Breaking Family Ties That Bind

When we really examine our fears about something, we sometimes notice that the fear we have is not based on our own experience. Often, if we trace our fear back to its source, we find that one of our parents may have handed it down to us. For example, your mother or father may have had an intense fear of lack of money, stemming from their own life experiences. If that fear was not resolved by the time you came into the picture, chances are you inherited it. Meanwhile, you may have no actual experience of lacking money, so being fearful doesn't make sense, and it may even block you from doing certain things you want to do.

Keeping in mind that your parents were only trying to protect you, and that most of the errors in judgment they made were made with the best intentions, it might be time to release this fear symbolically. You cannot resolve someone else's fear for them, but you can decide to let go of it on your own behalf. Whether your parents are still alive or not, it is best to do this in a symbolic way, using visualization and, if you like, ritual. One simple visualization involves inviting your parent to sit across from you in your heart space and sharing your desire to move on from this fear, letting them know that you will not carry it anymore. You may be surprised at the response you get, because it's possible they will be proud of you, grateful, and proud of your courage.

The more we do this deep inner work with our fears, the better we will be able to parent our own children without burdening them with fears that don't belong to them. Some of us will do as much of this work as we can before we become parents, while others will be working on this even as our children become adults. Either way, the effects will be felt, because once we break our ties to the fears of the past, our children's ties to those fears are greatly weakened, so it's important to remember that it's never too late.

 

Electrical Burns -Electrical shock

Electrical Burns 

Electrical Shock, Electrocution  

Electrical burns occur when a person is directly exposed to an electrical current. Electrical burns can result from contact with either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). Although some electrical burns look minor, they can cause extensive internal damage, especially to the heart, muscles, or brain.

 

Classification of Skin Burns 

Causes 

Electrical burns result from accidental contact with exposed parts of electrical appliances or wiring, such as:

 

• Children biting on electrical cords
• Poking utensils or other metal objects into electrical outlets or appliances, such as a plugged-in toaster
• Failing to shut the power supply before making home repairs or installation
• Dropping a plugged-in appliance into water
• Occupational accidents due to, for example, electric arcs from high-voltage power lines. (Electric arcs occur when a burst of electricity jumps from one electrical conductor to another, such as flashes of electricity from the wheels of an electrically powered train or where a trolley car connects to an overhead power line.)

 

Symptoms 

 

Symptoms include:

• Skin burns
• Muscle contraction or pain
• Numbness or tingling
• Weakness
• Bone fractures
• Headache
• Sudden hearing impairment
• Seizures
• Heart arrhythmias
• If you experience any of these symptoms don't assume it is due to an electrical burn. These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions. If you experience any one of them, consult your doctor.
• Electrical burns can cause cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, and/or unconsciousness.

Diagnosis 

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam.

 

Like other burns, electrical burns have three degrees of severity, each with distinctive symptoms:

 

• First-degree burns—injure only the outer layer of skin. They are red and painful, and may cause some swelling. The skin turns white when touched.
• Second-degree burns—are deeper and more severe. They cause blisters and the skin is very red or splotchy. There may be more significant swelling.
• Third-degree burns—cause damage to all layers of the skin down to the tissue underneath. The burned skin looks white or charred. These burns may cause little or no pain because the nerves in the skin are destroyed.

 

It may be more difficult to diagnosis damage under the skin caused by electrocution. Test may include:

• Electrocardiogram —to detect rhythm disturbances of the heart
• Urine or blood tests–to check for severe damage to muscles

Treatment 

Electrical burns require an immediate call to paramedics. If possible, shut off the electrical current from its source (such as unplugging a cord or turning off the circuit breaker). Often, simply turning off the appliance itself will not stop the flow of electricity.

 

If the current can't be turned off, use a non-conducting object, such as a wooden broom, chair, rug, or rubber doormat to push the victim away from the source of the current. Don't use a wet or metal object. If possible, stand on something dry and non-conducting, such as a mat or folded newspapers.

 

Do not attempt to rescue a victim near active high-voltage lines.

 

Once the victim is free from the source of electricity, his or her airway, breathing and pulses are checked and, if necessary, cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts are started. The victim is covered with a blanket to maintain body heat and feet are raised above the head.

 

Ice, butter, or ointments, should not be applied.

 

Any patient with an electrical burn should be taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Treatment will depend on the severity of the burn and any other associated complications.

Prevention 

To help reduce your chances of an electric burn, take the following steps:

• Use child safety plugs in all outlets.
• Keep electrical cords out of children's reach.
• Avoid electrical hazards by following manufacturer's safety instructions when using electrical appliances. Always turn off circuit breakers before making repairs to wiring.
• Avoid using electrical appliances while showering or wet.
• Never touch electrical appliances while touching faucets or cold water pipes.

 

CHILDREN AND ANGELS

I have often felt that children are far closer to the angels than we adults are. They seem far more ready to share joy freely and to give love unconditionally to others. They seem to easily know how to celebrate life, laugh, smile, and embrace delight just as God meant for all of us to do. Nothing brought this point home to my heart more clearly than a story a friend of mine recently shared with me about her daughter.

     Her daughter while mentally handicapped has a soul that shines brighter than a thousand suns. She loves everyone and is never afraid to express her affection to others. Once when she was at Church with her Mom it came time to give others the sign of peace. Now most people do this with a handshake or a gentle touch. This little Angel Child , however, wasn't one to hold back on her love. She turned around and gave a sweet, elderly lady next to her a huge hug full of both energy and love. Later after Church that same lady with tears in her eyes approached the girl's Mom and spoke to her. "My husband just died a week ago", she said. "I felt so alone that I was going to go home and take some pills to end my life today, but now thanks to your little girl I believe that there still is love in this world."

    Our children can teach us so much about love. Our children can teach us so much about joy. Our children can teach us so much about life. Let us not ignore the lessons they give us every day. Let us instead learn from them and share more love and joy with others in our own lives. God loves us and put us here to love each other. Sometimes we forget this, but thankfully God is patient and forgiving with us. He never fails to send us joyous angels and happy children to guide us back to love again.

 

The Power of Solar Communities

The great innovations of the 21st Century will be social. I predict that the solutions to our greatest challenges will emerge through new ways of coming together. Case in point, the Drake Landing Solar Community   is a fully integrated housing development that takes solar to the next level. Solar panels channel heat through a series of underground pipes to produce a reservoir of energy for warming the 52 home neighborhood throughout the winter months.

This is a social solution. The community is built around the ideas of (1) producing energy locally and (2) sharing in the effort through a common infrastructure. In order for this to work, the homes must be structured in such a way that neighbors are in close proximity to one another.

Neighborly behavior is the future for solar.

This idea is taking hold in a number of places. Another example is the partnership between Global Green   and Community Housingworks   that has produced the first fully solar powered apartment community   in the state of California. This community includes 54 homes and several business sites that share the wealth of abundant sunlight.

And that’s not all. Community Housingworks provides resources to its tenants including courses in financial management, special needs housing opportunities, and leadership training for broader civic engagement. Developers are shaping the future of these homes with a focus on community.

Already have a home? No problem. Home owners can get organized and purchase solar upgrades in bulk, reducing the cost for each installment and distributing the risk across the entire neighborhood. Community solar programs are offered by the company, SolarCity  , to encourage “buying in bulk.”

Yes, of course there is a need for new technological innovations like MIT’s prototype solar dish   that may prove to be the most energy efficient and affordable in the world. But the real breakthroughs will be in the ways we integrate these techologies into the structures of our communities.

Mark my words on this one - 21st Century innovations will be overwhelmingly social in nature. Ultimately, it will be about our vision of what it means to be a community  .
 http://www.celsias.com/article/power-solar-communities/

 

Energy Saving Tip

Please TURN OFF  your PC's , A/C's  & Lights, before Leaving OFFICE .....    


- Abstract from speech By Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam  (Former President of India)

Most of us are used to doing one thing before leaving for the day from officen : Press Ctrl+Alt+ Del and leave to home happily.

That means your PC is still on.
One normal PC will consume 35 watts/hr.
Based on this we will do a small calculation.


For one week 24 X 7 = 168 Hrs.
of this if we consider that we are working for 68 hours,

then the PC is in sleeping mode for 100 Hrs a week.

For one month 4 (weeks) X 100 = 400 Hrs.
In a normal IT office, if we assume approximately 250 PCs are there,
250 * 400 = 1,00,000 Hrs  
 


So the power wasted in an office in a month is,
100000 X 35 = 3500 KWH or units.
 


If the charge per unit is Indian Rs. 6,

then totally the wastage value is approximately 21000 Indian rupees.



Here the sad thing is not the money loss to the company but the power loss to the country.

Apart from the loss to the country we need to think of the efforts people are putting for producing the power in the Mines, Thermal Stations, Hydro electric Stations, etc. If this is to continue, the cost of unit power will go up & at one stage we will not get power even if we are ready to pay any cost.

So before leaving to home take some time to shut down the PC's, A/C's & Lights and do some favour to the country and the organization.

I'm shopping for Priyanka's B'day gift

Harman is on a family holiday in Dubai..

"Just the four of us my dad, mom, my sister Rowena and me. We took off for a 5-days trip to Dubai. We all needed the break.

The last two years and particularly the last few weeks have been very stressful for all of us. So here we are, just chilling and shopping.

Actually the ladies are doing all the shopping. I'm just their bag boy, " says Harman sounding completely relaxed and far from the tense wreck that his well-wishers in the entertainment industry would like him to be.

"In the past two weeks (after the release of Love Story 2050) I've learnt so much about life. I think I'm much wiser now."

'Wise' Harman intends to go shopping in Dubai for his girlfriend Priyanka whose birthday is on the 18th.

"I don't know as yet what I'll get her. But girls like anything you give then in a gift-wrap and with a smile, trust me on that."

Have the courage to say 'no' to your children

Train your children to digest disappointments, denials and refusals.

 

Modern life is not only competitive but also stressful in many aspects. Children have to gradually adapt themselves to this demanding environment at some point of time. This is exactly why parents need to train their young ones accordingly. Children must be taught to take a `no', not only from parents but also friends, teachers, neighbours and even strangers.

 

Discipline begins at home

 

Some parents tend to pamper children unreasonably. Abundance of anything, ranging from toys, games, sweets and chocolates, spoils children at a very young age. In fact, research has shown that children brought up in over-affluent families tend to lose their faculty of imagination. Since they have too much on their platter, it becomes difficult for them to yearn for anything. Therefore, parents should not bombard their children with more than what is needed. The need for this inherent discipline has to be internalized by parents themselves. Parents should be prepared to prepare their children for the rough and the smooth in life.
 

Never satisfy all demands 

 

Although parents derive immense satisfaction from fulfilling their children's wishes, they should deliberately leave some wishes unfulfilled. If every whim and fancy of the child is entertained, the child grows up to be a very self-centered person. Even a single `no' can put him or her off balance. Such children take their whims to an illogical extent. For instance, if they fancy a person who does not reciprocate their feelings, they may get violent out of frustration. Or they might not be able to digest rejection in a job interview later in life. Over pampered children are also prone to acute depression mainly because they cannot take disappointments in the right spirit.
 

Never encourage comparisons

 

Parents should always discourage their child's tendency to compare his or her material assets with other children. For instance, if a child demands a toy merely because a neighbour has got a new one, such a craving should not be entertained. Such children end up constantly comparing themselves with other people. Parents have to curb this tendency at a very early stage.

 

Appeasement does not have long-term effect

 

In order to keep their daily routine hassle-free, parents tend to please children. However, overt appeasement has short-term gains. Children tend to lose respect for their parents. They look upon parents as mere scarecrows. The policy does not pay in the long run. Therefore parents should not enter into a popularity contest. They must have the courage to call a spade a spade. 
   

 

Some parents tend to please children out of guilt. For instance, a working mother comes home late. She is harried. She does not have time for attending to the child's homework. The child asks for an ice cream after dinner. Despite knowing the fact that an ice cream can cause a bad throat, the mother gives in. The child is smart enough to know the reason behind the bribe/favour. This scenario is universally applicable. Therefore, parents should not let guilt get the better of them. They must have the courage to face the child's tantrums.

The Horrors of Homework

Is it for parents or for children?

 

Today homework has become a nightmare for both parents and children. In a time when it seems that every child needs to be a superachiever to survive, the pressure on them to excel not just academically but otherwise is tremendous. While children have never been enthusiastic about doing homework in the first place, they now view homework as being the last straw that broke the camel's back as they try to juggle school, tuition classes and other extracurricular activities. 

 

Tips for dealing with homework hassles

 

• Appoint a specific time to do homework every day. Parents should try to ensure that they are around at this time so that they are on hand if they are needed. 
• Parents should find out the schedule of tests planned for the week and help their children organize their homework time so that they are well prepared.
• Avoid power struggles. Confronted with a whining, tantrumatic child, a parent should first try to maintain her cool. She should try to lighten the atmosphere, offer help is she thinks the child needs it, or just leave the room, leaving the child to his own devices. But she should brook no arguments from the child and be uncompromising about the fact that the homework must be done, and done immediately. 
• Parents should regularly encourage their children and praise their efforts. When a child does well on a test, for instance, parents while applauding his achievement should remind him that doing his homework properly and being prepared made the difference. 
• Parents should make their children feel that they are interested in their work and offer to help if necessary. But at no point should parents do their children's work for them. This will adversely affect a child's motivation and initiative, as he will feel that at the slightest difficulty his parents will bail him out. 
• Remember that if a child is cheating on schoolwork and blindly copying homework from others, it may be a sign that she is feeling unduly pressured and afraid to admit that she cannot cope. In such a case, it is advisable that parents speak to the teacher or the school counselor. 
• Make provision for a special place in which the child can do her homework, as if it were her personal office. 

 

 

In the Eye of the Beholder

One night, my eight-year-old son, Zakariya, and I were scanning the TV listings for something to watch.

 

"Oooh, there's a beauty contest on," I said. Zakariya asked me what a beauty contest was, and I explained that it was a contest to choose the most beautiful woman in the world.

 

Then my son thrilled me by asking with complete sincerity, "Why aren't you in the contest, Mommy?"

 

Solution to teenage smoking problem

Solution to teenage smoking problem

 

 

At last there comes up some solution for preventing a kid from having a life long addiction of smoking. Some serious research has been done by the scientists at the University of Utah; regarding the characteristic of being a life long smoker. The researchers have taken DNA samples of about 2,827 smokers. They made a vivid study over the changes in the genetic code called single nucleotide polymorphisms. This is something that is very much a part of nicotine addiction and that leads to a life long smoking practice. This research justifies the point that kids who have picked up smoking before 17 years of age are more into this addiction than those who have had it after 17.

 

This is indeed a good news, as now all the guardian can prevent their teenagers in getting into the whirlpool till 17. Once they are successful, there will be a hope of giving it up easily, if one gets addicted to smoking at a later stage in life. Researches of these types really deserve good appreciation.

 

I'm a JUNE Baby: WHAT BABY ARE YOU ???

Replace the month in the subject with your own & forward this to everybody in your address book & to the person who sent it to you... I did! These are so adorable, don't ya think? I'll bet they fit your B-day/personality to a T; ...... and, then, maybe not!   I just love the animated babies they have on here.
Enjoy!

 

What baby are you?   Jan ---------------JANUARY BABY-------------------- Pretty/handsome. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Sensitive. Down-to-Earth. Stubborn. Repost this in 5 mins and you will meet someone new in 8 days that will perfectly balance your personality. Feb -------   FEBRUARY BABY -------- Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexiest out of everyone. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble.. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Horny. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside.. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions. Repost this in 5 mins and you will talk to someone new and realize that you are a perfect match. Mar -----------------MARCH BABY -------------------- Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate Shy and Reserved. Secretive.. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Great kisser.. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Observant and assesses others. If  you repost this in the next 5 mins, you will meet your new love in 8 days. Apr ------------------APRIL BABY ------------------- Suave and compromising. Funny and humorous. Stubborn.. Very talkative. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal. Does work well with others. Very confident. Sensitive. Positive attitude.. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Able to cheer everyone up and/or make them laugh.. Able to motivate oneself and others. Understanding. Fun to be around. Outgoing. Hyper. Bubbly personality. Secretive. Boy/girl crazy. Loves sports, music, leisure and traveling. Systematic. Hot but has brains. If you repost this in 5 mins, a Cutie that's caught your eye will introduce themselves and you will realize that you are very much alike in the next 2 days. May -----------------MAY BABY ----------------- Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm standpoint. Needs no motivation. Shy towards opposite sex. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain).. Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing.. Loves Literature and the Arts. Loves traveling. Dislikes being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. If you repost this in the next 5 minutes, you will become close to someone you do not speak to much in the next 4 days. Jun ------------JUNE BABY ------------- You've got the best personality and are an absolute pleasure to be around. You love to make new friends and be outgoing. You are a great flirt and more than likely have an a very attractive partner. A wicked hottie. It is also more than likely that you have a massive record collection. You have a great choice in films, and may one day Become a famous actor/actress yourself - heck, you've got the looks for it!!! In the next 6 days you will meet someone that may possibly become one of your closest friends, if  you repost this in 5 minutes. Jul ----------------JULY BABY -------------- Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings. Tactful. Friendly.. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Spazzy at times. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be with friends Always broods about the past and the old friends. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover. Repost this in the next 5 mins and your reputation will boost some way in the next 12 days Aug ------------AUGUST BABY --------------- Outgoing personality. Takes risks. Feeds on attention. No self-control.. Kind hearted. Self confident. Loud and boisterous. VERY revengeful. Easy to get along with and talk to. Has an "every thing's peachy" attitude. Likes talking and singing. Loves music. Daydreamer. Easily distracted. Hates not being trusted. BIG imagination. Loves to be loved. Hates studying. In need of "that someone". Longs for freedom. Rebellious when withheld or restricted. Lives by "no pain no gain." Caring. Always a suspect. Playful. Mysterious. "Charming" or "beautiful" to everyone. Stubborn. Curious. Independent. Strong willed. A fighter. Repost in 5 mins and you will meet the love of your life sometime next month. Sep ------------SEPTEMBER BABY --------------- Active and dynamic. Decisive and haste but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Usually you have many friends. Enjoys to make love. Emotional. Stubborn. Hasty. Good memory. Moving, motivates oneself and others Loves to travel and explore. Sometimes sexy in a way that only their lover can understand. If you do not repost this in the next 5 mins, someone very close to you will become mad at you in the next 8 days. Oct ---------------OCTOBER BABY ------------------- Loves to chat. Loves those who love them. Loves to takes things at the centre. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Brave and fearless. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care to control emotions. Unpredictable Extremely smart, but definitely the hottest AND sexiest of them all Repost this in 5 mins or you will not meet the love of your life for 10 years. Nov ---------------NOVEMBER BABY -------------------- Trustworthy and loyal. Very passionate and dangerous. Wild at times. Knows how to have fun. Sexy and mysterious. Everyone is drawn towards your inner and outer beauty and independent personality. Playful, but secretive. Very emotional and temperamental sometimes. Meets new people easily and very social in a group. Fearless and independent.. Can hold their own. Stands out in a crowd. Essentially very smart. Usually, the greatest men are born in this month. If you ever begin a relationship with someone from this month, hold on to them because their one of a kind. Dec ---------------DECEMBER BABY --------------- This straight-up means yo u are the most good-looking person possible... better than all of these other months! Loyal and generous. Patriotic.. Competitive in everything. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Easy to talk to, though hard to understand.. Thinks far with vision, yet complicated to know. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Has that someone always on his/her mind. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Abiding. Able to show character. One guy/girl kind of person. Loveable. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves music.

 

Help Them Organize Their Writing

Many supervisors and managers ask me for help when their employees can't organize information. Of course, organization depends on the document. But here are five solutions I offer supervisors and managers to help employees organize their messages.

 

1. Insist that every document get to the point within 50 words. Tell employees you won't read a document that doesn't get to the point right away.
2. Insist that employees use headings in reports, recommendations, and other messages to make information skimmable. Headings will force them to categorize information.
3. Allow just one main idea per paragraph. In disorganized messages, a mishmash of ideas packs each paragraph.
4. Allow just one idea per sentence. With just one idea in it, almost any sentence can get organized.
5. Limit the words per sentence--no more than 15 to 20 words on average. It's hard for short sentences to get out of hand.

 

Tips for Spoken English...........

1. Read aloud in English for 15-20 minutes every day Reading loudly helps in developing confidence. 2. Until you learn the correct intonation and rhythm of English, slow your speech down If you speak too quickly, and with the wrong intonation and rhythm, people will have a hard time understanding you. Don't worry about your listener getting impatient with your slow speech - it is more important that everything you say be understood. When you read loudly, take a 3 second pause after every word that you read. 3. Think in English – 30 minutes daily People who speak fluent English have a habit of thinking and speaking in English at the same time. Think “simple & short” sentences in English whenever you have free time. 4. Pronounce the ending of each word Pay special attention to 'S' and 'ED' endings. This will help strengthen the mouth muscles when you speak English. 5. Record your own voice and listen for pronunciation mistakes Many people hate to hear the sound of their voice and avoid listening to themselves speak. However, this is a very important exercise because doing it will help you become conscious of the mistakes you are making. 6. Observe the mouth movements of those who speak English well and try to imitate them When you are watching television, observe the mouth movements of the speakers. Repeat what they are saying, while imitating the intonation and rhythm of their speech. 7. Be patient You can change the way you speak but it won't happen overnight. People often expect instant results and give up too soon. You can change the way you sound if you are willing to put some effort into it.

 

kids jokes

One night, a father passed by his son's room and heard his son praying: "God bless Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma. Ta ta, Grandpa."

The father didn't quite know what this meant, but was glad his son was praying. The next morning, they found Grandpa dead on the floor of a heart attack. The father reassured himself that it was just a coincidence, but was still a bit spooked.

The next night, he heard his son praying again: "God bless Mommy and Daddy. Ta ta, Grandma."

The father was worried, but decided to wait until morning. Sure enough, the next morning Grandma was on the floor, dead of a heart attack.

Really scared now, the father decided to wait outside his son's door the next night. And sure enough, the boy started to pray: "God bless Mommy. Ta ta, Daddy."

Now the father was crapping his pants. He stayed up all night, and went to the doctor's early the next day to make sure his health was fine. When he finally came home, his wife was waiting on the porch. She said, "Thank God you're here -- we could really use your help! We found milkman dead on our porch this morning!"

===============================================================

A boy was assigned a paper on childbirth. He asked his parents, "How was I born?"
"Well honey ..." said the slightly prudish parent, "the stork brought you to us."
"OH," said the boy. "Well, how did you and daddy get born?" he asked.
"Oh, the stork brought us too."
"Well how were grandpa and grandma born?" he persisted.
"Well darling, the stork brought them too!" said the parent.
Several days later, the boy handed in his paper to the teacher who read with confusion the opening sentence:
"This report has been very difficult to write due to the fact that there hasn't been a natural childbirth in my family for three generations."

===============================================================

A little kid asks his father, "Daddy, is God a man or a woman?"
"Both son. God is both."

After awhile the kid comes again and asks, "Daddy, is God black or white?"

"Both son, both."

"Daddy, does God love children?"

"Yes son, he loves all children."



The child returns a few minutes later and says, "Daddy, is Michael Jackson God?"

Caution, college ahead

My just-out-of-school child joins college soon. I'm very nervous about the parent interviews. How do I prepare for them? Also, some of the teachers in a school are my friends. However, my other child is their ward, conversation inside and outside school gets a little awkward. How do I demonstrate to my child the difference between her "aunty" outside school and the "miss/ teacher" in school?
— Vikram Udyavar

Parenting is a full-time job without any manuals! And yet we have nurtured a great foundation of the next generation, though they need to be harnessed from time to time. And their intelligence is enhanced and cultivated at the various colleges and institutes that you will be called on to visit in these few weeks for your child's admissions.

Interviews of any kind do make all of us nervous but we've got to keep our wits and confidence about ourselves, especially when called to accompany our children to such meetings.

•  It is essential to answer all questions with truth and sincerity. Don't attempt to appear what you are not, particularly in terms of social status and standing.

•  This will also indicate to your child that no matter what, you are proud of who you are. The child will adopt these qualities and will lean upon when faced with peer pressure.

•  You will be asked questions about the nature and quality of relationship with your child. While you must be honest, do know that what and how you frame your responses will set the tone of how the child will be treated by the school or college staff and peers. It is necessary to keep the child's respect, but at the same time, diplomatically indicate the general shortcomings s/he may have. So, instead of saying your child is lazy, say s/he needs to be motivated.

•  Impress upon the school/college the awareness and remedial actions that you intend to implement to improve these shortcomings. This will prove that you are involved in your child's education and it also instils confidence within the child.

•  If you are posed questions regarding the environment at home and/or the relationship with your spouse, it is advisable to keep the responses diplomatic.

•  If you are a single parent, you may say so without giving details of your marital status.

•  If you have friends who are part of the faculty, it may be difficult for tender children to disconnect the relationship between them and an "aunty or uncle" and a teacher.

•  Tell them people play different roles. So at school, the "aunty/uncle" is a teacher and the child is a student. The teacher must be addressed as 'ma'am' or 'sir' and the child will be treated like any other student.

•  And when at home, the "aunty/uncle" is a friend and the child can expect the warm, familiar relationship s/he has enjoyed so far.

•  Children like to boast about their proximity to their teachers / professors to the other students and this tendency needs to be curbed.

•  You could pointedly indicate that the inability to keep the relationships in their respective slots may lead to them being alienated from other students and being perceived as "teacher's pets".

•  Do not go out of your way to describe the nature of your relationship to all and sundry. When bumping into a friend at school, restrict the conversation to school work. It is also advisable to not flaunt your close relationship with a teacher to other parents or faculty members.

•  Likewise, avoid asking questions about your child's progress and problems at school when meeting a teacher at a house party. Keep these questions for PTA meetings.

•  If your child has been pulled up in class for untoward behaviour, step in only when asked. Do not take the punishment personally, or be vindictive and sever the relationship with the teacher. Understand that the deed may have been done for the betterment of the child. Leave the remedial action to the teacher.

 

KEEP YOUR ROOM CLEAN

Children's failure to keep their rooms clean is the basis for many a family argument.  However, it's not that difficult to keep your room clean.  Divide room cleaning into several tasks, concentrating on one until you do it well.  Then focus on a second task, and continue until the whole job is accomplished.

 

Be specific: Make checklist, post the list in your room and recheck off each task as it is performed.  Even if a bed is not made exactly to your standards, if it looks better than it did the day before, feel happy that you have seen improvement.  Recognize your achievement.

 

Be consistent: Some of us have a very bad habit that we keep our clean only for a few days.  Then again we start ignoring the regular dusting, our study table is mess again and our so is our cabinet.  We often blame our routine for this.  However there is no reason why we cannot spare 10 minutes to daily dusting and making sure that things are organized in our room.

 

Set specific Times: Another area in which the cleanliness of a room becomes a point of discussion is time.  Give yourself some time to do the job.  Make sure that you do the job of cleaning the room with in the specified time.

 

It's my Turf: Sometimes, when our parents comment on our untidy room, we are ready with the answer, it's my room and I am fine with it, many of us would choose to be neat, but if parents say we must clean our rooms, we become stubbornly rebellious.  The fact is the way you keep your room is your choice, so why not choose to life in a neat and tidy room.

 

The key is to keep cleaning and organizing daily.  If you spend just a few minutes a day, your room will stay clean.  Also, the problem is probably related to a lack of organization, so may be if you find a system for organizing your stuff that works for you (other than just throwing it on the floor) you will be more apt to maintain the system.  I am sure if you ask your mom, she would be happy to help you get the materials you need to keep your room clean and organized.

 

When God Made Fathers

When the good Lord was creating Fathers, he started with a tall frame.

A female angel nearby said, "What kind of a Father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put the Father up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without stooping"

God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?"

And when God made a Father's hands, they were large. The angel shook her head and said,"Large hands can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters caused from baseball bats."

Again God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets, yet small enough to cup a child's face in them."

Then God molded long slim legs and broad shoulders, "Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap?" The angel chuckled.

God said, "A Mother needs a lap. A Father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, to balance a boy on a bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus."

When God was in the middle of creating the biggest feet any one had ever seen, the angel could not contain herself any longer. "That's not fair. Do you honestly think those feet are going to get out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries, or walk through a birthday party without crushing one or two of the guests?"

God again smiled and said, "They will work. You will see. They will support a small child who wants to ride to Branbury Cross or scare mice away from a summer cabin, or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill." God worked throughout the night, giving the Father few words, but a firm authoritative voice; eyes that see everything, but remain calm and tolerant.

Finally, almost as an after thought, He added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, "Now are you satisfied he can love as much as a Mother can?"

The angel said nothing more.

 

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Rajesh married to Sunita and have a 3-year old son Ritesh. We shall see the labyrinth of interaction between the two in the descending order. Rajesh : "Sunita, I am telling you the truth. I really had some important meeting in my office." Sunita : "Just shut up okay. All men are the same, all are liars. Rajesh : "I am not lying. You can ask my colleague if you want to. Sunita : "Yeah, right ! Now I have to waste my time and energy talking to your boring ill-mannered friends of yours!" Rajesh : "Sunita, please calm down." Sunita : You, your parents and your immature son will not let me live my life!" Rajesh : "Why do you always have to talk like that about my parents?" Sunita : "Oh yes, I forgot, I forgot that you have sold off your soul to them." Rajesh : "Sunita, please, they might hear what you are saying. Ritesh also will hear that we are fighting. " Sunita : "Oh yeah, so now I am fighting. You never fight at all. You are the greatest saint of the world, right? Besides, I don't care who hears it. Let them hear what I say. They must know what kind of person you are." Rajesh : "Fine, fine, my mistake. Now please don't say anything. Just calm down. There was an important meeting and I got late." Sunita : "Then why do you even have to come late? You should have come tomorrow directly. I am just living like a slave in this house. I have become just a pathetic housewife. And your parents are lazing around the whole day. They have nothing to do." Rajesh : "What are you saying? Who is treating you as a slave? You can do anything you want. You said you don't want to do any housework, I agree and we hired - not one but two maid servants. You said you want to invest money in the stock market. I gave it to you but you lost everything and still I didn't say anything to you. I am still giving you money to invest in the stock market. Now what more you want me to do?" Sunita : "Why don't you just tell your parents to leave my house? I just don't like their presence. And I also don't like Ritesh being close to them. They are going to spoil him with their ancient teachings." Rajesh : "Sunita, it is their house. The house is not even in my name. Besides, they are not bothering you at all. And Ritesh is going to learn a lot from his grandparents." Sunita : "Bullshit!"   Three Years earlier Rajesh : "I don't believe you are pregnant. I am so happy. Great. I am going to be a father."

Sunita : "I am also happy. You are going to be a father."

Rajesh : "What do you think what name we should give to our son?"

Sunita : "I like Ritesh."

Rajesh : "Ritesh is okay name. I like Sunesh. Sun from Sunita and Esh from Rajesh. What do you think?"

Sunita : "That's a lousy name. I don't like that. Ritesh is the best."

Rajesh : " Okay, we will ask our parents."

Sunita : "Okay, but I know everybody will like Sunesh only. But I don't care. My son's name will be Ritesh and that's final."

Rajesh : "Okay darling. Whatever you wish."

Sunita : "I am not going to thank you for it."

Rajesh : "It is going to be so nice. Our son will play around with his grandparents."

Sunita : "Yes, Ritesh will be lucky to have his grandparents."

Rajesh : "He is going to call me daddy daddy."

Sunita : "So what ? He is going to call me mummy mummy. And you should know mummy is the best, not a father."

Rajesh : "Whatever you think Sunita."

Sunita : "What do you mean by that ? Am I wrong?"

Rajesh : "No, not at all. Mummy is stronger than the daddy, okay, happy now?"

Sunita : "Shut up and get me a glass of water, you lazy daddy."

 

Two Years Earlier

Sunita : "I love you Rajesh. Tell me you are never going to leave me alone."

Rajesh : "I never will. Trust me."

Sunita : "I promise I will never fight or even argue with you. Whatever you say, I will do it."

Rajesh : "And whatever you say, I will do it too."

Sunita : "Your parents are so nice. They are so experienced and so friendly. They have never treated me as an outsider. They treat me as their own daughter."

Rajesh : "I am glad you like my parents."

Sunita : "Don't worry Rajesh. I will always like and support your parents for life."

Rajesh : "Would you continue your career or would like to become a housewife?"

Sunita : "Of course a housewife. I don't want to pursue my career. I just want to take good care of my family."

Rajesh : "I mean you can surely do whatever you want to anytime. In my house there is no restriction at all."

Sunita : "I know, but I will always remain a nice housewife. Besides, being a housewife is actually a privilege and not some slavery as some women say. I will do all the housework and won't let you or your parents do any work in the house at all."

Rajesh : "I am always going to stand by you Sunita."

Sunita : "I will always love you from the bottom of my heart. I will never hurt you. Never."

Well, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. You decide which one is which.

I think Marriage institution is Good.
What we make out of Marriage is Bad.
And our ignorance and mistakes are Ugly.

 

Coaching Boys into Men

What you Can Do

The boys in your life need your time and energy. Your son, grandson, nephew, younger brother. The boys you teach, coach and mentor. All need you to help them grow into healthy young men.

Boys are swamped with influences outside of the home – from friends, the neighborhood, television, the internet, music, the movies… everything they see around them. They hear all kinds of messages about what it means to "be a man" – that they have to be tough and in control. There are numerous conflicting and some harmful messages being given to boys about what constitutes "being a man" in a relationship.

Boys need your advice on how to behave toward girls. Boys are watching how you and other men relate to women to figure out their own stance towards girls. So teach boys early, and teach them often, that there is no place for violence in a relationship.

Here's How:

Teach Early. It's never too soon to talk to a child about violence. Let him know how you think he should express his anger and frustration – and what is out of bounds. Talk with him about what it means to be fair, share and treat others with respect.

Be there. If it comes down to one thing you can do, this is it. Just being with boys is crucial. The time doesn't have to be spent in activities. Boys will probably not say this directly -- but they want a male presence around them, even if few words are exchanged.

Listen. Hear what he has to say. Listen to how he and his friends talk about girls. Ask him if he's ever seen abusive behavior in his friends. Is he worried about any of his friends who are being hurt in their relationships? Are any of his friends hurting anyone else?

Tell Him How. Teach him ways to express his anger without using violence. When he gets mad, tell him he can walk it out, talk it out, or take a time out. Let him know he can always come to you if he feels like things are getting out of hand. Try to give him examples of what you might say or do in situations that could turn violent.

Bring it up. A kid will never approach you and ask for guidance on how to treat women. But that doesn't mean he doesn't need it. Try watching TV with him or listening to his music. If you see or hear things that depict violence against women, tell him what you think about it. Never hesitate to let him know you don't approve of sports figures that demean women, or jokes, video games and song lyrics that do the same. And when it comes time for dating, be sure he knows that treating girls with respect is important.

Be a Role Model. Fathers, coaches and any man who spends time with boys or teens will have the greatest impact when they "walk the walk." They will learn what respect means by observing how you treat other people. So make respect a permanent way of dealing with people – when you're driving in traffic, talking with customer service reps, in restaurants with waiters, and with your family around the dinner table. He's watching what you say and do and takes his cues from you, both good and bad. Be aware of how you express your anger. Let him know how you define a healthy relationship and always treat women and girls in a way that your son can admire.

Teach Often. Your job isn't done once you get the first talk out of the way. Help him work through problems in relationships as they arise. Let him know he can come back and talk to you again anytime. Use every opportunity to reinforce the message that violence has no place in a relationship.