Sexual Abuse of Children

I have been reading a book called Bitter Chocolate. It is a book with an awful subject which just Must be read.

I know that most of you reading this blog either have young children of your own or are getting there. i believe this is something that affects us all.

This book is not new and has received the publicity that is due to it when it was released. But at that time, it was an issue that did not, unfortunately, interest me as it does now and also something i was lucky enough not to be able to relate to.

Sexual Abuse is not the worst thing that can happen to a child. Parents not acknowledging the problem exists and sometimes even when the child tries to communicate it - that is the worst thing. Parents first of all need to know that their child is as vulnerable as any other. They need to be aware and be fierce watch dogs to protect their children, many times from their own family and friends. That is the scary part. And it doesnt matter if it is a boy or a girl. Both are equally vulnerable.

I must warn you that this book is depressing, distressing and many times downright nauseating. But i do believe we are better off reading it. We might save a child and it just might be our own.

Times-they-are-a-changin...

"12 discipline tricks that work"

..and i am actually reading this. sheesh.

Moments of Truth!

Got this forward from Dad. Just could not NOT put it in here. ENJOY!

WHY GOD CREATED CHILDREN(AND IN THE PROCESS GRANDCHILDREN)

To those of us who have children in our lives,whether they are our own, grandchildren, nieces, nephews,or students...here is something to make you chuckle.Whenever your children are out of control,you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extendto His own children.

After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve.And the first thing he said was"DON'T!"
"Don't what? "Adam replied."Don't eat the forbidden fruit."God said."
Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit ?Hey Eve..we have forbidden fruit! ""No Way! ""Yes way! "
"Do NOT eat the fruit! "said God.
"Why? "
"Because I am your Father and I said so! " God replied,wondering why He hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants. A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He was ticked!
"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit? "God asked.
"Uh huh,"Adam replied.
"Then why did you? "said the Father.
"I don't know,"said Eve.
"She started it! "Adam said."Did not! ""Did too! ""DID NOT! "

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own.Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.
BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY!
If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it,don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children,what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
!1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spendthe next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.
2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.
3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.
4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact,they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.
5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.
6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.

ADVICE FOR THE DAY: Be nice to your kids.They will choose your nursing home one day.

AND FINALLY:IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, DO WHAT IT SAYS ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE:"TAKE TWO ASPIRIN"AND "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN"!!!!!

Grrrr

All the love went flying out of the window.

15 minutes to get him into the car. Another 15 to cajole/coax/threaten him into putting the seatbelt on. I am late all the time, everywhere. Yesterday, he went around acting cute when i wanted him to drink up his syrup and i totally lost it.

I really dont get how people survive having more than one child!

The Mask

Junjun's wheeze is acting up again. Off to the nebulization counter. But this time, no kicking and screaming. My little one has grown up a lot more than i thought. He let me put on the inhalation mask on his face and very maturely sat through till all the medicine had been inhaled. His only question 'amma, arjun looking handsome?'

I never thought it possible but at that moment, i am quite sure i felt a physical something happen in my heart, and i am quite sure its called love. We are just praying he gets better quickly. He seems strong enough to take it... have my doubts about maddy and me though!

Wha??

Today's portions

1. Revision of Legs


...written on the white board at arjun's school.

:)

Much ado about shorts.

Children usually graduate from shorts to pants. Our little boy is finally graduating from pants to shorts. I had given up on ever seeing him in a pair of shorts. Because of his skin problem, he would always be clad in a pair of full length tracks/pants. But thanks to the removal of milk from his diet, there is a huge improvement in his skin and he now looks like any other little boy - in a pair of shorts! We have crossed a huge milestone.....but i have to stop buying just about all the pairs of shorts i set my eyes on! :)

Destination Unknown!

I told arjun i wud take him to the zoo tomorrow. He immediately runs to Maddy and says 'Amma taking me to the LOO, yippee' :)

Gem of a monster

Arjun had two 'gems' in his hand. I asked him for one. He told me to go to the shop and buy some more. I pointed out that since he had two, he could give me one and he could have one and both of us would be happy. He immediately popped both into his mouth and said, 'amma, pl go to the shop and buy some more.'

Maddy and i are bringing up a monster.

The pain.

arjun almost smashed his finger in the car door.

Almost. It did get caught in the space between the door and the dashboard though. And it hurt. But no damage done. Here is the ensuing conversation

Me : .....next time u get in the car quickly and let me close the door!! Now see whats happened to your finger(...rant...rave......rant some more) and ...so you BETTER listen to amma next time, ok?

Arjun : NO.

...and he isnt even anywhere NEAR being a teenager yet.