In a few days, many of us will be celebrating Father’s Day on June 20. Father’s Day around the world have different origins, they could have come from religion, politics, or just out of pure love to thank all hard-working male parents who took great care of us. Having lived in Asia, North America, and Europe in various periods of my life, I always feel very confused by when exactly is Father’s day? It turns out that there are different dates to celebrate Dads around the world. I always called home to wish my dad and grandfathers on the “wrong” day, depending on where in the world I was at that moment! Well, it never hurts to talk to them and tell them you love them multiple times in a year anyways!
Capture the moments
Somehow, I always find it more difficult to find gift ideas for Father’s Day than Mother’s Day! I used to make little handcrafts for my dad for this special day, and he would keep all of them in his desk drawer and on his desk when the drawer ran out of space through the years. When I was nine or ten I made him a glazed ceramic paper weight from pottery class and he kept it on his desk all these years. It is now standing next to a proud collection of crafts and memorabilia created by my daughters and nephews and his desk is getting a bit too small to put anything else! Maybe the best gift is something that can bring back great family moments, that is collectible, and can remind Dad the achievement he has made as a father and grandfather. Start a scrapbook of Dad and add new pages to it every year, there are great ideas on how to start one here.
photo by: @disasterswithdad / @ellijunior
Make new memories together
Another great way to create memory together is by spending quality time with dad and experience something new together for the first time (great opportunity to take photos for next year’s scrapbook page too!) If there is not enough time to organize anything elaborate, small gestures go a long way too. Simple activities like taking a walk along Dad’s favorite hiking trail with him can be a great bonding moment. Ask the kids to drop their electronic devices and join grandpa at the barbeque to learn how to cook up a mean steak would mean so much to him.
No matter when and how we celebrate Father’s Day around the world, the aim is always to express our appreciation to all the father-figures in our lives that contributed in no small way who we have become today.
Happy Father’s Day to all Sparky Dads!
Going on vacation no matter what!
Can’t believe Summer is just around the corner and it’s the second year we have to face the challenge of planning summer family vacation during a Pandemic. I think we all deserve a good Summer break, especially this year, after battling with all the problems, sadness, and social isolation COVID-19 has thrown our way. Looking at the bright side, many countries now have a big part of their population fully or partially vaccinated, and hopefully the situation can only get better from here. There is so much more talk of vacationing away from home this year compared to last Summer and more holiday destinations seem to be re-opening for business again by the day.
We mean it when we say, “Have a safe trip!”
Whether you and your family are fully vaccinated or not, or the social distancing rules are slowly relaxing more, precautions still need to be taken when planning your travels, after all the Pandemic is still a very present threat globally. These guidelines issued by the Mayo Clinic are super helpful for travelling this Summer, with different suggestions on what to expect, to bring along, and how to stay safe depending on the mode of transportation.
Take it easy.
Like it or not, international, or even national travels have changed forever since the Pandemic started. New protocols at airports, hotels, and restaurants are in place and we need to get accustomed to them. In 2019, who would have ever imagined that “face coverings” would become a necessary accessory to go with our resort clothes and flip-flops when walking around a hotel??? We need to be extra patient and take on a more flexible attitude during our vacation because flight schedules might change due to local infection situation of your holiday destination, or social distancing rules could vary from one day to the next.
Be creative
Instead of flocking to the already crowded and fully booked resorts, maybe we can consider other “safer” and more “socially distanced” vacation ideas! Especially if your family have young children who are not vaccinated, thesesuggestions could be good alternatives for a relaxing and enjoyable family holiday. If you have not already done so in the past year, a pampering staycation in a nice hotel near your home can also ease away some of the stress and tension accumulated in the last 12 months and spend some quality time with your loved ones.
Stay Sparky!
The Unapologetic Bookworm
Reading became one of my favorite pastimes since I was young, and it still is! I have fond memories of curling up in the armchair on stormy days reading adventure stories and imagining the protagonists of the book dodging bullets outside my window in the rain! That’s why I tried to encourage my kids to read for enjoyment at a very young age and it would become one of the gifts I can give them for life – the joy of reading!
Building confidence is key
Every child has a different approach when it comes to reading and different preferences on how they like to read. Some children do not like to read because it is a challenge for them due to various reasons, so we first need to understand what the cause could be and then encourage them to overcome it, be it boredom, concentration challenge, or simply lack of interest. Once they have developed some good reading skills they will be more confident to venture out and read more.
Load up the Imagination Wagon
In my personal experience, I found it more difficult to entice my daughters to read a lot when they were really young, before the age of 6 or 7. Maybe it was because I have never been a very good storyteller and didn’t read a lot of stories to them. Or maybe I simply chose the wrong books that did not interest them! Only recently did I realized there are some really beautifully illustrated wordless picture books that are full of wonderful illustrations and colours that I am sure children would love. What a great way to get their imagination running and to make up stories of their own! Maybe story time could be having THEM to tell ME the stories before bed, not the other way round! Well, my “aha!” moment came 10 years too late!
Read in your own style
But once my kids have built up a slightly larger vocabulary and have gained more confidence in reading, that’s when the fun started. We would have our reading sessions on the weekends, curled up in our cozy reading nook, and each of us lost in the wonderful story we chose. I never cease to be amazed by the variety of books the kids read, they constantly switch from fictions to non-fictions, from classics to contemporary. Our little one likes to read several books at once, a few pages here and a few chapters there. At first I thought she was having trouble concentrating, but I realized later that she would actually finish reading ALL of them! This turns out to be her reading style.
Let’s be practical
In our family, we are such avid and fast readers that we can go through so many books in a short time, and we just don’t have the space at home to keep all the books. Also, it happens that we would like to read the same book at the same time, like when the newest title of a book series we are all following just came out. For this reason, I have resolved to using e-readers so we can share our “library” without piling up the house with books or wait our turns for a particularly sought-after story! Of course there are pros and cons on the use of e-readers, but I find them super practical.
Dive right in!
Get started with a wide variety of books on different topics and let the kids explore which ones are their favorites! There are some great lists of books for various ages and reading skills on the internet complete with reviews. Enjoy spending time with the kids discussing their favorite stories, what a wonderful way to bond with them through the joy of reading.
Stay Sparky!
A day to remember…
Mother’s Day is just a few days away and it is a good moment to pause the hectic lives we are living and take the time to give thanks and appreciation to our mothers, and the mother figures in our lives who are just as important. Now that I am also a mom, I realized how much love and sacrifices came my way and I am doing my best to pay it forward to my kids in turn.
How to celebrate?
So what would be an ideal Mother’s Day celebration? For me, it would be great to gather several generations of mothers at a table, sharing great food and memorable stories with the entire family. Yeah, dream on, right? I can settle for a video call with everyone, we can still exchange great memories and maybe a few Mother’s Day jokes, just not the food!
Best bonding time
Home life has been so busy for everyone because of the pandemic that there seems to be so many more chores to do around the house. Laundry seems to pile up faster and so do the dishes in the sink now that we are eating at home all the time at all hours, so many lose items to put away, toys to repair, and the list goes on. So take Mother’s Day as your day-off and just kickback and enjoy the company of your family. Spend some bonding time with your kids, and let them pamper you and show you how much they love you by making you breakfast in bed (and IGNORE the mess they have made in the kitchen, you can do it!)
Where’s the popcorn?
One of our family’s favourite chill-out time is to snuggle up and watch a movie that we choose together by popular vote. Since it’s Mother’s Day, I will choose the movie and the kiddies will have to make the popcorn (oh boy, more mess in the kitchen!) There are many benefits of watching TV together with the kids because we tend to watch something different than what they would normally watch by themselves. Our little one always objects to EVERY program we propose, but since she’s the minority she needs to watch what we choose, and she always ended up loving it! This really opens their minds to different TV genres and themes (no matter how much they object in the beginning), at the same time we can provide any explanation they might find helpful while we watch.
Bombol wishes all mommies a wonderful and Sparky Mother’s Day!
The never-ending story
We have all been there: when you think most of the chores around the house have been done and the baby has been fed, cleaned, and entertained, we can finally sit down and drink the long-cooled coffee that has been sitting on the kitchen counter since morning. But NOOOO, the little one still wants to be entertained some more!
Screen time doesn’t count!
Their little play area has been nicely set up with toys and entertainment materials easily reachable, but somehow our precious toddlers still would like us to be there to play with them. This is most endearing but can become unmanageable in the long run when we end up spending hours on end entertaining them. It is so important therefore to encourage independent play starting from a young age. Mind you, this doesn’t mean giving them an electronic device and leave them there staring at the screen for the next hour.
Photo: @happynomadsouls
According to this article from Motherly, independent play not only teaches your child to be creative, self-sufficient in problem solving and concentrated in what they are doing. It also benefits the caregiver as having some time for self-care, or finish up some small tasks while keeping an eye on the little one playing. Of course, the extent of independent play needs to be adapted to the child’s age and growth stage, while the length of time dedicated to the play session also varies from child to child. I find the suggestions and tips from Rachel Norman in her blog post really helpful to get the routine going.
Get Creative
A recurring tip that I found on various sources regarding independent play is the rotation of toys. This can help your child to concentrate on a few toys at a time and to stay focused on their tasks. Changing their toys periodically can give them new stimulation and pickup on the toys they might have forgotten about and would find new interest in them. Here are also some good suggestions on activities you can let your child do to get them occupied, in addition to their toys!
photo: @joabari
With the pandemic still affecting so many households and we are spending so much time at home as a family, independent play becomes an important part of everyday life, benefiting both parents and child psychologically and practically.
Stay Sparky!
Let’s Welcome the Bunny
It’s been almost four months since the last holiday season, finally Easter is here and we have another good occasion to bring some joy and celebration to the tedious pandemic life one year on! Let’s welcome the arrival of Spring and the Easter Bunny!
Get inspired
Depending on the country and cultural background, moms around the world always have their own go-to method and materials for decorating Easter Eggs, be it water color, food coloring, or glitter plus glue. It is really amazing how different countries celebrate Easter in such different ways and produce such elaborate artistic interpretations of the Easter Egg. For us busy parents, we don’t need to be too ambitious, just start with some easy but fun decorations and sprinkle them around your home! That will surely get the Easter atmosphere going.
It’s a cultural journey
While showing our kids what are the different ways of celebrating Easter around the world, another great way to raise their awareness is to introduce them to a list of books on Easter traditions in other countries. It is amazing how one festive day can be so different in many places yet there is a central theme that weaves everyone together, no matter where we are. Very often, even families from other religions would take this occasion to get together for a family meal and simply enjoy each other’s company.
Make it Virtual!
Unfortunately for so many of us, this year’s Easter celebration would need to be different, just like so many other festivities in the past year. The new trend is to turn everything “virtual”, including the Easter Egg Hunt!!?? On the internet, there are some cool ideas on how to organize a Virtual Easter Egg Hunt, the effort involved is no small feat but if that can give the little ones some excitement and joy with their buddies, it is all worth it!
Bring on the comfort food
Last but not least, even without a big family Easter Sunday brunch, preparing a special dish or two can put you in a better mood! With Spring at the door, there are so many refreshing ingredients we can use to drive out any lingering Winter chill! So, go and get ready for Easter and celebrate the arrival of a blooming and more positive season, things will only get warmer and better from now!
Happy Easter and Stay Sparky!
Family Moments
One of my fondest childhood memories is the numerous Sunday afternoons spent playing with my toys on the rug in front of my mom’s armchair. She would have her favourite music blasting and relaxing with a book in hand. My dad would be submersed in the week-old pile of newspaper to catch up on the news he missed. Everyone was doing something they like, yet we were spending time together all the same!
The Great Toy Invasion
Having a play corner for your baby is definitely something to consider when space permitting. Nowadays staying home is still very much encouraged, to avoid everyone hiding in his / her own room all day, the living room should be the main part of the home where everyone gathers to spend some quality time as a family. However, one of the biggest challenges is to minimize the clash in style when adult furniture and decoration faces off with multi-coloured toys of the little one, popping up everywhere like little mushrooms!
Photo Credit: @whiteandwander
Marking the territory
From the research I have done, there are a few tips that are recommended by experienced moms and interior professionals alike. Firstly, identify the space for your baby to play / relax in with a cute little rug or low table, no matter how small it seems. It can be a corner in the living room or a wall with low shelves next to your sofa, this can make your baby feel like he has his own space within the family living room.
Get organized
Secondly, little baskets or boxes are perfect storages for toys and the toddler can learn to get organized at an early age too! Include a comfy bouncer in the corner for some quiet reading and story times, that’s a perfect way for both you and baby to relax before going to bed!
Photo Credit: @happynomadsouls
Let’s hangout together
To me, family time doesn’t necessarily mean doing the same activity together, but it can also be the warm & peaceful feeling of just beingtogether in the same space, each doing something relaxing and fun. So, get started on creating a play corner for your little one and enjoy each other’s company while hanging out in the living room!
Stay Sparky!
It is never too early to learn to eat healthily
In recent years, our way of living has become so much faster and when efficiency is key, a meal is often prepared and eaten quickly, in front of our computers or the TV. For our kids, the temptation of yummy-but-not-so-healthy processed foods and fast foods are basically everywhere they look, in the school cafeteria, vending machines, or on their way home in convenience stores. Apart from teaching our children to have an open-minded attitude towards food in general, it is also important to help them develop a healthy eating habit to avoid future health or obesity issues.
Now is the best time!
With so many of us working from home and the kids are remote learning, this might actually be a chance for us to do just that! Since we are having all our meals at home and having to prepare 3 meals a day for the family, it could be a good occasion for them to learn about healthy eating under a relatively “controlled” environment. The foods they find at home would be those you buy and you can encourage them to snack on healthier options by stocking the kitchen counter with fruits and wholesome munchies instead of the junk food they could normally get easily from school’s vending machines.
It’s all fun and games
For the smaller kids, it is always useful to feed them the information in a visually attractive and fun way to teach them the essential basics of healthy eating. Learning through games is always a good way to go and can hopefully make the information more impressionable.
Show them how it’s done
I think the most effective way is to practice what we preach! I have always been a home baker and my girls grew up watching me busy in the kitchen baking up a storm! They would be sitting on their booster at the kitchen table, playing with dough scraps or just getting flour all over them while I baked. As they got a bit older they were my little kitchen assistants and now, both of them are avid bakers who each own a couple of “signature” recipes they are proud of!
It always tastes better when they make it themselves
We can definitely create interest in cooking with fresh ingredients and coming up with healthy and delicious meals that the kids understand and enjoy. I came across this website that advocates healthy school lunches and encourages children learning how to cook with fresh everyday ingredients. They even have tutorial videos where children demonstrate the basic cooking skills and showcasing easy recipes of dishes from all over the world! Kids can learn how to cook, get interested in healthy eating, and learn about other cultures through food!
What are you waiting for, grab your kids and head to the kitchen! Stay Sparky!
We need to be strong before we can be selfless!
When I was small, my mother used to tell me how important it is, for my personal growth, to become a parent one day. It is only then will I learn the true meaning of “selflessness”. Now that I am a mother I understand what she meant. Our children are EVERYTHING to me and my husband and we would gladly give up everything to keep them healthy, safe, and happy.
Self-care is the first step
During this challenging time, our kids rely on us to give them the necessary physical and mental support to brave on with their remote learning routines and deal with the missed contacts with close friends and beloved relatives. We are still constantly in a vigilant mode to try keep ourselves and our family safe from any form of harm and it can get really stressful and tiring after so many months. To fulfil the calling of “Selflessness” we first need to “Self-Care”! It is super important to keep a positive attitude and stay healthy not only physically but also mentally for the sake of our family. I find this article by Sarah Fader so helpful in explaining the importance of self-care as a parent and the effect it has on ourselves and our children.
Take a breather whenever possible
When you are toiling with the daily tasks of working from home, doing housework, helping the kids with their remote learning, getting 3 meals a day ready for the entire family, it is easy to feel your mental and physical strength melt away as the day wears on. There are so many parents that are going through the same challenges and it definitely helps to hear their stories and maybe learn how others deal with similar issues. Take a coffee break in your busy day and listen to an episode of some interesting parenting podcasts such as these can bring a smile to your face and remind you that you are not alone in the career of parenthood!
Photo Credit: @meghan_mosakowski
Drop down and gimme 10 push-ups!
Another great way to de-stress is to spare a bit of time each day or a couple of times each week to do some form of exercise. As many of us know already, but might just need a warm reminder, that working out helps your body to release more serotonin, the hormone that keeps your mood up! Why not pen in a workout session or two with your kids and get everyone into a better mood and achieve better health at the same time? You might find some good ideas here for a family workout routine at home!
Hang in there for just a bit longer
We might still have another bit to go before this pandemic nightmare is behind us, so we need to stay strong and live long! Sometimes it is enough to start from the basics and stop ignoring the cries for a time-out from our bodies, maybe these methods could be a good beginning.
Bombol salutes all the selfless parents who are doing their best everyday for their families and we send you a huge virtual hug of solidarity!
Stay Sparky!
Happy New Year!
The Bombol team wishes you a healthy (above all things) 2021!
Many of us wanted to write off 2020 and dive straight into 2021 without looking back, well, here we are!! Now that we can start the year afresh, how should we plan this to make it the BEST year EVER after we have gone through one of the worst in recent history? I think it is the right moment to think of setting some New Year resolutions for 2021 to make sure we get the most out of the year.
You need to strategize your New Year resolutions!
Photo by @victoriacotovan
I am sure that, at one point or another, we all have made new year resolutions and failed to follow through with them after a couple of weeks (if we were persistent). But I think we should definitely give it another try now, because we have gone through a particularly tough year and survived, that means we will be strong enough to follow through with the resolutions and challenges in 2021! Of course, what goals you set this year matters a lot to their success rate too. That’s why I find this article’s suggestions super helpful because I do agree that we need to start small and set realisticgoals in bite size.
It is always a good way to set good examples to our children and get them involved in what goes on in our lives. So why not help them set their own new year resolutions so you can give each other mental support, especially when the going gets tough?
Send the best New Year wishes to your loved ones
In this holiday season, I find it emotionally very tough not being able to spend it with my close family and friends due to social distancing concerns. It’s not possible to give new year wishes in person, no cheering and counting down together, nor group hugging our loved ones at midnight on New Year’s eve, and toasting together for a great year ahead…All we have left is video calls and text messages that we can send to wish everyone well in 2021. Well, if that’s what we have, then let’s make the best out of it! I found some meaningful messageshere that can provide some inspiration when sending the new year greetings to your loved ones (although these suggestions seem to be meant for New Year Cards, I think they work just as well if not better in text messages!)
What does 2021 have in store for all of us?
2021, may you bring us more joy than your predecessor did, and we welcome you with open arms and enthusiasm! We will make the best of you by Staying Sparky!
