Mum's Mail Pietermartizburg and Midlands May 2020 by Mum's Mail

Issue 160 | Pietermaritzburg & Midlands | May 2020 | Free

From The Editor’s Desk...

We are well into our second month of lockdown and I don’t know how much more I can take!

ow can I be expected to work a fulltime job AND be a fulltime housekeeper and teacher?? Let alone find time to exercise and cook healthy meals… Sound familiar? Never fear, you are not alone! We are all going through this together and it WILL end one day… There is light at the end of the tunnel. The secret is to remain as positive as you can - even when you are not

feeling it, just fake it until you make it! This is especially relevant if you have kids - they need to know that you are in control and you have got this! I know, it’s easier said than done… add in some depression or anxiety (or both) and it’s even harder. But remember, help is at hand – if you are struggling, reach out to those you know - there are also plenty of free resources online to help you and your kids. Visit our website to find some of these resourc-

es. I hope that this edition of Mum’s Mail will break the monotony of lockdown for you – we have some great parenting and educational advice, Mother’s Day ideas, a wonderful DIY beauty feaure, health advice, ideas for kids, competitions and more! Take a few moments out of your day to put your feet up, enjoy a hot coffee, and read our May Mother’s Day issue. Happy Mother’s Day to all the super moms out there! Sarah xxx

CONTENTS

Everyday Life 3 4 5 6

Stem Cell Donors Needed Boredom Busting Activities for Teens Meet the Cover Stars Ideas for Your Kids this Housebound Holiday

Healthy Life/Beautiful Life 9 10 12 14

How To Discuss Coronavirus With My Child Navigating Learning at Home with the ADHD Child Find Balance Time To Put The Cigarettes Down SPECIAL

Kids’ Life/EDUcated life 15 16-17 18 19

Giant Bubbles Make a Success of Online Schooling Easy Recipes for Kids Book Reviews by Bargain Books

20-21 21 22-23

FEATURES

Pamper Your Mom at Home this Mother’s Day Diy Mother’s Day Gift Ideas Diy Beauty at Home

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.

IN THIS ISSUE WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM

Stem Cell Donors Needed The Sunflower Fund is dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders by helping patients find their matching donor for a life-saving stem cell transplant.

he COVID-19 crisis presents an enormous challenge in this regard, by limiting the ability to go out and recruit donors. Even during the current crisis, patients still depend on blood stem cell donations every day in order to survive. Every 35 seconds someone somewhere in the world is diagnosed with blood cancer. For many of them a blood stem cell donation from a matching donor is their only chance of survival. The Sunflower Fund encourages everyone that is able to, to register as a potential blood stem cell donor now and to provide hope for patients worldwide. In accordance with governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requirements to limit the opportunities for the

spread of the Covid-19 virus, The Sunflower Fund has postponed all planned drives and events for the registration of new blood stem cell donors as well as fundraising events scheduled to take place up until the end of May. This includes all drives on behalf of patients as well as drives at schools, universities, companies and sports clubs. To become a donor, or motivate others to register, The Sunflower Fund has the option of telephonic registration by calling 0800 12 10 82 or WhatsApp 074 7150 212. It really is that simple! You can start the process of saving a life from the comfort and safety of your home. Visit www.sunflowerfund.org.

WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM EVERYDAY LIFE

Boredom Busting Activities for Teens It’s not easy being a teenager. It’s just as tough being a parent to one too. Your little one’s not so little anymore.

ot kiddies games for them? That’s lame, mom. Adult responsibilities? Ugh. Like, no thanks. They’re at that (sometimes) unbearable age of inbetween, which is tough. Especially when they’re stuck indoors. And bored. To cut down on the constant chorus of ‘I’mmm Sooo Borrred’, MRP Sport helped us put together a few suggestions on how to keep your teen occupied during lockdown: Get up and active: No extra-murals and no leaving the house are bound to take their toll on the more active and outdoorsy of teens. Getting them moving will not only have time flying, but it’ll also expend a lot of pent up energy and frustration. Jam out to their (and your) favourite hits, get dancing and get working out together. A great place to start: MRP Sport’s #KeepMovingInMaxed workout videos on Instagram (@ mrpsport). These quick and easy home workout guides will blast calories, get those endorphins pumping and make for some great bonding time too. Learn something new: So maybe your teen has

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a talent they’re yet to discover. Help them unearth it. They might be the next Queen of Crochet or the Duke of Ukuleles. Unearth any tools you might have laying around to get them started. You’ll be surprised at what you might find: a forgotten pair of knitting needles maybe, a dusty guitar… we all have those unfinished hobbies that have fallen by the wayside. Now’s the perfect time for your teen to take them up again. With a world of online tutorials at their fingertips, anything is possible. Make a DIY music video: Every teen has a favourite song. And if they’re lucky, their own cellphone, too. Get them to film, direct, edit and create a music video to their current favourite song. A time-busting bonus: throw a choreographed dance into the mix and you’ll have your teen busy for hours. Room for improvement: Every teen’s bedroom is their sanctuary – their pride and joy. Encourage them to go for a room refresh. This might be a deep clean, redecorating or simply just moving their bedroom furniture around. The change is as good as a holiday.

Go to a gallery: From the Uffizi to the Tate, plenty of the world’s most renowned art galleries and museums have made their collections accessible with free virtual tours. This allows anyone (with online access) the chance to visit these exhibitions without even leaving the comfort of their couch. Simply Google ‘Arts & Culture Collections’, and make it a day of culture. In this together: We’re all feeling a little cooped up, and with that, comes its frustrations and impatience. Use this rare time at home to bond with your teen and create something together. Brainstorm some DIY or home improvement projects for you and your teen to take on as a team. Not only is this a productive way to kill time, but it will also leave you with something to be proud of. Parents, no matter how you’re choosing to make the most of this time with your family, don’t forget: there’s no pressure on anyone to be creative at a time like this. But if you do get a moment of creativity with your teen, we’d love to see! Share your pics, tag @mumsmail and @mrpsport, and share your inspiration!

Meet the Cover Stars J

Meet our lovely cover stars - Jade and Lucy Westhorpe-Pottow.

ade is a Grade R teacher and her husband, Mike, is a farmer. The family lives on a beautiful farm in Mid Illovo. “ “Lucy is three-and-a-half years old and is the most amazing little angel. She has the kindest and most loving personality and a heart of pure gold. Dancing and singing are her favourite things to do, as well as playing with her dolls - she takes such good care of them,” says the proud mom. Lucy is a bright, curious little girl who loves to chat. She comes up with the most amazing things! She is very affectionate, adores her baby brother and loves cuddle and story time with her mom. Brody is six months old and is such a delightful, easy going little boy who is adored by all who meet him, especially his big sister!

“Being a mom is the best thing that ever happened to me and I love everything about it. My family are my everything and I am truly blessed with the best and am forever grateful for all these gifts I have been given!” concludes Jade. By Sarah Mackintosh.

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Ideas for Your Kids this Housebound Holiday #JoziMom Tracey, is a former communications specialist and globetrotter and now also a content contributor to ThingsToDoWithKids. She shares some tips and insight on how to master this long house-bound holiday.

aving a week or four of uninterrupted time with your kids will give you a wonderful opportunity to observe how they have grown and developed while also giving you a chance to give them your undivided attention (in-between working from home of course) and learn how to play with your child with stimulating activities that will boost their development and strengthen your bonds. Now for some entertainment ideas to select from for all ages that will provide great opportunities for stimulation, fun and lovely holiday bonding while still allowing you some wellearned time to get your own things done! Get cooking and baking Many fine motor skills are strengthened and refined while baking and cooking or preparing food. Babies and toddlers will also be more likely to try some new foods if they have helped to prepare them with you so this is a great activity for fussy eaters (many toddlers eat while preparing the meal). Put on a show Through music, children

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learn essential skills for language development and early social, cognitive, and communication learning. The planning and practising will keep them busy for some time while giving you a chance to have an uninterrupted conversation. Pull out any musical instruments so that they can include singing and dancing in the act and find dress-up costumes to add to the entertainment. Encourage the older kids to help the little ones get involved in this great, creative fun and don’t forget to make a huge fuss of your budding stars when the show is over. Age-appropriate chores Family chore time It may be holidays but since it’s a critical no contact time, many of us lose our trusted helpers as they too have to be home with their little ones. But the chores still need to get done. Household chores are a great way to get your little ones to help out while stimulating Gross Motor Development and providing Sensory Stimulation. “Pushing” and “pulling” chores such as vacuuming, sweep-

ing mopping, wiping down table tops, packing and unpacking the washing machine are good examples. The key is to make it fun so hold competitions and allow the winner of the day to choose a special treat. Independent Play Fostering independent play takes time and patience. But once it’s mastered this allows for so much extra time for moms and dads to get some free time in or to work. “In our house I find LEGO is great for independent play and I taught my son (5yo) how to play solitaire too,” says Tanya Badenhorst editor of Things to do With Kids. On a more personal note, while we agree on the LEGO, I find in our house independent play comes mostly from imaginary play, colouring in and PlayStation. I find PlayStation uses fine motor skills and problem solving and ensuring the game is age appropriate can give hours of problem solving fun. Try Cars3 or Peggle.

Visit www.thingstodowithkids.co.za for more great ideas.

WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM HEALTHY LIFE

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Handy, practical size – that’s so it fits into Mom’s handbag and Dad’s cubbyhole for any emergency. Rates start from less than R10 a day – that’s less than a cappuccino from your fave coffee shop. Over 400 satisfied advertisers every month – wow, so many happy campers, don’t you want to join the club too? Exceptional shelf life – our directory & mag won’t end up at the bottom of the parrot’s cage unlike some other print media. The most comprehensive and established free guide for the whole family (est. 2003) – the best things in life are freeeee! Extensive, targeted distribution to LSM 7 – 10 – yes we’re choosy as to who gets their hands on our fab directory & mag. 15 000 Directories printed every six months – wow! 72 000 Magazines printed monthly (35 000 for Durban, 22 000 for PMB/Midlands & 15 000 for East Rand) – that’s a huge print run. Free design of your advert – so many free things, yay! Printed and online advertising options, as well as a weekly e-mail newsletter – so many options…something for everyone.

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How To Discuss Coronavirus With My Child H

e/She is now housebound and unable to go to school or socialise with friends and extended family. Mum and Dad may no longer go out to work but may be working from home instead or are perhaps unable to work at all. People go out in masks and there is a sombre, anticipatory atmosphere in the air. Even very young children who don’t have words to describe this will be aware that something is not right from the change in routine, the hushed adult conversations and the general sense of anxiety that abounds. Your school age child is likely to have some information about the Coronavirus, either from prior discussion at school, from friends or from snippets he/she has heard on the news or from adult conversation. What does your child know about the Coronavirus and is this information correct? Given the impact of this pandemic on your child’s life and the potential anxiety it can cause, it is important to discuss the Coronavirus with them and to address any concerns or misconceptions they might have by providing reassurance and factual information. There are some won-

Coronavirus has changed your child’s world, perhaps forever in some ways. derful, free downloadable resources from which to start this conversation. Two free online books (available in pdf) which are particularly useful are Coronavirus: A book for Children by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson & Nia Roberts and illustrated by Axel Scheffler (illustrator of the Gruffalo) https://nosycrow.com/ blog/released-today-freeinformation-book-explaining-coronavirus-childrenillustrated-gruffalo-illustrator-axel-scheffler and Dave the Dog is Worried about Coronavirus. A Nurse Dotty book by Molly Watts https:// nursedottybooks.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/davethe-dog-coronavirus-1-1. pdf. These books aim to give information to children in a friendly, factual way to help reduce anxiety and misconceptions about the Coronavirus. A good place to start discussing Coronavirus is to ask your child what they already know about the virus. This is a useful way to clarify any false information they might have been told.

Your child might have questions about what they have heard or read; try to answer these honestly and tailor your answers to your child’s age. Younger children generally just need a simple answer in basic language, don’t give them more detail than they can process. Older children might need more detail on specifics like how the virus is spread, what the symptoms are or even how we think the virus originated. Try to provide as much information as your child needs to understand it and if you don’t know the answer, be honest about that too. There is a lot we don’t yet know about this virus. Keep the conversation open and let your children know that you will update them when you have more information and that they can come back to you with questions at any time. Wendy Corfe is a counselling psychologist in private practice in Hilton. She has three children of her own and lives on a farm in the Dargle area. She loves working with families in order to assist them in achieving optimal functioning and particularly enjoys doing play therapy with children to help them process and heal from the life challenges they may encounter.

You can read the full article on www.mumsmail.com.

WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM HEALTHY LIFE/BEAUTIFUL LIFE

Navigating Learning at Home with the ADHD Child “Navigating learning at home is hard. Navigating learning at home with a child with ADHD… is Everest,” writes Emma Wijnberg, an occupational therapist based in Pietermaritzburg.

lthough no ADHD child is the same, and there really is no recipe for success, there are some strategies that you can try to implement, to assist with attention, as well as YOUR own sanity. The fact that so much of the learning at home is reliant on screens, already puts the child with ADHD at a disadvantage. The blue LED light is NOT the ADHD brain’s friend, and will negatively impact on many performance areas. Try to limit screen use as much as you can. Don’t allow screens for at least an hour before bed. Although your child will still sleep, the chemicals released in the brain because of the screens, prevent them from experiencing the stage of sleep that is the most restful for the brain. The majority of children with attentional difficulties also struggle with sensory processing. Sensory Processing is the unconscious organisation of our senses for use. Our sensory input is received in lots of different parts of our brain, which are responsible for different functions, from emotions, to coordination, to sleep! This means that the sensory input a child gets, and their individual way of processing it, is going to have a direct influence on their mood, attention, alertness and functional ability. It is helpful to be aware of your child’s individual sensory processing pattern, so that you can intentionally provide the RIGHT sensory input, to put them in a space for optimum learning. Diet is very important for the ADHD brain. Research has shown us that refined carbohydrates and colorants have a negative effect on behaviour and attention in the ADHD child. Research has also shown that fatty

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acids, protein and probiotics have a positive effect on attentional ability and emotional regulation. With the correct diet, we can influence the behaviour in the ADHD child quite significantly. Children who struggle with sensory processing, very often struggle with unpredictability. This very often applies to the ADHD child. In an effort to try and gain some degree of control over an unpredictable environment, the ADHD child may use behaviours such as defiance, avoidance, being bossy or even destructive. The child needs to KNOW that YOU are in control. That you have GOT this. Because if they know this, they feel safe, and don’t have the need to gain control over their environment in negative behavioural ways. When given consistent, unwavering boundaries, they stop rebelling, and behaviour, after some time, becomes more manageable. ADHD children often struggle with Auditory Processing and function better when given visual cues that they can refer back to. A visual schedule is a helpful tool to help them to stay on task, feel organised and achieve goals. It is useful to plan the day with your child in the morning. Lastly - be gentle on yourself and focus on connecting with your child. Connection makes our children feel loved and safe which are the primary nutrients needed for learning. Nobody prepared us for the situation we are in, and there is no right or wrong way to manage it. Everyone is going to have to catch up when they get back to school. Do what you can, when you can. You are first and foremost a parent, not a teacher.

WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM KIDSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; LIFE

Find Balance

here is no such thing as perfect parenting. My sense though is that because of the pressure of this constantly changing world and all the fear it seems to invoke, many parents feel a great urgency to perform and find perfection. This anxiety is being transferred to our children, which is no doubt one of the contributors to the increase in childhood anxiety. My worry is that the “helicopter parent” has been replaced with a “steamroller parent”, who is acting out these anxious thoughts and feelings by taking it upon themselves to clear their children’s path of any obstacles or challenges as a way of getting to “success” as quickly and smoothly as possible. The trouble with “strapping our children to our back” and “steaming forward” – is that we are raising young people who are far less prepared for a constantly changing world. Three things concern me about this type of parenting: If your child is strapped onto your back

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Paul Bushell talks about the daunting task of raising children

forging ahead on a path you have chosen, you can’t get to know and see who they really are. Every child has, and should have, different strengths, weaknesses, interests and dreams. By not knowing and accepting this, perfection on everything will easily stay the end goal. We’re not allowing them to learn valuable lessons about themselves and the world. Growing a trusting relationship with ourselves is such an important part of good emotional intelligence. We foster this and learn other good emotional intelligence skills through everyday experiences. We need to let our children experience some of these everyday moments – even when they’re difficult, exhausting, frustrating, or when there’s a price to pay. You are the greatest gift you can give your child. Your love and consistency are

valuable to them. Chances are if they’re “strapped to your back” they’re not going to get to know you. Although we want our children to participate in a wide range of activities, be careful of over-scheduling their lives. Make quality time with your children, where there is no technology or other distractions. Sometimes this is as simple as taking 10 minutes to draw with them. Raising children should never be about perfection. Although we have to always make our children’s physical and emotional safety a priority, we need to be careful of not turning the small stuff into big stuff. It’s not okay to let our children go to places and onto the internet without our knowledge or protection. It’s not okay to let our children be abused or bullied. However, it is okay to let our children solve some of their own problems on the playground and sports field. It is okay to let our children face some of the consequences of their behaviour. It is okay for our children to follow their own interests and dreams. We need to hold our own anxiety and find the balance. Paul Bushell’s book, #Raising Kids to Thrive in a Constantly Changing World, is available on his website www.bushell. co.za. Brought to you by Highbury: www.hps.co.za

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Time To Put The Cigarettes Down The unprecedented lockdown has had an effect on us both physically and mentally by taking away many of our freedoms, which we previously took for granted.

here is an added stress for people who are unable to get their cigarettes due to the strict rules put in place by the government. This is of course due to the addictive nature of nicotine. Nicotine addiction creates such a dependency on cigarettes and other tobacco that the restriction and ban on the sales of such has caused many to feel and go through withdrawal symptoms, as well as increase in headaches, anger and frustration. As May is Anti-Tobacco month, it is therefore the opportune time to reflect on this and to finally “kick” the habit. Instead of running back to our vices, we can use this as a motivation to keep clean, and to stop smoking all together. As you are probably aware, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness ranging from mild to severe forms. The more severe forms are commonly seen in those who have chronic

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diseases, more so in chronic lung diseases. Therefore by continuing to smoke you put yourself at a much higher risk of developing serious complications from the disease and potentially death. The lockdown may have slowed the curve but it certainly won’t eradicate the virus and that is why we need to do everything within our control to make sure our health is the best it can be if and when we become infected. It is easier said than done and that’s why it is important to know that you are not alone in this issue, and help can be found via your doctor. There are medications, as well as psychological and hypnotic methods to help relieve the symptoms of withdrawal from tobacco. So let’s take the opportunity and time that the lockdown has given us, to improve our health so that on the other side we can live a healthier and longer life. By Dr Laura Troskie, www.umhlangagp.net.

Giant Bubbles Make huge water bubbles at home! You will need: • Dish washing liquid • Glycerine or corn syrup • Large bowl • Wire coat hanger • Ball of string • Electrical Tape • Jug To make really good bubbles, for every 15 parts of water, mix in one part of dish washing liquid and a quarter part of glycerine. You can buy glycerine from chemists, but it is quite expensive. So if you plan to make lots of bubbles, corn syrup is a good, cheaper substitute. How to make your giant bubbles: 1. Mix the dish washing liquid and the glycerine in a jug. Stir it into a bowl of water. 2. Bend the coat hanger into a round shape. Bend in the hook so it is closed up and becomes the handle of your bubble wand. 3. Wind string tightly around the hook, and then coil it around the rest of the hanger. 4. Secure the string by wrapping electrical tape around the hook part. You now have an awesome bubble wand! 5. Dip the bubble wand into the mixture. Make sure all of the string is covered with the mixture. 6. Remove the bubble wand and let some of the mixture drip off. 7. Make bubbles by moving the wand through the air. Stretchy water: Water Molecules hold themselves together by surface tension. Dish

washing liquid weakens the surface tension, allowing water to be stretched into a thin film. A free floating bubble filled with air will always form a sphere. This is because the surface tension is pulling it back into shape, just like a rubber balloon. Source: Smart Kids Science by Priddy Books.

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Make a Success of Online Schooling H

Lockdown has brought numerous changes to our lives. For many parents who are already struggling with working from home, the increase in domestic chores and in family stress, managing online schooling can feel like the final straw.

ere are some tips to help you and your child cope with and succeed at online schooling. Get organised • Print a copy of your child’s timetable and display it where it will be easily visible. • Spend some time on Sunday evening going through the work that has been set for the week. • Sit with your child and work through the coming week’s timetable, checking that they know where each resource is and that they are aware of assignments. This helps your child to prepare mentally for what they will be doing for the week. • High school children are generally fine to work their way through their daily timetable independently. • Primary school children might need you to recap on the tasks needed for blocks of time. • Pre-primary children will need a more hands-on approach. Plan ahead so that you can spend a quick 20 minutes introducing the activity, completing the teaching and then leave them to complete the work.

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Routine For online school to work, it has to be treated like real school thus sticking to a good routine is essential. • Wake your child at the same time each morning and encourage them to get dressed, eat breakfast and wash before school starts. • Ensure that your child is also getting enough sleep and is eating healthily. • Follow your child’s timetable regarding play and lunch breaks as well as lesson durations. This timetable will be familiar to your child will provide structure, predictability and comfort. • When it is time for your child to have a play/lunch/ end of school break, make sure that they leave the room (and the screen) they have been working in and get outside if possible. • Encouraging children to have a change of scenery and a change of activity is crucial for them to be able to return to lessons refreshed and able to refocus. Exercise Try to build exercise routine. If you think about how much activity your child

usually participates in, you’ll see the potential for lack of activity that the lockdown can cause. • For younger children starting a game of “Simon Says”, “Mr Wolf What’s the Time?”, “Tag” or “Stuck in the Mud,” can be a great way to encourage them to let off some steam. • If you can’t break at the same time and need your child to run around independently, leave out skipping ropes, Hula Hoops and chalked out Hopscotch squares during breaks. Planning a family obstacle course for them and/or the dogs to complete is also great fun. • There are lots of workouts, yoga and dance fitness tutorials available online for there to be something which will suit everyone’s taste. Try to get your teenager to commit to exercising at least three times a week for about half an hour per session. Many teenagers will probably already be motivated to stay in shape. Support Online school is about children working indepen-

dently and parents supporting them. It is not about parents teaching children their lessons all day. • Set your child up with the work they have been given and leave them to get on with it, with the understanding that if they need assistance, they can call you. • If you find that your child is constantly needing your support, ask yourself whether this is a confidence or attention seeking issue, or whether the work really is unmanageable for them. • If you find that the work is too complicated, then contact your child’s teacher. • If you have the time, go through your child’s timetable with them in the afternoon and check that he/she has completed all work and whether there were any issues. You might find that high school age children become demotivated or overwhelmed by having to constantly read, understand and complete tasks independently within given times. Should they hit snags, listen, empathise and ask what they can do to sort it out. They often aren’t asking you to solve the problem, they are just wanting a bit of empathy and acknowledgement that it is difficult for them. Express how proud you are of them, all the valuable life skills they are learning from this process. Life Skills • It is hard to switch from being in a busy classroom where you are told when and how to do it to now having to motivate yourself to work alone every day, manage your

own time and to solve problems independently where previously you put your hand up and received direction. • Engaging in this process is teaching your child the valuable skills of self-discipline, time management, independence and problem solving which will be used for the rest of his/her life. • Support him/her in developing these life skills by putting the structure in place and by giving lots of encouragement, praise and empathy. IMPOSSIBLE • Forgive yourself and = I’M POSSIBLE your child for days Don’t let your child suffer from that don’t go accordpoor self-esteem, because of reading problems ing to plan. At the end of the day, we can all only do our best and that is enough for now. By Wendy Corfe, counselling psychologist.

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Easy Recipes for Kids These are the perfect starter recipes for your young chef to try on their own. And now, during lockdown, is the best time for them to start learning their way around the kitchen. No-Bake Peanut Butter Treats Ingredients: • 1/3 cup chunky peanut butter • 1/4 cup honey • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/3 cup non-fat dry milk powder • 1/3 cup quick-cooking oats • 2 tablespoons Tennis Biscuit crumbs Directions: In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey and vanilla. Stir in the milk powder, oats and Tennis Biscuit crumbs. Shape into 1-inch balls. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Chicken & Bacon Roll-Ups Ingredients: • 1 cup of white chicken meat (great if you have leftovers from last night’s dinner) • 1 tub cream cheese • 1 cup salsa, divided • 4 pieces of cooked bacon, crumbled (optional – your mom or dad can help you cook these) • 6 flour tortillas, room temperature Directions: Mix chicken, cream cheese, 1/2 cup salsa and bacon and spread this over tortillas. Roll up tightly; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least one hour. Just before serving, unwrap and cut tortillas into 1-in. slices. Serve with remaining salsa.

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Providing a loving environment since 1983, for babies from 8 months to 6 years. Half/Full day option

Situated in Scottsville, close to UKZN Tel: 033 386 8742 www.lindiwepreschool.co.za

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Widest range of jumping castles for hire in the KZN, greater Durban & Midlands areas! WhatsApp us on: 072 065 2749 bookings@jollyjumpers.co.za www.jollyjumpers.co.za

Book Reviews by Bargain Books Mum’s Mail has a R2000 Bargain Books vouchers to give away. For children PEPPA LOVES YOGA by Peppa Pig. It is a very busy day at Peppa and George’s playgroup, but they have a very special visitor coming in the afternoon. Miss Rabbit is going to teach the children how to calm down and relax with yoga. The children love learning all the different positions... and the parents love picking up their calm children. YOGA FOR GIRAFFES by Carly Tod Yoga? For giraffes? Written and illustrated by Cape Town native, Carly Tod, this is the story of Sindile the giraffe who, while strolling through his game park home, discovers a human yoga class and decides that he too will master this interesting skill. Only thing is, it takes considerably more imagination for giraffes to pull off those poses. But Sindile will not be discouraged. With a little extra creativity and effort, anything is possible. THE CREATURE CHOIR by David Walliams. It is a very busy day at Peppa and George’s playgroup, but they have a very special visitor coming in the afternoon. Miss Rabbit is going to teach the children how to calm down and relax with yoga. The children love learning all the different positions... and the parents love picking up their calm children. FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM by J.K. Rowling. Newt Scamander’s sumptuous compendium of magical beasts has delighted generations of wizarding readers. This magnificent full colour illustrated edition featuring artwork by Olivia Lomenech Gill, both wizards and Muggles will continue to explore the wild wonders of the wizarding world compiled by the famed Magizoologist. A must-read and magical companion to the Harry Potter stories.

Contact: Bianca Noel-Barham, Bargain Books, 021 706 1461, bianca@bargainbooks.co.za, www.bargainbooks.co.za. Follow them on FB: Bargain Books SA and Instagram - @bargainbookssa.

WIN WIN WIN Mum’s Mail has a R2000 Bargain Books vouchers to give away! Visit www.mumsmail.com to enter. WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM EDUCATED LIFE

Since we’re most likely to still be in lockdown this Mother’s Day, why not spoil your mom with some pampering at home?

ive her a relaxing foot soak with a glass of wine or a cuppa, followed by a therapeutic foot scrub. Finish up with a luxurious foot massage. Try these DIY recipes – you should have most of these ingredients at home already!

Foot Soaks

Green Tea, Lemon and Honey Ingredients: Hot water, three bags green tea, half a lemon, and three tablespoons of raw honey Prepare your basin of hot water, and place the tea bags in the water to steep for five minutes (or until the water’s temperature is cool enough for your feet). Re-

move the tea bags, squeeze in the lemon juice, and add honey into the basin. Soak your mom’s feet in this solution for 20 to 25 minutes, then pat dry. Adding a few slices of lemon or orange can be a nice touch too! Chamomile Tea, Lavender and Honey Ingredients: Hot water, six chamomile tea bags, half a cup of Epsom salt, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and three tablespoons of raw honey. Prepare your basin of hot water, and let the tea bags steep for five minutes. Remove tea bags, and add the Epsom salt, lavender oil, and honey. Soak your feet for twenty minutes, then

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pat dry. Chamomile has certain anti-inflammatory properties which help to moisturise feet and heal dry and damaged skin.

Foot ScrubS Tea Tree, Olive and Sea Salt Ingredients: Handful of sea salt, two tablespoons of olive oil, and 5-10 drops of tea tree oil. A tantalising combination of earthy scents! Grab a handful of sea salt, and throw it into a bowl. Add two tablespoons of olive oil, then mix in a few drops of tea tree or peppermint oil. Mix these ingredients into a paste, and scrub all over your feet and lower

leg. Rinse with warm water. Rosemary, Rose petals and Sugar Ingredients: A few sprigs of rosemary, petals of 1 rose, 1/2 a cup of brown sugar, one tablespoon sesame oil. To prepare this foot scrub, use a mortar and pestle to grind together the rosemary and rose petals - don’t overdo it, you want the texture to

be rough. Mix the pounded ingredients with your sugar, then add in the sesame oil to form a paste. Give your feet a good scrub, and rinse with warm water. Coconut, Peppermint and Sea Salt Ingredients: Three tablespoons of pure coconut oil, 1/2 a cup of salt, 10 drops of peppermint essential oil.

Mix the salt, coconut oil and peppermint oil to form a paste. Rub all over feet and lower leg, then rinse with warm water. The nourishing properties of the coconut oil combined with the exfoliation of the salt makes this scrub an amazing remedy for dry feet.

Source: about.spud.com.

DIY Bath Tea

Passion Tea Sugar Scrub

DIY Passion Tea Sugar Scrub – a citrus tea infused sugar scrub made with jojoba oil to exfoliate and moisturise dry skin. Ingredients • 1 cup granulated sugar • 2 bags passion tea (or any fruit-infused herbal tea) • ¼ to ½ cup jojoba oil • 10 drops orange essential oil Instructions Combine two tea bags into a small bowl with sugar. Add a couple of drops of pink food colouring (optional). Mix in 10 drops of orange essential oil and jojoba oil. Store in an airtight container. Source: www.apumpkinandaprincess.com.

A calming and skin nourishing bath tea recipe made with Epsom salt and dried flowers. Ingredients • 1 cup Epsom salt • ½ cup each of dried roses, lavender, calendula, cornflowers & chamomile • 3 to 5 drops essential oil Instructions Mix 3 to 5 drops of essential oil with 1 cup Epsom salt. Pour about three tablespoons of Epsom salt inside a small bag (or until the bag is filled halfway). Use organza, muslin, or real tea bags. Layer a heaped tablespoon of lavender, calendula, chamomile, cornflowers and roses. Knot bag closed and store in an airtight jar until ready to use. To enjoy the herbal bath tea, drop one bag into bath water or hang under running water. Source: www.apumpkinandaprincess.com. WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM MOTHER’S DAY FEATURE

YOU DON’T NEED HARSH CHEMICALS TO BE A NATURAL BEAUTY. HERE ARE SOME GREAT DIY BEAUTY IDEAS FOR YOU TO TRY AT HOME.

This shampoo is great for normal hair, or as a base to add your own scents. Basic Shampoo Ingredients: • 1/4 cup distilled water • 1/4 cup liquid Castile Soap – unscented or scented • 1/2 teaspoon jojoba, grapeseed, or other light vegetable oil • Flip Cap Bottles or Foaming Bottles to dispense Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle. Shake before use. This mixture isn’t as thick as commercial shampoos - you’ll need to just tilt the bottle over your head to get it out. I am really impressed with how much lather I get from it though! Source: www.instructables.com

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If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up that will leave you feeling and looking better, give yourself an oatmeal facial. Combine 1/2 a cup hot - not boiling water and a 1/3 cup oatmeal. After the water and oatmeal have settled for two or three minutes, mix in two tablespoons plain yogurt, two tablespoons honey, and one small egg white. Apply a thin layer of the mask to your face, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse with warm water. (Be sure to place a metal or plastic strainer in your sink to avoid clogging the drain with the granules.) Source: www.readersdigest.ca

MAKE SMOOTH, LUXURIOUS LOTION AT HOME WITH ALMOND OIL, COCONUT OIL, BEESWAX, AND OPTIONAL ESSENTIAL OILS. Ingredients • ½ cup almond oil (or jojoba oil, or any other liquid oil) • ¼ cup coconut oil • ¼ cup beeswax • 1 tsp vitamin E oil (optional) • 2 TBSP shea butter (or cocoa butter, optional) • Essential oils (optional) • Vanilla extract (optional) Instructions Combine the almond oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and shea or cocoa butter if using, in a double boiler or a glass bowl on top of a simmering pan of water. Stir occasionally as the ingredients melt. When all ingredients are completely melted, add the vitamin E oil and any essential oils or scents like vanilla.

Pour into a glass jar or tin for storage. Small mason jars work perfectly for this. Important note: This will not pump well in a lotion pump! Use as you would regular lotion. This lotion is ultra-moisturising and more oily than water-based lotions so you won’t need to use as much. It also has a longer shelf life than some homemade lotion recipes since all ingredients are already shelf stable and no water is added. Use within six months for best moisturising benefits. A little goes a long way! This lotion is incredibly nourishing and is also great for diaper rash on baby, for eczema, and for preventing stretch marks.

Source: www.wellnessmama.com.