Home Remedies That We Still Use Today

So my daughter is coming down with a flu, and last night I had no medication and no honey. I usually give my kids honey for ANYTHING, a cold, a cough, a tummy bug, because after trying all types of medication and all types of antibiotic, I found that honey works best for my kids. I try to avoid antibiotics because in my simple mummy mind, I believe that their systems get used to it and it stops being as effective, who knows if I am correct... Anyway, back to my story, so I had oranges, the logic behind that was citrus helps something (lol), so I gave her an orange, and I also made her ginger tea...she slept well at least, but is still recovering, its still in the early stages. This made me think, what remedies do other parents use? 

So some of the responses I got from people for a flu were:

1. Ginger, lemon and honey. That one definitely works, this is my number one solution, plus its yummy!!

2. Ginger, garlic, tumeric, cayenne pepper, water and olive oil. Wow! That will DEFINITELY clear sinuses any day I'm sure! Its a lot of "power" in it...hahaha

3. Steaming - hot water in a dish, then cover your child with a blanket and have them breathe in the steam. The thought of a steaming process in this heat made me sweat, but I know we used that a lot as children. My mom would put Vicks in the water. It worked definitely

For a cough I was told:
1. Steaming also works

2. Rub Vicks under your child's feet, make them wear socks. I honestly didn't and still do not understand the logic behind that, but I have been told it works by so many people, so I guess it works

For a tummy bug
1. Salt-Sugar solution. That's standard, it works definitely

Today Amard asked me what the craziest remedy was that I remember and I shared how my dad and uncle put coffee in a bath tub, filled it with hot water and made me sit in it to cure my chicken pox...let me tell you, it didn't work,  and my mom was NOT amused, and  boy were they in trouble! Hahahah!! I really don't know what they were thinking, but it was cute that they tried to help. (Sorry for sharing Dad!) Bless their hearts for trying

We all have our own remedies we grew up on, ones that worked and ones that had really no logic as to why they were done; what do you remember and what do you use for your children?

Please feel free to share some good and crazy concoctions with us!

Till Next Monday

Have fun parenting!

Stay Blessed

Tafi

The Risks Of Posting Your Children On Social Media

Now this is a tough topic because I know many people will disagree with me, and that is fine. All I do is create awareness by providing information, it is up to the individual to decide what to do with that information, but it is always important to make informed decisions.

Every parent wants to share their beautiful child with their friends and family, and social media is the easiest place to do it. Yes there are privacy options, but are your posts really private? What stops your friend or family from sharing that post with someone else? 

Carte Blanche two weeks ago raised awareness on child trafficking and how these predators are going onto social media sites looking for children, and we as parents make it so easy for our child to be found. Sharing location of first day of school, birthday parties and trips away, makes it so easy for someone to just find your child and take them. If you are going to post, avoid sharing location, and also avoid showing your child in school uniform.  These people can lure your innocent child into their car and that's it. Does your child know not to speak to strangers? 

Some paedophiles actually look for pictures and post them on websites that are followed by other paedophiles. In Zimbabwe, we don't have a paedophile alert, but it doesn't mean there aren't any in the country.  With social media, posts are not only limited to your country, other people all over the world may be following your posts and you just do not know it.

If you are someone in the spot light and you post pictures of your children, they could be victimised at school by other kids, depending on your actions as a parent. They could be singled out and treated differently because of your celebrity status, is that really fair on your child? Some could even be bullied by the children of parents who do not like you because of your celebrity status. Your children are judged based on your actions. 

Do you really want your child's identity to be known from such a young age? Does that allow your child to define themselves when they are older and make their own choices of being known or not? It is fun now, but it may not be what your child wanted for themselves. They could have preferred to remain anonymous and may choose to avoid social media when they are older.

It is truly a personal preference as to whether one posts their child or not, and it is important to look at the pros and the cons of our choices. With technology, what you post or upload now, can still be viewed or found in the future, remember that.

It is tough being a parent in this world of ever changing technology, but it is important to stay on top of it as much as you can. Be cautious of your actions and protect your kids at all times, as much as you can

Till Next Monday

Stay blessed and stay safe

Tafi

#beingaparent

#socialmediaawareness

Self Defense Benefits For Kids

Before you all start panicking, this is not about teaching your child martial arts, karate or kick boxing or trying to get them to go around hitting each other, its a pity I can't think of a better term for it, but it definitely is self defense. Your children learn basic skills of how to protect themselves should they be in a vulnerable situation. 

The world we live in now has no mercy on the innocent; our children are exposed to so many crazy people in this world, from kidnappers to paedophiles, perverts,  to those that take children to perform certain rituals. No place is safe anymore, not even school or church, anything can happen to them anywhere. It is therefore important to not shield our children but to empower them to know what to do or look out for wherever they are.

Some of the benefits are:

1. The kids learn how to stay safe

2. The kids learn how to carry themselves with confidence: As an adult  

    there are some places you go where you feel unsafe and worried that        

    someone  may hurt you. Our kids definitely feel the same way probably in 

    more places than we do. Self defense will help go to those places confidently,       knowing they can protect themselves

3. They develop situational awareness: Sometimes you don't notice who is       around you or who is following you.  If you were more aware, you would   

    probably change your route or keep walking till you see more people. Self 

   defense teaches your child how to become more aware and what to do in such     a situation.

4. The kids learn how to trust their intuition: Sometimes you ignore what 

    you are feeling, and think its paranoia, but it is more than often better to    

    trust your gut instinct 

5. They learn to identify dangerous situations/people and how to deal 

     with them

6. They learn tricks and ploys used by abductors

7. They learn how to deal with bullies

8. They learn how to use their body language to set strong boundaries: 

    Some kids are more expressive verbally and some are not. Self defense will 

    help your shy child express themselves through their body language and get 

    the point across effectively

The lessons are not intense, but they build character and give your child the tools to keep themselves safe.

If you can, please enroll your child in a self defense class, you could do it together and make it a fun time as a family

Rather be safe than sorry.

Till Next Monday,

Stay blessed and stay safe

Tafi

#beingaparent