Contents 12
Why Tiff Hall says it’s time to accept your body.
16
The One Parenting tip that is working for Turia Pitt.
18
Breakfast recipes from Kat - The Organised Housewife.
22
Breastfeeding Support from Mumasil.
25
Mentally Strong Parents Book Review.
27
Rookie Parenting Mistakes.
33
Olivia White is shaking up gender stereotypes.
36
How one man is using his own grief to help others.
40
Let’s empower the future by Brittany Noonan.
48
Is it ok to do nothing? Revie Schulz thinks so.
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Cover Story
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W
elcome to this, our first issue of My Baby Magazine. It has been such a pleasure working with Amy creating a magazine filled with guidance, tips and inspiration. We are really excited to be able to bring you pages that focus specifically on you and your journey as a new parent. In this issue we meet some amazing contributors who share their advice, wisdom and learnings with you, with the hope of inspiring and guiding you. Meet the wonderful and inspirational Tiff Hall, she shares with us an important message about post baby body positivity. We also hear from the fabulous Turia Pitt who shares a parenting tip that actually worked for her…and she hopes it works for you too! The pages are also filled with wise words from Olivia White, Revie Schultz and
Brittany Noonan who all have some fantastic advice to share. It’s women such as these and our other wonderful contributors that help us on this sometimes-daunting new role we find ourselves in. We know this time in your life can be a rough, sometimes lonely road and we hope that the pages of My Baby helps to make the journey a little easier. We are so glad to have you here and we hope that you enjoy My Baby– a magazine specifically dedicated to you. Please make sure to connect with us at wwww.mybabymagazine. online and on Facebook @ mybabymag. Between each issue we will continue to share information that we hope becomes an encouraging voice in your ear.
Robyn
OUR CONTRIBUTORS Turia Pitt Turia Pitt is one of Australia’s most admired and widely recognised people. At 24, Turia was an ex-model, fitness junkie and successful mining engineer whose life was turned upside down when she became trapped in a grass fire while competing in a 100km ultramarathon. She was choppered out of the remote desert barely alive, with full thickness burns to 65 per cent of her body. Renowned for her pure grit, indomitable spirit and passion for humanitarian work, Turia has gone on to thrive in the ultimate story of triumph over adversity. Website: https://www.turiapitt.com/ Facebook: @turia.pitt
Tiffiny Hall Tiffiny Hall is a mother, author, founder of TIFFXO.com, expert trainer and television personality. Tiffiny Hall is one of the highest qualified female martial artists in the world for her age. She is a Sixth Dan Black Belt Master Instructor, qualified personal trainer with a Diploma of Sport Coaching, specialising in martial arts. She has written four health books and a cookbook. Website: https://tiffxo.com Facebook: tiffhallxo Instagram: tiffhall_xo
Amy Morin As a psychotherapist turned author, Amy’s mission is to make the world a stronger place. Her education and expertise as a psychotherapist, combined with her personal experiences overcoming tragedy, give her a unique perspective on mental strength. Website: https://amymorinlcsw.com Facebook: @amymorinauthor Instagram: @amymorinauthor
Brittany Noonan 27 year old Brittany is a Personal trainer, postpartum exercise specialist and proud mum to gorgeous 18 month old Millie. Along with health and fitness, this dedicated mother is an inspiration to other mums spreading awareness around mental health issues especially those common for women and mothers. Brittany is a passionate Blogger, opening up and sharing all of life’s ups and downs as she believes by sharing her struggles others wont feel so alone in theirs. Website: www.bybrittanynoonan.com Facebook: @bybrittanynoonan Instagram: @bybrittanynoonan
Chris Martin In 2015 Chris lost his wife Renee after a 2 1/2 year battle with cancer, leaving him a solo Dad to their children, Grace and Albi, now 9 and 5. Chris is taking his journey public in the hope that other Dad’s, who find themselves thrust unwillingly into similar circumstances, can find connection and support in the words he writes. With a raw and honest approach, he challenges the traditional stereotypes of Australian masculinity. Facebook: @i.am.justadad
Revie Schulz She’s the 26-year-old Aussie girl known for her infectious personality, her incredible fitness ethic and her fun-loving “girl boss” attitude. With a legion of loyal followers across her social media platforms, Revie Jane has proved herself to be one of the most exciting young entrepreneurs and influencers of this generation. Facebook: Revie Jane Official Instagram: @RevieJane Twitter: @RevieJane Snapchat: RevieJane
Olivia White Olivia White can’t quite believe she’s here. After all she’s a mum from the burbs who doesn’t get enough sleep, has an unnatural obsession with chicken nuggets and can throw back a white wine faster than you can say, ‘is that a New Zealand sauv blanc?’ When Olivia’s first baby was born, her life turned upside down; a birth that didn’t quite go to plan, exhaustion, breastfeeding, shock and anxiety. Olivia turned to social media, searching for women who could reassure her that what she was going through was totally normal. Email: olivia@houseofwhite.com.au Facebook: @houseofwhiteblog Instagram: @houseofwhite_
Katrina I’m Katrina, the writer of The Organised Housewife. I’m a wife to a wonderful and supportive man as well as a mother of 3 children 13 year old twins and my youngest is 10. I live on the beautiful Gold Coast. Website: https://theorganisedhousewife.com.au/ Facebook: @organisedhousewife
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COVER STORY
Why Tiff says it’s time to accept the beauty, wonder and strength of your body? The trainer and new mum has a powerful message for us It’s like an unspoken rule of being a celebrity mum: have a baby and get back in your size 8 jeans two weeks later. Or if you’re really lazy, by your six week check up. Reality check: 99.9% of us won’t ever achieve this and even if we do, our bodies won’t ever be quite the same again! Thankfully there’s one celebrity who wants to remind every mum that this is normal and OK. Mum, trainer and all round amazingly positive role model Tiffiny Hall totally gets the #struggleisreal. After her own epic post-baby body journey, she is now on a mission to encourage mums to love the body they’ve got - and when they’re ready, to work on healing and strengthening it. ‘The only way to get stronger is to love your body,’ The Biggest Loser trainer tells My Baby. ‘The only way to make changes is to love your body. If you hate your body into better shape, you’ll only be in shape for a week or a month
before negativity and bad habits sabotage it. Self love is the only way to lasting change.’ Tiff’s mission began when she took a selfie of herself and newborn son, Arnold, just days after giving birth. Make-up free, glowing with serenity and exhaustion, Tiff proudly posed with her tiny baby in her arms, held above a swollen, post-partum belly that looked just like it was meant to.
‘I didn’t care if I never got my six pack back, but I did miss feeling fit and strong,’ says Tiffiny about the weeks and months after Arnold’s September birth. ‘I was at peace that my body would change forever: wider hips, wider rib cage, stomach wrinkles and stretched skin and tiger stripe stretch marks. All these things I see as battle scars and I wouldn’t have Arnold without them so I’ll take the tiger stripes thank you!’
But because we’re all so used to seeing celebrities snapping back to their picture perfect selves seemingly moments after giving birth, this sweet, personal photo made headline news. And Tiff became a new, empowering symbol of honest post-baby motherhood.
Refreshingly, the Taekwondo champion whose online TIFFXO program now has 24,000 fellow ‘ninjas’ - admits the process of regaining her strength and fitness was incredibly challenging. Which is not something we’re used to hearing from celebrity trainers, right?
So how did she feel about the incredible reaction?
‘There were days where I felt absolutely trapped in this foreign body. Some days getting motivated was hard when I saw the long road ahead of me and knowing what it takes to build up again. Facing that was difficult.’
‘I was very surprised and a little bit sad,’ she admits. ‘I was sad to think that women are starved of seeing normal portrayals of postpartum bodies. I was fed up and sickened by the celebrity bounce back photos plaguing the internet.’ And she should know because, like a lot of us, Tiffiny felt the pressure herself. Despite being super fit and strong pre-pregnancy, an incredibly tough nine months carrying Arnold saw her frequently bed bound and unable to train. She suffered hyperemesis gravidarum - extreme all-day sickness - and was hospitalised on several occasions, followed by a hard birth with an episiotomy. As she settled into life with a newborn, the by then size 16-18 Tiff was in no hurry to lose the extra 30kgs she’d gained.
Then in February, just as she was regaining some of her fitness, the 33-year-old tripped over one of Arnold’s toys and broke her ankle. ‘That really tested me,’ admits Tiffiny, who’s married the radio host and comedian, Ed Kavalee. ‘The only way to get through it in a healthy positive way that kept me a happy mother to my newborn, was to be gentle and kind to myself. To ask for help, to be honest in the media, to take it slow and most importantly love my body more than ever.’ Now stronger than ever in body and mind, Tiffiny wants every mum (and dad) to live by her grandmother’s motto.
Instead, she decided this was the perfect opportunity to be honest about her return to fitness and document her slow and steady ‘Self-care is like good bread, it has to be progress on social media. baked fresh every single day,’ she says. ‘This is important for all mums to remember!’
Tiff’s Tips For Post-Baby Body Positivity 1
It takes 9 months for your body hormonally and physiologically to recover from pregnancy and birth. Don’t expect a 30 day Instagram transformation.
2
Don’t focus on weight loss. Embrace strength training. After having a baby it’s important to strengthen your body again, work the little muscles like the pelvic floor and the big muscles like the glutes.
@tiffhall_xo
3
When scheduling exercise into your week also be realistic. Plan A may be to do TIFFXO workout at home whilst the baby naps. If the baby wakes up and this isn’t possible, Plan B could be to go for a walk. If it rains, Plan C could be to try again next nap. And if next nap a visitor pops in then Plan D can be exercise tomorrow and self care tonight with gentle pelvic floor exercises and stretches once the baby is asleep, accompanied by a healthy dinner and a bath.
VISIT WWW.TIFFXO.COM
@tiffhallxo
The Parenting Tip That’s Actually Working For Me
… And Will Work For You Too (Even If You’re Not A Parent) By Turia Pitt Photo credit Juli Balla I’ve received stacks of parenting advice since we had Hakavai. Some solicited, some definitely unsolicited! But there’s a tip that’s actually been really helpful for me.
It’s actually a tip inspired by the pulchritudinous* Megan Gale, and I reckon it can help anyone change the way they see just about any situation. Big call? Maybe.
And not just as a parent – it’s a simple How ‘bout I tell you, and you let me know if mindset switch that’s helping me change the it works for you. Deal? way I look at all areas of my life.
Photo credit Grace McBride OK, let’s go. This tip involves switching up the words you use when talking to yourself and others. When you’re faced with something that you usually find annoying, challenging or frustrating, swap the words “I have to” for “I get to”. For example, when I get woken up at 3 am by Hakavai, instead of thinking “I have to go and feed Hakavai” I think “I get to go and feed Hakavai!”. It’s a simple mindset shift that reminds me how lucky I am to have a healthy little boy. When I need to go to a work event that I’m maybe not in the mood for, I swap “I have to go to this event” for “I get to go to this event”. Again, it reminds me how lucky I am to get to do the work I do. I really want you to try this!
Next time you think “Ugh, I have to go and do XXXX”, try to swap that with “I get to go and do XXXX”. It works in just about any situation …. except maybe cleaning the toilet? I love these kinds of simple mindset switches. They seem so innocuous, too simple to work. But when you practice them every day, you see seriously positive ripple effects throughout all areas of your life. When you change your thoughts, you change your whole world – Tweet it! So, give it a go. Turia xx *Pulchritudinous = beautiful. There’s your new word for the day. You’re welcome!
If you would like to hear more from turia head to: www.turiapitt.com
BREAKFAST FRUIT BISCUITS
For more please see www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au
@organised_house
written by Katrina - The Organised Housewife
M
y kids start school early some mornings
for either netball training or choir rehearsal. They have breakfast at home around 6am, but they find they get really hungry between then and morning tea time which is late morning. I usually send them to school with a snack to have just before school starts. They like hot chocolate, smoothies, muesli slice, fruit, yoghurt or biscuits. I’ve been making these breakfast fruit biscuits to have on hand for these early mornings, the whole family really like them, hubby has them for morning tea when he’s out travelling to clients.
Serves: 24 Prep Time: 10mins Cook Time: 15mins Total Time: 25mins Ingredients • 225g butter, softened • 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 2 eggs • 1 1/2 cups wholemeal self-raising flour • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon • 3 cups rolled oats • 2 cups mixed dried fruit Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 180°C. 2. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. 3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy 4. Add vanilla and eggs, mix until combined, approximately 30 seconds. 5. Sprinkle flour and cinnamon over wet mixture then mix on medium-low speed until combined. 6. Add the oats and fruit, continue mixing until all ingredients are mixed together, do not overmix. 7. Roll heaped tablespoons of mixture into balls, place on baking tray allowing room for biscuits to spread. 8. Flatten balls slightly with the back of a fork. 9. Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden. 10. Allow biscuits to cool on on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. I use mixed dried fruit but pick out the cherries, only because I’m not a big fan of them unless they are in a cherry ripe chocolate bar (my favourite, go figure). You can also put nuts into this recipe, reduce the amount of fruit to 1 1/2 cups along with 1/2 cup of your favourite chopped nuts. Pecans, macadamia or almonds would all be a really nice addition. I don’t add them as Miss 13 currently has braces and can’t eat nuts.
Our Editor In Chief Make’s Kat’s Delicious Breakfast Fruit Biscuits
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SUPPORTING YOU ON YOUR
BREASTFEEDING JOURNEY
Breastfeeding isn’t easy! There is so much emphasis placed on the birth that the stuff that comes after, well it’s natural right? I should be able to pick up breastfeeding easily? Breastfeeding is a new skill for both mother and baby and there may be a few hiccups along the way.
Here are our 5 top tips to get the most out of your breastfeeding journey.
Breastfeeding is a learned skill Natural doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be easy. The majority of mothers at some stage in their breastfeeding journey will experience some challenges and difficulties feeding. It is a new skill that both you
and your baby need to learn how to do properly. It can take time, perseverance and just like any new skill, practice.
Be prepared Find out as much as you can about breastfeeding while you are pregnant. There are a multitude of resources available including antenatal breastfeeding classes, the Australian Breastfeeding Association, books, DVDs and forums on the internet. Take the opportunity to learn the basics and compile a list of valuable resources that you can refer to and access once your baby is born.
Need help/support? It is important to acknowledge that there will likely be some challenges and there is help available. You don’t need to wait until things get worse or you feel overwhelmed, there are a range of people who can offer help and support. Midwives, lactation consultants, the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) and local breastfeeding groups can all provide a helping hand. The Australian Breastfeeding Association also has a 24-hour Breastfeeding Helpline (1800 686 268) which is staffed by trained volunteer counsellors.
A breastfeeding pillow (whilst not essential) can provide extra comfort and support by helping you position your baby and letting you rest your arms when feeding.
Breastfeeding station This includes all your essential items that you will need when breast feeding. You can create a breastfeeding station by using a basket or tiered stand, positioning it wherever you plan to feed. Top items to include: ● Breast Milk Saver, Collection Shells or Breast Pads – Catch or soak up any leaking milk from your opposite breast ● Nipple cream ● Water bottle (breastfeeding can be thirsty work!) ● Healthy nonperishable snacks – apple, fresh fruit, dried fruit, granola bars – anything that can be eaten with one hand is great. ● A tablet, phone or laptop ● The remote ● Reading material ● Burp cloth – to catch any spit ups Remember every mother’s breastfeeding journey is unique, as is every baby, it can take time, perseverance and practice.
Comfort
For more breastfeeding resources, In the beginning, nursing can feel tedious information and products visit where you are glued to the chair and it feels Mumasil.com.au like you have been sitting in the same spot for hours. Comfort is key. A comfortable chair or feeding spot is important to support your back and prevent any www.facebook.com/mumasilaustralia straining and soreness. w w w. i n s t a g r a m . c o m / m u m a s i l . c o m . a u /
MUST READ
Mentally STRONG
Parents B O O K
R E V I E W
I
n her latest book “13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do,” Amy Morin looks at what it takes for today’s parents to raise mentally strong kids in our often, fast paced and unforgiving society.
is a refreshingly honest look at what parenting should really be about.
Whilst other books focus on telling parents what to do, Morin looks at telling parents “what not to do”. Drawing on her experiences as a foster parent, psychotherapist and expert in family and teen therapy, Morin has created a guidebook The book has a clear focus on what that will encourage parents to take parents need to avoid doing in order a leading role in teaching children to equip their kids with the various about accountability, resilience and skills that they need to face their fears, mental toughness. be accountable for their actions and With a focus on encouraging kids to mistakes and ultimately reach their be the best versions of themselves greatest potential. and learning to channel themselves Highlighting 13 key pitfalls that as part of a bigger picture experience parents often make, from condoning this is a great tool book for parents a victim mentality, to parenting out of looking to raise kids to be self aware guilt and hiding their kids from pain and focused. and emotional discomfort, this book
13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do combines a mixture of case studies, tips and tricks, practical exercises and strategies all designed to help parents navigate their child’s journey from pre-schooler to teenager. Please visit Amy Morin’s website for more info: www.amymorinlscsw.com/book
Rookie Parenting
Mistakes
B
efore you have children you dream of being the perfect parent. You know the one who is always perfectly groomed, who always has a wet wipe on tap and whose child appears to never efore you have children you vomit or cry. We all think that this dream of being the perfect will be the type of parent we will parent. You know the one who is be and of course our child will be always perfectly groomed, who the same – perfect! always has a wet wipe on tap and Well there you have it rookie whose child appears to never parenting mistakes vomit or cry. We all think that this will be the type of parent we will 1 and calledour delusion be and ofits course child will be You show–me a perfect parent, or the same perfect!
B
for that matter a perfect child, and
I’ll show you a pink polka dot zebra! In the world of parenting perfection does not exist and anyone who tells you that it does is um … DELUSIONAL. Well there you have it rookie So with rookie mistake number one parenting mistake out of the way lets look at some of mostdelusion. common You rookie 1 the andother its called stuff ups us parents show me athat perfect parent,make: or for
that matter a perfect child, and I’ll 2 Leaving the polka housedot without show you a pink zebra! In a nappy bag the world of parenting perfection It does matter if you are literally does notnot exist and anyone who going out for 5 minutes to nip to
the corner shop, if you leave the torturer. She did not sleep through house without your nappy bag you the night again until she was 5 years are guaranteed a projectile vomit old. Point made! or an exploding poo. Trust me don’t 4 Forget to turn a toy off at night risk it ... just take the bag! There is really no better way to 3 Tell people that your baby is give yourself a heart attack than by sleeping through leaving the talking friends hamster When my first-born was 8 weeks switched on and waking up to old I told the whole world what a hearing its high pitched chitter magical sleeper my baby was. In chatter through the baby monitor fact I was so convinced that I had at 1am. That cute little furry thing the perfect sleeping child that I that entertains your little one in the went and got pregnant with baby daytime will send you into orbit in number 2. No sooner had that the middle of the night. Remove the second blue line appeared on the batteries before bedtime or go to pregnancy test did my angelic little bed at your own risk. sleeper turn in to a feral nocturnal
5 Buy excessive quantities of anything for your baby because it’s on sale Ok so baby Jack is in love with pear flavoured organic puree in the convenient squeeze tube. Said baby food is on special so smart mummy buys 30 squeeze tubes of pear flavoured organic puree. Jack eats two and then decides he no longer likes pear flavoured organic puree. Not so smart mummy. 6 Tiptoe around the house when baby sleeps There is no better way to ensure that your baby wakes up at a pin drop than by tiptoeing around the house and forcing everyone to remain mute whilst the baby sleeps. You are creating a monster. The good news is that this is a mistake that only first time parents make. By baby number 2 or 3 a nuclear bomb could go off and you wouldn’t give two hoots and baby number 2 or 3 will have slept straight through it! 7 Tell your four year old that they have a play date Unless a fan of hearing the words “ Is it time to go yet?” on repeat every
20 seconds for hours on end then I heavily advise you not to tell your child that they are going on a play date until you are walking out the door. Being asked that question a billion times is up there with Chinese water torture. 8 Go on holiday without cuddly, bear bear or whatever stuffed animal that your child can’t sleep through the night without If you forget the cuddly toy that helps your child sleep at night then TURN THE CAR AROUND and go and get the thing. If you forget this one vital item whilst on holidays there are bound to be tears and they wont only be your child’s. The fact is that the kids do not come with manuals and us parents begin our journey on training wheels. We all make plenty of mistakes along the way. The good news is that we get better at it as we go or maybe we just learn to lower our expectations. Either way by baby number 3 I had this parent thing sorted!
5 reasons you must attend the next PBC Expo!
If you haven’t attended one of the PBC Expo’s here are some of the great reasons to come to our next one! Along with our twelfth birthday, gone are the days that fairs and festivals bought an overwhelmingly contagious feeling of sheer excitement. Later in life ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds unfortunately don’t bring the joy they once did! However, who said that kids should have all the fun? As a grown up you can still have the same exhaustingly enjoyable day out - that ends with a smile and tired feet - at the Pregnancy Babies and Child expo. Like childhood, welcoming - or preparing to welcome - a little new human into the world is one of the most exciting things that will happen in your life. So, embrace such a special time and revel in the activities you can do to
educate yourself on and help to provide the best welcome to the world possible for your little one. This can all be achieved at the Pregnancy Babies and Child expo! Here’s five reasons you’re not going to want to miss it. 1. FREE SAMPLES! Yes, you may be an adult, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a showbag! Relive those exhilarating days of being overloaded with showbags but instead with the ‘grown up’ version. Plenty of exhibitors offer free samples and goodie bags including nappies, wipes, skincare, food and drinks just to name a few. 2. GRAB A BARGAIN Everyone loves a bargain, after all, why would you want to pay more than you have to? A lot of exhibitors have special show prices where you can bag yourself a deal on a product you may have been eyeing off at full price. In fact, some vendors even use the expo to clear old stock for a fraction of the price. Side note: you may want to bring along your partner or a friend to act as a shopping caddy for all of your great buys! 3. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY With so many different products on the market it can be quite overwhelming and time consuming to research online. Plus, when you see a product in person you have the added benefit of being able to personally touch, feel and test an item something important when it comes to assessing an object’s safety features. With
so many trusted brands under one massive roof it is the perfect place to compare and chat to product experts who will guide you to choose the perfect product for you. 4. LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS Not only will you be in shopping heaven - baby style - but you’ll also have the option to gain invaluable information from a panel of experts who offer free workshops. Learn about everything from baby massages, labour and breastfeeding and participate in some of the informative workshops like antenatal classes 5. GIVEAWAYS! Sure, bargains are great, but you know what’s better than bargains? Free things! Yep, the Pregnancy Babies and Child Expo will be offering up free prizes and giveaways all day long. So make sure you’re in it to win it! Of course, all the exploring, learning and shopping is tonnes of fun but can also be exhausting, not to mention when you’re hauling around heaps of heavy shopping bags. This is why we offer a free parcel minding service, so that you can focus on having fun, and not about how sore your arms are! We hold 7 Expo’s a year right across Australia so click on the link to find when your nearest one is on.
For more information please visit: www.pbcexpo.com.au
WE NEED
TO SHAKE OFF GENDER
STEREOTYPES By Olivia White I’m talking about gender stereotypes and our children. As I’m sure you
“
No I’m not talking about a Taylor Swift song.
guys are well aware, this is a topic I’m truly passionate about. And I’m not going to stand here and say it’s because I’m a mother of girls. Because let’s be honest – this is just as important to those raising young men. Gender stereotypes limit our children’s potential.
Gender equality is something we need to work through collectively. It takes changing the way in which BOTH boys and girls are raised to see the world. Growing up, I was the child of a single mother. I saw my mum take on both roles in the household. She is strong, independent and outspoken and for most her life she’s worked in industrial relations – an industry largely dominated by men.
A woman any son or daughter would be proud of! It is because of her that I have always known that I can do anything, that gender doesn’t make you suitable for one role in the workforce but not another. Even in the face of adversity, we push through and hopefully with each generation we break these stereotypes. My husband’s mother is just as inspiring.
I’ve seen my mum in David and Goliath battles against huge corporations, be on the receiving end of despicable, misogynistic and spiteful abuse not just from the other side, but from men who simply didn’t like the presence of a strong female they saw as ‘threatening’ their jobs. And each time she’s never succumbed to the intimidation and stood her ground.
A midwife and nurse of over four decades, highly skilled within her field and forever returning to education to continue to upskill. When my husband was young, she returned to full time work and my husband had a nanny. I’m sure this might provoke a range of opinions. But guess what, that was her choice! Do we react the same when men return to work? No, of course not.
And guess what? My husband is totally fine – shocking I know! He to this day praises his mum’s work ethic, and this in turn has always made him extremely supportive of me and my own professional journey. He values the role of parenting and doesn’t expect that the brunt of raising kids all falls to me and that my life is put on hold. He is supportive if being home is what I want to do, and he is supportive if I want to go work. He comes home from work most nights and cooks, it’s not expected that I have dinner waiting and then put the kids to bed while he relaxes from his day at work.
that is going to help break down gender stereotypes. Shaking these stereotypes early on is the linchpin to achieving gender equality. The Our Watch #BecauseWhy campaign is specifically aimed at families who want children to learn, explore and develop all the skills they’re interested in without the limitations that come with gender stereotypes. While children see gender stereotypes all around them, research shows that parents and families are the most powerful influence of young children’s understanding of gender. At www. becausewhy.com.au you can see the ways in which they suggest you can help shake these stereotypes.
And it isn’t just specifically about raising children, it’s that and If you would like to hear more from everything else in between. Olivia check out her blog. There is no ‘role’ defined to each of us because of our gender. If the washing needs doing? Then http://houseofwhite.com.au/ whoever can do it will do it. Lawns need to be mowed? Great I’m home home/ – I can do it! It is our behaviour, how we conduct ourselves in front of our children, the language we use and how our family dynamic works
@houseofwhiteblog
houseofwhite_
JUST a How one man has used his own grief after losing his wife to start a blog Just a Dad in the hope that it would help him deal with his own emotions and inspire others along the way
DAD
children and the prospect of raising his family on his own. The couple’s daughter, Grace, was aged just six at the time of Renee’s diagnosis and the couple struggled to explain such heartbreaking news to such a small girl.
In an interview with Libbi Gorr from ABC Radio Melbourne, Mr Martin When Chris Martin’s wife Renee was speaks about the couples’ decision diagnosed with incurable Kidney not to refer to Renee’s illness as cancer when she was pregnant with the cancer but rather “the germs in couple’s second child his whole world mum’s belly”. fell apart. Faced with not only losing his partner and love of his life he was also He goes on to explain the enormity faced with losing the mother of his two of having to relay to his daughter that
those “germs in mum’s belly” were not going to go away and that they would lose their beloved wife and mother. “At the tender age of six it’s not something you contemplate”, Mr Martin told ABC Radio Melbourne. When Renee passed away when their son Albi was just two years old, Mr Martin turned to blogging as a way to help him cope with and manage the overwhelming grief he was experiencing. He created Just a Dad blog and through his online forum shared his experiences as a widower and single father struggling to fulfil the role of both mum and dad to his own children whilst at the same time trying to deal with the crushing emotional torrent that he himself was experiencing. Just a Dad started as a way for Mr Martin to keep his friends and families informed about how the family was coping as well as a way for him to workshop and verbalise his emotions. From something that started as a therapeutic experience the blog quickly grew and became a platform for other men to share their stories, experiences and grief. Not only did the blog provide Mr Martin with online support from others it also acted as a
way for him to inspire and encourage other men going through the same thing to keep on moving forward. The focus of Just a Dad is about encouraging widowers to share their pain and not to try and hide from it. “Women are really good at regular connection and networking and leaning on their friends for help, wheras guys, whether it’s harking back to the stereotypical tough Aussie male, we don’t tend to reach out and pick up the phone and tell people we are not feeling well,” Martin told ABC Radio Melbourne. And that’s where Just a Dad comes in – whether it’s about teaching another dad how to braid an eight year olds ponytail to sharing advice on how to deal with day to day household dramas or offering some much needed humour when the grief becomes too much. It’s about giving men a voice and letting them know that someone else is listening. Through his blog Martin wants to reach out to other fathers dealing with the loss of a partner and the prospect of raising their children on their own and to share his experiences with them and encourage them to speak out too.
Follow Chris and his Just a Dad blog on @i.am.justadad
What you can do to reduce single use plastic The answer is simple: switch to a reusable alternative, like Little Mashies.
W
ith over 8 million tonnes of plastic entering the ocean each year, the devastating effects the substance is having on our environment is - unlike our oceans - crystal clear. Thankfully, awareness around the epidemic is increasing and people are realising the importance of using reusable items. Every little bit helps, and, what cuter way to do your bit to help save the environment than by switching to Little Mashie’s adorable reusable food pouches?
The convenience of disposable food pouches for baby food is undebatable; it means no mess and no fuss and makes difficult spoon feeding sessions a thing of the past. But, the ease cannot be justified by the detrimental effect plastic contributes to the planet. Thankfully, the convenience of pouch feeding can be achieved guilt-free by embracing re-useable feeding pouches like Little Mashies. Little Mashie’s pouches are as simple as filling, feeding and washing. Simply prepare your own baby food and pour it into the pouch and your little tot can be fed on the go anywhere, anytime! Rather than the stock standard flavour (preservative filled!) options your supermarket aisle provides, Little Mashies gives you the option of preparing any kind of meal you please for your bub to consume on the go.
Plus, because you’re not paying for the packaging each time, reusable pouches like Little Mashies are highly cost effective. Yes, consumable on-the-go food sounds great, but a common concern with food pouches is whether they’ll leak. While some inferior brands may be poorly made, fear not, Little Mashie’s are made of the highest quality BPA free components and fitted with a tried and tested anti-leak ziplock, making them super tough leak free - and easy to use. Of course, the technology behind the pouches is clearly important but as a side note: have you seen the adorable design of their product? The cute little colourful gremlins featured on the package is sure to have your tot smiling and - most likely - reaching for Little Mashies over his or her favourite toy!
https://www.facebook.com/littlemashies/ https://littlemashies.com/
By Brittany Noonan To Hear from Brittany Head To: https://www.bybrittanynoonan.com/ @bybrittanynoonan
@bybrittanynoonan
LET’S EMPOWER T H E F U T U R E : ENCOURAGE YOUR KIDS TO BE HAPPY, HEALTHY AND ACTIVE. It was literally one of my most fond memories of school going and seeing Healthy Harold, talking about foods, exercise and learning about our bodies with this amazingly fun lady who I just thought had the coolest job in the world because she got to hang out with Harold the giraffe all day. Now that I am an adult and in my role as a mother but also a fitness professional I can see the absolute importance of what Life Education programs actually mean.
LIFE EDUCATION’S MISSION IS: “TO EMPOWER CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE SAFER AND HEALTHIER CHOICES THROUGH EDUCATION.” What could be more important than that? As a nation and a generation our kids are more obese and more sedentary than any others in the world, ever. Now to me that scares the absolute life out of me. Knowing what obesity can do not only physically but mentally for our children and then into adulthood is scary and something that we MUST change. As parents I also believe we have the responsibility to be the best role models and ensure our children are eating healthy and nutritious foods and engaging in both organized sports and incidental exercise through play and every day activities.
Hands up who remembers “Healthy Harold” as a kid at school?
in physical activity, eating a balanced diet, snacking on an apple like you want them to and making healthy choices in front of your kids. Something that I love in the mornings is now when we hop in the car to head to the gym Millie says “Mummy go to gym, my go to her gym.” It’s like she is aware that this is a part of our everyday or when I am working out at home she always loves to copy me.
2
HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES IN THE HOME
Trust me, I get it. Some days it extremely frustrating trying to get your kids to eat ANYTHING let alone worrying about the nutritional content BUT I do believe that we must always encourage the most nutritious meals and snacks at home. Fill your fridge with fruits and veggies and make those easily accessible to your kids, if there are only these options available that’s all they can choose from.
Don’t label foods as “good” or “bad” but encourage them to always try the wholegrains, the fruit and vegetables, the lean meats and low fat dairy options. Teach them why they need these types of I have teamed up with Life Education to share foods and the benefits of them but never with you my tips on how to encourage your dwell or punish them for eating “badly” kids to be healthy and active. as that too can have a negative impact.
1
SET THE EXAMPLE
This one is pretty simple but probably the most powerful, like the saying goes “Monkey see, monkey do” – ensuring you are setting the best example by engaging
Encourage your kids to eat until they are satisfied but don’t force them to eat everything on their plate. Make food or meal time a fun time not a chore or a
fight as that will have a negative impact on their relationship with food.
• Walking around the markets on the weekends
If you need to just make small healthy 4 ENGAGING IN PLANNED SPORTS swaps gradually like instead of potato chips try plain popcorn or instead of deep Enrolling and signing your kids up to fried chips try cutting up and baking your a sport or activity from a young age can be a great way to encourage their own potatoes. healthy habits and for them to commit to 3 ENGAGING IN OUTDOOR keeping active. Make sure what they do ACTIVITY they enjoy though so that it’s not a chore but an enjoyment. Gone are the days of kids playing cricket in the middle of the street until it’s so 5 HAVE FUN dark they can no longer see the ball or Make healthy living, activity and exercise climbing trees and refusing to come FUN! Dance around the lounge room with down to their parents calls (ok maybe your kids, have running races, go burn off that was just me?). their energy in the park, play in the pool With so many screens and devices readily with them, be involved in the games and available to us all it is easy to forget to activity and just purely HAVE FUN! Same get outside and involve ourselves in when it comes to healthy nutrition make incidental or family activity. it fun, let them help you cook or prepare their healthy meals, choose colourful fruits Some ideas for incidental activity: and veggies, let them pick the fruit and veg at the store - the more they engage in • Bike riding as a family the healthy choices the more ownership • Family walks they will feel and the more they will want it • Kicking a football around the park to continue. • Bushwalking/hiking local national parks 6 SPEAK POSITIVELY ABOUT • Playing on the beach YOUR BODY AND YOUR • Family trip to the local swimming pool CHILDREN’S BODIES or beach • Visiting the local zoo or Did you know that girls as young as 4 are wildlife park reported to have body confidence issues? • Playing at the local playground To me, that is not okay and tells me we • Tennis MUST make a change to the way we • Walking to the local shops instead of speak about and love our bodies. driving • Cricket or Frisbee in the park Start with yourself and ensure you don’t • Walking the dog or playing with the speak negatively about your appearance dog in the park
in front of them. Something I like to do with Millie is tell her all the things I love about my body and then tell her all about the things I love about hers in the hope in the future she will start to tell me herself. Things like “I love my eyes because they let me see you” or “I love my legs because they let me play with you” or “I love my belly because I get to eat yummy food and it grew you inside it.”
We also talk about all the things I love about myself and her that have nothing to do with appearance because I don’t want her to believe her worth is based on that. I like to ensure I am also careful with my words when describing her body. I know it sounds extreme but I don’t like to use certain words that imply a label on her when talking about anything to do with her appearance. Children are magnets and super impressionable at such a young age.
THESE ARE MY
TOP 6 WAYS
TO ENCOURAGE OUR KIDS TO BE HEALTHIER AND ACTIVE.
As Seen On Shark Tank
Meet the awesome Aussie innovation you (and your kids) need right now!
Every parent’s been there and has a messy feeding bottle for their own young kids. stroller or car to prove it: one hungry Glen chatted to My Baby about their small child plus food on the go equals a amazing journey. whole lot of mess. ‘We’re really excited about the future,’ But a new feeding system which hit the says Glen, who worked in sales in the headlines after appearing on Channel safety industry before going full time Ten’s Shark Tank - and receiving a with Subo. ‘We are overwhelmed by $120,000 investment from Steve Baxter the amazing response we’ve had from - is here to make all our lives easier and previous and new customers who are loving their Subo’s.’ cleaner. Proudly part of the Australian Made campaign, Subo is the awesome brain child of Melbourne parents Glen and Julie-Anne Mayer who were inspired to invent a non-squeezable, reusable
Like a lot of us the Mayers had got used to the convenience of feeding their brood which includes Murphy, Hudson and Marley (now 8, 6 and 4-years-old) with one-use food pouches from the
supermarket when they were babies and toddlers. After trying out more environmentally friendly reusable versions filled with home made food, and experiencing a few too many horrific messy explosions - been there! - the couple set out to find a solution. Their aim was to make a nonsqueezable food bottle so there was less food waste and mess. Then after a bit of a Google and a think, four years ago Julie-Anne had a lightbulb moment, which prompted Glen to make a Subo prototype with items from around the house including ‘a lot of duck tape’ according to Julie-Anne. When impressed friends asked Glen to make them one, the couple realised they might have a hit product on their hands. The couple worked hard to get a series of small business grants and invested $260,000 of their own savings to engage local services such as: industrial designers, IP attorneys, market researches and manufacturers to get Subo developed, planned and to market. And the result is so clever that we might just give up on using knives and forks ourselves! The super simple, whyhasn’t-anyone-thought-of-it-before, design allows young children to feed themselves independently, without the risk of a squeezey mess. The food sits on top of a moving platform that automatically moves up the bottle as the child sips on the soft silicon spout. The child controls how much food comes out, and it goes directly into their mouths. Aimed at babies over six months, it can be filled with smoothies, yoghurt, porridge, custards, purèed/mashed
veggies, tinned spaghetti and much appearing on the show, Glen and Juliemore. Even better, it can also be used Anne are set to go global. by older children and people of any age Explains Glen: ‘we have been receiving with feeding issues or disabilities. requests from retailers, distributors It’s no wonder really that this clever design across the globe, the word on Subo has is taking off in a big way. In fact, it was such crossed so many borders!’ a hit with the usually hard to impress Shark Tank entrepreneur Steve that he didn’t So have the Mayer children realised it seem to think twice before offering to invest was their untidy eating habits that are $120,000 for a 12% stake in the business. responsible for the family’s amazing adventure? ‘It was quite a shock to get the offer. He was blown away and the rest of us ‘Haha! The messy kids part hasn’t were blown away with his response quite sunk in for them as yet, but they - we’re so excited to be working with realise they have been part of this him and his team,’ Glen told My Baby. journey from the beginning. They are pretty good little sales reps themselves And with such a high profile business - each day they come home saying ‘this person backing them and ensuring friend’s mum wants this many bottles’. they’re able to fulfil the huge number It’s pretty darn cute!’ of orders that have flooded in since
WATCH SUBO ON SHARK
TANK NOW
Learn more at www.suboproducts.com.au https://twitter.com/sharktankau/ status/1006375545548857344
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Today I had to talk myself into being okay with doing something I’m not that familiar withnothing.
By Revie Jane My day went like this, 8am appointment at the Hospital to meet with a midwife (first antenatal appointment). Due to unforeseen circumstances, we were moved back until 9:15am, which was fine, we saw a lovely midwife and by 10:30am we were informed and
excited (so excited for everything, but that’s another blog post). When I got home from the appointment at 11am I was exhausted. I sat on the couch, then I lay there and now (7 hours later) I’m typing this from the same couch without having done anything except walk to the toilet approximately 24 times to wee. That’s was my day… The End. Now, I love to use my social media platforms to motivate, to make you see that WE CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE and be an INSPIRATION! But I also want to be transparent and honest with you. I want to be real and not paint this fantasy where I am invincible and never run out of charge. If you’re like me, you’ll find it hard to sit in one place for long, you feel like you’re lazy, that you’re missing
out on LIFE! There’s always things to do, muscles to move, people to interact with. My train of thoughts were “You better get up soon and go for a walk or do something. Rev, seriously you have to get up soon, you cannot just sit here all day and watch mind numbing TV.” But my body ached and I felt so heavy. Then came the list of demands, “you NEED to get those dishes done, also there’s 2 loads of washing to be done, make sure you research that lady your midwife referred you to, have you got back to those enquiries, have you looked into that merchandise you’re ordering for your business, have you entered the programming? Oh, those emails I need to get back to - crap! Sorry doggies, I seriously don’t think I can walk you today…” The list is endless. Then I got a text from the husband, (who by the way, does NOT stop working or working out for that matter). People ask where I get a good work ethic from, it’s HIM. He’s a non stop machine, that does everything with so much pride and integrity, it makes me sick. The text says, “If you need to rest, rest babe it’s been a big two weeks with no days off.xx.” Genius. Just genius. I honestly thought he was Oprah Winfrey. I find myself in this situation so often,
where I am so stressed about what I need to do and forget that it’s actually okay to do nothing, just rest and be still. And NOW more than ever since this is such a special time. Clay also jokingly said, “You know that heart beat you heard today? Yeah, you’re growing a baby! So essentially that’s not nothing!” It made me think, why are we so scared to stop? PRESSURE. Mostly self-applied pressure (silly me!). Today was exactly what I needed, a day off. Filled with couch time and mind numbing-ness. Letting my mind and body completely be at peace and relax. So I learnt, again, to STOP, take a deep breath and be okay, with doing absolutely nothing. I’d love to know, do you struggle with doing nothing? Or am I the only one? To hear more from Revie head to www.reviejane.com
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Lifting the lid
on Motherhood
Myths
I
t has never been easy being a mum, but in today’s world with social media pressuring them in unique ways it has become all the more difficult. Women are literally inundated with images and ideas of what they should be doing and what their children should be doing. The image of perfection is everywhere. The truth is that being a mum is hard. Really hard and there is no such thing as a perfect mother. For the sake of mothers and children everywhere it’s time to lift the lid on the modern myths that are making many mothers miserable!
Myth - Motherhood will make you happy The love that we have for our children is incredible and life changing but it does not sugar coat the rest of our lives. Financial problems don’t disappear, family fights still
happen and it is very easy for new mothers to ‘lose’ a sense of themselves. Although motherhood is magical in many ways it is not the magical pill to happiness.
Myth - There is a right and a wrong way to mother Just like there is no such thing as a perfect mother there is also no such thing as a right or wrong way to mother. Just as every child is different so too is every parent. What works for one family will not necessarily work for another family.
Myth - A good mother feels an immediate bond with her baby after birth Many women feel an instant bond or love for their baby immediately. Other women can be surprised to feel nothing at all. Not feeling an instant surge of love for your child does not make you a bad mother. It
takes some women weeks and even months to bond with their newborn. And that is ok!
Myth - All other mothers are coping better than me Just because other mothers slap a smile on their face and dress in something other than active wear does not mean they are coping better than you.
Myth - A good mother always puts the needs of her children and partner ahead of her own It is easy to fall for the pre-conceived idea that being a ‘good mother’ means putting everyone else’s needs ahead of your own. Being a good mother does not equal neglecting yourself. Many mothers feel guilty about taking time off to do something for themselves when in reality taking care of your own needs can better equip you to take care of the needs of others.
Myth - A good mother cooks every night and has a clean house Now this is a concept that really needs to be put to bed. Looking after your child (and yourself ) is far more important than a well dusted home and a roast chicken. Focus on the essentials and remember that everything will get done in time. There is also nothing wrong with eggs on toast for dinner.
Myth - Good mothers are stay at home mothers There appears in some circles to be the sentiment that to be a really good mother that you need to be a full time mother whose every hour needs to be devoted to nurturing her children. Whilst on the other
hard-working mothers are often faced with the perception that they are neglectful of their children and perhaps even (gasp) endangering their emotional development. The hilarious thing about this is that then stay at home mothers are often asked the question “What do you do all day?” whilst at the same time the media inundates us with images of ‘super mums’ who can juggle a career and motherhood whilst wearing a pair of stilettos. At the end of the day one is not better than the other. The whole concept of stay at home vs. working mums is ridiculous. You cannot win this argument so stop trying!
Myth - Good mothers do not yell at their kids Ok well then 99.9% of the worlds’ mothers need to be struck off the good mother’s list because it is more than likely that even the most saintly of mothers has been driven to yell at their child at some point (even if they don’t admit it). Probably the amount of yelling is a factor. Some families are simply more shouty than others but lets get one thing clear yelling at your child does not equate with being a bad mother.
Myth - Our children’s poor choices reflects poor parenting Your child is going to make mistakes, get in trouble at school and behave badly at times. You are not a failure if your child throws a tantrum at the super market or bites another child in the playground. Your child’s stuff ups do not make you a bad parent. Use these experiences as a learning curve to try and teach your child to behave differently in the future.