A Day in the Life

Body & Blood

2012-05-28T20:42:00.001-04:00

We're so proud of G for having received the sacrament of Holy Communion. It has been a process of about 9 months of religious education that has prepared her for this important step. She is very proud of her accomplishment and understands the sacredness of receiving the body and blood of Jesus. It is through this that we preserve the supernatural life of the soul. We are better equipped to resist the attacks of the devil by the graces received. The more frequent we partake in Communion the closer we remain in Jesus and He in us.

Most of us agree that a good education is essential for future success. We send our children to school to prepare them for life; some paying heavily to ensure they're receiving the best instruction. What about providing them with a religious education according to one's belief? I fear that many of us falter in this regard. Do you feel you're responsible for your child's spiritual well being? I do. If so, what are you actively doing to support it? For me, it has been making it non-negotiable to attend mass on Sundays. It's tough on some days, but this is an important way to expose young, eager ears to the Word. I also have the fear of God in me. Silly to some, but it's the truth. When it's my time to be judged, I don't want this to be one of my failures.

A la proxima.

The Body of Christ

The Hands and Feet of Christ

Welcome to the Tar Heel State

2011-10-25T20:31:00.004-04:00

This summer, we traveled around the world; Jordan (on paper), New York, and eventually settling in North Carolina. Although I had looked forward to getting back to some real cold weather, I can't complain about the fact that the upcoming winter will not be as severe as those we would of endured up North. On the back burner go my mental adventures of being pulled by a team of Eskimo dogs, Balto in the lead, through deep snow.

What was the first thing I noticed upon arriving in NC? The abundance of Pine trees and the use of pine needles for mulch. Pretty neat? Well, I thought so. I also enjoy knowing our "host" city for the foreseeable future has won the title of "All-American City" multiple times. Indeed, this is my chance to claim that I have experienced "true" American living! A notable accomplishment for a humble immigrant.

Life has been in constant motion. Since arriving, we endured almost three weeks of living in a one-bedroom/bathroom "hotel" room. However, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. We were able to move into a standard home. The standard home I speak of is a historical, 1930s, renovated bungalow overlooking a parade field. On this field, we have a lovely canon within walking distance whose purpose is to wake us every morning at 6:30a.m. except on the weekend. How's that for an alarm clock and for "standard accommodations"? I certainly can't use the excuse of sleeping through the alarm clock. The bang from the canon literally makes you jump out of bed.

We are slowly taking in the new scenery and becoming Carolinians one step at a time. Here's to another move; I now have 5 cross-country and 1 overseas in 11 years! I guess it makes me a "pro" at something. I wonder if I can turn this experience into a consulting job. = - )

Home Sweet Home

The canon

Toddler S and Yobi amidst boxes

Student of the Week

Trader Joe's Run

Time Warner Cable Lookout

1st Horse Ride

A Pro

Begging Goats

We Pick "U-Pick"

2011-08-18T17:45:00.202-04:00

For the sake of making the most of the summer while giving the girls an opportunity to learn where food really comes from (besides the grocery store), we visited Lawrence Farms Orchards nestled in upstate New York. This is one of two outings in our summer "Field Trip" series. I had a few more adventures in mind, but an out-of-the-blue relocation changed our lives quite a bit. More on that on another post.

The drive to Newburgh, NY is about an hour long bordering the Hudson River Valley and past the renowned West Point Military Academy. We decided to take the Bear Mountain Bridge to get a bird's eye view of the highlands of the Hudson River. After some swerving, pebbled roads, we arrive at a plateau, which offers magnificent views of various orchards.

Vegetable orchard

Apple orchard

A further ride towards the parking lot, I stumbled upon a latrine. Although there's not anything nice about them, I found this one to be worthy of a picture.

Latrine

At the main store, Toddler S and G decide to take a picture near one of the local resident dogs.

G & Toddler S

Menu of fruits and vegetables

A wagon in hand, we decide to start our picking expedition. I seriously considered getting into one of these. It was a wise decision I didn't, because the wheel slightly came out as I attempted to maneuver the wagon downhill.

Transportation

Tasting apple

After a hard-day of picking and gathering our produce, we went home to prepare the day's meal.

Zucchini

The zucchini was sauteed with extra virgin olive oil (evoo) along with fresh garlic, and a few dashes of Tony Chachere's Cajun seasoning to wake up the flavor.

Sweet corn

Waldo was in charge of the corn. He simply wrapped it in foil and added a pad of butter. The corn was cooked on the grill.

Raspberries

The fresh raspberries, mainly picked by G, were delicately added to two scoops of vanilla ice cream we enjoyed with a very extra special birthday cake Waldo picked up at a local patisserie. I'll talk about this special locale in the future.

What did we take away from the day? I would say the importance of having easy access to fresh and relatively safe food on demand. A "No Farms No Food" bumper sticker reminds me of this fact every time I see one of the roads.

"Chuck, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore"

2011-08-10T15:24:00.001-04:00

After the traveling we've put Chuck through recently, he's probably happy spending his days underneath the sofa inside the bottom cover. He ventures out when necessary...

I think when you have buffalo grazing near the road and are about to eat at a restaurant that serves "Mountain Oysters", which I naively assumed to be large oysters prior to being corrected, it's safe to assume you're in Kansas or somewhere in the mid-states. The sad thing is that these animals are pretty much free to do as they wish in comparison to the folks living inside the facility in the background of the picture.

Buffalo

Metropolitan menu

For those of you wondering whether we went for the Mountain Oysters, the answer is no. I definitely took the recommendation (see note in menu) for this meal choice and opted for the Mushrooms along with good ol' mid-west food; steaks.

Filet Mignon

KC Strip

What were we doing in Kansas you might ask? Thoughtful Uncle Sam decided we would benefit from a few weeks of daily class time to be "better leaders." During the process, I found out my personality type by taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality questionnaire.
Interestingly, my personality type (INFJ) is shared by only 1-3% of the world's population. Now I know why I feel like most people just don't understand me! The goal by taking this assessment is to function in varied settings with different personality types and leave your comfort zone (i.e. your type indicator) and strive to take some of the character traits of another type indicator. Imagine, if we all took the test, perhaps the world would be that much better. Having sad that, I'll challenge my family --- you know who you are --- to take it and share their results with me. Who knows, we may share in a 5 hour long conversation, because we now understand one another. In all, I got a lot of good tools in my pocket and was happy to get away in one week's time. Waldo, however, has a few more weeks to go...

New York Gypsies

2011-07-26T21:31:00.007-04:00

After a three-day drive up the east coast with a semi "sedated" cat, we have finally arrived in NY in the quaint town of Nyack, where I spent part of my childhood. Although this is not our final destination, we have begun family routines to keep everyone (e.g. the kids) engaged and the parents sane.

Yobi under the "effect"

G has happily started a weekly gymnastics summer program to help condition her body for the 85 inches of snow a year we expect to receive in the "New York Yukon"; a location about 30 miles away from the Canadian border. Thanks, Uncle Mac, for your a propos phrase. I'll need to revisit the picture of my Gardenia bush, which I took this past April when we are snowed in and the outside temperatures are below zero. Moving on, Waldo purchased new wheels to get to/from work once he starts to work again (i.e. after his 3 month vacation). Toddler S and I are just enjoying a milder summer compared to what we left back in Florida. We have also started a Sesame Street like learning theme. Instead of learning a "number of the day", we are learning about a "word of the day." In tribute to Waldo's Italian ancestry and the thriving population here, we have chosen the word "Pasta Fagioli." How could you not love the intonations?

Blooming Gardenia bush

Jesus Weeps

2011-05-02T22:14:00.000-04:00

"So, I gave about 120 rials to a beggar holding a 1-year old baby. He thanked me about 20 times, because he can get her some milk. 120 rials = 50 cents. Jesus weeps."

In a country, considered to be the poorest nation in the Middle East where approximately 44% of the population is aged 14 years or less, the innocent are the defenseless victims. There are NGOs set-up to provide relief to the people of Yemen, but due to the political and economic situation, aid is not getting to those in need. Where do we begin or what else can we do that will result in an immediate relief?

Kids G's age (6 years old) are out on the street late at night begging for food/money. Handicapped adults - society's "throw out" - wait on the goodness of foreigners as they too beg. As most of us (yes, to include myself) tuned in to watch the Royal wedding, this scene played out and continues to in many corners of the world to include the U.S. We can distract ourselves briefly and place our heads in the sand, but at some point we will need to look up. When we do, we will be bitterly reminded of the daily struggles of these forgotten souls.

Invasion of the Strawberries

2011-03-07T21:01:00.000-05:00

It's that time of the year. Strawberries are at their peak and Floridians are literally driving by the truckloads to the Strawberry Festival celebrated in Plant City annually.  Currently a resident of the Sunshine State, I decided to do like the locals and check out the buzz sans a Chevy truck, of course.

A packed Mazda5, carrying 4 Cuban pure-breeds and 2 half-breeds, arrived at the festival grounds located approximately 30 minutes away from home. Parking was at your "own risk" as folks opened up their homes to anyone looking for a parking spot for a price.  We quickly found one and made our way to the action.

Maneuvering through the crowds was a challenge, but we were able to accomplish two goals. The first was to taste the highly touted Strawberry Shortcake dessert and the second was to purchase massive amounts of strawberries at a really good price. After all, this is about strawberries; from how they are cultivated, harvested, and finally used to make products.

False advertising came to mind. I was a bit dissapointed with the dessert. For one, a larger serving of the shortcake would of been nice. The $3.50 charge was high for a bowl full of whipcream (I requested a hold-off on our servings), a thin slice of cake, and fresh strawberries soaked in sugar. Oh well. We did leave with a flat of strawberries to be used in making homemade milkshakes.

What was the highlight of my day? The pig races! Although I grew up with farm animals at a point in my life, they were there as a food source and not entertainement. These littles guys don't know how lucky they are having this daytime job.

G and Toddler S

Toddler S

Strawberry Shortcake

Approval

Taste test

Pigs "regroup"

Off they go

It's the Salt

2011-02-24T12:33:00.003-05:00

I'm still standing after the week-end family siege! Looking back it felt like one of my favorite Sponge Bob's episode where thousands of sardines visit the Krustry Krab to eat and Sponge Bob comes to the rescue by preparing hundreds of burgers. As soon as the fish eat, they all rush out into the buses. I think my family members would agree that the trip was fun, but too short.

Speaking of, I had stated that I would pick my uncle's brain during the visit to find out his secrets of making a killer Argentinian Churrasco. Ready with pen and paper to take notes, I was humbled to find out that the only ingredient one needs is salt; preferably sea salt. Now, the sauce known as Chimichurri is a personal addition to the recipe. He was kind of enough to make me a huge stash, which is patiently waiting inside the fridge for Waldo's home visit in the next couple of weeks.

Here it goes...

Use flank steaks and add salt to each side prior to placing them on the barbecue or inside cooking iron. Then, let it cook.

If you are interested in eating the Churrasco with the sauce, here are the ingredients.

Cut up fresh parsley and garlic, and add oregano and oil to the mixture. The sauce is then cooked at very low heat for about 10 minutes or so.

Below are pictures of how the Chimichurri sauce is made. If you decide to prepare this popular dish, please let me know your thoughts! Stay tuned for my aunt's famous Arroz con Leche recipe!

Chopped parsley.

Chopped garlic added to parsley.

A success.

Words in Action

2011-02-14T18:18:00.000-05:00

Many of you have noticed the section titled "Words to Live By" where I regularly rotate some of the many favorite quotes made by people I admire. We know that actions speak louder than words so I decided to practice what I support or preach. Imagine how different the world would be if each of us did something good as part of living our lives. We often get caught up in our own world and easily forget how hard life is for the majority of the population.

Its obvious that some quotes are more practical than others allowing the person to do exactly as stated. This led me to use one I use on Facebook made by Mother Theresa, which states that "If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one."

Initially, it wasn't my intent to act on the quote. I did what brought peace of mind. Some of you know that feeling that comes over when you are in a car and notice a woman/man out of luck begging for money.  Well, this time it was an older man sitting on a lawn chair next to his two dogs near the parking lot of Walmart. My mind was set on providing something for him, but also for his dogs. I am a softy for animals.

Although I knew what Waldo's response would be after I alerted him to my plans, he supported me.  I believe deep inside human beings want to help, but often don't for personal reasons.

The moment came when I jumped out of the car and walked up to the man. He was very grateful for what he received, but even more thankful for what his companions were getting.  I challenge you do something positive for whatever cause you feel strongest in your heart. As for me, this is just the beginning of something I plan to write about often.

It's Good to be a Kid

2011-02-14T09:23:00.000-05:00

As a child, growing up in the northeast allowed for a few snow days and the usual holiday breaks throughout the school year. In Florida, the schools not only close one day for the Florida State Fair (FSF), but they also provide students with a free entry ticket. More about the Florida State Fair.

The day was not ideal; the weather was considered "cold" for residents of FL. I realize some of my family members have been battling blizzard conditions and what we are experiencing would be considered a "warm" and welcomed day. Nonetheless, my cold hardy bones, which were put to the test while living in Canada where the fleuve St. Laurent freezes over, are days long gone.

The FSF has the usual rides, food (unhealthy but good!) as well as animal exhibits and petting zones, etc... The girls rode the kid rides, but with an agreement that they had to be "fast"; they were some rides that were slow and were over in the blink of an eye. Once I ran out of tickets, which signaled the end of rides, it was corn dogs and watching a bear exhibit about brown bears. I have never seen bears so close in the past, so it was nice to admire their strength, size, and intelligence as they performed.

In all, the couple of hours we spent at the Fair was a nice change of scenary. I don't think that I would attend if given the opportunity, but maybe that is part of the reason why free tickets are provided to the kids?
Now that we've checked off having done the FSF, the Strawberry Festival is just around the corner. Stay tuned for an update.

Girls Having Fun

Riding Cars

More Rides

Pushing Cart

Dunking Ball

Ah, Technology

2011-02-08T15:32:00.002-05:00

I remember before there was a thing called the Internet and also when it was a new means of communication. How did we manage without it?! As with everything, there are positives and negatives, but I believe there are many more positives associated with having the Internet like being able to speak with family/friends that live on the other side of the world, performing your own research on topics, and even getting an education.

Most of you have noticed that I haven't written recently and that is due to the Internet. I've had connectivity issues and intermittent access. Since Waldo is the computer wiz and is away, I've just accepted the situation. However, I bit the bullet and decided to call the service provider. The issue was resolved in less than 5 minutes. So, now that I am back, there's a lot of catching up I need to do.

For starters, I wanted to share a neat photo Waldo forwarded during the protests that took place in Yemen. Most of you saw the one of the grandma in the blog titled Who's Your Granny? This, my friends, is by far the best photo so far. What the h***! You can't make this stuff up! Enjoy.

Yemeni Protester

Who's Your Granny?

2011-01-31T20:08:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have met my grandmother, you can attest to the following. On most days, you will find her going to the doctor's office, coming back or getting ready for the appointment. She is a spiritual woman who often prays for her family and incessantly worries about each member. There's no mistaking her religion. She loves pork too much.

So, when I got the following photo from Waldo stating that this Yemenese woman was my "protesting" grandmother, I saw absolutely no resemblance and noted that she would be the last person to protest the U.S. government, because it has given her a better life than what she would of led under a communist regime.

Have you had any mistaken identity experiences?

Not Yet Groundhog Day

2011-01-19T22:24:00.000-05:00

Do you remember the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murphy where he was made to relive the day? Well, we are still two weeks away from Groundhog Day, but I've already relived it three times!

Saying goodbyes more than once can get old, but not easy. What is better? Receiving intermittent visits, which are welcomed, but hard on everyone or not seeing the person at all until he/she is back on a more permanent basis? I have yet to figure that out.

Alas, I find myself at the airport bidding another goodbye. The negative effects of a parent being away often are apparent on kids that don't grasp what is happening. This was clearly evident today. Overall, G appeared unfazed and in her own world. However, Toddler S had a different reaction. After saying "Da Da" once Waldo was no longer in view, she understood what I said, which was something like "he's gone, but will be back." A high scream was heard, followed by tears running down her chubby cheeks. Once she stopped, I guess G thought it was probably a good time to throw in a "fake" cry just to add her soundtrack. The gloomy ambiance changed once I stated that we will get a visit soon, which will not only be a surprise, but it will also be filled with surprises.

The day had some peak moments, though. Rewind a few hours, where you will find the adults patronizing the local Panera sharing a few last moments. Waldo made sure to enjoy some of his favorite treats, because according to him, "you can't get this stuff in Yemen."

One Less Animal on Death Row

2011-01-17T22:16:00.038-05:00

This was certainly not part of the agenda during Waldo's brief home visit, although I had brought up the possibility of adopting another animal. We certainly don't need more action at home and I don't need more work. There goes my logical point of view.

Shelter Viewings

Toddler S

Saxon is officially now part of our clan, and in my mind, he is one less animal that could of possibly faced euthanasia. He is a JRT (Jack Russell Terrier) mix we found at the Hillsborough County Animal Services where we adopted Yobi in 2008. There are scant details about his background other than he is a 1.5-2 year old thin, shy stray who is "full of energy and ready to go home" as stated by one of the staff members. I can now personally attest to this abundant energy level. Wow, comes to mind! Note to self, diapers must be kept out of reach of dog.

In the few days chez us, Saxon has fully integrated himself into the family to the point where he and the cat sleep near each other. G & Toddler S love their new friend and he is gentle and non-aggressive towards them.

Saxon

Waldo & Saxon

G & Saxon

Girls & I

The Humane Society reports that approximately 3-4 million pets are euthanized yearly. If you are considering adding a pet to your family, that's one more reason to adopt from a shelter or rescue. Purchasing from a pet store encourages puppy mills. What is a puppy mill?

Je ne sais que?

2011-01-06T21:57:00.000-05:00

I thought it would be a propos to address the topic of learning a second language as a follow-up to the recent post titled There's a World Outside, where I discuss how to introduce new foods and expand palates. Both topics go hand-in-hand and can be used in combination to having a more well-rounded child.

The question of how to avoid finding oneself in a "je ne sais quoi" situation comes to mind. Learning a foreign language allows a bridge to be laid between your world and the world of another person. Good bye to that feeling of cluelessness! By the way, the mismatched post title was intentional.

Unless you've decided to move to India where you may need to learn one of its more than 1600 dialects, give your choice of language some thought. Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in terms of the number of native speakers with Spanish coming in as second. However, if you live in the United States, it would be useful to learn Spanish. According to the 2009 census, there are over 35.5 million speakers and the U.S. has the second largest (after Mexico) Spanish speaking community in the world.

If the reason of camaraderie is not enough for such an undertaking, then read on to find out other beneficial gains.

higher test scores
bigger native language vocabulary and advanced reading skills
greater opportunities in college and careers (more "mula" in the workforce)

Now, if you are ahead of the game and I've just bored you to death with the above, how do you feel you've benefited? Personally, I have more foreign friends than only-English speaking friends and find that I can relate to the foreigners better due to similar life experiences.

New Beginnings

2011-01-01T15:00:00.001-05:00

If you’ve managed to write a page’s worth of New Year’s resolutions, then I hate to play the devil’s advocate. The probability of following through is low. The key to maintaining the momentum throughout the year is to choose a couple of goals and keep them basic.

Here are some simple, New Year’s resolutions that involve the entire family.

Talk to your children about God or make time to worship Him.

Benefits: improves sense of self-worth and harmony in the home, and lowers rates of illness

Walk or do some other form of exercise.

Benefits: reduces stress, improves sleep, and reconnects the family

Decide on a social cause/charity and support it.

Benefits: improves the lives of others and increases your family’s social and relationship skills

My best wishes to a great start to 2011!

Ringing in the Grapes

2010-12-31T13:00:00.013-05:00

How do you plan to celebrate 2011? You'll find us with mouths full of grapes! Our goal is to not keep witches and evil away, but to attract good things in the New Year. At the top of the list, we wish for health, peace, and a growing relationship with Christ. If prosperity decides to pay us a visit, then we will welcome her as well!

G's Grapes

The tradition of eating grapes started in 1909 in Alicante, Spain. At the time, growers had a harvest surplus, and decided that the best way to reduce the excess was to have people eat them. Each grape represents one month of the New Year. As you eat one, you make a wish. However, don't take too long thinking about your wish. You'll need to have eaten all of the twelve grapes in twelve seconds. Since then, eating grapes on New Year's Eve or "Noche Vieja" has become a tradition followed by the Spaniards and many other Latin American countries.

Start a new family tradition this year! Feliz Ano Nuevo!

Watchful Waiting

2010-12-25T22:44:00.003-05:00

You would expect the birth of a King to be attended by and announced to all in near and far away lands. This was the opposite of what transpired that fateful Christmas eve many years ago. Jesus, meek and humble, made His entrance into the world in the quietest ways. His arrival known only to Mary, Joseph, and the wise men who saw that clear sign in the heavens. Not born into opulence, but in a simple manger; where animals slept and ate. Born for one purpose alone; to redeem mankind. Indeed, God's love for the world is incomprehensible to our limited human minds. He sent His only Son to suffer and take on the world's sins. Would you volunteer your own flesh knowing your child would die the most painful death?

As Earth awaits to receive her King, the inhabitants go about their usual daily lives. These are a few eclipses of how we spent "Noche Buena" (Christmas Eve) preparing as best as we could. Merry Christmas and God's blessings.

Toddler S asleep after breakfast.

A l'Americain on my good china.

G & Toddler S

Dessert

What's this?

Mio!

Yum

A Calmer Child; Sign Me Up!

2010-12-23T15:56:00.103-05:00

Well, strike a pose. Not one of Madonna's in her early 90s hit "Strike a Pose," but a yoga pose. That's what we did during a mini-yoga session this afternoon. It seems like I may be on to something, because G started imitating the asanas and appeared to enjoy herself.

At times (well most of the time) my personality doesn't allow for things to just be, so I decided to do some research and found a few intriguing things about kids and yoga. For starters, the practice helps to strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, and calm a restless mind. As adults, we can relate to the 101 to-dos we sometimes have bouncing in our minds. Kids are naturally more active and affected by a host of external factors to include educational and social pressures. Yoga helps them find a healthy balance amidst the hurriedness of life while improving on areas of concentration, self-confidence, and awareness.

Here are a few examples of poses/asanas we worked on as well as some of the benefits you can expect.

The Downward Dog helps decrease anxiety, strengthen the entire back, and increase full-body circulation among other positive benefits.

Downward Facing Dog

The Wide Leg Forward Bend helps to strengthen the feet and leg muscles. It also assists in calming the nervous system.

Modified Wide Leg Forward Bend

The Fish pose has many benefits. It stretches the upper body (opens the lungs and bronchial tubes) --- a plus for Asthmatics -- and it invigorates the thyroid gland --- a plus for those needing to shed a few pounds.

There are a lot of tips and recommendations for yoga beginners that can be easily found on the Internet. However, I came across this topic on the LiveStrong site and thought it was a good beginning point for most. The link to the article follows. Kids Benefit from Yoga.

There's a World Outside

2010-12-19T23:19:00.001-05:00

The gloomy, rainy weather today didn't stop us from venturing out and frequenting one of our favorite local Indian restaurants, Tandoor Indian Cuisine. After having been exposed to authentic Indian food in Muscat and in Princeton, we've become pretty good connoisseurs of the flavors and selective of the restaurants we patronize.

Giving kids exposure to different types of ethnic dishes and the countries that represent them is a noble task. The U.S. is a homogeneous country as far as language is concerned, but we do live in an integrated, international society. Each person you meet has an interesting story to retell.

Toddler S and her Chicken Tikka

Now, for the hard part. Theoretically planning an outing to try new flavors of food is one thing, but in the back of my mind, I wasn't sure how it would play out in real life. For one, Toddler S is not very patient or neat. It is all about her needs and how quickly they can be met. She doesn't give you much leeway to react either. I do try to help her be civilized. Specially when those evil looks start to come my way from folks that are appalled at what is happening. Most of the time, these people have grown children, and don't remember how challenging children this age can be when they simply do not want to cooperate.

We went with the lunch buffet. A killer move for most and I will include myself in this group. I have no self-control. It's hard not to have multiple servings of Dal or Spinach Curry. However, it is a simple way to try many foods at once.

The next question I had was how long would the behavior last. Indeed, I was surprised. G behaved beautifully and Toddler S was herself, but a bit more polished. Her big sister helped in that aspect and I also made sure to end the outing while I was ahead! Waldo, wishing you were here...

Get tips on How to Shape Kids' Food Preferences. Happy reading.

G enjoying Naan

Sweden; A Model Country or a Human Rights Violator

2010-12-16T10:37:00.001-05:00

Sweden is in the top ten (ranks at no. 9) according to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) 2010 estimates of having a "very high human development" (HDI) index, which measures a country's level of human development. In layman's terms, this tool offers an insight into how a nation is progressing past the standard gauges of GDP/GNP. The HDI attempts to interpret how well off the general population is in the areas of education and health to name a few, as these greatly impact a person's quality of living.

What I find totally inconsistent is how this country, touted for its utopia-like qualities, can forcibly take a child away from his biological parents without a warrant and place him in foster care where he has been for over a year and a half. To date, the family has not been charged with a crime.

You may be wondering about the basis for this action. This is where it becomes interesting. The government felt that the child could no longer be raised by his parents, because he had 1) a few untreated cavities, 2) not been vaccinated according to the vaccination program in-place, and 3) been home-schooled.

This is completely irrational and a waste of energy and resources. Aren't parents responsible for raising their own children or is this a new role that the Swedish government has taken upon itself to perform? However this ordeal ends, the party who will be most hurt and negatively impacted is the family. The child has probably been psychologically scarred for the remainder of his life.

Here are a couple of links to the case. I encourage you to follow the story.
Swedish Boy "Imprisoned", Swedish Government Jails Father

Ping

It's Not a Right of Passage

2010-12-13T09:37:00.003-05:00

We may think that bullying is part of having a normal school "experience." Why would we think differently? Approximately 17% of children have been bullied at one time. Turn the television on or read the newspaper, because there will most likely be some coverage on it. These are kids that clearly don't know how to act.  It's a harmless game.

The scenario looks different now when it is your child who is the victim. She has come home and relayed how awful the bus ride to school was that morning or how her "friend" poked her hard enough to cause a bruise.  This is what happened in my case and I must sadly report that it started in Kindergarten. Imagine that. These kids are only 5 and 6 years of age. How could this be?  Well, it was...

How do we handle a bullying situation? My approach was multi-faceted. It began with an attempt to get more information from the incidents that transpired. However, this was to no avail. G would change her story or say that she couldn't remember. I proceeded to speak to her about bullying and suggested statements she could say.  To drive the theme home, I armed myself with stories that dealt with the topic and provided solutions. I would read these "fun" books often.

It's important to make the child feel empowered and made to know that what is happening is not their fault. This is everyone's problem and the teacher or any adult must be alerted as an incident is happening.

When the situation continued, I knew it was time to request a parent-teacher meeting. A few positive actions resulted afterwards. First, the teacher appointed a child in the classroom to be the "sheriff" in case she missed any bad behavior.  Second, the bully's parent was notified. I can't say how long this strategy lasted, because I was later forced to meet with the teacher and request that the school counselor be involved.

Interestingly, the school counselor thought that there was no basis for my allegations, but did promise that she would talk to the kids. I remember reiterating to her on the phone that she would call to give me an update. She agreed, why wouldn't she? It is her job, right?  Well, let me tell you my friends, after giving the counselor about a week's time to speak to the children, I never heard back. I discussed my last approach with both teacher and school-counselor friends of mine. The writing on the wall was clear. I had to go higher and involve the principal or assistant principal. I am the type of person who does not like to make waves. However, I had no choice.

I received a follow-up call from the assistant principal the same day I contacted the school. He listened to my concerns and agreed with my views. I never heard back from him to get an update. I didn't need to anyway. G came home with a smile on her face and relayed that the school counselor had a talk with all of the children involved. The girls who were bothering her became scared after the talk.

I want to be clear that I recommend following the proper route, which means going through appropriate channels. Also, keep a journal of each communication you have with school personnel. Annotate the date, time, name of person, and a few sentences about what you discussed and what you agreed on. If you have to higher in echelon to relay your concerns, the notes will be very helpful.

At a time where kids are going as far as committing suicide, you would think bullying concerns would be taken seriously. It is on the parents at home to take responsibility for their childrens' behavior and for the schools to acknowledge all allegations. School personnel who do not perform their jobs, should be fired regardless of seniority level.

Here's a link that shares suggestions on how to help your child should you find yourself in a similar situation. The link will also take you to the survey that provided the data I quoted above. Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.

I'd be interested in hearing about any similar experienced you may have had.

"They'll Grow Up Before You Know It"

2010-12-10T11:00:00.001-05:00

The phrase is cliche, but the truth remains. Kids do grow up quickly. They are being exposed to many things, be it positive or negative, much earlier in their lives when compared to ours.

Just today I read an interesting article from the New York Times entitled "Race to Nowhere", which deals with the ever growing pressures of school on children. I can relate to this topic from a by-stander point of view as I see moms and dads rushing their kids from event to event and on a first-hand basis as I deal with G. As a parent, you want the best for your child by providing them with opportunities that perhaps you didn't have growing up. However, the awareness that kids need to be kids is present in the back of our minds. This circular "race" seems to auto-propel itself as schools impose higher, tougher standards and parents have no choice, but to prioritize their child's schedule to stay afloat. However, upon further scrutiny, this topic delves deeper than what local schools impose. It comes down to the fact that the U.S. needs to maintain its competitive edge at a worldwide level. How is it supposed to achieve this by being lax on educational standards? According to The Organization for Economic Cooperation, the U.S. is losing ground to countries like China.

In my opinion, I think a parent's main priority is to find a balance by acknowledging and adapting to rigorous educational standards; I don't foresee school requirements becoming easier, while affording opportunities for their child to be just that, a child enjoying childhood. What's your take?

Therapeutic Cats

2010-12-05T21:17:00.005-05:00

They shed, are temperamental, and may be seen as lazy; their sleep averages anywhere from 13-16 hours per day. Given these possibly viewed negative traits, cats do still impart positive effects on their owners.  To mention a few, they help reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and appear to improve the immune system of children by reducing the risk of developing allergies and asthma; the cat must of been around at the time of the child's birth or shortly afterwards.  However, one of the most interesting findings to me was how cats help children affected by autism.

Children under the spectrum have difficulties socializing and fostering relationships. They struggle with communication in the verbal and non-verbal arena, and have limited interests in subjects. Although there is a host of other symptoms, I've addressed the main indicators of the disorder. Note that not every individual will exhibit all of these symptoms and the degree to which they manifest varies from mild to severe.

Now, imagine an autistic child who struggles socially being more empathetic and helpful to others, which helps him/her develop a sense of social responsibility.  Just by owning a pet, the child is given the opportunity to raise and care for the animal. In turn, the animal's unconditional love towards that child allows for an improved self-esteem.

Medical professionals are realizing the benefit of using animals as alternative treatment methods in unison to the "core" of standard treatments. In my opinion, it is always best to approach a medical condition from various angles. Most of the time, the methods compliment each other and address the individual as a whole.

When considering the use of animal therapy, be sure to research the many breeds to determine which type of animal will work best for your specific circumstance and your child's personality.

You may enjoy reading the following true story.  Cat Therapy for Autistic Children.

Toddler S and Yobi (aka Chuck)

Toddler S & Yobi

Toddler S & Yobi --- the cat looks crazy due to the "cat-nip" infused toy

A Picture's Worth

2010-12-01T13:27:00.004-05:00

I see the photo-poster on the wall of the girls' pediatrician and opthamologist offices.  It is of a boy smiling; one eye is red.  The red color comes from the blood vessels nourishing the eye. The other eye shows a white reflection. The poster goes on to state that the eye showing the white reflection has a tumor. This type of cancer is rare and it's called retinoblastoma.

It was recent photo showing the white eye, red eye scenario that made my heart sink.  Toddler S had just had her eyes dilated and the results of the examination were normal. However, in the back of my mind the possibility that the doctor had missed something was real. First, she was not a totally cooperating 11 month old. If she wasn't turning her face away from the light being shone, she was either trying to grab the light or covering her face from it. Since I tend to err on the side of caution to place any doubt or question to rest, we returned to the doctor for another dilation. Her eyes were as healthy as they could be for someone her age. The bottom line is to have your child be seen by a doctor should you find yourself in a similar situation. The white in the eye may not be cancer, but it could be something else to include amblyopia, corneal injury, cataract, strabismus.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  In this case, it can literally save a child's vision. For further reading visit Retinoblastoma.