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I think the most overlooked aspect of parenting is teaching our kids about self defence and security. What they must do to avoid untoward incidents like kidnapping, accidents on the road and at home. I believe this has to be instilled in the kid’s mind for at least a few times before they get it.

About 2,100 children are reported missing each day, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

John Peek, of Deerfield Beach, is offering a free class on child-safety and abduction awareness next Saturday for parents and children in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Peek is the owner and head instructor of ATA Black Belt Academy, a Deerfield Beach Tae Kwondo studio.

Here are some of Peek’s top tips:

Saying NO: Peek says the way a child says it is key. A child should step back with their hands waving in the air and shout "no" in ways that call attention from others nearby.

Don’t touch me: Children need to be taught it is not appropriate for any stranger to touch them in the "bathing suit" areas of their body.

I don’t know you: It’s OK for kids to call attention to themselves whenever an unknown adult approaches them. Yelling "stranger danger" will let other adults in the area know something is wrong.

Home safety: Children need to know predators will sometimes pretend to be a friend of a parent or a person bringing news about a parent being injured or hospitalized, so strangers should never be allowed to enter a home. And they need to know it’s not safe to provide strangers any information over the phone.

Self defense: Peek will also give hands-on demonstrations that teach a child basic ways to break free from a stranger, including how to pull back on a person’s thumb, because that is the weakest part of the hand.

These are handy tips that are not only good for kids but adults as well. Once in a while, it’s good to remind ourselves and our kids about this.

Source: Essential tips on how to keep your kids safe from strangers
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For mothers who are able to breastfeed but still hesitating whether to breastfeed your infant, you may want to take a look at this. A mother is diagnosed with breast cancer and she is not able to breastfeed her baby. She got so upset after discovering the benefits of breast milk but she can’t give it to her baby.

If you are still contemplating about breast milk or formula, just imagine that you’re so much luckier than this mother because you still have a choice to breastfeed.

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If you’re going to be a parent but you are not married yet, what will you do? To marry or not to? I believe it depends on the individuals. But based on what I observe, men usually don’t see the need to get married, just like this man said, "I don’t really see the point." But it’s a totally different point of view for women. After all, men and women are from different planets…

What about you?
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My one-year old toddler now walks more than crawl. About last two weeks, he only walked 2-3 steps and back to crawling again. But this time, he walks more. Even then, when he walks, he tends to wobble. It’s kinda cute to watch him walk. It’s like a gigantic task for him. Even though we sometimes can’t help but laugh at him, he can’t be bothered but continue walking.
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My wife has recently started playing a game with my daughter before bed time. I am just an observer and I am amazed by the sheer power of the game despite its simplicity.

Here’s how to play the game:

Ask your child, "What’s your happiest moment for today?" And followed by, "What’s your saddest moment of today?"

Yes, that simple. Then just keep your mouth shut and listen without making comments. Just acknowledge what you hear. And my daughter likes the game so much, she created her own questions like "Mommy, what about what I am most upset with?"

What do you think we did? Of course, let her talk and complain about what she wanted to say. Sometimes, I just giggled silently to the answers she gave.

But that’s not all. The best part is I am amazed to find out how my daughter thinks. Once, I was the "object" for making her angry one day. "Daddy talked to me very loudly when she asked me to tidy up the toys." she said.

To me, of course, I didn’t agree that I was rough when I spoke to her because as far as I was concerned, I did talked to her nicely. But this was not what she thought. By listening to her sharing her inner thoughts, I discover how she thinks and how she weighs certain things more than others. This is a good way to learn what makes her tick and how I can be more careful when dealing with her.

I must thank my wife for initiating this bedtime game. It’s an eye-opener, indeed.
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