Westside MamaMag Dec/Jan 2016 by MamaMag

WESTSIDE

Dec/Jan 2016

WIN a one-month membership at fernwood Summer fun Jimmy Giggle Quibbling siblings Active wear Australian adoption

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Tis the season As I’m writing this it feels like the calm before the storm. This time of year is frenetic, but fun. With the warmer weather I’m thinking unhurried hours at parks, pools, and beaches. But it’s also fete and festival season as well as the time for endless Christmas functions. No, please don’t anyone ask me to bring a wrapped gift for someone dressed as Santa to give to my own child this year! We’ve got some pretty strong summer traditions in our family – we always go to a farm stay in January and the girls just love it. We also go camping from Boxing Day to New Year with friends and it just might be one of the highlights of my year. A river to swim in, campfires, and lots of time to do not a lot. Bliss. My oldest daughter turns 10 in December. I’m trying to play it cool about this but really I’m wondering where my small child went. She’s planned a monster party and I’ve planned an experience present – swimming with the seals and dolphins in Sorrento. If it goes well I’ll definitely get Mother of the Year for that one. This month I’ve brought you my top suggestions for Christmas shopping locally and I’ve tried to include a couple of experience type gifts. Dr Sheri Todd has given us some tips on helping siblings get along together over the long summer break – I’ll definitely be following those. We’ve had two brave mamas share their personal stories to help us understand more about only children (thanks Lauren) and local adoption (thanks Chrissie). And Dr Justine Tuffley shares her story about the birth and early days of her son Hugo who was born without an oesophagus when she already had four children under four at home. We are so lucky to have generous women share from their hearts. Our Mama of the Month is Sevi Stolica from Baby Bistro whose business Baby Bistro delivers organic baby food to your home – where were you when mine were babies Sevi?! In celebrity news we talk to Jimmy Giggle about life, marriage and 7 month old baby Lenny. Wow so much great reading. Enjoy the silly season. We’ll see you on the other side.

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Contents Jimmy made me giggle We chat with ABC”s Jimmy Rees

Shop local this Christmas Mama’s picks for gift giving

In the village We visit Barkly Street West Footscray

Quibbling siblings Advice from an expert

Turn the page Enchanted Years book pickss

The journey of 5 under 4 Justine Tuffley’s amazing story

Only but not lonely Mama’s tale of an only child

1 of 3 one-month memberships at Fernwood fitness Yarraville

5/290 Whitehall St Yarraville 9687 2966

Mama of the month 22 Hadassah Jordan from Frankie’s Story Christmas bubbles Holiday drinking tips

Active wear Doing literally everything in it

Local adoption lowdown A mama’s story

A healthy Christmas 30 Top tips for to get through the season

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The amazing brain Understanding kid’s development

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MamaMag Dec/Jan 2016

Like to contribute an article submission or products for Facebook giveaways? submissions@mamamag.com.au Like to advertise in our next month’s issue? info@mamamag.com.au or download our media kit from www.mamamag.com.au The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission of the publishers. Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

Jimmy made me Waiting for Jimmy Rees, the man behind the energetic Giggle and Hoot phenomenon, our excitement was as high as his trademark character voice. That morning at school drop off, the Mums had noticed a little extra care and attention had gone into the morning routine. Shift dress and wedge heels signaled something was happening. Upon reveal of the morning’s engagement, the Jimmy Giggle Mama fanbase was fully realised. As Rees casually entered our brunch destination, he instantly set us at ease with high fives! The tone was set for fun and casual conversation. Ever the consummate professional, there was not one hint that Rees had been on the back of a busy work-filled weekend in Darwin and an early morning breakky radio appearance. You get the sense that, although Rees had no formal theatre training, beside some amateur theatre outside of school, he is a natural magnet of energy and born to perform. It’s interesting to learn that Rees beat 5,000 other hopefuls to the Jimmy Giggle gig. Encouraged by his then, new girlfriend [now wife] Tori and his mum, to pursue his dream to perform on Television, Rees put together a last minute audition tape to answer an open call for talent search put out by the ABC3 network. “I loved performing and I thought, I have to give this a red-hot go at actually being on television, as that’s what I really wanted to do. I didn’t really know how to go about it. And I’d just sort of met Tori around that time as well. We were working at a restaurant together and I was full-time there. I just wanted to earn some money, move out of home and [get] a bit of life experience. And I said to Tori, ‘I actually want to be on television and she was like, righto, a struggling actor forever, what have I got myself into (laughs).’

Although unsuccessful in securing one of the advertised spots that ABC3 had been screening for, the casting director saw enough potential and talent to suggest Rees try for the new Giggle and Hoot series that was aimed at a pre-school, younger audience. “They flew me up and down to Sydney and I thought, gee I think I may be close! And they offered me the job. Then a few months later, I said, ‘what got me over the line?’ And they said, it was your eyebrows! Sideburns and the eyebrows. Facial hair got me over the line! So if you want to get into kid’s television, grow your sideburns and practice your brow lifts!” The sideburns are a bit of a trademark now, we asked Rees if they are a non-negatiable part of the Jimmy Giggle persona. “I don’t actually know. It’s not in my contract or anything. Maybe I should just shave them off and be like, ‘well, you should have told me! It’s like that unspoken thing. Lenny’s struggling with some hair at that moment, so I’ll stick it on his head!” Earlier this year, Tori and Rees welcome their first child, Lenny, into the family. Becoming a Dad has, like for most parents, given Rees a new sense of identity and responsibility. Like his relationship with Tori, the adaption has been quite natural and grown organically. “He’s seven months old now, little Lenny. He’s smiling and laughing a lot. I think they’re a bit of a blob for a few months.” And the greatest surprise of parenthood? “I think it’s just the responsibility (giggle!). Mainly for my wife Tori, and most mothers who are breastfeeding, you do that and it’s a job you’ve been given biologically. And not having that, I could still just zip off to the gym, go up the street, what I’ve always done and this is cool. But it’s that realisation, wait are you [Tori] ok?

giggle

“What got me over the line? They said, it was my eyebrows!”

Maybe I shouldn’t be doing that! Flicking that switch in your head, and after a while, I don’t want to do those things, I just want to hang out with Lenny and Tori and just chill at home. Tori’s thrown in at the deep end, because she’s feeding and she has to do that. You feel like your life doesn’t change so much, but it does.” And has parenthood changed Rees’ approach to his pajama laden alter ego? “I think it’s sort of given me more perspective when meeting kids, I don’t think my performance has changed a whole lot. Because I’ve always been energetic and that character hasn’t changed. I feel like I try to get smiles out of kids a bit more, I can gauge how old they are, especially the babies. I think it’s changed that knowing of what’s going on in their little lives.” Rees, a self-confessed hopeless romantic, proposed to Tori with a Burger Ring! “The worst thing is, Tori’s amazing at buying gifts and I’m so hopeless at those romantic type things. I just

second-guess myself, all the time! Sometimes it’s the thought that counts, but I always stumble at what to do, what to get. So I floated the idea of, why don’t we choose a ring together. I’d be looking and didn’t know. So I literally proposed with a Burger Ring. We were just at home. There was no big sky-writing or rose petals on the floor. The big moment was more the wedding, we had an amazing wedding down the Peninsula.” Grab a copy of Jimmy’s “Christmas Party” CD for the kid’s stocking. Jimmy has teamed up with special guest celebrities such as David Campbell, Tina Arena, Justine Clarke, Deb Mailman, FiFi Box and Kate Miller Heidke to deliver you and your family the Christmas album of the year. Join Jimmy at his upcoming Christmas Party tour with Hoot and Hootabelle, Santa, some cheeky elves and special guest Ally McGregor. Dec 21 & 22 at The Arts Centre, Melbourne. For tour details visit abc.net.au/abcevents

shop local this Chri 1. Far Fetched Designs

5. Mosey

A popup store of handmade gifts and homewares. Children’s clothes, jewelry, bags, pots, mice in a tin… everything really. There are around 35 makers represented, many local. Open until Christmas Eve Wed, Thurs, Fri 10–5.30, Weekends 10–5.

Mosey on in. Oh good one, I’m so funny. But seriously do, because you’ll find a beautiful and vast array of cards, as well as carefully curated art, homewares and more.

30 Birmingham Street Yarraville www.facebook.com/farfetcheddesigns

2. Atelier Art Supplies A shop full of arty goodness for kids and adults. They sell pretty much any art supply you can imagine. I’ve got my eyes on some Posca pens for my nine year old. 8/199 Champion Road Williamstown www.facebook.com/atelierartSupplies

3. Village Idiom A true gift shop with plenty of ideas for men and women. Fabulous scarves, teapots, wacky matryoshka dolls. Definitely a go to for those pesky work Kris Kringles. 34 Anderson Street Yarraville www.facebook.com/Village.Idiom.Yarraville

4. Two Birds Brewing Head into the Two Birds Brewing tasting room to buy their full range of beers (and have a drink while you’re there). A tour of their brewery in Spotswood would also make a perfect gift for a beer lover. 136 Hall Street Spotswood www.twobirdsbrewing.com.au

6. Green Collect Pre-loved designer clothing, fair trade tea, coffee, chocolate, and footwear, recycled stationery, and eco friendly body care. There’s some really quirky stuff here. Green Collect’s philosophy is recycled, earth kind, fair and local. And they are a social enterprise, supporting people who face barriers to employment. 71 Anderson Street Yarraville www.facebook.com/greencollectorg

7. Finch Emporium Simply gorgeous toy shop in Seddon. Great quality toys, many wooden and eco friendly. Brands include Plan Toys, Brio, Green toys, and Schleich. 86 Charles Street Seddon www.finchemporium.com.au

8. Post Industrial Design Ask anyone in the inner west where to go for a gift and they’ll tell you to make a beeline for Post Industrial Design. They have never failed me for a gift for man, woman or child! While you’re there check out the west’s own Christmas window. 638 Barkly Street West Footscray http://postindustrialdesign.com.au

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97 Anderson Street Yarraville www.mosey.com.au

ristmas

With some many great local shops in the west, how could you not spend your Chrissy dollars nearby? We’ve picked some MamaMag favourites for you to check out!

9. Australian Geographic

12. Hokey Pokey Vintage Emporium

It’s a chain store. No, it’s a strip shop! What? Williamstown has a rare strip shopping Australian Geographic and it has the usual array of clever gifts for children in convenient Douglas Parade.

For that friend who loves vintage head to this treasure hidden away in the Kinnears building. Clothes, bags, books, records, furniture. Make sure you have plenty of time – you’ll need it.

28 Douglas Pde Williamstown http://shop.australiangeographic.com.au

Shop 17, 122-188 Ballarat Road Footscray www.facebook.com/hokeypokeyvintage emporium

10. Sun theatre Yarraville

13. Say it Sister

An inner west icon, the Sun Theatre has some great gift voucher options to choose from like Sun girl: two movie tickets, a half bottle of wine and two choc tops, or Fun girl: two movie tickets, a half bottle of wine, $30 to spend in the Sun Bookshop, and coffee and cake for 2 at Café Java. Buy online or in the theatre.

This brand new store is run by mums and is just beyond gorgeous. You’ll find clothes, shoes, homewares, jewelry, and children’s décor items. The whole shop oozes style – get in there.

8 Ballarat Street Yarraville www.suntheatre.com.au

11. Handmaker’s Factory Buy the creative type in your life a place in one of the amazing classes at the Handmaker’s Factory. Screenprinting, indigo shibori, spoon carving, ever popular crochet, and more. Or just book yourself in! 206/10 Elizabeth Street Kensington (book online) http://handmakersfactory.com.au

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30 Hall Street Newport www.sayitsister.com.au Also check out these lovely locals: Invite Me (children’s gifts, Yarraville); Chalk (children’s clothes and gifts, Yarraville); Enchanted Years (children’s gifts, baby clothes & books, Williamstown); JP Everlasting Books (children’s books, Kingsville); Love Luvo (ethical cleaning and body products & gifts, Seddon); Maritas of Yarraville (women’s clothes and jewellery, Yarraville); and Sedonia (homewares & clothes, Seddon).

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1. West Footscray Neighbourhood House This little hub of community is above the West Footscray library. They offer permanent and casual child care for when you need a break, three year old kinds, a wonderful toy library and more. 539 Barkly Street wfnh.com.au

2. Jellybread This child friendly café is a treasure for parents. There is a playroom inside and out the back is a huge yard. Sit and eat while your children enjoy the toys, grass, and even guinea pigs. 561 Barkly Street 3. Krishna Pait Pooja There so many amazing Indian restaurants in West but this one offers something a little different that we think some of our readers will be happy to travel for. It’s all vegetarian and every item on the menu can be modified to vegan. Also gluten and dairy free options as well as some child friendly milder dishes. 578 Barkly Street

4. Uniting Church Op Shop There’s not a lot of retail shops in this part of Barkly Street but you never know what you’ll find in this small but well stocked op shop. Traditional bargain prices too. 557 Barkly Street

5. Bharat Traders Indian Supermarket This place is amazing. Stock up on naan bread, paneer, spices, lentils, sparklers, stainless steel bowls, and amazingly cheap natural yoghurt. They have freshly made Indian sweets and kids will enjoy looking at the colourful line up of traditional Indian idols and celebration items. 580 Barkly Street 6. Varis Organics Pop into the store or choose from five fruit and veg boxes delivered to you. Their organic boxes are well known across the west and their certified organic vegetables are sourced from the wholesale market daily. 590 Barkly Street www.varisorganics.com.au 12

Summer Holiday Swimming Join our Holiday Swim Program – children can participate in a swimming lesson every day for a week of the January school holidays. Call Carlile Swimming Altona on 9392 4444 or visit us inside Bayfit Leisure Centre.

www.carlile.com.au

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quibbling siblings You hear raised voices from the next room where the children are playing. It doesn’t sound too bad at this point, so you cross your fingers and hope they will work it out themselves. The voices get louder. You hear a few bangs and crashes. Someone yells “MUUUM!” Someone is wailing. There seems to be some kind of emergency, so you rush in to take control and restore peace. Sound familiar? Sibling relationships can sometimes be tricky to navigate, and there is no time when this is more apparent than over the summer holidays. Brothers and sisters spend weeks in each other’s company, having some lovely moments, but also bickering, dobbing or outright arguing. These interactions can leave parents feeling stressed and frustrated, wondering why their children can’t just get along. But what if I told you that this conflict is essential and can actually be beneficial for your children? Perhaps you wouldn’t dread the holidays quite so much if you thought about these spats as providing the optimal training

ground for your children to develop conflict resolution, problem-solving, empathy, and self-regulation skills. In order to turn conflicts into learning experiences, you firstly need to know that children do not have a natural ability to work out disagreements constructively and respectfully. It is a learned skill, just like tying shoelaces, which takes time and practice. Having this understanding will then allow you to switch your role from ‘the judge’ who determines guilt or innocence and dishes out punishments, to ‘the teacher’ who supports children to solve their own problems.

“But what if I told you that this conflict is essential and can actually be beneficial for your children?”

By Dr Sheri Todd The Family Psychology Centre 102a North Road Newport www.familypsychologycentre.com.au

The following steps are a guide to help you manage conflict when it does occur: • Stay calm yourself. When children observe your peacefulness, it allows them to calm themselves more easily. • State the problem objectively, without blaming or taking sides. Your children will feel understood and connected to you, and will then be more able to follow your guidance. • Encourage each child to say how they are feeling. Expressing emotions will help your children to become more self-aware, and hearing their sibling’s point of view helps to develop empathy. • Assist your children to resolve the conflict by problem-solving. Brainstorm some ways to fix the problem and support them to find a win/win solution. This step can be quite complex and may involve teaching additional skills such as assertiveness and negotiation. • If a person has been hurt, an object broken, or a mess made, focus on making repairs rather than forcing apologies. Giving a hug, cleaning up, fixing what was broken, or playing a game together are some different and acceptable methods of repair. Ask the child involved to think of a way to make the situation better.

There are also several ways you could attempt to prevent conflict from occurring in the first place: • As a family, set up some household rules for the holidays so that everybody has a clear understanding of how they should behave and treat other family members. • Pre-empt common arguments and ask the children to problem solve before emotions are heightened. • Try to encourage a balance of together time and alone time. Remember that siblings are not accustomed to spending all day every day together. • Have some activities available that require co-operation rather than competition. Baking, water play, art and craft, physical/outdoor games, or scavenger hunts (with children working together) are good options.

Remember that this advice is not a quick fix that will banish all arguments from your house forever. Rather, consider it a long-term plan to encourage excellent interpersonal skills and sensitive, caring relationships. Eventually, when you hear those raised voices from the next room, you’ll be able to raise your eyebrows and smile to yourself, confident that you have taught them the skills to work it out themselves.

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turn the page I Need A Hug by Aaron Blabey “I need a hug. Will you cuddle me, Lou?” “What? With those spikes? Get away from me! Shoo!” All this little porcupine wants is a hug. But with such prickly spikes, will she ever get the cuddle she craves? A truly adorable tale from the best-selling CBCA-shortlisted creator of Pig the Pug and Thelma the Unicorn. A gorgeous story for young and old with simple text and fun illustrations. A perfect story for showing children the importance of friendship. Ages 3+ Hardback $16.99 Tiny Timmy #1: Soccer Superstar! by Tim Cahill Tim tries out for his school team but keeps getting pushed off the ball and doesn’t make the side. The coach tells him he’s just not big enough to cut it with the other kids. Devastated, Tim tries some unconventional ways to make himself taller - with not-very-successful but hilarious results! Confronted with a tricky situation, Tim realises that although he isn’t as big and tall as the other kids, he can jump really high. And because he’s been practicing so much, he has better skills and shooting than the other kids. Will it be enough to earn him a place in the team? Funny and engaging text to encourage readers of all levels. Ages 6+ Paperback $12.99 Nellie Belle by Mem Fox & Mike Austin At the beach! In the street! Nellie Belle has friends to meet! Wouldn’t you like to join her? Meet Nellie Belle, a dog who has fun... everywhere! Well mostly. Lyrical, rhythmical, rhyming and repetitious; perfect for very young children. Complemented by vibrant and endearing illustrations by Mike Austin. Ages 1+ Hardback $19.99

My First Day At School by Rosie Smith & Bruce Whatley ‘On my first day, I will meet new friends and learn new things... What about you?’ Whether big or small, feathered or furry, the first day of school can be a lot of fun! A stunning new picture book from the much loved Rosie Smith & Bruce Whatley. A great book to encourage new school-goers, whether starting day care, preschool or primary school. Ages 3+ Hardback $16.99

Enchanted Years is not just a bookstore. It’s the perfect place to do your Christmas shopping with toys, art and crafts, gorgeous costumes, clothes and room décor for children aged 0–10. A huge range of puzzles to keep the kids amused over summer too. Open 7 days a week. www.enchantedyears.com.au 30 Ferguson St Williamstown. Ph 9397 1154 16

enchanted years has a wide selection of high quality wooden toys, games, books, dress-ups, clothing and bedroom decor. each item in our store is individually selected allowing us to stock a range of products that are as unique as the child you love.

30 Ferguson Street Williamstown - 9397 1154 - www.enchantedyears.com.au Live Local - Shop Local - and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to mention MamaMag!

the journey of five When we shared our Bayside Mama of the Month feature of Justine Tuffley in October on our Facebook page, the post went viral and quickly reached over 10,000 people. But we can understand why. Here is the full remarkable story of just how baby number five came into this world, without an oesophagus, and how Justine coped. In 2008 my 5th baby was born without an oesophagus. I had five children under the age of four when my baby was admitted to Intensive Care for five months. I was really looking forward to a simple pregnancy. I had big plans. After spending my two previous pregnancies, both with twins, on the couch and gaining over 20kg each time I was going keep fit and aim for less than 10kg weight gain. By 36 weeks I was getting really worried that something was wrong. I was rapidly gaining weight and it all appeared to be on my belly. My skin was stretched so tight it had a translucent shine and the smallest prod was painful. The nights dragged slowly by as I couldn’t lie down. I grew out of all my clothes from my previous twin pregnancies. This baby was going to be enormous. I listened in horror when the doctor murmured “10 pound baby”. The birth was a blur. My waters broke at home and instead of a trickle it seemed a torrent. I waddled into the hospital holding towels to contain the flow. Soon the clear fluid turned to blood and I remember the Obstetrician saying to me “You’ve clearly got polyhydramnios, a small baby and placental rupture so I’m calling the Royal Childrens Hospital NOW” and me thinking “Oh dear that really doesn’t sound good, there goes my drug free birth”. Hugo was a little thing, just 5 pounds. He came out frothing at the mouth and a strange blue colour. A team of doctors from Intensive Care took him off in what we fondly refer to as “The Spaceship”. Three days later I was well enough to go and visit. The doctor gave me 18

a run through of what to expect – months in hospital, major surgery at 3 months, a high chance of complications and eventually he would go home but require tube feeding. I was really cross. My response was “I am NOT taking him home tube fed. He will have to stay here until he is better. I cannot cope with a tube fed baby.” But as the days and weeks rolled on the daily hospital visits began to take their toll. I was miserable, exhausted and consumed with guilt. In an effort to feel better I began writing down positive thoughts in a notebook. My first entry was: 1. I am lucky my parents in law live in Adelaide 2. I am lucky they are only staying 1 week 3. I am lucky that there is free milo here I never wrote more than 3 things. Some days I could easily have written ten things for which I felt grateful, but that would have made the days when I struggled for anything positive so much worse by comparison.

“I remember the Obstetrician saying to me I’m calling the Royal Childrens Hospital NOW” and me thinking “Oh dear that really doesn’t sound good, there goes my drug free birth”. I learnt to slow down and savour my time. I would cradle Hugo in my arms, stroke his head and cheeks, rub his back and concentrate all my attention on him. This practice of “mindfulness” was simply appreciating the moment and paying attention.

under four My sleep suffered. I desperately wanted time when the kids were all in bed, which meant I was going to bed too late. And when I did go to bed my mind wouldn’t switch off. I learnt breathing techniques to combat the endless chatter in my mind. My chaotic and jumbled thoughts, my worry and guilt would be replaced by rhythmical counting and finally I found sleep. I was so fortunate. I had hope where others had none. I realised it was the simple things that made a difference. Getting enough sleep, going for a walk, learning to relax, remembering to be grateful and focusing my attention what was happening right now. I discovered that a healthy diet really does wonders for your mood compared to a diet of milo and toast.

“I am NOT taking him home tube fed. He will have to stay here until he is better. I cannot cope with a tube fed baby.” Hugo did come home tube fed. I assembled a homemade feeding system hanging from his pram so I could get out and about. He would vomit 10-20 times a day so I wrapped him in towels. I had many strange looks and some awful thoughtless comments.

He had more surgery to stop the vomiting and at the aged of 2 he still refused to eat. The RCH hospital suggested I look into a clinic in Switzerland specialising in getting tube fed babies to eat, but the cost was astronomical and with four other children it wasn’t practical. Instead I read all the papers the clinic had published and decided to do it myself from home. After months of frustration I removed his feeding tube for the last time. We celebrated that night. A chapter of our life was over. We were blessed to have had our time at the hospital. I learnt so many strategies to cope with challenges and set backs. It really is the simple things that are the most important. Dr Justine Tuffley, a former GP, helps women who are feeling overwhelmed get their health back on track through diet, exercise and stress management. She also runs Corporate Stress Management workshops. www.drjustinetuffley.com.au

only but not Let me set the scene and give you a glimpse into my childhood. I was born in the early 70s to my Mum and Dad, who had married four years before I came along. I was the first and only child from their union. When I was almost three, they divorced. Back in those days, that was pretty scandalous and not at all common. So here’s my Mum in the mid 70s – a single parent with an only child. I lived with Mum and spent time with my Dad on weekends. I was happy being an only child as I didn’t know any different. From memory, I didn’t give it too much thought that I didn’t have siblings and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t that kid who longed for one either. At primary school it didn’t matter to me or my friends that I was an only. Mum and I would go on holidays with other families and I didn’t feel as if I was missing out. It was when I got to secondary school where the real conversation around divorce and being an only child started. Suddenly it was a ‘thing’ and statements like ‘Oh, you’re an only child, that makes sense!’ and ‘It’s really sad that you don’t have brothers or sisters’ were thrown around. I was actually shocked and hurt by comments like this. Mum had done such a good job of creating a life that didn’t make me feel ‘odd’ and I became quite defensive about the whole subject. I felt lucky and loved and special – not ‘sad’ or ‘unfortunate’ because I didn’t have siblings. On top of the ‘only child’ comments came others like, ‘And she doesn’t have a steady father figure in her life’ which upset me even more. Like I was double-doomed because I was an only and I didn’t live with my Dad. I soon learnt that people love to pass judgement on situations they usually know very little about.

My relationship with my Dad wasn’t easy, but he did everything he could to make me feel loved and supported. I can’t imagine it was easy for him being a part-time Dad, especially of a young girl who had a very strong bond with her mother. Dad remarried when I was 13, and I gained a step-Mum and step-sister, who was 8 years younger than me. It was an interesting dynamic and I’m pretty sure my Dad felt outnumbered, as the three of us would often gang up on him (in a nice way!). A few years later, I gained a half-brother and a few years after that I gained another. So in my extended family on Dad’s side, there are two girls (including me) and two boys ranging from 20-42. Although I never lived with my new siblings, I now have adult relationships with them that I cherish. I still don’t have a grasp on stuff like sibling rivalry, fighting with them and all that goes with having your siblings in the same house, but I do know that I feel lucky to have them in my life. Fast forward to a point in my late twenties, when I wasn’t sure if I even wanted children. I’m certain my Mum had worries that she may never become a grandmother. Fast forward to now and here I am with my own only child, and a girl too. I had a very tough time with my pregnancy and my introduction to motherhood was extremely

lonely difficult. That’s a whole different story, but because of that, I have chosen not to have any more children. So, do I think Ava is ‘unfortunate’, ‘lonely’ or ‘spoilt’? No, I don’t. Sure, she asks me about whether I’ll have another baby, but I carefully explain that I won’t be having another child. Although, she’s only 5, I know part of her understands. For the first four years of her life, she saw me in and out of hospital, in pain, on and off crutches (etc, etc) and she gets that part of it – it’s normal to her. Thankfully the worst is over but what happened to me will affect me for the rest of my life and in years to come the hospital visits will start up again.

So what’s with the judgement surrounding parents who only have one child? Some people have one and then realise they are unable to have another. And for some, it’s a lifestyle choice. And not everyone can afford it either. Why do people think they can pass judgement when they don’t have a clue about your situation and your life? I would have thought, that in today’s society, we’d all be a bit more open to different scenarios. But it seems that not much has changed since the 70s. Sigh! I sincerely hope that as Ava grows older, it doesn’t become an issue for her. She is an amazing, strong, resilient little person, but she’s also a very sensitive little soul. Fingers crossed I do a good job of guiding her through it all. By Lauren Peters, Westside mother to Ava and blogger at meandmygirl.com.au

MAMA of the month This month we chat to Sevi Stolica from Baby Bistro. Sevi is a dedicated and passionate mother to two incredible boys under 5 and founded Baby Bistro, which delivers home-style, 100% organic baby food to families around Melbourne, in 2011. When did you decide to create Baby Bistro and where did the idea come from? When I was younger, my mum was always cooking up amazing meals and taught us a lot about enjoying wholesome, home cooked meals with heaps of variety. When my first, Lucas, came along I wanted to give him the same experience but he refused! He was an incredibly fussy eater and being a new mum I worried a lot about his eating, and at first I didn’t know how to approach it! Of course I know now that it was perfectly normal and my baby wasn’t going to starve, but at the time I was concerned about how I was going to get the goodness he needed into his little body. We both worked hard to improve Lucas’ eating habits. I made all of his meals and made sure that I packed as many natural flavours and nutrients into them as I possibly could. I practiced the kind of patience only a mother can pull off and slowly Lucas and I found harmony at mealtimes. When I realised that surely I wasn’t the only mum who went through this (how right I was!) I started selling the meals and my circle of customers just grew and grew from there! What were you doing before you had kids? I worked in a corporate job managing cash accounts for a stock broking house but in my heart always knew I would work with food. How do you juggle being a mum and running your business? Juggle is a good way to put it! It’s a constant balancing act – I have to make sure that I give my boys the attention and quality time that they deserve and that I want to share with them but also manage Baby Bistro in the kitchen, support my staff and focus on the 22

future of the business. It is not easy but I have a very supportive circle of people around me who help me stay on track. I remind myself daily that my business is both for me and my family and at the end of the day my boys are why I work so hard and if they need me, that’s where I am. With two boys under 5, do you have any memorable parenting stories to share? Every day something happens that makes me feel lucky to have my boys. When I tuck my kids into bed at night, they tell me what their favourite part of the day was and seeing their faces light up just completes my day. You have so many delicious recipes, which is your favourite? Do I really have to pick?! There are soooo many we still have up our sleeve which haven’t been shared yet! If I had to choose, my favourite Baby Bistro meal is the Extra Veg Ratatouille. The combo of veggies in it and the texture makes it a ‘whole family’ meal for us. From our recipe collection on the website I am pretty much in love with the chia and zucchini muffins. A nice big fluffy muffin that makes you feel like you are enjoying a cheat day, but in actual fact they are super healthy. What has been your greatest highlight to date? There are so many… Getting into our very own commercial kitchen and setting up a shop front is definitely up there (besides having my boys of course!). From the second I decided to sell Baby Bistro meals from my own home I fantasised about having my own big kitchen, a happy team of cooks and really making an impact on families all over Australia.

It wasn’t easy which definitely adds to the satisfaction and there were times when I thought we were never going to find the right kitchen. There is nothing better than realising a dream or achieving a goal – especially the really big ones! I have big plans for Baby Bistro’s future, but so far I am ticking off items in my original ‘to-do’ list and while it’s crazy busy, it is one of the most satisfying feelings too. What inspired your menu selections? My mum was a wonderful cook and always produced hand-made-from-scratch favourites to the family at dinner times. I love the feeling of nostalgia when you tuck into a meal that was a favourite for you as a child. When I started on Baby Bistro meals, I wanted to provide those old favourites but add my own edge to them. Obviously organic food is important to me and I am a big advocate for clean eating so I always cooked with organic ingredients. I believe the Baby Bistro menu is ‘classic family meals with organic ingredients and a modern twist’. What future events are planned for Baby Bistro? I can’t give too much away but… we have a lot of exciting things coming up for Baby Bistro and our customers! We recently released our app which has been really popular and came as a great surprise for families everywhere… we have a few more surprises up our sleeves! What advice do you have for others thinking of starting a business? Don’t let your fears hold you back! It’s an oldie but a goodie. Of course there have been days where I have doubted what I am doing… especially in the early days. But if I listened to my fears I would not be where I am and I wouldn’t have bigger, more exciting goals to work towards. Doubt is your biggest enemy – get out there and fight for what you love! Where can we find you? We have a growing collection of retailers throughout Vic and also in NSW, plus online of course! The easiest way to find Baby Bistro is to hop on our website or check us out on Facebook and Instagram. www.facebook.com/babybistroAU www.instagram.com/babybistro www.babybistro.com.au 23

christmas bubbles We are most definitely on the right side of the planet to be drinking sparkling wine over Christmas and New Year. As the weather warms up and the party invitations start rolling in, we tend to leave our heavy and hearty bottles of red in the cellar and start opting for delicate and effervescent wines that signal joy for all. Eighty percent of champagne sales in Australia take place in the last quarter of the year and the first week of January – incidentally so do most cork injuries! The grandest of all sparkling wines is created with passion about 90 miles North East of Paris in a region that shares the same name – Champagne. Champagne has a unique set of geological conditions that offers grape production a unique set of climatic conditions along with a limestone-chalk soil type, to ensure there is absolutely nothing quite like it in the world. The bubbles are small and fine and, through a controlled ageing process, it develops a refined complexity that has inevitably earned it the high price tag. The history of celebrating with Champagne dates back to sixteenth century when all of the Kings of France were anointed into power in a magnificent cathedral that was built in Reims, the unofficial capital of Champagne. The coronation service and celebration both featured the wines of Champagne, elevating the status of champagne above all other wines in France and forever etching it into the minds of the people as a celebratory wine. For many people the significant moments in their life have all been celebrated with a bottle (or even a magnum) of champagne – milestone birthdays, arrival of new babies, christening of new homes. However, we don’t need to wait for a significant moment this summer to enjoy a bottle of the finest sparkling. There are many different styles of champagne that all pair wonderfully with food and there is no better way of making a simple moment special; like 24

cooking a roast chicken and instead of an oaked chardonnay, have it with a bottle of Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve NV. Why not? A non-vintage champagne is the entry level for most champagne houses. Its job is to reflect the style of the champagne house and it will be similar each year. But champagne houses will produce many styles of champagne and the guide below will help you understand different champagnes and how you can enjoy them with food.

Champagne styles and food pairing ideas Blanc de Blancs – 100% Chardonnay Characteristics – Fresh and elegant, can display tension and racy acidity with lemon citrus notes, white flowers and fresh orchard fruit with chalky minerality. Meal pairing suggestion – Start with this wine earlier in the meal as an aperitif or with pan-seared scallops, kingfish tartare and white fleshy fish like Hapuka or Barramundi with brighter, fresher condiments like finger lime, citrus salad, fresh mint and toasted grains. Recommendation: Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV - Reims Vintage – Aged for a minimum of 3 years, the best grapes from one year’s harvest. Characteristics – Due a to longer ageing period whilst on its yeast lees, the wine tends to develop richer, creamier and more developed characteristics but with refined acidity and freshness. Each vintage wine differs greatly, but as general rule of thumb you can climb the flavour ladder to more equally rich, decadent and complex dishes. Meal pairing suggestion – Duck with pear puree, roast kipfler potatoes, asparagus and some baby vegetables. Recommendation: Pol Roger Vintage 2004

Rose – A pink champagne, which tends to be dry and savoury and can vary in colour from onion skin pink to deep magenta. This will normally have either a small addition of red wine made in the area or has it’s natural colour kept during the pressing stage of champagne production (known as “saignée”). Characteristics – Flavours vary as wildly as the colour can. For lighter rosés think cranberry, redcurrant, hibiscus and wild strawberries and for darker styles you can also find the above but with the addition of raspberry, blueberry, baked strawberry and blood plum. This is not including other aroma and flavour profiles from the floral, spice and baked goods spectrum! Meal pairing suggestion – Cured salmon with dill, lemon aioli, cherry tomatoes and perhaps a Moroccan-style couscous with fragrant spices. Recommendation: Perrier Joüet Blason Rosé Demi-Sec – A sweeter champagne style. Characteristics - This is no different in production from the usual non-vintage wine made by the producer, however there is a higher sugar addition at the end of bottling. For example a nonvintage usually sits between 7-9 grams per litre (g/L) and a demi-sec is somewhere between 30-35 g/L. The flavour profile is, as you would imagine, a racy fresh acidity combined with a decadent sweetness. Think flavours of lemon curd, acacia honey, warm brioche and candied mandarin/lime/lemon. Meal pairing suggestion – Pavlova with passion fruit, cream, strawberries and fresh mint. Recommendation: A.R. Lenoble Riche Demi-Sec NV By Kyla Kirkpatrick The Champagne Dame. thechampagnedame.com

active wear... Doing literally everything in my activewear!

If you’ve not seen the recent social media viral from Skit Box parodying activewear then log on and take a look, it’s hilarious. With 15 million view it’s a spoof that has obviously struck a chord. Yes, we all know a suburb like this and we’ve all had a chuckle when that perfectly manicured lady in a hot pink, leopard print sports bra is just casually buying groceries. True story! However, since becoming a mum, my activewear has become my ‘go to’ outfit every morning. Clothes with Lycra are the only thing I can comfortably fit into until I eventually lose my baby weight and believe me I’m in no hurry to do so as I despise exercising. Just like with hipsters or bogans, ladies who wear yoga pants are now in the limelight so I found myself questioning why am I so ashamed to step out in my activewear? I often feel self-conscious that with all the negative connotations about non-sweaty Betty’s in gym gear people might think that pushing the pram down the high street is the only exercise I’m getting. If only they knew about the day in the life of a first time mum. I want mama’s to reclaim activewear as their first choice of outfit in a morning. So what if I haven’t actually stepped foot in the gym? I have however ironed, done two loads of washing, pegged it all out, fed, cleaned, changed the baby twice, made the bed, tidied the living room, put dinner in the slow cooker and cleaned my teeth all before 9am! Heck! I ought to be a brand ambassador for activewear! I’m kicking personal best’s all over the place! 26

Sure, I could wear some loose harem pants and a singlet but then sandals look best with these baggy trousers and my pedicure from two months ago is now offensive to the public. Or, how about denim shorts and a t-shirt? These choices are great but you have to consider underwear and if you’ve shaved your legs, ain’t nobody got time for that!

My top 3 reasons to wear activewear:

1. It hugs the postpartum body and holds everything in place. Making it comfortable to achieve 18 tasks in 4 minutes. 2. It doesn’t need ironing. #winning 3. You can be dressed for the day in 16 seconds (actually timed it) and your activewear can be layered up easily, to accommodate the Melbourne weather. Women, let’s rise up and unite in an activewear revolution! Be confident in your yoga pants and rock that running vest after all it’s the most sensible thing to wear as a mum. So what if you do encounter that lady with the perfectly styled hair, full make up, jewellery and the loudest leggings possible? Well you just give her a nod and smile as acknowledgment that she too may have just smashed her PB in her own race that day! www.facebook.com/SkitBox Written by Rae Kelly Hill www.instagram.com/verymaverick

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local adoption lowdown To say that people in Australia have very little understanding about the process of local adoption, is indeed a huge understatement. People never cease to amaze me. The strange, interesting and sometimes just downright rude questions that come out of their mouths still manage to catch me off guard.

We want our daughter to always know about her adoption, and that it is never something we are too afraid to speak about with others. I also know that this will become more difficult over time, as she gets older and the questions are asked in front of her and she understand more of the conversations.

There have been times when it has taken every ounce of my being to not slap some people for the things they have dared to ask us – but I am pleased to say that up until the point of writing this, I have been able to hold it together, and my record remains clean!

I would like to share with you the most common questions I am asked, and to share with you the best of my knowledge, the most appropriate way to respond when you are told that someone’s child is adopted.

Like the time a woman at my playgroup said to me “So what are you going to do when she wants to go and live with her real mother?” or the time my next door neighbour asked me “Is there something wrong with your daughter as her mum didn’t want to keep her?” or the time that my husband’s aunty told me that “She didn’t think it was right that our daughter’s birth mother should be allowed to see her after she gave her away”. There are days when we are happy to share our knowledge with the whole world, but then there are others when we just don’t want to talk about it anymore. As an educator myself, I have really struggled with this at times, as I know that it is partly my responsibility to create awareness about adoption. However, there are also days when I don’t even think about it and just get on with life enjoying my child and our beautiful family.

For us the process of adoption has been a learning journey. We had to undertake training days and personal interviews with our adoption agency, who made it very clear to us from the start that being open was of the utmost importance. I try to take this into consideration when people ask me questions, as I suppose in the beginning we had little understanding of it all ourselves.

1. Why didn’t her birth mother want her? Was her birth mother a drug addict? How old was she? Is there something wrong with her? Quite frankly – our daughter’s birth mother’s age, name, ethnical background or socio economic status is really NONE of your business. She is a human being – yes that’s right – a human being who has thoughts, feelings and fears all of her own. I get very defensive of our birth mother, because I know her. I have a relationship with her. I know how much she loves our daughter, and I know how difficult it was for her to make the decisions that she did. I was there on the day we bought our daughter home and held her birth mother whilst we both sobbed, and I promised her that I would love and take care of her beautiful child forever and ever. Please don’t judge her. Please don’t feel sorry for her. Just understand that sometimes in life we have to make very difficult decisions, which are not always about putting ourselves first. Never begin to assume that you can understand what it must have been like for her to have to make the decision that she did to relinquish her right to parent her newborn baby.

2. You adopted her in Australia? I didn’t know that was even legal anymore.

4. What are you going to do when she wants to live with her real mother?

Yes you can still adopt a child in Australia. The process is long and takes time, but they are not going to just give you someone else’s baby to take care of for the rest of their life, without doing the proper background checks and making sure you are both technically ‘sane’ and capable of caring for a child. These things take time. The adoption agency has to get to know you on a deeply personal level, and of course then match you with the right child.

This one hurts me the most, although I must say it has been said a few times now, I can sometimes laugh it off, but other days it still rocks me to the core. I am her real mother – I am NOT her birthmother. She didn’t grow inside me and I didn’t give birth to her, but I am her mother every single day of the week. I am the one who reads to her every night, the one who has just recently toilet trained her and the one who she calls out ‘Mummy’ to when she needs comfort.

Agencies work closely with birth mothers to find the people who they consider to be the best parents for their baby. I love the fact that we know our birth mother chose us. It means more to me than I ever can describe in words. I think the fact that our birth mother couldn’t do it herself, knowing that she made the final choice of family for her child, must certainly be of some reassurance to her. All adoptions in Australia are considered open – which means that the birth family have a right by law to see their biological child four times a year. Four times a year is actually such a very small amount of contact, and you have to wonder really how families can form any kind of real relationship with that amount. We share photos, phone calls and text messages more than face to face visits, at this point in time. I send them at the most random of times. Like the times when my daughter has tipped a bowl of spaghetti on her head – these are the moments that our birth mother is missing out on, and I am more than happy to share them with her. It is the least I can do. I am not threatened by my relationship with her. In fact I know in my heart that my daughter will be more emotionally secure in life, if she can see that we have a healthy and functioning relationship with her birth mother.

Her birth mother will always be such a special person in our lives, as without her we would never have even met this beautiful little human being we call our daughter. In all of the times I have met people and told them our daughter was adopted, only one person has ever said to me simply “How wonderful”. I could have just hugged that woman so tight. I understand that adoption is such a beautiful thing to so many people. They are intrigued and touched deeply by our story. But we are a family, just like yours, that are doing our best to raise a confident, self-assured and happy little girl. Her life is already been made so complicated by the journey she has been on so far. All I ask is that when you enquire, do it with genuine happiness for us. Love Chrissie xx Chrissie Davies is an educator, consultant, loving mama via an open adoption, and passionate advocate for understanding children with challenging behaviours. chaostocalmconsultancy.com

3. How much did she cost? The actual process of adopting a child in Australia costs you nothing. Other than the fact that you will be raising a child for the rest of its life! The only time we have had to pay anything was our lawyer fees after he drew up the legal documents for our daughter’s legalisation day.

Top Tips for a Healthy Christmas By Holistic Nutritionist and Accredited Practising Dietitian, Sarah Leung. It’s hard to say no to your favourite foods during the festive season. The Christmas and New Year period is fast approaching and your calendar is no doubt filling up with work parties and social and family commitments. With all the celebration and excitement, it’s easy to forget about all your hard work throughout the year (and gain a few extra kilos!).

Healthy Energy Founding Nutritionist and Accredited Practising Dietitian, Sarah Leung shares some top tips for avoiding Christmas weight gain below:

Don’t drink your calories Alcohol is notorious for providing ‘empty calories’ and zero nutrition, apart from being a source of energy. One gram of alcohol provides 29 kilojoules, compared to one gram of carbohydrate which gives only 17 kilojoules. For example, there are less kilojoules in a light beer than a low-carb full-strength beer, because the alcohol content is lower (428kJ compared to 469kJ per 375mL). Two lowkilojoule alcohol choices are dry red/white/ sparkling wine or brut champagne or spirits such as vodka or gin with soda water or diet soft drink. Try to limit yourself to one or two drinks only, as a glass of white wine in a restaurant (150mL) contains around 14g of alcohol and 426kJ (101cals). This means 3 or 4 glasses of wine are equivalent in energy to a meal. Also, make sure you stay hydrated by matching each glass of alcohol with a glass of water.

Don’t go to a party hungry

Enjoy sweets but wisely

Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties often serve canapés or small bites to eat. But, while canapés are small, kilojoules can add up very quickly. For example, just one small Indian samosa contains around 420kJ (100cals). Try to eat small and frequent meals during the day rather than turning up to a party hungry and binge eating on everything in sight as soon as you arrive.

Christmas is one time of year. There is no need to punish yourself and there is still room to eat small portions of your favourite foods. Don’t replace binge eating with starvation dieting. Choose healthier options at parties if possible. For example, cakes and other sweet treats are usually high in refined carbohydrates (white flour and sugar) and saturated fats (butter and cream), so why not opt for fresh fruits instead?

Plan ahead Plan ahead for your next Christmas party. Offer to host the party at your house so you have more control in healthy food choices. If you aren’t hosting, why not bring a healthy plate? Sometimes just knowing that there will be food you can eat at a party can help you to stay on track with eating well. Some suggestions for a ‘healthy plate’ include homemade Vietnamese rice paper rolls, a large platter of raw vegetables (carrot, cucumber, capsicum, cauliflower, green beans) and reduced fat dip such as hummus, air-popped popcorn or wholegrain crackers and dips.

Don’t be discouraged if your weight loss plateaus over the Christmas period. Remember to be kind to yourself and make maintaining your weight your new goal until all the social-eating commitments subside. Merry Christmas!

mama can Cook!

Citrus Cured Ora King Salmon with blood orange and watercress Serves: 6 entre sizes

Method:

Ingredients: (make this 24hrs in advance)

In a food processor combine sugar, salt, dill and zest of lemon and orange. Leaving the skin on the salmon, rub this mixture all over the fish, top and bottom. Wrap in cling wrap and place in the fridge for 24 hours.

500g x Ora King Salmon (regular Atlantic salmon will be fine) 2 x tablespns caster sugar 2 x tablespns table salt ½ bunch of dill 1 lemon zested 1 orange zested Garnish Ingredients: 2 x Blood oranges segmented (or navel oranges or ruby grapefruit) ½ cup of picked flat leaf parsley ½ cup of picked dill leaves ½ cup picked watercress leaves 1 x shallot finely chopped 3 x teaspns white wine vinegar 2 x tablespns olive oil 100ml x Japanese kewpie mayonnaise

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Remove from fridge, wash off the sugar and salt marinade under cold water, pat dry with paper towel. Now slice as thinly as you can. 3-5 slices per person. Leaving the skin on the salmon makes it easier to slice the flesh off in nice slices, do not serve the skin. For the dressing, combine chopped shallots with white wine vinegar and olive oil. To assemble, pipe a thin line of the kewpie mayo along the centre of the plate. Lay 3-5 slices of the salmon over the mayo, not on top of each other. Place 3-4 orange segments on top of the fish, mix together the parsley, dill and watercress leaves, dress with the shallot vinaigrette, spread evenly over the top of the fish. Serve with lavosh crisp bread on the side.

White Mulled Wine Pear Tart Ingredients:

Method:

For the Pear Cooking Liquor

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees.

325ml white wine 3 cloves 1/2 cinnamon stick 1 inch sliced ginger (thinly sliced) 2 whole star anise 150g sugar

Put all the ingredients for the cooking liquor together and bring to the boil. Peel the pears and cut in half through the core. Remove the core. Poach the pears until cooked. The tip of a knife will go straight through without resistance.

For the Filling 3 packham pears 200g dark chocolate 3 Tablespoons store bought caramel 3 Tablespoons blood orange or fig jam For the Base 200g Ginger Nuts 60g soft butter

Put the biscuits in a food processor and blitz with the butter. Press into your mould. This recipe is measured to fit in a bread tin size mould. Around the outside raise the edges to help hold in the filling. Place the bread tin in the oven for 5 minutes. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water, pour onto the biscuit base and chill. Then remove the base from the mould. Spread the caramel over the chocolate followed by the jam. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry if it all gets mixed up. Slice the pear and place a layer onto the tart. You can serve this tart warm with ice-cream or, if served cold, I prefer a Chantilly cream.

join a toy library for Chistmas! She toddles in. Her whole chubby face lights up with delight. You can feel yourself relax. You say: “Would you like to take this toy home? Or this one?” Toy libraries are wonderful places. Unlike taking a small child to a toy shop (how on earth can one leave a toy shop with a small child in tow without a tantrum - or an unplanned purchase?), toy libraries are stress free, because at the end of your visit, your child gets to take toys home. Have you ever given a child an expensive present – only to find that they play with it for only a few minutes, and then never again? If your toys come from a toy library, this doesn’t matter – just revisit your toy library for a fresh batch of toys. Toy libraries are full of high quality, durable toys. Just imagine the most beautiful, most expensive toys in the toy shop, that you always wanted to buy for your little ones, but couldn’t quite justify the expense: that iconic Melbourne tram toy, beautiful wooden puzzles, a gorgeous recycled plastic tea set. Or, toys that you want for a fortnight, but not forever: a cozy coupe (those red and yellow toy cars that kids can sit inside and take up too much space), or a toy that plays electronic nursery rhymes. These are the toys that are available at your local toy library - at a fraction of the price. Your toy library

coordinator is a treasure of information about which toys are best for your child at each stage of their life. Christmas can be a stressful time, with family to negotiate, food to prepare, and presents to purchase. If you aren’t already a member, why not join a toy library for Christmas? For a typical annual fee of less than $100, you can borrow thousands of dollars worth of toys. What a saving! Every year, far too many broken or unwanted toys are thrown into landfill. By using a toy library, your little ones still get the benefit of playing with a wide variety of toys, but in an environmentally friendly way. Toy libraries are everywhere. If you don’t know where your local is, find out on the Toy Libraries Australia website, at www.toylibraries.org.au. She toddles to the front desk, cutely-yetawkwardly clutching a toy spaceship and a plastic baby doll. The lady squishes a toy library stamp onto the back of her pudgy hand. She toddle-runs into the foyer, you know she can’t wait to get home to play with her new toys. Melissa Makin is a mum of a 2 year old and 5 year old, most of the toys her kids play with are from her local toy library. She also runs SETLS: SErious Toy Library Software: www.setls.com.au 34

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meet the makers Full of creative residents, Melbourne’s western suburbs like Newport, Williamstown, Altona and Footscray are a breeding ground of creative makers.

Meet Lou Kopa of Totally Innocent. Lou is a local illustrator from Yarraville and works out of her home designing unique cards as well as prints, t-shirts, stickers and temporary tattoos. Lou will be featuring at The Substation Christmas Markets with her diverse selection of products. The Substation Artists’ Market will feature over 40 stalls of contemporary crafts, from textiles and home wares to art prints and jewellery. To celebrate Christmas, the market will also feature outdoor food stalls, live music from local acts and cold beer all day! The market is free and will run from 10am 3pm in The Substation at 1 Market Street, Newport. www.thesubstation.org.au 36

Gypsie ent

Meet Chelsea Hatherall of Gypsie Culture. Chelsea works out of her studio in Altona North, creating fun colourful clay jewellery. With her interest in sentimental jewellery pieces, Chelsea has created her own popular brand and is a regular at The Substation Artists’ Market.

Totally Innoc

Housed within the unique architecture of The Substation, The Substation Artists’ Market celebrates Melbourne’s rich craft industry with a monthly market full of different handmade products. Now in it’s fifth year, The Substation invites the community to embrace handmade products and shop local this Christmas.

Culture

These masters of the handmade make monthly appearances at local markets such as The Substation Artists’ Market in Newport. Meet the local makers of the Western suburbs of Melbourne at The Substation Christmas Markets and at the same time, find all the gifts for Christmas.

The Substation Christmas Markets Sunday 6 December & Sunday 20 December, 10am–3pm 1 Market Street Newport Shop the best contemporary arts and crafts from Melbourne’s finest makers Ceramics, Jewellery, Textiles, Food, Drinks, Live Music. Farmers’ Market in rear carpark presented by Melbourne Farmers Markets facebook.com/ TheSubstationArtistsMarket thesubstation.org.au

1 in 4 kids has an undetected vision problem We are dedicated to providing the best ocular health care for children and families. Bulk billed eye testing, large range of children's glasses and offering Visual processing assessment for learning difficulties and Dyslexia.

FREE

Kid’s sunglasses with every full comprehensive eye examination. *Subject to Medicare eligibility

Call us: 03 8340 0417 contact@kiddieseyecare.com.au 14 Parker Street Williamstown

www.kiddieseyecare.com.au

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We give away all sorts of great stuff to our ‘likers’! @localmamamag 37Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

The Amazing Brain Did you know that babies have far more brain cells than adults? When a baby is born their brain has more neurons (specialised cell-transmitting nerve messages) than it will ever have later in life. This gives our children an enormous capacity to learn and thrive. These neurons form part of our nervous system which is the communication highway of the body, starting from our brain, our master controller, and it is all through our spinal cord and spinal nerves and out to our body, fingers and toes. This system sends messages around the body to enable childbirth, feeding, learning, moving, digesting, breathing and so much more! As our children grow, it is their nervous system which is developing and firing more messages between the brain and the body allowing for healthy brain development.

later on in life. You may have seen a Startle reflex and/or suck reflex in action; these are just 2 of many. As the brain begins to develop these primitive reflexes begin to disappear. However, if they remain present beyond the first 6 months of life, they are considered abnormal and are evidence of an immature nervous system. Poor co-ordination, constant tripping over own feet, recurrent bedwetting, fidgeting, poor posture, poor handwriting and reading skills, persistent thumb sucking and dribbling are typical signs parents should look out for. There is a broad range of what is normal and OK. These are not pathological signs, just that things are not as smooth as they should be in our child’s development.

We are now starting to understand more and more that our environment and our experiences primes and shapes brain development. Children today have many more obstacles to face than what we may have faced 20 to 25 years ago. One of the first stressors placed on our newborn’s spine is childbirth and as they learn to walk, they trip and fall over and later when they start sitting in school and use electronic devices they develop poor posture. These subtle traumas throughout childhood may affect the future development of the spine, leading to impaired nervous system function. Any interference to the vital nervous system may adversely affect the body’s ability to function and grow at its best. It is important to enhance our child’s environment, especially during this period of rapid growth, to reduce any problems developing later in life.

There are sequential steps our children should tick off developmentally. In newborns, we typically see their arms and legs on the go when they are awake. This is unconscious movement which starts feedback to the brain to help wire and connect the brain. We should start to see some head control by approximately 2 - 3 months during tummy time. From approximately 4 months, rolling should be noted and sitting with some support by around 6 months is typical. Crawling in a cross-patterned style (opposite arms and legs) is an important milestone from 8 months to help train both the left and right side of the brain, followed by walking by approximately 12 – 14 months. Once these are achieved, children are better able to perform ‘gross motor skills’ such as jumping, skipping and hopping, followed by the ‘fine motor skills’ like holding a pen and picking up small items.

Our babies are equipped with primitive reflexes which are essential for their survival to the new environment and to provide training for skills

What can we do to guide healthy brain development in our children? Early experiences matter! Enrichment is something we are

coming to understand a lot more of. This is about socially engaging with our children. When our children reach out, it is a drive to socially connect with us, this fires and wires their brain and drives new connections triggering all aspects of development. From a neurological perspective it is vitally important that babies have short bursts of tummy time. This simple act builds up their neck muscles and activates brain pathways critical for balance, co-ordination and cognitive development. A good time to perform this is each nappy change for approximately 30 seconds. Whenever possible, allow your baby to move about, explore their world and entertain themselves with a variety of objects, such as cups, balls, spoons and plastic mirrors.

By understanding how the environment impacts the developing nerve system we understand how important a good functioning nerve system is for our children. You now know the major developmental milestones: head control, rolling, sitting, crawling, walking and you have exercises which can be performed at home to enhance brain development. We know that healthy brain development is vital for our children to feel better, learn and engage with ease. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s give them the best possible start in life! By Dr. Carla Vescio, Chiropractor BHSc(Chiro), MClinChiro, Webster Certified, College of Chiropractic Neuro-developmental Paediatrics (CCNP) Director

As your child reaches school age, tummy time can still be performed when reading books, watching electronic devices or colouring and drawing. You may also like to teach them stimulating activities like blowing bubbles or balloons, licking icy poles to help develop muscles around the mouth for language skills, perform superman/supergirl to develop back muscle tone and march like soldiers to help co-ordinate left and right brain.

Brought to you by:

Parklife

crocodile park, point cook Cnr of City Bay Rd and Saltwater Promenade Slip Slop SNAP! Point Cook meet Crocodile Park. This is a kid’s paradise! Imagine soft white sand, streams of water flowing around stepping stones, wooden look out platforms, rope bridges plus a big snappy crocodile spurting endless water from his mouth into a wading pool perfect for splashing. There is bright coloured soft fall, slides, see-saw, ‘nest’ swings and oodles of fun to be had. The whole park is built in and around man-made lakes, decking and boardwalks (some un-fenced so be very

vigilant!) so it feels like a classy resort beach side fun park and certainly a space you and the kids will want to spend plenty of time in. Mamma says it is worth checking out as it’s a unique park unlike anything in the West. Mamma’s special mention: The Coast Cafe is across from Crocodile Park and open seven days a week. The nitty gritty Free parking, BBQ, toilets nearby (across the boardwalk) lots of spots to sit, bring towels, not a lot of shade.

WIN

A Family Pass for ‘Day Out with Thomas’ at the Bellarine Railway, Queenscliff on 16 or 17 January 2016!

Details at bellarinerailway.com.au/day-out-with-thomas

Simply colour to win! Then post your entry by December 31st to: MamaMag

WORTH

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PO Box 8018 North Road LPO, Brighton East VIC 3187

Day out with Thomas Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Based on The Railway Series by The

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GOÂ Festival

Feb 6 & 7 Melbourne Showgrounds

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What’s On Board: January 2016 Scenic Train Trips Carriage Hire Loco Cab Rides Day Out With Thomas events: 2-3 & 16-17 January

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ADVERTISE HERE In 2016 Westside MamaMag will reach over 10,000 local families across the Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank and Wyndham council areas every month!

Westside MamaMag is distributed in over 300 local locations including maternal health centres, kindergartens, childcare centres, play centres, libraries, toy libraries, popular cafes, health centres, gyms, supermarkets and many other local hot spots where you find mums. It’s an awesomely targeting local publication and perfect for gaining exposure locally. Plus you can expand your reach by advertising in Bayside MamaMag too!

For advertising enquiries visit www.mamamag.com.au or call Sarah Cavalier: Phone 0402 033 328 Email: sarah@mamamag.com.au Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

FIREWORKS IN FOOTSCRAY PARK 6.30-10.30 PM THURS 31 DEC 2015

Alcohol free event • For more information visit festivalcity.com.au Fireworks spectacle starts at 9.30pm. All the excitement without the late night! Carnival games and rides, food truck court and much more. The event is for the whole family but for their own safety, please leave your dog at home.

• MC DENISE DRYSDALE • The Mik Maks • Victoria Scottish Pipes and Drums • NEDA and the Electro Carnival • The Robbie Williams Experience All public transport is FREE from 6pm on NYE. TRAIN: Footscray Station is a short 1.5km walk from the event site. DRIVING: Free parking at Victoria University, Ballarat Road and Flemington Racecourse, Riverbank Car Park, Fisher Parade. No parking at Footscray Park. Please note carnival games, rides and food trucks at the event incur a cost. All information correct at time of printing and may be subject to change.