Teaching Your Kids To Protect Themselves

As moms, it's instinct to always try to protect our kids. This is easier when they are younger, when they are still with us most of the time in our homes because we can always have a look at what they are up to. But when they start to go to school and start life outside the protection of the home, the job becomes a major concern not with all those dangers around them. It is a common knowledge how even the seemingly safe place such as the school can be made a ground of harm and danger by uncaring and uncompromising individuals who seemed to lose hold of sanity. Not to mention cases such as kidnappings and mysterious disappearances of children and adults alike. These are real life happenings and whether we like it or not, we as parents should make our children ready to deal with these kinds of problems. How do we make them ready? First of all, it is important to let them know what is going on. We cannot keep from them the fact that these events are really happening, they should be aware. This will make them more ready to use precautionary measures in order to protect themselves when parents are not around to protect them. It is also important that your kids know something about self defense, somehow, somewhere, it will be useful to know a thing or two about what to do when strangers try to do something bad to them. It also gives them a sense of confidence and security specially when help is not immediately available. Teach your kids important information such as your home address and telephone numbers and who to call during emergencies. It will also be helpful to inculcate in your children decision making abilities by making them familiar with different scenarios through story telling. Use characters and describe in detail what each character did in order to get through some situation. This helps by making your kids put themselves in the character's place when they are faced with a similar situation. More over, this serves as a role playing for them and this way is easier to help them remember what they need to do when faced with a certain situation. Always open the line of communications between you and the school authorities to keep a track of current happenings. Lastly, it is most important to tell your kids that even though there are unlikely events happening around them, they don't have to be afraid, that if they know what they have to do, then there is no need to worry and just go on with life as normal.

When Things Seem Not the Way We Want Them To Be...

This morning as I was making the bed, I saw that my pillow case was unzipped. As I tried to zip it, the first half was easy but as I continued, there seemed to be something wrong and it won't continue to close all the way. I tried harder but to no avail and I was almost losing my patience because I thought this small detail was consuming my time and stopping me from doing other things. I tried again but did not succeed so I stopped and looked at it carefully to see what the problem is. I thought maybe I should unzip it and try all over again but I was a little hesitant thinking that the half zipped part will be put to nothing and I will have to start all over again and what if it won't work and just make things worse. Somehow, from somewhere came the thought that maybe to unzip and try again is the best way and I would just have to relax and not think anything negative. So I did. I unzipped it, and started zipping it back this time slowly and carefully. It was as if there was nothing wrong a while ago and the pillow case was zipped perfectly. The situation gave me some chance to ponder and connect it with life itself. There are times when we want to fulfill something, at first things are running smoothly then we come to a certain point where the endless rough road comes in. Wanting desperately to succeed, we try every single way we know to get our way through but things just get more and more difficult and complicated. This is the time when we need to back off for a while and re-analyze the whole situation. It will give us a new perspective and help us to consolidate our strengths so we will know how to use them. We will also be able to find our weak points and use them to right directions in addressing our concerns. It is like making our way around to reach our goal. Above all, it is very vital to have always a relaxed mind because it enables us to think and make decisions very well. When we think of the things we will have to lose if we make a certain decision, it does not help at all but when we say we have nothing to lose, it makes us more confident with the decisions we make and then we are more likely to succeed. After all, when we reach the bottom, there is no other way but to go up. So, when we are faced with life's obstacles as we try to do something, think back, re-analyze and work your way around relaxed and in peace with yourself...

A Vacation in Turkey

I have traveled to Turkey for several times and saw several places but the one I liked most is the Black Sea Region. Trabzon is one of the places of interest. The semi urban environment blends well with the kind of traditional hospitality that Turkey is well known of. The very rich cultural history is still visible as you walk along the small bazaars. However, just like any other urbanized city, traffic is quite a hassle. Going further though, to the northeast is Rize, where you see more nature in its finest. The roads are built along the sides of the mountains offering a vast view of green and forests untouched. Tea plantations can also be seen along the hills as if they are intricately designed landscapes. People here are more hospitable. They're highly traditional and they use a dialect unique of someone coming from the region.
Turkish cuisine is one of the best in the world. Some of the foods I like are the doner (made either from chicken or beef specially grilled), french fried potatoes, tursu (pickled cucumber), sliced tomatoes, and some spices wrapped inside some thin dough or simply with ekmek (like french bread but thicker and bigger). Turkish food is mainly vegetables in ingredients. I love the kizartma, made of deep fried vegetables such as eggplants, long green peppers, kabak (it's like a cucumber), potatoes, all together mixed in rich sauce made from fresh tomatoes. There is also the kuru fasulye (boiled beans), resembling nearly meat and beans. The meal I enjoy much is the Turkish breakfast. The table is elaborately set with different types of butter, jams and jellies, white cheese, and olives. These go perfectly with sucuk (something like pepperoni) with sunny side up and toasted bread or simply freshly baked bread or simit (a round crunchy bread with sesame seeds). And of course to top it all, the Turkish tea.
Rize's air is really fresh, very natural. The mountains are a great sight to see. The local residents usually have their own garden of vegetables that supply their needs. The fog that envelopes the muntains during the early morning and late afternoon makes you feel like you are on the clouds. It was really a wonderful vacation spent in there. I also plan to come back there in the near future to experience again nature at its best.

My Long Distance Love

My husband and I have been married for more than a decade now. We have our share of ups and downs in our relationship but I'm proud to say that so far, we are still doing very well. He's working overseas and in our decade of being married, we spent more time away from one another. Keeping a long distance love strong is not easy, not with this present time where stress, temptations, challenges, problems, obstacles, you name it, are on every step of the way. I could only thank God, first of all, without whose help, I wouldn't have known where we ended up. How do we manage to keep up? First of all, we always ask God to help and protect us, I guess that is the strongest weapon we have. On our part, we take care of each other. We communicate on every day basis. Short calls and emails make a lot of difference to show that we care and make us feel that the other one is always around. We give each other the inspiration each day to move on. We listen to each other's troubles and give comfort to one another when there are troubles around. We give encouragement to one another. We show more sensitivity to the other's needs. We respect and support more, the other's decisions and actions. We practice more selflessness and more understanding. When we are together though, we make sure that we spend quality times. We don't need to spend a lot to have those, sometimes we are just at home chatting, talking, about everything, giving the dogs shower, watching dvd's sharing each other what books we recently read, discussing how we can better ourselves etc. We also go some places to spend some holiday. This is when we cast away all concerns and plainly enjoy, relax and rest...It helps to re-charge ourselves to get ready for the next normal routine...Every effort exerted pays off well when we look at ourselves...Then again, maybe through those efforts exerted, if we show more and more that we are deserving, our dream of finally being together will be within our reach...

Dog Lover

In the family of eight, I'm the one who loves to take care of animals particularly dogs. My sisters have more inclination to plants. I don't share the same passion. I simply love something that can react back to me and I found this with dogs. I have one rottweiler (used to be two of them, when I lost the other one, boy did I cry...) and one mini pinscher who's so sweet that I actually have to share her with the rest of the family members with whom I currently stay with. I enjoy the best when I'm with my dogs. I simply cannot resist the urge to get relaxed because that's what they do to me. They seem to take out my negative energies and help me stay with the 'present'. They're undemanding, they don't have angry feelings in their hearts, just a warm welcome always every time I come to them. Most of the times, they're even better than some humans...I'm lucky that I got married to a man who shares the same passion I have for dogs. I believe, as long as I'm able to, I will always take care of one, the old saying "man's best friend" never goes old anyway...

How to Keep Your Man

For those of you ladies who are wondering lately why your relationship with your man seems to be drifting away no matter how hard you try to hold on to it and for those who are just starting a relationship and thinking how it would last, here's my small piece of advice which might just make a big difference...You know what men hate most? CONTROL! Just like everyone else, they don't want to be put under control. What I realized is that whether we know it or not, women tend to try to control their men. It can start from very small ways of doing it. In the start, men can tolerate and try to give to our every wish. But the more they give, the more we want, to the point that they can't just take anymore. I don't speak for all but this is a common scenario in relationships whether we admit it or not. I read from somewhere that a relationship is like a dance. There are times that the couple dance close to each other and there are times they dance apart but they still dance to the same rhythm and move creating a harmony in their actions. There is no room for protective clutches that prevent anyone of them from moving and showing their grace. This is really true I guess. In a relationship, take out CONTROL and things will work better. Put more TRUST, FORGIVENESS of shortcomings and living and enjoying the present to the fullest. Soon enough, those insecurities will fly away and give the confidence in us to stay happy and contented. Let go and your man will come back to you more than ever with willingness and more love...

Travel Singapore

One of the best places I love visiting is Singapore. A small country with a total area of 647.5 sq. km., typically like the size of a city, yet it is where the atmosphere of harmonious blend of culture can be experienced, specifically that of Chinese, Malay, and Hindu races. This blend of cultures results to a superb mix of cuisine, arts, and architecture, among others, giving the visitors and locals alike varied choices. Isn't that great? Despite its being highly urbanized though, nature is always given utmost importance as one can see from the lush greenery along the way while traveling.
Singapore simply has the unique ability to merge modern and cosmopolitan living and history.
There's much for everybody to explore. Here are some of my favorite places around Singapore:

• Singapore Botanic Gardens. For relaxation and leisurely strolls, this oldest public park is the best. Families can enjoy picnics by the greens and play some ball or even walk the dog. There is also the National Orchid Garden for orchid lovers. Over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids are currently on display and getting more.
• Singapore Zoo. A must for families on vacation to see and even individuals alike. The animals are seen in their simulated natural habitat. One can even enjoy breakfast with some of them. They offer entertaining animal shows and picture taking with some of your favorite animals.
• Sentosa Island. Also known as the Isle of Peace and Tranquility, some of the must-see spots include the Sky Tower, Fort Siloso, Underwater World, Butterfly Park, Musical Fountain among others. Don't worry about moving around, there are always free shuttles bringing visitors from one place to another.
• Jurong Bird Park. Here, I saw over 9,000 birds belonging to more than 600 species. They also have unique bird shows. I love the Lory Loft where I got the chance to feed the birds with a special nectar mix...

So...on your next vacation spot, try to visit Singapore and see for yourself what I'm talking about....

Dealing with Your Mother-in-Law

Mother-in-law or Monster-in-law? I'm sure you will choose the latter...Well I cannot blame you because I was holding the same choice not until quite recently...I know they are just intolerable, they meddle with everything, they want things done their way, they don't give you chance to do what you think is right because for them, they are always right. Many a husband and wife relationships have suffered because of their influence. Sometimes they are even the cause of the break up and worse, divorce between the husband and wife...I know some friends who are good examples of what I was talking about. I'm no exception to the rule when it comes to experiencing the headaches trying to deal with mine. It was a tough life to spend several months with her under the same roof, every bit of peace and sanity in the house collapsed, she was everywhere, almost seeming to destroy everything on her path...This was my perspective though...How about hers? We can fill up a whole library of words to describe them the way we see...However let us be fair enough to see their side of the story also. After all, in their own mind is also a noble task of trying to show their love and protection for the ones they love, that is their son (your husband), and his offsprings..."But I love my husband and children also", so you say, "Can't I have the say in doing things I know will be better for everyone?" I used to ask the same question also...I tried hard, really hard to go against her wills but to no avail. The harder I tried, the more problems encountered. All the effort is leading to nowhere. But as we go along life's road, we get more experiences that help us to mature. I realized later on instead of flowing against, try flowing with the current...so they say "if you can't beat them, join them"...Easier said than done, you say, but if you want things to work between you and her, be ready to compromise something from your side also, I know that some of them cannot just be pleased however you try, maybe they just don't show their appreciation on your face, but deep inside, it's there...you don't need to see it sometimes...try to put yourself into their shoe, as a mom and granny, maybe you will also do the same...then you say "No, I won't be like that..." well let's just wait until you become one...try to appreciate also her efforts instead of stopping them, perhaps like you, she is also waiting to be appreciated...I'm doing this so far, and it's working quite well...I hope it works with yours as well....