Life as a first time parent

Reshape after Childbirth

2011-08-20T17:51:00.003+01:00

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Raising Children The Healthy Way .

2010-08-13T11:32:00.000+01:00

GOT THIS IN MY YAHOO MAIL TODAY AND TOT I SHOULD SHARE!

MOTHERS IN THE HOUSE PLEASE FIND TIME TO READ THIS. (Fathers Take Note)

Raising Children The Healthy Way by Amara

We see mothers now give money and good things of life in exchange for their time and companionship. No amount of money and comfort can take the place of a mother’s love. We have been so deceived by the society and the media to believe that our children are happy once we give them money. We have been lured into believing the lie that all our children need is holidays to Disneyland and constant visits to Silverbird Galleria.

Have you listened to our children talk in schools and churches? All that matters to them now is the latest movie, holidays, fashion, hairstyle, music…. No child wants to talk about God any longer. They don’t want to discuss education and societal values. This is sad because we have destroyed the lives of our children in our quest to make them better than their peers.
I see parents that cannot afford sending their wards to the USA or Canada for studies struggling so hard and doing things they shouldn’t do because they want to prove a point. I always ask, how many of our leaders, good leaders studied abroad? I have even made the decision not to send my kids outside Africa for education, especially their first degree.
Check very well, how many of those kids have come back to be better than the ones trained here in our continent? They forget where they are coming from and embrace the “Oyibo man’s culture” according to Bright Chimezie. They don’t even bother about their parents any longer. Some of them end up in drugs and other terrible crimes. A very popular elder statesman was once asked what his greatest regret in his life is. He said it is sending his children to study abroad.
Schools now push parents so hard to pay for IGCSE just because they have so much to gain from the payment. A teacher in the school where my daughter is, an elderly man, called aside and advised me not to make that mistake. He told me a lot about parents coming back to them to lament sending their kids abroad.
We send our kids abroad and make them forget their roots. I was dumbfounded the day I met a lady in a supermarket. She said she is from Anambra State, my state. We got talking and when I asked to know her town, she said Awka. I then asked, is it Awka Etiti or just Awka? To my bewilderment, a lady that won’t be less than 27 didn’t know where she came from. I know a lot of women dread going home during festive seasons. You see nothing good in taking your Äjebutter child to the village. You want to take them round the world. Madam, very soon, you will be living in regrets.
I stopped my little daughter’s relationship with a girl in her class. All the girl does is dance, talk on phone, party, eat out, but in school, she is nowhere. I later found out that she is just following the mother’s footsteps. The woman is constantly partying, gets drunk, travel from one place to the other and sleeps with other men, even while married.
What about housework? We surround our children with so many househelps and make them feel like egg. Some mothers even frown when they see their children doing any housework. This is why girls are now all over the place, but there is no wife for men to marry. My own daughter was about going that way when I put my feet down to turn her in the right direction. I first removed her from a very expensive school where they grow up not to know there are two sides of life.
I took her to a school where she can be punished and brought up the godly way. She hated it at first, but I thank God that the teachers were wonderful enough to tolerate her and now she is enjoying the school. I make her to sometimes prepare breakfast for the whole house now and cook light dinners for her siblings. I send her to buy things within the estate. I recently gave an order that she must sweep and mop the house, upstairs, downstairs every other day. She is not finding it funny, but she has to obey me for her own good.
When you do all these to your daughter, it’s hard, that I can tell you. She will cry and frown at it. Even your own husband may try to stop you, but madam, it’s for her future. My people have an adage that says, if a child grows up responsible, the father takes the glory, but if that child turns out bad, he is the child of the woman. I was so happy the day a neighbour sent me a text and at the end of it said “my regards to your lovely, well behaved kids”. I was so proud of myself and said even if I fail in other things, thank God I have not failed as a mother. No amount of money, no amount of title and social status can substitute for my joy when eventually I see my children as responsible and good citizens of Nigeria.
What about parties? Some mothers have sown this evil seed in their children that all they think of every weekend is going to the movies and parties. What are the movies they go to watch? Movies that teach them how to shoot and be rude to adults? Movies that have nothing to do with the African culture. There was a time my daughter started getting so excited about going to the movies with her friends. I had to stop that. She doesn’t like hearing this, but I always remind her that the greatest thing she can do for herself is growing up a real woman.
You keep buying clothes for your children to stand out every weekend because there must be a party to attend. Just like some mothers, some children now make enquiries to know where it is happening. Ahah! we are only trying to bring up children who will be moving from one club house to the other as adults. I believe you are either a Muslim or a Christian. Why not make them spend more time in the church, mosque, reading their books, or at home learning from you.
Someone made a comment the other day that also got me excited. She said: “Amara, you are a great mother; you have so made these kids enjoy nothing more but their own company. I hardly attend parties, in fact, it’s more than seven years ago until this past june. My kids will always tell their friends not to bother inviting their mummy. There are more important things to do with our time than jumping from one place to the other, partying even when you are not invited.
What about family devotion? When was the last time you prayed with your kids? I was once like that. I nearly missed it because I go to work and getting back home I am too tired to pray with them. But a friend who spent a night in my house changed me. I now make sure I give them Bible verses to read everyday and then recite during prayers.
Mothers, please be careful what you give your children to wear.Yes, they may be children, but know that they will grow up with that. I was shocked the day I brought one very skimpy, lovely skirt and wanted my second daughter to wear it. You know what, she simply said: “sorry mum, I can’t wear it, it’s too short.” My sons can never dress like American gangsters.Please teach your children what moderation is when it comes to dressing. Stop buying strapless or monostrap tops for them. I am not against anybody wearing trousers and dressing good. I wear trousers, my children wear, but there are some clothes you shouldn’t be seen wearing. There are tops with crazy write-ups.There are clothes for men that should be left for the mad man on the street.
Parents now buy very expensive phones for their children. Only my first daughter who is 14 has a GSM phone. My children go to school and come back telling me about their classmates with phones. Mothers, please retrace your step back to where you missed it. What are they doing with the mobile phones? I have a house phone and my children use it whenever they want to speak with their friends.
A lot is going on with the use of the GSM. So many of these children get to know what pornography is so early in life through the use of GSM phones. You may think it is stylish. I know you want to beat your friend to it, but you are making a grievous mistake. Some little girls and boys now have blackberry phones. This is why they come out of school with very poor results. Even the internet you have at home could be destroying your children. It’s fashionable, yes, but tell yourself the truth, what good has it done to your child?
Remember, no amount of money and social comfort can take the place of your love and time for your children. You need to see my kids talk to me, they don’t talk to me as their mother. We talk as friends. We crack jokes; they know me as much as I know them. They find comfort confiding in me.
Before I stop, I must say this. A lot of parents frown and feel like killing their children once they notice they have a boyfriend or girlfriend. I don’t think we should be doing that. Children get to a stage in their growth where they start getting attracted to the opposite sex. Religion cannot stop this. Your children may not let you know they are into it and there is no way you can ever get to know if they don’t want you to know. This is why I say you must be their friend.
What do you do when you notice this? Dont shout, get closer to him or her. Ask questions about the other person and if possible, get to know his or her parents. Become family friends and occasionally invite them over to the house .Talk about relationships with them. Guide them and make them see you as a part of it. This way they can always open up to you and let you know whatever it is that bothers them. This is the easiest way to keep them from falling into sex before marriage. You may not agree with me. You could be one of those with the view that things should be done the way they were done in the 70s.We are now in the computer age where kids get mature so early in life.

Guidelines for guest posting on "Life as a first time parent'

2010-07-01T10:47:00.004+01:00

Guidelines for guest posting

I get emails from people who want to know if I accept guest posts on Life as a first time parent, and if we did what are the guidelines

So the answer to the first question is: Yes, I do accept guest posts. Please see Below for details.

What kind of content do you accept?

Anything that is useful for our readers is good content for a guest post here. It must be related to parenting,what you have personally learnt that can be useful to others,Life/work balance,general family lifestyle tips etc There is no minimum length for your post, but usually the guest posts have over 500 words.

* Your post must be original and must have never been published before on the Internet
* You agree to not publish the post anywhere else (i.e., in your own blog or as a guest post in other blogs)
* You can include up to two links in the byline, which will be displayed at the bottom of the post
* You can’t use SEOd anchor text for your links

How do I submit my guest post?

If you have a post that meets the guidelines above, you can send it to me on the email ojiugo2k@yahoo.com Usually within a maximum of 72hours I will reply stating if we will accept the guest post or not. If I reject your post, you are obviously free to use it in your own blog or to propose it as a guest post to some other website.

Courageous Parenting

2010-07-01T10:41:00.001+01:00

Courageous Parenting by
Mrs.Toyin Olushola

Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. DEUTERONOMY 31:6

It takes courage to raise children today according to biblical standards, especially when the culture doesn't exactly support us in our striving to courageously protect our sons and daughters.

So what's a parent to do?

First, resolve that you will not be a parent who does the easiest thing: nothing. Loving children today will mean that you will make some mistakes. Perhaps you will go too far in setting some standards; but if your child has a secure, loving relationship with you, then I would rather you challenge your children to a high standard rather than one that is too low.

Second, pray. Someone has said, "Courage is fear that has said its prayers."

Parents need to pray that they will be courageous. We need God's wisdom and strength.

Third, meet as a couple and establish courageous boundaries for your family. Set some clear rules about the following:

•Movies
•Use of the Internet and the phone
•Dating (i.e., if so, when, how and whom to date?)
•Relating to the opposite sex (i.e., how far do you want your child to go with the opposite sex prior to marriage?)
•Curfews
• Dress

Whatever courageous acts you have accomplished in your lifetime, it could be that the most courageous is determining that you will remain involved in the lives of your children.

Being a parent calls for repeated, heroic action. Doing your duty.

In the struggle against evil, our generation needs men and women who can stare at critical choices and not blink. It's this private brand of courage that should set a Christian family apart—the fortitude that turns a mom and dad into spiritual warriors on behalf of their family.

Lovely Day!

Did you enjoy this article do leave your comments,do you want to submit any gret parenting article to us?Contact me on ojiugo2k@yahoo.com

How do you instill discipline in your 3-5 years children?

2010-02-28T17:14:00.002+01:00

How do you instill discipline in your 3-5 years children?

For me the way i discipline my child involves a cane (Am african).But of course with minimal strokes and not always ,also i talk to the child and tell them they were wrong in doing something a certain way.I also teach them the basics of respecting their elders-greeting in the mornings,saying thank you and please etc

The question of disciplining children varies with different people with regards to their religious,ethnic and personal beliefs etc

How effective is your strategy for disciplining your child?

Lets get some feedback on this one.Thanks

Happy new year beloved parents and intending ones

2010-01-06T15:53:00.002+01:00

Happy new year to all my readers-parents and intending ones.As we match into a new year 2010.I wissh you the very best in parenting these young ones who are the best legacy we can have.
What are your goals for this year?Mine is influencing as many lifes positively as can be made possible.
This year I will be talking about about loads of stuff-in a holistic way this time and with my first hand experience.
Last christmas an unfortunate incidence happened in my country nigeria.
A young 23 year old nigerian muslim boy Farouq Mutallab was brain washed into a suicide bomb attempt on an aircraft owned by delta airlines.
This really is the affect of chains of influencers-his religion and parenting playing a big role.Please don't get me wrong his parents were honorable as his dad reported his sons behaviour to relevant authorities but what am trying to draw out is that parents must rise up to these are times of screenagers and work hard at influencing your child in all positive ways possible.We will be throwing loads of light this year on bringing up successful children in these tough times.
My mom Mrs Amaechi Joyce Ezebuike wrote a book some years ago on 'coping with sickle cell disease - a mother's own experience' I will be sharing excerpts of this book this year on my blog.
Part 1:
INTRODUCTION:

This book titled coping with Sickle Cell Disease is an off-shoot of the traumatic experience suffered by a mother who had to lose three children as a result of SCD.
According to Shakespare, Sweet are the uses of adversity which like the toad ugly and venomous yet wears a precious jewel on its head. This precious jewel is meant to serve:
1. Intending couples who should master it before plunging into marriage. It may serve as preventive measure which is better than cure.
2. Married couples who discover that each of them has the Sickle Cell Gene. The book predicts to you what to expect in your marriage.
3. Families afflicted by the SCD including parents, children and relations.
4. Medical students and nurses.
5. Doctors in general practice, and particularly pediatricians and psychiatrists.
6. Clerics in orthodox and Pentecostal churches.

The first chapter “caught in natures” web” advises intending couples who may be ignorant of sickle cell and its consequences on the need to do their Genotype before marriage and the choices open to them as to the pain of breaking up the engagement, compared with endless life of misery and mental torture thereafter which may arise in case they marry each other and produce children with SS Gene.
Examples are given of persons who got married without knowing their Genotypes and the consequences. The book goes on to describe the aetiology and pathogenesis of sickle cell disease backing up her theory with historical discovery of the DNA and electrophoresis. She also proffers scientific explanation for the inheritance of SS, AS and AS.
Under the myth of sickle cell disease, she describes succinctly the mutilation of dead bodies to prevent reincarnation. She gives credit to intervention by Mary Slesor in the ugly practices and fetish beliefs of Africans.
As a concerned lab scientist, her personal touch to the hospital management of SCD is worthy of note by academics particularly the areas concerning genotyping, screening of blood for HIV and hepatitis virus, before transfusion. The use of anti-malarial drugs and antibiotics is emphasized.
The aspect dealing with family support emanates from the personal experience of the author. It deals in details with immunization during infancy, avoidance of stress, infection, infestations and preparation for frequent hospitalization. The author stresses the value of clean environment and adequate nutrition with balanced food and vitamins. She believes that it requires abiding faith in Christ to develop the will to survive. This faith should be imparted to the children suffering from the SCD. In the same way it requires the act of God to overcome the crisis in the home where some fathers in Africa are known to desert the family home and leave the mothers to carry the problem. Here a lot of love is needed by the couple to stem the tide. The author has quoted extensively local and foreign authors on Sickle Cell Disease. This is illustrated in the chapter on progress report. She emphasizes the creation of general awareness on SCD, by the mass media and Sickle Cell Clubs. She delves into the modern techniques of amniocentesis, Gene therapy and bone marrow transplant. The author derives her comfort from her personal encounter with God who admonished her to see him in his suffering. There is indeed God’s hand in this book. Everyone has his own cross to bear. The author shows deep concern for others afflicted with AIDS and terminal diseases. She discourages women whom Satan may lead to try and get healthy babies from other men, by letting them know that this action may separate them from God.
This book ends with the chapter titled “After words” in which the author narrates her devastating experience in the loss of her 22 year old daughter who was an ardent Christian and whom everyone believed had received divine healing. But the family derives comfort and courage in the fact that her spirit lives and there is hope in resurrection. It gives me much pleasure to commend this book to all men of goodwill and to those who seek concise introduction to the subject of Sickle Cell Disease in many of its aspects.

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If you want to make orders please visit the link below

http://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php?fBuyContent=2713016&fBuyProductType=print&cid=en_email_pubcomplete_add-to-cart

Consider the following disturbing Statistics

2009-11-15T19:19:00.002+01:00

Consider the following distrubing statistics

1.Children between ages 12 and 17 are the largest consumers of internet pornography

2.90% of children between 11 and 17 who have internet access have accidentally been exposed to pornograpgy on the internet

3. 23% of 14-17 year olds said they have had sexual experience
4. Each year millions of teenage girls -11% of those aged 15-19 become pregnant,representing 20% of those who have had sexual intercourse

5.Of teenage pregnancies,31% end in abortions,14% end in miscarriages and 55% end in birth
6. Half of all new HIV infections occur in people aged 15-24.

Parents we have a clarion call to save our children and reduce these statistics if our future generation will be successes in life.

How do we do this -
1.Supervise your children at all times
2.What are they watching on T.V-Always remember to set parental controls on programmes with PG signs written on it.
3.Where are they viewing on the internet-block sites you don't want them to see upfront with your ISP
4.Who are your children's friends?
5.Set policies that govern your home
6.Punish or ground them when questionable behaviours are noticed.

I encourage you to add your comments.

Abraham Lincoln's Charge

2009-11-10T11:47:00.002+01:00

Below is a quotation from a letter written by the great American philosopher and
16th president of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln to his son’s teacher:
He will have to learn, I know that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader.
Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend.
Teach him that a dollar earned is of far more value that five found or stolen.
Teach him to learn to lose and also to winning
Steer him away from envy, if you can
Teach him the secret of quiet laughter
Teach him the wonder of books, but also give him quiet time to ponder the mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hill side
In school Teach him it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat
Teach him to have faith in his own ideas even if everyone tells him they are wrong gentle with gentle, and tough with the tough
Try to give him the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the band wagon
Teach him to listen to all men, but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and only take the good that comes through
Teach him to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there is no shame in tears
Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right
Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel
Let him have the courage to be impatient, let him have the patience to be brave
Teach him always to have sublime faith in his creator and faith in himself too, because then he will always faith in mankind
These are big orders, but please see what you can do
He is such a fine fellow, my son

Tips for raising boys or girls

2009-11-06T12:11:00.003+01:00

if you are raising boys
1.Allow them cry
2.Talk to them and teach them to talk about things without them needing to be macho
3.let them express feelins(thats why women live longer)
4.show them affection consistently and openly
5.Domesticate them even if it is for simple things like putting their socks away after them

If you are raising girls
1.Tell them they can dream big and accomplish all they set their hearts to do e.gs abound -Hiliary Clinton,Condelezza Rice,Ndi Okereke Onyeuke,Mariam Makeba,Ngozi Okonjo Iweala,Dora Akinyuli etc
2.Show them affection and allow them to be affectionate as well
3.They must learn to be domestic
4.Teach them to be assertive and not mundane
5.They must learn in today's world to be safety consciuos
6.Teach them to value themselves

Taking care of african textured hair in kids

2009-09-29T20:53:00.002+01:00

To take care of african textured hair in kids it can be tough...because the texture is very tough.Always make sure you apply oil to the hair to avcoid breakage when combing.If the texture is tough and full a texturizer from Dark and Lovely or any uther trausted brand can also help.Back here in nigeria we make sure of black threads to make the texture easier to manage.Or for babies we use colorful bands to gently tie the hair from the roots to make it more manageable.

Lets return to a simpler life

2009-09-23T15:10:00.005+01:00

Lets return to a simple life thats my call today.Be there for your kids,pay attention,reduce the noise-T.V,Internet,Radio,Ipod,Magazine culture at least once or twice every week.Lets heal our world in the words of Micheal Jackson-Give your kids the gift of your time.If you ask me thats the best gift thatleaves a lasting legacy as well

The Making of a Great Kid

2009-09-17T21:03:00.002+01:00

Great kids are made and not born.
You as a parent must have a blueprint for how you want your kids to turn out and in your training your child,you keep going back to the master plan and that will help you even when things seem to go out of hand.
I will revisit this topic again.
Hmmm..how do you as a parent think you can make a great kid?
Comments welcome

Proud to be a Mom!

2009-08-04T13:18:00.002+01:00

Am proud to be a mom,its the lord's gift.
Ways that make me proud...
1.Am appointed as a care taker for my child!!
2.I can train my child to fulfill their purpose whether president or writer as diverse as there purpose is ,i help chart their course
3.I love being called mummy.etc

How to discipline your pre-schooler

2009-07-31T15:39:00.003+01:00

How do you discipline your pre-schooler?Mine I make sure am firm when i say "NO" with a stern face and my child gets it from my body language.
Lets all interact on this one.They are not too young for some home-grown discipline
Please drop your comments.

Being Thankful..for everything

2009-07-28T14:01:00.000+01:00

Its a cliche-"Being Thankful" but how many of us really are?
Thats a point for you tyo ponder on today.
The blessings in our lives are too numerous for us not to thank God for it.
If you don't think you have anything to thank God for think of war ravaged countries around us and thank God for the peace that reigns in your country!!!

Dedicating your children to the Lord

2009-07-14T14:55:00.003+01:00

Last Sunday ...we dedicated our baby to the Lord and I believe this is a very important task for today's parents to do.
The Benefits of doing this is to honour God that gave the child to you in the first place.Also it tells everyone watching that the baby will indeed serve the Lord while in your care.Have a blessed day

Low appetities in children.

2009-07-04T11:27:00.000+01:00

Low appetites in children what causes it?
I know sickness and symptoms of sickness is a big culprit.
Multivitamins at least once a day does the magic and will aid your child's appetite.
Colorful meals is also a good way of keeping them interested in meal times.
How have you aided your child's appetite?

Baby boomers most of your expenses go where?

2009-06-30T20:01:00.005+01:00

Hello Baby boomer what do you spend money mostly on for your young kids?
I spend much on buying diapers as there are no cheaper alternatives till they are well potty trained.ButI always buy them in bulk as they cut the costs as much as 20%.Others are clothes which are better bought during sales as they equally reduce the cost.
let me hear from you on these areas and what to do to save costs.

Am back and with my beauiful baby to show for it!

2009-06-27T17:43:00.003+01:00

Hello FANS!!I have really been through a whole lot but i will save the story for another write up.
Enclosed is the picture of my second baby...isn't she lovely lol.
I will get back with all my usual banter.nice weekend.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2008-12-23T16:58:00.002+01:00

I want to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas holiday!
Sorry I have been away for like 9 weeks.
Promise to keep up the blog...Happy Holiday!!!

Blog Action Day Article.

2008-10-15T12:35:00.003+01:00

Hello readers today its "Blog action day"!

The topic is Poverty and how to eradicate it.
I will be writing from a different perspective
Poverty is not just the absence of money or things.Poverty can be from your spirit as well.Does this sound strange?Read on...
Your poverty can be from your spirit if you don't have insight into drawing from the streams of God's overflowing supplies.
Everything created on earth today from the internet to cell phones to radio to television all came from the mind.
So on earth God has blessed us with abundant resources to keep ourselves busy and also make wealth.Any body of a poor spirit?Hope my article helps on Blog action day today.
All you have to do is look inwards and draw from God's wisdom on how to make wealth on the earth.
Also the other type of poverty where nations are improvised can be greatly improved by making sure that people in those nations get basic education and are empowered with one skill or the other by which they can be able to take care of themselves.
They say teach a man to fish and he will never come begging for food.
In my country Nigeria we have lots of NGOs(Non governmental organizations)and the National directorate of employment that do this.
Currently their impact is felt to some limits but can still be greatly improved.
Thanks for your time!

Am Back to inform.

2008-10-10T09:23:00.002+01:00

Hello All!Been a while I wrote on my blog hope you all didn't miss me much.
Probably a case of a very busy schedule at work and writers block.
But am very much refreshed and recharged to inform all first time parents of things they need to know about taking care of their babies ,partners and homes.
Have a good friday!

Pampering your child.

2008-09-22T15:52:00.001+01:00

Today I want you to indulge you to participate with me on this topic

A little pampering is it good for your child?
Yes or No
Please Leave your comments and suggestions.
Thank You!

Water the best drink for your child and you

2008-09-12T10:05:00.003+01:00

Water is a God given drink.We are always rushing off to give our children sweet fizzy drinks but nature;'s own drink water is still the ultimate drink
Benefits of drinking water includes:

* Apart from the air we breathe, water is the next most important substance for life.
* Our body is approximately 70% water – factors such as age and the amount of body fat that is being carried by the body will affect this figure. However you can see that water makes up a substantial part of our body mass.
* Your body will absorb approximately 1 litre of water from the food that we eat – obviously this is influenced slightly by the type of diet you eat. The rest of your water intake is made up by what you drink.
* Most of the chemical reactions within the body’s cells require water.
* Water is used as a method of transport for all the nutrients within our body.
* The digestive system requires plenty of water to function, especially for solid foods and then also to aid good absorption once the foods are broken down.
* Water is required for the kidneys to function correctly, if the kidneys cannot complete their full workload then the work that is left over is forwarded to the liver. One of the main tasks for the liver is to metabolise stored fat – break down fat so that it can be used for energy by the body – if the kidneys are not functioning to their full potential the liver has to stop some of its own work to compensate for the kidneys. This will result in the liver metabolising less fat in the body and hence the body may not be able to lose weight or may even start to gain excess body fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in the water intake can cause fat deposits to increase, and an increase in water intake can reduce fat deposits.
* Water will help to suppress your hunger and appetite naturally. Have a drink of water if you start to feel slightly hungry, sometimes we confuse thirst as being hungry. A glass of water can take the hunger pangs away and you will be able to keep going through to your correct time for eating.
* Due to the body being made up of a high content of water, it requires plenty of water to flush through the stored fluid. If you do have enough fluid coming in, your body could think there is a threat to survival and hold onto as much fluid as possible – this is where fluid retention can occur. If you do not drink enough fluid your body will store what you do have in extra cellular spaces – that is outside the cells but in the skin – usual signs of this are swelling in the hands, feet and legs. Sometimes the fingers may feel tight when the fist is clenched; this is due to slight swelling that may not be obvious to the eye.

* Water is required for regulating the body temperature.
* Water helps to flush out impurities that build up, especially in the skin.
* Joints in the body require water to help with the lubrication process. Cartilage tissue needs to be well hydrated to protect the joints.
* Muscles require water to function.
* The Brain tissue is approximately 85% water. Both chronic fatigue and depression have been associated with the body not having enough water and hence causing dehydration.
# Benefits of drinking water - your skin will look radiant and youthful when hydrated rather than dull and tired when dehydrated

* Benefits of drinking water - your digestive system will function with ease.
* Benefits of drinking water - your body will feel alive and alert because there will not be a build of toxins within your system.
* Benefits of drinking water - both the kidneys and the liver will function to their best ability, this will help with the elimination of toxins as mentioned above but also with the break down and metabolisation of fat. Fat is a massive energy source for the body to use for fuel, if you are doing a sporting activity or something manual and need that energy supply to your muscles then you need to liver to do its job. If you are on a weigh loss program you definitely need your liver to be able to metabolise your fat.
* Benefits of drinking water - reduce the risk of water retention, avoid those swollen hands, feet and puffy ankles.

You should aim to drink on average about 8 full glasses of water per day, which is approximately 2 litres – this is for an average sized person. If you are quite overweight and trying to lose weight then I would suggest drinking slightly more perhaps 2.5 – 3lts per day.

Your body will use more water while exercising – this is due to the energy systems that are working and also because you lose excess fluid through sweating and breathing. Always have water available while exercising.

The benefits of drinking water are huge and far exceed the disadvantages of not drinking it. It is very easy to drink plenty of water and the cost is minimal compared to buying cans and bottles of sugary drinks that are on the market.
So please don't overload your children with sugar but offer water instead the majority of the time.
Comments are most welcome!

A Praying Child

2008-09-12T09:55:00.002+01:00

A praying child can be achieved.How do you get your child to be prayerful?Child learn by observation and repeat.
The best tip is to be the leader in this matter.Imbibe a family tradition that inculcates praying always.Allow your child to participate always praying for their parents,siblings,uncles,aunties,friends,teacher,their country etc Let them learn to be conversational and speak to God as their friend which he is.