"Keep it real" articles by other people

http://www.mamamia.com.au/parenting/stories-of-parenting/

#17 You give me fever!

My little walking Petri dish...

It's an interesting way of describing a child, but that's how my friend at work described Jemma when I told her about our horror week we had just been through. 

Toddlers' tendency to run around, touching and mouthing anything they can get their little digits on, gives them a bad reputation as being dirty little carriers of disease... Growing warm bacterial cultures on their bodies, ready to be unleashed on any unsuspecting sucker. Ha ha, it sounds like a B grade horror film.

Well...I guess we've been pretty lucky, to get to 16 months without too many fevers, colds and lurgies.

But last week our unsuspecting walking Petri dish contracted something from another alleged walking Petri dish... "Hand foot and mouth disease". She had a fever for 2 days followed by spots on her hands, feet and mouth causing pain and preventing her from eating. Fun fun fun!

As a parent, you never want your child to be sick. It sucks! 

As a human, the first impulse is to play the blame game. " Where did it come from?" Oh it must have been that dirty, public toilet change table or the toys at playgroup or the playground at the park... but it's all to no avail, you will never know where these strange diseases came from.

The next inclination is to compulsively clean and wipe down every object and toy she may have handled and then the same for your child to make sure that this never ever happens again. "If I just make sure she washes her hands alllll the time... she won't get sick!" Brilliant idea! NOT! You know I try to keep it real, it's basically part of my personality, and I really don't think that I could be that meticulous. So out the window that idea goes. 

And then you just come to the realisation that toddlers will get illnesses... They all do...and yes it's hard but you just have to deal with it when it happens the best way you can.

Winston Churchill once said "if you're going through hell, keep going!". Smart Man. You will get through it... And then you'll have an experience to write a blog post about... I guess. Keep it real :)

#16 KIR quote of the month

Thanks to my sister for this one! 

#15 Shhhh... It's a secret!

One of the things I loved about being pregnant was maternity clothes. To be honest I didn't have to buy many. I borrowed some and just made do with what clothes I already had but the few that I did buy and wear, I thought it seemed to be a very well kept secret that they are the most comfortable clothes you will ever wear.

The roomy tops, stretchy dresses and the pants... Drooooool! 

Maternity pants are the best! The reason is because they have this wonderful waist band sewn into them. To anyone else, you are wearing normal jeans but what people don't know is that the stretchy waistband goes from your hip to almost your neck, in some cases, and it makes them soooooooooo comfortable! No more unsightly underpants showing in the gap between the pants and top. No no no no!! Not a chance! And, No more T bar! Fashion faux pas averted and comfort achieved :)

All this said, and to keep it real today, I'd like to proudly announce that even having given birth 1 year ago, I still wear my maternity jeans. I love them and I'm not giving them up for anyone or anything. Don't be afraid to follow suit! Comfort rules! And no one would be able to tell anyway. 

Oh and btw... That was me yesterday in K-mart looking around the maternity wear section... And, no,  I'm not pregnant again. Just keeping it real! 

#14 Freedom!!

It was my husbands 40th birthday last week and to celebrate I bought him and I tickets to one of his favourite comedian's shows happening in conjunction with the Sydney comedy festival. 

He was really excited about it and so was I. More excited than I have been about something in a long time. But why? Although I like the comedian too, there was something more to it. And then it dawned on me. This was the first proper outing we had been on as a couple for a long time... Sans kid! 

During the night everything seemed so easy... No car seat, no pram, no baby bag, no feeding, no bed time, no crying... No baby... It was utterly weird. 

It's amazing how quickly you adapt to your new life. We had been married 10 years before Jemma came along and never really realised how free we were.

You know what I learnt from this experience? 

Every now and then you need a break with your partner. It sounds logical right? But I didn't realise how long it had been... It's freedom and it makes you love your baby and partner even more.

So guys, my non-expert advice today is " Go out and have a good time without your Bub every now and then." It will feel absolutely strange but It's 100 percent worth it! 

Keep it real :)

#13 The 1st birthday

Well hello, I haven't blogged for a while but today I am stuck inside due to heavy rain so I have time to catch up on stuff like this.

Since my last post my Daughter had her first birthday and I'd like to say that I kept it real for her party... That we had a small cake and celebrated with the grandparents.... but that would be a lie :(

    I just couldn't do it! Sorry to have a moment of KIR weakness but...You see... that would have been all well and good if we weren't so blessed with people who genuinely love and care for Jemma but soooooo many people deserved to celebrate with us I just couldn't stop myself.
   So I went a bit over the top. We had lots of decorations, a couple of games for the kids, way too much food, a gazebo, a brightly coloured rainbow cake topped with smarties and edible glitter, kids music and the list goes on. Ooppppps! 

  Having been through it now, as a parent, I think a child's 1st birthday is incredibly important. Not necessarily for the child...as you can guarantee they won't remember it...but for the parents and community who have managed to somehow keep them alive for a full year! That is an achievement not to be scoffed at and my husband and I wanted to publicly thank everyone for their contribution to Jemma's life. A lot happens in that year. It still blows me away to think about it and it's certainly worth celebrating however you feel comfortable... I did however decide to hold back on the jumping castle and petting zoo this year. That would be going too far....Even for a proud mum like me :) KIR the best you can! 

#12 Enough said

Enough said! 

Keep it real :)

#11Trolley Folly

I like the thrill of the chase... Finding bargains...you know?... Well you can certainly do that at Costco. We went on a family outing there this afternoon with some friends who have a membership... Shout out to Bel and Dave... Honestly I really enjoyed it. We had a lot of fun with our daughter and our friends and we got some cheap stuff which is always good when you have a family but despite generally having the power to block annoying things out, I couldn't help but notice one thing. The lack of manners and consideration shown by those around us. 

  

People of Australia I ask you... Have manners gone out the door? What about consideration? Out the window? 

At Costco everyone has a huuuuuge trolley to carry their huuuuuuge bulk supply of toilet paper and, suffice to say, those things are not easy to manoeuvre. So, would not a little order be called for? Nup... Trolleys going here...going there...without a care in the world...except to nab the next bargain of course.

That's why I've invented a super hero for Costco to help customers enjoy their shopping experience a bit more... 

Enter "Nanna Manner"! 

A wise old gal who confronts those who show a lack of manners and consideration and puts them back on the right track.

She tells people to keep left unless overtaking another trolley.

She outlaws kicking, spitting, pulling and pushing.

And she enforces vigilance and mindfulness to those around you at all times.

Costco... If you're listening... You need Nanna Manner pronto. Actually scrap that... Australia YOU need Nanna Manner... I think we might be a confused nation when it comes to manners. I don't want the country that my daughter is inheriting from me to be like this in the future. Something must be done!

"Nanna Manner... Save us!"

K.I.R :)

#10 K.I.S.S

Sorry to disappoint guys but this is not a "How to" guide to kissing. Actually now I think about it it's much more boring than that. Nevertheless... I choose to continue. 
   You may recall in post #1, I mentioned that I have some mantras for my life... Well today, in conjunction with International day of happiness, I have decided to talk about one of them. " Keep it simple" and by "it" I mean life. 
  Since I can remember, I've never wanted to live a complicated life. My parents will even tell you stories of my telling them this at a very young age. " Mum, I just want to live a simple life." I would say. And for the most part I think I have to this point. Although, having Jemma has certainly added another layer to my life... All be it, one which I don't regret a bit and which gives me great joy.  I do often wonder though, why?, as humans, we seem to need to complicate. I think happiness can come from "just being"...being content with what we have. I understand that there are circumstances out of our control that can help to complicate our lives but I also think that some of us look for something to complicate our lives. Better Job, more money, new clothes, bigger house, more activities to do with our kids etc. 
The happiest moment I've had this week was sitting in our big red reading chair just cuddling my baby after reading a book. That was enough.
What would life look like if we didn't pressure ourselves to have more, more, more and just said Enough, enough, enough... Be content...and arguably...happy?

Just something to ponder this week... Keep it real people! 

P.s Happy International day of Happiness for Friday 20th :) 

#9 Things to look for when buying a... Pram

Warning: The following piece is an attempt at satire and sarcasm. Please don't take it too seriously!

Things to look for when buying a...

Pram

These days there are so many Prams on the market that it can be hard deciding which one to buy. Here is a fool proof list of things you need in a good pram.

1. Wheels- always good to have wheels. They keep the pram moving.

2. A seat - it's nice to have somewhere for your child to sit in a pram. Comfort first!

3. Handles- these make pushing a breeze!

4. Big basket under the seat- Holds more stuff... Like shopping bags!

5. Brakes- help to prevent rolling accidents on hills and train platforms and keep the pram steady on a bus.

6. Sun hood- stops nosey onlookers from taking a sneaky-peek at your baby at the shops... Oh and UV Rays... It keeps those pesky strong Aussie UV Rays from hitting the silky soft skin of your bub... Hence aiding the prevention of skin cancer.

7. Straps- nothing like strapping a child down... No...but seriously... They're a good safety feature... Especially on hills and train platforms :) 

And remember to take this helpful list with you when you go to the Baby Warehouse to buy your pram! You can't go wrong! 

K.I.R!!!!

#8 Food Preparation

Today I'm gonna write about food time... For the baby?...No. For the parents. Hey... You gotta look after yourself too.

You see, feeding my daughter is not a challenge. She'll eat basically everything at the moment...including cockroaches, leaves and cardboard boxes. But this is the issue. Every time we go to eat and "guzzle guts" is around she wants some.

So in these situations if you, the parent, wants to eat anything, you need to be prepared to either let them eat your food or keep them occupied with something else while you eat. Otherwise you could have a battle bigger than Galipolli on your hands. 

In this post I'm going to focus on the types of foods that work well for us in this situation.

1. Tacos, Burritos and Fajitas

These kits are great! All you need is the kit, tomato, lettuce, mince and cheese.

Feeding method

The brilliant thing is that you can play tag-team with someone else while eating. 

Picture this: 

You make sure the baby is being looked after by someone and you go to the table of pre-prepped Taco ingredients. You fill your taco and eat it. Then take the bub off your partner, occupy the little one and let them eat. Then, when they are finished their first helping, give the child back to them and repeat. Makes life easier for all.

2. Vietnamese rice paper rolls

All you need is rice stick noodles, rice papers, chicken, prawns or mince, fresh mint, Coriander and a bottle of Asian style sauce. 

Feeding method

It's really the same feeding method as above only with different ingredients.

This one is sooooo fresh for Sydney's summer.

3. Beef ravioli

Latina makes it and it comes in a packet which can be accompanied by a microwaveable sauce. Boil the pasta, microwave the sauce. Done. Sometimes we add other veggies too. So easy!

Feeding method

This one was a good one to share with Jemma. Even though she still has no teeth, the soft texture of the pasta was quite appropriate for her. She loved it! 

That's enough for now about food. I'm getting hungry.

Be prepared, keep it easy and most importantly... keep it real!

#7 Save it for a rainy day... Not!!!!

Maybe I'm stingy... or maybe just frugal?... but one thing I know is that I get really annoyed when I think companies are trying to cheat me out of money just because I have a child. So I guess I try to go out of my way to think of ways of entertaining my daughter that don't cost a bomb. Don't get me wrong... I'm happy to pay for entertainment as a special treat. I'd just rather not make it common practice for her to expect expensive outings as she grows up. Sometimes you may have to think creatively but seriously, we live in Australia. We have an outdoor culture and there are so many things to do. In most streets, let alone suburbs there are parks with playgrounds. Then there are beaches, rivers, creeks, bicycle paths, skateparks, bush walks the list goes on. I guess perhaps, the trouble can come when we experience rainy days and we need indoor activities. Well before you go out and spend $100 + to take your family to the movies because you can't think of anything else to do...here is a tip.
Use what's around you. 
   Living in Western Sydney can be both a blessing and a curse. There is an abundance of fast food restaurants, shopping centres and hardware Megastores and my family happens to live on a main road opposite a number of the aforementioned stores. Before having my daughter I saw them as more of a curse. Obesity inducing eyesores that proved tempting when tired and hungry after a long day at work... but now as a parent I see them in a new light.
The playgrounds rock! I can walk my daughter across the road and I have instant entertainment at my disposal. Even in the rain!! And the most I will spend is perhaps $3 for a coffee. sweeeet! Then i started thinking more widely.
Shopping centre playgrounds! If you live in western Sydney I recommend Rouse Hill Town Centre. The play areas there are top notch, as are the baby change rooms and I have also discovered that the library has a wide variety of kids books and a lovely reading area.

Thinking about it... you probably know this stuff already. Sorry if you're thinking "duhh" ...but as my daughter is only 10 months old and just started walking these thoughts are new and exciting for me. I guess...Enjoy life with your bubs and don't think you have to spend a fortune for quality time with them. They love you no matter what. Think creatively and Keep it real. Over and out.

#6 All worked out!

    I experienced something special last week. I officially went back to work after a year of Parental leave. I wasn't sure how I would feel about it... but, all in all, it was fine. I haven't gone the whole hog, as in, 5 days a week. Just a modest 2 days and I have amazing Parents and in-Laws looking after my baby but it's crazy weird how different it feels to Pre-baby. It's like everything is the same and then you remember her and you're like "oh I wonder if Jemma is ok?"
Then you check your phone for updates and conclude that no news is good news and then you always seem to have this feeling that you need to get home.
And when you get home, this overwhelming feeling of guilty love comes over you and you just wanna kiss the chubby little cheeks off her and give her your undivided attention for the rest of the evening.
So... I feel a bit guilty but although she is only 10 months old, I feel that she has to start learning that Mummy will not always be with her 24/7. She'll have to adjust to spending time with others. Whether they are grandparents, carers, friends, teachers etc. and I feel like this will make her a more social and better adjusted member of society. A wise colleague once said to me " It takes a village to raise a child". Now I get that! I may feel a bit guilty but I hope in the scheme of things it will benefit my daughter. Keep it real guys!

#5 Public Opinion

    

There is only one letter difference between the words "public" and "pubic" and when I think about it, they can often evoke the same feeling. You can see the distain on people's faces like they've just been made to drink their own urine. Why?? What's wrong with public stuff?

When I think about it... I have always been a happy "public stuff" user. 

As a baby I had my swimming lessons at the local public pool, I went to school at the local public schools, and I traveled to University and work on public transport. It was always comfortable, convenient and sufficient for me.

    So why wouldn't I have been happy to have my baby at a public hospital? Well guess what? I did (Cue urine face of distain). I even had my daughter at one of those dirty bogan Western Sydney public hospitals. Whoa! (double urine face of distain).

Now, I'm not saying I had a fairytale pregnancy and birth, where I was treated like a princess and felt no pain. I, by no means expected that. But to keep it real I'm saying that the service and care that I received was always professional, comfortable, convenient and sufficient. I walked out of that hospital with a beautiful healthy baby girl and I didn't have to pay a cent for it. Except as a tax payer, of course. What an incredible country Australia is. To support tax funded healthcare. I'm extremely grateful for our "public stuff" and when people bring up public vs private with me, you won't see a urine face of distain if you choose to go public. You'll see a smile and nod in support. K.I.R my friends K.I.R!

#4 Stuff it!

Im not sure what it is about humans, but it seems that we all looove gathering stuff. I wonder if this trait is a primal instinct or something we are conditioned into by those around us? Looking around the room right now, I see a whole lot of stuff, most of which I don't need or use very often. Books, ornaments, toys, the list goes on. Even my daughter doesn't seem to be playing with a lot of the toys as much as she should be...

So this brings me to a question to ponder today. 

Do we need heaps of stuff to raise a baby? 

The TV will tell you that you do, so will the shops... and the Baby Expo you went to last month thinks you need all kinds of paraphernalia. But stop... Take a deep breath and think... Before I have this baby what do I need? NEED? 

Here are some things I remember needing during the first 3 months with my baby.

Nappies ( more than I expected I think I exceeded 250+ newborn nappies)

Baby wipes ( heaps) 

Muslin wraps and bunny rugs ( have a few) 

Onesies ( prob enough for 3 a day) 

A bassinet ( basic) 

A bouncer/ rocker ( basic)

Cloths for Wiping reflux

Milk ( breast or bottle) 

That's not much hey? They pretty much eat, sleep, cry and Poo. 

Try not to get sucked in! Just try to keep it real Peeps! 

#3 Does Sex matter?

 

 Although my daughter is 9 months old she has fair hair, as my husband and I were both fair as children. That's all good but she also doesn't have much of it and this is where my keep it real parenting stems from today.
   I was in the supermarket a few days ago and my daughter was in the trolley seat. At the check out there was a couple possibly in their late 60's waiting behind us.
Jemma likes looking around at people and it wasn't long before she caught their eye.
" oh isn't he a cutey" they said. I just went along with it but then for some reason it dawned on the lady that she might be a girl. " yeah she's a girl but that's ok" I replied. Well the lady proceeded to get very embarrassed and tried to justify why they thought she was a boy.
   I went in to explain that I really wasn't offended. It was perfectly fine. People do it all the time. Hey... I've even done it.
   Why is gender such an issue even at such an early stage of life? Why do people think it's such an issue if their boy likes playing with dolls or if their girl likes playing with trucks or if they wear pink or blue. I thought we were past this in 2015.
So on the issue of my daughter being called a boy, I know she could pass as a boy because of her short, fair hair but I really don't care because she is a happy, healthy, alert, inquisitive beautiful person. Yes... PERSON! Thats what counts to me! Just trying to keep it real, I guess :)

#2 Go with your gut

    Before my daughter was born I had no idea what the hell I was doing. There was advice coming thick and fast from anyone and everyone and I appreciated that. I hope that I listened politely to everyone and was genuinely interested. But after 9 months of potentially conflicting advice, I came to the conclusion that despite everyone's good intentions, I am the only one who knows my body and the child kicking and moving within it. So I decided to "go with my gut" literally! Ha ha...What is my body telling me today? What will it be telling me during labour? I didn't worry about whether I would breast feed or bottle feed. My body would tell me. I wasn't concerned about how much pain relief I would need during the potentially many hours of labour. My gut would let me know! It somehow liberated me! And it meant that armed with everyone's advice I may or may not use it. Phew.
    Now, if I was to offer you any advice it would be just that. We are all different and I can't comment for anyone else but for me, this really worked. GO WITH YOUR GUTS GUYS!!
You're welcome! Just keepin' it real :)

#1 keepin' it real!

      I have a few mantras for my life. Some I refer to more than others and will not bore you with most of them in my first post...But if you know me... perhaps you could guess that "airs and graces" and "pretences" are not my thing. I prefer to "Keep it real". 
      Since becoming a parent 9 months ago I have applied my "keep it real" mantra to child rearing. I agree that there are certain things you need to buy and know about, being a parent... but I have observed that it is very easy to be swept up in all the excitement of having a baby and walk out of some stores poorer than a beggar at Central Station on a rainy day. So i have decided that this Blog will try to "keep it real" for Mums and Dads out there. Don't get sucked in!!! Easier said than done... I know :)