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Tuesday: Newsy Snacks For Busy People

Written by
May 29, 2012
Be Smart, News & Views
10 Comments

Multi-tasking: A recent survey has found that sixty percent of Australians are using a mobile device whilst watching telly, perhaps forever banishing the idea of passive viewing.  We’re much happier to be watching as part of a community, methinks, and are enjoying browsing and tweeting our way through various shows, sharing the experience with other viewers via tablets or smartphones. I think that’s pretty ace, actually. What do you think? More here.

Feeding Babies: There’s a SUPER interesting piece over at The Guardian that asks lots of questions about motherhood and feeding babies.  Is motherhood at odds with feminism? Are breastfed babies really smarter, healthier and less obese? Should we be interfering in an intensely personal decision – what a mother wants to feed her baby? And if the advice is to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months, shouldn’t we be taking notice of the fact that (in the UK at least) only half of mothers who begin breastfeeding continue to do so after their baby is six weeks old? There are lots of points raised in this piece. Read more at The Guardian. SUPER interesting.

ET: Did you know that it’s the 30th anniversary of the release of ET? It’s really one of my favourite movies and we watch it a couple of times a year just to see Drew Barrymore’s Gertie and Henry Thomas’ Elliot go through their adorable alien be-friending paces.  Time Magazine celebrates this special birthday with Ten Things You Didn’t Know About ET. Click through to study up.

Pinterest Pin Of The Day! Click to Repin!

Also:
Vegan Roasted Cauliflower Soup from Becoming Lola
Do you want to grow flowers like this?!
Kirsty’s guest blogging on The Design Files
A great profile of Patti Smith at The Guardian
This home is really neat. OMG. I could NEVER be this neat!
Build a hanging garden with A Beautiful Mess
Look at this amazing, colourful, hanging chair!
Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad via Cafe Johnsonia

Here’s our Clip Of The Day:

Top image credit : Universal

  • RT

    Hello Pip,
    I’d like to read that Guardian article but I can’t make myself even click on the link… I think I might cry or feel more defensive/guilty/teary than I already do. I really hope that not breastfeeding your child won’t scar them for life or make them have attachment issues or be stupider or fatter. Because I cant breastfeed :( I really tried. I did. Here is a post I wrote about it if you are interested http://dreams.theotherday.com.au/?p=1776 I’m kind of angry I can’t do it and but also relieved that I have stopped because I can now play with my baby more, interact with him and give him cuddles without being in pain… Its weird being happy and sad at the same time. I hope I made the right decision *sigh*
    Also I agree with you on the multitasking but hadn’t thought of it that way, it makes perfect sense that we like to do things as a community, thats how humans are :)
    Anyway I um better go and sterilise some bottles…

    • http://www.justbaustralia.com.au/ Pip @ JustB

      I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you do read that Guardian article. It talks about how the claims that breastfed kids have superior health and intelligence are probably not true. And it focuses a bit on how women who don’t breastfeed are made to feel like outsiders, when, of course, they are NOT! Whichever way we feed our babies, we are trying our very best and that is REALLY TRULY good enough. Possibly it deserves a medal, in fact. x

      • RT

        Thanks I’ll read it :) Gosh this is such a sensitive and personal topic isn’t? If I knew you I’d give you a hug for being so kind x

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=683566147 Rebecca Torr

      I have a seven month old baby girl, and she is divine :) I reckon, from the sounds of things, if you are giving lots of cuddles and playing lots with your bubba that you’re rocking it :) it’s so hard to find confidence as a parent in the face of questions on sleep/feeding/etc, but hugs and playtime are the best gifts we can give our babies, IMHO!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=683566147 Rebecca Torr

    Hey pip!
    Wow, the breast/bottle yarn has legs, huh? Very interesting article. I’m not sure, though, that we really need to link what works best fr mums and bubs to feminism and classism. I reckon it’s that simple; the best thing to do is the thing that works. Mums -and dads- are freaking awesome, on the whole. I think what they could really use, instead of judgement and critique, is a hot cup of tea!

    • http://www.justbaustralia.com.au/ Pip @ JustB

      YOU ARE SO RIGHT! YES! I think that’s the bottom line. We need to try and stop elevating one style of parenting over another and help parents feel supported and celebrated, whatever their approach. Thank you for your comment, Rebecca! x

  • Hannah

    That article is very interesting, but gee I’m tired of it. Breast v Bottle is today’s argument, next it will be pram v sling, cot v co-sleep, school v home-school, then back to breast v bottle and the cycle continues. At the end of the day the real argument is you v me. When did motherhood become a popularity contest? When did we start to think it was ok to make comments and judgements on another family’s parenting style? When did we start to think it was ok to be superior before being supportive?
    It breaks my heart that the people making motherhood that bit more difficult are fellow mothers.

    • http://www.justbaustralia.com.au/ Pip @ JustB

      Hannah, it’s crazy isn’t it? We all try our very hardest to be the best parents we can be, we don’t need to be told that there’s a MUCH BETTER way (especially if it’s something we are unable to adopt, as breast feeding is for so many women). More celebration and less competition, methinks. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. xx

  • Sarah

    I am also getting tired all of the debate regarding how people raise their kids (abuse aside). Breast feeding is a really emotive topic and get a group of mothers together and bring up the subject, and I am sure that you will get some raw emotions coming out. I believe that as a society, we really need to get past this.. to support women to breast fed who want to (it is a really hard skill to learn), women who want to feed their babies for as long as they want, support women who want to breast feed and who cannot for whatever reason (more than just reassurance that the baby will be ok…) and support women who choose not to breast feed at all. I think that it is time to back off motherhood and give mothers (and fathers) a break. It is a hard enough job without getting a constant reminder that no matter what why you are doing it, it might be wrong (according to some expert).
    Love your work Pip.

    • http://www.justbaustralia.com.au/ Pip @ JustB

      Sarah! Hi! We really must get past this. A little while ago I wrote a piece which was sort of ‘CHEST IS BEST!’ Cuddle your child lots, feed it what works for you (and what you know to be best) and bugger off to anyone who tells you that you’re not doing it right! Thanks for reading JustB and taking the time to put your point of view! I am GLAD you did! x