Top 50 Father Quotations

"The greatest gift I ever had Came from God, and I call him Dad! "
-- Anonymous

"Our earth is degenerate in these latter days; bribery and corruption are common; children no longer obey their parents; and the end of the world is evidently approaching."
-- Assyrian clay tablet 2800 B.C.

"The joys of parents are secret, and so are their griefs and fears."
-- Francis Bacon, Sr

"A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. "
-- Enid Bagnold

"We never know the love of our parents for us till we have become parents."
-- Henry Ward Beecher

"I have always looked at life as a voyage, mostly wonderful, sometimes frightening. In my family and friends I have discovered treasure more valuable than gold."
-- Jimmy Buffet

"The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them. "
-- Confucius

"Fatherhood is pretending the present you love the most is soap-on-a-rope."
-- Bill Cosby

"You know, fathers just have a way of putting everything together. "
-- Erika Cosby

"Be kind to thy father, for when thou were young, who loved thee so fondly as he? He caught the first accents that fell from thy tongue, and joined in thy innocent glee. "
-- Margaret Courtney

"Role modeling is the most basic responsibility of parents. Parents are handing life's scripts to their children, scripts that in all likelihood will be acted out for the rest of the children's lives."
-- Stephen R. Covey

"What a dreadful thing it must be to have a dull father. "
-- Mary Mapes Dodge

HOW DO WE THINK OF OUR DADDY AT DIFFERENT AGES

At 4 Years
My daddy is great .

 

At 6 Years
My daddy knows everybody.

 

At 10 Years
My daddy is good but is short tempered

 

At 12 Years
My daddy was very nice to me when I was young .

 

At 14 Years
My daddy is getting fastidious.

 

At 16 Years
My daddy is not in line with the current times.

 

At 18 Years
My daddy is becoming increasingly cranky.

 

At 20 Years
O h! Its becoming difficult to tolerate daddy. Wonder how Mother puts
Up with him.

 

At 25 Years
Daddy is objecting to everything.

 

At 30 Years
I t's becoming difficult to manage my son. I was so scared of my
Father when I was young.

 

At 40 Years
Daddy brought me up with so much discipline. Even I should do the
Same.

 

At 45 Years
I am baffled as to how my daddy brought us up.

 

At 50 Years
My daddy faced so many hardships to bring us up. I am unable to manage a single son.

 

At 55 Years
My daddy was so far sighted and planned so many things for us.
He is one of his kind and unique.

 

At 60 Years My daddy is great.

 

Thus, it took 56 years to complete the cycle and come back to the
1st.stage.

 

Realize the true value of your parents before its too late.

 

 

Value of parents...

 An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along
with his 45 year’s old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow
perched on their window.
The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"
The Son replied "It is a crow".
After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time,
"What is this?"
The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow".
After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time,

“What is this?"
At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the Son's
tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a
crow".
A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time,
"What is this?"
This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep
asking me the same question again and again, although I have
told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to
understand this?"
A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an
 old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was
born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page.
When the son read it, the following words were written in the
diary: -
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa,
when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23
times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a
Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same
question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel
irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".
While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the
Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all
23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same
question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.

So...
If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at
them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool,
obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your
parents. From today say this aloud, "I want to see my parents
happy forever”. They have cared for me ever since I was a little
child. They have always showered their selfless love on me.

They crossed all mountains and valleys without seeing the storm
and heat to make me a person presentable in the society today".
Say a prayer to God, "I will serve my old parents in the BEST
way. I will say all good and kind words to my dear parents, no
matter how they behave.

The SON

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved  deeply for his only son.About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young an held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the  young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting.

The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.The man died a few months later.. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'There was silence.Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'But the auctioneer persisted.. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!'But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'Finally, a voice came from the very back of  the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting.' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.'We have $10, who will bid $20?''Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.''What about the paintings?''I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this  time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.The man who took the son gets everything!

 

'God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.  FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS  ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE. Do whatever you like, but remember that maybe 'one' of the people you might  have taken the time to send this to, may be just the person who needs to hear this message. You have a choice to make.'  God Bless ! ! 

 

Perception

Perspective on life

 

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what you learned from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered:
"I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night...

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are." 

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

 

Special PRECAUTIONS for PREGNANCY

The first three months of pregnancy is the most crucial stage in your baby's development as all organs are forming. Throughout your pregnancy, but especially during the first three months, be very careful about using alcohol, drugs and medication. The following information outlines substances that require special precautions during pregnancy. Instructions are also given on how to keep track of fetal movements, an important sign of your baby's health.

Fish and Seafood Alcohol Caffeine Cigarettes Food Additives Food Handling Concerns Medications and Herbs Saunas and Hot Tubs Toxoplasmosis Video Display Terminals (VDTs) Other Precautions and Concerns Informational Hotlines - Chemical Use and Precautions

Fish and Seafood

Fish and seafood are excellent low-fat sources of many nutrients and an important part of a healthy diet. However, there is a concern about eating fish and seafood during preganancy, since many types of fish may contain high levels of mercury. To be safe, choose wisely among types of fish. Precautions Eat no more than 12 ounces of cooked fish a week. Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish. Limit albacore (white) tuna (even canned) to once a week. If you eat fish caught by family and friends from local waters, check local advisories about the safety of fish. Fish sticks and fast food sandwiches are commonly made from fish low in mercury

Alcohol

No one knows how much alcohol is safe to drink during pregnancy The danger of alcohol use during pregnancy is that it may cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Babies born with FAS may: grow more slowly have learning problems have abnormal facial features There is no cure for these problems caused by fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcohol is an ingredient in many over-the-counter medicines. For example, some cough medicines are 25 percent alcohol. Ask your health care provider if you should use such products during pregnancy. Always read the label before taking any medicine. Precautions Because there is no known safe level of alcohol taken during pregnancy, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the March of Dimes caution pregnant women to follow the safest course: Completely avoiding alcoholic beverages while pregnant. Discuss your concerns about alcohol and pregnancy with your healthcare provider.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant that affects people differently. Caffeine can cause nervousness, irritability, anxiety, irregular heartbeats and problems sleeping. How caffeine affects an unborn baby is still under investigation. Some scientists believe caffeine can cause premature or smaller than normal babies or possible birth defects. Precautions Cut down or eliminate food and drinks that contain caffeine such as coffee, tea, colas and other soft drinks, cocoa and chocolate. Caffeine is an ingredient in many non-prescription medicines such as headache, cold, allergy, and pills made to combat drowsiness. If you have been consuming caffeine in large quantities, gradually decrease your intake. Stopping all at once can cause severe headaches, nausea, fatigue and other symptoms. Check with your health care provider for more information.

Cigarettes

Cigarette smoking may lead to serious health problems. Women who smoke during pregnancy usually give birth to babies that weigh less than those of women who don't smoke. Low birth weight babies are more likely to have health problems such as: Infections Trouble keeping warm Feeding problems Breathing problems. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) New research shows that exposure to second hand smoke is also linked to SIDS and can cause major health problems to your baby. Precautions Stop smoking or cut down your smoking when pregnant. There are many community programs available to assist you. Call the American Cancer Society for information on Smoke-Stopper Programs in your area. Call 1-800-NOBUTTS(800-662-8887). Avoid smokers and smoking areas whenever possible.

Food Additives

Precautions Whenever possible, try to minimize your use of Processed food items (such as hot dogs) Foods containing sodium nitrate, such as cured meats (hams, bacon, etc.); these substances may be carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Be sure to wash fruit and and peel carrots to avoid eating pesticides used on farms to kill insects.

Food Handling Concerns

Eating raw fish, meats or poultry may increase your risk of infection or parasitic disease. Cooking food destroys bacteria and parasites. Milk that is not pasteurized may also cause illness. Precautions Avoid eating raw fish (sushi, ceviche), meats or eggs. Only drink pasturized milk. Cook your fish, meat, poultry and eggs thoroughly. Always wash cutting boards after slicing any raw fish, meats, or poultry. Recommendations Run plastic cutting boards through the dishwasher. Microwave wooden boards for five minutes.

Medications and Herbs

Some medications and herbs may harm your baby. Before taking any medication or medicinal herbs during your pregnancy, ask your health care provider these questions: What is this medicine/herb? What does it treat? What are the side effects my baby or I may experience? What is the smallest effective dose? How long will I need to take this medication? Precautions Be cautious about using medicines that contain multiple ingredients. They are more likely to contain extra substances, that may harm your baby.

Saunas and Hot Tubs

Avoid saunas and hot tubs that maintain a temperature greater than body temperature. They can potentially cause overheating and possible affect the development of your baby. Precautions Avoid possible overheating. Check with your health care provider for recommendations.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a condition caused by a parasite found in cat feces, plant soil, and raw or undercooked meat. The parasite can cause brain damage in a developing baby if the mother becomes infected during pregnancy. Precautions Avoid contact with cat feces. Have someone else change the litter box. Wash dirt from fresh produce before eating. Use gloves when you garden. A blood test is available to determine if you have been exposed to toxoplasmosis. Ask your health care provider for more information. Cook all meat to at least medium, preferably well done.

Video Display Terminals (VDTs)

At this time, there are no solid research findings regarding the effects of computer monitors or Video Display Terminals (VDT) on a developing baby. Precautions Reduce your exposure to VDT's whenever possible. Be sure to take frequent stretch breaks and look away from the computer screen whenever possible.

Other Precautions and Concerns

Fetal Solvent Syndrome - Risk for Major Birth Defectors Exposure to chemicals may cause birth defects. Talk with your health care provider if you are concerned about exposure to chemicals in your environment. Rh Negative Mothers and Rhogam If you (mother) are Rh negative and your baby's blood is Rh positive there is an Rh incompatibility. Because some of the baby's red blood cells leak into your system, your body will produce antibodies to fight the Rh factor as if it were a harmful substance. These antibodies will remain in your body and may affect your next baby. If you are Rh negative, you will be given an injection of Rhogam at about 28 weeks of pregnancy, and within 72 hours after a birth, miscarriage, abortion or amniocentesis. The Rhogam will prevent your body from making these harmful antibodies. If your baby is Rh negative, you will not need Rhogam after delivery. Talk with your health care provider for more information. Preeclampsia Preeclampsia is also called Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) or toxemia. The cause of preeclampsia is unknown. It occurs in 5% of pregnancies and is most common in: First pregnancies Twin or other multiple pregnancies Women with high blood pressure before 20 weeks of pregnancy Teenage pregnancies Women with diabetes Women who have had preeclampsia during a previous pregnancy Symptoms of preeclampsia include a rise in blood pressure, protein in your urine and rapid weight gain due to fluid retention. If left untreated, preeclampsia can cause many problems that could be life threatening to you and your baby. Early preeclampsia can be diagnosed during a routine visit with your health care provider. Call your health care provider immediately if you experience blurred vision, headache, upper abdominal pain, rapid weight gain or increased swelling. Gestational Diabetes Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy. The changes in your body during pregnancy can cause your blood sugar (glucose) levels to be high, which can cause problems for you and your baby. You will receive specific education on how to care for yourself if you develop gestational diabetes. It is very important to follow the diet, exercise, and blood sugar monitoring plans given to you. Gestational diabetes is most likely to develop if you: Are overweight Have a family history of diabetes Gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more Had a baby who died before birth Had gestational diabetes in the past Are of Latin, American Indian, African, Asian or Pacific Islander descent You and your baby may have the following problems if you don't keep your blood sugar under control: Baby Big baby Premature birth Jaundice Low blood sugar Stillborn (although this is rare) Mother High blood pressure Bladder or kidney infection Shortness of breath Harder birth and longer recovery time Increased chance of c-section delivery     Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer. Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.

 

Daughters

 

 

The Power of Parents

 

Teachers, peers and society play major roles in a child’s education. But parents are a child’s first teachers. And home is a child’s first classroom.

 

School can and they do spend enormous amounts of staff time and money trying to compensate for what is sometimes missing in children’s homes.  But if a child is to succeed in school and in life, it is important that parents and other adults provide a solid base of support from the preschool years through the school years.

 

The kinds of support children need from parents is not necessarily or solely financial.  Children need parents who can help hem learn how to think clearly, parents who ask their opinions and respect what they hear, parents who find the time to share themselves and instill solid values.

 

Of course, our children don’t come with instructions (there were certainly times I wish mine had). But recently, I ran across a short, but fairly complete Parent’s Pledge.  It provides a good checklist for parents who are, indeed, a child’s first teachers.

 

Parent’s Pledge

 

1. I want my child to have the best possible education and I realize that strong school systems are essential
2. I will provide a home environment that will encourage my child to learn.
3. I will help my child build a small but meaningful home library.
4. I will insist that all homework assignments are done each night.
5. I will discuss at dinnertime what my child has learned at school each day
6. I will include stimulating books among the presents I give my child.
7. I will review newspaper stories and television news casts with my child and discuss how the news may affect our lives
8. I will meet regularly with my child’s teachers.
9. I will remind my child of the necessity of discipline in the class room? Especially self-discipline
10. I will help my child appreciate and enjoy the excitement in learning and the thrill of an inquiring mind.

 

To keep this pledge, parents need support: business that create family-friendly workplaces and give parents the flexibility to occasionally volunteer for duty in their child’s classroom.  Parents need communities with information about school programs and student progress.  Families want to belong.  Teachers and students need parent’s involvement.  It’s a two-way street that will lead our children to happiness and success.

 

Do Babies Really Feel Pain?

Do babies feel pain? I certainly think they do, but, to find out, we should not have stuck them with pins. There are other objective indications of pain.
.
1. Crying. It seems perfectly obvious now, but for a long time, experts were informing the public that infants cries were only "random" sounds, not genuine communications. It took a quarter century of cry research to prove otherwise. 

 

 Cries are not only meaningful signals, but often compelling ones. They increase in intensity with degrees of pain. Spectrographic studies that reduce sound to an elaborate visual portrait show just how varied and complex cry language is. Acoustic studies show that changes in pitch, temporal patterning, and harmonic structure also reflect the degree of pain and urgency. For example, in a thorough study of cries during circumcision, acoustic features precisely reflected the degree of invasiveness of the surgery. 
.
Parents present at circumcision (a rarity) have recalled how their babies cried. One father, present in the delivery room told me of his great surprise when the obstetrician proceeded to circumcise this boy at delivery. Having been quiet through the entire birth, the boy proceeded to protest loudly about the circumcision! A Jewish father, reflecting on this boy's circumcision on the eighth day, said it was the saddest occurrence of his babyhood: the boy cried more that afternoon, he said, than anytime in his whole first year.
.
2. Facial expressions. Second, the pain that babies feel is clearly expressed on their faces. Brows bulge, crease, and furrow. Eyes squeeze shut: bulging of the fatty pads about the eyes is pronounced. There is a nasolabial furrow that runs down and outwards from the corners of the lip. Lips purse, the mouth opens wide, the tongue is taut, and the chin quivers. This look on a human face of any age communicates pain. Why do we doubt that it means the same on the face of a baby?
.
3. Body movement. Body language in its larger motor dimensions is also a language that babies share with older humans. In response to pain, babies jerk, pull back, try to escape, swing their arms, use their hands to push away, and frantically scrape one leg against the other to dislodge an offending stimulus in that area. They strike out with their upper extremities and kick with the lower.  Receiving routine heel lancing, a deep wound made in the heel to obtain blood samples. Using calibrated hairs, they gently stroked the corresponding areas in the injured and non-injured heel. Even premature infants showed the same well-defined hypersensitivity to tissue injury that is found in adults.

.
4. Vital signs. Fourth, we can see how baby pain is revealed by changed in vital signs and blood chemistry. Pain causes increased respiration. Babies hold their breath and release it in piercing cries. Researchers have observed infant heart rates increase 50 beats per minute and peak above 180 beats per minute.  In a study to compare behavioral states of the newborn to those of the fetus, Pillai and James  discovered that the heart rate during newborn crying was unlike anything seen in prenatal life. This racing heartbeat was unstable, often reaching peaks in excess of 200 bpm, in spite of the fact that baseline heart rates after birth are generally 20-25 bpm lower than they are in utero. These extremely elevated heart rates signal a serious and urgent disturbance.
.
Serum cortisol is a measure of stress. In painful conditions, adrenals may release cortisol three to four times the baseline. In one study, cortisol levels clearly differentiated between three different surgical techniques of circumcision. 
.
Under painful conditions, tissue and blood oxygen levels drop. 
.
5. Neurobehavioral assessments. Further consequences of infant pain can be seen in neurobehavioral assessments. Babies who have been subjected to pain may have difficulty quieting themselves. Following circumcision, the normal progression of sleep cycles is reversed with immediate and prolonged escape into Non-REM sleep. After circumcision, babies withdraw, change their social interactions with their mothers, and modify their motor behavior. 

Night Driving Tips

Night Driving Tips 

 

Keeping in mind the large number of road accidents taking place every year, one can say that driving is not at all safe and you need to be utterly careful in order to avoid hitting or getting hit. The most difficult time for driving is at night, after the sun goes down. During this time, the vision gets extremely restricted; advantage of color and contrast (available in day) is lost and even depth perception gets diminished. Infect, the risk gets enhanced as soon as it is twilight. So, you need to be extremely careful while driving at night and take as much precautions as possible. Given below are some tips that will help you in driving cars safely at night.

 

Night Driving Tips 

 

• Adjust the outside rearview mirrors in such a way that the bodywork of the vehicle is just outside your view.
• Adjust your rearview or side mirror to cut out the glare of headlights from a vehicle following you.
• Always be alert and keep looking for flashes of light at hilltops, curves and intersections. This will help you notice a vehicle early on.
• Always be at a safe distance from the vehicle you are following. Infect, increase the distance to four to five seconds more than what you would have in the day.
• At times, even the streetlights cause a lot of glare. As a solution for this problem, dim the dashboard lights and make use of the sun visor.
• Before leaving for an overnight journey, make sure that all the exterior lights of your vehicle are working properly.
• Do not take too much stress at night. At the slightest inclination of fatigue, it is better to stop for a while and take a break. You can even take a short nap or have some tea/coffee to help you stay awake and alert.
• Driving at a high speed is much more dangerous at night, than during daytime. Never ever over-speed your vehicle at night. As it is, the visibility is low and chances of accidents are higher. Do not increase them further by over speeding.
• Headlights, if dirty, will never give 100 efficiency and lighting. Always clean the headlights of your vehicle before going out in the dark.
• If by any chance you end up having a breakdown on the way, pull your vehicle completely off the road. Turn on the emergency flashers as well as the parking lights, making it easier for other drivers to see you.
• In case there is fog at night, keep the headlights on low beam. Otherwise, not only will you reduce your vision, but also make the other drivers go temporarily blind. At the same time, use fog lamps only in case of fog or inclement weather and not otherwise.
• In order to avoid glare from the headlights of an oncoming vehicle, look toward the right side of the road and watch the white line marking the outside edge of the traffic lane.
• Never ever overdrive the headlights of your vehicle. Be sure that you are able to stop inside the illuminated area.
• One of the major reasons for glare comprises of dirty windows. Before leaving, be sure to clean the inside and outside of your windshield.
• The headlights should be turned on as soon as it is early twilight i.e. at least one hour before sunset and make sure to keep them on till one hour after sunrise. This will make sure that the other drivers have no trouble in seeing you clearly.
• When you follow another vehicle, always keep your headlights on low beams. This will ensure that the driver is able to see properly.

 

Puberty And Adolescence

Puberty And Adolescence

 

Definition

Puberty is the time in which sexual and physical characteristics mature. It occurs due to hormone changes. The changes allow you to become capable of reproduction.

Adolescence is the period between puberty and adulthood.

Alternative Names

Maturation - sexual; Adolescence; Reproductive development; Sexual maturation; Menarche; Adrenarche

Information

The exact age a child enters puberty depends on a number of different things, such as a person's genes, nutrition, and gender. During puberty, various endocrine glands produce hormones that cause body changes and the development of secondary sex characteristics. In girls, the ovaries begin to increase production of estrogen and other female hormones. In boys, the testicles increase production of testosterone.

The adrenal glands produce hormones that cause increased armpit sweating, body odor, acne, and armpit and pubic hair. This process is called adrenarche. The adolescent may find that an underarm deodorant or antiperspirant becomes necessary.

 

 

PUBERTY IN GIRLS

Breast development is the main sign that a girl is entering puberty. This will be followed by the first menstrual period (menarche). Before having the first menstrual period, a girl will normally have:

·   An increase in height

·   Pubic, armpit, and leg hair growth

·   Clear or whitish vaginal secretions

·   Increased hip size

Menstrual cycles occur over about one month (28 to 32 days). At first, the menstrual periods typically are irregular. The girl may go 2 months between periods, or may have two periods in 1 month. Over time, they become more regular.

After menstruation starts, the ovaries begin to produce and release eggs, which have been stored in the ovaries since birth. About every month after menstruation starts, an ovary releases an egg, called an ovum. The egg travels down a tube (Fallopian tube), which connects the ovary to the womb. When the egg reaches the womb, the lining becomes thick with blood and fluid. This happens so that if the egg is fertilized, it can grow and develop in the lining to produce a baby. (It is important to remember that fertility comes before emotional maturity and pregnancy can occur before an adolescent is prepared for parenthood.)

If the egg does not meet with sperm from a male and is not fertilized, it dissolves. The thickened lining sloughs off and forms menstrual blood flow, which passes out of the body through the vagina. In between the menstrual periods, there may be a clear or whitish vaginal discharge. This is normal.

Keeping track of when your period occurs and how long it lasts can help you predict when you should have your next menstrual period.

During or just before each period, the girl may feel moody or emotional, and her body may feel puffy or swollen (bloated). PMS (premenstrual syndrome) may begin to develop, especially as the girl gets older.

In girls, puberty is usually complete by age 17. Any increases in height beyond this age are uncommon. Although full physical maturity has been reached at this time, educational and emotional maturity remain ongoing.

 

 

PUBERTY IN BOYS

Unlike girls, there is no clearcut sign that tells a boy that he has entered puberty. However, boys will normally experience:

·   Faster growth, especially height

·   Increased shoulder width

·   Growth of the penis, scrotum (accompanied by reddening and folding of the skin), and testes

·   Voice changes

·   Pubic, beard, and armpit hair growth

·   Nighttime ejaculations (nocturnal emissions or "wet dreams")

The testes constantly produce sperm. While some sperm can be stored in a structure called the epididymis, the stored sperm are occasionally released as part of the normal process to make room for new sperm. This can occur automatically during sleep (nocturnal emissions) or following masturbation or sexual intercourse. Nocturnal emissions are a normal part of puberty.

 

 

ADOLESCENCE

Adolescence is the time between the beginning of sexual maturation (puberty) and adulthood. It is a time of psychological maturation, which a person becomes "adult-like" in behavior.

Adolescence is roughly considered to be the period between 13 and 19 years of age. The adolescent experiences not only physical growth and change but also emotional, psychological, social, and mental change and growth.