My ‘ones’ in managing anxiety: Part III
OVER the past two weeks, I have shared “water” and “words” as my “ones” in reducing family anxiety. My third and final installment is a bit more fun and also my favorite: art.
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OVER the past two weeks, I have shared “water” and “words” as my “ones” in reducing family anxiety. My third and final installment is a bit more fun and also my favorite: art.
LAST week I shared how water may help relieve anxiety. This week, let’s go a bit deeper.
OVER the past two weeks, I have shared “water” and “words” as my “ones” in reducing family anxiety. My third and final installment is a bit more fun and also my favorite: art.
LAST week I shared how water may help relieve anxiety. This week, let’s go a bit deeper.
LAST week, I mentioned my worry about the recent conversations I have had with parents and experts on the rising anxiety experienced by different members of the family due to the Covid-19 situation. But even without this pandemic, did you know that as early as 2011, WHO had predicted that depression will be the leading cause of disease burden globally by 2030?
THE Covid-19 pandemic has changed the lives of families in various ways. My recent conversations with parents and experts confirm the reality of rising anxiety experienced by different members of the family in different ways. From my own kids, I see how much they miss the social interactions in school and sports activities. For us adults, managing our kids’ distance learning and Zoom meetings overload at times can be overwhelming.
AS parents, we know our kids are growing up in a more diverse world than that we grew up in. Part of raising a 21st century learner, according to Hirsh-Pasek, is teaching kids the value of collaboration. Aside from learning to get along with others and building teamwork, collaboration also involves experiencing diversity.
LAST February 12 and 13, the Bayanihan for WellBeing Initiative led by Unilab Foundation Inc. brought us the first-ever Filipino Family WellBeing Virtual Conference. With the theme “Pagsulong ng Pamilyang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Pagbabago,” the conference was aimed to open and steer a discussion that offers various perspectives on family well-being.
February 25 is always a day that reminds me of the word “freedom.” For one, we celebrate our country’s emancipation that happened 35 years ago. It is also a date so close to my birthday that I often declare this free day as my gift to “breathe.” It is a day when I would allow myself to wake up to that day as a “white canvas” and then freely doodle, blot, smudge, or even just stare at it and magically fall asleep. This day is precious because, as with most parents, I feel guilty not spending every free time with my family. But through the years, because I found these days to be both therapeutic and self-empowering, I have made time for these pockets of tranquility more unapologetically.
I GREW up hearing that sports could be distracting to academics. I guess this is also where the stereotype comes about star athletes struggling in academics, while kids who excel academically can’t be star athletes. When I started to read more books on child development when my kids were babies, it was enlightening to know that physical activities actually enhance a child’s mental development and well-being. In fact, motor development should first be developed for better brain development.
ROAD crashes kill about 1.35 million people around the world each year, becoming the leading cause of death among five- to 29-year-olds, according to a World Health Organization report. More than 90 percent of fatalities are from low- and middle-income countries. Road crashes were also found to be one of the top 5 causes of preventable injuries in children, reveals a joint WHO-UNICEF report. According to WHO, the use of safety seats in cars reduce infant deaths by approximately 70 percent, while deaths of small children by 54 percent.
LAST January 22, I shared my views on simplifying life this 2021. One of the major aspects of our life is parenting. I believe that the start of simplifying parenting is knowing “important basics.”
FAMILIES have been financially impacted to varying degrees due to this pandemic. Family expenses have had to be adjusted, and additional sources of income also needed to be sought. As we creatively think of ways to stretch and add to the family income, let us take the opportunity to involve our kids in the process. Let us introduce our kids early with financial literacy to equip them better for their future.
THE day after the lockdown was officially declared in March 2020, I suddenly had a fever. Even when my fever subsided, I had the hardest time getting out of bed for a week. This was so unlike me because I could always work through a fever in the past. My youngest sister pointed out that I must have been so anxious with the sudden change in reality. True enough, I was overwhelmed with not just worries but also the unpredictability in planning for everyone’s welfare at the time.
THE holidays have just passed but the Christmas spirit is not yet over. This time around, Kimberly-Clark’s Huggies brand (www.huggies.com.ph) comes with both surprises and gifts as it welcomed actress and first-time mom Anne Curtis and her daughter Dahlia as their newest endorsers. Alongside the announcement was the introduction of a special holiday gift pack aimed to help moms and babies in need.
AS I write this, it is Christmas Eve. It made me reminiscent of my past Christmas Eves. It would be a day after my dear sister Joan’s birthday, and we would try to get as much sleep in the morning if there were no scheduled activities that day. We would be somewhere in the map exploring a new place as a family and taking our annual Christmas Eve family photo.
I SHARED my “purpose-filled” holiday plans the past two weeks on gifts, gestures and get-togethers. Last weekend, I remembered another “G” that I wanted to add to this unique holiday season: gratitude.
LAST week, I began sharing my plans to make this holiday season a “purpose-filled” one with gifts and gestures. Let me continue this week with my thoughts on this year’s holiday get-togethers.
THIS year is challenging, to say the least, for many sectors. Aside from the pandemic, we were hit recently by more devastating typhoons. Because of all this, there have been many debates running in my head about this holiday season. Do we still prepare presents? How do we celebrate festively without contact with family and friends? Can this holiday be really “merry”?
Even before the lockdown, children have been aware of the “influencers” who seem to have taken over the Internet. In fact, a survey done by Morning Consult in 2019 revealed that a whopping 86% of people between 13 to 38 years old dream of becoming one. There is a possibility that it is higher now given the additional exposure of kids online. But what does it take to raise the next YouTube or Instagram star?
WHEN a child plays video games, parents invariably worry that such games could harmful. In fact, a research conducted last May by global cybersecurity company Kaspersky showed that four in 10 parents from Southeast Asia (SEA) believe that their children are “more grumpy than usual” after a gaming session.
WE have heard that children are less likely to suffer the severe symptoms of Covid-19, but recent studies have concluded that young children can in fact spread the virus even more efficiently than adults. For this reason, keeping tabs on children’s health, particularly within schools and family units, is more vital than ever in containing the spread of
NOVEMBER 1 always brings me poignant thoughts. Maybe because death has been a recurring theme in my life. Allow me to delve into this feeling for this entry of Diary of a Mom With No Limits.
IT has been a few months since online classes started for our kids. Based on my observation and the feedback from parents, distance learning has brought out a recurring doubt if kids, especially those in the lower-year levels, are able to absorb information effectively in this set up. Another concern is how well are our kids adapting emotionally. Do they get anxious in their homework?
LAST April 16 and April 29, I shared setting time blocks to promote active learning at home. These time blocks can be implemented more easily by setting up your own DIY learning corners at home that would usually include:
Pru Life UK recently hosted the latest PRUWise webinar, titled “Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home: Financial Literacy Basics for Filipino Families.” The expert-led and fun-filled webinar aimed to teach both parents and children the building blocks of a solid financial future.
FOR most parents, getting medical insurance for their child rarely crosses their minds. The more pressing matter, especially for first-time parents, are the immediate physical needs. But the truth is, a child’s medical needs can be costly, and with 54 percent of health expenses coming from the household budget, this can be a burden to many. (Source: Health Expenditures Philippines 2008, Philippine Statistics Authority)
LAST week, I shared how grateful I am about the role coaches have played in my kids’ lives. I remember how my daughter’s first basketball coach, Paolo Rivero, pushed her with tough conditioning exercises even if she was then only 10 years old. I remember how their Coach Lucio, who accompanied them in foreign competitions for fencing, gave Meagan a four-hour pep talk after she gave in to her frustration and temper during a tournament in Thailand. She even told me that, that talk made a lot of difference, not just in her future games but also in her overall maturity in school.
LAST week, I shared how I value the role of sports in developing happy, healthy and resilient kids. I saw how both my daughter Meagan and my son Marcus have developed both skills and character through their years of training. This week, I would like to give tribute to coaches in every athlete’s life. I believe coaches play great roles in inspiring kids to aim higher.
WHEN I started big school, MILO was my comfort drink. Aside from breakfast, it was a great companion for late study nights. I even remember doing my own MILO popsicles for snacks. It is funny how this comfort has continued with my kids. Aside from it being their favorite breakfast beverage, my son would even snack on just the MILO powder. That’s why it is no wonder why I always shop for 1-kilogram packs every grocery run.
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