The Personal Touch

Personalised communication is becoming harder in today’s quick paced society. We’re squeezing more in, but at what cost?  SMS is replacing phone calls, pre-recorded automated messages are a substitution for one on one customer relations and personal letters have been replaced by Outlook, Facebook and MySpace.

Ten years ago when I was backpacking around Europe I made friends with a Canadian. At that point of time, emails were just taking off. We made a pact after we were parting ways to stay in touch, but not via email. For ten years we have been informing each other of new job promotions, partners, house moves and travels by mail. Yes, you read right. This antiquated method of staying in touch has been our preferred method of communication. We wanted to stay in touch even if it was only once a year, in a personal way. Each time I see a letter in the letterbox I get excited. 

Receiving a letter in the mail that is not a bill, but has been handwritten in pen screams time and effort to me. And in a society where no one has time, this is now becoming priceless. Emails are fine for the purpose of what they are designed for, quick and efficient communication. But today it’s being used for breakups, party invitations and the like.

We all need personal touches that communicate time. Time is a love language that we all need, some in varying degrees. What do you do to give things a personal touch? 

Finding ways to get some ZZZ By Christie B 

Well it is 2.30 am and I am awake, wide awake. I have sorted out my jumpy leg with a little celtic salt (a condition I’m experiencing since becoming pregnant).  But nothing stops my mind racing with unfinished details and nothing not even warm milk is helping me get to sleep.

It appears I have joined the 90% of Australians who suffer from some kind of sleep disorder.

Interestingly the cost, apart from human well being, is more than $10 billion a year to the community.  Yes, you read correctly billion, not million!

Australians spend an estimated $10 million per year on sleeping tablets.  So what are the options to cure sleep deprivation? What can we do to encourage it from happening?

Kids and alcohol don’t mix By Christie B

Society and cultural patterns of behaviour are making things certain behaviours acceptable at an earlier age. But how young is too young and where do we draw the line and say we need to do something to protect our children.

Recently I was looking at some statistics regarding children and alcohol.  Yes, I can’t even get my head around the fact that you could even use those two words in one sentence. I discovered 12% of children (ie people under 16) who are treated for alcohol abuse are 9-12 years old. As the mother of a nine year old I can not even begin to think how this would happen.

Then I started talking to a few of my friends and one of them told me a story about how her father used to take her and a few friends out and buy them all sorts of cocktails etc because he wanted to be a “cool” dad. She went on to be a binge drinker.

Combatting The Fat Crisis Christie B

A topical debate for parents at the moment is obesity in children. It’s become a worldwide issue, but Australia is leading with some scary statistics.

This week’s Herald Sun newspaper reported that in Victoria alone, 35 children are being treated for obesity-related diabetes and that some children are weighing over 150 kilograms.

Parents need to take full responsibility for their children’s diet, lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle.

Keeping the love connection by Christie B

Valentines Day is upon us and while there is a major focus in expressing love to that special someone on one day, what do we do to nurture connectedness the rest of the year?

I find there are expectations on couples to have romantic get aways and long candlelit dinners, not that there is anything wrong with these things, except sometimes we forget the important aspects of staying connected during the day.

My husband and I guard our adult time strongly and our kids know that unless they are sick, the evenings are for mum and dad.

Parenting Overtime 

People are complaining about being confused, even hassled about their roles as parents. They describe an epidemic of not knowing who they are or what they are meant to be as a parent. Are they a cool friend or a good parent?

Some believe a hybrid of both is what should be aiming for.

In regards to time management there has to be a time where children learn how to entertain themselves and give parents the chance to get other things done…and I am not talking about putting them in front of every household’s nanny – the TV!

As writer James Atlas has observed in The New Yorker, “It’s a full-time job being a parent these days. You’re always on.”

Melbourne Parenting educator Michael Grose has seen a major shift in attitudes in the past twenty years.

“The issue when I started out in the 80’s was under-parenting. The big issue now is over-parenting.”

According to Grosse some of us try to be our children’s best friends when really it would be much better if we worked on our role as mum or dad.