guest post – All Mum Said

Get a Break From the Kids This Christmas Holidays

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 23:34:34 +0000

So as you are running around like mad preparing for Christmas with the kids, have you ever imagined the possibility that you could have all the fun, with someone else doing all the work for you? If you are tired of the Christmas experiences where you spend most of your time running after the kids, getting them food, drinks and keeping them occupied, while missing out on having any fun for yourself, then a cruise might be just what you need.

There is no time like the present to start planning your next Christmas with a family cruise where you will really have the chance to actually relax, sit back and smell the roses (or the fresh ocean air, as the case may be!). The great thing about cruises is that everything is catered for you, and Christmas cruises are that little bit more special because they have the whole Christmas thing going on, and you don’t have to lift a finger. On a cruise ship, the staff are trained for one purpose – to ensure that you are having the time of your life. This means that they will be in charge of looking after all aspects of the planning of the time. They have dedicated staff to look after your kids, which includes every aspect of keeping the little munchkins happy, whether that be with activities, baby sitting or food. They cater to children of all ages, so there are things to do for everyone, including you! For the older kids there are games and activities to suit them, and the younger ones will be delighted to be able to spend their days hanging out with kids their own age. No matter who you are, or what your interest is, a cruise will have something to suit every taste.

Christmas is supposed to be a time when the whole family gets together to enjoy each others company. But if you are finding that you are stressed and working like a dog to keep everyone happy then you aren’t going to be the best fun to be around (which kind of defeats the purpose of even having Christmas). On a Christmas cruise, you get to be everyone’s favourite person because you are super happy while the staff take the worries out of every aspect of organising and executing the big day. While the kids get to spend their time swimming, dancing, cooking, playing and generally doing whatever it is that kids like to do, you will be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy doing sweet nothing.

Aside from the fun of having everything done for you, the cruise will also pull into various ports along the way, where the kids will have the chance to see other cultures, explore exotic lands, and see the way other people live. They might even start to get ideas about living more simply, and maybe next Christmas they won’t have a present list as long as your arm, as they will have a better idea that ‘things’ are not such an important part of life! For info about Christmas cruises head to the Cruiseabout website.

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How to Declutter Your Garage

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 20:30:34 +0000

Guest Post written by Mick Cutcliffe.

Bio paragraph: Mick Cutcliffe leads a very busy life, a single father of 3 boys, working through the day and writing through the night. Cutcliffe is an avid writer for Fort Knox business storage.

There is too much stuff in our garage that only my car fits. Mr Dad has to park his car on the driveway ;)

A garage can be a really useful space for storing things and depending on how well you organise the space you can usually have room for storing the car and some of your stuff. One important thing to do to ensure that you are making the best use of the space is to declutter, and only keep things that you really need to in the garage. Here are 5 tips to decluttering your garage.

The shelves are great but a tidy up wouldn’t hurt!

Have a Chuck Out

First things first, before you can really utilise the space you will need to have a chuck out, and get rid of everything that you no longer need. Often the garage space can be a place where we dump anything that we don’t have a place for, and it builds up in piles and becomes a really untidy space. Getting rid of the things that you don’t need will free up your space, both physically and energetically, and your home will feel a lot clearer.

Store What You Don’t Need Now

If there are things in your garage that you need to keep, but don’t need to use on a day to day basis then an option that might work for you is to put them into storage. Often we may need to store papers and other things related to business etc, and only need to access them once a year, or once every few years. Business storage would be a good investment for you, but make sure you keep your storage facility in a place where they will be kept safe and sound for future needs.

Define the Space

One great way to utilise the space as well as it can be used is to work out what you want to use it for, and plan accordingly. If you are using it to store your car then you will want to organise the remaining space accordingly so that you can make the most of it. If you decide to use it as a studio or work space then shelves, benches and cupboards will be of great assistance to keep the place clear and uncluttered.

Overhead Shelf

If you are using the space to store your car but still have a lot of stuff to keep in the garage then you might want to think about installing some overhead shelving above the car. This way you can use that space that would usually be left unused. There are some really interesting designs for this that can be made easily and attached to the roof to make this shelving unit.

Tool Board

An interesting way of storing tools is to create a tool board with hooks where you can have your tools hanging on display so you know where they are and can easily grab them when you need them. The display board can be used for storing other things in your garage according to what purpose you are using the area for.

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Preparing Your Teens

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:30:00 +0000

Guest Post – Written by Agnes Jimenez from Empress Of Drac.

Prepare Your Teen for the Pressures of Growing Up

Being a teenager is hard. Between pressure to fit in school, changing bodies and hormones and a world of choices, they may feel overwhelmed with their lives. Preparing your kids for adolescence is essential to getting them through this period in their lives. By keeping the lines of communication open, you can help them make responsible life choices.

Parents are More Influential than Peers

If you talk to your kids, they will listen. You can prepare your kids for the teen years by using teachable moments to prepare them for the pressures they will face. Be genuinely interested in your pre-teen’s life. Find out who their friends are and what activities they enjoy. Many parents have no idea what is going on in their kid’s life, and are blindsided when their teen gets into trouble.

Talk and Listen

The key to helping your teen through this awkward time is to let them know that you are always available to listen. Allow them to ask you questions and respond in a non-judgmental manner, even if what they have to say is shocking. Many kids are faced with daily pressures but don’t discuss them for fear of negative reactions from their parents. Let them know that there is no subject that is off-limits, and take the time to listen if they want to talk. Sites like HelpYourTeenNow.comcan help you with talking points to get the discussion going.

Use Teachable Moments

A friend’s pregnancy, a natural disaster or tragic event may be the perfect opportunity for you to find out what your teen is thinking. Ask him how he feels about his friends who do drugs, or explain how the world around him affects him. Many parents are surprised at the issues that worry their kids. These moments are an excellent opportunity to explore issues they may be reluctant to talk about.

Give Them Responsibility and Trust Their Judgment

Your kids genuinely want your respect. They want to know that you trust them and they will work hard to live up to your expectations. Let them know that you know that they will make the right decisions. You do need to be firm about your beliefs and let them know that behavior that goes against those beliefs will not be tolerated.

It can seem impossible to protect your teen from the pressures of drugs, sex, smoking and drinking. By talking to your teen, setting clear boundaries and being available when they need you, they will be better prepared for adolescence.

Agnes Jimenez is a professional blogger and writer. She writes for many online establishments and currently partners with HelpYourTeenNow.com in spreading awareness about troubled and depressed teenagers (and how to deal with them). Help Your Teen Now aims to increase awareness on the current psychological and societal stresses of today’s teens and how these factors affect the future of our society.

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Guest Post: Olympic Inspired Activities to do with the Family

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 21:00:00 +0000

Sponsored Post

They may be over now, but the Olympics are definitely a great kickstart for motivation and inspiration. Take advantage of the Olympic fever in your household – use it as a chance for your family to spend more time together (away from the TV, of course!).

Stumped for ideas? Use these activities as inspiration to get your hubby and kids off the couch.

Backyard Olympics

If your kids are bored over the weekend, why not suggest an Olympics inspired play date with friends? Simple access to hula-hoops, basketballs, or even the backyard pool can host a fun backyard Olympics which will have the little ones motivated to stay active. If you have enough numbers, form teams and formulate relay races, rewarding the winning team with their choice of cupcake icing or cookie dough flavour – a perfect bribe for some competitive edge! If you and your hubby are lucky enough to get some quality time alone, you can also explore free gym trial options at places like Fitness First, and sweat it to work towards health and happiness together.

Olympics arts and crafts

The Olympics doesn’t just have to inspire physical exertion – they can allow the whole family to experiment with the symbolism and meaning of this international event. Print out stencils of the mascots and Olympic rings, and have the whole family create an Olympics pin board after they’ve coloured in these artworks. If you appreciate a little bit of originality, you can create an Olympic rings decoration with white paper plates that can be painted and stapled in order. You can then use a hole punch to draw a string through the first and last plates – which is ideal for hanging in the children’s bedrooms.

Park and Beach Fun

Take advantage of beautiful sunny days by taking a mid-morning trip to your local park or beach. Many of these places have nets set up which can inspire a fun came of volleyball or soccer. If you’re lucky enough to embrace the sunny sand, place a row of hula-hoops in a straight line after sinking them vertically into the sand and you have created a fantastic set of hurdles! Or, if you’re an avid bike riding family, the beautiful scenic routes are a perfect way to feel as though you’re competing for the gold in London!

Get involved in the Olympics spirit by recruiting the family and exploring some options, which will offer potential for fun, fitness and perfect weekend memories for the littlies. The Olympics are a great excuse to try new activities at various venues, which can provide ongoing motivation to keep you and your family moving during your daily lives.

Ana Bridgeston is a fitness freak who loves working out whenever she can. When she’s not pushing herself to the limit at the gym, she can be found reading blogs and articles on healthy living. Guest post brought to you by Fitness First

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Guest Post ~ Little Nest Creation

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 21:00:00 +0000

Big HELLO to all the Mad Mummas & Honey Bunches!

My name is Percy. I am a Mascot.

“Huh? A Mascot? For what?” I hear you ask …

Well, … Officially, I am a Mascot for Little Nest Creations – a little shop that hand makes or chooses bird and nature inspired designs, jewellery, gifts and more.

But UN-officially I am a symbol of Hope and Happiness.

“What does that mean?” … Geez – You do ask a lot questions …

Well, … back before my business owner was even a business owner, she was sick. Very sick. She had a serious uterine disease and needed to lie down and rest a lot. But her time in bed was very boring. There’s only so many ways to count the ceiling rafters or to watch and rewatch the lastest TV rerun episodes of The Hills. What to do? … One day her darling hubby brought home a little birdie statue (aka ME!!!) for her to look at. Her hubby told her that Birds are symbol of Love, Beauty, Peace and Hope – and that she should treat me very well and perhaps she could maybe just talk to me if she needed to let it all out. He placed me in a fabulous make shift hanging black wire cage (aka a dangling candle holder) and made me a little nest out of twine. I felt very pampered … And there I sat perched beside her bed making her smile some days … And other days just being there when medical things got tough … It seemed my business owner was happy with me there beside her …Then, one day … the doctor’s told her she was all better. Awesome! She was able to start living ‘normally’ again! Her job as a Senior Scientist in the State Government was waiting for her and she could return and continue her technical work in a field she’d trained so passionately in. Yay!

But then, gasp, my business owner was in a big car accident. She seriously injured her shoulder and clavical and her car was badly damaged too. Oh dear! At this point my business owner started to cry and cry through the night. It seemed she was losing all hope. She was feeling very sorry for herself and often said ‘Why me??’ (well, … she said it with maybe a bit more colourful language that just that … but you get the point).

It soon became apparent that she could not yet get back to work in her technical role. She’d be useless going on long, far away field trips, or carrying equipment or even working in the office on reports and project meetings – with an injured body she couldn’t do these things as well now … So sadly she had to take more time away from her work. A “mid career break” as they say.

The days seemed dull and gloomy and self-pity seemed imminent at this time … What to do? … What to do????

Then something inside of her told her to pick herself up. “You can do this!” she’d say to herself in the mornings as she got out of bed. Often she’d come over to see me and pretend to tickle my tummy and have a little chat about how wonderful the day was going to be! …

“Wonderful? But why?” I hear you asking another question ….You see my business owner had made a decision. Yeap! She decided that maybe all her suffering was for a reason. That really all she ever wanted was happiness in her life … and if the happiness wasn’t going to come to her, then she was going to go to the happiness … So, … she got herself together (a very hard thing to do when you are feeling as sorry for yourself as she was) and she made lemonade out of lemons … Not really, she made bird gifts out of her birdie interest. It all started very slowly in the beginning – more of a hobby she could do at home rather than an official home business. But bit by bit her little hobby started to turn into a home business and it has started growing and growing ever since. My lovely owner now makes, finds, chooses and sells all different types of bird jewellery, gifts, paper and designs to people all over Australia and beyond. My personal favourite are the unique little birdie rings, necklaces and bracelets – they are all just so pretty! We even have some cute kids and baby clothing and gifts that are both inspired by birds and nature – trees, butterflies, sparkles and of course, rainbows – these are perfect pretty gifts for all the sweet little chickadees and kiddlie-winks! They are all available now at a very affordable prices in Australia …

… And best of all, in April 2012, we got our Online Shop up and up and running through Facebook – and believe me it is not just a Shop where you can buy our cute stuff! No No No! – it’s also a fun-filled blog page that is full of bird inspired news and activities that are simply aimed at making you smile and feel happy. Ultimately we want our bird and nature inspired awesomeness to spread happiness around the globe … and as a result, this little hobby turned small business has gradually gained a fan base that has been growing and growing – it’s now well into the hundreds … Her happiness movement is alive and is the start of something wonderful hopefully! Hip Hip Hooray!

… And Me? What happened to little me? … Well, one day my business owner posted about me on the blog. Then she took me to a weekend market stall and people said hello and introduced themselves to me. Then I got a bit of a fan base. One day someone asked “What’s this cutie’s actual name?” … And so a competition was held to name me!! … The winning name was drawn out of hat of hundreds of entries … And to my pure delight, the name that won was “Percy!” … “Yippeee! I’m Percy!” I said. It was from that day on that my business owner let me be the business Mascot. As you will see from the photos on the blog, I take this job very, very, very seriously. I have a lot of people who make requests and I often like to post little activity updates and photographs of my nest to let everyone know what I’m up to … I even host different themed Market Nights on the blog – these are where I like to sell our showcase our latest products all reduced to really affordable prices. I also help to come up with fun games for our customers to play to win lots of mini birdilicious prize giveaways! It has been really exciting and I had lots and lots of happy times being the Mascot. I now truly think our little Facebook page is just so so so fabulous and a truly happy place to come! But don’t let me be the judge of that – we’d absolutely love for you come have a looksie for yourself. You can meet me, see all of our beautiful and cute bird and nature inspired pieces, AND join in all the fun of our competitions for FREE – Yay! If you do visit please tell us that you came through this blog and I’ll give you a special discount on any of the little bird pieces you’d like us to send out to you …. Holler!!!!! Time for a Big Big “Yar-hooo!!!! …”

… So come on! Come visit me soon at:

www.facebook.com/LittleNestCreations

Well, … that’s it. Thanks for reading this Guest Post … and thankYOU Kell for letting me come to your page for this month! Hopefully my Guest Post has given you an insight into who we are and how LITTLE NEST CREATIONS came to be! … But most of all hopefully it has helped you to be BIRD INSPIRED!!!! Little Nest Creations is all about being inspired and having hope. Hope is what started us up and Hope is what you can have throughout your life too. It is never too late to have HOPE!

Time to sign off …

… My name is Percy and I am not just a business Mascot. I’m a symbol of Hope, Love and Peace.

Take care and kind regards Everyone – Tweetie Tweet! x

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While I was Away!

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 02:19:00 +0000

As you all know I have been overseas for the past couple of weeks.

During this time a few things have been going on at and for Mad Mummas Sweet Randoms blog.

I have had a few fantastic ladies share their experiences with you readers by guest posting here and I cannot describe how grateful I am to them. Just to recap and give another shout out in case you missed them here they are.

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The lovely Lisa from Mummy’s Undeserved Blessings with her post Not So Stereotypical…….

Lisa is a mum to three beautiful girls, under four years old. She blogs about her struggles and successes as a mum, her passion for cooking and whatever else is on her mind.

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The hilariously honest Leigh from Six By The Sea with her post Welcome to the’hood’.

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.

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The very informative Chrissie from Me and My Munchkin with her post The Top 10 Tips for Surviving Co-Parenting.

Chrissie is a stay at home single mum to a toddler, with a total handbag addiction. Her blog shares the ups and downs of doing the parenting thing alone.

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I also won 2 awards while I was away!! YAY ME.

I received the Versatile Blogger award from One Too Many and my second Liebster Award from Cassie at The Flying Drunken Monkey.

I will have posts dedicated to these coming soon.

Winners for giveaways will be announced shortly as well!! Thank you to everyone who entered.

Appreciation goes to everyone mentioned above and all the lovely readers who share and read my blog regularly.

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GUEST POST – Not So Stereotypical……

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 21:00:00 +0000

A big thank you to Lisa for her guest post today.

What do you immediately think of when you hear “Minister’sWife?” If you are like me, you might think of the overly social women whose house is always perfect and whose children are always well behaved, or the dowdy and dull little mouse who locks her kids away from those “other”children.

When I started writing my blog, Mummy’s Undeserved Blessings I wanted to create a blog where I could show other mums that even the perceived“perfect mummy”, the minister’s wife, didn’t always have it all together. A place where my honesty would allow others to feel they too could be honest about their struggles.

Most people who meet me for the first time are actually quite surprised to find out that I am a minister’s wife. I guess I don’t come across as either of the two stereotypes. I openly admit I am not perfect and my kids are far from perfect.

Some days, I would love to be the stereotype of the perfect mum with the perfect house. In reality I am the mum whose house is cluttered with toys and has crumbs on the bench. I am the mum who yells at her kids, then regrets it. I am the mum who (mildly) injures her child’s shoulder by yanking them when they were walking too slow (Yep- that happened!). I am the mum who spends too much time on the Internet and not enough time playing with her kids.

I think it is so important to be real with people. Too often we compare ourselves, or our skills as a mother to other people based on what we perceive them to be like. If I was to portray myself as the perfect mother with the perfect house, then I could never really be able to relate to others who might be struggling with self doubt or feelings of failure.

As mums our role is to love our kids and do the best WE can, too often we are trying to copy someone else and be the mother we THINK they are.

I think it is important to admit where you are failing (or feel you are failing) to others. It has a twofold effect as firstly it shows them that you are real, and secondly it allows them to admit where they are struggling to you without fear of judgement.

It is important to me to help other mums realise that it is ok to make mistakes. I remember times when I had been honest about how I was feeling towards my kids and the response was silence (I may have imagined some crickets). Instead of feeling heard and told it was normal, I mind-read the silence as judgement and thought “Maybe no-one else feels that way? I must be a bad mother”.

All it takes is for one person to say “I know how that feels”or even “that must be really hard” and immediately the weight is lifted and honesty can flow.

So I started Mummy’s Undeserved Blessings to show who I am,an imperfect mother learning how to best love and appreciate her children. They are blessings that I did nothing to deserve but that I want to do everything I can to appreciate. If I fail a little (or a lot) along the way, that’s OK I am still learning.

Lisa and her gorgeous family!

Author Bio: Lisa is a mum to three beautiful girls, under four years old. She blogs about her struggles and successes as a mum, her passion for cooking and whatever else is on her mind.

You can find Lisa at her blog Mummy’s Undeserved Blessings sharing her wisdom and knowledge and also on her facebook page.

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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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GUEST POST – The Top 10 Tips for Surviving Co-Parenting

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:00:00 +0000

A big thank you to Chrissie for her guest post today!!

The Top 10 Tips for Surviving Co-Parenting

Image source: http://counselingatheritage.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/tips-for-succesful-co-parenting/

Co-parenting is a tough gig these days. Some days just getting along with your ex-partner can be just too hard, let alone effectively raising children together. Believe me, I know the feeling! I have put together 10 simple ways to make it just that little bit easier to co-parent with your ex, and some of these ideas could even be put into practice with your hubby if you feel you just aren’t on the same page when it comes to parenting.

1. Have a communication book. We have an exercise book that goes back and forth between the 2 houses. Any information such as illness, medication, recent sleep issues or even just new routines get written in this book, so that the other parent is aware of what is going on. It is really important to fill it out each time.

2. If you find that you can’t have a conversation without arguing, try a different form of communication. Unless it is an emergency, my ex and I communicate through email. This means that there is no expectation that you are to respond immediately.

3. Do not keep each other as friends on Facebook, or any other social media. My ex wanted to continue to stay Facebook friends, but I found that my privacy was being invaded, things I was doing were being used against me, and it created a lot of problems.

4. Create a handbook specifically for your child, if you find the other parent isn’t sure what to do. I saved myself many middle of the night phone calls by creating a simple document telling my ex what to do if Munchkin was teething, if he woke through night, when his asthma is playing up, everything that could happen when Master A was in his care, there was a simple solution that I have tried and know works. I now don’t get any phone calls!

5. Have rules set in place for when either of you start a new relationship. Go with what you are comfortable with. I like my son to have 1 of the 3 days he is with his dad each fortnight to be spent only with his dad, not his girlfriend and her child. You may have a preference as to when your children are introduced to a new partner. Make the rules clear, and abide by them yourself. Don’t have 1 set of rules for your ex, and 1 for yourself.

6. If possible, choose a public place to do swap over time. This means you are more likely to get it done cleanly, and without an argument. If this isn’t possible, do swap overs at the front door. Don’t go into his house, and don’t invite him into yours. This means you are able to fight, and I found it invited my ex to ask too many personal questions about my life.

7. If you get along with your ex, try to arrange a day, perhaps once a month, for them to come out for a play date at the park, or for lunch. Show your children that their parents can still get along, and are still friends. Remember that you are role models to your children.

8. Discuss any concerns you have right away. But be fair. Don’t accuse and don’t use the children as weapons.

9. Keep the adult conversation to the adults. Don’t put down the other parent, or vent in front of the children. Don’t bring them into the situation by telling them to tell Daddy to “make sure he pays the child support this week”. Don’t make your children choose between you and the other parent. They love you both equally, and this is just something you need to accept (and yes I know how hard that is.)

10. If all else fails, and you still aren’t getting along, contact Child Support, and they can provide you with a provider for mediation (or Family Dispute Resolution). They can help you talk with your ex, and try to come to a workable agreement for the both of you. They can also help to create a parenting plan, should you want one (which I strongly recommend).

Above everything I have written here, remember that when it comes to your children, it is not about the parent’s rights to have the child, it is about the child’s rights to have access to both parents, as long as it is in the best interests of the child. Good luck with your journey.

Author Bio – Chrissie is a stay at home single mum to a toddler, with a total handbag addiction. Her blog Me and My Munchkin shares the ups and downs of doing the parenting thing alone.

Make sure you follow her facebook page too – Find it here!

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Guest Post – Action Aid

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:00:00 +0000

DISCLAIMER: There are many views on this topic and the opinions in this post reflect the authors belief. I encourage civil comments but no personal attacks against one another.

The West African food crisis is getting worse – you can help stop this being a famine.

For those who have been following the news closely, you’ll know that far from being over, the West African food crisis is getting worse by the day, and is quickly on the way to becoming a full-blown humanitarian disaster.

Background to the crisis

In the Sahel region of West Africa, over 18 million people are currently facing a lack of food and water. More than a million children are at risk of serious malnutrition. The last major crisis in this area was only two years ago, so the countries and their inhabitants are still very vulnerable. The situation has been made worse by an influx of migrant workers, and by recent conflicts which forced tens of thousands of refugees from Mali into one of the most affected areas of the region. The next harvest will not come until October, so many communities face a long struggle to survive.

The flow-on effects of the crisis

Of course, the crisis doesn’t just end at a lack of food. Flow on effects from such extreme food shortages often continue for years and decades after the initial crisis has somewhat passed. The country’s economy as a whole suffers, and things like education falls out of focus, especially for women and girls. Children who are exposed to malnutrition and food shortages when young often suffer developmental deficiencies caused by a lack of nutrients during their crucial early developmental stages. Malnourished mothers also can’t give their nursing babies any of the nutrients they need through breast milk. Malnourished children often grow up to experience learning difficulties due to stunted brain development, which adds to an already tragic situation of young women and girls often not receiving the education and schooling they need to help sustain themselves and obtain good jobs later in life.

How organisations are providing help in the region

Agencies on the ground are taking multiple approaches to try to avert catastrophe. On the front line, Medicins sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) are providing emergency care to those affected by malnutrition and disease, while charities like ActionAid focus on addressing the root causes of famine by supporting sustainable farming, so that the kind of crisis we are seeing now might be avoided in the future.

Ways to assist the humanitarian effort

In a time like this it’s natural to wonder what we can do to help. We’ve talked about some of the ways that charitable agencies are supporting the people of West Africa. A tax deductible donation to any of the numerous organisations working in the region can go a long way, and is tax deductible. You can look at the websites for each organisation, or a site such as GiveWell, to learn more about how your donation will be used.

The situation in West Africa as it stands is deeply worrying. It makes us question what can be done right now, and what can be done to prevent such a crisis from happening again, There is hope, though, that emergency relief and long term changes to food systems will help alleviate some of the danger that the people of the region face.

Author bio: Jane Meldon is a freelance writer who makes a regular tax deductible donation to charities who are helping to stop the effects of the food crisis in Africa from getting out of control.

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