Xander Mom: Bronwyn Hoedemaker

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Meet Bronwyn Hoedemaker of the MotherCityMom blog. She chatted to us and shared some gems of wisdom for parents with young kids.

 

Tell us about yourself?

I’m basically a juggler by profession. When I’m not working as a transcriptionist I’m juggling blog writing, snapchat snapping, instagramming, photo-taking, dog walking, product testing, cooking, and being a mom to a six year old. I’ve been known to drop the balls.

Tell us about your blog?

My blog started off as a way to share new experiences and discoveries, whether family activities, local kids’ fashion or skincare products, with other Cape Town based moms. As time went on my blog morphed into a beauty blog because I discovered that my real interest lay in makeup and skincare. Sometimes as moms the only real “Me-time” we get is spent putting our makeup on in the mornings, the ritual of cleansing it off at night, or if we’re very lucky, enjoying a solitary bath. Even moms want to look and feel their best, and I decided that beauty news and reviews are interesting or useful to a wider audience of women. It has become a bit of a family affair with my daughter doing her own ‘Moo Reviews‘ and contributing her thoughts on things for kids too.  

 

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How do you feel about using technology as part of learning?

I’m a strong believer in it. My dad is a technology integration consultant, which means his job is to help teachers and organisations incorporate technology into education, so I grew up with an excitement about technology right at its early stages. I have seen for myself how technology can open up new worlds and make learning fun and interactive, and I encourage my daughter’s digital literacy.

What are your kids favourite apps?

My daughter loves anything with animals in it. At the moment her favourite is the San Diego Zoo Living Legends app. It’s a physics puzzle game that also educates kids (and adults) about wild animals. It’s challenging but fun for all ages. And it has lions and pandas in it, which of course make irresistible to my little animal-lover.

What do you love about South Africa and raising your children here?

I love the weather and the outdoor lifestyle we have, and having beaches, mountains and wildlife on our doorstep.

Suppertime tips for parents with young children?

Make suppertime a time for conversation and catching up on the day. It’s one of the few times we have time to really listen to our kids properly.

TV “Yes” or “No”?

Yes! I’m fortunate that my daughter will only watch Animal Planet or Nat Geo Wild, which I’m happy for her to be glued to for a while each day. It’s educational. We might have a few more arguments if it was Nickelodeon all day long.  

What is in the lunchbox?

Rice crackers, biltong, dried fruit, popcorn and biscuits. Our school has a pretty strict list of allowed foods, and my kid is quite fussy, but we can agree on these few at least!

How do you balance it all – in one sentence?

I make a big effort to schedule my time in advance and stick to my schedule, but sometimes it’s really difficult to juggle everything and you just have to choose the priorities and let some things slide.

Do you children do chores at home, if so what and how do you manage it?

It is really past time my child started doing proper chores! She helps out with things, but we don’t have a structured chore system yet.

What is your favourite holiday plans/ activities with kids?

My favourite holiday to spend with my daughter is an annual trip to Kruger National Park. Her appreciation for wildlife and sheer joy overcome my fear of large wild animals! We get some proper quality time together where we can switch off and unplug. If we’re in Cape Town we love the Two Oceans Aquarium or World of Birds, and during the summer it’s body boarding at the beach every day.   

 

Check out the MotherCityMom blog today and catch up with Bronwyn on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat (Mothercitymom)