The love for reading books and spending time playing toys that are not battery-operated and/or plugged seem lost in this young generation because of the presence of tech gadgets and fast-paced television shows (ok then, web TV for some) which most of the time, occupy their spare time.

One of the reasons why we have decided to go cable tv-less is to minimize the TV viewing of the children so they have time to read books and play with their toys.

Yes, my kids  are missing out on some fad animation shows that “everyone was raving about”. So?

I know we miss a lot of great shows too.

The educational shows they can’t watch, we get the DVD.

The animation shows they don’t get to watch can also be watched in the web or again, DVD, at a controlled time, when they have finished their homeschooling tasks.

The breaking news can be watched through the news sites. (My Twitter feed is a wealth of breaking news by the way)

Not all catv channels are good anyway because there are some who just show ads about the latest fitness equipment, the best weight loss products and even the latest kitchen equipment. Yes, and if you call now, you will get a 10% discount

We are learning about animals, we watch one of our collections like the BBC documentaries on animals.

We are learning about the planets, we read “The Universe” book and look at planets taken from satellite images.

So  there, I don’t think they mind not having cable tv which is losing revenue due to web TV so the companies are now thinking of new ways to lure more/new customers.

No can do.

I have just written in a chat room/ sort of  SNS  site which I frequent to communicate with RL (real-life)and OL (online) buddies that the neighbors are up and about singing their hearts out using their karaoke machines.

Their singing I can probably accept IF it doesn’t last till the wee hours of the morning. For now, this is a weekend kind of thing  so it is still tolerable. Good thing too that they are not next door to us. This is the one thing that I really cannot accept and understand and ignore no matter what. Gah.

Many a time the kids have asked me if I wanted to live in another place, like doing cross country moving, and I said, “yes” if only it was that easy.

And still, my answer to this question would be: NO.

Here is another entry for twisted, permit me to say that this is a bit mind-boggling for the uninitiated.

Twisted pasta hurriedly cooked with vegetables: eggplant, tomatoes, onion, garlic and bits of basil.

Not the usual recipe to prepare for children but my kids finished off the pasta on their plates. I guess it was good after all

I have two more twisted photo hunt entries here and here which were posted last year.

Have a great weekend y’all!

photohunt

Orange (groan) flexible hose to be used for varied purposes like housing electric cables.

I have a sky that looks electrically charged here.

Yes, I know I sorta streeetch the theme,

Happy weekend!

photohunt

My father used to work in an American military installation. He became and still is a stickler for being on time.

From him I learned about the importance of time and time management.

Being a special ed teacher and a full-time homeschooling mom to my two younger children, time management is one of the most important things I have to teach myself otherwise I would not be able to accomplish anything. With house work thrown in between these full schedule, I really have to squeeze couple time and time for me.

My day starts early. Wait, make that, my eldest daughter’s day starts earlier than I do for she wakes up around 4.30 am to prepare for school. Without me waking her up.

I wake up after her. Cook her lunch to bring to school, if I am early enough. If not, she gets lunch money to buy lunch in school.

After she leaves for school, I do several things:

• if I have to go to work, I prepare the things we have to bring like food and homeschooling stuff.

• If we just stay at home, I go online first to do stuff like read the news, write blog posts, check e-mails and play my favorite online game while the children are still in bed. One of those days, a hired help comes to clean the house and another to do stuff in the backyard.

When the children are up, we go about our homeschooling tasks. These lessons have been scheduled in advance, with a per-day schedule taped on the notebooks. They cross out the lessons that have accomplished and see how far they still have to go.

(Do you know that a lot of mothers spend so much time online that by doing so, a lot of time supposedly spent with the family is taken away?)

Anyway, back to my schedule: If they finish early, then we have complimentary lessons like watching DVD related to their lessons, or they get to play their toys. If the weather is fine, we go outdoors to play for a bit.

If they don’t finish early, then they have to do better the next day and reap the rewards waiting for them.

I believe that time management is one of the best lessons to be taught to our children. Among the other life lessons are taking the time to hug your children and learning to take things slow.

How do you teach the importance of time management? Share your experiences here and get a chance to win a watch from Kids Watch Central.

Here is how to win:

1. Share the most effective time management techniques you us with your children.
2. Share short anecdotes on how these are implemented and what the outcomes were.
3. Share why teaching children about time and telling time gives them an opportunity to learn about discipline and time management.
4. Share these by posting a comment with your email address to qualify.
5. The three (3) MOST UNIQUE AND INTERESTING ANSWERS will be given one (1) Kids Watch Central watch.
6. Deadline for submission of entries will be July 20, 2009.
7. Winners may claim their prizes at GeiserMaclang c/o Arbee Panga, Unit 7D Tuscan Building, 114 V.A. Rufino St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.
8. Open to residents in the Philippines only.

Thank you GeiserMaclang and Kids Watch Central for this contest that not only will enable us to learn more about time management but have us win watches for our children

Do you consistently peek at what your child(ren) are up and about?

Do you feel you have to be there for them?

Do you have to tell them reminders that they already know?

Do you make a fuss over everything and the more you do, the more you feel your child(ren) is resenting your fussing?

Do you have to notice every facial expression, every sigh, every twitch, everything your child(ren) makes?

If the answer is “YES” or “ALWAYS” or “OF COURSE”, then you are a hovering parent.

Nothing wrong there except of course, you have to consider the age of your child. If you hover too much on your pre-teen child(ren), tweens and teeners, chances are, they will resent you moving too close for them to spread out their wings so to speak, and see if they can do things independently.

In fact, isn’t it that toddlers resent being given help and they would yell when they are not allowed to have their own way at times?

To hover during college times is a bit too much although there are situations when these are welcome, especially to those who need proper guidance. Who would properly guide these child(ren) if not their parents who have “been there and done that”? But, parents need to know when they are needed and when they are getting too close for comfort.

Click here to read about how they feel.

Oh, one more thing, hover over them too much and they will hang on to your apron strings too long even if they should have been functioning independently.

Lesson to be learned? Teach them independence and as much possible, take care not to foster helplessness and dependence.

Note to self: i should learn to do this