Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Finding 'quiet'
Today, April 28, is International Noise Awareness Day. Did you know that certain rattles, squeaky toys, toy telephones, and musical toys measure over 110 decibels (comparable to power tools), and that health experts agree that continuous exposure to noise over 85 decibels (about the loudness level of city traffic), over time, will eventually harm hearing in children? Admittedly, that is probably also the level of noise MADE by the children in my household, especially in the late afternoon, and of course I then have to top that, in order to get my message heard... One of the homework items for my 6-year-old this week is finding a quiet place to relax his whole body for a while. Maybe this should be part of our, i.e. parents, homework every day, finding that quiet time and place for our children. That same boy used to like laying down on the floor with me during my last pregnancy doing progressive relaxation. We already know that the level of stress-hormones and the heart-beat goes down when we practise variations of meditation, slow breathing and relaxation. Today I will do my best to find 'quiet' for myself and my children, even if only for ten minutes, it might just do us some good.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Earth Day - the good, the bad and the ugly
Earth Day was yesterday, April 22, and what did I do? Save the world? Not exactly. I did take the kids for a walk in the great outdoors in the afternoon (because it was part of my oldest sons homework...), on the way back I picked up some beer-cans and threw in the recycling bin (normally I don't because I don't want the kids to copy - there are the occasional used syringe in the same area - and I'm a paranoid mother!). And the right out ugly: I drove to a friends place in my big diesel-hungry four-wheel-drive (good for the soul!). Most importantly though: I talked to my kids! My oldest suggested we could water all the plants we find, and also said that bad people were the ones who let gas-filled ballons go, on purpose! Regarding the latter, I had to correct him; a lot of nice people let ballons go to, because they don't know better... when we know better, we do better. Enjoy your children and their wonderful logic!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Oxitocin - my drug of choice
I know now why my baby and I are happily waking up several times a night for a feed. Oxitocin is released in enormous amounts right after a natural birth, making falling in love with your baby possible. More oxitocin is released every time you feed your baby too, both in mother and baby. Oxitocin attaches to the same feel-good places in the brain as cannabis, it gives you a natural high. So to people who feel sorry for me for still having to wake up to feed my almost one-year old: Get off my back, I'm simply feeding my addiction!
Thanks for a wonderful conference weekend, especially Sue Cox's talk and workshop was memorable.
Thanks for a wonderful conference weekend, especially Sue Cox's talk and workshop was memorable.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Fordicia-day and first blog
I thought it was about time I got on this wagon as well. I had a go at blogging a few years ago, without success. This time will be different!
It was fordicia-day today, April 15, and I had invited a bunch of kids over to do their bit for the environment by decorating beautiful calico bags to use instead of plastic shopping bags. When I asked them what happened to many of the plastic bags, they were quick to tell me about bags ending up in the sea, and animals mistaking them for food, and eating them, and consequently getting sick or dying. That made a biologist and conservationist very pleased indead. There is hope for this world!
I also officially unveiled the 'Villa fordicia" sign that my father-in-law made, and celebrated that at least the outside of this beautiful cabin 'down the back' is done.
Oh, and I also made a fordicia facebook page, thought I might as well do it all in one go... but no twitter yet, I think I've done quite well though, keeping up with the times... :)
It was fordicia-day today, April 15, and I had invited a bunch of kids over to do their bit for the environment by decorating beautiful calico bags to use instead of plastic shopping bags. When I asked them what happened to many of the plastic bags, they were quick to tell me about bags ending up in the sea, and animals mistaking them for food, and eating them, and consequently getting sick or dying. That made a biologist and conservationist very pleased indead. There is hope for this world!
I also officially unveiled the 'Villa fordicia" sign that my father-in-law made, and celebrated that at least the outside of this beautiful cabin 'down the back' is done.
Oh, and I also made a fordicia facebook page, thought I might as well do it all in one go... but no twitter yet, I think I've done quite well though, keeping up with the times... :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)