Baby and Me
This is mostly about me– well, it’s about the ‘me’ that I am still lamenting. Two years down the line and with only one child to blame I still can’t get over the shock of what pregnancy did to my body. I was never seriously thin or fabulous, but I used to be normal. These days my mind still retains the vision of the old me until I catch sight of my reflection in a mirror or shop window and there I am shocked all over again.

There used to be a time when it was only my clothes that were baggy, now there’s a whole load of baggy body. I miss firm skin, not even the toned skin of an athlete, just not wobbly. This doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do it again if I were given a choice, but given a God-like choice I’d deliver an egg and sit on it for nine months instead.

So why is this occupying my mind so much? Well, Little Sunshine doesn’t yet realise that it might be considered mortifying (to me) to flaunt my flabby belly to the world whilst at the same time saying: “Your belly’s bery big mammy”- like, as if I didn’t notice. Actually I know in truth she doesn’t mean it like that because she calls her own tiny belly “bery big” too.

Of course it’s all too easy to stay with this idea of how I used to be and how having a child has changed me, but then, just how many times have I used Little Sunshine as a reason for other things. For instance, not being able to find my keys/phone/wallet numerous times every single day. Perhaps it might be true that it happens more often now, but the truth is I’ve always been scatty. Now I’m just top-class scatty as opposed to top-class totty.

Many times in my past I’ve been called a bag lady too, especially due to my recycling tendencies and the fact that I always seem to have a big bag of ‘stuff’, but now with Little Sunshine I’ve become the Ultimate Bag Lady. There is evidence of it everywhere. When Little Sunshine was just a baby and I managed to go out with friends I’d end up pulling a nappy, soother or even rattle out of my bag. This is less likely to happen these days as she doesn’t need this equipment, but my bag is still a danger zone full of crushed biscuits and rice cakes and even bananas sometimes.

I brush my hair these days, which is a definite improvement, but those first few months brought out the hippy in me. Add to this the fact that the car we travel around in looks like we might actually live in it such is the enormity of items and food pieces it contains. I’ve been wearing sellotaped together glasses in the car because Little Sunshine had broken my third pair and not one to be defeated I insist on wearing them. However, because I am scatty I mostly forget to take them off when I get out of the car. “Bery silly Mammy,” as Little Sunshine might say.

Mother and Toddler
By Nicola McMahon
Name: Zeynep O’Brien
Children’s Names: Isabelle (5) and Robert (2).
Where are you from?
Istanbul, Turkey.
How long have you lived here?
Five years
Why did you move here?
We were in London first, but we decided to come here after Isabelle was born because it’s nicer for the children. We also came here for work reasons.
Do you like living here and why?
I like living here because it’s friendly and people are more helpful. It’s a relaxed place and it’s very good as regards children.
What differences do you find between here and home for bringing up your children?
I think the education system is better here and also it is a nice clean relaxed place for the children and they can take part in many activities. The warm weather at home is nicer for being able to do more outdoor things, but then there are disadvantages such as earthquakes.
What things do you enjoy doing here with your children?
I like going to the parks and going for walks especially as there isn’t too much pollution. I also enjoy meeting people with their kids for coffee mornings.

Have a Haunting Halloween
By Nicola McMahon
It’s that spooky time of year again– and Halloween has always been a great time for a party for both children and adults. Of course a party is always enhanced by a bit of simple decorating. Once you’ve got the decorations and the food ready, just add music and sound effects that fit the Halloween spirit, for example, ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘The Adams Family’. One thing that’s guaranteed to make everyone giggle is to howl at the moon every time you pass a window– it’s crazy but you won’t get a chance to do this too often.

There are many decorations you can buy already made, but simply having a lot of black and orange colours will set the tone. Children can be kept busy during the day or else as a party activity by making some decorations. Just make sure to have some of the following: (black and orange) crepe paper, balloons, washable paints and markers, non-toxic glue, staplers, sellotape, pipe-cleaners and paper plates.

Children can have fun helping to carve the eyes and mouth out of the pumpkin. You can make stew and soup from the fleshy insides and roast the pumpkin seeds. Before doing this, let children put their hands into the pumpkin to explore the texture– it is a fantastic sensory and learning experience.

Decorations
Pumpkin Seed Art: Let the pumpkin seeds air dry and the children can then use them to make a collage, perhaps painting them when they are stuck on.

Pumpkin Seed Shakers: Using air-dried pumpkin seeds, two paper plates (per child) and a stapler. The children put seeds on one of the paper plates (bottom side down). Next, have them place the other plate on top of the first plate (bottom side up). Help the children staple their plates together with the seeds inside then use paint, markers or crayons to decorate their shakers.

Balloon Jack o’ Lanterns: Blow up an orange balloon and let the child use a black marker to create facial features

Pipe Cleaner Spiders: Have the children twist the pipe cleaners together to form the body and legs. You could talk about how many legs spiders have.

Paper Plate Spiders: Get the children to paint a large and smaller paper plate black, then let to dry. Staple the smaller plate onto the larger plate, so that the smaller plate will be the spider’s head. Then glue on black wool or paper for legs and white paper for eyes and hang them from the ceiling.
Mask Making: Use paper plates, a hole punch or scissors to cut out a mask, then decorate with glitter glue, markers, paint, bits of fabric, feathers etc…

Silly Hats: Pick up old hats from a charity/ thrift shop and decorate.

Here are some further ideas for decorating below:
Dim lighting, and try to accentuate any shadows that can be made on the wall.

A blue light bulb can enhance the eerie effect, as can a couple of flashing Christmas lights.

Plastic spiders and witches’ hats (made from cardboard then painted) scattered around and hung from the ceiling.

For extra effect, buy a couple of helium balloons and cover with lightweight white material then draw in two black spots for eyes and BOO!– you have some floating ghosts!

The Games
Hang an apple by its stem to some string and hang from the ceiling or door frame. The aim is to try to get a bite of apple without using the hands.

Using a plate or board with a mountain of flour, place a grape on top and each child has to try cut away some of the mountain without knocking the grape.

Spider Walk Race: By placing hands and feet on the floor and lifting their bottoms off the floor, the children can race each other whilst walking like a spider.

Dressing up is always a favourite for children– if possible try having a box with bits and pieces to dress up in and then ask them what they are. Good items to have include hats, scarves, brooms, masks, jewellery and face paints.

The Food
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: Save the pumpkin seeds from a pumpkin and boil them with 2 tablespoons salt for a few minutes. Drain them and toss in 1 tablespoon of butter. Spread on a baking pan then roast for 30 minutes stirring regularly.

Potato Ghosts: Hand sculpt mashed potatoes to look like ghosts and place on an oiled baking sheet. Put them in the oven to heat and brown a little.

Scrambled Brains: Scrambled eggs look like brains– add a few drops of green, red and blue food colouring as you’re mixing the eggs and the final product will come out looking just like that delightful grey matter.

Witch’s Brew: A cauldron full a mixture of your favourite fruit juices with chunks of fruit.
Tip: If you are bringing children trick-or-treating and they get a lot of sweets and chocolate you could try using a certain mysterious ‘Halloween Witch’. The children decide on some of the sweets they would like to keep then put the rest into a box outside their bedroom for the Halloween Witch– who returns the favour by giving them a little gift such as crayons and a colouring book.