Sign Up Login
Sign Up Login
The Lighter Side

The 7 Stages of My 2-Year-Old in a Restaurant

Taking a child to a restaurant is a challenge. We need more child friendly restaurants! There are some children who are perfect. I just wish mine was like that. Of course, I?m the one with an excitable and impatient 2-year-old who isn?t interested in listening to mammy. What does that get me in a restaurant? These 7 stages!

Stage #1: Excited

It’s a trip out and the first emotion has to be excitement. My 2-year-old wants to know where we?re going, what we?re doing, and who we?ll meet. Depending on the restaurant, she’s excited about meeting the staff who will have colouring books and balloons at the ready. Even a place we?ve been to before is exciting, because something tends to change.

Stage #2: Curious

What’s that black mark on the floor? Why is that woman over there eating an ice cream? What’s going on behind the door that says ‘staff only? (not like we can read the words)? These are all questions my 2-year-old likely asks inside her own head. She wants to be everywhere at once, and isn?t going to settle for anything.

Stage #3: Impatient

Food is ordered and now it’s time to wait for it to come. Of course, once the food is ordered, the 2-year-old expects it to be on the table right away. We can just take the picture off the menu, right? This leads to the impatient stage. We want food right now and we will scream until it comes.

Stage #4: Placated

That is until the drinks come. Now they?re here, we?re a little more placated. We?re happy to have a few mouthfuls and go back to the colouring book we were given earlier. Or we?ve found a toy in mummy’s bag or realised we can flick juice all over big brother. It’s fun for a while, until?

Stage #5: Frustrated

We need food again! The juice isn?t enough and we?ve just remembered that we were expecting our chicken fingers and fries. To make matters worse, big brother has his spaghetti and daddy has his burger. We just don?t understand why some food is already here and ours isn?t. There are tears, while mummy and daddy try to explain food will be here within the minute.

Stage #6: Happy

Finally, food is here and we?re able to finish a meal in sort-of-peace. Of course, there is some throwing of food on the floor and trying to feed others the soggy fries that we have. But there is happiness because we have a full tummy. And dessert followed the chicken fingers, which means ice cream is all over us and in our ?treat tummy.?

Stage #7: Sleepy

The final stage is definitely one of the other Dwarves from Snow White. Not that we?re fed and our tummies (because there are three, don?t ya know) are full, it’s time for sleep. But we can?t get to sleep in the high chair we?re in and we refuse to colour while mummy or daddy pay the bill. So, that means crying again and fighting with the high chair restraints until we?re out and able to escape to the car. Once there, we crash.

Yes, these are the stages of my 2-year-old in a restaurant. Like Ireland, which is able to get all four seasons in a day, we get every single emotion in the space of a couple of hours. But we wouldn?t have it any other way as parents, right?

The Lighter Side

10 Reasons Why New Mums are So Tired!

Remember being a teenager and thinking you were tired? I can remember coming home from school, plopping down on the sofa and falling fast asleep. I was pooped, wiped out and couldn’t imagine not sleeping right then and there. Then came my twenties. I’d go to work (for what seemed like an excruciating 8 hours) and again HAVE to take a nap before going out to the pub or making dinner. I couldn’t have imagined being any more tired. Now I know better.

When you’re a new mum, tired takes on a whole new meaning. If you’ve been blessed with a little one, you’re no doubt tired.

As you gaze lovingly at your little angel sleeping it’s hard to imagine why you are so sleep deprived. They’re so precious, peacefully slumbering away. But the truth is that being a new mum can be tough, leave you exhausted, and wondering if you’ll ever feel rested again. But you will. In the meantime, find camaraderie with the other millions of new mums feeling just like you.

Here are the top 10 Reasons New Mums are So Tired:

1. It’s hard work.

Motherhood is a crash course in learning what hard work really is. Little ones are 100% dependent on their mums for everything, from the basics to making sure they are mentally stimulated – literally every need they have is on you, the mum. Not a task to be taken lightly.

2. No sleep

Even the easiest of babies wake up –  a lot! Gone are the 8 hour nights of sleep replaced with a few hours (if you’re lucky) through the entire night. When you wake you aren’t just ‘not asleep’. New mums are feeding babies, changing diapers, tending to any and all needs at any time of the night and often throughout the entire night.

3. Worry wart syndrome

You’ll discover if you’re a ‘worrier’ once you have a child. New mums tend to worry, at least for a while. Are they sleeping? Do they need me? What if I can’t hear them crying? These are a few of the 10 billion worries new mums have. Worrying is exhausting. When you don’t sleep you may worry more and so on and so on. But you already know this – you’re a new mum!

4. What’s around the bend?

A non-mum friend once asked me what I was so worried about. After silently cursing her stupidity, I tried to explain – but just couldn’t. New mums worry – what to expect, what to worry about or not worry about, what if something seems normal but it’s potentially a huge problem. The first time around is especially hard with no clue whatsoever about what’s to come.

5. Crying, crying, crying – will it ever end?

Babies with colic will cry for hours on end. Mums become exhausted not only by the actual crying but with not being able to help their little ones feel better. It’s physically, emotionally and mentally draining. They say 50% of babies grow out of colic by 3 months and 90% by 9 months – um okay but that’s a long, long time of taking care of a baby you simply can’t comfort. This by far is one of the most draining new mum experiences.

6. Nappies, feeding, the basics.

Tending to the daily needs of an infant can take up the entire day (& most of the night.) Honestly, you could hire one person for round the clock work just to tend to these basic needs – and they’d be exhausted too!

7. Oh yeah, taking care of yourself.

Many women are naturally caregivers putting everyone before themselves. This couldn’t be more evident than when it comes to new mums. Being so absorbed in taking care of the baby, the new mum forgets her own needs. Taking time to shower when your plate is overflowing with responsibilities can be a challenge and tires you out too.

8. The rest of the family – are they still around?

If you take a moment and think about it you may recall a husband or partner you used to eat dinner with, talk to, laugh with and even on occasion have some fun. New mums are all-consumed with the needs of the baby that often partners and former lives seem like distant memories. It’s impossible to return to having as much couple time as before but many mums still try – this is also exhausting. When all you want to do is plop down and close your eyes, there’s another person who needs you.

9. Everything with baby takes longer.

Gone are the days of throwing on a parka, walking outside to hop in the car or take a stroll to the market for some milk. Now it’s a planned event. Not only do you have to look (somewhat) presentable, you must time this perfectly with your luv’s nap and feeding time. And don’t forget to pack the nappy bag filled with everything you could possibly need – just in case. Dressed and packed? Don’t forget the buggy and car seat. Yes, it’s a whole new world running errands with babies. But not to worry, this too will soon pass and you’ll move on to chasing them around the house trying to get them in the car!

10. Lack of sleep.

Wait, was this already listed? I can’t remember I’m just too exhausted?………

There’s no doubt, being a new mum is tiring and trying. But it’s all worth it in the end! ???

The Lighter Side

Simple Focaccia Bread Recipe

I love making bread, or in my case, trying to make bread. 

But equally, I love to make it as simple as possible. I don’t have the patience for endless kneading of dough and I don’t have a Kitchen Aid to take all the hard work away.

So this, relatively easy recipe for Focaccia bread is right up my street.

And here is the finished product complete with a serving suggestion!

Garlic, Rosemary and Thyme Foccacia Bread Recipe

 

Simple Focaccia Bread Recipe

Garlic, Rosemary and Thyme Foccacia Bread Recipe
Course Bread
Keyword bread, foccacia
Servings 4-5 people
Prep Time 1hr 40 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a pot, add the extra virgin olive oil, chopped minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, and the black pepper.

    Cook over a low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and making sure the garlic doesn't brown or burn!

    Leave this aside for now.

  2. In a large bowl, stir the warm water, yeast, and honey and leave it to rest for about 5 minutes.
  3. Add 130g o f the flour and 60ml of the garlic/olive oil/rosemary/thyme mixture to the bowl with the warm water, yeast and honey. Stir until it's all mixed together and try as best as possible to make sure there are no lumps. Leave for another 5 minutes.

  4. Now add the rest of the flour and the salt and mix until the dough comes together. I sometimes find that it can be a little sticky at this point so I slowly add a little bit of flour until it is no longer sticky/wet.

  5. Move it to a floured clean surface/board and knead it about 10 or 12 times until it becomes smooth. You may need to knead it a few more times.

  6. At this point I put it in a large oiled bowl, covered with a towel and allow it to rise for an hour or so. A warmish spot would be useful.

  7. After about 1 hour, heat the oven to 200C. I have a fan oven.

  8. Get a 13" by 9" baking sheet and line it with baking parchment. Oil the parchment with some of the garlic/olive oil mix (approximately 2 tablespoons).

  9. Pop the now risen dough out from the bowl onto the oiled baking sheet and press it down to cover the sheet. Use 2 fingers to create dimples all along the surface and pour the remaining garlic/olive oil mix over the top, spreading it out to cover the dough.

  10. At this point leave it aside to rise slightly for about 15 to 20 minutes. I personally find that it doesn't seem to rise or rise much at this point.

  11. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. I'd recommend checking on it regularly to make sure it doesn't overbake.

    Cool it down on a wire-rack.

Recipe Notes

Infused Garlic / Olive Oil / Rosemary / Thyme

Advertising Features

A Comprehensive Introduction to the Best Router for Parents

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

It is no secret that the best router for parents could assist you in raising your kids well. It is essential to consider what your children see, especially when using the internet. After all, once they see, they will never unsee, and that could haunt them forever and destroy them too. Equally important, the internet is not entirely bad. It has resources ideal for learning as well as the entertainment of the kids. That’s why you need to buy the best router for parents. They will ensure that you get to allow your kids to access the good and, at the same time, protect them from the bad. Let us discuss the best router for parents in detail.

The definition of the best router for parents is simple. It is simply a router that offers the parents mechanisms to control what your child access via the internet. It is a blessing to any parent because it ensures that they have control of what the kids view via the internet. Some of the content available is only meant for an adult. To ensure that your kid doesn’t access that, consider buying the best router for parents.

There are various ways of utilizing your best router for parents. They include content filtering, usage control, and monitoring. If it can do that, it deserves to rank among the best router for parents.

  • Why is it necessary for parents to use it?

Buying the best router for parents is a worthwhile experience. That’s because technology is evolving every day, offering a lot of goodies, especially when it comes to the internet. It makes it possible for your kids to have the right platform for building robots, creating websites as well as learning. In addition to that, they get entertainment, for example, by watching videos and movies as well as playing games. At the same time, they keep in touch through calls and text messages.

Unfortunately, it also something that can do more harm than good. The children may end up getting exposure to inappropriate websites and videos such as pornographic content. Equally important, they may start sending and receiving inappropriate messages and photos popularly known as sexting. Some talk to predators who end up causing them to harm in the form of kidnapping. That would cost you as the parent a lump sum. The worst part of it is raising a traumatized kid. There is also cyberbullying that can lower the kid’s self-esteem and affect his grades and life in general.

It is the bad things on the internet that justifies the purchase of the best router for parents. That way, the children will enjoy the good without experiencing the bad. Every parent wants that for their kids, I bet.

  • Ways to set up the best router for parents at home

There are various ways of setting up the best router for parents. One of them is buying a router with built-in parental controls. This one is easy given the role of a router in any network. Since the router is the point at which all the internet traffic comes in, it is the best place to limit what flows through it. Such routers always come with a manual. Generally, all you need is to visit the configuration webpage and customize parental controls according to your preferences.

If your router doesn’t have the built-in feature, that doesn’t mean that it is not worth being the best router for parents. You can as well control what goes through your router. All you have to do is go to settings and do the necessary. From there, you can do web filtering for various devices, specifically those belonging to your kids. It becomes possible to do so for all devices, including game consoles, tablets, platforms, and computers.

Another option is to use OpenDNS. It is as simple as changing the DNS server settings of your router to OpenDNS. Once you do that, it is possible to not only set up an account but also use it to carry out web filtering. You can do the filtering by categories.

The bottom line is for you to refer to the user manual of your router to set up the best router for parents at home easily, fast, and in the right way.

  • How to uses your best router for parents properly?

It is no secret that the best router for parents enables you to raise your kids well without doing much when it comes to internet access. However, it can only be useful if you use it properly. That’s why we want to guide you on how to use it properly.

You can block specific websites or online content that your kid views. In addition to that, you can limit the time that your child spends on the internet. Last but not least, you can also monitor what your children are doing online. So proper usage of the best router for parents’ narrows down to three things. As a parent, ensure that you filter, limit, and monitor what your child does and the amount of time that they spend.

  • Conclusion

If you have been on the fence regarding whether to buy the best router for parents or not, we hope that its importance is loud and clear. You understand all too well why you should have it. To summarize, it is perfect to ensure that you control what your kid sees. As much as the internet is great to some extent, too much of everything is poisonous. Fortunately, it also helps you monitor the amount of time that they spend surfing. You now know how to use them properly, as well as set them up. So, do what’s right by your kid. Simply grab the best router for parents.

Copyright © 2022 babytime.ie