What are Friends are for?

Friendships are beautiful. Having a friend is a truly a wonderful experience. Good friends stay with us through thick or thin. Some friends go for our money and fame. They are not our real friends. Madihah is Liya’s new friend. They sit next to each other in the classroom. They even go to recess together. Besides learning about each other, the girls improve their communication skills and learn to give and take.

I Just Called to Say…

It was 7am when my mobile phone rang. The other end of the line was my nephew. My sister and her family moved to a different town about a month ago. Ajib has been missing Aldeen. Aldeen is more than a cousin; a brother, a hero, a friend, an accomplice anything that pops up in the mind.

Above all, it is a natural and real ‘friendship’ that has been formed. Put aside the family ties, Aldeen and Ajib seemed compatible. They hardly quarreled and their mutual understanding amazed me.

What makes a child give-and-take? His/her need to be accepted. Not so much on chemistry, both parties can share interests, common goals and most of the time, toys.

Raising Kids – The Obamas’ Style

I read the article published by Reader’s Digest, June 2009 (www.rdasia.com) called 8 Lessons From the Obamas on Raising Kids by Paula Spencer.

Despite running a nation and being busy parents, The First family chooses dinnertime to reflect each other’s daily experiences and “hands-on approach to raising children with care and love.” They also believe in extended family’s support and contribution towards raising a positive and happy family (Big Momma is in the White House)

1. Knowing they are loved – children need to feel belonged, important, and share thoughts and activities with their parents.

2. Not being spoiled and growing up too fast – instill family values when children are in early childhood, be their shoulder to cry on, share and be chatty.

3. Experiencing the security of consistency and tradition – upholding and be proud of family traditions, habits, rituals

4. Being enveloped in a close circle of support – close friends, family friends

5. Having rules – and some permission to bend them – Dr Alvin Poussaint, a psychologist at Harvard Medical School asserts, “parents have to do what they think is right.”

6. Learning to think of others – developing a sense of responsibility, altruism, gratitude

7. Being unplugged – many modern parents can’t live without laptops and Blackberries while children accompanied by TV, videogame and radio. Go back to the basics – motor skills, outdoors..  “President Obama has read Harry Potter – all seven volumes – aloud to daughter Malia”

8. Having parents who admit raising kids is difficult – First Lady also juggles between family and work; tough thing to do but psychologist Elkind emphasizes good parenting must consist of ROOTS (security and guidance) and WINGS (freedom and opportunity)