In our household, we have tested few arrangements before finding a routine that worked for the whole family and we are prepared to adapt again if necessary. The kids are particularly stressed, having lost their routines and social life from one day to the other. They miss their friends, they don’t know when they’ll meet grandparents again, and mom and dad are more stressed than usual. Unfortunately when children are stressed they are not on their best behaviour and that adds up to the list of triggers for us. I know. Deep breaths and loads of empathy, my friend.

Beside listing fun activities to keep the little ones active and engaged, I have rounded up some resources for you to help them face these challenges times. If this is a lot to process for us adults, imagine how massive it is for children. One day E (almost 5) confessed he was afraid the virus might jump out of nowhere and bite him. We have explained them that old people are most vulnerable and R immediately worried for her grandparents. U has been staying with us for over a month (a story for another post) but she’ll soon go back to her living facility and worries when she’ll see us again. It’s a lot to take in and we are their compass, their light in the darkness.

The World Health Organization has put together a series of tips in several languages for parents, including how to manage challenging behaviours and reduce children’s stress. They are a set of great tips gathered from top experts, I wholeheartedly recommend to check them out (and send them to friends!).

Kids are naturally curious and there’s nothing better than fighting uncertainty and anxiety with facts. Surely knowledge needs to be packaged in an age-appropriate way. I always find books a great way to convey messages to my children. Axel Scheffler, the artist who illustrated The Gruffalò, has published a free ebook to help parents explain the current crisis to their children. The book was so successful that it was quickly translated in over 17 languages (here in Italian).
If your child speaks English, you might enjoy the #CaringForEachOther initiative by Sesame Street: there is plenty of ideas and resources to support families during this crisis.
The School of Life has put together a series of free activities for children. This period can be an opportunity to explore and learn.

Mindfulness is another great tool to help children. I have been awful with my own meditation routine in the past months, but I know it works and it’s a fantastic way to stay grounded when anxiety tries to take the best of you. Luckily some kind souls have adapted mindfulness techniques for children. These are books I have read and I warmly recommend. You won’t need to read them whole, just pick some exercises and try them out:
Mindfulness for children by Uz Afzal;
Calm – mindfulness for kids by Wynne Kinder;
Yoga for kids by Susannah Hoffman (I recommend this one for kids who are more lively and physical).

Last but not least: regulate your own stress. Children have the finest sensors on their carers’ emotions. If you are travelling on negative frequencies, your kids will pick them up. Conversely, if you stay grounded, you help them do the same. Self-care is the word right now. Carve your own spaces, concede to activities that bring you joy, and pamper yourself.

These are stressful times, but challenges are always opportunities to grow. Stay safe and #stayathome.

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Nordic Nannies is a service provider connecting families and carers. Mareena herself has worked as a nanny for roughly 20 years across seven countries. She is very aware of what skills candidates should have, what needs families have, as well as what it means to be an immigrant.

“I know a lot about moving from Finland, applying for jobs abroad in the nanny industry, how to enter a new family and make a life there, working and living abroad in a new country and a new culture”, she says. Many international families in Finland lack family support and several look for childcare solutions, even temporarily.

Mareena can match families with different profiles. There’s the well-known au-pairs, young people seeking for a low-cost cultural experience in exchange for some help with childcare and house chores. Such arrangements usually last 6 months top. Similarly, elderly companions can assist older people with daily life for up to a year. If a family is looking for longer placements, Mareena can match them professional nannies. One interesting profile is the one of governess or gouverneur, that is a private teacher. Home-schooling is legal in Finland – although extremely rare – and some families moving from abroad might benefit from temporarily home-schooling their children. For example, hiring a Finnish private teacher could help school-age children transition more easily in a new language and education system. Some families move to Finland in the middle of the school year or miss to get one of the few places at the international schools, and a private teacher could help bridge the school year.

Mareena started Nordic Nannies primarily to offer young Finns a chance to work abroad. In time, the business evolved and now she is capable of matching families, living both in Finland and abroad, with carers with various backgrounds, language skills, and countries of origin.

“Having worked myself here in Finland I know the system, for example how families can apply to Kela grants helping with the costs of childcare.”

This is particularly relevant for expat families, who might struggle finding out what benefits and rules are. There are several benefits that make hiring domestic help cheaper or provide tax cuts. Mareena is happy to assist families with questions regarding taxes and labour in Finland. Thinking of expats in Finland, I asked if she would be willing to find carers speaking the family’s minority language. She replied: “I have capabilities of finding candidates in other countries, in addition to Finns. I have networks and I am collaborating with other agencies. It’s definitely possible. I have many contacts among British nannies, but also some in Asia. Obviously with candidates from countries outside the EU can be issues with visas and it might take time. In the past I have also hired foreign candidates that were already in Finland. I am not lacking candidates like that”. Moreover, if a child has special needs, she has also capability of finding a nanny with training or previous experience with the condition.

Mareena works as a consultant and a recruiter. She requests an initial fee and a one-time contribution for a successful placement. If you will mention The Elephant Mum when you register, you’ll get a 10% off the placement fee (offer valid until 30.6.2020).

The best satisfaction of her job? “The most rewarding thing is when the family contacts me after few weeks and they are happy, everything is going well, they say it’s so easy, they come home from work and everything is taken care of… when it works for both parties, the nanny is happy and treated well”.

Featured picture by Dorothe Wouters on Unsplash.

The post Need a Hand with Childcare? Nordic Nannies is Here to Help appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

Part of the issue is that families do not engage in physical activities enough. By this I do not mean solely sports, but more broadly to be active and engage in play and activities than keep your body on the move. Luckily, public organisations like City of Helsinki are trying to change this. Today City of Helsinki launched a campaign called #HelsinkiLiikkuu (=Helsinki moves) in February 2020. According to their surveys, 80% of families do not move together daily. One of the initiatives is to improve visibility of physical activities available in the area. I like to call myself a converted lazy. I was empress of couch potatoes, but my intention to educate my children set me to change my habits for the better. Surprise, surprise, my own health and mood benefited greatly, and our family bond grew stronger.

Not everyone is aware that there is plenty of free or cheap sport activities for the whole family available in the capital area. Here are some ideas for your children to have fun on the move.

#1. Go on a hike

Hiking is one of our favorite family activities since ever. It fits all ages and never gets dull. We are blessed to live in a country where nature is always at reach. Beside casual walks, there are several nature trails in Helsinki (and Espoo, Vantaa) with different lengths, sceneries, and difficulty levels. Some have public grills or campfire pits for you to grill a couple of sausages. If you want to have a preview of some hikes, our recommendations near Helsinki are Oittaa, Hannusmetsä, and Klassarinkierros.

#2. Swim boredom away

Swimming is a cheap hobby in the capital area. Children under 7 enter for free or for around 3 euros. Adults’ entrance fee is usually around 5 euros. There are several swimming halls available, and most have spaces and facilities for children. Moreover, City of Helsinki organises cheap swimming courses for children.

#3. Play sports together

City of Helsinki offers several opportunities for children or the whole family to engage in sports. From exercise sessions for toddlers to family ball games, there’s plenty to do for free or a low fee. Several activities are available also through Easy Sport. The Adult Education Institute routinely offers cheap sport classes for the whole family – why not trying Afro Dance with your little ones?

#4. Explore city playgrounds

I realise how many playgrounds there are in Finland whenever I go on holiday and finding one involves Google Maps and long walks. Playgrounds are sprinkled all over Helsinki and its surrounding area. They are a safe and simple place for children to let some steam off, climb, and socialise. A special mention goes to the three Angry Birds playgrounds in Espoo. When bad weather hits, you can visit family houses: indoors free-of-charge facilities where small ones can play with toys and other children, while parents enjoy coffee and conversation.

#5. Visit a museum

Not all museums and cultural sites are children-friendly, but many are in Finland. Don’t look indoors only! There are outdoors options like Suomenlinna, Seurasaari or the Botanical Garden to spend a day out and learn something new. Helsinki City Museum is free and entirely child-centered (it’s our favorite place to lose a hour when we visit the city center); Kiasma regularly organises workshops for children; the Natural History Museum and the Korkeasaari Zoo are other popular choices.
Culture in Finland is affordable. You can invest in a Museum Card, which gives you access year round to most sites. Alternatively, many museums regularly allow visitors in for free.

#6. Ski among trees

Cross-country skiing is an exciting activity to try with kids. Children as young as 4 can learn and younger kids might be towed on a sledge. Paloheinä is a popular winter center in Helsinki and if you don’t own skiis, you can rent them. If you are like myself when I moved here and know nothing of winter sports, you’ll be pleased to learn that Paloheinä has courses for small children with or without an adult to introduce you to this new hobby.

#7. Treasure hunt with geocaching

Geocaching is a world-known free hobby and I’m pleased to announce it’s popular in Finland too. Treasure hunting provides a perfect excuse to drag kids of all ages out and about. Frankly, it’s fantastic for adults too! We’ve been recently sucked into it, it fits all ages and provides motivation and rewards to go on long walks.

#8. Climb on your bikes

You don’t have to wait for summer to hop on your bike. As long as there is no ice, cycling is rewarding. Don’t underestimate small children: last summer my 4 and 6 year olds would bike 8 km. Helsinki has over 1200 km of bicycle paths, all over town and through forests. There are several recommended bicycle routes for you to try. Or you can build your own with the help of the Journey Planner.

#9. Dust off your ice-skates

Now that you live here, you need to make your peace with winter sports because even if you hide, they’ll find you. You probably have come across the ice-skating ring near the main railway station. As you can see, it’s quite cheap. There are several outdoor skating rings across Helsinki, free-of-charge and open to the public. Oulunkylä hosts an indoor skating ring.

#10. Care for nature

Helsinki offers residents chances to have an active role in caring for its nature. The initiative “Good Things Grow in Helsinki” calls for volunteers to shape the green areas and clean parks. It’s an hands-on educational opportunity for the whole family.
Another option is to rent a garden allotment for your family to grow vegetables. The open farm Haltiala allows visitors to pick flowers and peapods for free. And of course you’re free to pick berries, wild herbs and mushrooms in forests any time.

There is plenty of opportunities for your family to spend quality time together without hurting the wallet. To learn more about the campaign, like the Facebook page, follow the Instagram or Twitter feed, and keep an eye on the webpage. Join me and post on social media how you keep your family on the move with the hashtag #HelsinkiLiikkuu.

Featured image by The Slow Photography.

The post 10 Low-Cost Activities in Helsinki to Keep Your Family Healthy #HelsinkiLiikkuu appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

It’s clear that the responsibility to create the conditions for girls to thrive starts at home and within the family. Challenging gender stereotypes is hard work and my husband and I regularly revisit and debate what we do and say. However, the alternative is unacceptable. I demand the same opportunities for my children regardless of who they are.

I thought it would be interesting to share how we apply concretely these good principles in our day-to-day life. Today I will start with this concept:

children are not there to entertain or please adults.

What has this to do with gender equality, you say. One of women’s obstacles to reach equality is themselves. Women grow up to believe their function and purpose is to serve others. We slip easily in the role of carer for children or the elderly, we struggle to practice self-care because at some level we feel we do not deserve it, and there’s a shared feeling that if we do not procreate – by choice or nature – we are not worthy as women.

There’s nothing wrong with the act of serving, as long as you’re given the choice. As long as it doesn’t become who you are without your consent. Being able to create life is a privilege and a superpower, as long as society doesn’t decide it is the sole purpose of your existence. Even the popular pro-feminism advocacy slogan “think of your daughters/sisters/mothers” is a way to limit women and their worthiness of rights or equality to the role they play for others. When women start questioning the things they do or say or be or are asked to do with this lens, the result is always shocking.

While this phenomenon is more prevalent and overwhelming for women, men are not immune to gender stereotypes either. Boys and men are expected to be strong, invulnerable, immune from feelings, virile, and provide for their family.

I do not want gender stereotypes to become an invisible prison for my kids. How do I apply the concepts mentioned above concretely? Here are some tips.

• I respect a bad mood. Sometime when I pick R up from school, she’s in a mood. She might be grumpy and grunt she doesn’t want to talk. My natural reaction (what my parents used to do with me) would be to complain or ask her to be more nice even if she hasn’t been properly impolite. But I catch myself and I react by validating her feelings. “Don’t worry, let’s walk in silence, it’s okay to feel grumpy or tired”. I do not demand that she’s good company or smiling all the time. Girls can be mad. Girls can be grumpy. [food for thought: funny how it’s socially acceptable for girls to be sad, but not mad]
• I defend their personal space. You know when strangers want to touch a small child or relatives demand a kiss before leaving? Not on my watch. I defend my children’s right of controlling their body and personal space. If someone takes offence, it’s their problem. My children are not there to please anyone. Taking control of affection gestures is also an opportunity to teach what consent means. There’s nothing bad asking a child for a kiss, but we have to respect their refusal. I confess this is the most difficult one for me, because I love to play and tickle or kiss them. My husband routinely lectures me on boundaries :P.
• Your body, your choice. Since tender age we have left our children freedom on how they dress, style or have their hair cut. After making sure they are dressed properly for the weather, we leave them the final word on what they wear or on what hairstyle they prefer.
• “This is not what a good girl/boy does” is a sentence you’ll never hear me say. Ban it.
• Growing awareness. Whenever I spot situations or examples of children or women expected to be pleasant for others’ enjoyment, I highlight them. I want my children to grow to identify these situations and know there is an alternative to people’s expectations.

I want my children to grow and feel empowered. I want them to be proud of every aspect of their identity and not burdened by any. These are some of the concrete ways I pursue this. In the future, I will share more.

Do you fight gender roles in your home and how? Any tips? Share them down in the comments.

The post Raising World Changers – Episode 1 appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

These are my tips from 9+ years living in Finland. My husband and I are both expats and we juggle a family of two toddlers and, occasionally, a preteen. Some of our kids have special needs and we are both working full-time. These years haven’t been short of challenges and we could have never pulled it out without the tips I’m about to share.

Understand that you’re not alone

My first tip is to realise that there are many parents struggling with this – pretty much every expat parent. Few lucky ones have family of their Finnish spouse to help a little, but many do not have any support at all. Even when you have relatives living in the same continent, you won’t have the short-notice daily help many local families count upon. How does this help? Well, I have found people in my same situation and in emergencies I know I can ask them help because they get it 100%. They understand how important my requests are and don’t underestimate my struggle. Similarly, I try to pay it forward and offer my support when I have slack and someone is struggling. Slowly build your tribe.

Create a Whatsapp group

Years ago I was introduced to a private Google Group gathering other Italian women living in Finland. It included some who had been living in Finland for 20 years as well as newcomers. The main rule, you were included only by invitation if you knew at least one group member IRL. This restriction made it a safe space. Later we created a Whatsapp group as spin-off. This chat group became a huge part of my everyday life. I use to ask quick questions or stir discussions, often on private matters that I don’t want to expose on a Facebook group with strangers. I also enjoy I get to speak in my native language and we often make inside jokes only Italian people get. We sometime organise dinners, support each other, and stay connected to our birth culture. Create your own group. Start with few fellow expat moms or parents you know, and slowly expand.

Build your lifestyle mindfully

We have been very intentional over the years about choosing jobs that would allow our lifestyle and work-life balance. For example being able to do remote work is essential for both of us. We also need a workplace and managers that are considerate towards our family requirements. We need flexitime. Few months ago I was enticing the possibility of working for a company in US. I soon rejected the idea, simply because I cannot afford to work with a company that has less work-life balance or no family friendly policies or incompatible timezones. I know expats struggle to build their career in Finland, but try to make sensible choices wherever you can.

Hire professionals to help

Our lifestyle is peculiar. In many periods of our life here, professional help was not a luxury, it was a necessity. We have invested time and effort in finding professionals that we could afford to better manage our household. Two examples are babysitters and cleaning services. And I found them cheap (and legal).
We hired teens in our neighbourhood for both and paid 10-15 euros/hour. We paid them (along with taxes) through the online tax service Palkka. For some time when our daughter was small, we found we needed someone to pick her up from daycare regularly, at least once a week. I surveyed her classmates’ parents and found one mom willing to help. She made few extra bucks and our girl was excited she got to go to regular playdates with a friend. It was convenient since this mom lived in the area and had to visit the daycare to pick up her son anyway. Similarly, we had months where we could not find time or energy to clean the house regularly. We hired a teen and she would come for a couple of hours every week. It wasn’t professional cleaning but it was enough to keep us out of the social services’ radar (JK).

Explore available resources

There are many hidden resources for families in Finland. It might take time, tons of internet research, and a million questions shot around, but you can find some. For example, perheneuvola offers free family counselling. Neuvola has a service for overtired parents, where a nurse babysits your baby for free while you take a long nap. There are free mental health hotlines and Kela reimburses a good amount of therapy services’ fees. Many parents of small children work reduced hours (I think employers have to concede them – check with your union). In times of crises, I have even used the free-of-charge babysitting services available in some malls (like Sello).

Ask for help

This is general advice. Expat family life is tough. It is. I know people who are in therapy solely for that. It can be alienating and lonely, full of invisible struggles that surrounding locals, sometime even your Finnish partner, simply do not get. It’s okay to ask for help from fellow expats, other parents, your partner, your work manager, a therapist, professionals. Be open about your experience and struggle. Be honest with yourself. Have self-compassion. Build solid self-care routines.

I won’t lie, a lot of my energy goes into making up for the support we don’t have here. An expat’s support network is dynamic: the friends you make may move away. Some friendships even start with an expiration date, as their plan is to stay temporarily. It’s part of the game and you need to accept it. Your family’s needs will change in time and you oughta be creative and proactive. For few months I regularly exchanged babysitting favours with a neighbour. I have a couple of Finnish moms in the neighbourhood on speed dial for emergency daycare pickups. Occasionally I have tactically scheduled playdates for both kids at the same time to have a couple of spare hours. You will learn to play the game. Sometime you’ll need to just push through or stop and reassess your prioritise. It’s hard, mama (or papa), but you’ve got it!

Do you have other tips for fellow expat parents? Please share them in the comments section!

If you liked this post, you might appreciate also:
Things you need to know as an expat parent in Finland
Moving to Finland? Gotcha.
Anxieties of an immigrant parent.

The post Expat Families: How To Build A Support Network appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

#1. Bonding

Reading is quality time you spend with your children. It’s about cutting a quiet moment out of a busy day, sitting down, and focusing on interacting with them. For children, attention equals love. Reading together is a fantastic opportunity for connection. My son is a lively boy, yet he is always willing to sit down whenever I offer to read to him. It is a special moment we shared.

#2. Enrich language(s)

No matter if you are a monolingual or a multilingual family, reading is a phenomenal tool to expand your child’s vocabulary. Beside the “classic” illustrated books of words, I make a point of picking books that display as many different situations and contexts as possible: family, school, play, fantasy worlds, animals, and so on. Books introduce children to terms that rarely belong to spoken language. I am very proud of how rich our children’s vocabulary is, and I guarantee that most of the credit goes to all the hours we spent reading together.

#3. Cultivate culture(s)

Children can learn plenty about other cultures from reading and watching illustrations. We have built a good collection of books about India, the minority culture in our family. We regularly read about traditions, festivals, deities, stories, and more. Books can be windows into other countries or cultures.

#4. Teach values

I regularly mine libraries and online stores to find children’s reads that teach our family’s set of values, such as kindness, compassion, diversity, respect for others. I have used books to teach my children how to say no, to respect others’ boundaries, and much more. Personally we are not believers, but books can be a way to introduce the child to the family’s religion(s). I have proof that this works, because my children often comment real life’s situations referring to the stories we read.

#5. Support development milestones

Tales can be a parent’s best friend during challenging times like… potty training. I have used books to help my children give up the pacifier, toilet train, sleep better, calm fears, start daycare, start school… I mean, we ourselves often turn to self-help books to improve our lives, relationships, businesses, so why can’t it be the same for kids?

#6. Educate

I use books to introduce my children to cool subjects like robotics, space, how the human body works. Beside “curricular subjects”, stories have supported also the emotional development of my children (read my top 10 children’s books to explore feelings). Whether you teach life skills or academic knowledge, your children have a lot to gain from books.

Reading is a cornerstone of our family life and a huge superpower for parents. I hope I have convinced you to pick up reading to children as a habit. I recommend you include it in your routine. Choose a moment of the day when you can commit to do it daily, like bedtime or during morning commute. I promise, you will not go back.

The post 6 Reasons Why Reading to Children is a Parent’s Superpower appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

We are not the “greenest” family but we have embarked on a journey of small changes, and improved our lifestyle targeting sustainability and ethical consumer choices over the years. We used to produce a lot of waste, we struggled to change our diet, and we chose comfort over sustainability more times than we care to admit to. If you feel you’d like to make moderate changes and do not know where to start from, this post is for you. If you commit to challenge one habit every month you’ll be in a completely different place a year from now!

#1: Use reusable shopping bags

Reusable bags are easy to find nowadays. Commit to use only them. I keep mine in the car trunk to make sure I remember them when I go shopping. An additional tip is to keep a couple of compactly folded plastic bags in your purse.
There’s another trick in my hat to minimise plastic consumption while shopping: I keep a small container filled with small plastic bags for veggies and fruits in my handbag. Wherever allowed, I put veggies on the scale with no container and stick the label directly on them. Otherwise, I use my own bags and avoid getting new ones. Whenever you visit a store and you are offered a plastic bag, consider if you really need it or you can shove things in your handbag.

#2: Switch to the menstrual cup and reusable pads

This section is women only. Years ago I stopped using disposable pads during my period. It was a game changer in terms of user experience, economic convenience, and sustainability. I have written about my experience with the menstrual cup here. In addition, I use reusable pads. You do not need both, but an additional layer makes me feel more comfortable. Use this online calculator to check how much money and waste you are going to save by leaving disposable pads or tampons behind.

#3: Get rid of stuff

You don’t have to go full-way minimalist, but a severe round of decluttering can help a lot. Months ago my husband and I took on the herculean task of decluttering our house. You wouldn’t believe how many cubic meters of space we freed. I thought I was smarter than our moms who have 30 year old things stored free of purpose, yet I was baffled by how much useless junk I had kept. The amount of stuff we own is directly proportional to decades of consumerism brainwashing. I highly recommend to do the same and free space in your house. Then stop and reflect in your shopping habits, otherwise you will not be any wiser in 6 months.

#4: Shop second-hand or responsibly

Shopping second-hand items is popular in Finland (check out my FIN-ENG vocabulary). I have taken on to shop most of my own clothes in second hand shops because the local offer is wide – I am aware I could not do the same in Italy. Nowadays thanks to Ebay and Marketplace, used items are easy to find. I think second-hand is especially smart when it comes to children’s accessories and clothes, as typically you need them for a short period of time. Over the years I have formed a complex ring of hands-me-down with friends. Then there’s always the option of borrowing instead of buying. We have completely lost that habit, haven’t we. If you live near Helsinki, be aware libraries lend plenty of objects. Contribute to a circular economy.
Following up on decluttering, commit to quality over quantity. I know ethical brands are more expensive, but do you really need five shirts that will lose dye or go out of trend in a year or can you buy one good quality and durable shirt instead? Build a personal list of favourite ethical brands and commit to support them. Learn to wait and save, remind yourself of why you are doing it. 

#5: Cut on online shopping

I have written in the past about the risks of online shopping. Retailers always swing the same bate in front of our eyes to make us forget about hidden costs: convenience. It’s so damn hard to resist the urge to buy if our object of desire is one click and a free delivery away. This is something we are still working on as a family. My aim is to walk into physical shops as much as I can. What helps: setting a monthly budget for online shopping, keeping grocery lists for different stores or categories (I recommend the app Wunderlist), and in general accepting that convenience is not a good guiding light for an ethical and sustainable lifestyle.

#6: Plan all meals

In our family, we have virtually no leftovers. We have cut the food we throw in the trash to almost zero. The main reason is that I sit down before our weekly grocery shopping round and carefully plan the week meals. I enter the store knowing exactly what I need and how much of it. Regular family life helps in planning a week ahead, we rarely have surprises in our schedule. Wasting food may still happens, but it’s an exception as it should be.

#7: Bring your own container

There are many occasions where we are invited to use single-use items that we could replace with reusable ones. An example from my routine: I used to get coffee from the work cafeteria in a disposable mug, until I took on the habit to take my travel mug along and fill that instead. I know more and more cafe chains are cutting on plastic cups, yet bringing your own container is way more impactful. About 16 billion disposable coffee cups go to waste every year. That’s a staggering figure! Similarly, use reusable containers to store or bring along food. Please ban straws forever from your household. Some stores allow customers to refill detergent bottles or even water bottles: use that option if you can. For worldwide figures on plastic waste, check out this fact sheet.

#8: Use cloth napkins

I was raised in a household using cloth napkins, but I realised as an adult this is not the standard way. Several families use kitchen paper or single-use napkins at every meal. Don’t! Purchase cloth napkins and wash them regularly. Beside being a sustainable choice, it’s a simple way to cut a useless expense from your family budget. I don’t wash them after every meal, usually I change them once a week or so (depending on how dirty they get). 
Another small habit you can change is to bring your own cutlery to picnics or trips, as opposed to using plastic.

#9: Ban liquid hands soap

Soap bars are (1) cheaper, (2) way more durable, and (3) produce less plastic waste than liquid hands soap. The liquid soap fever started when the fear of soap bars being unsanitary spread. That myth has been discredited by several scientific studies, but the convenience of pressing a finger on a dispenser made the habit stick.
I should mention that liquid soap is not a soap bar in liquid form. Liquid soap is full of chemicals, while soap bars are mostly fat (not necessarily animal fat). Even liquid soap production requires more energy and produces more waste. This is a small yet very impactful habit you can change in your household!

#10: Save water

As obvious as it may sounds, save water. Be critical of your personal or household’s impact on water consumption. You can check how you are doing using this list and set on improving your habits. Even more important, teach your kids to do the same. Recently I have noticed how my kids empty their water glasses in the sink when they clean their spot at the dinner table. I’m planning a way to spare that water and use it to water my indoor plants. There’s always space to improve. Another way to save water, among other things, is to change your diet. Animal agriculture uses about one third of the world’s drinkable water. I am not advocating for you to go vegetarian, but cutting on meat consumption can help the planet a lot:  I have recently shared how I did it and I hope to inspire other meat-lovers to do the same.

Choose one habit and start today. Commit to change one habit every month and you’ll have tremendous impact. Do you have anything to add to my list? What works for your family? Comment down below and let me know.

The post 10 Small Lifestyle Changes To Live Greener – Sustainable Family Lifestyle appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

What is the menstrual cup?

The menstrual cup is a cup made of silicone or latex rubber that is inserted in the vaginal canal to catch and collect period blood. Its insertion is similar to the vaginal ring, if you have ever used it: you fold the cup, insert in a comfortable position, and release. To remove it, pinch its extension and delicately pull. The cup comes in two sizes available (pre- and post vaginal birth). If you have special conditions and want to know more, check out this FAQ section.

An affordable and sustainable option

You can estimate how much money and waste a menstrual cup will save by using this online calculator. A cup There’s no doubt that it’s convenient both in terms of money and eco-friendliness. The cup annihilates the waste you’d produce with pads or tampons. A cup costs around 15-20 euros and lasts for years – accounts here vary. Some guidelines says to replace every year, but that’s definitely too short. I have been using mine for 4 and counting!

Does it work?

Being it, well, a plug, it ends up working better than tampons and pads. I find it convenient especially at night, even during the days when the flood is intense. After years of leaking on the bedsheets almost every month, it was refreshing not to! Sometime, however, my cup does leak. It may be because it’s not well inserted or because it’s full, but few drops – no more than that – have skipped out. This is why I feel most comfortable to combine with the usage of washable pads. When I combine the two, I never have accidents.

Is it convenient?

Definitely. For example, using the cup allows me to go swim utterly worry-free. Whenever I pack for a trip, I don’t have to use any luggage space for tampons or pads. I have stopped worrying about having tampons in the house, I’m always equipped.
The cup can last up to 12 hours, so you do not have to regularly find a place to change it when you are out of the house. Personally, I need to lie down to change it. This is another reason why I chose to have the washable pads as a further insurance. On a long work day, I remove it and finish the day with the washable pad. However, in theory you should be able to change it my standing, whatever feels comfortable for you.

Is it comfortable to use?

Putting the cup in or pulling it out does not bother me. For a long time, I did not feel it at all. In recent years I occasionally feel some light discomfort – the kind you feel only when you start thinking about it, you know. On such days, I use the cup only during nighttime and the washable pads during the day.
Tampons felt uncomfortable and occasionally pads would give me a rash. Nothing of the sort ever happened with the cup!

Where can you find it

There are several producers selling menstrual cups. Two renowned and respectable brands are Mooncup and Lunette (the latter based in Finland, btw). Nowadays, you can find menstrual cups from plenty of retailers, like eco-friendly stores (ex. Ruohonjuuri), pharmacies, sometime hypermarkets. You can buy one also online (ex. Myllymuksut, Amazon).

The menstrual cup is a fantastic everyday asset for women. We do not need pads or tampons anymore! Did you know about the cup? If not, will you give it a try? If you have questions or remarks, let me know in the comments section below.

The post Leave Tampons Behind – My Experience With The Menstrual Cup appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

Let’s start with my motives. The main one is sustainability. Mass meat production is responsible for plenty of environmental disasters: greenhouse gas emissions, destruction of land through grazing, excessive water consumption, the list goes on.

In 2017, over 15 thousands scientists worldwide signed the “Warning to Humanity“, which included a plead to reduce meat consumption.
The second motive was personal health. I wanted to reduce red meat especially and, in general, monitor and control how much meat I was eating. In addition, I wanted to trick myself into introducing new regular ingredients into my diet, as well as forcing my hand into eating more greens. The third reason was linked to the first two and it was to transition to quality over quantity. One current issue that worries me a lot is superbacteria:

By cutting my meat intake, I will have the same buying budget to spend on less, thus being able to make more conscious consumer choices. I can choose organic meat or meat produced under certain standards.

Now, what concretely helped me in changing my habits? I have to thank my health coach Stefania for the support (read her story here). First, she encouraged me to cut my meat intake to only 4 times a week. It may seem like a lot, but I quickly realised how far from my goal I was starting. I would eat processed meat in snacks or sandwiches; out of gluttony I would choose the meat option at the work cafeteria more often than not; meat would sneak in pasta sauces unnoticed. As soon as I introduced that upper bound, I realised how bad I was doing. After few successful weeks, Stefania reduced it to 3 times a week. However, at the point I had made the bigger step already. I had developed an eye for it and learned new recipes (the app Yummly saved me, seriously). Nowadays, I still have my limit of 3, yet I often end the week without reaching it.
Here’s some small tricks that helped me:

• I made sure my husband supported me from the start – the man never blinked when I served unfamiliar dishes and approached them with an open mind;
• I recorded my meat intake through the app Tally to make sure I was sticking to my goal;
• I took on to choose the vegetarian option whenever I ate out;
• I sticked to learn at least 2 new vegetarian recipes every week – some were enjoyed and became regular;
• I tried to add extra veggies and fruit whenever possible – for example nowadays I regularly top my risotto and my pizza with rucola;
• one of my worries was proteins – I included more legumes and I mixed some natural supplements (maca powder, flax seeds, …) into my dishes.

Now the million dollar question: do I feel differently? You know I am very skeptic of diets and I didn’t spare you my honest opinion in the past. However, I have experienced an interesting shift in well-being in the past weeks. It’s hard to attribute 100% of credit to the diet, but honestly it is the only major lifestyle change I have made beside going on short walks regularly. The first 2 weeks I was bloating with gas – sorry for the detail – but after that I started feeling lighter and definitely more energetic. My work stress usually gets to my belly, yet it never did since I changed my diet. I am not claiming you would experience the exact same, just observing a pleasant unexpected side effect I had.

I am very proud I have achieved at changing this habit and I feel rewarded by the positive effects. It didn’t happen in a day, but overall it was easier that I thought. I hope my modest experience will inspire others to make a similar transition. If I have succeeded, everyone can!

The post Going (Almost) Vegetarian | How I Slashed My Meat Intake appeared first on The Elephant Mum.

An inspiring read: Becoming

Are you looking for the next book to read? Look no more. I was completely blown away by the celebrate Michelle Obama’s memoir Becoming. Michelle shares about her family, her intense life before meeting Barack, and their long journey before they even entered the White House. Living under the spotlight for 8 years wasn’t easy. Her memoir is raw, honest, and even though she went through an incomparable experience, most women will relate. Because underneath it all, there’s a woman who fought all her life to be true to herself, find a balance among career, self-realisation, motherhood, and supporting her husband in a demanding career. You’ll love it. I recommend to buy the audiobook on Audible, narrated by Michelle herself. It’s so powerful to hear her story through her spoken words.

Learning new recipes with Yummly

I have recently discovered this fantastic recipe app and it has changed my life. This may sound dramatic, but hear me out. I am used to make a weekly menu every weekend. We are quite picky and don’t want to eat the same dishes over and over. I also appreciate learning new things and trying new flavours. On top of that, I have recently cut my meat intake and this has forced me to expand my vegetarian recipe collection. I have struggled with finding reliable recipe websites. Yummly is super convenient: you can filter recipes with many criteria – special diets, allergies, cooking time, ingredients to avoid, variety of ingredients, and so on. It’s very easy to save recipes to personal collections and dishes are realistic and tested (and reviewed by users!). I have found great new ideas we have tried, tested, and loved! Give it a try, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

A YouTube channel you need to subscribe to

Chris Ulmer was a special need teacher who, quite by chance, became a paladin for diversity and acceptance. His YouTube channel, Special Books by Special Kids (SBSK) now counts 1.5M subscribers. Chris tours the world to interview people of all ages who are living with different kinds of conditions. He gives them a platform to share how they live, love, and more. The channel also became a community, full of engaged supporters who connect with the interviewees to express solidarity and also politely ask questions about the different lifestyles and challenges. I have learned so much from Chris’ videos and I am sure you’ll love them as well.

A sweet animation series on Prime

This original Prime Video series for children is just so cute! Both my kids love it. Personally, I especially appreciate it comes dubbed in a bazillion languages, so it’s multicultural-family-friendly. It’s a story of friendship, positivity, and facing obstacles with imaginative solutions. In some ways, it reminds me of Curious George. I’m always on the lookout for stimulating content when it comes to screen time, and this is a good catch!

An introduction to minimalism

Don’t worry, I’m not here to convert you to minimalism. It’s not for everyone (definitely not for me). However, few months ago my family underwent an interesting change after watching this documentary on Netflix. I had been attracted to the idea of cutting on the amount of stuff we owned for a long time, but struggled to make consistent change. Watching that film together with my husband triggered a real conversation and we took it on to make some adjustments. In few weeks, we cleared the house of several boxes of pure junk. We made space where we didn’t think it was possible. If you are fascinated by doing something like that, the documentary Minimalism can be an easy start to learn more about how you can set your mind to act on it.

I hope you will enjoy these little pearls I have collected for you. If you find any of these useful or enjoyable, don’t forget to let me know. I love to hear your feedback. Have a great and sunny July!

The post My June 2019 Favorites appeared first on The Elephant Mum.