Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts

Monday 10 May 2021

How to make a stress ball

 Hey readers,

A fun to do at home with kids to make a homemade stress ball. It is perfect for kids to use when they are feeling angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is great relief putting your frustrated squishing a stress ball for some relief. Plus it is easy to make and fun sensory activity to do with kids

How to make a stress ball

What you will need. 

A balloon. 

Funnel.

* flour. 

* Pen/pencil. 

How to make the stress ball. 

1. blow up the ballon then deflate it, this helps stretch the ballon. 

2. put the ballon end on the funnel. 

3. pour the flour into the funnel which will trickle down into the ballon. 

4. If a problem occurs with the flour not moving from the funnel into the balloon simply use a pen or pencil and gently push it through. 

5. Pour the flour into the ballon until you feel happy with the amount that is there. 

6. Take the funnel out and tie in a knot to the top of the ballon. 

7. There you have a stress ball. 

How to make a stress ball

Cheers for reading X


Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday

Friday 7 May 2021

why you should never read a parenting book

Hey readers,

As a parent in the earlier days especially when I was a first-time parent I read parenting books because it was all new and scary.

  I hadn't ever experienced what it was like to be a parent before I turned to information that was available for me.

 Of course, the most places a parent turns to is so-called parenting books who think they are helping you provide this available information to help you understand how to parent.

 But do you know what after 9 years of being a parent I can confirm that parenting books are a waste of time and if you are considering checking out parenting books I would suggest ditch them books? 

why you should never read a parenting book


Why do I dislike parenting books? well, there are a few reasons. For one there always seems a rigid formula that you have to follow for all children even though let's face it all children are different. 

One box does not fit all and sadly that is one major reason why parenting books fail. Children and parents have different personalities and they may not work well with one formula. 

I think with parenting books there is so much pressure to be a certain type of parent and if you do fail then that then it could potentially impact your mental health negatively. 

It could be more detrimental with reading books because you sink into feeling not good enough, This is not good for a parent when it should be focused on forming a bond.

 If the parent is not fully in the zone because they feel not good enough how much damage will that do to the parenting that they try to do? 

Not only can reading parent books make you feel inadequate that can put on stress to try to be something that you may not reach because you work differently from what the book tells.

 I for one have felt absolutely rubbish when reading parenting books because I can't meet that standard that they try to portray in the words of the book.

 I felt at times feeling of despair and anger at everyone around me because I couldn't reach this ideal parenting model. It impacted my relationship with my husband as I was feeling bitter and angry with the world. 

I as an autistic person struggle with communication so it caused some rifts between my relationships. It then after a period of time affected me and the way I viewed myself as being a bad mother causing me to have suicidal thoughts.  

I think there is so much pressure with parenting books and the number of different types of parenting books can feel really overwhelming.

 Which one is supported to work? Bear in mind that parenting books will be focused on the zeitgeist at the time on what is trendy. For example, one time it was acceptable to follow weaning with purees the next it was all about baby-led weaning.

The problem with both these ideas is they are extreme ends and that middle is best and mixing it up to suit you and your child's needs. Again it chisels at your self-esteem especially if you are a first-time parent you don't have the confidence to go with the flow.

 I think because it is a new experience you're trying your best to succeed out what is right so you become vulnerable to the parenting guides feeling like that the information they give is gossip and if you don't follow it you're a bad parent. 

As you can see there is that pattern that your mental health is fragile and reading parenting books can contribute to worsening it when you need to grow to help give you the confidence to be the best parent that you can be. 

What are your views on parenting books? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

 

3 Little Buttons


Monday 3 May 2021

50 kid friendly snack ideas for the beach

Hey readers,

As we are getting more warm weather and staycations are still very much popular this year a picnic to the beach makes a perfect family day out.

 Sometimes it can be hard to know what to bring along to a picnic so below I have 50 ideas of a perfect food for kids and adults that would make the day amazing. 

50 kid friendly snack ideas for the beach


Before I go into the food list I am just going to mention a few things to bear in mind when you go for a picnic at the beach.

Now obviously the changes of it being hot are high and you may have a day out at the beach. It is important to use ice packs to keep your food safe and fresh. It is something to make sure you pack.

Another item to remember when you go to the beach for a picnic is a blanket so as to make it comfy and separates the food away from the sand.

You may want to consider having a picnic box as they are a good size and shape to keep hold of your food.

When you do pack it might be good to back a spare bag for rubbish so you can keep it all together and check it in the bin at the end of the day.

With kids, one of the most important items to remember to take with you if your eating out is wet wipes as they are a godsend to keeping kids clean. There is nothing worse than sticky fingers smearing food everywhere.

Don't forget to pack cutlery and cups as so handy to make eating and drinking a lot easier forever.

Now, let's crack on with the ultimate kid-friendly picnic food for the beach.

1. Bread rolls.

2. Wraps.

3. Carrots/peppers/cucumbers/tomatoes plus hummus.

4. Sausage rolls.

5. Pork pies.

6. Cheese pre-cut cubes.

7. Fruit - strawberries, apples, raspberries, watermelon slices.

8. Breadsticks. 

9. Scotch egg.

10. Coleslaw.

11. Potatoes salad.

12. Crisps.

13. Crackers.

14. Ryvita's. 

15. Cheese strings.

16. Flapjacks.

17. Brownies.

18. Lemon drizzle cake. 

19. Quiche.

20. Chicken Satay.

21. Chicken drum sticks. 

22. Salmon slices. 

23. Salami.

24. Chicken tikka skewers.

25. Tail mix.

26. Nuts.

27. Granola bars. 

28. Boiled eggs. 

29. Samosas.

30. Falafel.

31. Koftas

32. Olives.

33. Shredded chicken. 

34. Prawns.

35. Couscous. 

36. Salad.

37. Corn on the cob.

38. Seafood sticks.

39. Cheese and onion rolls.

40. Feta and spinach parcels.

41. Ham and Edam rolls.

42. Chorizo and gouda rolls.

43. Mozzarella balls and tomatoes.

44. Fruit salad.

45. Hot dogs.

46. Pasta salad.

47. Tortilla chips and salsa.

48. Pitta bread and hummus.

49. Pizza. 

50. Sushi.

Have I missed anything off the list of picnic food that you nothing is a good item to bring along to the beach? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

Sunday 2 May 2021

My Sunday Photo 02/05/2021


My cheeky little monkey 😝 

Darren Coleshill


Friday 30 April 2021

guilt over every moment.

Hey readers, 

 I have a kind of confession to make and that is when someone says, time goes fast embrace every moment of your child or similar times of things. 

But the whole idea was that I should embrace that moment. Maybe I find it difficult because I am autistic and I take every word literally. I feel stressed or guilty because I don't embrace every moment.

 I might be selfish may be preoccupied. I just feel suffocated with this feeling of trying to encapsulate and treasure every moment.

 This is the side of social media that I found not helpful for parents and truth be told adds more pressure/guilt. It really can drag your mood right down and feel not good enough.

guilt over every moment.
 I bet if I weren't around in the social media time it would be a lot less stressful and less pressure to be perfect and enjoy every moment of my child. 

 The thing is life gets in the way, and sometimes I really can't wait for my kids to go to bed, does this make me a bad mother? Of course, I love my children dearly but life isn't always peachy.

 I just get so bogged down with the guilt about not enjoying every moment or not fully occupying my time with my child. 

But when I reflect I don't miss it. I don't miss the times I had. There are fun times, sad times, anxious times

It is an experience and something I am glad that I have experienced but would I seriously want to encapsulate that if I had the magic powers to make time stop? 

Honestly no I wouldn't. I am trying to let go of the guilt, I make mistakes and coming to terms with that and accept I am only human. 

I can't stop time or my children growing up that is just the nature of the beast. I do weirdly actually like seeing the change and growth in my child's development. 

Seeing them grow and become their own person in their own right. 

 Motherhood is tiring and challenging and all the other emotions are attached to it. 

I am trying not to be hard on myself and just take each day as it comes. 

As long as my children are happy, healthy, and achieving the best they can that is the goal for me. I need to accept my best is enough. 

 Cheers for reading X

Wednesday 28 April 2021

reasons to love summer!

Hey readers,

It won't be long now till summertime so let's get celebrating this hot season. Here are my reasons why I love summer.



Washing.

As a parent, nothing excites me more than to put out the washing on the line, to have that fresh feel when you bring it down. 

Nothing gets me more excited than getting four loads of washing washed, hung, got down, and put away in a day - that my friends are some achievement. 

 Not to mention the buzz you get of feeling all domesticated and winning at life.

Al Fresco.

Eating outdoors is ace when you have children because you can leave all the crumbs behind and don't have to hoover. 

It is fresh air and being around nature is no better place to be when eating. I found having picnics less stressful than eating at home, maybe kids too and they seem much more relaxed with this option to the alternative eating at a table.

Outdoors.

With the above point about picnics, this can be incorporated with going outside, as I have young children it tends to be the park, which that it was my children every really wants to be honest. 

They can burn off steam while I can get a moment to read some of my books, it is a winner and everyone is happy. 

It is also a cheap day out, the kids get sleepy and everyone is happy to come home and chill out. Going outside mess less bickering and the boys get on better without each other wanting to pull each other hair out.

Schools out.

During the summer period of late July and August, the boys have broken up from school and nursery.

It feels much more relaxed because there is an unstructured schedule but that sense of urgency to do homework or get out of the door early in the morning. 

It allows my eldest to be a bit calm as he hasn't got the added anxiety of spelling tests (this might not affect every child, however, my eldest is autistic and performance activities affect him greatly).

 If we have a day out somewhere on a Sunday or during the week we can take our time without having the thoughts in the back of the mind that we need to get home so the boys don't get tired the next day for school.

Holiday away from home.

Of course, holidays tend now to occur during the summer holiday as it is the best time to break up the six weeks of summer holidays. 

Getting away from it all, exploring new surroundings, and taking trips to the beach all makeup create memories for the family.

Food.

Summer normally means warmer weather, therefore the choices swing to lighter meals and anything that is cool to help get through the heat.

 I spend a fair amount of money stocking up on the ice creams and lollies, of course, a magnum or tip top are signs that summer has officially arrived.

What do you enjoy about summer?

Cheers for reading X

Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday

Sunday 25 April 2021

My Sunday Photo 25/04/2021


Darren Coleshill


Friday 16 April 2021

10 mum thoughts

Hey readers,

Why is it such as pain the arse to get out of the home with two children? God, it is an absolute nightmare. Here are my ten thoughts that crop up going through the military process of getting them ready to go out.

10 mum thoughts
1. Do I really need to go out, I am knackered and we have only got one pair of socks and I am going to be hot and flustered before I even close the door. 

2. Surely I  must lose a few pounds from profusely sweating that I don't need to do a workout later with the amount of running around that I do after two kids. 

3. Why do I also end up playing cat and mouse around the home with these kids, they never come to me when I call my name. It is like they have selective hearing or something, there is a thought. 

4. God my hubby is wanker because yet again I am left to get the kids changed, or go on the school run or deal with some sort of squabble over something silly. 

5. Why the fuck do you have to throw the shoes across the room and when I ask you to put your shoes on the shelf where funny enough the shoes live you without fail to do not do these. Your lack of motivation is astonishing and really mazes how much energy you put into doing nothing. 

6. I am turning into my mother, I never thought I would say ' stay still for Godsake' or another classic such as 'if your brother tells you to jump off the cliff would you?' My God, it is finally happening I am morphing into my parent, arghhhh!

7. Thank God for bribery you saved my sanity once again. I don't care what anyone says, bribery is the best to get an easy life. If you haven't tried it what are you waiting for?

8.  That's it CBBC is going on just so we can get the hell out of here by today or I can have five minutes peace without squabbling. Guilt do me a favour go fuck yourself because today I choose not to listen to you!

9. You take them to the park thinking you are being a good parent to get away from the screens for a bit to be then greeted with the constant moaning of how long are we going to be? This is boring I want to go home. Sometimes I wonder why I bother!

10. What is it with kids and their ability to not sit on the bottom for more than two minutes. They are constantly fidgeting like they have a whole family of ants living in their pants. 

Can you relate to any of these mum's thoughts? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X


Monday 5 April 2021

41 Questions to ask kids after school

 Hey readers,

It can be hard as parents trying to get out how your child's day has been. so here are some open questions that help encourage your child to talk about their day.

41 Questions to ask kids after school


1. Tell me about the best part of your day.

2. What was the hardest thing you had to do today?

3. Did any of your classmates do anything funny?

4. Tell me about what you read in class.

5. Who did you play with today? What did you play?

6. Do you think math [or any subject] is too easy or too hard?

7. What's the biggest difference between this year and last year?

8. What rules are different at school than our rules at home? Do you think they're fair?

9. Who did you sit with at lunch?

10. Can you show me something you learned (or did) today?

11. What did you have for lunch?

12. Whom did you sit with at lunch?

13. Who told a funny joke today? What was it?

14. Who gave the best presentation in your class?

15. Who gave the worst presentation?

16. Which of your teachers was the kindest today?… Happiest?… Grumpiest?

17. What book did you get from the library?

18. Who was a superhero today (who helped someone)?

19. Whom did you make laugh?

20. Whom did you help today?

21. What games did you play at school today?

22. If you could change part of your day today, what would it be? Why?

23. Is there anything that the teacher taught that you don’t understand?

24. How do you feel that you did today? Why?

25. What is one thing your teacher said today that you remember most?

26. If an alien spaceship came to your class and beamed someone up, who would you want them to take?

27. If you could create your own school, what would it look like and what would happen there?

28. If your teacher could teach only one subject, which subject would you want that to be?

29. If you got to be the teacher tomorrow, what would you do?

30. If you got to teach tomorrow, who would you want to be your assistant?

31. If you could change any part of your school what would you change?

32. What was your teacher like?

33. Were you nervous?

34. Who did you play with at lunch?

35. What kind of homework did you get?

 36. What was the hardest rule to follow today?

37. Tell me a story from today.

 38. What happened today that made you keep going (even if it was hard)?

39.  What will you do to solve a problem at school or improve your work What made your teacher happy? What made her mad?

40. If you could switch seats with anyone, who would it be? And why?

41. What nice thing did you say today?

Cheers for reading X

Sunday 4 April 2021

My Sunday photo 04/04/2021