Yer, that's me.
I'd rather spend my time playing with the kids rather than have a normal conversation with the adults.
Kids never take life to serious not like us adults, everything is such a big drama and a hassel.
Now take christmas day for instance, this is suppose to be a joyous day, thrilled to be with the family, but not for some.
It's all to hard, a lady at work today told me she told her children, who are 25 year old twins and married, that she was not doing anything next year, no dinner or tea, no presents. She wasn't going anywhere and if they wanted to see her they would have to come to her.
Does this not make you wonder why somebody like this ever had children.
Christmas is a time for sharing great memories and spreading love amongst friends, family and strangers.
Gifts are not everything, just a friendly gesture is always appreciated.
My mother-in-law (72yrs) had a great surprise last weekend after being in hospital for a few days. Her next door neighbour had mowed her lawns. Now they are not the best of friends or anything like that, they just happen to say hi now and then and they are a young couple with two children.
NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!!
Be kind to others.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Childhood Memories
Well didn't that year fly. Christmas is once again upon us.
The craziness starts all over again for another year.
We parents run around franticly chancing that elusive toy or new electronic gadget that our child must have because their best friend is getting it or has it already.
I remember when I was a child how excited I got on xmas eve. Waking at three in the morning and racing to my brothers' rooms to see what they got.
"Did you see him?" I would ask them. Checking out their persents making sure they didn't get more than me.
We would all run to the lounge room to see if he had drank that beer we left out for him and of course it was all gone.
For me christmas is seeing the happy little faces and excitement in my nieces and nephew's eyes when they open up the gifts. Their eyes are huge when expaining where they found santa's gifts and how they think they seen him bring the gifts in to their room. Their little minds are racing with excitement, letting their imagination take over.
Oh, to be young again.
To all, have a happy xmas.
Be safe with what ever you are planning over the holiday season.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
merry christmas
The craziness starts all over again for another year.
We parents run around franticly chancing that elusive toy or new electronic gadget that our child must have because their best friend is getting it or has it already.
I remember when I was a child how excited I got on xmas eve. Waking at three in the morning and racing to my brothers' rooms to see what they got.
"Did you see him?" I would ask them. Checking out their persents making sure they didn't get more than me.
We would all run to the lounge room to see if he had drank that beer we left out for him and of course it was all gone.
For me christmas is seeing the happy little faces and excitement in my nieces and nephew's eyes when they open up the gifts. Their eyes are huge when expaining where they found santa's gifts and how they think they seen him bring the gifts in to their room. Their little minds are racing with excitement, letting their imagination take over.
Oh, to be young again.
To all, have a happy xmas.
Be safe with what ever you are planning over the holiday season.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
merry christmas
Friday, December 17, 2010
How To Make Wrapping Paper
Here is an activity
for the kids to do during christmas holidays.
Making their own wrapping paper, be it xmas, birthday or for any special occasion.
Learning how to make wrapping paper is easy and great fun for all involved.
You Will Need:
Some A4 or A3 white paper
Three or four different food colouring. Same in mixing bowls.
Straws for each bowl & water.
Detergent
Mix water, detergent and food colouing in bowls. All separate. Only use about a cup of water and add plenty of food colouring to give depth in your colours on the paper.
Place straws into water and get your child to blow, gentle, just enough to create some great bubbles.
Grab the paper and place it onto the bubbles, do this with each differnt colour.
Let your child get their creative minds working by letting them choose which colours to mix and match.
When done hang outside on the line to dry or inside in a dry area.
for the kids to do during christmas holidays.
Making their own wrapping paper, be it xmas, birthday or for any special occasion.
Learning how to make wrapping paper is easy and great fun for all involved.
You Will Need:
Some A4 or A3 white paper
Three or four different food colouring. Same in mixing bowls.
Straws for each bowl & water.
Detergent
Mix water, detergent and food colouing in bowls. All separate. Only use about a cup of water and add plenty of food colouring to give depth in your colours on the paper.
Place straws into water and get your child to blow, gentle, just enough to create some great bubbles.
Grab the paper and place it onto the bubbles, do this with each differnt colour.
Let your child get their creative minds working by letting them choose which colours to mix and match.
When done hang outside on the line to dry or inside in a dry area.
Let children decorate their own wrapping paper by gluing old buttons, glitter etc on to it after drying and help them to wrap their own gifts with some cool ribbons.
Tie a bow with some string and thread beads on the ends and tie a knot to stop from falling off.
A great activity to do for the whole family, why not turn off all the tv's and computers and sit down and create and laugh togther.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Common Infectious Diseases
We as parents are always on the lookout for illness and sickness in our children.
When we see our child scratching or hear them coughing, our instinct is to search and find out why they are behaving this way.
Many times we are unsure what a rash might be, how they may have got it or how long it will stick around.
Here is a list of COMMMON INFECTIOUS DISEASES for you to take a look at:
____________________________________________________
Disease Cause Spread Incubation
Chicken Virus Direct contact 7-21days
Pox
Signs & Symptons-fever, red itchy spots become blisters and spread from trunk to limbs
Measles Virus Direct contact 10-15days
Signs & Symptons- fever, rash on 4th day, runny nose, discharging eyes, dry cough
Mumps Virus Direct contact 7-28days
Signs & Symptons-fever, swelling of salivary glands,
difficulty in swallowing
Rubella Virus Direct contact 14-21days
Signs & Symptons-cold, sore throat, slight fever, rash appears on days 15 to 21
and lasts 2-24 hrs
Whooping Bacteria Direct contact 10-14days
Cough
Signs & Symptons-fever, frequent coughing, often causing vomiting,
may continue for months
(Working with children, guidelines for good practice, 2nd edition. Joan Faragher & Glenda Macnaughton)
I am not a medical practitioner but I know what its like as a mother to be concerned about our children when we see things that are unusual.
Please see your doctor if you have concerns about your childs health and well being.
parenthood
When we see our child scratching or hear them coughing, our instinct is to search and find out why they are behaving this way.
Many times we are unsure what a rash might be, how they may have got it or how long it will stick around.
Here is a list of COMMMON INFECTIOUS DISEASES for you to take a look at:
____________________________________________________
Disease Cause Spread Incubation
Chicken Virus Direct contact 7-21days
Pox
Signs & Symptons-fever, red itchy spots become blisters and spread from trunk to limbs
Measles Virus Direct contact 10-15days
Signs & Symptons- fever, rash on 4th day, runny nose, discharging eyes, dry cough
Mumps Virus Direct contact 7-28days
Signs & Symptons-fever, swelling of salivary glands,
difficulty in swallowing
Rubella Virus Direct contact 14-21days
Signs & Symptons-cold, sore throat, slight fever, rash appears on days 15 to 21
and lasts 2-24 hrs
Whooping Bacteria Direct contact 10-14days
Cough
Signs & Symptons-fever, frequent coughing, often causing vomiting,
may continue for months
(Working with children, guidelines for good practice, 2nd edition. Joan Faragher & Glenda Macnaughton)
I am not a medical practitioner but I know what its like as a mother to be concerned about our children when we see things that are unusual.
Please see your doctor if you have concerns about your childs health and well being.
parenthood
Friday, November 12, 2010
Cooking For Children Encourages Creative Thinking
I am not one that likes to cook. Most times its only if its raining outside or for a special occasion.
Now my twelve year old little niece absolutely loves it. She is right into these master chef shows, the Jamie Oliver shows also.
My niece is a dessert lover, so making a delicious cheesecake with a very tasty sauce poured over top seems to come easy to her.
She is constantly on the net getting recipes from the show and trying to prepare them, her mum thinks its great getting these delicious desserts made all the time, perhaps not the cost to make them.
I think it is great that children are learning to cook, it brings out their creative side. The ability for a child to solve a problem builds their Cognitive development. Developing their own ideas about a recipe gets them thinking and can build their self esteem also.
Children can learn to express themselves through cooking. They can explore, investigate and experiment and be challenged in their thinking.
Working on a project they have an interest in will be more satisfying and when the creation appears the overwhelming feeling of achievement will be great.
So never stop your child from experimenting. Share your child's enthusiasm for exploration and give them encouragement to express themselves with what ever they do.
children
Now my twelve year old little niece absolutely loves it. She is right into these master chef shows, the Jamie Oliver shows also.
My niece is a dessert lover, so making a delicious cheesecake with a very tasty sauce poured over top seems to come easy to her.
She is constantly on the net getting recipes from the show and trying to prepare them, her mum thinks its great getting these delicious desserts made all the time, perhaps not the cost to make them.
I think it is great that children are learning to cook, it brings out their creative side. The ability for a child to solve a problem builds their Cognitive development. Developing their own ideas about a recipe gets them thinking and can build their self esteem also.
Children can learn to express themselves through cooking. They can explore, investigate and experiment and be challenged in their thinking.
Working on a project they have an interest in will be more satisfying and when the creation appears the overwhelming feeling of achievement will be great.
So never stop your child from experimenting. Share your child's enthusiasm for exploration and give them encouragement to express themselves with what ever they do.
childrenFriday, October 15, 2010
Here is an article that I thought might interest all parents, whether you have teenagers yet or not. We can all do with more help when it comes to this problem.
By: Sarita Uhr. M.D.
Teen substance abuse is a serious problem world- wide. The teen years are a time of experimenting and risk taking. Many teens experiment with drugs and alcohol. Many are influenced by peer pressure.
Frequent, repeated use of any substance changes brain chemistry over time and can lead to substance dependence. Dependence means it takes larger amounts over time to get the same effect from that substance (example: alcohol). Another sign of substance dependence is experiencing withdrawal symptoms when a substance is abruptly stopped.
Teen drug addiction and teenage alcoholism develop over a period of time. Dependence is a gradual and insidious process.
Here are 7 addiction myths parents should be aware of when dealing with teen substance abuse:
1. My teen's addiction will get better on it's own.
2. It's just a "phase" my teen is going through.
3. Teen substance abuse is the parent's fault.
4. Teen addiction is a choice.
5. Helping my teen by relieving his stress such as "covering" for him when he doesn't do his homework, skip classes, or skip school will lower his need to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol.
6. My addicted teen can use willpower alone to quit his substance abuse.
7. My teen should never use medication to treat his addiction or he is just trying to fix his problems with another pill.
As a psychiatrist that specializes in drug addiction and alcoholism, I see parents struggling with these myths. Here are some examples of parents from my practice holding on to these myths:
HR told her parents she had an alcohol problem and wanted to go to rehab. Her father responded, "You don't need a vacation". Her father just wanted her to quit drinking. Several months later, after HR had a seizure, he realized her alcohol problem was very serious and she needed professional help to overcome her addiction.
TJ smoked pot every day while living at home. When I confronted his parents about why they tolerated this, the dad said, "I smoked pot at his age, too." He changed his attitude after his son's second DUI and got him some help. When I treated his underlying anxiety with a non-addicting mediation, he quit smoking pot.
AJ dropped out of college for alcohol and drug use and went to rehab. She called her mom from rehab and said she hated the program and was coming home. Her mom sent her a plane ticket and AJ relapsed with a friend on the way back from the airport. When I confronted her mom about enabling AJ, she said, "She was just having trouble adjusting to college. Her father and I have had some trouble which has her stressed."
Parents; throw these 7 myths out the window! You will then be in a position to help your child. Your family must be able to face teen substance abuse head on. Addiction is not any one's fault.
Addiction is a medical disease that progresses over time. It can be life threatening and should not be ignored.
Addiction is not a matter of will power. The brain produces cravings for the substances that have been abused because those substances have altered brain chemistry. Significant cravings can overpower rational thinking and lead to relapse.
Medications that combat cravings or treat underlying depression or anxiety may be key in helping your teen quit drugs and alcohol. Be open to having your teen evaluated by a psychiatrist.
Communicate with your teen in a calm manner. Listen to their point of view. Face the addiction problem as a family. As you know, every family member is affected. Go to Al-anon or Families Anonymous for support. These meetings are a place to learn how to set boundaries with your teen. Therapy can help too. Then family healing can begin.
About the Author
Dr. Sarita Uhr is a psychiatrist that specializes in addiction. She has written 2 revolutionary books to help families with loved ones that suffer from alcoholism or drug addiction. If you think your teen or young adult child is abusing drugs or alcohol, click the link http://teensubstanceabuse.org/ to get her free report on, "How To Avoid the 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents make With Their Addicted Teen or Young Adult Child." It may save your family's life. Dr. Uhr's system of helping families with an addicted loved one has stunning results.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Teen Substance Abuse: 7 Myths of Addiction
teens
Teen Substance Abuse: 7 Myths of Addiction
By: Sarita Uhr. M.D.
Teen substance abuse is a serious problem world- wide. The teen years are a time of experimenting and risk taking. Many teens experiment with drugs and alcohol. Many are influenced by peer pressure.
Frequent, repeated use of any substance changes brain chemistry over time and can lead to substance dependence. Dependence means it takes larger amounts over time to get the same effect from that substance (example: alcohol). Another sign of substance dependence is experiencing withdrawal symptoms when a substance is abruptly stopped.
Teen drug addiction and teenage alcoholism develop over a period of time. Dependence is a gradual and insidious process.
Here are 7 addiction myths parents should be aware of when dealing with teen substance abuse:
1. My teen's addiction will get better on it's own.
2. It's just a "phase" my teen is going through.
3. Teen substance abuse is the parent's fault.
4. Teen addiction is a choice.
5. Helping my teen by relieving his stress such as "covering" for him when he doesn't do his homework, skip classes, or skip school will lower his need to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol.
6. My addicted teen can use willpower alone to quit his substance abuse.
7. My teen should never use medication to treat his addiction or he is just trying to fix his problems with another pill.
As a psychiatrist that specializes in drug addiction and alcoholism, I see parents struggling with these myths. Here are some examples of parents from my practice holding on to these myths:
HR told her parents she had an alcohol problem and wanted to go to rehab. Her father responded, "You don't need a vacation". Her father just wanted her to quit drinking. Several months later, after HR had a seizure, he realized her alcohol problem was very serious and she needed professional help to overcome her addiction.
TJ smoked pot every day while living at home. When I confronted his parents about why they tolerated this, the dad said, "I smoked pot at his age, too." He changed his attitude after his son's second DUI and got him some help. When I treated his underlying anxiety with a non-addicting mediation, he quit smoking pot.
AJ dropped out of college for alcohol and drug use and went to rehab. She called her mom from rehab and said she hated the program and was coming home. Her mom sent her a plane ticket and AJ relapsed with a friend on the way back from the airport. When I confronted her mom about enabling AJ, she said, "She was just having trouble adjusting to college. Her father and I have had some trouble which has her stressed."
Parents; throw these 7 myths out the window! You will then be in a position to help your child. Your family must be able to face teen substance abuse head on. Addiction is not any one's fault.
Addiction is a medical disease that progresses over time. It can be life threatening and should not be ignored.
Addiction is not a matter of will power. The brain produces cravings for the substances that have been abused because those substances have altered brain chemistry. Significant cravings can overpower rational thinking and lead to relapse.
Medications that combat cravings or treat underlying depression or anxiety may be key in helping your teen quit drugs and alcohol. Be open to having your teen evaluated by a psychiatrist.
Communicate with your teen in a calm manner. Listen to their point of view. Face the addiction problem as a family. As you know, every family member is affected. Go to Al-anon or Families Anonymous for support. These meetings are a place to learn how to set boundaries with your teen. Therapy can help too. Then family healing can begin.
About the Author
Dr. Sarita Uhr is a psychiatrist that specializes in addiction. She has written 2 revolutionary books to help families with loved ones that suffer from alcoholism or drug addiction. If you think your teen or young adult child is abusing drugs or alcohol, click the link http://teensubstanceabuse.org/ to get her free report on, "How To Avoid the 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents make With Their Addicted Teen or Young Adult Child." It may save your family's life. Dr. Uhr's system of helping families with an addicted loved one has stunning results.
(ArticlesBase SC #3431583)
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Teen Substance Abuse: 7 Myths of Addiction
teens
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Too Much TV Can Send Your Child Mad.
Well, what do you know, the researchers have come up with this crazy notion that too much tv
is bad for your child. (Really).
Most parents know this, why tell us something that we have known for years.
But really, come on, how much tv did we all watch when we were kids? I remember watching a fair bit and so did my brothers and it never did us any harm. We all played a lot of sport and kept active but we watched our fair bit of television and I can honestly say that we are not all psychologically scarred from it.
I do believe that tv can be educational and can be calming and relaxing for some children, depending on the program.
But the programs have changed a lot over the times and can be a lot more real these days compared to our day.
Computer screens I believe are much more of a problem. Children sit and watch this screen so much closer than a tv screen and can sit on it for hours talking on chat sites and playing games. I don't think that they understand that there is a real world out there to explore. Communicating face to face with others becomes harder as they rely on technology more and more.
We as parents know how much time is too much for our own children.
Monitoring our children is something that I am sure we all do effectively. It's an instinct knowing what is best for your child.
parenting
is bad for your child. (Really).
Most parents know this, why tell us something that we have known for years.
But really, come on, how much tv did we all watch when we were kids? I remember watching a fair bit and so did my brothers and it never did us any harm. We all played a lot of sport and kept active but we watched our fair bit of television and I can honestly say that we are not all psychologically scarred from it.
I do believe that tv can be educational and can be calming and relaxing for some children, depending on the program.
But the programs have changed a lot over the times and can be a lot more real these days compared to our day.
Computer screens I believe are much more of a problem. Children sit and watch this screen so much closer than a tv screen and can sit on it for hours talking on chat sites and playing games. I don't think that they understand that there is a real world out there to explore. Communicating face to face with others becomes harder as they rely on technology more and more.
We as parents know how much time is too much for our own children.
Monitoring our children is something that I am sure we all do effectively. It's an instinct knowing what is best for your child.
parenting
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