April 2011
Tshego Lengolo is our April CoverKid
Easy Easter Bunny cup cake baking!
Bringing baby home How to survive the first few weeks with your newborn
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Win with Mount Grace and RaisingKids
Could your child be the next RaisingKids
CoverKid?
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April 2011
Tshego Lengolo is our April CoverKid
Easy Easter Bu nny cup cake baking!
Bringing baby hom e How to survive the first few wee ks with your ne wborn
Subscribe to our monthly n ewsletter and win click here !
Win with Mount Gra ce and RaisingK ids
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click here for more details and to enter!
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Publisher TLG Publishing (Pty) Ltd. Managing Editor Tracey Garde editor@raising-kids.co.za 082 460 6007 Advertising sales@raising-kids.co.za Copy Editor Sharon de Beer info@raising-kids.co.za 012 667 3935 Art Director Heidi Amrouni eye2design@iafrica.com General enquiries info@raising-kids.co.za Photographer Wayne Potgieter 082 853 6873 wayne@digisky.co.za Visit our website for advertising deadlines, technical specifications and advertising rates www.raising-kids.co.za General competition rules: Winners will be notified telphonically or by email. Prizes are not transferable nor may they be exchanged for cash. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
CoverKid photographer credit: Christie Lee Mann from Colleen Sevitz Photography www.colleensevitz.co.za
editorial comment Time waits for no man... or mom, for that matter! Whilst my husband and I managed to quietly celebrate our birthdays this past month with just a few friends and family knowing we were now both another year older, we ended the month of March 2011 with a more exuberant and festive 5th birthday celebration for our youngest daughter, Kendra. It was a day of great excitement for her, as besides all the attention, presents and loads of fun to be had with her friends, she is now a ‘whole hand of fingers years old’! Gosh, where did the time go? When I read our winning letter (page 9), I couldn’t help but shed a few tears in empathy for this mom who is trying to come to terms with her baby growing up and that there will be no more babies in the house. I miss my tiny babes too and more than ever before, the truism: *“We spend the first twelve months of our children’s lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve telling them to sit down and shut up.” rings true. I’m going to make a conscious effort to try to savour the moments more from now on, as opposed to taking them for granted. It’s with this in mind that I urge you all to take some time-out these Easter holidays to do something simple with your kids that needn’t cost a fortune, but which will enrich you with memories; baking is an excellent way of spending time together and boys and girls alike just love doing it. (Easter Bunny cup cakes – page 16). ‘Bringing baby home’ (page 12) includes some great advice and tips gleaned from both moms and dads on how to ‘survive’ the first few weeks at home with a newborn; how to cope when a third (quite demanding) little person is added to what was probably once a well-ordered household! On reading ‘Saving Sarah’ (page 18), one realises just how fragile life can be. I can only imagine the anxiety Sarah’s parents must be experiencing in their frantic search for a suitable bone marrow stem cell donor. We will keep Sarah in our thoughts and prayers and hope that a suitable donor will be found soon. Be sure to enter the RaisingKids/Mount Grace Country House & Spa competition which will run over the next couple of issues. With the busy lives that we all lead, a night away for Mommy and Daddy will surely be most welcome for many of us. Congratulations to our lovely April 2011 CoverKid, the gorgeous Tshego Lengolo! We are really having a difficult time choosing from all the entrants on our Facebook RaisingKids SA group. This is not the only competition we are hosting on Facebook either; very often we are able to offer our members opportunities to win tickets for current shows that are available for immediate uptake, so even if you don’t have a CoverKid, you can still win something... you never know unless you try! Happy holidays!
*Phyllis Diller - Comedienne
Postal Address PO Box 67269, Highveld, 0169 South Africa Tel: 012 667 3935 Fax: 086 515 5487 ISSN 2070-6219
All work published in RaisingKids DigiMag is protected by copyright. Only with written permission from the publisher may any part of this digimag be reproduced or adapted in any form. We welcome contributions to RaisingKids DigiMag, but the publisher of this digimag retains unrestricted rights to edit submitted material. We do not accept responsibility for material submitted and can not guarantee the return of any original material. The publisher’s opinion is not necessarily that published in RaisingKids DigiMag and the publisher does not accept any liability of any nature that may arise from the contents of this digimag.
RaisingKids - April 2011
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From April
to July 2011, RaisingKids and The Mount Grace Country House & Spa will be offering readers the opportunity to win a luxurious one
night stay for two adults, including all meals and two spa treatments, valued at R7 320! T & C’s apply. Click here to enter.
Mount Grace Country House & Spa, surrounded by 10 acres of lush gardens in the magnificent Magaliesburg Mountains, is a true haven of natural elegance. It is the ideal environment to unwind and dissolve the stress that comes with the challenges of parenting. Enjoy the magnificent views of the mountains and valleys while taking in the fresh country air amidst the ‘din’ of nature at work.
The award winning luxury spa offers a sanctuary to refresh body, mind and spirit. Ignite the imagination and rediscover yourself in the relaxed tranquility of the famed hydrotherapy spa, which has a jacuzzi, waterfall and sound flotation pool. For more information visit www.mountgrace.co.za or contact 014 557 5600. Children over 12 welcome.
Breakaway this Easter! Click here to find out about The Mount Grace Country House & Spa Easter specials...
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contents Editor’s Comment
3
Time waits for no man... or mom, for that matter!
News and reviews
6-7
Reach For A Dream Foundation makes Leigh's dream come true.
MySchool
8
The Shine Centre receives a donation Dancing for a dream...
7
of money and books.
Letterbox with Huggies
9
Send us a winning letter and Huggies will send you a R500 hamper!
Autism
10
What toys not to buy for your Autistic child.
The Shine Centre
8
Bringing baby home
12
Moms and dads share their newborn ‘survival tips’ with us.
Easy Easter Bunny baking
16
Making Easter Bunny cup cakes with the kids is fun!
Saving Sarah
18
Registering as a donor could save a life.
Easy Easter Bunny Baking
16
RaisingKids - April 2011
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news&reviews
www.purebeginnings.co.za
Give your kids a pure beginning with Pure Beginnings Toothpaste and Bubble Bath which is SLS free!
Rollerkidz launches flashing-heel skates that will strap onto any pair of shoes!
Pure Beginnings Toothpaste is ideal for children of all ages and suitable for babies too. This pleasant tasting raspberry flavoured toothpaste will motivate your kids towards establishing a routine of regular tooth brushing. It contains Xylitol, which is
www.rollerkidz.co.za
endorsed by dental associations worldwide for its ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria which cause tooth decay and it is also fluoride and SLS free. Pure Beginnings Bubble Bath makes bath time fun! The citrus aroma will leave your kids smelling clean and fresh after every bath and it does not contain any harsh foaming agents such as SLS. Pure Beginnings Berry Toothpaste (75ml) retails at R38 while Pure Beginnings Bubble Bath (250ml) retails at R54. For more information on stockists or to order online visit www.purebeginnings.co.za or call 031 705 4435.
Join the Raisingkids family by clicking here
The Roller Kidz Strap-On Heel Skates turn any pair of shoes into a pair of flashing roller skates! How? The multicolour LEDs will create a blaze of bright colour as kids zoom around, because Roller Kidz skates have wheels that use a patented magnetic flashing-light technology that does not require batteries. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right, the simple rolling motion of the wheels is all it takes to power the LEDs and the brightly flashing lights stop automatically only when kids are no longer in motion. Just adjust the size to fit your shoe with the included small hexagonal screwdriver, strap the skates on and ZOOM... youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on your way! Not just for kids, they will fit onto adult shoes too. Roller Kidz Heel Skates are great exercise and SUPER FUN! Strong, safe and suitable for children aged 5 years and up, Roller Kidz skates are affordably priced at R299 per pair (ex delivery). Order online at www.rollerkidz.co.za; door-to-door delivery within 24 hours.
Giveaway! ... and stand a chance to win fabulous prizes! Or sms your name and email address to 34509 now! Please note that all sms entries are charged at R2 each.
6
RaisingKids - April 2011
Roller Kidz is giving away 3 pairs of flashing-heel Roller Kidz skates to 3 lucky RaisingKids readers! Click here to enter.
news&reviews
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Dancing for a dream… In April 2011, the Tshwane Dance
acclaimed Mari-Louise Basson), as
Theatre, which is funded by the National
it portrays the physical and mental
Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, will in
barriers that fear may instill in one.
collaboration with the Reach For A
15 Mins of Fame will also
Dream Foundation, present a unique
feature works by top South African
season of dance titled 15 Mins of Fame.
choreographers Timothy le Roux,
An amazing young lady, Leigh Novis,
Celeste Botha, and Thabo Rapoo. 15 Mins of Fame will be staged at
will join the dancers and in so doing realise her dream of performing on stage
the University of Johannesburg Arts
with top contemporary South African
Centre from 31 March to 9 April 2011 for
dancers.
8 performances only.
Leigh is 14 years old and in
Ticket prices
remission from Hodgkin’s cancer.
range from
Her dream to dance on a public stage has been with her
R80 to R120 and bookings
throughout her ordeal – from her early childhood, diagnosis,
can be made through
radiation treatment and chemotherapy through which she
Computicket.
www.reachforadream.org.za
has continued to train whenever possible. She has showed immense courage and is described by all who have met her as talented, inspirational, strong-willed and tenacious. It is for these qualities that Leigh has been selected to perform in Synonyms for Seth, (choreographed by internationally
The Reach For A Dream Foundation seeks to alleviate the strain of a life-threatening illness on children and their families by providing them with the opportunity to realise their dreams.
Don’t miss Red Riding Hood at the Baxter Theatre these holidays! This delightful fairytale follows the much-loved story of a naughty little girl who disobeys her mother and instead of taking the safe road to visit her granny, ventures into the wood where she encounters a big bad wolf (in this adaptation, the wolf is a rather stupid Loopyde-Loop type who is an ex Music-Hall star). Red Riding Hood learns some important lessons along the way and (as with all good fairytales) lives happily ever after. Highlights of the show include a Rock ‘n Roll Granny and the Wolf's striptease which will have the kids rolling about with laughter! Directed by Elton John Duffy and performed by The Lilliput Children's Theatre Company, Red Riding Hood will run from 2
"Baah! I' m a shee p not a w The big b olf!" ad disguised wolf (Elton John Duffy) as a shee p tries to Riding H fool Red ood (Nikk i Louw)
April until 9 April 2011, Monday to Saturday at 10H30. The duration of the show is 40 minutes and is suitable fairytale fun for the whole family. Tickets are R38 per person and bookings can be made through Computicket or online at www.computicket.com. have!" e e you h s t o h n it t a big ki Louw) w a h w , ik ny "Gran ing Hood (N ohn Duffy). J id Red R Wolf (Elton ad B ig B
For block bookings or queries, call Elton on 083 364 8284/ (021) 558-2650 or contact the Baxter Theatre on (021) 685 7880. For more information on the Lilliput Players, visit their website at www.lilliputplayers.co.za.
RaisingKids - April 2011
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http://www.raising-kids.co.za/ads/kalaharinet-donate.aspx
http://www.raising-kids.co.za/ads/getahead.aspx
Letterbox Heading
LetterB
x
www.huggies.co.za
Our winning letter Bye-bye baby…
Hi Megan,
The past few years as a stay-at-home mom with two little ones have passed in a bit of a blur. I have loved every (well almost every) minute, but me-time has been fairly non-existent. As Ella (my youngest), nears two years of age I am starting to mourn the passing of the baby phase. These days, she talks up a storm, displays a strong will of her own and manages to stand up for herself against her three-and-a-half-year-old brother, Luke. It won’t be long until she asks to stay at playgroup with Luke in the mornings and I’ll be left… alone!
I don’t think there is a mom out there who cannot relate to what you are going through. You’ll be lamenting the ‘blur’ of time with the passing of every stage until the dreaded day arrives where we will all have to brace ourselves for our kids leaving the nest completely! Ah, perish the thought!
I have been looking forward to mornings all to myself (bliss), but now that the time is almost upon me I actually feel a little scared! It feels like only yesterday that they shouted “It’s a girl!” I remember me weeping, Luke coming to meet Ella at the hospital, climbing on the bed and giving her the sweetest kiss ever. I also remember the screaming, the colic, the reflux… these are all distant memories on the other side of the ‘blur’ of time passing. We now have a 22-month-old cuddlepot who is already choosing her own clothes, insisting on Tinky and Hello Kitty accessories and who can be a little thug on occasion – giving her brother back whatever she gets, with interest! Two difficult pregnancies that produced my pigeon pair means that my husband won’t entertain the idea of a third child so I have resigned myself to the fact that the baby days are over… the sweet smell of freshly bathed babies, all cosy in their babygrows, endless cuddles, the gurgles and first smiles. On the other side of it are the things I won’t miss: dirty nappies, lost dummies, sleepless nights, ill babes… and imagine the freedom that will come with not having to cart around all the baby paraphernalia on family holidays! Having just been on our first camping trip as a family, I have had the opportunity of savouring Luke and Ella’s new-found independence and my own newly acquired freedom, so I have begun to slowly adjust to the next part of the adventure; I am hoping it’s going to be as full of fun and surprises as it has been thus far!
There is nothing we can do to stop the passing of time, nor should we cling to it though. As you say, rather savour the moments, good and bad, for everything passes and more often than not, we look back and remember only the good… for a reason: I’ll hazard a guess that if we looked back and only remembered the bad things, there would not be so many people on this planet. Enjoy the journey! Tracey
www.huggies.co.za
Megan Carter
Letterbox: The author of the winning letter will receive a Huggies® hamper to the value of R500. Simply send us your ‘Letter to the Editor’ to editor@raising-kids.co.za.
RaisingKids - April 2011
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How not to shop for an Autistic child... By Lisa Jo Rudy
Special Needs
The 2nd of April 2011 is World Autism Awareness Day.
Toys that trigger sensory overloads
Lisa Jo Rudy offers some insight into what toys are not suitable
Many kids with autism have sensory sensitivities that make certain toys and arts and crafts materials very tough to take. Examples of what to avoid include sticky stuff like slime, Silly Putty, paper Mache kits and the like, as well as stinky stuff like certain markers and plastics. Depending upon the child, you may also want to avoid toys that make a great deal of noise, flash brightly, or otherwise assault the senses.
for Autistic children: Anything made with lead or mercury No child should get a gift with lead or mercury. That sounds like a no-brainer, but it's something you may have to be extra careful about ensuring, since plenty of toys from abroad are made with the toxic metals. This may be extra important when considering a gift for a child with autism, since he may ‘mouth’ objects even longer than other kids – putting him at additional risk for ingestion. Cheap knock-offs of the real thing Kids with autism have fabulous visual memories. They will not be ‘bought off’ with an ‘Elmo-like’ doll, a ‘Thomas-like’ engine or a ‘Barney-like’ dinosaur. Either go for the real deal, or find something completely different. But don't expect a child with autism to be fooled: Elmo is Elmo, and there's no just-as-good substitute on the market! Toys that are age-appropriate, but unwelcome Yes, you're right, a ten-year-old is probably ‘too old’ for Thomas the Tank Engine. But when your autistic niece unwraps that gift and finds, not a favorite toy, but an ‘age-appropriate’ item which she never asked for, you're in for a melt-down. How would you feel if you were gifted something you didn't want, but was 'good' for you?’ Toys that absolutely require social interaction or verbal skills (during the holidays) There are plenty of toys out there that are intended to build the skills autistic kids need most. There are social games, verbal games, games to teach reading, games to teach sharing... and all of these are terrific tools for teaching. But during the holidays, toys aren't about teaching – they're about having fun. If your gift absolutely requires a child with autism to find a partner, verbalise thoughts and take turns, chances are he'll use it once during the holidays and never again. Instead, choose a gift that can be used interactively (building blocks, puppets, etc.) but don't have to be used with others. That way, a child with autism can enjoy them alone during the holidays, or learn new skills when you play together. Toys that require advanced fine- or gross-motor skills Kids with autism may be very active and they may adore trampolines, swings and slides. But most kids with autism also have at least some fine- and gross- motor delays that make more complex athletics difficult (and thus not much fun). Unless you know the autistic child in your life really wants them, avoid toys like jump-ropes, hackey-sacks, juggling scarves and the like. They may be attractive, but they'll probably wind up in the junk drawer when your autistic loved one finds they're just too tricky to manage.
Foods that encourage breaking a special diet Quite a few kids with autism are on special diets. Most such diets exclude gluten (wheat) and casein (dairy). That means a gift of special cookies could become a serious issue: kids love 'em, but mom and dad may object. The same goes for any gluten-based or casein-based holiday treat. Before gifting food, check with Mom and Dad about special dietary issues; submit a list of ingredients before handing over the treat. Toys that encourage an obsessive interest There's a fine line between obsession and passion and kids with autism often cross that line. Yes, they may be thrilled to receive a special baseball card. But if the card becomes the central focus of their day, resulting in counting and sorting of an entire collection of cards for hours on end, it's not really a positive gift to give. Before choosing to give a toy that supports a perseverative interest, check with Mom and Dad. Perhaps there's a better time than during the holidays to give that gift. When things are less hectic, you can take time out to talk about the gift, the interest, the collection, and help to turn an obsessive interest into a true, shared passion. Items that require solitary play or use While it's tough for a child with autism to interact for long periods of time, it's far too easy for most to disappear into their own worlds. Toys like hand-held video games, MP3 players and the like are specifically created to help people to disappear into their own worlds. While they do have their place in the life of a child with autism, better options might be X-Box or Wii games that can easily involve several players; CD players that allow everyone to listen to and comment on musical selections and so forth. Anything that will drive parents nuts Parents of kids with autism have an awful lot on their plates. As a result, you can't blame them if they can't muster up extra patience to deal with a toy that makes an annoying sound, for example. Even if you think it's funny, try not to give a child with autism a toy that's likely to say the same things over and over, or a toy that's likely to wind up in a thousand pieces on the floor. In fact, if you really think a child with autism would just love a wild, loud toy, the very best present you can give is to take that child - and that toy - outside, where you can have crazy fun together... out of earshot of the rest of the family! Article sourced from About.com guide; Http://autism.about. com/od/childrenandautism/tp/childrenandAutism.htm
RaisingKids - April 2011
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Bringing baby home How does one survive the first month at home with a newborn? We asked the experts – a few moms and dads – to share their insight, advice and tips!
Don’t panic! “Let’s face it – there isn’t any way you are going to duck out of this one. There’s no ‘unopened goods may be returned’ tag and no instruction manual attached to baby. When you have that moment of “OMG, what were we thinking?” just take a few deep breaths and remind yourself that your parents were thinking the same thing when you were born – and you survived somehow!” - Matthew
Don’t lose your sense of humour! “My wife was busy changing our first born's nappy while I was chatting to her. She turned sideways for a moment to address me and he slipped off the compactum and into the dustbin below (fortunately it was full of nappies at the time). When she turned back, he was gone! She was mortified at the time, but he didn’t even cry and no damage was done – I still tease my wife about it today! It was quite funny in retrospect.” Kristian
The name of the game is survival – not just baby’s – but yours too! “The last time I felt so stressed out, I was a ‘roofie’ in the army! I remember thinking this one morning, two weeks into baby being home. It was about 2am, and there I was walking up and down trying to soothe my incessantly crying, 12
RaisingKids - April 2011
feverish baby boy. It’s not nice for a man to feel powerless… I remember feeling a lot of that when our newborn was ill or inconsolable. You have to almost physically ‘pull yourself together’ all the time just to get through the tough days. He’s sixteen now, but I still get the shivers just thinking about it!” - Greg
Try not to throw things at your spouse: you are no longer a couple – you are two people treading water! “The silly things my husband did before baby came home used to make me smile (or sigh), but once I was sleep-deprived these things made me want to throw pooey-nappies at him! I really feel guilty about it now and I know I said some things which must have hurt him.” Alicia
bottle-wielding shrews, reduce grown men to tears and cause both of you to turn marital molehills into mountains.” Zelda “There’s nothing like power-napping when you have a newborn. You get to a stage when you start mentally calculating the hours you slept the night before. It’s devastating when you realise you only had 2 hours of sleep! That’s why you have to sleep during the day when baby sleeps and forget about the chores etc. Animals power nap all the time – they have to as they are permanently in survival mode, as you are when you have a newborn! ” - Christine
Don’t be stupid – ask for help!
Supermom versus Superdad… don’t go there!
“Women are so good at everything – and us men know it, so don’t rub it in, especially when we are new dads. Stop refusing our help, because you know you can do it better. We know you can too, but we would like to try.” - James
“If either one of you won’t let the other feel like a competent parent, there’s gonna be trouble. The first nappy I put on my newborn was the wrong way round. My hubby only recently (6 years later) told me that he realised that I had put it on incorrectly, but he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to rattle my confidence at the time.” - Charmaine
“I was so terrified of bathing my newborn, that I refused the job and palmed it off on my hubby without giving him a choice. I didn’t tell him how to do it (we had had the same ante-natal training after all) and he managed (better than I would have) so I left him to it after that. When the second baby arrived, he did it again.” - Renate
Get some sleep! “Sleep when baby sleeps. Sleep deprivation can turn the sanest of women into
“I was so tired that I was forced to call on my (then despised) mother-in-law for help as my own mother lived far away. It was the best thing I could have done
Newborn
and far from being the nightmare I had thought it would be, she warmed to me for the opportunity, and I warmed to her in appreciation of the assistance. My son formed a very special bond with her that is unshakeable to this day. Don’t deprive people who care the opportunity to help if you need it.” - Lizette
The dream team “I remember being so tired one night that I pretended to be asleep when baby woke up so that my hubby would try and settle him. I just couldn’t get out of bed, my soul ached for sleep. He did get up (even though I was breastfeeding exclusively) and tried to rock baby back to sleep while I snored. 15 minutes later he came tearing into the room frantically urging me awake… baby had latched onto his neck! He had a ‘hickie’ for days!” - Sharon
Walking the talk “You eat, sleep and breathe ‘baby’, so your conversation becomes limited to when the next feed/nappy change is due etc; try and remember that not everyone is interested in what baby’s poo looked like since the last feed!” - Sally “It’s easy to forget your previous life, especially when meeting the challenges of a newborn. I remember reading somewhere that one woman (4 children later) having invited her husband’s boss to dinner was absolutely mortified when, (while deep in conversation with him) she realised that she was simultaneously cutting up his food! After my second child, I could really relate!” - Samanatha
Catching some zzz’s: Sleep all day and party all night? “My baby preferred to sleep all day and party all night for months – she took after her father, clearly! I was dead on my feet until I was advised to wake her to feed every three or four hours during the day and keep her awake for as long as possible instead of putting her down to sleep straight away. I kept the house bright, not limiting background noise during the day and the room dark and quiet at
night. I was worried that her feeding less often would affect my milk supply, but it didn’t – my baby simply demanded more at the next feed and my body responded by making more, less often.” - Emma “I was so exhausted after two months of two- to three-hourly waking that I was ready to voluntarily commit myself to an insane asylum, rather than go on. My hubby stepped in and took the matter in his own hands; he sent me to bed after the 6pm breastfeed and did a 10pm formula bottlefeed himself – baby slept through until 3am the next morning for the first time (as did I!). Although I had been breastfeeding exclusively up until that night, I decided my sanity was worth trading one breastfeed for one bottlefeed and we continued with that routine successfully.” - Justine
You, me and baby makes three… “Taking baby into bed with me worked for me the first time round and it’s really easy to take this route if you’re breastfeeding exclusively, but I was not that desperate to try it again with the second baby, as it has its drawbacks: once in, baby can be difficult to get out of your bed which can be rather tedious at a later stage. It’s not a train smash though - bottom line: you’ll stand for it until you can stand it no more – I don’t know of any teenagers still sleeping with their folks!” - Megan
Sleeping through the night… “It’s not a fallacy, it does happen… not often in the case of newborns and sometimes only once a month in the first year, but I can’t explain how wonderful it is when you wake up one morning, look at your watch and realise its 6am and the last feed was at 12pm the night before! You almost feel guilty… I said almost!” Renate “It makes me laugh now (but it didn’t at the time) when I realised that ‘sleeping through’ meant that baby was sleeping for 5 hour stretches. Most people equate ‘sleep through’ as 8 hours of sleep… what happened to the other 3 hours!” - Colleen
Perfectionism is for people who don’t have newborns “If your house is a tip for a couple of weeks, so what? If anyone complains invite them over to clean up or stay up and feed baby – that always shut my mother-in-law up! My top priority was making it through the day, one day at a time with my colicky newborn. The dishes came second and I’m not apologising. My advice: make loads of easy-to-heat frozen dinners so that at least you don’t have to worry about cooking as well.” - Heidi
Cabin fever “There was a point at which I started to feel as if I would scream if I didn’t get out of the bedroom – let alone the house! Get out once a day – put baby in a pram and go for a walk, or go window shopping at the mall… visit a friend once a week, or join a gym class for new moms where you can haul baby with you. I suffered from PND, so the endorphins from the excersise helped with the depression – if you’re in the same boat, don’t refuse mild medication if it’s prescribed; happy mommies mean happy babies – that’s my experience.” - Patricia
The crying game “I was told by some well-meaning folks that I would be spoiling my baby if I picked her up every time she cried and that from newborn I should let her learn to settle herself even if she screamed for a while. Since I knew no better, I tried it – for about 2 minutes! My hubby was ready to divorce me after about 5 seconds and baby was blue with rage and we never tried it again – it just did not feel right! In my opinion, a baby that is responded to is more trusting and happy – neither of my two children were demanding at all as a result of me settling them without leaving them to cry it out.” - Caroline “At first, I was overwhelmed when our baby cried. Who could know what he wanted? I don’t know how, but my wife just ‘tuned in’ to baby’s needs. Still today when we are walking in the supermarket and she hears a child crying, she will mutter, “That baby is tired, hungry, etc.” - Gordon RaisingKids - April 2011
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Newborn
What moms recommend you include in your newborn survival kit… Renate: “Lots of Rooibos tea! I have never been as thirsty as when I breastfed – make a pot a day and fill up every time you feed!” Samantha: “There is nothing worse than a niggling baby in the small hours of the morning. I know there are those who say it will impair speech and damage teeth later on, but at 2am in the morning, having not slept longer than two hours in a stretch for a couple of weeks, you really don’t care... a dummy is a mom’s bf !” Tamarin: “Purchase a nebuliser before you even buy your first pack of nappies! It is the best investment I ever made as it is great for treating upper respiratory infections, croup, pneumonia, sinus etc. I also recommend investing in a nasal aspirator. Noses blocked with gunk are not conducive to either feeding or sleeping well!” Tina: “My first child had a growth spurt at about four weeks of age and after a truly hideous night of endless breast feeding and wailing it became clear that I just wasn’t able to provide him with enough sustenance. Thank goodness for my sane mom who advised me to offer him a supplemental bottle, after which Jack and I slept for five glorious hours for the first time in three weeks. Yes, breast is best, but I would definitely encourage having a good quality bottle and tin of formula on hand for emergencies!” Patricia: “My daughter suffered from really dry skin. The only thing I could use to wash her body and head was a good quality aqueous cream. Everything else caused her new skin to become inflamed and itchy.” Sharon: "I have to say that I could not have done without breast pads – there is nothing worse than continually having to wring out one's soaking wet T-shirt... and nothing more embarrassing than having a wet T-shirt in the middle of a shopping centre!"
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Tracey: “Wetwipes, wetwipes, wetwipes, need I say more!” Charmaine: “Include something for yourself in your survival kit – something that will revitalise and relax you and get Dad to babysit while you take some time-out; a luxurious babble bath or face cream – you know what they say... because you’re worth it!” Colleen: “My baby monitor is priceless. It monitors breathing and heart rate while she is sleeping and I’m in another room and alerts me when she has awoken; some people may say that all this is not really necessary, but it gives you peace of mind and that is worth heaps as far as I’m concerned.”
www.rollerkidz.co.za
www.fantastick.co.za
PARENTING WORKSHOPS FOR 2011
Love and Learn - Parent guidance • 2 1 May 10.00 – 13.00: Which is the right time/age to start nursery school? • 17 September 10.00 - 13.00: My teenager is driving me dilly! Presenter: Rykie Morey (qualified teacher, Psychology student and involved in parent guidance for the last 5 years). Venue:
1 Middlehill Str. Cornwall Hill
Cost: R150 p/p or R200 per couple (notes + coffee, tea included)
Please call to book at 082 770 8943 or mail to rykiemore@gmail.com
http://www.kidscreationsartstudio.com
Easy Easter Bunny cupcakes Cup Cake Recipe You will need: 2 and ¼ cups of cake flour 1 and ¼ cups of sugar 3 Teaspoons of baking powder ½ a teaspoon of salt ½ a cup of margarine 1 cup of milk 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence 2 large eggs Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add margarine, milk and vanilla essence. Beat for two minutes by hand, one minute on medium if using an electric beater. Add eggs and beat for 3 minutes by hand, or 1 ½ minutes on high with an electric beater. Bake in a preheated oven at 180˚ for 20 to 25 minutes.
Easter Bunny You will need:
Trumps Ready to Roll white icing (makes Bunny head, ears and body) Food colouring (pink or blue) Silver/coloured decorating balls (Bunny eyes) Coloured vermicelle (Bunny whiskers) Fairy Fantasy decorative icing shapes (hearts for Bunny nose) Fine paintbrush (to paint pink food colouring in Bunny ears) 16
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Easter baking
Easter Bunny cupcake how-to-do Have fun – that’s the aim; not to create the perfect Bunny! Create a prototype for the kids to copy, help them form the bunny if they need help and then stand back and allow them to dabble!
• Break off a small ball of Trumps Ready to Roll Icing, add a splash of colouring and roll into a ball. • Flatten the ball on a board lightly sprinkled with icing sugar so that it does not stick. • Using the rim of an upturned glass, press down on your flattened icing to make a circle large enough to cover the top of the cup cake. • Break off another Bunny head size piece of Trumps Ready to Roll icing and roll into a ball for Bunny's head. • Place head, slightly tilted, towards the center back of cup cake. • Flatten out two ‘ear-shaped’ pieces of Trumps Ready to Roll icing and press onto the Bunny’s head. (Be warned: if they are too thin, they will fall over.) • Decorate Bunny’s face using your silver balls for eyes, coloured vermicelli for whiskers and heart shapes for the nose. • Paint the inside of Bunny's ears using the brush and pink food colouring.
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Saving Sarah
Sarah Matondo Masamba is just one of many patients looking for her life saving bone marrow stem cell donor. She is 11 years old and was diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia seven months after birth. Since then she has been in and out of hospital continuously to receive blood transfusions. As she grows, so does the rate of her transfusions which have increased to one per month. This condition can be treated if Sarah has a bone marrow transplant, but a donor must be found for this to happen and for Sarah to be given the opportunity to a longer and healthier life. Her three siblings have been tested, as well as
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a few of her cousins, but unfortunately there has been no match. A search has been conducted on the SA Bone Marrow Registry, but currently there is no match. This could change as new donors register with The Sunflower Fund. Sarah is a Congolese national (Democratic Republic of the Congo) as are both her parents and grandparents (even great grandparents). She was born in Zimbabwe before coming to South Africa. Ethnic origin (Heritage) is important when matching donors and patients. In South Africa, we have even more unique combinations of tissue types. The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;markersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that are tested when searching for a match are genetically
Community
inherited and often unique to a particular race. Simply put, there is currently a shortage of bone marrow stem cell donors on the SABMR from 211 ethnic groups that make up our rainbow nation. The Sunflower Fund is therefore appealing to everyone between the ages of 18 and 50, who have a Congolese background to call them and join the SA Registry in an attempt to save young Sarah’s life as well as the lives of many other patients searching for donors. Young Sarah has only one wish, she states: “Going to hospital is one of the things that I wish never existed in my life. I wish that I can be like all the other children that never need to go to hospital. I would be a happier child on earth if they found a match for me.” All you need to do to register to become a donor is to call The Sunflower Fund Toll free number 0800 12 10 82 and donate two test tubes of your blood. Your details and test results will be placed on the South African Bone Marrow Registry. If you are found to be a perfect match for a patient, the process to donate your stem cells is much like a blood transfusion or donating platelets that could take between 4 to 6 hours. That’s all it takes to potentially save a life. Help The Sunflower Fund build a state asset that could protect future generations whilst giving hope to current patients, like Sarah, who are suffering from leukaemia and other life threatening blood disorders. Share a Little, Save a Life. Call toll free 0800 12 10 82 to register as a donor or visit our website www.sunflowerfund.org.za for more information.
Did you know? • O nly two teaspoons of blood are needed to register you as a donor. • Donating bone marrow stem cells is no more painful than donating blood. • Bone marrow is not cut from the donor, it comes from stem cells in your blood. • The chance of finding a donor is 1:100,000 • In Africa, the mixed ethnic groups make it harder to find a donor. There is a desperate need for donors in all Ethnic groups! • There is a great shortage of male donors on the registry. • The cost of using an international donor is unaffordable for most South Africans.
white cells and platelets and weakens the body. • 7 5% of patients treated for serious blood disorders such as leukaemia in South Africa are under 25 years of age. • 75% of these patients will not find a sibling-matched donor and will require a donor from a Registry.
Who Can Donate? • Donors must be between 18 – 50 years. • Donors must be in general good health. • With no history of hepatitis or sexually transmitted diseases. • Donors should weigh over 50kgs. • Preferably, but not necessarily, be a blood donor. • Donors must be informed and committed to help anyone!
How Are Donors Matched? • D onors are categorised into groups known as ‘tissue types’. • Finding a match depends on having a very large register of donors. • Matching has nothing to do with ‘blood groups’, but is based on genetic markers found in white cells of the blood. • Tissue types of both the donor and the patient must be virtually identical or a blood stem cell transplant will not succeed. • The likelihood of finding a matching donor will be considerably greater if the donor is from the same ethnic background as the patient.
What happens if I am a ‘perfect match’? • T he harvest will take place at a private ward. (All expenses would be paid by the patient and no cost to the donor.) • A full medical examination will be carried out and growth factor injections will be administered to increase the production of stem cells in the bone marrow. (There is no risk to you.) • The harvest is a simple, minor medical procedure which entails your being connected to the machine for 4 – 6 hours. • Bone marrow stem cells are filtered out of your blood and your own blood returned to you.
Bone Marrow Facts • B one Marrow is regarded as a factory for the production of red cells to carry oxygen, white cells to fight infection and platelets to prevent bleeding. • Leukaemia is the massive over-production of defective white blood cells which displaces normal healthy red,
www.sunflowerfund.org.za
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www.choc.org.za