Remedy Update

As I promised here is my update on the seasonal allergies nightmare. The locally sourced honey in NC worked like a charm. I only gave LB a couple of doses and he was fine for the rest of the week. Back in the UK, since spring often forgets to come we began to think that we had been spared the misery of the UK allergy season - but OH MY DAYS!!!!!! - WHAM came the allergies, more commonly referred to as Hay Fever here. As I mentioned before BB does not suffer at all in the UK, poor LB on the other hand is having a horrible time. He is beginning to look as though he has done a couple of rounds with what's his name - Mayweather? Merryweather? y'know the boxer! Puffy red eyes, sneezing, irritated nose etc but fortunately I have some locally sourced Birmingham honey. So far it does not seem to be having the same effect as the NC honey. I am really trying hard not to medicate but I cannot let him suffer much longer. Have to sort out a miracle cure TODAY!

April Fool, Oh So Cruel!

Picture: south.com


So where did it all start. Well according to popular belief April Fool's day began as a part of the Vernal Equinox celebrations which took place usually around March 25th. There are actually many explanations of it's origin but I'm going to talk about the ones I like the best.
Remember Chaucer; notorious Classical writer of the 14th century? His writings show the earliest record of any reference made to April Fool's in his story 'The Nun's Priest's Tale'. It is about two fools and takes place thirty two days from the beginning of March - April 1st!
Also of notable mention is the fact that prior to the establishment of the Gregorian Calendar New Years day originally fell on the first day of April. In Europe prior to the 1500's it was customary to deliver and exchange gifts to friends and relatives to celebrate the 'new beginnings' on April 1st. However in 1564 Charles IX decided that he liked January 1st better and declared it as the replacement New Year (can he do that?). Anyway, there were many who opposed this change and others who were just not aware of it - naturally these people became easy prey for practical jokers who would fool them with felicitous gifts and pranks ostensibly celebrating the New Year. And naturally the tradition continued.

And if you believe any of the above then...

No seriously, these are actual theories. And yes I know the joke would be on me since it's after 12pm and blah, blah, blah...

So if you've been caught out today - sorry! If you haven't then like me you have been spared the indignity and humiliation of looking like a twerp. Well done!

Is it just a bit of fun or is it a day that the vulnerable among us dread? Dunno really, maybe it depends on which end of the prank you are sitting.

Have fun! Be Nice!

Remedies

As most of us know we are entering that time of year when at last we can put away our gloves, hats scarves and overcoats, in addition to shedding the three extra layers of thermal insulation. It is also the time of year when unfortunately many of our kids endure the misery of sneezing their little noses off, resisting the urge to rub those itchy red eyes and try desperately to scratch an itch located somewhere between the back of the throat and nasal passage.
Interestingly my eldest BB having spent his first nine years in Virginia suffered terribly with allergies until we went to England where they completely vanished.
Conversely LB who was completely unaffected developed allergies almost immediately. Now that we are currently in NC I find both boys are showing symptoms. Not Good!

Now being a mom who resists the urge to use medication unless it is an absolute necessity, I have tried several methods to combat the misery caused by seasonal allergies without great results. However, lately I have come across articles that recommend the use of local honey to combat the effects of allergies. According to research it is suggested that by administering daily doses of locally produced honey one can expect to see a great improvement in the condition. So of course I had to try it. (My Brother calls me an advertiser's dream). We visited the farmers market over the weekend and purchased a jar of local honey. I have been giving daily doses of it to LB and expect to see a miraculous result of some kind (ha!). I do have concerns about sweet stuff in the diet so I am giving only a teaspoonful daily diluted with an equal amount of water (I actually don't know what the recommended dose is). Now, it may be a little too soon to tell but LB is really not sneezing or feeing congested right now - unlike the first day after we arrived.
So watch this space - I'll let you know how it goes.


Also


I SWEAR BY........

Garlic. Yes garlic! It is a miracle cure in my home. Particularly for colds and related symptoms. It is very useful on its own crushed and infused with hot water; letting it simmer for about five minutes I find is most effective. It is best taken neat, but in an attempt to avoid a rebellion I allow LB a little juice with his. It usually knocks out a severe cold in one day.

I also came up with what I call the LOOGI remedy. Combine Lemon (juice), Onion, Oregano, Garlic and INFUSE with about a quarter cup of water (5 mins). It really works for colds.

NOW FOR THE DISCLAIMER:

I AM NOT A DOCTOR NEITHER AM I MEDICALLY TRAINED IN ANY CAPACITY. THESE ARE PERSONAL REMEDIES THAT WORK FOR ME. TRY THEM IF YOU WISH. OR DON'T. It's okay I won't be offended, really I won't.

Have a great day one and all!!

Manners to be taught is schools

So the word on the street today is that the Government is forking out a huge sum of money for the purpose of teaching manners to children in schools - since as the big wigs assume, most kids don't have any. Now, and please forgive the despair in my tone; if there is money to be spent on education why oh why is it not being spent on measures to ensure that children will leave full time education with a rudimentary knowledge off the three R's? I am exhausted at the amount of school leavers that I come across who are unable to string a complete sentence together or write a formal letter. There is a dire need for teachers who are qualified, not just on paper but in practical terms to impart useful knowledge to children that will equip them for a successful future. I guess in some ways I hold to traditional values in that I believe after spending a huge percentage of life in the classroom children should have something to show for it.
I have no real objections to the suggestion of manners being taught and I reflect the sentiments that many kids today are lacking in certain areas. However the learning of manners begins very early in life, it starts even before a child can construct a full sentence. There are so many levels involved in the impartation of acceptable behaviour it could not possibly be effectively instilled in the classroom. Attempting to teach manners to a 15 year old is a waste of resources; a measure that is essentially a day late and a dollar short. There is a fundamental difference between teaching and reinforcing, the latter of which is effective in the classroom.
It is therefore the responsibility of parents to impart their knowledge of the world, of good and evil, of right and wrong to their children. Many argue that the young parents of today don't have the skills themselves. WRONG, they do, most parents have been brought up with a general understanding of right and wrong but choose not (or simply fail) to pass this knowledge on to their children for whatever reason: not around their children enough, working lengthy hours, lack of communication due to the techno/cyber age - who knows. Parents need to go back to what they learnt as children, revisit their own childhoods and pick up where their own parents left off. We all have a responsibility to do our part in creating a healthy wholesome, and safe environment for those who come after us. If we slack off on our responsibilities we are teaching the next generation that that is the thing to do. It's just not O.K to load our responsibilities off onto teachers who are employed to impart knowledge, not raise our kids.
Now what I would support is an enhancement of what has already been learnt in the home. You may argue that with the diversity of cultures in our schools it would impossible to establish a general rule. WRONG again, with slight variations, there are general codes of conduct which transcend all cultures and religious backgrounds. Generally speaking the rules of the indigenous population carry. So how about this, rather than attempt to teach manners and respect, try teaching social etiquette, customs, traditions: - which fork to use for the salad, do you wait for everyone to receive their food before eating; how to use chopsticks properly, how to use cous cous as a spoon; is it rude to slurp in a tepanyaki restaurant. Don't know about anyone else but these are the lessons that would have been valuable to me and money well spent at my school - not to mention FUN.

Not Childhood Obesity Again!

I promised myself that I would not talk about childhood obesity. I promised that I would not jump on the bandwagon of seeking out the 'fat' kids and cast aspersions on their parents. I promised that I would leave that to those who enjoy singling out defective sections of our society.
So I have no intention of explaining that childhood obesity centers around an imbalance between energy in (calories obtained from food) and energy out (calories expended in the basal metabolic rate and physical activity). Neither will I tell you that childhood obesity most likely results from an interaction of nutritional, psychological, familial, and physiological factors.
I have no interest in the fact that a recent study found that at least 20 children have been put under care orders because they are obese. Who cares that medics now believe that extreme cases of overfeeding should be seen as neglect or abuse.
I am actually bored by the fact that the British Medical Association will be meeting on this issue later this month and that the current consensus is that if a child is malnourished it is a cause for public concern, yet there is outrage regarding obesity only in extreme cases. It therefore doesn't matter that the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health advise caution when considering penalties towards parents of obese children, suggesting that care orders should be used only in extreme cases.
As for me - I want no part of it!

Ten Tips for Kids to have Fun Safely

Continuing with our discussion:

With lighter evenings, sunny weekends and an anticipated long hot summer ahead we want our kids to have fun, minus the horrible stuff lurking in the background that most conscientious parents cannot ignore. We also want our kids to be creative, active and enriched with a degree of freedom that allows them to experience independence at a level appropriate to their age. Parenting involves thinking 24/7, it involves planning, diplomacy and strategising. Unfortunately unlike the worry free days of yore it's going to take a little planning. Schedules and lists are a fabulous way to organize the family - thought this is completely optional. I do better writing things down, then when I have a thousand- and- one things on my mind I don't have to squeeze my brain too hard just consult the notice board.

1. Have a list of chores that must be completed prior to recreational activities. This not only teaches responsibility but imbues a sense of confidence and satisfaction when a job is well done.

2.Seek out local organized activities - Boys Scouts, Youth Clubs, Sports Clubs/Camps, Bicycle Groups, the list is endless. Gives children the independence from parents, yet in a supervised facility.
**Be very careful to properly research the facilities first, check all health and safety regulations. Ask as many questions as you need to - don't feel bad, these are your children you are responsible for them and have a right to enquire about their safety. If staff become irate with your questioning that's a clear indication of where you don't want to send your child.

3.Organize day trips to outdoor recreation areas, parks adventure playgrounds etc. Allow your children to bring friends along. Again, stressing the importance of independence, establish boundaries and check points beyond which your child should not venture without your consent. OK bite the bullet, allow them a cell/mobile phone for emergencies. Use this phone to touch bases with your child if they are not within e sight. This will of course depend largely on the age of the child and parental discretion is therefore necessary. Take something to do for yourself; catch up on some reading, crafts, take a friend along yourself and catch upon some good old goss.

4. Invest in season passes for local theme/water parks. Again giving strict instructions regarding boundaries, meeting points and pick-up points. Make sure you have a means of contacting them in case of emergencies or park closures due to inclement weather and other adverse situations. This will generally be suitable for the older child).

5. Organize trips to the library. Upon arrival allow your child to visit the department of his choice to browse or to just sit and read. You do the same. Agree upon a meeting time. Taking the books home allows for a more sedate activity to be worked into an otherwise active schedule.

TOMORROW...
Five more top tips on ensuring safety and fun all in one!

Wi-fi Warfare

Recently the Wifi revolution has been the subject of great debate within the media and the education system: Is it safe? Or is it harmful? Naturally parents are going to be concerned if there is a threat to the health of their children and though others consider it to be an overreaction to a media hype, it remains a valid concern until parents can categorically be assured that there is absolutely no risk - period! A recent report investigated the radiation emissions of Wifi systems in schools and compared them to those of mobile phone masts (a story that dominated the headlines last year when parents feared for the safety of their children who attended schools within close proximity of the masts). The masts are believed to be the cause of a rise in unusual illnesses in children; including many rare forms of cancer and brain tumours. The recent study of the Wifi systems in schools showed that they gave off an average of three times the emissions as those of mobile phone masts. Being a highly cyber-dependent family with computers in every uncaptured space this has been a source of great division in our household. My preference is to err on the side of caution - so as of 2 days ago we became wired again, limiting wireless usage to a bear minimum - for now!

Easing Exam Anxiety

(Picture:BBC News 24)

Its exam time again for many students across the country. (Many of our US readers will already have done them and are now skating down easy street for a nice long summer break). For super cool dudes like my Big Byte exam time is usually as stress free as any other time of the year; but for the majority of us mere mortals ( if my memory serves me correctly) it is a time of high anxiety, sleepless nights, last minute cramming and 'Dear God Let it be over!' moments. So what can be done to alleviate some of this unpleasantness?
An invaluable resource for quick tips and bullet points of note is the BBC Bitesize website. I cannot recommend this site enough for kids of all ages; it makes learning fun and completely comprehensive. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
It can actually be positive for students to feel anxious or nervous about exams. These feelings should be relatively short-lived and are an indication that they are taking the exams seriously. Experts suggest that tension can also serve to channel energy into the short-term task of exam preparation.

In the run-up to exams help your child by:

Attempting to demystify the exams as much as possible. Make sure they know where they will be taking the exams and what they can take in with them.
Talk about fears as they arise and offer them the chance to express their concerns. Offer reassurance when appropriate.
Encourage your child to pair up with others in his or her group. A system of 'revision buddies' can help students to talk about how their studies are going. They will be less likely to bottle-up fears.
Good quality sleep will serve your child well in the run-up to exams: the more hours they get before midnight the better.
Carefully monitor what they eat before and during the exams. High fat, high sugar and high caffeine foods will not optimise brain-function. Neither will going for long periods without eating a balanced meal.

Revision Tips:
Help you child to get organized. Valuable time can be lost through lack of organization
Help them to plan the weeks leading up to the exams, allowing time to cover the necessary topics without limiting relaxation time.
Avoid last-minute cramming.
Encourage them to talk to teachers and fellow students about difficulties as soon as they arise.
Remind them to take breaks often through any revision period: at least ten minutes every hour, if not more. Some form of physical movement helps to kick-start the brain. Stretching, walking and getting some fresh air will all help the learning process. Never let exercise become a luxury, it is a necessity for active brains.
Plan treats and activities. Intensive work and no play leads to despondency. Small tasks, followed by big rewards, help to pace them through anxious times.
You may not have been successful in education yourself, or you may indeed have been a high achiever; either way, you can be a tremendous support to your child. Knowing that they have you in their corner spurning them on is often enough to get them through.

How to Identify if Your Teen Needs Help or is in Trouble.

1.Ask them! Have regular conversations to keep the lines of communication open.
2.Sudden onset of secrecy and avoidance.
3.Sudden and unreasonable outbursts of anger disproportionate to what has caused the anger.
4.Unauthorised absence, lateness, missing curfews and a struggle to come up with valid reasons for their behaviour.
5.Change in peer group with a reluctance to letting you meet the new friends.
6.Increased incidence of missing money and other valuables around the home.
7.A change in grades and attitude towards school in general.
8.Radical and severe mood swings, decreasing interest in usual activities.


This list is not exhaustive and there may be many other signs that are unique to your child and your situation. Also bear in mind that your child is going through many changes which may manifest themselves in one or several of the ways listed above. It is therefore important not to jump to conclusions. Find opportunities to spend time alone with your child. Try to think of something they like to do, and do it together. Be creative; join them in the kitchen on dish-night; catch them right before they go to sleep; take them shopping – your treat! Bake their favourite desert, on one condition – you do it together. Meal times are an invaluable time for touching bases with the family; insist on meals together – it may be the only time throughout the day that you get to eyeball your child. And finally, don’t try to be a hero, solicit the help of friends and family, you’d be surprised how many of the people around you have experienced similar situations. Parenting can be exhausting at times but remember that in having children you automatically by default become enrolled into the parenting community. Your instincts will direct you on who to turn to and how much help to accept. Remembering that hindsight is 20/20 strive to be proactive in your child’s life rather than reactive.

Does your teen need a little more SPACE?

Many parents of teenagers find themselves increasingly being left in the dark when it comes to matters of the heart and issues of a personal nature. I have spoken to so many parents who felt this transition happened literally overnight. One day they existed as the be all and end all to their helpless and completely dependent miniature version of themself who sought their approval before making the smallest of decisions. The next they were locking horns with an unrecognizable body-snatcher who just wanted to be left alone and given some SPACE. Often the friction resulting from this transition leads to anxiety, arguments and suspicion between parents and teens. For many parents, not knowing means not trusting. But this really ought not to be the case.
Fortunately for most families, it is extremely unlikely that arguments during teenage years will cause family relationships to break down permanently. The conflict, although frequent and upsetting, is generally less serious than people think. In fact some researchers see an argument as a positive event. When young people argue with their parents they are learning the art of negotiation, an essential social skill for later life. Teenagers certainly seem to know how far they can push their parents. When they see they are near breaking point they usually back off. (Your response at times can often spark something of a buzz in particularly testy teens – so don’t rise to it)
Parents can be reassured that most teenagers still value their parents’ opinion and will turn to them for help when they are in trouble. Children need to make boundaries between themselves and their parents if they are to become adults. They want to be free of their parents' control and take charge of their own life. Many of us are under the misconception that we need to control our teens. Children respond negatively to being controlled and it doesn’t do their self esteem any favours either. Rather than trying to control their children parents will invariably find that influencing their children through modelling appropriate behaviour, values and attitudes is a much more effective tool.
If your child needs more space then you have a duty to respect that requirement. Not to relinquish all parental responsibility, nor allow them to go hog-wild, but rather to instil confidence in them, shadow them and offer suggestions rather than give direct orders. There are times in all of our households where a firm directive is required. But we are the adults; so let’s use our judgement, choose our battles and guide our teens through this difficult and often unpredictable period.

Sleep - when is enough too much for your teen?

Like mine your teenager has probably got into a pattern of late nights and difficult to rouse mornings. You’re probably getting tired of the Saturday mid-day tirade when the rest of the house has been buzzing with life for several hours and that one room with the curtains still closed and the muffled sound of snoring remains lifeless. Cajoling your teen to wake up just doesn’t seem to work, no matter what you try. This behaviour does not occur necessarily because your teen is lazy there are actual physiological reasons for this behaviour.
Before adolescence, internal rhythms direct most children to naturally fall asleep around 8 or 9 p.m. Puberty changes an adolescent's internal clock — delaying the time he or she starts feeling sleepy by about two hours. Studies in Brazil, Japan and the United States found that adolescents require more sleep than pre-teens but actually get considerably less. Because the sleep timing mechanism is reset in an adolescents body many are incapable of falling asleep earlier, yet school schedules continue to force them out of bed at an early hour- leading to a population of sleep deprived adolescents.
Staying up late to study or socialize with friends can disrupt an adolescent's internal clock even more. Adolescents need about nine to ten hours of sleep a night in order to maintain optimal daytime alertness. But only 15 percent actually get that amount of sleep regularly.
Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences. In addition to causing irritability and moodiness, daytime sleepiness makes it more difficult to concentrate and learn. It can also have detrimental consequences for young drivers.
Trying to play catch up on sleep during weekends doesn't help much. It can actually confuse a teenager's internal clock even more. Intermittent bouts of going to bed early won’t always help matters. Like mine, your son or daughter will just lie in bed awake, finally dozing off in the early hours of the morning.
Some adolescents turn to stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine in an attempt to overcome their daytime sleepiness. However such dependence can backfire and make it even more difficult to go to sleep at a reasonable hour.
In most cases a simple re-setting of the internal clock can be very effective in assuring the optimum level of sleep for teenagers: Exposing the teenager to bright light in the morning will help his or her body to realize it is time to wake up (try a light box). Conversely complete darkness at bedtime can also help to realign the internal rhythm. But this takes time and consistency. (Sudden changes will not help to reset the body’s internal rhythm). Products containing melatonin – a sleep inducing hormone helps people of all ages to resume a normal sleep pattern.
For most teens it is just a matter of adjusting their schedules and managing their time effectively to accommodate an appropriate sleep regime; which you may need to help them with. Help them to prioritize extra curricular activities and minimize social activities on school nights. Though difficult to enforce, suggest an official quiet time prior to bedtime, restricting loud music, video games and the computer. Be sure however to explain the reasons for the restrictions (or bans), pointing out the long-term consequences of sleep deprivation on school work, social relationships and even a future career. In fact it may be a good idea to allow you teen to set his or her own ground rules with your help. If all else fails do consult your physician to rule out any medical problems or sleep disorders.

Beat Bank Holiday Blues

So what are you thinking about this Bank Holiday weekend? Spending extra time with the family? Having a lie in? Enjoying the outdoors and the traditionally good weather?
Maybe, but more than likely your mind will be on the typical bank holiday traffic jams, spending money on a family pass to a theme park or trying to stay dry on the beach when the rain starts to fall. Whatever your plans there are just a couple of things to consider before revving up the engine:
The RAC has warned of "worst ever May Day Bank Holiday congestion" with traffic jams expected to peak on Friday afternoon. They singled out the M25, the M1 through Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire and the M6 around Birmingham as "congestion hotspots", as well as roads to the coast. They are urging motorists to allow an extra 45 minutes for their journeys and to check travel updates online. It said Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire and Longleat in Somerset were likely to be the leading tourist attractions over the weekend.
There are also ugly rumours emerging that the weather promises to be 'unsettled' at best. So be flexible with your plans. (An indoor barbecue works just as well as an outdoor one).
If you plan on hitting the road be sure to take plenty of fluids, stock up on water and interesting snacks. Books on tape/CD are always useful, especially for younger members of the family but do consider the tastes of all family members. Striking a compromise between a ten year old and a fifteen year old is no easy feat believe me - I know, but all I can say is 'thank God for the ipod!"
Most of all be safe, have fun, choose your battles and RELAX!

Allergy Anguish

In the midst of our mini-heatwave thousands of Hay Fever sufferers nationwide are experiencing unusual levels of discomfort for this time of year. The season of misery (for some) has come early this year as record temperatures sparked a hay fever outbreak two months earlier than usual. It has been reported that twice the usual number of people have called NHS Direct complaining of persistent sneezing and eye problems. In many cases the symptoms appear to be more severe than in previous years and the onslaught very sudden. Doctors have reported a significant increase in symptoms among the five to fourteen age range who appear to be the worst affected.
The culprits, it has been suggested are the Silver Birch and Oak varieties which have been producing more pollen in the warm, sunny weather. Typically around June and July most people suffer from allergic reactions to pollen in grasses.
Unfortunately the problem is expected to worsen as Britain predicts a heat-wave similar to that of 2003. (Oh shucks!).
So what do we do? Well I know I'm not the only one out here having to watch while my Li'l Bit (AC) endures the misery of this season. We've all tried the antihistamines and other over the counter remedies which this year seem to be having the same effect as sugar pills, so what else? Invest in an Ionizer; I did and it made a huge difference, especially at night. I've also heard that coating the inside of the nostrils with a thin layer of petroleum jelly also helps in alleviating the symptoms. (N.B not scientific knowledge, just a useful home remedy). Staying indoors with doors and windows closed, particularly in the evening is also useful for keeping the pollen away - though not great news for our adventure loving kids. Flush the eyes periodically with cold water, this eases the itching and soreness and is also very soothing. Apparently wearing wraparound sunglasses helps as I'm sure wearing a veil or even a gas mask does too! - But probably not everyone's style. Changing outdoor clothes and taking showers as close to arriving home as possible also helps to ease the discomfort of the lingering pollen on the body.Try to discourage children from rubbing their eyes as this causes further irritation - I tell Li'l Bit "Don't rub - Flush!" And after rolling his little red eyes at me for being corny we trudge upstairs to the bathroom for some well needed relief.