Babies and Fathers ( changing Nappies)

Sorry Dads we had to share ... 

Let's talk Larnaka

When: Wednesday 23rd January
Where:Larnaka Town Hall (Civil Marriage Office)
Time: 8:00pm - 9:30pm

LPN is delighted to Welcome the Mayor of Larnaka Mr Andreas Louroutziatis to our January and start of year  LPN monthly event. "Let's talk Larnaka" giving us Parents & those of us in Business the opportunity to put questions to the Mayor and hear first hand the future development plans for Larnaka city .

The purpose of this event which will be in English is to encourage a dialogue between the residents of Larnaka and the Mayor, and to foster a greater sense of community. It will be a valuable opportunity to find out first-hand what is in store for Larnaka and to discuss with Mr Louroutziatis how this will impact us personally and professionally.

Parking will be available: turn right at body shop follow road to end of street you will see open parking on your left civil marriage office is on your right.

Embarrassing Dad Dancing To Justin Bieber (Disco Dad)

Creative Writing Course with Eve Makis

CALLING LONELY WRITERS

Established author with professional experience in creative writing tuition seeking aspiring writers to tutor in all aspects of fiction writing including getting started, characterisation, dialogue and more… Friendly, intimate, two hour classes. For more information or to book to place and start that novel you’ve always wanted to write call Eve Makis on 97 656100 or send a message to evemakis@hotmail.com.

Course runs from January 2013 for ten weeks at a cost of 200 Euros.

Payment can be made in advance or per session.

www.evemakis.com

Herbs for kids: dealing with fever

We’re living in a time when the public is becoming increasingly aware of natural health care as opposed to pharmaceutical drugs and no longer swallow everything a doctor may say or prescribe for gospel truth.  Overuse of medicines have caused so many health problems, as most drugs have side effects, some serious, others less so. Viruses and bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to existing drugs, which leads pharmaceutical companies to develop even stronger and more harmful drugs.
Often as parents we feel quite overwhelmed when our child feels ill. Should we go to the doctor, and if we do, will he prescribe antibiotics immediately –like so many doctors do in Cyprus, even for a simple cough.
We are faced with many choices when it comes to our children’s health. It can be difficult as a parent to determine if a symptom or condition will resolve itself with a little care at home or if a trip to the doctor is necessary. Seemingly simple, minor conditions can become more severe very quickly.
As a guide, contact your health care practitioner immediately if your child:

• Is under 6 months of age and has a fever
• Has a fever over 39 Celsius
• Is irritable and cannot be calmed
• Is lethargic and very difficult to waken
• Has continued diarrhea or inability to urinate
• Has difficulty breathing or has bluish lips
• Continually complains of pain – especially a headache
• Has a stiff neck
• Appears dehydrated
• Has purple or red rash that does not fade upon finger pressure
• Has tender groin, especially in boys

When you consult your health care practitioner let them know your desire to use natural products for your child. It is important to educate yourself about herbal remedies.
Not all herbs and vitamins that adults use are safe for children. Look for products specifically formulated for a child’s needs. Look for quality. Listen to your child. They are the best source of information on how they feel. Trust your instincts. You know your child best and you need to follow your instincts on when your child is healing and when they need to see a doctor.

Children respond very well to herbs, often a simple tea taken over a few days is enough to deal with a certain health issue.  In this article I would like to focus on fever, a subject I feel parents are often very worried about and need education on.

How Fever Happens                                                                                                                                                  

It may help parents to remember that fever is only one part of the picture of an illness. In fact, for children under eight years of age, and especially for infants, the severity of a fever is an unreliable indicator of the severity of the child’s illness. For example, infants and toddlers can be very sick with a low or even subnormal temperature. Conversely, children three to eight years old can be running about quite cheerfully with a fairly impressive fever. The important thing is how your child is acting, not the thermometer reading.

Infections most commonly launch fever, especially in children. Other triggers include transfusion reactions, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, tumors, inflammatory reactions caused by trauma, medications (including some antihistamines, antibiotics, or an overdose of aspirin), immunizations, and dehydration. Many physicians do not believe that teething directly causes significant fever, but we have seen it happen.
When infectious "bugs" stimulate white blood cells in a specific way, they release a substance called endogenous pyrogen, which signals the brain’s hypothalamus to raise the body’s thermostat setting. In turn, the body heats up by increasing its metabolic rate, shivering, or seeking warm environments. It also minimizes heat loss by restricting blood flow to the skin, giving it a pale appearance. Once body temperature rises, the skin flushes and sweats. A fever sufferer may lose appetite and feel lethargic, achy, and sleepy. When these phenomena happen to our children, we just tuck them into bed and let them sleep.
A basic fever, one due to minor bacterial or viral illness, can be an expression of the immune system working at its best.

Can Fever Do Harm?

Any time body temperature increases, salt and water are lost via sweating, and stores of energy and vitamins, especially the water-soluble ones, are burned up. During moderate fevers, we can compensate for these losses by drinking appropriate fluids, ingesting nutritious foods, or taking vitamin supplements.
Replacing water-soluble vitamins (chiefly C and Bs) makes sense. However, during fevers, the body makes some minerals unavailable for a good reason – bacteria need them to thrive. In terms of energy stores, our bodies switch from burning glucose (the favorite meal of bacteria) to burning protein and fat. This means a few days of poor appetite is probably adaptive. In other words, don’t cajole or coerce your children into eating during fevers if they don’t feel hungry; they will likely regain any lost weight quickly after the illness ends. You do, however, need to encourage fluids, because dehydration alone can drive up fever.
Very high fevers – those above 41°C– can harm the heart and brain.. During most infections, the brain keeps body temperature at or below 40°C. So in most – not all – cases, you don’t need to be afraid that your child’s temperature is going to continue to rise above that point.
Fever increases the amount of interferon (a natural antiviral and anticancer substance) in the blood. A mild fever also increases the white blood cells that kill cells infected with viruses, fungi, and cancer, and improves the ability of certain white blood cells to destroy bacteria and infected cells. Fever also impairs the replication of many bacteria and viruses.
Bottom line: A moderate fever is a friend, but not one you want to spend a lot of time with. So it makes sense to avoid suppressing moderate fevers with drugs, while continuing to monitor your child for dramatic increases in temperature and worsening of any other of his symptoms.
It makes sense that if fever helps defend against infection, giving fever-reducing medications may make things worse. In addition, some fever medications can have undesirable side effects. Nondrug approaches can go a long way toward helping your child feel better. If the situation does not seem urgent, you might want to consider a trial of herbal treatment before you pull out the acetaminophen.

Home Management of Fevers

Do give your child lots to drink. Fever increases fluid loss, and dehydration can drive up your child’s temperature. Kids with fever often do not feel thirsty, or by the time they do, they’re already dehydrated. So keep offering fluids. Small, frequent sips are often best, especially if the child feels nauseated. If necessary, use a plastic medicine dropper to gently insert water into your child’s mouth. The type that holds several ounces is best to use.
If your child craves cold foods, you can make her a frozen treat of diluted juice and/or herb tea. Pour the fluid into an ice cube tray, pop in the freezer, and later let her suck the frozen cubes. To make herbsicles, insert sticks when the solution is half frozen. Good herbs to try include lemon balm, peppermint, elder flowers or berries, oat straw, or chamomile; you can also freeze diluted ginger ale or lemon water.
Dress lightly or bundle? The answer depends on your children’s perception of temperature – follow her cues. If your child looks pale, shivers, or complains of feeling chilled (things that tend to happen in the early stages of fever), bundle her in breathable fabrics so that sweat will evaporate, but make sure she can easily remove the layers. If she is comfortable and her fever is low, dress her snuggly and give warm liquids to assist the body’s fever production. If she sweats and complains of heat, dress her lightly and let her throw off the covers. Older kids will take care of these needs themselves.
Don’t push food. People with fevers generally don’t have much appetite. Let your child determine when and what she eats. Just bear in mind that consumption of sugary foods could delay the natural immune response.

Herbal Remedies for Fevers

A rule of thumb that herbalists like to use during minor illness with fever is: "First, do nothing," meaning that a short period of observation ought to precede any action against the illness. Follow the guidelines above for seeking medical assistance for feverish children under the age of two, and encourage fluids. For older children, give liquids, make them comfortable, and observe closely.
Is your child drinking fluids well? Urinating at least once every eight hours (ideally, every three to four hours, or wetting eight to ten nappies per day)? Does your touch console her? Is she playing normally? If the answer to these questions is yes, she is probably not seriously ill.
A fever may come down as quickly as within an hour of taking a herbal fever-reducing tea.
Elderflower and lemon balm are excellent herbs to combat fever and have a very pleasant taste as well.
Elderflower’s antibacterial and antiviral actions also soothe a sore throat, runny or stuffed nose and other respiratory issues, as well as allergies.
Thyme and chamomile are good choices too, especially when we want to combat an infection. I don’t recommend thyme for kids under 3 though, as it is a very powerful herb.

Herbal water spritzes can also help send a feverish youngster off to sleep. Combine 2 drops of essential oil of chamomile, lavender, thyme, ylang-ylang, or rose with 4 ounces of water in a spray bottle. These oils provide some antibacterial action along with a sense of tranquility. Spritz liberally on arms, legs, back, and chest, but keep this spray away from eyes and out of the reach of small children. It’s best to use these in a warm, steamy bathroom so that your child doesn’t get chilled.

By Miranda Tringis, Herbalist Dip. HM (Inst.NH)
www.cyherbia.com
www.facebook.com/cyherbia
Tel. 99915443
Email: miranda@cyherbia.com

Chakra Charging & Harmonising Meditation

Chakra in Sanskrit, Indian, means ‘wheel’, Chakras being whirling concentrated energy centres aligned along your spinal column, which receive, assimilate and pass on life force energy (also called ‘ki’, ‘chi’ or ‘prana’ by various ancient civilisations) to all their relevant physical glands, organs and body parts in their designated region via your Meridian lines and Nadis. Chakras are documented as far back by Hindus as 2,500 years BC, who appreciated that activated and balanced Chakras were the key to holistic health and healing.

So far so good, however chakras get sluggish and ineffective at distributing this life sustaining energy when blocked by unexpressed emotions (either positive, as in unexpressed love or negative as in unexpressed anger). emotions. The ancient Chinese expertly linked certain emotions to certain chakras, in brief (and by no means in full):-

RED Root / Mulhadra Chakra (base of trunk) - lack of material abundance, not being ‘grounded’ and sexual issues will cause this chakra to malfunction.

ORANGE Sacral / Svadhisthana Chakra (just bellow belly button) - fear, lack of creativity and parenting issues adversely affects this chakra.

YELLOW Solar Plexus / Manipura Chakra (diaphragm area) - anger, depression, not being in touch with your ‘gut’ feelings incapacitates this Chakra.

GREEN Heart / Anahata Chakra (heart area) - heart ache, shut down love both in giving and receiving, sadness and not listening to your hearts true desires disables this Chakra.

BLUE Throat / Vissudha Chakra (throat region) – not expressing your emotional needs or clearly communicating with others. Not listening or empathising with others.

INDIGO Third Eye / Adjna Chakra (middle of brow) - only works at optimum levels when you’re open to receiving and working with your inner visions.

PURPLE Crown / Sahasara Chakra (crown of head) – lack of ego subjugation for true en-light-enment and connecting with the universal knowledge that all geniuses (Mozart, Einstein, Plato etc) tapped into obstructs this Chakra’s proper functioning.

Many years ago authorities on Meditating stipulated that the chakras spun either clockwise or anticlockwise with regards each chakra or which gender of person was meditating. However, such rules no longer exist, it is up to you, during this meditation, to sense into which way your chakras are spinning (which, if you have been actively putting the past 4 weeks meditative techniques into practise 2-3 times a week, will be easier for you to sense into).

On the Meditation Courses that I run, even in the Beginners Course, you will gain a deeper understanding of how people or situations can either ‘top up’ or deplete your chakras energies, and also, how trauma in your childhood or societal pressure and conformity, can have shut down specific chakras in your body, causing physical dis-ease in that Chakras region. To counteract this, it is good to get conversant with Chakra spinning and clearing meditations, regularly including them in your everyday life.

CHAKRA CHARGING & BALANCING MEDITATION

As before, makes yourself comfortable, follow the tips from the last few weeks and then remember that, as with all meditations, there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ responses or feelings, if you sense all your chakras are rotating the same way or in a haphazard way, this is fine, just go with your intuition. With closed eyes:-

“Sense or inwardly visualise your ruby red root Chakra spinning faster and faster. After a few minutes sense into which way this whirling energy is flowing. Then sense, feel, visualise this chakra growing brighter and brighter, glowing all around your lower body, energising all your organs and glands and bodily parts* therein.

[* You can visualise these as your lower intestines, female and male lower reproductive tissues, hips and top of your thighs or not, it is up to you.]

Next, sense into the area just below your belly button, sensing, feeling or visualising your orange Sacral chakra spinning faster and faster. After a few minutes, sense which way it is flowing. Then feel, visualise this chakra glowing brighter and brighter, glowing all around your belly area, energising all your organs and glands and bodily parts* therein.

[* Spleen, Sexual organs, Kidneys & Adrenal glands, lower back, bladder, and upper intestines]

Next, sense into the area just below your diaphragm, sensing, feeling or visualising your yellow Solar Plexus Chakra spinning faster and faster. After a few minutes, sense which way this vortice is spinning. Then feel, visualise this chakra glowing brighter and brighter, glowing a sunny yellow energy all around your rib area, energising all your organs and glands and bodily part* therein.

[*Stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, spleen and lower ribs]

Next, sense into the spinal region of your heart, sensing, feeling or visualising your green Heart Chakra spinning faster and faster. After a few minutes, sense which way this vortice is flowing. Then feel, visualise this chakra glowing brighter and brighter, glowing a green emerald light all around your heart area, energising all your organs and glands and bodily parts* therein.

[* Heart, lungs, arms, chest and hands and thymus]

Next, sense into your throat region, sensing, feeling or visualising your cornflower blue throat chakra spinning faster and faster. After a few minutes, sense which way this whirling mass is spinning. Then feel, visualise this chakra glowing brighter and brighter, glowing a healing and purifying blue light all around your throat area, energising all your organs and glands and bodily parts there.

[Thyroid & Parathyroid, upper lungs, throat, voice and vocal chords, jaw, neck & shoulders]

Next, sense into your mid brow region, sensing, feeling or visualising your indigo Third Eye chakra spinning faster and faster. After a few minutes, sense into which way this whirling energy is spinning. Then feel, visualise this chakra glowing brighter and brighter, glowing indigo light all around your brow area, energising all your organs and glands and bodily parts* therein.

[* Eyes, ears, nose, hypothalamus, endocrine system, head, face, pituitary gland, nervous system and brain]

Next, sense into the top of your head, sensing, feeling or visualising your purple Crown chakra spinning faster and faster. After a few minutes sense which way this vortice is flowing. Then feel, visualise this chakra glowing brighter and brighter, glowing violet light all around the top of your head, energising all your organs and glands and bodily parts* therein.”

[* Central nervous system, Pineal gland & brain]

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Enjoy and do feel free to let us know how you got on!

To fully enjoy the benefits and connectivity with your Chakras phone Kara on: 97-743357 to reserve a place on her meditation courses being run from The Lighthouse and Gaia Wellness Centre in Larnaca.

Kid Blogger - School meal shockers

Croquettes, an ice lolly and cucumber... lunch for pupils exposed online by 9-year-old campaigner Martha
• Martha Payne began adding daily photos of school lunches to own blog site
• Site chalked up 40,000 hits yesterday

It began with a snap of a similarly measly meal – a slice of pizza and a potato croquette, alongside a sprinkling of sweetcorn, a cupcake for dessert and a lot of empty space.
She posted the picture on an internet blog and began to add daily snaps of her lunches, rating and commenting on them.
When she first checked her NeverSeconds website for reaction, it boasted only three hits.

Yesterday her NeverSeconds blog was trending on Twitter – and chalked up an astonishing 40,000 hits. Martha, who is supervised by her father, said: ‘I was gobsmacked. I never expected to get so much interest.’
And the food? ‘It’s usually pretty horrible,’ she said.
‘I’d like them to serve more, and maybe let some people  have seconds if they want to... and not serve stuff that’s a wee bit disgusting.’
Her campaign to improve school dinners echoes the one spearheaded by Jamie Oliver

Because Martha’s home is on the west coast of Scotland, however, standards for school meals differ and widespread improvements in the rest of Britain appear not to have been applied.
But Martha’s fearless exposé of daily fare at her (unnamed) school prompted global discussion about shockingly unhealthy food being served.
One nutritionist branded the lunches ‘scary’. Another praised her for ‘speaking out’.
Martha, whose mother Rebecca is a GP, began the blog because she is interested in writing.
With permission from teachers, she photographed her £2 lunches and wrote about them.
Over to Martha, writing on the blog: ‘The pizza in the first pic was alright but I’d have enjoyed more than one croquette. I’m a growing kid and I need to concentrate all afternoon and I cant do it on one croquette. Do any of you think you could?’
She awards it six out of ten on the ‘Food-o-meter’ but it scores only four for health.
And later she wrote: ‘Today’s meal was on the menu as cheeseburger and ice cream/biscuit but as you can see I got an ice lolly. I prefer ice cream. I wish they had stuck to the menu.’
Her father Dave, who manages a smallholding at home, said: ‘It really seems to have touched a nerve. I joked that it would probably go viral. I really didn’t believe it would.’

Read more: Daily Mail

Kindermusik with Anja

Our great experience

Dear mummies, from the beginning of my article I would like to tell you : “Take a Kindermusic course with your baby and don’t lose this chance to give such a great possibility to your little darling to enjoy it!!!

exploring the balls, their shape and how you can roll them

When Karolina was 10 months old we started Kindermusic with Anja Village classes where there were four other babies of the same age approximately. From the first two classes I noticed how my daughter reacted on sounds of music, various instruments like shakers, or drums, different timbers of voices, high and low pitches, etc. I saw how much Karolina loved atmosphere and company there, how much she enjoyed it. Week by week my baby was developing so fast that sometimes I couldn’t even expect new things from her, but my little diamond could do it already. And the influences of music, the impact from our Kindermusik classes were really great, I should say, I think it took and still takes even first roles.

playing in animals with different materials, voicing ducks or dogs, or cats was of a big interest for little gems

Every time when I tell Karolina “We go to Anja, to Kindermusik”, she starts dancing one of songs from previous semester “Jolly is the miller” which she likes a lot. And this really impresses me how much happiness and light you can see in her eyes from this music. Every day Karolina asks me to switch on the CD from “Cock’a doodle moo!” Village class (showing on music centre or just dancing)and believe me, CD runs not only one or two times even. It seems, she is never tired. Karolina knows movements for each dance we did during the class or she knows what she must do under this or that song. There is a rhyme about 5 cows (a kind of game for fingers), the first cow eats grass, the second- hay, the third drinks water, the forth runs away and the fifth lies down the whole day. Karolina makes the sound of chewing, drinking or sleeping. Or there is a song “Hop up, my baby“ which has “high and low” workout . Karolina raises her hands up when it must be because she remembers mummy was going up with her on refrain, or she voices horse which is actually one of the main characters in this song. She turns around, makes steps forward and back under her favourite song “Jolly is the miller”. It is really amazing.

exploring the bells, the sound of it attracts much attention

I also see how nice Karolina goes in contact with other babies who are younger her and how she watches them, their reactions and joy, and their exploration of new things. There is a small girl who was about 4,5 months when only started the group and now Sophia is almost 8 months . It was very sweet to see how she waved the first time her hand under “HELLO-HELLO!” song, she replied to others when they were waving their hands under the words “hello, hello, let’s sing together…”And such little moments you can enjoy together with other mummy, share her happiness as if it was done the first time by your little one. There are also 2 girls – Marilena and Maria - who sing like birds together when they listen to their favourite melodies. It is fantastic to watch their intercommunication, as if they really have a chat and understand each other. Later Sophia joins them and so does Lia. Lia is a very smiling baby and as we know from her mum Vanja, Lia makes her homework very well. She plays with spoons and bowls at home like she played drums during the class. There was also a boy Theo in our group who likes to roll the ball with a great joy or to play Peek-a-boo with scarfs, and you could even see sun shining from his blue eyes .His smile charges with lots of energy.

this activity was the BEST fun for both mum & baby

It is unforgettable to see how all our children get acquainted and learn different new things from this world of sounds. All of babies love when we take them on hands and go forward to circle, facing them to each other and then go back. Or how we trot or gallop under music around the room. Or when we play drums or with scarfs. You can see achievements in development for each baby and this is the biggest appreciation.

Each class is focused on something specific what we are told about from the beginning. Then a choice of songs from the whole course is devoted exactly to this or that element. Babies are given variety of instruments, items to explore. Everything is accompanied by music (recorded or we sing it). If you are shy or don’t remember the words, there is no need to worry since all text songs are on posters and you can easily join singing for your baby, what makes it more comfortable. We also have our home materials which include a CD with songs, a book, some posters and an instrument (by the way, we have a good collection with Karolina: a bell, a shaker, a scarf, etc.) We can do the same activities at home and if you forget something, Anja is always helpful and in time. We get email after each class with information what we did, what else we can do at home with our darlings and what must be in great attention, in focus.

Kindermusik is not only classes, it is already like meetings with your friends with music and some activities, jokes, sharing about what’s new is done by your baby, chatting. The only thing that I feel sorry that I didn’t know about such course before, when Karolina was 3-4 months, otherwise we could enjoy it much earlier. That is why I recommend all mummies to try it and see what kind of results your baby will have.

Last Thursday we started a new semester “Dews Drops” Village which we were waiting after 2 weeks of break. And we are all excited what new it will bring and give to our sunshines. May be someone will join us too, we are all waiting for more smiles and singing on our classes.

By Dina Proskurina
"stay at home" Mum
Please take a look at my My Blog  and Facebook

LPN is a pure community based site that adopts the true spirit of Blogging. As such we feature unedited raw content from our readers.