Breastfeeding in Style

Alot of people think that nursing clothing is maternity clothing. It isn’t. In fact, it looks just like your casual attire. The only difference is that, nursing clothing is designed with specially concealed openings. It makes breastfeeding and feeding in public more comfortable and unobtrusive.—This special bonding time doesn’t have to be vulgar right?

Although nursing clothes aren’t really a necessity, having these specially designed clothing for breastfeeding can make life a lot easier. If you’re constantly on the move, nursing clothing makes those breastfeeding moments more discreet. Whether you’re in the supermarket, restaurants or shopping malls, you can feed your baby via a hidden opening and nurse in privacy. No need to run around looking for a secluded area or nursing spot anymore.

There are so many styles and trendy nursing clothing that looks just as nice as your favorite casual wear. Gone are the days of big t-shirts and loose-fitting separates. The mommies of today can enjoy and maintain their sense of style and still nurture their babies.

Work shouldn’t ruin marriages

Have you felt ever like a stranger in a house you once “lived in”? Do you see your spouse as just another person to deal with everyday? Do you spend more time facing your laptop than your spouse? Is your cell phone’s ringtone sweeter to hear than your partner’s?

You see, married couples used to have a life together before the popularity of business gadgets. Weekends were spent together and to be unreachable was accepted. Monday was just a day away anyway.—–But sadly, that’s not the case anymore. Work’s demand is growing and finding time alone for each other is almost impossible. Work is slowly destroying the marriage, making couples estranged from and show less emotion towards each other.

But in every problem, they say there’s a solution. Here are some tips that could possibly save your marriage.

• Know when to draw the line between Work and Home.
• Don’t bring your work in the bedroom. Using it for work rather than time together takes away the romantic meaning of the room
• When you come home, despite your tiredness, greet your spouse merrily and BE home. (don’t look like you’re still computing numbers on your head). Then ask her about her day and tell her yours. Don’t immediately turn-on the TV!
• Try to stick to your scheduled work hours. If you can’t, then make sure you find one day in the week or the weekend to have some time alone together
• Switch-off whatever disturbing business gadget/s you have. Spend time with your spouse and kids. Remember, even God rested on the 7th day.

They don’t mean it

When your child asks you if he could play outside and you say No because he has to study for his exams, there are two things to expect. The first one, an out of the ordinary child would simply accept your words. Or, like every other child around the world, he would complain endlessly. The latter usually happens.

The argument begins. Moody bouts are thrown at you and sometimes, you might hear maddened “I hate you! I wish I had another mommy!” and other hurtful lines. So what are you going to do? You feel hurt and disheartened.

Thing is, when children are mad, they sometimes use hurtful words or actions to show their feelings. In what other form or way could they anyway? These sudden blowups should not be taken seriously. Don’t let it break your heart. In other words, he didn’t really say that because he does. It is because he is so mad that he didn’t get what he wanted and you were the reason for it. That doesn’t mean you should just keep quiet and accept such behavior though. But in order to react “wisely”, you should be able to handle your own emotions first.

They need to know that getting mad is fine, but there are different ways to show their madness. The one that is acceptable to the people around them and the one that will get them in more trouble. When a child uses strong words and shouts at you, turning your back and walking away after telling him that you’d rather talk later when he’s calmer, is probably the best for both of you. In that way, both of you can get a breather.

This type of discipline was never easy for me, I grew-up in a country where corporal punishment was acceptable. No parent really talked when they were mad, and children didn’t really have a voice. But things change and I’ve learned to apply this style in my own discipline measure.

My 35-month old and I had a small fight, wherein I asked him to go to the room and stay there until he’s finished with his tanturms. He walked away mumbling and turned to me before entering the room and said, “I’m mad at you. I don’t like you.” and disappeared with a loud cry. Had that happened without me yet accepting this newfound discipline, I would have used my hands to express my madness, taking those words as disrespecting me as a parent. But no, I just looked at him and said, “okay.” Couple of minutes later, he was fine and we were back to our good old selves again.

Mycoplasma in Kids

When your kids go to school, you’ll be surprised of the many types of viruses and bacteria they could bring home. Take for example this morning, I received an email from my daughter’s school, stating that there’s Mycoplasma infection going around the premises. Hmm, Mycowhat? I did some research on it and turns out that this is a bacteria that can cause sore throat, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Found in the throat of infected persons and spread to other people through the air by sneezing or coughing. It can also be spread by touching tissues or other things recently soiled by secretions from the nose or throat of an infected person.

People of any age can get Mycoplasma:

Children under 5 years usually have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. The illness is recognized more in school-age children and young adults. Occasionally, epidemics can occur, especially in military populations and institutions (colleges, for example) where people live in close quarters. These occur more often in late summer or fall.

Symptoms to look for include:

Headache
Tiredness
Cough, often in spasms
Chest discomfort
Sore throat
Fever

Read more about it here

Related sources: Mycoplasma Infections

Mommy, don’t go!

These words are often heard when you bring and leave your child to/in the daycare, a friend’s place or even with the babysitter. Hurtful screams that most of the time makes your heart tighten and make you want to take him home again.

Unfortunately, this feeling is a very common part of a child’s early years. Though this behavior is perfectly normal, it could be very unsettling. So having the understanding on why this is happening and having strategies for both of you to cope is essential to get through this temporary phase.

Between 8 months to 1 year old, your child is growing into a more independent toddler - yet he or she is even more uncertain about being separated from you. This is when separation anxiety typically develops. Whether you’re just getting something in the other room or going to the toilet, your child clings to you and ignores anything or anyone around him.

Read more

of teens, videogames and cancer

Counselling, chemotherapies and support groups, just a few of the many ways on how a person could cope when they have the disease. But videogames?

Developed by a cancer researcher herself, Pam Omidyar believes that by educating young cancer patients about their disease, telling them how the treatments work and encouraging them to take an active role in fighting cancer, it gives them more hope and understanding about what’s going on.

Although some believe that it is more than just educating the patients, it is making them feel alive again rather than just waiting…

In a preliminary study by HopeLab, researchers gave 375 male cancer patients, ages 13 to 29, computers that were installed with Re-Mission and another popular video game. Besides being played by more than 80 percent of the patients, three months after receiving the computers, the patients that played Re-Mission were found to have high levels of self-esteem and increased knowledge about their disease. Even better, those who played Re-Mission had higher blood levels of chemotherapy and higher rates of antibiotic use, suggesting that they were better adhering to their cancer treatment.

In addition to the video game, HopeLab has also set up an internet-based community, where young cancer patients can talk to each other about their treatments, complain about side effects, post artwork and suggest tips to help make treatment a little more bearable. Combined with the video game, this site ensures that teens do not feel alone with their disease.

Read more about this medical videogame