Westside MamaMag July 2016 by MamaMag

WESTSIDE

mamamag July 2016

WIN sesame street’s Elmo’s super fun hero show tickets! Mums of the arts Without my mum Slow cooking Benefits of dance The art of learning

free Local fun for the Westside mum

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Rye St

Silverbush Way

Come in today to view the Centre and all that it offers! Call one of our lovely staff on 8360 5467 to register your child or visit our website.

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Forsyth Rd

• Healthy & nutritious meals prepared daily by onsite chefs. • Quality educational programs. • Amazing outdoor area featuring landscaped gardens, bike track, theatre stage, veggie gardens and more! • Warm, fun and inclusive environment.

Alba Way

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Sayers Rd

Childcare & Kindergarten. Open 6.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Forsyth Park - 2 Perennial Drive, Truganina. Ph 8360 5467. Visit our website to register your interest www.littlelearnersdaycare.com.au

winter warmers This month at MamaMag we’re talking all things art and culture and there’s so many gems in the West. The Williamstown Musical Theatre Company and Altona City Theatre have live performances for children and featuring children. There are often children’s shows at Wyndham Cultural Centre and the Clocktower Centre. For the hands on types there’s programs at the Incinerator Gallery and Footscray Community Arts Centre. Our 10 year old Eliana has her happy place at Seddon arts school Little Creatures Collective, a place that makes me feel arty just dropping her off! Fortunately owner Beck runs school holiday workshops so we don’t have to miss out during the break. Of course the arts are not all about shows and classes. Over the last few weeks my children have discovered the pleasures of making videos of themselves – pretty much like my friends and I recording ourselves on cassette tapes in our teens! There’s also so many apps you can download for animation, card making, colouring and more. And perhaps best of all is when the bits and pieces cupboard is raided – our lounge has seen felt hats made for rocks, flower petal mandalas, sound and light shows and all kinds of other craziness. At MamaMag HQ we’ve been busy rebuilding our website and have been busting to show it to you. Not only will it be gorgeous, it is going to have so much more exciting content and give us the ability to share amazing stories and events with you in real time, instead of waiting for the next print mag. Plus there will be more giveaways and even more fun. Be sure to head over and check it out soon! www.mamamag.com.au

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Contents Mums of the arts

We meet 5 fab Arts Centre mums

Lovely locals

Exploring Seddon

Without my mum

A mum’s story of loss

Parklife 12 Brimbank Park, Keilor East

Go slow

Slow cooking for winter

The art of learning

Why art is important

Mama of the month

Rachael DiMauro, Far Fetched Designs

Little big shots

Film festival for kids

Losing your self confidence

You can take it back

Musical Education

Developing young minds

This is decaf right?

A letter to my bartender

Help your child’s education

ABN: 26 042 138 550. PO Box 8018 Brighton East 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au

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Amie Harper’s frittata

Colour & win

WIN 1 of 4 Globber scooters

The perfect time

Foster parenting

How to get your first job

Knowledge for your teenagers

What’s right with me? Ask your self a question

MamaMag July 2016

www.facebook.com/localmamamag Entries are open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts July 1st 12.01am and closes July 31st 2016 at 11.59pm. Tickets are for 2 adults and 2 children for a chosen show at the Arts Centre Melbourne, Sat 29 Oct to Fri 4 November 2016. Visit lifeliketouring.com for more show details. Visit www.mamamag.com.au for full terms and conditions.

Are your kids scared of the dark?

Mama can cook

Visit our Facebook page to enter

MamaMag is published monthly for the mums of Melbourne’s West by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd.

Why it’s great for your kids

Bump in the night

Sesame Street presents Elmo’s Super Fun Hero Show. Arts Centre Melbourne, Sat 29 Oct to Fri 4 November 2016

7 ways to help your kids

Benefits of dance

1 of 2 family passes valued at $2oo each

10,000 copies monthly in Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Wyndham areas. Editor in Chief: Sarah Cavalier Westside Editor: Rebecca Gelsi National Key Account Manager: Justine Whatmore Westside Advertising Sales: Maree Sortino Like to contribute an article submission or products for Facebook giveaways? submissions@mamamag.com.au For advertising enquiries: download our media kit from www.mamamag.com.au or email info@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.

mums of the arts Arts Centre Melbourne, with its tall illuminated spire, is a distinctive Victorian landmark and Australia’s largest performing arts centre. Its venues include the Theatres Building under the spire, Hamer Hall and Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Boasting a strong female workforce, including an all-female executive team, many balance their careers in the arts with motherhood. Here we meet five of those exceptional mums! Claire Spencer. Claire is Arts Centre

Melbourne’s Chief Executive Officer and mum to Riley, 13, Oliver 7 and a half, and Poppy, 4 and a half. Before she came to the organisation in 2014 she was Chief Operating Officer at the Sydney Opera House and she is also a Member of Chief Executive Women, representing Australia’s most senior women leaders. Her children love to see the family shows at Arts Centre Melbourne which Claire believes has definitely had an impact on her middle child. “Oliver and I communicate through operatic discussions and interpretative dance!” She hopes this early exposure to many different art forms will foster an appreciation that will last a lifetime.

Kara Ward. Senior producer Kara Ward

is another working mum at Arts Centre Melbourne. Her job is to produce performances and manage a team of producers. They do this by supporting development and delivery of performances, events, projects and programs across the activities of the Programming Unit and Arts Centre Melbourne as a whole. She has two boys, Marlo, 9 and Arkie, 3 who think her job is to send a lot of emails and see theatre shows. “I am hoping to instil a love of art and live performance in them. I want them to see how live performance can bring joy, tell stories and help understand complex issues in the world.”

Claire Mamur. In the Production team,

Claire works as a Props and Staging Technician while also juggling freelance scenic artist and design jobs. She works on all of Arts Centre Melbourne’s stages assisting companies such as Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet and Melbourne Theatre Company as well as many Australian and international touring companies and festivals. Working in a male-dominated field, she was one of the first to take maternity leave in her section before she had 4-month-old Lily. “We do everything from unloading the scenery off the truck, building the scenery, setting it up for rehearsal and then working on the show.” She also does a lot of prop painting. “My parents were always very supportive of me in my work so I’ll do the same with Lily.”

Jessica Bendell. Another mum is Jessica Bendell, senior publicity advisor whose main responsibility is to generate media coverage for the organisation as well as performances, events and activities staged at its three venues. She manages a team of two publicists and when she is not at Arts Centre Melbourne she is mum to a 3-year-old daughter Jemima and 1-year-old son, Teddy. “Jemima is very impressed that my work has stages. I think she might think that everyone’s workplace has a stage. The first time she went to the movies and was waiting for the film to start she said, ‘where are the performers Mummy? Are they putting on their costumes?’”

Sarah Morris. Sarah is Exhibitions Project Manager for Arts Centre Melbourne’s Australian Performing Arts Collection. Working with the curators she develops and delivers exhibitions drawn from collection. “I lead the team which includes designers, contractors, collection management and technical staff to ensure it opens on the day.” “I’m also mum to Amelie (11) and Nicholas (9) – I don’t think they entirely understand what it is that I do, but my daughter loves the fabulous costumes and shoes in the Collection – I’m sure she’d like to try them on if she could!”

1. Claire Spencer 2. Kara Ward 3. Claire Mamur 4. Jessica Bendell 5. Sarah Morris

lovely locals

exploring seddon 1.

With so many new finds in Victoria and Charles Street Seddon we’re heading back! 1. Far Fetched Designs and Handmaker’s Factory Belinda and Rachael started out with gorgeous pop up shops and have now opened a permanent store in Seddon that is just as beautiful. It has the same fabulous giftware and treat-yourself-goodies that their pop ups were known for and features talented local makers. Upstairs you’ll find the Handmaker’s Factory where you can enjoy creative workshops such as screen printing, shibori, and weaving. During school holidays there’s workshops for teens!

84 Charles Street farfetcheddesigns.com.au handmakersfactory.com.au 2. Clover Flower Co A longtime dream of owner Margie, this delightful florist is sure to please. Pop in, have a chat, and admire all the lovely flowers, or shop online. Each week on Clover Friday you can have a divine bunch delivered to the inner west for $35 (or a little more for delivery further out).

81 Victoria Street cloverflowerco.com 3. Copper Pot Never tried snails? Get yourself down here! Boasting a menu that works its way across Europe this new venture is perfect for date night. They also have lunch time specials, or if you can’t decide you can try a selection with their ‘road trip around Europe’. Keep an eye out for special events focusing on different regions too. 105 Victoria Street copperpotseddon.com

4. Simple Form Beautiful things from Scandanavia, Japan and Korea that you will love to unclutter your house with. Opening first online, Simple Form found its home in Seddon in April. They also stock lots of pieces that you’ll want in your little one’s room, including THOSE Miffy lamps. 95 Charles Street simpleform.com.au

5. My Mama Said A fitness studio where you feel sooo good about yourself! Lisa and her delightful crew offer barre, yoga and pilates and zumba. Not sure? Yoga basics, pilates basics, or barre are all great places to start and there are more advanced classes too. 67 Austin Street mymamasaid.com.au 6. Luxsmith We love the small, medium and large choices for dinner – perfect for sharing – or visit for a really well priced lunch. Luxsmith and Copper Pot are working together to bring a progressive Euro/Asian dining night to Seddon for a night in July so you can have the best of both continents! 5 Gamon Street luxsmith.com.au 8

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without my mum Leigh Van Der Horst, a Mornington Peninsula mum of 4, lost her beloved mother to cancer in 2008. Then a 32 year old mother to three young boys, Leigh felt as though her world had fallen apart. After picking up the pieces and completely re-building who she was, Leigh set about creating a book called ‘Without My Mum’ for others who had experienced a similar loss in the hope that they would not feel alone in their grief. Leigh self-published her book last year and after a wonderful response from the public, Leigh signed ‘Without My Mum’ with traditional Australian publisher, ‘Black Inc Books’ late last year. Leigh now proudly hosts a private Facebook group for motherless women called ‘Without My Mum’ and runs meet-ups in Melbourne to give women the chance to connect and support each other in person.

An excerpt from ‘Without My Mum’ by Leigh Van Der Horst Often I would wake exhausted. I could only assume that I had dreamed of Mum, as I felt as though I had cried and cried during my sleep. I would then spend hours processing my emotions, trying to lift myself from the pits of grief to feel somewhat happy. I just wanted to be with Mum. I often wondered where she was and what she was doing. I wished I could just spend one more day with her.

22 October 2008 Oh the peaks and troughs. Last night I had one of those ‘no warning’ meltdowns. I cried and sobbed like I did when my mum had just died. Sadly, my unhappiness last night triggered a wave of built-up tears from my boys too. Kye went off quietly to his room, so I went to see if he was all right. I found him sitting on his bed. He looked beat. I asked if he was OK and he said, ‘I miss Nanny’. I hugged him so hard and told him that I did too. Joshi came in and said, ‘It’s OK, she will be back soon’. Kye replied by yelling, ‘NO! She will never come back!’. Off I went again. It’s in these situations that you can literally feel your heart hurt, ache and break.

I managed to calm Kye down, but then I heard Jack sobbing in another room with Tim. I went to him and told him it was OK to cry. I put Jack in our bed and got ready for bed myself. We cuddled each other, had a solid cry and then fell asleep, exhausted. When, if ever, will this get any easier? Not only was I trying to process my own grief, but it had become very clear that my boys were suffering too. Their little brains could not fathom what had happened. I blamed myself, as I didn’t think that I had prepared them for the loss of their ‘Nanny’. I’d been very careful to protect them emotionally from the ups and downs of Mum’s cancer journey, but perhaps I hadn’t given them the opportunity to properly say goodbye to Mum. All I knew was that, at the time, I thought that I was doing my best. There was no way of knowing how it was all going to unfold.

21 November 2008 I think I may need to find a grief counsellor. I need to say and express so much—to cry, yell, vent and scream ‘IT’S NOT FAIR!’ 100 times over. I think I will gain a lot from letting it all out and will, hopefully, also get some good advice as to how I can turn things around.

My emotions are always sitting in my throat and this is weighing me down. I’m smoking a lot and drinking quite a bit of alcohol. I don’t want to live life like this anymore. I am not being a very good role model for my boys and I know Mum would want me to be happier and healthier than I currently am. I feel as though I am making her sad by being so sad myself. So silly—even when she is no longer here, I want to make her proud. I loved her so much. I remember that when I was little, I would lie by Mum’s feet and kiss the soles of her shoes. Sure this may seem like a strange thing to do, but she was clearly my hero from a very young age.

13 December 2008 I’ve had a reality check—one that I desperately needed. Last night, I went out with two of my best friends and I had way too much to drink. My friends saw that I was in a bad way so they dragged me out of the club we were at and flagged down a taxi. I remember sitting in the cab feeling so, so sad. Once we safely arrived at my friend’s house, I just broke down. I cried and sobbed. I let go of all the torture swirling in my head and my heart. My friends cried with me and allowed me the safety of their trusting friendship to just release all of my sadness. I’m so grateful to have such amazing women close to me—who are like my sisters—to help me through this tough phase.

Now, the morning after, I feel so sick. I’m sick of feeling so sad. I’m making a promise with myself right now that I will be more kind. I owe it to my family to start cheering up. I have to try and want to feel alive again. I have to shake off the feeling of guilt that I carry about wanting to be happy. It is time to take some responsibility for my emotions and move forward. As a mother I didn’t have the luxury of continually staying up late and drinking too much, then waking up each morning feeling like I’d been hit by a truck. This was how I had been existing, but now I had to take positive steps to begin the healing process. Making these changes was essential for my family and for myself. I searched high and low for a grief counsellor. I knew that this next step was an important one and would force me to face the many emotions that needed addressing. Yet it was rather frightening to know that I was going to open up about my mother’s death and discuss what I had been through. It was not a case of wanting to, however, it was simply that I had to. My own health and the hearts of my family members depended on it. Find Leigh at www.leighvloves.com Instagram: @leighvanderhorst Twitter: @leighvloves Facebook: www.facebook.com/sixbythebay ‘Without My Mum’ is available in all major stores and bookstores and online worldwide. 11

Parklife

Brought to you by:

BRIMBANK PARK Keilor Park Drive, Keilor East As soon as you leave the freeway and start to drive down into Brimbank Park, you instantly start to feel a little more relaxed. The houses and suburbs disappear and are replaced with trees, picnic shelters and bush land - there is oodles to explore, lots of families and plenty of space. The feature ‘playscape’ area is excellent - with swings, a giant pea pod, cow park bench, an alphabet maze, a HUGE platypus and so so much more! Look closely and you will find all kinds of treasures scattered throughout the space. There are even a few trees to clamber and climb which is super spesh for the nature lovers. This playground and parkland is

beautifully integrated into nature with some fab highlights dotted throughout to uncover and surprise you and the kids. Take your time here, it’s definitely somewhere to spend a good couple of hours. Mamma’s special mentions: The Brownstone Cafe is open Tues - Sunday from 9am. They serve salads, wraps, chips and coffee (and more) and it is good spot to shelter if it is on the chilly side. The nitty gritty: lots of BBQ’s and picnic shelters, lots of park benches and seating, pram access, public toilets, shade and cafe.

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go slow Slow cooking – The fast to the slow.

By Raquel Neofit

Slow cooking in a heavy based, cast iron pot is the perfect stress-free winter dinner. There aren’t too many rules when it comes to one-pot slow cooking. I remember talking to the great Italian chef, Gennaro Contaldo last winter when he launched his new slow cooking book and his words always stuck with me. Basically, he said, (in his brilliant Italian accent) you can throw anything into a heavy based pot and it will work out in the end because magic always happens inside the pot when you slow cook. The flavours just meld together and everything just works! It’s entirely up to you whether or not you seal the meat, you’ll still get a tasty pot of food if you don’t, but you will get a much deeper flavour if you brown it first. As long as you’ve got good onions, carrots, celery, some garlic and a few sprigs of fresh herbs you can’t go wrong – throw in some passata, tinned tomatoes or tomato paste and you’re on your way to soul warming winter dinners that everyone will love! The two recipes that follow are super versatile, they both start with the same base mentioned above, and you can throw in any cut of meat or chicken your taste buds crave at the time. Feel free to substitute the herbs, add more garlic, or throw in a leek, whatever works for your family will work inside the pot!

Luscious Lamb Shanks Prep time – 20 minutes Cook time – 3 hours Serves 4 – 6 depending on how many shanks you use

1 tbls heaped tomato paste

Ingredients:

2 tins of tomatoes, chopped up, I just slice an old knife around inside the tin

4 – 6 lamb shanks

2 cups chicken or beef stock

2 medium onions, diced

About 8 olives

2 medium carrots, diced

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

2 stalks of celery, diced

A good pinch of dried thyme

½ head of garlic, use the back of your largest knife to crush them in their skins on your chopping board then throw away the peel. Feel free to add more if you’re a garlic lover!

Pinch of sugar

3 springs of Rosemary

4 medium sized portobello mushrooms, chopped

Salt and pepper Olive oil Fresh parsley, chopped, to serve

Tips – Save some time and chop your veg while your meat is sealing.

Method: Preheat oven to 150 degrees. Put a heavy based, preferably cast iron pot with a lid, on the stove to heat to a medium heat. Rub the shanks with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and seal in the pot until sealed and golden all over. Remove from the pot and set aside. Add enough olive oil to cover the base of the pot, and add the diced carrots, onions and celery with a good pinch of salt and sauté for about eight minutes until they start to soften, stirring here and there as needed. Add the garlic, rosemary, and mushrooms and sauté, stirring here and there, for about 6 minutes.

Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring for about a minute. Add the tinned tomatoes, balsamic, stock, olives, dried thyme, sugar and season well with pepper. Stir to combine, bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, add the shanks back to the pan, clamp on the lid and bake for three hours or until the meat is falling off the bone. If the sauce is too loose once the meat is cooked, just pop the pot back on the stove and reduce it until you’re happy with the consistency. Sprinkle over chopped fresh parsley My family loves this served with buttery mashed potatoes and a sharp rocket salad.

Pot roast One of things I love about this recipe is that you can eat it as a pot roast one day and a delicious ragu style pasta sauce the next. Just shred any left over meat and mix through the sauce. Prep time – 20 minutes Cook time – 3 hours Serves 5 Ingredients:

Method:

1.5 kg piece of meat – chuck or rump, I’ve used rump here (you could use up to a 2.5 kg piece for this recipe, the left-over’s freeze well)

Preheat oven to 150 degrees.

2 medium onions, diced 2 medium carrots, diced 2 stalks of celery, diced ½ head of garlic, use the back of your largest knife to crush them in their skins on your chopping board, then throw away the peel 3 springs of rosemary 2 bay leaves 150g pancetta, cut into lardons 1 heaped tbls tomato paste 1 cup red wine 1 bottle of passata 2 cups of chicken or beef stock, by using beef stock you’ll end up with a richer sauce. 1 kg baby potatoes 5 small carrots cut in half. Olive oil Salt and pepper Fresh parsley to serve, chopped

Fussy-pot tip If you have fussy eaters in your house that shy away from anything that’s grown in the ground then take a few extra minutes to cook out the veg until it really starts to break down and remove the rosemary springs before you put it in the oven – they’ll never know it’s there! Raquel is a freelance writer for the food, travel and lifestyle industries. She’s always dreaming about her next meal or trip! 16

Put a heavy based, preferably cast iron pot with a lid, on the stove to heat on medium heat. Rub the roast with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and fry in the pot until sealed all over. Remove from the pot and set aside. Add enough olive oil to cover the base, and add the diced veg with a good pinch of salt and sauté for about eight minutes until they start to soften, stirring here and there as needed. Add the garlic, rosemary, bay leaves and pancetta and sauté, stirring here and there, for about 6 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring for about a minute. Now add the wine and cook for a further minute. Add the stock, passata, and season with pepper and stir. Return the sealed roast to the pot, clamp on a lid, and pop it in the oven for an hour and a half. Remove from the oven, stir the sauce, then add your baby potatoes and carrots, return the lid and pop back in the oven for a further hour and a half. Once the meat is falling apart you’re done! Sprinkle over some freshly chopped herbs and serve. If the sauce is too loose once the meat is cooked, just pop the pot back on the stove and reduce it until you’re happy with the consistency.

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the art of learning Art is an important mode of learning In recent years, in the education field, a wave of acceptance that art offers important learning tools, has taken hold. As the theories of the Educational Masters of the past –Froebel, Dewey, Montessori to name just a few are being made visible by new research on the brain, the complex way that arts and play activities constitute learning in many different areas of development is being clearly demonstrated and re-valued. Changes in our lives generally have also made us aware of the need for visual literacy. “Parents need to be aware that children learn a lot more from graphic sources now than in the past,” says Dr. Kerry Freedman, a university lecturer in arts and design education. Learning to create and appreciate visual aesthetics may be more important than ever to the development of the next generation of children. “Children need to know more about the world than just what they can learn through text and numbers. Art education teaches students how to interpret, criticise, and use visual information, and how

to make choices based on it.”(Grace Hwang Lynch). Knowledge about the visual arts, such as graphic symbolism, is especially important in helping kids navigate a world bombarding them with images. The ability to manipulate and visualise in 3D is increasingly important for future knowledge building. Recent studies have also argued convincingly that there is a correlation between art and academic achievement. Understanding of pattern making in art activities has long been known to transfer to math and science related cognitive skills. Over a century ago Bertrand Russell declared that math is an art form.

So what are the benefits of art in terms of learning? The list is quite long! The essentials include but are not limited to problem solving, memory development and use, organising and re-organising (concrete objects and abstract thought), negotiation, communication, self-management, physical development, distinguishing fantasy from reality, emotional awareness and control.

Written by Dr Jillian Trezise. www.facebook.com/JillianTreziseAssociates Jillian’s passion for and dedication to early childhood education is evident in both her teaching and support. She willingly shares her expertise and knowledge, empowering both students and colleagues in the process.

Fostering relationships built on a deep understanding is also significant for children to grow in skills and knowledge. Many parents already recognise that being involved in school or kinder activities is important for their children to thrive. Kids are more likely to take on new challenges if they have trust in adults, of whom they can ask questions when they are confused, curious, or puzzled. They will keep on trying if family are involved in their learning. A British study of children from daycare to the end of secondary schooling has also pointed out that interactions with informed, intelligent and interested adults also raises levels of achievement. When it comes to art, in particular art making, even very well-informed adults still subscribe to the view of art skill as some sort of miracle at birth. However, artists great or insignificant will all attest to the fact that art is learnt and conversely is learning in action. There are many possibilities in a city such as ours for art events and classes for children of all ages and interests, however, for learning to be lasting and to transfer more broadly, there needs to be ongoing interaction with an adult with whom the child has a strong connection.

Regular, routine art making benefits a child’s learning far more than isolated classes. Time to experiment and do over, are important to the development of learning that the child can ‘own’.

Moving beyond art as an ‘activity’, to art as a mode of learning. Knowing HOW to involve children in their learning through art is not at all scary. It’s as simple as an opportunity for listening and looking, then discussing in a meaningful but non-judgmental way. That is why our approach to art with children, is different. It begins with teacher and parent workshops designed to open thoughts and expression to the possibilities of art as learning. It familiarises adults with materials and techniques, to dispel any fears or insecurities that they may have related to working creatively and it demonstrates how learning takes place while enjoying a challenge. Understanding and engaging in art with your child can also provide opportunities to better understand how your child learns. This can benefit all aspects of education.

MAMA of the month Maribyrnong mama of two Rachael DiMauro is quite the mulit-tasker. She doesn’t just run her own business and juggle the lives of two gorgeous kids... she runs three businesses! MamaMag has long been a fan of Rachael’s ventures, with Melbourne Frock Swap always big on our secondhand buying agenda, and what mama isn’t thriled that Far Fetched Designs is now a permanent fixture in Seddon! Here’s more.... Tell us all a little bit about yourself… My name is Rachael, l lived in West Footscray for 10 years, before moving to Maribyrnong 7 years ago, so I’m a proud inner westie. I am mum to Roark (7) and Griffin (10) and I own or co-own three small businesses… I co-own the Melbourne Frock Swap Women’s Pre-Loved Fashion Market with my sister, Nicole Boots. It’s a pre-loved fashion market for women’s clothing held at Seaworks in Williamstown 4 times a year. I co-own and run the Far Fetched Designs retail store (84 Charles Street, Seddon) with Belinda Miller. We sell only handmade and locally designed homewares, children’s clothing, furniture & many other gorgeous gifts! And l also make children’s wear and other accessories under my own brand Orcwood – which are all available at Far Fetched Designs.

How did you end up where you are today? I’ve always loved making things myself and, pre-kids, l was making and selling handbags at markets while working at a large publishing company. When the kids came along, l didn’t sew anything for a while…. But I made a dino hoodie for my eldest dino-mad son and Orcwood ended up growing from there. Getting back into sewing gave me sanity while juggling a corporate job and small kids.

I started the Frock Swap market in Williamstown with my sister about 3 years ago. We just love secondhand clothing and the market is so huge now – l get almost all my clothes on market days 4 times a year. While both Orcwood and Frock Swap were ticking along, Belinda and l started discussing opening a retail shop to sell our handmade products, alongside other makers. At the time I was still working in publishing and had my youngest at home with me and I wasn’t sure what to do. It got to a point where l really just had to make the choice to stay in my ‘real’ job and give up on the shop idea, or make the leap. And right at that point, l was offered a redundancy package. It was the best thing that could have happened and l couldn’t be happier with how everything has turned out.

How do you juggle being a mum and running 3 businesses? The key for me is - none of the businesses are full time. The Frock Swap market is only 4 times a year, and while there’s a lot of behind the scenes admin, organizing and planning; apart from the event date; it’s all tasks that can happen when the kids are in bed. It’s been a really hard slog, but we are finally getting the market running smoothly and have systems in place that help lessen the actual amount of admin required. With Far Fetched Designs; Belinda and l have found a really happy balance, as we both have kids, and making time for them is really

important to both of us. Sharing the load with someone else makes all the difference. The shop is open 6 days a week, but we only work three days each on the shop floor. The rest of the week is mine and I’m lucky that both my boys are now at school, so l can get my sewing done during school hours.

What has been your proudest moment so far? Belinda and l just launched our very first permanent Far Fetched Designs retail store on Friday 3 June. We’ve run 4 pop up stores over the last 2 years, but finally found the perfect spot to plant roots. We renovated the store so it fits us perfectly and we’ve created a sewing studio for us to share at the back, as well as a mezzanine with studio space for workshops, which the Handmaker’s Factory are running. I’m so happy with how it’s turned out. It’s an amazing space, and I’m so proud of the work we’ve accomplished in the last 2 months to get it to this point.

What advice do you have for others thinking of starting a business? It is true that you might never make the money you could working for someone else – but honestly; you’ll discover that’s not as important as you thought it would be. If you do what you love, and surround yourself with people you admire and respect, it never feels like work – even when you collapse into bed after a 14 hour day, you’re smiling.

Finally, where can we find you next? Far Fetched Designs is now open 6 days a week, only closed on Mondays – so if I’m not at the counter, it’s likely you’ll find me in the workroom out the back, sewing some Orcwood goodies. The Melbourne Frock Swap market has two more dates for 2016 – 28 August and 27 November. We’re still taking stall bookings for these dates too.

For more info, check out: www.farfetcheddesigns.com.au www.orcwood.com.au www.melbournefrockswap.com

Little Big Shots Have you got any budding film makers in the house? Then you need to get down to Little Big Shots at ACMI, Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest and longest running film festival curated especially for kids aged 2 to 12, these holidays! The festival is designed to entertain young minds and inspire future filmmakers, featuring a selection of the best local and international films, made both for kids, and by kids. Spanning animation, live-action and documentary titles, the Little Big Shots 2016 program features over 80 films, with 22 films made by child filmmakers and 28 films made by Australian filmmakers. One of the highlights of the program is the Best of the Fest session for which the screening program is chosen by popular vote of the Little Big Shots Kids Jury comprised of a dozen kids aged between 6 and 12. The festival delivers this wonderful scope of content in 13 playfully themed sessions, from Parrots and Robots to Dares and Dreams. Each session features an average of eight short films and lasts between 40 minutes to one-hour. They are also categorised to suit different age groups (2+, 5+ 7+, 8+ and 10+). Festival Director, Ben Laden, leads the not-for-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing the media literacy of young people, fostering childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creativity and showcasing the very best in filmmaking for, by and about kids. Little Big Shots is on at ACMI from Friday 1 to Sunday 10 July 2016. For session times and info visit acmi.net.au/little-big-shots-2016

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losing your self Sometimes things change. We have a change in circumstance, we have a change of heart, we move, we have a baby, our babies start school. Sometimes it’s things we can control, sometimes it’s not. Regardless we have to deal with that situation and our feelings attached to it. My change was my choice. I decided to leave my comfortable life on the other side of the world. Leave behind my established and busy business and all of my friends and family and have now been in Melbourne with my husband and two children for just over a year. I came here in the mindset that I was taking a break from work. I’ve worked pretty much every weekend since I had my little darlings (now 3 & 5) and I just felt while I had the opportunity I would take some time, we could have some time, to just be a family at the weekends. Well that was great for about four months and then I finally decided to listen to that little voice inside of me after drowning it out for a few weeks/month or so. I decided I had to do something and there is only one person who was going to do that for me...about time I made it happen.

The thing is, I have come to realise, without my work I’d taken a real blow to my confidence. I realised that for me to be doing ‘something’ is what makes up a very important part of me, and that I’m not content not fulfilling that part of me. I felt the same way for about a year after I had my first child. I look back on some of those photos as a new mum and I wonder who that person is holding my son... fast forward six years and I still re-live those feelings. After a coffee morning with the school mums I walked home slightly shell shocked, the experience was daunting. Not that the mums weren’t lovely and welcoming, they weren’t the problem. The problem was mine, a problem of confidence. My husband phoned me afterwards and asked me ‘How was it?’, ‘Did they like you?’. I suddenly realised I, all of a sudden, had became a person that I didn’t particularly like much or maybe a better way of seeing it was ‘Did I admire myself much right now?’ It left me thinking how can I expect these new, uber confident, and established women to really like and identify with me if I don’t feel myself and feel happy in myself as a person of worth. I once wrote a whole article about how being ‘just a mum’ (my words) wasn’t enough for me, I never hit publish

confidence because when I read it over I realised what I had written was probably quite offensive. Offensive to lots of people, in all different situations and to people in those situations who I have as friends. To those of you who have decided to devote all of your time to your gorgeous kids (hats off and I mean that), it was probably a kick in the teeth to those of you who have struggled to have a family and may well give up everything to be ‘just a mum’, to the mums that have no choice but to work full time and are often doing it all and all on their own, well I thought you’d all probably want to drop kick me. But what I suppose I’m getting at is what if you have that little thought...you hear that little voice? Well it needs someone to listen to it, pick it up and run with it.

As I walked away from that coffee morning, I made a mental decision. Not to go home via the bakery and buy myself a big bun and latte to drown my sorrows in, but to take action and get on with it. It’s daunting to go backwards. Or at least perceiving that you have taken a backwards step. I read recently that “taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s more like a chacha” (Robert Brault) and I completely agree. If you’re reading this and feeling the same way I urge you to take action, do something to change the way you’re feeling. Don’t let it infest your thoughts and take over your thinking because trust me it will. Even if it’s baby steps decide your plan of action and start now. There’s no better time. You know when you’re on a plane and they tell you in the event of an emergency to fit your oxygen mask before you help babies and young children. That advice is my life. You’ve got to look after yourself too. Amy Hughes is a professional makeup artist and beauty writer at www.madeoverandme.com where she blogs a mixture of beauty, mummy ramblings & real life. Amy is available for oneon-one confidence boosting makeup lessons and makeovers in your own home across Melbourne.

musical education Developing young minds

Babies are born with an innate love of music, and music is an important part of a baby’s development. Research showing the positive effects music has on learning and brain development abounds. In fact, Finnish researchers have developed a method that reveals how wide networks in the brain, including areas that control motor actions, emotions and creativity are all activated just by listening to music. One way to maximise the benefits of music for your baby or young child is to perform regular musical activities with them at home and to involve them in group music classes. Here are some of the key benefits that a structured music education program provides at an early age;

Music encourages creativity, selfexpression and self-confidence The exploratory nature of music allows children to extend themselves creatively and to develop greater confidence and self-expression through activities such as performing for others, making up new words to songs or creating their own music.

Music promotes speech development Children develop an awareness of language through simple songs and rhymes. While moving singing and playing, a child learns through hearing the appropriate language associated with a specific task, for example high, low, up, down, under, over, behind, in front.

Music can help in developing a child’s ability to learn and understand maths When a child hears a number and sees the number of fingers you hold up to them, they learn to make a connection between what they see and what they hear. Clapping, tapping, stomping or marching to the beat of songs helps children to develop an awareness of the mathematical structure of music.

Music can encourage the development of motor skills Regularly enjoying songs with actions and movements can help a child’s coordination, confidence and motor skills development. As well as benefiting their learning and development, teaching music to babies can help instill a lifelong appreciation of music, and by attending group music classes, babies have the opportunity to socialise and learn together with other babies. MaryRose Harrison, who teaches the Mini Maestros music program in Melbourne’s West, says “My experience is that babies make developmental leaps when learning alongside their peers.”

Something to remember: Repetition is important when learning music Children learn through repetition until the activity or task becomes automatic. Even young babies will begin to recognise a song that you sing and respond to it by focusing solely on you or babbling along with you. Children need to practice and repeat activities such as clapping and patting over and over to aid their learning process. You may tire of repeating the same rhymes and songs, but your child will be happy as they are most confident when they know what is happening or what they are hearing.

Williamstown & Hoppers Crossing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P: 0408 233 420 Caroline Springs & Hillside â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P: 0423 733 218 For more information on the Mini Maestros Program and venue locations visit www.minimaestros.com.au

this is decaf right? A letter to my Bartender, with love. Look I know it has been a long time since I saw you last, 748 nights to be exact. And yes I do look different since I pushed out a watermelon, albeit a very cute watermelon but I’m still me I promise. Me minus the hair and stamina I once had to pull all-nighters (which now only include bed switching and couch hopping with a grumpy 2 year old at 3am). So I approach the once familiar altar and order drinks with my mother’s group and then one beautiful lady mentions your espresso martinis in passing. She is dressed head to toe in Chanel and looks like a sparkly unicorn so what she says is gospel to a week old blow waved hair, new mum. Nods of approval from all us mothers begin like a Mexican wave and we are beckoned to the nearest bartender. “Four espresso martinis please.” “Wait I won’t sleep” is the echo that ensues the group, “make them decaf please?” I know, I know, decaf coffee drinkers are strange aliens from another planet, although if you can enjoy coffee without caffeine you have an exceptional tasting palate. I am not one of those connoisseurs trust me, from 6-3 Monday to Sunday I am caffeinated all the way, but when it’s 10pm on a Friday night and the mothers are all huddled around the bar and I hear about the infamous espresso martini, I want to try it. So you smile, turn around and begin. Now we stand at the bar, although I do not see said drink being made because I’m too busy admiring the perfectly dressed (I like to think non-mothers) at the table by the door, that and the coffee machine sits in the restaurant. So orders are up, drinks enjoyed and we get the 5 hour threshold call from our husbands to come home now, please. Home and little monkey is wrangled back into bed; I’m in bed and know I will be jolted awake at exactly 6:01am. So goodnight…… Wait, why am I not tired? Did I drink too much? Do I need 28

water? I didn’t have any coffee at dinner did I? Then it hits me and my inner monologue decides the espresso martini was just that, espresso. This continues all night and after my inner fight with humanity at 3am I decide perhaps it is the placebo effect? Next morning comes and after a discussion on our mothers group Facebook, it seems we all got hit with some superhuman stamina to stay up all night. Now I understand that behind the bar and in the midst of the chaos that pulling out the decaf coffee to make an espresso martini would be a right pain in the behind. They probably already poured all the regular coffee shots into a canister for said espresso martins to make the 10 o’clock rush hour smoother. And that’s okay Mr Bartender, I totally understand your frustration because I was you. I put myself through university pouring drinks and making coffee and customers are extremely hard work. But next time, just smile politely , apologise for lack of decaf coffee in an espresso martini and offer me any drink from the bar list. I will most likely drink anything by that stage and I’ll even tip you for being honest, (or because I’m generous cash wise after a few!).

Yours sincerely, Rosanna Awake, still awake…stilll :(

Note. Mr Bartender is not his real name; names have been changed to ensure privacy. Yeah, don’t actually recall name. Hmmm. P.s. Be loving to your servers they are amazing creatures and in turn customers will enjoy their time. By Rosanna Wilson, Melbourne mama and founder of Mumbubandabarista Avid instagrammer @mumbubandabarista mumbubandabarista.wordpress.com

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How you can help your When I was nine years of age, my parents decided to take a six month, family holiday to Europe. The whole intention was to introduce my brothers and I to our extended family and immerse us in our heritage and Italian culture. Of main concern was our education as my parents did not want us to be faced with the repercussions of missing out on half a year of school. We were travelling by ship, so we took all of our school books with us. Dad kept reminding us to do our work but the adventure of travelling was far more exciting. While the adventure of travel was exciting, I did learn at a very early age that there is no power greater than the power parents have over their children’s education. My father in particular knew that this experience empowered our education. He was always so willing to nurture our quest for knowledge. So while not everyone can afford an expensive overseas holiday, there are many ways parents can help their children’s education.

Play:

Play helps children learn and develop socially. The Australian Toy Association (ATA) says that children with access to a wide range of toys are more likely to be challenged and stimulated, in turn assisting them to develop thinking power and promote personal and emotional wellbeing not to mention physical development. However, parents need to spend a fortune on expensive toys, play can come from an empty cardboard box.

Playing board or card games:

Board games and card games can teach important social skills such as communicating verbally, sharing, waiting, taking turns and enjoying interaction with others. Board games can foster the ability to focus and lengthen your child’s attention span by encouraging the completion of an enjoyable game.

Socialising:

When accompanying your child to a social function such as a birthday party, allow your child to work out her own conflict with minimal intervention. This helps to build invaluable problem solving skills. Children need to be allowed to make mistakes and take risks because they learn though experience. Life is all about trying new things, occasionally making mistakes, learning from them and not repeating them.

Exercise:

Walk rather than drive to school every day. Not only are you keeping fit and building a relationship with your children, you can include other activities that can help build academic skills. For example, writing down the directions to go to school using left and right and street names. A map of the route to school can then be drawn or vice-versa. You can talk about distance and perhaps time yourself with a goal to improve your timing to get to school.

child’s education Cooking:

This is an invaluable skill. Children can help you prepare shopping lists, work out the quantities of ingredients needed, weigh the ingredients and check on the cooking time. Take your children shopping to buy the ingredients. Read how much each item costs, estimate the cost of all the items. Let them pay at the checkout working out the change they should receive. Look at the packaging noting the different forms of measurement for weight, liquids and length.

While academic success is important, there are many other skills just as important or more, to help your children achieve their best results. It goes way beyond academic achievement. Their success is determined by a continuous chain of interacting skills whether they be social, physical, emotional or academic. By Mrs Loretta Iacuone Year 2 - St Catherine’s School

Travelling:

When travelling, provide children with a street directory or map and discuss directions. Point out speed limits, distances to towns, populations in towns and other landmarks. When you are driving along in the car, ask children to guess how far it is to the next light post or the next town, calculate the distance travelled or the distance yet to travel. Involve the whole family.

Calendar:

Keep the calendar up to date. Mark any special events on the calendar, for example family and friends’ birthdays, outings, holidays or excursions. Look for patterns in the number squares and encourage children to make their own calendars or to keep a diary. Be positive! Praise your child’s success. Encourage your child to have a go and to investigate and make discoveries for themselves. Encourage them to find their own answers. Do not be too quick to tell them the answers.

Benefits of dance Dance class can be a place for escape for many people, both younger and older students can benefit greatly. Whether a child wishes to dance recreationally or more seriously, the lessons they learn they will be carried with them throughout their life. Regardless of skill or experience, dance gives children a freedom to move in a way that reflects their uniqueness. Dance has the obvious benefits of being a physical outlet and nurturing physical development, especially coordination, posture and balance, but it has so much more to offer. It is also a creative outlet, helping to create social awareness and develop friendships whilst teaching children to work autonomously and as a part of a team. Dance teaches children responsibility and promotes work ethic, setting goals and achieving them in a safe environment where they can express themselves in their own way, boosting their confidence and self esteem. Even younger students will learn many important social skills, including- using eye contact and listening to others, approach skills, how to take turns, co-operate and follow rules amongst many others. If you’re looking to encourage self-expression, creativity, and imagination, dance class is a good fit for your child. Young children experience the love of learning through dance and music. There is a feeling of accomplishment for your child when they learn a new step, stretch their body, and work together.

Dance classes can play a very important role in an adolescent’s life, and can help foster friendships, which is a critical source of support during childhood and adolescence. It can help cope with stress, which can interfere with concentration and learning, and improve mood. The physical benefits of dance are widely accepted, but the emotional, social and cognitive attributes have only recently begun to be appreciated. Many studies have shown that regular exercise stimulates brain chemicals that can leave you feeling more relaxed and happy. For people who suffer from anxiety and depression disorders this is especially helpful as regular exercise helps to regulate the chemicals in the brain that help to avoid depression and anxiety. Dance has actually been proven as the number one activity in helping prevent Alzheimers and Dementia (76%, as compared with reading: 35%, bicycling and swimming 0%) As a teacher, I believe we have a responsibility to our students to help them foster their own internal motivation and pass on our knowledge and passion for dance. In our classrooms, negative phrases such as “I can’t” are not allowed, instead replaced with ”I will”, “I can”, or I’m getting closer”. This gives students a sense that with work, anything is achievable and the goals we help them set are attainable, a valuable lesson that will stay with them throughout their life. So… Dance… ”Get to it!“

Written by Natalie Bale. Registered R.A.D. and C.S.T.D. Dance Teacher. Principal of Melbourne Acrobatic and Dance Studio. www.madstudios.com.au 32

Arty Tales

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33 33

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bump in the night Are your kids scared of things that go bump in the night? The dreaded bedtime was fast approaching. Six-year-old twins Jorja and Bax were always afraid of the night – things bumping, things creaking, the old tin roof groaning, and most of all the rustle and howl of the wind that made all things at night scary. They knew what was coming, and there it was.

rdians a u G t h ig The N ry s sca thing om all rs fr o t c e Prot

“Teeth and bed kids,” Dad bellowed from the lounge room just as they expected. It was almost 7 o’clock to the minute. They looked at each other with worried frowns, and with heavy feet they headed for the bathroom.

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Mum and Dad came in and after a short story, words of comfort and a kiss on the forehead for each of the twins, they said their goodnights. One last glance from Mum and she flicked off the light switch and partially closed the door. Both kids knew what was coming, and that was that all things scary would be out very soon....

Ex RAAF serviceman and single father Dallas Lyons is the creator of this spectacularly creative story to help young children settle at night and face their fears head on! Based in the picturesque Alpine region of Victoria, Dallas has taken a family bedtime story he created for his own daughter and written a fantasy-like tale to help children everywhere to be protected from all things scary at night. By delving into a wonderful world of mysticism where samurai night guardians have a sworn duty to protect and serve those who activate them, he has crafted a tale which will be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Dallas said, “This book is based on a tale I used to tell my own children when they were younger. No matter what, kids will always believe in scary things, and this short tale is a comforting, imaginative and fun way for children to confront those fears. The most enjoyable part of this process has been having the input from my own kids as they helped

to “kid proof” it into their own language - a language that children or parents alike can read and understand. This book is the first in a series I have written and I am very grateful to Aly’s Books for helping me to make this dream a reality.” As an upcoming author Dallas has been inspired by such writers as Raymond E. Fiest and Enid Blyton and hopes to turn this book into a three part series. He has also served in two tours of Afghanistan in the Royal Australian Airforce and has used his own experiences with bravery and courage to bring to life the themes of the book. Published by Aly’s Books, an independent book publisher in Melbourne’s West. Founded by authors, the mission of Aly’s Books is to provide any writer the opportunity to have their book published. In this way, your book becomes their mission. For more information and book purchases visit www.alysbooks.com. 35

mama can Cook!

EAT ME FROM: 7 Months (Once chewing developed) SOURCE OF: Vitamin A & K

Amie Harper’s Pumpkin, rocket, red onion & dill frittata Ingredients:

Method:

½ small pumpkin

Pre-heat oven to 175°C.

10 free range eggs

Peel, deseed and chop ½ small pumpkin. Place onto a baking paper lined baking tray and cook in oven for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

3/4 cup pure cream, milk or rice milk 2 tbsp grated parmesan 2 tsp chopped dill 50g rocket, baby spinach or kale ¼ red onion (optional) 80g crumbled goats feta 2 tsps chopped parsley

Whisk together 10 free range eggs and 3/4 cup pure cream, milk or rice milk. Line a 25x28x7cm square dish with baking paper and sprinkle the bottom with 1 tbsp grated parmesan (optional) and 2 tsp chopped dill. Add cooked pumpkin, 50g washed and chopped rocket or baby spinach or kale, ¼ peeled and finely sliced red onion (optional), and 80g crumbled goats fetta evenly to the square dish. Pour egg mixture over the pumpkin and cheese making sure to cover all ingredients. Sprinkle extra tbsp grated parmesan and 2 tsps chopped parsley on top of egg mixture. Bake for 30 minutes or until egg is set when wobbled once. Serve and enjoy immediately. Serves a family of 4 and 1 baby/toddler.

Inspired by her first child Pip’s introduction to solid food, nutritionist, recipe developer and food stylist, Amie Harper, has created a delightful cookbook, Baby Pip Eats. Growing up in a rural Australian community she had fond memories of long days spent sampling the vegetables and fruits that grew in abundance in her grandparent’s back paddock! With the exciting arrival of her first child, she turned her attention to smaller servings and a simplified palette to please baby Pip. Cue her first cook book, Baby Pip Eats full of fun recipes for feeding your infant and valuable nutrition information. The book features a collection of 26 recipes — one for each letter of the alphabet – and the emphasis is on food that looks interesting and is also nutritious. With a B.Sc. degree in Food Science and Nutrition, Amie has over ten years of experience as a food technologist for the world’s largest consumer goods companies. She has also worked as a freelance food stylist and recipe writer for magazines including the Australian Women’s Weekly, Gourmet Traveller and Good Taste.

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The perfect time Foster parenting and living by the seat of your pants... There is no such thing as the perfect time! When people start to get to know my partner and I and realise how much we manage to cram into our lives, I often hear “it takes a special person/family to take on a foster child… I don’t know how you do it” and I never really know how to react. I will admit, we have a full life. We have three kids, one who is a foster daughter, I am currently doing another degree, we both work and I am building my copywriting and editing business. We have a beautiful dog named Soren and a thriving veggie garden, our middle daughter is a talented soccer player and we are at training and games three times a week. We are involved in our local community and we each have creative projects on the go – Hubby and our middle daughter have a fabulous footy podcast called “The Dad and Mog Footy Pod” – you should totally check it out, it’s adorable! So yes, our lives are pretty full, and it takes quite a lot of work making sure our foster daughter sees her dad and goes to counselling, and that our other children are travelling okay, but really, we’re just living our lives. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand and value the impact of fostering our oldest daughter, we have given her a chance at a better life and that is ace, but day to day, we are just getting along like any other family with its stresses and shitty times and great times.

We have always lived by the philosophy that there will never be a perfect time, so just do the things you want to do and figure out the logistics later. We made a choice to take a risk when we became foster parents. We had a 5 year old and a new baby and we were on one very meagre income, so if we were planning and thinking strategically about it (like normal people do!) we never would have taken the risk. But we did it anyway and made it work. If we hadn’t have done it, it would have been one of those deathbed regrets that no one wants to have. I now have three wonderful children that I love with everything I have and I cannot imagine my life without my darling biggest girl. A couple of years ago I attended Clare Bowditch’s Big Hearted Business Conference and among a whole heap of amazing inspiration, I was really challenged by something said by leadership expert, Fabien Dattner. She said she has banned the word “busy” from her vocabulary because it has become such a negative word. Busy = crazy, chaotic, being out of control and frustration. It means you feel like you’re missing out on the things you want to do and it makes you a martyr. Instead she chooses to say, “My life is full of the things I choose to have in it”. She also talked about balance, something I am working on in my own life constantly. She says, “If you’re always stressed about juggling and balancing, you don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing”

seat of our pants, knowing that there is never a perfect time to live life and we’re having a bloody ace time of it. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, there are so many kids getting bounced around the system in need of long-term families to care for them. We had the support of Anglicare and we found them really helpful, but there are loads of other organisations out there. I’m always more than happy to share my experience with people so please get in touch. Written by Ashley Carr Ashley Carr Writer & Editor www.ashleycarr.net ashleyecarr@gmail.com

This really hit home for me because of all of my commitments and responsibilities. I constantly feel like I have seven balls in the air at any one time. I’m sure people who know me and my family would forgive me for talking about my chaotic life. But I decided right there and then that I too would banish the word “busy” and stop feeling like I am a victim of circumstance. I have taken on Fabien’s advice to reframe my experience and now, when I start to feel overwhelmed with everything I take a step back and say “My life is full of the things I have allowed to be in it, I am not too busy, I have exactly the right things in my life”. This sort of positive thinking has also helped me remove unhelpful things. So on we go living by the

how to get your Do you have a teenager at home with no formal work experience? Landing a job will not just give them money, but independence and valuable experience as well. Here are some great tips to help them on their way, so sit them down and get them reading your MamaMag!

Set parameters Be realistic about how much paid work you can take on as you juggle school-work, sport, and everything else. Check if the job you are applying for requires a minimum number of hours per week or late shifts. Factor in travel time and costs. Do you want work all year or mainly over the school holidays?

Think outside the square A job in the retail or hospitality industries is terrific but these are not the only options. You might be able to get work in a field linked to your hobbies. Some examples include; football umpiring, dance teaching, working at a vet clinic or plant nursery, working in a warehouse/ trade setting and baby-sitting.

Transferable skills This connection is really important. Are you a good organiser at school? Do you play team sports? Do you take the lead in organising social events? Have you held any leadership positions? Are you bilingual? Are you on the debating team? Are you good at maths? Have you done volunteering in the community or even helped out at the sports canteen on weekends? Volunteering is great and can lead to all sorts of future opportunities. These examples might point to your personality, communication skills and willingness to help others. For instance, being a team player at

school can link to being a team player at work. Remember to link your skills to the specific position you are applying for. Make a list of your transferable skills and personal qualities and remember to ask your friends and trusted adults for their input.

Talk to people – the more the better Tell everyone you are looking for work. Do they know of any opportunities? Be keen and ask them to keep an eye out for you and keep reminding them. This can really help you get your first job.

The CV – yes, you need one Keep it simple, in word format and consistent. One page is usually enough. Include basic details like your age, contact details, a brief personal statement (tailored to the position and displaying a positive attitude, willingness to work), education, awards, hobbies and any work experience you have done. There are many local online resources that can give you template examples. Proof reading is important so perhaps ask a trusted adult to help.

Job search The job market is very competitive. Apart from seek, careerone, teenjobs and a multitude of other online job postings, don’t forget the local paper or local community job boards or online hubs. Keep an eye out for signs on shop windows and, again, enlist the help of others. Are there any vacancies where your friend or neighbour works? Employers are often open to the idea of hiring the friends of a trusted employee. Pound the pavement. Call into places you are interested in, leave your CV with the manager and make a positive impression. Don’t forget to wear smart casual clothes and look neat. This helps you get your first job.

first job Social media profile – does it need cleaning up? Your future employer is likely to look you up online. Avoid posting anything you wouldn’t want your prospective employer to see. Unfortunately you can’t remove information posted online (remember this one), but you can clean it up. Don’t forget your mobile voicemail – make sure it is clear, polite and brief.

Referees Who can vouch for you as being reliable, enthusiastic, hard-working? Teachers, trainers, coaches, tutors, family friends can all be terrific referees.

The interview

Found a job - know your rights It is very important you feel comfortable and safe in your workplace. It is also important you are paid at the right rate and you are legally protected in your job. Visit the Fair Work Australia website and perhaps ask your parent or a trusted adult to help you if you are unsure. By Helen Green, Director, Career Confident Helen is a qualified careers consultant with over two decades experience working in senior education and career program management roles, particularly within the tertiary sector where she has assisted many students. She now runs her own careers consulting practice in the SE suburbs of Melbourne and has two teenage children.

Prepare and it will be less daunting. Read a bit about the place where you want to work first – your knowledge will impress. Do you know anyone who can tell you about the business and what it is like to work there? Wander through the work-place if possible to soak in the atmosphere. At the interview, be prepared to talk about yourself and your skills/strengths and always link this back to the job by saying how these will be of benefit to the prospective employer or job you are applying for. Think of those transferable skills! Above all, prospective employers are looking for staff with the right attitude – skills can be taught but attitude is everything. Wear smart clothes, make good eye contact, smile, ask questions, show genuine interest and remember to thank the interviewer (a follow-up email won’t hurt either as it shows how keen you are). It also helps to remember the interviewer was your age once!

what’s right with me? I wonder, have you ever thought to yourself, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ Have you ever given yourself a hard time about the things you are less experienced in? I think most mothers (and fathers for that matter) have felt out of their depth at some point. After all, at each stage of our children’s development, particularly with a first child, we are doing things for the first time. In general, people have a tendency to focus on those things they see as their weaknesses, the things they need to improve. This is valid to some degree. However, what if you flipped the question ‘What’s wrong with me?’ on its head? Instead, what if we focused on exploring our strengths and values and our unique approach to life? In short, what if you started asking ‘what’s right with me?’I guarantee you that for each and every one of us, the answer will be ‘A LOT!’ What a wonderful base to start from! When we start with strong foundations, we can build an amazing future. We are also in a great position to support others, including our children. If you’re wondering how to answer the question ‘what’s right with me?’ I would recommend you start by brainstorming. Grab a large piece of paper and your favourite pens, pencils, textas, or even cut words out of a magazine. Be as creative as you like. Then, without thinking too much about it, write down

all the things you do well, all the things that are important to you and all the things that people have told you that they admire about you. If this is difficult to begin with, I would encourage you to press ahead anyway. Your perseverance may help you draw out your most creative ideas, or help you to tap into things that you’ve forgotten about yourself. Remember that the idea of brainstorming is to write down everything that comes into your head. Don’t censor it at all. No one needs to see your piece of paper, so you can put down anything and everything. You may find you have to push through a ‘stuck’ phase before all the ideas come rushing out. It’s worth persevering to get to this point. Once you have this all down on paper, read through it. You may find there are some themes coming through. They may start to emerge as clear strengths and values. These are the foundations you will then build on, allowing you to explore all the things that are right with you. There are also online tools to help you identify your strengths. The VIA Character Strengths survey is a good one and it’s free. If there’s ever a good time to work out ‘what’s right with me’, it’s now! By Laurenne Di Salvo, Harvest Coaching and Learning. Coaching / Learning & Organisational Development / Facilitation. www.harvestcoaching.com.au

We provide psychology services for children, adolescents and their families 33 Military Road, Avondale Heights 3034 3/216 Blackshaws Road, Altona North 3025 Also consulting at Complete Children’s Health Moonee Ponds and Keilor T 03 9318 7848 www.bloomchildpsychology.com.au

We provide assessment and therapy options to address a range of issues, including; • Anxiety and fears • Mood problems • Behavioural and conduct problems • School difficulties • Family difficulties • Resilience • Self-esteem and confidence • Communication and assertiveness • Sleep difficulties • Eating difficulties • Risk taking behaviours • Attention and learning , including cognitive and academic assessment. We specialize in comprehensive diagnostic assessments and therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders. • Individual therapy sessions • A range of group programs, including social skills, social thinking, and school readiness. We are a registered FaHCSIA provider. Medicare rebates available. We provide staff development and training, consultation and parent education sessions.

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