BABY AND ME
Baby and me is a new column charting the highs and lows of the life of one local single mother
I realized something about mornings that I used to know before but must have hidden from myself until ‘My Little Sunshine’ was born– I am absolutely, without a doubt, not a morning person. When I was pregnant people said to me that I would get used to the early mornings, but two years down the line and I’m not convinced.
I’ve pondered this ‘morning dilemma’ and come to the conclusion that what ‘My Little Sunshine’ is missing is a snooze button. Through my teenage years I needed my mother calling, coaxing, shouting and shoving to stir my sleepy head. Other times it even required some cold water and blanket deprivation.
When left to my own devices I recall having three alarms set to go off at staggered intervals. One was electric and the other two were the old-fashioned wind up clocks that get very excited about waking you up. I used to place those two on a metal tray with some coins so when they jumped around beside my head it was like a party. I think the picture is probably becoming clearer for you now– I don’t wake easily and definitely not joyfully. Then my mobile phone arrived with the perfect snooze button.
This phones manufacturer obviously understood something that ‘My Little Sunshine’ doesn’t– some people need a few tries at waking! I bring her into the bed every morning with the silly notion that I might get those extra tries at waking up without being cross-eyed in the process. It doesn’t work. Her methods are simple and repetitive. “Read my book mammy” as the book is pushed in my face in a not-so-gentle fashion– hardly something I can really ignore despite my best efforts.
So I have to begrudgingly read her books with one eye open (two eyes won’t focus). When I finally do become acclimatized to morning I start to feel slightly ashamed that I wasn’t encouraging her adoration of reading. Reading is something I strongly advocate and love doing at other times of the day that I consider appropriate, but not too early in the morning.
Will the summer and its bright and cheerful mornings help ‘My Little Sunshine’ in her quest to make a better morning person out of me? Good luck ‘My Little Sunshine’, I wish you the best in your mission!
MOTHER AND
CHILD PROFILE
Name: Cathy Pinel
Daughter’s Name: Enora Ainhoa Aspirot
Where are you from?
Brittany, France
How long have you lived here?
6 years
Why did you move?
For work reasons
Do you like living here and why?
I like living here because the atmosphere is relaxed and I like the
culture too. I noticed there seems to be less babies in France last time
I was there so I think it’s better for Enora to make friends. I
also like the way Ringsend is like a small village where everyone knows
each other.
What differences do you think there are between home and here?
More babies as I said and there are also more parks here, which is
very nice.
What things do you like to do here
We like to go see the ducks in Herbert Park and to go on the slide
and swings there or in Ringsend Park. We also like going to the zoo and
going for coffee!
SUGAR-FREE
BIRTHDAY PARTY IDEAS!
Last year I held my first sugar-free birthday party much to the surprise
of my mother who couldn’t believe that it was really a party, much
less a child’s first birthday party, without the sugar and spice
and all things nice! However, as she ate pancake layered cake she also
ate her words! It was actually very simple to do but admittedly a little
time-consuming.
All the food was eaten even without the sugar or chocolate and I’m taking that as a good sign rather than kids hunting in packs eat anything! I’ve put together a few recipes below, but you could try making the layered pancake filled with strawberries and cream, and bowls of fresh fruit salad are always popular.
Armed with all these lovelies you might find it best to stay as close
to home as possible as it makes it much easier to organise activities
and you won’t have to lug supplies around. When you are planning
the party remember who it is for and how The Boss will react to stimulation
before inviting just about everyone who has ever invited you anywhere!
For the entertainment, have enough similar toys around so fighting can
be kept to moderation using distraction tactics. Perhaps you know someone
who juggles or has a steady hand with face paint? Anything to keep toddlers
engrossed temporarily and let the adults grab some food.
BIRTHDAY CARROT CAKE
2 and 1/2 cups thinly sliced carrot
2 and 1/2 cups apple juice concentrate
1 and 1/2 cups raisins
2 cups whole wheat flour
Half cup wheat germ
2 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp each of ground cinnamon and vanilla extract
A quarter cup vegetable oil
2 eggs and 4 egg whites
Three quarters of a cup unsweetened applesauce
Preheat the oven to 220C then line and grease two 9inch cake pans.
Mix the carrots with 1 cup and 2 tablespoons of juice concentrate in a
saucepan then bring to the boil before simmering with lid on for about
15 minutes until the carrots are tender. Puree the mixture then finely
chop the raisins before adding them.
Combine flour, wheat germ, baking powder, vanilla and cinnamon in a large
mixing bowl. Add quarter of a cup of juice concentrate, the eggs and whites
then beat until thoroughly mixed. Fold in the carrot puree and applesauce
then pour the mixture into the cake tins. Bake for about 35 minutes and
check it by inserting a knife and making sure it comes away clean.
Turn out onto wire racks and let cool then smooth on frosting.
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Half cup apple juice concentrate
Half cup finely chopped raisins
1lb cream cheese
2 tbsp vanilla extract
1 and half tsp unflavoured gelatine
Keep 2 tablespoons of the concentrate aside then blend the rest with the
cream cheese, vanilla and raisins. Stir the gelatine into the rest of
the concentrate while bringing to the boil to dissolve it. Beat this mixture
into the cream cheese mixture until blended. Refrigerate for about 30
minutes before smoothing onto the cake.
FRUIT
ICES
Makes 20 large ice cubes
250g any fruit
200ml water
Puree fruit and mix with water then pour into an ice cube tray and freeze.
Can be made into slush puppy kind of drinks by using blender and adding
some more water or juice.
This provides vitamin C and fibre.
FRUITY FROZEN YOGHURT
As above, but substitute water for natural yoghurt or goats’ milk
or soya. This can be given as an alternative to ice-cream, which usually
contains a surprising amount of sugar as do processed flavoured yoghurts.
Popcorn is useful as a filler and can be left natural or flavoured with
cinnamon or toasted sesame seeds. It provides fibre and protein.
BABY AND ME, MOTHER AND CHILD
PROFILE AND SUGAR-FREE BIRTHDAY PARTY IDEAS!
BY MICOLA MCMAHON
TINY
TOTS TAKE A TODDLE FOR BARNARDOS From 1st - 16th May créches, Montessori and pre-school groups were asked to organize their own sponsored ‘Toddle’ of up to half a mile in their own time during the two weeks. Up to 12,000 children took part. Danone provided special packs for the children and any other materials needed, which meant that all the funds raised went to Barnardos and their work with vulnerable children. The toddlers from Little Bo Peep at Sportsco, Ringsend were only too happy to take up the challenge. With great encouragement from Pauline and Eimear who run the Pre-School they had no problem taking a toddle for charity whilst toddling in the fresh air over the two week period. Barnardos are delighted with any funds raised considering €7 can buy a toy for their toy library, €25 can buy a first aid kit for a Barnardo’s children’s project and €50 will provide breakfast for 15 children for a week in one of their family centres. Barnardos’
founder Thomas Barnardo was born in Dame Street in Dublin in 1845
and was educated at St Patrick’s Cathedral School. He left
Dublin in 1866 to train as a doctor in London, and then to head
off to China to become a missionary, however he never left London
as the child poverty of the East-End appalled him, and his life’s
work began by establishing children’s homes that spread throughout
Britain and eventually world-wide. |