March Roundup and Linky

We have some really talented writers and March once again has some great posts from South African mom bloggers.

Parenting

Miss Cass Lee has some valuable Advice for New Moms.

Fazila also has an empowering post about her experiences The first four weeks post birth.

Chevonne has a Dear Mainstream Teacher about when a special needs child moves from a school designed to accomodate all his needs to a mainstream school.

Most importantly, DO NOT LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS for my child. He is very capable. DO NOT see his hearing impairment and sensory processing challenges as a limitation on his ability. See it as an opportunity to embrace difference, an opportunity to learn something new, an opportunity to develop a diversely different approach to educating a child, an approach, that in the end, will benefit the other 29 peers in his class.

Dearest mainstream teacher, welcome to OUR team! Together we learn, together we grow.

I loved Christine’s Fearlessness vs Timidity about her two boy’s personalities. I liked the way she sees the strengths in both character traits as well as acknowledging her own take on it.

A thoughtful post on Living Milestone to Milestone from Nicky.

So my question is who was the crazy person who decided to put pregnancy, birth and being a mother to a new born on that shiny pedestal to completely blindside the normal people out there?

A practical post from Laura on how Going from 3 to 4 was easier than from 1 to 2.

People always, always ask us how we cope. The answer really is simply because we have to but also because I think we all learn ways of coping, we learn how to manage our chaos, we develop coping strategies, even in our disorganisation we are organised.

You’ll have to read the rest of her post for the advice!

Laura also has her own take on Why The Mommy Wars Will Never End.

Criticism is a part of life, when done constructively the lessons can be learnt but done destructively and the message is often lost.Disagreeing is also a part of life but done in a negative judgmental way it feels a lot like judgement of the worst kind!

Mommy wars are never going to end because moms don’t want them to end!

A touching post by Sula on her son leaving: My Son Heath, Travelling Light to a New Destination. She has an inspiring extract On Freedom by Kahlil Gibran.

And if it is a fear you would dispel, the seat of that fear is in your heart and not in the hand of the feared.

Melinda writes A Lesson in Life – a hectic day where she lost it.

“I’m sorry Emma.”

“For what?”

“For shouting like that. It’s not an excuse but I’m tired and I don’t feel great. But it’s still not okay that I lost my temper.”

“It’s ok mommy. I always love you. No matter what. Wanna watch ‘Paw Patrol’ with me?”

In an instant I learnt about forgiveness, unconditional love and the power of saying sorry.

Leigh writes I thought I got away with it – she thought she would make it as a single mom with out the husband around. Unfortunately she landed up in hospital with a sick kid.

The funny thing about life and parenthood and all the stuff you learn along the way is that we should know very well by now that we have no control over any of it. We love to feel like we do, that we have all out little duck in a row, that we are invincible. We love to ignore the warning signs and believe the best. Sometimes this comes to back to bite is the ass, because when we finally come off the pedestal, when we finally get bucked off the high horse of a perfect life, we have to face the mess. And it not fun. I didn’t get away with it after all.

Laura writes about her evolving relationship with her son and how much more rewarding the connection is now that he is older in You will always be the one they look for in a crowd.

Of course we miss the physical closeness of hugs and cuddles but let me tell you something – the moment your child seeks out your eyes and finds them – it is a moment that is as powerful as any hug. It is my child being confident enough to be on his own, to compete, to achieve, to be a part of something separate to me but still needing to know I am there.

Humour

I loved Belinda’s guest post on Will Black: Not a Gina Ford Baby. She went through Gina’s ridiculous schedule together with the realities of life.

Here’s one more fun fact: Gina Ford has no kids! In other words, she has no personal experience of how unpredictable these little humans can be. That makes me feel a lot better. And the fact that, despite his mother’s failure to adhere to a strict schedule, Will thankfully has no visible scars of being a non-Gina baby. In fact, miraculously, he seems to be a “Contented Little Baby” all on his own.

Cindy’s take on What is “Me Time” Anyway had me laughing.

I loved Eleanor’s How Two Broke Girl Quotes Relate to Me.

You need to stop freaking out because you’re not where you thought you would be, in life or in our business. It’s real life, lower your expectations. (Max to Caroline)

– I’m learning to accept things, that picture I had before I was a mom, all of it has changed and you know what? It’s okay

Leigh writes 50 Things that are impossible to do with two toddlers in the house. Very funny.

Have a good laugh at Natalie’s tale of how she had to survive without pants after her kid vomited on her in Flying With Kids: Who Needs Pants Anyway?

Inspiration

Chevonne writes Listen to the Whispers about how a young man’s fight out of poverty has her inspired.

The few minutes I spent with him has given me such hope for the future, yes, there are still people, who, no matter how bad their situation, have the strength and insight to reflect on life as it is and KNOW that POVERTY and immense HARDSHIP is no excuse for not LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE EVEN IN YOUR WEAKEST MOMENTS! We all have dreams, we all have potential – and often, falling through the cracks, are people like my new friend!

Lyndsay writes Live to Fight Another Day, a touching post about her journey since becoming a mother.

Now today, ten years later, I wish I could tell me then that things would be ok. I look back and shake my head at some of the terrible decisions I made. I want to weep for the way I allowed so many people to treat me. I was too generous with my time, kinder emotions and sadly often my body as well. I have spent the better part of almost thirty years chasing the need to feel loved and accepted. The honest truth is; I am exhausted. As I approach my thirtieth birthday, it is not with a sense of trepidation but rather a feeling of determination to for the first time claim my place in the world.

Load Shedding

Tips from Cindy: Surviving Load Shedding with a Smile on Your Face. I also did a post on some resources for kids on energy management – load shedding lights and books.

Politics

Sharon has done a very thought provoking post – Dumb Things People Say About Adoption – where she got her kids to stand holding certain messages that have been spoken about them. Prejudice is alive and well, but the best part is that Sharon answers them very firmly and honestly.

Blogging

Maz writes Why I do Not Give Parenting Advice

I truly believe that every single child is different and unique. I am not qualified to provide you with expert parenting advice, however – I do love sharing my stories, experiences and giving my personal (non-professional) opinion.

Sharon has some tips for bloggers in A blog post about… well… blogging & a whole lot of my opinions… Click over to read more. I think one thing she said which a lot of people agree with, is don’t allow your blog to be overtaken by adverts. People will lose interest.

Cindy writes in a similar vein, but with a lot of humour in Throwing Away the Handbook. I struggled to choose just any one part – you’ll have to click over and read.

Please link up your favourite posts for the past month and comment on at least 3 other entries, thanks!

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