Photo by epSos.de.

We’ve all been exposed to children at some point in our lives and we cannot deny they have an effect on us. Today is the day to celebrate the small ones around us – International Children’s Day!

On Yahoo!7, we encourage you to share what matters to you and with our latest example of How Good Grows on Yahoo!, we are asking you to share a lesson that you’ve learnt from your child or a child you know. Or share a bit of wisdom you’ve gained!

• What lesson – big or small – has a child recently taught you?

You can also share your thoughts at howgoodgrows.safely.yahoo.com, and see what people around the world are saying. Then keep coming back to the site to see other women who’ve made their mark.

Join us in sharing what’s important to you. Spread the word, and watch How Good Grows on Yahoo!.

Kate
Community Manager

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Photo by carl.lacey2.

For many of us, our Mum’s have played a large part of who we are today. From a young age, they nurture and guide us, despite the occasional blue, they do it with the best thing of all – unconditional love.

On Yahoo!7, we encourage you to share what matters to you and with our latest example of How Good Grows on Yahoo!, we are asking you to share some of your Mum’s best advice.

• What’s the best advice your mum has given you?

You can also share your thoughts at howgoodgrows.safely.yahoo.com, and see what people around the world are saying. Then keep coming back to the site to see other women who’ve made their mark.

Join us in sharing what’s important to you. Spread the word, and watch How Good Grows on Yahoo!.

Kate
Community Manager

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Photo by Wedding Paraphernalia.

Planning a wedding is not easy for most, myself included.

From my personal experiences thus far in organising my own wedding for later this year, it requires the following: military genius, diplomacy, haggling and sheer luck!

Not all of us are blessed with the options and resources available to William and Kate, so how do we amongst the common people manage it? It’s time to share your tips and help all future brides out:

• What are some tips or advice on planning a successful wedding?

And in honour of the Royal Wedding on Yahoo!7 Answers, the best answer will be awarded 100 bonus points!

So get sharing!

Kate
Community Manager

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You’re newly engaged and the whole world seems fresh and exciting, until someone brings up the inevitable questions – Are you having an engagement party? Have you set a date yet? How long will you be engaged for?

Before long, that glow is replaced by an overpowering urge to snap at the next person that asks. Am I alone in this?

My other half proposed back in September and we recently held our engagement party, attended by our families and close friends. It was a fantastic night spent with the people we love. We did it on a budget with everyone pitching in, but it was just as lovely as it would have been if we had spent thousands. The biggest question on everyone’s lips was around the potential date even though we’d been formally engaged for just over a month! We pre-empted a lot of this by booking the church and venue just a few weeks ago, although we’re not planning to get married until late next year, so we were able to let them all know to lock the date in.

And the offerings of advice! Suddenly everyone else is an expert on what you want, how you should do things and what you should be wearing. Whilst suggestions from family and friends that know you is welcomed, it’s the ones from random strangers and people you barely know as a friend-of-a-friend that really get me.

So I’ve decided to take the laidback approach for the time being. I already have the church and reception booked. I also got the dress organised early on thus disappointing my scores of friends and relatives who’d love nothing better than dragging me out to try dresses on, sorry ladies!

Here are some other questions that I found to be extremely useful:

• What type of gift do you give for an engagement party?
• Is it OK to have an engagement party if no wedding is planned?
• What do you think is a reasonable budget for an engagement ring?
• What is the difference between a wedding ring and an engagement ring?
• What kind of decorations are appropriate for an engagement party?
• What is the best way to word a engagement announcement?
• Can you invite people to an engagement party but not the wedding?
• How long should a couple be engaged before getting married?

Do you have an engagement experience you’d like to share? Or maybe you have some advice for me! Leave a comment below.

Kate
Community Manager

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I’m not sure if it is the economic crisis (people have more free time), because I’m getting older or because the seas are changing, but to me it looks like we’re in the middle of a new baby boom. A lot of people around me have had or are going to have kids soon: at work, among my friends, my family…

In fact, my sister is going to have a baby in three months and she’s starting to get everything prepared. I’ve been taking more interest in the Pregnancy & Parenting and Education categories to find out more about what she’s going through. I have to admit that it’s a much more complex world than what I first thought. For a start, as soon as you get pregnant everything becomes unclear: can you change your hair colour? what cheeses can you eat? can you keep your exercise routine?

Thanks to my sister and the Yahoo!7 Answers community I have discovered that most of these questions don’t actually have a yes/no answer (for example, you can eat almost anything as long as it is cooked,  you can practice certain sports like swimming or yoga, but you need to be careful with contact sports).

Getting ready for the baby also isn’t easy. Which stroller should I buy? is a common question, and now I understand why. Last week I went to buy one with my sister and it’s really hard to choose between a wide range of functionalities, features and colours! There are so many things to plan, from how to budget for a baby to what sort of things do you need to take to the hospital when the big day comes?

Then once you get the baby home, it’s a whole other ball game. How do you dress a baby? (it’s still hard for me to picture myself doing it some day) and how do you change a nappy? Once they get a little bit older, you’ve got to think about what food to give them, how to teach them to speak,  and how to entertain toddlers on a daily basis. I am sure that some of the tips will help first-time parents.

Now, here is my question (I’m sure my sister, among others, will be thankful for your responses!): What are your tips for first-time parents? Share your tricks to save money, how to make your baby sleep and what are the best techniques to relax after a hard day?

Share your knowledge!

This post is from our Guest Blogger – Silvia, the Spanish Yahoo! Answers Community Manager

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Being a Mum is a tough job and they deserve some thanks. You only have to look in the Pregnancy and Parenting section of Answers to see the proliferation of mums getting advice on everything from how to ensure the baby is healthy in pregnancy to how to teach adult children about responsibilities. There are Mums from all around the world on Answers 24/7 asking questions about how to be the best mother they can be.

Sometimes we forget the sacrifice our Mums have made for us, so fortunately there’s one day a year that we can specifically say ‘Thank you Mum’. What do you want to thank your mum for on Mother’s Day this year?

While it’s always nice to thank Mum with a gift, if you’re feeling the pinch of the recession, a shopping spree is out of the question. Doesn’t mean you have to scrimp on showing your Mum how much you appreciate her though. 

Many mums say the best gift they’ve ever received has been something their child has made for them. For kids, sentimental ideas like this one from Syd are a particular favourite:

You could create a coupon book of extra chores you will do around the house and/or gym to help her out. It sounds cheesy, but mums love that kind of thing…and really appreciate the extra help too!

For us adults, this is a nice idea from chicagokat72:

Write her a letter and thank her for being your Mum and for everything she’s ever done for you. Make sure it’s a letter though – not some pre-made card, written by someone else.
I’m a Mum and hearing my daughter’s feelings – with a thank you every now and then mean more to me than anything she could ever buy me.

For many of us, part of the ritual of thanking Mum is all about the perfect Breakfast in Bed, and you can’t go past this recipe by smdiner:

Traditional Eggs Benedict

1 teaspoon vinegar; 4 eggs; 4 thin slices bacon; 2 English muffins.
Hollandaise sauce: 3 egg yolks; 1 tablespoon hot water; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 stick melted and hot
unsalted butter; salt and pepper; paprika; chopped parsley

In a large skillet, bring 2 inches of water and the vinegar to a boil. Crack one egg into a glass. Reduce water to a simmer and pour egg into water in one quick motion. Quickly add remaining eggs. Let eggs cook for 4-5 minutes. The white should be firm but the yellow should be runny. Remove eggs with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel. In a non-stick skillet heat the bacon until warm. Toast the English muffins until golden.

For the sauce: Place yolks, water and lemon juice into blender. Blend for 1 minute. With blender running, pour butter through open hole of blender lid. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.

To assemble eggs benedict: Top each muffin with bacon and a poached egg. Pour warm sauce over and garnish with paprika and chopped parsley.

Alternatives: Vegetarian: Substitute wilted spinach and a grilled tomato for the ham.

YUM! Here are some more ideas if your mum is looking for a more low calorie option, or if you’ve got kids making the breakfast in bed.

What are some other budget friendly ways to thank Mum?

Caitlin
Community Manager

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You may have noticed there has been a little extra assistance in the Family and Relationships section recently. Yahoo!7 Answers now have an Aussie based relationships Knowledge Partner to help out the lovelorn of Answers in the mystical world of dating and relationships. Coined ‘The Love Coach’, Carolin Dahlman, is the face behind the name and is thrilled to be joining Answers.

Who is ‘The Love Coach’?
I am Carolin Dahlman. I’m 35 years old, I was born in Sweden and now live in Sydney. I am the author of 5 books.

How do you help people?
I do one on one coaching. I analyse my clients to see what they need to change to get more control over their love life. What can they do, think or be to reach their goals? I ask questions to make them see the answers from within and develop. I push, give energy and create self awareness.

What made you want to help people with relationships & love?
I have always wanted to do something meaningful. It took me into politics for 20 years, but now I can still work to create happiness but in a more positive way. I love my job.

What’s an example of how you’ve helped someone?
I have successfully coached several people who have been tired and bored in their relationship to find energy and passion towards life and their partner again. I have made people more aware of what they have been doing wrong, so that they now are able to change.

If you could choose 5 words to describe you, what would they be?
Analytic, warm, energetic, happy, honest

So whether you’re dealing with an ex-partner, hoping to get a new one or need some help with the relationship you’ve got, The Love Coach is on hand to answer your questions. And in coming weeks, we’ll have even more great Knowledge Partners to give expert answers to your questions in many other areas of life. Stay tuned!

Caitlin
Community Manager

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When I read this story the other day that Australian couples spend an average of $49,000 on their wedding, I was really shocked. After all, that sort of money isn’t far off the average annual wage of an adult Australian and is a pretty sizable deposit on a house. And aren’t we in an economic downturn?

Well there is a lot to pay for. There’s the cost of the diamond ring, the engagement party, invitations, the bridesmaid’s dresses, the wedding dress, buying or hiring the suit, the reception venue, hiring the church or celebrant, the photographer, music, the wedding bands, hair and makeup, flowers, the gifts for the bridal party, the favours, the honeymoon… phew! I’m feeling broke just thinking about it.

But does it really need to be $49,000 or can you get away with it for a lot less? This topic is a hotbed of discussion on Answers. All our experienced brides are on hand to give their tips on organising a fabulously frugal wedding.

• Where can I get Bridesmaid dresses in Australia online for under $250?
• My fiancé & I are planning a wedding for May 09 on a $5000 budget with 50 guests. Is this impossible?
• Should I do my own hair and make up on my wedding day to save money?
• What are some cheap and casual engagement party ideas in Sydney?
• How much is too much to ask people to pay on a Hens night?

Do you think it’s possible to have a nice wedding for under $49,000? How much do you think is reasonable to pay for a wedding in Australia?

Caitlin
Community Manager

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We’re into February, a time when the weather seems to get even hotter and the traffic into work slower as parents around Australia take their children back to school.

For many kids, it’s an exciting time. They’re back with their friends, they’ve made their way up into the next grade and have a new teacher or new subjects. For others, it’s a daunting proposition. A whole new group of 5-year-olds are leaving Mum behind and starting ‘big school’ and the 12-year-olds are going from being the ‘big fish in a small pond to the little fish in a big pond’.

Fortunately with Yahoo!7 Answers, Mums and Dads can get some well meaning advice from other parents who have been there before. For some Mums this year, all they’ve needed is some reassurance that their child’s first day of school won’t be too tough. Others are looking for some tips on how to help their child learn to read and for some yummy and healthy lunch box ideas. This Mum has received some blunt but well meaning advice to help her son avoid fights at the bus stop, and other parents have been discussing whether private or public schools offer the best form of education.

In the next few weeks, it will be first semester for many young adults who are be embarking on the next phase of their education – university or TAFE. Over the last few months, offers were being released for various establishments inviting discussion on Answers about the comparisons between RMIT and Monash Unis and what the difference is between studying Dental Science and Oral Health. As they begin to accept their places, students have been coming to Answers for advice on how to access their uni portals and looking for explanations on HECS and Commonwealth support.

For all those new students out there, we hope 2009 is a year full of enlightenment and learning. Don’t forget that if you get stuck, you never know what you might find in the Homework Help, Primary & Secondary Education and Higher Education (University+) sections of the Education & Reference category!

Caitlin
Community Manager

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I recently attended a wedding, which to be honest, isn’t all that unusual these days. I actually can’t remember who half the girls are in my facebook friends list because they’ve all changed to their married names and I don’t remember what they are. The unusual thing about this wedding was that it was in London and involved a mixed English/Australian couple.

What’s so unusual about that, I hear you ask? Mixed couples happen all the time and Aussies and Brits aren’t all that different. Well that is true, however there are more differences in a British wedding ceremony than I actually thought there’d be.

For one thing, did you know it’s traditional for an English wedding to serve a fruit cake? At this wedding we were served cupcakes and also a fruit cake, which I thought was a little strange until I read dlcarnall’s reasoning:

Traditional English wedding cake is a fruitcake, usually made with raisins, ground almonds, cherries and marzipan. The top layer of the wedding cake is called the “christening cake” which the couple is saves for the baptism of their first child.

The fruitcake is served at the wedding reception along with another traditional cake — the groom’s cake — which originated during the Tudor period. It was once English custom for this to be a fruitcake as well, but today, the groom’s cake is likely to be chocolate. More

The other noticeable difference was seeing women in fascinators and hats, which is apparently not a strict tradition anymore but definitely still embraced by some. Also there were some men in tartan kilts, not something you’d usually see at an Aussie wedding but is quite common for a Scot at a formal ceremony such as a wedding.

It made me think about the wedding traditions we take for granted that may not be as prevalent in other countries.

There are a few differences with American weddings it seems. Although it’s quite common to have a Bachelorette Party (Hen Party), American brides also have the added benefit of a shower, which apparently involves women getting together, giving presents and playing a few games. So many presents! There’s also that other American tradition of the groom throwing the bride’s garter, however it doesn’t seem to be something that Australians have embraced, I have never seen that tradition in an Aussie wedding.

The role of the Master of Ceremonies seems to differ from country to country. Apparently in Britain it isn’t too common to even have an MC, but in American, the Master of Ceremonies also has to entertain the guests and tell jokes, according to Dana B.

British weddings tend to go longer than in other countries (something I definitely found). According to Princess, it can go for 12 hours or longer:

They are longer, it will be noon til midnight or later- there is usually a ceremony, drinks reception, 3 course dinner in late afternoon & speeches, then evening party with drinks, dancing and a buffet- it will be noon to midnight basically. More

Then of course there are the wedding rings. According to AnswerQueen, the hand your wedding is on is determined by your religion, not your country

Christian Orthodox wear the wedding ring on the right side, as the right hand is always viewed as the more important, they also do the sign of the cross right first then left. While Christian Catholics wear it on the left and sign the cross left then right. More

While I love a good Aussie wedding, one ceremony I’d love to experience would be a wedding in India. It sounds like they really know how to celebrate!

What are the most different wedding traditions you’ve observed in other cultures?

Caitlin
Community Manager

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