appreciation – All Mum Said

Being reported to the VCGLR

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 21:00:01 +0000

I am in complete and utter disbelief. I have been contacted by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation in relation to how I run giveaways on my blog because one of our readers thought it would be a good idea to report Mad Mummas. Reported us for what? Well I’m not sure exactly because they (VCGLR) couldn’t find an issue with how I run any of the competitions on my blog. They are ALL skilled based and the terms and conditions couldn’t be more straight forward than they already are; which the lovely inspector and compliance officer confirmed for me.

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My first instinct was to be pissed off but after I stewed on it for a few days my anger turned to disappointment. Is it really that important for someone to win something? To get something for free? It confuses me in all honesty. Could someone be that disgruntle about not being chosen as a winner that they would resort to the drastic measure of trying to get others in legal trouble? As I’m sure you could imagine many hours go into putting these giveaways together; writing the post, monitoring comments, reading entries, deciding on a winners, announcing winners, sending details to PR, etc. I do all this as a way to reward readers and fans, encourage new ones and share a bit of joy amongst the blog/web community. I have run so many competitions (possibly 100’s) over the years we have been running and have been emailed by some extremely happy winners that couldn’t contain their excitement; these fans make it worth it. What this person has done could have had the potential to end that; thankfully I conduct all giveaways legitimately so we are still able to spread the love.

If you feel the giveaways run here are anything but fair than please don’t enter as all you are doing is wasting mine/my husband/family members time. We read and judge each of the entries and it is a very time consuming job. Most of you are absolutely wonderful and I want nothing more than for you to keep coming back, entering, sharing and having the chance to win something awesome that you may otherwise not have gotten.

**I really hope the woman who made the complaint gets to read this because just in case you missed it above – I have done absolutely nothing wrong and the VCGLR has cleared me of all/any of your complaints. I also want you to know that I know who are (yes I know your name) and most importantly negative and hostile behaviour is not a required or desired character to have in skill based competitions or the Mad Mummas community in general.

If you have won something from Mad Mummas – big or small – I would love for you to leave me a comment below with what you have won and did it bring you joy?

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It’s My Birthday!

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 06:57:00 +0000

It is official; I’m on my way to 30! I have now passed my mid 20’s and have hit 26. Today is my birthday. Obviously this is not old in the grand scheme of things but I feel like the past 6 years have come and gone so quickly. I get the feeling each year of ‘Didn’t I just have a birthday?’ Where did the year go?

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I am embracing this year and everything that it brings. Everything from getting older (I will be telling myself I am wiser – which of course I obviously am), my eldest child starting grade 1, moving into our new house hopefully at the end of the month of February some time (after the extremely long process of saving the money required and then the building of our house), the birth of our new baby in June, the horrible and pain staking attempt to lose some weight post baby, the list goes on and on.

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There are so many things in life to be grateful for and this is the year where I am appreciating everything – the good and the bad! Starting today with my 26^th birthday.

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Do you have a New Years resolutions?

When is your birthday?

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It Only Takes A Few Words

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:30:00 +0000

The school year is coming to a close and for some states it already has. Declan my 5 year old started Kindergarten this year (otherwise known as prep for Qld readers) and we were extremely lucky to have gotten the teacher he did. She is not only a fantastic teacher; she really knows how to interact with the children. Mrs G has always put effort into the kids who want to learn and behave themselves instead of putting all her time and energy into the disruptive kids who don’t want to listen. This was very refreshing for me to see.

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Throughout the year I have heard other parents talk about her for one reason or another and basically how little they think of her. A few of them were even boasting to one another how they made her cry by yelling at her in front of the kids. Yes, that’s right some of these parents yelled at their childs teacher in front of a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds. Now that’s great parenting right there! I just couldn’t believe these women and how proud of themselves they were. This woman, this bright intelligent woman is so kind hearted and does everything in her power to challenge her students, encourage her students and in my opinion has done nothing but go above and beyond her role as a teacher. I am devastated he will not have her as a teacher next year as we are moving in the New Year to a different area.

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Teachers need to be acknowledged for the hard work they put in, they need to be shown appreciation for everything they do for your children. Whether you see it or not they are a huge support and put in many additional hours out of the kindness of their heart. We bought Mrs G a box of chocolates for Christmas as a way to thank her but I also attached a card with a little note. While I cannot remember exactly what I wrote it was along these lines ‘Thank you for everything you have done for Declan this year we really appreciate it. You have truly gone above and beyond and I cannot thank you enough. We couldn’t have possibly asked for a better teacher. Thank you.’

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Now I didn’t think too much more of this besides it showing her that we appreciate the hard work she has put into teaching our son this year however it is amazing how much a few kind words can mean to someone. Declan gave his present to Mrs G during the day and when I went to pick my son up in the afternoon his teacher came up and hugged me and thanked me for my kind words. She told me she had had a rough afternoon yesterday as another parent had abused her and quite nastily I might add. It was so obvious how much these few kind words that I wrote in her card meant to her, those simple words that obviously are not said enough.

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Please remember that it only takes a few words to crush a persons self esteem and ruin their day and a simple thank you so much or I appreciate you to make their day great.

Use and choose your words wisely!

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Introducing ~ My August Sponsors

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:00:00 +0000

I would like to introduce you all to my August sponsors. I have been extremely fortunate on this little blog of mine to have such amazing support from not only the readers but from other bloggers and businesses as well.

So here are some of the bloggers and businesses that support Mad Mummas Sweet Randoms. I would love for you to pay them a visit and let them know I sent you.

Byron Bay Wooden Toys

Bibbat and Babbat, the friendly pixies of Byron Bay Wooden Toys have been on a treasure hunt and found a whole new hoard of toys! Balance bikes, craft activities for all ages, magnetic dress up dolls for boys and girls. Fun multiplication aids, puzzles, games, trains and more. Their quest to find quality, safe and wholesome toys has once again made wishes come true. A whole treasure trove of fun awaits you! Visit them in store or online.

Sunraysia Soaps and Candles

If you care about your skin then there is nothing softer and kinder than Goats Milk. Free from surfactants, sulphates and alcohol, just natural, luxurious Goats Milk soap. They also provide a wide range of scented and unscented soy and beeswax candles. You choose the scent and style of candle and they do their best to bring the aroma to your home.

Little Nest Creations

This is small family run business that all started from a hobby. The lovely owner makes, finds, chooses and sells jewellery, gifts, paper and designs of all different kinds of birds to people all over Australia and around the world. She has the most gorgeous and unique little bird rings, necklaces and bracelets. They even have some very cute kids and baby clothing and gifts that are inspired by birds and nature, trees, butterflies, sparkles and of course rainbows. They are available now online and best of all they are extremely affordable.

ZAK Designs

This is your one stop shop for 100% handmade Sock Monkeys with style. They can be custom made or adopted from the orphanage and come in so many different styles, colours and patterns. You can view them all on their facebook page.

Jujo Baby

Jujo Baby offers a beautiful and unique collection of knitwear clothing in the highest quality and softest yarns. Using traditional knitting techniques to create exclusive contemporary babies wear collection offering ‘must have’ clothes perfect for every baby. They emphasis on creating a beautifully sophisticated outfits whilst offering the best in comfort, easy care and durability.

A Dose Of Dannie

Dannie writes a blog about her family, finding herself, recipes and her life in general. She shares the ups and downs she encounters through her day to day life.

The Truth About Mummy

This blog is about everything that Caz loves including her family and awesome cakes. She is amazing at cake decorating, re-purposing old furniture, taking gorgeous photos and a few other random things.

Mama Stylista

This mama is a super stylish mum! She is also a blogger that finds fashionable items for mums and babies so you don’t have to. She also writes about other things so pop over and say hello.

The Parenting Files

It is the place you will find all things parenting, children, and family and relationship wellness. You will find advice, support and inspiration on this very welcoming blog.

If you are interested in sponsoring me and my page by advertising, giveaways, reviews, etc. Please view my PR/Advertising page or email me at [email protected]
I would love to hear from you!

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GUEST POST – Welcome to the ‘hood’

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 21:00:00 +0000

A big thanks to Leigh for writing this guest post.

Welcome to the ‘hood’
By Leigh from Six by the sea

My friend has recently had her first child and as we do, we’ve all surrounded her with congratulations, oooooh, aaaahhhhs, gifts, tilted, loving heads, admiring eyes….. All that is lovely about a new baby and a new mummy.

Welcome to the hood sista! Im penning this for you. Read it when you are good and ready……. For the rest of us old hands, lets rejoice in everything ‘motherhood’….. ready, lets go……

So my darling friend, do you like roller coasters? Well hang on tight cause this one is going to be the fastest, longest roller coaster you’ve ever ridden, choc a block full of unexpected twists and turns! Its will begin the moment you give birth… hang on, scrap that, it actually begins once that precious seed is planted! Your body, your mind, your plans are no longer in your control. You may be pregnant and tired but you ain’t getting to sleep! But when you finally do get to sleep, heartburn or cramps are going to kick in and make sure that you wake as though you never rested!!!

Once that beautiful baby is in your arms life as you knew it will never be the same. Yes, yes, you can keep telling everyone that you aren’t going to change your ways to suit the baby but what you don’t realise is, is that the baby has an agenda and you are under its spell! Here are some tips to help you out..

Lesson number 1: Don’t EVER verbally praise your baby, somehow they understand all that you have said (even if they are in another room) and from that moment on they do the opposite to what you’ve singed their praise for! This is my solemn promise……. Never ever verbally praise….. you will be sorry!

Lesson number 2: Never leave home without a spare set of everything! Make it 2 spares. There’s a theory. If you are prepared for it, it wont happen. Don’t even tempt fate by being unprepared, you don’t want to have to put yourself through the turmoil!!!!

Lesson number 3: Don’t book or plan anything for the first 6 weeks. You can be guaranteed that any time you choose to meet a friend or make an appointment, will definitely not suit! This may seem a little dramatic but I swear to you, its true. Fly by the seat of your pants for a while, be spontaneous, take each day as it comes. Others will understand. *** This lesson seems to carry on throughout the child’s life as you can bet that if you have had something on the calendar that you have been looking forward to, you wont be going due to reasons that you cant control……. I dare you to challenge this one!***

Now, don’t take it all as a negative thing. There are many wonderful moments along the way, I promise. Once you get beyond the tantrums, teething, bed wetting, biting, hitting, attitude, talking back, embarrassment, hormonal teenage years, driving, clubbing and dating, then should come marriage and with any luck, this is the chance to step back and start enjoying your life again.

So, go forth, Revel in your new role as a mother, and although it may seem otherwise, I can tell you with all of my heart, never have I achieved something in my life that has given me so much joy, love and pride…… I say this to you with abundance of truth and not a word of a lie, and I am happy to say you are now officially a member of the ‘hood’. Enjoy xxxx

Author Bio: Leigh is a happily married mum to four boys, a nurse who is considering a future in midwifery and a lover of life and all of its future adventures. Leigh’s ultimate dream is to have a regular gig writing a column. She blogs over at Six By The Sea and can be found hanging out on facebook here.

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I Miss Getting My Freak On

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 21:30:00 +0000

I Miss Getting My Freak On

Lately I haven’t exactly been posting a lot of heartfelt or touching reads for you to enjoy and that has not been due to lack of content or ideas but more the fact that I have barely had time to catch my breath.

I have been so busy finalising assignments and studying for end of semester exams that everything (and I mean everything) has been put on the back burner. Sex is being traded for sleep (and that loved midnight nudge is dreaded), wine/vodka is traded for coffee (even on a Friday night) and meals are being replaced by sugar hits to keep me going. I cannot remember the last time I played at the park with the kids (to be honest I hate going to the park anyway but that’s a whole other story, the kids love it), I cannot remember the last time my husband and I went out for dinner alone or with the kids, the last time I had a proper conversation and wasn’t trying to multi task (study and keep up with the conversation) or even played artists with the kids, etc.

I feel like I haven’t ‘REALLY’ spoken nor had any in depth conversation with my husband in months or given him my undivided attention. I feel terribly bad about this as there doesn’t seem to be a happy medium at this point. It’s studying my absolute arse off and ~~completely~~ kind of ignore everyone else around me or fail. Neither option is favourable to me!

I have completed 2 exams and to my surprise received 100% in both!

YAY me!!

But as you can see it has come at a price, one that will be paid back 10 fold and may or may not come across as smothering when I’m finished my last exam.

On Tuesday, my last assessment for this semester will be held. It is extremely difficult and I’m not sure how I will go. I’m aiming for 50% (just so I can pass). I have paper stuck all over the walls of key points of information so that as I walk from room to room some of it may sink in. I’m not very optimistic but all I can do is try.

I am willing this ~~study bullshit~~ learning and mind expanding experience to be over, whose stupid idea was it for me to go back and study anyway? Oh right, it was mine.

REPEAT AFTER ME:

This will be beneficial for you in the long run!

This will bring opportunities for you when you are ready for them!

You have challenged yourself and you have succeeded!

When you complete this you can return to loving that midnight fireworks inducing romp and matinees!

(If that’s not encouragement I don’t know what is!)

Until next time, please have a stiff drink and in depth conversation for me, for yourself and most importantly go and get your freak on!!

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Part 2 – The Result of the Lesson

Tue, 29 May 2012 00:07:00 +0000

The Result of the Lesson

It has been a bit over a week since I went all hard core and stripped Ds’ room down to nothing more than a mattress. How has he gone you ask? Has he learnt anything or was it a complete and utter waste of my time? Well this is how the week went.

The day of destruction and the couple of days following were not received very pleasantly by Mr 5. Not only did he hate his stuff, he now had it in for C and me. Which is fine, I completely understood where he was coming from. In his eyes I was the bitch that took all his stuff (that he hated so much!) and gave it to nicer and more appreciative owners. His little brother K was one of these happy new owners.

After a few days he cooled off and asked if he could have his toys back. The answer was ‘No’. This lesson will not be learnt if I just give his stuff back; it would completely defeat the purpose of what I did. I stuck to my guns. This time however instead of getting angry and kicking the wall or throwing something (makes it easy as he had no toys to throw) he simply asked K if he could play with some of his toys. K obligingly said ‘yes’.

We explained to him how there are people who have nothing and still don’t complain, they make the most of life and appreciate what they have and what people give them. This stuff might not be new, it might not be food they like but it keeps them alive. We showed D clips from the Red Cross and Salvation Army to show him that some people have nothing and how he should be grateful we can afford the things we do.

After seeing that kids not much older than him have to sleep on the streets and eat out of rubbish bins so they don’t starve it was like something inside his head clicked. He saw an advert on one the clips asking for everyone to donate when the door knockers came around and he asked if he could. He got his money box, so did K and they got half of their money out ready to donate. All we needed now was door knockers.

Well, as you have probably read in my post last weekend the door knocker plan didn’t go so well. If you missed it you can read it here. D couldn’t understand why they refused to take his money when there were people who really needed it.

Ds’ attitude has changed dramatically (for now at least!) but it’s a step. He has been helping more with everyday things, helping his brother, tidying up after himself, etc. By day 4 he asked if I could put his bed back in his room. After his help the past couple of days I thought there is no harm in giving his bed back. C put it back together and he made his bed.

Day 5 he asked if he could have his toys back again, I told him that he will need to ask K if he can have any of them back. If K says no then you can’t. Luckily for D, his little brother can be very kind and gave him a few back. It wasn’t all the toys K choose to have but more so a handful of matchbox cars. D was overwhelmed, he hugged K and said ‘Thank you so much K, I love you’.

By this point I’m thinking something has sunk in. Before he would have kicked and screamed and carried on that he wanted such-and-such a toy but not now. He was just happy to have a few cars. This is the lesson I was trying to teach. It does however go even further than this. C sewed a button back onto Ds’ pyjama shirt (yes C is the sewer of the family!) and D couldn’t have been happier or cuter I must add. He went up to his father and said ‘Dad thank you for fixing my button, I really appreciate it!’

D has continued to be helpful around the house and his attitude has maintained its adjusted new found appreciation so we thought it would be fitting for him and K to take the money that they were going to so kindly donate and buy a toy with it. I added the coins I was going to donate so between the two of them they had $39 each to spend.

He almost cried when I told him he could have this money to buy a new toy. That is a step in the right direction if I don’t say so myself.

I had no idea in the beginning how this lesson would turn out. Would it backfire? I wasn’t sure but in my eyes it was worth a go. Now in part 1 of this story I mentioned I may lose a few followers and guess what? I did. I however bid them farewell, my parenting style works for my kids. They know when I say something I follow through. I don’t joke when it comes to them learning life lessons (yes I know they are young but in my opinion a child is never too young to start respecting).

So for now, I would have to say that this lesson has been taken on board and accepted. Lesson learnt! I know that this issue will arise again at some stage in the future and yes I will do the same thing again. For my kids and I, this works. It teaches them.

How do you teach your kids lesson in life? Does it work?

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Teaching a Lesson in Appreciation

Sun, 27 May 2012 01:21:00 +0000

Teaching a Lesson in Appreciation

This is more of a rant for me to blow off steam then it is a heart felt warm and fuzzy feeling post.

I would however love and appreciate any help, ideas, suggestions or heck even some vodka if your buying! (This post was actually written last weekend before the doorknockers came)

I have officially had enough! I thought I was raising my kids to be grateful and respect what they have but the message seems to have been squished and washed away like a bug on the windshield. My 5 year old who I must say is generally well behaved, has decided this last week that being a horrible devil child is more suited.

It only appears to be when he’s at home that his behaviour changes, when he’s at school he is very well behaved and excels. At home he presses my buttons within 30 minutes (easily) of me being awake. All of a sudden he HATES everything! If I ask him to do something, anything regardless what it is he responds with “I Hate ‘that’”.

How has this happened?

How has this happened so fucking quickly?

He has always been disciplined so he has never gotten away with this kind of shit. I am absolutely stumped as to why he has become this little ungrateful so and so all of a sudden. I did however take matters into my own hands today; I have plain and simply had enough! I’m over this attitude and he will learn the hard way. He has left me no choice.

I asked him to clean him room – “I hate my toys” so in the bin they went! (I let K (3) choose some that he wanted and then I took the rest to the Salvo’s so a child who will appreciate them can enjoy them). He has no toys left.

I asked him to make his bed – “I hate my bed” so I unbolted his bed and removed it from his room. He now has a mattress on the floor in his room.

Right now you may be thinking that I am a horrible mother and have taken things too far, I however would have to disagree. He is the kind of child who needs to be shown what it is like to have nothing before he can understand. He will learn to respect and appreciate what we have and how hard everyone has work to own and enjoy the things they do have.

K our 3 year old is respectful (for now at least) so I’m hoping this lesson will be learnt and learnt fast. I cannot go on feeling deflated and at a loss, his attitude towards um…. Well pretty much everything sucks. It just has to stop. I’m putting a stop to it – NOW!

Some of you (if you have made it this far) may stop following my blog because of my blunt honesty and parenting techniques and that is fine. I will not pretend to be the perfect parent with the most perfect kids. I am learning! It is trial and error for me as it is for so many other mums and dads.

Judge me or support me – it’s up to you but thank you in advance for the honest and non-judgemental people who decide to stick around with me.

RANT DONE!

In the next few days part 2 – The Result of the Lesson will be up. So if you stick around you will see if it worked or if I need to try something else.

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