2009

This year I am a finalist in the Best Blog Award.  I’m delighted to be a finalist for the second year in a row, though competition is fierce this year and there are some beautiful blogs and bloggers nominated.  I’ll also be a busy bee throughout the weekend, sharing what I know about blogging.  I’ll be giving a workshop titled “The Online You” and I’ll also be running, and participating in a panel for open discussion about the blogging.  I’m looking forward to hearing the questions other women in blogging and business have to ask.  So, I thought I’d throw it open to you as well.  Is there anything you’d like to ask about blogging??  Now is your chance… leave a comment below and I’ll endeavor to answer everyone!

Psst: Have you entered yet…?

]]> http://squigglemum.com/mums/speaking-and-celebrating/feed/ 2 http://squigglemum.com/mums/laptop-love-thanks-logitech/ http://squigglemum.com/mums/laptop-love-thanks-logitech/#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:31:27 +0000 SquiggleMum http://squigglemum.com/?p=3556 There are some lovely perks to being a blogger. Logitech recently contacted me to see if I would like to try out some of their new products, and I jumped at the chance. They are a tech brand I know, trust and use already, so I was delighted to take part in their new campaign My Laptop Gets Spoilt!  I am one of their featured users, so you can jump over to the site and see how the products have worked for me.  Here is what they sent me:

(Notebook Kit, LapDesk, AnyWhere Mouse)

You can jump over to the site to see what I liked about each of these products, but as a blogger and writer, I have to say that the Notebook Kit is my favourite.  My Notebook Kit is permanently set up on my desk for when the kids are asleep at night and I can get some “real” writing done.  I actually had the older version of this product on my desk already!  I like that the new version is more streamlined, takes up less deskspace, and has the huge added bonus of Unifying technology.  Basically a tiny device plugs into one of your USB ports, and just makes everything work without wires.  If you want to see mine in action, check this out:

If you’re interested in winning some of these products for yourself, jump over to the My Laptop Gets Spoilt campaign and upload a pic of yourself.  The grand prize even includes a Macbook!!

Oh, and in true SquiggleMum style, here is what my kids did with the boxes from the Logitech products.  Yes, a laptop and a robot

For those of you interested in what I’ve been writing about for mums and dads around Australia, here is a wrapup of my Parenting Australia posts for June.  My favourite for the month is Pre Reading Foundations, a post about why we should NOT teach children to read before they are ready, but instead invest in their prereading skills.  This post attracted a bit of attention!  Click the link on each post to read more.

Sales and Celebrations – It seems the thing to say at the moment is “Happy EOFYS!”  I don’t know about you, but something doesn’t sit right with me as we “celebrate” the end of financial year.  I should be upfront and admit that I like a good sale.  Actually, I LOVE a good sale and I hardly ever pay full price for anything.  I like to make sure my dollar goes as far as it can, and I am not a frivolous spender by any stretch!  Yes, I have been to the stocktake sales.  Yes, I have made purchases.  Yes, I have bought presents ahead of time while they are at reduced prices.  Yes, I have bought children’s clothes a size ahead for when they need them.  But no – I have not bought things unnecessarily simply because they are reduced.  No, I have not spun into a sale-induced frenzy.  And no, I don’t think sale season is, to quote a current tv ad, “the best time of the year.”

Pre Reading Foundations – Reading is a complicated process, and there’s an incredible amount of foundational work required before any formal teaching begins.  The stronger the foundations, the more solid the building will be.  Parents who rush to give their kids a “head start” without doing the ground work often do more harm than good.  Wise parents invest in the foundations instead, and do not push young kids to read before they are ready.

How Crunchy Are You? – The first time I heard the phrase “crunchy parenting” I had to google it.  (It’s a good thing I read a lot of blogs.  How else would I keep up with all the current buzz words?)  In a basic sense the term crunchy is interchangeable with alternative.  But as more and more parents move away from mainstream ideas, and as more alternative ideas become widely accepted – things aren’t clear cut as they once were!

Never Say Never – If I could only give you one piece of advice for surviving with a newborn it would be this: never say never.  It’s impossible to go into parenting without some pre conceived ideas.  The media show us images of motherhood in parenting mags, glossies, tv ads and even in Holly wood blockbusters.  And while we all know those images are sugar coated (and probably airbrushed too) they still contribute to our picture of early parenting.  On the other hand, real life examples of mothering can come crashing in on our picture.  We’ve all been guilty of judging a mother, whether a relative, friend or stranger, without having any clue about life with kids.  It’s hard not to think about how we would respond in the same situation, and it’s funny how often we assume we’d do it better.  Which of course leads to dangerous “I’d never…” thinking.

Preparing For Needles – I must admit that I’m not looking forward to tomorrow. My just-turned-four year old has an appointment with our GP for her immunisations. I’m relieved in a way, because it will be the last of the standard childhood injections. I’m also a little nervous though, because she’s such a big girl now and she understands exactly what is going on. Babies and young toddlers can be held down for their needles. Holding down a four year old isn’t so easy and other strategies are required. Without making too much of a fuss about it all, I hope I have prepared my girl with a few simple steps.

I would dearly love for my children to be friends when they grow up.  I would love them to be there for each other.  I would love them to have each other’s number on speed dial!  My question is… what can I do as a mother to foster a healthy relationship between them? And I’m also wondering, is sibling rivalry just par for the course, or can it be avoided?

I pounce on those special moments when I see one child being especially kind or thoughtful to the other.  My son, thought not yet even 2, is so generous and kind hearted.  If he gets his own drinkbottle, he’ll get his sister’s too and take it over to her.  He’ll even share his favourite foods with her!  And my big girl is learning to be so encouraging with her words when she sees her brother successfully attempting something. Those moments are worth taking the time to praise because they are about building character.

In some ways I think competition is inevitable, and it isn’t necessarily bad.  Rather than trying to avoid competitiveness between my kids, I am instead training them in how to deal with it.  For example, there is a simple spotting game we play in the car.  Using that simple game (which both kids are good at!) I have the opportunity to model winning and losing behaviour.  When we win, we don’t boast about it.  When we lose, we don’t let it get us down and we are really happy for the person who won.

I’d love to hear from you on this one.  Are you friends with your adult siblings?  What do you do in your home with your own children to promote sibling love, rather than sibling rivalry?  If you have older kids I’d especially love your thoughts on what you have tried, and how successful it has been.

PS – if you happen to have a sister who is a great aunty to your kids, make sure you make some fuss of her on Savvy Auntie Day, 25th July.

(KT Tunstall – Suddenly I See)

I couldn’t go past these shoes for my daughter.  The sturdy soles make them practical, and they are completely covered in silver sequins.  They were also the grand sum of $12, and you all know I like to shop on a budget.  You should see how they sparkle when my girl walks in the sunshine!  The sequins cast little sparkling reflections on the ground, and everything around her is a silver pool of light. She looks down and smiles, and her smile makes her face sparkle too.  And of course, my sparkly girl makes me smile too.

I could use a pair of shoes like that.  (Actually, I really would love a pair if they came in my size.)  We all need a little sparkle in our lives!  What makes you shine?  What makes you feel good about yourself?  What puts a spring in your step and a smile on your face?

Being a mum is hard work, and is often far from glamorous.  I think it’s important for each of us to find what helps us to shine.  It might something as simple as a pair of shoes, or it might be something deeper and more profound.  (Think I need both myself…)  When you find what makes you sparkle, you’ll not only feel better about yourself, but the people who surround you will feel the benefit of it.

Shine on.

My intentions are always good, and my heart is in the right place – but I say YES too often.  I over commit and end up in a fog.  A fog of work, and expectation, and pressure, and deadlines.  I lose sight of the sun and get lost in the haze.

I’m always in the fog for a little while before I suddenly look up and realise that everything is out of focus.  Usually by then the damage is done.  Last week I forgot a friend’s birthday, even though it was marked in my diary.  My kids have had to physically come and pull me away from the laptop.  Those things don’t make me feel great.

The only good thing about realising I’m in a fog, is that it means I can take steps to clear it.  You can’t deal with something until you acknowledge it exists.  So here’s what I’m doing to clear the fog:

• Stepping back – I’ve resigned from some paid online writing and social media work.  Money isn’t everything.  I’ll also have to say no to some of the online writing I do for free.
• Stepping out – I’ve scheduled one fun night a week for me-time.  No house work, writing work, voluntary work or mummy work.  For someone who only earns a little I sure work a lot!  I need some breathing space, out of the house.
• Stepping up – I’m increasing my commitment to family time.  It’s not that I need to dedicate more time, it’s more about being present.

Here in Brisbane foggy winter’s mornings clear to sunny blue skies.  The grey lifts, and the sun is right where it’s always been.  I take comfort in that.

Will the world change our children…or will our children change the world? Time is short and lives are at stake. Right now, God is inviting our families to become part of a bigger story—a vision that will engage hearts to make a radical difference. One Million Arrows is an inspirational call to raise our kids to impact their culture, community, and world for Christ. If we want our kids to discover their purpose, if we want them to live with passion for the Kingdom, if we want our family to go down in His-Story, accept the mission…and leave a mark for eternity.

This is a book about opening our eyes big – being aware of the world we live in, the injustice that is rife in third world countries, the sheer number of orphans. It’s a book about parenting big – intentionally raising our kids to be more than just good people, shaping our “arrows” to do things for God’s Kingdom.  It’s about thinking big, and loving big, and believing big.  Big is good, but big is always challenging.

Using heaps of inspiring examples of families and young people who are currently being used by God in mighty ways, author Julie Ferwerda offers three stages of raising kingdom-minded kids (arrows): gather, sharpen, and launch. Gather up the children—your own, others in your circle of influence and, if possible, broken children who need a family. Sharpen them in the Word, raising them as disciples of Jesus.  Launch them into the world, ready to use their God-given gifts, talents, and resources in order to make a difference for the Kingdom.

If you want to be challenged and inspired, get your hands on a copy of One Million Arrows.  As far as I can see it isn’t available in Australian Christian bookshops yet, but you can grab a copy at Amazon. (I love that Julie is putting her money where her mouth is by giving ALL profits from the book to international orphan care and ministry.)

For more info check out http://onemillionarrows.com

Thanks for sending me a copy Julie!

Supporting New Mums – Having been through pregnancy and birth twice, I’ve been on the receiving end of some wonderful gifts and thoughtful offers of help. I almost wish I could go back to my pre-baby days and do things differently for my friends who had children before me! Until you’ve been through the experience it’s hard to know what to do and how to help. So here are my suggestions for supporting pregnant friends, or those who have recently given birth… click here to read more

Staying Sane With A Reflux Bub – Both of my children suffered with reflux to varying degrees. My daughter was a back arching, screaming little chucker. I spent weeks pacing the floor with her in my arms, her little head thrown back while I sang every nursery rhyme I knew in an attempt to calm her, or drown out the screaming, or both. Unfortunately having one child with reflux doesn’t mean you will be exempt the next time around!  click here to read more

Sick Kids and Sleepless Nights – I’ve only had a few hours sleep and I’m so tired I can barely see the screen this morning.  I don’t have a newborn, and I didn’t stay up too late last night.  It’s just that the kids are sick.  It’s nothing major – just one of those winter bugs that is par for the course as the cooler weather sets in.  But it only takes a minor illness to upset things… click here to read more

My First Mother’s Day – As my favourite day of the year approaches, I can’t help but think back to my very first Mother’s Day four years ago… My first Mother’s Day was a complete non-event. Nobody let me down.  My hubby didn’t forget.  My daughter didn’t do anything wrong.  It’s just that she hadn’t arrived!  I was due about five days before Mother’s Day, and was looking forward to celebrating my first one with a newborn in my arms.  I really, honestly thought that I would be a Mummy by then… click here to read more

We are all different though, and we all receive and give love in different ways.  If you have read The Five Love Languages (Gary Chapman) you are probably aware of the five main ways people show love to each other:

• words of affirmation
• quality time
• receiving gifts
• acts of service
• physical touch

At ages 4 and 1 my kids are still pretty young, so I’m still not sure what their love languages will be (though I am beginning to see with my daughter).  I therefore try to show them love in all five ways to make sure they get the message!  Here is one way I have been reminding my daughter that she is loved, even when she is at kindy and I am at home:

I often put a little note into her lunch box, but writing the note actually ON the banana is way more fun.  The best bit is that the note is invisible when I pack the banana, and only appears during the day.  To send your child a banana-gram just write directly onto the skin with a bamboo skewer.  The pressure will bruise the skin slightly but not damage the fruit.  As the bruise darkens during the day the message appears!  I always show my girl her lunchbox when it is packed so she knows what to expect later in the day – but the message is a surprise.

If you have a young child who responds to words of affirmation, or receiving gifts, try sending them a secret message in their lunch box.  It’s a great way to let them know they are loved.

How do you show love creatively to your kids?

Her phrase stuck with me for days.  With joy.  I consider myself a joyful person, but I wonder how much of life I truly do with joy…?  Do I write with joy?  Do I clean with joy?  Do I cook with joy?  Do I parent with joy?  Maybe sometimes, but not always.

I don’t think that joy = happiness.  I don’t have to be over the moon about housework necessarily, but I can still approach it with a joyful spirit.  Sometimes I’ll admit my attitude needs a readjustment.  This week, I got one from my kids.

“Be joyful always.”  (1 Thess 5:16)