Bayside MamaMag April/May 2017

BAYSIDE

mamaMAG Apr/May 2017

WIN front row TIckets to DISNEY ON ICE presents FROZEN Sam Wood Shelley Craft Fermented food Pet perfection Pap test changes

free Local fun for the Bayside mum 1

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ready, set, fIt I couldn’t have timed this Food, Health and Wellbeing issue better. Let’s be honest, we probably all ate and drank just a tiny bit too much over the Summer holidays and this mama was not looking her finest once the school year rolled in. When a dear somebody (AKA gorgeous boy I drink a lot with) suggested we both s ign up for FebFast, I jumped on board the opportunity to keep myself accountable for a month. But whoever decided the last month of Summer was a good time to give up the booze was kidding themselves, right?!

I persisted however, (minus one night half way through where I had an emotional meltdown resulting in a momentary slip and slipped a cold chardonnay in) and I also took the opportunity to overhaul my food and fitness as well.

I don’t normally write about businesses in MamaMag, but I’m sure you’ve already heard me bang on about Sam Wood before. I’ve been signed up to his 28 program since August but have been literally throwing my money away, not finding the time or motivation to do the workouts and not bothering with the food. But my February was going to be different, with the magazine every second month now I finally had a little me-time so I had a crack. Wow! Turn the page for my wrap up!

With the bi-monthly format I’ve also been taking the opportunity to spend more quality time with my kids.

Poor little poppets spend most weekends at Dads so fun-mum time can be few and far between. Tuesdays have now become date night (except tonight as the mag goes to print tomorrow). They absolutely love the opportunity for some excitement on a school night.

We’ve done vJunior movies, bike rides to the park and we’ll often do a playground visit where they play and I run laps. The new park down at Webb Dock even has a outdoor gym. Talk about fitness multi-tasking, who am I!?

But seriously mamas, if you take care of yourself, you simply become a better parent, a better partner and a better you. Progress not perfection though. It’s now March as I write this and yes I’m enjoying a glass of red while I type! Cheers! xxx @localmamamag

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WIN

Contents Simple Sam Sam Wood’s simple health and fitness

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4 FRONT ROW TICKETS TO

Parklife 8 Booran Reserve Glen Huntly Shelley’s a bit Frozen Talking all things Disney

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Turn the page Favourite books from Story Mama

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Fermented foods The low-down from Steph Lowe

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Simply swimming The benefits to children

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Food, health and mum Get the best you

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Veggie love Getting your kids to eat their greens

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Sam can cook Recipes from Sam Wood’s new book

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Check out the fun at www.DisneyOnIce.com.au

Pap tests are changing What you need to know

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MamaMag is published bi-monthly for the mums of the Bayside area by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd.

From stress to success Reducing the stress of separation

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Feeling hyp What is hypnotherapy all about?

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Pet perfection Why pets are perfect for kids

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Peace or pieces A mother’s story

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Kid’s colouring comp WIN a Junior Zookeeper Experience

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My home cooks’ revolution Beating Broccoli Ben!

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MamaMag April/May 2017

©Disney. All Rights Reserved.

The Winner will receive 4 front row seats and 2 merchandise bags.

PLUS 1 Runner Up gets 4 A Reserve tickets and 2 merchandise bags!

Visit our Facebook page to enter www.facebook.com/localmamamag

Tickets are valid to the Disney On Ice presents Frozen show at 7pm on 06/07/17 at Hisense Arena, Melbourne only. Entries are open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts April 1st 12.01am and closes April 30th 2017 at 11.59pm. Entries and prizes are not transferrable or redeemable for cash.

Visit www.mamamag.com.au for full terms and conditions.

ABN: 26 042 138 550. PO Box 8018 Brighton East 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au

10,000 copies per issue in the Bayside area: Bayside, Glen Eira, Kingston and Port Phillip.

Editor in Chief: Sarah Cavalier National Key Account Manager: Justine Whatmore: justine@mamamag.com.au Bayside Advertising Sales: Daniela Simonetta: daniela@mamamag.com.au Cherise Berley: cherise@mamamag.com.au Like to contribute an article submission? submissions@mamamag.com.au For advertising enquiries: download our media kit from www.mamamag.com.au or email info@mamamag.com.au The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission of the publishers.

Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

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sImply sam So I’ve been an supporter for the lovely Sam Wood for some time now. There are plenty of reasons to love him and he is simply the nicest guy you will ever meet (who won my heart when he gave single mums across Australia a little ray of hope by giving that final rose to stunning mama Snezana). But while Mr NiceGuy has been busy tackling the challenges of nurturing a high-profile relationship, being a new step-dad (he struggles with making school lunches!) and running numerous businesses, he has also been sharing all of this journey daily with his other family, his “28’ers”.

I first met Sam in the early days of MamaMag when he had both his gym and Gecko Kids running in Hampton, so naturally I hit him up for some advertising in the mag!! A few months later he suggested I come and try out this new concept he had called 28, although the catch was he was off to Sydney and I’d have to wait a few months to start. Turns out that Sydney jaunt was him filming The Bachelor!

Sam’s been a personal trainer for 17 years, so he knows his stuff and I couldn’t wait to trial his new program. As a business owner working countless hours, I am always putting work (and the kids) before myself. And as a single mum I’m not blessed with the opportunity for fitness outside of school hours either. So I decided it was time for some me-time and I’d give his new program a crack. And it worked, I lost 6.15kg in just 5 weeks.

Fast forward 18 months and sadly I’d let that hectic lifestyle creep back up on me and was also plagued by an injury. 28 by Sam Wood was in full launch now and I couldn’t be a part of it and I let all that weight creep back on.

But rest assured I’m back. When a special someone convinced me to sign up for FebFast recently I thought it was the perfect timing to have a crack at the 28 program again with all my heart. And I can’t begin to tell you how fabulous this journey has been... again.

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So why is it so good?

The unique aspect of Sam’s program is the workouts are devised to be done anywhere, anytime. You don’t need to have any experience because he demonstrates exactly how to perform every single movement. Sam is there every step of the way with live videos several times a day and constant contact through his private Facebook community.

What’s cooking?

The food is filling and delicious and counting calories is a thing of the past because Sam, and his nutritionist Steph Lowe, have done all the hard work for you. They have a saying “trust the program” and you simply do. Eat what they tell you and the results will speak for themselves.

Check out three of their fabulous recipes from Sam’s new cookbook on Page 24.

Sam’s tips Document yourself. Take before and after photos and measure your body on the scales and with a tape measure. Only weigh yourself every 14 or 28 days and always on the same scales and the same time of day.

Make sleep a habit. Just like making exercise and nutritious food part of your daily routine, setting a schedule for going to bed and waking up will help you get better quality and more consistent sleep.

Dear Diary. Sam is a big believer in making sure that 28 minutes goes into your diary as a priority appointment, one you’d never break. Making that commitment to yourself daily is absolutely key.

Remember his motto: “Progress, not perfection”. We live in the real world and Sam recognises that you do too.

And the verdict for my 28 experience round-two: 6.5kg in six weeks. This mama is back!!

By MamaMag Editor-in-chief Sarah Cavalier

Why is it different?

Sam has come up with a program where you cook quick, simple, tasty meals, you dedicate 28mins to exercise everyday (there’s even Yoga with Snez on the weekend) plus mindfulness and meditation thrown in as well. With minimal effort you can easily make this part of your life.

Photograph: © Chris Middleton

Real Food Nature knows best, and so does Steph!

She says the best thing you will ever do is minimise your packaged food consumption.

Stick with natural nutrition and your body will thank you. Make you number one goal JERF – Just East Real Food. Fuel your body with vibrant, colourful, nutrient-rich, real food. It tastes delicious.

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BRAND

NEW

Parklife BOORAN RESERVE- CNR BOORAN & GLENHUNTLY RD, Glen Huntly We’ve been watching the construction of this beauty for sometime now and are beyond excited it is finally time to play!

Scheduled to open these school holidays, Glen Eira’s newest park will be an exciting and diverse addition to the area. Built on the site of an old reservoir, the park celebrates its unique history with parts of the reservoir wall retained to accommodate a climbing wall, sports hit-up wall and ball sports area.

The play space areas provide stimulating and challenging environments for all ages and abilities, and includes water elements, climbing ropes, a double flying fox and swings. A water play area reflects the former use of the site and there are active sports areas as well as passive spots for relaxation, picnic shelters and BBQs.

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It’s expected the opening weeks will be very busy, especially during the school holiday period, so to avoid delays and congestion it is recommended you utilise nearby public transport services. Take the train to Glen Huntly Station, 300 metres away on Glenhuntly Road or try the tram to stop 58 on Glenhuntly Road, which is directly in front of the main entrance to Booran Reserve.

Limited car parking is also available off Alamar Avenue, and additional all-day car parking is available at nearby Glen Huntly Park (250 metres). Please remember to check the signs as parking restrictions apply in local streets.

During the school holidays, Glen Eira Council staff will be on-site daily between 10am and 4pm to assist visitors with any enquiries.

LIVE!

A Rainforest

Adventure

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shelley’s A BIT frozen

2017 marks 30 years since Feld Entertainment first toured Australia with an ice show and to celebrate they’ve invited Shelley Craft to be their celebrity ambassador! From the early days as host of Saturday Disney and now being the mother of two girls, Disney On Ice presents Frozen is an excellent fit! We chat to Shelley about Disney and juggling motherhood with a busy TV career.

How did you feel when you were asked to get involved with Disney On Ice? It is a true honour to be the Ambassador for Disney on Ice presents Frozen. I have always had strong ties with Disney, so I was thrilled and humbled to be honest.

I’m sure Disney on Ice Frozen certainly ticks a lot of boxes in your household. What are your girls, Milla and Eadie, looking forward to most?

We have been regular Disney on Ice goers for the last few years, so they know the magic of Disney. I think this time around, to see the full Frozen story brought to life will be amazing.

Meeting Anna and Elsa is something I’m sure they are banking on.

My daughter (also a Milla) is not a very girly-girl and when she was invited to her first Frozen party a few years back she went as Sven the reindeer in amongst a sea of Anna’s and Elsa’s! Who are your girl’s favourite Frozen characters?

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Oh I love that! No, we are very much girly-girls in our house and as I have 2 girls it’s Anna and Elsa all the way – only decided upon as Milla is the eldest – she is Elsa and Eadie (luckily) is happy to be Anna.

You’re never far from the spotlight with The Block and many other shows to your name, but perhaps many of our readers don’t know you are also part of the fabulous children’s entertainment group “Animals Rock”. Can you tell us a bit more about this and how this came about and where it is going?

Yes, I love kids entertainment as it really is my roots. Animals Rock is a blues/rock band that introduces children to the amazing world of music and animals. We learn about habitats, instruments and animal characteristics through super cool songs that don’t drive parents mad when listening to it on repeat or in the car.

Sophisticated music with a message presented in an entertaining way for all kids. We are mainly aimed at preschool age but there is something for everyone.

Speaking of animals, we’ve got a great article this issue about the benefits of pet-ownership on the wellbeing of our children. Do you have any pets at home?

Of course!! I am a huge advocate for animals in the home. I always had animals growing up, dogs, cats and horses. It teaches you so many life lessons. Responsibility, care-taking, sensitivity, independence. We now have a dog named Aldo, he is a 3 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback and he is Eadie’s best friend. The girls also have a Siamese fighting fish each in their rooms and they have to feed and clean the tanks.

You’ve grown up with a very strong work ethic. Your first job was at McDonald’s when you turned 15. When the girls were born you were back to work in days. So obviously having children has not slowed you down!

How do you manage a busy schedule, filming in Melbourne and juggling kids so well?

Like all mums and families… you just do it. I try not to be too hard on mys elf if some things fall by the wayside. Your kids will never remember if the house was clean or dirty but they will remember if you didn’t make time to spend with them or be there for the important events like school events or even tuckshop duty. So, I have learnt to sacrifice some of the things that used to really matter to me, like clean rooms and made beds for the much more important things like reading at night and school pickups.

Don’t sweat the weekly ins and outs but DO make time for a holiday and downtime together at least once a year. That’s what the kids will remember – not the weekly grind.

You now call Byron Bay home. It must be a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of film sets and events. What does an average weekend look like for you and what do you love doing in your down time?

Weekends are sacred in our house. Christian is in real estate, so often Saturday mornings are just girls’ time. We may go out for breaky or hang by the pool. Once Serge is home we either head out for an adventure or visit friends

or have BBQ’s at our place. Sunday starts with Nippers at the beach and then a lazy walk home through town before chilling for the afternoon again with friends or family. We make sure the weekends are for recharging in the school term.

Tell us 3 things you couldn’t do without as a working mum?

I have to put my husband at the top – Christian (Serge) is a super dad no doubt. Then tuckshop, calendar, speed-dial friends!

Without a live-in nanny or family help nearby I’m sure your husband Serge is a bit of a super Dad. Tell us about him.

Extraordinary is the only word for him. He is the ultimate partner. He understands my work and I love his work so we help each other out as much as possible. We decided to have a family together and that’s what it means to us. Together. He is not a babysitter when I am not home – he is their dad and the girls love dad time.

With Mother’s Day coming up shortly, how do you celebrate your special day?

Same as every other day I hope. Lots of cuddles and kisses… not too many grumpy words and plenty of family time. Get it where you can!!

Any funny parenting tales you’d like to share?

Every day is a comedy act in our house… whether a comedy of errors or just funny times.

The girls love performing – but only for family and friends, they are quite shy when it comes to an audience. The singing is getting a little out of control and Eadie is forever begging Mills and I NOT TO SING! Perhaps Eadie would like to sit away from Milla and me at Disney on Ice because it is going to be one hell of a singalong!!!

You can catch all the DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS FROZEN - LIVE ON ICE! fun at Hisense Arena from 5-9th July. Tickets available through Ticketek. And don’t forget to enter the MamaMag competition to win yourself 4 Front Row Tickets!

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turn the page A Curry for Murray by Kate Hunter & Lucia Masciullo Molly makes slippery duck pasta for her brother’s headmaster, spit-roasted geese for the local police. After making a curry for her neighbour Murray, Molly’s delicious dishes are in demand! Now everyone wants a taste of her cooking.

We liked this one because it features a little girl cooking curry for her lonely neighbour. We especially love that it shows all the ingredients that go into her curry, and all the other dishes Molly makes her friends and neighbours. Anything that raises awareness about food and cooking and ingredients has to have some impact on fussy eaters right? We recommend for ages 4-8.

You Are What You Eat by Serge Bloch When it’s time to eat, be a tough cookie and try something NEW! Mealtime should be a piece of cake, but this finicky eater eats like a bird. Maybe he’ll discover that variety is the spice of life!

I love food. Great food is one of my favourite pleasures in life. Sadly to date, master 3 has not yet inherited any kind of desire to try new things, or to enjoy sitting down to a meal! So in the interests of attempting to sort his fussy eating, I am grabbing my favourite tool – a picture book. This one follows a fussy eater as he has dinner at a friend’s house. With lots of humorous food related sayings and a mix of photos and drawings, it eventually gets the little boy trying new things. Cute. Perfect for kids age 3+.

Crusts by Danny Parker and Matt Ottley Jacob is just one of millions who won’t eat their crusts. But he’s one in a million when it comes to bright ideas. This is a story about crusts and intergalactic travel.

This is 2017 Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable book is a fun story. The little aliens come down to earth to save their crumbling planet with crusts. They are delighted to find Jacob’s left overs that he has hidden from his mum. Jacob is oblivious to the aliens and builds all sorts of creative things out of his crusts like replicas of famous sculptures and wheel barrows. Eventually he invents just the right thing to save the Alien planet. A story full of creativity and imagination, this is a winner for kids age 3-8.

Wombat Wins by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley The school sports day is on and Mothball wombat is competing! She eats.

She sleeps. She scratches. But can this wombat win?

This is a great read aloud for fans of Mothball the wombat. She accidentally wins a sack race, a swimming race and a football game at a school sports day.

The Wombat books are always fun and this book is no exception. Great for sporty kids age 3-7.

Debbie Hatswell is a Melbourne mum and the founder of Story Mama.

Story Mama is an online children’s bookstore featuring a huge range of carefully curated, parent recommended, high quality books for children ages 0-9. You can shop online by age, by interest, by award winners or even by milestone. Buy these titles online or find out more at www.storymama.com.au 12 12

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fermented foods In recent years the popularity of gut health has sky rocketed and products such as ‘Yakult’, ‘Vaalia’ and ‘Activa’ have landed in our supermarket fridges. Is improving your health as simple as these companies would like you to believe? The truth is NO and I’m here to tell you why yoghurt just isn’t enough.

Why gut health is essential As Hippocrates said “all disease starts in the gut”, so too does all health.

Gut health is essential as it is the good bacteria in the gut that assist in food breakdown, help produce essential nutrients and allow for greater nutrient bioavailability (via predigestion). Without the right balance, nutrient production, absorption, digestion and assimilation is sub-optimal. This has powerful implications for health and vitality; immunity and protection from food allergies and intolerances; cognition, memory and overall brain health; natural detoxification pathways; growth in children and adolescents; exercise performance and recovery; weight loss ability; and the list goes on…

Did you know that over 95% of serotonin receptors (our happy hormone) are located in the gut? Take a moment to consider what the mood implications of poor gut health could be.

Gut health is not self-regulated There are many reasons why the world we live in, our choices and our behaviours are no longer supporting our gut health. Here are just a few: Poor nutrition: Inflammatory foods, such as gluten and refined sugar, kill good gut bacteria and allow bad bacteria to thrive.

The introduction of modern practices like refrigerators, canning and preservatives, has also meant that the probiotic nature of traditional foods has been destroyed.

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Stress: We live in a modern world. We are stressed, busy and chronically tired. We are constantly exposed to heavy metals and environmental toxins and our gut health just sometimes can’t compete.

Modern medicine: Antibiotics, synthetic prescriptive drugs and the oral contraceptive pill all kill off the beneficial bacteria in the gut. Restoring your gut health is particularly important after exposure such modern medicine techniques.

The truth about probiotic yoghurts When you think of it this way, it’s actually not possible that non-organic, pasteurised, sugarladen dairy could ever be considered healthy, let alone a way of improving your “second brain”. Here’s why: • Non-organic dairy can be subjected to hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, and the cows are often fed cheap grains to fatten them up. Grain-fed produce is high in inflammatory omega-6 and should be avoided at all costs.

• Pasteurized dairy is subject to high temperatures to destroy impurities, which at the same time, destroys the nutritious constitutes. The truth is that the calcium actually becomes insoluble, the vitamin C is damaged, and 20% of the iodine is destroyed, just to start.

• A large majority of store-bought yogurts are laden with sugar, particularly the low fat/non fat/skim/light/lite versions, where the fat is reduced or removed, and sugar is added to improve the texture, taste and addictive qualities of the product. In addition, pasteurization turns the milk sugar, lactose, into beta-lactose, which is far more soluble and therefore more rapidly absorbed in the system. This causes a rapid rise in blood sugar and the associated crash, both of which are detrimental to our hormonal control, satiety, energy management and long-term health.

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• Additional poor quality and artificial ingredients: “Yakult contains high quality, simple ingredients including water, sugar (sucrose), skim milk powder, dextrose, flavours and live Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain. Yakult LIGHT also contains polydextrose (dietary fibre) and sweetener (955).” *This information is taken directly from the Yakult Australia website.

Sucrose? Skim milk powder? Sweetener 955?!

In case you’re not sure, 955 is sucralose, more commonly known as Splenda. It’s an artificial sweetener known to be up to one thousand times sweeter than sugar, and definitely not something you should be putting in your body.

So if not yoghurt, what?

If you can tolerate an organic grass-fed full fat yoghurt, then it is a good source of probiotics, although to control the treatment of the cultures and ensure the quality of the product it is always best to make your own. However, there are some fantastic natural alternatives to other store-bought, sugar-laden, pasteurized yoghurts. This list should provide plenty of variety, which is essential to ensure you get a large variety of bacterial strains and rotate your choices frequently: Probiotics: To get started, supplement with a high-quality practitioner brand of probiotics.

Choose a high strength product that contains the most strains of bacteria.

Kefir: Kefir is a probiotic drink made from “grains” (tibicos), which act like the starter culture in yogurt. Traditionally the grains are added to milk and fermented via the lactose, or milk sugar. For dairy free and vegan options, both water kefir and coconut kefir can be made.

Fermented vegetables: Fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut are one of the easiest and most convenient sources of good bacteria.

Fermented foods in general contain billions of beneficial microbes, which drive out pathogens and therefore protect gut integrity. In addition, the bacteria pre-digest the food for us, which means we have greater access to nutrients.

There is actually 20 times more bioavailable vitamin C in sauerkraut than in fresh cabbage!

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Bone broth: Bone broth is one of nature’s true superfoods. It is packed full of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus and provides gelatin and collagen for cell integrity and healing. While everyone will benefit from adding bone broth, it is absolutely essential for those with leaky gut, celiac disease, Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune conditions.

Kombucha: Our final gut health item is kombucha. It is made from a starter culture (known as a “scoby”), sugar and tea. When double fermented, it becomes a fruity fizzy drink and a great replacement for soft drink, as hard as it may be to believe!

How to start improving your gut health, naturally • Take one high-quality probiotic in capsule form a day, just in case you don’t get any probiotic food or beverages in.

• Make a batch of sauerkraut and you’ll see how easy it is. Adding 1-2 tablespoons to a main meal is easy.

• Buy a roast chicken to add to your salads and preserve the carcass for bone broth, or simply ask your local butcher or farmers market for bones. They cost $2-$3 per bag!

• Purchase a bottle of kefir and/or kombucha and see if you like the taste.

Start small and choose which is most convenient for you. One to two serves per day is plenty to start. If your health improves, then you are on the right track. If not, gradually add a little more each week. Trial and error is key.

Have fun with it. Focus on what you eat first and incorporate probiotic foods for optimal health, digestion and immunity.

Written by Steph Lowe, a Melbourne sports nutritionist, triathlete and cashew butter addict!

She is also the resident nutritionist for Sam Wood’s 28 by Sam Wood program and cookbook. www.thenaturalnutritionist.com.au 28bysamwood.com

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simply swImmIng Why is swimming simply so good for our kids?

Overcoming a phobia of water opens the door to the healthiest activity for kids… and one they’ll forever love.

A mum takes her two daughters swimming.

They’re trying out for their local swim team.

Her seven year old son tags along but is scared of putting his face in the water and is basically pretty disinterested in the whole business.

Because of his fear, he is allowed to just float around on his back.

Which worked out pretty well for him. Last year, twenty-five years after his first trip to the swimming pool, that boy won his 28th Olympic Gold Medal. His name is Michael Phelps.

That scenario might sound familiar to many Aussie mums. Up until the bit about their son winning 28 gold medals, anyway.

There are tons of kids who were “scared of the water” but went on to achieve remarkable success in the pool. Take Rio Gold Medalist Adam Peaty or Aussie legend Mack Horton, who only started swimming to overcome his phobia of the water. Ian Thorpe, meanwhile, may not have been afraid of water but he was allergic to chlorine. That didn’t prevent him from winning five Olympic gold medals for Australia!

There are many inspiring tales of swimming heroes from around the world. They all relied on their mums and dads to get them to the pool and the encouragement of their coaches to develop their confidence, skills and passion for the water.

So, don’t be concerned if your son or daughter doesn’t immediately take to the water. Don’t worry if they aren’t “water babies”. With the 18

right coaching and guidance, they can easily overcome their fears and learn to love the water.

Swimming isn’t about gold medals. It isn’t about the Phelps, Thorpes or Hortons. For most of us, swimming is about health, fun, relaxation, self-improvement, flexibility, strength, balance, and both physical and mental wellbeing. In fact, for kids, swimming is just about the healthiest activity going.

For a start, you can exert yourself more while swimming than running because the water has less impact on the body, so kids can exercise longer and get more benefit out of it. Plus they suffer fewer injuries.

Your body weighs less in water, meaning children with weight issues find it easier.

Children who swim regularly are shown to be less prone to obesity and related health issues such as diabetes.

As cardiovascular activity, swimming has huge benefits for the heart and lungs, especially important for growing kids. It is also a great stress reliever, essentially like meditation.

Studies have shown swimming is extremely effective for children with autism or who have attention disorders. And joining a club teaches teamwork and collaboration as with any team sport.

Learning water safety makes kids self-aware and aware of others. It is also great fun most kids love being in the water.

So wouldn’t it be a shame if your children missed out on all that exercise, or all that fun.

You never know, maybe your own seven year old who moans about getting their face wet might be the next Michael Phelps one day…

By Michelle Whytcross Operations Manager at Aquastar Swim Schools www.aquastarswim.com.au

NEW LOCATIONS NOW OPEN!

Food, Health In my practice, I often see the stress women feel whilst striving to strike a balance between being a healthy mum, feeding their children good food so they too can be healthy, and having the time to do what needs to be done in-between to achieve this. For example, finding the time to exercise, time to shop for food preparation, and time to even think about a meal plan or what to have on it.

So often I hear mums say they prepare good food for their children but do not have the time to prepare it for themselves and end up eating the food scraps that their children have left behind. Or worse they live on biscuits and coffee and then feel guilty about their bingeing episodes.

Putting yourself first is paramount as a mum.

When you are on a plane flight you hear the flight attendant say, “in the case of an emergency please put your own mask on first before fitting the mask of your infant”. Just as on a plane, in life if we don’t look after ourselves first, we may not be fit to help our children.

As a mother you no doubt have little time for yourself. To avoid feeling resentful about this you need to look after yourself so you can thrive and feel happy, calm, and clear headed as a mum.

If you are not used to putting yourself first or simply feel too guilty about it, the first step is simply awareness that you deserve to feel and be the best you can be. This new awareness will also reflect on to your family, creating a happier household.

Through small changes you can begin to feel so much calmer and happier that you will then see yourself the benefit in changing your focus to you, instead of only the guilt.

You can start by: We often feed our kids first and then get frustrated because they are not eating, taking too long, or complaining.

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and Mum

By eating a meal as a family, you will not only avoid HANGRY feelings, but by having them watch you eat you will set an example to them.

You can encourage your children to try the foods you are eating without having to force, coerce, or bribe. Family mealtime is also the perfect opportunity to display appropriate table manners, meal etiquette, and improve social skills.

Schedule in the calendar at least once a month if you can manage a girl’s catch up, or otherwise take yourself to the movies, have a massage, or read a book, just anything that’ll give yourself some quality me time.

Seek professional support with your health. It’s so hard to think positively, have more energy, and feel happy and healthy if your body is out of balance.

I love this quote written by Marianne Willamson and read by Nelson Mandela at his Inaugural speech 1994. It is what I personally strive for and what I hope for my clients, to be free, happy and healthy. Know that you deserve it.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

By Rosanna Mosca, Feeling Healthy Yarraville feelinghealthy.com.au

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veggie love Kids and veggies sometimes don’t mix and can be the age-old dilemma of every parent! We know that the key to a long and healthy life is to eat a rainbow of chemical and pesticide free veggies, but short of hiding and blending veggies in sauces, how do we get our little tots on board, not just for now, but forever?

How do we give them one of the greatest gifts possible…a lifelong love and appreciation for healthy, clean eating?

1. Where possible, buy newly harvested organic produce. It tastes better. Fact. Seems like an obvious statement, but serving up veggies that actually taste good will get the littlies eating what you put in front of them. So, ditch limp, lifeless and nutritionally void produce and go as fresh and organic as you can!

2. Persist and enforce the ‘one bite rule’. Make it an absolute must for your child to take ‘one bite’ and try the veggies put in front of them. But don’t force them to finish it…they just need to take one bite. Research has consistently shown that a rejected food, introduced 8-10 times eventually leads to familiarity and acceptance.

3. Let’s be honest…kids couldn’t care less about ‘being healthy’. What they do care about is being a beautiful princess or as strong as their favourite AFL player. Use this knowledge to your advantage and highlight to them the nutritional value of veggies…that carrots will make your eyes sparkle and that spinach will make you kick goals like Chris Judd!

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4. Empower your kids and give them choice.

Get the kids involved in the preparation of food and more importantly let them choose what they what to eat. Let them choose their pizza topping and what goes in their rainbow salad.

Show them what mother nature has to offer and let them choose.

5. Educate! Children are sponges and are a lot smarter and open to positive reinforcement than we give them credit for. Teach your kids that food is a labour of love and not just picked off a supermarket shelf. Take them to a farm, or get a weekly box of seasonal organic produce delivered home. Teach them the names of different veggies and explain that at different seasons, we get different fruit and veg. Make them shell fresh organic peas and see them delight in the incredible taste and realisation that peas don’t come from a packet!

Ramya Megna is the Girl Boss at Bayside Farmbox who has successfully used these tactics (and the occasional bribery tactic) to mould her 8 and 5 year olds into little foodies!

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SAM can Cook!

Mama is super excited about the launch of Sam Wood’s new cookbook. As a seasoned member of the 28 program, I know first hand how amazing the food is, and I’m lucky enough to be able to share with you a sneak peak of what’s in his gorgeous new book.

Breakfast - Quinoa porridge with banana & walnuts Ingredients:

Method:

250ml almond milk, plus extra if necessary

Heat two-thirds of the almond milk in a saucepan over a medium heat until warm, then add the quinoa, stirring well.

Bring to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring, or until all the liquid has been absorbed.

100g quinoa, rinsed 1 teaspoon rice malt syrup 1 tablespoon frozen blueberries ½ small banana, sliced 1 tablespoon roughly chopped walnuts Serves: 2 Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes

Remove the porridge from the heat and stir in the rice malt syrup and blueberries, then divide between bowls. Scatter over the banana slices and chopped walnuts and pour an extra 2–3 tablespoons almond milk over each bowl if you prefer a thinner consistency for your porridge. Serve.

I like to double the quantity I need when making this, freezing the second portion for next time or enjoying it as a snack later in the week.

Nutritional info: Energy 1517kj, Calories 363cal, Protein 8g, Fibre 7g, Fat 14g, Saturated Fat 1g, Carbs 44g, Sugar 12g.

One of Sam’s favourite sources of carbohydrate, quinoa also has a super-high protein content, making it a perfect source of nutrition for vegetarians and vegans.

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Who doesn’t love fritters?

These are one of Sam’s favourites!

Lunch - Sweet potato & zucchini fritters with smoked salmon & avocado Ingredients:

Method:

1 zucchini, grated 1 small sweet potato, grated 2 handfuls of coriander leaves, roughly chopped 2 eggs, beaten 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 tablespoons psyllium husks 35g coconut flour, sifted 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Sweet potato is an excellent natural carbohydrate, rich in fibre and when combined with protein and good fats from eggs and avocado, it’s great for blood sugar control.

TO SERVE: 100g smoked salmon 2 avocados, mashed freshly ground black pepper 1 lemon, cut into wedges Serves: 4 Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes

Mix together the zucchini, sweet potato, coriander and beaten eggs in a large bowl, then add the cumin, psyllium husks and coconut flour and mix together really well to form a nice, thick batter.

Divide the fritter mixture evenly into eight pieces and use your hands to shape each into balls.

Melt the coconut oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the fritters and flatten slightly with the back of a spoon, then cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until cooked through and golden and crispy on the outside.

To serve, divide the fritters among plates and top with the smoked salmon and mashed avocado. Season with freshly ground black pepper and serve with lemon wedges for squeezing.

Nutritional info: Energy 1293kj, Calories 309cal, Protein 12g, Fibre 14g, Fat 18g, Saturated Fat 5g, Carbs 26g, Sugar 12g.

These recipes are an edited extract from 28 by Sam Wood published by Hardie Grant Books. RRP $39.99. Available in stores nationally from April 18th.

Photography: © Chris Middleton

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Dinner - Malaysian fish curry Ingredients:

Serves: 4 Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes

2 red chillies, deseeded and roughly chopped

Method:

2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 1 lemongrass stem, white part only, roughly chopped 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1 x 400ml tin coconut milk 270ml coconut cream 1 small sweet potato, diced 2 x 100g firm white fish fillets such as whiting, cut into 2 cm pieces handful of green beans, chopped 1 small zucchini, chopped coriander leaves CAULIFLOWER RICE: 1 cauliflower head, cut into large florets 1 teaspoon coconut oil 26

For the cauliflower rice, place the cauliflower florets in a food processor and blitz together briefly into rice-like pieces. Set aside.

Add the chilli, garlic and lemongrass to a food processor with the spices and 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Whiz together to form a paste.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the paste and cook for 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Add the coconut milk, coconut cream and sweet potato and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the sweet potato is soft. Add the fish pieces and simmer for a further 10–15 minutes until cooked, adding the beans and zucchini for the final 5 minutes of cooking.

Meanwhile, finish the cauliflower rice. Melt the coconut oil in a non-stick frying pan over a low–medium heat. Add the cauliflower, cover with a lid and cook for 5 minutes until soft.

Ladle the fish curry into bowls and garnish with a few coriander leaves. Serve with the cauliflower rice.

Nutritional info: Energy 2195kj, Calories 524 cal, Protein 21g, Fibre 8g, Fat 42g, Saturated Fat 37g, Carbs 13g, Sugar 10g.

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Pap tests are changing Pap tests are changing in Australia – what does this mean for you?

Before we get started, here are a few handy facts: • The Pap test (also called the Pap smear test) is a simple test that checks for changes to the cells of the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer • The cervix is a part of the female reproductive system that connects the top of the vagina with the base of the uterus (womb) • Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by a virus called HPV, which is short for human papillomavirus and also known as the ‘wart virus’.

So, what’s changing with the current Pap test?

On May 1, 2017, the Pap test is going to be replaced with a more accurate test called the Cervical Screening Test.

In the new test, the sample is collected in the same way as the Pap test – by taking a small sample of cells from the woman’s cervix.

However, the new test will be processed in a different way in the laboratory.

In the lab, the current test looks for abnormal cell changes, some of which may go on to develop into cancer. The new Cervical Screening Test will be looking for the cause of the abnormal cells: the human papillomavirus (HPV). In this way, the new test is a step ahead of the current Pap test and is a fantastic development for Australian women.

The new Cervical Screening Test is based on new evidence and improved technology. It will improve early detection of cervical cancer and

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save more lives. Pap tests have already halved the rates of cervical cancer since 1991, but we can do better. The new Cervical Screening Test will help to protect Australian women even more.

What else is different about the new test?

For those women who find getting a Pap test a little awkward or uncomfortable, we have more good news. Currently, the recommended time between Pap tests is two years, but under the new guidelines, most women will be recommended to have the Cervical Screening Test every five years.

Also, instead of starting the tests at 18 years of age, women will be recommended to be tested from 25 to 69 years of age. Women aged 70-74 years will be invited to have an exit test (a final test).

I have had the HPV vaccine, do I still need to be tested?

Yes. The HPV vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV infection that are known to cause cervical cancer, so it is important that you still get tested regularly.

What do I need to do now?

It is very important that you keep to the current schedule of two-yearly tests. You will then be due for your first Cervical Screening Test two years after your last Pap test. You will be prompted to make an appointment for the new test through the National Cancer Screening Register.

If you have any new symptoms (including pain, painful sex or abnormal bleeding or discharge) in the time between your tests, make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible to discuss these changes.

What else can I do to prevent cervical cancer?

• Take actions to decrease your risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI); for example, always using condoms • Consider the HPV vaccine. Speak to your GP about whether this option is right for you

On May 1, 2017, the Pap test is going to be replaced with a more accurate test called the Cervical Screening Test.

• Quitting smoking (or never starting) is a key step in protecting yourself against, and reducing your risk of, cervical cancer.

Published with the permission of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health. jeanhailes.org.au 1800 JEAN HAILES (532 642)

Most women will be recommended to have the Cervical Screening Test every five years.

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from stress to success Reducing the stress of separation If you are, or someone you know is, one of the many people who find themselves either embracing a new life this year or forced into it, there are five key things we encourage people to consider:

1. What will the journey be like?

It seems everyone has a friend who has separated. So often, the friends have had a hideous experience with family lawyers and the court system and are full of doom and gloom.

It’s really important to decide at the outset what you would like the tone of your separation to be. It may be that your separated partner doesn’t want the same journey as you, but it’s a start to know what you want it to be.

If you have kids, is it important to you to be able to functionally co-parent? Do you want to amicably resolve things and move on with your life?

Are you happy to spend lots of money and emotional energy having a big court battle, or would you rather resolve things far away from the court process?

2. Be supported by those around you, but seek professional advice As separation is so common, many people think they are experts. “Oh, you’re a mum with the kids - you’ll get 75%. That’s what my cousin got”. “Mate you won’t have to pay her spousal maintenance, my friend from work doesn’t pay anything to his wife”, etc.

Some people choose to start with seeing a mediator- an independent third party who can help them to have constructive conversations about their arrangements post-separation.

Alternatively, you could start with a child psychologist to discuss arrangements for the children, or with a financial planner or accountant to discuss property settlement and income support.

Whichever path you choose, we recommend at least speaking to a lawyer about any potential agreement and how to make sure your arrangements are made binding.

4. Putting things in writing.

Remember anything you put in writing to your ex, by email, text etc can be attached to an affidavit and presented to the court if you end up there.

And even apart from that, words have impact.

Think very carefully before you initiate communication of any kind and make sure you re-read anything you’re writing to think about the impact on the person receiving it.

5. If you have kids, take note The research overwhelmingly concludes that children do okay when their parents separate, provided they are not in the middle of conflict.

Family law relies heavily on assessing individual circumstances so what happens for one family won’t happen in the same way for the next. By all means, be supported by your friends, but don’t rely on what they say about practicalities.

Seek professional advice about your situation.

Remember, your child is half their mum and half their dad. Don’t criticize your ex around your children and don’t expose them to any arguments between you. Children need to be free to love and enjoy time with both of their parents.

3. Decide what advice you need

Although separation is often painful, with the right support, and with time, it will be okay.

It can be a good idea to start with speaking to a lawyer as they can act like your project manager and refer you for psychological, financial and other advice as required.

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If you see a lawyer who has trained in collaborative practice, they will have a strong emphasis on helping you resolve matters between you in a way that keeps you out of court.

By Jane Libbis, Bayside Collaborative www.baysidecollaborative.com.au

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feeling Hyp Hypnotherapy….what is it, how does it work and most of all does it work?

The origins of Hypnotherapy go back a long time. Trances have been reported throughout history. In the Western world hypnotism had its conscious re-birth in the 18th century and has been since refined and is widely used.

But what is it? Hypnosis is quite often described as guided daydreaming, a natural, altered state of consciousness or a relaxed, hypersuggestible state. All of them are right one way or the other. When people think of hypnosis though, they often think of a stage hypnotists who makes a person cluck like a chicken. Well, as funny as an effect it might be, that’s not what Hypnotherapy is about. Those people clucking like a chicken don’t do it against their own will.

They have been carefully pre-selected to be quite open to specific suggestions. Which brings me to one of the great and unfounded concerns that people have about Hypnotherapy: They fear that somehow they can be made to do things against their will when so instructed under hypnosis. But this is not the case and you will easily understand why.

Imagine our brain, that beautiful structure in our head that can weigh up to 1.4 kg. It has the grey outer structure, which is where most of our consciousness sits. Located underneath is our tightly protected subconscious part.

That’s the area where we store our fears and automatic emotional responses. Normally we are not even aware of it. But nevertheless, it can have a great impact on what we do and how we react to certain triggers. For example, let’s imagine a 5 year old girl gets attacked by a large dog. The subconscious part of the brain, that wants to protect us, files that under “dog = threat”, no distinction between large dogs or small dogs. From now on, whenever the girl sees a dog she’s scared because this is the information that the subconscious part of her 34

brain has as an automated response to dogs.

When the girl grows into a 35 year old woman that fear is still there, regardless if she sees a small tail wagging Dachshund or large fierce looking dog growling. Even if she consciously knows that small dogs are not a threat to her, the subconscious brain takes over because it wants to protect her and is stuck at the 5 year old level.

During hypnosis, which is a hypersuggestible state, a person with the help of the Hypnotherapist is able to access the subconscious mind. Based on the needs of the individual, the hypnotherapist can make suggestions that are understood and embraced by the subconscious mind and then lead to behavioural change, in this case the woman losing her fear of dogs. You can compare the process to trying to get into a nightclub: All the action, the dancing and interesting stuff is going on inside and on the outside you have the security guards making sure only selected people can come in. The security guards are the conscious mind and the people in the night club are the subconscious mind.

In Hypnotherapy we get the security guards more relaxed which allows us to get messages directly into the nightclub (subconscious mind).

One thing is for sure, those security guards (conscious mind) don’t relax if they don’t trust the person or the process enticing them to have the break. And somehow they can sometimes still be aware of what just happened anyway. Hence, Hypnotherapy cannot be used to manipulate somebody against their will.

So, what can be treated with Hypnotherapy?

The list is long and pretty much includes anything where the subconscious mind has any involvement in our behaviour or a function in the body such as anxiety, high blood pressure, chronic pain and weight loss. If you have been trying to lose weight and always fail

due to one reason or another, Hypnotherapy can be very successful. One of the options is to subconsciously install a virtual gastric band (VGB) during Hypnotherapy which then acts like a real gastric band in helping the body to regulate appetite and meal sizes. If you have issues with sleep, hypnosis is able to help body and mind to work together and allow restful sleep to happen. And what about all those smokers who have tried to give up, but it’s all too hard? Well, somewhere in the subconscious part of the brain something is holding on to this habit and with Hypnotherapy we can access the subconscious and work on it. Another area is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This is a condition which is characterised by recurrent abdominal pain associated with a change in bowel habits.

It can be quite debilitating and severely impact on a person’s quality of life. We now know that disturbances in the biochemical signalling between the brain and the gut (the so called Gut-Brain Axis) are responsible. Various studies have shown a demonstrable effect in the management of IBS with Hypnotherapy. Most recently a 2016 trial conducted by the Alfred Hospital in conjunction with Monash University demonstrated that Hypnosis was successful in 72% of participants in comparison to 71% of persons managed by diet.

To sum it up, Hypnotherapy can be used to successfully treat a great variety of complaints.

However, it is important to find a therapist who you feel comfortable with and whom you trust.

Stephanie Rother is the owner of Infinite Health Concepts and a qualified Hypnotherapist, Naturopath and Meditation Teacher. She practices in Bayside. www.infinitehealth.net.au

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pet perfection Five benefits of Pet-Ownership on the wellbeing of our children A house without a pet is like pantry without chocolate – it’s okay, but could use a little joy.

It’s evident that pets are our link to paradise.

They don’t know jealousy (well, maybe just a bit), evil or discontent. To sit with your pet on a hillside on a splendid afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing just that – enjoying isn’t called “doing nothing” but it’s called “peace”.

Apart from the enjoyment and love part, what’s also good to know is that there is evidence pointing at multiple benefits of pet-owning for a child’s development and his/hers healthy upbringing. Additionally, children with social, emotional, behavioral or learning disabilities/ disorders can extremely benefit from the presence of and interaction with a companion animal. Kids who are typically introvert become more confident and their quality of life improves immensely. As for the kids who are hyperactive, their focus on learning becomes clearer and their behavior gets positively changed.

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Pets aren’t a phenomenal option for kids only but for the adults, as well. Interacting with these lovely creatures, adults are prone to put aside their ongoing problems and re-shift the energy to love and play. With this, they immediately become happier, more cheerful and optimistic.

For every household which is holding pets or considering to get a pet for their child, here are the benefits that’ll arise from this decision.

In short, this is what owning a pet will do for your child:

1. Releases endorphins Releasing endorphins (hormones of happiness) is crucial in a child’s life. Interacting with pets helps release this hormone into the brain, helping the child feel content and loved. Solid proof to the beneficial aspect of pet owning is the numerous hospitals that now include a pet therapy program. Namely, the goal is to help young patients feel comfortable and relaxed by having animals around in a medical environment. And it’s not just that - patient recovery process appears to increase through positive interaction with the pets.

2. Builds up the immune system Research has shown that a child’s immune system is shaped up with pet ownership. Kids who get to spend their early childhood with a dog or a cat have a lower incidence of asthma and hay fever and are less likely to develop animal-related allergies. It is also great to learn that, according to the recent research, petowning families are more stable than those of children from non-pet owning families; the kids from the pet-owning families have proven to have built strong immune systems, particularly between the ages of five and eight. Also, they are known to fend off illness easier.

Additionally, pets can help speed up recovery time, lower blood pressure and reduce stress and anxiety. Children can immediately sense that the animals are unconditional in their love and affection which is making them feel joyful and loved.

cognitive language skills will upgrade. It is safe to say that “a pet’s simple presence provides verbal stimulus to help your child practice talking and socialising with another being”.

5. Builds up self-esteem and teaches responsibility Get your child a dog and you’ll witness positive attitude changes in their behaviour almost immediately! In caring for an animal, children are acquiring foundation skills required for parenting. Additionally, “passage through the teenage years – a difficult time for many – is facilitated by a relationship with a nonjudgmental, ever supportive animal friend in whom one can confide fears and worries”.

The best choice you can make for your child is to get them a pet they’ll adore. After all, with so many benefits coming with this decision, why would anyone doubt it, right?

However, note that caring for your pets’ health must be taken seriously; if the pets aren’t properly groomed and looked after, they can develop diseases that are transmitted to people.

One of the most common diseases with such effect is Migrans Toxocara canis, so make sure you care for your pet properly.

Further, a child who owns a pet will, from early age, develop a sense of responsibility for another human being through chores like walking the pet, feeding them, helping them sleep, etc. A simple act of buying dog supplies noted in your kid’s “must do” calendar will mean a lot for their character build-up in the long run!

3. Improves physical health

By Olivia Williams Jones - Olivia is psychologist, dedicated to making some changes in the world, starting from her own environment. She is a proud mum of two silly boxers, Teo and Mia and is also a passionate writer about pets, parenting and healthy living. Her motto is “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

In the world that’s gone virtual and lifestyles that are becoming increasingly sedentary, having your child play outside is bliss! The animal magic is what will ensure this happens, which will be significantly increasing your child’s physical health. Plus, there’s exercise – for families that own a dog, walking or playing with it outside will be amazing for both the child and the dog. Then, playing chase with a cat indoors is a great way for people to burn a few more calories.

4. Increases the desire for socialising and increases verbal skills It’s honest, it’s emotional, it’s beautiful! Looking at the kids cuddle and snuggle with the pets while still learning to talk is beyond adorable and, at the same time, very powerful. Kids who are still learning to interact will first attempt this with their pets and, in such a way, get not only social and emotional support but also their

www.facebook.com/olivia.williamsjones twitter.com/OliviaWJones1

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.”

Will Rogers

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Apr 22nd & May 27th 9.30am-1pm St Johns Church Hall, Cnr Tucker & Centre Rd, Bentleigh Sausage Sizzle, Coffee Tea & Cake Entry Gold coin donation

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Thursday 9.15-10am Tinies

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Friday 9.15-10am Movers 3-4yrs

Call to book: 0419 641 477 Hampton Community Centre 14 Willis Street Hampton alanna@atads.com.au www.atads.com.au

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I feel like a Picasso. My self fragmented into different shapes and perspectives. Me. Broken off into cubist obscurity.

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Peace or Pieces Finding a peaceful moment can be hard when you are always in demand.

Sometimes as a mum I feel remarkably like the carcass of a zebra. Vultures are shredding bits of me at an alarming rate. There goes some heart, a hunk of brain, a bit of soul, even my bowels are no longer sacred. Ah. Here comes that lion. He is snatching away parts of me too. Sinking in teeth and demanding some of my flesh become his.

“You want a piece of me?” Sings Brittney Spears, a kindred spirit in being way too in demand. But kids, a partner and running a house are more relentless than the paparazzi. I don’t have the energy, attitude or youthful sexual confidence to chant “YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME?” playfully while simultaneously sticking out my boobs, flicking my hair and staring down my family with WTF eyes. I am more likely to lean hard on the sink and whisper into the dishes.

Multitasking and fulfilling the needs of children and partner and THE WORLD is not making me the glam super-mum I thought I would be.

Rather than filling my life with purpose and sense of achievement, doing too much makes me a bitter, burnt out, husk of a human.

And as if the vultures (my kids) and that handsome lion (their father) are not taking enough, always lurking nearby is that menacing hyena. Sneaking in and shredding what’s left.

Society has its own pull. The picture of a perfect mum on every packet, every ad. You know the one. She smiles kindly, patiently, stunningly with her eyes and Hollywood teeth. Her children’s faces are not covered in vegemite. Their hair is brushed and washed. In fact her whole family has perfect hygiene. Not a nit, week old t-shirt or eye-crust in sight. This ad-mum has a clean house with white stuff everywhere. White pillow cases. White walls. She doesn’t have stretch marks, cellulite or a saggy stomach. Her hair cascades, flows and shines.

The hyena has crunched my bones now. Not much left of me at all. Here come the worms.

Overload of social media and information

telling me to lose baby weight. Get into post-natal pilates. Don’t talk about post-natal depression. When will you go back to work?

Why haven’t you started a successful stay-athome-mum business and cracked a million dollars? Which playgroup, mothers group, kindergarten, school? Organise craft activities, healthy snacks, play dates. Which toys should and shouldn’t my children have? Cloth nappies?

Avoid chemicals, sugar, power points, sharp objects, roads… to be honest I was never even very good at looking after just me.

Multi-tasking, multi-giving, multi-organising, multi-being is not glamorous at all. And it was never a choice. It was thrust upon me like the dirty washing. I am writing this while breastfeeding, watching Octonauts, building a Duplo city, tickling a toddler, doing my pelvic floor and chopping an onion.

I feel like a Picasso. My self fragmented into different shapes and perspectives. Me. Broken off into cubist obscurity.

You know what. I’ve had enough of giving. I am going to steal some more moments for myself.

F. U. MULTITASKING. Breathe… Deeply… Who cares if the house is messy. It will build up our immunity if I don’t clean the floors. My toddler wanted baba (banana) and now he wants hairy head (fairy bread - which he had at a birthday party last week and can’t move on from), here you can have this carrot. For just a while I am not going to dive into the fuss. My family will learn agility and quick thinking if we have to spring our footsteps over toys on the floor and my children will be resilient if I ignore them for a while and let them entertain themselves.

When it all gets too much, I’m plonking my grotty vultures in front of ABC Kids, I will walk past the dirty dishes with my head held high and lean my back against the trunk of our jacaranda. I will half close my eyes and let my mind find peace watching sunshine zigzag through the leaves. Doing nothing at all is when I still feel whole.

By Melbourne mama Mim Cook 43

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My Home Cooks’ Out of curiosity this afternoon I looked into childhood obesity. I was stunned to read that 1 in 4 Australian children (25%) are overweight or obese (aihw.gov.au), and in the UK today nearly a third of children aged 2 to 15 are overweight or obese (gov.uk).

Yes, I double checked, and looked again!

It’s remarkable that in a world so set on slamming parents for feeding their children something that wasn’t sugar free, or bottle feeding their children rather than breast feeding, that we have come to this. Our children are getting fatter by the minute, and their teeth are rotting faster than a corpse in the desert.

Excuse me for thinking that this is possibly down to the plethora of “advice” from every which way. As soon as you pop out your first born, you are bombarded with horrifying stories of allergies, and incidents. Tales of someone’s uncle’s, brother’s wife who weaned her baby too early and now has an elephant for a kid who has thirty-seven allergies and an epi pen sellotaped to his forehead. You can’t eat this if you’re breast feeding, you shouldn’t buy that when you’re weaning, you must NEVER EVER let your toddler drink apple juice! It goes on and on and on. Even when your children start school and you’re making packed lunches, you pray that Justin’s mum isn’t on lunch duty, what if she sees that your carrots aren’t organic and you’ve not made your own hummus (shop bought is a no no these days).

This year I will be making lasagne as I love it, with pasta (full of gluten), rich red wine infused beef, and a mountain of crispy cheese of the dairy variety on top!

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We’re bombarded with messages that ring in our heads like Big Ben at midnight; a healthy outside starts on the inside; Be smart, Eat smart. Grown men, dressed like broccoli, shout slogans at you from the TV, like “I’m always in the mood to eat healthy food”.

Revolution Oh get lost Broccoli Ben and pass me the death by chocolate.

Why oh why are we constantly ambushed with all these highly patronising bits of advice from companies who are blatantly poisoning us from behind their “eat healthy” message?

As a mum of two I have become a dab hand at creating so called ‘healthy’ meals that the dustbin enjoys, whilst the children gorge on three-day old banana custard and toast with lashings of butter. After a twenty-minute battle with my 4-year-old to finish his sprouts, I promised myself I would stop insisting on following the trend, do my best and that’s it.

I watched on as Monty urged and gagged over the loo, and thought, that’s it, I’m not going to give in to the demands of “super mum” or “green granny” or even the yummy mummy’s at the school gate. I’m making a stand. I’m not prepared to spend endless hours blending, chopping and mashing a daily rainbow of vegetables so as they can be thrown in the bin or worse; regurgitated down the loo. I’m going back to the old me, pre kids, where I cooked and ate what I really enjoyed, the meals I remember from my childhood. I was healthy, not overweight, had a varied diet, full of the nutrients I needed. Unlike now, 9 years’ postpartum where I am seriously lacking vitamin D, my iron levels are beyond a joke, and my stress levels are through the roof. I blame all of this on one thing. The ‘Critical Crew’, the “Quinoa Queens” and the “Soya Sisters”. The mums who positively shudder when you say the kids had egg on toast for dinner. “What? Gluten? Excuse me? No greens?”

I’m not sorry that my children don’t like parsnip and harissa fritters with a sprout and avocado dressing. They don’t like spaghetti hoops from a tin for goodness sake. There is no way I could get either of my children to gobble up salmon with a smile on their face, even if it had been submerged in Nutella first. I’m fed up with creating names for meals that omit the “yucky” ingredient; I’m not calling Calamari ‘Spanish chips’ anymore!

This year I will be making lasagne as I love it, with pasta (full of gluten), rich red wine infused beef, and a mountain of crispy cheese of the dairy variety on top! I’ll be making homemade chips, apple crumbles, bangers and mash with veggies and lashings of gravy, pies, cakes, stews, Sunday roasts, bubble and squeak!! I won’t be cutting out this, substituting that, or limiting anything. I won’t need to. I’ll be cooking like my mum and dad did, and their parents did before that. I’ll be cooking healthy family meals, with no one sitting on my shoulder ‘advising’ me on how to add lentils to my already brilliant shepherd’s pie or make my morning porridge using quinoa. The statistics speak for themselves; Mum’s don’t need so much input when it comes to feeding their children.

It’s overwhelming, confusing, and mostly downright unhelpful, resulting in our bins getting full and our kids getting fat.

Family chefs, be true to yourself, you know what’s right, you know what’s good, you know your children. Don’t let anyone tell you anything different. Here’s to the true home cook’s revolution. #backtobasics

By Olivia Wilson, Owner/Writer, The Wilson’s of Oz www.thewilsonsofoz.com

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Saturday 6th of May from 10am–12pm All Oac campuses will open for a family fun bonanza!

Come and see what makes Oac so special?

• Meet the team and tour our specialised nursery, toddler and kindergarten environments • Family games & entertainment • Breakfast included To find your nearest Oac campus visit oac.edu.au Ph: 03 8529 5000 for enrolment/private tour enquiries

F R EE NE

YO & E V E RO M E !

W ELC