Doing it for the Kids package includes:

• Complimentary upgrade to a Two Bedroom Deluxe Ocean Residence
• Full buffet breakfast for the family
• Family pass to Skypoint Observation Deck
• Two Games for the family at Strike Bowling
• Two hour use of the movie theatre to watch your favourite DVD from home or from our library, or connect the Playstation 2! Includes pop-corn and soft drinks
• Complimentary milkshakes at The Food Store after your movie

(*We were delighted to be invited guests of The Hilton and trialled the Doing It For The Kids package free of charge. We were not paid for this review.)

Here is our Hilton holiday in pictures…

Revolving doors at the hotel’s entrance.

 Riding the lift up, up, up to our amazing room.

A special welcome waiting for us on arrival!

Really good coffee. Happy Mummy.

Spectacular views from the Sky Deck of the Q1 building.

Breakfast. Oh how we loved the breakfast.

Cereals, yoghurt, fruit, pancakes, waffles, eggs-to-order, hot food, cold cuts and more.

Even a babycino for the bear! We L-O-V-E-D the breakfast!!!

Wonderful staff who completely charmed our children.

Watching real chefs prepare real food (in a really clean kitchen!)

Our first trip to a bowling alley!

Milkshakes at the uber stylish “Food Store” in the hotel’s foyer.

Best of all: just hanging out together.

__________________________________

The verdict?  All four of us thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Hilton on the Gold Coast.  The suite we stayed in was gorgeous, with superb finishes and beautiful views.  Staying with two kids under 5, I was grateful for the well equipped kitchenette and decent sized bath!  With only a double bed in the second bedroom the kids had to share – which was a novelty for our munchkins, but could be difficult with older kids.  The service was impeccable and breakfasts were a real highlight of our stay.  I would love to see the Hilton add a few little extras for families, like child friendly toiletries (such as bubble bath) and a small packet of wipes for messy fingers!

What’s your idea of a luxury family holiday? 

So, while the girls were doing this:

… the Boy and I opted for plan B: a City Cat ride!  It was quite poignant really.  One year ago today, the Brisbane River was a mess. (You can read my posts written during the disaster here and here.)

A year ago, the CBD was evacuated as rising water inundated the city.  Today it was business as usual, bustling with cars and people.

A year ago the sky was grey, and an ominous, eerie feeling loomed in the air.  As more reports from Grantham, Toowoomba, and other areas came to light, a rising sense of panic was palpable in the inner Brisbane suburbs.  Today the sky was big and blue and full of hope.

A year ago, a “mud army” of over 20, 000 Brissy locals turned out with gumboots and shovels to help those in need.  Talk about community spirit!  A year ago, there wasn’t a whole lot to smile about.  Today we were all smiles… especially when the Captain invited the kids on board to help him drive the boat!!

We got to go up into the cabin, steer the big silver wheel, sit in the Captain’s seat and check out all the buttons and levers.  Captain Jack answered all of the kids’ questions happily, including my son asking “How do we go F-A-S-T?!”   It was such a wonderful, unexpected experience.

A year ago, the Brisbane River was a disaster.  Today, it was an absolute delight.

One of us came down with the flu, just as the other recovered.

One of us flew away from Brisbane, just as the other returned.

One family said hello to us, just as we say goodbye to another.

One friend welcomed a new baby, while heartbreakingly another will bury hers this week.

When the going gets tough, priorities are stripped back to the barest essentials.  Social media seems unimportant when friends nearby desperately need a meal.  Keeping up with my reader comes second to keeping up with the housework.  And when we need to spend time as a family, talking about the big things of life and processing our feelings – the blog and everything else can wait.

I value my readers highly, and I love sharing with you all, but the truth is that you don’t need me.  My children and my husband, and close friends do.

I didn’t start this post with, “Sorry I haven’t blogged for a while…” and I never will.  I’m not sorry.  Prioritising my family is the right thing to do.  I cannot possibly blog, speak or write with integrity about parenting if I don’t practise what I preach!  So please bear with me during the times I am less active online.  It simply means I am doing double-time offline; nurturing, loving and caring for those who truly need me.

And I know you understand that.

xx

A friend of ours was recently discussing diamonds with us, after proposing to his girlfriend  It’s been over ten years since we went engagement-ring-shopping but I still remember learning about the 4 Cs – cut, clarity, colour and carat!  Our friend laughed about the fact that synthetic diamonds are often of equal beauty to natural diamonds… the only problem is that they are too perfect!

Too perfect. It’s something I’ve been thinking about ever since.

“The wonder of a diamond lies in its unmatchable beauty.  But every diamond, no matter how magnificent, has imperfections of some kind.  These flaws fall into 2 categories: internal flaws are known as inclusions, while flaws on the surface of the diamond are called blemishes.” (source)

The thing is, the imperfections in a diamond are often what makes it unique.  They rarely detract from the beauty of the stone, and they can usually only be seen under 10x magnification!  Maybe diamonds beat themselves up about their internal flaws and blemishes – but the rest of us see right past them.

You know where I’m going with this, right?  What if, as mothers, we are all diamonds?

“The wonder of a mother lies in her unmatchable beauty.  But every mother, no matter how magnificent, has imperfections of some kind.  These flaws fall into 2 categories: internal flaws are known as inclusions, while flaws on the surface of the mother are called blemishes.”

We beat ourselves up about our internal flaws, and our physical blemishes.  Chances are, others see right past them.  We compare ourselves to airbrushed, photoshopped, synthetic images of women portrayed in the media, forgetting that these are unrealistic.  And worse, while we only see snippets of a celebrity mother’s life, we “fill in the gaps” imagining that ALL of her life is equally perfect.

There are no perfect women. No perfect mothers. No perfect children, or families, or homes.  We all have flaws and blemishes that make us who we are.  They might mean that perfection is unattainable, but they don’t stop us from sparkling.

You, my friend, are a diamond mum. Perfectly imperfect.

How do you feel today?

If you’re feeling happy then clap your hands

Feeling happy then clap your hands

Feeling happy then clap your hands

Clap your hands like this.

How do you feel today?

How do you feel today?

If you’re feeling grumpy then stomp around

Feeling grumpy then stomp around

Feeling grumpy then stomp around

Stomp around like this.

We talk a lot about feelings in our home.  Feelings are tricky things to deal with, but it’s much healthier to learn to deal with them than to pretend we all feel happy all the time.  ‘Cause let’s face it – we don’t.  Some days Daddy feels sad.  Some days I am irritable.  Some days the kids are out-of-sorts without any particular reason.  And all of those things are ok.

Without making a big deal about it, I try to give the kids practical tools to deal with their own feelings, and the emotions of others.  It’s important that they learn to name their feelings, and that they feel safe enough to share their feelings.  Of course, this is all good in theory! I can’t say I always get it right, but I am aware that it is part of my responsibility as their mother.  Here are some phrases I try to use, and some I try to avoid when it comes to feelings.

Things I DO say to the kids:

• How do you feel today?
• Would you like to tell me about your feelings?
• I can see that you are sad/angry/etc. Can you use your words to talk to me about it?
• Is anything worrying you?
• It’s ok to feel angry, but it’s not ok to let your anger hurt anyone else.
• It’s ok to feel sad. Is there anything I can do to help?

Things I DON’T say to the kids:

• What’s wrong with you?
• Cheer up.
• That’s not worth crying about.
• Do ___________ and you’ll feel better.
• Don’t be silly.

How do you deal with your children’s feelings? Do you find talking about feelings difficult?  Which phrases work for you and your kids, and which ones do you avoid saying?

Before having children, cleaning the bathroom tiles involved holding my breath and squirting around the strongest chemicals I could find.  Now that I’m a mum I find I am more conscious of what I use to clean our home, and I’m endeavouring to replace many of these toxic products with natural, chemical-free alternatives.  I have actually been rather reluctant to make the change to green cleaning – partly because I was sceptical it would really work, and partly for fear of being labelled.

Yes*. At least, so far so good in our home.  The first green-clean change I made has proven to be incredibly effective, and it’s my number one chemical free cleaning tip.  All I did was switch to using environmentally friendly microfibre cloths.  These cloths have eliminated three quarters of my cleaning products.  There are a few brands on the market, some of which can be purchased off the shelves in the supermarket, and others which are sold through party-plan schemes.  They clean efficiently using only water, and work by trapping dirt in their teeny tiny fibres.  They can be washed and reused many times over too.  We have a lot of glass in our home and I am amazed at how easily I can clean it all with only two cloths and a little water.  And because it’s completely chemical free – the kids can help with cleaning the mirrors, tiles, benches, windows, table and kitchen chairs too!

The next green-clean change I am making is to replace the remaining chemicals I use in our home with natural alternatives.  Instead of viewing the remedies my great grandmother may have used to remove mould as outdated, I am starting to appreciate them for their simplicity.  (Mould has been a widespread problem in Queensland following the drenching we received earlier this year.)  I can only wonder what’s in the bottle of spray in my laundry which claims to eradicate mould, and the smell of the chemical concoction is unbearable.  My great granny would most likely have used tea-tree oil, borax or vinegar.

Try these cleaning tips from yesteryear to keep everything from the carpets to the tiles clean in your home.  Always remember to spot test in an inconspicuous area before trying any cleaning remedies.

The NSW Department of Environment and Conservation also has a great pdf you can download and print called The Easy Guide to Natural Cleaning and for further tips on cleaning your home with baking soda check out McKenzies BiCarb.

I wouldn’t call myself a Green Queen yet, but I am definitely making better choices for my family and I am much more aware of the toxins I use in our home.  I still use the odd chemical here and there, which I hope to eventually replace with alternatives that are better both for the environment and for our health.

Are you paranoid about germs?  Are you a self proclaimed Green Queen?!  Or like me, do you fall somewhere in between?  Oh, and if you have another green cleaning idea, share it below so we can all try it out!

*NB:  Mum, if you’re reading this article – please don’t say “I told you so…”

Yesterday afternoon, my 5 year old fell out of her favourite climbing tree.  I was out in the backyard with the kids, saw her fall, and was by her side within seconds. She lost consciousness and suffered an impact seizure, which was scary for both of us. This type of seizure can occur with a concussive brain injury and happens just seconds after impact.  When she came to, she was understandably frightened and confused.

The emergency department of our local hospital saw her immediately.  (I am so grateful for the way Australian medical professionals prioritise children.)  Although shaken, and very overwhelmed by the sights and smells of a hospital – she was alert and cooperative.  I cuddled and reassured her, talked her through what was happening, and stayed as calm as I could.  She was closely monitored for the first hour or two, then checked hourly until the recommended 6hrs had passed.  She was back to her usual self in a few hours though, and spent the last part of her hospital visit bored out of her little brain!

During those six hours at her bedside, I had plenty of time to think about my parenting choices. Could I have prevented her fall? Should I have prevented her fall? Was I doing the right thing allowing her to climb trees? Would I still encourage her to take reasonable risks?  Would I change any of my beliefs about children and nature…?

The doctors helped me to retain a commonsense view.  One doctor reminded me that she could have fallen anywhere… inside or out.  Another laughed about his own tree climbing adventures as a child, and reminisced about the way his mother handled it when he fell.  When we were finally discharged at 10pm, he also encouraged Miss 5 to keep climbing and exploring the world.

Today, she is at home enjoying a quiet day under Mummy’s watchful eye.  Tomorrow, she’ll be back at school with a great story to tell.  Next week, she’ll probably be back up the tree! And me?  I guess I’m a little shaken too.  No parent ever likes to see their child hurt.  There is a little part of my mama-heart that wishes I could wrap my kids up and hold them close to keep them safe.  There is a much bigger part of my mama-brain though that reminds me I cannot parent out of fear, and I cannot protect them from all of life’s falls.

And so, I STILL believe that kids and nature belong together, and I will continue to encourage my children to play daily outside, exploring their backyard and the natural elements in it.  I still believe that tree climbing is one of childhood’s greatest joys.  I still believe that happy kids require both freedom and boundaries.  I still believe children’s environments should be as safe as necessary, rather than as safe as possible.  And I still believe that falling down is a normal part of an active childhood.

“Why didn’t I think of this sooner?”

The simple ideas are always the best. I simply screwed a couple of old brass hooks (which were lying unused in the bottom of a toolbox) onto the fence at child height.  We were already using the two green baskets for outdoor toy storage.  I love them because:

• dirt and sand fall out through the gaps
• rain water doesn’t collect in the bottom
• there are no dark corners so it’s less likely a redback will move in
• the kids can see into them
• they are lightweight and easy to move around
• they were only $2 each

Hanging them on the fence was a stroke of genius (if I do say so myself).  I also added a couple of S hooks to the vine on the fence for the kids’ stilts.  These weren’t getting much use in the bottom of a box, but are much more inviting hanging up like this.  Wonder what else I can attach to the fence…?!

]]> http://squigglemum.com/mums/fence-storage/feed/ 10 http://squigglemum.com/mums/look-good-feel-good/ http://squigglemum.com/mums/look-good-feel-good/#comments Sat, 27 Aug 2011 10:54:17 +0000 SquiggleMum http://squigglemum.com/?p=5466 There are certainly some perks to being a blogger. I receive lots of products to try, get invited to some pretty cool events and even get to meet some amazing people. Lately I have been on the receiving end of some products and services that have helped me to feel good, and look good this winter.  And given how much sickness there has been in our little family – I’ve needed it!

I wasn’t paid to write about any of these products, but I did receive most of them free of charge

• Garnier Anti-Dark Circles Roll-On – This under eye caffeinated concealer is my new favourite beauty product. I don’t spend a lot of time on my makeup.  My 30-second daily routine is a quick sweep of powder foundation plus lipgloss.  My NEW two minute fabulous face consists of the under eye concealer, quick powder foundation, mascara and lipgloss. Done!

• Blackmores multivitamins – Blackmores generously allowed me to try vitamins for the whole family. Kids multivitamins, Women’s Destress, and Men’s Performance Multi.  I’ve never really been into taking vitamins, but I’m happily giving them a try!

• Kellogg’s cereal – I never, ever let the kids skip breakfast. We all know it’s the most important meal of the day. Sometimes though I am guilty of having a cup of coffee and calling it “breakfast” even though I know better. After being spoilt by the Kellogg’s team, I’m making an effort to ensure I eat a good breakfast as well as the kids.

• TMH Salons – New hair works wonders for lifting your spirits. My stylist suggested balayage (free hand colouring from the bottom up) which works well for long curls, and requires less maintenance than regular colours.  [This was NOT free of charge but I did receive a small discount]

• Westfield Style Session – What a joy to spend an hour with stylist Kim Ring, trying on things I wouldn’t usually give a second glance to.  I am normally a real bargain shopper, but I splurged on a fabulous pair of Levi jeans and have been l-i-v-i-n-g in them.  I think a style session makes a great gift for any mum.  (Drop your man a hint…)

We are always so busy taking care of our kids, but we also need to take care of ourselves.  What makes you look and feel good? Any products you rave about? Anything you can’t live without?  And on the rare occasion that you spoil yourself, what do you splurge on?

A kids’ program about a sweet monster named Squiglet who loves to squiggle – how could SquiggleMum resist a review?!  Get Squiggling airs on the CBeebies channel, weekdays at 8:30am.

Squiglet loves to draw with his squiggle sticks.  His illustrations transform the white world around him into a colourful and magical place, where characters jump off the page and come to life.  Need to find some buried treasure? Squiglet can squiggle you a spade. Need to cross a crocodile-infested moat? Squiglet can squiggle you a boat. Need to get somewhere far away? Squiglet can even squiggle you a rocket!

Creative and Educational Consultant Brian Neish, shares what children may pick up from Get Squiggling:

• Knowledge about colour and colour combination
• Ways to describe drawn lines
• Knowledge about how to draw particular line types
• An understanding of the way drawing can be used to represent imaginative thought
• An understanding of the way lines can be used to create shape, form and space in an organised and representational manner
• Knowledge about a range of both familiar and unfamiliar animals and characters
• Knowledge about a range of places and environments, including their unique features

Both of my kids enjoy watching the program.  It is well pitched for my two year old, but it is my five year old who loves to draw.  A program like Get Squiggling can be a great springboard into other creative activities from which you can reinforce the learning outlined above.  Children can only learn so much by watching – it is in the doing that pathways are formed in the brain, rich language is used in conversation, fine motor skills are developed, and true learning occurs.

Here are some ideas to help you with the doing, after the viewing!

• Make up some mini-squiggle kits so that the kids can draw easily anywhere.  A small notepad and 4xcrayon pack in a ziploc bag can be kept in your handbag for when you are on the go.  Try: playing a squiggling game! Draw a few lines and encourage your child to turn it into a picture. What could it be? (Ah yes, some of you remember Mr Squiggle…)
• Provide materials for squiggling outdoors.  Children’s imaginations seem to soar outside!  Give your child a clipboard stocked with paper, and a cup of crayons.  Try: encouraging your child to draw what they see, as well as what they imagine.  Use lots of descriptive language when talking with your child.
• Think BIG!  Try: using large sheets of butcher’s paper on the floor (or a large box opened out flat) to help your child draw an imaginary world.  “Is there a jungle? Are there rivers?  Who lives in this house?  Don’t fall into the quicksand…!”
• Squiggle a book together. A simple recount is a great format for young kids and is a valuable language and memory activity.  Try: squiggling about an experience you have (very) recently had together. Write a simple sentence on each page, and encourage your child to illustrate it.  “I went to the shops with Mummy. I saw cornflakes. I saw apples. I saw milk. I saw pizza. I saw lots of trolleys!”
• Different mediums produce different results.  Provide your child with more than just crayons.  Let them experience pencils, felt pens, chalk, oil pastels, charcoal and more.  Try: drawing on the concrete with chalk.

If followed up with creative opportunities at home, Get Squiggling can be a useful and enjoyable program.

SquiggleKids rating: 4 stars. “I like Squiglet. He’s fun and he likes to draw and so do I.  I like how he imagines things and draws whatever he thinks about.” The kids also enjoy singing along with the opening song!

SquiggleMum rating: 3 stars (when used in conjunction with real opportunities for drawing). I prefer more emphasis on process over product, but the program is enjoyable and it has inspired us to get squiggling together!

Do your kids like to squiggle?  What other ideas do you have for encouraging drawing at home?  Leave a comment below!