Today, I have the honor of being a guest on a blog, Mummy in Provence. MiP lives in Southern France with her baby and husband, although her heritage is not French. She talks about Breastfeeding, Elimination Communication, Baby Led Weaning, living in a foreign country and in general, is very interesting to read and talk to.
Her series, The Global Differences in Baby-Making, has featured fascinating Mummys (or Mamas as I call them) in Qatar, Turkey, and France, with many more to come, I am sure. Of course, when Mummy in Provence was looking for guest posts I jumped at the chance, as a fellow Breastfeeding, Elimination Communication, Babywearing, Immigrant Mummy/Mama. Please check out my post about being a Polish Mama in the US and comment.
Also, I will be sharing my recipes for Fresh Mushrooms Soup and Stuffed Rolled Beef in the Warsaw Style shortly...
Na razie!
A Mama born in Poland with "Gypsy Blood" living on the American Prairie with her daughters, two future Miss Poland and Nobel Peace prize recipients :: Food, Travel, Life...
Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts
04 April 2011
26 February 2011
One Reason Why I Babywear
My older daughter’s school requires parents to volunteer a certain amount of time or pay a tuition increase. Since I don’t have the extra cash to waste on something easily avoided and also needed to get out and meet people in our new neighborhood, I decided it was a great opportunity for me. Well, for us.
Yes, us. For myself and… baby! I don’t have family nearby and I also don’t know anyone in order to leave her during the day to volunteer. So, I take her with me to the school. But how to do that without causing a distraction for myself and the students or putting her in a potentially dangerous situation? Baby wear!
I volunteer once a week for lunch duty, sometimes more if needed. So, we go to the office, sign in, and I strap baby to my front or back in our Mei Tai or Ring Sling, whichever I brought along that day. I’d love a wrap as well but that’s not an option right now.
We walk into the cafeteria and greet the students who all, at first, crowded around asking a thousand questions: “Is this your baby?”, “Why is she in that thing?”, “What’s that called?” and comments about how most of them had never seen such a thing. Now, as the year has gone by, they are used to seeing baby and myself and simply say “Hello” to both of us, greet the baby by name, and go on about their lunch break.
The main reason I am at lunch duty is to help the younger children open milk cartons and their lunches, clean up messes, walk around and make sure every child is eating, has something to eat, and is happy. You never know when you might come across a kid who doesn’t feel well, or got their feelings hurt, or forgot their lunch, etc. And since baby is in a carrier, my hands are free to help while baby helps them smile and feel more open with me to share whatever problem they might have.
There is a particular girl who in the beginning of the year was being picked on for looking different. It’s not her fault. So, wearing this exciting and excited baby of mine, and sporting a pair of glasses that day as well, I sat and talked with her at lunch while the children who picked on her watched. She has not been picked on since that day as far as she has told me, and feels special because I make it a point to stop and talk to her every time. Again, with baby who’s smiling, laughing, and hugging her from her safe perch against Mommy’s chest.
My older daughter loves to see us and tells everyone, “That’s my Mommy and Baby Sister!” and tells everyone about us. She’s very proud.
And, of course, we can’t forget baby. At first, she was still a little baby so she would watch quietly snuggled against me and after a few minutes, fall asleep. Now, she’s over a year old and smiles and squeaks and “talks” to the children and watches everything they do. She’s developing relationships, recognizing certain faces, and learning how to act in social situations, all from the safety of my arms, or baby carrier.
I think the cutest experience out of this so far has been the fact that many girls have come up to me asking how to wear a baby and parents have also told me, some showing cell phone pictures, that their children now walk around the house “wearing” their baby dolls with scarves, pillow cases, etc. One little girl even asked Santa Claus for a toy ring sling. Her mother came to me and asked where she could find such a thing.
I knew volunteering at a school is important. But I never realized the kind of impression my bringing baby along would do, especially since I am not an expert at baby wearing at all. I hope this inspires someone to wear their baby and maybe even realize that doing so opens the world to them and their child in an easy and nurturing way.
Yes, us. For myself and… baby! I don’t have family nearby and I also don’t know anyone in order to leave her during the day to volunteer. So, I take her with me to the school. But how to do that without causing a distraction for myself and the students or putting her in a potentially dangerous situation? Baby wear!
I volunteer once a week for lunch duty, sometimes more if needed. So, we go to the office, sign in, and I strap baby to my front or back in our Mei Tai or Ring Sling, whichever I brought along that day. I’d love a wrap as well but that’s not an option right now.
We walk into the cafeteria and greet the students who all, at first, crowded around asking a thousand questions: “Is this your baby?”, “Why is she in that thing?”, “What’s that called?” and comments about how most of them had never seen such a thing. Now, as the year has gone by, they are used to seeing baby and myself and simply say “Hello” to both of us, greet the baby by name, and go on about their lunch break.
The main reason I am at lunch duty is to help the younger children open milk cartons and their lunches, clean up messes, walk around and make sure every child is eating, has something to eat, and is happy. You never know when you might come across a kid who doesn’t feel well, or got their feelings hurt, or forgot their lunch, etc. And since baby is in a carrier, my hands are free to help while baby helps them smile and feel more open with me to share whatever problem they might have.
There is a particular girl who in the beginning of the year was being picked on for looking different. It’s not her fault. So, wearing this exciting and excited baby of mine, and sporting a pair of glasses that day as well, I sat and talked with her at lunch while the children who picked on her watched. She has not been picked on since that day as far as she has told me, and feels special because I make it a point to stop and talk to her every time. Again, with baby who’s smiling, laughing, and hugging her from her safe perch against Mommy’s chest.
My older daughter loves to see us and tells everyone, “That’s my Mommy and Baby Sister!” and tells everyone about us. She’s very proud.
And, of course, we can’t forget baby. At first, she was still a little baby so she would watch quietly snuggled against me and after a few minutes, fall asleep. Now, she’s over a year old and smiles and squeaks and “talks” to the children and watches everything they do. She’s developing relationships, recognizing certain faces, and learning how to act in social situations, all from the safety of my arms, or baby carrier.
I think the cutest experience out of this so far has been the fact that many girls have come up to me asking how to wear a baby and parents have also told me, some showing cell phone pictures, that their children now walk around the house “wearing” their baby dolls with scarves, pillow cases, etc. One little girl even asked Santa Claus for a toy ring sling. Her mother came to me and asked where she could find such a thing.
I knew volunteering at a school is important. But I never realized the kind of impression my bringing baby along would do, especially since I am not an expert at baby wearing at all. I hope this inspires someone to wear their baby and maybe even realize that doing so opens the world to them and their child in an easy and nurturing way.
08 February 2011
Zupa Mleczna or Polish Milk Noodles
I love when readers ask me about a particular dish they remember but don't know how to make. A reader on Twitter, ADD Housewife, asked me about a dish her "Grandma" ate growing up called "Milk Noodles". I have a feeling that it is probably Zupa Mleczna (pronounced Zoopah Mleh-ch-nah and meaning Milk Soup), which is a very simple and old recipe.
Before you turn your nose up at it, I want to say that it is extremely similar to rice pudding. In fact, Zupa Mleczna can be made with many different types of Noodles, Rice, or Kasza Manna (my mother's preferred way). So, you could call it Polish Rice Pudding. My father, as one example, enjoys left over Kasza Gryczana from the night before in his. Some people also instead place a stale slice of Bread in theirs. This would not be that grocery store sliced White Bread kind, but rather, a heartier Country Bread.
Ingredients:
2 cups Milk
2 tablespoons Butter
1 cup Kluski
pinch of Salt
1-2 tablespoons Sugar
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon
On Medium Low Heat, keep stirring repeatedly until Noodles are cooked to the consistency you like them. I cooked mine softer since the Baby will be eating them with me today.
Add the Sugar, and if you like, Ground Cinnamon.
Stir together. Doesn't that look like Rice Pudding, but with Noodles instead?
Serve either hot or warm, depending on how you like it. Baby eats hers warm, since she is a Baby.
This dish is great for cold winter mornings, or when someone is sick. It also makes a great quick supper. I mentioned that we Poles eat Supper, right? You know, Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Dinner and Supper... And, don't forget, we Poles have meatless dishes quite often in our diet, this being one.
Smacznego!
Before you turn your nose up at it, I want to say that it is extremely similar to rice pudding. In fact, Zupa Mleczna can be made with many different types of Noodles, Rice, or Kasza Manna (my mother's preferred way). So, you could call it Polish Rice Pudding. My father, as one example, enjoys left over Kasza Gryczana from the night before in his. Some people also instead place a stale slice of Bread in theirs. This would not be that grocery store sliced White Bread kind, but rather, a heartier Country Bread.
Ingredients:
2 cups Milk
2 tablespoons Butter
1 cup Kluski
pinch of Salt
1-2 tablespoons Sugar
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon
Melt Butter in Saucepan. I like mine browned just a bit, to add another flavor to the Zupa Mleczna, but you really don't need to brown it. Add Milk.
When Milk has been brought to a boil, add Noodles and the pinch of Salt.
On Medium Low Heat, keep stirring repeatedly until Noodles are cooked to the consistency you like them. I cooked mine softer since the Baby will be eating them with me today.
Add the Sugar, and if you like, Ground Cinnamon.
Stir together. Doesn't that look like Rice Pudding, but with Noodles instead?
Serve either hot or warm, depending on how you like it. Baby eats hers warm, since she is a Baby.
This dish is great for cold winter mornings, or when someone is sick. It also makes a great quick supper. I mentioned that we Poles eat Supper, right? You know, Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Dinner and Supper... And, don't forget, we Poles have meatless dishes quite often in our diet, this being one.
Smacznego!
10 December 2010
Amber Teething Necklace
Amber. It draws you to it, at once smooth, warm, firm, delicate, mysterious, and unlike any other stones used for jewelry and decoration. I have always loved amber and own three amber necklaces now, all from Poland. I have received many compliments on them when I did wear them. However, I do not wear them at this time with my younger children. But I do also have amber rings and earrings which I do wear often.
My children both have "amber teething necklaces", as they are called here in the US. My older daughter wears hers for festivals, Polish heritage events, and will be wearing it while teething her "6 year old molars" in a year or so.
My younger daughter wore her teething necklace after her first 2 teeth came in with a lot of whining, fussiness, sleeplessness, and just general misery. As soon as I got her necklace, the second two teeth were no problem. Of course, I lost her necklace while getting out of the car at a festival, so we had to wait through another miserable episode of a tooth coming in before we got her a replacement necklace. Now, her teething is not as difficult. Since I have seen how she is with and without the necklaces, I can say for sure that it made a big difference for her.
How amber works in relieving pain is that, as it is warmed through direct and prolonged skin contact, the natural oils inside the amber bead are released and absorbed into the skin. It truly is a marvelous and natural way to relieve pain. I have, myself, worn an amber necklace tucked under my shirt once for a week while I waited to be seen by a dentist for a filled cavity which became extremely infected, and it really did help. Some people will recommend that you warm the necklace first in sunlight before placing it on baby, however, prolonged exposure to sunlight is said to damage amber.
This is a picture of my younger daughter's first amber teething necklace before I shortened it (keeping the beads in a safe velvet drawstring bag in the jewelry box to add back once she is older).
My personal criteria for a teething necklace are the following:
Some words of caution are that you should never leave your child unsupervised with any jewelry, including amber teething necklaces. Children should not be allowed to chew on their necklaces. In such cases, the necklace should be shortened and always tucked inside the shirt to allow for maximum skin contact. Children should not be allowed to sleep in the necklace. I also would think that allowing baby to wear the necklace while eating, bathing or swimming is not recommended. Simply because food can cause damage to the beads and string, and while bathing or swimming, the necklace can be broken. Also, the chemicals in some baby washes, especially scented ones, and the chlorine can damage the beads and weaken the string over time.
If you would like to check the authenticity of a piece of amber, there are a number of different tests you can do. One is to mix a few tablespoons of salt into warm water, then see whether the amber floats. Amber has been found on the Baltic sea coast for centuries because it floats in salt water. You can also place the clean amber on the tip of your tongue and you should start to feel a tingly sensation, but not taste unpleasant. If you rub it between your hands vigorously, it should give off a pleasant smell but not get sticky. Also, "fake" plastic amber and copal (immature resin) melt if you place a drop or two of nail polish remover on it, but real amber does not.
Amber teething necklaces can replace the need or can add to the effectiveness of acetaminophen or ibuprofen and other remedies. They also make for a fabulous baby shower gift and family heirloom.
I also want to add that the Amazon ad I have showed with this post is with a company which I have purchased several pieces of amber from and I have been satisfied with all my purchases.
My children both have "amber teething necklaces", as they are called here in the US. My older daughter wears hers for festivals, Polish heritage events, and will be wearing it while teething her "6 year old molars" in a year or so.
My younger daughter wore her teething necklace after her first 2 teeth came in with a lot of whining, fussiness, sleeplessness, and just general misery. As soon as I got her necklace, the second two teeth were no problem. Of course, I lost her necklace while getting out of the car at a festival, so we had to wait through another miserable episode of a tooth coming in before we got her a replacement necklace. Now, her teething is not as difficult. Since I have seen how she is with and without the necklaces, I can say for sure that it made a big difference for her.
How amber works in relieving pain is that, as it is warmed through direct and prolonged skin contact, the natural oils inside the amber bead are released and absorbed into the skin. It truly is a marvelous and natural way to relieve pain. I have, myself, worn an amber necklace tucked under my shirt once for a week while I waited to be seen by a dentist for a filled cavity which became extremely infected, and it really did help. Some people will recommend that you warm the necklace first in sunlight before placing it on baby, however, prolonged exposure to sunlight is said to damage amber.
This is a picture of my younger daughter's first amber teething necklace before I shortened it (keeping the beads in a safe velvet drawstring bag in the jewelry box to add back once she is older).
My personal criteria for a teething necklace are the following:
- Knots between the beads so that if the string breaks, not all the beads are lost
- that the beads be on a string which will break if it gets snagged, to prevent strangulation
- preferably a length that will work for my child for several years without being too long, such as around 11 inches long
- either a clasp that is a screw style inside a bead to have a more uniform appearance with the rest of the necklace or, a loop tie that has a larger bead as an anchor
- smooth beads that are able to lie flat against baby's skin to avoid poking and discomfort (although round beads I have to question since obviously amber is not naturally round and it takes away from the natural beauty of the bead, as well as it means it is composite amber rather than raw amber)
- that the holes in the beads be lengthwise through the bead so that the maximum surface area is against skin
- colors to me are not important but I do think that if you are choosing for a boy, a tri colored necklace looks nicer, and a duo tone or progression of tones looks nicer on girls. A uniform tone can probably look nice on both.
- no nicks, chips, cracks, fissures, or any sort of lines in the amber, as I had a bead break the first day because of it once
- I prefer raw amber over composite amber, however, as long as it is made so that there are no fault lines in the amber, that is a matter or personal preference, also raw tends to be more expensive
Some words of caution are that you should never leave your child unsupervised with any jewelry, including amber teething necklaces. Children should not be allowed to chew on their necklaces. In such cases, the necklace should be shortened and always tucked inside the shirt to allow for maximum skin contact. Children should not be allowed to sleep in the necklace. I also would think that allowing baby to wear the necklace while eating, bathing or swimming is not recommended. Simply because food can cause damage to the beads and string, and while bathing or swimming, the necklace can be broken. Also, the chemicals in some baby washes, especially scented ones, and the chlorine can damage the beads and weaken the string over time.
If you would like to check the authenticity of a piece of amber, there are a number of different tests you can do. One is to mix a few tablespoons of salt into warm water, then see whether the amber floats. Amber has been found on the Baltic sea coast for centuries because it floats in salt water. You can also place the clean amber on the tip of your tongue and you should start to feel a tingly sensation, but not taste unpleasant. If you rub it between your hands vigorously, it should give off a pleasant smell but not get sticky. Also, "fake" plastic amber and copal (immature resin) melt if you place a drop or two of nail polish remover on it, but real amber does not.
Amber teething necklaces can replace the need or can add to the effectiveness of acetaminophen or ibuprofen and other remedies. They also make for a fabulous baby shower gift and family heirloom.
I also want to add that the Amazon ad I have showed with this post is with a company which I have purchased several pieces of amber from and I have been satisfied with all my purchases.
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