I was never a big fan of school in my days, it now seems. School came across as a punishment, exam time only compounded my hatred, let’s call it lack of enthusiasm, for school. I was sure my mother hated me—sending me to school and seeking to check on my progress. Now older and wiser,…

‘Mama, is her face melting?’ my three year old son asked upon seeing his grandmother. I had to explain that what he saw were wrinkles that come with aging. Just before Christmas, my daughter picked up her doll and said, ‘I hope I get a baby that talks next year! I’m so bored,’ Well, that…

Diapers are one of the most essential items in the shopping list for a baby. This is because a newborn needs diaper change at least twelve times a day for the first few months of her life. The frequency, however, reduces with a baby’s development and growth. The parents’ choice of the type of diaper…

‘Will you open the door for him?’ I ask Megan who is curled up on her favourite couch. ‘I do not think I can do that. How do I tell him that I am sick? What if he turns and runs away? I am so afraid. I cannot handle another setback. I think it was a bad idea to call him. You…

Most parents look forward to their kids going back to school after a long holiday. And with this comes the expectation that all will be well with the children when they settle down at the learning institution. But even a minimal change can have a serious impact on children. Often, they will get out of control whenever they are…

Incase you’re wondering what a butternut is, it is a type of a pumpkin that is shaped like a gourd and when fully grown, it shines forth a rich yellow color. The difference between a butternut and other pumpkins is that it is sweet and easy on the palate. Its soup is a delicacy you…

Thumb sucking is normal in babies and young children. A natural sucking instinct leads some babies to suck their thumbs during their first few months of life, or even before birth. Babies may also suck their fingers, hands, or items such as pacifiers. They have a natural urge to suck, which usually decreases at the…

WHEN my first child was 2 years old, I employed a house girl who would come in the morning and leave in the evening. This was because she was married. I liked her a lot because she was good with the baby. I never experienced any problem with her, and she took care of my…

Children sometimes daydream in class, may forget to do their homework or even fidget at the dinner table, behaviour which is considered normal. On the other hand, there are children who can’t sit still, who hardly listen and keep blurting out inappropriate comments. Most of the time, they are labelled as trouble- makers and are…

What is talent? To understand the term talent, I quote from the book ”Excellence” by American social reformer John W Gardener: ‘There are those who perform great deeds and those that make it possible for others to perform great deeds. There are pathfinders and path preservers. There are those who nurture and those who inspire.…