Archives for July 2010

Breastfeeding Month

August is breastfeeding month.And if you must know, I support breastfeeding and I advocate it. There is so much benefits breastfeeding can give. Imagine being able to feed your baby even if you’re only on your lingerie. If you are on bottle feeding, you need to wear your robe, your shirt before even standing up to prepare a formula for the baby. That’s actually the most convenient benefit of breastfeeding. No need to get up in the middle of the night to feed the baby. All you have to do is open your shirt or clothes and the baby will know where it is.

Of course in terms of health, breastfeeding has a lot of benefits. I can attest to that as all my kids are breastfed. I breastfed them exclusively for a year. And during that time and until now, they seldom got sick (except when they were infected with Primary Complex). And though they are always on the slimmer side, they are healthy and they are very active kids.

Then there’s the financial benefits of it. Imagine not buying baby formula for a whole year? You can save a lot! And also, when you breastfeed a baby, they seldom wet their diapers, so that’s another one. You won’t have to change their diapers often.

Emotionally, in my own opinion and in my experience, I feel bliss whenever I breastfeed my baby. There is so much contentment on it. Imagine being able to give life and being able to nourish that life, that is just too much. I am talking here on the emotional benefit on me.

Breastfeeding is not easy. I have been there and it was really hard. You need to be focused on your goal. You need to exert effort. You need to know that if you choose to breastfeed you have to work hard. Not all woman are lucky enough to express milk right after their baby’s are delivered. Like me, I worked two weeks before any milk comes out of my breast. It was painful but I am determined to breastfeed my baby. All my efforts were all worth it.

I don’t criticize moms who did not breastfeed their baby but to me, it’s the most natural thing to do, so why not feed your baby.

I hope in the future, I will be able to help new moms on how to breastfeed and how not to give up on it.

Should You Give Money Allowance To Your Kids?

Last year when I still have two pre schoolers, I prepare their snacks and they don’t bring money with them. I am all against to pre schoolers having money allowance for their snacks. I do believe that giving money at this very young age is not appropriate. This can lead to kids not eating enough. How can you be sure that the kids are buying nutritious food? or what if they are not buying food at all? I am just glad that the pre school section of my kids’ school have no canteen.Now, this year, my oldest boy is in Grade 1. And during their classes, they were toured around the school (including the canteen). That spiked an interest on my boy. It’s very simple to him, there’s a place where he can buy things, so why won’t he buy there? Knowing him and his curiosity level, I just have to give what he wants. Of course, I need to moderate it. So I told him he can only bring money on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first week was not successful, he bought candy and a lot of other stuff (I gave him 20 Pesos). The next week is worst. His dad gave him 50 Pesos! So he bought erasers and even gave some of his money to his classmate. I know that the intention of my hubby is to teach him how to handle money. But I think it is rather too early. So the next week, I threatened him that if he buys a candy again, I will no longer give him money for allowance. And of course I have to give him a smaller amount. Now his allowance is only 10 Pesos, just enough to buy him cookies.

How about you? Do you think you should give money allowance to your kids? Why and why not?

Cruise Deals For The Family

When people contemplate where to spend their hard-earned vacation, a cruise is high on the list of choices. However, some people think a cruise is simply not affordable; this is no longer the case. Many cruise deals are, in fact, affordable. For example, many cruises are all-inclusive – no extra costs for food. Cruise ships often feature multiple swimming pools, hot tubs, games and activities for children, entertainment, bars, and much more. Onshore activities are also available, based on location, giving passengers a chance to explore many places during one trip.

Vacationers also have an option to use a service or agency that will arrange the trip on one of the major cruise lines – any destination is just at your fingertips when booking through an agent. A cruise is the perfect vacation for many travelers as there are activities for singles and families. In fact, there are singles cruises designed for individuals to embark who hope to meet that special someone. Of course, some cruise lines cater more toward families, such as Disney, Carnival, and Island. These ships often feature programs for children, so that they can spend the days playing with other children their age and enjoy kid-friendly activities (with supervision provided). As one might expect, parents can relax together, assured that their children are in great hands.

Other cruise lines feature five or six star accommodations and dining, such as Celebrity, Holland, and Silversea. If you are looking for something romantic there are intimate and romantic getaways for couples on cruises offered by Windstar and Azmara. Many of these ships have special deals for couples celebrating personal milestones. No matter what your fancy, there is a cruise for you – so save up your vacation time and get ready for your vacation aboard a beautiful cruise ship.