Silent Sunday - Mummy can I take him home?

Bag Lady

Let me start by saying I LOVE going on holiday.  I mean who doesn’t.  To get away from everyday life and escape to a destination that’s warm (I don’t do cold!), where you can chill out, you’re not on a schedule, don’t have to cook & can switch off all electronic gadgets.  Holidays allow you to forget the mundane stresses like ‘whoops we need to get more nappies, milk or loo roll’.

However the biggest thing I dislike, actually I’d go as far as say HATE about holidays is the PACKING.  It was hard enough when I just had to worry about myself.  

Decisions about day wear, evening wear, beach wear; co-ordinating footwear, flip flops, high heels, low heels, wedges, trainers (in case I decided to use the gym- yeah right!);
co-ordinating handbags, clutch bag, beach bag, tote bag, all took a good few weeks to plan, purchase & pack.  I haven’t even mentioned the jewellery, underwear & toiletries!

So imagine my utter disgust when I had to not only pack my stuff but also that of my Childs!  I thought my list was long (yes I’m a list maker) until I wrote down all the things my beloved child would require.  This small thing needed a huge suitcase & more!  As time went on I got better at it, stressed a lot less & soon it became second nature.

This all changed very recently.  The arrival of baby number two has thrown a spanner in the works.  Baby Suri has me in a flap that should only be reserved for first time parents.  She has me, the nanny & Mr P running around like idiots trying to remember all the things we may need (you really do forget).

At one time forgetting to pack a pair of favourite sunglasses would have once constituted a full on crisis.  Now I’m more worried about whether I have baby’s formula (Hipp Organic), baby rice or favourite blanki.  Whilst I know most things can be purchased there are something’s that just won’t do!

Our trip to Miami is nearly upon us, the girls are all packed & ready.  Mr P has given up ½ his suitcase for nappies (Nature Babycare) & other baby related stuff (despite the fact that we all have 1 suitcase each!).

My packing has taken a back seat, I doubt I have co-ordinating anything; I definitely don’t have lots of high heels or handbags.  I’ve instead opted for a pair of gorgeous but sensible black flat Gucci sandals & will be taking my beautiful silver leather Shivali baby bag to hold all child related essentials. 

I am not being a martyr. It’s just that I’d rather be the one going shopping for forgotten items!  After all I’m not about to grow taller or change shoe size.  Just don’t tell Mr P because as far as he’s concerned I really did forget to pack my evening clutch bag & heels!

Finally all I have to say is that worse than the packing is the UNPACKING when you get back! That really is a bubble buster!

Silent Sunday - Waiting for Gorge Clooney

Silent Sunday Baby Bliss...

OVER PROTECTIVE MANIAC........

As parents we are programmed to want to protect our little ones.  Mummies in particular seem to have a strong ‘intuitive’ connection with their Children (we did do all the hard work after all)!

However I have a confession to make I’m a born worrier and whilst, with age I’ve learnt to handle this better I must admit when it comes to my family I still worry...A LOT.

I think this comes with having a 3year old that due to glue ear was ill at any given moment.  She was on more antibiotics that first year than I care to remember.  3 ear operations later (under general anaesthetic) the glue ear has still not been resolved.  According to the consultant ‘she keeps popping the grommets out like smarties’.

Those first 2 years it felt like I was on constant worry mode!  Mr P seemed to worry less and be much more matter of fact and logical about these things.  Whereas I’d worry about her getting ill, I’d worry when she was ill, and I’d worry about how many drugs we were giving her.  My worry was coupled with dread, anxiety and guilt.

It was at that point that I started to look at alternative treatments and home remedies, I mean after all what harm could it do? I was sick of giving her drugs that didn’t seem to work for more than 1-2 weeks. 

So that was when the germ warfare tactics began;

COUGHS & COLDS:

• Steam baths (not environmentally friendly I know)
• Olbas Oil placed in bowl of hot water
• Manuka honey, lemon, ginger and turmeric powder
• Vicks vapour rub on the soles of her feet (don’t laugh a pro-drugs pharmacist friend told me about this one & if it’s good enough for her kids its good enough for mine!)
• Jack LaLanne Juicer is back out.  Apple, Lemon, Ginger and Grape for the ultimate vit c boost

 MUCOUS CLEARING TACTICS:

• Switched 3yo from cow’s milk to goats milk
• Saffron infused into the milk (another tip from a friend which I figured couldn’t hurt)
• Cranial Osteopath appointments, don’t ask me how it works but it’s supposed to help drain the mucous, keep fluid moving and prevent infections.  Sold to one paranoid mummy!
• At home cranial massage techniques 2-3 times a week (this is Mr Ps job which is done with much raising of eyebrows!)

 BUILDING STRONGER IMMUNE SYSTEM:

• Homeopathic remedies (I know not everyone’s thing but trust me they seem to have worked for us) call me a fan.
• Vitamin sweets with omega oil (they stink but she loves them).
• Dr Udo’s infant powder blend easy to use good bacteria specifically designed for 0-5 year olds.

 More recently the stress of Swine flu & other horrible winter viruses have had me keeping Shivali off pre-school (after all there is plenty of time for her to become a genius).  Not only did I not want her getting it but I definitely did not want it anywhere near my newborn!

So, this winter we’ve kept both girls away from all germ infected friends and family.  Washed hands after being out, bought enough stock of antibacterial gel to last a lifetime and Dettol wiped toys once a week.

 So far this way of thinking has resulted in a healthier winter.  Shivali has had 1 bad throat infection (antibiotics had to be given) and a viral thing which passed within 3 days.  The rest of us touch wood have been pretty healthy.  My germ warfare list is long but if it keeps my family safe and germ free I’m all for it. 

So please don’t be offended if I ask you the state of your health before inviting you around, it really is not personal it’s just that I’m an over protective, paranoid wreck.  There I’ve said it.

Call me crazy but at this point I’m hoping more of you come forward to tell me that you too are paranoid parents.  If I’m on my own, then so be it as long as the kids are healthy I don’t really mind being the odd one out!

Newbi Blogger - Cybermummy 2011 Meet & Greet

Carly I think this is a fab idea. As a newbi to the world of blogging (posted my first blog yesterday) I’m finding it all very daunting.  So after a lovely conversation with Sian I put my name down for Cybermummy 2011.

I’m really looking forward to meeting my heros of the blog world and hope I don’t stick out like a sore thumb as a wannabe. 

I’d love to get to know as many of you as possible and I can’t wait to learn about the world of blogging from you all.  I’m going to attempt to post this and link it (I hope it works as I really don’t know what I’m doing but going to give it a go!)

NAME: Chetna Patel (my friends call me Chet)

BLOG: Mamami by Chet

TWITTER ID: @mamamibychet

HEIGHT: 5ft 2 ½ (the ½ does make a difference)

HAIR: Long & Black (at the moment)

EYES: Dark Brown

LIKES: Chocolate, Wine, Champagne, Cakes, Cheese, Cooking, Dance Music, Reading, Going on sunny holidays, Miller Harris perfume

LOVES: Family especially Mr P and my 2 princesses, My friends, Shoes, Handbags

DISLIKES: Mean & snobby people, mummy cliques, Liver, Beer & bad manners

This is me on a good day, I warn you now I've had another baby since then so hair may be pulled back and I may have bags under my eyes!

New Year New YLGs.......

Every year I make resolutions like a million other people, sometimes they last as long as one whole month. 

In a conversation with one of my girlfriends early last year she told me how her and her hubby tackled it.  I loved the idea so much that Mr P and I are scrapped the whole ‘let’s make promises we’re not going to keep’ crap in favour of YLGs (Year Long Goals).  I know it sounds dull and not that inspiring (if you have a better ‘snazzier’ title then let me know) but it worked for us so do bear with me.

YLGs meant that we have 12 months to achieve them and didn’t get bored or forget about them after the first 2 weeks.  It also didn’t have the words ‘diet’ or ‘no booze’ involved like most resolutions. 

So how does it work, well first of all Mr P and I go out on a date night have a glass (or two) of bubbly and discuss what we’d like from the year to come.  For me this bit in itself is really enjoyable.  Mr P and I like most of our friends have been married forever, with the arrival of kids, work pressure, family & friends, we never find time to talk, let alone talk about our dreams & ambitions.  YLGs allowed us both to indulge ourselves and spend an evening talking about just that.  Just one little tip don’t get too pissed and make promises you aren’t going to keep!

Prior to date night we will individually scribble (or if you are a ‘Monica’ like me type up) our goals for the year.  We usually split them into relationship, personal, family and work.

On date night we will show each other what we have scribbled and come to an agreement as to what we would like 2011 to look like. 

Over the course of the year we then use this as a check list to see whether we are doing what we said we’d do and prompt us to get our asses in gear and achieve our goals.

I don’t want to bore you with my entire list but here are some of the things I plan to take to date night for 2011

RELATIONSHIP

1. Bi-monthly date nights
2. No phones (texting, tweeting, calling) after 8pm
3. 1 x Weekend away without the kids
4. Book at least 2 x concerts and theatre shows
5. Go to 2 x fancy restaurants

 FAMILY

1. 2 x Family holidays
2. Settle Shivali into school (Sept 11)
3. Take Shivali to at least 1 theatre show
4. Try to have family evening meals together
5. Organise music and play groups for Suri 

PERSONAL

1. Book personal stylist & shopper and get rid of ‘old’ crappy clothes
2. Get healthy and fit and loose 14lbs
3. Use the treadmill and Xtrainer more
4. Brand spanking new hair cut
5. Read more inspirational books
6. Try not to Panic and feel overwhelmed and don’t feel guilty about spending time with the baby (they grow up fast!).

WORK

1.       Stay focused and devote more time to the business

2.       Sell more bags

3.       Enlist 1 – 2 boutiques

4.       Aim for 2 new on-line stockists

I know what you’re thinking that’s way too much stuff but over the course of 12 months it’s not. 

The YLGs get Mr P and I to focus our energy and play hard as well as work hard.  We’ve found that time really does fly (more so with kids!) and in this flurry of busy-ness It’s so easy to forget the simple things in life.  Our YLGs prompt us to make time for the things that matter to us.  Life can sometimes be hard work, having a list of fun goals helps make it that bit more interesting.

YLG is not going to be everybodies cup of tea but I love it.  It really makes me feel excited about the year ahead and all that is awaiting.