Guest Blogger : Anni's Bubble "Pre-parent and Parenting"

Pre-parent and Parenting

Before becoming a mother, I was the biggest judge of every mother I came in contact with, not to worry, fathers got judged as well.  From what they fed their kids to how they dressed their kids, I always had something to say. “When I have my kid, I will never…”, and then I became a parent.

Preparent, it is easy to think that no one is doing the right thing until you are actually placed in the situation and given a child that is solely dependent on you. No vacations, no opportunities to be tired, no time outs, nothing. From the day I discovered I was with child, I began researching everything about parenting, raising kids and even how life changes after becoming a parent. Despite the endless reading, researching, youtubing and webinars, I am still a work in progress and that is just okay.

Over the weekend, I ran across a book called the Instructional Guide to Parenting, it took just about every fiber of my being to stop me from purchasing the book. I thought, this is exactly what I need to be a better parent. As I slowly walked away from the book, I began to think on what makes a good parent.  I spent half the day thinking about this and took it a little further and did more research (no surprise there). One of the funniest things I discovered, there are over a billion other persons googling the exact same thing. I am NOT alone!

After a series of blog posts, websites and parenting forums later, one thing is common: The key to being a successful parent is doing that which works best for you and your family. There is no guide to being the best parent, no rules to follow that will make your kids love you more, no answers to ensuring that you have the best kid in the universe, it is a simple process of making your life with your kids the best for your individual situations.

• Ensure that your child/children are safe. Are they clothed, fed and sheltered? You are half way there… the most important role of a parent is to ensure that the well being of their kids are a priority. Designer onesies, stylish diaper bags nor organic food will make you a better parent (although they are a nice treat).
• Live a good life. Do good to others and your kids will do the same. Kids mimic what they see, the bad and the good. Experience has taught me that the best way to show my daughter how I want her to behave is by doing what I want her to do.
• Challenge yourself. Feeling in a rut about the way you parent? Want to up it up a notch? Try something new, learn a new recipe that incorporates your kids favorite foods, try a spring project that is kid friendly, or simply visit some place new (not forgetting to take the kids along) ! Everything takes time, work on making you the parent you want to be.

Not the advice you expected, is it? The thing is, parenting is fun, it is an experience like none other and is experienced in a different way by each person. It takes time to learn what works for you but when you get it, I guarantee you will be a hit! My daughter is two going on twenty and every day I learn something new about her. Today she loves me tomorrow she does not want to see my face, and that is okay!

The successful parent is the one that works on being the best them.

Join me for more parenting fun at Anni’s Bubble, a mommy blog by Bahamian mom, marketing manager and social butterfly, Keiani Worrell. Your latest in DIY, craft ideas, recipes and all things fun!

Xoxo, Anni

Autism Awarness : My Brother The Hero

 

 

In honor of Autism Awareness Day I thought I'd write about my experience with it.

My brother was diagnosed with Autism around 4 years old. Back then Autism was still a fearly new diagnosis so it took quite some time for us to come to this conclusion. 

 

Around 2 years old he stopped responding when we called him so automatically we thought he was deaf but we soon found out that was not the case.

After 2 years of increasing symptoms and continues research we found a specialist in Florida who introduced us to autism. It was concluded that he had 10% Autism ... (whatever that means).

 

Anyway Dvan would throw tantrums, make loud noises and his speech development was very slow.

We had done everything from gluten free diets to speech therapy.  I can write a whole other blog post about what we've found out about autism and I probably will but for today I wont. 

 

Now fast forward 16 years later my brother is fully capable of holding a very intellectual conversation using words I dont know meanings of, he has taught himself for the most part how to play the guitar,  he's an artist,  he works and is learning to drive. My brother who everyone thought would be so dependant on us hardly has time for me anymore and without evening knowing it gives me the inspiration to keeping pushing toward my dreams everyday.

 

When talking about his childhood he always says "When I used to have autism...." and he hates if you say he has autism. Autism to him is like a cancer that he has beat. With the right support consisting of people who didn't limit him to what THEY thought he was capable of D'Van has grown into a pretty awesome dude!

 

For anyone who has a loved one with autism I will give this small piece of advice. Do not limit them because of a word. Let them reach for their goals just like you would any other child. It may be scary for you but for them it is empowering! You would ne surprised the lengths they reach.

 

 

Is D'Van different? Sure! But not because one time ago he USED to have autism but because his personality, self discipline and characteristics surpass that of any other human I know!  

 

VanzBlogz: Foodie Friday : The Ultimate Broccoli Soup

VanzBlogz: Foodie Friday : The Ultimate Broccoli Soup: Im sorry we missed last weeks foodie friday but I promise we will make it up to you! This week Chef Simeon Hall is back and is graciously s...

Foodie Friday : The Ultimate Broccoli Soup

Im sorry we missed last weeks foodie friday but I promise we will make it up to you! This week Chef Simeon Hall is back and is graciously sharing one of his awesome recipes! Share your photos and comments with us if you give it a try! 

A broccoli soup you may say well this soup took me seven months to perfect. Sometimes for a chef 

being simple can be the toughest part of the equation. Here four ingredients make a simple yet 

complex flavoured soup that eats like you’ve slaved over a pot for hours. (Geared towards Kelly’s or 

the home cook)

Broccoli soup serves 4

Two bunches of fresh broccoli, sectioned into florets 

3 cups of distilled water 

Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper 

2 dashes of Tabasco sauce 

Method

Bring the water to a rolling boil. Add the sectioned broccoli and tightly cover for exactly four minutes*. 

While hot** use a blender and puree the broccoli with the water while hot .This creates the velvet 

smooth texture of the soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper and add Tabasco to brighten the 

flavours of the soup.

For a richer soup- add 2 oz unsalted butter and 2 oz of double heavy cream

*This process produces a broccoli stock that returns the flavor and nutrients to the soup

**Be careful when blending hot liquids. The steam created can explode. Replace the blender feeding cap with a dry cloth to allow steam to exit.

*All images and recipes are the sole ownership of Simeon Hall Restaurant Management Group Ltd and are used with the written consent from the above mentioned. Reproduction and unauthorized use are prohibited by the Laws of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. 

My NOT a Bucket List

So being my usual self ... my mind was going 1,000 miles a minute and I thought hmmm I never really ever wrote a bucket list. Then that brought me to wonder why. 

Here's what I came up with. I don't really do the bucket list thing because lets face it having a list of things you want to do before you die gives you time to procrastinate and sometimes is associated with being impossible or really hard to achieve.

Between not thinking we're going to die anytime soon and truly not knowing when we are going to "kick the bucket" ... bucket lists tend to be forgotten.

My feeling is why does it have to be something you want to do before you die? Why not give yourself 5 even 10 years. Hey give yourself 3! Whatever tickles your fancy. But lets stop making list that people seem to never get through. 

So here is my NOT a bucket list ....
1. Own a successful business
2. Shop a completely new wardrobe
3. Renovate my house
4. Buy a Range Rover
5. Use only organic and pure beauty and skin products
6. Start my own fruit and vegetable garden
7. Visit Europe
8. Lose 50lbs
9. Move to another country (preferably USA or Canada)

Im giving myself 3 years to accomplish most if not all of these things ... sounds ambitious right? Well hey I rather have a closer deadline, that way I get to cross off all of these fabulous things on my list sooner. 

Whats on your NOT a bucket list?

Back to work after Baby

So its the end of my second week back to work and I have to say I'd rather stay home with my precious baby.

I always feel guilty when I'm dropping him off. I feel like I'm abandoning him and he thinks I'm just dumping him off to go and party. 

I am still trying to get into the routine of functioning on even less sleep than I was getting before and trying to focus on my work and not wondering what my baby is doing every hour on the hour and if he's ok.

Now that im back to work I very rarely have time to pump and I was forced to start giving Kaiden formula YUCK.  I hate it! and he will be back on only breast milk the minute I have enough stored. 

It is killing me to give him formula because I wanted my baby exclusively on breast milk for at least 6 months but I guess that was wishful thinking. 

Now that I have a whole human to take care of I feel that much more obligated to do well and excel at my job. (Not that I wasn't trying to excel before) I just am that much more determined. 

Anyway I guess this just another stage in my new life as a mom and all I can do is take it one day at a time.

Spring Cleaning 101

So its that time again. Spring is here and everyone is scrambling around doing their "spring cleaning". For the most part people just clean they way they usually clean just with a little more elbow grease. Two weeks later and we are right back to our pre spring cleaning ways. 

I do spring clean but, I "spring clean" about four times a year. I think I may have OCD but I love to change furniture around, buy organizing products, change the contents of my kitchen cupboards. Trust me it's weird, but I always feel like I get more done and function better when my home is freshly deep cleaned and functional. 

I will be sharing my Spring Cleaning adventure with you but here are a few things  to consider in getting started. 

Where to Start 

We all stand in our homes, look around and think to ourselves ... "oookkaayy so where do I begin?" ... I always start in my Kitchen. This is where I start because the Kitchen is the hub of every home. It's the most frequented area by everyone in the house and those kitchen drawers tend to be the most "junky". After I get done with the kitchen I move clockwise to each space. 

What to Do 

So what is "Spring Cleaning" ? I think everyone's definition of Spring cleaning is different, there is no right or wrong. My Spring Cleaning is a complete overhaul even a few cosmetic touch ups sometimes. Normally I pull out everything, sort through them, throw away what I don't need clean off what I do and find a place for everything. When everything in your home has its place your home tends to stay cleaner. 

What You Need 

For me a good fleet of all purpose cleaners, rags, garbage bags, and boxes do the trick. If I need anything additional I cross that bridge when I get to it. 

......

So lets do it ladies! Spring Cleaning Time!! I promise at the end we will all feel refreshed and ready to take on the world!