Mother Distracted

Thursday, 13 October 2016

Book Review & Giveaway: The Quick Guide To Parenting by Laura Quick

Just occasionally, I find a book that makes me laugh out loud. And this one has the double honour of making the Husband laugh out loud too.

The Quick Guide to Parenting by Laura Quick is a series of acutely observed illustrations which delve deep into family life and the inner turmoil experienced by some parents on a daily basis.

She captures the topsy-turviness, the incongruence and the self-flagellation. Guilt, humour and love are all there in abundance.

From what they said to the man at the bus stop, to where you found the remote control, when you’re a parent, laughing at what gets hurled in your direction is beyond important. Laura has been sketching scenes from daily domestic life on her blog, The Daily Think. All the bizarre moments and ridiculous conversations that are part of being a parent are here, from the day Laura’s daughter tried to poke her finger into a dog’s rear end, to the temper tantrums, and the sense of relief when the school holidays are over.

Trained as an illustrator, working in art direction, concept development and strategy, Laura Quick is a specialist in editorial Illustration and design as well as look books, ad campaigns, and Visual Merchandising. She has worked closely with fashion photographers, artists and designers for over a decade. Laura began drawing and observing people for her blog, The Daily Think six years ago. Listening and observing at fashion shoots, in meetings, on the bus and, later on, with kids in tow, in the playground.

Laura now produces almost all her commercial work off the back of this observational and humorous style. Working for the likes of The Guardian, AnOther Magazine, The BBC, The Royal Opera House, Thames and Hudson and many more, her work moves more towards her fascination in people and their habits, their self-expression and individual characters.

Very often this kind of book can be a two minute 'flick through', usually whilst waiting for the kids to finally choose something in the bookshop but I think this one is worth perusing thoroughly and will be great to pick up when you're having an off-day - just to remind yourself that you're not going mad and this is actually what parenting is like.

It would make a great Christmas gift for exhausted mums everywhere and, if you've enough of a sense of naughtiness, to give to pregnant friends as a slightly sardonic warning that parenthood is a country for which there is absolutely no map.

You can check out Laura's very funny blog too.

"The Quick Guide To Parenting" is published by Portico, an imprint of Pavilion Books RRP £9.99.

Recent Reviews

'Charming, quirky and funny' - THE GUARDIAN, September 2016

'All parents will be able to relate to these hilariously accurate illustrations of raising children' - THE HUFFINGTON POST (UK)/PARENTS, September 2016

Beautifully drawn, honest and hilarious illustrated guide to the everyday life of a parent - MUMSNET, September 2016

'Laura Quick has perfectly captured the topsy turvy world of parenthood that all parents can relate to in one way or another in her new book' - NETMUMS, September 2016

Giveaway

I have one copy of "The Quick Guide To Parenting" to give away. Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and the usual terms and conditions apply. (Please see my competitions page). UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 4th November.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Can You Reverse The Damage Stress Has Done To Your Skin?

It's easy to under-estimate the toll that stress can take on our skin and to kid ourselves that a haphazard skincare routine and poor lifestyle choices won't eventually catch up with us.

Here's an explanation of how stress can effect our skin from a medical point of view from Dr. Ernst Eiselen, MBChB, FRACGP - and no, we won't get away with it!

Dr. Eiselen says:

The skin and the brain develop from the same layer of cells in the human embryo; they are intimately linked throughout life. Healthy skin is therefore a product of not only a skin care routine, but a stress-free state of mind.

Stress is an engineering term which refers to the application of different forces to materials, usually used to test their strength or their breaking point. The concept is no different in humans. The types of forces applied are not those used in engineering, but the effects are much the same. Conscious and sub-conscious parts of the brain are both involved in the production of stress. As a consequence of the brain activity, the endocrine systems become involved at all levels.

Skin is influenced by the brain through its varied and wide-reaching system of connections to the skin. Hormones produced by the different parts of the endocrine system have profound, direct and indirect effects on the skin. From this concise explanation of the structural and functional intimacy of the different organ systems, it is easy to appreciate that skin will not escape the eroding effects of pervasive stress.

The quality, comfort and appearance of healthy skin depend on a fine and happy balance of the influences mentioned above. The blood flow through the skin of a stressed person is not at its optimal level, thus disrupting the oxygen and nutrient supply to the skin. Like any starving or suffocating organ, aging and decay are sped up over time. Persistent stress starts to automate the nerve impulse pathways as our brains learn the patterns that are most often repeated. Combine this with a lethal mix of constantly-raised stress hormones and cell receptors are reprogrammed into ‘survival mode’.

Cells focused on survival are not attuned to thrive, divide efficiently or produce highly specialised, robust and vital units required for youthful, zesty skin. Skin can become stress-damaged over protracted periods. However, due to genetic and other differences, the complexity of all the involved elements and effects variable to passage of time make it impossible to quantify the effects of stress on skin in any individual.

The logical question follows: Is it possible to reverse or correct this situation?

Fortunately, the answer is yes on two different levels. Firstly, there is a need to recognise the elements of stress in one’s life and find a means of managing it in a positive manner. Sometimes, this may be small and simple lifestyle changes to make, but at other times it may require life-altering moves to get rid of the excessive stress. For most people cultivating a simple habit of regular exercise, improved periods of rest and reflection will help to de-stress and balance the hormones responsible for the negative changes. Specific exercises where attention is focused on breathing, stretching and toning go a long way to defuse stress-hormone storms.

On the level of the skin itself, the aim is to alter the skin cell behaviour that focuses on surviving to cells that are able to thrive. We are starting to understand how to create cells which are able to maximise their full potential in function, structure and beauty. Environ’s advanced vitamin skin therapy addresses the backbone processes with which man has evolved over the last two hundred thousand years. Keeping enough of the crucially important molecules like vitamin A, C and E within the cells simply means that cells are better able to withstand the onslaught of stress hormones and the altered patterns of stimulation brought about by the stress. This does not in any way reduce the need of the other forms of general stress reduction mentioned above, yet it goes a long way to slow down the negative influences.

Speed in everything appears to have become an essential ingredient with companies competing to design electronic instruments which will perform faster with larger amounts of information. At the same time those who are lucky enough to be in affluent societies are living longer, which simply means that the skin cells will be subjected to this battering of the senses for more and more years. Neither our cells, nor psyches are geared to deal with these circumstances. Change at such a pace leaves no room for the evolution of systems which were shaped by completely different survival stresses over hundreds of thousands of years.

The only possible counter-approach to this frenetic race is to understand the importance of relaxation and spontaneous, quiet contemplation for the body and mind. The skin should also be allowed to rest from the stress and physical environmental challenges. Providing real nutrition to skin cells based on sound scientific principles enables repair mechanisms to deal with the cumulative DNA damage, whilst coaxing cells to specialise to their natural potential.

It is therefore important to see the skin as an integral part of a total system which needs de-stressing on a total body level. In this new age, the mind-body balance and macro and micro nutrition will be key to optimal function of all body parts into a healthy old age. Not least of all, will be the need to do this for healthy skin.

Dr. Ernst Eiselen, MBChB, FRACGP.

It's pretty clear that getting to grips with our stress is vital to ensure a glowing complexion, as well as a healthier mind and body. How well do you cope with stress?

Review: The Sittingwell® Back Support Cushion - Get Comfy In Your Favourite Chair Again

There are millions of Brits who suffer from back pain. Figures released by the UK Statistics Authority in 2014 showed that back pain is a huge problem for the nation.

Struggling to get comfortable on your sofa with your bad back?

They found that around 4.2 million working days were lost by workers aged 50-64 alone in 2014. Those aged 25-34 were absent for 1.89 million days due to back pain, while those in the 35-49 bracket missed 3.86 million days in the office.

The number of sick days taken because of the chronic condition had also increased dramatically - up from 7.7 million lost days in 2013 to 9.96 million in 2014. The total cost of the missed work days amounts to more than a billion pounds.

The condition affects people in all age groups but my age group, the over-50s, are worst hit. Health experts say chronic back pain is made worse by our increasingly sedentary lifestyle, with the average Briton spending almost four hours a day at a computer. And that's without including time sat on the sofa watching TV or slumped in a chair gaming!

You may have heard the expression "sitting is the new smoking" and there are a number of books which link excessive sitting to a greatly increased risk of disease and even early death.

But what can you do if you have back pain and you have to sit down for the greater part of the day?

Apart from the obvious lifestyle changes you need to make, the most obvious being to increase your exercise, there are things you can do to improve your comfort. You are probably already aware of the orthopedic mattresses on the market to help you get a better night's sleep but how many of us consider how the chairs and sofas we sit in may be contributing to our back pain?

My own lower back pain began after 2 caesareans and a generally sedentary lifestyle at home looking after the kids. I still spend far too much time writing whilst sat in an arm chair that has seen better days.

Let's be honest. Few of us have the money to replace our lounge furniture just because a few springs have gone or because the cushions now sink and don't give any support.

We've been looking for a new sofa recently and I can't believe how many designs have really deep seating areas so your legs sometimes don't even reach the floor, and absolutely no neck support so you can't rest your head back.

What are designers thinking? Given that many sofas cost in the thousands, it's a lot of money to pay to store up back and neck problems for yourself later on!

One solution to sitting more comfortably on your sofa with proper back support is the Sittingwell® Back Support Cushion. This was designed to offer support for the sofas and chairs which are too deep to give sufficient support, leading you to slump and thus put pressure on your spine and your neck.

Sittingwell make a variety of products aimed at preventing and relieving back pain and this cushion is unique in that it combines a built in back support pad with the comfortable 'squiginess' you'd expect from a plush sofa cushion.

There are two versions, one filled with polyester foam and, the one I was sent to try, the duck feather filled version.. The cushion is supplied without a cover but fits easily in to a standard 45 cm square cushion cover so nobody need know you're using one.

You can use it can be used on the sofa, armchair, deep office or dining room chair (as long as the back of the chair meets the seat and there isn't a gap at the bottom). You can even use it in bed to sit against whilst having your morning tea or reading at night.

Hand made in the UK, the Sittingwell® Cushion comes in an ethically sourced reusable canvas bag which is great if you want to take it away with you.

I was sent the Deluxe Sittingwell® Feather Back Support Cushion which retails at £69.99. The polyester filled version is slightly cheaper at £45.99.

I found that the support the cushion gave was surprisingly firm and it really makes you sit up properly. Because the front of the cushion is what you'd probably consider 'normal cushion' though, it is comfortable to lean back on.

I could feel the adjustment to my spine as my thighs were elongated and my feet felt more firmly on the floor. The benefits of this of course mean that your neck is also elongated and you don't hunch quite so much. It's easier and more comfortable to sit for longer with this added back support.

Despite this, and as Sittingwell themselves advise, you need to get up and move regularly. My physiotherapist once told me that you should get up and move around every 20 minutes or so and that he would never sit down for longer than 45 minutes at a time. (Oops!).

When you get up some simple stretches and bends may be enough to ensure you don't seize up and keep everything moving!

Sittingwell has an advice hub on their website where you can find a range of articles on how to avoid back pain in various situations (sitting, standing, sleeping, travelling etc). You can also get a free report "7 Solutions To Back Pain Relief" which can be downloaded to your PC when you leave your email address.

I was impressed by the Sittingwell cushion and will continue to use it. I know that it's no substitute for a healthier lifestyle but it does make time spent on our rickety sofa more bearable.

I think that it's also quite reasonably priced given the cost of some of the major retailer's 'normal' cushions! You can easily pick up a cushion cover for a few pounds on Amazon.

You can find more information at www.sittingwell.co.uk

Safe Journey - Essential Tips For Family Car Safety

Most people these days have a car if their finances allow and it must be extremely difficult to cope with a young family if you don't. But, as our cars are so important for a smooth running family routine, it's important to ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy, and your driving is up to scratch.

There are lots of things you can do to keep your family safe while driving. Read on to discover what they are.

Image credit

Entertainment

It can be very distracting when you are trying to drive if your little ones are screaming or asking you lots of questions. That it why it's essential to keep them entertained, especially on long journeys.

There are quite a few ways you can do this, and some of it will depend on your views on entertainment, and some of it will be related to what your kids enjoy.

The first idea is an in-car DVD player. This works by hanging two mini screens over the back of the front two seats. Then the kids listen to the audio through headphones so they are quiet and happy, while you take car of the driving.

If you are not too keen on just plugging your child into a media system, then you can provide them with colouring books and reading materials instead. Just make sure that reading doesn't make them car sick!

Car Seats

One of the most essential items for child safety in vehicles is a car seat - and these are of course a legal requirement.

These not only help them to be boosted up so that they can see out of the window, but they perform an essential safety function as well.

Car seats allow your kids to sit in the best possible position to preserve their safety if there is any kind of accident. There are new EU rules on the car seat that have come out this year, so make sure you are up to date with them, by reading the information here.

Child Locks

Child locks are a fantastic way of ensuring your little ones' safety in the car. When you activate them, it makes sure that your children can't open the door from their side.

This works well if they are still very small and don't understand when it's safe to have an open door. It also stops any accidental door opening that could cause a safety problem.

Car Maintenance

Something that is imperative in car safety is making sure that your vehicle is well maintained. Having a valid MOT certificate is a legal requirement and you'll also need one of these to take out car insurance. Cars are complex machines these days so it's worth getting your car regularly checked and tuned up to avoid a hefty repair bill when your MOT inspection comes around.

Things like brake pads, oil and water levels need to be monitored as they can affect the safety of the car's handling. It is important you find a mechanic who is a specialist in the make and model of car that you have to help you maintain your vehicle. There are even search sites set up to help you find a specialist mechanic like whocanfixmycar.com. You can check it out by clicking the link.

Rules

It's also a good idea to have rules for behaviour when the kids are in the car. They need to be reminded that they shouldn’t poke their head through the gap in the front seats or try to take their seat belt off while the car is moving.

Sticking to the rules will keep them safe and ensure your attention isn't distracted from the road and other drivers.

Top Tips To Get Your Kids To Do Their Homework & A Homework Station Makeover

Now that Caitlin is in Year 4 and Ieuan in Year 3, the volume of homework is beginning to increase. And so are the 'homework battles'.

Even the concept of homework is under fire at the moment. There are those who say that it is an unnecessary burden on our kids who are already tested far more than previous generations of school children.

On the other hand, research says that 30% of a child's learning comes from their teachers with a whopping 70% coming from us, their parents and carers.

To me, that indicates clearly that home learning is pretty important, whether in the form of formal homework or not.

So what can you do to help your child with their homework?

Revamp their homework workstation

Action Storage, makers of school cloakroom lockers for over 30 years, suggest a workstation makeover may help considerably. It's important to create a space for your child to work in relative peace so that they can concentrate.

All accessories from Flying Tiger.

Having all their books and stationery to hand will make it easier to get the work done. It's also a great opportunity to work with your child to design their space together - which will hopefully add more encouragement to open their school bags and actually get the books out!

We're revamping Caitlin's bedroom at the moment and are fitting new wardrobes but we have created a desk area where she can work in peace and escape her noisy younger brother. Once our DIY is finished we plan to add more shelving for books and some task lighting.

It doesn't have to cost a lot. We found all our accessories for under £20 at Flying Tiger. (see my current giveaway to win Halloween decorations here).

Create a homework timetable

When your kids are younger, this really has to be a 'team effort'. I'm sure you have experienced that sinking Sunday night feeling when you find a piece of urgent homework that has to be handed in on Monday which has been languishing at the bottom of your child's backpack.

I've learned now to empty out all the scraps of paper on Friday to check we know what is needed over the weekend.

That way, we can create a simple homework timetable and split library books up into a set number of chapters per night, for example.

No TV, Gaming, or iPad until they've done their homework

There are times when your child comes home exhausted and it's obvious that they need a break before starting any homework.

But when the work has to be done, we found it's best to hide the remotes and tablets until it's done. If you wanted to be extra tough, you could change the WiFi password until it is!

Sit down and do it with them

Not all the time and I'm not suggesting you do the work for them but taking an active interest in what they're doing and letting them show you their workings out or designs will show them that you're there to help and may even encourage a bit of inspired collaboration.

Take the homework away from home

Sometimes it makes a refreshing change to do their homework somewhere else. You could sit with them in your local library or take their spelling books when you're sat waiting in a car for ballet / Taekwondo/swimming to end.

Ieuan is particularly fond of spelling practice in a restaurant down the road from Caitlins ballet class where we bribe him with a large blackcurrant squash and a packet of crisps.

Take learning into the real world

If, for example, they're studying money then take them to the supermarket and show them how much things cost. Get them to work out the value of what you're putting in your basket. Let them hand over the money and check the change.

If they're studying weights and measurements, do some baking and let them weigh out the ingredients or help with some DIY and take the measurements.

Teaching children how to actually apply what they're learning will help the subject matter to stick much easier.

There are many ways to help your child with their homework but the most important thing is to encourage them and help them to understand that learning is a continuous process that needs daily application.

Recognise when your child is struggling

If you think your child is not coping with their homework, then you could consider hiring a private tutor. You should also talk to your child's teacher to see if there are extra resources to help them in school.

You might also want to check that there is nothing else interfering with your child's learning such as health or friendship issues.

It's perfectly normal to hate doing your homework but as I tell my two, it's a competitive world and a good standard of academic achievement can only stand them in good stead for supporting the Husband and I in our old age!

Win A Haribo Halloween Hamper - No Trick But A Real Treat [closed]

As you've probably guessed by now, we love Halloween in the Hobbis household and although we don't usually go trick or treating, we always have plenty of treats ready to hand out to the witches and ghouls who turn up on our doorstep. And of course, that means plenty of sweets.

This year, HARIBO has brewed up a magical mix of tricks and treats for Halloween and I have a spooky hamper to give away that’s perfect for trick or treating, Halloween parties or ghostly movie nights in with friends and family.

Included in the hamper is new HARIBO Scaremix. Ideal for sharing, this bag offers the iconic shapes found in Starmix, but in a terrifyingly good mix of new colours and flavours including Toffee Apple Monster’s Eyeballs; Blackcurrant and Bubblegum Vampire Hearts; Blood Orange Brew; Cherry Boo Bears; and Blackberry and Apple Dracula’s Rings.

Next is TangfasTricks but watch out, what looks like a treat could be a trick with this naughty and nice bag that not only contains standard tangy pieces but also hot and super-sour ones too!

There’s also new Scaremix and TangfasTricks Duo Tub which brings together these two terrifyingly good treats in a pumpkin shaped, sharing tub.

HARIBO’s popular Trick or Treat multipacks also feature. Containing a delicious bundle of Halloween themed gums and jellies, these mini bags can be handed out to any demon or devil that knocks on your door.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter below. UK entrants only. The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Tuesday 18th October.

via GIPHY

The winner must respond by Wednesday 19th October in order to guarantee delivery of their prize in time for Halloween.

There are plenty of ways to win but you MUST leave a blog comment in order to qualify.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Further information is available from Haribo's website, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Take The Flora Lunchbox Challenge & Pack A Healthier Lunch For Your Child

My two have school dinners but occasionally I am required to rustle up that nutritional challenge known as 'the lunchbox'.

If you don't prepare one regularly, and aren't a pro at assembling something Bento-style which is Instagram worthy and would find favour with Jamie Oliver, then you'll experience the heart-sinking moment when you receive the school trip form which instructs you to provide a 'packed lunch'.

I briefly consider whether jam sandwiches are actually an acceptable alternative to something involving seeds, nuts and a rather hefty boost to my Clubcard points.

Yes, you can exchange these for more pizza but that's not really the point, is it?

So for Caitlin it's usually a Ham and Tomato sarnie, a packet of crisps and something with too much sugar wrapped in too much plastic.

Ieuan will eat any sandwich as long as it's Peanut Butter and Banana. Or Ham if there's a full moon rising in Pisces (picky, Ieuan? Never!).

But, if you are a poor lunchbox packer, then you're not alone. Recent research commissioned by Flora revealed that a paltry 1.6% of children's lunchboxes are meeting the school food national standards and only 1 in 5 lunchboxes, just 17%, contain any sort of vegetables or salad.

I'd add, given Ieuan's fear of anything green, that you have to wonder how many of the veggies and salads in that 17% actually get eaten.

In order to do something about the Nations below-par lunchbox packing, Flora has distributed 631,000 lunchboxes with handy recipe planners to retailers across the UK in a bid to help make packing lunches an easier task for parents, especially those with picky eaters.

We were lucky enough to receive one of these cute lunchboxes which contain some easy to make recipes to try out on the kids and a menu planner (the lunchbox builder) which shows you which items to add to vastly improve your nutritional score.

Flora suggest four combinations named after dinosaurs (who were all plant eaters apparently). There's the T-Rex Lunchbox for monster appetites, the Florasaurus Lunchbox for herbivores, the Velociraptor Lunchbox (a beast of a lunch) and the Stegosaurus Lunchbox (the epic size lunch).

Each combination contains the best mix of carbs, protein, dairy, fruit and veg and healthy fats, in the form of Flora Spreads which are a lower saturated fat alternative to butter and provide a source of the essential Omega 3 and 6 fats that are needed to support the normal growth and development of children.

Flora comes in a range of tasty varieties - Flora Original, Flora Lite, Flora Buttery and Flora Freedom which is dairy free. We tried the Original and Lite varieties.

But you don't have to go for sandwiches - sometimes it's good to think outside of the lunchbox (sorry).

Flora suggest Pasta Tossed with Tuna and Fresh Herbs, Chicken Pittas or how about an Egg, Mayo and Pepper Wrap or something more exotic such as a Moroccan Couscous Salad?

And you could be a little more inspired with your fruit choices than just an apple - how about a small pot of fruit salad or a fruit kebab? You could include some banana bread or flapjack which are both easy enough to make yourself.

You can find all of the recipes here along with hints and tips on how to make the most of a lunch box meal.

Here's a few extra tips:-

*Buy bread and rolls in bulk and keep some in your freezer for emergencies.

*Prepare the lunchbox the night before and place in the fridge to keep fresh.

*Buy lunchbox staples in bulk and portion them up as soon as you get home. You can pop individual portions of snacks like trail mix into separate sandwich bags ready to drop in to the lunchbox to save time.

*A healthy lunch will keep your child alert and able to focus at school so try to include a variety of food types. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients essential for optimal health, whilst proteins are the building blocks of cellular growth which also help to balance blood sugar levels and keep us feeling fuller for longer. The Flora Lunchbox Builder will help you to put together the best combination.

* The best drink to pack is water.

*Add some extra interest by packing each item separately so that the unwrapping creates a little fun, plus this helps keep food fresher.

*Use your freezer - batch cook on a Sunday so that you are ready for the rest of the week.

*In hot weather include ice packs to keep food cool and in cold weather why not add some warming soup in a thermos.

*Make sure that snack foods are as healthy as possible without relying on shop bought sugary treats. Better choices include hard boiled eggs, unsalted popcorn, a savoury scone, a granola bar, some yogurt, fruity jelly and some nuts and seeds. Be careful with granola bars as some of these contain more sugar than a chocolate bar.

Healthy doesn't have to mean boring when it comes to lunchboxes. A little preparation and planning goes a long way when it comes to giving your child a lunchbox that tastes good, does them good and comes back empty!

“This post is an entry for the #FloraLunchbox Linky Challenge, sponsored by Flora. Check out their lunch planner and recipe ideas here ”