At The Table - February 2018

AT THE

REAL WOMEN | REAL CONVERSATIONS | REAL ISSUES

THE FOOD ISSUE FEBRUARY 2018

food allergies AND YOUR CHILD

detox

THE HEALTHY WAY

"TERMINATING MY BABY

WAS MY ONLY OPTION"

AS SEEN ON NEW ZEALAND

REAL WOMEN | REAL CONVERSATIONS | REAL ISSUES

contents

FEBRUARY 2018

table talk

Jo in us

13 18

16

10 THE BUSINESS OF GIVING BACK A social enterprise that feeds your family and another’s.

13 WOULD YOU...

Cater for different diets at your child’s birthday party?

18 TYRANNY, NOT FREEDOM

Everybody thought she should abort her unborn child.

24 BABY STEPS

Is raising a vegetarian child the first step to indoctrination?

32 BOOK CORNER 34 Q&A

With Julie Laws, our show’s irregular panellist.

how-to

10 24

PANELLISTS Fiona, Rachel, Shona, Melody, Rachel and Maryellen discuss a range of topics including current events, issues and family life.

6 WAYS TO COOK Teach your kids the different cooking methods.

16 FOREIGN OBJECTS When things not meant to be swallowed are.

22 COOKING WITH GIA & OLIVE Tapioca breakfast bowl; summer rice salad; dairy-free

29 parmesan cheese; tropical pops.

28 MANDI MAKES Bronzing bar; flea & tick powder for dogs; magnesium foot scrub; solid perfume.

30 FOOD ALLERGIES & YOUR CHILD

12

wellbeing

8 ASK THE EXPERTS 14 EXERCISE WITH ALISHA Detox your body.

PLUS healthy recipes, exercise tips, DIY projects and awesome hacks for around the home.

find us on social media @thetabletvshow

#thetabletvshow

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EDITOR Melody Tan

SEND ALL LETTERS AND SUBMISSIONS TO: At The Table magazine PO Box 1115, Wahroonga, NSW 2076 or email editorial@thetabletv.com

PUBLISHER At The Table is a product of

FREE MONTHLY COPY Julie Laws JulieLaws@adventistmedia.org.au

At The Table magazine is available free of charge thanks to generous donations. We ask you to pass it on to your friends after you are finished with it.

CEO: Kalvin Dever ABN 59 093 117 689 ISSN 2208-4010

COVER PHOTO by red_pepper82—iStock

VOLUME 2 NUMBER 2 The Food Issue

COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt 150 Fox Valley Road Wahroonga NSW 2076 thetabletv.com

@ thetabletvshow

GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Amuimuia

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February 2018

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february

s r e t let

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TO THE

hen my son, Elliott, was still a baby (which was really only about a year ago) and on formula, I used to think life would be so much easier when he started on solids. Gone would be the days of endless bottle sterilisation and lugging all his feeding paraphernalia—bottle, formula and thermos with hot water— whenever we went out (things got more complicated if we were out for more than one feed).

By about 14 months of age, Elliott did finally ditch his milk and start on solids, and I discovered I was chasing after fool's gold. Yes, the onerous task of sterilising bottles was over, but now began the headache of making him meals that are full of variety and nutrition, not to mention the uncertainty as to whether he would actually consume them. Just to keep me on my toes, Elliott didn't have specific foods he preferred, he had days when he preferred certain foods and I would, of course, be the last to find out what kind of "food day" he was having. You can read all about his food quirks on page 24, as I ponder whether wishing certain foods on him is a form of indoctrination.

This month's At The Table is all about food. It's the one common thing that binds all of us, young or old, Caucasian or Asian, male or female. The form it takes and the quantity may differ, but we all need to eat some time, and for some cultures, it's an important bonding tool. How challenging then if what you ate could actually cause you (or more devastatingly, your child) harm?

Julie Guirgis gives us the low-down on diagnosing a food allergy and how to manage it on page 30.

Then there's Rachel Golding, who has created a business not only to help busy mums easily put dinner on their family table, but to help those living with disabilities at the same time. How does she do it? You'll have to read her story on page 10 to find out.

I’ve been away but was pleased to see the At The Table magazine in my pile of mail. It looks great and I'm excited to read it and future editions.

—Karen

What a great magazine! I am giving it to the customers at my shop as well as folks who are looking for women’s magazines. It’s received really well.

—Denise

NICK LINDSAY

POGANIA—ISTOCK

Melody

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February 2018

What a wonderful magazine! The articles are relevant, useful and heartfelt and dare I say on quality paper.

I certainly went away feeling better having read them.

—Sandy

Letter of the Month Feeling like a superwoman after wiping the evidence of distracted parenting off my kitchen walls! Thank you, the September 2017 issue of At The Table magazine, for Mandi Makes All-Purpose Cleaner.

—Lindita

before

after

Drop us a line and win a gift!

What did we get right? What can we do better? What are the conversations you're having? What are the issues you're facing? The author of our letter of the month wins a free Arnie’s Shack: The Complete First Series four-disc DVD set, suitable for your children (or nieces or nephews)! Write to us at editorial@thetabletv.com

February 2018

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BACKGROUND: SABRIN DEIRANI—FREEPIK

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EXTRACTED, WITH PERMISSION, FROM HEALTHY KIDS COOKBOOK (DK AUSTRALIA, 2017), RRP $24.99.

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e h t as k experts

Q The father of my 16-month-old daughter has been in and out of her life since she was a few weeks old, and now he just turns up and pops in whenever he likes. I’ve noticed my daughter misbehaves and throws tantrums whenever her father is over. I feel he’s doing more damage than good in her life.

Should I be stricter on his visiting times and insist he spends more time with her, or stay away from us completely? Sarah, via email

OUR PANEL:

HEATHER WINTER MIDWIFE SYDNEY ADVENTIST HOSPITAL

NEIL GINSBERG PAEDIATRICIAN SYDNEY ADVENTIST HOSPITAL

TRISH GUY NUTRITIONIST SANITARIUM HEALTH & WELLBEING

KAREN HOLFORD FAMILY THERAPIST HEARTWORDS

ANDREW DARON PRATT PENNINGTON KIDS' CHAPLAIN GP SEVENTH-DAY SANCTUARY LIFESTYLE ADVENTIST CHURCH CLINIC

PETER WOOD OBSTETRICIANGYNAECOLOGIST SYDNEY ADVENTIST HOSPITAL

Q I'm 25 weeks pregnant and recently I've been feeling like I'm not getting enough air. I constantly feel breathless and have to take a very deep breath every 20 seconds or so. What can I do?

Lindsay, via email Breathlessness is a common occurrence during pregnancy. It is caused by the increased oxygen requirements of the placenta. Your cardiac output increases, which puts extra demands on your lungs too. This make you feel like you are breathless, even sometimes at rest, but it’s normal.

However, since there can be many reasons for shortness of breath, I would advise you to have a chat to your midwife or doctor. —Peter

Q How can I tell if my baby’s mild fevers are teething-related or something else?

Fevers in babies are certainly scary for parents and especially so when the baby is a newborn. A fever is normally an indication that the body is fighting illness and the baby’s immune system is functioning. It is most commonly caused by a cold or other viral infection, but it may be a more severe infection such as pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, ear infection or even meningitis. You can’t be too careful so a quick trip to your doctor is wise.

Most importantly, please go to the doctor as soon as possible in the following situations: if your baby looks unwell, if the fever lasts for more than three days and in particular, if a fever occurs in a baby under three months of age. Remember also, teething does not cause a significant fever, so don’t blame teething and ignore a genuine infection! —Neil

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RAPIDEYE, PEOPLEIMAGES—ISTOCK

Dianne, via email

Whenever I hear stories like this, I have all kinds of questions. There is so much more I’d like to know about you, your daughter, her father and your family life, before trying to give you a helpful answer.

I do think it’s really important to do what you are doing and to wonder about the effect of these unexpected visits on your little daughter, and also on you. It’s also important for girls to have healthy relationships with their fathers, whenever it’s safe and possible.

Sometimes a child has tantrums and misbehaves when they feel overwhelmed with emotions that are too big for them to handle, or when their senses are overloaded. At other times, their tantrums and behaviour help them to feel more in control of the situation, or to express their frustration and distress because they don’t have the words to express their thoughts and feelings. Watch your daughter’s behaviour closely and notice what is happening, thinking about the message she is trying to communicate to you.

It is most helpful when a visiting parent comes at a regular, pre-planned time.

In order to set some clear and helpful boundaries, agree together on the best time for everyone and stick to it. It's important to put your daughter’s needs for food, sleep and security first, and that dad comes when it's a good time for you too, because you are the main carer. It is important that visiting fathers respect these boundaries and organise themselves around the needs of the family, and not the other way around.

You could say something like, “I appreciate that you want to have a relationship with your daughter and that you take time to visit us.

When you turn up unexpectedly I’ve noticed that she is more likely to be overwhelmed by her feelings and it is harder for her to manage her behaviour well. We need to put her needs first because she is so small and she can’t tell us what is bothering her. So let’s try an experiment where you come (be specific about days and times) and see if that helps her.” Then see what happens.

If her behaviour continues, look for patterns. How long does it take before her behaviour changes? If she finds daddy-play overstimulating, encourage him to do something calming with her, like quiet play or stories. Sometimes children test the strength of a relationship by misbehaving. They might be asking the non-verbal question, “How much do you love me?”

As she grows up she will learn to talk more and express her own wishes about being with her father. Until then we have to read her behaviour and guess what she is feeling, so we can support her in the best way possible. —Karen

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS Write to us at: editorial@ thetabletv.com THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT YOUR PERSONAL SITUATION. YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHETHER THE INFORMATION IS APPROPRIATE TO YOUR NEEDS, AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

February 2018

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Struggling with the juggle between work and family?

Rachel Golding could be the answer, helping you put dinner on your table—and someone else’s.

THE BUSINESS OF

giving back

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February 2018

tection authorities. She came to realise that there was significant prejudice against these women.

“Asking for help was often seen as an admission of not being able to cope and might result in their child being removed,” explains Rachel. “But who, as a mother, hasn’t needed help—daily!— with caring for their children?”

The same prejudice was often reported by mothers with mental illness or mothers of children with disabilities.

“All of these women are more likely to experience poverty, poor health and greater rates of stress, depression and anxiety,” says Rachel. And so, she wanted her business to be able to support these women in a practical but compassionate way.

Rachel reminds me that we often hear inspiring stories about communities and families coming together after facing some sort of crisis. When we find out someone has a short time to live or that they’ve been in a life-threatening accident, we rally around them with support. This support can have incredibly positive effects on the person and their family and helps them cope better. Yet we seldom extend the same grace and support towards those made vulnerable by disabilities.

“Our society, on the whole, is not well set up for people with disabilities,” says Rachel. “In fact, people with disabilities are often further ‘disabled’ by the communities they live in. As a mum of three young children and a business owner, I know how hard it can be to keep the balls in the air—I drop them pretty often! And as a woman who has spent countless hours listening to women living with disabilities tell me about their daily lives, I know that in many ways I’ve got it easy.

“No-one ever questioned my decision to have children. No-one treated my pregnancies as a mistake never to be repeated. No-one asked how on earth I was going to manage, although I ask myself that a lot! No-one told me I’d be better off if my child had died at birth, that it was a tragedy that they lived, that they’d be better off in an institution or that they should be given to someone else to look after.”

SUPPLIED

A

ccording to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, a staggering 93 per cent of mums are consistently feeling rushed or pressed for time. And if you are one of the many who have just arrived home from work after a long hard day, the last thing you probably feel like doing is making a meal for your family. It’s worse if you’re not in a situation where your partner or someone else can help out, as you’ll find yourself torn between a rock and a hard place: do you take the easy way out and bring home cheap but convenient fast food or do you put in the extra effort—and time—of cooking a nutritious dinner?

Enter Rachel Golding, a Sydney-based mum who had a friend struggling to find time to cook healthy meals for her family. Knowing that Rachel had a talent and passion for cooking, the friend asked Rachel whether she could cook her some dinners that the family could heat up easily at home. Rachel could and did.

Word got out and other friends also expressed an interest in purchasing meals from Rachel for their families. It then got to the stage where Rachel was receiving emails from people she didn’t even know, asking if she could cook for them too!

“We care about what we feed ourselves and our families, but some days, there are just too many balls in the air to cook a proper dinner as well,” says Rachel. “Having ready-to-go dinners certainly makes my week easier!” Clearly there was a need out there. The sparks for a business idea began to grow.

But Rachel didn’t want to just be another ordinary food delivery service. As a “recovering academic” who began life as an occupational therapist and worked for many years in research on family and disabilities, she had regularly met with and interviewed a number of women with intellectual disabilities who had become mothers. These women were under enormous pressure from those around them and weren’t always given the opportunity to demonstrate they could properly care for their children.

Rachel chose to do her PhD on the experiences of these women and she paid special attention to investigating the experiences of those whose children had been removed by statutory child pro-

By Vania Chew

February 2018

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would you...

CATER FOR DIFFERENT DIETS AT YOUR CHILD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY?

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Dinner on the Table also gifts meals to families living with disabilities. “Each week, we support families living with disabilities. They order from the same menu and have their dinners delivered just like our paying customers,” says Rachel.

“Once we start supporting a family living with disabilities, we ask them to order enough food every week to feed their household twice.” The families use a unique code at the checkout that turns their balance into zero.

“The only people who know [these families] aren’t paying for their dinners are them and us: everything else about the way they use our service looks exactly the same as for our paying customers,” says Rachel. It’s another great example of what sets Rachel’s business aside from others: she treats all customers with equal respect and attention. At this point, more than 1000 meals have already been gifted to families living with disabilities, and there are still more to come.

“Every time you order from our service, we provide meals at no cost to families made vulnerable by disabilities,” says Rachel. “When buying with Dinner on the Table, you will not only change your daily life, you’ll change someone else’s.”

Last year, Rachel won the Women’s Business School Award at the 2017 AusMumpreneur Awards in Sydney. The award acknowledged Rachel as an outstanding Women’s Business School student who had achieved phenomenal results in all aspects of business through Dinner on the Table. It also noted that Rachel’s philanthropic involvement with the community set her apart—her business wasn’t just a business but a social enterprise passionate about giving back.

WIN $50

VOUCHER

For your chance to win a $50 gift voucher to use at Dinner on the Table, simply tell us how you are in the business of giving back. Enter at www.tabletv.com/DinnerOnTheTableGiveaway (Sydney only, sorry). Giveaway ends March 31, 2018.

SUPPLIED

The voices of women made vulnerable by disabilities are seldom heard during the work- and family-life balance conversation.

These women may either have a disability themselves or be caring for someone with a disability. They face the same responsibilities as other mums but generally with access to fewer resources while dealing with much bigger challenges.

And so, Rachel’s business, Dinner on the Table, makes a point of recognising that women living with disabilities are dealing with the same struggles of everyday life but with greater challenges. More than that, it aims to support every member of households made vulnerable with disabilities, not just the individual.

“One in six Australians identifies themselves as having a disability. Five in six don’t. One hundred per cent of both groups eat dinner every single day,” says Rachel. “It seemed to me practical support for one of the big tasks of daily life might just make a big difference to people’s lives.”

Dinner on the Table employs three staff in the kitchen, all of whom have personal experience of disabilities. They partner with a local disability service and a number of their clients volunteer in the kitchen each week, helping to prepare, cook and package meals. The business also works with a local school for children and young people with significant disabilities. The students help collect the kitchen’s vegetable scraps for their compost bins. The compost feeds their gardens and chickens, and in turn, they supply Dinner on the Table with herbs and eggs. The arrangement works well.

Since January 2014, Rachel’s business has grown exponentially.

“We deliver dinners across Sydney. We cook from scratch, use locally-grown produce and don’t use any nasties!” says Rachel. “We want our customers to be confident that what they’re feeding their families is real food, prepared just like they would. Our customers order via our website from our weekly changing menu and dinners are delivered to either their home or workplace. They can be ordered to feed a large or small family and require minimal preparation at home.”

MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES—ISTOCK

Rachel and the Dinner on the Table team hard at work in the kitchen.

would...

would not...

MANDY FERRY MELBOURNE, VICTORIA

SUZANNE WEXLER MONTREAL, CANADA

When you invite someone to a party, you want them to come and have a good time. This means, on occasion, you might need to consider their special needs. I also have an 11-year-old daughter who is coeliac, so she must eat gluten-free foods. So obviously, yes, I would cater for different diets.

In today’s society, we’re faced with the challenges for allergies all too often. While you may be focusing on the person celebrating their birthday or other special occasion, if you don’t make guests feel included and valued, it can really put a dampener on things.

I’d ask on RSVP for any dietary requests and then cater for them. I’d do my best to choose foods that support these requests and have them well-labelled. From experience, I’d also keep a small stash separate from the food table, as there have been many functions we’ve been to where people without diet restrictions eat the gluten-free (or alternative-diet requested) food, and there is nothing left for the actual person who requires it. Keeping a stash will ensure they're not left hungry.

When hosting a party, you’ll usually put a fair bit of effort and planning to ensure the day is just right. Making that extra effort to cater for people with allergies will be well worth it and the gratitude will say it all.

That said, I don’t expect people to do this for my daughter.

Catering for an allergy can be expensive and more often than not, I’ll feel incredibly guilty if people go out of their way for my daughter. As such, I’ll usually ask the host what party food they’re having and attempt to provide my daughter with a lunchbox of similar snacks.

Some diet restrictions, such as kosher or vegetarian, are easy to accommodate and I’d be more than glad to do so. The cost of the food is comparable and the menu can still be kidfriendly.

But when a child’s diet restrictions are far too complicated or expensive, or can result in a medical emergency, I think it’s up to the child’s parents to provide a safe alternative. Host parents can help by ensuring allergens or avoided foods are as limited as possible.

For my son’s fourth birthday party, I invited his entire class of 25 kids. One of his classmates was allergic to the gamut: wheat, gluten, eggs, peanuts, soy, corn.

I’ve tried my best to accommodate this girl in the past, but even when I bought cupcakes from the (super expensive!) allergy-free bakery—which is as sterile as an operating room, with the chefs in disposable gloves—the girl’s mum was still uncomfortable feeding her daughter them. I then understood that with serious allergies, parents are hyper-vigilant about how their child’s food is prepared. Understandably so.

Still, it was in my blood to be considerate. My strategy? I served non-allergenic appetisers. This way, for the majority of the party, kids or parents weren’t running around with potentially hazardous fingers.

When the pizza and cupcakes (not from the allergy-free bakery, incidentally, since the cost would have been prohibitive) arrived later, the mum and daughter simply sat at another table and ate the meal they’d brought from home. The mum was grateful she got to relax for as long as she did!

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EXERCISEwith Alisha DETOX YOUR BODY

THE DETOX BENEFIT There are some amazing benefits that you can experience from a detox program, even in just a few days. They include: • Increased energy levels and vitality.

• Better blood circulation due to the purifying of the liver and kidneys (and therefore, your blood).

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•

Elimination of stored waste, which often results in weight loss.

• Improved mental alertness.

• Breaking unhealthy food habits and allowing your stomach to reduce to its normal size.

• Breaking your sweet-tooth habit.

• Better digestive processes due to reducing the acidic environment of your gut.

We all know that as soon as we apply any kind of restriction on what we eat, something in us immediately wants to rebel, but trust me, resisting that urge and sticking to a detox plan has great pay-offs!

HOW TO DETOX SAFELY AND NATURALLY There are many detox programs available online and at health retreats globally, some of which will be highly effective and cost you thousands of dollars. However, it is actually possible to do a simple detox without any supplements or other fancy things by simply cutting out all processed foods, animal products and acidic foods for a minimum of three days.

The simple key to an effective detox is to allow your digestive system to rest by reducing the amount of food you're eating, increasing your water intake and providing your body with heaps of alkalising, plant-based foods that specifically promote elimination of toxins. And in our crazy, polluted, fast-food world, I think we'd all benefit from an internal spring clean!

OFF 25% !

RYTHING EVE

FOR MORE INFORMATION My free Detox Cheat Sheet gives you some simple information on how to do it yourself.

WHO SHOULDN'T DO A DETOX Although eating and drinking plant-based foods can’t really harm anyone, if you are suffering from diabetes, low or high blood pressure, any heart condition or on medication, you should consult your doctor before proceeding with a detox. Also, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s best to wait until breastfeeding is finished before giving your body and digestive system a detox.

F BLE25OF e THETA rything d o c e th eve Use e 25% off to receiv sha's website, m on Ali tliving.co unleashfi

bit.ly/DetoxCheatSheet For a guided and more effective program, my 28-day Unleash Detox System not only provides you with a complete meal plan, but includes exercise and restorative practices for a truly holistic overhaul of your health.

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A

ccording to one of the top natural health websites, Food Matters, “The concept of detoxification, whether it's done with foods or juices, is that you’re allowing your digestive system time to rest and repair while flushing out toxins through the liver, kidneys, lungs and skin.” Basically it’s like a spring clean on the inside.

Toxins are everywhere: in the air we breathe, the foods we eat, the water we drink and the substances we put on our bodies. The process of detoxification is actually happening on a daily basis in our amazing bodies.

However, due to the increasing number of toxins our bodies come into contact with every day, it is more and more difficult to effectively remove these harmful substances. The overload these substances exert on our bodies demands the need for regular, intentional detoxing.

Here are seven indicators that you are due for a detox: 1. You have low energy and always feel tired.

2. You suffer from digestive problems.

3. Your hair and skin are not looking and feeling healthy and vibrant.

4. You have some added weight you are carrying even though your diet hasn't significantly changed.

5. You suffer from bloating, constipation or congestion.

6. You often suffer from foggy-brain or frequent headaches.

7. You have noticed an increase in excessive sweating.

Each of these symptoms are signals from your body that things are not functioning as well as they should be, and that it might be time to give your insides a spring clean.

bit.ly/UnleashDetoxSystem Why not start simply with downloading the free Detox Cheat Sheet and giving it a go yourself? I’d love to hear how you go with it!

ALISHA Ten minutes every day is all you need to start on your journey to become fit and healthy. Watch Unleash Fit Living's Alisha share her workouts on the At The Table TV show.

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foreign objects

elcome to parenthood. Please leave your nerves at the door.

If you aren’t already familiar with that stomach-through-floor moment when you ask “You stuck it WHERE?”, rest assured that it’s a matter of when, not if. Here’s how it’ll go down: 1. The incident will occur on a Friday after the surgery closes.

2. Not having seen them stick the object into the orifice in question, you’ll retain a nagging doubt as to whether they made the whole thing up and you’re sitting in A&E for four hours for nothing.

3. Having been through the horror of the hospital trip, removal and a thorough telling-off, they will promptly do it again.

There are two types of Foreign Object Incident: things that work their way through (items swallowed) and things that need to come out the way they went in (primarily noses and ears; occasionally bottoms).

Why what goes in must come out.

QUINTANILLA—ISTOCK

DOWN THE HATCH If you think the object might be dangerous, or if your child is very young, they need to see a doctor.

There are a few items for which you need to rush them to hospital (button batteries, poisons such as slug pellets, anything corrosive—such as dishwasher tablets—or anything sharp), but whatever they’ve swallowed, look out for ill effects (problems breathing, eating or drinking; blueish tinges around the mouth; pain in the chest or stomach; dribbling or vomiting). If you have any concerns, whip them into A&E. In general, though, if the item is smallish, smoothish and non-toxic, you don’t need to go to DEFCON 1 immediately. Plastic items such as Lego won’t show up on an X-ray, so as long as it hasn’t got stuck, the doctor will probably tell you to go home and wait it out.

When a doctor says “wait it out”, what they mean is “wait until they poo it out”. Usually, this takes a couple of days but it can be as many as 10. It’s not advisable to give laxatives, but a bit of roughage will do no harm.

As ever, where children are concerned, things can always get worse. Steel yourself for the day they move on from Lego to more, errm, animate fare. It may be less dangerous (it is, after all, organic) but it’s likely to be far, far more disgusting.

OTHER ORIFICES Children, like nature, abhor a vacuum. Give them a tiny toy and chances are they’ll stick it somewhere.

Items in nostrils, ears, bottoms and anywhere similar do usually need medical attention—it’s very easy to make the situation worse yourself.

Noses are a popular target. If the first you know of the object’s existence is the moment it emerges again, don’t feel bad; you’ll by no means be the first parent to have had no idea their kid was wandering around with a contraband item up their hooter.

But if a lucky sneeze is not forthcoming, you’ll be making your way to A&E. While it’s not common, it is possible for items up the nose to be aspirated into the lungs, so while this one isn’t an ambulance call, you do need to get them there as soon as you can.

On a positive note, the more ridiculous the item, the more certain you can be that your child will be the talk of medics’ dinner parties up and down the country the following weekend.

If you’ve got an ear situation, get the child in question to tip their head so the ear with the object in it is pointing to the floor. In this position, gently pull the ear slightly out and back, which can sometimes straighten the ear canal and the object may drop out.

If not, get to A&E. Don’t be tempted to try tweezers yourself. The chance of them suddenly turning their head, causing you to force the object further in, is too great.

If they haven’t told you they’ve done it, you might notice their hearing deteriorates, or that they’re complaining of noise in their ear. Food items get smelly quickly, so if your child has an unusual aroma about them (a sort of eau de rotting dead goat) it’s worth asking a few questions.

AMAZING FOREIGN OBJECT FACT

iversity Research from the Un e UK on th in les Hospital of Wa solved dis s lie lol ly how quick d that inside the nose foun 35 Smarties took 30 to ile wh , lve so dis to minutes to 45 g pin op wh a Polos took took just 50 minutes. Tic Tacs 20 to 25 minutes.

EXTRACTED, WITH PERMISSION, FROM HOW TO BLITZ NITS (AND OTHER NASTIES) (BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING AUSTRALIA, 2018).

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not freedom 18

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I

was in a rush to get home from the hospital on the day of the 20-week scan. I’d been teaching all morning and if I didn’t get out of the city quickly, I would be late to collect Hannah and Emilia from school. It was a third pregnancy and although this was a much longed-for child, seeing images on the screen had definitely lost its mystique.

I kept looking at my watch as the ultrasound technician seemed to take an age.

WILDPIXEL—ISTOCK

The medical community was pushing her to abort her unborn child, who would not be able to survive on her own, but Sarah C Williams was determined to carry her baby to term.

When he left the room to fetch a second technician to repeat the entire procedure, I had to restrain myself from wiping the cold jelly off my stomach and leaving there and then.

But the nurse put her hand on my arm. “I’m sorry, Mrs Williams.

There is something wrong with the baby. We need to fetch the consultant.” My entire body went as cold as the jelly.

“A lethal-skeletal dysplasia.” The consultant explained having settled me into a side-room. “When the baby is born it will not be able to breathe.”

He must have read the shock in my face. “Come back in the morning for another scan and bring your husband. We can talk

further about what you’ve decided to do.” It took me a while to understand what he meant. Deciding what to do actually meant scheduling a termination.

As I left the hospital that night I faced a dreadful choice. I had been brought up in a Christian family knowing the “right answer” to the ethical question of abortion. But, as I faced the decision, the only thing I wanted was to get the foetus out of my body as quickly as possible. In the shock, a distancing mechanism kicked in: This isn’t a normal case, I told myself. The normal principles don’t apply.

This is a medical act, in a medical crisis.

I remember the grief in my husband’s face when he suggested that we pray. As Paul and I prayed, God spoke a message to our hearts so clearly that we knew He was sitting on the sofa with us.

Here is a sick and dying child, will you love her for me?

With these words, God gave us a glimpse of His heart and with that glimpse, the entire question changed. It was no longer primarily an ethical principle or a medical problem. Instead, what mattered most was God’s love for a defenseless person whom He had entrusted into our care.

The peace I felt as I went to bed that night didn’t go away when we returned to the hospital the next morning. The consultant didn’t hide his surprise when we told him we wished to carry our daughter to term.

“But it will not live,” he said over and over again as we listened to her heartbeat and saw her body moving on the screen. I heard the psalm in my head, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . . my frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:13–16).

What if God’s purposes for my child didn’t include a birthday?

Did it make these days in the womb any less precious to Him? I carried our daughter for the next 16 weeks and just as she was dependent on me to sustain her life, so I was dependent on God for the grace to live through each day. Those weeks turned my life upside down.

What I did not anticipate in making the decision to carry a sick baby to term was the anger that it would provoke in some. I discovered very quickly that we live in a society in which the decision not to abort an abnormal foetus requires an explanation—in fact—it requires a defence.

As a member of the teaching faculty at the University of Oxford, I was used to the cut and thrust of debate, but I found myself overwhelmed by arguments: “What if, against all the odds, this baby lives but is severely mentally and physically handicapped. It could ruin your career. You owe it to your other children and to yourself to exercise your right to choose.”

Another colleague from the philosophy department pushed the argument even further. He used John Stuart Mill’s theory of liberty to say, “Surely it is morally wrong to bring suffering into the world that you know you can prevent.”

I thought a great deal about these arguments. Most of all, I thought about what it means to have freedom of choice. We are trained by our culture to believe that our choices are unlimited.

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The freedom of choice that we are offered by our culture is illusory.

AT THE AT THE

REAL

ho w to

F RE E*

This experienced changed my life. It was an encounter with the unconditional and personal love of God. I had spent 34 years of my life valuing myself on the basis of my achievements, thinking that somehow they would make me valuable and acceptable. But it was not until I experienced God’s love for the weak that I came to a deep and settled assurance of God’s unconditional love for me.

Our daughter was precious to God—and to us—not because of the things she did or did not do. Her value wasn’t measured by her usefulness or even by her physical normality. She was precious simply because God made her and He loved her. And I realised it is the same for me—and for all of us.

The way a culture treats the vulnerable—the elderly, the ill, the unborn—tells you everything about the attitude of that society towards people full-stop. We live in a society that disposes of the weak and does away with the abnormal and, increasingly, ends lives when utility and capacity diminish. But when we act this way, we construct a value system for ourselves that none of us can live by.

In disposing of the weak we say personhood is conferred only on the lovely, the perfect ones who we choose, at the time we choose them. We establish criteria by which we then judge ourselves: we must be strong, competent, useful if we are to justify our existence. Is it any wonder that we are driven and anxious? This is tyranny not freedom.

How we treat the weak is ultimately how we treat God. God chooses to identify Himself with the vulnerable and the powerless and what we do to the least of these, we do to Him. God’s love turns the value system of our culture upside down.

How a

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Indeed, choosing what we desire is understood to be the very essence of what it means to be human. Yet when we do not choose within the range of options that are expected of us by our tolerant postmodern culture, we quickly find our choices challenged. Our culture is tolerant of the tolerant—so long as tolerance itself remains unquestioned.

Although termination was presented to me in the language of freedom of choice, it was the only recommended medical option and, as I learned afterwards, the hospital did not have a budget for the obstetric care of those who were carrying sick children to term.

The freedom of choice that we are offered by our culture is illusory. I didn’t choose to conceive a malformed child. My friend would rather be married than single. Other friends choose to have children but they are unable to conceive. What if freedom was the way of Christ—who chose to limit Himself in every respect, taking on the very nature of a servant and laying down His life for the sake of life itself? What if His choice gives me freedom to know God in an impossible situation?

From week 28, I developed polyhydramnios. The baby’s deformity was such that she couldn’t swallow enough amniotic fluid.

Normally this condition results in premature labour but for eight weeks, we lived in a state of suspended animation expecting the baby to come at any time. We were totally unprepared for what happened next.

The weight of the amniotic fluid lowered my blood pressure to such a degree that when labour finally came, it was not only a life-threatening emergency for our daughter but for me as well— and a terrifying ordeal for my husband.

At one in the morning, many hours into labour, I was alone in the delivery room. I felt the presence of God as I have never known it before—tangible, awesome, holy. I knew with certainty that God the Father was there to be with me at the time of my daughter’s death. It was confirmed many hours later that she had indeed died at one o’clock, shortly before the final stage of labour began. She died of a placental abruption.

In the end, her deformities didn’t touch her and she never had to endure the painful bone-crushing journey into the outside world. She simply went to sleep enfolded in the presence of God.

WOM

COOKING with Gia & Olive

AS SEEN ON NEW ZEALAND

TROPICAL POPS PREPARATION TIME: 10 MINUTES FREEZING TIME: OVERNIGHT SERVES: 6 INGREDIENTS

Summer rice salad

TAPIOCA BREAKFAST BOWL

PREPARATION TIME: 15 MINUTES COOKING TIME: 0 MINUTES SERVES: 4

PREPARATION TIME: 5 MINUTES COOKING TIME: 15 MINUTES SERVES: 4

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

2 cups cooked brown rice 1 red apple, cored and chopped 1 red onion, finely chopped 1 red capsicum, diced ¹/³ cup raisins ¹/³ cup parsley, chopped

1 cup small tapioca pearls 1 can coconut milk 2 cups water 3 cups corn flakes 2 mangoes, peeled and cubed 1 punnet strawberries, quartered 1 punnet blueberries Honey (to taste) 2 cups soy milk

1½ cups pineapple, chopped 1 banana, chopped 1 cup coconut cream ½ tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp maple syrup Dressing ¼ cup olive oil ¹/³ cup apple cider 2 tsp maple syrup 1 garlic clove, crushed Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD 1.

2.

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Pour into ice pop moulds and freeze overnight.

METHOD 1.

2.

Add rice, apple, onion, capsicum, raisins and parsley into a large bowl. Toss gently to combine.

To make the dressing, combine dressing ingredients in a screwtop jar. Shake well to combine.

METHOD

2.

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Cook tapioca pearls, coconut milk and water in a pot on medium-low heat. Stir regularly, adding extra water if needed, until tapioca pearls become clear.

Pour mixture into a bowl and top with corn flakes, fruit, honey and milk.

DAIRY-FREE PARMESAN CHEESE

ITEMS STYLED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY KEVIN PATERSON

1.

PREPARATION TIME: 5 MINUTES COOKING TIME: 0 MINUTES INGREDIENTS ¾ cup cashews 4 tbsp nutritional yeast ½ tsp garlic powder ¾ tsp salt

METHOD Blend all ingredients in a food processor until a fine meal is achieved. Will remain fresh for a couple of weeks if stored in the refrigerator.

GIA & OLIVE The world's cutest sous-chef and her talented mother show us how easy it is to be healthy.

Watch how quickly Gia and Olive can make these recipes on the At The Table TV show.

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M

Are what we’re teaching children at an early age, be that food choices or religious decisions, a form of indoctrination?

steps BABY 24

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EVA KATALIN KONDOROS—ISTOCK

By Melody Tan

y one-year-old son eyes the chickpea-filled bowl suspiciously. He tentatively pokes a stubby finger into the bowl and starts stirring the legumes around.

I’m pretty sure it isn’t my imagination when seconds later, his hazel eyes light up and his little pink lips curve ever-soslightly upwards.

His thumb joins his pointer finger in the bowl, pincer grasp at the ready. Triumphantly, he pulls out a small stick of carrot and for the rest of his lunch, somehow successfully manages to avoid the chickpeas, even though they were hiding—and burying—the pasta and vegetables.

I pick up one of the many neglected chickpeas and wave it in front of his face. He opens his mouth and closes it after I place the chickpea in. The mental me doing a victory dance pauses with one leg in the air when within seconds, the very same chickpea pops out of his mouth like a BB gun bullet. Undeterred, I try again, but this time, I’m met with pursed lips that appear to be cemented shut.

The chickpeas are an important source of protein for my child, who I am raising vegetarian, so I’m not giving up that easily. I hover near his mouth with a chickpea at the ready. Like at one of those clown games at a funfair, I wait for him to open his mouth to feed himself with a piece of fusilli and throw a chickpea in. He chews— and spits out the slightly squashed offending legume. This mama is going to have to figure out a different protein source.

Like many other parents before us, our journey into feeding our child solids has been an interesting one, discovering what he likes and doesn’t. As diligent first-time parents, my husband and I attended workshops to learn more about what to feed him outside of his monotonous diet of milk. The seminars and flyers were helpful, except for one flaw: everybody assumed Elliott would grow up to be a carnivore.

Let’s make one thing clear. Married to a meat-eater myself and being the only vegetarian in my extended family, I have nothing against carnivores. And should Elliott some time in the future decide he was going to follow in his father’s footsteps and kill poor Henny Penny or Daisy Cow for food (I jest. Someone else will probably do the butchering for him.), I wouldn’t object—too much.

However, my husband and I agree on the health benefits of a vegetarian diet and have decided that as a foundation, we are going to raise him on one. Perhaps we’ve got a healthy dose of optimism, but we believe the Bible’s promise and advice to “start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Allow me to extend that train of thought from what we choose to eat to Who we choose to worship: what if we were (and we are) starting off our children on the way towards Christianity? Elliott probably doesn’t understand why just yet, but he always seeks my husband’s and my hands when we place his food in front of him during meal times, so that we can say a family prayer of thanks to God for His provision (aka saying grace), because it’s what we’ve done since he started solids. Occasionally, he even joins in, piping up at the end with a cute little “Ah-mi!”

Together with popular children’s stories such as Mem Fox’s Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, we also read Baby’s First Bible Stories before bedtime. And my husband and I are doing our best

February 2018

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So together, we'll pray at mealtimes, before bed and any other time I remember...

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Did you know we have a Facebook community where you can join in the conversation on our show segments, magazine articles and much more? Recently, we asked our members:

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WOULD YOU LEAVE YOUR CHILD WITH A STRANGER?

4–10 FEBRUARY • •

NADEZHDA1906—ISTOCK

I believe the answer lies in baby steps (pun intended).

Just as Elliott is learning about everything, I am learning how to be a mum and we’re both learning about God in the context of who we are and the titles we bring. I may have the benefit of having a relationship with God for 17 more years than Elliott, but I’ve never had a relationship with God as a mum.

So together, we’ll pray at mealtimes, before bed and any other time I remember, starting with me saying the words and him helping to end it with an “Amen”, and eventually, I hope with our roles reversed. Together we’ll read Bible stories, first in the form of board books and gradually moving on to books with flimsier pages, longer paragraphs and fewer illustrations. We’ll go to church together even if at the moment, the main thing I do when the pastor speaks is to entertain Elliott with little plastic animals from a little plastic Noah’s Ark. Together with my husband, we’ll journey and learn together what it means to believe in God as a family. We’ll thank God for the ups, we’ll seek God’s strength and understanding for the downs, and we’ll never sweep the difficult questions under the carpet. Together with my husband, we’ll do everything we can to reflect God’s loving, tender and caring character, wanting everybody to be a part of His family, so that when the time comes and Elliott asks us what God is like, we can use our lives as a reference.

Of course, Richard Dawkins’ criticism still rings loud in my head—am I indoctrinating my child?—but I believe my actions aren’t about raising a child who blindly follows and accepts, but one who questions, learns and chooses to believe.

And if you happen to be wondering, Elliott happily eats chickpeas most days now, even when I have done nothing different.

Don’t ask me, I can’t explain him, I only gave birth to him.

Would you give your child medicinal cannabis?

Leaving kids home alone.

11–17 FEBRUARY • •

The “right” ways to fight with your partner.

Could your kid have social dyslexia?

18–24 FEBRUARY • •

Prohibiting fathers from bathing their young daughters.

Should you encourage or discourage imaginary friends?

25 FEBRUARY–3 MARCH • •

This 10-year-old wants a boyfriend.

Single-sex versus co-ed schools.

CATCH US ON FATCAMERA—ISTOCK

to ensure Elliott will be brought up to believe in God and see Him as a loving, tender and caring Guide who wants him to a part of His family.

The question, however, is, are we, to quote outspoken atheist Richard Dawkins, “indoctrinating [our] opinions into the vulnerable minds of [our] children”? After all, as he argues, “There really is an important difference between including your children in harmless traditions, and forcing on them un-evidenced opinions about the nature of life or the cosmos.”

The reality is, parents are always indoctrinating their opinions into the minds of their children, be that a belief in God, Santa Claus or that eating with your elbows on the dinner table is bad manners. These opinions or beliefs may change as the kids grow older, but consciously or unconsciously, as parents, we are undeniably impressing specific ways of thinking into the impressionable young minds of our children.

So perhaps I am indoctrinating my opinions about vegetarianism and religion into Elliott’s vulnerable mind, and perhaps one day he may grow up and question (or even choose to abandon) the kind of upbringing I gave him. But parents only want the best for their children, and as an imperfect and limited human being, I can only give him what I believe is the best way to a healthy and somewhat worry-free life, because he knows he can always turn to God for help, wisdom, strength and peace.

Practically speaking, how does this apply to my everyday life?

The Bible says to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), but how do you do that when your life has changed upside-down and you don’t even have time for adequate sleep, much less time getting to know God better in order to explain Him to your child?

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4.30am every Sunday on Channel Ten (Australia)

youtube.com /thetabletvshow

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Launching February 26

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Content accurate at the time of printing but may be subject to change.

Fleur: Yes. Some people don't have the luxury of family help. Daycare is strangers. Obviously you wouldn't put your baby/child with someone who hasn't gone for a police clearance screening first and first aid, etc.

Ash: Yes, school is important.

Gail: We left our son with a babysitter when he was four years old—it was when we were on holidays and just needed a break for a couple of hours. She was a complete stranger in a small town and was well-known and respected. He had a great time and so did we! He is now 36 with his own three kids.

Vasana: I think it's the same as daycare.

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27

i d n Ma

AS SEEN ON NEW ZEALAND

MAKES FLEA & TICK POWDER FOR DOGS*

BRONZING BAR

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS ¼ cup beeswax or soy wax ¼ cup shea butter ¼ cup coconut oil 1–3 tsp* cocoa powder ¼–½ tsp* nutmeg powder ½–1 tsp* cinnamon powder *Quantity depends on your desired tone

METHOD 1. Mix wax, shea butter and coconut oil in a glass bowl and double boil until completely melted.

2. Carefully remove the bowl from the heat source, then add in the powders, whisking to ensure there are no lumps.

3. Poor into silicon moulds and allow to completely cool.

4. To use, hold bar in hand and carefully rub on dry skin.

170 g diatomaceous earth 55 g arrowroot powder 115 g patchouli powder 55 g neem powder 10 drops lavender essential oil 10 drops geranium essential oil 10 drops patchouli essential oil 10 drops citronella 2 tbsp neem oil 1 tsp vitamin E oil

METHOD 1. Mix ingredients in a large

glass mixing bowl.

2. Store in a glass dispenser jar (you can make your own by drilling holes in the lid).

3. To use, sprinkle on your dog 2–3 times a week. You can also sprinkle on your carpet or dog’s bed. Leave for 15 minutes then vacuum. *Safe for dogs 12 weeks and older. Check with your veterinarian before using on pregnant or nursing dogs. This is a topical treatment that does not soak into your dog’s skin and will need to be regularly applied.

MAGNESIUM FOOT SCRUB INGREDIENTS 1 cup Epsom salts or magnesium flakes ¼ cup oil (olive, almond or coconut) 1 tsp liquid castile soap 10–15 drops essential oil in your favourite scent

Mix ingredients in a glass jar. To use, rub about a teaspoon into sore, tired feet or cracked and dry feet.

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February 2018

INGREDIENTS 1 tbsp carrier oil (such as sweet almond oil or jojoba oil) 2 tsp beeswax pellets or soy wax 35–40 drops essential oil in your favourite scent

METHOD 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

METHOD

28

SOLID PERFUME

Mix carrier oil and beeswax in a glass bowl and double boil until beeswax is completely melted.

Carefully remove the bowl from the heat source and stir the liquid.

Pour into a storage container that has a lid.

After a couple of minutes, add essential oil and gently stir.

Cover the container, allowing mixture to solidify. To use, rub a clean finger across the top of the solid perfume and apply to wrists, repeating as needed.

The perfume scent will intensify as it matures and will keep for 12 months.

MANDI Good for your skin and great for the environment.

Watch Mandi make these earth-friendly natural recipes on the At The Table TV show.

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29

& your child

JOHN DORY—FREEPIK

A

bout one in 20 children in Australia and New Zealand have some form of food allergy (compared to one in 100 adults), 60 per cent of which would have appeared during their first year of life. The tendency to be allergic can be familial—children who have one family member with an allergic disease (such as eczema or asthma) have a 20–40 per cent higher risk of developing an allergy of some sort.

Although some signs and symptoms of reactions can be similar, food intolerance isn’t an immune system response. People with food intolerances usually develop signs and symptoms hours after consumption, which involve the skin (such as hives, redness or swelling) and the gut.

The most common foods that cause intolerance are lactose (a sugar found in milk and most dairy products), salicylates (a natural chemical found in various fruits and vegetables), amines (a chemical produced during the formation of wine) and glutamate (an amino acid in foods containing protein).

Coeliac disease, also known as gluten intolerance, is a digestive condition that although isn’t considered an allergy, involves an immune system response: when gluten is present, the antibodies attack the lining of the small intestine, which becomes inflamed and can’t absorb nutrients and minerals from food.

The only treatment is to avoid all products containing wheat, rye, spelt, kamut, triticale and barley.

A food allergy, on the other hand, happens when the body’s immune system overreacts to a particular food, believing it

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THETABLETV.COM

February 2018

By Julie Guirgis

is harmful. As a protective mechanism, the immune system mistakenly produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE).

These antibodies cause the body to produce chemicals called histamines, which can cause an allergic response. This response can range from minor skin irritations, to more serious respiratory problems, including anaphylaxis.

The most common triggers of food allergies are cow’s milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts (such as almond and cashew), wheat, sesame, soy, fish and shellfish (such as prawn, crab, lobster).

While these nine foods cause 90 per cent of food allergies in Australia and New Zealand, any food can trigger an allergic reaction.

DIAGNOSING A FOOD ALLERGY If you think your child may have a food allergy, book an appointment with your GP or allergy specialist. If your child has displayed symptoms after consuming a particular food, avoid that food until you have seen your doctor.

To help the doctor you can prepare some documents such as: • Writing down reactions, foods consumed, amount of food, how long the reaction lasted and other relevant information.

• If you have access to a camera, take photos of the symptoms.

• If your child’s symptoms occurred after eating packaged

MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT The primary way to manage a food allergy is to avoid consuming the food that causes you problems. Shopping for a child with a food allergy can be challenging, especially if your child is allergic to many foods.

Labelling rules in Australia and New Zealand must display on packaging the most common allergens so carefully check ingredient labels of food products. Learn whether what you need to avoid is known by other names as other words may be used, such as casein or whey instead of milk, and make sure you read any added notes. If there is any doubt about a product’s cross-contact with an allergic food, contact the manufacturer directly.

If your child does have a minor reaction, you will need to get over-the-counter or prescribed antihistamine. Taken after coming into contact with an allergy-causing food, it can reduce symptoms and help with itching or hives.

For severe reactions, you may need an emergency injection of epinephrine and a trip to the emergency room. Many people with allergies carry an epinephrine auto-injector. This device is a combined syringe and covered needle that injects a single dose of medication when pressed against your thigh. If your child is prescribed one, make sure you and your loved ones know how to use the auto injector. Carry it with you (and the child) always, and be sure to replace epinephrine before its expiration date or it may not work properly.

By the age of 16, 80 per cent of children with a severe allergy to eggs or milk can tolerate these foods. Children with a wheat or soy allergy will often outgrow their allergy as well. Although food allergy does impact on quality of life, with education and support, it is a manageable condition.

FOOD ALLERGY SYMPTOMS RASHES, SUCH AS HIVES SWELLING ITCHING AND FLARING OF ECZEMA RASHES THROAT TIGHTNESS REPETITIVE COUGHING WHEEZING SWELLING OF THROAT AND TONGUE DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING GUT CAN BE AFFECTED

BY PAIN, NAUSEA, VOMITING AND DIARRHOEA ITCHINESS IN MOUTH AND THROAT METALLIC TASTE IN MOUTH LOW BLOOD PRESSURE DIFFICULT TO FEEL PULSE FAST OR SLOW HEARTBEAT PALE OR BLUE COLOURING OF SKIN SHOCK OR CIRCULATORY COLLAPSE MACROVECTOR—ISTOCK

food allergies

food, bring a sample of it to help the specialist discover the allergy. You can also bring labels of foods you suspect could cause potential harm.

Diagnosis is based on your child’s history and skin prick or blood results. Nella Puz, an accredited practising dietician, says, “The common test for allergy is the skin prick test. This involves pricking the skin to place a drop of the suspected allergen. If you are allergic to the test, a small itchy lump (wheal) surrounded by a red flare will appear within 15 to 20 minutes, indicating an allergy to the substance, whether it’s food, pollen, cat dander, dust mites or bee sting.”

The size of the wheal will be measured and recorded. This test finds out the presence of IgE antibodies directed against that food, present on the mast cells of the skin. If the skin test isn’t available or the test can’t take place for other reasons, your doctor may order a blood test as an alternative.

If you have a child who currently has a food allergy, take heart that many common childhood allergies will resolve before adulthood. Most children will outgrow their allergy to cow’s milk by the age of three, and an egg allergy by six to eight years. However, children with a peanut, tree nut, shellfish, fish or sesame allergy tend to have it for life. So it’s important to have your child reassessed by your doctor regularly.

February 2018

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31

HIGH SCHOOL

`

32

IS IT WARM ENOUGH FOR ICE CREAM?

THE BIGGEST STORY ABC

I SWAPPED MY BROTHER ON THE INTERNET!

WIN

A hilarious story about a pirate afraid of fish, with a chicken for a pet and who prefers baking cupcakes. The first in a new series and told both in text and through illustrations, this is one of those light-hearted fun-filled stories children will enjoy.

KIDS LIKE US

RAIN FALL

A sweet coming-of-age story about a high-functioning autistic American teenager and his experience in rural France. There are smatterings of swear words and a casual attitude towards alcohol-drinking and cigarette smoking, but it’s a beautiful story intertwined with that of Marcel Proust’s Swann’s Way (the first volume of In Search of Lost Time).

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February 2018

REBEL VOICES

WIN

Louise Kay Stewart & Eve Lloyd Knight Wren & Rook $24.99

Amy Sparkes & Ben Cort HarperCollins Children’s Books $4.99

Although not the type that would win any literary prizes, this book is still a bit of fun to read. Filled with nonsense made-up characters, this is a story of how in the end, your real sibling is truly the best—even if they can be really annoying at times.

Hilary Reyl The Text Publishing Company $19.99

A sweet little picture book that celebrates friendships, love and “discovering what you want by realising what you have”. It’s a book about childish dreams and desires, but also about recognising the beautiful relationships we currently have.

Teach children what happens during the different seasons of the year with this board book.

There’s plenty going on in each colour-filled page that will help to build your child’s vocabulary and language skills, encouraging them to discover what nature has to offer at different times of the year.

PIRATE BLUNDERBEARD: WORST. PIRATE. EVER.

Jo Simmons Bloomsbury Children’s Books $12.99

Erika Geraerts, Charl Laubscher & Gatsby Walker Books $24.99

Violet Peto & Victoria Palastanga DK $16.99

Kevin DeYoung & Don Clark Koorong | Crossway $14.99

Retelling the Bible story alphabetically was always going to be tricky but this board book makes a valiant attempt. The Bible is summarised in 26 simple sentences, each with a subtle emphasis on a letter of the alphabet, and is accompanied

by Moroccan-inspired artwork.

ME TOO

WIN

Ella West Allen & Unwin $16.99

There are elements in this novel that are a little predictable or far-fetched. However, with its mystery, touch of humour and romance with a handsome young stranger, it’s a good recipe to capture the attention of most teenage girls. There are a number of kissing scenes, but these are mostly sweet, not censor-worthy.

Exquisitely illustrated, this is a fabulous way to learn about the history of the women’s suffrage movement. A must-read for both girls and boys, teaching them about the strength, courage and determination of women who paved the way for gender equality around the world.

FOR MUMS

PRIMARY

INFANT

BOOK CORNER

THE LAST GIRL Nadia Murad Virago Press $32.99

This memoir is absorbing, harrowing and inspiring all at the same time. There are moments of absolute horror thanks to the brutality of Islamic State soldiers, but Nadia's strength, love for her family and determination to bring ISIS to justice for their crimes is commendable.

HAPPY DOG & QUIRKY BIRD

Robyn Newton, Ellie Boultwood & Jo Ryan Priddy Books $12.99 In the signature style of Alphaprints board books, the pages are full of bright and fun illustrations, different textures or embossed, all designed to tactilely capture the attention of your child. The funny rhymes and googly eyes on the cover will also entertain and amuse.

BUTTERFLY WISHES: THE WISHING WINGS

WIN

Jennifer Castle Bloomsbury Children’s Books $9.99

Talking-and-wish-granting butterflies, magical enchantments and two lonely human sisters who recently moved from the city to the country. The Wishing Wings is the first in the Butterfly Wishes series of super-cute stories of adventure and sisterly love (and some rivalry).

WIN THESE ! !

S K O BO HOW T U O D FIN E 20 ON PAG February 2018

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33

Q&A

Holding onto anger

WITH AT THE TABLE TV SHOW’S IRREGULAR PANELLIST: JULIE LAWS

WHAT IS THE TOUGHEST THING ABOUT BEING A MUM? In the early days, it was the lack of sleep and feeling that life was out of control. My first child didn’t sleep through until she was two. I had been a teacher and I remember enviously watching my husband go off to work and saying, “I can control 30 12-year-olds but I can’t do anything with this six-month-old.”

Later, it was letting them tread their own paths and not jumping in and “fixing” things for them. Sometimes I have to hold back giving advice and let them find their own way and just be supportive and loving. It’s difficult to not be able to protect them from the inevitable pain and challenges that life brings.

This was so much easier when they were little.

hoping the other person dies.

ANY FUNNY FOOD-RELATED STORIES FROM WHEN YOUR CHILDREN WERE YOUNGER? When my first daughter was two, she swallowed a $2 coin.

The doctor sent us off for X-rays to see where it was. It was in her stomach. About three years later, her younger sister did the exact same thing at the same age. So we now have matching X-rays of them with coins in their stomachs at two years of age.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A MUM? It’s so much fun watching them grow and develop into great adults. From first words, first steps to enjoying their developing sense of humour (unfortunately often at my expense) and watching their individual personalities show through. I love hearing them say to other people things that I have said to them many times but thought they weren't paying attention. I love having discussions about spirituality and the deeper issues in life and listening to their hopes and dreams for their lives.

ANY WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR NEW MUMS? In those early days, just do what works for you. While you will get lots of advice from many directions, do what works for you and your baby. They’re not going to die if you let them cry for a while. Don’t be afraid to ask and accept help. Just know that it will be really, really hard at times, but it passes and it gets better.

You’ll be amazed at your heart’s capacity to love.

FINISHED WITH THIS MAGAZINE? PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS! 34

Everyone has a story about being treated unfairly.

Learn how forgiveness can change your story and save your life.

In this free series about forgiveness, learn about the ways anger and hurt affect your emotional and physical wellbeing.

By understanding how and why to forgive, you can find healing from past hurts and experience true freedom.

Visit forgivetolive.org.au to begin this free series online, or return this form by mail to receive your first booklet.

QUESTIONS? LETS CHAT! RICHARD EWING

WOULD YOU RATHER GO 30 DAYS WITHOUT YOUR PHONE OR YOUR ENTIRE LIFE WITHOUT DESSERT? That’s easy. Go without my phone. I can do most things on my laptop anyway. To go my entire life without the pleasure of dessert is too distressing.

a poison pill and

NAME : ADDRESS :

PHONE : EMAIL :

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 discover@hopechannel.com

 1300 300 389

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. I have two daughters, aged 22 and 25. Those school years pass so quickly. It feels like only yesterday when they were starting school! I loved those years. They are both working now.

My husband is a rescue helicopter paramedic. Yes, I’m just a bit proud of him.

is like swallowing

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