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.

For Adults Only – the monsters that lurk…

From the Editor's Desk

I will be doing a regular Web-Site editorial of South African sites worthy of attention. This week we are featuring The Pedo-File.
This site run by Jacqui Thomas shares some frightening information, information all parents need to be aware of!!




The disclaimer on the site reads:
“Portions of this website may contain graphic images and text, which may offend and/or trigger sensitive viewers and are not recommended for viewing by persons under the age of 18. Viewer discretion is advised.”

WOW – makes one wonder what exactly will be found in the rest of the site? But as parents we owe it to our children to read the information, take in what is being shown, and do whatever it takes to protect them. As I write this my youngest is asleep here next to me, he is only a year old, the picture of innocence itself. I know I will do everything in my power to protect that innocence, including reading what may well be the most disturbing piece of information I have ever read.

Most parents live in complete ignorance of what is happening in today’s society, with internet access freely available in many homes we need to ask ourselves “What exactly are my children doing on-line and exactly what are they being exposed to?”

The site’s Introduction & Mission Statement states:
"My first introduction to the wonders of online communication was in approximately 1996, when I was first connected to the internet. It didn't take long though, before I was also introduced to the world of online predators. At the time, MSN Chatrooms were the "in thing" and, admittedly, I made some very good friends, in particular with one family in the United Kingdom. Jimmy and I have been communicating on and off since then and he has become an integral part of my life both online and off.

What disturbed me most about the chatrooms I frequented was the number of men (in particular, although women were soon to follow) who lurked in these chatrooms, only to make their presence known when a minor entered. As a chatter, I was constantly hit on by these men, who often became quite insistent within a minute or two and who I often had to put on "ignore" to enable my chats with friends. Ultimately, I opted to use MSN Instant Messenger to communicate with my friends, as it was easier and a more pleasant experience, due to the ease with which one could "block" contacts who made a nuisance of themselves.

Over the next few years, I volunteered my services as a chatroom monitor to a number of overseas organisations. Unfortunately, my own country (South Africa) had as yet not felt a need for such a service.

I then went on to study Psychology and Criminology part-time and for a number of years and I temporarily shelved the idea, until one day, while browsing the internet in search of information relating to my studies, I came across a group on the internet who call themselves "Perverted-Justice" . I immediately registered an account with them, determined to find out everything I possibly could about starting a similar organisation in South Africa. They have proved themselves over and over in the United States and I can only hope that The Pedo-File will, one day, have a similar impact in South Africa. "

Really disturbing, read further…

"Self-appointed "Online Sexual Offences Monitor" drops a Bombshell. For just one moment, put yourself in this mother's shoes:
You've had a hard day at work, you've made supper, done homework, and settled your children down for the night. It's time to kick back and relax, so you sit down at your desk and log into your PC to check your mail. Little do you know that what is to follow, will not only enrage you, but will sicken you to the very core of your being.
You see that someone has logged into MSN and forgotten to log out again. Your curiosity gets the better of you and you click on the tab “Archived Messages”. What you're expecting to see is the idle banter of two young friends chatting, but what you see is something quite different.

You are reading an article written by a self-appointed “Online Sexual Offences Monitor”. Now before you go calling me a vigilante, read the following excerpts from a recent chat my underage persona had, and tell me that what I am doing is unnecessary or unjustified:

Read the conversation that took place here.

It seems to me that there must be a “Perv's Handbook” out there that all of these creeps read. The questions used to establish the true age of the minor with whom they are corresponding seem to be pre-written. And don't be fooled into thinking that they are only after teenagers or simple "roleplaying". I have had similar conversations under the persona of a 10 year old too. This particular chat was with someone overseas, but could just have easily been with a local. Sadly, the chats my persona has had with locals have been much more graphic and in several instances, the perv has tried to make arrangements to meet in person.

From recent news headlines, I see that there have been changes made to our Sexual Offences Bill and that there is a possibility that South Africa may soon have its own Sexual Offenders Register. Until then, as a parent of three minor children, I appeal to you: Be very aware.

Don't ever assume that your children could/would not become prey to this type of villain. It is out there. It is happening - whether you want to believe it or not.

All that stands between them and your children is YOU.

Be there for them. "

Please visit this site along with Pink Ladies for more information, you owe it to your kids; you owe it to yourself.

Pink Ladies whose primary occupation is the tracing and returning of missing / endangered children and adults, has also recently launched “Project Teen Talk” which offers an alternative secure, moderated message board & three chat rooms.

Pink Ladies will be featured in a future Web-Site Editorial.

Vandag was goed...

Afrikaans poem by Genie

Vandag was goed
Jy het gelag
En ek kon luister verby myself
Na die lig wat borrel in jou asem
Jy het na my gekyk
Asof ek buite jou staan
Op ‘n afstand wat dit moontlik maak
Vir jou om my te sien

Vir ‘n wyle staan ons so
Ek in my lewe jy in jou eerste paar winterskoene
Wat ons vroegdag saam ontdek het
En my hart maak ‘n deining
Teen die skemerkom
Wat opbou teen die horison
Ek rol my liefde uit teen die nag ‘n rooi tapyt
Vir ‘n klein prins
Om mee te vlieg

Jy gooi jou arms oop
En spat die oomblik uitmekaar
Jou lyf rank op in myne
En die nag breek oop in ‘n duisend liggies
Wat borrel in jou asem

Absolute Joy, Unbearable Loss

By Jacqui Thomas

My labour started at 7.15am in the morning and I slowly made my way to St Georges Hospital in Port Elizabeth. By 9.00am dilation was at 6.5cm and twin A had settled neatly into my pelvis, ready to be born, despite the fact that (purely for safety reasons) I had elected to have a caesarian section. A spinal block was administered and the girls were delivered by caesarian section at 10.15am and 10.16am respectively, weighing 2.4 and 2.6 kilograms (quite a healthy weight for twins). The operation itself was uneventful, both girls were 9/10 on their apgars and it took my Gynae/Obstetrician longer to close the incision than to deliver both my babies! By 11.30am I was tucked safely into bed and waiting for the spinal block to wear off so I could see my daughters and nurse them for the first time.

Once the spinal block had worn off and I was able to get around, I excitedly made my way to the nursery. As I reached the nursery doors, there were a number of tearful people milling around the entrance. Not one to interfere or make a scene, I made my way through them to collect my gorgeous daughters and wheel them back to my ward. As I wheeled their bassinet out of the nursery, a chilling silence fell over the people waiting outside and I sensed what I can only describe as a feeling of hostility. It was some 24 hours later that I learned that they were anxiously awaiting news on a relative's newborn, who was in the NICU. Apparently the little one was born with only a partial brain, and had been on life support since delivery. And so it happened that, for the next 48 hours, every time I wheeled my healthy, full term babies down to the nursery for a bath or so that I could take a nap, I had to pass around or through this group of people.

Despite my joy at the delivery of my babies, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of guilt, every time I visited the nursery. According to a nursing sister that I chatted to, the little one was not expected to survive and the doctors and staff had done all they could to keep him comfortable and pain free until he passed away. She said that they were bound to prolonging his life and that all that remained was the parents' decision as to how long they would keep him on life support, as he wasn't even able to breathe by himself. I believe the parents made a decision late that night.

The following day, as I rode the lift down to the ground floor, on my way home with my girls, the mother of the little one who had passed away stepped into the lift on the 2nd floor. Instinctively, we embraced each other and I whispered to her that I really had no words for her, but that my thoughts were with her and her family. We left the lift together, both of us in tears, me on my way home to begin a new life with my girls and she on her way home, to an empty nursery.

What happened that day changed me in so many ways. It gave me a new reason to be grateful for every day I have with my children, and re-instilled in me a capacity for empathy and selflessness that I thought I had lost.

To that mommy: If you ever read this, know that you, your son and your family are still in my thoughts and heart, even now that my girls are almost eight years old. It seems like only yesterday that we rode that lift together, a short journey that would lead us to the rest of our lives. Wherever you are, God bless and take care.

Birthday party nightmares

by Doodle

It's that time of the year again for me and the fun and games are just about to begin as the 10 girls I have been friends with for the past 6 years try to out do each other in hosting the most terrific and extraordinary kiddies party ever. All of us attended antenatal classes together and so all our little Angels were born with in a few weeks of each other. From the start of autumn to basically the end of winter every second weekend we spend our Saturdays at a birthday party, by the end of winter I am more then happy never to see a slice of Birthday cake again or sing along to Happy Birthday!!!

However there is nothing uncomplicated about these parties any longer, the once easy going uneventful little chin digs that we use to enjoy together with some tasty treats and perhaps a jumping castle or sand pit for the little party goers has now turned into Birthday party Survivor. You are very fortunate if your child's party is one of the first as the bar has not been set as yet and so the pressure is not as crushing as for the poor Mums who have to compete towards the end of the party season.

On receiving one of the first birthday invites the games are officially opened........ Hmmm let's see what we are up against. A beautifully hand written 4 page invite from the Flower Princess of the North, complete with a poem and a point for point schedule of the proceedings for the day... PS: Please come dressed appropriately for the Royal celebration. My son is beside himself with excitement and is counting the sleeps until he goes to the Flower Princesses Birthday party. Saturday morning off we go to the nearest Costume hire to go get him an appropriate little outfit for the occasion. After an hour of trying on and taking off and much persuasion the Prince finally chooses a Royal blue cloak with gold and ruby buttons, matching ¾ pants and of course a crown to complete it. Wonderful we are ready and off to the party we go. I am eager to see what awaits us and I am already starting to picture what we will find in my mind. Knowing this Mums previous birthday celebrations I know we are in for a real treat.

Entering the Kingdom of the north and the Flower Princesses castle I am completely bowled over, I immediately begin to wonder what am I possibly going to do for my 6 year olds birthday that will be able to compete with this!!! The entire house has been turned into a real life castle for the little Flower Princess, equipped with a draw bridge and a moat and of course a red carpet for the guests. Pink and Purple fabric draped from the walls with the Royal Families shield and a huge board welcoming all to the festivities. Each guest has their picture taken in the castle that you can take home with you when you leave. We are lead into a beautifully set up little tea garden with matching pink and purple plates and cups every single little detail has been taken care of right down to the tiny little butterflies dotted all over the garden. Professional musicians gently playing classical music in the background (and I really do mean 3 real life musicians with their violins and flutes) while you enjoy the ever on going feast of treats that have been laid out. The children play games of the times with kiss the frog and riding around on stick ponies trying to win the hand of the Princess. You can hear the Moms chattering as more and more indulgences are brought out. The exhausted Hostess hushes everyone, bringing all the children together and the musicians begin to play Happy Birthday. The loveliest of Castle cake's is brought out with all the embellishments....look out towers, guards, flags and even a little princess on the bridge. The Adults and children alike all completely breathless...the oohs and aaahs are soon followed by the children fighting and tugging over who will have which piece of the castle. Finally the day comes to an end and each little Prince and Princess receives a party pack to take home, enclosed is a Royal certificate, a crown, chocolate gold coins, sweets and chocolates and a key to the castle for the next celebration.......

All the way home each of the Moms begins conjuring up magnificent ideas on what junior's party is going to be like, how to plan one bigger and better so that the now sleepy little Prince does not feel like his party was not fun or lacked all the necessary trimmings!!!! What are they going to hire and just how big can we make that Formula one racing car cake. With the Flower Princesses party lurking each night in the Mums dreams (nightmares more like it), keeping them up into the early hours working on party lists and visiting websites on the most up to date birthday idea's.......dam dam dam that Flower Princess!!!!! The once easy going enjoyable parties that we all use to look forward to with no mess no fuss were now causing the party planning Mums dreadful ulcers and stressing Dads as they heard their bank account being drained...... all for juniors 6th Birthday party!!!

Partying is such sweet sorrow

by Kyknoord

Regular visitors will know that the fruit of my loins (a.k.a. Kyknoord Jr) lives in Port Elizabeth with her mother and that I, being the doting sire that I am, visit her regularly.

An enormous advantage of living in a different city to your progeny is that you aren’t expected to attend the scores of kiddie birthday parties that seem to crop up more or less continually throughout the year. My previous trips to the windy friendly city have been rather well timed, because up until now I’ve managed to avoid them all. Sadly, my run of good luck came to an abrupt end on my most recent visit.

If I had to summarise the experience in three words, they would be “Oh, the horror”. Picture an extended version of Timmy permanently about to fall down the well (with Lassie nowhere in sight) and you’ll have some idea. Of course, when the adults weren’t chasing after their screaming offspring, they were busy discussing mucous and bowel movements in full Technicolor detail. Fun is not the word+.

When the indoor activities++ were done, the outdoor festivities began. Naturally, when you have a dozen toddlers and only one item of recreational apparatus, you have a recipe for conflict:
“I wanna swing!”
“I wanna swing!”
“I wanna swing!”[Cue: wailing and gnashing of teeth. Repeat]

It was like being in a sugar-powered echo chamber. It did, however, illustrate that the laws of supply and demand are established at a very young age. This is probably why Communism never really caught on. It also explains why there are rallies and sell-offs on the stock market. Brokers are clearly all three-year olds at heart.

+ Indeed not. “Bleuaargh!” is the word.
++ i.e. cake orgy.