Wordless Wednesday: If you go down to the woods today...

... you're sure of a big surprise...

...today's the day the teddy-bears have their picnic.

PS - love that Matt played along with the teddy-bears' tea party. He is usually more the wrestling type when it comes to play.

Tweet

I don't try to be happy... but I am!

Happiness, and particularly happiness in motherhood, seems to be a recurring theme in my life at the moment. In the last month or so, I have had several conversations and read countless articles and blog posts about happiness or contentment. There sure are a lot of unhappy mums out there.

So, how do you feel about motherhood?

Do you feel guilty? Overwhelmed? Unbalanced? Bored? Cranky? Out-of-step with your husband? Out-of-control?

There have been times when I have felt all of the above (thankfully not all at once!). I have friends who have felt/ do feel like this too. When they are short-term, these feeling are completely normal. I would say, inevitable at some time in your motherhood journey. Combine hormones, the demands of children (24/7), our own expectations (dare we say, perfectionism?!), the 'rules' of raising children (not too much TV time, fine motor time, gross motor time, language time, reading time, one-to-one time), our marriages, and our need for "me-time", and you have a recipe for a frazzled mummy.

But, what if you feel like this all the time? If those feelings are all too familiar? What if thinking about motherhood just makes you want to curl into a ball and cry? What if the thought of another day brings no anticipation of joy? I know there are some mums in this position.

I don't know much about happiness. Usually I don't think much about happiness. But I am happy (most of the time). I'm not happy in an "always have a smile on my face", shouting for joy, praise the Lord kind of way. That is not my personality. I am content. I never thought of myself as an especially happy person (probably because I am not the 'shout for joy' type). But lately as I have observed how much other mums struggle with happiness and contentment, I realise just how much God has blessed me with contentment in my role as a mum.

I don't want to sound like I have it all together... because I don't. When I talk about contentment, I mean right here, in these circumstances of life, in the everyday little hassles and trials of motherhood. I wish I could claim (like Paul in the Bible) that I knew the secret of contentment in any and every circumstance (well-fed or hungry, in plenty or in want...), but the fact is, I have never been tested in those ways. I don't know how I would respond to hunger, or serious pain, or life-threatening illness, or the death of a child, or a lonely marriage. I am not there.

All I know is a few things that help me feel content/ happy, through the sometimes monotonous, often frustrating, frequently tiring life of a mother... Some things that help me:

• Leaning on God - a knowledge that when I am out of control, he is in control. A confidence in my eternity. A trust that all things are working for God's glory... even when I don't understand them
• Working on our marriage - knowing that Matt "has my back" and is on my side
• Having time-out - doing something I enjoy (usually reading or blogging). We've developed a daily routine that ensures that this happens - in the middle of the day 'rest time' and at night.
• Drinking water - sounds silly, but I know when I haven't had enough (think headach-y and cranky)
• Getting out socially - play dates, play-group, Bible study. Being around other mums in the 'real world' is encouraging and recharges me.
• Having a (loose) routine for the day and a (short) daily task list - helps me prioritise the important, and feel like I'm achieving something, even on the down days
• Being willing to let go of perfection - I'll tell you a secret... some weeks I don't clean the bathroom (maybe just a quick wipe-down). Some weeks I don't wash the sheets. Some days I don't cook dinner (leftovers are a great resource!). When I'm on morning tea roster for play-group or Bible study, sometimes I just buy something. I don't "do it all" everyday or every week. Trying to make myself would just make me overwhelmed and defeated. Some days I prioritise just playing with our kids. Some days I prioritise getting jobs done, but never all of it everyday.
• Being (realistically) optimistic - I don't have my head in the clouds, but I do generally have a hope/ expectation, that things will work out well. I try to think about what I have achieved, rather than what I haven't achieved, or the positives of a situation, rather than the negatives. Focusing on blessings has a big impact on contentment.
• Not focusing on happiness - a couple of years ago, someone I know (not a Christian) went to a conference on happiness. 3 whole days dedicated to trying to be happy. This person has spent a lot of time and money looking for happiness - and most of the things have been focused on herself - dredging up her past, learning to be assertive, meditating, etc etc. Guess what? She is still not all that happy. And, even the happiness conference (ironically) concluded that those who are the happiest do not focus on their own happiness, but on serving others... kind of what the Bible has been saying all along!

Are you struggling with contentment? What things help you feel happy?


Disclaimer: Sometimes unhappiness is more than just unhappiness. Depression is very real and very common. Post-natal depression can still be an issue up to a couple of years after having a baby. If you think you are more than "unhappy", please see a doctor.  

Tweet

Preparing for Easter: some family traditions

So, Easter is only 2 weeks away. Good Friday is two weeks away. Where did those weeks go? Wasn't it Christmas yesterday?

Last Easter, we were between houses (staying with my parents). We didn't get much build-up to Easter. It just sort of happened. This year, I'm a little more prepared. In the same way we don't want our family Christmas to be all about Santa and presents, we don't want Easter to be all about eating chocolate eggs and rabbits. So, we are developing some Easter family traditions...

1) Easter Bible readings

I've chosen 11 Easter readings (including one for Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday). These readings are loosely based on the "resurrection eggs" (see picture - each egg contains a small token to remind us of a part of the Easter story (e.g. a donkey, silver coins, a piece of cloth, a spear...)

Thursday 29/3 - Matthew 21:1-11 - Jesus' entry into Jerusalem

Friday 30/3 - Matthew 26: 1-5  - Judas' betrayal of Jesus

Saturday 31/3 - Matthew 26: 17-30 - The last supper

Sunday 1/4 - Matthew 26: 36-46 - Jesus prays in the garden of Gethsemane

Monday 2/4 - Matthew 26: 47-56 - Jesus is arrested

Tuesday 3/4 - Matthew 27: 11-26 - Jesus on trial

Wednesday 4/4 - Matthew 27: 27-31 - The crowd mocks Jesus

Thursday 5/4 - Matthew 27: 32-37 - Jesus carries the cross/ casting lots for his clothes

Good Friday - Matthew 27: 45-54 - Jesus' death

Easter Saturday - Matthew 27: 57-66 - Jesus is buried

Easter Sunday - Matthew 28: 1-10 - Jesus is alive!

We do these readings from an adult Bible, but will also follow-up with reading the Easter account from our kids' Bibles and any other Easter books we have.

2) Our Easter "Basket" 

This was an activity for the kids to work on when we were at home sick last week. This box will house our resurrection eggs - and on Easter Sunday, some chocolate eggs too!

We cut out some pretty paper

Miss 15 months used play-dough scissors (no blade)

Later, we just started tearing the paper

And gluing it to our shoe-box

I added the word "Risen" to the top of the box with letter stickers

3) Other Easter fun

I would love to have a special activity to go with each of the Easter readings but (a) I can't think of something unique for each day and (b) I am going to be doing some training for work just before Easter, so probably won't have time to do too much anyway!

Here are a few ideas we probably will do...

Thursday 29/3 - Jesus' entry into Jerusalem - a collage craft with a donkey, and palm leaves (or other leaves as necessary!)

Saturday 31/3 - The last supper - a passover meal. We have done this for the past 2 years - lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs (greens), with red wine for grown-ups

Sunday 1/4  - Gethsemane - Make an Easter garden. See this link for details

Good Friday - Jesus' death - Hot Cross Buns, attend church

Easter Sunday - Jesus is alive - "Jesus is alive" cake with cracked (hollow) Easter egg on top, Easter egg hunt, attend church.

What are your Easter traditions? Can you give me any more ideas?

Tweet

So, what's the Bible all about then?

I'm writing over at Life on a Hill today...

Like many people growing up, I heard a lot of Bible stories. I attended church with my family. I attended Bible school (similar to Sunday school) and scripture classes at school. My parents read the Bible and/or Bible stories with me at home. I had a head crammed with Bible knowledge. I was one of the kids who knew all the answers in Scripture and Bible school. (If in doubt, just answer 'God', 'Jesus' or 'the Bible' right?). 

But, there was always something I never really understood. I sometimes wondered how all those stories fit together. What does a young boy killing a giant (David and Goliath) have to do with Jesus? Or, what does a man with a colourful coat and jealous brothers (Joseph) teach me about God? And, what was the go with all that slaughtering of animals in the first half of the Bible? Isn't that a bit barbaric? In what order did all these things happen, and why? ... Click here to read the rest at Life on a Hill

Tweet

One of those days...

Today is one of those days. 

Mr 2 was up for hours last night. Coughing like I've never heard anyone cough before. Not chesty. Just relentless. Despite his obviously sore throat, I cannot convince Mr 2 that perhaps it would be better not to run up and down the hallway singing nursery rhymes at the top of his lungs. Or perhaps all that high-pitched whining is making his throat feel worse...

Miss 3 is playing on her brothers' weakness. She is trying to convince me that she is sick too, but really, she is enjoying taking advantage of her tired brother. In this state, he will mostly let her lead their play, with no arguments.

Miss 15 months is at that awkward age. She wants to join in with her big brother and sister. They will tolerate her involvement, until she becomes overwhelmed and starts knocking everything over, or throwing pieces around, or... If she is not playing with her older brother and sister, Miss 15 months is under my feet, cuddling my legs and demanding "bup" (up). It is not that easy to hold a 15 month old while you are peeling potatoes/ hanging washing/ folding washing/ cleaning the toilet...

This morning I did 3 loads of washing. Unfortunately Mr 2 coughed so much last night that he was sick over 2 lots of bed linen. It wasn't much. Just enough to mean that I would have to wash the 2 sets. I hung all the washing outside. After a couple of hours the rain started. I raced to move everything undercover. This involved un-pegging and re-pegging everything - a good 30 minutes worth of work. Then the rain stopped.

----------------------------------------------------------------

It is hard to believe it on a day like today, but someday I will miss having 4 loads of washing to do. 2 people (or even perhaps one day, 1 person) don't create that much washing. One day I will miss the cuddles that come with having a sick 2 year old boy. (I'm sure I won't miss the whining). One day I will miss the fact that I was forced to play a lot with my kids... to help maintain the peace. I will miss the little person cuddling my legs, and the talkative, bossiness of a 3-year-old girl. I will miss the laughter and the footsteps running up and down the hallway, and the constant singing. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, even on those days, I am a blessed mummy. And I'm reminding myself to enjoy every minute.

Tweet

The importance of kindness

(This was written last weekend)

This weekend started out tough for one of our children (and therefore, us).

There was no single event that made it tough. It was more a consistent opposition to everything we suggested, seeking to control the behaviour of siblings, a desire for our immediate attention anytime we diverted it to siblings or each other... In short, it was tiring! The constant negotiation, the dealing with sibling squabbles, the constant diversions in attention...

Sometimes, when we are dealing with the repetitiveness of this type of behaviour, we revert to our old methods of discipline. And, often these methods are not particularly good at teaching. 

For us, shouting, lecturing, "do it because we say so", time-out (without any follow-up), smacking (again, without any follow-up) are not good teaching methods. While some of these might lead to on-the-spot sorrow, they do not change behaviour long-term, they do not provide intrinsic motivation towards appropriate behaviour and they are detrimental to our relationship with our kids. (At least, this is what seems to happen at our house!) Besides, I do not like the example I am giving my kids about how we treat other people when I am yelling at them, threatening and bribing them and sending them away from me at the first sign of conflict. I do not feel kind when I parent this way. I do not feel gracious.

This weekend, when faced with the constant arguments over any suggestions we made; e.g. clothing selections, hair-styles, food choices, play choices... I reverted immediately to control (e.g. "I said you are wearing it, so you are wearing it", "You do what mummy says thank you"). And, this does not work (at our house). It has the potential to lead to more argument and/or tantrums and/or sullenness or sulking. It makes me feel horrible.

Then I remembered kindness. (It takes me awhile sometimes!) I remembered my role as a parent to display kindness. And, I remembered my child's ability to understand, receive and show kindness (with prompting required sometimes!). As the next argument began, I changed tactic. (This is not verbatim... it was something like this - probably not quite as smooth as this...)

Me: "It seems like you don't like mummy and daddy's choices today. You want to make your own choices"

Child: "I'm not making choices!" (Yes, we were a bit oppositional!)

Me: "It is hard when you have to fit in with other people isn't it?"

Child: "Hmmfh" 

Me: "Do you think mummy and daddy like it when you speak unkindly to us?"

Child: "No"

Me: "Do mummy and daddy speak unkindly to you?" (risky question!!!)

Child: "No"

Me: "It makes me very sad when you speak unkindly to me. I want you to think about a better way to tell me if you don't like something."

Child: "I feel cranky today"

Me: "Okay, what can you do if you feel cranky?...

etc, etc

I'm sure it wouldn't work so smoothly in every case, but after a whole morning of opposition, we had a different child following this interchange. I had to give a couple of reminders ("Kindness please"), but the constancy was gone.

I sometimes underestimate my child's ability to empathise (with guidance). I underestimate my child's desire to show kindness. And, I under-estimate my own ability to teach appropriate behaviour effectively, without punishment.

Do you aim to teach your children kindness?


(P.S: A lot of these ideas come from Children are people too by Dr. Louise Porter, Positive Discipline in the Christian Home by Jane Nelsen et al, and How to really love your child by Dr. Ross Campbell)

Tweet

My child is just lazy

As a Speech Pathologist, I often hear these words from parents. These words irritate me, because, in almost every case, they are simply untrue.

Here are a few examples:

• "I know Sam understands everything we say. He is just too lazy to use words himself"
• "Tom gets his message across using gesture or by showing me what he wants. He is too lazy to talk"
• "When we are at home, Sandra can follow my instructions. At school she is just too lazy"
• "Harriet produces the "f" sound correctly when we practice, but in conversation, she gets lazy" 

I won't give an in-depth rebuttal to each statement. For now,  I want to talk about the last statement... and the speech hierarchy.

When children are struggling to produce a certain sound, or pattern of sounds, Speech Pathologists (and parents, after Speech Pathology advice) don't begin by correcting the production of the sound in conversational speech. For most children, changing sound production directly in conversation is simply too big a leap. Instead, we work through a hierarchy of sound discrimination and production.

Step 1: Discriminating between the correct sound, and the sound the child produces

Step 2: Producing the sound in isolation (e.g. f)

Step 3: Producing the sound in syllables (the target sound with a vowel sound) (e.g. faa, aaf or aafaa - the sound in the beginning, middle, or final position)

Step 4: Producing the sound in single words (don't forget beginning, middle and end of words (e.g. food, breakfast, reef)

Step 5: Producing the sound in sentences (e.g. I packed food for lunch)

Step 6: Producing the sound in conversation/ everyday speech

Depending upon the individual child, how easily they can produce the sound, their ability to self-monitor, how much practice is completed and a variety of other factors, you will move through this hierarchy either quite quickly, or more slowly. And this has nothing to do with laziness.

Working with this sound hierarchy, the biggest step (in my experience) is the step from producing a sound at sentence level (step 5) to producing the sound in everyday speech (step 6). The step from structured practice to everyday speech requires a child to have a high degree of automaticity with the new sound, and a good ability to self-monitor. 

A child may be practicing very well at the single word level (step 4), or even in sentences (step 5) but will not be able to produce the new sound (or pattern) in everyday speech. It is not laziness. It is lack of skill.

 

My 15 month old is not yet walking. She crawls at 100 miles per hour. She can pull herself onto her feet (an early step towards walking). She can cruise around furniture (another step). She can walk holding a hand for support (another step). She can take a few steps unsupported (another step). But she cannot yet do the 'everyday walk'. She is NOT lazy. She is lacking the skill (or, more specifically, the balance) required for everyday, independent walking.

Maybe for some parents, "my child is just lazy" is simply a way of denying or decreasing their child's difficulties in their own minds. But, I do worry that for some, it leads to an attitude of negativity regarding their child's abilities, or blaming their child for their difficulties. After all, if it is just laziness, it is easily fixed by being "un-lazy"... when in fact, it might require hard work, time and practice to change a skill.

Do you fall into the 'it is just laziness' trap?

 

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday: Cramming in some craft

With our kids now in daycare 2 days per week and Miss 3 at preschool a 3rd day, our craft time seems to have been seriously depleted of late! So, when we got out some materials recently, we went all out - painting, printing, cutting, pasting... and lovely, lovely mess-making...

Seems that black was the colour of the day.

... and Matt was responsible for scrubbing the paint off at bath-time!

Linking up with Aussie Wordless Wednesday.

 

Tweet

In which I finally do some sewing

Those who are not long-term readers of this blog may be surprised to see sewing get a mention. I am not the best sew-er in the world. Although I don't mind doing it (I actually quite enjoy it once I get going), it is not something I tend to prioritise. Since my days of Textiles and Design at school, I have sewn about 3 items (and mostly with help).

But, I do have a space to sew:

And, I did have a project I have been procrastinating on:

We bought these large cushions about 5-6 years ago. The covers on these suited the decor in our old lounge room (green, as below)

We no longer need the cushions in our lounge room, so I thought I'd add them to our bed. I love the look of a cosy bed with lots of cushions. (Unfortunately my husband doesn't share my love of multiple cushions on the bed). This is the kind of look I love (below) - a bit country, a bit pretty, a bit kitsch, but not too cluttered:

Finally today, I decided to procrastinate no more

This is what I ended up with. It is a very basic sewing job - straight seams down two sides and a hem at the top.

Please excuse the hasty positioning of the cushions - I could have made it look more artistic!

The experts' verdict was "nice and comfy". (Please excuse Mr 2's underpants. I took three photos and this was the best one!)

There is just one problem. I have to finish them off. What would you do here; buttons or ties? I can do ties without help. Buttons I know in theory, but I haven't done them recently...

 

Your advice?

Tweet

Older dads

Over the weekend I was reading the Good Weekend magazine (which comes in the Saturday Sydney Morning Herald for those interstate or overseas). I enjoyed reading an article on older dads. (Sorry, I can't find a link to it online) I think, by the standard of the article, an older dad was defined as being over 55.

The article was more a description of the lives of older dads, rather than an editorial about the advantages and disadvantages. There was a small section detailing some of the health risks for the babies of older fathers. These health risks included a twofold increase in the risk of developing schizophrenia, as well as a link to increased rates of Autism. 

On the other hand, there seems to be some advantages to older fatherhood. This is especially if the older fathers have enough money to be semi-retired/ work from home and spend heaps of time with their young children (as in the case of Mike Carlton - one of the older dads interviewed).

I really have no opinion on older fatherhood, though the increased health risks are worrying. My husband has always said that he would prefer our family done and dusted by the time he is 40. (He is turning 37 in June, so I tell him we can still squeeze in 3 more children in that time ;-)).

We have friends on both ends of the spectrum. One couple from our church are in their early 20s having children. Other friends of ours did not marry until the husband was over 40. He is now approaching 50 (though a very youthful 50!) with two small children. I don't think he feels it any more than your average father with a demanding job and small children. Perhaps if he were another decade older, things may be different.

What is your opinion/ experience with older fathers? Did you have one? Are you/ is your husband an older father? Do you think there are advantages/ disadvantages to late fatherhood?

Tweet

It's not your turn...

Turn-taking. It is a skill we work so hard at teaching our little people, and yet some adults don't seem to understand it.

People who have no concept of turn-taking have always made me mad. I have a very strong (some might say, overdeveloped) sense of justice about waiting your turn.

I once had a holiday job as a uni student, wrapping Christmas presents at a local shopping centre. The wrapping service was run and paid for by centre management, but it was a charity fundraiser. Customers did not pay for the wrapping, but were asked to contribute a gold coin donation. My over-zealous approach to encouraging the donation, and to ensuring that people were served in the correct order (some tried to ignore the queue and bring their gift straight to other end of the counter) earned me a nickname among some of the other gift-wrappers - "The Wrapping Cow". (The instigator of this nickname happened to be my brother who was working at the same holiday job). The nickname was supposed to be kind of ironic, as most who know me (I think) would say I am generally quite a softy. But perhaps my passion for justice can see my personality change...

Confronted by very long waiting lists at my new job, I can see my sense of justice rearing its' head again. 

I really understand where parents are coming from. Their children need help with their speech and language skills. They want to ensure they get the best and most efficient service possible. It is sad that we cannot provide the services that children really need, in a suitable time-frame. But there are a few things I wish people would understand:

• When I tell you the waiting list is 2 years long, and you referred your child in December 2011, there will not be an appointment available for you in March 2012.
• No amount of complaining (to me) or getting angry, will make the waiting list move any faster. In fact, if you keep ringing up to complain about the waiting list, and my manager has to spend half a day on the phone dealing with complaints, the waiting list will probably move more slowly.
• If you do want to complain, and make it effective, complain via the suggested avenues. These complaints get noticed by people who can change things (e.g. people who employ more staff).
• I appreciate that your child's problem is 'urgent'. There are 140 other parents ahead of you on the list who also believe their child's problem is urgent.
• I know you want an appointment either first thing in the morning or last thing in the afternoon. Everybody does.
• It is really not unacceptable that I can only offer you an appointment once a fortnight. If you do the suggested follow-up at home, a fortnightly appointment may be quite adequate.
• If I need to cancel a session (for example, after having an unexpected 2.5 hour drive to work one morning due to road flooding), it is not unacceptable. This is a very rare occurrence for me. 
• And if you cancelled the previous appointment, you cannot assert that "two sessions in a row have been cancelled". Though this is technically true, the implication that both sessions were cancelled against your wishes is not true.
• When a clinician only works on Thursday and Friday, you are unlikely to have your phone call returned on Monday.
• Please don't complain about how long you have had to wait between appointments, but then tell me you have been 'too busy' to do any of the suggested follow-up at home.
• When I ring you to offer you an appointment, don't say "Okay, we will come at 4pm on Friday". I have not left my whole diary blank, waiting to schedule your appointment.

It is quite bemusing to me when people seem to have no regard for the needs and situations of others. 

Sure, sometimes turn-taking is frustrating. We don't want to wait. We want things to be made convenient for us. We don't want to have to stop at every red light. We don't want to stand in that queue. But what chaos would descend if we all took the view that my needs are most important and I will trample over everyone else to get there? Maybe I would decide I don't want to stop at red lights. Or maybe I could park in your driveway because it is next to the shop I need to go to. Or maybe I should encourage my child to snatch whatever toy s/he wants because his/her desires are more important than the child currently enjoying the toy...

Or, just maybe, the Bible has something good to say about this (as with many things):

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 2: 3-5)

Does impatience/ pushing in bother you?

Tweet

Wordless Wednesday: When it rains, it pours

A rainy weekend stuck inside is no fun.

But a rainy weekend, getting out and about, is:

Home for a warm bath, a hot dinner and a cosy bed.

Linking up with Aussie Wordless Wednesday

Tweet

Me time for mummy

There has been yet another 'study' released to confirm what we all know... mums don't get much time to themselves. According to the current survey, it is less than 40 minutes daily.

On Facebook, the article seemed to provoke much comparison and much self-pity. e.g. "Who are these women having 40 minutes? I'm lucky to go to the toilet alone..."

I admit, I did have a bit of a laugh about it all. I enjoyed one of the comments along the lines of "Excuse me, there seem to be a lot of mums on Facebook... is this not 'me-time'?" While reading the comments, I couldn't help but think of this comedy sketch...

Although I'm making a bit of a joke about it, the reality is not really funny. There are obviously many, many mums out there who are tired, depleted and running on empty.

For some mums, it is true. They simply do not have enough time to spend on themselves, to refresh and recharge. But for many of us (me included), it is not really about time at all. It is about the choices we make.

The quantity of down-time we have is not necessarily the problem. More important than quantity of down-time is how refreshing the time is for us.

The amount of down-time mums need is highly variable. One woman may be refreshed by having a 10 minute phone call with a friend. Another woman may need a whole day away to reflect and pray (or to have a spa treatment!) One woman is happy to have a 5 minute toilet trip without an audience of little people. Another woman would prefer to have every toilet trip without an audience. A mother may be away from kids for a whole day, and still not be refreshed. Another mother may miss her children, and become stressed or anxious rather than refreshed, after a few minutes away from them. Another mother may may actually be more refreshed by quality time with her kids.

Some activities are more refreshing than others. Here are some comparisons for me:

• Getting outdoors is more refreshing than staying inside.
• Reading the Bible and/or a devotion is more refreshing than spending the equivalent time on Facebook. 
• Picking up toys, then sitting in a clean lounge room is more refreshing than sitting in the midst of chaos. 
• Cuddling my kids is more refreshing than yelling at them. 
• Having a nap is more refreshing for me than wasting time surfing the internet.
• Getting up, showered, dressed and organised before Matt leaves for work, is more refreshing for me than trying to cram in that "me" time when there is no other adult supervision in the house.

Knowing what activities, and in what quantity is most refreshing for you, is something for each mother to recognise for herself. But, although I know which activities will refresh me most, I often make bad choices.  I choose to muck around on Facebook instead of read my Bible. I choose to sit on the couch instead of go outdoors. I choose to yell at my kids instead of hug them. I choose to take the less refreshing option... to my own detriment! The time factor is no different, but the refreshment difference is huge.

What is your story? Do you get the down-time you need? Or are you, like me, frittering your time on activities that don't refresh you?

Tweet

One of my favourites

Around the time I got married (almost 9 years ago), I purchased myself a stab blender. I wanted to be able to easily blend soups. Perhaps the manufacturers of saucepans would advise against this - but, when making soup, I use my stab blender in the same saucepan (or slow cooker pot) in which I have been cooking my soup ingredients.

As much as I loved and used my stab blender, I was always a little bit bemused by this additional contraption which came with my blender: 

For at least 5 years, my food processor sat lonely in my cupboard, while the stab blender was used again and again. I even considered throwing it away. I am so glad I never went through with it.

I first discovered the joys of my food processor when I was making pureed food for my eldest baby. It wasn't long after this, that I discovered the multiple uses of the food processor. There are many days when I use my food processor frequently. These days I use my food processor to:

• Grate/ finely chop vegetables (e.g. zucchini, carrot, onion). This sure cuts down preparation time for a zucchini slice.
• Grate cheese (when cut in small segments). Have I mentioned how much I hate hand-grating?
• Cream butter and sugar for cakes etc
• Make doughs/pastry (for sweets and savoury pies)

I am seriously considering upgrading to a large, whiz-bang food processor like this one. Of course, I would rather buy a red Kitchen Aid standing mixer first!

But, here is one of my favourite (and my husband's favourite) food processor recipes:

Rich Herb Quiche

Ingredients:
 (Pastry)
1.5 cups plain flour
125 g butter, cubed
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup water

(Filling)
1 tbs olive oil
200g bacon, diced
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup cream and 1/2 cup milk OR 1 cup evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 cup grated cheese
2 tsp mixed dried herbs (or 2 tbsp fresh herbs)


Method:
Preheat oven to 200c
Lightly spray a quiche dish with oil
Combine the plain flour, butter and salt in food processor. Process until mixture appears as fine breadcrumbs
Add egg yolk and water. Process until a soft dough forms
Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth
Rest dough in refrigerator, covered in plastic wrap, for 20 minutes

Prepare the filling - Cook bacon and onion over medium heat for 2 minutes
Remove pan from heat
Add the cream, eggs, grated cheese and herbs to the pan and stir to combine


Roll out the pastry and place into quiche dish to line the base
Bake the pastry for 15 minutes, or until golden
Pour in the filling and turn oven to 180c
Bake quiche for 30 minutes or until filling sets

Tweet