You stand in the corner and watch your little boy runs excitedly towards your wifey. His eyes sparkle with joy and cheer as she carries him in her arms – a perfect picture of mother and child. As you draw a grin on your face, you suddenly realize that your son doesn’t react that way when he’s around you. He is more timid when you play together, showing some sign of discomfort. And geez, you are his father, yet you appear like a stranger to him.

This situation may show that you are building up a wall between you and your son – a situation that you should prevent before it grows thicker, not allowing you to develop a good bonding between him. The causes of this are simple – it can be your tight schedule as a career dad, lack of interest doing such activities, or you can’t put down the remote control of your tv and just prefer to watch your favorite sitcom rather than playing with him.

Yes, these simple things can lead to an unhealthy relationship with him. And before this happens, take these steps to gain that vibrant, joyful look when your son runs toward you….

1. Give time for your kids. Your schedule is not an excuse for not having the time for your children. As busy as you might be, as a father, you need to find a moment you can share with them – even just a minute of affection, a tight hug or a warm kiss, will do. Such affection can make them feel that you are their parent.

2. Play with them. Find the best activities that will enrich their well-being and develop your relationship with them. Whether it’s solving the jigsaw puzzle or chasing each other at the backyard, release all the energy you have and show your love while you play with them. This way, you’ll be able to gain their cheer once they feel your presence.

3. Nurture them. Do things that your spouse usually do – bather them, feed them, read them stories and be with them until they fall asleep. Remember that being the provider of your family is not an excuse to skip these activities – especially when you really like to get close to your kids because it is in these things where you can show what they mean to you.

Just because mothers have innate ability to nurture children doesn’t mean they have to do the task of taking care of the kids alone. Fathers, aside from being the family providers, should also take part in watching their kids grow by being with them, which includes feeding them, putting them in their arms, and changing their diapers.

54-year old Greg Bishop, President of Trauma Care of America agrees to this idea. His likeness to children is being shared by holding classes for fellow fathers to impart the real joy of fatherhood by actually knowing how to become a good father to their kids. He introduced “boot Camp for New Dads” 17 years ago, and has been a total success, gathering 160,000 dads who took his father-oriented classes all over America and London.

Bishop’s class doesn’t just include a forum between the fathers but also establishes a practical course to train them like changing diapers and carrying their babies. To add more credibility and fun, there are “veteran dads” who teach them in doing the fundamentals in taking care of their babies.

Read more about this article in:

http://www.fresnobee.com/columnists/aguirre/story/183761.html

Testosterone levels may be affected by fatherhood. It can decrease it or increase its levels depending on his situation as a husband and a father.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) conducted a research regarding this matter in East Africa and Jamaica.

• Ariaal men, living in North Kenya, who only have a wife, have low testosterone level during morning and afternoon

• Ariaa men, who have similar residence, but have multiple wives, even have lower testosterone levels

• In Jamaica, single guys have higher testosterone levels than visiting fathers

• Jamaican fathers have higher prolactin levels when they have interaction with children.

The respondents who participated in this study are 205 Ariaal men aged 20 to 39 and 43 Jamaican guys aging from 18 to 40 years old.

To read the full article, go to:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071010180134.htm

Pregnancy is not just about the joy of having a baby – because realistically speaking, it includes much danger to the mother and the baby.

This fact is more alarming in Uganda, where the rates of death because of infections, HIV, maltreatment, and lack of nutrition during pregnancy are disturbing.

• There are 435 records of death per 100,000 birth cases, which is tantamount to 6,000 women dying from birth (a survey from 2006 Uganda Demographic Health Service (UDHS) )

• 15 out of 100 pregnancies have complications that need to be treated by a real physician

• 200 pregnant women die every year in Kawempe division in Kampala, Uganda.

• Lack of good treatment to the pregnant mother also contribute to dangers, and even death during pregnancy.

Get more information about this issue in:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200710170056.html

If you think that motherhood is still the essence of a woman, then you might pause and doubt your thought. Apparently, there are mommies who disagree to this idea as having a baby brings them sadness.

Mother and Baby Magazine finds from their survey that seven out of ten moms feels lonely with their motherhood. This is caused by the detachment of their social lives, as they only spend an average of 90 minutes with people at their age, compared to their active social life back when they don’t still have babies.

The modern lifestyle adds more pressure to them as mothers are left in their homes while their husbands are busy with their works and friends and some of their significant others are busy with their lives. Furthermore, the pressure of taking care of the baby leaves them restless and stressed.

Read more this in:
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article3075682.ece

They do the chores, they cook for the husband and the kids, they feed them and take care of them with warmth and love, they accompany the family until they close their eyes. It’s tiring, it’s stressful, but in the end of the day they flash a big smile on their faces. Some say that it’s ideal but I say it’s foolish. Mothers are not superwomen; they get tired and get sad too.

Their heavy sadness is a manifestation of post-natal syndrome. The pressure of motherhood is what drives them to be int his state, leaving them torn deep down. They no longer have much freedom to do what they want, pressured by the fact that they have do give their best shots in their responsibilities as a wife and as a mother, otherwise, unfriendly judgments will attack them.

Post and Antenatal Depression Association (PANDA) has stated this situation as a fact, and with a statistics of one out of six Australian mothers. And with the record of 200 people requesting for PANDA’s help each month, the state where these mothers experience should definitely not be turned down.

The influence of media also puts more pressure on the mothers, creating an idealism of what should they be like. And when things don’t go well, mothers feel frustrated about it.

Adelaide Academic Dr. Victoria Williamson leaves a powerful message on how post-natal depression may stop affecting the mothers. "I think firstly public education, about the reality of motherhood, so that those that don’t become depressed, but are just struggling with the normal adjustment process, can have a realistic idea of what to expect, with some ideas of resources if they need them, she contends. media needs to give more realistic portrayals of motherhood in newspapers and magazines and television programs. We need to debunk things such as the beauty myth and the superwoman myth and the myth of the perfect mother."

To read the entire article, check:

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1416764

You think marrying beyond 30’s and conceiving child at that age is hopeless? Well, think again, for there are women who are much comfortable and much happier tying the knot and entering motherhood at that stage.

Women in Australia are just like this. In fact, it was recorded back in 2006 that there were 25, 807 babies were conceived by mother 35 years old and above.

Tina Bastow, 38, is one of these women. She has given positive testimonies about being a mother and a wife at 38. "I think society is far more comfortable with it these days." And her statement about motherhood: "I did it au naturel, no drugs at all, and it was an amazing experience. We always said we would have two or three kids, but we’ll have to see."

Read the entire article in:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/motherhood-can-happen-at-any-age-despite-risks/2007/10/29/1193618797607.html

Education can be more profound that we know since it;s not just academic subjects and value it teaches. Parenting can also be learned trough schools, with the help of Glynis Romanica, a school counselor. She can be found in Powell River, teaching restitution parenting. Her course is inspired by the book entitled “My Child is a Pleasure” by Dianne Gossen and the principles applied in her course are based on traditional approaches for parenting and discipline.

"We believe that all behavior is purposeful and we learn that all behavior is an attempt to meet our needs. When a child does something, if the parent can identify what the need is behind the behavior, we can help the child to get what they need, not necessarily what they want,” Romanica believes.

The principle of teaching parenting is supported in BC, North America, and Iceland.

To check the complete article, go to:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18981170&BRD=1998&PAG=461&dept_id=221583&rfi=6

Boarding schools are not just one of those means to make an individual independent. In the eyes of the kids, it can be a great way to escape those parents who pressure them to meet their standards. Vicky Tuck, the headmistress of Cheltenham Ladies’ College suggested such an idea, “because their parents are parent-helicoptering them.”

For additional information, parent-helicopter is a term implied to parents who want their kids to be on top of everything. Such manner of parenting pressures the child to be successful and competitive in many ways, putting them stress and even anxiety that they should always be an achiever or their parents would be disappointed. With this, the child doesn’t have the chance to be comfortable in his/her environment.

Mrs. Tuck contented her belief, saying, “Boarding offers a wonderful opportunity for children who have a great deal of privilege in life. Just living in a community, being part of communal living, is such an incredibly good thing.”

Read the full story in:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article2796207.ece