The much hyped el nino rains have started and most people are excited, others like the IDPs are not happy the rains are a disaster their makeshifts shelters of polythene and no proper drainage, I feel for them.
Yesterday it rained, before it become so heavy I thought let me show Chi some real rain not the shower I keep on showing him and my was he not excited. Trying to catch each drop as it comes down. It was cool. But come evening the thunderstorms and lighting started and as it is always common, the lights went off. I have never got used to lighting, thunderstorms and blackouts.
When I was about 9-10 years we had this house boy called Sam. Sam had a habit of telling us scary stories especially when the rains came accompanied by a black out. But there is one story that has never left my memory and every time it rains and blackouts, the memory comes back of ghosts (we called them majini back then) who had a liking for rains and dark nights and would wait on people who are walking outside way lay them and suck on their blood like Dracula and turn them into bats, or they would hide themselves in dark corners in the house and pounce on you. No one dared not go anywhere alone in a dark house, if you had a need to use loo, the whole house took you and chilled for you.
The lights went off while taking a shower and those old memories came back, I froze, thinking of all the majinis lurking in the darkness waiting to pounce if I moved, but the scream from Cas jolted me. muuuuuuum!!!!!!!! God have the majinis got to my baby, Stay still and don’t move from where you are I called back, am coming. Said a quick prayer ‘God this is it’ (if that’s a prayer) navigated my way out of the bathroom, got to the window sill where I keep an emergency candle and matchbox, lit it and made my way to Cas bedroom who met meet halfway and clinched on my towel saying mum am scared- that’s makes two of us. Where is Chi? In the sitting room Cas says. Alone? I ask, so we made our way there and there he was the winner of the night, sitting on the carpet totally oblivious of anything and all he did was give me that toothy smile when he saw me.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Growing up
It is almost hard to believe that Chi is almost one year old and Cas is seven. Baby boy is growing up fast or is it that the days are moving very fast? It seems so recent that Chi could not hold his head up and now he is banging that head so viciously. The cries have turned to shrieks and screams but I am glad, I don’t mind them – they are music to my ears as compared to when he was 1-4 months.
I think we have tried all sorts of methods in calming Cas and Chi. Got advice from friends, Mum, internet, books, Paediatrics etc. From buying anti colic medicine, changing my eating habits- no acidic and dairy foods, clothes, noise levels, lighting the list is endless but nothing seemed to work on them. These two would have won awards for crying. Sometimes I think it’s a conspiracy. Why not cry and wail at day time when we could take them out for walks, why wait till night time. I used to freak when darkness comes- the nightmare begun at 9 pm and the transformation to a zombie started and ended some where between 3- 4 a.m and by 7 a.m, they are fully awake again! The cycle continued for a full four months. Some nights were good- good in that we would sleep at mid night. Slowly they snapped out of it, guess the surrounding started looking interesting to them or they realised hey, am not going back in mummy’s tummy, am in this world to stay so better get used to it.
Now, it just fascinating to see Chi trying to balance himself for a few seconds before he stumbles down- that he can move across the room holding on to furniture. His small fingers trying to grasp a ball or him checking himself out in front of the mirror trying to catch his reflection, chewing on a piece carrot, being totally mesmerized by adverts, swinging his head from the sound of rock music. Cas playing teacher and Chi being her student, strutting her stuff and walking an imaginary runway, dressing up in my threads and shoes and applying lipstick.
Gosh, it is a joy to see them grow.
I think we have tried all sorts of methods in calming Cas and Chi. Got advice from friends, Mum, internet, books, Paediatrics etc. From buying anti colic medicine, changing my eating habits- no acidic and dairy foods, clothes, noise levels, lighting the list is endless but nothing seemed to work on them. These two would have won awards for crying. Sometimes I think it’s a conspiracy. Why not cry and wail at day time when we could take them out for walks, why wait till night time. I used to freak when darkness comes- the nightmare begun at 9 pm and the transformation to a zombie started and ended some where between 3- 4 a.m and by 7 a.m, they are fully awake again! The cycle continued for a full four months. Some nights were good- good in that we would sleep at mid night. Slowly they snapped out of it, guess the surrounding started looking interesting to them or they realised hey, am not going back in mummy’s tummy, am in this world to stay so better get used to it.
Now, it just fascinating to see Chi trying to balance himself for a few seconds before he stumbles down- that he can move across the room holding on to furniture. His small fingers trying to grasp a ball or him checking himself out in front of the mirror trying to catch his reflection, chewing on a piece carrot, being totally mesmerized by adverts, swinging his head from the sound of rock music. Cas playing teacher and Chi being her student, strutting her stuff and walking an imaginary runway, dressing up in my threads and shoes and applying lipstick.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Birds and the Bees
On sunday, cas and I went to our local kiosk to get some sugar and on or way we met with dogs mating- its not a pretty sight, wanted to go back and use another path hoping that cas had not seen the dogs..too late I think she noticed them before me, eyes were wide open. Mind is going please baby don’t ask me what they are doing, pleaseeeeese. Huh even before my fingers are closed, cas blurts , “mom why are the dogs shoving each other from behind…aaah baby why at this time, am feeling so tired….so I casually tell her they are making babies. Please no other question. She goes quite. Phew! Thank God that’s over, lets just get the sugar and head back home. We definitely don’t use that path again.
Home we go and go on with our daily lives, matter forgotten. Monday….. Tuesday… Wednesday we are doing English homework and cas is asking me how to spell the word tailor. Then out of the blue she asks me “mum is making babies and sex the same?” blank mind…baby your only 7 how did you bring those two words together. No definite answer at that time. So I ask what she thinks, she says I told her that the two dogs were making babies while some kid in school told her that they were having sex. Am totally dumbstruck.
I knew that at one time I will have to explain to her what sex is but never did I think that it would come this early. My ideal age was 11-12, but at seven all she needs to know is that she should not talk to strangers and no one should touch her body even if it’s someone she knows, to scream and run if confronted by one. But if her classmates are talking kissing and sex I might just as well start telling her the truth, instead of her getting some fabricated stories out there.
Home we go and go on with our daily lives, matter forgotten. Monday….. Tuesday… Wednesday we are doing English homework and cas is asking me how to spell the word tailor. Then out of the blue she asks me “mum is making babies and sex the same?” blank mind…baby your only 7 how did you bring those two words together. No definite answer at that time. So I ask what she thinks, she says I told her that the two dogs were making babies while some kid in school told her that they were having sex. Am totally dumbstruck.
I knew that at one time I will have to explain to her what sex is but never did I think that it would come this early. My ideal age was 11-12, but at seven all she needs to know is that she should not talk to strangers and no one should touch her body even if it’s someone she knows, to scream and run if confronted by one. But if her classmates are talking kissing and sex I might just as well start telling her the truth, instead of her getting some fabricated stories out there.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Market Day
When I was young, I loved market days for two reasons one is that I will get my self something new mainly threads and occasionally teddies and dolls and other colourful stuff, the other, I was the sole decision maker on what stuff to buy with my weekly savings from allowances.
Market day was on Saturday, my friends and I would get ready for the day and so we made sure that by 2 pm we were totally free- no pending house hold chores and definitely no baby sitting, too bad for you if you were left with the baby- market day was a no go zone for toddlers, they were unwanted distractions as they will slow us down when hopping from one stand to the next. Can’t concentrate on shopping for good threads when one eye had to be on the baby and the other on the threads- good threads would pass you by and the possibilities of buying some thread with a missing button or some tear etc were high.
Fast forward… Took my kids with me to the market this weekend baby gal was so excited, there she was she preparing herself, counting her money, added up to 250/- put it in her small purse, got her shopping bag and off we were. Got to the market and we made a deal that I first buy my stuff then we buy her stuff. It was not easy shopping with Mr. Chidi trying to balance him and avoiding his small fingers from spilling the veggies and fruits is no easy task, I somehow manage. So finally am done its Cas time to shop, we head to the stall where they sell dolls and accessories, I ask her if she wants help in selecting and she says she can manage on her own, so I sit with Chidi on my lap and watch her select her doll clothes, turns them inside out, check the buttons, zips, tears or any imperfections, keeps the good ones aside and tosses the bad ones back. After about ten minutes she is done, she brings her merchandise to me and they are only four pieces all dresses 2 pinks and 2 flowery. I ask her why she four from the big pile and she says that those are the only ones she liked…hands up, it’s her choice and am not to interfere. She pays the lady 200/- and off we go, her carrying her shopping but the look of excitement on her face… can’t wait to get home to try them on her dolls brings back old memories my Saturday shopping sprees with my friends.
Market day was on Saturday, my friends and I would get ready for the day and so we made sure that by 2 pm we were totally free- no pending house hold chores and definitely no baby sitting, too bad for you if you were left with the baby- market day was a no go zone for toddlers, they were unwanted distractions as they will slow us down when hopping from one stand to the next. Can’t concentrate on shopping for good threads when one eye had to be on the baby and the other on the threads- good threads would pass you by and the possibilities of buying some thread with a missing button or some tear etc were high.
Fast forward… Took my kids with me to the market this weekend baby gal was so excited, there she was she preparing herself, counting her money, added up to 250/- put it in her small purse, got her shopping bag and off we were. Got to the market and we made a deal that I first buy my stuff then we buy her stuff. It was not easy shopping with Mr. Chidi trying to balance him and avoiding his small fingers from spilling the veggies and fruits is no easy task, I somehow manage. So finally am done its Cas time to shop, we head to the stall where they sell dolls and accessories, I ask her if she wants help in selecting and she says she can manage on her own, so I sit with Chidi on my lap and watch her select her doll clothes, turns them inside out, check the buttons, zips, tears or any imperfections, keeps the good ones aside and tosses the bad ones back. After about ten minutes she is done, she brings her merchandise to me and they are only four pieces all dresses 2 pinks and 2 flowery. I ask her why she four from the big pile and she says that those are the only ones she liked…hands up, it’s her choice and am not to interfere. She pays the lady 200/- and off we go, her carrying her shopping but the look of excitement on her face… can’t wait to get home to try them on her dolls brings back old memories my Saturday shopping sprees with my friends.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
House maids
Am sure most parents have undergone headaches with several house maids, what do they want? Honestly, i have given up of trying figuring them out. You give them a place to live, food, and all other household amenities for free and yet they still give you headache. Sincerely i understand why some mothers quit their jobs to bring up their kids. These girls can drive you to near madness. Personally i treat them like part of my family, sometimes i will tell them to take a break while i do the chores just to make them feel appreciated but wapi, one day they will just wake up and tell you they are leaving for no apparent reason without caring at all, with mighty attitudes. I pity my young kids-i don’t think psychologically it’s good for them to have different caretakers changing very often. I have had a turnover of 5 maids this year alone. Some friends of mine tell me they almost have a new girl every month.
The ages 22-26 are the notorious ones, very hot blooded, always on the phone, all their salaries are spent on buying clothes, skin lightening creams etc, they become prey to young men from the grocery, shops, butcheries, masons etc. On Sunday i went to the butchery and the young man behind the counter asked me where a previous house maid went to....now i know why i was getting good cuts whenever i sent that girl to the butchery...aah! I always make a point of telling my house girls the dangers of frolicking around, the guy will not marry you, will likely get you paged or worse infect you with an STD, for what? Buying you sodas over the weekend and promising you bliss. The older ones want to take over your home, they have a mindset on how homes should be run and do not want to be corrected, almost commanding you in your home!
With all these horror stories of house girls liaising with kidnappers, some are murderers, thieves basically crooks. The choices to a parent are few, either get one from a trusted person, get to know about their backgrounds, parents, relatives, friends or just raise your kids and get something you can easily do from home.I am almost choosing the second option...almost.
The ages 22-26 are the notorious ones, very hot blooded, always on the phone, all their salaries are spent on buying clothes, skin lightening creams etc, they become prey to young men from the grocery, shops, butcheries, masons etc. On Sunday i went to the butchery and the young man behind the counter asked me where a previous house maid went to....now i know why i was getting good cuts whenever i sent that girl to the butchery...aah! I always make a point of telling my house girls the dangers of frolicking around, the guy will not marry you, will likely get you paged or worse infect you with an STD, for what? Buying you sodas over the weekend and promising you bliss. The older ones want to take over your home, they have a mindset on how homes should be run and do not want to be corrected, almost commanding you in your home!
With all these horror stories of house girls liaising with kidnappers, some are murderers, thieves basically crooks. The choices to a parent are few, either get one from a trusted person, get to know about their backgrounds, parents, relatives, friends or just raise your kids and get something you can easily do from home.I am almost choosing the second option...almost.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Discovery
Week has been quite hectic, what with one mr.young man discovering new things all the time. What with him chewing on his toe- then bites it, huh baby its not my tit its your toe!. its so hilarious when he gives me that look of surprise, and diaper time i swear he can’t wait for his diaper change, normally i give him time to air, that has made him discover his pee pee (penis), the way he pulls it..i think he thinks its something he can put in his mouth- i scare for him, though the specialist say its normal for boys to behave this way, maybe, I don’t remember baby gal doing it.
Baby gal cannot touch her homework unless am there to do it with her. When i ask her why..the excuse is always the same too difficult but apparently when am around the sums and grammar aint difficult at all huh! and finally i got the cold that was circulating in the house, for once there i thought i was getting immune to the ever present colds. What with baby Chidi sneezing right on my face, now i have a running nose and a very annoying sore throat. I am sticking to my simple homemade remedy of honey, cinnamon, lemon, plenty of water and sleep, good sleep, not me sleeping with one eye open cause baby boy has a new habit of waking up at 2 or 3 to start twittering like a bird..i think he got it from the birds that chirp outside the house, I need time out for real.. then maybe my week will clear in a week or so.
Baby gal cannot touch her homework unless am there to do it with her. When i ask her why..the excuse is always the same too difficult but apparently when am around the sums and grammar aint difficult at all huh! and finally i got the cold that was circulating in the house, for once there i thought i was getting immune to the ever present colds. What with baby Chidi sneezing right on my face, now i have a running nose and a very annoying sore throat. I am sticking to my simple homemade remedy of honey, cinnamon, lemon, plenty of water and sleep, good sleep, not me sleeping with one eye open cause baby boy has a new habit of waking up at 2 or 3 to start twittering like a bird..i think he got it from the birds that chirp outside the house, I need time out for real.. then maybe my week will clear in a week or so.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Discipline
Discipline is a virtue that all parents should instill on their kids. mum used to give me a good thrashing, to her that was discipline, you do wrong-beatings was the mode of punishment- then you can explain your case later, more like our judiciary system guilty till proven innocent (like it matters any way, already got the beatings). It worked out- i did not turn out badly. So here i am, a parent now and am wondering how best to discipline baby girl.
• Mums way- I wish she would have approached discipline in a different way and I do not want my kids feeling the same way when they grow up (no hard feelings mum)
• Modern way- Its good because you get to talk to them and let them know why you are punishing them. Like if baby girl does something wrong- she knows she is not going to get new toys, go for outings etc
• Mums way- I wish she would have approached discipline in a different way and I do not want my kids feeling the same way when they grow up (no hard feelings mum)
• Modern way- Its good because you get to talk to them and let them know why you are punishing them. Like if baby girl does something wrong- she knows she is not going to get new toys, go for outings etc
Friday, September 11, 2009
TOYS
My kids have toys of all types made from plastic and cloth materials dolls, animals, houses, cooking utensils, teddies etc. I always buy a couple of them when out shopping for one reason that baby boy loves toys but only if they are different every few seconds. The only thing i check for is age suitability, especially the chocking aspect of it and the KEBS mark of quality, which of course tells you that the toy has been ascertained as proper for kids.
So when i read in the Standard that some toys being sold in Kenya from china (most toys are from there)have harmful substances which can cause cancer, birth defects etc if used and not washing your hands and that they have the KEBS mark on them i was shocked. How many kids wash their hands after playing with toys, as far as i know none and most of the toys are put in the mouth more than once. Now am wondering my kids, nephews, nieces, friend’s kids and many more have come in contact with some of these toys, so is the damage already done? Should i take my kids for cancer tests? What should i do? (Well from now henceforth i will be more careful) but still, if the shopkeepers know a fake KEBS sticker from a genuine one WHY? WHAT are those toys doing on their shelves? I am mad!!! Can they be sued for stocking toxic toys deliberately?
Fake sticker Genuine sticker
Thursday, September 10, 2009
10 Ways To Save Water Around Your Home
Some useful tips especially at this time when we are having a water crisis. Let us try and conserve our environment starting from our homes.
10 Ways To Save Water Around Your Home | DoItYourself.com
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10 Ways To Save Water Around Your Home | DoItYourself.com
Shared via AddThis
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
999
I have a phone which I leave in the house for home use but it has got this thing about going off constantly. So I have to set it up all the time (date & time) So when I was inserting the date (the normal format dd mm yy) I typed 999 and I was like yikes did I do it right, yeah the numbers looks like a tilted 666 eerie. It also reminded me of the emergency hotline to police/fire? so I tried calling to see if it still works (back in the day it was criminal to make prank calls and there were horror stories if the police caught you, how they knew it was you, I don’t know- guess it was told to scare us) Any way the number did not go through. Lucky me. Am still waiting to see if there are any extra ordinary happenings today. So far nothing. Reminds me of all the hullabaloo of 666. Nothing happened. Am not expecting anything but the day is not over yet, so let me wait and see.
Vaseline
Its bathtime for Mr.young man. He loves his bath. its patatapata and baaah..baaah...all the time plus and of course wanting to chew on the soap. Leave him for one second you will find his mouth covered in foam and that's what happened with the vaseline, left it open as i dashed to get some ear buds. All his fingers,were fully dipped in the jar and some vaseline was in his mouth.(how does vaseline taste?)aah baby your too fast on being mischievous.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Baby food
I made the mistake of giving baby boy some of my food, which has some oil and salt and now he does not want to eat his. He shuts his mouth so tight you cannot get a spoon inside but wait he sees mine aaah mouth wide open.How do i explain to a 9 month old that his food is healthier than mine. I have tried spicing it up but nothing he still insists on mine. I heed some help.
Back to school
It’s back to school today. House will certainly be quite. Baby girl is quite excited. She was becoming restless with all her friends back to school by last week. I wish I had the same enthusiasm about school back then. I hope she continues with the same attitude all through.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Running out of tricks
Baby boy likes anything that makes lots of noise. His attention spam being zero you have to have different sounds and volumes. I give him his toys he is bored of those, so i try with pans and plastic containers and now i can stop him from cracking those things up. However, he is scared of the blender, when it starts running he holds me tight and tries to hide his head, pouts his mouth , eyes wide and waaaaaa... poor boy.
Sundays are meant to be relaxing! for me my relaxing time is dictacted by baby boy. when he decides to sleep then it's relax time at least for two hours.
Sundays are meant to be relaxing! for me my relaxing time is dictacted by baby boy. when he decides to sleep then it's relax time at least for two hours.
Inconvinience
Hi parents, sorry my blog was down for a few days. Apparently it looks like am being spanned sorry for all the inconvinience caused. Otherwise enjoy the blog and start posting your happenings.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Pampers
There was an issue raised in one of the foras regarding pampers diapers. Someone was following in up with the manufactures. Did they give any response or did they improve. Any how i switched to little angels and they are great and i intend to use them for now.But baby should quickly grow out of them.
Free feeling Saturday.
There is something about Saturdays that make my household bust with lots of energy, There is free feeling about it, and my daughter know it the day she can play all day long till dark. When we were young satos were those days you played till dark with no one pestering you about homework or sleep early tomorrow is school day. And the feeling still there even now.
Jabs over
Today is the last compulsory jab day. Poor boy he didn't even know what the nurse was doing to him till the needle hit the flesh. The wail..sorry kiddo its a cruel world we brought you in. I always have this question the small scare which i believe most of us have on our left arms, does a jab have to leave a scar? He got his alright!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Holidays over.
Aaa!! the holidays are over it's back to school. The house has become quiter and calmer. At least now my little boy can sleep with no disturbances.
Never ending colds
My son downs with a cold that never seems to end and with the govrnment banning cough syrups. God knows i have taken them throughout my childhood. So now i am doing the home remedy solutions. some honey, hot water and a little bit of cinnanom. Hope he fights it on his own. But i pity him since he can not even blow his nose.
carol
carol
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