Response to MEC’s remarks about Home-Education on 9 August 2007

by A Daddy


The article below appeared in the Mercury on 9 August 2007. I thought I’d make a few comments, which I also forwarded to the Mercury.
At first when I read the article I thought of this one liner – “What’s worse – Ignorance or Apathy? – Who knows? Who cares?”
I read it again and thought of this quote – “In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.”
Then I wondered how some people can think its right to think you’re right when you think its right to be wrong.
Then decided to write a response.
I wonder – Is it proper to slam home education by saying it has a serious negative impact on the overall development of children?
Depends – If you have interviewed every single person who ever received home education and you find everyone to be underdeveloped in some area – your “slammation” may have grounds. If not, it is worth as much as a statistic that is made up on the spot.
If someone reckons that schools are microcosms of society, it is probably also possible that that same person could surmise that an aeroplane can fly through a watermelon. You see – A watermelon is 80% water and a cloud is 80% water. An aeroplane can fly through a cloud. Therefore an aeroplane can fly through a watermelon.
If you think that education is much more than simply failing or passing, you are right. As a matter of interest – failing, passing and socialising are words that are entirely divorced from education.
Identity, purpose and legitimacy, on the other hand, is a large part thereof.
That said - One should never assume that all parents who homeschool, educate their children.
Education has to do with assisting/training an individual to reach his/her potential and doing what he/she was created for. It has nothing to do with exclusivity or academics. It has everything to do with clarity of focus.
In conclusion I can agree with Mark Twain who said – “Never let your schooling interfere with your education.”



By Colleen DardaganMEC slams home education
August 09 2007 at 07:46AM
KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Ina Cronje has slammed home education, saying it has a seriously negative impact on the overall development of children."I am utterly against it. Part of a child's learning is to socialise and learn to cope in the world. If schools are microcosms of society, depriving the child of that learning experience will have a very serious impact on overall development. "Children may do well in a subject, but education is much more than simply failing or passing," said Cronje, while confirming there had been an increase in the number of registrations for home schooling in KZN over the past year.
Home education is under the spotlight in South Africa, with research findings by the national Education Department due to be released soon.Leendert van Oostrum, head of the Pestalozzi Trust, has dismissed the findings, saying the process was flawed and the results would not accurately reflect why parents chose to school their children at home. The trust is a Gauteng-based legal defence fund for home school parents who find themselves in conflict with the Education Department."The department only tendered for a survey of those who are registered and, according to our records, less than five percent of the estimated 80 000 children being home schooled in the country are reflected on departmental records. Any research based on the number of children listed with the department cannot accurately reflect the many different reasons parents choose to home educate their children."Hersheela Narsee, head of the research project at the department, said the results of the study, which involved 2 900 registered children, were due for release in the next few months. According to the national department, KZN had more than 500 children registered for home schooling, the highest number in the country.Education spokesperson Christi Naude said the number of children registered did not correlate with the national department's figures. "We had 400 registered, but that is not accurate.Then the computers were stolen at our offices in Ulundi, so we only have records of 155 children - we have had an increase of 70 percent in registrations in the last year. However, this figure is also not reliable as many parents do not inform us when they decide to stop home schooling and send their children back to public or independent schools."Narsee described the monitoring process in KZN as difficult. "Distances and human resource capacity issues in the department are key barriers. For example, to monitor over 500 home learners in KwaZulu-Natal it would require officials to travel 60 840km and 877 man days a year for a single, three-hour visit to each of these home sites," she said.Van Oostrum said according to his records most parents chose not to send their children to public schools precisely because they didn't want them to follow the national curriculum."The new curriculum shows all the hallmarks of revolutionary education practice based on Marxist theory. Children's religious and cultural identities are shifted by interfaith and multiculturism to common identities. In fact, I believe the Department of Education's curriculum is so prescriptive, it borders on the unlawful."

World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August 2007

Posted with compliments of Worldbreastfeedingweek.org

Breastfeeding: The 1st Hour
Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for six months can
Save more than ONE million babies!

“It begins at birth. Our very first act after birth is to suck our mother’s…milk. This is an act of affection, of compassion. Without that act, we cannot survive. That’s clear…That’s the way of life. That’s reality.”
Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, The Art of Happiness A Handbook for Living.1998

Objectives:

• To mobilise the world to the potential for saving ONE million babies starting with ONE simple action: allowing the baby to initiate breastfeeding in the first hour of life.


• To promote immediate skin-to-skin contact of the mother and baby and continuing with exclusive breastfeeding for six months .


• To encourage ministers of health and other authorities to include the initiation of breastfeeding in the first hour as a key indicator for preventive health.


• To ensure that families know how important a baby’s first hour is, so that they can make sure that their babies are given this opportunity.


• To support the newly revised and revitalised Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), with its emphasis on integration and expansion, and on the early initiation of breastfeeding.

In the first hour of life, a baby finds her mother’s breast. Together they can do it on their own, when we respect maternal/infant physiology as we provide expert maternal child care.
This is the beginning of a life-sustaining breastfeeding relationship between mother and child.
---

Visit http://breastcrawl.org/ to view the video

The Remarkable First Hour of Life
When healthy infants are placed skin-to-skin on their mother’s abdomen and chest immediately after birth, they exhibit remarkable capabilities. They are alert. They can crawl, stimulated by mother’s gentle touch, across her abdomen, reaching her breast.13 They begin to touch and massage the breast. This first gentle touch of a baby’s hand or head at the breast stimulates release of maternal oxytocin,9 thus beginning both the flow of milk and enhancing the feelings of love for the baby. Then the baby smells, mouths and licks the mother’s nipple. Finally, he or she attaches to the breast and feeds. This sequence of events is important for the survival of human young.

Optimal breastfeeding
The WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding recommends that children breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months of life, and then continue breastfeeding with adequate complementary food up to 2 years or beyond. Normal initiation of breastfeeding in the first minutes to first hours of life begins with skin-to-skin contact, and helps mothers and infants to achieve optimal breastfeeding. This is required in the BFHI, specifically in Step 4 of the WHO/UNICEF 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.


Breastfeeding Rights
The Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises that every child has the inherent right to life and aims to ensure their survival and development. Breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery helps to ensure child survival. Women have a right to this knowledge and to receive the support that they need to initiate breastfeeding accordingly.

Why is skin-to-skin contact after birth and breastfeeding within the first hour of life so important?

1. The mother’s body helps to keep the baby appropriately warm, which is especially important for small and low birth weight babies.


2. The baby is less stressed, calmer and has steadier breathing and heart rates.


3. The baby is exposed first to the bacteria from the mother which are mostly harmless, or against which the mother’s milk contains protective factors. The mother’s bacteria colonise the baby’s gut and skin and compete with more harmful bacteria from health providers and the environment, and so prevent them from causing infection.


4. The baby receives colostrum for the first feeds – liquid gold, sometimes called the gift of life.


5. Colostrum is rich in immunologically active cells, antibodies and other protective proteins. Thus it serves as the baby’s first immunization. It protects against many infections. It helps to regulate the baby’s own developing immune system
   · It contains growth factors, which help the infant’s intestine to mature and function effectively. This makes it more difficult for micro-organisms and allergens to get into the baby’s body
   · It is rich in Vitamin A, which helps protect the eyes and reduce infection
   · It stimulates the baby to have bowel movements so that meconium is cleared quickly from the gut. This helps get rid of the substances in the baby's body that produce jaundice and therefore may help reduce it
   · It comes in small volumes, just right for the new baby.


6. Touching, mouthing and suckling at the breast stimulates oxytocin release – this is important for many reasons:
   · Oxytocin causes the uterus to contract. This may help delivery of the placenta and reduce maternal bleeding after the birth10
   · Oxytocin stimulates other hormones which cause a mother to feel calm, relaxed, and some would say “in love” with her baby 9
   · Oxytocin stimulates the flow of milk from the breast.


7. Women experience incredible joy with this first meeting of their child! And fathers often share this delight. The process of bonding between mother and baby begins.
   

Overall, skin-to-skin contact and early feeds with colostrum are associated with reduced mortality in the first month of life. They are also associated with increased exclusive breastfeeding and longer duration of breastfeeding in the following months, leading to improved health and reduced mortality later on as well.

Is normal breastfeeding initiation in the first hour all that is needed to guarantee continued exclusive breastfeeding?
Absolutely not! Mothers need continued support to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months. The family, health workers, traditional healers and others in the community are all important contributors to their network of support. Health providers, health visitors and others need clinical training in assessment of breastfeeding, identification of problems, as well as knowledge and skills for helping the mother to resolve difficulties. Follow-up by a health worker within 48-72 hours after the birth, again after one week, and at appropriate times thereafter provides the opportunity to intervene early if there are problems, as well as to reassure the mother when things are going well.

Implementation of the newly revised and revitalised BFHI with its 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding along with adherence to The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and Subsequent World Health Assembly Resolutions provide the support structure needed to protect, promote and support optimal breastfeeding.

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals and organisations concerned with the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide based on the Innocenti Declarations, the Ten Links for Nurturing the Future and the WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. Its core partners are International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), La Leche League International (LLLI), International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), Wellstart International and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM). WABA is in consultative status with UNICEF and an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).

More Breastfeeding information:
http://www.waba.org.my/
http://www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org/
http://www.earthbabies.co.za/
http://www.kellymom.com/
http://breastfeeding.blog.motherwear.com/
http://www.lalecheleague.org/SouthAfrica.html

My contribution to the broadening of the tax base (29 June 2007)

By A Daddy
It was a Friday morning just like any other. I woke up, got up, charged up and filled up. We still had a couple of things to do in preparation for our son, Migael, who we expected to arrive on 07-07-07. The most important thereof – my wife, Marie’s, hairdresser appointment.
At around 8:00 Marie politely informed me that 07-07-07 seemed a little too far in the future based on certain physical signals she experienced. So at around 11:00 we decided to take on the 22 km trip to the Hospital, which took us about 25 minutes, just to get some kind of indication of what our plan of action should be.
We pitched up, the nurses did their “stuff” and told us that Migael could technically arrive at any moment but their gut feeling told them there was still time.
So we went home and my wife honoured her hairdresser appointment at 13:30. When walking out of the salon at around 14:00 she told me that the contractions were about 7 minutes apart. We drove home very calmly and told my mom, who is visiting, and kids that the time has come to undertake the 22 km trip again.
By this time my wife whispered in my ear that the contractions were about 5 minutes apart. We started our journey. Four minutes later she told me that she had another contraction.
My mind started wondering to a few movie scenes that I had seen at some stage where people had to rush to the Hospital, but I knew at that time that it only happened in movies.
However when my wife whispered in my ear, three minutes later, that she had another contraction I shifted gears into movie mode.
It briefly reminded of an incident when I experienced that although a square peg doesn’t fit into a round hole, a bone can fit tightly around a dog’s teeth.
My mom started shivering, my oldest daughter reminded me that we were not driving a 4X4, my other daughter thought her dad had gone colour blind, but she sort-of enjoyed it, and my son thought he had arrived in heaven.
The traffic made me realise that the weekend had already started in Pretoria and a few frustrated people did their utmost to make sure that I wait my turn and do not pass them. (May they be blessed!)
Any case, we arrived at the hospital and informed the staff of the situation. They welcomed us back but did not understand the urgency of the situation.
I politely informed them that we had a covenant, which included short, easy, painless contractions and that it would serve them well to hurry up.
They concurred, did their “stuff”, called the doctor. She arrived. A contraction arrived. And after three pushes the tax base was broadened at 14:45.
His name: Migael
Inherent meaning: Who is like God?
Spiritual connotation: Esteemed
First blessing I gave him after his birth: I blessed him with wisdom and anointing to stand solidly on the righteous past, and at the same time to see outside the traditions and norms of the religious movement into which he has been born.
Weight – 2.85 kgLength – Perfect
Everything else – PerfectMom is doing great.
First blessing I gave her after Migael’s birth: I blessed her with having the perfect peace, not as the world gives, great perspective and great understanding.
Dad, sisters and brother are delighted.
It’s great to have the covenant keeping, Lord of Hosts, El Shaddai, Abba Father, The Faithful One on our side.

In Celebration of the Two. 19 June 2007.

by Cath Jenkin

the shitties

breast pads. clearly created and marketed by people who have never had breasts. and especially ones that leak.
expressing. aka the wakka wakka machine. clearly created by people who have never used their nipples for anything except erotic pleasure.
sickness. the unbearable loneliness and powerlessness that comes at 2am when you can do nothing more except hold your crying child and pray that sleep will come for both of you.
dependence. the realisation that this tiny little person is entirely dependent on you for everything. realising also that you, yourself are still dependent and feeling even more powerless to do anything.
tantrums. and oh boy, how you can throw them. one word comes to mind - retribution.
pain. the pain of childbirth is nothing, absolutely nothing in comparison to the pain you feel when you get a phonecall to say your child's been hurt and needs emergency medical attention.
disorder. nothing will ever stay clean again. ever. just give up hope of ever having a clean house ever again. but, reserve the right to complain and from young, you do them train.
metamorphosis. the constant change demanded of you as a result of the constant change that this little person is going through. don't blink, because you will miss something.
fatigue. you will never be as tired as this. ever. you will never sleep again like you used to. ever. you get used to it, you do, and by the time the teen years roll around, and all they ever want to do is sleep, your body's so well-honed to not sleeping that you get up and do random hobbies like decoupage and shit.
heartache. nothing will ever hurt you as much as when your child rejects you in favour of another. nothing will ever hurt you as much as when your child gets hurt, in any way whatsoever. they say when a child is born, the parents' souls then live outside their body. it's true. never mind heart on sleeve, try everything exposed and raw and tender and unprotected.
pooh. i have no need to explain any more on this than to say pooh.


the f**king amazings that i wouldn't trade for anything in the world, not even twelve hours sleep and a hot bath and being able to read an entire book in one sitting.

that very first smile. my dad died the same day and you looked at me and smiled. three weeks old and already more resilient than me.
that very first mama. a warm thursday evening. it just popped out, you wanted my attention so much.
those very first steps. that i watched you take as you walked from the wall and into your daddy's arms.
the love. the indescribable and overwhelming joy that rises up from a place within you that never existed before when your little rascal throws their arms around you and squeezes.
the kisses. open mouth with tongue all over your cheek, nose and including a free dose of snot and some dried up milk.
the dancing. the dancing around the lounge with you and you throwing your head back and laughing.
the giggling. when you laugh, your whole body shakes. its evidence of your unashamed aliveness that i hope will never be tainted by the world.
the singing. and the clapping. and the singing the songs with the actions.
the excitement. everything you see is like you've seen it for the very first time. "Look mama Look Look Look"
the fanclub. even when you're entirely ruined, deemed unsuitable for anybody's consumption in the adult world, rejected, dejected, and passed on by, you come home and all your little person wants is for you to hold them and sing badly to them.
the night time doo doo ritual. of kisses and stroking and you playing with my hair.
the dressing up. being able to dress you up in clothes with ears and knowing full well you'll hate me for it one day but not caring because you are just so cute, i could fall over.
the holding my hand. with your little hand in mine we read together and you point to the pictures and tell me their names.

i keep looking at you and asking myself - where the hell did the time go? what happened to the little bundle we brought home all swaddled who just slept all the time and ate and slept and cried? how is it that I know what to do now about hiccups? (thanks very much Google - three days old and already your livelihood's dependent on the internet!) how is it that childspeak, once deemed entirely undecipherable by me, is now my most common spoken language?

you've changed me, as you've grown. you've forced me to decide who i am, and who i want to be. you've helped me do things I never thought possible, and just tonight, walked over to me, put your arms around me and said "love you mama". you can piss me off and melt my heart in a nannosecond, and yet, i wouldn't change a thing.

730 days. approximately 4500 nappies down. approximately 3650 bottles of milk. more laundry than a hospital in war time. and more love than my beaten heart can hold.

thank you for being in my life, little girl.

As I write this, two years ago at this time, we were checking in at maternity where that numbnut behind the counter said "and what are you here for?" /well lady, i'm actually smuggling soccer balls and was bored so we thought we could come hang in the maternity ward for a while because we had nothing better to do. what the hell do you think i'm doing here!/. your grandparents were anxiously waiting to hear from us, i got a pipe inserted up my bum haha. my best friend was nervously checking her phone every thirty two seconds. your aunts and uncles were hopping around waiting for you to arrive. and i was wearing a burn shirt.

i will never forget how you looked when you arrived. so calm. you were so calm we were actually worried that something was wrong with you. all long limbs and tummy and haha tail, you were. of course, it took me three days to find out you had a little tail!

and now, there you are, asleep and dreaming of your barney cake and candles and swings and friends.

we love you little one. every day we are thankful for your exuberant smile and your joy for just living. thank you for choosing and blessing us.


Happy Birthday Cameron.

International Nestlé-Free Week

As you probably know, I support the boycott of Nestlé products.
According the the World Health Organisation Authority (WHO) 1.5 million babies die every year as a result of inappropriate feeding. Despite this Nestlé continues to push its baby milks in breach of international standards.
Monitoring by groups on the ground around the world shows Nestlé is responsible for more violations than any other company. That's why it is singled out for boycott action.
If you don't boycott Nestlé already, I ask that you consider looking at the evidence and giving up Nestlé products for one week, at least.
Boycott groups around the world have declared 2-8 July to be International Nestlé-Free Week.
The boycott has forced some changes from the company, but it is still a long way from complying. Campaigners are also working for laws. Nestlé can comply when it is given no choice. It is not being asked to do something that is impossible, but without pressure it continues to put its own profits before infant health and mothers' rights.
You can find out more information and look at the evidence yourself on the Baby Milk Action website at:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/resources/boycott/nestlefree.html
You can sign up there to support the boycott.
It is important to tell Nestlé you will be boycotting it, whether it is just for the week, or until it accepts and acts on the plan put to it by boycott groups for saving infant lives.
You can telephone Nestlé on the freephone number0800 00 00 30 (Not in SA), 086 009 6116 (SA number) or send a message via its websitehttp://www.nestle.com/

I'M THE MOST PRIVILEGED GRANNY!

by 'Glen'

It’s true.
When you are present at the birth of a baby, that baby steals a portion of your heart for life.
It’s so true!
Especially when that baby is your first grandchild! His heart is imprinted on your soul forever. Unconditional love with no option or choice, instantly!
My experience began with the ante-natal classes where I was the ‘dad’ for the duration of Angel’s pregnancy. These sessions were mind boggling (for me any way). I already had four babies of my own and assumed I knew it all. At thirty six I was about to become a Granny and I discovered I knew NOTHING about childbirth and new babies. I knew even less about epidurals, forceps, caesareans, breech babies, premature babies and so much more that the brain blows a fuse.
However, I did learn about daddy’s-to-be who felt squeamish at the mere sight of the implements in a text book. Many a daddy had to sit with his head between his knees in those classes. The educational movies on childbirth are filmed with a ‘full frontal’ view of the mother during the birthing process and that is hard on the eyes for anyone! Dads usually stand at the mother’s shoulder during the birthing process - well in my experience that is. I must say that I still can’t get my head around the epidural part for childbirth. I do not believe that the chemicals they use are of any advantage to the mother or the baby. But I digress.
The classes prepared us as well as possible for the pending happy event. As usual, our darling boy decided that midnight was a good time to start making it known that he was ready to see us all. D-day had finally arrived!!
Although my heart was torn between pity for my Angel and her pain, sadness that she had to go through all this at the tender age of seventeen, my heart still skips faster when I remember the birth of darling Damien. When the nurse connected the heart monitor and the labour pain monitor and I heard Damien’s little heart beat I cried. It was too awesome for words. When I heard his heart beat quicken with the intensity of each contraction I was blown away.
Angel was so brave. She was blessed by a quick labour for a first baby and the birth was relatively easy. She did it all the totally natural way as God created us to do (apart from which we could not afford the alternative choices). I can still see his little head of black hair emerging and then hear his cries of indignation at being exposed to the light and air! He was the most beautiful baby! Perfect.
My heart was lost.
Permanently.
Angel and Damien were the focus of all of us in the theatre. I have no idea what anybody else in that theatre looked like or what they were doing. All I had eyes for were Angel and baby Damien. He had lots of dark hair where my babies were all so fair and had very little hair until they were nearly two!
I was intrigued by what happened to our new born baby once he was born, because even after four of my own natural births I had never seen or thought about it. The suctioning, the wiping clean, the keeping warm, the weighing, the measuring, the checking of reflexes – let me tell you, new born babies are as hard to measure as a wriggling python! It amused me immensely to see them attempting to measure our squirming little Damien! Even then he was wiggling and squirming around!
Then off we went to the nursery where he was dressed and I had the huge honour of giving my first grandchild a bottle of some or other liquid to drink, to cuddle him and breathe in the amniotic smell of a new baby. That intimate smell only lasts for a short time (thereafter they smell like Elizabeth Anne babies!!).
My attention was drawn away from our little dark haired bundle to the smiling new fathers in the nursery. No, not smiling, BEAMING, shining, bursting with pride and joy! The sensation of excitement in the nursery was almost tangible. I finally dragged myself away from drooling over my precious Damien to telephone his ‘Grampa’ to fetch me. I fully grasp the reason why we always get the news of a new baby so long after the birth. When you are the father it feels like a matter of a few seconds before you get to call anyone.
I popped in to see how Angel was. I was so elated by my experience I could have done cartwheels in the corridor! Angel was fine, Damien was fine and I was buzzing with a current of joy, amazement and love for my little grandson. As usual Duck’s common sense prevailed and he dragged me away at five a.m. to get some rest. We were going to visit later after all!
Rest! With all that excitement in my heart and soul? Not easily I can assure you! I ran on adrenalin for the next few days.
I have never said thank you, dearest Angel-mine, for having me with you, for bestowing such an honour on me. Circumstances happened so that it panned out that way I know. It does not make me any less grateful for the privilege of sharing such a precious moment in time with you and your Damien. I am thankful to my Father above for blessing me with such an almighty experience.
Damien – thank you for your loving nature. Your beautiful brown eyes, warm smile and huge hugs give me so much joy! You have a very special piece of my heart. It’s the part with you imprinted on it, so please, be a good person, be cautious in your decisions and take good care of my piece of heart okay?

Also check out Angel's blog, this piece was written by her "mommy darling" as frequently refered to in her blog.

Baby Wearing

by Chris and Ashley Wilson

After being introduced to a baby sling with the birth of our second child, we realized what we had missed out on with our first born. The bonding and nurturing opportunities offered to Adam definitely resulted in a happier and more confident baby, not to mention the comfort and warmth afforded during those extremely chilly winter months - both our children are winter babies.

Having being stopped many times by current and prospective parents in search of a similar product we realized the total unavailability of anything remotely similar in South Africa. Having made several enquiries to import an affordable sling we realized that in order to provide a high quality product at a reasonable price it would have to be manufactured locally. Having looked at the options we realized that with some improvements our then baby sling would provide the best base to develop from. Coming from a zero knowledge of the textile industry proved challenging but we knew that we had a wonderful product and were determined on producing it. It took over a year and several manufactures to finally produce the quality product we were looking for. aSling is 100% cotton and 100% produced in Cape Town, and is a refinement of a centuries old concept.


We have seen first hand the ongoing benefits of using aSling. Besides being hands free for the parent from birth; you are providing the best support for your baby’s developing hips and spine. aSling has been designed to reduce stress on parents neck, back and shoulders, aids sleep and allows for discreet breast feeding. Colic and reflux reduction has been widely reported by users of aSling.

It has been fantastic to have produced something that has been so well received. Having being determined to produce a high quality product, we are continually encouraged by the extremely positive feedback we receive.

To those readers who have supported us, a huge thank you and many years of happy parenting.

http://www.babyslings.co.za/

Keeping Baby Close

From the Editor’s Desk

Baby wearing is just another one of those facets of attachment parenting that I am passionate about. It just feels so right, your baby nestled in close to your heart! After 9 months in your body what can be more natural than to nurture your baby right against it. Baby is happy and secure and mom’s hands are free to do what she needs to, it just makes everything easier, including nursing. Now don’t get me wrong baby wearing is not for moms only, my husband still carries our little one often.

Baby wearing is something that comes naturally to many cultures – just look at our African ladies wearing their babies on their backs – these babies cry less and just look so content. Westerners are finally starting to see baby wearing for the wonderful attachment tool it is. While there is loads of info overseas about baby wearing there is still sadly little knowledge about this in SA.

I have been wearing my youngest who is now a year old since birth, we have gone through different carriers in the different stages my son went through. When he was a newborn a sling worked well, but he soon started to dislike being so enclosed. I tried several of the commercially available carriers, but they just did not work for me and left my son’s legs dangling which is not healthy for hip development. I then discovered the Khanyisa African Baby carrier which till this day we can use comfortably for prolonged periods. We alternate this with a sling which, now that he can sit up in it he just loves.

While it may not always be easy to find the right carrier and some trial and error may be necessary, once you find the right carrier you will never look back. I only wish I knew about slings when my older son was small, he like most babies did not much like being in a pram and I spent a lot of time simply carrying him.

Some further reading:

There are now several slings and carriers available in South Africa that are made locally. Among these is the African Baby Carrier and aSling.

Earthbabies who we featured a short while ago have some lovely info on baby wearing and some great carriers and slings.

Writers Block

by Annie Austin

I have been seemingly suffering from writers block...
But then at three o’clock this morning it dawned on me, I am not in fact suffering from writers block! But instead from sheer utter exhaustion! The mind numbing kind of exhaustion that renders one incapable of walking up-right let alone stringing a cohesive sentence together, why do you ask am I walking around in this dazed state? What was I doing up at 3am? Could it have something to do with a certain adorable little boy who recently turned one and is sprouting yet another molar? The very same little angel who now lies sleeping in my arms, my breast firmly in his mouth, while I one handedly type this? I look down at his precious angelic face and my heart just melts all over again.

Looking around our toy strewn study, I once again think about what a wonderful roller-coaster ride the last year has been. Hurricane Ryan landed here abouts on the 4th May 2006 and has steadily been gaining momentum with every new skill acquired.

The reason I say ‘our’ study is that my sons and I share a study – we homeschool and it is easier to have everything in one room – I am sure our house-keeper who probably lives in a home smaller than our kitchen finds our living arrangements most amusing. You see we also co-sleep and with the birth of Ryan our eldest has decided that he does not like being ‘left out’ and started sleeping in our room too. So while we live in a huge old farm house most of the rooms are unused while we all sleep in one room and spend the vast majority of our day either outside or in the study.

Yes, I have a house-keeper (shock horror gasp – not very crunchy indeed!!), but I am a work at home mom (WAHM) who needs to work several hours a day, educate and love two growing boys and look after my family, find time to write; and edit this blog. Somehow house work just does not fit into the equation. As much as I am capable of multi-tasking I have not yet found the secret to being in more than one place at a time, and until I do I have a house-keeper.

So here I sit on an unseasonably wet and cold autumn Saturday wondering just what the future holds for my nearest and dearest, will their kids too have the luxury of growing up on a farm – or will life as we now know it no longer exist? Will they get to run outside in the sun, or will the atmosphere have been destroyed so much that being out in the sun will be impossible? While many people choose not to think about global warming and what the human race is doing to this planet, one look at my children is all I need to know that unless we all do something drastic here and now, they face a future far bleaker than we can even begin to imagine.

Cloth Nappies - the Modern Mothers Choice

By Joanne Austin

Why converting to cloth nappies is the modern mother's choice -
For the past 20 years 95% of mothers saw disposable nappies as an essential item. This is beginning to change as we become better informed about the negative effects, as well as a result of the revolutionary way in which cloth nappies are now made. No Longer are cloth nappies considered the “poor relation of nappies”.

Here are a few good reasons why more & more mothers are either fully or partially converting to the use of cloth nappies.


There are 4 key reasons how re-usable nappies can benefit families and the world at large:

1. Environment / Reduce Waste:
One baby uses an average of 5000 nappies (or 5.4 nappy changes per day). Due to the plastic content disposables are not bio-degradable. One just needs to visualize the mountain of dirty disposables ending up on a land-fill site for every child in disposables over the past 20years to get the bigger picture. Can we really afford another 20/ 30/40/ 100 years of the same?
Just 20-24 re-usable nappies are needed. Washing them at 60C in an energy efficient washing machine helps reduce the global warming impact.
The "poo" in nappies mixed together with household waste lets off a gas called methane; which contributes to global warming.

Sanitary landfill sites are not designed or permitted to contain faeces and therefore have no solution to the growing number of dirty disposable nappies ending up at the dump. Basically "poo" belongs in the "loo"; which then goes through the sewerage system for downstream treatment.

In South Africa it is known that whole families live around landfill sites. Dirty disposables add to the risk of disease spreading to these vulnerable communities. There is also a risk of ground water contamination when the contents of the disposables seep through the earth.

Cape Town is currently facing a major landfill airspace crisis. Two years ago 6 landfills were operational, and a few months from now we will have only 3 operational. Of the 3 landfills, Bellville will close in approximately 2013, Coastal Park approximately 2022 and Vissershok in about 2017. Household waste is increasing by a rate 4 - 5% higher than the growing population rate in the Cape. The more affluent an area becomes the greater the amount of waste disposed in that area. Affluent areas generally use more disposable nappies and our supermarkets are reporting record sales in disposables. There are some smaller municipalities in the Western Cape with even bigger problems than Cape Town. Some will be closing in approximately 6 months time with no alternative solution.

The Johannesburg City area also has a crisis at hand.

Ten top tips to help the environment when using cloth nappies (WEN, UK):·
o Use an energy efficient washing machine.
o Wash soiled nappies at 60 degrees c.
o Wash wet nappies and waterproof covers at lower temperatures along with the rest of your laundry.
o Avoid tumble drying – hang nappies out to dry.
o Avoid soaking – store wet nappies dry in a lidded bucket.
o Avoid using unnecessary chemicals such as conditioners and sanitizers Useaneco-detergent.
o Never iron nappies (or covers).
o Extend the life of your nappies - reuse them on another baby, or give/sell them to someone else.
o Use washable liners.


2. A Healthier Choice
Disposable nappies contain paper pulp, plastic, absorbent gels, chemical additives and perfumes. All these materials impact on the health of your child as well as the environment.

The absorbing gel in nappies (sodium polyacrylate) has not been tested for long term effects on reproductive organs from 24-hour exposure. This chemical has been banned in the use of tampons because of a link to toxic shock syndrome.

Studies at University of Kiel in Germany have raised concerns about the rise in male infertility, which they link to the use of disposable nappies. Disposable nappies have been found to maintain testicles at higher temperatures, a potential cause of lower sperm counts.

There is a misconception that disposables reduce nappy rash. In fact, research studies at Bristol University, Britain indicate that the type of nappy has no bearing on nappy rash. Frequency of change and length of exposure to ammonia in urine are the factors affecting nappy rash. Any nappy left on for too long will result in irritation to baby’s delicate skin.


3. Save Money
By washing nappies at home families could save around R7,000.00 per child (add another R10 000 if the same nappies are used on the next child). Even by incorporating cloth nappies into one’s disposable nappy system families could save thousands. Hospitals can save money too by using reusable nappies on wards where disposables incur clinical waste charges. Municipal authorities save on waste disposal expenses.


4. Modern Cloth Nappies are Trendy & User-friendly
Modern reusables have advanced considerably over the years. They are shaped and fitted and fastened without the need for pins. They come in a variety of trendy styles and patterns. Colourful or natural, plain or patterned, organic cotton or bamboo, fleece or wool - there is such a range of reusable nappies that you are bound to find something to suit your taste, budget and lifestyle.
By using the advances in technology in fabrics such as breathable waterproofing, highly absorbent and natural bamboo toweling and light-weight fabrics, reusables function better than ever. A flushable & biodegradable liner can be used inside the nappy and this can be removed so that the contents are flushed down the toilet.


Commenting on the Environment Agency report suggesting disposables and “real” nappies had a similar environmental impact. Elizabeth Hartigan of Women’s Environmental Network said “Supporters remain convinced of the benefits of washable nappies. Parents can save money and reduce waste and reduce harm to the environment. The only way parents can reduce the environmental impact when using disposable nappies is to use fewer nappies and that’s not a good idea. Using real nappies puts parents in control. All you need is a sensible washing routine to really make a difference.”

As a company Mother Nature Products aim to give parents an informed choice in an effort to minimise waste and encourage natural-style health benefits. We invest heavily on the quality and performance of our products yet maintain affordable retail prices. Our service is centered on customer care and addressing our customer’s needs. Our customers are parents and their babies from all walks of life, from all over the world.

PO box 95
Kalk Bay
7990

Tel/Fax: 021 788 9117
http://www.mothernatureproducts.co.za/

Editorial

From the Editor’s Desk

Some of you may have noticed that I have changed the subscription form from Feedblitz to Zookoda. Zookoda gives me more options so that I can send out newsletters and such - making the site better for all of you. Those of you who prefer to stay on Feedblitz are more than welcome to do so. I will be keeping both systems running as long as I have subscribers in both.

Why Home Schooling, You Ask?

© Written by Robyn, South Africa

Almost every day people ask me – What are your reasons for home schooling? I sit there open mouthed having a million thoughts in my heart but not one in my head. I stumble over my two sentences and feel like I have lost an opportunity to express something really important in my life.

I believe that we all choose our quality of life. We play a big role in who our children grow up to become. I feel that I am making the very best possible and informed decisions for my family and for my children. And those decisions include home schooling. Home schooling is so much more than simply doing school at home ~ it is a lifestyle. A balanced all-round education is important but what I am also hoping to instil from a young age is a love of learning that will grow with them for the rest of their lives. I want my children to understand that it doesn’t really matter what they grow up to become but who they grow up to become.

One of the most important things for a child to grow up with is a good self-image. If they have this, and truly believe in themselves, then they can do anything! Who is going to give them their self-worth, this positive understanding that who they are is enough and always will be? Who is going to teach them that it’s possible to be perfectly at peace with yourself and happy with the way life is at the moment, in the good times and the bad? That it’s good to take risks and learn from your mistakes? It’s good to believe that you can do anything, and to deal with the disappointments along the way? Are the most expensive schools going to teach them this? The best paid teachers? Or maybe their peers, the children all born within 6 months of each other? Or what about the government who choose the curriculum and run the schools? NO, I am sorry but I have decided that I am going to be the one who is going to take full responsibility for my children.

Now comes your argument ~ But don’t you think it’s necessary for a child to learn to deal with bullies, competitiveness, failure, being laughed at, judged, ridiculed by authority, exposed to all sorts, and to go through 12 years of worldly experiences so that they can become tougher, face life and cope in the ‘real’ world? I shouldn’t even need to answer that, but I will if I must. Is it not better to equip a child with a childhood of positive and happy experiences to prepare them to ‘cope’ in the real world? A positive, happy, well-balanced child with a great self image who has spent their entire childhood in a secure and loving environment where they have been understood and encouraged, praised and accepted. Will that person not be able to cope far better with the ‘real’ world? Many studies done on home-schooled children prove this very point.

This poem stuck in my mind for years, it confirmed for me that throwing children ‘in the deep end’, or letting them learn to cope is not the way I want to do things.

The Swimming Lesson ~
Feeling the icy kick, the endless waves
Reaching around my life, I moved my arms
And coughed, and in the end saw land.

Somebody, I suppose,
Remembering the medieval maxim,
Had tossed me in,
Had wanted me to learn to swim,

Not knowing that none of us, who ever came back
From that long lonely fall and frenzied rising,
Ever learned anything at all
About swimming, but only
How to put off, one by one,
Dreams and pity, love and grace,-
How to survive in any place.

~ Mary Oliver
For further information on HOMESCHOOLING IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Visit Robyn's website

ADD can increase ability to learn!

By A Daddy

I have attended many lectures and workshops and listened to many teachings. Some were excellent and I was able to learn a lot. Others were the perfect breeding ground for Attention Deficit Disorder.

Now that I’m a parent, who believes that the answer for Education is at home, I have to make sure that my kids and those I talk to do not develop Attention Deficit Disorder while in my company.

How do I do that?

I have to make sure I do not develop CBS – (Continuous Boredom Syndrome).

Now, we all know that boredom is one of the biggest enemies we have to fight when we have to, or even want to, learn.

And what’s the main cause of boredom?

You guessed it.

Style! The style of the one who has to ensure that learning takes place.

So, if that’s true, how does one ensure that one’s style is not boring?

Good question. I’m glad you asked.

The answer is very easy.

Study the Master Teacher and imitate Him.

So what are the characteristics of His style?

I’ll tell you in a moment.

But first I would like to submit that He may have encouraged ADD.

Don’t look surprised. ADD is a good thing!

It stands for:

AUTHORIZATION to DISCOURAGE DULLNESS.

And if you focus on that it will increase your ability to learn.

Right, back to the style.

It is my belief that no one who listened to the Master Teacher was ever bored.

And He learned from His dad, who incidentally is also my Dad.

And all of us have the privilege to learn from both of them.

I’ll give you a couple of characteristics of their style – Bruce Wilkinson introduced me to it – and if you use it appropriately and in consultation with them, results are guaranteed.

Here they are:

Their style was and still is:

Memorable – Think of the rainbow – not just talking, but also showing a memorable picture
Unexpected – How many times have you heard a donkey speak?
Visual – Think of Daniel’s dream
Unique – Angels announcing the Birth of our Savior
Multi-sensory – How many senses do you think was utilized during those ten plagues?
Captivating – Very few people would not concentrate if a hand writes on a wall.
Incarnational – Don’t just talk – Do what you say.

Now how many cases of Attention Deficit Disorder would have been diagnosed if we incorporated all off the above in our style?

Probably none!

So let’s start promoting ADD – AUTHORIZATION to DISCOURAGE DULLNESS.

Now if you’d like to have some more exposure to this – attend one of my workshops.

Topics that will be discussed: What is Home Education, Legal aspects, Reasons to Home Educate, Developing the whole person, 21st Century education and how it should be different and much, much more.

We look forward to hearing from you.

What is this “thing” called Home Education?

By A Daddy

Based on some recent discussions I was involved in, I believe it might be useful to have a fresh look at “Home Education”.

So, in this article we’ll have a quick glance at its definition in terms of the Schools Act which reads as follows:

“The learner receiving education at the learner’s own home.”

Not a bad definition. Incomplete, but not bad!

So let’s analyse it a bit by asking some questions! (I’ll give very short, introductory answers to these questions.)

Question 1 - What is a learner?
(This is a fairly easy question. The answer is also not difficult.)
A learner is someone who learns!

Question 2 – If there is a learner, does that imply a teacher?
Probably, yes. However, the teacher does not necessarily have to be a physical person.

Question 3 – What is then the role of the teacher?
(This is another fairly easy question, but the answer could be complicated, because the role of a teacher is not to teach.)
The role of the teacher is to ensure that learning takes place, (i.e. not to deliver content).

Question 4 – What is education?
The Latin word being EDUCARE means “leading out” or “leading forth”
In short this means – Do not try to put in that which was left out, rather get out that which was put in!

Question 5 – Does a learner/teacher need a curriculum?
Absolutely, yes!

Question 6 – What is a curriculum?
A curriculum is a course of action, (i.e. not a set of books).

Needless to say a course of action is only important if you know where you’re going. If you do not know where you’re going any road will take you there.

Question 7 – Where does training fit in, or do we only educate our kids?
We should train up a child in the way he should go. That follows that training is crucial. (More on this in a later article.)

Question 8 - What is a home? (Do not confuse it with a house.)
A home is a place where you feel safe, where there is a wonderful AROMA, where one receives one’s heritage. A place where every individual has found and fulfils his/her role. (More on this in a later article as well.)

Enough for now.

If you are interested in attending a workshop where we will have a fresh look at this and many more aspects of home education, please call and you can attend one of my workshops.
In the workshops we discuss and think about many issues which parents face on a day to day basis. These issues include legal aspects, socialization, sport, academics, making sure you have a balance. How do we stay relevant in the world we live in? Overview of the educational environment in SA. Reasons to home school. The primary needs of kids and developing the whole person. What to teach and what to avoid. Introduction to learning styles and thinking preferences. Different purchased curriculum and how to approach it. And much, much more …

If you would like to contact Niell (aka A Daddy) please leave a comment and we will get back to you...

Breast has finally topped bottle-feeding – even for babies born to HIV positive mothers

Cross-posted from the HIVAN website (http://www.hivan.org.za/). Originally published by Health-E News Service (www.health-e.org.za).

Author: Kerry Cullinan

For years, there has been a battle over the best way to protect babies born to HIV positive mothers living in poor areas from getting the virus – which has essentially boiled down to a battle between those who advocate breast feeding and those who advocate bottle-feeding with milk formula.

As breastmilk can transmit HIV, global policy was weighted in favour of bottle feeding and HIV positive mothers were discouraged from breastfeeding.

But a big study from KwaZulu-Natal led by Professors Jerry Coovadia and Nigel Rollins and published on Friday (30 March) seems to have finally settled the debate in favour of the breast.

They found that babies who were exclusively breastfed by their HIV positive mothers were at substantially less risk of becoming infected than babies given both breastmilk and formula milk or solids.

This is excellent news for HIV positive mothers living in poor areas without easy access to clean water and effective ways of sterilising bottles.

The formula milk position was all very well in the developed world and middle-class suburbia, where mothers with HIV who opt for bottle-feeding can get clean water to mix the formula.

But it was not geared for rural South Africa or urban informal settlements where the supply of clean water is not guaranteed and where it is simply impractical to boil water every time to sterilise baby bottles.

However, up until now, government’s policy has favoured the bottle by offering mothers with HIV free formula milk.

The proviso was that she had to have access to clean water – but who was checking?

Besides, what poor mother would turn down free milk formula, even if she planned to breastfeed?

In fact, researchers found that most mothers opting for the formula were unemployed and that at least a quarter of them admitted to selling it as they were desperate for income, so there was little benefit to their babies.

For Professors Coovadia, Rollins and colleagues at the Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies and the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Medical School, offering free formula was a dangerous policy.

HIV positive mothers who opted for the free formula usually ended up both breastfeeding and bottle feeding.But research published in 1999 by Dr Anna Coutsoudis, also from Durban, suggested that this “mixed feeding” was the most dangerous form of feeding for newborn babies with HIV positive mothers.

It damages the mucosal lining of the babies’ intestines, making them vulnerable to the virus.

There was also the added risk of bottlefed babies dying of gastro-intestinal infections caused by dirty water or unsterilised bottles.

In the past, long before the HIV epidemic, Coovadia had been actively involved in campaigns against Nestle and other big companies that were promoting formula milk in this country because babies in poor households were so vulnerable to gastric infections.In addition, the physical benefits of breastmilk on building babies’ immune systems as well as the psychological benefit of breastfeeding in encouraging mother-baby bonding has been well established.

So even in the face of HIV, he and his colleagues were deeply uneasy about breastfeeding being undermined in favour of formula milk precisely because the risk of diarrhoea was high and often fatal for little babies.

They thus painstakingly investigated the risks that the different feeding options being used by over 1 000 HIV positive mothers in KwaZulu-Natal posed for passing HIV on to their babies from birth to six months.

The study was big, initially involving 2 722 HIV positive and negative women at seven rural and two urban sites.

All the women were counselled about the value of exclusive breastfeeding, and the majority opted to do just that.

In addition, all HIV positive mothers were given Nevirapine during labour and their babies at birth.

Their study, which was published in the prestigious Lancet journal, found that the risk of HIV transmission to babies exclusively breastfed by their HIV positive mothers up to the age of six months was 4%.In contrast, babies who were given breastmilk and solids were almost 11 times more likely to get HIV, while babies who had both breast and formula milk had double the risk of HIV infection as those only on the breast.

In addition, deaths among babies who were formula fed were more than double that of exclusively breastfed babies by three months.

Many of these deaths were not related to HIV but were the result of diarrhoea.

Six percent of the babies that were exclusively breastfed were dead by three months of age, while 15% of babies who were given replacement foods were dead.

The Lancet has hailed the study as a “breakthrough”, describing it as “meticulous” and “providing crucial confirmatory evidence” that exclusive breastfeeding poses a low risk of HIV infection for babies.

While a significant number of the babies died during the study, this relates to the fact that 14% of the babies were HIV positive already – either infected while inside their mothers’ wombs or during birth, not through breastmilk.

Three-quarters of the deaths were as a result of AIDS-related illnesses.

Babies were most likely to get HIV if their mothers had advanced HIV infection, associated with low CD4 counts (measure of immunity in the blood) and large amounts of the virus in their blood.

Food for breastfeeding moms

Cross-posted from the HIVAN website (http://www.hivan.org.za/). Originally published by Health-E News Service (www.health-e.org.za).

Author: Kerry Cullinan

Food parcels are finally being offered to HIV positive mothers in KwaZulu-Natal who want to exclusively breastfeed their babies as part of a new government policy.

In the past, positive mothers were advised to either exclusively formula feed or, in cases where there was no supply of clean water, to exclusively breastfeed to protect their babies from getting HIV.

But while free formula milk was dished out, no practical support was offered to those who wanted to breastfeed.

The mothers, particularly those who were poor, tended to see the formula milk as an incentive. They then tended to opt to get the formula milk and feed their babies both breast and formula milk – the most risky feeding choice for passing on HIV.

An exuberant Professor Nigel Rollins, head of the Centre for Maternal and Child Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said he was “delighted” that government had chosen to help HIV positive breastfeeding women meet their increased nutritional needs (of breastfeeding) by offering six months’ worth of food parcels.

The food parcels help to level the playing field as counsellors can now offer HIV positive women either food packages if they choose to breastfeed or free formula for their baby if they have the resources at home to safely prepare and give formula.

“In the past, government policy was weighted in favour of formula feeding, yet research shows that babies of HIV positive mothers who are exclusively breastfed are at far lower risk of getting HIV than babies who are mix-fed both formula and breastmilk,” said Rollins.

Rollins can well feel pleased, as it is largely thanks to him, Professors Jerry Coovadia Anna Coutsoudis and Dr Ruth Bland that government has changed its policy to support and encourage breastfeeding.

As breastmilk can transmit HIV, government has been reluctant in the past to promote it. However, Rollins, Coovadia, Coutsoudis and others have tirelessly conducted a number of studies to show that exclusive breastfeeding posed a relatively small danger to babies of HIV positive mothers. Their latest and most comprehensive study (see adjoining article) quantifies this risk at 4% by the time babies are six months old.In contrast, the risk of HIV for babies who get formula and breastmilk is double this, while the risk for babies who get breastmilk and food is 11 times that of the exclusively breastfed babies.

“In the light of our research, we have been calling for government to review its policy and to offer more tangible support to breastfeeding HIV positive mothers,” said Rollins. The first indication that government had taken note of the research was found in the final draft of government’s new national HIV/AIDS strategic plan, which was adopted at a consultative meeting two weeks’ ago.

The plan announced that HIV positive moms choosing to breastfeed would be offered “nutritional support”. The KwaZulu-Natal health department has moved at lightning speed to implement this change in policy. The food parcels being offered are substantial, consisting of mielie meal, enriched porridge, rice, beans, soya mince, milk, peanut butter, tinned fish, sunflower oil, sugar and salt.

Rollins said that breastfeeding was demanding on all women, but that HIV positive mothers had greater nutritional needs and tended to lose more fat than HIV negative mothers. The health of babies being exclusively breastfed is inextricably tied to the health of their mothers, so the babies will benefit from the food parcels as their mothers will be healthier. In addition, babies are most likely to get HIV when their mothers’ levels of immunity (CD4 count) is low so the food parcels will help to keep mothers healthy and less prone to infections – particularly if boosted with antiretroviral treatment for their mothers.

“In the past, the formula milk was perceived by mothers from poor households as a way to gain financially,” said Rollins. “But over a quarter of the mothers diluted the formula too much, and we found E.coli bacteria (which causes diarrhoea) in almost two-thirds of the bottles that mothers were giving to their babies right there in the clinic.” Researchers also found that at least a quarter of the mothers sold the formula milk as they were desperate for money.

“The food parcels being offered are very substantial and a real asset for women choosing to exclusively breastfeed,” said Rollins. There is, of course, a strong likelihood that the food will be used to feed entire families not just the HIV positive mothers. But at least the benefit will be kept within the family, unlike the sold formula milk. And the breastfeeding mothers will certainly get some of the benefits.

Eve’s dropping

by Kyknoord

I took a week off work to spend some quality time with Kyknoord Junior, while my ex-wife used this temporary respite to try and round up the scattered remnants of her sanity. A rather pointless exercise, in my opinion. I don’t think sanity is particularly useful when it comes to child-rearing.

Overheard at the Muizenberg municipal swimming pool - uttered by a mother who was concerned that her young son was straying too close to the deep end (obviously she wasn’t sufficiently concerned to actually get up and drag him to safety, but still…): “There are sharks there. They’re going to eat your pipi off!” Judging by the speed at which he moved into the shallows, I would guess that the seed that will ultimately grow into a tangled hedge of hang-ups has been successfully planted and watered. A mother’s love is beautiful thing, is it not? Actually, I understand the woman’s lackadaisical attitude entirely. Protecting toddlers from their own relentless self-destructive tendencies can be exhausting.

Of course, when kiddies aren’t engaged in the serious business of engineering their own demise, their favourite game in the whole world is Insert Daddy’s Last Nerve Into The Nuclear-Powered Fraying Machine. Had you been in the vicinity of Casa Kyknoord during the past week, you would have been witness to this little scene, which played out between me and Junior (with minor variations) around lunch time every day:
“Are you hungry?’
“No”
“Do you want a sandwich?”
”No!!”
“Well, okay then. I’ll eat it myself, shall I?”
“WAAAHAAA!!! I wanna sangwidge!”

I sh!t you not. Every. Single. Day. I think it’s the female ability to multitask that makes them better parents than men. The rational part of their brain is better equipped to override the instinctive strangulation commands issued to the hands by the emotional centres of the cortex.
Parenthood, it would seem, is somewhat reminiscent of looking for a gas-leak with a lit match. The consequences are often not fully understood until it is too late. This is probably a good thing, because if people had the vaguest clue about what they were letting themselves in for, the very survival of the species would be in jeopardy.

Minister implies Pioneers on track!?

By A Daddy

In this follow-up article I shall address some of the other areas which I found of interest during the Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor's presentation at the GIBS Forum Event of 17 August 2005.
The presentation was mainly to people in the large business sector. The topic was - "Transforming Education in South Africa".
The minister mentioned some action and focus areas which she said the Department is working on.

These focus areas are the following:

1. To provide a basic educational foundation for kids. This includes reading, writing, and maths. To address the resource problems. Although there is a severe lack of teachers, there are also some schools that do not even have basic facilities such as toilets. Resources include these as well as many other needs.
2. To expand grade R so that the department would have 10 years of compulsory school attendance.
3. To successfully implement the new curriculum with a specific focus on maths and science. She acknowledged that there were initially a few implementation problems, but according to her most of these are now sorted out.
4. To recapitalize and develop FET institutions.
5. The improve on the scarcity of research and development projects in South Africa.
   

The floor was then opened for comments, questions and remarks.
Remarks and responses thereto included the following:

1. There are 920 teacher education quality assurance programs. (This probably does not make standardization an easy task.)
2. Regarding ABET the Minister believes the country needs a mass illiteracy campaign.
3. Something was mentioned about e-learning. There's apparently an e-learning policy - (E-learning sounds like something that can be done at home. This should be positive for home-schooling!?)
4. Someone said that graduates should be jobless as they have to create jobs. That's when Sam, the toilet man, told his story.
5. At that stage someone alleged that matric results are being tampered with. Maybe even adjusted upwards "slightly" as skills do not support grades.
   Although the Minister denied all of these she did mention that South Africa should perhaps, like other countries, have an entrance exam for Universities. Why should South Africa be so "special" that we do not have one?
   I then thought she said that one should focus on things such as reading, writing, maths and SA History for such a year and not specialize immediately e.g. BCom, BA, etc. as is currently the case. She later denied that she said it when a lady from a placement agency confronted her with this.
6. There was also some mention of assistance for people with disabilities and that little was being done in this regard.
   

I perceived most of the comments from the public to have a little bit of a negative bend which indicated to me that SA business was generally not ecstatic about the state of the educational system.

However, what's very pleasing is the fact that the Minister really seems interested in education.

She's generally looking out for the best interest of the kids of South Africa?

Based on this I will assume that the Minister should not have a problem with home-education.

In conclusion, Professor Gill Marcus of Gordon Institute of Business Science (who previously held positions of inter alia deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank and Deputy Minister of Finance), was part of the audience and wished to make a few closing remarks.
During this she made a challenge which went something like this:
"People in South Africa have now identified problems in the educational system. Let's stop looking at the Department of Education to solve these problems and ask ourselves: What am I going to do about the situation?"

Together with me, all the other home-schoolers in the audience probably said to themselves:
"Wow, I have already risen to the challenge - I have taken responsibility - I educate my kids at home!"

So, what I really want to get to is this following:
Our generation is the first generation of legal home-schoolers in South Africa. We are therefore pioneers. Pioneers explore un-chartered territory.
Now, although we have to make sure that we do not fall into some of the pit-falls of home-education there is one thing that we do not have to worry about and that is:

We do not have to be concerned that we are not giving our kids a good education.

Even if education was just about academics, which it's not, we would still pass with flying colors.

New Writer Intro

From the Editor’s Desk

I am happy to introduce another new writer, Robyn.
She is a home-schooling mom to two girls.

Visit her informational website:
http://www.robynshomeschool.co.za/

Third grader can excel in graduate position!

By A Daddy

I attended a GIBS Forum Event in August 2005 where the Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor, made a presentation on the topic - "Transforming Education in South Africa."
She discussed a few action and focus areas which she said the Department is working on. (Sounds a bit like Liberty - we're working on it.) Many of her comments, which I shall not address in this article, were very comforting to me as a home-schooler from a legal point of view as she clearly indicated that the "system" still lacks the means to lay an adequate basic foundation for children.
However, the topic which I'd like to touch on in this article applies to the real world.
A young black man, if I recall correctly his name is Sam, made an interesting contribution in response to the Minister's statement that some 15% of graduates in South Africa are unemployed.
Sam said that he started a business that employs some 290 people. Some of his employees are graduates. Most of them love their work, do it well and are paid a decent salary. So what is this business? Wait for it….
They clean toilets for companies.
Am I degrading cleaning toilets?
No, of course not. Toilet cleaning services are as essential as any other service one can think of. What this young man did was to identify a need, come up with a solution and he now provides a service to companies. That is called problem solving.
So what's the point I'm trying to make?
The point is - One does not need a degree to come up with a solution to a problem!
However, should one come up with a solution to a problem, it seems like there are many graduates around who would be more than willing to work for you!
Am I against having a degree?
No, I have one myself.
The point is - A qualification does not guarantee success!
If it did, would we have 15% unemployed graduates in a country which says it so desperately lack skills?

Every Child – A Masterpiece

By A Daddy

Some time ago I had the privilege to present workshops for a certain well know organization. One of the people involved in my training for the workshops was a guy called Brad Sadler.

He was one of the best speakers I had ever heard. I was a little intimidated by the thought that I had to do presentation on the same topic as he did in weeks to come.

So after his presentation I said to him: Brad, my background is not as bad as yours. I’ve not done as many bad things as you have. I’ve not committed any crime that I ended up in prison for. I’ll have to use some of your stories during my presentations.

Brad didn’t even hear me. He just went on about how wonderful life was and nobody really cared too much about the stories. What they liked about him is that he gave them hope.

I went on to do the workshops and before most of these Brad would phone or send a sms or do some or other thing to encourage me.

And when my workshops went very well Brad was delighted and if it went very bad Brad was ecstatic. Whatever happened, Brad was overjoyed.

Gee, I haven’t spoken to him for more than a year. Hold the thought; I’m quickly going to phone him.

…

I’m back. I feel great. Obviously I’ll feel great. I’ve just spoken to Brad.

Now, you might wonder why I’m telling you this.

I’m telling you because Brad is an exhorter. He is what one might call vintage exhorter. One of the best I’ve seen. Definitely the best I have personally met. I have a daughter that is a little like that. Always ready to encourage everyone.

And that’s great, but we are all different.

I’m not saying we should not all encourage each other. I’m just saying – We are all different!

Some are perceivers.
Some are servants.
Some are teachers.
Some are exhorters.
Some are givers.
Some are administrators, and
Some love to give mercy.

Then again the perceivers, teachers, exhorters and administrators generally love to express themselves with words and the servants, givers and mercy people love to express themselves with deeds.

So if you have a little teacher in your home, you might struggle to get his mouth shut. But if you have a little servant, you might struggle to get his mouth open.

Many people do not understand this and then they think there is something wrong if a child either doesn’t talk or talks too much.

But that’s not the only place where people are different.

We also have different ways to remember things – Some remember visually, some auditory, some kinesthetically and some tactile.

Then we all also interact with information differently – Some are analytical and some are global.

Wait, there’s more – Howard Gardner came up with the concept of Multiple Intelligences. That is really just different ways people are smart. Just seven of the ways you can be brilliant is as follows – Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, Musical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal and intrapersonal.

And then we also have different thinking preferences. That has to do with your left and right brain.

And as if that’s not enough people also have different dominance profiles. That means they have dominant eyes, ears, hands, feet and so on. And depending on your dominance, you will have a different style.

And by the way, everyone then likes to do things at different times of the day, at different temparatures with different shades of light. It just goes on and on.

Right, I’ll stop now. Although there are probably thousands of other differences and unique little things about every individual which no one even knows about yet, I think I have made the point.
Every individual is a work of art and can be a spectacular success.

So please don’t be discouraged or overwhelmed. I didn’t say this to confuse you or frustrate you. I told you the above for one reason and one reason only.

Every child is a masterpiece. And your little masterpiece has a role to play and a place to fit.

And there is no way that anyone can give you a quick model answer on how to train up your child. And don’t ever dare to compare your child with any other child.

It takes wisdom, time, patience and perseverance and probably a few other attributes in that category to get the answer and complete the marathon.

So keep on. If you struggle, ask for help. Don’t give up. Don’t worry. Don’t try to be perfect – But definitely be real.

And always remember – “You were born an original, don’t die a copy.”

New Writer Intro

From the Editor’s Desk

I would like to introduce a writer who has graciously agreed to share some of his work with us. He prefers to simply refer to himself as 'A Daddy', I have thoroughly enjoyed his writing and am sure you will all too. Look out for his writing in the very near future.

This is a brief bio he sent me of himself:
"I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1997. Currently I have my own business – I assist insurance companies with tax, I present workshops on home education (haven’t recently though), I am a brain practitioner, i.e. I do brain profiles and help parents understand themselves and their children better, or help other people who have lost their passion in life. I write articles, mainly on education and to parents, wherein I like to challenge popular thinking, which in most cases are no thinking at all. I study logic and try to base everything I say and do on the Word. I am also an ulconsiologist, WAM and MAP.
That’s me.
My wife is Marie, who with her gift of mercy brings a lot of balance to our household..
We have three children:
Adelene (10), who is a very strong perceiver with a left brain preference.
Natania (7) who is an exhorter with a right brain preferenece.
Christiaan (5) who is a compassion person with a right brain preference.
We expect Migael to arrive on 07-07-07"

South African Homeschool curriculum

by Wendy Young

Part of being a parent is ensuring that your children get the best education that you can give them. For some it means private schools, others may prefer a Christian school, but in South Africa there is a huge growing community of homeschoolers. www.south-african-homeschool-curriculum.com helps this community to raise their children according to Godly standards, get organized in your home, develop long lasting relationships with knowledge and offers you a wonderful literature based curriculum, Footprints On Our Land, to use with your children. Footprints On Our Land gives you a magnificent arm chair journey through South Africa and its history, stopping to discover the geography and people of this land. There are three programs - Little Footprints (Ages 4 -8), South Africa's Heritage (Ages 7 - 12) and Footprints into the 21st Century (Ages 12 - 16). Shirley and Wendy, owners of www.south-african-homeschool-curriculum.com , also have a FREE monthly encouragement E-zine for homeschool families. Be sure to visit.

See Dr Aletha Solter on TV

From the Editor’s Desk


Finally something worth watching on TV!!
E-tv's television program GREAT EXPECTATIONS will air a live interview with Dr. Aletha Solter Monday, 28 May 2007, from 11:30am-12:30pm.

If you were not able to attend Aletha's lectures but would have liked to, here's one last chance to hear her speak about raising children before she leaves South Africa.

Dr Solter is a Swiss American developmental psychologist, international speaker, consultant and author of four books (The Aware Baby, Helping Young Children Flourish, Tears and Tantrums, Raising Drug-Free Kids)

The Aware Parenting Institute

Prayer request for a very sick little girl

Our Father who Art in Heaven
Please hear our prayers for Marinda
Lay Your healing hands upon her
and take away all the pain and illness
and make her well again
In Your name we ask that You
shall touch her with Your powers.

Amen








Hemelse Vader
Raak asseblied Marinda aan
Lê asseblief U hand van genesing op haar
en neem asseblief al die pyn weg
en maak haar gesond
In U Naam vra ons dat U haar
sal aanraak en ons dank U


Amen



Most people delete chain prayers but we ask you to please partake in this one, as this little girl is close to home and one of our own here in Eshowe.

Our sweet angel Marinda de Jager has been so ill, she was hositalised with broncital pneumonia at least a month ago, but has been struggling for longer, where her lungs were said to be badly damaged, she was in hospital for two weeks and was put on string of medication, but unfortuantely she was admitted back in hospital yesterday, she is battling to breathe, cant sleep and is not eating, she still has the bacteria, the antibioticts that she was taking has not helped and the doctors now need to try and work out what bacteria is in the system as to give her the right antibiotic, her lungs are full of holes and she is in pain. The doctors presume that she will have to take antibiotics for the rest of her life to help her lungs as the chances of healing is virually nil.

All we as a family ask is that you please add her to your prayers and thoughts:

Thank you

Parents Karin, Deon and Morne de Jager
Ouma Barbara
Ronel, Mark,
Gerhard, Charmaine, Noelene and Tanye
Ouma Maddy Oupa Gert
Eugene, Denise, Charlene and Bridget


Meeste van die mense "delete" gewoonlik ketting gebede, maar ons vra dat julle asseblief net 'n oomblik van julle tyd afstaan op hierdie een want die kleine engeltjie is baie na aan ons harte en tuiste hier in Eshowe.

Kleine Marinda wil net nie gesond word nie, so 'n maand of wat gelede was sy in Umhlanga Hosipaal vir Brongiale brongietis, vir 2 weke, haar longe is so beskadig weens die brongietis, sy was op 'n reeks pille en ongelukkig het die medikasie nie gehelp nie, nou is sy weer terug in die hospitaal want sy kan nie asem kry nie, sy slaap nie en eet nie, en is in pyn, haar longe is so beskadig met gate dat sy lewenslank op antibiotikas gaan moet bly

Al wat ons as familie vra is dat julle asseblief haar in julle gebede en gedagte sal hou in julle besige dag.

Dankie

Ouers Karin, Deon and Morne de Jager
Ouma Barbara
Ronel, Mark,
Gerhard, Charmaine, Noelene and Tanye
Ouma Maddy Oupa Gert
Eugene Denise Charlene and Bridget

Cooking Kids

by Annie Austin

My 10yo son has decided to learn to cook; we have incorporated it into his homeschooling activities – after all what is cooking if not reading, maths and science all rolled into one.

Here is one of his favorite recipes, it is easy to make with some supervision and tasty enough for the whole family to eat. This Veggie Bolognese is enjoyed by everyone in our family from my 1 year old to the adults to the cats and dogs!!

My son now does most of the preparation himself (including cutting onions and putting the pasta into the boiling water, but you can let kids do as much or as little as they are up to doing – even just measuring some of the ingredients is a maths lesson)!

Veggie Bolognese Sauce and Pasta:

For the Sauce
1 cup red split peas
2 large carrots
2 sticks celery
1 onion
1 tbsp olive oil
500ml veggie stock
250ml tomato ‘sauce’
Salt to taste
Fresh parsley & oregano

I usually make my own stock and tomato sauce (see next entry) but this can be the store bought kind if you prefer. The carrots, celery and onion come straight from the garden as do the stock and tomato sauce ingredients.

Let the kids start by washing their hands and donning their aprons (look out for child size apron pattern soon!!). Then wash all the veggies, peel the onion, top and tail the carrots.

The veggies can now be either mixed or grated in a food processor – kids love this part and it is something even the little ones can safely do.

Heat the oil somewhat in a pan, remove the pan from the heat (I usually let my son put the pan on a heatproof pot holder on the table next to the stove) add all the veggies & herbs, mix well and return to heat.

Allow to cook for about 5 minutes until veggies are starting to soften.

Add the split peas, stock and tomato sauce, removing from heat before doing this – the reason I remove the pan from the heat each time is just an added safety measure for the kids. Mix all ingredients well and allow to cook for approximately 20 minutes, stirring from time to time. More stock can be added if necessary.

While the sauce is cooking, cook pasta of your choice to accompany this.
This is also great with a bit of percorino cheese on top.

Be sure to pop in again for more mouthwatering kid’s recipes!!


Quick and Easy Tomato Sauce Recipe

2kg tomatoes
1kg onions
1 house of garlic
3tbsp olive oil
Fresh parsley and either basil / thyme / oregano

Tomatoes can be blanched and peeled, but I generally omit this step unless I am using really tough skinned tomatoes.

Chop the onions and fry lightly in olive oil. Add the tomatoes and herbs mix well and allow to simmer for about 30 minutes until ingredients have cooked down and most of the liquid has evaporated. If you want a really chunky sauce, keep out about 500g tomatoes and add these in about half way through cooking.

The riper the tomatoes the tastier the sauce will be, and of course if you can grow your own organic tomatoes and leave them on the vine until really ripe all the better!! This recipe is a really great way to store and freeze excess tomatoes for the winter.

This sauce can be bottled and frozen – I use glass bottles – mainly as it is a good way to recycle them and also I try to avoid plastics as I just don’t trust that the chemicals will not leach out of them especially during freezing. If you are using glass, make sure to only put the lids on the jars after the contents have frozen to prevent the jars from cracking.