Find Your Mummy Mojo!

Emma Sutherland shares her top ten tips for Mums trying to find their Mojo!

At my clinic, I get lots of questions from Mums about how they can boost their energy levels and find their Mojo again after giving birth. While you sometimes feel that it’s a full time job just looking after your family, my best piece of advice is to make sure you take some time to nurture yourself. Here are some of the things I recommend you look at in your own lifestyle so that you feel healthy and fabulous once again.

1. Full fat dairy contains many vital fat soluble nutrients such as Vitamin A, D, E and K and you can’t obtain these vitamins in such concentrations elsewhere. The mistake most women make is going for “low-fat” options. In doing this, you are missing out on essential vitamins and low fat products are usually high in sugar or salt. The aim is to eat a small amount of organic full fat dairy each week.

2. Antioxidants – these wonderful nutrients are our weapon against aging and are found in cherries, blueberries, salmon, carrots, pumpkin, cranberries, pomegranates and artichokes.

3. Superfoods are called ‘super’ because of the incredibly high level of nutrients found in them. You may have heard of some of them – raw cacao, Goji berries, Açaí berries, Maca, spirulina, chlorella, chlorophyll, bee pollen. I ensure that I have one Superfood every day and each week I try a different one!

4. Probiotics are the ‘good’ bacteria that reside inside our digestive systems and are the seat of our immune systems. Lots of probiotics equates to a healthy, resilient immune system but these delicate organisms are depleted by the oral contraceptive pill, medications such as antibiotics and inadequate dietary fibre. If you have ever had eczema, a urinary tract infection or thrush then you have felt the effects of a lack of probiotics.

As around 70 per cent of the immune system is located in the gut, having a functioning digestive system plays a fundamental role in supporting our wellbeing. If your digestion is out of whack, chances are you’ll be experiencing other health problems and reduced immune function – creating a cycle of bad health!

While traces of probiotics are found in foods such as yoghurt, milk, miso and some soy beverages, they are more effectively administered via dietary supplements. 

As such, it’s important to nourish your gut with good food and eating habits along with a probiotic supplement which will help support digestive and immune function by controlling the levels of harmful bacteria in the gut. Look for a good quality, shelf-stable option (no annoying refrigeration!) like Wagner’s Probiotica P3 – this contains a blend of three acid-resistant strains of good bacteria that are guaranteed to be alive on consumption and can help alleviate gas and bloating, reduce toxins and carcinogens formed in the gastrointestinal tract, prevent and treat Candida, and speed up recovery from diarrhoea or constipation.

Probiotics can also decrease the risk of allergies, asthma and food intolerances and help reduce the severity of colds and flu, so make taking a P3 capsule a daily habit.

5. Magnesium rich foods are wonderful to ease stress levels, smooth out fine lines and reduce your

risk factor for insulin resistance. These foods include quinoa, oats, almonds, Brazil nuts, pumpkin

seeds, sunflower seeds, spinach and navy beans.

6. Eating 5 small meals per day will speed up your metabolism and ease the strain on your digestive

system. Women often suffer from a sluggish thyroid gland and this slows down your basal metabolic

rate or how fast you can burn calories. This results in fatigue, a tyre around the tummy and low

libido.

Eat a good size breakfast that contains some starchy carbohydrates and as the day progresses

eat more protein. Dinner should consist of 50% protein and 50% complex carbohydrates in the form

of salad or vegetables. Always avoid the starchy carbs after breakfast.

7. You must assess and then address nutritional deficiencies. Women are often low on vitamin D

(keeps our bones strong), iodine (essential for a healthy thyroid), zinc (vital for optimal hormone

balance), iron (needed for energy) and vitamin B12 (is required to absorb iron from your diet). Ask

your naturopath to check these essential nutrients as a deficiency will leave you feeling less than

your sexy best.

8. Avoid anti nutrients such as white sugar, white flour, caffeine and alcohol as these actually strip

essential vitamins and minerals from your body as they are processed. The Japanese culture believe

that white sugar is the most aging substance that you can put in your body so think again the next

time you reach for your sugar hit at 3pm!

9. Mindful eating is the practice of being in the moment with your food. Before each meal or snack,

take a moment to sit calmly and take five deep breathes. This has the effect of turning your digestive

processes on. Simply notice the food and consider its colour, texture, aroma and then how it makes

you feel afterwards. Are you bloated and feeling heavy or are you energetic and light? Tune in and

connect with your body and it will soon be telling you what it needs instead of your head telling your

body!

10. Laughter and sex are vital to longevity, feeling like the goddess within and attaining optimal vitality.

Emma Sutherland is a Sydney-based Naturopath and Health Writer and a spokesperson for Wagner’s Probiotica P3. For more on Emma, visit www.emmasutherland.com.au and for more information on health supplements, visit www.wagnerproducts.com.au 

Ready, set and go! Top tips to encourage kids to be more active

Lifestyles have changed so much compared to a generation ago. When we were growing up it wasn’t uncommon to be playing street cricket with the neighbourhood kids ‘til late, riding our bikes for hours over the weekend and hanging around the park that little longer after school.  Now, there are new societal factors impacting our behaviour.

For example, we have so much more access to technology, new electronic gadgets to entertain us, increasingly busy lives and a reluctance to let kids out of sight to roam and ride around exploring their surrounds due to increasing safety concerns.  No wonder it is more of a challenge for children to be as active as they should.  So, what can parents do to encourage kids to be more active?

2. Family activity – Start a new family routine that involves being active.  For example, go for a short walk after dinner every night, go swimming or kick the ball around at the park every Saturday morning.  This shows that being active can be fun, pleasurable and part of the weekly routine.

3. Compromise  - Many kids are now introduced to electronic gadgets at a younger age than ever before.  These electronic toys can be quite distracting in some households.  Set some rules so that electronic game playing doesn’t distract kids from staying active.  A suggestion might be that for every 20 minutes children play on a gadget, they stop and play another 20 minutes outside, perhaps on their bike or throwing hoops or anything else that gets them moving and having fun.

7. Involve children in your exercise routine – If you go for regular walks, why not encourage the kids to join you with their bike/scooter.  Kids over six benefit from at least one hour a day of physical activity and this is another way to encourage them to be active.

That! Heroes

If you would like an inspiring star to visit your child’s school, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.  Visit www.thatdairysnack.com.au to learn more about That! Dairy Snack or visit www.facebook.com/ThatSnack for a fresh burst of health and wellbeing ideas for the whole family.

 Sara's Story

All parents want the best for their children and I am no different however, for Sara we have just a little extra worry and concern. It all started at the 20 week scan.  I had only just got over morning sickness and was hoping that the coming months of pregnancy would be filled with excitement and joy. It was quite the opposite.

My husband, Peter and I had taken our 18month old Elliot to the scan as well; we felt it would be a nice experience for us to see the baby together. We entered the room with excitement; I was aching to see the baby’s development and to hear that they had all their fingers and toes!

Unfortunately Elliot became quite upset to see me lying on the bed with the sonographer scanning my bump so we decided it would be better to remove him to the waiting room and Peter went too. The next half hour went very slowly and it became increasingly obvious that there was something wrong with the baby. I remember the sonographer looking at her heart, then her face and back to her heart over and over. Peter tells me that he had come to the same conclusion in the waiting room as he could see a doctor and two others discussing our scan in another room. Peter was asked to re-enter the room and that is when the sonographer broke the news…

”Your daughter has Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).” I don’t remember much of what was said after that just something about a hole and possible Down’s syndrome and an amniocenteses and termination choices. Nothing of what I expected or wanted to hear!

For some reason I felt I had to keep it together so I held back the tears until I got to the car. I am not sure how I drove the short distance home but I am lucky to have one of my best friends living in my street so I stopped at her place and she embraced me and let me cry.

The next few weeks were a scary and confusing time. It was as if I were in a bubble, it was hard to go to work, to talk to friends and to stay strong for our son Elliot. When I had the amniocentesis we saw our baby girl reach out and try to touch the needle as it entered my womb.  I couldn’t help think that our baby girl must be quite clever to be able to do this in utero (I could be accused of being biased though!)  This cemented the notion that this baby was not going anywhere; we were just going to have to help her through whatever it was she would have to endure.

The next few weeks were a waiting game and finally we received the news that Sara was healthy and did not have any other abnormalities. What a relief it was for us! We were sent to the Woman’s and Children’s hospital where we met a Cardiologist for the first time, who did more scans and talked us through her condition. Sara has a non-complicated Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) and a leak in her mitral valve. We were told that she would need open-heart surgery to correct this within 4 to 6 months of her birth and a lot of other information about complications and medications.

It was all such a worry and throughout the pregnancy I felt such a weight on my shoulders. We had such a difficult time with our first son’s health too (another story all together) and were far too familiar with doctors and medical procedures. All I wanted was to have a ‘normal’ experience of a newborn.

I had a planned C-section for Sara’s birth but 2 weeks before the date a routine scan showed Sara didn’t have much fluid around her and our obstetrician admitted me into hospital for bed rest. A huge amount of emotion weighed me down in those two weeks and I had plenty of time to think about the excitement of the birth of our baby girl and the fear I felt at not knowing if she would even be able to breath on her own.

Finally the time came for her birth, I was wheeled down to theatre and prepped for the operation. As Sara was lifted out of my belly she grabbed the umbilical cord so tightly that the obstetrician had to prize her fingers open! A memory that now makes me laugh, as it is just one example of how determined and strong she really is.

Sara had to visit the cardiologist in her first week for an Echocardiogram and some other tests. The doctor had some great news for us. The bottom hole in her heart had grown some extra tissue making the hole slightly smaller so her symptoms would be less. We brought our gorgeous girl home and began to get to know her, she was an amazing sleeper and so happy too.

We visit the cardiologist on a regular basis and to this date Sara remains well and healthy so her surgery has been pushed back. She sometimes goes quite blue if cold or sick and we notice she is sometimes more out of breath than her big brother but she has not yet required any medication or intervention.

So my wish came true; I had the opportunity to experience and enjoy my baby girl just like most other parents, with all the highs and lows of having a new baby and a toddler.

Last year a visit to the cardiologist revealed that Sara’s leak was worsening slightly so the doctor advised that her operation would occur in the not too distant future. Sara is about to turn two and we have been waiting for this day with both pride for our little girls amazing ability to soldier on even with a heart double the size of a normal 2 year old (all that extra work it does to pump the blood around her little body!)  and with a nervous tension at the prospect of surgery. It won’t be long till we will fly to Melbourne for Sara to be admitted to the Royal Children’s Hospital where she will have her AVSD corrected.

I try my best to be positive and each time we go to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital to see her cardiologist I see other very ill children in the waiting room and I am reminded of how fortunate we are that Sara has remained relatively healthy to this point.

There is a part of my own heart however, that aches for the pain that my baby girl will have to endure and the thought of open-heart surgery, well I just can’t think about it!

The month of February brings Valentine’s Day, a time when we see the symbol of the heart everywhere so Heartkids Australia is using this month to create awareness for children who suffer from Congenital Heart Disease. HeartKids Australia is a not for profit organisation that offers support to children and their families who are suffering with CHD. Each year approximately 2,000 children are born in Australia with a heart defect, and although Sara is very fortunate, every week, more than four children die from CHD. There is no cure for congenital heart disease and little is known about the disease and its causes. If you would like to hear more stories or would like to help by raising awareness or making a donation please take a look at www.heartkids.org.au. 

Image source: unknown

It is an extremely lucky, and unfortunately rare person, who can say that their life has never been affected by addiction of some kind, either directly or indirectly.  Many of us have either dealt with alcoholism, drug addiction (either illicit or prescription) or ‘problem gambling’ personally, or have family and friends who have.

Standing on the outside looking in is very difficult.  It is often easy to feel frustrated and judgemental towards those who seem to be their own worst enemies.  Addictions often destroy relationships and ruin lives.  So why can’t they just STOP?

Addiction is a disease and according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), which has recently re-defined addiction (based on a four year process and input from over 80 experts), it is a chronic brain disorder and not merely a behavioral problem or simply the result of taking wrong choices.

Whilst successful treatment of addiction often requires expert medical treatment, there is no doubt that long-term rehabilitation is dependent on the willingness and determination of the victim to change their behavior.

The ASAM website states that:

Research shows that the disease of addiction affects neurotransmission and interactions within reward circuitry of the brain, leading to addictive behaviors that supplant healthy behaviors, while memories of previous experiences with food, sex, alcohol and other drugs trigger cravings and renewal of addictive behaviors.

Victims are not cured of their addictions.  They learn to manage them.

Dr. Michael Miller, former president of ASAM, who oversaw the development of the new definition, said:

Many chronic diseases require behavioral choices, such as people with heart disease choosing to eat healthier or begin exercising, in addition to medical or surgical interventions.  So, we have to stop moralizing, blaming, controlling and smirking at the person with the disease of addiction, and start creating opportunities for individuals and families to get help and providing assistance in choosing proper treatment.

Full article here http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232841.php

But what happens when victims of addiction possess the necessary drive and determination to beat their illness, but access to proper treatment and addiction is inadequate?

Project Now is an ambitious initiative of the Rotary Club of Brisbane Planetarium and the Salvation Army, that intends to address this issue and assist a large percentage of the population who currently receive insufficient means to rebuild their lives after addiction – women.

For many years the Salvation Army’s Moonyah Centre at Red Hill has had a high success rate of helping men to rebuild their lives through its residential alcohol and drug recovery program.  However, very little help has been available for women, and residential care for women recovering from addiction is totally inadequate, and sadly, their need is just as great.

For example, in South East Queensland there are 185 beds for men, compared to only 28 beds for women.

The Mum’s Lounge Team feel extremely passionate about this cause, many of us having been either directly or indirectly affected by addiction ourselves, and are proud to help to raise funds to help to build a ‘home-away-from-home’ residence for twenty women alongside the Moonyah Centre for Drug, Alcohol and Gambling Addiction.

We want to support women who have made the choice to beat their addictions and help them to regain their lives with dignity.  We will be working on a number of fundraising initiatives in 2012, but to get the ball rolling, we will be donating $1 for every new Mum’s Lounge subscriber.  Click here to subscribe.

If you are a business wishing to donate, something, (or get more information on this,) please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We thank you in advance to all of those who will support this very worthy cause by either subscribing, donating and/or sharing this article.

Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you.

As wonderful as becoming a parent is, there is no doubt that the highs can often be accompanied by lows.  Dealing with a colicky baby, toddler tantrums, teenage outbursts, financial stresses and work responsibilities, are all things that many of us deal with on a day-to-day basis.

On-going stress can have negative effects not only on the health of our bodies, but also on our relationships and ability to cope with certain situations, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

Your Body’s Response to Stress

When faced with a stressful situation your body goes into what is known as a ‘flight or flight’ mode.  Your adrenal glands release a hormone called adrenalin, which in turn sets off certain physiological changes in the body.  Your heart starts to beat faster and blood pressure rises. This is a healthy body response to a perceived danger and is nature’s way of kick-starting your body into taking the action needed.

However, problems occur when you experience ongoing stress over a long period.  The adrenal glands continually pump adrenalin (followed by cortisol) until the adrenal glands become exhausted, leaving you feeling tired and worn out.  Continual stress can weaken the immune system, (leaving you susceptible to cold and flu and other infections), cause high blood pressure, restlessness, lead to anxiety and other health more serious health concerns, such as cardiovascular problems.

Australian naturopath and stress expert Lisa Guy said the by-products of stress such as lack of sleep or trouble concentrating, can compound the issue causing a vicious circle.

“Your body starts to pump out adrenalin which at first helps provide you with energy and makes you more alert.  But when stress is ongoing, the coping capacity of the biological systems designed to help you deal with the pressure become impaired and a negative spiral ensues.”

A recent newspoll commissioned by Nutra-Life Organic Magnesium found that the most common by-products of stress were:

• Trouble sleeping (77%)

• Lack of energy (73%)

• Yelling at someone (72%)

• Trouble concentrating (68%)

Guy advocates a holistic approach to overcoming stress and anxiety.

“Adequate exercise is necessary to burn off usused energy and it can help to clear the mind.  Good nutrition is also important to ensure sufficient energy to cope with demands, and to replace nutrients consumed during stress coping.”

Amongst exposure to sunlight, support from friends and family, and herbal teas, Guy also cites a magnesium supplement as being helpful at minimizing stress.

Why Magnesium is Important to your Body

Magnesium has a calming effect on the entire central nervous system.  This means it decreases neural excitability, the symptoms of which can include muscle tension, stress, tension headaches, migraines, irritability, muscle spasms and cramps.

During a normal hormonal response to stress, magnesium is released by blood cells into blood cells where it has a calming effect on adrenalin and other stress hormones.  When the body’s magnesium levels are low, this response disintegrates, and the effects of stress are intensified, making coping more difficult.

Magnesium is not produced naturally by the body.  It is absorbed from food, bevearges and supplements.  Vegetables (especially dark green leafy vegeatbles, spices, nuts, wholegrain cereals and cocoa) are all rich sources of magnesium.

Candice Alley

One Aussie trying to tackle the issue of stress head on is singer/songwriter and mother of twins, Candice Alley, who said the everyday stresses of juggling a career, caring for her children and supporting her husband, swimming legend Grant Hackett, can sometimes be difficult to manage.

“Life can be overwhelming at times and pushing to be the ebst in everything you do, at work and at home, can create anxiety, especially if you’re giving one hundred per cent in each area and sometimes wondering if you are making headway,” Alley said.

“I found myself getting wound up over the big picture while sweating over the smallest things and took it upon myself to create a more stress-free environment and become calmer.”

Alley now mixes exercise, such as pilates and park runarounds with her toddler twins, with the serenity she finds in song-writing and music, and a daily dose of Nutra-Life Magnesium, a natural supplement that help to alleviate stress.

“I did my research and found that magnesium plays a crucial ole in energy production and is necessary for almost every major biological process, so I thought I’d give it a shot and see if it was as calming as I’d read.”

“I can’t categorically say that the extra magnesium is countering the effects of adrenalin and other stress hormones,” Alley said “But I can confidentally say I’m more energetic and able to cope with life’s daily demands.  I feel comfortable taking a natural product rather than a pharmaceutical one, and have certainly been sleeping better and loving life a little bit more.”

Natural Stress Busting Tips

Here are some tips, from naturopath Lisa Guy, for natural ways to help treat stress and anxiety related conditions.

• Add nutrients:

Two of the most important ‘anti-stress’ nutrients are magnesium and vitamin B.

• Drink Up:

Herbs used to calm the nervous system are chamomile, valerian, withania, skullcap and lemon balm.  These herbs can be purchased from health food stores in tea form.

• Cut Down Caffeine:

Caffeine stimulates an already over-stimulated nervous system, so try cutting down on coffee, black tea, cola, and chocolate.

• Take Time for Yourself

Be kind to yourself and give your body and mind time to relax and reflect.  Physical exercise, breathing exercises and meditation are great ways to help to clear the mind and burn off nervous energy.

As a mother of two tiddlers, Woo (5) and Foghorn (3), and one toddler, Bubble (23 months), I am only too familiar with the fact that it is nothing short of impossible to keep my two eyes on all three of them at the same time.

On our recent trip to Queensland we spent the majority of our time visiting theme parks and other areas of interest i.e. Movie World, Sea World, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary etc.  All fabulous places in their own way, with oodles of things to keep the children entertained.  But although they were all very different the one thing that they all had in common was the fact that they made my children highly excited and liable to dart off the moment something interesting that caught their eye.  And they were all very busy.

Unfortunately, as much as I think it would be beneficial sometimes, I do not have eyes in my elbows, or as I like to tell my kids, in the back of my head!

Let’s face it, it only takes a few moments of inattention while you fish your mobile out of your bag, or take your eyes off them to strap the baby safely into the pram, and they can be easily lost, swept along by the crowd.

If you have ever, even for a few seconds lost sight of your child in a public place you will know that the overwhelming panic that takes over you is awful.  It can also be a very terrifying ordeal for a child who finds themselves in this predicament.

This is why I am very pleased to be able to giveaway a Safe T Band to ten lucky readers!!!

What is a Safe T Band?

The Safe T Band is a waterproof silicone band which fits securely to your child’s wrist, and is engraved with the free call 1800 IM LOST phone number plus the child’s unique ID number.

Any relevant medical information that should be known in the event of an emergency is stored securely on the Safe T Band server, along with five personal contact numbers.  This means that in the event your child is lost, any person that finds them can call the Safe T Band free phone number, follow prompts to enter the five digit identification number on the band.  The caller is then diverted to the the registered phone numbers until a human response is received.   In the unlikely event that all five contacts are unavailable an SMS will be sent to all five contacts containing the caller’s phone number, who can then be contacted directly.

Also, should the child be ill or in an accident, the child’s finder or emergency services can contact Safe T Band using the same process as above to retrieve important medical information, allowing emergency services to make informed decisions regarding possible treatment for your child.

The Safe T Band, priced at a very affordable $49.95 for a one year subscription represents priceless peace of mind for less than $1 a week.

What a fantastic gift to give a parent or child (that has everything) this Christmas!!!

To purchase one click here.

For three weeks only they are available at the special price of just $29.95 (12 month subscription).  All you have to do is LIKE their FACEBOOK PAGE!

Safe T Band Giveaway x 10

Entries close Sunday 6^th November 2011, at midnight ADST.  The winners will be drawn using Random.org and announced on Monday 7^th November 2011.  Any prize that is not claimed within 7 days will be a redrawn.  Only Australian residents may enter.

For your chance to win one of ten Safe T Bands with 12 months subscription follow the steps below:

1                      Leave a comment below telling me what public setting or circumstance you would wish your child to be wearing one of these bands i.e. beach, concert, staying at grandparents, school camp etc.

2                      For additional entries you can share this page on Facebook or Twitter.  Remember to include the page URL and tag @Jolene’s Mumbo Jumbo (Facebook) or @jolenejolene9 (Twitter) in your status or tweet.  Then comment below again and let me know that you have shared.  Each share is worth 1 extra entry.

3. `       Don't forget to leave your first and second name in your comment so we can locate your email address in the Mums lounge members database.

Good luck and Stay Safe! x

*The author of this article has chosen to remain anonymous in order to protect the identity of herself and her child 

Imagine for a moment a person who has grown up in a family where they only ever had pet dogs.  Their friends and neighbours had pet dogs… all different breeds, colours and temperaments, but still, fundamentally…. dogs.  They all went to the dog park together every afternoon and always had a raucously good time.  They had never, ever, ever seen a cat.  Not once.

Then one day they stumble upon an adorable looking creature that is cute, furry, has a black wet nose, four paws and whiskers and for all intents and purposes, looks exactly like the type of friendly, willing to please dog they had known and loved all their lives.  Its tail is waving to and fro in what is perceived to be a welcoming gesture so they go over, ruffle up its soft fur and attempt to roll it over to scratch its belly, anticipating their affectionate gesture will be delightfully received.  Only it’s not a dog, it’s a cat, and their interaction is interpreted very differently.  Lets just say, fur will fly… and it will fly furiously.

Welcome to the world of a child with Asperger’s Syndrome.  A solitary cat, surviving in a room full of boisterous dogs.  Its every move being analysed, interpreted and modified based on the framework of rules, behavioural patterns and ingrained habits of the canine species.  And as a result, being disastrously misunderstood.

Dogs wag their tails as a sign of happiness and anticipation of social interaction.  Cats swish their tails as a warning to back off and give them much needed space.  Dogs always welcome affection in whatever way it is offered to them.  Cats will also offer heartfelt affection but it needs to on their terms, at a time that suits them.  Sometimes they just need to be left alone. Dogs depend on your approval for their emotional wellbeing.  Cats depend on certain things being in place in a routine that they can depend on, and will then reward your reliability with their unwavering friendship.

Dogs are inherently social.  They are pack animals with deeply entrenched hierarchical rules of canine society and as a result are desperately eager to please, and occasionally challenge, the pack leader.  As puppies, they will romp and play delightedly with their littermates until they fall into an exhausted, but happy heap on top of each other at the end of the day.  They rarely turn down an offer of affection and will warmly greet their family with furry hugs and sloppy kisses when they get home.  

On the surface, cats may seem more aloof, but cat lovers around the world will be quick to tell you they are always keenly observing every detail and will reward those who take the time to understand them with warmth, affection, loyalty and love.  Dogs are less discriminating in whom they shower with their boundless love, and this is part of their universal appeal, but it is a trait that cats simply don’t understand … or tolerate.  Their love needs to be earned.

Dogs enthusiastically learn new tricks and are keen to show them off to gain further approval.  Cats have extraordinary agility and mysterious extra-sensory skills… but will only display them when the circumstances dictate they are necessary.  They need to be coaxed out and encouraged or will remain hidden forever.

Cats may not always look you in the eye, but they can see straight into your soul and will quietly commune with you while you process the problems of your world.   Dogs will sense your unhappiness but may not fully understand it, so will entice you to capture some of their perpetual joy by grabbing their lead and making you take them for a walk to cheer you up.  Their destination may be the same … but their journey could not be more different.

If you whistle for a cat to come to you, try to wrangle a leash onto its collar, drag it outside for a walk and hope it will thank you for letting it romp around the dog park …then you are both doomed to crumple in a heap of confused despair. Simply said, cats are wired differently to dogs.  They are not better or worse. Just different.

So if you want to understand my child with Asperger’s Syndrome, try to think of her as a cat in a room full of dogs, and you will be a lot closer to coaxing out her unique gifts, helping her understand social behavior that she may otherwise find bewildering, and maybe in time her gorgeous, eager to please peers will gain a greater appreciation of the grace, beauty and uniqueness that bestows her, just like her feline doppelgänger.   

If you have ever wondered about online dating sites, and whether it is possible to actually find your life-partner this way, then singer/songwriter Crystal Newman and her husband Trevor are living proof of a happy ending found through cyber space.  The couple originally corresponded via a chat feature on a site called ICQ; Trevor in Sydney and Crystal in Ohio in the States.  After ten months of online interaction, and exchanging gifts and photographs, they finally met face to face in Ohio.  The couple instantly hit it off, and Crystal made the life-changing decision to fly back to Sydney with Trevor.

After a series of trips back and forth due to visa requirements, the couple’s whirlwind romance culminated in their marriage on a boat in Florida.

Two years later our daughter Emma was born.  We soon decided that we really wanted to raise her in Australia, so when she was eighteen months old we made the big move, settling in Queensland.  A year later our son Matthew was born.  We’ve been here four and a half years now and we love it.

Crystal’s life journey has continued to develop since becoming a wife and a mother, and starting over in a new country.  Although she could barely even play the guitar when she first moved to Australia, she is now both an incredible singer and a very talented songwriter.  Her words not only float effortlessly from her mouth as she sings, but seem to flow from the depths of what is clearly a unique and beautiful soul.  They are heartfelt, genuine and moving. 

One day a friend of mine told me that she and her husband were having marital problems.  After we got off the phone, I sat down and wrote ‘You and Me’.  It was the first whole song I’d ever written with guitar.  When I write now, I find inspiration from my own life or the lives of those around me…The thing that drives me to write, sing and perform my music is my desire to provide everything my family could ever ask for.  I know ‘making it big’ isn’t easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.

Crystal has just released her song ‘In Our Reach’ on iTunes, which she wrote shortly after reading the fourth book of the Twilight Saga, ‘Breaking Dawn.’

A chorus came into my head and it wouldn’t go away, so I sat down and wrote the song.  Originally, it was about a particular part in the book from the heroine’s perspective, but the more I sing it, I relate parts of it back to me.  The song is basically about shielding the thing that you love most in the world and sacrificing yourself if that is what it takes, and isn’t that what being a mother is all about?

But don't take my word for it!  You can check out Crystal's talent for yourself on her Youtube channel.

I have attached one of my favourites below - prepare to be blown away!

WARNING: Viewers may find themselves humming or singing the lyrics obsessively or hitting replay repetitively!

You can find Crystal Newman’s single,  In Our Reach, inspired by 'Breaking Dawn' on iTunes.

http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/in-our-reach-single/id451494815

Or preview it on Youtube.