There was a transition time from when I felt it was time to take the change table from the nursery but still had nappies to deal with.   I decided to remove the change table and purchased a special bear mat.  It has become the change mat, otherwise known as ‘the bear’.  When it’s time to change my son’s nappy or get dressed after a bath he knows to lie down on ‘the bear’.  The only negative is it’s on the floor (rather than standing height) but, as a Mum, I spend a lot of time on the floor so it has not worried me.  Anyone else have this transition time?

Interested in the bear mat?  It also comes in pink and is fabulous for newborns as the mat is super soft and cuddly.  You can buy them online here or try a specialist baby store.

I love pretty things.  I love having three daughters. 

For many years, I’ve struggled to manage these two loves combined.  One: It can be an expensive business.  Two: I’ve struggled to find a system that works for me and leaves all the girls happy.

Ah, but no more; I’ve found a solution; I’ve found another love: Pretty Things Distract Me.

I love buying things from mothers who work from home (WAHM).  I prefer to part with money to a WAHM than a large company.  If you are like me, then join the Hire a Mummy facebook fan page. Hire a Mummy is directory listing (launching this year) of services provided by Work at Home Mums across Australia and New Zealand.

So back to being distracted by pretty things. I’ve found the solution to all my pretty needs.  This is how my system works.

First: I’ve purchased a range of woven headbands.  As you can see, I’ve covered about every colour combination possible.  One of my daughters wears headbands everyday.  In the past, we’ve had problems with headbands causing headaches but the Pretty Things Distract Me headbands can be worn all day.

Second: I have a stunning range of clips: flower clips, cupcake clips and bow clips.  These clips attach to the woven headbands so the girls can choose and change the look they want.  The clips also look stunning on their own and don’t fall out.

Third: The clips are so pretty you want to make sure they are on display.  You can buy clip holders, custom made with the first letter of your child’s name.  In addition, if you have as many clips as I do, you can invest in a board like I have.  I purchased this one from Spotlight for $10.  It’s actually a card holder/notice board but is brilliant in displaying all the clips.  Hung on the bedroom wall, it acts like a piece of 3D wall art.

Fourth: Joy.  Yep, joy.  Every day, my daughters joyously select clips and headbands to match what they are wearing.  It’s so much fun.

Other uses:  Need to add a little colour to that plain shirt or need to match an outfit with your shoes? I use the flower clips as brooches.   Great for the kids too.

Buying: There are two ways you can receive products from Pretty Things Distract Me.  Head over to their website by clicking here or host an e-party.  Hosting an e-party is a simple way to receive free products.  Just book in a date, invite friends to shop (and receive 10% discount) during a period of a week and that’s it.

Quality and Cost: So I walk into diva to buy a black flower clip to wear to a wedding.  $16 later I leave, feeling somewhat dissapointed with the flower I’ve purchased and in a couple of weeks it’s fallen apart.  At Pretty Things Distract Me I found a stunning flower clip for $4.50.  The workmanship is amazing.  You are paying less than half what you would expect the RRP to be.

Note: I have not been asked to do a post or received anything from promoting the products.  I am just sharing with you a great product I believe in; a product that really works.

Pretty: I use the clips as much as the children.  Here are some pretty snaps of the product.

Custom order are also welcome.  Just contact Bec via the contact form here.

Yep, first post in the new place is about, wait for it… moving.  I may even be an expert in this area.  (Have to be good at something right?)  This is my 9th move in the last 10 years so I’m going to tell you my tips for moving with children in tow.

Before you move

Order a skip:  It has been worth the money every time.  Moving is an opportunity to spring clean and ditch anything you don’t really need.  Some may have access to a trailer and a man who has time to go to the dump but since I have neither of these things, a skip is a MUST.  Another advantage of ordering a rubbish skip is the motivation it provides.  Typically, the rubbish skip is on your footpath for a week so you just have to get through things.  Just fork out the money; you won’t be sorry.

Buy plastic storage boxes:  I like to organise all the children’s toys before I move anywhere.  I label clear plastic storage boxes to organise the toys.

Buy a Porta-robe:  You can get these special boxes from removalists.  Instead of folding (or shoving) clothes in a box, a porta-robe allows you to hang clothes via a bar at the top; wondrous invention.  Saves a lot of time on the other end as rehanging clothes is not necessary; and all the time saved on ironing is priceless.

Be ruthless:  My rule is this:  if I haven’t used it in 2 months it’s not worth keeping.  This goes for clothes too.  Take a deep breathe and give it away to someone who may use it everyday.

Communication:  While it’s important to prepare your child/ren for a move, in my experience, it’s best not to raise the issue too soon as it can cause unnecessary fretting.  Two weeks before you move, when things get really busy, start talking about it the transition.  If your child is very young, you may find they are usually unsettled and clingy.  Don’t expect for this to change until at least a couple of weeks after you settle at the new location.  Just know that it will get better and be patient. For older children, moving can be quite traumatic.  Reassurance is a little more tricky and behavioural changes tend to last longer. I guess you just have to keep talking about it but I have some tips to minimise the impact on the other end of the move.

Drinks:  If you have friends or family coming to help, stock your fridge with different cans of drink.  Moving is thirsty work.

After you move

OUT OF THE HOUSE: If possible, have the children minded the first day of moving.  For me, it was necessary to have my husband mind the children at a different location and I threw myself into unpacking.  This was necessary for  few reasons.  Firstly, I can get triple the amount done when I have no children around.  Secondly, It softens the impact for the children if the house, and especially their rooms, are set up with familiar things.

First: Set up the beds and pack in the clothes.  Then, do the kitchen.  If that is all you can achieve on the first day, you have done well.

Softening the impact:  I invested a lot of time on the first day of packing, setting up the children’s rooms.  I wanted them to walk in and feel at home with familiar things around them.  To achieve this, I hung their paintings on the wall, saved a few craft pieces, laid out all their special ornaments and made their beds.  I also purchased a gift for each child and placed it on their bed.  If you have a pre-teen or teenager, I think they would like to set up their own room; however, setting up the basics of the room will give them a place to start.

Words: My eldest daughter was very upset about our move.  My heart breaks as I recall her sitting on the front veranda, knees tucked up, tears running down her cheeks as she chewed her fist; she was afraid to even enter the house.  While the other children burst inside, excited about exploring, she was frozen.  I sat with her on my knee for a while and then these words came to me. 

I said, “Do you know what the most important thing is? Love. In the bible (Proverbs 15:17) it says: A simple meal with love is better than a feast where there is hatered.  Things are not important, houses are not important; love is.

“Do you have a Mum who loves you?”

She nods.

“Do you have a Dad who loves you?”

Another nod.

“Do you have sisters and a brother who love you?”

“Yes,” she whispers.

Then she says, “But I still feel uncomfortable.”

“And you know what?  That’s fine.  It will take a while to feel comfortable again but it will happen.  We will just take one step at a time – but we do it together.  Things – toys and houses, don’t last – but love lasts forever.”

Hand in hand, we walked through the door to her room.  I watched a small smile creep up on her face.  She saw the gift on her bed and held it close.

“Thank you Mummy.”

Positives: Over the next week we talked about all the positives of our new house: lots of trees, a back yard and quiet street etc.  This is a great activity to do with children.   Ask this question:  What are three things you like best about the new place?

Down time: I go hard – really hard.  And after the first day, after I settled the children, I pretty much lost it.  I was not only physically exhausted, I felt emotionally fragile.  I would spontaneously burst into tears.  I felt panicky and nauseous.  I couldn’t breathe well.  I felt like something was really wrong with me.  I could function no longer.  Yet today, a week after packing in, I feel calm, happy and excited.  I think some downtime after a big event is expected and, when everything feels like too much and you feel like you can’t go on; just know there are happier times ahead.

Celebrate:  It’s a good thing to mark the move with a positive event.  Our family went out for dinner (to a venue with a playground) to say, “HOORAY, we made it!”

Talking about positives: I really enjoyed taking photos of the favourite parts of my new lodgings and made a list.  It was helpful and settling for me.

Inside joys: fretwork.high ceilings.windows.old books.tea cup shelf.copper pot.door knobs.peak on roof. peeling paint.tongue and groove

Outside charm: dunny.indian summer.pine trees.no back neighbours.grape vine.mountain views

External Link

We Play Moving House: I love this post.  It has great tips about preparing your child for the move with games. A MUST READ!

Have you ever tied a lead of ribbon or string on your child’s favourite soft toy? This simple activity is a hit with toddlers, and even older children.  

This is a simple, cheap and fun idea  

Need to entertain a toddler (or older children) on a breezy afternoon? All you need is a roll of crepe streamer. Cut off three long strips and tie them together at one end at watch your child catch the breeze. A guaranteed hit – especially for toddlers.

NOTE: This is a fun activity even when there is no wind.  Children love running around with streamers.

This picture makes me happy: running with the wind.

I decided to do a finger food night instead of a sit-down dinner.  It was a wonderful family time experience.  The excitement was audible; my 4 year old said it just right, “WE’RE HAVING A TEA PARTY!” 

Ingredients

Anything you like. This was my list:

* Spring rolls

* Carrot sticks

* Sliced Cucumber

* Chips

* Chicken strips

* Spinach and Fetta Triangles 

Benefits

* NO WASHING UP! (Um… that would have to be my favourite)

* Sitting on the ground outside meant no sweeping.  (Am I sounding lazy?)

* It was an intimate experience as there was no barriers (eg. table) between us all.  Sitting in a circle meant everyone could see each other.

* It is FUN!  A little out of the ordinary.

* There’s something about sharing food that’s special.

* Eating in this way was a precursor to unorganised family fun after dinner.

I will definitely be doing family finger food night again. A positive experience all round.

Note: As I have young children, I did not make a fuss about double dipping.  Dinner was designed to be an informal experience; although, I did mention to the children that it was okay because we’re family but double dipping is not polite in public.

Welcome to my FIRST  FunMum interview. 

Sometimes you meet a blow-your-socks-off person; Wendy Francis is one of them.  As we sat on a table top with our leg swinging, I wondered how the trendy woman achieved so much.  Her achievements are many but being a wife, mother to three and grandmother to eight are her highest priority.

Wendy’s professional background is in marketing and management with the Griffith University.  On a community level, she’s on the board and directors of Samaritans Purse, part of the family council of Queensland and the executive producer of the highly popular televised event, Carols in the City.  Wendy’s community focus continues as she provides English classes and organises lunch time concerts at the City Tabernacle Baptist Church.  Wendy’s vibrancy and determination allows her to accomplish many wonderful things; however, it’s her passion for all things family that shines through as she talks.

Wendy’s zeal for family has led her to accept the nomination to run for a Queensland senate position with Family First.  This venture will see her supporting families on a national level.  The current economic and societal environment is causing struggles for many families; from financial strain to battling outward pressures on the family unit.  In unstable times, a person with a clear vision is a priceless gem.  Wendy Francis is a diamond.

Interview

What is your best FunMum tip?

Think like a child.

What is your favourite fashion accessory?

A woman can never have too many shoes or earrings.

Name a embarrassing mother-mother?

When my eldest daughter and I stepped into a lift with a man who had an unusual neck and my daughter proceeded to comment on this fact – in a very loud voice.

Name a proud mother-moment?

When my children admitted to doing something wrong without being prompted.

How do you find the work/family balance?

Getting a balance in our priorities in life is always a challenge, but I often think to myself, at the end of my life, will I wish I had spent more time behind a computer at work or with my children? Obviously we need to work to provide for our children so it’s important, but not THE most important thing. I work hard and play hard too.

In your opinion, what’s the greatest issue facing Australian mothers today?

The greatest issue facing Australian mothers is external pressures from society; societal influences that attack the family unit.

Fighting for family values, and a child’s right not to be bombarded with inappropriate advertising, is crucial.  I have a real problem with billboards, which unlike television, cannot be ‘switched off’ and expose children to all sorts of inappropriate material.  We need to become ‘wowsers’ to censorship.

What do you hope to achieve if you are elected to the senate?

I will examine the legislation in relation to how it will affect families. 

Are some Australians left out?

No. Every person is part of a family: pensions, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and children; everyone is part of a family. 

Follow Wendy

Website:        http://www.qld-familyfirst.org.au and http://www.carolsinthecity.com.au

Twitter:         wendy4senate

Facebook:      Family First Party Queensland

Banner

Logo

It’s a New Year!  I’m excited to introduce my new banner and tell you about the design and why I chose it.

Firstly, you have to meet the amazing woman who drew the background – by hand!  Amy Lambert’s artwork came to my attention when I saw her portfolio work on Facebook.  It’s rare to find an artist that captures EXACTLY what you have in your head.  Amy can be contacted via her Facbook Fan Page (Amy Labert Designs).

I designed the logo part myself.  It’s simple yet fun with a poignant feel.

Combined, you have a take on Motherhood: the beauty of a child – simple and fun, surrounded by the complexities that Motherhood can bring – which is anything but simple.  I love the paradox; that’s what I was working for. 

The background drawing is beautifully complex.  If you look carefully, you will see many things, including representations of faith, hope and love – but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Leave me some comments to let me know what you think.