I Hear So Little

I hear so many stories of how people have accomplished so much, attained great heights, have so much assets and are termed as the richest this and richest that on the planet...

I hear of so many pastors acquiring private jets and building universities (need not I say more on this)...

I hear so many parents stylishly bragging how their children insist on travelling business class so they have to oblige claiming not knowing where the children picked that mindset from (as if)...

I hear of many people who go about making statements like "do you know who my husband is' to people who they are meeting for the first time and really careless who they or their husbands are (mentioning husband's name and asking service provider to check the internet, I shrivel)

And yet.....

I hear so little of people who have helped make a difference in other people's lives,

                                                                                       

I hear so little of people who have helped in putting food on someone's table or even given them a table to put food on,

I hear so little of people who with a few words constantly aim to inspire those who have lost hope in life, 

I hear so little of people who have told a cancer patient that despite their predicament, everything is going to be alright, 

I hear so little of people who stand and fight for the rehabilitation and protection of  the homeless child,

I hear so little of people who preach the word of God without having financial gain as the motivation,

I hear so little of people who speak the truth for the sake of justice and humanity,

I hear so little of people who choose to mentor the next generation so they turn out better than they did,

  

Women Who Win and Procter&Gamble
give back

I hear so little of people who teach the young girls about the changes they are experiencing and that its okay to be female,

I hear so little of people who are selfless at heart and volunteer their time to community work,

I am not in any position to point an accusing finger at anyone; all I ask is that we harden not our hearts and not put all our focus on that which fades away with time. Make a difference in the lives of others, don't wait till you believe you now have enough money to share a bit with others. Start with those around you, teach them the beauty in paying it forward; then just sit back and relax enjoying the rewarding satisfaction and fulfillment knowing that you just increased the number of people I hear so little about... 

Credits

TrueWords by Chuma Obum

Women Who Win

Procter & Gamble

Lucky Dog Rescue

WHO AM I

Who am I that You are so mindful of me
Who am I that You love me so
Who am I that You keep giving me second chances
Who am I that You never let me go
Who am I that Yours for me is unconditional
Who am I that You created me with such intricacy
Who am I that You keep bringing joy even in the midst of pain
Who am I that You always lift me up when I fall
Who am I that You keep giving me a reason to praise You
Who am I that You put a song on my lips in Your honour
Who am I that You take away my shame and adorn me with pride
Who am I that You surround me with love 
Who am I that in the midst of nothing You help me to help others in need
Who am I that in my inadequacies You keep bringing out the best in me
Who am I that in my imperfections You have made me perfect for the one whom you made perfectly for me
Who am I that despite the fact that I cant see You, You keep showing Yourself to me
Who am I that You keep putting a rhythm in my heart that makes my soul dance
Who am I that You find a way to surprise me with showers of blessing
Who am I that in the midst of chaos You succeed in filling me with inner peace
Who am I that Your love for me is so warm and delightful especially in this dark world
Who am I that You refuse that I settle for less than what You have in store for me
Who am I that You keep giving even when I know I don't deserve to receive
Who am I? 

I AM

I am the daughter of two
I am the last of six
I am the wife of one
I am the mother to be
I am the relative of many
I am the friend to a handful
I am the worker for children
I am the listening ear to the weary
I am the provider to the needy
I am the pillar to the foundation
I am the movement to music
I am the soul deep within
I am the hidden jewel very few will find
I am the one created to be me
I am the mother of many angels.....I am Sabel

Printable and Colouring Valentines Day Cards

 

Cute Valentine's Day Card to Color

 

Valentine Card. printing four to one piece of A4 printer card. Simply cut out and fold once. Perfect for children to hand out in the classroom.

   

Hello Kitty! Valentines Day Colouring Printout

 

 

http://thuongmaimientay.com, http://www.activityvillage.co.uk

 

Bond Like Your Life Depended On It

Amazing things can happen when a family comes together to do things together.  A family that can bond together will be a family that is united forever.

Work, school, extracurricular activities; these daily activities that make our lives so busy create difficulties for parents to foster a bond with their children. You can easily strengthen family relationships by spending time with one another, listening to each other, and respecting each others opinions. 

Spending time connecting with your family doesn’t need to take a whole lot of time or even money. It’s simply about being intentional, being in the moment and really just letting go and having fun, it is about the quality of time.

I have come up with a few ideas for you to connect with your family in 30 minutes or less — anytime you happen to find a free half-hour, try doing just one of these suggestions and watch your family bond grow even stronger.

Munching together 
Try and eating together with no distractions, such as television or phones.this gives family members time to discuss their day and any good or challenging things happening in their life. The reason I say “eat” and not specify a meal is because I understand that sitting down to dinner every night is sometimes nearly impossible with homework, work and other scheduling obligations.  And if meals are out of the question altogether, maybe think about a simple family snack every now and then. Get some chips and dip, crackers and hummus, or maybe just cups of hot chocolate (ain't nothing wrong in soaking some garri and you all drink from the same bowl) and sit down for a few minutes to catch up on everyone’s life at the moment.

Gaming

What about a quick impromptu silly game that the whole family can get into?

One night over dinner, bust out into an eye spy game. You may find that you’re all suddenly laughing and connecting in such a simple way. The best part is that games like this can happen anywhere and anytime, too.

Homework
Helping a child with their homework not only allows you to spend time together, but enables you to see what they are learning and how they are doing academically. Your support and praise will go a long way in boosting their confidence in school. Reading to your child daily increases their literacy, but it also allows for a time when both parent and child are completely focused on one another and can communicate freely about the book or other subjects.

Activities

Many children have extracurricular activities like sports or dance. By involving yourself in these activities and praising them on their participation you are helping build their confidence as well as strengthening your bond.

Support
Childhood, especially the adolescent years, is incredibly hard on the self esteem of many children. By telling a child you love them and giving compliments or positive feedback frequently you can foster their confidence and perception of themselves. By listening and being supportive of their ideas, even if you don’t agree, makes them feel as if they can come to you with their problems and discuss their true feelings.

Cooking/Baking 
Sometimes bringing the family into the kitchen can make cooking or baking so much more fun and enjoyable. Experiment with baking cookies, or even try diving headfirst and making a cake. The best part of this quick bonding session is the time spent eating the incredible treats created with love.

Music
Another quick way to bond with your family is to blast some cool beats and just start a little impromptu dance party. Have fun, be silly, bust a few moves and burn some calories while you’re at it! Show the kids that you’re never too old to let loose and have a good time.

Go for a walk
Sometimes just getting out the routine and out of the house by taking a walk is the perfect way to spend time with your family. Hold hands. Talk. Is it raining? Grab some umbrellas and rain boots, have the kids make a poodle splash and call it a rain walk. Don’t let the weather hold you back from creating lasting memories with your loved ones.

As a parent, having a strong bond with your child creates a feeling of unity and safety. It is important to do all you can to create these family bonds to ensure a happier and healthier family...Start now

Lego Not Ipad, Come On Kids!!!

My cousin Oshapi came over to the house yesterday and as usual, there was so much to talk about...the guy just always seems to have major drama around him *giggles*. Was good catching up though. 

So we got to the most fascinating topic, the kids and how they are all so smart and gadget savvy. Teased our generation and how even normal VHS was a trip for us when we finally figured out how it worked, yet kids of these days are breezing through apps on our smart phones and tabs like they had proper training. Talk about picking up your smart phone, going through your picture library and seeing over 30 pictures of your child after he/she has tried taking the perfect photo while you were making a meal. Some even help reorganise our documents and files...guess they weren't pleased with our own arrangements.

 

Its simple; these children watch us parents use one from birth, so it is only natural that as soon as their tiny fingers can swipe a screen they would imitate this behaviour and learn how to operate one themselves.

And it’s only natural that, as time-poor parents most of us are, we would download age-appropriate apps for them, reassuring ourselves of their educational benefits while enjoying the free babysitting service for a while.

This brings me to question if there is a negative effect to children who start handling these gadgets at such tender ages?!

Kids are transfixed by iPads and smart phones, so when the device shuts off or is taken away, they go into a full-fledged tantrum, screaming and crying for the device. Its been said that the more parents use iPads, smart phones or similar devices to calm their kids down, the less likely the kids are to learn how to calm themselves down naturally. In other words, if kids are constantly pacified with an iPad, they won’t be learning the skills to come down from a tantrum.

When children spend so much time playing games on these devices, getting somewhat addicted to them, it doesn't encourage socialization with other children, but is rather solitary and inspires a trance-like state in our kids. Most times they don't even want to share by taking turns playing games on the device.

On a more positive side, as from 20 months and at the age where words are fascinating to children, educational interactive apps can be introduced with the hope that pointing at letters, numbers and shapes on the screen and hearing them spoken will reinforce the learning process. It could also enhance reading of books, and there are quite a few interactive books available in the iPad.  

Its worth knowing that, the idea that so much time spent looking at the screens so close can affect the child's eyesight, studies show that it doesn’t do any real harm.

What is strongly recommended is that screen time should be limited to the barest minimum, be it TV, Ipads or smart phones and as much as possible, there should be adult supervision.

Whatever happened to just giving them a tub full of Lego!!! Sheeesh...

So, how has the iPad and smart phones been received in your family? What sort of limits have you placed on it for the kids? Leave a comment and let us know.

e warned that the condition prevented young people from forming normal social relationships, leaving them drained by the constant interaction.
“Children have access to the internet almost from birth now,”
“They see their parents playing on their mobile devices and they want to play too. It’s difficult, because having a device can also be very useful in terms of having a reward, having a pacifier.
But if you don’t get the balance right it can be very
- See more at: http://www.footiebugs.com/toddlers-are-becoming-so-obsessed-with-ipads-they-require-therapy/#sthash.QKJzucn8.dpuf

She told me she had developed an obsession with the device and would ask for it constantly. She was using it three to four hours every day and showed increased agitation if it was removed - See more at: http://www.footiebugs.com/toddlers-are-becoming-so-obsessed-with-ipads-they-require-therapy/#sthash.QKJzucn8.dpuf

She told me she had developed an obsession with the device and would ask for it constantly. She was using it three to four hours every day and showed increased agitation if it was removed - See more at: http://www.footiebugs.com/toddlers-are-becoming-so-obsessed-with-ipads-they-require-therapy/#sthash.QKJzucn8.dpuf

Role Models In The Home

       Being a good role model is basically parenting well and properly, being a positive influence on children; not just yours but also their friends. Children face many issues as they grow up, from peer pressure to influences that can be less than positive. However, by taking a few pro-active steps, it is possible to motivate your child toward the best and most appropriate activities for their development.

Teach by Example

Provide an example of how to properly behave. Be mindful of how you speak and act in social situations, as well as in front of the family. The phrase "children learn what they live" really is true. Showing your child how a successful and happy adult lives is the best way to parent effectively.
 

Be Involved in Your Child's Life
Take a pro-active stance when it comes to your child's activities. Be active in sports, academics, artistic endeavors, and anything that they are interested in. 

Encourage Good Behavior

Reward your child for work that is well done. Praise and acknowledgment is key for the self-esteem and development of any child and will give incentive to continue. Make your child be responsible for a chore other than their own space, for example, taking out the trash.

Establish Open Communication

Open communication is key to good parenting. Ensure that each day, you have a discussion with your child about how things are going at school, with friends, or just general talk. Find out about any upsets so that they can be addressed and handled quickly. Ask your child if she has anything that they would like to talk about. Deal with questions and answers fairly and openly, giving as much factual information as possible. By being open and relaxed, you will establish a safe space in which your child can communicate. Be prepared to offer information and suggestions to solve problems. Always make time available to discuss any issue that comes up.
 
Mentor Your Child

Effective parenting is essentially great mentoring. Teach your child how taking responsibility can pay off. Demonstrate how being involved in their community is key to being a good person.
 
Become Involved in Your Community
By getting involved in your own community, you can show your own child how positive social activity can be effective and inspiring. This experience will teach your child about understanding and tolerance, and demonstrate how changing the life of another person can be so rewarding.


Always remember that you are the first role model your child will ever have, make the best of it.

God-parenting

When a friend or relative asks you to be a godparent, it’s quite an honor. It can be so flattering that too many people are quick to accept without truly considering the other side of being a godparent: the responsibilities.

Most of us know godparents as people who stand next to infants’ and toddlers’ beaming parents as priests/pastors prepare to baptize the children. Many godparents are mostly best friends with the child’s parents which may be a reason that some view god-parenting as more of an acknowledgement of parents’ good friend.

From the above statements, it comes across as though we have lost the real purpose and value of having godparents in our children's lives. The role of godparents has traditionally been more expansive than just supporting parents and children during the infant christening ceremony. Godparents are supposed to ensure the child's life is fulfilled religiously/spiritually and not just become more of a "second parent" to the child in the sense of being there for them, nurturing them, teaching them about life and so forth. Christian Essentials states that: when adults promise to be godparents, they are promising to do all in their power to support the child in his/her life in Christ.”

To fulfill their role as godparents, adults should regularly pray for children they have promised to godparent. They should also set a positive example for children and encourage children to continue in their faith, particularly during difficult times in the children’s live. They should view their role as public recognition of who can step in and help steer a child’s life, especially should parents struggle to raise their children in healthy, balanced ways.

If you truly want to take on that responsibility and be a great godparent, take time out to fully understand the role. Even people who are not christians still like to invite an adult mentor to be in a child’s life. The term godparent has become broader because of this, so it’s not necessarily always in reference to a specific religion. 

More than anything, your role is to be another person in that child’s life who the child can love and look up to for acceptance, support and guidance. You don’t have to be the smartest, richest or the most fun—in the long run, just be there for the kid. That’s going to make the most powerful difference in the child’s life. 

Be There....