The Filipino Mom Blog

Bullying is probably one of the most talked about issues during parent-teacher conferences in elementary schools aside from learning milestones and difficulties. For every school, be it in the elementary grades or high school and even college level, bullying has happened to a one person that we know of.

Bullying is not something parents should ignore. There have been reported tragedies which resulted in the bully-victims taking their own lives because of the bullying that they went through.

Bullying comes in different forms, aggressive or non-aggressive ways, done repeatedly over a period of time. Teasing, spreading malicious rumors and gossip, physical abuse like kicking, punching and biting, monetary extortion, exclusion of the victim from activities, cheating and mocking are just some of the ways a bully manifests his/her dirty tactics to his/her victims.

And yes, there is bullying in the early grades.

Profile of the bully. Bullies are often stereotyped as those who are physically big. They give the impression that they are a force to be reckoned with. Bullies, however, come in different shapes and sizes. There are those who are physically small but have a posse of physically big friends who flank them wherever they go, ready to lend a fist or two if the situation calls for it. There are those who are armed with a sweet smile and a charm that is endearing to others who have no inkling about their “bullying ways”. There are those smooth operators who can bully their victims in front of others without the spectators noticing anything wrong. But there are those who are attention seekers, inflicting physical pain to their victims, especially with others looking and cheering them on.

Bullies are said to be power-tripping egotistical beings, preying on those they feel are weaker, inferior to them and can easily submit to what they want done for them. They are oftentimes insecure and bully the math whiz or the budding scientist because they themselves are not capable of what the other can do. They want to be noticed though they manifest negative actions that do not merit positive recognition from others. Some bullies have been subjected to physical and verbal abuse at home. Some have a few positive adult interactions and adult role models. Exposure to violence through different media channels are also a factor to be considered.

Bullies operate to yield power, control, dominate and subjugate their victims.

There are those seen as bullies but cannot be categorically defined as such. These are the children with behavioural problems who have difficulties in controlling their impulses. They will push, bite, punch, kick and throw things not because they want to but because they lack the capacity to control their impulses.

On the other hand, children with special needs are most likely victims of the bullies rather than being the bully themselves though this will depend on the kind of behavioural intervention that these children diagnosed with special needs get.

Next topic: Victims of the bully

For more information, visit the Homeschool United website

We are midway through summer and the kids are stating to get bored.

Most summer activities are also halfway to being done.If not, some are finished already with the courses being offered.

Let’s face it, not everyone can afford sending their children to summer activities. Apart from the expenses these will incur (enrollment fees, transportation, food, and necessary materials to be purchased like shoes and necessary clothes), plotting the logistics regarding who and when who will bring the children to the place where they will get their summer enrichment activities also needs to be done.

Most children stay at home during these days that they don’t have to go to school.

So what could be done so that they will not feel bored and restless?

Clockwise from upper right, books that teach how they can draw things, a board game, digital scrapbooking, chess and jigsaw puzzle.

These are just some of the activities that these children can do at home aside from the usual electronic hand held video games that they get to play from morning till night time:

Read the rest of this entry »

Summer is officially upon us and aside from the excruciating heat that our kids (and mommies too) have to endure, there is the problem of boredome. School won’t be starting for the next 2 months so that means finding 2 months worth of activities to keep our kiddies busy.

To make that chore a little bit easier, why not enroll your precious ones in a summer workshop. There are lot to choose from. Be it an academically challenging one or one that requires some physical exertion, its up to you and your kiddies to choose from the myriad of classes that are being offered.

Here’s a list of some of those workshops….

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Establishing study habits is probably one of the most difficult or trying times between a parent (or both parents) and their child(ren).

Why is this so?

Children would rather play than study their lessons.

Children would rather watch their favorite television show than do their home works.

Children would rather read comic books than read their reference books.

Children would rather do other things like play games on their gaming console or chat with friends or even surf the internet rather than study.

So what should parents do?

Read the rest of this entry »

(Because of the current number of stork visits that we at FMB have been receiving, I felt it appropriate to repost this article which I wrote, about a year ago, at my site. I am in the hope that this will serve some sort of purpose to my co-editors (and other mothers) who are now patiently awaiting the arrival of their bundles of joy.)

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Wants are things that we love to have simply because. It is something we desire.

It has been said that people have unlimited wants, an endless list of what-to-haves.

When a want has been fulfilled, the next want is next in line. These wants may be important in our perspective or useful in some ways or in the latest fad/fashion or because the want is so desirable the urge to get it is so strong, even if there is really no need to do so.

Needs, on the other hand, are things necessary for us to have in order to live comfortable lives.

We need food, shelter, proper clothes, education, and medicines to make us well and healthy.

Wants versus needs is one important aspect that I feel I have to teach my children. Not just MY children but all children should know about these too.

Why? At their young age, children need to be discerning in knowing the difference between these things.

Why? To help them not to fall prey in desiring things that are not really important and to set their eyes on things that are more important.

Why? Needs are what motivate people to work more purposely towards a certain goal. Needs give purpose as well as directions to our behavior.

One can probably say that wants can give motivation, purpose and directions to behaviors.

Yes, it’s true. But meeting one’s needs may prove satisfying than getting one’s wants.

For in the long run, we learn to value things that are more essential, more important than things that may just be momentarily or fleetingly satisfying.

My husband and I feel we need to teach our children in being able to distinguish needs versus wants as they grow older.

How do we do teach these values?

We start with ourselves.

It’s the 4th and final week (for now) of the Lunch Box Meme. Share what you’ve got up you sleeves, moms and wives! Posting of links will be on Friday.

In February, we’re giving the lunch box a break, so we’re doing a different meme. Stay tuned, or better yet, come around next Tuesday to find out. We’ve got some nice things a-brewing.

~o0o~

Mauie’s Bigger Boy’s Korean Beef Stew

Maver’s Pancit Efuven

Lynn’s Chicken with Sweet Peas (Guisantes)

Julie’s Baked Mussels and Home-Baked Bread

iMom’s Chicken Tocino and fresh pineapples

Cookie’s Karne Frita and Broccoli and Mushroom with Garlic Cream

One of the things that can enhance the memory would be food. Now why would we even consider this as important?

Memory is a thinking process for recalling information among others. This is one of the many thinking processes that we need, that our children need too, when we face the day’s challenges.

So what does this mean? It means we should eat more of these kinds of food so that we can improve our memory skills. Ahem, there’s no denying we have these “duh!” moments or memory gap moments or, sige na nga, senior moments then

Do you have these in your lunchboxes?

• Foods rich in B vitamins and folic acid (dark leafy greens, strawberries and melons, beans and legumes among others)
• Antioxidants like vitamin C, E and beta carotene (berries, nuts, green tea, sweet potatoes among others)
• Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish, walnuts and flaxseed among others)

Source: http://www.helpguide.org/life/improving_memory.htm

Ok, now are you ready to tackle the challenges? For more tips, don’t forget to click that -> Feed Your Head.

Round-up will be done for posts that will make it till Friday

UPDATE :

Here’s the round-up of those who participated this week.

Mauie’s Picnic Lunch

Cookie’s Ginisang Ampalaya and Pork Steak & Fries

Maver’s Economical Chicken Curry

Lynn’s Chopsuey with Quail Eggs

TeacherJulie’s Fried Cream Dory Fillet

Imom’s Pork Patties & Mushrooms

Parents of children with special needs go through some steps in caring for their child.

First is DISBELIEF.

Who would have thought that their child has special needs? Who would have thought that their child would be diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, mental retardation, learning disabilities or other conditions? They ask, “God, why does it have to be my child?”

Alongside disbelief is DENIAL.

Parents see nothing wrong with their child. It might just the child has more energy than others, or their child may just have a slower rate of understanding than other children their child’s age. Is it?

They suddenly ask questions “Maybe because children develop at different paces so my child is not exempt with this? Why are children different from one other? Why do children have their own specific talents and interests? What is my child’s special talent and interest?”

Then there’s GRIEF.

Yes, parents grieve.

They grieve the loss of their dream for their child who can never be the doctor they wanted their child to be. They grieve because no matter how much treatment or intervention is given to their child they feel that their child may not be capable of living a life like others.

They have the nagging question, “What would happen if we die (first)? Who would take care of our child?”

Questions too difficult to answer for now.

Time flies.

Parents cope differently. Read the rest of this entry »