Ellasphere

When we sing a lullaby to our children, it gives them a sense of comfort of security. The kind of love and affection that is conveyed in the way you sing it goes deep down into their hearts and this will have a great impact in their lives as they grow. When a child is truly loved by the home, then they take this love with them and they impart this love, unconditionally.

Now it really touches me when artists can actually compose a song for their children and I can’t help but imagine how they are at home. I could visualize that artist being a parent to his/her child. A father that grabs a guitar and sings to his children as they sleep…. I don’t know, but the melody created by the guitar is truly a heartfelt music…

As I listen to these songs, I would catch myself in tears as I am overwhelmed with feelings..

Here is the song that really caught me… from Kenny Loggins.

When you feel afraid,
When you lose your way, I’ll find you,
Just try to smile, and dry your eyes,
I will bring back the moon into your skies.
And ever you will, remember darling, I’ll be there to:

Say to you
I’ll promise you
I’ll promise to
Comfort you and say to you
Darling, I’ll be there just for you.

There’s so much to learn,
and when you want me
Then I’ll show you,
And through the years,
You’ll always be
The lullaby in the heart of the child in me.

Whenever you will, remember darling
I’ll be there to

Say to you
I’ll promise you
I’ll promise to
Comfort you and say to you
Darling, I’ll be there just for you.

Hold it, feel it,
Music is in your heart.
When you need it,
Just keep listening,
Let it sing, let it sing.

Though you’ve grown away
No matter how you’ll change
I’ll know you.
And when you tire of life alone,
There will always be one sure way back home

Just turn on the quiet,
and you close your eyes
and listen inside
(unconditional)
(unconditional)
(unconditional)

I’ll be there to sing to you,
I promise you
I promise to
Comfort you
and sing to you.

And darling, I’ll be there,
Anytime, and anywhere,
Cody I’ll be there just for you.

Kenny Loggins did this song to his second child, Cody. How nice… How loved…

Well, we don’t need to know how to pluck a guitar or hit the right notes. Love itself can already set your music straight and besides, no other voice can ever be as angelic as ever for your kids. You will always be the best singer for them. So go ahead and express your love every night with a song of love as you put them to sleep.

Toddlers are really creative! They are so full of ideas and imaginations. These unique ideas need avenues for them to release and express them. As you give opportunities for our young artists to express their talents in different media, you don’t only allow them to have fun, but you are also helping them stimulate their creative minds as well, thus helping them develop and improve in this area. For instance, if you see your child starts to piling up or setting up some books on the floor and starts to hitting them with a stick, perhaps they are into playing drums, so go and buy or set up real ones for him. Or if you see markings of crayons, pencils or paint on your walls, perhaps you need to get your child easels or coloring books for them to use. Children need an outlet to express themselves in different ways.

By the time my husband and I bought them a doodling pad called the Tomy Megasketcher, my son Keith started to doodle somelines and figures until he came up with various pictures from it. He shows them to me and he’ll tell me, “Mom, take a picture.” From then on , he would sketch especially during his freetime, then i would take a picture of it through my camphone. Then I thought of setting up a blogsite, just to feature them, sort of a museum, I guess… And in the future, I’m going to show it to him, and boy, would he be so proud! Keith’s Doodle Pad

Doodling not only stimulate the mind to think creatively, but it helps children to think beyond pictures and helps them interpret drawings. This will also exercise their hand and muscle control, fine motor skills, and eye-hand coordination. Furthermore, it supports the aim of saving trees by conserving paper since doodle pads such as Megasketcher can be erased after every used. Take a picture of each of their drawing if you really want to treasure each output they make then set up a mini-museum for everyone to see.

Happy doodling..! (I just love to hear and say that word! DOOdles!)

Have you been experiencing those waking up blues in the middle of the night due to your baby’s crying for no reason at all? Have you tried singing a thousand of lullabies, or danced a million waltzes just to calm your baby down?  Your baby must be experiencing what we call colic. Colic is a condition wherein babies cry aloud or scream without any reason at all. This condition is common among bottle-fed infants, usually when they have failed to burp the gas out after feeding, which in turn can cause abdominal pains for the child. This occurs to infants before their third month. When this happens, the infant feels the discomfort, until the pain becomes unbearable, resulting to scream and disturbing cries in the night.

When a baby cries due to colic, parents end up getting frustrated for many reasons. First is, the fact that parents need to supervise and keep an eye on the baby for the whole day, and making sure that the baby is provided with his or her needs. Then parents get tired and exhausted at the end of the day. Second, the pains and the torture of knowing that you can’t make your baby stop crying are frustrating also. Third is the inconvenience of getting up in the middle of the night, causing a major disturbance to your sleep and rest, to make the baby stop crying. Fourth is the unending argument of who’s going to attend to the baby, not to mention, the disturbance it can cause to the neighbors or to other members who apparently lives with you in the same house. Furthermore, the baby is the one who suffers the most and as parents, you tend to wish for the pain to subside right away, or to have it passed on to you instead to spare your baby from the colic’s unbearable pain.

One way of solving this common problem is to have your child lie flat on his/her stomach. This will help to loosen up the gas in his tummy and eventually it will help avoid colic in children. Also, do not forget to help your baby burp after feeding.  A massage with chamomile oil unto his abdomen will help ease the pain and discomfort of the baby. You may also try tapping on your child’s tummy area gently to determine whether the child may have gas or not. Then massage him/her with oil.

I came across a page wherein it seeks of donors for umbilical cord blood. At first I was kinda surprised because I never thought it was possible to actually do that, and there is a need for it. Umbilical cord blood is said to be have cells that forms new blood cells, which are no longer needed by the baby. But what makes it useful is that it can help save patients who are suffering from diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma. Blood transplant is a way to save the lives of these patients, and one way is through umbilical cord blood. So after the baby is delivered, the umbilical cord is clamped, then the blood and the placenta will be put in a sterile bag then it will be stored. Then it is given to the cord blood bank for storage and testing. The blood has to have large amount of cells to be used for transplant. The cord blood is collected after it is cut or detached from the baby, so it won’t cause any discomfort for the mother and the baby, so no risk is involved as far as they are concerned. Imagine, something that is being discarded such as cord blood is actually important and it can help save lives of people. Aside from the main function of umbilical cord is to connect the mother and the child while the he/she is still in the womb, it would also extend a life when it is donated and transplanted. Pretty amazing because imagine how God thought of this, and it makes me think that every inch of us is already a miracle, and it can make more miracles for others as well. It is a good thought too, because a mother and a child get to have a big Samaritan act from the very start. What a way to help those who are in need, I would say…

You might have encountered an ad that goes, “Breastfeeding is best up to two years…” Well, that is so true my dear mommies. Breastfeeding has a lot of benefits for our child in all aspect of his growth and development. Not only that, parents would also reap from its benefits too!

1. Colostrum, the very essential substance that breastmilk has contains nutrients necessary to strengthen the immune system of the child. Colostrum would be the very first thing that would come out from the mother’s breast, that is why it is important that the child will be able to get it from the mother, the very moment of child birth.

2. Breastfeeding can be very practical for your family, as far as expenses is concern. You can get to express your milk every now and then and stock up in the fridge. It has been proven that the freshness of breastmilk lasts for two months as long as it is not removed from the freezer. You don’t have to buy those expensive formula milk as a substitute for your breastmilk.

3. Breastfeeding is a bonding time between you and your baby. As you nurse your child with your milk, the baby gets to feel the warmth of your embrace and this contributes to the well- being of the child. As you sing him/her a lullaby, your feelings unite and your baby gets to have part of you on him/her. This makes you feel that joy and the fulfillment as mother.

However, there are pains to breastfeeding, I would say. But there are some tips as to how to overcome them.

1. Always clean your nipples. Have your petroleum jelly ready to treat them and moisturize them to ease the burn.

2. Eat warm soup and include in your diet foods like mussels, malunggay leaves to stimulate your glands and produce more milk for your baby’s meal.

3. Use nurser’s brassieres for easy breastfeeding and to avoid the discomfort and the hassle of breastfeeding especially when you are in public places. Always wear buttoned blouses as well.

4. Breast pads will always come in handy.

5. Choose the breast pump that you are most comfortable at. And be ready because they tend to become painful and they don’t give the same comfort to you as when you are with your baby.

6. Consult your OB GYNE if you have any discomforts or pains that you think are not normal anymore. Do not hesitate to ask questions if you have any doubts.

Nothing beats a bonding between a child and a mother. Breastfeeding is truly best for babies! (and for mommies too!)

So you have decided to go on with it? You want to start having your own kids and build that family you’ve always dream of. Exciting, eh? It can be exciting and you’re a little anxious as well. Motherhood will definitely bring major and dramatic changes in your life as parents. Planning for your pregnancy will be very helpful to ensure your safety even at your birth. Here are the things you need to check upon planning for your pregnancy:

1. Your health comes first. A thorough physical and medical checkup will enable you to trace possible health problems that you might not be aware of that might hinder you from getting pregnant. A checkup will also help you avoid possible complications that may arise during your pregnancy and during the delivery.

2. Consult your OB-Gyne. An obstetrician gynecologist is a specialist in woman’s reproductive health and is expert on pregnancy and birth. The doctor can have your breast checked up, have your blood tested and provide pap smear. Choose the one who you’d be comfortable talking to so you can ask questions about your pregnancy.

3. Care for your teeth too. Your teeth and gums are one of those that will get affected due to the hormonal changes that are brought about by your pregnancy. Have them treated and cleaned up before your pregnancy. Oh, and you may want up to stack up some calcium in your body too to strengthen your teeth and gums.

4. Stay healthy and fit. A well-balanced diet, backed up with supplements, plus a physically fit body enable you to reserve strength to keep your stamina to do the usual things you do normally while you ensure the safety of your baby. Remember that whatever you have in your body, all the nutrients and ailments you may have, will all be passed on to the baby.

5. Have your savings ready. There are a lot of expenses to consider when you get pregnant. One of these is your monthly check-up, laboratory fees, nutrient supplements, plus your hospitalization fees. Not to mention, the expenses brought about the delivery and the materials needed by the baby when he is born. It is important that you have some cash to spare or perhaps a medical insurance to cover your pregnancy.

These are the most important things you need to attend to when you plan to have a family of your own. Planning a baby helps the couple be creative to meet their needs to fulfill not only the mother’s needs but their baby’s needs as well.

During a surprise shower party of my co-teacher in the school where I teach, I was tasked to give an advice for her about marriage. I was asked to advise her about what it is like to be married. Then I told her, of course to the staff as well, that people have this misconception about marriage, that it limits you from things that you are used of doing when you are still single. It is true that life changes when you get married, of course. You need to be in a place with the one you chose to be with, to be your partner in life, and do all things with him/her, decide on things with him/her in the picture. Lifestyles change when you get married and your perspective widens up as well.

But marriage should not limit you and your partner in doing the things you usually do before you got married. Once you have entered this life together, the more that you should find comfort in every endeavor that you may have together. And marriage should allow you to have more fun moments together, share new experiences together, and explore each other.

So I said, ” Both of you should make everything legal. Try to have an adventure together and put a spice into your married life. Be someone whom your husband would long to see and go home to everyday. Give him little bits of surprises each day and make him say to himself, ‘How lucky I am to have her as my wife!’. Always stay beautiful in his eyes, inside and out, and make him your world. Then nurture the love that you have with respect for each other. Remember to enjoy each other’s company for you have married your best friend.”

Marriage is something that will make you discover yourself and your partner as well. You have chose to be with that someone so love and accept each other. Be strong for each other and learn from each other. Love will always be the foundation of such wonderful and eternal relationship. And let God be the center of the relationship. After all, God is love (1 John 4:8)!

Enjoy thy marriage!

Little barefoot philosophers– that’s what Cynthia Copeland Lewis call kids. She believes that children teach us a lot of things because of their pure and innocent hearts. They see the world in a simple way, without complications or whatsoever. Kids would explain things plainly, but we know that each of these words would have an impact on us in one way or another. It is important therefore to listen to our kids and imitate their meekness and simplicity, and be inspired with their creative minds.

Here are some of those wise words I have read from the book, “Really Important Stuff my Kids Have Taught Me”.

“You can either keep pedaling, get off the bike, or fall over..”

“Yell if you want to be heard.”

“Wander.”

“Wonder.”

“Write your name everywhere.”

“It’s hard to like the piano if you are forced to take lessons.”

” How do you know you can’t make a rocket out of thin foil boxes and cardboard unless you try?”

“If your dog doesn’t like someone, you probably shouldn’t either.”

“If you’re going to take just one step, make it a giant step.”

“The longer the test, the better you feel when it’s over.”

I remember the Cosby show, “Kids Say the Darnest Things” that I enjoy watching then. And I say, they do. But kids too, say the wisest thing, wouldn’t you agree?

Like any other authors, teachers and parents, I too, fell in love by this poem which I first read in one of the posters in the school where I teach. This poem also has been a topic shared in our one of those food for thought sessions in our faculty meetings. And then I came across to the parenting book with the same title, which has drawn inspiration from this poem. So I bought it and read. Wow, it had helped me understand my children. It has tips that can help you become the best parent you would want to be and to improve you as a person as well. Let me share this poem to you by Dorothy Law Nolte.

Children Learn what They Live

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness

If children live with fairness, they learn justice

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

-Dorothy Law Nolte

Do I need to say more?

You are a parent. You were given a very fulfilling task that has changed your life from the time you have decided to build your own family. Since the very day your child came and took him/her under your wing, you have decided to give the best for this child and you have automatically unleashed this new side of you… a parent. Parents, you have been given a noble job to touch and nurture a life. You have now have the power to help create a better future not only for your own children but to everyone as well. A parent who has the power to raise children who will soon make history and contribute to the betterment of the world. You have the power to raise children who are truthful, confident, fair, respectful, appreciative, loving, friendly, responsible, God-fearing, and happy. God has given you the power to take care of His child, a child whom He created for a purpose, His purpose.

The power of parenting has given us a purpose in life. And that power must grow as well. The power of parenting has to be nurtured and therefore must be upgraded every now and then by sharing with friends, reading related texts and most of all, listening to our children and see if we are really getting into them. Like any other privileges given to us, the power of parenting should not be abused as well. We parents should not abuse our children by hurting them and stepping on their rights. We should raise them according to how God wants us to raise them.

The power of creating, molding, and changing lives- all rolled into one power— the power of parenting.