I consider myself quite lucky with names – we managed with great ease to find the names of our first two children, but now with number three on the way I have absolutely no idea what we’re going to call them.

It doesn’t help that my husband refuses to engage in the name game, he just doesn’t seem to like talking about it. This is something I have a problem comprehending. Surely this is one of the most fun things in the world to do? Well apparently not, because he hates it. I’m under strict instructions not to mention names until we find out the sex of the baby. That’s 10 weeks away for goodness sake, what am I going to do until then?

Well my friends, I’m going to ground. In those 10 weeks I shall ruminate, cogitate and secretly deliberate all the names I possibly can with anyone (and I mean anyone) who will listen. Then, 2 minutes after leaving the scan room, I will present my dearly beloved with a list of suitable and carefully selected names.

The only flaw in this seemingly flawless plan is that he probably won’t like anything on the list.

For a boy, he wants something like Jack (good, solid, butch) that is less popular and for a girl he wants something that isn’t odd. This may not sound like much on the criteria front but if you’re very conservative with a deeply hidden quirky side like my husband, then most names are either too weird or too dull. This basically rules out all names.

So should I simply put my foot down and demand compliance or just trust that in good time the right name will come? Obviously neither, I’ll persist in trying to slip in the odd cheeky suggestion and just hope he doesn’t notice. Whoever said that good communication is the key to a successful marriage was wrong, sneaky trickery wins hands down every time.

Topic: Mother M, Parenting | |  Print This Post |

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I was heart broken to see Mathilde’s reaction to the wasp which stung her on her foot.  A rude interruption of pain whilst quietly looking at a book. Luckily, I have a strange element of calm when something like this happens and after settling and comforting her, I waited to see if we were going to find out if our beloved daughter was allergic to bee or wasp stings – luckily for us she isn’t! A dose of Piriton and the promise of a treat soon had her up and about again. She still remembers her “waps” sting 3 years later!

The time is upon us again when the summer days bring food and drink outside which attracts the inevitable wasp invasion. Here are 5 ways to deal with a sting.

1- Keep calm. Bee and wasp stings are painful but are rarely harmful. It’s quite a shock for both the child and the parent, but it’s good to remain calm so as not to frighten the poor little mite any further. Whilst I do not advocate animal cruelty, the wasp should get what it deserves for harming your little angel and a swift swat and splat should reassure your little one that the “naughty wasp” will not be back!

2- Hold it high. Raise the affected part of the body high and, if you can, apply an icepack to reduce swelling. Seek medical advice if the symptoms persist and immediate attention if your child shows signs of breathing difficulties.

3- Find the sting. A bee will leave it’s sting behind and then then fly off to die for it’s sins. Scrape the sting off sideways with your nail. Don’t use tweezers as there is the chance you will inject more of the poison into the wound and therefore cause more pain – your little one wont appreciate this.

4- Be Aware. The summer eating activities attract wasps – lollies and ice cream and your beer at the local pub garden table will all smell delicious to the annoying fellows. Wear shoes out doors. A tube of antisan or something similar for when you are about and about wouldn’t go amiss.

5- Take emergancy action – a sting to the throat or mouth- even for a child that is not allergic, can sometimes cause swelling and block the airways. Give your child an ice cube to suck or some very cold water. Any signs of swelling or breathing difficulties should action a 999 call.

Topic: Parenting | |  Print This Post | Add comment

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If any of you out there have the responsibility of cooking for a toddler on a daily basis you might find my posts of interest. You may also find yourself somewhat demented by domesticity but that’s probably another issue.

I personally enjoy cooking and I certainly like eating good food but having to cook everyday can be incredibly tiresome, especially when it’s for a discerning two year old who has no qualms about feeding his dinner to the cat if it’s not to his liking. The recipes I am going to pass on are not necessarily my own but ones I have come across in various cookbooks which have proven to be popular with adults and children alike. I’m not really keen on preparing two separate meals however coming up with a dish that everyone wants to eat presents challenges. My aim is therefore to pass on some recipe ideas which I have found to be quick and easy to prepare and which can be enjoyed by toddlers and their parents.

Pasta with Kale and Mascarpone

This is a really simple and tasty Jamie Oliver recipe which I modified slightly by substituting spinach with kale (as it’s in season and I have so much of it I don’t know what to do) and double cream with half fat crème fraiche (my concession to adult waistlines and cholesterol, after all there is already mascarpone in it which isn’t exactly low fat). The trick is to chop the kale really finely so that it’s evenly dispersed throughout; if my son sees large lumps of green on his plate he either eats around them or leaves the table.

Serves Two+1

Ingredients:

Pasta (1/2 pound)
Butter (2 teaspoons)
Olive oil
Garlic (2 cloves)
Kale (2 fistfuls)
Crème Fraiche (a good dollop)
Mascarpone (same as above)
Parmesan (to taste)
Salt and Pepper

Method:

Bring a pan of salted water to the boil, add the pasta and cook according to packet instructions.
Melt some butter and a little oil in a saucepan and gently sautee some thinly sliced garlic.
When it’s soft add the kale and wilt over a low heat with some seasoning.
Once the kale is nice and soft add a good dollop of crème fraiche and mascarpone.
When the pasta is cooked, drain but leave a little of the cooking water in it before adding the kale mix.
Let this simmer for a few minutes then serve with a sprinkling of parmesan.

Topic: Juli's Kitchen | |  Print This Post | Add comment

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