A Guideline Of What To Consider When Employing An Au Pair.

In one of my past lives I was an au pair. For a few years after that I ran a local Au Pair recruitment agency. I thought it would be useful to use my background to put together a guideline of what to consider when employing an Au Pair.

What Is An Au Pair?

There are many definitions of au pairs and childminders. However, during my time running the agency and trying to put some structure to a very new environment and service, this is what we decided on with regards to providing an explanation for each service:

February 7, 20184Comments ByChanene Ablett

Flying With Children aka “The Monsters”

A couple of years ago we decided on a lovely family holiday. This was back when we only had one child, now we have two. We ummed and ahhed over flights to Cape Town, but in the end we decided that a road trip would be much more fun! What follows in this post is…

January 25, 20184Comments ByChanene Ablett

Health & Wellness Education and Learning Parenting

I Am A Mom, With ADHD!

What does it mean to be a mom with ADHD?

I was only diagnosed with ADHD this year, 2017. Whilst it was a bit of a surprise to me, apparently not so much to the people close to me who it came as no surprise to!

Why did I decide to tackle this now?

December 1, 201727Comments ByChanene Ablett

Global Citizen Health & Wellness Parenting

What is the Tonic of My life?

What's in a name?

Whilst one might think of Gin & Tonic when hearing the name of my blog, and whilst you won’t be wrong, you won’t be right either.

Whilst I do like the occasional Gin & Tonic sundowner, alas that is not the “tonic” I am referring to in the name of my blog – Tonic & Tiaras.

November 21, 201710Comments ByChanene Ablett

Parenting

Is there life after “mommy”? No really is there?!

Is there life after “mommy”? Well, It actually really boils down to who is asking the question.

If young teenagers or girls in their twenties are asking, well then the answer is a simple “NO”! No there is no life; they suck all that is nice out of your persona. Zombies are friendlier. Run young one, run! My advice – go out, get your heart broken, make friends that you are able to be crazy and scary with. Friends you can just have fun with. Have fun. Establish who you are and what is important in your life. You are allowed to be selfishly indulgent at this stage in your life. Find you.

May 24, 201720Comments ByChanene Ablett

Parenting

Mother’s Day: A day to be recognised for ‘our’ awesomeness

Mother ‘verb’ to bring up a child with care and affection. Mother’s Day ‘noun’ celebrated on the second Sunday in May. A day in which motherhood and the influences of mothers in society and families are celebrated. A day to celebrate with cards, flowers and gifts. Mother’s Day ‘T&T’ a day everyone lets mom know how much she is loved and appreciated, as she gathers her snot flickers to get in the car or starts prepping for lunch. She may have had breakfast in bed but needs to go clean the kitchen up.

May 9, 20177Comments ByChanene Ablett

Fun Family Life Health & Wellness Parenting

Reunions, Memories, Traditions, and more Reunions

My mom started a tradition with my brother and me. What's this got to do with reunions? Bear with me. When we hit a big milestone like birthdays or when we look at my kids (in that ah you’re so sweet quietly picking your nose over there way) we play a special “where were you at my age mom” game?

Reunions or Traditions

It’s a lovely game to get a piece of my mom’s life and I think I value it more so. I have a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old. At the same age, my mom had an 18-year-old and a 12-year-old. So different, here I am starting school life with Miss K and my mom’s oldest child (that’s me) was leaving on a jet plane to the USA. I challenge you to ask someone older and who you are close with where they were in life at your current age?

April 21, 20172Comments ByChanene Ablett

Fun Family Life Immigration Lifestyle Parenting

Easter: How I always want to celebrate.

After celebrating Shrove Tuesday, Lent sets in and everyone around me shows such amazing will power and here I am just trying to give up on shouting and possibly being able to tame my fringe once and for all. Easter will soon be here.

The next thing we look forward to is Easter. Religious or not, Easter is celebrated whether going to Church or an Easter Brunch with family but it is guaranteed there will always be the obligatory Easter egg hunt.

April 3, 20171Comment ByChanene Ablett

Education and Learning Immigration Lifestyle Parenting

Rest-a-rant 🍝: eating out with kids

My first memory of eating out with kids is with Miss K - she was about 9 months old, well around that age. It was the crawling stage, not quite walking but definitely not sitting. Miss K being the firstborn, I was still so naive.

One Saturday morning we decided

We woke up one Saturday morning with a twinkle in our eyes and the hubster suggested we go to our local coffee shop for a breakfast. Thinking it was a fabulous idea, I imagined us sitting at the table chatting and laughing while sipping elegantly on our Americano’s with not a drop of food on my top.

March 13, 20177Comments ByChanene Ablett

Education and Learning Fun Family Life Parenting

Let’s sleep on that

Having a 5 year old going onto 19, I have been in some situations and the most recent was the please can I have a sleepover… What to do, what to do? For me it is easy. My husband and I (still not sure how much I can involve him in my thoughts here) have come to a conclusion. Quite simply, we do not do sleepovers full stop. (See what I did there to focus on my “point”)

March 1, 201711Comments ByChanene Ablett