Hello Baby!

Both times I gave birth in Lebanon, I was gifted a Welcome Baby Box with samples and informative booklets. This box was always waiting for me at my last doctor's appointment but I know the company also makes drop offs at the hospitals.

My used and overused Baby Box!
Photos: R. Abouzeid

I discovered inside a lovely set of lotions and creams for both stretchmarked-breastfeeding-mommy and newborn-baby but also everything else from shampoo, perfume, diapers, wipes to the first bottle and pacifier! Naturally all sponsored by companies that are keen for new moms to try their products and adopt them for a long while, years even. A perfect way to reach your niche market don't you think?

So I was a little disappointed to find out Dubai, the motherland of promotional gurus in the Gulf had not started this sort of campaigns yet.

Because what do we love more than freebies?
Freebies we actually need!

And as much as I hate being inundated with useless products I know I will never use, this box was the complete opposite surprise. It served as a checklist, as products testing, as support with useful information and learning tools and even as fun (I got my very first Baby's First Year Photo Album in this box)!

So when I heard a smart mumtrepreneur was launching one in Dubai, I could not keep it to myself! I knew I had to share the news with all of you :)

So ladies, meet Marhababy!

And cherry on top of the cake? They just launched a campaign on social media inviting all moms, dads, children, friends, anyone really, to participate in their "Motherhood Competition"!

How awesome is that?

It's very simple, just submit a photo that represents "Motherhood" in your eyes through the "Photo Contest App" on Facebook or hashtag ‪#‎marhababy‬ on Twitter and Instagram and invite your friends to vote for you. It doesn't get any easier than that :)

Source: Marhababy

So allow me to introduce you to Eveline Sleeboom, the brain and heart behind Marhababy.

The young mumtrepreneur holds a degree in Psychology and a Master's in International Relations from Groningen University in The Netherlands. Her impressive background in Business Banking, Corporate Finance and Business Development has allowed her to act as an advisor to several startups since she moved to Dubai back in 2011.

But it is the recent arrival of baby Berend five months ago that inspired her to start a brand new chapter in her professional life as well: Marhababy.

How did you come up with Marhababy, when and why? 
When I just found out that I was pregnant I had a strong need for information about my pregnancy and baby in Dubai, from hospitals to baby clothing to ways to spend my maternity leave time etc. Becoming a mother is beautifully overwhelming. (smiles) I thought it would be great to get the chance to try products, to get some discounts, to get the much-needed information etc. without all the hassle to find and invent everything myself. Being pregnant in itself can be heavy enough. I heard about successful concepts in other countries and decided to start something similar here in the UAE.

How did you come up with the name? 
I thought it would be nice to say Hello, or Welcome Baby in English and Arabic. This evolved in Marhaba Baby and later into the portmanteau word 'Marhababy' after discovering that the Arabic word 'Marha' in itself means something like 'nice' or fun. Many positive things in one name!

How do you distribute your boxes and what are your fees? 
People will be able to pick up the box at several retail locations or choose for home delivery. The boxes themselves are 100% free for mothers, no strings attached. Home delivery can be done at a cost (around AED 20).

How was the concept received by hospitals, physicians, and health care providers? 
We are receiving a lot of positive reactions. Medics see it as an extra opportunity for educating moms about their own health and their baby's. Also, Marhababy pays a lot of attention to quality and safety (e.g. only bpa-free products) and fully supports the WHO breastfeeding guidelines, something that is well-received.

How was the concept welcomed by sponsors? 
Very well as well. Moms and kids are quite a big segment in the UAE and Middle East. Wherever you go, you see kids, expecting moms. For sponsors it can be quite tough to reach them in an efficient and effective way. Participating in the Marhababy Box has a lot of advantages: our database consists of moms only and our sponsors reach only moms with a sincere interest in the contents, you reach them in their home and at a moment when they have a great need for information. Also, sampling is a great way to boost your sales. Especially in this new life phase are mothers more likely to stick to a product that they like for many years to come. The Marhababy Box is a fun, nice and easily accessible way to bring services and products under mom's attention.

What do expecting and new moms have to say about Marhababy?
They love it! Pre-registrations are open now and every day we receive new orders. It seems like we're addressing a real need.

What does the future look like for Marhababy?
Diversify and Expand. We're working on new products and services now and we plan to expand into other countries in the Middle East.


Bookmarks:

• Visit Marhababy's Official Website
• Find them on Facebook 
• Follow them on Twitter 
• Take a look at their Instagram 

Mamma Mia+Jad

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Happy Father's Day Giveaway (UAE only)

Hello Dubai Moms,

Are we gearing up for Father's Day yet? 

It's in less than a week, on June 16.

I have a small surprise for my UAE readers :)

It's really not extraordinary but it is a small gesture that could help some of you find that extra special surprise for Father's Day.

How about treating your hubby to a nice dinner, be it after celebrating at home with the kids or any time between now and December?

I am giving away five winners a voucher for a renowned fine dining restaurant in Dubai.

To be eligible to enter the draw, let us know why the dad in your life (your hubby, daddy, brother, son) is the most perfect father you know. There are no best answers. All complete entries will be accepted in the draw but we would love to read inspiring, touching and loving stories of course!

To enter the competition

• Post your "Favorite Dad" story in a comment under this blog post including your full name and email address or share your "Favorite Dad" story on our Facebook page (link here).

• Only one entry per family will be accepted

• A draw will take place on June 15, 2013 to select the winners 

• The winners will be announced on Facebook

Terms and Conditions

• This competition ends on June 14, 2013 at midnight Dubai/UAE Local Time.
• A draw will identify the winners. There can only be five winner. The name of the winners will be posted on our Facebook page.
• Missing entries and entries from contestants who fail to complete all the instructions above in totality will be disqualified. 
• Each winner will be offered a single voucher.
• This voucher is transferrable. Feel free to gift it on to whoever you please but only the winner can collect the voucher. The winner shall get in touch with Rouba.Blogs or this site in order to set an appointment for the voucher collection. The winner shall arrange transportation to collect the voucher.
• This voucher is redeemable as per the conditions stated on the voucher. 
• This voucher is not partially redeemable and must be redeemed in full, for its total amount once only. 
• If purchase exceeds available voucher balance, you must make up difference with another payment method.  
• This voucher is redeemable in Dubai only.
• This voucher is non-refundable. 
• This voucher is not exchangeable for cash. 
• Rouba.Blogs and this site reserves the right to select the voucher of their choice. The winners cannot exchange their vouchers for different ones.
• This voucher is valid for the period specified on the voucher. Credit and validity extensions will not be given for unutilized and unclaimed vouchers. 
• Rouba.Blogs and this site reserves the right to change any terms contained in the Terms of Use at any time. 
• Rouba.Blogs and this site are not responsible for the services offered by the voucher's company/restaurant. 
• Rouba.Blogs and this site are not accountable and liable for any and all consequences connected with the use/misuse of this voucher.

Mamma Mia+Jad

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SanSational Motor City

The other day, a friend and I were looking up places for lunch near home and I remembered SanSation at Green Community in Motor City.

I had been meaning to visit that restaurant since its opening and could not find the time so this was the perfect opportunity.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the friendliest staff and smiles all around. Shortly after, the owners themselves visited our table and helped us pick their best dishes. Or at least what they know to be definite winners with all customers. We ended up ordering the rocca salad and burgers in brown bread buns.

While we waited for our food, they invited us to visit the kitchen. Just like that. We dropped by unannounced and they insisted on sharing their vision and hard work, without prior notice. They were confident we would be impressed with cleanliness, organization and quality. And they were not mistaken.

Firstly, it is an open kitchen so customers on the floor can actually see what is happening inside at all times. That alone is always a plus to me because it means the staff will most definitely be giving their best. And when they do not, well, that is it.

When we first stepped in the kitchen, we were promptly handed hair nets. Not the most glamorous look, I will give you that but definitely a winner when assessing hygiene. And that was only the beginning.

We were led to the "receiving" area where food deliveries are dropped and stored. That must have been the cleanest space ever! With different sinks for each foods (veggies, meat, etc.) every step is taken to insure no food will be contaminated.

A separate sink for staff to wash their hands is available in that space and in the cooking area.

It must be noted all sinks are knee-operated which means no hands will ever touch handles, soap dispensers or anything else for that matter.

Only paper towels are used and disposed of immediately which means you will never see a dirty or contaminated towel anywhere.

The cooking space was equally impressive with a spotless grill and staff using separate areas and sinks to wash, cut and prepare food. Disinfecting sprays always at hand to keep that kitchen immaculate at all times.

And finally the owners could not have been prouder when showing off the ingredients they use: only the best quality.

I have to admit, if I am to take my children to eat out, I would definitely have them enjoy SanSation, completely guilt-free!

And they could go crazy (and give us a breather) in the outdoors kids play area near the terrace where people can lounge, relax and enjoy shisha (I am no smoker but I know many will appreciate that) overlooking the Green Community's gorgeous lake.

It might also be useful to mention SanSation offers wi-fi connection and a business set-up for those looking to get some work done over lunch or dinner.

Hygiene, ingredients quality, staff's professionalism and customer service are all important but ultimately, it is the food that counts, right?

Well it was simply delicious! They were right in advising us to try the burger as "first-timers". They rock. The salad was also very good and we even tasted the home-made sorbet!
(Please forgive the low-quality photos, they were taken on my phone)

I am definitely visiting SanSation again to give their steaks a try. They tell me I will not regret it and so far, they have not disappointed once. Maybe one evening for a dinner by the lake? We will see and in the meantime, I can always give them a call. And you should too! ;)

SanSation Home Delivery:
+971 4 4567693
+971 4 4567371

Check SanSation's Menu
Visit SanSation's Website
Follow SanSation on Facebook

Dashing Hamra!

There's a new reviewer in town,
And her name is Mia.

She has been taking mommy to all sorts of places, trying new things and meeting beautiful new friends. And since "sharing is caring", and let us be honest, stingy is just plain ugly, we will share with you every new finding we love. 

Now we are well-known for being a little picky because mommy would rather avoid traffic and frustrating car rides with two (insane) babies strapped in car-seats so we are exploring Beirut on stroller. Or rather, discovering whatever gem we can find walking distance from home. 

It is not easy and Jad is getting the short end of the stick because our twin stroller cannot fit on most sidewalks in Lebanon (when there is a sidewalk) and since we end up most of the times slaloming between cars, on the road (!) because as we know, sidewalks are in fact either just plain stairs or an extension of a coffee shop or most frequently a parking space for some classy, decent driver. So the small umbrella stroller seems the safest as it can fit almost anywhere and when on the actual road, does not take too much space when we need to fit next to a car (!) which means poor little Jad ends up at home. But it appears this arrangement is not all that bad as he gets some alone quality time with his grand-mother and does not have to worry about Mia preying on his toys!

This time, we have Cupcake Box's gorgeous mommy-to-be Randa to thank for a wonderful new discovery only minutes away from home! 

She tipped us on Dash Club, a conveniently located play area and library that opened only four months ago at the heart of Hamra.

Yes, a play area and library with the nicest "reading corner" in town!

Dash Club is located on Basra street in Jeanne D'Arc near Mayflower (map) and Napoleon (map) hotels (very well-known in Hamra so if you need directions, just ask about these two landmarks). The minute you walk in that quiet neighborly street, you cannot miss the lovely purple shades that shelter a cute outdoors sitting space for mommies and daddies who need some air or (tsk tsk) a cigarette.

The two storey venue is designed with cozy and warm colors and furniture, generously might I add, and this quality is found all around the place, especially in the library corner where the owner, May Kabrit, placed her own personal childhood books. You will find in there original old Martine's and Bibliothèque Rose treasures from our old days which my nostalgic eyes immediately spotted and fell in love with!

Step in and you will understand "reading" is a favorite activity here as even the venue arrangement gives books a distinguished space on the ground floor. The library is located right up front and on the side, books in Arabic are displayed on prominent shelves on the largest wall in the room, available to purchase as well. I do love when small businesses get involved in raising awareness about educational issues such a literacy and promote and support local talents by offering them a space to showcase their work.

Also on the ground floor, is located an arts and crafts space for those children who would like to give their creativity a little freedom on paper, wood or ceramic. Absolutely lovely! And the "raw" pieces are so affordable you might be inclined to launch a business selling your kid's artwork!

The vast underground floor is wide open with some specifically designed sections: a play area for the younger ones with a small slide, a swing, a pool of plastic balls, a scooter and a bike. Several other toys such as dolls, strollers, stuffed animals are also available for those who enjoy them. The second area is reserved for arts and the drawing classes also offered at  Dash Club. On the side, a stage is ready for plays and puppet shows (wonderful idea!) and finally there also is a space with one white and one black boards. This floor is ideal for birthdays and all sorts of group celebrations and activities. Dash Club's brochure lists "Science Lab" among its offerings including a photo showing children undertaking some sort of experiment, how cool is that?

Last and certainly not least, I cannot but mention the amazing staff which includes the brilliant May Kabrit, mumtrepreneur-owner of  Dash Club as well as the amazing Lamis Nouaihed who holds a university degree in Childhood Education from the Lebanese American University. I should also mention drawing classes are delivered by an art instructor who specializes in teaching children.

Mia is not very sociable with strangers and although she does not cry when meeting new people, she does not take to them immediately either. She needs a few encounters before she agrees to even smile, let alone interact with someone (even children).

So you can imagine how impressed I was when I saw her leave me and take Lamis by the hand to go and play only minutes following our arrival! They say children have a sixth sense when it comes to people who love or hate them. I guess it is fair to say Lamis passed Mia's test with flying colors! So much in fact, I felt confident enough to leave them by themselves as I ran an errand for about half an hour, something I had never done at any play area before. The only place I ever left Mia alone with a stranger was at her nursery. And even this took about two weeks to work out! I later learned from May that Lamis also works with special needs children which added to my respect and admiration. It takes tremendous patience and most importantly a kind heart and a giving soul to work through the difficulties of special needs and only those who truly love children have the courage to venture on that road.

We came back home with some drawings, coloring, hand-paint, face-paint (which Mia insisted on doing herself) and collage. Not bad for a first day, right?

You can trust we will be back very soon so do not hesitate to buzz us if you want to join ;)


Dash Club's opening hours are from 2pm to 7pm every day but as summer is approaching, morning hours will also become available. For more information on opening hours, special activities and rates, call 03704104.

Mamma Mia

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Easter Party

I always say Facebook is the new Google. Well, almost. And when I first landed in Beirut, I immediately started to look for some kids friendly locations and activities near us (not a big fan of long car trips with the kids, especially in Lebanon). So when I found BusyBox, I was ecstatic! It was a few blocks away from home, on foot! And there was an Easter Party in the making, so how perfect was that?

We headed there on Monday for the first time and it was lovely.

Photo by R. Abouzeid

BusyBox is located at the heart of Hamra in the Crowne Plaza center which is one of the easiest locations to visit thanks to its underground parking which is a life saver on such a crowded street, so if you are coming by car, you will always find a place to park.

The Easter Party started at 4pm and the place was already packed when we got there. A sight that would frighten any mother of two who knows what double-trouble means and really does not want to be in the middle of a 30-trouble ever! But we were pleasantly surprised. There was enough staff to take care of everyone and give attention to every child. They were walking around the tables and giving a hand to anyone asking for assistance (or not).

Photo by R. Abouzeid

Every once in a while, the lovely manager, Dani would give directions on a microphone and inform everyone of what to do or what was coming next.

We started by choosing a table and a wooden piece to paint. Mia got her Mickey Mouse and we sat down at one of the smaller size table (age appropriate tables were set everywhere, allowing younger and older children to all be seated comfortably). Then a nice lady gave Mia an apron and helped put it on and placed paint, brushes and cups of water on our table. It was time to get messy!

Photo by R. Abouzeid

After a while, we were advised to hand in our wooden pieces so they could dry them for us before we were given embellishments to glue on our chef-d'oeuvre. This is when it started to get a little stressful for us. Mia wanted to glue at will (which meant emptying the tube on one spot) and she did not appreciate me (or anyone else) telling her otherwise. Also, she probably started to get hungrier as she had not snacked after lunch. And so there it was: Hormonal calamity fell upon us. What is also known as your common toddler tantrum.

In was warned the Terrible Twos were, well, terrible. But I never thought it would be that humiliating! Only a few months ago, parents would envy us as we could take Mia anywhere and she would be so easy-going and obedient. Not that she would not try crazy things sometimes but at least she could be controlled.

But since she turned two (how on earth do children know it is time?) it is an entirely different story! While I can still take her to the supermarket and she will not throw herself and the floor kicking and screaming for chocolate (am I jinxing myself by typing this?) it has become a challenge to go out in general. Now any "no" is not just a spoken word. It is a screamed insult. Screamed with heart might I add.

Photo by R. Abouzeid

Once she finished embellishing (I am using this word loosely, as photos will show) her Mickey, I took Mia to the bathroom to wash her hands. We found a boy standing by the sink with his nanny and his sister up on a chair, washing her hands. Naturally Mia decided she wanted to climb too. Now, in all objectivity, it took a really long time  for this family to finish and Mia's impatience, heightened by hunger, turned into a loud mess. It is hard enough to teach "sharing", let alone "taking turns" (sigh).

Finally, we got to the chair, the sink and most importantly, the water. To Mia, the goal was not to wash her hands (duh) so when I held them to wash them, she started screaming "wawa wawa" which is baby talk for "I am in pain, this insane person is torturing me, please come help". All the parents around us were staring at me and I swear, it took all the strength I could muster not to actually hurt her and give her reason to scream like that.

We went back to the table and Mia decided that she had had enough and she threw another tantrum there kicking and screaming and shredding into pieces the questionnaires we had been handed. So I took her out for a breath. We sat outside, looking at the street for a good ten minutes and when we were both calm again, I took her back. It was actually good timing because they were distributing snacks and obviously, we all need the yummy distraction.

Photo by R. Abouzeid

Then the real fun started: Game time!

The staff had prepared egg-shaped papers and hidden them everywhere in the room for the most exciting egg hunt I had seen in years! All the children were assigned a specific color on their table (we were yellow) and had to look for the eggs with the letters "E", "A", "S", "T", "E" and "R" to make up the word Easter.

Photo by R. Abouzeid

Photo by R. Abouzeid

We actually were the first to finish and won and huge purple and green elephant which Mia promptly named "Barney". Not the same purple or green or even animal but all the same, Barney was born.

Photo by R. Abouzeid

Then there was a raffle and Mia being the youngest one, got to help super-lovely Dani and pick a name.

Photo by R. Abouzeid

And another young girl also picked... Mia's cousin! So we ended up going home with two gifts!

Photo by R. Abouzeid

Overall, and in spite of Mia's new-found hobby (namely, humiliating-mommy-by-screaming-in-public-like-she-is-killing-me) we had a lovely time (yes, we had some hormoneless moments).

BusyBox is a great location, managed by highly professional owners and staff who are also very kind, patient and friendly. I will definitely be taking Mia again, at a good time for her, like right after lunch so we can grab a bite at Roadster's on our way out just when she starts to get hungry.

I highly recommend taking your children for some fun, artsy, quality time together, not to mention the art pieces you would be taking home are just beautiful. There are so many choices and endless ways to use your imagination while getting messy and not worrying about cleaning up afterwards! ;)

And I promise it does not have to look like Mia's Mickey:

Double-sided wooden (Horror) Mickey Mouse by Mia
Photo by R. Abouzeid

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you a brilliant initiative open to all:

"Our annual Art Competition for Grades 10, 11 and 12. If you're in Lebanon and interested let us know! Our focus this year is to highlight the importance of charity among our children so all the participants' hard work this year will translate into a funding system for an NGO of their choice ... Stay Tuned to know more information about the selected NGOs and their domain of work and many more"

Two of our favorite NGO's are part of this beautiful project: SANAD and The Nawaya Network. 

Get your children involved! ;)

Bookmarks and useful info:

• Visit BusyBox's website
• Follow BusyBox on Facebook
• Email BusyBox
• Call BusyBox on 01.740171

Mamma Mia

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Salon in (my) Salon

I haven't been here for a while and I apologize. Since I'm sure you're as tired as I am to hear about the same excuses over and over again, I'll refrain from mentioning the kids as being a major factor in this and I'll just quickly update you: we had to leave Dubai for a couple of months and so here I am, in Beirut again.

And since I've now become addicted to at-home beauty services as I had previously blogged in Dubai (here and here) I thought I'd give it a shot in Lebanon too.

First, I got a quick fix: eyebrows (nobody wants bushes on their face)! I religiously do them at Steeve's a hairdresser's salon in Hamra because the technician there, Nahed, has magical hands! I never leave upset. And trust me, with eyebrows, one tiny mistake can lead to a great deal of upsetting. Nahed simply hears when clients speak and she understands what "not too thin" actually means. If you're around Hamra (near Bristol Hotel in particular), book an appointment and try for yourself: +961.70.348787.

Map to Steeve's Salon

Then I asked around for some "work" at home and got introduced to Jihane, a lovely Syrian national who trained in Beirut for years before returning back home and opening her own salon, only to be forced to come back and freelance in Lebanon again  for obvious reasons. A beauty parlor isn't really the hottest of destinations in war-torn Damascus right now.

Jihane lives in Beirut, near Sanayeh Park and she is very flexible. She will go to any location, even outside of Ras Beirut if needed. Her working hours are 8am-8pm every day, including Sundays. A hard working mom indeed, dedicated and willing to go the extra mile.

She came to my home for waxing, and it was as comfortable as it gets in your own living-room. She is not messy and her work is clean which is important at home (you do not want to end up with sticky couches) and she is fairly quick. We were done within minutes!

Her services are listed hereafter and you can book her any time by calling +961.76.871284.

WAXING: 
Full Body: 60,000 LL
Full Arms: 20,000 LL
Half Arms: 10,000 LL
Full Legs: 10,000 LL
Half Legs: 10,000 LL
Underarms: 8,000 LL

EYEBROWS + UPPER LIP: 10,000 LL

SCRUBBING:
Full Body: 20 US Dollars
Face: 20,000 LL

MANICURE: 10 US Dollars
PEDICURE: 20,000 LL

HAIR CARE:
Brushing: 10,000 LL
Roots Coloring: 30,000 LL
Full Coloring: 40,000 LL

FALSE LASHES: 10 US Dollars

Jihane has a range of products she uses for all of the above services but she can also use your own if you prefer.

If you decide to book, tell her Oum Halim sent you, she'll pamper you extra ;)  



  

Mamma Mia

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Hats Off!

On this blog, we love mumtrepreneurial spirits and hearts. It is a fact. Many have been featured on this space and it is always a pleasure getting acquainted with new ones which is exactly what happened a few weeks ago when I stumbled by chance upon a page dedicated to baby accessories and hats: Cutie Pie Dubai on Facebook (as usual; I'm starting to think it's no coincidence FB spells BF backwards; Google, don't be jealous but you know FB is becoming my new BFF).

The photos were so adorable I clicked on "Like" immediately without really knowing I was in fact entering myself in a draw to win a voucher from Cutie Pie Dubai. So imagine my surprise when I discovered I had won! 

Dressing up my babies is the funnest thing of all and I could not wait to get my hands on the items I had ordered! 

Finally, one day the doorbell rings and I am handed a package wrapped in a thoughtful Christmas paper. Not your regular corporate generic customer service. It was clearly from a person who cared. A person who intended on extending a personal touch.

Image: R. Abouzeid

So naturally, I was curious to meet the creative heart behind Cutie Pie Dubai. A few questions later, and here we all are, getting to know this mother of a one-year old baby boy who has been living in Dubai for over eight years and who launched her own business on Facebook following the arrival of her first child. 

"The story behind Cutie Pie Dubai is rather simple. I was looking for cute kids accessories and hats as gifts for friends as well as for my baby boy, something very easily available back home but difficult to get here it seems. So about three months ago I decided to take it into my own hands and started sourcing unique baby accessories." explains Cutie Pie Dubai's thirty-year old founder, owner and full-time working mom from Germany.  

What products do you offer?

At the moment the product range includes baby crochet hats and beanies, headbands, tutus, crochet shoes and newborn photography props. I try to keep them as unique as possible and therefore there are only a few pieces of each item available, sometimes only one. 

Image: R. Abouzeid

How do you decide on colors, textures and other design choices?

I select colors and shapes according to what I like and I think my customers and their babies would like. Also it is important to me that the quality is very good and the material and fit perfect for babies: soft and easy to wear. 

Where do you source your designs?

Most of the pieces come from Europe and Asia at the moment. But I am now also looking into other options to expand the variety. 

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My inspiration is my baby and the pictures my customers send me of their little ones wearing my products. I just love to receive their feedback and photos. 

What does the future look like for you and Cutie Pie Dubai?

My plan for the future is to start designing and producing one part of the product range myself and I just wish I would have more time for that. In addition I will concentrate more on newborn photography props. There are so many great ideas out there for these special once in a lifetime photos but unfortunately not much is available here in Dubai. 

Image: R. Abouzeid

Where can we find your products?

Products can be bought online on my facebook shop and I attend markets from time to time here in Dubai. The next market I will be at is the Baby Bazaar in Times Square Mall on the 26th of January 2013. 

Just for fun:

If you were a color, which would you be? 

Fuchsia 

If you were a fabric? 

I always loved velvet 

If you were a movie? 

Not much of a movie person unfortunately, I prefer nature ;) 

If you were a song? 

I like any music as long as it makes my day bright ;) 

If you were a fruit or a flower? 

Dragon fruit: unique and fuchsia, my favorite color ;)

Mamma Mia

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Safety First: Bullying (Part 2)

This is not the first time I speak about Bullying on this blog. I guess having children makes you paranoid. As we all know what they say: "children can be cruel". And most of the times, they not only can; they are.

I just cannot believe it took me that long to get to writing this article. I had promised a Dubai/UAE specific post back when I wrote the first piece on Bullying and although it took quite some time, here it finally is, with the kind help of Family and Relationship Coach, Maria Chatila.

Can you please introduce yourself and your credentials? 

My name is Maria V. Chatila. My job title tells people that I am a Family and Relationship Coach. What this means is that I help couples, parents and children to communicate better and enjoy stronger quality relationships at home. I am a qualified and certified coach for both organisation and relationship systems coaching (ORSC-C & ILM). I am also a certified coach and member of the International Coach Federation (ACC). I am a co-leader for the Organisation and Relationship System Coaching (ORSC©) for Kids as well as the co-leader for the Coaching Networking Community in Dubai. I am an active member of coaching communities that support couples and families. I have been formally coaching since 2007 and previous to this I was teaching children and adults in both primary schools and adult centres. Combined, I have 16 years of developing and understanding human relationships.


That is quite an impressive track record. So it is safe to say you have an insight on Bullying that could help us understand this phenomenon a little more. How do education and psychology experts define this phenomenon? How does it differ from innocent pranks or jokes? 

Bullying, according to ‘me’ is defined as when one person overpowers another using ‘fear tactics to serve the bully’s wants’. These ‘fear tactics’ can either be physical or emotional. In education, there are many schools of thought and I cannot speak for them all so again, I am referring to my own, (wearing my educator hat) definition of bullying. An innocent joke or prank is just that: ‘Innocent’. 


Is bullying a phenomenon particular to children or does it spread over all age groups and even adults?

I believe that bullying is a wide spread phenomenon. As an educator, I have seen it in the classroom and on the playground; as a coach, I am seeing it in family relationships, as a person, I am seeing it at work organisations, and in community gatherings.


Is it considered a normal ‘conflict situation’ between the people who engage in such behaviour and their victims? Is bullying a natural or learned behaviour? 

Remember, fear tactics that serve and individual’s sole benefit is not normal behaviour. Because bullying is a common phenomenon across countries and communities, I don’t believe that it makes it a ‘normal behaviour’. I believe that to some extent, bullying can be a learned behaviour but I also believe that there is a natural survival of the fittest nature to it.


In the case of children in particular, is it considered a standard phase children must go through in order to build their character and "grow up"? I mean, is there any positive outcome from Bullying and can Bullying ever be considered an experience that children learn from? 

The whole process of family relationship; education systems; peer relationships are all part of the journey of character growth for children. However, fear of emotional or physical harm does not and should not be a required element for children’s growth.

Image: R. Abouzeid

In which instances does Bullying extend from childhood to adulthood and is it considered an issue with adults as well or does it just become an accepted personality trait for the adult bully? 

Instances that I have noticed that may have extended from childhood to adulthood are emotional bullying. A child is bullied emotionally (no physical scars seen by the public), and this develops into an adult who uses bullying in the workplace with his/her subordinates or colleagues to the extent of making them fear that they may lose their employment. Physical bullying, I believe is seen prominently at home. We tend to call it ‘physical abuse’. Again, look at the basis of physical abuse; it entails using fear tactics to overpower and control another human being to serve an individual’s personal need or want.


If Bullying is an acquired behaviour, what are its origins? How, when and why can a child become a bully? 

Remember, I believed that there is a little nature and nurture involved in bullying. Children are very curious by nature and so I believe it is a case of ‘I’ll try this to get what I want’. If an adult does not correct the unskilful behaviour, then the child will repeat it and continue to do so until they can. Children will also use models of behaviour that they have seen at home, at school, in books or on television.


If conflict is inevitable, how should the victim handle the situation? 

Conflict, in my opinion, is not bad. In fact, in basic terms, conflict simply means differing points of view. Conflict can be the creator of wonderful changes that serve the greater good for mankind. It is when conflict creates fear tactics that lead to violence and creates unsafety for people that conflict is bad. Children/victims need tools and skills to resolve the conflict peacefully. Mostly, children, tweens and teens need support and understanding from parents, educators and school administrators.


What strategies can potential victims employ to avoid becoming a target? 

This is a tricky one. Being a target is really only known to the bully. Sometimes the target can be the confident student or sometimes it can be the shy, quiet withdrawn student.


What is the role of those looking at the conflict from outside (friends, teachers, parents, etc.)? 

Most importantly, their role is to understand what is going on. Their role is to stop, educate and support both the victim and the bully.


How do schools and education professionals deal with Bullying? Are there professionals available to help our children at the schools?

As I previously stated, schools vary on their dealings with bullying. Some schools have whole school policies and some do not. Qualified educators are trained to teach curriculum and some go onto professional development seminars to support them with issues such as bullying but this is not a requirement of all teachers in all schools. Most schools expect the teachers to handle student relationships and it falls under the heading of ‘classroom management’. There are professionals such as myself who are trained and experienced to help teach and support parents, teachers and students with skills and tools to resolve conflict peacefully.


How can we tell Bullying is occurring at the victim's side? Are there certain people who are more likely to be bullied? 

Human relationships vary greatly so the symptoms of victims will vary as well. Some, but not all, symptoms that I have seen in young children are;

• fear of going to school 
• severe stomach cramps before going to school 
• fits of tears prior to going to school 

Older children;

• Silence when asked about school 
• Grades have dropped severely 
• Attitude at home has become aggressive 
• Headaches and not wanting to go to school 
• Stories of being alone on breaks at school and not having friends 

Again, I do not believe that there is a ‘certain’ type of person who is more likely to be bullied.

Image Source: Free Digital Photos

How can we tell Bullying is occurring at the bully's side? Are there certain people who are more likely to bully? 

It’s hard to tell if your child is the bully at school because sometimes/most times, our children act differently at school than they do at home. I would advise parents to pay attention to their relationships with peers; listen to their dialogue/conversations. Speak and model often to them about how they can be a peaceful and kind friend.


Why is it important to shed light on Bullying? 

Bullying instils fear and unsafety in our children’s lives at school. On average, a child spends 7-8 hours a day at school. The consequences of bullying crossover from the playgrounds, to the classroom and then over into every other aspect of our children’s lives. With the risk of sounding corny, our children are the world’s future leaders. We must instil peaceful relationship skills and these begin at home and at school.


Since Bullying has always existed, does violence on TV, in the movies and in video games play a part? If yes, how? 

This is the age-old blame it on the media tale. In a lump sum, society dictates what we see on television. If we allow our children to watch them and encourage networks to air them, then they will play a role in our children’s understanding of the world they live in. Parents and guardians are responsible for supporting their children’s understanding of ‘what is right’ and ‘what is wrong’.


How do you stop Bullying? Can parents, schools and the overall victim surrounding help and support the victim? Can parents and surroundings of bullies also have a role in help ending the Bullying behaviour? 

I would advise parents and teachers to primarily set up a clear ‘no bullying policy’. Share it with the children. Stick to it. No exceptions. Clarify the behaviours that are acceptable and unacceptable. Children really need clear guidelines. Teachers and parent should be attentive. The biggest mistake adults make is when they push children who call out for help to the side. Bullies thrive on this attitude. My belief is to have a peaceful, caring and kind environment. Conflict is easily resolved once it is spotted early.


What is cyber-bullying? 

I believe that cyber bullying is the same behaviour however it is done on-line using social networking sites. Which creates an even greater platform for fear as it feeds a much larger audience. Suddenly, the bully has the opportunity to hurt his/her victim by sharing the pain with an ever-growing audience. I also believe that this type of bullying is more dangerous because it feeds itself on a ground with no real rules. There are no school leaders or parents able to enforce the consequences of such terrible actions. 

Image Source: Free Digital Photos

What can be done to avoid or end cyber-bullying? 

My theory about children/tweens/teens using social networking sites is that they should only be allowed to use them when they have the maturity to understand the dangers of using them improperly. Parents should use caution and time when discussing the pros and cons with their children. Teach your children how to use them, and monitor their usage. I advise my clients that they agree with their child to have the passwords available in case they will need them. The clauses of using the password should be agreed between parents/children. I also recommend that parents become connected to their children on these sites. Stay alert to their worlds. Stay curious and stay there for support. Obviously, many teens may struggle to understand the value in this but TRUST is essential for this to work. Your children need to trust that you will not violate their privacy and the parents must trust that their children are mature enough to be sensible.


What are the dangers of continued Bullying and what happens if nothing is done? 

A clear example of the extremities of bullying was recently seen in a little girl Lujain Hussain who lives in Abu Dhabi. She was bullied at school, physically bullied and ended up in the hospital. Psychologically, the impact of bullying can last with a child long into their school years and beyond. Relationships are built on relationships. A bullied child learns that the world accepts this type of behaviour and so the cycle begins....

Lujain Hussain following her assault
Photo: The National

Can people change? 

Change can happen when skills and tools are learned. Expecting change to happen without education is like expecting a plant to grow without the sun or the water to feed it.


Is there some sort of existing legal frame for Bullying at the national (or each emirate) level? How do you think policies at a national level should work? What sort of policies should be implemented? 

I am not aware of any legal frame for bullying. Legally, physical violence should be dealt with however; bullying does not just come in the form of physical violence. In Lugein’s case, a teacher in the Rosary School was quoted as saying that there has not been any physical violence in her school in the last 10 years. This is ridiculous! Bullying is not just about physical violence. At a national level, there should be a zero tolerance for bullying. There should be clear guidelines for what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. Bullying should be discussed over and over again. Patterns of behaviour amongst children in schools should be assessed and schools should ‘listen and support’ the victims without dismissing their tales as false.


I have to end this post by thanking Maria Chatila for her time and assistance. Should you need her services or help, feel free to contact her on the following channels:

Maria V. Chatila
BA, PGCE, ILM, ACC, ORSC-C
Family and Relationship Coach
Website
Facebook
Email

Disclaimer:

"I hope my answers are clear. Please remember that the answers are based on my beliefs and my experience as an educator and a coach. I am not a psychologist and I never claim to be one"

-- Maria V. Chatila

BE SAFE EVERYONE!

Links to Safety First and Foremost posts:

• Post 1: Cot Beds
• Post 2: Bullying
• Post 3: Fire
• Post 4: Bullying (Part 2) 

Mamma Mia

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OBSESSIONAiL

If you missed the first episode of our Nail Saga because, I do not know, you were kidnapped by aliens who then discovered the Earth was too screwed up to study or steal and so decided to kindly send you home, or something of the sort, well first of all welcome back. Secondly, jump right to here and get yourself up to speed please (?) because you do not want to miss what is coming next.

So about twenty days ago as promised, and following up on that Nail Assignment, I called a new salon that offers at-home services: Beau Belles. And I decided to give their "long-lasting" manicure a shot. I will not go over the reasons why again (come on, I have asked you very nicely to please get yourself up to speed) but let me just reiterate, my mommy lifestyle requires heavy-duty-long-lasting beautification. OK, I have become a little obsessed (hence the title, but it is a healthy addiction, so I will indulge). 

This time again and as always I was not kind to my nails. Not in the least. It is really not my fault you know, I do try. OK, fine. I do not try at all but this is how it is and how it is going to be for, well forever really. 

Solution? Long-lasting nails by Beau Belles of course: Shellac™ Power Polish.

Image: Beau Belles

The very first advantage is the wide range of colors available. It is way cheaper than my first experience which involved me purchasing the color(s), base, top coat, LED light and other necessities.

The other amazing advantage is the huge LED light which proved to be an issue with the at-home starting kit:

Image: R. Abouzeid

It is big enough to fit an entire hand (and foot) all at once and reduces the drying time by half in comparison to the one I used previously. It also has the advantage of timing each drying phase and turn off automatically when time is up which is quite practical considering each coat requires a different drying duration.

As you can see in the photo above, this time I used a natural color. It was way more suitable than the hot red I had in my starting kit because as the nails grew, the unmanicured space was not that visible (unless you were looking from a close distance, obviously). 

But the most important factor to assess when reviewing a long-lasting manicure is, of course, the test of time. Well, I waited twenty days before removing it and the photos clearly speak for themselves:

Image: R.Abouzeid

The photo on the left was taken on Day 15 and the one on the right on Day 20. As you can see, the manicure did not chip although I caught my index in a cabinet door which resulted in the gel breaking and peeling (so I removed it all). You will also notice a little damage at the tip of my thumbnail because well, I insisted on opening un-openable pistachios. Ahem. Yes, I know, gluttony is a sin. Also, I may have done some bleaching and other housekeeping work without gloves. Anyway, two weeks of almost perfection is far more than anyone could ask for.

SOME ADDED PERKS:

Beau Belles has a loyalty program which allows you to collect a point for each 100 Dirhams spent. Five points will get you a free pedicure, ten a free manicure, fifteen a free mani/pedi, and twenty a treatment of your choice to the value of 300 Dirhams. 

Beau Belles will accomodate your schedule even on weekends and evenings which we all know is crucial, even (if not especially) for stay-at-home moms.

BOTTOM LINE:

I am definitely Beau Belling again! Actually, I have already made a couple of bookings for next week and the week after (right before Christmas). And you should do too as soon as possible if you want them to accommodate you for the holidays. Just call Diane on 050.9559923 and take an appointment now. Keep in mind that the minimum charge for a home visit is 100 Dirhams, regardless of what services you request. All the prices are below (sorry for the huge image, it is not fitting in my usual layout but I felt I should keep it in its original size so it is clear enough to read). 

Image: Beau Belles

Mamma Mia

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Making a splash!

So we know Mia (almost 2) and Jad (8 months and a half) have been taking swimming lessons for five weeks now. 

Unfortunately Jad has had to stop a few lessons ago as the weather is getting chiller and we could not find an indoors pool to accommodate us which is a shame because he is such a natural. Like all smaller babies, just like that, he will instinctively start to move his arms and splash with his legs and basically "swim". Sort of. All four-legged animals will agree he is swimming. That should settle the debate.

Mia on the other hand is still going strong, and her dad and I could not be more astonished with the results. The improvements are simply spectacular. And I am not kidding. 

Before she started this course, every time we would take her to any pool (whether the kids or adults one) she would grab on to the closest neck at hand's reach and hold as firmly as her little arms would allow her. 

Well now, let us just say mama is the one a little freaked out and stretching arms and legs and whatever stretches to reach, grab and hold on to Mia's newfound confidence! 

Here is the thing. She is jumping in the deep end of the pool, all by herself. At this point, more than ever, we must continue with the swimming lessons to make sure, God Forbid, if one day she decides to make that jump and there is no one around to see or grab her, she will hopefully know how to swim to the end and ideally lift herself out of the pool. 

So what has been happening really?

Very rarely did Hubby and I put floaters on Mia's arms because we knew it was not advisable to teach her to swim just in case she gets used to them and does not want to let go when we need her to. Of course some children, like Mia's swim-mate do not really care and will forget about floaters the minute they are off. But I have a feeling it would not have been the same for us. Our drama queen is, well, what is the word? Let us put it this way: she is strong-willed. Or we could put it the real way and just say she is so darn stubborn it makes us loose it 99% of the time!

So Mia started, with no floaters on (thank God), swimming with me supporting her. Whether it was with swimming aids like a board or a noodle, I was always there to hold her while she was learning to move in the water. 

October 15, 2012
Photo: R. Abouzeid

A few lessons ago, she started ordering me to "let go of the noodle, Mia swim alone"! 

And she did. With a noodle, granted. But still, she moved around the pool all by herself. She also decided to jump in and out and in and out and in and out of the pool, about one hundred and twenty times. Or it felt as much. Who knows, I was never good at maths. 

Another impressive transformation was Mia's willingness to go under water. She moved from  categorically refusing this exercise to going under water quite comfortably in just a few hours. She never really cried about it but it was obvious she did not like it and if she had the body strength, she would have happily nailed me to the floor of that pool!

But without a doubt, the most amazing development was Mia swimming all by herself with no aid. Of course she does not go very far and the distance between the instructor and I is about a meter but still, Mia goes under water and tries to move forward towards the person in front of her. That is completely out of this world to me!

Any recommendation?

Absolutely. It is never too early or too late to start! Enroll your kids in swimming lessons as soon as you possibly can. It will change the way they view themselves, their aptitudes and their potential. This is how talents can be fostered. 

Mia's confidence has tremendously grown (as if she needed more attitude, right?) and I am certain it is greatly related to her swimming progress because she spends all day at home, on dry floors, singing the songs we sing in the water. She just loves them. And when we take her swimming for fun, she is like a little fish, doing all the new tricks and moves she has learnt. Which really makes me wonder why she gives her instructor such a hard time. Actually, I do know why. She is a hard-core-drama-queen-B with an attitude. But that is OK, these classes and soon others, combined with nursery in january will hopefully teach her some discipline and humility. Did I say hopefully? Hopefully. 

What can you do?

Get in touch with Ellie Hanlon (+971.50.5095535) the fantastic instructor who turned Mia into a baby shark, because let us face it, she simply does not have it in her to be Nemo-like. 

You will not regret it, I promise. 

This could possibly be one of the finest gifts you grant you child!

Mamma Mia

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