Toilet Training Twins – Mother of all Messes
That got your attention, didn’t it? When other mums think about my life with twins and say to me, “I can’t imagine it…”, I say, you can, just close your eyes and imagine. You have toilet trained one toddler - caught wees and rushed little bot bots to the loo with the speed of a mother possessed. Read full article
Ode to Sleep Deprived Parents - Carmina Burana Music - Brilliant!
This will make you grin widely - fabulous new lyrics set to the opening chorus music of Carmina Burana and sung by the full Sydney Symphony choir - "O You terror! Get Down From there ...Mum is Getting Cranky .." and so on. For parents of toddlers who just need someone to listen! Read full article
Do Your Children Play on Smartphones in Restaurants?
Late last year, I was sitting in a pizzeria in Balmain having dinner with my then 14-year-old. The restaurant was full with most of the tables taken up with families, not a great surprise on an early Saturday night. However, as I looked around the room, I noticed a pretty astounding thing. Apart from our table, every single child in the restaurant – and I mean every single child – was playing on some smartphone, tablet or games device. And these were children of all ages, from kids in prams and high chairs to older teenagers. Read full article
Don't Put Your Old Television in Your Child's Room
Research results were released this week from the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health indicating that between about 20% and 30% of five year olds in Australia have a television in their bedroom. I was surprised. Although the study was focused on obesity in younger children, it is the figure about televisions in bedrooms that really amazes me...If you were considering putting your old television in your child’s room, here are my 8 reasons for why you should instead donate it to charity: Read full article
Three Young Children Have Thrown Me Off 'Balance'
Balance sh-malance... I thought I had balance. For a moment. I thought it was for keeps. But I only have until Kindy Boy turns five in a few weeks. Then the 3.30pm Wednesday swimming lesson changes and he moves up to another group called Turtles or Dolphins or Lobsters or something and then this time slot for him fails to exist. Upon realising this, my brain went into melt down. Read full article
Beauty Pageant Mom Gives Daughter " Pageant Crack "
![<a href="/blogs/yvettevignando/2012/02/09/beauty-pageant-mom-gives-daughter-pageant-crack">Beauty Pageant Mom Gives Daughter " Pageant Crack "</a>](http://happychild.com.au/sites/default/files/imagecache/teaser_tall/images/pageant crack.png "<a href=\"/blogs/yvettevignando/2012/02/09/beauty-pageant-mom-gives-daughter-pageant-crack\">Beauty Pageant Mom Gives Daughter " Pageant Crack "</a>")
You might think the outrage about the Toddlers and Tiaras - type shows has been done to death - but here's something else to think about. A U.S. mother says she gives her young daughter a boost of what's apparently known as ' pageant crack ' to give her the energy needed for the long days of beauty pageants - her daughter says the mixture makes her "hyper". I said the word "concerning" about a million times in this clip - but I really am concerned. Read full article
A Baby Bird Leaves the Nest ... I mean, Couch
Will was lovingly placed on the couch by his Aunty last week. While all five of our backs were turned for a split second, Will decided to try his hand at some ‘couch diving’; enter horrible crunching noise and blood-curdling scream ... Read full article
Who's Your Favourite Parent? Must Watch for Laughs
The funniest video I've seen recently and too cute - a father asks his toddler daughter who her favourite parent is - so funny. Read full article
Moving with Children - a Child's Squeaky Voice Reaction
The high-pitched, talking started a few months ago. Our three-year-old, who is known for her husky tones, began communicating in a squeaky voice. Aside from being incredibly annoying, it was also a little strange. We just put it down to her being three ... And then it dawned on me ... Read full article
Young Children Lying - Doesn't Bother Me Much
There has been a great deal of fibbing going on in our house recently. Telling of porky pies. Pulling the wool. Stretching the story to fit the circumstance. Blatant bald-faced untruths. Many parents I know find the discovery of their children lying to get out of being blamed for something, or manipulating a game to enhance their chances of winning (also known as cheating) quite disturbing. They are often unimpressed, to say the least. I have a friend who is a school teacher and she readily admits that any kind of lying and cheating is a real bug-bear of hers ... But (to tell you the truth), I’m not particularly bothered by it ... Read full article
