u n n i n g p l a t t e r s and boards online to collect in-store! Visit adelaidesfinest .com.au
Mascarpone Baked Cheesecake from $45
Need help WITH DESSERT? Flowerbar Patisserie Cakes from $25 Flowerbar Chocolate Blocks from $9
Cakes available from Pasadena Flowerbar and Mr N i c k ’s F r e w v i l l e . C h o c o l a t e Blocks can be found in s t o r e s a n d a t t h e S p i c e b a r.
Chocolate Sponge Cake from $50
R e d Ve l v e t Cake from $50
COMPOSTABLE FRUIT & VEG BAGS Reuse at HOME to collect food waste and R E CYC L E i n yo u r G R E E N B I N o r c o m p o st .
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Images for illustration purposes only.
The Bear Club’s 5 top tips on getting the best out of your family photos: Christmas gift idea! Show your love by gifting a photoshoot to a friend or loved one. Use the code XMAS2021 for 15% off all family packages booked until 31 Jan 2022.
4. Full tummies, big smiles! As much as it is nice to go out for dinner after a shoot when you are all dressed up, don't rock up on empty stomachs. Get a good full belly, and maybe even bring some healthy snacks along for the kiddos to nibble between shots. 5. Get the husband on board. Allow your husband or partner time to prepare mentally, budget to avoid money stress and let him know why it's so important to you to capture these memories. Reassure him you've picked the photographers that will just have fun and not make him do anything awkward!
Family photography
Knowing and understanding that everyone really wants good photos of their families and kids to treasure for years to come, The Bear Club was born. As the ‘little sister’ of Matthew’s existing wedding photography business, The Bear Club has the vision
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2. Styling outfits. Jamie Reilly, Westfield Stylist (@jamie.loves) suggests, "sticking to certain colours, similar tones that compliment each other. The whole look needs to tell a story.” 3. Bring your kids on the journey. Start the conversations early, get them excited about meeting special photographers, going on an adventure, having their photos taken and involve the kids in the planning! Special treats always help too!
The Bear Club
After welcoming their first baby in 2019, husband and wife creatives Matthew and Laura Dwyer saw firsthand just how quickly little people grow and change before your very eyes. Not to mention how many moments can be missed as family life becomes so oh-so-busy.
1. Location, location! Work with your photographer to decide on a location that suits your personal style, home decor and overall aesthetic.
of capturing families and making special memories at the same time. The Bear Club is all about finding and bringing out those raw, fun, energetic (and sometimes even shy or embarrassing!) personalities within families, creating a collection of images that capture a moment in time you’ll look back on with all the warm and fuzzies. The Bear Club wants to be a small part of your family for the day…to help you capture all those special memories and create amazing photos for you to treasure as stunning artwork in your home, or as a gift to family and friends.
Capturing beautiful family moments The team will start by taking the time to get to know you and your little one. Making sure everyone is comfortable and ready to have some fun is an all important part of the process to getting those natural, spontaneous shots we all love so much! Expect music, glitter, maybe even a balloon
or two, and a whole lot of laughs! The vibe will be upbeat, fun, adventurous and relaxed. With a choice between family sessions in studio or on location, you can either choose your own favourite or meaningful spot for the session, or have a hand in the creative behind your studio shoot, choosing your own backdrop colour and props. The Bear Club has a range of photography packages and payment plans and also offers printing and framing services, so you can get to the all important part of hanging those beautiful shots on the wall and letting the laughter and joy of your little people come to life in your home. Use the code XMAS2021 for 15% off. thebearclub.com.au @the.bearclub
LOCAL VE LO
GOOD CLEAN FUN
Organik Wellness & Co skincare for babies, kids and tweens With over 11 years in the beauty industry, Lena Wilkinson knows skincare. Moreover, as a mother of two herself, she understands the importance and needs of children’s sensitive skin. After the birth of her own children, Lena struggled to find an Aussie brand that offered safe, gentle skincare for kiddos, using non toxic ingredients. Inspired by her own daughters, she had a vision to create a space within the beauty industry that encourages natural beauty… using natural products! While on maternity leave with her second daughter, Lena decided to take the leap and use her wealth of knowledge in the industry to create an Aussie skincare brand she was confident other mothers would learn to know and trust. We chat with Lena about how Organik Wellness & Co is different and why it’s so important to choose the right product for the soft, sensitive skin of our tiny tots and tweens!
We have skin care for newborns, such as our award-winning baby bath soak, through to our newest range, a simple 3-step skin care routine for tweens.
How is skin care specifically designed for babies and kids different from what we might use as adults? Children’s skin, especially babies and younger kids, is structured differently. The epidermis (outer layer of skin) is 20-30% thinner, meaning it is more sensitive and fragile than adult skin, which is why a lot of younger ones experience dryness. When developing skin care specifically for children, we make sure that we use nourishing natural ingredients such as oatmeal, calendula, coconut, and avocado oils.
Part of your business vision is taking care of and giving back to the earth – tell us about how Organik Wellness does this.
Tell us about the different products Organik Wellness & Co offers for bubs and kids.
We care deeply about the planet and creating a business that gives back to nature. That’s why we have partnered with One Tree Planted and will plant a tree for every order placed!
Organik Wellness & Co is a natural and organic skincare brand designed specifically for children. We specialise in skin care products for babies, kids and tweens, with a small range also available for mothers.
We have also joined the eco-packaging alliance with our eco-friendly packaging supplier, where products are compostable, recycled and reusable! Our ink is now soy-based and toxic free!
Lena Wilkinson Founder of Organik Wellness & Co
Our packaging is recyclable and reusable, and we will be stocking refill pouches in the near future.
Your products are all locally made. Why is it important to you to have an SA made product? We love supporting local and by making our product in SA we hope to support other SA families by producing jobs and building our local economy. We make our products in small batches so our consumers can have the benefits of a longer shelf life of their products once opened. Our products are also blended, filled and labelled during this process, all here on the Fleurieu Peninsula!
organikwellness.com.au @organikwellness.co
Places available for Preschool & Reception for 2022 • Flexible Preschool childcare options • Reception intake each term • Private Principal tours available PHONE 8339 6842 EMAIL enquiries@montessori.sa.edu.au
ESTABLISHED SINCE 1978
montessori.sa.edu.au /9
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Three unique worlds await at Santa’s Wonderland The excitement builds. Magic and laughter are just moments away. Some arrive in hushed awe, while for others, the exhilaration is almost palpable, because no experience brings the joy and delight of Christmas quite like Adelaide’s very own Santa’s Wonderland. For three weeks in December, the Jubilee Pavilion at the Adelaide Showground is transformed into a spectacular world of snow, ice and Christmas celebration. And with its array of rides, activities and entertainment – all included in the entry price – it’s easy to see why Santa’s Wonderland is the hottest festive season ticket in town. Each year, the event is arranged into three distinct themes. Traditional Christmas Land is inspired by the great customs of the festive season. Beautiful Christmas trees and giant nutcracker dolls line the entrance, which opens out to reveal oversized sleighs and golden reindeers, creating the perfect backdrop for family photos. Mrs Christmas is nestled by her hearth, and delights kids with Christmas stories. Then it’s off to ride
MAMA MILK KITS Our friends at The Village Co. have launched a new initiative to support struggling mums, one that will address the not insignificant task of supporting mums-in-need with breastfeeding. The Mama Milk Kit was created with The Village Co. mums in mind. Mums who want to breastfeed but face significant barriers, including homelessness, financial hardship, significant mental health issues, minimal family/friend support or domestic violence.
one of the special North Pole reindeers, and think about what to write at the North Pole letter station. For the very little ones, a band of cheeky elves are there to help out, before little hands carefully post their letter to Santa in the express post box to the North Pole. Ice Wonderland is, as its name suggests, the coolest place to be. It’s packed full of activities, including the exciting toboggan slide and an awesome ice rink complete with skating elves to offer a helping hand. This is the realm of the beautiful Ice Queen who welcomes all, from her glistening white sleigh. From here, visitors make their way through the illuminated bauble walk, which, with the life-sized polar bears, penguins, arctic foxes and towering Christmas tree, makes for more breathtaking photos. Candyland is where the sweetest memories of all are made. It’s bursting with colourful interactive zones and loads of family fun. Here, families can buy fairy floss, toffee apples and gingerbread, before the little ones work off that energy on the jumping castles all while exploring some of the Christmas Pageant floats up close. When it’s time for some calm, the Christmas bauble stop is a chance for kids to personalise their own bauble for the tree at home.
There is a huge amount of pressure on mothers to breastfeed but for any new mum it presents a steep learning curve. We know that breast milk is the ideal option for the health of the newborn—as well as having many positive outcomes for the health and mental/emotional wellbeing of the mother —but it’s not always as easy as it looks. With a Mama Milk Kit, new mums facing hardship will receive basic tools, simple instructions and access to expert videos, all to help them successfully nourish their newborn babies.
HOW YOU CAN HELP You can help The Village Co. by buying a Mama Milk Kit for yourself or a friend, or by making a donation so more can be supplied to new mums in need.
SANTA’S WONDERLAND Jubilee Pavilion Adelaide Showground, Wayville Friday 3 to Friday 24 December, 2021 Sessions Morning 10am – 1pm Afternoon 2pm – 5pm Twilight 6pm – 9pm Last, but definitely not least, Candyland is home to the main stage with live entertainment and of course, the most important part of all – an appearance by Santa himself! santaswonderland.com.au @santaswonderlandsa
By buying a Mama Milk Kit you’ll also be supporting new mums who need a bit of extra help. Your beautifully packaged Mama Milk Kit comes with: • • • • •
Silicone manual breast pump Silicone breast pump cap 10 milk storage bags Breastfeeding info magnet The knowledge that you’ve helped a new mum
While you enjoy your Mama Milk Kit, your purchase helps The Village Co. fund Mama Milk Kits for other mums in hospital who want to breastfeed but can’t afford this helpful tool. thevillageco.org/mama-milk @the_village_co
fresh and delicious eggs from happy, healthy hens
@rohdes freerangeeggs / 10
Montessori Early Learning Preparing your child for their full potential in the most crucial years of life.
As parents we want happy, confident, respectful and independent children, and this is exactly what a Montessori environment promotes. When these characteristics are prevalent in children, they will automatically learn and develop at their own pace, and they will continue to be a curious being who loves learning and who loves life. – Cheryl Shigrov, Founder & Director Precious Cargo
Teaching Practical, Lifelong Skills
Music
Agriculture
Washing
Cooking
Blackwood 346-348 Shepherds Hill Rd Blackwood, SA 5051 (08) 8130 6673
Collinswood 91 North East Rd Collinswood, SA 5081 (08) 8344 3880
Marion 15 Finniss St Marion, SA 5043 (08) 8130 6678
Welland 85 Grange Rd Welland, SA 5007 (08) 8130 6674
St Peters 79-83 Stephen Tce St Peters, SA 5069 (08) 8363 5669
Lockleys 390 Henley Beach Rd Lockleys, SA 5032 (08) 8234 1144
Myrtle Bank 3 Fisher St Myrtle Bank, SA 5064 (08) 8130 6699
Woodville Park 699 Port Road Woodville Park, SA 5011 (08) 8244 5139
Westbourne Park 183 Cross Rd Westbourne Park, SA 5041 (08) 8271 8388
info@preciouscargoeducation.com.au | preciouscargoeducation.com.au
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Everything you need to know about braces
WORDS – Dr Daniel De Angelis
Dr De Angelis has been a Specialist Orthodontist in Adelaide for over 20 years. During that time, he’s treated over 10,000 patients – that’s a lot of transformed smiles! Dr De Angelis loves assisting his patients on their orthodontic journey to achieve the smile they’ve always dreamed of.
When it comes to orthodontic treatments, braces continue to be an effective and reliable form of treatment that I still recommend to my patients. What are braces? Dental braces are wire-based orthodontic devices that align and straighten teeth. Braces also help correct misaligned jaws and malocclusions (when your teeth don’t meet correctly when you bite together). While most people get braces in their teens, adult braces are just as effective (and popular too!). Braces consist of stainless steel brackets and thin wire bands that help gently move the teeth. Do braces hurt? Everybody experiences braces differently. There may be some discomfort as your mouth adjusts to the new pressure on your teeth. You may also feel your new braces rubbing against your inner cheek. This should all disappear in a few days once you have your braces put on. What can I eat? After regular orthodontic appointments or adjustments, your braces may leave you feeling a little tender. We recommend eating soft food like soup, bananas or pasta. Once you feel more comfortable, you can introduce more foods into your diet like bread, pasta, meats, seafood, cooked veggies, fruit and treats like ice cream. What can’t I eat? Hard and chewy foods can sometimes cause breakages to the wires and brackets on your braces. This is why limiting hard and crunchy foods like apples and carrots is a good idea. I recommend my patients avoid things like licorice, popcorn, chips, nuts, hard lollies and foods that require biting into, like corn on the cob. It’s only for a relatively short time. I reassure my patients they will be able to eat these foods again soon enough!
How to introduce your newborn to your fur-babies!
WORDS – Ros McDonough, Hello Baby! Midwifery
Christmas is a time of year people often think about adding a pet to their family. While this should never be an impulse or surprise purchase, the summer months or school holidays can be a great time to get to know a new pet.
Of course we love our dogs and cats and they are very much a part of our family, but some couples worry about how their pets will respond when they bring a new baby home for the first time. In fact, this is a big reason why many people rehome their pets...but it doesn’t have to be this way! Understandably, we’re concerned with how everyone will go when there’s a change and just who’s going to be 'top-dog’. There are some practical things we can do to make the transition easier for everyone!
FUN FACT: Children of dogowning families have a 13% lower chance of developing asthma than non-dog-owning families…having a dog is good for your gut microbiome!
Practise walking your dog with the pram before baby arrives so that you and your dog are both comfortable negotiating the pusher before adding in the unpredictability of your baby!
Find a sound grab of a baby crying and play it to your pets at a low volume. Gradually increase the volume over time so that your dog becomes acclimated to the sound of a baby crying. This will help to reduce the anxiety of trying to soothe a crying baby and your stressed dog at the same time! Your dog or cat has an amazing sense of smell, so make sure you involve their nose. If you can, have your partner take some clothes home from the hospital after you've given birth for your pet to smell; they’ll smell different to the way they did when you were pregnant. Offer your dog/cat a used baby blanket, clothes, or a nappy to smell before you bring the baby home too so they can also start to know baby’s smell. Mumma, when you come home after the birth, have your partner hold babe so that your pets can greet you without the little one in your arms. They will have missed you and will want to say hello. If you’re worried about cats jumping onto baby’s bassinet, try quarantining a room for babe that’s out of bounds for heat-seeking cats (they’re attracted to babe’s warmth). Or try door guards prior to the birth to find one that works for you. You know your pets best, but the general advice is to never leave babies and pets together unsupervised. Chat to your vet for more specifics! hellobabymidwifery.com.au @hellobabymidwifery
How do I clean my braces? It’s super important to maintain good oral hygiene, particularly when you have braces. Braces make it easier for pieces of food and plaque to get trapped in the brackets of your braces. Use a toothbrush with a soft head to reach tricky areas.
Pregnant? Preparing for a family?
Flossing is also essential. I know it can be a challenge with braces, but it’s not impossible. If flossing tape is too tricky, use floss threaders or interdental brushes. We are located across Adelaide, with clinics in Modbury, St Peters and West Lakes. Book a no obligation consultation online or call us on 133 862. Ask us about our interest free payment plans too. transformorthocare.com.au @transformorthodonticcare
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Navigate pregnancy, your new baby and recovery with your Private Midwife. Medicare and Health insurance rebates apply where eligible.
www.hellobabymidwifery.com.au
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Little Nic’s Big World AFL superstar Nic Naitanui – affectionately known as NicNat – is the well-known, widely respected and much-loved ruckman of the West Coast Eagles. Born in Sydney to Fijian parents, his family moved to Western Australia where Nic was raised by his mother, who he credits with fostering his strong values and his success on and off the field. Nic's first book for children, Little Nic's Big Day, was published in 2019 and now Little Nic is back for another adventure in this lovely follow-up; a playful journey through culture, sport, art and music. We chat with Nic about the inspiration behind writing children’s books and celebrating the diversity of our Australian community.
I wrote this for tots, teens and all human beings. Let's embrace our differences and celebrate our diversity! Tell us about Little Nic’s Big World, it’s such a beautiful book with diverse characters. The book is about Little Nic attending his school fete in which he is faced with the dilemma of finding his bag with his prized cassava cake inspired by his grandma. Along the way at the fete, Nic experiences many different cultures, activities, and a range of food.
Growing up in Australia looking different, eating different food and speaking a
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All your deco dreams are about to come true with popular partyware parlour Puff & Pop opening a new shop front in Findon. It’s bigger, it’s better, it’s even dreamier…and it’s home to every bit of party paraphernalia you could ever need to make sure your next bash goes off with a bang.
Balloons are their main game, but Puff and Pop’s new range now extends to partyware, with exclusive Puff and Pop prints and / 14
What’s next? Do you have any other children’s books in the pipeline? I think it only makes sense to add to the first two. What the storyline is or what journey Little Nic goes on is worth brainstorming soon!
How has your own life experience inspired the story?
PUFF & POP
The concept of the balloon bar wall is for customers to pick and choose their balloons alongside paired boutique party supplies, whatever the occasion, theme or style.
Definitely writing a children's book. Not only does it have to captivate a child's brain and imagination, but it has to be just as engaging for the parents who read it too.
I wanted to continue to spread the message of diversity and acceptance of everyone's differences. I interact with children at a lot of schools, and I feel this is an important message.
Every party needs a little
IMAGINATION RUN WILD
What’s more difficult, playing AFL footy or writing a book for kids?
Why did you decide to write a follow up to Little Nic’s Big Day?
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“We believe in creating truly memorable experiences,” says Puff and Pop’s Director Ivy Bui. “This new premises allows us to take care of the complete, stress-free onsite installation to give customers that ‘wow’ effect, so they only have to focus on enjoying the occasion.”
different language at home, I was always on a journey to find my place in the school yard.
designs available, as well as party props, bar carts, swing chairs and photo walls; helping you create the ultimate party experience and Instagram photo opportunity. Puff and Pop has a team of seven dedicated creatives who will style and supply the finest party products and ensure your next shindig— whatever the occasion may be—truly shines. The new Puff and Pop showroom is located at 274 Findon Road, Findon. puffandpop.com.au @puffandpop
Little Nic’s Big World is published by Allen & Unwin and available from all good bookstores. RRP $19.99
Watch your favourite Christmas friends come to life on The Parade!
Jump in the photo and tag yourself
#CHRISTMASONPARADE
Using the free CreativiTek app, scan the footpath decal at 8 locations along The Parade and watch what happens. 3–24 December 2021.
Get colouring
this Christmas!
Download | Print | Colour in | Come alive Colour in the full sized image, use the free CreativiTek app, scan the picture and watch them come alive! From 13 December 2021 until 11 January 2022, experience the best of Augumented Reality. To download visit www.npsp.sa.gov.au
For the full list of locations and to find out more, visit www.npsp.sa.gov.au
O PINI O N
WORD ON THE STREET Commissioner surveys young people about COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions Some of the reasons young people gave for not being vaccinated included thinking it was unnecessary because of their low risk of getting COVID-19. Others were ‘scared of needles’ while some said they believed the risks of being vaccinated outweighed the risks of contracting the virus itself. They also raised concerns about the idea of introducing a vaccine passport, saying this might unfairly effect children and young people whose parents are not allowing them to get vaccinated.
With Helen Connolly Commissioner for Children and Young People South Australia’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Helen Connolly, has today released a summary report of key findings from a survey of young people aged 12-18 years about their views on COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions. As COVID-19 vaccines have now become available to all South Australians aged 12 and over, Commissioner Connolly felt it was an appropriate time to hear from young people so that their ideas and lived experiences could be factored into decision-making. In addition to asking for their views on vaccines and restrictions, the survey also asked young people where they get their information from, and what they need from adults to feel better supported during the pandemic. Of the 506 young people who responded, 1 in 3 (33%) knew ‘a little’ or ‘not much at all’ about COVID-19 vaccines. Approximately one fifth (17%) had already had one or both doses of a vaccine, and two thirds (67%) said they were ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to get vaccinated within the next 12 months.
Young people overwhelmingly understood the importance of getting vaccinated and of putting restrictions in place to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, but they also felt young people overall were being impacted by restrictions more than other age-groups. Young people reported feeling a range of emotions in response to the pandemic, from feeling lucky to be living in a state that has been relatively safe compared to other parts of Australia and the world, through to confusion, frustration, and sadness about the lack of information or appreciation for the unique and often disproportionate ways young people’s day-to-day lives are being impacted.
Young people overwhelmingly understood the importance of getting vaccinated and of putting restrictions in place To feel better supported by adults, young people recommended that they listen to what young people are saying about their unique experiences, reassure them more often, inform them with examples that are relevant, and include them in decision-making. They also said adults needed to be more flexible and to not place so much pressure on young people, to stop spreading misinformation, follow the restrictions, and provide better mental health support at school. They also wanted the government to continue to provide financial support for families who have lost work and are struggling because of the impact of the pandemic.
What Young South Australians told the Commissioner: “I guess it’s just really hard because I feel like we are losing what it means to be young, to go out and have fun. I feel like as a Generation we all really care about the community as we have a more humanistic rather than individual outlook – and we want to do all we can to support the Gov. and stop COVID. I know SO many people my age who have already gotten vaccinated or are booked. There’s not much I feel like the Gov. can do to support us, and how sad a lot of us feel about our youth right now.” – 17 year old, Female, Onkaparinga “The non-vaccines are selfish. Yeah, they have the right to be scared and not want to and have a voice, but it’s ultimately our future and when borders open, they are going to just ruin the situation. The vaccine is only like 70% effective and we can still get it, and if they are carrying it around us, then we will still get it despite doing the right thing.” – 13 year old, Female, Norwood, Payneham and St Peters “I feel the response from adults in terms of the pandemic could be described as unorganised and confusing. Though I understand that no-one has experienced something like this before, it has been confusing for me as a teenager to understand constantly changing guidelines and restrictions.” – 15 year old, Female, Central Southern LGA "I think in South Australia the government is handling keeping covid out well. However, I don’t think it’s worth destroying business and livelihoods…I’m not saying the lives lost don’t matter. Of course they do, but this is going to end up being something we will all have to live with.” – 17 year old, Female, Tea Tree Gully ccyp.com.au @ccyp_sa
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legal advice for the modern family W O R D S —
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The Style Hosts
Ask Amy...
Amy Nikolovski is the Managing Partner of DBH Lawyers, former President of the SA Law Society and a leading lawyer across her field of expertise. Amy is a staunch advocate for women in business in all aspects of her professional life. Amy is also proud mum to 2 year old Niko.
Q & A Q: WHY DO I NEED A WILL?
KIDDO’s very own columnist Rebecca Morse, and interior stylist superstar Marie Kargiotis (aka @thestylistloves) are collaborating on an innovative project, fittingly named The Style Hosts and let’s just say… we’re excited! Combining Marie’s interiors knowledge and style with Bec’s experience in media and presenting, this absolute dream team will showcase the best home, interiors and lifestyle brands to help you make decisions in a market that is, frankly, crowded with options! They’ll also share renovation and styling projects, tips and tricks, and new products to inspire you along the way. We chat with the ladies about the types of projects they’ll be working on, collaborating over cocktails and just how much fun it is working with your bestie! Congratulations Marie and Bec on the launch of The Style Hosts, tell us how you two met and became friends! Thank you KIDDO! We are excited about what’s ahead. We met when our daughters Grace and Chloe became friends in Year 2, which is 10 years ago now! We were both working mums who were always coming and going from school in a chaotic rush so we realised we had a lot in common. We also live five minutes from each other which made popping in for a cheeky wine a little too convenient and the friendship grew from there. How did your friendship evolve into going into business together? Bec enlisted Marie’s services as an interior stylist/project manager on some home reno projects, the latest being a bathroom. Every time we shared something on our personal socials it blew up with questions about where we had sourced the products/trades etc so we realised people have a real thirst for information around home improvement. Formalising the process of sharing our projects and the products that inspire us seemed the logical next step. Tell us about the type of projects you will be working on! Right now we are working on content creation with some lifestyle clients we love, to showcase their products. We will also be posting more pics and videos of our projects for inspo, along with some tips and tricks. We are also looking forward to hosting some exciting events. How do your skills complement one another and just how much fun are you having working together now? Our business name The Style Hosts came from the fact that Marie is a stylist and Bec is a host so we already had defined roles to play. We knew if we had survived working together on stressful home reno projects we would be able to translate those skills into a business partnership. We have also known each other long enough to be brutally honest and to compromise when needed. And yes it’s a lot of fun. Most of our brainstorming sessions happen over cocktails. thestylehosts.com.au @thestylehosts
Many people think that only the elderly need to prepare a Will. They don’t want to consider that they may be in an accident or become suddenly seriously ill. This is understandable, but it’s always better to be prepared for life’s unexpected twists and turns.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU UPDATE YOUR WILL?
Your Will doesn’t “expire” due to the passage of time. Therefore, it's important that you review your Will every five to seven years to ensure that it accurately represents your wishes at the time. You should also review and update your Will after a significant life event such as the loss or acquisition of wealth, death of a close family member or other family changes. It’s also important to update your Will if your appointed executor becomes unable to act in this role.
SOME INSTANCES IN WHICH YOU SHOULD UPDATE YOUR WILL ARE:
If you have children If you have children, you should review your Will to ensure that your child’s future is protected in the unfortunate event that something happens to you. It’s recommended that you update your Will after every child to ensure that your family’s best interests are reflected. It’s important to sit down with a lawyer and ensure that your children will be financially cared for. This can be through ensuring that your Will contains a trust for the benefit of your children, both whilst they are minors and older. In your Will, you can also nominate a guardian for minor children, and, if you wish, direct money to the guardian to assist them in raising your children. If you die without a Will and have minor children, then any inheritance they are entitled to will be managed by the Public Trustee until they reach 18 years of age. You will have no control over their inheritance, and you lose the ability to direct funds for their education or upbringing, or to assist their guardian. If you get married It's important to note that your Will is automatically revoked by marriage. Therefore, you must rewrite your Will after your marriage, even if the same terms are to be repeated. Separation If you are going through a separation or divorce, you should immediately update your Will to protect yourself, even if your divorce or separation has not been finalised. If you die before your divorce is finalised through the Family Court of Australia, the law considers that you are still married to your spouse. Any existing Will you may have prepared during your lifetime will remain in force. This will probably benefit your soon-to-be-ex-spouse.
HOW DO YOU GET STARTED? DBH Lawyers can help you prepare your first Will or update a Will. The process is straightforward and gives you peace of mind for the future. DBH Lawyers, 66 Wright St, Adelaide dbh.com.au @dbhlawyers @lawyermum_sa KID D O F E ATU RE
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LOCAL
@Lenswood Pick Your Own We’ve all heard the saying “fresh is best”, and never a truer word has been spoken when it comes to the humble apple.
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Ripe for the picking
told us. “Apple growers are always fighting to create the perfect ‘store bought’ looking apple, but we want people to know that if an apple has a little dent or imperfection… it doesn’t mean it won’t taste perfect”.
Whether it’s a Gala you’re craving, a Red Delicious or a Granny; if Pink Ladies are more to your taste or you’ve got a “We also wanted to create a destination made hankering for a crisp, fresh Fuji, there for exceptional and happy memories.” are over nine thousand apple trees at …not to mention the chance to soak @Lenswood Pick Your Own, with in those magnificent Adelaide different varieties of apples Hills views, as well as offering Pick your own apples available across the season. couples a beautiful place to Picking season @ stay, celebrate or even get Lenswood starts in late Purchasing the 23 acre slice hitched themselves. February and runs until of Lenswood from sixth late May. $5 entry fee generation apple growers The Shipway family have (including all you can eat was part of a tree change for also made sure their orchard apples) for adults, $2 for Emily and Chris Shipway, who truly offers a family friendly children (under 4’s were looking for somewhere experience, with easy onsite free). $5 per kg for amazing for their children to grow parking that’s both pram picked fruit. up. The property truly has become and wheelchair friendly, onsite the apple of their eye, with the couple getting engaged in one of the apple rows, and then saying their I do’s in the next row over.
The apples don’t fall far from the tree Now raising their family on the orchard, Emily and Chris want to give others the unique experience of picking apples on a farm, along with the simple joy of biting into a piece of fruit straight from the tree. “We want people to be able to see where their food comes from and learn about the mammoth effort it takes to grow something as simple as an apple,” Emily
amenities, as well as tractors and farm equipment on display for the kiddos to ooh and ahh at…and a cheeky coffee for the parents! @Lenswood also offer mid-week group experiences and school tours. See website and socials for times as availability is seasonal. 122 Harris Road, Lenswood atlenswood.com.au @atlenswoodpickyourown @atlenswoodaccommodation
PICK, PLAY, STAY! Stay on the Orchard Watch this space, because luxury, couples accommodation is currently under construction within the @Lenswood orchard. The team are lovingly converting the old pickers accommodation into the perfect place for that much needed alone time for Mum and Dad. We’re talking 54 square metres of heaven, including a double sided open fireplace, freestanding bath overlooking the orchard, double shower, full kitchen and of course those incredible views stretching as far as the eye can see. Glamping tents are also on the way, offering a completely unique accommodation experience on the property!
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Invisalign and the Invisalign logo, among others, are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc, and are registered in the U.S. and other countries.
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27/6/21 10:58 pm
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OPINION
They grow up so fast. It happens in the blink of an eye. It seems like just yesterday they started school. WO R D S
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All these well-worn cliches about how fleeting childhood is are sadly true.
o r se aM
We have one child out of school. And I was more emotional on her last day than I was on her first. She’s an adult now, and predominantly needs me for my credit card and Uber account. You may be reading this while pregnant, your child may be a toddler or just about to start school. You may be thinking this is a world away from your experience. But mark my words, this time will sneak up on you like an electric car my friends and you may think of me and say “Ahhhh, she was RIGHT.” I found it very hard to pin my daughter down during her last week of school, she was so busy with friends, events and studying for her exam (yes, exam singular, how the world has changed from SACE in the 90s). She was not vibing Mum getting all up in her grill with a motivational speech. I considered communicating my message via Snapchat or TikTok but in the end I decided to write her an old-fashioned letter…
Your future and career will take so many turns. You will face setbacks and it’s how you deal with those disappointments that will help shape your character.
Dear Gracie, On your first day of school you were only four years old. You were so little you could hardly carry your big blue backpack. Your hair was long and curly and your little nervous face was shiny with sunscreen. You didn’t cry when I left you in your classroom. But I did. I’m sorry the last two years of your school life were in Covid times, I know this means you and your friends missed out on many experiences you had worked towards and deserved. I can only hope this made you more resilient and has given you greater perspective. I’m sorry for all the times I yelled in the background while you were talking to your class on Zoom. Last night you won an award for your leadership. Your whole family was bursting with pride when we heard your name read out.
Please don’t put too much pressure on yourself over your final results, I know you can’t see it now but they will not define your success in life, we know you have done your best and that is all we have ever asked of you. Your future and career will take so many turns. You will face setbacks and it’s how you deal with those disappointments that will help shape your character. Today as you head off to your last day of school your long curly hair is now short after you cut it off to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation, your empathy is one of your greatest strengths. Enjoy today, relish every moment with your friends and your teachers, be good and don’t wreck your uniform as I’d like to hand it down to your sisters. I love you, Love Mama
You’ve always been a leader. You’ve had to be, as the eldest of three girls and with the long hours we have worked, I know and appreciate that you have always had a lot of responsibility and independence, so to see you recognised for those skills makes us incredibly proud, and relieved to be honest. I know you’ve been under a lot of pressure in Year 12 and I’ve learnt that me saying I’ve been through it and it was fine is not helpful nor constructive. I’m sorry for all the times I didn’t know what to say to make it better.
When she finally read it she cried and I got a quick hug before she raced out the door with her boyfriend. And she ignored my advice about the uniform, she’s repurposing it into some sort of schoolies haute couture, as all the kids are doing these days. At my expense. But I hope some of it sinks in. Mainly the bit about how proud I am of her. Because when I said that all I’ve ever asked of her is for her to do her best, equally that’s all we can do as parents. Our best. And hope that we’ve equipped them to survive in the wild.
X e s r o M Rebecca
@rebeccamorse107
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I NT E RV I E W
HI JOSH & CAT… WORDS – Liv Williams PICS – Kate Dyer
Chances are you’ve seen one of Comedian Josh Hawkins’ viral social media posts clocking up the likes and shares on Instagram. The internet just cannot get enough of @hijosh and neither can we! For the uninitiated, Josh is the rad-dad and funny-guy who’s basically made a full time job out of recreating his baby daughter’s milk drunk facial expressions on the gram, garnering not thousands…but millions of views. The same guy who’s the comedy genius behind The Bachelor and Married at First Sight lip reading videos that have just about a million shares a minute across social media when the shows are airing and —in between all that— is also an everyday dad of two and loving husband to wife Catherine, who he says makes it all possible! We chat with Josh and Catherine about their recent move to Adelaide, how life has changed since welcoming a second baby girl into their lives, and just how many of Josh’s jokes Catherine never lets see the light of day!
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You guys moved from Sydney to Adelaide in 2020, how has that transition been and how does Adelaide compare to Sydney life? The apartment below where we were living in Sydney started doing renos and it was so loud that we packed up all our things and two weeks later we were in Adelaide (no mucking around here)! Oh my goodness we are SO GRATEFUL that we made that call seeing what’s happened in Sydney this year. Apart from missing our friends, we’ve had no regrets! Sydney is beautiful but complicated. Adelaide, well she is just so practical, haha. We are closer to family here and have a backyard now, win win! (Do I need to mention Adelaide being the third most liveable city in the world?! It’s those beautiful Malls Balls).
You’re a dad of two now, how has life changed since adding another little person to the brood? Daddy of daughters! Crazy to think just 3 or so years ago I’d never been more single in my life. Now I’m married, 2 kids and moved interstate, wild times. Initially after having the second baby, I bonded more with our first child because I was looking after her while my wife looked after the new one and recovered. That was a really special time to get closer to her. And yeah, I think it’s just widened our capacity to love another little human being!
Your wife Catherine and daughters Billie and Bobby all feature in your hilarious content... do your kids often provide you with the most random comedy gold? Billie, our two-year-old, is just a funny kid! When you have a kid, you assume it’s like every other kid but quite often she does something and I think “you’re totally trying to make me laugh right now!” That’s her personality, full of joy, quirky and funny. So, I guess like any parent it’s inevitable that I share my kids and family on social media and I can confidently say that people only follow me for Billie content now!
A little birdie told us that former Bachelor Matty J helped you land your wife, Catherine! Tell us about what happened! Matty J’s involvement is twofold. Catherine and I met because I was doing Bachie Recaps on Instagram during Matty J’s season and Catherine and her housemate would watch the recaps. One day she replied to one of them and that’s how we met. But more specifically, after a few months of us getting to know each other as friends (so mature) I asked her out on a “romantic date”, she reluctantly agreed. For me, I had one shot to “romance the heck out of this girl” otherwise we would’ve just stayed friends forever. So I went all out! I organised for her to get a text message from Matty J and Laura (who I’d never met by the way); it was a video of them wishing Catherine a happy first date and that I was such a catch… and it absolutely set the tone for the rest of the night. And hey, here we are with two kids, so it worked! Thanks Matty!
I NTE RVI E W
ON THE GRAM @hijosh
I guess like any parent it’s inevitable that I share my kids and family on social media and I can confidently say that people only follow me for Billie content now!
Rate your top trash reality TV series from top to bottom for us! Oh gosh! You know, our very first conversation on Instagram was about the trashiest reality TV shows we’d ever watched. At the moment Survivor is at the top, then Love on the Spectrum, we got pretty into SAS Australia, Matty J’s season of The Bachelor (#ripbachie), not even gonna rank MAFS. And at the bottom of the pile, the trashiest reality TV ever made was a show called “There’s Something about Miriam” and “Dance you’re A** off” which was axed after one episode. Worth a Google!
Catherine, does Josh run his jokes past you? Have you ever binned any of his gags that will never see the light of day?
Let’s talk Christmas! What are your plans for Christmas this year? Any fave family traditions?
He generally runs most things past me, and I give it the final approval. There are only a few things that will never see the light of day, like his idea to play the character of a baby in the womb. Josh filmed it, we both watched it back and were like nah, no one should ever see this!
This will be our first Christmas in our own home! No plans just yet but all the family live within three minutes of each other so I’m sure we will see them lots.
I’ve become more involved in Josh’s content. I started off as a fan, now I find myself doing it all; props manager, hair and make-up, quality control, choreographer, caterer. I often film things for him and, if you’ve ever seen his ‘Married at First Sight’ lip reading videos, all the best jokes are mine!
We don’t have a Christmas tradition yet, but we did start a New Year’s Day tradition where we wake up just before sunrise, find an amazing spot near the beach and cook pancakes. We might’ve missed the last few years because of newborns but we are keen to bring that one back! For more hilarity from Josh and Catherine: @hijosh @cat_vas_hawkins
I NT E RV I E W
Our surrogacy journey WORDS – Liv Williams
It may come as no surprise that surrogacy in Australia, or anywhere for that matter, is no simple undertaking. The journey for Brendan and Matt, otherwise known as @the_real_dads_of_adelaide, involved an egg donor, a surrogate, 100+ hours of "surro-dating" (more on that later!), multiple failed embryo transfers, emotional highs and lows, a few arguments along the way, a home birth... and ultimately the arrival of beautiful Baker, their happy, healthy little boy. We sat down with Brendan and Matt and had a chat about their path to parenthood; talking all things surrogacy, the realities of adoption and fostering, Brendan and Matt’s own personal experience and their advice for people hoping to become parents via a surrogate.
Can you tell us about your parenthood journey?
Check out KIDDO chats on your podcast app for the extended interview with Brendan and Matt about their surrogacy journey…
What’s the surrogacy process like generally and how was your personal experience? We could honestly talk all day about surrogacy and our experience! The journey is unlike anything else we have ever experienced in our lives. It is the most beautiful, challenging, unique, unbelievable journey that has completely changed us, in ways that we never expected. Firstly, an Australian surrogacy journey is very different to an overseas experience. In Australia, surrogacy must be altruistic, which means that a surrogate cannot be paid to carry a child for her intended parent(s). Because of this, people like Brendan and I, rely on the incredibly selfless gift of someone offering to carry a child for us, to make our dream of having a family a reality.
This is when we stumbled across the ‘Australian Surrogacy Community’ on Facebook, a private group that really kick started our learning, and where we first met our surrogate Anna. We relied very heavily on the kindness and support of this online ‘village’, of others who were happy to share their own experiences, to help make our experience a little easier. After chatting for a while online, Anna agreed to meet with us in person and we had a wonderful catch up at a local pub, having one of the most open, raw conversations you could imagine having, with a complete stranger! With the blessing of her husband,
Over the years we’d looked at adoption and fostering options, but were quite shocked, particularly with adoption, about the lengthy timeframes and limited avenues for same sex parents. This led us to start researching more about surrogacy, both overseas and within Australia, to see whether this would be a more viable option for us as a couple.
The biggest thing we learnt, very early, was that there is definitely no handbook for surrogacy in Australia. The initial phases for us included a lot of self-directed research and education (Google was our best friend!) and we attended quite a few local seminars with fertility clinics in South Australia to try to find out as much as we could!
In Australia, surrogacy must be altruistic, which means that a surrogate cannot be paid to carry a child for her intended parent(s). Because of this, people like Brendan and I, rely on the incredibly selfless gift of someone offering to carry a child for us, to make our dream of having a family a reality.
Matt had also previously been a sperm donor for two of his close friends, and having such a close relationship with the children and their mums, really highlighted for us that a similar journey and relationship dynamic was something that we desired for ourselves and our child. Eventually we decided that embarking on a surrogacy journey within Australia was the best fit for us as a couple and our values.
Unfortunately, we did find that the clinics didn’t really seem up to speed with surrogacy, especially for two men, and so we started to join a few online communities to soak up all of the shared knowledge and experiences of other surrogates and intended parents around Australia, who had either already completed their journey, or were actively working towards starting a family of their own.
the three of us ‘surro-dated’ for almost 6 months (building relationships with Anna, her children and her hubby!) before she officially offered to carry a child for us. That incredible offer then started our journey of egg collections, counselling appointments, legal agreements, medical checks, failed embryo transfers, more counselling, a successful transfer and finally pregnancy!
Brendan spoke openly about his desire to have a family when we first met, so it has always been something that we have been working towards, but until 2018 didn’t really know what our path to parenthood might look like.
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In addition, we also needed an egg donor for our journey and were so very blessed to have a close friend make an offer to us, before we met our surrogate.
Brendan and Matt’s advice for others looking into surrogacy Surrogacy is a marathon, not a sprint! If families are looking into an Australian journey, it’s always good to remember, and be prepared for the fact that there is no guarantee that they will meet someone who is willing to be a surrogate for them. If they do meet someone, it could take many years to make that connection and start their journey. Always be yourself and be kind to yourself along the way. It can be a very emotional process that has many different relationships that need to be nurtured and supported. Don’t be afraid to lean on the surrogacy community in Australia, it’s an incredibly passionate group of people who are always happy to support others by providing as much information and resources as they can.
What was Baker’s birth like? No words can explain how special Baker’s birth was (and the week that followed). Anna had previously had a home birth with her son, and early on had flagged with us that she would like to consider a home water birth for Baker. As a team we joined the Northern Midwifery Group Practice, who we cannot speak of highly enough. The level of love, care and support we were given throughout the entire pregnancy, and for months post birth from the midwives, was extraordinary! It was really important to us that we played an active role in the birth (as much as we could) and we wanted to embrace every single moment of this once in a lifetime experience. One thing that we are so glad that we did (Anna’s suggestion!) was having a birth photographer. These photos and videos have allowed us to go back and relive
every moment from that night, including the moments that you forget because you are so in the zone at the time. Anna has also found that this footage has been a big part of her healing process, which has been incredibly important. When we look back on that night, from the moment that Anna hopped in the pool to the moment that Baker was born was only 45 minutes! Watching her birth, so naturally and so quickly was unbelievable. Just thinking about it now… it still blows us away! For the week post birth, we hired accommodation near Anna’s home, so that we were always nearby. We saw each other every single day (even having a sleepover one night!) and Anna breastfed for that week. Having that closeness and time alone together, to soak up those first days of Baker’s life earthside, is something that we will treasure forever, and that bonded us closer as a team and as friends.
What’s your relationship with Anna like and how would you like her to continue in your son’s life? We have a very close relationship with Anna and her family. It was important to us from the beginning that our egg donor and surrogate would have an active role in our lives and our child’s life moving forward. We always wanted them to be known to our child from birth and to have open and honest conversations when the time came, about the role that they both played to help us start a family. We see ‘Aunty Anna’ regularly, especially because she expressed breast milk for Baker for the first 2 months of his life. Frozen milk deliveries (lovingly referred to as ‘boober’) were a regular occurrence, and when Anna would visit, if Baker was hungry, she would also breast feed. The intensity of our catch ups continued for a while post birth, to help support Anna with her transition as a surrogate, to provide Baker with feeds and to also ensure that Anna’s children felt supported during what was a massive change in their own lives. We already have some friendship traditions that have started, including helping Anna and her family put up their Christmas tree and lights each year! We love seeing how excited her kids get decking out the house with all of the festive decorations, and that we now get to share in these moments together, and that Baker will grow up taking part in these traditions too. Anna will forever be a close friend, who did something extraordinary for us! We can’t wait to share in many more Baker milestones with her over the years and for him to develop his own relationship with her as he gets older.
IMAGES: @a_mothers_love_adelaide
Follow Brendan and Matt’s journey: @the_real_dads_of_adelaide / 25
OPINION
He knows if you’ve been bad or good… so be good for goodness sake! The Elf and Santa should bring magic, joy and laughter. The Elf on the Shelf and Santa are perhaps better placed serving the role of bringing magic, joy and laughter. Not fear. In fact, a naughty elf doing cheeky things around your house can be just the emotional circuit breaker your children need when their behaviour gets off track. You and I both know Santa is coming, no matter what.
WORDS Madhavi Nawana Parker Director at Positive Minds Australia
Are you using the Elf on the Shelf and Santa as surveillance for good behaviour? I’d love to believe one cute little elf could solve sibling conflict, non-compliance, emotional meltdowns and whatever else comes up in typical family life, just by reporting back to Santa each night. The same goes for Santa (he knows when you are sleeping...he knows when you’re awake...) you know the rest. But is anyone noticing better behaviour resulting from the threat of not getting a Christmas visit from the jolly man in the red suit? Unlikely. It can be so tempting to use the threat of Santa not visiting as a behaviour management strategy. Why wouldn’t we? We’re exhausted (children included), and it’s one time we can follow a tradition that makes children be good out of fear. Don’t feel bad if you’ve been telling your kids to be good or Santa won’t come this year, or that the elf will report back to Santa on how awful they’ve been and Santa will be very cross… Just be aware, it could backfire on you. The truth is, the pressure that comes from this fear can actually make children behave even worse (yikes). The end of the school year often means lower resilience all round (them, you, their friends) which can mean worse than usual behaviour.
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Let’s leave Santa and the elf to do their thing, without adding the role of surveillance to their job spec.
Not having to take responsibility for intentionally harming, bullying or upsetting another person which leads to guilt and stress. If they are taking pleasure in hurting another person, they need to be told it’s not okay. If they are allowed to behave in ways that are less than they are capable of, their true goodness gets filled with doubt and guilt. This can lead to a behaviour landslide. If they are behaving badly because they lack certain skills, it’s so important they get the help they need to learn those skills. Children can get lowered self esteem when their actions annoy others – especially when they are trying hard to do the right thing. Learning challenges they need help with. Friendship issues they don’t know how to handle.
Don’t feel bad if you’ve been telling your kids to be good or Santa won’t come this year, or that the elf will report back to Santa on how awful they’ve been and Santa will be very cross… Just be aware, it could backfire on you. While I’ve got you, here’s a range of possibilities that may cause challenging behaviour to keep in mind before threatening that the elf or Santa are watching. Exhaustion from late night concerts and celebrations. Not enough boundaries around what is and isn’t okay. Children need reminders about how you expect them to behave in your home, other people’s homes and out in the community. This doesn’t mean they will always follow them, but it does mean your standards are clear and they’ll respect you for that.
Feeling disconnected from parents. Conflict in their environment. Anxiety they need help with. Disability. Poor impulse control. Not enough time relaxing with family and friends, face to face. Inadequate daily movement/exercise or time outdoors. Not enough laughter, creativity, play and silliness. Too much social media or time on devices. Hunger. Being spoken to more about what they’re doing wrong than what they’re doing right. There’s always a reason why children behave badly. Being afraid Santa won’t visit will only exacerbate what’s already going on behind the scenes. Take care of yourselves during this busy time. Be proud you’ve got yourselves to the end of another school year. A massive achievement in itself! Love, Madhavi positivemindsaustralia.com.au @positivemindsaustralia
OPINION
Parenting with soft eyes and warm hearts
Let me explain how this might look in real life. What about the inevitable moment when you must intervene and call one of your children on an unsafe, careless, or selfish behaviour. In this moment, do you lead by lovingly reaching out, placing a reassuring arm around them, and warmly bringing them closer? Might you kiss them on the head, even if they’re a teen, and say, “oops, that didn’t go so well. We’ll talk later. Hey, what can you do to fix things for now?” Later, you will follow up. In the meantime, by connecting with “soft eyes and a warm heart” you have buoyed your child’s composure, kept their dignity, freed them from shame, and left them in a malleable position where they are more likely to feel a little regret and might want to make changes, rather than being forced to.
Changing gears in our parenting
WORDS Mark Le Messurier
To begin my relationship with you I have a gift. It isn’t one you can touch, but I’d like you to carry it in your mind, forever. It’s a kaleidoscope with the power to offer an emotionally connecting set of parenting attitudes and skills I describe as using our “soft eyes and warm hearts”. Gently twist it, and it shifts your understanding from one perspective to a different and more insightful one. Creating wonderful possibilities I think of family as an intricate, dynamic, messy, and beautifully chaotic world. Not as a ‘happy Instagram family’ or one characterised by ‘picture-perfect obedience’. Family exists to protect and nourish…but the living in it is not always easy. When one of us is not doing well, none of us are. When we take out the kaleidoscope, twist it, engage our “soft eyes and warm hearts” we create wonderful possibilities from the chaos of family.
Now you are beginning to get a glimpse of the sacred ground I want to build with you. Cultivating this style is not easy. It demands practice and refinement and will feel uncomfortable for those who received harsh words, force, and punishment to be controlled in their formative years. My invitation is to coach you to change gears, and feel affection for your child, when they are being stubborn, argumentative, even oppositional. This is what they need if we want to create trust and loyalty in our relationship. It is a call for us to be at our most respectful when, sometimes, they are at their least. The “soft eyes and warm heart” technique safeguards a young person’s emerging spirit because we separate their behaviour from who they are, and who they can be in the future. We suddenly transport them into a precious space where they have the best chance to own their behaviour. On the flip side, when we push young people too far, too fast with scathing words and harsh actions they bunker down in self-protection mode. Their thoughts switch solely to us; our tough actions and how unjust we were. They lose sight of their responsibility and what they might do to repair the situation.
Our children are under construction I also want your new kaleidoscope to remind you of the order of life. You are the parent, and they are your child. Their brains, bodies, and spirit are in the process of precious construction. Now it has become your time to teach the exquisiteness of being human to your children. To immerse them into our greatest assets as a species: kindness, perseverance, optimism, integrity, humility, empathy, personal responsibility, teamwork, creativity, innovation and so much more. To explain that they are beautifully unique and worth your every effort. That the atoms which merged to make them who they are, did so like never before, and will never do so again. There will never be another of them anywhere in the universe. They are a matchless creation on this fabulous blue planet. Yes, there will be all kinds of challenges ahead. Our mission is to support them to find their goodness, their happiness within, to feel loved, to be kind to others, and be especially
My invitation is to coach you to change gears, and feel affection for your child, when they are being stubborn, argumentative, even oppositional. This is what they need if we want to create trust and loyalty in our relationship. It is a call for us to be at our most respectful when, sometimes, they are at their least.
gentle on themselves. We want them to rejoice in their humanness. They are so much more than enough! Now is not who they will be in the future, but what we do now and how we do it, sets a trajectory for their future. Parenting with “soft eyes and warm hearts” connects leadership, composure, strength, and kindness. Once upon a time it was thought a parent could only lead with strength, and kindness shown in the trickier moments was weakness. If we are to shift patterns of behaviour, positively, from one generation of parents to the next please accept my gift and let’s continue to walk together. Mark is a teacher, counsellor, public speaker, and the author of 16 publications. He works in private practice in Adelaide as a mentor to children and adolescents, and as a coach to parents. Mark is the recipient of SA Senior Australian of the Year (2022). marklemessurier.com.au whatsthebuzz.net.au
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P RO F I L E
The Gentle Sleep Specialist WORDS – Miriam Weir
Tara Mitchell is one of Australia’s leading infant and toddler sleep consultants, helping literally thousands of families through one of the toughest experiences parents can go through: sleep exhaustion. You don’t have to be a parent to know the effects of sleep deprivation on your body either – the negative effect on your mental and physical wellbeing can be felt after just one night of bad sleep. Compound this by weeks, months and sometimes years and you can imagine the state of sheer and utter desperation Tara can sometimes meet clients in. To say she is in some ways both marriage counselor and mental health practitioner would not be too much of a stretch either – the stark reality of being a sleep consultant can mean seeing marriages on the brink or mothers in the grips of severe postnatal depression. It’s not a job for the faint-hearted and Tara has had to develop her own brand of strength and resilience to take on the massive responsibility of being the last resort for some parents. “I think sometimes people love the idea of being a sleep consultant – but the reality is you have to be prepared to feel like the survival of someone’s marriage is in your hands,” Tara says of the job. “It can be incredibly confronting – you definitely have to be mentally fit to literally show up for desperate mums and dads and give it your absolute all...if you fail that client, you have taken away their hope – and that is sometimes all they have left.” And this is all before we’ve even touched on the impact of sleep – or lack of it – on infants. At its worst, insufficient sleep can inhibit the amount of growth hormone released – and for babies between 0-12, this impacts the biggest growth period of their whole life. Increased cortisol – the stress hormone – is also produced with ongoing sleep deprivation. Cortisol acts like adrenaline – so it’s a hard cycle to break, and why tired babies seem to resist sleep. It’s a feeling Tara knows all too well, having gone through the harrowing experience of extreme sleep deprivation with her firstborn, Scarlett, back in 2014. A qualified Paediatric Nurse, Tara has long held an affinity with young children, having worked extensively as a nanny while studying. After 6 years in the field as a Paediatric Nurse, Tara became a mum – envisioning play dates, coffee catch-ups and walks in the park. Reality had other ideas however, with a severe milk intolerance and / 28
reflux responsible for little Scarlett enduring several hospital visits due to weight loss, unexplained rashes, UTI’s and diarrhea. It wasn’t the sunny start to motherhood Tara imagined, and after three months of severe sleep deprivation, things turned as soon as Scarlett’s sleep needs were addressed: she fed better, her weight increased and her tummy settled. As Tara puts it, “our family was thriving, not simply surviving.” This life-changing experience stayed with Tara and when Scarlett turned six months she trained to become a sleep-consultant and the Gentle Sleep Specialist was born. The ‘gentle’ part comes from the common misconception that you need to use ‘cry it out’ or ‘extinction’ methods to make changes happen as quickly as possible. “All babies are supported through verbal and physical reassurance as required,” explains Tara. “Though that won’t mean your baby won’t necessarily cry – it is a normal part of the change process for babies to cry, so there may be a few bumps in the road for the first few days. All the methods we use and knowledge we have supports babies to better settle,” she explains. “The best outcome is to create a new feeling of certainty and security but with sustainable and healthy sleep habits.”
The best outcome is to create a new feeling of certainty and security but with sustainable and healthy sleep habits. Support and consistency are key themes that run through Tara’s methodology. One of the few silver linings to the various state lockdowns means clients have had the ability to commit to the program and break some of the habits we as parents inevitably find ourselves in, such as pram-rocking and long-drives in order to get a baby to sleep. Tara opens up spaces on her program once a month for babies and bi-monthly for toddlers to ensure “the most personalised
Tara’s Top 5 Tips to Troubleshoot Sleep Issues 1. Awake times: observe general age-appropriate awake times. 2. Sleep pressure: when your infant is awake, keep them stimulated to stay awake so they keep their appetite for the sleep ahead. If your little one gets drowsy or dozes, this may cause a second wind and make settling harder. 3. Sleep associations: if you use external props to help your little one fall asleep, they may need these to go back to sleep. Allow them to understand that where and how they head off to sleep will be the same when they wake. 4. Structuring feeds (with flexibility): head towards feed, play, sleep where possible, but don't be too caught up on set feed times. 5. No nap caps: it’s rare that capping naps or waking babies to be on set schedules works. Sleep promotes sleep! and affordable sleep program available.” She also does zoom meetings with mothers groups, and runs regular Q&A’s on her Instagram @thgentlesleepspecialist. Her accessibility and authenticity has made her highly in demand, with clients all over the country and as far Europe and the USA. With a belief that all children are capable of sleeping well and can develop healthy, sustainable sleep habits, it’s not hard to see where Tara’s success – and her motivation lies. “Getting sleep sorted makes for happier children and stronger families,” she says. “It can be demanding, but ultimately – giving the gift of sleep to families is hugely rewarding.” gentlesleep.com.au @thegentlesleepspecialist
P RO F I L E
The omega-3 test aiming to curb premature births A world-first prenatal screening program being led by SAHMRI and SA Pathology is off to a successful start in Adelaide. Women with singleton pregnancies can have their omega-3 levels tested and those with low levels will be offered specific advice about supplementation to reduce their risk of early birth. KIDDO caught up with SAHMRI Deputy Director and Women and Kids Theme Lead, Professor Maria Makrides, to find out more about the exciting initiative.
Q: What are the risks of preterm birth? A: Babies born too soon can suffer complications requiring long stays in hospital and long-term health and developmental problems. Early preterm birth commonly impacts vision and hearing and has the potential to impair learning and cause behavioural problems, as well as raise the risk of chronic health issues.
Q: What’s unique about the omega-3 program? A: Pregnant women have never had the opportunity to get their omega-3 levels tested like this anywhere in the world. The program and its evaluation are in response to a large body of research that’s been summarised in a new evidence-based recommendation in the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines, advising women who are low in omega-3 to supplement their intake in order to reduce their risk of prematurity.
Q: How does it work? A: All women in South Australia with a singleton pregnancy are eligible for the test. There’s no need for an additional blood sample to be taken, as omega-3 analysis will be performed on blood collected as a part of the established SA Maternal Serum Antenatal Screening (SAMSAS) program. Our partnership with SA Pathology is allowing us to test out whether omega-3 screening will be adopted by women and health professionals and whether we’ll be able to see the expected reductions in prematurity if enough women participate in the omega-3 program.
The blood test is the most accurate way to determine an individual’s omega-3 levels. It’s performed at no cost to the patient or health service and once women receive their results they’re advised on appropriate supplementation.
Q: How has it been going so far? A: Since we launched the program in April this year, we’ve seen a steady increase in uptake. Over 2,000 pregnant women have participated and we are now routinely doing more than 100 omega-3 tests per week covering about 35% of women with singleton pregnancies in SA. We need to get this percentage up to about 80% to see maximal benefit. Ideally, we would like all pregnant women carrying a single baby to have an omega-3 test through the SAMSAS program.
The program and its evaluation are in response to a large body of research that’s been summarised in a new evidence-based recommendation in the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines, advising women who are low in omega-3 to supplement their intake in order to reduce their risk of prematurity.
Over 2,000 pregnant women have participated and we are now routinely doing more than 100 omega-3 tests per week covering about 35% of women with singleton pregnancies in SA. We need to get this percentage up to about 80% to see maximal benefit.
Q: How long will the program run? Will the omega-3 test become a standard test for all pregnant women in Australia? A: The current evaluation of the omega-3 testing will run for another two years. This should give us the necessary data to see if we are making a real difference in reducing the rates of prematurity in the community. I am sure these results will guide how omega-3 testing will be used in the future.
Scan this code
to find out more about the omega-3 test sahmri.org/omega3 omega3@sahmri.com
KID D O F E ATU RE
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LOCAL
FO O D
Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Serves: 4-6
Ingredients 750g Baby Spud Lite potatoes, quartered 4 extra-large eggs 2 teaspoons olive oil 400g chicken tenderloins 1 cup croutons 250g smoked bacon, diced 1 baby cos lettuce, rinsed and leaves separated 2 spring onions, thinly sliced ½ cup shaved parmesan Caesar dressing 1 egg yolk 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 clove garlic, crushed 3 anchovies 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons lemon juice ½ cup olive oil 2 tablespoons grated parmesan Salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
Roast pork for Sundays & holidays
Recipe from Matt Preston
Method
VE LO
Potato & Chicken Caesar Salad
For the dressing, combine yolk, mustard, garlic, anchovies, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice together in a food processor. With the motor running, slowly add olive oil until combined. Season with salt and pepper and stir in parmesan, until combined. Set aside until required. Place potatoes in a large saucepan of cold water and slowly bring to the boil. Cook for 5 minutes or until just tender. Drain and return to saucepan with 1/3 of the dressing, tossing until well coated. Set aside to cool.
Place eggs in a medium saucepan, covered in cold water. Slowly bring to the boil and cook for 5 minutes. Drain and refresh under cold water. Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Season chicken tenderloins and cook for 3 minutes each side or until cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside until required. Add bacon to the same pan and cook for 2-3 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside until required. To serve salad, scatter cos lettuce leaves over a platter, followed by potatoes, chicken, bacon, croutons, spring onions and parmesan. Drizzle extra dressing over the top to finish. SPUD LITE are available at all good supermarkets. For more recipes head to zerellafresh.com.au @spud.lite
Method Preheat oven to 240°C (220°C fan-forced). Open the pork to sit flat, rind side up. Pat the rind dry really well with paper towel. Use a sharp knife or Stanley knife to score the rind across the width at 1 cm intervals. Roll the pork up and secure with kitchen string at regular intervals. (If you have bought your pork already scored, rolled and tied, all you need to do is pat it dry). Transfer the pork, rind-side up, to a large roasting pan. Pat the rind again with paper towel to make sure it is really, really dry. Drizzle over the oil then rub the salt into the cuts. Roast for 40-45 minutes or until the rind crackles.
Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour 50 minutes Serves: 4
Ingredients 1.5 kg boned rolled pork loin 1 tablespoon olive oil 1½ tablespoons sea salt, plus extra for seasoning 2 Royal Gala apples, peeled and cut into 1.5 cm cubes 12 sage leaves 1 tablespoon lemon juice Apple Sauce 6 Royal Gala apples 30 g butter, at room temperature 1 tablespoon brown sugar ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar large pinch ground cloves / 30
To make the sauce, use a small knife to score a line around the centre of each apple. Reduce the oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Place the whole scored apples around the pork. Roast the pork for a further 1 hour or until the pork is cooked through and the apples are tender. Transfer the pork to a platter and brush off a little excess salt. Cover loosely with foil to rest. Transfer the apples to a chopping board. Tilt the pan on an angle and use a dessert spoon to scoop the fat layer off the pan juices in the base of the pan and transfer to a frying pan. Reserve the pan juices. Use a knife to cut away the flesh of the apples. Discard the core. Transfer the apple flesh and skin to a blender. Add the butter, sugar, mustard, vinegar and cloves and blend until almost smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of the reserved pan juices. Blend until thick and smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning with vinegar if necessary. Heat the frying pan with the pork fat over medium-high heat. Add the apple cubes and cook, tossing, for 3-4 minutes or until caramelised. Add the sage and cook, tossing, for 1-2 minutes or until lightly fried. Remove from the heat, add the lemon juice and toss until well combined. Slice the pork and serve with the apple sauce, caramelised apple cubes and sage leaves.
BO O KS
well read From fiction to non fiction, from adult titles to kids' picks, from hot new releases to under-the-radar gems, these are the 2021 books our nightstands right now! SOMEBODY'S LAND: WELCOME TO OUR COUNTRY By Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, illustrated by David Hardy
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kids
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Little Nic is back for another adventure in this lovely follow-up to Little Nic's Big Day by AFL superstar Nic Naitanui.
Somebody's Land is an invitation to connect with First Nations culture, to acknowledge the hurt of the past, and to join together as one community with a precious shared history as old as time.
It is the day of the big school fete! Little Nic and his mum have baked a cassava cake to share with everyone. But uh oh! Nic has his lost school bag with the cake in it. Will he find it in time for the big feast?
Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing's powerful words and David Hardy's pictures, full of life, invite children and their families to imagine themselves into Australia's past – to feel the richness of our First Nations' history.
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RRP $24.99 – Allen & Unwin CAT DOG By Mem Fox illustrated by Mark Teague
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Join an unlikely animal trio for some irresistibly funny antics in this read-aloud gem from bestselling, award-winning and much-loved author Mem Fox and acclaimed illustrator Mark Teague. There is a cat in this book.There is also a dog. And there is a whole lot of crazy stuff going on ...Right? RRP $19.99 – Penguin Books
HOW WE LOVE By Clementine Ford
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There is love in this place, just like there is love everywhere we care to look for it. There is beauty and there is hope and there is a boy and there is a mother and there is the past and there is the future but most importantly there is the now, and everything that exists between them that has got them from one moment to the next. The now is where we find the golden glow where, for the briefest of moments, the sky rips open and we see what it is we are made of. Tell me a story, he asked me. And so I began. RRP $24.99 – Allen & Unwin
I DIDN'T DO THE THING TODAY On letting go of productivity guilt By Madeleine Dore
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Any given day brings a never-ending list of things to do. There's the work thing, the catch-up thing, the laundry thing, the creative thing, the exercise thing, the family thing, the thing we don't want to do, the thing we've been putting off (despite it being the most important thing). Even on days when we get a lot done, the thing left undone can leave us feeling guilty, anxious or disappointed. For anyone who has ever felt the pressure to do more, be more, achieve more, this antidote to our doing-obsession is the permission slip we all need to find our own way. RRP $32.99 – Murdoch Books
LITTLE NIC'S BIG WORLD By Nic Naitanui, illustrated by Fatima Anaya
RRP $19.99 – Allen & Unwin
BIG LOVE By Megan Jacobson
How can you describe how big a parent’s love is for their child? Is it as big as a house, as big as a city, as big as the world? This uplifting picture book helps young readers in finding an answer. RRP $25.99 – Walker Books
adults
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MALA'S CAT By Joseph Henrich
A moving Holocaust memoir about the unlikely friendship between a young Jewish girl and a stray cat and their survival against the odds Growing up in the Polish village of Tarnogrod on the fringes of a deep pine forest, gives Mala the happiest childhood she could have hoped for. But, as the German invasion begins, her beloved village becomes a ghetto and her family and friends reduced to starvation. She takes matters into her own hands, and bravely removes her yellow star, risking sneaking out to the surrounding villages to barter for food. RRP $35.00 – Penguin Books
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BREATHE LIKE A BADASS By Hannah Jane Thompson
A practical handbook that shows you how to harness the power of meditation, covering everything from comparison and office politics to body image and relationships. This practical handbook teaches you how to start and stick to a non-woo-woo, scientifically based, zero-BS meditation habit that you can turn to again and again when life and work gets tough. RRP $27.99 – Allen & Unwin
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LUNAR ORACLE By Liberty Phi
The world seems like a chaotic place right now – many things seem out of our control, which can feel scary and unsettling. In the Lunar Oracle, Liberty Phi teaches that harnessing the power of the lunar phases can help you make sense of what's happening around you and may even unleash some moon magic. RRP $35.00 – Allen & Unwin / 31
kiddo corner! Henry Reads WO R DS —
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W il lia m s
Resident Kiddo Book Reviewer: Henry Williams, 9 years
Hi, I’m Henry. I love reading (I always have a book in my hand, except when I’m eating dinner but that’s only because my mum won’t let me!), playing Minecraft and cricket. I have a twin sister and a little sister who drive me kinda crazy but I love them anyway (shhh...don’t tell them that).
1. What are Santa’s helpers called? 2. What date is Christmas Day? 3. What form of transport does
Santa use?
I know what you’re thinking, oh gee a 9 year old boy reviewing the Harry Potter series…how original! But hear me out.
Potter. I groaned. Not this again. But out of sheer desperation for something to read, I gave in.
Every Book Week at school there are about 20 Harry Potters, a few Hermiones and even the odd Dobby. One of the Harry Potter movies seems to have been on TV over the weekend evenings for…well, most of my life. But up until now, I’ll be honest, I’ve kind of avoided it.
And what d’ya know… where the movies haven’t been able to get me, the books DID!
5. Where does Santa Claus live?
I’ll spare you the details of the plot line, you probably have some idea already (if you don’t, you must have been living under a rock). This is for the kids who just haven’t been sucked into the Harry Potter movies and don’t get the hype…what this has taught me is that sometimes movies just DON’T, CAN’T, WON’T EVER, live up to the books. If you haven’t enjoyed the movie adaptations, don’t rule out reading instead, you may just find the books are a hundred times better. Now I’ve sure got some catching up to do!
7. How many times does Santa
Recently though, I ran out of books to read at home. Seems unlikely, I know. But I’ve gone through all my fave series about a dozen times and it had been school holidays so I hadn’t got to the library to borrow any more. Mum suggested Harry
Harry Potter, The Complete Collection by J.K Rowling RRP $120
Meet the makers Meet Teenage Joans, a music making duo who hail from the Northern suburbs of Adelaide, consisting of Tahlia Borg and Cahli Blakers. They formed their two-girl garage rock band while still at high school, releasing their first single By the Way in 2019. It set them up well for their second single release Three Leaf Clover which saw them burst onto the national music scene winning @triple_j’s 2020 Unearthed High Award. Both Tahlia and Cahli have pursued their love of music from a young age. They cite Australian indie bands Waax, Camp Cope, and Tired Lion as musical influences, and describe their own particular sound as juicebox punk-pop! The duo have received multiple awards, including South Australian Live Act of the Year in 2019 at the National Live Music Awards. Recent releases have included Something About Being Sixteen, Ice Cream, and Taste of Me (2021). Tahlia began playing drums at the age of 7 and by 14 she was learning piano via YouTube, so she could create her own backing tracks. Cahli began her musical journey at age 5, picking up a violin which
she switched out to a guitar around the age of 10. Her Dad is a musician who has played in local punk band Hells Hoist for decades, which is certain to have had an influence on her musical taste. Tahlia and Cahli first crossed paths through their involvement with @northernsoundsystem (NSS) – a youth, music, and creative industries facility located in the heart of Elizabeth in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. Tahlia attended the NSS ‘Girls to the Front’ workshop, which she says was important for boosting her confidence. Cahli was doing work experience at NSS around this time with the two quickly bonding over their love of music.
4. Traditionally, how does Santa get
into the house on Christmas Eve?
6. Who tried to steal Christmas?
say ‘Ho’? 8. What animal pulls Santa’s sleigh? 9. What colour is Rudolph’s nose? 10. What are the traditional
Christmas colours?
Answers: 1. Elves, 2. 25 December, 3. Sleigh, 4. Through the chimney, 5. The North Pole, 6. The Grinch, 7. Three, 8. Reindeer, 9. Red, 10, Red and green
I’ve tried to get into the movies. I might have even got the whole way through the first one at some stage. But (unpopular opinion) I’ve never really enjoyed them. So even though I always have a book in my hand (and three in my bag), whenever anyone asks me if I’ve read Harry Potter, the answer has always been, ‘nup’. If the movies don’t suck me in…surely the books don’t stand a chance.
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Kids Quiz
Tahlia says that she “personally enjoys creating and writing music that can be interpreted in different ways to each listener. It’s so interesting to think that a song written about your personal experience can relate and be interpreted by so many other people across the world." Cahli says the one thing that really helped her at the start was “to fake my confidence until I built up real confidence! Fake confidence is just as effective, and when you trick your brain into thinking, hey yeah, I actually am this really cool talented human, then eventually you start to believe it!” One of their favourite things to do when they’re writing songs together is to juxtapose serious topics with childlike metaphors. They describe their lyrics as a little nostalgic; that although they feel like something a young person can consume, they also have a heavier meaning that other young people can relate to as well. Follow @getaroundit_sa on Instagram to see what other young South Australians are up to, or DM to submit a candidate. Why not nominate yourself, or another young person you know who would make a great addition to the Get Around It showcase?
kiddo corner! George’s Jokes WO R
Give your loved ones a lol with these giggleworthy gags!
DS —
Why do bees have sticky hair? Because they use honeycombs.
G
eo
rg e
A rc h o n ti d
is
Why was the man running around his bed? He wanted to catch up on his sleep. How did the barber win the race? He knew a short cut. What did zero say to eight? Nice belt! How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it. What did the wall say to the other wall? Meet you in the corner
Send your LOLs to hello@kiddomag.com.au
Spot the Difference Find 12 differences in the scenes below:
I LLUSTR ATIONS Jana from @wordfindersclub
Silly Science with Simon Invisible Ink!
Step 2 Dip a cotton tip into the lemon juice and start writing a secret message on the paper. When the cotton tip runs out of ‘ink’, dip it into the lemon juice again and continue writing. Step 3 When you finish writing your secret message, leave the paper to dry – the message will disappear!
WO R
Step 4 Reveal your secret message by placing the paper into a 200°C oven for about 5 minutes! Make sure you get an adult to help you.
DS
When life gives you lemons... make invisible ink! Every secret agent knows how to read and write secret messages, and now you can too!!
Step 1 Pour some lemon juice into a cup – you won’t need too much! If you don’t have a lemon or lemon juice handy, use a cup of milk instead.
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Si
mo
n B la
cket
Items checklist o Paper o a cotton tip o lemon juice (or milk)
What's going on? Both lemon juice and milk contain a variety of sugars, as well as other molecules and minerals. Lemon juice is mostly clear and milk is white, so both are hard to see when placed on a piece of paper. However, when they’re heated up, some of their sugars react with oxygen in the air and turn brown (this is known as “oxidation”) – revealing the secret messages! Cleaning up Any leftover invisible ink can be safely washed down the sink. The paper with the secret messages can be stored in your secret agent folder! (…or placed in the compost bin…) To see this experiment in action, or to learn more about what's going on, check out the video on the Silly Science with Simon YouTube channel. @sillysciencewithsimon / 33
A L L IN C LUSI VE
Sesame Street see amazing in all children Sesame Workshop is expanding its 'Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children' initiative with new resources featuring Julia, a 4-year-old Sesame Street Muppet with autism. The new resources available at sesamestreet.org/autism are designed to help families create new routines, build flexibility, and cope with the challenges of change during turbulent times. In continued partnership with Exceptional Minds, an academy and studio preparing young adults on the autism spectrum for careers in animation and beyond, Sesame Workshop has launched a new animated video featuring Julia as she learns how to handle her fear of the dark by drawing what she’s afraid of—helping her brother along the way. This video was written, produced, and animated by a team of artists on the autism spectrum. Accompanying the animation are new printables and colouring and activity sheets, including goodnight routine cards to help children develop a healthy bedtime routine.
Mellow Mat…
so much better than a normal rug!
“Autistic children and their families are facing unprecedented challenges this year, and Sesame Workshop is here to help kids create healthy routines, develop self-regulation and calming strategies, and build resilience,” said Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, Senior Vice President of US Social Impact at Sesame Workshop.
writing, producing, and animation talents on our latest Sesame Workshop short, Backyard Camping. This project amplifies the workplace skills of our amazing artists while shining a light on autism inclusion. Eighty percent of adults with autism are unemployed or underemployed, but with Sesame Workshop’s continued partnership, we are changing that,” said David Siegel, Executive Director of Exceptional Minds.
Created in 2015, the 'Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children' initiative aims to increase public awareness of autism, foster greater empathy and understanding, and support families with free resources to help them navigate everyday moments and challenges.
See Amazing in All Children was developed in consultation with over 250 organisations and experts within the autism community. With 1 in 70 Australians diagnosed with autism, this initiative is designed to show that all children—autistic and neurotypical alike—are amazing in their own ways.
"The Exceptional Minds team of artists on the spectrum continue to showcase their
sesameworkshop.org
This soft touch, sensory Mellow Mat from Neptune Blankets is a super thick and soft memory foam mat with slow rebound properties that make it feel as though it’s melting underfoot. The short fibre fabrics provide the soothing sensory feedback so many kids crave, and at 30mm thick, they’re soft, comfy and inviting, but at the same time versatile enough to look great in kids spaces or in the living room. Light weight, stain resistant and easy to wash…Mellow Mat ticks all those family friendly boxes! neptuneblanket.com.au RRP $199
SPOT PAEDIATRICS
Speech Pathology & Occupational Therapy for Children Contact us today! 08 7228 6825 www.spotpaediatrics.com.au
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A L L INCLUSIVE
Find calm & confidence with Brave & Able Breathing Buddies Kids live life at full speed—full of excitement, energy, nature, imagination, adventure, mess and fun. With a big life comes big emotions and big challenges, which often leave kids feeling unstuck, unsafe, unsettled and unsure. These big feelings can be overwhelming and confusing, both for kids…and their parents! Brave and Able Breathing Buddies can help bring some calm back for kiddos experiencing big feelings. These soft and sensory plush pals for little people will help kids learn how to take charge of their brains with slow, strong breathing skills that will help them become their most magnificent, brave and able selves. What are Brave and Able Breathing Buddies? Parents, caregivers and the village that raise our little people need all the tools in the toolbox to manage big emotions. One of the best ‘tools’ for kids (and adults) is calm breathing. Scientific studies have shown that slow, deep breathing has the ability to reduce anxiety, increase confidence and memory, and even grow new brain cells! This skill helps our kiddos focus in the moment on something within their body, and within their control—as opposed to “the thing” (or things) that are making them sad, mad, or frustrated. It also helps them to slow down physically and acts as a ‘pause’ button for them to take a break from their thinking and emotions. Brave and Able Breathing Buddies offer slow, deep breathing guidance without the need for an app or a smartphone. Guided light teaches kids how to calmly take control of their breathing and regain focus. How do Brave and Able Breathing Buddies work? Slow, controlled breathing skills are the most widely used, first prescribed coping technique in managing anxiety.
Developed in consultation with children’s psychologists and educators, Brave and Able have a built-in light that slowly grows bigger and brighter, then shrinks slowly down to disappear. With practice, children are able to follow the light with their breath, helping them focus on their body and how it’s feeling in the moment. Fully portable and with no need for Wi-Fi, children can practice with their Breathing Buddies wherever their adventures take them. Behind Brave & Able Zara McDonald is a mother of two (soon to be three) young children from South Australia, with passion to positively impact the mental health of our kids.
Brave and Able hope to improve the mental health of kids and families by providing a learning tool that will teach them lifelong skills that will help kids feel calm and confident in tricky situations The idea for Brave and Able was born out of Zara’s attempts to find ways to effectively help her children through their big feelings. In conversations with other parents, she realised others were also struggling to find a way to connect to their child in these moments and that there were limited tangible tools readily available. So, she researched; seeking input from children's psychologists and educators on the approaches they took to help children develop coping skills.
Zara McDonald Founder of Brave & Able
Zara wanted to create something that would empower kids to feel safe with their feelings, and be confident to play and learn and try new things—even when it feels hard or a bit scary. Brave and Able is focused on going beyond the Breathing Buddies to provide free, science-backed resources to help families. All being made available through subscribing to the monthly email list. Brave and Able Breathing Buddies are recommended for children over 3 years old. braveandable.com.au @braveandable You can purchase your Brave or Able buddy online for $129.95
Therapeutic Groups for children in our beautiful Waterfall Gully garden. We offer relationship and play-based therapeutic support to strengthen social, emotional, physical and cognitive capacities to participate more fully in life.
Seeds of Wonder 1 - 5yo Strong Saplings 6 - 12yo NDIS Self & Plan Managed Participants www.goodnaturedconnections.com.au Contact OT Steph 0491 042 826
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GLENELG BMW. NOW OPEN.
A new level of BMW service has arrived at Glenelg BMW. To see the range of cars in stock, book your next service, or to keep up to date with the latest news, visit the QR Code below. Glenelg BMW 141 Brighton Road, Glenelg South SA 5045 Ph (08) 8294 3444 | glenelgbmw.com.au We’re social, follow us @glenelgbmw
@glenelgbmw