Fun foods for children

Do you have picky eaters? Children who would only eat certain colours of food or vegetables only or meat only or must-have-milk...

I'm fortunate to have a little one who eats all the food that we place on her tray as long as she can chew them.

Have found a few websites that have very interesting food that will appeal to children. Easy to make, appealing and fun to eat. Well, could be a little too nice to eat. =)

1. Familyfun.com
This site has just about everything from main meals to desserts to snacks and finger foods.

2. Milkdeliveries
Have children who can't have enough of dairy or don't want to have anything to do with dairy? Try these.. Main meals, desserts, shakes, smoothies and more.

3. Pork 4 Kids
Well, the name of the site said it all. Pork recipes for children. They're categorized by age group, so starting from 6 yrs old to 15 yrs old.

4. Kidspot
An Australian social networking site for parents, it has foods for all occasions and ages.

What To Expect After Giving Birth

You've packed your bag ready for baby's birth, bought enough diapers to fill up a guest room, learnt how to change a diaper, probably even started expressing milk to get your supply going.

But what about you, the mum, after birth? What about you, the dad?

With all the attention given to the newborn, it can be very overwhelming for the new parents. I felt the same. I wanted to give the baby away, even though I loved it at the same time.

I'd like to make a few suggestions :

MUM -
1. Have lots of sanitary pads handy. You'll need them after giving birth because of the bleeding. It'll take a few weeks to clear up.
2. As much as breastfeeding is recommended, don't stress about it. The more tired and cranky you are, the less likely you're able to provide. A bottle or two of formula a day won't hurt bub.
3. Take time to go out with your partner. Having a new person who doesn't talk is difficult. It can affect your time with your partner. Going out together helps to keep the relationship going. And while you're out, talk about yourselves. Not the bub.
4. Have some time out with friends. Invite them over or go out and have a cuppa. You'll need it to keep yourself sane. That's right - caring for a new baby can eat up a lot of you (physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally). Taking time to keep up with friends give you something else to think about.

DAD -
1. Be patient with your partner. It's not an easy time for both of you, but the women have to cope with hormonal changes, settling bub, breastfeeding and they don't need additional pressure.
2. Keep an objective view on things. It helps the mum to see things in a different perspective. Mothers get so caught up with doing things well for bub that they sometimes don't see things the way they should.
3. Bring your partner out on a date. Arrange for a trustworthy babysitter. Let her relax and just have a chance to talk to you.
4. Have a paper and pen handy at all times. If you think a pregnant woman has a short memory, a new mum who is breastfeeding and lacks sleep is no better. Help her to remember things by writing them down.

Do you have other suggestions for new parents?

Growing Up Requires Courage

Growing up takes a lot of courage. Not just getting older in age, but in character, maturity, thoughts, etc..

For a baby, the first thing it has to do is get out of mum's womb, where food and water is provided 24/7. There is no need to ask for anything. It does get rather uncomfortable inside towards the 9th month, being big and not enough space, but hey, everything's provided!

Once it decides to move on to bigger space, it has to come out of the womb. From then on, all sorts of challenges and growing situations is presented. Learning to ask for food/milk when it can't communicate in mum's language is a growing and learning process.

Learning to soil nappy and get changed is another part of growing up.

Then, there are solids, crawling, walking, reading, talking, puzzles, settling to sleep...

All these when given the opportunity to develop on their own and with encouragement, can help children to grow up confident and have the courage to meet challenges that come their way when they grow up into adulthood.

Remember reading this somewhere, but cannot remember under what context nor who said it. But this person said that being married to his wife for over 30 years, he cannot remember every meal that his wife cooked. But he knew that every meal that was prepared, cooked and consumed gave his energy and nourishment for his life.

Similarly, our children may not remember all that we've done for them in helping and guiding them to become able adults, but take heart, every little thing that we say or do, impacts their little lives.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. - Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

Too Cool About Falls?

Since day one that my daughter could sit, crawl, stand, climb and walk, I've let her fall on her face, let her cry, get up and move on again. Was told that I don't comfort her enough. Children need to feel loved and secure. Picking them up after a fall tells them that mum and dad are still around.

I have an issue with this kind of parenting.

1. Children can be loved in different ways. Picking them up after a fall does not necessarily mean loving them.
2. Children need to learn to pick themselves up and not depend on adults all the time.
3. Children need to learn to be independent within their means.
4. Parents cannot be with them 24/7/365.
5. Self-confidence takes time to be instilled.

I like to know that my children are able to stand up and try again after falling down. This can be in any time of their life. Starting from pushing themselves up after tripping or falling gives them the confidence that they can keep trying. I give them the encouragement and praise needed to help them along, but they gain the confidence and problem solving skills for life later on.

However, to be honest, everytime she falls, I had to refrain from rushing to her rescue. It hurts me as much to see her walk into a cupboard or fall over a ball. But now, if it isn't bleeding or bruised, she'd whinge a little, get up and continue on her way.

You and I may have different parenting styles. How do you respond when your little one falls while trying?

Hard Boiled Eggs

I've boiled eggs countless times. I've been disappointed and annoyed by them just as many times.

The traditional way of boiling eggs was to put the eggs in cool water, then bring to a boil Depending on the hardness of the egg, you boil for certain amount of time. Some egg lovers have also poured boiling water over raw eggs, cover up and wait about 7 minutes for a half-boiled, very soft egg.

This method is very costly in many ways:
1. Water wasted.
2. Time wasted.
3. Energy wasted.

I was sent an email some weeks back and since then, I cooked my boiled eggs differently.

Try this and you'll love the simplicity and efficiency!
1. Place a paper towel in your rice cooker.
2. Depending on the hardness and number of eggs, either sprinkle water or put in 5tablespoons of water.
3. Turn on the rice cooker to cook.
4. Once the rice cooker indicates it's keeping warm, you can remove the eggs and enjoy!

There's a bit of trial and error here with the number of eggs and how cooked you want it to be.

Try it, test it and you'll come to see what I mean.

Not going back to the water boiling method anymore.

Ling's List - My Dream Come True

Have you ever had a dreams and goals when you were a child? I did. We had composition writing in school and almost every year, there'd be a topic titled : My Ambition / My Dreams / What I Would Like To Do When I Am An Adult...

I went through being a teacher, a police officer, a housewife, a journalist, an actress, a librarian and also having my own bookshop.

Most of what I dreamt of have come true and by no means mine. God works in wonders and He has made it possible for me to be many at the same time.

I'm a mum.
I'm an educator - I run a Family Day Care and that requires me to teach them.
I'm a housewife - I work from home and I do my housework too. Husband helps too.
I'm a qualified journalist - Graduated with a diploma and a degree in Mass Communications and Journalism.
I am now also a bookstore owner.

Having my own bookstore was one dream that was archived into the cupboard of impossible. First, to have the money to open a shop is already impossible. Secondly, having to purchase books is also a huge investment which I do not have.

However, after starting my own home-based business as a family day care mum, the thought of having an online store started bugging me last June. I thought and researched and planned. Prayed and talked to family and friends.

What should I sell? What should I call it? Where will I find my market?

Ling's List was finally born in February 2009, after 2 months of working on the website. Had to take a lot of first steps : Contacting and sourcing suppliers, learning about secure payments, listing items, etc. I bought a few items that I was not satisfied and did not list them. They're still sitting in my guest room.

The site sells books, ebooks, educational and gift items, beads and pendants. God has been good. He provided an average of 2 sales a month. I would like to see Ling's List grow into a stable income source, but it would not be possible if God's hands were not in it.

So, another birth of an idea in 2009. Do you have any birth of ideas to share?