Dear son,

The summer holidays are over and I still can’t get over it.

No sooner had it been about parks and beaches and picnics and road trips than it would be about conferences and book fairs and classroom parties and field trips.

I will surely miss your lazed out morning schedules; and my constant nags of dragging and draining you for all little things.

“Wake up, it’s almost 9 now.”

There’s hardly gonna be any scope of it now. You shall be hard on your responsibility of getting up early now so that you could make it to the school.

I will miss your incessant complains of being bored after every while and what next can be in your option list of to-do’s.

You are gonna be so consumed by a tiring day followed by classes and activities that the days will end in a jiffy now.

I will miss the constant company of yours that I got so used to. My reading partner, my painting buddy, my morning sunshine, my evening delight.

A lot of peaceful times that I am gonna have is surely going to have some big deal amiss in it.

I am gonna miss our summer together; day outings, visits to the pool, trips to the liabrary, play dates with friends, enjoying ice cream treats and playing with bubbles and all little things that bring a smile on your face.

My litle man is ready for the first grade now. This is officially the class of you getting started to the first level of education.

It fills me to a deep level of excitement and to a deeper level of nervousness.

Excitement, to see you grow, do all those little things by yourself and learn wiser lessons of life.

Nervousness, as time draws you closer to itself and one step away from me; probably you needing a bit less of me.

It’s the first now and it will be no sooner when you will be ready to fly all by yourself.

Seeing their kids grow is what we all parents want, still feel so shaky when that happens!

Well, that’s the irony of life.

Nothing, but hail and hearty wishes from your mom my little boy.

The stage is set for you to do bigger things and I am sure you are there to win it.

Rainbow Fudge is one gorgeous and superbly simple dessert that can be a real delight for kids as well as grown ups equally. This no bake fudge is so easy and fun to make that you can safely make it with your kids. Serve this eye candy and melt in mouth dessert at a party or a celebration or give it to your kid as an after school snack, it’s going to be a hit for sure!

Ingredients:

1. 36 ounces white candy melts (or white chocolate chips)
2. 3 cups sweetened condensed milk
3. 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
4. 1 pinch salt
5. Food colouring (purple, green, blue, pink)

Directions:

Prepare a deep square pan; lining it with butter paper sheet.

In a pan, add white candy melts, sweetened condensed milk, salt and vanilla extract and heat. You can also mivrowave it in a bowl for 30 seconds, then stir.

Once melted and smooth, divide the mix into four different bowls. Add a few drops of purple, pink, green and blue gel food coloring and stir until the color is nicely mixed.

Add the purple fudge mixture into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer.

Chill the pan to set the layer for about 30 minutes in the refrigerator or 10 minutes in the freezer.

Repeat the process with pink, blue and green colours of fudge, refrigerating it after adding every layer.

After it’s completely set, remove the fudge by taking out the butter paper sheet and cut it into squares using a large knife.

Note:

You can store the Rainbow Fudge in an airtight container at the room temperature for around a month.

I am a parent.

I get hysterical with dirt and dust around my kid.

I live in a home that is hyper clean– with disinfectants of various sorts.

I doze my young one with sanitizer often, especially when outside.

I have a list of food that has been ticked off owing to their potential threats.

Fascinated!

Well that is what it would to most of us! No contact with germ laden stuffs means no potential illness. Hyper clean homes and bodies mean no antibiotic invasion. No threatening food means none falling ill.

But wait.

Is that really so?

Is my fear rational?

Is it actually required to follow such a norm– a norm which probably never existed before?

How could our parents produce stronger generation of kids without being so phobic to germs? 

In fact, they had a generation which was less prone to germ causing diseases and allergies– even though their houses never smelled of disinfectants and sanitizers and soaps– even though they were not plagued with the thought of their children getting dirty in mud and soil.

The reason might be simple.

Somewhere while maintaining cleanliness, we fail to strike a balance with the right kind of germ exposure. There is a whopping trillions of bacteria in human body which control the immune system. This system needs to be nurtured through the right kind of exposure to germs and bacteria, especially during the very young age.

Of course, we can’t promote exposing kids to virus and bacteria. Infact, basic sanitary practices are the main cause that have helped survived various infectious diseases and make health advancements. Washing hands before meals and touching something gross, basic rituals of brushing teeth; day and night, having shoes out before entering home, showering, and laundry can never be underestimated. 

However, our immune system needs to be challenged to be fit. If we create an environment so antiseptic, then we are probably making our immune system too lazy to take that challenge. So if ever such hyper-sensitized immune system comes across something that’s foreign then they become inflammatory triggering allergies.

Therefore, let’s expose our children to germs, the right kind of exposure indeed!

Let’s allow our children to play with mud. I believe mud is just not just a gooey, sticky substance, it has some magical powers. It is the most natural form of play and creates some fondest of the memories. There is no permission better than the permission to get dirty. Other than the fun element and the sensory appeal it has, it does a lot in building immunity. Exposing kids to germs at early age reduces chances of contracting allergies later in lives. Let’s try to control the parent in us against dirt, mud, soil and let kids be kids.

Let’s not sterilize our home too often. I get fascinated by the houses that are clean. However, sterilizing everything our kids touch will reduce their contact with the good bacteria as well needed in their gut. Let’s live in an environment which is home like and not hospital like.

Let’s not to go insane if our child picks from the floor and eat. I don’t say that I would promote eating food dropped on the floor. Of course eating food from the floor is not absolutely risk free. But if it is normal household floor and a child has picked up then let’s not panic like a germophobe. At least not be the one tutoring of how dangerous such an act could be!

Let’s not lather our children with hand sanitizer. I have layman knowledge of the chemicals these otherwise cleansing agent could be made of. They could be harmful, more than what touching or playing can cause. Let’s eradicate this as much from life as possible.

Let’s give our children fermented food. A lot of buzz that has been around fermented food and that it is meant for adults. Fermented foods are high in antioxidants and probiotics which is really good for our gut. Introducing the good bacteria at an early age is always a good idea. It’s not only good for our existing health but it also prevents us from falling ill. So time to include fermented dairy drink kefir or the yogurts of variety!

Let’s not freak out when our child goes barefoot. Most kids are conditioned to too much of an indoor environment these days. But ever if they wish to go barefoot on the grass, on the mulch or the fields, just let them be; not trying to anticipate who might have spitted, pooped or trashed the place. I believe this practice of grounding or earthing shall be doing good indeed; as the Earth carries a lot of negative charge. This charge is a good supply of antioxidants and free radical destroying electrons.

Let’s not use antibacterial soaps. Antibacterial soaps have been the latest thing to advanced cleanliness and providing protection as compared to the regular soaps. However, these soaps have lately been under the scanner for the harsh chemicals they have. These soaps deplete the good bacteria found naturally in the skin. And if the good bacteria are killed, then chances are that the bad bacteria will overpopulate. 

Let’s come out of that overtly cautious era of humans that we have created. Humans who give way to their irrational fear of contracting disease and create limitless boundaries for their kids. Humans who are unaware of the dangers of not exposing kids to dirt and soil and germs and pathogens. Humans who introduce allergies before introducing food to their kids. 

Of course it will take time. It will take time to allow kids snacking without having washed hands after gardening. It will take time to pick a pacifier and put back to a little ones mouth without washing it. It will take time to not grab our piece of disinfectant after sensing of any act that stands in our list of gross and yuck.

Just remember “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”!

It’s summer and a long weekend at hand and all you are looking for is grabbing some waterfun, then Kalahari Resorts & Conventions is the ultimate option to choose. One of the biggest indoor waterparks in the US, the place is fun for all the ages. A mix of thrills and relaxation, the place will give you memories of life time.

We visited the Sandusky, ohio location. It was a two day stay, good enough to explore the waterpark attractions to the most. You can also consider going just for the day; just ensure that you purchase your passes ahead of time online.

You have carts available at the entrance. So grab the cart that makes it easier to carry your luggage.

Get your bands: You need to pre register yourself at the counter to get the bands for using the waterpark. You are supposed to wear this waterproof band throughout your stay. It can also be linked with your credit card and also lets you access the facilities in the campus.

Check-in: Checking in the rooms is available at 4.00 p.m. If you happen to reach before check-in time, you can anyways use the waterpark; until 3 p.m. on the day you check out. Just leave the luggage in car and have a handy bag separately for your swim essentials.

Dive into the water fun

Some of the popular attractions include:

Indoor waterpark

Swahili Swirl: This huge ProSlide BehemothBowl is used in four-person rafts and features a big drop as well as some rotating in the bowl.

Cheetah Race: This one lets you grab a mat and race down Cheetah Race.

Flowrider: This 5 foot wave simulator gives you option to challenge your surfing skills.

Wave pool: This is an all time dive-in between the rides or the pools or just a simple rest time.

Lazy river: This is a perfect place to get a relaxing break from water slide fun.

Indoor and outdoor hot tubs: These hot tubs let you relax in warm water after a tiring day.

Kids Safari and Coral Cove: Fun-sized and jam-packed with interactive activities for little ones.

Zambezi Outdoor water park

The park also offers its outdoor waterpark area in summers. This has some thrilling slides that will give your heart a rush into thrill and excitement. There are also pools and animals for kids.

Barrelling Baboon: Riders slide through soaring dips and twists into the oscillating funnels; this ride changes tempo enough to keep riders guessing what’s around the next bend.

Stingray: Soar up steep sides and experience a few gravity-defying moments as the tube rocks up and down the funnel sides.

Accomodation options

Kalahari has a range of accomodation options available including room, suites and villas. Whether you want a room for a couple or separate room options in one suite, you can choose as per your requirement. All you need to care for is the availability, specially during the peak seasons.

Food options

You can buy food from the various available options from fast casual to sit down dining. If you are carrying your own food then eat in the dining area as they don’t allow carrying food in the waterpark area. Anyways, you won’t need to leave the waterpark area as there are various options available.

B-Lux Grill & Bar

Café Mirage

Felix’s Bar

Great Karoo marketplace buffet

Ivory Coast restaurant

Java Manjaro

Marrakesh Market

Pizza Pub

Book a Cabana

You can also book your own cabana in the waterpark area to relax and lounge or for dining. This is a well equipped personal space with refrigirator, seaating options, house phone, towels and condiments.

Other attractions

The Big Game Room features two great Virtual Reality attractions with dozens of different experiences. This would include Arcade, Bowling, Laser tag and others.

Art and craft activities: The place has a schedule for art and craft, which is specially great if you are travelling with kids. Kids can also involve in coloring activities anytime.

Zip Line Tour, Adventure Climbing Walls, Ropes Course are some of the thrill you can grab outdoor. Safari Adventures Animal Park is a unique, educational & interactive experience that allows guests to get up-close and personal animal encounters

Shopping outlets and hours

Kalahari has an amazing selection of toys and children’s clothing and everything you’ll need to hit the waterparks in style. There is even a wide array of products for your convenience. Nonetheless to mention, the souvenir options that you will wish to grab are too many. The outlets are

Kalahari Outpost: 24 Hrs

Safari Clothing: 9 am- 10 pm

Zakanaka Kids: 9 am- 10 pm

Spa Kalahari and Salon

You can even relax and rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit with amazing body treatments, luxurious massage, skin care, nail care at the resort.

Top tips

1. Go to the slide during early hours to avoid long ques and enjoy pools during the rush hours.

2. Waterpark provides towels, however they are small so carry your own if you want bigger ones.

3. You can hire lockers for your bags to keep your valuables in if no one is going to stay and watch your things.

4. Children under 48″ are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest.

So be a water baby, and grab some thrilling fun at the Kalahari waterpark and resorts.

Mother circles are one thing we mothers love about. Nonetheless to mention, one thing that goes common in mommy circles are discussions about parenting; and quite sometimes it’s about others in the league. And there are labels and tags and tones and undertones. While you have selected labels for others, someone else has already tagged you as well. So let’s happily remind ourselves, the tags or labels that we might fit into.

Helicopter mom

She is the control freak. She manages every bit of her children at the micro level. She is involved to the extreme. She knows what happened in her child’s school. She knows what is there in her drawer. She knows it all.

She is the hoverer. She is on guard keeping a close watch– while they are on the playground, at a playdate or in the classroom. No bare foot, no playing in mud, no high slides.

She often draws disdain from her fellow bench warmer moms. But that’s what she can’t help. ‘Better safe than sorry’ is what she believes in!

Pinterest mom

She is the DIY queen. She likes to craft. She likes to decorate. She likes to cook. She likes to make things. She is constantly on her search for her next project. She not only pins it, she even does it­.

Well, she invites a lot of OMG’s. OMG, you did all this yourself!

…and a lot of hearts. I love your idea!

…and a lot of frowns. Why doing so much at home? or Why such showing off?

But that’s okay!  She does it for the love of it! She does it for the fun it has! And she will continue to do it as far as it makes her feel adequate.

Tiger mom

She is the one who believes in strict adherence to rules and regulations. Parties, sleepovers, hangouts are not much of friends with her. She sets higher expectations for her children. Forget about the ‘B’ or ‘C’, it’s ‘A’ and not getting an ‘A+’ that upsets her.

Sometimes she goes to extreme to bring out the best in her children. Even if it’s a birthday card that she receives from her 5 year old, she doesn’t forget to remind that the colouring was outside the borders. Well, perfection is the limit she sets and tries to realise the highest of the highest goals, no wonder how finicky she has to get sometimes (infact most of the times)!

Hot mess mom

She is the unplanned and the unorganized one. She invites her kid’s friends and doesn’t have her house cleaned or haven’t had her snack activities planned. She misses half of the bag essentials on her trip outdoors. Even if it’s the 5th day for clothes to be in the dryer; they are waiting to be folded.

She is cool in making allowances to kids most of the time. She knows how much her kids hate those beans and asparagus and so she is cool about giving them Mac and Cheese or some nuggets.

Me time to her means breathing, eating or going to the restrooms. She has all high rated dinner plans but finally ends up serving the ever rotating normal platters.

Despite all the mess, she is happy and her kids are happy.

Type A mom

She is the organized one. She has notes and spreadsheets and charts by her hand. She is dot on time. A meeting at two means a meeting at two. She is the multitasker and rarely asks for help since she wants things a certain way. She never lets herself off the hook.

Her mind is always occupied with an over lengthy to-do-list and what she has to do next. She is like a sergeant to her own mind which keeps her on the go. Her immense organising skills might be overbearing sometimes and she wishes to be a little laid back sometimes. But she can’t help it and that’s what keeps her sane probably!

Crunchy mom

She is the one who believes in making informed choices about health and lifestyle. She prefers kale chips over Oreos for her kid’s snacks. She believes in doing her own garden and farm to keep it all organic. She willingly pursues her own research from birthing, breastfeeding, diapering, vaccines, feeding. She advocates attachment parenting. She believes in making informed choices and discovering perspectives to healthy, natural and safe living.

She is the natural, hippie mama on the vigil!

Cool Mom

Her kids are a bit of a free ranger. She is absolutely okay with letting her kids eat pizza if that makes them happy. She is fun and look forward to social outings. She jokes and even supposedly spoils her kids. She sometimes draws criticism from her fellow moms for being too liberal!

She dresses not how she is supposed to but how she wants to. A tattoo on her ankle or a streak of blue on hair is not far her way. She doesn’t trade her lifestyle after having a child.

And the most important part, you don’t need to tell her that she is cool since she already knows it!

Social Media mom

She loves her phone as much as she loves her kids. She is mostly glued to it and is busy commenting or sharing. She captures every bit of her kid’s stuff and even posts it. While it’s all so cute initially, after a while it all stops being adorable when it’s the 100th picture she posted online. Anyways, she can’t help it since she finds all such stuff so cute and worth sharing.

Ever came across someone who fits into any (or a mix) of such categories! Hmmm….Let your mind do the racing.