10 Tedious Things About ParentingRead More We love our children, but being a parent is annoying sometimes—especially when we’ve only slept for three hours. Post author By The Mum Club Post date 16 July 2024 No Comments on 10 Tedious Things About Parenting 10 Tedious Things About Parenting We love our children, but being a parent is annoying sometimes—especially when we’ve only slept for three hours. The Cleaning is Relentless (and gets you nowhere) From scrubbing hard cereal because someone forgot to wipe it (no names). To sterilising bottles for the 367th time. Our standards are lowered, and the house is now spotless for only 4.5 seconds after the cleaner has been. *Or when our MIL comes around. They Don’t Like Bluey as Much as We Do Screentime can be essential for getting sh*t done. But there comes a point when children realise they can choose. And then it’s ‘See ya Ben & Holly!’ and ‘Hello bizarre brain-mushing ASMR videos’… and the grating sound of Blippee. They’ll Be Sick in the Night and Fine in the Morning If you’re not awake trying to calm or Calpol them, then you’re in a state of insomnia, worrying that they’re dying in their room. Cue morning. You rush in, and yep, they’re completely fine. If anything, they’ve got more energy than ever. We’re grateful and everything. But. What. The. Actual. The Playground is Only Fun for Five Minutes Hanging around swings was way more fun when we were 15, and vodka was involved. At least for a few more years (or months – gulp!), they’ll believe us that it’s closed. Being Awake in the Middle of the Night Is a Thing We thought we’d be good at being up all night with all the practice we had. However, it appears feeding or dealing with a tiny crying human can feel pretty tedious. Especially with a very snorey co-parent next to you. You Need to Watch Them If they’re not at the stage of asking you to watch them (which is SO fun btw). Then, you have to make sure you keep an eye on them at all times. And when you don’t, they’ll either injure themselves or cause more mess than you can actually physically imagine. You Make All the Meals – That No One Eats! You slave for hours making a homemade fish pie that they throw on the floor, only to end up feeding them a banana, a yoghurt or a bit of toast. Crouching Next to Them Waiting for a Poo Ahh, toilet training. Aka: You and a cold bathroom floor, waiting for the plop. You Now Have SO Many Appointments From the person who hasn’t managed to book a dental or eye appointment in 8 years. You’re now in charge of scheduling and booking 37 appointments a year. And don’t forget that bloody red book!!! You’ve (Without Consent) Been Appointed Chief Restocker “Are there any nappies upstairs?” “Where are the wipes?” “Those shoes look a bit small!” Yep! Even though you’re spending every waking (and non-waking) hour looking after an unreasonable human that you grew. Everyone from your MIL to your partner thinks you’re really messing up if the nappy caddy isn’t in order. You know where the shop is people. Off you trot!
Our Favourite Homemade Ice Lolly RecipesRead More Upping their 5-a-day intake without a fight. Post author By The Mum Club Post date 2 July 2024 No Comments on Our Favourite Homemade Ice Lolly Recipes Our Favourite Homemade Ice Lolly Recipes Upping their 5-a-day intake without a fight. Fruit & Veg Ice Lollies These zero-sugar fruit and veggie lollies are delicious and not just a healthy treat but they’re also great for soothing sore gums if your little one is teething. Recipe Avocado & Chocolate Ice Lollies Lollies that taste and look yummy but are still full of goodness. Recipe Mango Gelato Lollies One that’s great for your gut and takes no time at all. Recipe Raspberry Pina Colada Kid Pops Moreish raspberry Piña colada ice pops that are so quick to whip together. Recipe
10 Things To Know About Having A ToddlerRead More From wondering why each month you’re putting a sweetie up your bum. (*FYI, we’re not). To asking where your willy is? And if they can see your poo?! **The toilet… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 2 July 2024 No Comments on 10 Things To Know About Having A Toddler 10 Things To Know About Having A Toddler They are Insane From wearing a Christmas jumper in 41 degree sun to throwing a fit because you’ve given them the wrong spoon. It’s official – those tiny-dictators are entirely unhinged. You Now Share Everything Everything! Including meals that are identical to theirs. Sat directly next to theirs. But on your plate. Sometimes Their Voice Grates On Your Soul Of course, there is also no sweeter sound. But have you ever been asked to go swimming 450,000 times in the space of 3 hours? *Top tip: do not mention ANY activity until 15 minutes before said activity. Trust us. Letting Them into The Bathroom With You Does Nothing For Self Esteem From wondering why each month you’re putting a sweetie up your bum. (*FYI, we’re not). To asking where your willy is? And if they can see your poo?! **The toilet is no longer a safe space. They Lose Everything and Blame You The meltdowns that follow the loss of items are next level. From those new rainbow sunglasses to the favourite new toy they insisted on taking into nursery (and losing!). It will always be YOUR problem. If you haven’t already. NEVER introduce marbles into your home. They will lose them, and you will lose yours. When They Go Quiet- Worry! They’re either drawing on the walls, covering themselves in Sudocrem, climbing something unstable, or sh*tting on the sofa. *Never trust the silence. They Wake Up Really Early We’ve bought the sleep clocks and blackout blinds and thinking about stairgating their bedroom door. Their Innocence Is The Best Thing Ever They will say the best things at the hardest of times. It will bring a smile to everyones face. They’re bloody hard work, but you will miss this crazy time. They Complete The Day By 9AM Play-Doh, drawing, dress up, 400 snacks, that craft set you thought would last the day, every episode of Peppa sodding Pig. All before the postman comes. Their Magazines Will Bankrupt You Sure, they might take the edge off for 5 minutes but they are expensive and NOT worth it. We regret the day we introduced them / Grandma did.
The Best Energy Boosting FoodsRead More Post author By The Mum Club Post date 13 June 2024 No Comments on The Best Energy Boosting Foods The Best Energy Boosting Foods When you’ve experienced monumental sugar crashes that result in meltdowns, you know it’s a bad idea to give kids too many sugary treats – especially when they’re tired! But why don’t we apply the same rule to ourselves? Why Do I Crave Sugar When I’m Tired? Cravings for chocolate, biscuits or cake usually come during an energy slump or when we feel low and want comfort as they’re an instant and accessible source of energy. And while, in the short term, that can be helpful, if you have too much sugar, your body will experience a huge high that is followed by a low. And this causes you to feel more tired and stressed. While we’re not suggesting that we all avoid sweet treats entirely! A healthy diet that minimises sugar can really help prevent sugar highs and lows, mood swings and further cravings. Here are some tips that have helped us with regulating our energy levels. The Best Ways to Regulate Energy Levels Check Your Iron Levels Low iron levels can often make you feel fatigued, and a lot of women experience this during their period. Most new mums are tired all the time, but if you think there’s more to it than a broken sleep, speak to your doctor and ask them to check your levels. If you already know you have low iron levels, then taking a supplement (especially around your period) can help boost energy levels and fight fatigue. Buy Now Start Your Day the Right Way Having a bowl of healthy granola or muesli is a great way to start the day, as the seeds and nuts are a great source of omega-3s, and the oats provide a slow release of energy. You can also top it with fresh fruit and a touch of honey if you want an even sweeter bowl. Make Your Own Muesli When we can be bothered to do it, we never regret making our own muesli. It’s also an activity that toddlers love to help you prep. And it doesn’t create that much mess. It’s so easy to do, and all that’s required is a big mix of your favourite nuts, oats, cinnamon, and coconut oil. And then any extras once it’s baked, like dried cranberries, desiccated coconut and a drizzle of honey. Recipe The One to Buy… Not all granolas and mueslis are good for you, and many shop-bought packets contain a heavy dosage of sugary dried fruit. So, try to seek out the ones that are nut-based instead of fruit. On the days when you’d prefer someone else to do the prep, the best homemade muesli we’ve found is by Lakeland Mues, who toast all their muesli by hand in their Cumbrian countryside kitchen. Buy Now Sip a Wide-Awake Smoothie Rich in Vitamin C and fibre, this is an excellent drink to pair with iron-rich foods as Vitamin C aids absorption, while walnuts and avocado deliver protein and healthy fats to balance things out. The oats and nuts also slow down the absorption of sugar from the fruit, and cinnamon is known to reduce sugar cravings. Ingredients… 1 Mango ¼ Avocado 1 Tablespoon of Oats 6 Walnuts 250ml of your chosen milk Meals That Balance Your Energy Levels Mediterranean Baked Salmon Salmon is a rich source of multiple B vitamins, which play essential roles in releasing and transferring energy between cells in the body. It’s also good for brain function, which is helpful if you have the post-birth fuzz. Recipe Iron-Rich Steak Salad Swap sluggish baguettes for this delicious salad with juicy steak strips rich in protein, iron, vitamins, and flavour. Recipe Make This Energy Boosting Snack Walnut Blueberry Energy Bites Plant-based walnut blueberry energy bites are the perfect snack to keep on hand. They’re filled with healthy fats and fibre to fuel you throughout your day. Recipe
10 Parenting Moments That Leave Us Seething With RageRead More We used to think we were pretty chill; then we had a baby. The Mum rage is real people, and we can’t blame it all on postpartum hormones… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 12 June 2024 No Comments on 10 Parenting Moments That Leave Us Seething With Rage 10 Parenting Moments That Leave Us Seething With Rage We used to think we were pretty chill; then we had a baby. The Mum rage is real people, and we can’t blame it all on postpartum hormones… When Someone Parks in Parent & Child Who Isn’t a Parent and Does Not Have a Child We endured 9 months of pregnancy and ripped our lady bits in two to earn this parenting perk; and we’ll be damned if a spotty teenager in a sodding Vauxhall Corsa gets to enjoy those 2 extra feet of door-opening space. When Another Kid Hits Your Kid Your voice might be saying: ‘Oh don’t worry, they all do it, he gives as good as he gets!’ but your brain is thinking ‘you stay away from my baby you little shit’. When Your Toddler Waves At Someone And They Don’t Wave Back Who hurt you?! How could you resist the greeting of my adorable baby’s chubby little hand?! When People Get Your Baby’s Gender Wrong A pink dress and a giant bow isn’t enough of a clue for you people?! How about the blanket with her name on it or the sippy cup that says ‘Mummy’s Little Princess?’ NO? REALLY?! When Your Baby Hurts You For someone who can barely hold a spoon, toddlers can’t half pack a powerful punch. When they’re not cutting their teeth on your nipples or they’re ripping chunks out of your already-balding-postpartum-head. When Your Mother in Law Favours The Other Grandchildren We know it’s probably us being totally irrational, entirely unreasonable etc etc, but is it too much to ask that everyone in the whole world thinks our child is the most special human being on the entire planet? When Strangers Touch Your Newborn We have no idea who you are, or where your probably filthy germ-infested hands have been, but back the hell off and STEP AWAY FROM THE BABY. When Older Kids Won’t Give Your Kid a Turn Ever stared out a 10-year-old because they wouldn’t get their skinny little bottom off the baby swing? We have, and we have absolutely zero shame. When Someone Judges You For Feeding Your Baby Oh hey there! These are breasts! 50% of the population have them! We haven’t whacked them out for shits and giggles, we actually require them to keep our tiny human alive. Move along people. When Someone Comments On Your Baby Body ‘You’re so big! When are you due?’ The kids in pre-school Karen, go mind your goddamn business!
Reviewed By Us: The Wander Bag by Wandertooties Read More Reviewed by: TMC Dubai Co-Owner & Host, Jessy Griffiths Post author By The Mum Club Post date 4 June 2024 No Comments on Reviewed By Us: The Wander Bag by Wandertooties Reviewed By Us: The Wander Bag by Wandertooties Reviewed by: TMC Dubai Co-Owner & Host, Jessy Griffiths Pros Light and compact Easy to take with you Hangs on the back of the buggy Cons Limited colours are available What is it? A compact on-the-go changing station in a bag. It has different compartments to keep the changing essentials, nappies, wipes and cream. It’s easy to wipe down and has a waterproof coating. Overall Thoughts… “I think this is such a game changer. It provides a sanitary space to change my baby when I’m out and about. (*We all know what public changing stations are like!) It also means you can have everything you need to change your child in one lightweight, compact bag. My partner also prefers it to our larger baby bag.” Is it Good Value? “Yes, it can save you the cost of not buying a larger bag. It’s super easy to use, folds out in a second, and is easy to fold back up with Velcro tabs to keep it together and compact. I would happily pay for it again.” Would You Recommend It? “Yes, I love it. It means I don’t need to carry a huge baby bag when I go out, and it also hangs easily on the back of my pram. Plus, as it fits into almost every handbag I have, it means I can choose any bag I like, and my child also has everything they need.” Where Can I Buy It? 20% off a Wanderbag Wandertooties has given us a generous 20% off their stylish and lifesaving changing bag. Click the link below and your discount will be automatically applied at checkout. Shop now
Spring Burrata SaladRead More Post author By The Mum Club Post date 3 June 2024 No Comments on Spring Burrata Salad Spring Burrata Salad Burrata is never not a good idea… Ingredients… 1/2 lb fresh burrata 1/2 lb cantaloupe, sliced into crescents 1/4 lb prosciutto 2 heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced into rounds a few fresh figs halved or peach slices handful fresh basil, roughly torn extra virgin olive oil balsamic vinegar sea salt cracked black pepper Method… 1. Place the burrata rounds on the platter, either just one in the center or around the platter depending how many rounds you have. 2. Wrap each wedge on the melon in the center with a strip of the prosciutto. 3. Alternate layering the tomato slices and cantaloupe slices around the burrata. 4. Tuck in the figs or peach slices in the remaining gaps. 5. Sprinkle fresh basil over the top. 6. Add a good glug of extra virgin olive oil and a splattering of balsamic vinegar. 7. Season with a pinch of sea salt and cracked black pepper. Recipe taken from… The Outdoor Table “Perfect for anyone who is searching for innovative hosting ideas, is a fan of fresco dining, or has an open-air space that is ideal for outside fun, The Outdoor Table gives you the tools to take your get-togethers from mundane to fabulous.” Find out more
The Best Stretches to Ease Back PainRead More Release tension in your upper, middle and lower back by doing 10 minutes of stretches, which are designed to help you reduce tension, and gain more relaxation and body awareness…. Post author By The Mum Club Post date 3 June 2024 No Comments on The Best Stretches to Ease Back Pain The Best Stretches to Ease Back Pain Constantly feeding? Or your toddler is allergic to walking? This wiil help… If You Have 10 Minutes… Release tension in your upper, middle and lower back by doing 10 minutes of stretches, which are designed to help you reduce tension, and gain more relaxation and body awareness. If You Have 20 Minutes… Ok, 23! But this 23-minute yoga session is specifically designed for the upper back and will really help with the effects of daily life that contribute to upper backaches, pain, and tightness. If You Have 35 Minutes… When you have a little more time on your hands this 35 minute pilates routine will not only strengthen your back and work your core to keep your back healthy but it helps with posture too, which really takes a hit when you have a baby.
Your 3-Minute Guide To WeaningRead More It can feel quite daunting to start your weaning journey, but it’s actually SO fun! And of course (like everything), there’s tons of reading you can do. But these are… Post author By The Mum Club Post date 21 May 2024 No Comments on Your 3-Minute Guide To Weaning Your 3-Minute Guide To Weaning Learn the basics over a cuppa It can feel quite daunting to start your weaning journey, but it’s actually SO fun! And of course (like everything), there’s tons of reading you can do. But these are the fundamental things you need to know. Oh, and remember the shed load of muslins you bought? They’re about to become reeeally handy… How do I know when my baby is ready to wean? Start at around 6-months old or when they can hold their head sufficiently, pick-up food, put it in their mouth and swallow it. How do you start weaning a baby? It can be very entertaining to see how your baby reacts to new flavours, which is why most parents start by offering a bit of their own food. Ready to do things properly? Build positive associations with mealtimes by creating a calm environment, play some music, make eye contact and give them big smiles. Don’t stress Milk is your baby’s primary food source, so don’t fret if they turn down your pea and broccoli mash-up. “It can take up to 10-15 times for them to like certain flavours, so let them play with food and don’t push them to eat”, says baby food brand Omami. Start with your greens? “Offering veggies first can encourage more of an acceptance of them later on”, says nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed. But don’t worry if you offer fruits too – you haven’t failed! Adding in a small amount apple to make peas more palatable is totally ok. Remember, fruits are still nutritious, just try to make sure meals aren’t overly sweet. What should I feed my baby? “Weaning is a golden time to introduce your baby to lots of different flavours and textures. It helps create a love of food that will hopefully continue through toddlerhood and beyond”, says Omami. What should you not feed a baby? No salt, sugar, honey, whole nuts, non-pasteurised cheeses, runny eggs, raw shellfish or rice drinks. How much should I feed my baby? They’re all different, and it’s entirely normal for them to change day-to-day. Appetites can be affected by lots of things like teething, tiredness or illness. Just follow their cues for when they’ve had enough. Pre-mades and packs are LIFE It’s SO frustrating when you boil and blend foods they refuse. Save yourself some time by trying out some organic pre-made baby food. Baby-lead or spoon-fed? It’s totally up to you. Why not do both? Suggests Omami “Give your baby something to hold and chew on as you spoon-feed or have some meals as finger food and others as puree”. Want to do more research? Omami have loads of info on their blog and ‘How to wean your baby’ by Charlotte Stirling-Reed is available on pre order here. You can also follow Charlotte here.
TMC Family Recipe of the Week: Crunchy Pomegranate Slaw SaladRead More Recipe from: https://www.howsweeteats.com/ Post author By The Mum Club Post date 30 April 2024 No Comments on TMC Family Recipe of the Week: Crunchy Pomegranate Slaw Salad TMC Family Recipe of the Week: Crunchy Pomegranate Slaw Salad Ingredients 1 medium head green cabbage, thinly sliced 4 cups curly or tuscan kale, thinly sliced 2 pears, cut into matchsticks 1 large shallot or 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced ¾ cup shredded carrots ½ cup pomegranate arils ⅓ cup roasted pumpkin seeds ⅓ cup toasted walnuts or pecans, chopped salt and pepper CITRUS VINAIGRETTE 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest 1 teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon dijon mustard 1 garlic clove, finely minced or pressed ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper ½ cup extra virgin olive oil Method 1. In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, kale, pears, carrots and pomegranate. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper and toss well. Add in the pumpkin seeds and nuts. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of the dressing and toss. Let the slaw sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. 2. You can assemble the ingredients ahead of time, just want to dress until a few minutes before serving. CITRUS VINAIGRETTE 1. Whisk all ingredients together until combined and emulsified. This dressing stays great in the fridge for about a week. Recipe from: https://www.howsweeteats.com/
