What are your children eating at school?
Parents worldwide can breath a collective sigh of relief. They will be soon relieved of their full-time day care duties as it’s time for their little ones to toddle back to school.
Throughout the summer, you could exert a certain degree of control over what your children are eating and ensure they had at least some nutritious and balanced meals. Now that your children are back in full-time education, you are likely to have to give up control over the food your children consume at lunchtime, especially if school dinners are compulsory.
Quality time with your children strengthens bonds and creates a healthier relationship.
Hey, Dads, thank you for taking care of us! Often mothers are rewarded for parenthood, while fathers are disguised as the silly, fun ones who kick a football and show children how to change a flat tire. But fathers are the unsung heroes of life abroad, because really, where would we be without them and their magical abilities to keep sane through it all? Not to take credit from mums who do it on their own or who do it alongside their partner, but today, it’s all about Dad!
My father, although with a load of work up to his neck, found the time to step in as a substitute coach for my football team when our coach could not train us. My father, although his days lasted two hours too many, found the time to take us on weekend getaways to see the country we are now living in. My father, although his phone constantly rang on Sundays, found the time to take us to the stadium to watch football matches of the local team.
I hate it. You scroll through facebook, seeing as you go countless clickbait ads and pictures of meals that someone, somewhere, took more time picking out a filter for than the actual cooking itself. Its gotten to the point where it’s surely only a matter of time before recipe books start suggesting “walden” for pasta dishes or “brannan” for soup as the final step to a perfect meal. I mean, just stick it…in your mouth and eat it, for crying out loud.
Amongst all this you’re sure to find my real pet peeve – the posts claiming to be having literally the best night ever with ‘friend 1’ and ‘friend 2’. It might sound like jealousy; while I sit at home playing on my tablet the cool kids are out “loving life right now”. But what really bothers me the most is that if you are really having such a great time with ‘friend 1’ and ‘friend 2’, why do you feel the need to sign into facebook and ignore them? Read More →
Birth control pills lower the risk of uterine cancer, but increase the risk of breast cancer.
Groundbreaking studies in Australia have discovered new benefits of taking the contraceptive pill. A study on 27,000 women showed that for every five years a woman took the pill, her risk of Endometrial cancer – the most common type of uterine cancer – dropped by 25%. The study also showed that the benefits are ongoing even after they stop the intake of oral contraceptives.
These benefits are also independent of weight, age, menopause or whether they have given birth before or not. If a woman takes the pill through her 20s and 30s, she could have dramatically reduced the risk by the time she reaches the most vulnerable age group: 55 or older. Read More →
Are you getting great value for money from your insurance company?
Health insurance can be an expensive investment – though not having it can be even more expensive – especially when living abroad. Your family’s health and safety is important, which is why looking at different companies, comparing them, and finding what suits you best is a key element when doing your research.
Before you purchase international insurance for your family speak to other expats and friends. Getting opinions on different companies can help you narrow down your choices until you have what you need.
“Eat your vegetables or you can’t leave the table!” Every parent around the world has probably heard themselves say these words to their kids. How exhausting to get them to eat a healthy meal! But should you be forcing them to eat what they don’t like?
It seems as though a child might eat anything you set in front of them until they are able to speak and express their opinion about what they are eating. And forcing them to eat things they obviously dislike will just make them hate that specific food more and more. Part of raising your children is to avoid picky eaters in the future. Most parents want their children to be happy, healthy eaters, and there are ways of getting them to eat their vegetables without being the kind of parent that forces them to do so. Read More →
According to a new study, the use of the e-cigarettes among teens tripled between 2013 and 2014. The increase is such that e-cigarette use, or ‘vaping’, has surpassed that of cigarettes and all other tobacco products. This is also due to the decrease in use of traditional cigarettes, which fell to a reported 9.2% usage among teens surveyed; e-cigarettes stand at 13.4%.
Smoking is sweet again
Giving birth is one of the most important events of your life, and as a single, childless male I feel I can say that with quite some authority.
If you are living abroad while pregnant, there is the added pressure of making the important decision of whether or not you want to have your child in your host country or make the trip back home.
Preventing food poisoning while living abroad is easy.
Whether you are at home or travelling, I’m sure we can all agree that food poisoning is probably one of the worst illnesses anyone can get, and unfortunately, it’s quite common, especially in a foreign country. Foodborne illnesses are a serious matter and they can vary from a simple diarrhea to vomiting, fever, and dehydration. If untreated, it can cause death.
You may have immunised your children against every possible disease before going abroad (don’t forget to vaccinate them against rotavirus!). However, there are certain things that can only be avoided in the moment.
Make sure your children’s vaccines are up to date before travelling.
Moving abroad can be a stressful (and exciting) experience for the whole family, resulting in possible health issues. However, it is most commonly reflected in children due to weaker immune systems and more emotional distress. Your children’s health should be on your top priority list months before departure.
Most adults are warned about travelling internationally and keeping safe abroad, but children are often overlooked with the general thought that because they are children, they can handle anything. Nothing could be further from the truth. Don’t let there be any unpleasant surprises when you are starting a new adventure with your family. Prevention is key!