Family Weekend

I am constantly thinking of wonderful activities that our family can do together on weekends. As much as possible, I want our family day (Sunday) to be a day of fun and relaxation for all of us. These are the things that I am trying to consider this weekend and maybe for the next weekend.

-Go swimming! There's a resort which is only 15 minutes away. We just have to bring our own food in order to save a few bucks. 

-Go jogging - My daughter's school has an oval track which is open to the public. I am thinking that we can spend the morning there stretching our muscles and making our body stronger. 

-Go to Church together and have a nice lunch at our favorite restaurant. 

-Movie Marathon (at home) - I could ask them what movies they want and I could rent those DVD's.I just have to make sure that I prepare a delicious healthy snack for everyone. 

-General House Cleaning - It's a good thing that it isn't that hard to convince them to help me do a general cleaning of the house even though I know that they would rather do something else. 

-Visit their grandmother who live an hour way. My mother in-law is a good cook and whenever we go see her, she prepares the most sumptuous meals for her grandkids. 

Given the list above, I still have to consult everyone in the family. It's time to vote on what activity we should be doing this weekend. As long as we are complete, it will surely be a lot of fun. 

Being Grateful

In times of economic turmoil, most of us would encouter financial problems. Financial problems can lead to more problems. But should we let that happen? We should still be grateful for what we have. Well, easier said than done. 

We should be honest to our kids about the family's financial situations. Most likely, with the current situation, there would be things we cannot afford now that we can easily buy before. Let them understand that even if life is harder at this point, as parents, we would be there for them no matter what. 

Maybe, this time of recession can even bring the family members closer to each other by communicating more on how to help one another. There are always cheap thrills that the family can try. Preparing something fun for everyone need not to be expensive especially if we can come up with creative ideas. 

Right now, I try to be more optimistic. No room for worries right now because they seem to make matters worse that they really are. Let's hope for the best. 

Be grateful.

Do Your Kids Spend Too Much Time Online?

Do your kids spend too much time online? 

Since they were born in the time when computers and internet are more common in the household, young kids and teens nowadays can even boast that they have more knowledge in these stuff compared to what their patents know.

There was a time when my boys became so addicted with online gaming that I really had to put my foot down and give them a set of new rules when it comes to spending time online. I told them that they can play games on weekends but never on weekdays. I can sense that the game is so addicting, that's why I don't want them to start playing on weekdays. 

One of my daughters also like to browse a lot and participate in social networking sites like Friendster and Myspace. I talk to her about the importance of not disclosing private information about herself and our family. 

I told them that the reason we bought computers for them and had the internet installed is not just for leisure purposes. It is something that is suppose to help them with their school projects and assignments and not distract them. Of course, I still try to give them a room for fun.  But as much as possible, I see to it that there are other fun activities at home that they can do offline. 

Do you check your kids' online activities?

An internet user can visit any sites he wants. The website can't accurately determine the age of the visitors. As parents, we know that there are sites that our kids are not suppose to visit. We have to openly communicate with our children what's allowed and what's not. I personally think that it's a good idea to block certain websites. I am not a techie mom and I admit I also need help when it comes to this. You can find a lot of tips and ways online on how to block access to certain websites. 

Chinese Birth Calendar

Predict your baby's age! 

Back during those days when ultrasound was not yet created, what do the ancient Chinese use to know their baby's gender? Well, there's a Chinese Birth Calendar.

I heard about the Chinese Birth Calendar a long time ago. In my case, the predictions given was 75% correct.That may just be a coincidence because no one had really proven the accuracy of the Chinese Birth Calendar. But I want to display a copy of it here on my blog in case you are curious and interested.

How to use the chart:

In order to find the gender prediction, look for the age of mother at conception and then the month in which conception occurred. The intersection of the given row and column would tell the gender predcition. 

(source: www.baby-talk.co.uk)

Christie and Bobby Baskin's 20-Year Kidnapping Case

For almost two weeks now, I had been reading about the "Christie and Bobby Baskin's 20-Year Kidnapping Case". For those who are not familiar with this case, Christie and Bobby Baskin had been abducted by their maternal grandparents in 1989, when they were 8 and 7 years old, respectively. They were raised under the names Jennifer and Jonathan Bunting. 

Last Feb 3, Marvin Maple a.k.a John Bunting was arrested with kidnapping his grandchildren. His wife Sandra Maple a.k.a. Frances Bunting died about two years ago. The grandparents claimed that the children were sexually abused. However, these allegations were provent not to be true. When they were about to hand the custody to the biological parents, they fled to another state, taking the two kids with them. 

The children's biological parents, Mark and Debbie Baskin attempted to make contact with their children while in California from Feb. 6 through Feb. 9, but were unsuccessful. They returned to their Vidalia, Ga., home after that. The couple are still waiting for their children to communicate with them.

This is a very sad experience. The parents and children had been robbed of precious time to build a relastionship with each other. However, we will never know what the truth is behind this kidnap case. There are just too many unanswered questions. But I hope whatever hurt and pain this experience caused the people involved, they will be healed with love and acceptance of what the truth is. 

Are My Kids Watching Too Much TV?

Sometimes I wonder if I let me kids watch too much tv. 

When can we say that it's "too much"? 

Obviously, if they spend watching tv shows more than any other activity, then that's too much. I believe that there are tv shows that helps children's creativity such as the good old Sesame Street. As a parent, I advise that we should look into what our kids watch. Sit down with them to see if what they are watching is  something you can approve. Personally, I find some anime shows to be violent. That's when I suggest that they watch other shows. 

Also, we should introduce other activities to our kids aside from watching tv. While my eldest kid was growing up, I encourage her to read books. Now that she's much older, she prefers reading more than watching tv.  For my kids, I only allow them watch tv at night after they are done with their assignments. Also, the most important thing is that, when it's bed time, they can no longer watch tv. 

Board games with the participation of everyone in the family can be a better tv alternative. On weekends, the family may also go to parks and have picnics. There are means to have family bonding without staying infront of the tv, and without having to spend much. 

A Day in the Life of a SuperMom

What's a typical day for a stay-at-home supermom like me? I get out of bed before anyone else. I prepare something for breakfast and make sure that the hubby and the kids are awake. Sometimes, I would hear them saying "5 mins mom!". I have gotten so used to that, and I wonder if it's my fault that they developed that habit. 

While they do their thing in the bathroom and the shower, I would be cooking either eggs, rice, boneless fish, bacon, pancakes or hotdogs. We usually have breakfast together and then I send them off to school after handing them their allowance. 

When I look around, I know that the first thing I need to do is wash the dishes. Then, I clean the house and do the laundry, (something that I do twice a week). I rest for a while and sit down to watch a noon time show. Of course I need to have a break too! After that I take a bath and then check the budget and see if I need to go grocery shopping. If yes, I only go out for about an hour and be back again just before the family comes home. Then I prepare dinner for the family. 

Dinner is usually a bonding time for us. We eat and talk about what happened during the day. After that, one of the kids would have to wash the dishes, depending on who is assigned for the day. I make sure that the kids are doing their home work before they can watch tv. 

Time to go to bed. The next day, and even the day after that, would be the same. I am comfortable with the routine. For me, it's easier to handle being a supermom when I follow a routine. 

But I see to it that weekends should be more fun for the entire family. Now, that's for another post.

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My Lord, My Saviour

GOD has a perfect plan for my life, I know he never reveals it to me all at once, but as I go along with my life, HE reveals it to me step by step for HE wants me to live by faith and not by sight.

HE has made my life so good as manifested with the windows of my life that HE had now opened. That even if I don't exactly get what I want, I realize that what HE has given me now, is actually is the best for me. For if HE denies me of something, it is for the purpose of giving me something better.

The storms of my life, proves the strength of my anchor. As I continue to love,thrust and depend on HIM, HE provides me with the strength to do the impossible. For to thee I entrust my life unto HIM. For HE is MY GOD,MY LORD,MY SAVIOUR!!!!