Infant Abandonment on a Potty

A woman gave birth inside a port-a-potty, leaves her baby inside the toilet, comes out to ask for a cigarette and mentions casually that people shouldn't go inside since she's just given birth there. A 911 call was made and the baby was rescued (the baby was also probably saved by all the trash in the potty which prevented it from drowning).

Now... I am trying to come around to the idea of restorative justice but I think parents like this should at least be made infertile as one of the natural consequences they'd have to face for committing such a crime. Rehabilitate such people all you want but never give them again their right to a child. Let them volunteer instead or babysit, but never give them the privilege again of being responsible for a life!

Source

Quitting the Couch

The fact is, even the best diet pills won't work if mothers do not quit the couch and start moving around and getting some exercise. And unfortunately for some, even household chores won't cut it, they really need vigorous workout in order to burn the post-pregnancy weight off.

Some moms get creative. They continue doing their chores but they add a twist to them. They polish the floor using both legs to get both worked out. They use the baby as weights (and it's play for baby too!). Some brisk walk in the mall as they do errands.

Creativity and resourcefulness will pay off. And some amount of resistance. But really, it's all about quitting the couch!

If You Were The Victim's Mom

Say your child was the victim of a crime made by a minor. Do you think you can have the heart to remember that the perpetrator was a minor, and therefore, still a child too? Do you think you can be considerate and think that child is also just a victim of his circumstances? Do you think you can forgive? Show mercy?

Gentle Wake Up Call

I let my kid roam while he eats. I also let him watch TV sometimes while he eats and roams. And I let my cousin force him (by distracting him with TV or a stay outside) to eat a bowlfull of food during mealtimes.

All wrong.

Because I am not teaching him to respect the dining table and mealtime (which also shouldn't last for more than 30 minutes). I am not teaching him to value the ritual of eating with the family. I am not teaching him to listen to his own fullness cues.

But of course, I still am doing some things right. I mean, he eats generally healthy meals (mostly rice, veggies, fruits and fish). He can feed himself and is allowed to do so, provided he isn't playing with his food. He's a healthy weight and doesn't seem to have issues about food (yet).

But still, I was given a nudge at the 33rd Pedia Talk Live. And I shall heed.

Baby Magazine's July Issue: Grab A Copy

This is super shameless plug but do get a copy of Baby Magazine's July issue to read the article I wrote on Dads and Breastfeeding. If that's not enough reason to spend P150 for, then buy a copy for the Educhild article on self-esteem because it is very, very enlightening!

Basically, it says that a high self-esteem does not always translate into achievements. I guess esteem is either of two things, knowing what is and knowing what can be done. Knowing one is smart and loved does not always mean one will make good, responsible decisions. But knowing one can make choices and changes to improve things for oneself can result in brilliance and happiness.

Go, go, go... buy na!

My Aqua Boy

My son loves the water. Unfortunately, he isn't fond of drinking it from a cup I offer him, one I made sure is clean. And when I give him baths, this love for water becomes a problem because he drinks it however which way. He opens his mouth to catch what's coming out of the shower head. He sticks out his tongue under the bathroom faucet. He uses his stacking cups or the tabo to drink his bath water. Or he tries to ingest what's in his baby bath dispenser. He even bends forward to lick at bubbles and sip bath water.

Gross.

It's a wonder he's never had LBM from these episodes!

Plurk Mommies

Finally got to meet more of the Plurk Moms I keep chatting with everyday. Twas so much fun, we didn't realize we have been gabbing for hours already!



Photo courtesy of Jen T. :)

Meanwhile, my son strutted towards the Jollitown event at Shang.