Sunday Reads

• Why Farts Smell Different When They Come From Your Family
• Because no one has a manual for a great marriage.
• Opportunities for the writers in the house.
• How do you invent a new language? This is how.
• Sorting out clutter around your house.
• For some great African book recommendations.

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Sunday Reads

• Waiting on God patiently.
• What is a “love puff“?
• Dealing with death
• What do you do with your kids’ art?
• To spank or not? (NYT article)

3 Current Truths about God

Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com

In this season of late nights and quiet early mornings, of little cries and fussy babies I am learning three truths about God and really reflecting on that.

1. God the Creator. Throughout the pregnancy I have seen how God creates little beautiful people and the level of care and His great attention to detail. His ways make sense and when you read the Science behind it all, you cannot help but worship Him deeper and love Him even more.
2. God the Provider. Isaiah 49:15 talks about how just as mother will never forget the child she is breastfeeding so also God will never forget us and will always show us compassion because He has engraved us on the palms of His hands. God knows all the details of our lives and He sees to all our needs from the small to the large. He is our Source and Sustainor.
3. God is Love. I love my daughter and it sometimes overwhelms me just how much the little lady has captivated us and then I think that God loves me even more than that. That He loved me so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for me. Oh how He loves us!!

What does God mean to you as we approach this Easter season?

 

Happy Girls are the Best

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Sunday Reads

In light of the new phase I am in presently,I decided to share parenting-related articles

• The benefits of living close to grandparents.
• Explaining to those around you your child’s’ disability.
• HONY doing a great job highlighting children with special needs at the Special Olympics being held at UAE.
• I thought a helicopter parent was not great, now there is snowplow parenting.
  • Snowplow Parents are More Common Than We Thought. America Is Doomed
  • Snowplow Parenting Isn’t Just Morally Repulsive, It’s Bad For Kids
  • How some celebrities counter snowplow parenting.
• Moms still need to depend on God.
• Note to self: However tough, enjoy these early days of motherhood and be easy on yourself.
• This is me, at the moment.
• What to Do When Your Kid Walks in on You Having Sex (Which Will Happen)
• Baby songs for infants and parents.

On being Other

 

Only Black

Only Female

Only Foreigner

Youngest person

…. although I would change the fact that she had to transform into the mainstream to get a seat at the table. What if the mainstream changed to accommodate her and she did not morph into a gatekeeper for the new “other”.

 

Sunday Reads

• How do you talk to kids about attacks on their faith?
• Economics meets theology, I love it!
• How to Discern God’s Will in Your Workplace
• I pray for strong faith like this Chinese Pastors‘.
• In case you are looking for some book inspiration …
• …. also how to get more reading done.
• I love it when Economics solves an actual problem.
• Enjoyed the writing not so much the subject of this profile.
• This Humans of New York story just broke me.

Recipes

• Yummy enchiladas
• Braised chicken thighs
• Spicy Coconut Vegetable Stir Fry
• Overnight Oats
• 15 Citrus Recipes
• Roasted Cauliflower and Quinoa Salad
• I want to eat these mashed potatoes …
• … but I am definitely making this Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala.

Toxic Masculinity is killing men

I have always said this and I hope this ad starts to change the conversation significantly.

Only then do we get whole men and a better society in general.

An African Animated Short Film

Friday Short Movie Feels

Heartwarming moments are meant to be shared. Bring home behind-the-scenes, exclusive footage from Bao and 10 other critically-acclaimed shorts when you get the Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume 3 on Digital, @Movies_Anywhere, and Blu-ray today: https://t.co/aNv3akp3OZ pic.twitter.com/hpnroh4xtm

— Disney•Pixar (@DisneyPixar) November 23, 2018

TED’s winter reading list: 78 feel-good books — ideas.ted.com

Enthusiastic recommendations for reads that will provide you with abundant reasons to rejoice, reflect or recharge, as suggested by TED speakers and TED-Ed educators. If you’re searching for some calm The Peace of Wild Things: And Other Poems by Wendell Berry This little book of poetry is my current morning dose of calm, and I use…

via TED’s winter reading list: 78 feel-good books — ideas.ted.com

In case you are looking for some great reading recommendations and some great TED talks to listen to.

Sad but action packed documentary trailer

Kids say the cutest things ever

Please read this post on cute things that kids say and then look at the comments as well. Below are some stand-out gems:

• Setting the scene: peaceful Saturday morning. Cup of coffee, book, couch, blanket, fireplace, spouse taking care of the baby, bliss.

Suddenly the 4-year-old pipes up: “Mama. When are you and daddy going to die?”

• I got in a 30 minute heated argument with my 4 year old once over who took care of her when I was a baby. (I had shown her a newborn picture of myself and it blew her mind to pieces.) She shrieked… “BUT MOM!!!!!! When you were a baby, and I was a baby, who was taking care of me??!! You couldn’t take care of me if you were a baby. Gasp! Oh no, was I all alone?” No matter how much I explained, the more upset she became. We finally settled on… Grandma. Grandma took care of all of us. And with that, the argument was over haha.
• “Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don’t listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won’t tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff.“
• Sometimes I overhear a kid say something funny at a store and start laughing. And then one of my kids screams, ‘why are you laughing? Tell me Tell me!’ And then it gets awkward.
• My son was at about 2 years old when he saw me coming out of the shower and said “mumma, I love your bajina.” I could not have laughed harder.
• The other day, my 5-year-old daughter looked at me sweetly and said, “Mama, when you get old and die, can I have your phone?”

All this reminds me of a conversation with my 2.75 year old niece at the time who in a public bathroom asked me rather loudly whether I have a vagina and how I wanted to eat her up whole because I was not sure what would follow my answer! Urrrghs kids 🙂

Sunday Reads

• Love how this father dealt with the loss of his wife.
• Is African philosophy a misnomer?
• We recently studied the relationship between Ruth and Naomi.
• Some podcast recommendations.
• I loved this post and all the comments.
• I want to check out this restaurant.

Recipes

• Swedish meatballs

• Apple Cider Braised Chicken

Podcast Recommendations

In the past couple of weeks I have listened to some really interesting podcast episodes that I thought I should share.

• Before The Next One – This American Life

• Is Ron Brown High School Working?  – Code Switch

• The Sports Trilogy (Episode 349 – 351)  – Freakonomics
• Catch a Kite 3 – Ear Hustle
• Be a Good Ancestor – Call your Girlfriend
• Blacklisted in China – Planet Money

Have you listened to something interesting recently?

From the mouth of young men

Friday Mood

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Goodbye HHP

HHP is one of the first South African musicians I ever loved and in some ways he reminds me of the Mr so hearing of his death yesterday was bittersweet on so many levels.

Some Recipes to Try

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

• Nine great lentil soups
• Garlic Rosemary Masala Fries
• Curried Red Lentil Hummus
• Delicious Vegan Pasta Recipes for Weeknights
• Cooking with butternut
• … and more butternut recipes here

Values I admire in my Parents

Photo by Noelle Otto on Pexels.com

Today, I want to focus on my parents and the values they have imparted in me that I admire and hope to replicate with my children.

1. Their work ethic. My parents inspired my sisters and I to work hard, to be our best and not to be limited by gender, our circumstances or other life setbacks. They themselves came from such humble beginnings and accomplished so much that by their actions and choices, you were inspired to try your best.
2. Their relationship with money. As far as I know, my parents never bought anything on credit. If they couldn’t save and get it, they did not get it. Also, to save all your money, save even if you have no immediate plans, just save.
3. Family first. My sisters and I always knew (know) that we were important and that we mattered to them, that they gave us their best and withheld nothing from us. They loved and even, liked us, and we never doubted this. We are our parents best investment and choice and there is something comforting in that.
4. I love that their parenting style did not require them to compare any of us. To them, we are unique, we are individuals and each success was celebrated on its own and each failure dealt with separately. As a result, all five of us are friends and continue to do the same thing with each other to date.
5. Faith and the role of God. He is over and above all things, always has and always has been.
6. Choice. Marry when you want, there is no pressure to marry or in fact conform because we are women. Study what you want at school – whether Physics or Home science. Learn how to slaughter a chicken or change a tyre, just because you are only girls, you still need to know.
7. A love for books. Yes!!!