Maternal Relationship Reduces Violence and Improves Intelligence

There is no substitute for a good mother, and a mother’s influence is one of the most powerful forces in the lives of young children. Now, research shows that a healthy, playful relationship between a child and a mother leads to adult children with higher intelligence and less involvement in violence.

Beginning in the 1980s, researchers in Jamaica evaluated 129 toddlers who lived in impoverished areas and were at risk for poor nutrition and lack of stimulation. The children were divided into three intervention groups and one control group. One group received intellectual stimulation and interactive playtime with their mothers, one group was given supplemental baby formula, and one group received both stimulation and nutrition supplementation. A fourth group received no intervention. All interventions lasted 2 years. The follow-up period has now exceeded 2 decades.

As part of the stimulation program, mothers and toddlers received weekly visits from a woman who taught mothers how to play with their children and engage them in stimulating activities. The program also provided books and toys to the families each week. The nutrition supplementation consisted of approximately 2 gallons of milk-based formula.

The latest results of these interventions, published by the journal Pediatrics, reports that children who received intellectual stimulation and had a playful, interactive relationship with their mothers had higher IQs as adults, higher educational attainment, better general knowledge, and fewer symptoms of depression or social inhibition than children who did not receive such stimulation. The same children also were significantly less likely to be involved in fights and violent behavior as adults. The children who received nutritional supplementation showed no improvement among these measurements.

The Jamaican study was small, and only included children already experiencing stunted growth due to poor nutrition. But, it leaves no doubt that the relationship between a mother and a child is significant, and the ability to intellectually stimulate and challenge children is essential to raising healthy, well-adjusted adults.

Savouring tsoureki, pancakes and kites - Paula Manoli-Gray

I love this time of year when we have carnival, Green Monday, Easter, mild weather, flowers in bloom… and the knowledge that we have used neither heating nor air-conditioning, therefore we (should) get our lowest electricity bills of the year!

It is also at times like this that I am amused and fascinated at human nature and traditions.

For example, we had Green Monday last week, then the UK had Pancake Day the day after. On Green Monday the skies were filled with the sight of flying kites and people ate a healthy meal packed with vegetables. On Pancake Day, hoards of people got together and made and ate pancakes socially. Yet on any other day of the year, the two practises are far more rare. Okay, in the case of pancakes there are people who indulge regularly, but the point is, the funny human trait of doing something en masse on one particular day of the year because it is 'tradition'.

For the island, kite flying should be a regular pastime for children; getting them out in the fresh air and enjoying an activity with their parents, but I never see or hear of kites flying other than on Green Monday. In fact, there aren't many shops that sell kites all-year round, yet there is a kite explosion with every size, shape and design you can imagine in the run-up to the event.

I guess, if these things were part of daily life, they wouldn't be as special. Pancakes always taste better on Pancake Day, as do hot cross buns and tsoureki (sweet bread) at Easter. They give us something to look forward to and break the year up into sections and milestones, as well as keeping shops ticking over with the specialist trade that Valentine's Day, Christmas and other holidays bring.

I personally love Green Monday, and being out in the fields. Again, I should be enjoying Lenten picnics with family on a regular basis, but am not 'forced' to do so unless there is a public holiday, and so I am grateful that tradition dictates I do this. At least we still have these holidays that make us stop, enjoy, savour and take stock - in many other countries they are dying out.

At a recent church memorial I attended, the priest made a speech about how in these times of crisis we should not be wasting our money on frivolities such as the carnival. He went as far as to say that we should donate the money to the church instead, as it is in need of paying off its loan for the building of said church. I was saddened to hear him saying this at a time when we need to be able to take a breather from the troubles and remember that good times can be had; that there is joy in our traditions and that we don't have to have all the money in the world to enjoy spending time with people we care about. I won't comment on the church loan part!

Traditions are one of the things I love about Cyprus, and I don't think we will ever be short on reasons to spend quality time with the family and friends, or enjoy a big, shared meal. But my waistline is certainly glad they don't sell that crazily delicious tsoureki all year round!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly - 08/03/14

Σεμινάριο φυσικής γέννας στην Κύπρο - στ'αλήθεια!

Seminar natural birth in Cyprus - really!

When : Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Where : Nursery Little Gems Montessori
Time : 9.30pm-8.00m.m

On 19 March, the Eline Pedersen, chiropractor and mother of 2 children, will share her knowledge and 2 lovely personal stories on the natural childbirth: one diekpaireomeni by hospital doctors and other physical and water, from the very pregnant at home of.

The goal of Eline is to promote natural birth in Cyprus, uniting, advising and pushing the women of the island dare to say yes to natural childbirth.

The committee will consist of guest significant number of people who support and promote natural childbirth. They are all passionate about the promotion of this method to the island and us will share their experiences and knowledge on the topic. The talk will be interactive and invites everyone to talk about natural birth in Cyprus, whether it is at home, in private clinics or hospitals.

Guest Panel: 

• Maria Theodorou, mother of 2 children: one born in a clinic and another at home with natural birth in water.
• Sofia Souri, mother of 2 children: and the two born at home with natural birth in water.
• Maroulla Cameron, retired Midwife Hospital Limassol.
• Androulla Souri, retired Midwife Hospital Larnaca.
• Claire Black, childbirth educator in clinical ISIS

The event promotes the Network Parents Larnaca

www.larnacaparentsnetwork.com

Guacamole with mango

I just love guacamole, not just as a dip but so delicious as a salad garnish or as a baked potato topping and my favorite way is to pile some in a whole meal roll with plenty of rocket leaves and sliced tomatoes…yumm!!! Guacamole dates back to the Aztecs who considered it to be an aphrodisiac and avocado was a gift from the Gods, they also believed this to be true of chocolate, so I'm quite willing to go along with this!! May the Gods be praised!! Anyway, I was watching the food network and saw guacamole being made with mango, I haven't tried this yet, but I can imagine the two ingredients being very complimentary to each other and is on my ''must make'' list. Here's the recipe…enjoy!!

Ingredients

2 Avocados, halved, seeded and peeled

1 Mango, peeled and diced

3 tablespoons minced red onion

2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander

I teaspoon chilli sauce
Juice of one lemon or lime
Salt & Pepper

Method

In a small bowl, gently mash avocados using a potato masher. Add mango pieces, red onion, coriander, chilli sauce, lemon juice, s&p and gently toss to combine.

Androulla xx

Larnaca: site of U21 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2014

Cyprus returns to the world stage of international beach volleyball this year when it hosts the FIVB U21 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships. The 14th annual double-gender age group event will be held from July 22 to 27 in Larnaka as the FIVB now has an unprecedented four age-group World Championships for beach volleyball held annually.


While the Cyprus Volleyball Federation has hosted several FIVB Challenger and Satellite events, this will be just the second event held in Larnaka as the city presented the 2012 FIVB U19 World Championships which were won by a men’s tandem from Poland and a women’s duo from Lithuania.

Larnaka is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus behind Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort. The island's largest airport, Larnaka International Airport is located on the outskirts of the city to the south. The city is well known for its picturesque seafront, which includes rows of palm trees. Larnaka Marina is one of the four official entry points, by sea, to Cyprus.

The age-group FIVB World Championships have historically seen many of the young stars of today building their experience level to advance up the ladder in international competition. This year’s 2014 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour for professional athletes will include 10 FIVB Grand Slam events, a new FIVB Grand Slam Final and at least nine FIVB Beach Volleyball Open events.

The format of all the FIVB Beach Volleyball international tournaments – whether pro or age group FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam or FIVB Beach Volleyball Open – are the same, featuring pool play followed by single elimination knockout rounds.