Mum's Mail Pietermartizburg and Midlands June 2020

Mum’s Mail Ladies Breakfast Issue 161 | Pietermaritzburg & Midlands | June 2020 | Free

From The Editor’s Desk...

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was going to write about all the positive things that I’ve taken from this lockdown period, but as I was writing I realised how immensely privileged I am, and I can’t bring myself to write about all the positives, when there are millions of families in South Africa who have seen no positive side to this pandemic.

People are unable to work and can’t even feed their families. This is devastating, and I can’t begin to imagine how it feels and what these families are going through.

I am incredibly grateful that

I have a job and that I was able to work through the entire lockdown, safe at home with my family.

So instead I would like to encourage you to help someone in need, if you have the means. If you know of a family in need, a great option is to buy a virtual Checkers vouchers online. You can buy them via Computicket.com, and you can send the voucher directly to a cell phone number. You could also contact your local baby home/ orphanage to find out what they need. If you don’t have

CONTENTS

Everyday Life 3 4 5 6

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Mum’s Mail Ladies Breakfast Disciplining with Heart Meet the Cover Stars Keeping Education on Track in the Disruptive School Year Balancing and Stretching your Budget During Tough Economic Times

Healthy Life/Beautiful Life 10

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Dr Megan @ Home: Men’s Health Awareness Proprioception: Using Sensory Input to Help our Children Learn Your Blood Saves Lives

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money to give, you could consider donating your time to an organisation or feeding scheme, or donating your pre-loved clothes and blankets to a local church for distribution to the needy.

You can also donate blood read more about the SANBS and Blood Donor Month in this edition.

I hope you enjoy this June edition, and all the wonderful content and ideas we’ve put together for you.

Until next time, Sarah

Mental Health Tools for New Parents Amid Covid-19 International Cancer Survivors’ Day Self-care really helps our kids Covid-19: A Guide for Moms All things Glamorous at Bling Creations

Kids’ Life/EDUcated life 19 20

21 22 23 24 26-27

Make a Butterfly Feeder Ideas to celebrate Father’s Day at Home Father’s Day Recipe Plant a Mobile Herb Garden Science Experiment Book Reviews by Bargain Books Make it From Scratch

The Mum’s Mail Team

Editor: Sarah Mackintosh • sarah@mumsmail.com • Enquiries: 031 - 714 4700 Accounts: meghan@mumsmail.com • Designer: Wendy Offer Advertising Sales: Bev Delew • bev@mumsmail.com | Anisha Singh • anisha@mumsmail.com Cover Photographer: Candice McDonald: www.candicemcdonaldphotography.co.za DISCLAIMER: Neither the Publisher, Printer or Editor can be held responsible for damages or consequences of any omissions or errors, as every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in Mum’s Mail. We do not guarantee the performance or quality of service of any of the advertisers in this magazine. No part of Mum’s Mail magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the Editor.

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Mum’s Mail Ladies Breakfast The 7th Annual Mum’s Mail Ladies Breakfast in support of The Sunflower Fund and sponsored by Maritzburg Arch Lifestyle Centre, is approaching.

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he theme this year is Flower Power - think 60s, bellbottoms, peace signs and hippie. This fun virtual event is taking place on Wednesday 24 June 2020 via Zoom from 9am to 10.30am. Booking is essential and tickets cost R100 per person and includes two raffle tickets.

Ladies are encouraged to dress to theme, make their favourite breakfast and sign on for a morning of inspirational guest speakers and fun. Basic requirements for successful participation

include a stable internet connection and a computer or smartphone device with a camera. There will be an enviable raffle prize up for grabs at only R10 a ticket and a few prizes will be awarded to the bestdressed guests. This year’s line-up include a presentation by Peach Piche from Fresh Eyes who will be speaking on ‘How to BLOSSOM despite the challenges’ as well as a presentation by Estelle van Gelder from DandyLine Organisers who will be speaking on ‘A mediocre

life post lockdown’. Guests can expect a full how-to guide before the event to familiarise themselves with what to expect. Funds raised from the event will enable The Sunflower Fund to create awareness as well as educate and recruit more blood stem cell donors.

To book tickets or expose your brand through prize sponsorship, please contact Stephanie Berry on 078 207 9041 or email steph@sunflowerfund. org. For more information visit www. sunflowerfund.org.

WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM EVERYDAY LIFE

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Disciplining with Heart Carol Surya, psychologist and author, writes about a kind and loving approach to disciplining our children, and the rewards thereof.

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ouldn’t it be great to shout at our kids less, while actually getting them to co-operate more? Instead of constantly nagging and feeling frustrated, when we discipline with heart, something magical happens With less effort, we achieve more! It’s an approach that relates to your child’s (as well as your own) feelings, while speaking clearly and firmly about what’s expected at the same time.

It starts with training ourselves not to lose our cool and lash out with punishment. Instead, focus on taking three deep breaths and remembering that when we’re disciplining our kids, we’re actually teaching them what’s expected.

Seen this way, we can easily understand why shouting, threats and smacks aren’t good ways to discipline, because they don’t teach anything of value.

In fact, our kids are actually learning that it’s okay to shout, threaten, or smack others, because that’s how we’re handling them.

Whether we like it or not, our children learn everything from us.

How we discipline affects what our kids learn about

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controlling feelings, handling arguments and difficult situations. So it’s really worthwhile to take a moment to calm down first and to think about what we’d like to them to learn when we discipline them.

For example, if Jo keeps leaving his shoes on the floor, our discipline comment could teach (remind) him that “shoes aren’t for the floor, shoes are for wearing or keeping in the cupboard”. If we’re harsh, threatening and overly demanding, getting their cooperation is less likely.

Top tips for disciplining with heart:

• Focus on the relationship - speak in ways that maintain your connection (not worsening it) • Keep calm - take deep breaths before you speak; the way you say things is key • Speak softer and move closer - this grabs attention, gains co-operation and helps sensitive ones • Guide instead of forcing - manipulation isn’t needed Rather state clearly what’s expected.

• Be respectful and encouraging - by viewing them as worthy and deserving • Be consistent - explaining what’s expected and

maintaining it this way all the time • Be fair, logical and simple - so there’s no need for them to back chat or to try to get out of it • Be both kind and firm acknowledge their feelings, give consequences AND follow through • Offer choices - let them decide the way in which they get it done, which teaches responsibility • Encourage capacity building - teach them to use their personal power in constructive ways • Build them up - using words like “nice listening”, “thanks for helping” which acknowledges efforts.

Last but not least, remember that discipline is a learning process (for us and our children), involving plenty of showing, explaining, attempts, corrections and practice before anyone really learns anything.

So be patient with yourself (and them) and watch how disciplining with heart can transform your home and your family life.

Visit www.raisingkidspositively.com or Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: @raisingkidspositively for more information and to find out about Carol’s free parenting webinars.

Meet the Cover Stars Our dapper cover stars this month are Brinley and Grayson Brauns.

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ad Brinley, a firefighter, and 7-month-old Grayson live with their wife and mom, Kayleen, in Pietermaritzburg.

“Having a second baby boy has brought the calm to our chaos - we enjoy his calm nature and the tranquillity he brings into our home. He has discovered his voice and he enjoys using it to sing to his big boet, Milon.

He is such an explorer! He has started solids and we can already tell he is such a foodie,” says his mom Kayleen.

On their days off, the Brauns family enjoys

exploring outdoors, and love spending time in nature.

On being a dad, Brinley had this to say: “One thing I am sure of, is that I don’t totally know what I am doing - I think that it probably wouldn’t be much fun if I did!

Even knowing that, I am not one bit worried because we figure it out as we go along. I love my family more than they’ll ever know, and I absolutely love being a dad.”

Advice for new dads: “You can never be too prepared, just enjoy the moment, nurture them and witness their growth,” concludes Brinley.

Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful dads out there!

By Sarah Mackintosh.

A Cascades Lifestyle Centre Charity Initiative

June - July 2020

Outside Clicks Cascades

All donations distributed by:

share warmth

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Keeping Education on Track in the Disruptive School Year After a school shutdown of more than two months, teachers, parents and students are all gearing up to save the 2020 academic year.

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owever, as Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and the Department of Basic Education kick start their phased approach, there are still many questions about how parents and teachers can help limit the effects of this disruptive year on our children.

Keep the momentum going as far as possible Recent data show that the quality of learning has steadily been improving over the past 20 years and we must try our best not to lose this momentum. While the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has advised on how to transition to technology-based distance learning, collaborations with the SABC, radio channels, E-Portals and NGOs have proved vital in helping students to stay on track.

Paper Video is a one such platform that is helping high school students improve their Maths, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Accounting from home. This has been achieved by creating exam revision resources with video lessons embedded directly into the resources themselves.

Students have access to thousands of past exam questions and step-by-step video guides that take learners through each question.

Children forget One recent study conducted in Malawi by Dr Shrochis Karki and David Jeffery, both Senior Education Consultants at Oxford Policy Management, found a significant decline in students’ reading ability when they returned from their school holidays. Parents, guardians and teachers need to be prepared for the fact that students will forget a lot of what they’ve learned and need to get creative when it comes to revision work.

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Connecting to education While Minister Motshekga has made it very clear that no child will be forced to go to school and that parents have a right to choose, it’s still vital for children to feel “connected to education”.

Maintaining some kind of educational programme, benefits children’s mental health and it will make it easier for them to transition back into some form of normality.

Accelerated learning While children will have fallen behind, hope is not lost. Well-designed “accelerated learning programmes” have shown some success in helping to reintegrate children even in under-resourced environments. It’s important that these programmes focus on the work that kids would have missed during their curriculum and adapt their lessons.

Catch up and keep learning with Paper Video While the restart button for the school year certainly poses some difficulties, Paper Video is aiming to partner with parents and high school learners not only as the ultimate revision resource, but as an excellent way to track progress. Learners have access to some of the best teachers in South Africa and to an unmatched collection of over 11000 video lessons. Lessons provide complete curriculum coverage and are suitable for both CAPS and IEB where learners can brush up and learn everything from individual exam questions to entire topics.

Students can choose to access Paper Video online which includes all resources, keyword searching and progress tracking. Their offline packages each include a book of 10 past exam papers and a 32GB microSD card for data-free video access.

Visit www.papervideo.co.za or contact 061 357 2304 for more information on how to get started.

WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM HEALTHY LIFE

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Balancing and Stretching your Budget During Tough Economic Times

There’s no doubt that we’re going through tough economic times as a country at the moment; and the family budget will probably be the hardest hit during this time.

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t’s therefore important that we take careful steps in managing our expenses.

The good news is that it’s possible to find some breathing space by putting a few variable expenses under the microscope.

Save on groceries Now, we’re not suggesting that you take a militant approach to your family’s meals and start serving up plain crackers for dinner.

Draw up a shopping list and do the following: • Consider using online grocery shopping apps. Yes, they charge a small delivery fee, but you will stick to your shopping list and not be tempted to add any extras to your shopping cart.

• Put off buying luxuries and personal indulgences until things improve.

Reduce your entertainment budget Having fun as a family is important in building a family identity and creating memories. We can build a family bond without breaking the bank by following the tips below: • DSTV, Netflix, Showmax

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and the rest. Review the number of entertainment services your family subscribe to and the data it uses. Agree with them to keep the one or two you all use most frequently.

• Focus on spending meaningful and fun times together by playing board games like Monopoly, 30Seconds, etc. They are great for teaching important skills such as verbal communications, interacting with others, learning to

share and waiting your turn.

Once you have started following these tips, track your savings and stay on course.

Most importantly speak to a financial adviser about the best ways to save for the things that really matter to your family.

Go to www.oldmutual.co.za to speak to an accredited Old Mutual financial adviser today.

Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Limited is a Licensed Financial Services Provider

WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM HEALTHY LIFE/BEAUTIFUL LIFE

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Dr Megan @ Home: Men’s Health Awareness Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is all we can think about, it is important for us to remember our general health concerns too.

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s we celebrate Father’s Day this month, our focus is on Men’s Health Awareness Month this June.

We recommend a medical check-up every six months - this includes a blood pressure check, glucose and cholesterol blood tests, as well as a general medical examination From the age of 40, we should add a PSA to the blood tests which is the Prostate Specific Antigen. Many middle-aged men will develop an enlarged prostate at some stage.

This causes various symptoms including needing to pass urine more often during the night, a reduced urinary stream or only droplets, difficulty passing urine or the urge to go more frequently. Obviously, prostate cancer must always be excluded, but very often the cause is a benign overgrowth of the prostate which is easily managed with medication.

Mental health is a tricky subject with many men, who feel the pressure to be the provider and the backbone of their families.

It is important for us all to be taking care of each other through these trying times.

As stress levels have risen in the past few weeks, so have the physical symptoms of anxiety. These include poor sleep, palpitaAkeso Pietermaritzburg offers inpatient treatment for: • • • • • • • •

Depression Bipolar Mood Disorder Dual Diagnoses Adolescence Disorders Anxiety Disorders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders Post Natal Depression Mental Health Issues Related to Ageing

033 346 0065 www.akeso.co.za 126 Woodhouse Rd, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg

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tions, increased sweating, headaches, nausea, chest pain or breathlessness. Link this with poor concentration, agitation, uncontrollable worry, or a short temper and feelings of hopelessness, it is a slippery slope down to depression.

Acute stress and anxiety can be managed with non-medical treatments such as exercise, or meditation and rest... but often this isn’t enough and that is where your doctor can assist you with medical treatment to manage the symptoms of acute stress and get you over this hurdle.

Our rooms are open and taking every precaution to keep you and ourselves safe from COVID-19. We are also offering telephonic/virtual consultations if you would prefer. Please do not hesitate to contact our rooms for any guidance.

By Dr Megan Broughton, 031 582 5303, www.umhlangagp.net.

Proprioception: Using Sensory Input to Help our Children Learn Modulation is like the volume control of the way in which we experience sensations.

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ome of us are more sensitive and experience sensations more intensely, which can be overwhelming, causing avoidance, and can prevent children from participating in play activities essential for development.

Others’ volume is set on low, and they need more input in order to register. These kiddies can be slow to get going, or tend to seek out extra sensory input in order to be able to be alert and maintain attention.

We may have different volume settings for each one of our eight senses. The way in which each of us processes sensory information is different, and affects us ALL, to varying degrees. So even if your child does not have significant difficulties, it’s helpful to understand their unique sensory profile, which gives us more insight into their mood and behaviour in different contexts.

Proprioception is the feedback we get from our muscles and tendons about where our body is in space. This sense enables us to know that our feet are on the floor, where we need to place them when we run and the force we need to apply.

Proprioception is a modulating sense.

This means that we can use proprioceptive input to help keep ourselves regulated, or to regulate the dysregulated child.

Children who have modulation (volume control) difficulties in other areas, often seek out proprioceptive input to regulate themselves. Children may also be under-responsive (have a low volume) to proprioceptive input, and may seek out extra input to be able to be in a “good space”.

Behaviours that you may see are: • Biting, hitting, scratching, bumping other children or self, in reaction to dysregulating

sensory input- like light touch for a tactile defensive child • Seeking out chewy, hard or crunchy foods • Falling on purpose • Leaning on furniture, draping self over surfaces etc.

• Being too rough, or struggling to be gentle • Hyperactivity Strategies that we can introduce to decrease the above “negative strategies” and help the child to use proprioception to modulate in a safer, more appropriate way are as follows: - Lots of rough and tumble play - Heavy work/chores - Lots of movement breaks in the classroom, involving “heavy work” such as handing out books - Provide places to crash and fall - Encourage child to roll, crawl etc.

- Make use of weighted vests, blankets etc.

- Put a stretchy elastic exercise band around the legs of the child’s chair, so that they can get increased proprioceptive input through their legs while sitting.

- Provide fidget toys with resistance, like putty, elastic bands etc.

- Roll child tightly in a blanket and challenge them to escape.

- Exercises like wall/desk push ups, jumping, etc.

Any movement activity that provides resistance is going to help these kiddies to feel regulated and be in a better space to learn and manage their mood and behaviour.

By Emma Wijnberg, Occupational Therapist, www.littlelivesoccupationaltherapy.com.

WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM HEALTHY LIFE

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Your Blood Saves Lives June is dedicated to blood donors. Without them and their dedication to blood donation, lives would be lost.

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orld Blood Donor Day is commemorated annually on 14 June in a global celebration of the millions of people throughout the world who give their blood on a voluntary, unpaid basis to save the lives of those in need.

Less than 1% of South Africans are active blood donors. A unit of blood only lasts 42 days after donation and, for this reason, it is important for blood donors to donate regularly. Donors can give blood as often as

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every eight weeks.

Every unit of blood can save a minimum of three lives as blood is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets.

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) aims to collect 3000 units of blood per day to ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply in the health care system.

Donating a unit of this “precious gift of life� saves the lives of those in dire need of blood.

Thousands of patients would die daily if there was insufficient quality blood in stock.

When one donates blood, they give patients the gift that money cannot buy or science cannot create.

To find out where and how you can donate blood, visit the SANBS website at www. sanbs.org.za.

Mental Health Tools for New Parents Amid Covid-19 For new parents, the reality of social distancing and living in a nationwide lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic presents an array of new challenges and concerns over and above the birth of their child.

Dr Manyonga offers some advice to new parents in navigating the Covid-19 lockdown with their babies: Call your midwife – check-ups with healthcare providers in the days after birth, as well as the six-week mark are key to ensure that both mom and baby are doing well. New moms are encouraged to speak about their mood and any concerns they have during these visits.

Reach out to family and friends, virtually – many parents are finding it difficult to not see loved ones during the lockdown.

Not having your family meet your child face to face can be upsetting, but it is important to remember you are not alone during this period. Connect with loved ones using digital platforms such as Skype and Zoom.

Make use of a counselling service – talking through difficulties can be a huge help in rom cancelled baby showers to prenatal managing feelings of depression and anxiety after the birth of your child. If you have a desappointments over WhatsApp, being pregnant and giving birth during a pandemic ignated psychologist or therapist, ask if you can do telephonic consultations. Additionalcan further add to feelings of frustration, ly, the South African Depression and Anxiety fear and isolation commonly associated Group (SADAG) offers free counselling and with postnatal depression.

24-hour helplines.

“As the body’s hormone levels return to Reframe your lockdown outlook – a change pre-pregnancy levels, feelings of intense of perspective can help manage feelings emotion and exhaustion are normal in the of anxiety during this period. Rather than days after birth. Many women develop overwhelming feelings of sadness, detach- thinking about how you are stuck inside or stuck at home, consider it as you are keeping ment, irritation and fear after their baby your family safe and you are able to spend is born,” says Dr Howard Manyonga, an obstetrician and Head of The Birthing Team. extended periods of time bonding with your “These feelings have been compounded by baby. It is a special time for both parents to the lockdown, because parents are not able be able to fully work together to support one to receive physical support from family and another and their child.

Source: www.thebirthingteam.co.za friends during this time”

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International Cancer Survivors’ Day In South Africa alone, one out of four people will be affected by cancer in their lifetime through diagnosis of family, friends, colleagues or self.

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he increase in the number of people diagnosed with cancer leads to an increased number of people living with many kinds of consequences.

The first Sunday in June is set aside for celebrating hope and life with survivors and their families with a special day of hope, support and nurturing. The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation defines a survivor as anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.

Although CANSA supports Survivors throughout the year, International Cancer Survivors’ Day remains a special opportunity to acknowledge cancer patients, whether newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment or in remission, and the courage and determination it takes to fight the disease. It’s also an occasion to inspire hope, that cancer can be beaten, and to remind survivors that they are not alone.

You are not alone and CANSA would like to support you and your loved ones. As you face your cancer diagnosis, learn to live with and through this disease and even beyond it, they would like to inspire hope and courage

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in you and empower you with the information you need to take control of your life.

CANSA is committed to connecting people facing cancer with information, day-to-day help as well as the emotional support they need in the communities where they live. Their aim is to ensure that cancer survivors and their loved ones don’t have to face cancer alone - CANSA is here to support them through every step of their cancer journey.

The responsibility rests with patients to contact CANSA for assistance. CANSA is not informed of any diagnoses or of patients being treated at medical centres. Family need to obtain permission from patients, before CANSA may contact them.

You can sign up for CANSA’s iSurvivor email-based support programme and Aunt Sophia will send you weekly emails to inspire and encourage you – at no charge.

She’s a cancer survivor herself, so she knows what a rollercoaster ride this cancer journey can be!

Visit www.isurvivor.org.za or www.cansa.org.za for more information on CANSA and how they can help you or your loved one.

Self-care really helps our kids Mothers often put their needs last, feeling selfish if they invest time or energy in themselves.

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adly, exactly the opposite is true. Research shows that mothers who don’t take care of themselves (i.e. no self-care or stress management) suffer far more emotional and physical symptoms of stress, becoming tired, irritable and more critical of their children.

It’s surprising how negative we are about ourselves. We berate ourselves when we’re not coping well with daily stressors, blaming ourselves when we’re impatient or get too angry and judging every bit of ‘performance’ in this tricky parenting journey. In these stressful lockdown time, practising positive self-talk and actively working on our mental health has become critical.

Considering that our kids are learning a lot about self-esteem and self-care by watching us, it makes sense then to change these patterns, to watch our words about ourselves, give ourselves a break, and give ourselves permission to improve how we feel about ourselves. Because we are their main teacher, when we are coping well, feel happy and self-content, we set a great example for them to follow. When your children notice that you feel good about yourself and treat yourself with respect, it teaches them to like and care for themselves too.

Top tips to feel better • Recognize your achievements – tell your kids what you’re good at - e.g. “Hey guys, I cooked a great supper tonight” - and keep finding ways to recognize what you are doing well.

• Avoid criticizing yourself – try to speak positively about yourself - e.g. “Exercise is good for me, even when I’m lazy, so here I go!”.

• Practice regular self-care - take care of your health, set aside some time each week for fun things that you really enjoy like reading a book, learning a new skill, going for a walk or having a relaxing bath.

• Spend time with friends (online) - who are positive and support you, rather than those that drain your energy and are constantly critical or negative.

• Replace guilty feelings and perfectionism with ‘good enough’ – whenever we feel guilty that we’re not performing well, it takes its toll on our self-esteem. Learn to tell yourself that you are “good enough” (especially when you’re feeling guilty for taking time for much needed self-care).

Without intending it, there are many things that we do and say about ourselves that are influencing our kids. At the same time, there are many daily “building-up moments” which you can use to help improve how you feel and talk about yourself, which can make a great difference to them.

Remember there are tons of fun ways to care for yourself that will make you less stressed, improve your self-esteem and well-being, and make you a better parent, even in stressful times like these! Once you start feeling the benefits of taking good care of yourself, your self-esteem improves and you’ll be even more motivated to build your kids’ self-esteem.

Go ahead and make this your new moto: “when I am feeling good it helps my kids to feel good.” By investing in feeling good, everyone wins!

Join psychologist Carol Surya every week for her free Parents Support Q&A sessions online - email info@raisingkidspositively. com for details.

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Covid-19: A Guide for Moms This year has certainly been challenging and uncertain, testing our faith, resilience and human compassion.

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ith the addition of pregnancy hormones and pregnancy aches and pains, this may all be overwhelming for you and your family. You may not have your much awaited baby shower, gender reveal celebrations, babymoons (for the older generation like me, it means a holiday before the baby is born). But I can assure you, the moment your little one is here the overwhelming love and awe you will have is unimaginable. It evokes every sense of fulfilment and the journey will all have been worth it.

Here are a few tricks and tips to keep you and your precious cargo safe: 1. If you have any symptoms call your gynae immediately. A Covid-19 test will be ordered. Symptoms include a fever, headaches, muscle aches, cough, sore throat and breathlessness.

2. Wear a mask at all times.

3. When you arrive at the gynaecologist offices, call the rooms and wait in the car until it is your turn. Enter the consulting rooms when it is safe to do so.

4. Sanitise your hands before entering the rooms, after you touch any surfaces and on leaving.

5. Do not touch your nose, eyes or mouth with unwashed hands.

6. When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue and discard tissue immediately.

7. Keep a safe 1m distance from the next person.

8. It is recommended you take the flu vaccine. Please discuss this with your gynae.

Risk to mum Evidence suggests that pregnant women are at no greater risk of becoming seriously unwell if you develop coronavirus.

You are however at higher risk if you are:

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• Older than 35 • Obese • Pre-existing medical conditions like hypertension/diabetes Risk to your unborn baby As this is a new virus, we are just beginning to learn about it. Vertical transmission (in the womb) from you to the baby is rare, but possible. Current evidence suggests that even if baby develops coronavirus soon after birth, these babies are well and it has no impact on baby’s development. You can rest easy, your little one is safe in your belly.

I wish you the best on this journey!

By Dr Navashree Dhaver, obstetrician and gynaecologist Umhlanga and St Augustines Hospital.

Admission rights at Life Health Care Facilities. women for women’s health Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Dr Navashree Dhaver

specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

• Management of pregnancy & high risk pregnancy • Natural & Caeserean sections • Infertility • Contraception & family planning • Management of abnormal uterine bleeding • Treatment of PCOS & Endometriosis • Management of fibroids • Gynaecological surgery • Laparoscopic (key hole) surgery • Cancer screening & treatment of pre cancerous conditions • Aesthetic Gynaecology.

Contact 031 701 1319 / 031 582 5468 or 031 202 7088 • dhaverfem@gmail.com

UMhLaNGa hOsPITaL Suite 402, Umhlanga Medical Centre, 323 Umhlanga Rocks Drive, Umhlanga sT aUGUsTINe’s hOsPITaL Chelmsford Medical Centre No. 1, 107 JB Marks Road, Glenwood

Where wom come fi en rst

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All things Glamorous at Bling Creations Founded in 2011, Bling Creations has been a pioneer in the jewellery industry and a place for women to revel in all things glamorous.

“Every step throughout the lifespan of Bling Creations has been about passion. We have always emphasised quality over pushing sales and I have personally had a hand at whatever is on display in my store,” says owner, Shamima.

She also says that her personal touch on all things within the store is why customers can be sure that when they visit Bling Creations they are transported on a magical journey to a place where all their hearts’ desires can be met, remarking that it is love at first sight when her jewellery is seen.

“To date, we have never had a dissatisfied

customer, with a lot of people from out of KZN coming all the way to Pietermaritzburg just to purchase the quality jewellery we have here,” Shamima explains.

Jewellery has always been her passion and she uses the best materials and workmanship available.

“You just have to visit the store to see that all our products that we offer boast high quality and value for money,” concludes Shamima.

Contact: 033 - 342 2114, 082 619 0007, info@blingcreations.co.za, www.blingcreations.co.za. FB: @blingcreationssa. Shop 115, Liberty Midlands Mall, Pietermaritzburg.

PETS FOR ADOPTION

DAISY female, 1 year

KELLY female, 16 months

For adoptions: Contact Jenny adoptions@aacldurban.co.za

(031) 736 9093

Address: Artesia Farm, 53 Artesia Avenue (D657), Leckhampton Valley, Hammarsdale.

GPS Co-ordinates: S 29° 46’6 E 30° 38’9 18

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Make a Butterfly Feeder Butterflies are very like children. They are both more than happy just eating sugar!

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owever, unlike children, butterflies can do this without running around like maniacs afterwards and feeling slightly ill.

So, why not use some sugar to set up a butterfly feeder in your garden and watch to see which butterflies visit?

You will need: Water, sugar, pan, jar with lid, acrylic pens/paints, string or twine, hammer and nail, and a sponge or cotton wool.

First, ask a grown-up to make you some sugar water. This is done by dissolving one tablespoon of sugar in nine tablespoons of water by heating it in a pan.

While that cools down, you can construct the feeder. Take a small jar and decorate it with brightly coloured flowers. You could tape on paper shapes, but it will last longer if you painted them on with acrylic paint or acrylic paint pens.

Next, take your string or twine and cut four lengths at least three times longer than the jar itself. Take each piece and, making sure you have an equal length either side, tie it around the neck of the jar, finishing in a knot. Do the same with the next piece, this

time making sure the knot is on the opposite side. The final two pieces should end with the knots halfway between the other two so that all four knots are equally spaced.

Now turn the jar upside down before taking a piece of string from each of the two adjacent knots and tying them together about 3cm up the string. Do this with all the other pieces until you can see a net pattern forming. Repeat this with the second layer of knots and continue until you reach the top of the jar. You will need to add a hole to the jar lid. You can do this by hammering thorough a nail (which is best done by a grown-up). Next, take your small piece of sponge or cotton wool and thread it through the hole so some is poking out both sides. It should be a snug fit so that the water soaks the sponge but doesn’t drip off (you can experiment until you get it right).

Finally, fill the jar with the sugar water, put on the lid and use the string, bunched together, to hang it somewhere in the garden where the butterflies can see it – a sunny spot is best.

Source: 101 Things for Kids to Do outside by Dawn Isaac.

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Ideas to celebrate Father’s Day at Home Usually on Father’s Day, dads are showered with cards and presents and treated to a day out with the family – but this Father’s Day is a bit different.

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lthough you can’t take dad to his favourite restaurant for lunch (oh how I wish we could) – you can still make his day special in other ways… It just requires a bit more creativity!

Make breakfast in bed Show your dad just how much he means to you by making him breakfast in bed! Start his day off perfectly with his favourite breakfast – be it poached eggs, cereal, toast or even pancakes or flapjacks with syrup – get creative in the kitchen!

Have a picnic in the garden Winter in Durban and KZN is just the best – the days are sunny and warm, but not too hot! Prepare Dad’s favourite snacks and meal, and take some blankets and pillows in to the garden for a relaxed outdoor lunch. You will even be able to treat him with his favourite wine or beer, which I’m sure he will really appreciate!

Play some party games Play some old-fashioned games or board games at home with Dad! From Simon Says to a good ‘ol egg and spoon race or musical chairs - there’s plenty

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of games you can play at home as a family. It’s sure to tap into his competitive side and it’s a great way to get active.

Make some Father’s Day crafts Homemade presents can’t be beaten so why not get crafty with the kids this year? Save yourself some pennies (and a trip to the shop) and let the kids channel their inner artist and create an easy keep-themquiet Father’s Day card. The whole family — including Dad — can explore their

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creative sides with these fun family crafts.

Put on a puppet show The kids will love to put on a puppet show – it’s a favourite in our house! We make simple paper figures, colour then in and stick them to wooden skewers.

My son then hides behind the couch and puts on his puppet show. It’s simple and fun and you don’t need any special equipment. This is sure to keep dad entertained and give the family a good laugh.

By Sarah Mackintosh.

Father’s Day Recipe Here’s an easy and hearty meal to make for the family this Father’s Day, from local chef, Shikaar Yadh.

Roast Chicken and Butternut Gallitien with Butter Cream Pepper Sauce Ingredients: • 1 large chicken, deboned, whole (ask your butcher to do this for you if you don’t know how) • 750ml cubed butternut, steamed • 15ml chopped fresh thyme • 20 sage leaves • 50ml chopped garlic cloves • Fresh Ground Pepper • Salt to taste • 125g butter

For the sauce: • 125g butter • 250ml fresh cream • 60ml chooped red peppers • Salt and black pepper • 5ml chopped parsley Method: On a sheet of foil, lie chicken (skin down) and rub chicken with half the amount of butter. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with garlic and thyme. Now down the centre of the chicken, over the breast, place all the sage leaves and place the butternut over this, place the remainder of the butter

on top of butternut, then roll the chicken up into a log, using foil to help hold its shape, twisting the ends up.

Heat the oven to 190C and roast in foilfor 90 minutes.

Once cooked, allow to rest before serving.

Sauce: In 50g butter, suate peppers, add the rest of the butter an cream and allow to b oil until it thickens.

Season, before mixing in parsley. Cut chicken into slices and serve with the sauce on the side. Serve with garlic rolls and enjoy with your favourite side.

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Plant a Mobile Herb Garden Wheelbarrows are terribly useful, but do tend to involve a lot of work. herbs. Try to keep larger plants such as sage and lavender to the back or middle of the barrow where it’s a little deeper. Also, if you want to add mint, make sure to keep it in its pot. Mint is a very bossy plant and will soon take over the whole barrow if you give it half a chance.

Some good herbs to try out are: Marjoram or basil – great on pizzas!

Chives – these have pretty purple round flowers and are good in potato salad.

Thyme – low growing and very fragrant.

Lavender – great for drying and making scented bags. Purple sage – lovely purplegrey leaves.

Fill around the herbs with gravel to keep the leaves from getting soggy and to give an attractive finish to your garden. Finally, give the barrow a good watering.

Source: 101 Things for Kids to do Outside by Dawn Isaac.

S

o instead of using them to cart around bricks, move sand or shift earth how about turning them into mobile herb gardens? It sounds a lot less tiring, doesn’t it?

First, you need to find an old wheelbarrow – or at least one that nobody minds adding a few holes to. It’s best to ask a grown-up to do this job by puncturing the base every 10 to 15cm with a large nail.

Next, give it a good brush out before filling it with some potting compost to within 5cm of the top. You can now start adding your

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Science Experiment: The Life of a Flame Science Question: How does a fire die?

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here is something about watching a fire that is mesmerising. Fire looks like it is alive. In this experiment, you will record the life span of the fire.

Supplies needed: Matches, non-flammable surface, small dry twigs and a glass cup.

The Experiment: Warning: Have an adult present for this and be sure to pick a safe location, we suggest your driveway.

Watch your parent light a match. Put the lit match down on the driveway and watch what happens. The fire will go out relatively quickly. Next, light another match and hold it up to one end of a twig. Once the twig is lit, watch for a minute and then take the cup

and cover the twig. What happens?

The outcome: When the cup is covered by the twig, the fire goes out.

Why it worked: For a fire to burn, it needs several elements – fuel, oxygen and energy or heat. If you take away one of these elements. A fire will extinguish or go out. In this experiment, the twigs are the fuel. With no fuel (like the match), the fire went out.

Oxygen is in the air that we breathe; when we covered the flame with the cup it took away the oxygen and the fire went out.

Carbon is in all organic materials, or in other words, in things that were one time living.

As the fire burns, it leaves behind the carbon as ash and possibly a piece of charcoal.

Source: The 101 Coolest Simple Science Experiments by Rachel Miller. Holly Homer and Jamie Harrington.

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Book Reviews

by Bargain Books Mum’s Mail has a R2000 Bargain Books vouchers to give away.

For children ZACK IS BACK by Jaco Jacobs. Zack Berry returns with three more fantastic adventures: The Masked Green Mamba (translation of Zackie Mostert en die Gemaskerde Groen Gevaar)… in which Zack and sidekick become superheroes in order to wipe out crime and save lives on Zucchini Street, only to find that there isn’t so much evil to take down – until they stumble upon an actual case. The Spooky Story (translation of Zackie Mostert en die Spokerige Storie)… in which Zack and his friend decide to have a super-spooky ghost story night. Unfortunately, the two of them are not as brave as they thought, and something happens that could make school unbearable forever. The Miserable Match (translation of Zackie Mostert Druk ‘n Drie), in which Zack’s sparkling rugby career never really gets off the ground.

GRANDPA ZOMBIE by Jaco Jacobs. There are all sorts of reasons to set off on a trans-African adventure but, chances are, the imminent zombification of your grandfather is not among the more common ones. Alex’s grandpa is quite like most other grandpas in many respects. He has grey hair, he has the false teeth going on, he’s not the snappiest dresser and he loves travel programmes. But when he suddenly develops a ravenous taste for brains, he becomes a less typical grandpa. Alex is going to have to find a way to save his grandpa before the Zombie Squad shows up with their own ideas about how to handle the situation… and his plan involves heaps of broccoli. Racing from Zimbabwe all the way to Egypt, Alex and the various colourful companions he picks up along the way have no time to waste as they hunt down the cure. Funny and action-packed, Grandpa Zombie also features all the compassion and family-and-friends-understanding that makes Jacobs’s books so undeniably appealing.

STARFELL 01: WILLOW MOSS AND THE LOST DAY by Dominique Valente. Starfell 01: Willow Moss and the Lost Day is the first book in a fantastic new series of magical middle-grade novels ideal for fans of Cressida Cowell. So, what are you waiting for? The magic is waiting… Let your child step into a world like no other… and find out if Willow can find the day to save the day.

Reviews by Bianca Noel-Barham, Bargain Books on 021 706 1461, bianca@bargainbooks.co.za or visit www.bargainbooks.co.za. Follow them on Instagram & Facebook: @bargainbookssa.

WIN WIN WIN Mum’s Mail has a R2000 Bargain Books vouchers to give away.

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Make it From Scratch MUM’S MAIL EDITOR, SARAH MACKINTOSH, SHARES HER FAVOURITE RECIPES FROM THE LOCKDOWN PERIOD.

Homemade Pizza Crust Follow these basic instructions for a thick, crisp, and chewy pizza crust at home. The recipe yields enough pizza dough for two 12-inch pizzas and you can freeze half of the dough for later.

Ingredients: • 320ml warm water (between 38°C and 43°C) • 2 ¼ teaspoons Red Star Platinum instant yeast (1 standard packet)* • 1 Tablespoon (13g) granulated sugar • 2 Tablespoons (30ml) olive oil • ¾ teaspoon salt • 3 ½ cups (440g) all-purpose flour, plus more for hands and surface • A sprinkle of cornmeal for dusting the pan Instructions: Prepare the dough: Whisk the warm water, yeast, and granulated sugar together in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or paddle attachment. Cover and allow to rest for 5 minutes. If you don’t have a

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stand mixer, simply use a large mixing bowl and mix the dough by hand with a wooden spoon in the next step.

Add the olive oil, salt, and flour. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. With lightly floured hands, knead the dough for three to four minutes. The dough can be a little too heavy for a mixer to knead it, but you can certainly use the mixer on low speed instead.

After kneading, the dough should still feel a little soft. Poke it with your finger – if it slowly bounces back, your dough is ready to rise. If not, keep kneading.

Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or non-stick spray – just use the same bowl you used for the dough. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil.

Cover the bowl with aluminium foil, plastic wrap, or a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 60 to 90 minutes or until double in size.

Preheat oven to 240°C. Allow it to heat for at least 15 to 20 minutes as you shape the pizza. Lightly grease baking sheet or pizza pan with non-stick spray or olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with cornmeal, which gives the crust extra crunch and flavour.

Shape the dough: When the dough is ready, punch it down to release any air bubbles.

Divide the dough in half. (If not making two pizzas, freeze half of the dough for another time– see freezing instructions below.) On a lightly floured work surface using lightly floured hands or rolling pin, gently flatten the dough into a disc. Place on prepared pan and, using lightly floured hands, stretch and flatten the disc into a 12-inch circle. Lift the edge of the dough up to create a lip around the edges.

Cover the dough lightly with plastic wrap

or a clean kitchen towel and allow it to rest for a few minutes while you prepare your pizza toppings.

Top & bake the pizza: To prevent the filling from making your pizza crust soggy, brush the top lightly with olive oil. Using your fingers, push dents into the surface of the dough to prevent bubbling.

Top with your favourite toppings and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

Slice hot pizza and serve immediately.

Cover leftover pizza tightly and store in the refrigerator. Reheat as you prefer. Baked pizza slices can be frozen up to 3 months.

Source: www.sallysbakingaddiction.com.

Sweetcorn Bread

Three-Ingredient Condensed Milk Ice Cream Ingredients: • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract • 1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk (395 Grams) • 500ml tub of whipping cream Method: Beat the cream with an electric mixer until it begins to thicken. Add the vanilla and beat until a light whipped cream forms.

Gradually add the condensed milk and fold it into the cream. Pour into a container and freeze until hard. Delicious things to add to add to your ice cream include (but are not limited to): fresh strawberries, Crunchie Bar, M & Ms, crushed nuts and blueberries. We decided to add crushed tennis biscuits and Milo! Yummy!

Source: www.stayathomemum.com.au

This delicious bread from Pheka makes delicious toast and goes so well with a stew style meal - and nothing beats freshly baked bread hot out the oven!

Ingredients: • 4 cups self -raising flour • 2 Tbsp sugar • 1/2 tsp salt • 2 eggs • 2 Tbsp sunflower oil • 3/4 cup (180ml) milk • 1 tin cream style sweetcorn Method: Preheat the oven to 170°C and place oven shelf in the middle. Mix the self-raising flour, sugar, salt and eggs together using a wooden spoon. Then add the oil, milk and sweetcorn.

Add the grated cheese (keep a little aside to sprinkle on the top) and add the chopped parsley. Mix all together with the wooden spoon. Prepare a loaf tin with non-stick spray and place bread mixture into the tin. Sprinkle some grated cheese on the top.

Bake at 170°C for about one hour, or until a skewer comes out clean. Let the loaf rest in the tin for 10 minutes then loosen and turn out to cool slightly before slicing.

Best eaten fresh out the oven with butter!

Source: www.pheka.co.za.

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