Saturday, December 01, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Me falta tempo...
By Sam Butcher
Me falta tempo
para ler todos os livros que quero
Me falta tempo
para passeios e praias e as locadoras com seus filmes
Felinis que não vi e os museus que me esperam
me falta tempo.
Me falta tempo
para amar os flertes e aprofundar as amizades de coquetéis
Me falta tempo
para arrumar o armário jogar coisas fora
passar a limpo a caderneta de telefone
redecorar o quarto
Me falta tempo
para o orfanato e ajudar o meu vizinho a pendurar o quadro na parede.
Me falta tempo
para aprender japonês
pintar em tecido
tocar piano
tecer meus planos
Me falta tempo
para as aquarelas que sonho
preciso anotar meus sonhos
Mas me falta tempo...
Tempo para os amigos antigos que já me esqueceram
tempo para as músicas e cds
tempo para o estrangeiro, ilhas e cantões a conhecer
Me falta tempo
para os poemas que a poesia me exige
e gravar os programas de TV
no entanto,
quantas vezes não tenho nada,
absolutamente nada para fazer.
É assim que me sinto às vezes. Sinto que os dias correm e que não consigo fazer nada dele.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Becoming a Toddler
How your life is changing:
You're learning that 2-year-olds aren't the only ones to go through "terrible" phases. Your toddler may be easily overwhelmed by life's challenges and respond to them by dissolving into tears and screams. Don't ask him to stop — he probably can't. Instead be patient, available, and willing to offer him comfort or just your presence, whatever he seems to need at the moment. He'll get over it and be good as new if you just let him storm.
Children are generally very trusting now. They expect adults to save them from unwise or even dangerous adventures, such as climbing up on a chair to reach the sink. Try to have eyes in the back of your head during this period.
The next stage comes in the middle of the second year. Babies begin to use their new thinking powers and may get grouchy as they figure out that parents and caregivers can no longer cater immediately to their every need. Without warning, the rules have changed: a child now has to wait a bit for dinner; an adult playmate may not be available on demand; a parent who has been a constant presence may be back at work full time.
Great Expectations
In addition, the adults in a toddler's life now expect more mature behaviors. We want toddlers to use a spoon rather than dig into food with fingers. We insist that grabbed toys be returned to their rightful owners. And, most annoyingly, we ask that the toys be shared!
Struggling to understand these new rules is hard work for toddlers. Some toddlers become more low key; others become more defiant. Both responses are attempts to cope with the sweeping changes from early babyhood — when any cry brought prompt, tender care.
Emotional Swings
Toddlers' emotions will often seesaw wildly now. On one hand, they want to be on their own and grow toward more assertiveness, self-will, and independence. ("No!" and "Do it myself" become favorite refrains.) On the other hand, they're longing to still be cuddled and protected.
The likely result is overwhelming frustration. For example, a toddler who wrestles with a puzzle piece but cannot make it fit will commonly react by sweeping the puzzle to the floor and throwing himself with passionate sobs into his caregiver's arms.
Balancing Act
So what does a wise adult do during these rocky emotional times? First, offer reassurance, and boost the child's courage to try again. If adults do not provide new challenges in judicious doses, they may dampen the toddler's motivation to grow toward more independence.
In addition, offer toddlers limited choices ("Do you want apple juice or orange juice?"), and be as patient as you can be. Anger and indignation at what parents and caregivers may view as defiance and disobedience can crush a toddler's spirit. Adult fury leads to gray moods and loss of toddler joy.
At all costs, be careful not to shame toddlers. Check your words and take care not to call a toddler "bad" for having toileting accidents, saying "no," or being clumsy. When a toddler's struggle toward independence is ridiculed, scolded, ignored, or punished, the result is often rage or deliberate hurting of others. Make every effort to support your toddler with firm, calm words and gestures. Empathize with this difficult emotional stage. Offer a hug when he dissolves into frustrated tears. If you can't be there, make sure to leave a "blankie" or other self-soother with your child's caregiver.
If you work patiently with your child to face the difficulties in the drive toward independence, he'll learn how to calm himself, wait patiently, and cope with stressful social situations. Just remember that there's no quick fix: All new emotional learning takes time.
You're learning that 2-year-olds aren't the only ones to go through "terrible" phases. Your toddler may be easily overwhelmed by life's challenges and respond to them by dissolving into tears and screams. Don't ask him to stop — he probably can't. Instead be patient, available, and willing to offer him comfort or just your presence, whatever he seems to need at the moment. He'll get over it and be good as new if you just let him storm.
Children are generally very trusting now. They expect adults to save them from unwise or even dangerous adventures, such as climbing up on a chair to reach the sink. Try to have eyes in the back of your head during this period.
The next stage comes in the middle of the second year. Babies begin to use their new thinking powers and may get grouchy as they figure out that parents and caregivers can no longer cater immediately to their every need. Without warning, the rules have changed: a child now has to wait a bit for dinner; an adult playmate may not be available on demand; a parent who has been a constant presence may be back at work full time.
Great Expectations
In addition, the adults in a toddler's life now expect more mature behaviors. We want toddlers to use a spoon rather than dig into food with fingers. We insist that grabbed toys be returned to their rightful owners. And, most annoyingly, we ask that the toys be shared!
Struggling to understand these new rules is hard work for toddlers. Some toddlers become more low key; others become more defiant. Both responses are attempts to cope with the sweeping changes from early babyhood — when any cry brought prompt, tender care.
Emotional Swings
Toddlers' emotions will often seesaw wildly now. On one hand, they want to be on their own and grow toward more assertiveness, self-will, and independence. ("No!" and "Do it myself" become favorite refrains.) On the other hand, they're longing to still be cuddled and protected.
The likely result is overwhelming frustration. For example, a toddler who wrestles with a puzzle piece but cannot make it fit will commonly react by sweeping the puzzle to the floor and throwing himself with passionate sobs into his caregiver's arms.
Balancing Act
So what does a wise adult do during these rocky emotional times? First, offer reassurance, and boost the child's courage to try again. If adults do not provide new challenges in judicious doses, they may dampen the toddler's motivation to grow toward more independence.
In addition, offer toddlers limited choices ("Do you want apple juice or orange juice?"), and be as patient as you can be. Anger and indignation at what parents and caregivers may view as defiance and disobedience can crush a toddler's spirit. Adult fury leads to gray moods and loss of toddler joy.
At all costs, be careful not to shame toddlers. Check your words and take care not to call a toddler "bad" for having toileting accidents, saying "no," or being clumsy. When a toddler's struggle toward independence is ridiculed, scolded, ignored, or punished, the result is often rage or deliberate hurting of others. Make every effort to support your toddler with firm, calm words and gestures. Empathize with this difficult emotional stage. Offer a hug when he dissolves into frustrated tears. If you can't be there, make sure to leave a "blankie" or other self-soother with your child's caregiver.
If you work patiently with your child to face the difficulties in the drive toward independence, he'll learn how to calm himself, wait patiently, and cope with stressful social situations. Just remember that there's no quick fix: All new emotional learning takes time.
Another fun day at Butterfield Acres
Leandro and I spend long mornings almost every week. We got the season pass after using one pass given by our little friend Gus as a Birthday present. Leandro just loved! So I decided to get a season pass, which has been just AWESOME! The animals there are very kind, tamed and sweet (a little smelly though).
Another fun day at Butterfield Acres
Butterfield Acres Farm is a petting zoo or hands-on farm for kids and families but entertaining for all ages. Located in Calgary Alberta. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE!!! Butterfield Acres Children's Farm is THAT kind of place. You know, where you can listen to the sheep munching on their hay, or wiggle your fingers into the curly wool of a newborn lamb, or inspect the hair in a calf's ear. You can feel the warmth of a newly laid egg, or be amazed that cute little pigs can smell so awful!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Why Am I signing with my son?
You maybe wondering why am I signing with my son?
Infants were born with abundant intelligence, but unfortunately with a limited verbal means of communicating what are their thoughts and needs. Leleo is very smart and his need to communicate with us is amazing. Signing has helped me teaching him other languages. The importance of teaching him different languages is big as his grandparents, uncles and cousins cannot communicate in English.
But Mom and Daddy also have been enjoying very much learning Signing language.
Certain very important facts about human language have been known for many years. Two thirds to three quarters of all everyday language is ordinarily acquired by the third birthday. He recommends the teaching of sign, starting at about seven months of age (Leo did start at this time too), for several reasons.
First, sign language represents a SECOND LANGUAGE, and research consistently showed that when a second language was introduced in an effective manner to a child from the early months on, the child would not only become bilingual by the second birthday, but would be ahead of the monolingual child in both languages.
Second, research showed that the period between seventeen and twenty months of age is particularly difficult time, in that the normal child is very limited in regard to frustration tolerance, and being unable to express himself exacerbates the problem. A child who can sign at that stage of life is a child who will cause considerably LESS FRUSTRATION for himself, for his parents and others. That means that the attachment process can move along much more smoothly and probably to a better outcome.
Finally, the potential for understanding mental activity in children between eight and twenty-two months of age that is made possible by sign language is intriguing.
- Dr. Burton L. White (Director of the center for Parent Education and author of 'The First Years of Life and Raising a Happy Unspoiled Child')
But above all, signing is another language and for him as well for me, is a wonderful thing to be able to learn another language.
Infants were born with abundant intelligence, but unfortunately with a limited verbal means of communicating what are their thoughts and needs. Leleo is very smart and his need to communicate with us is amazing. Signing has helped me teaching him other languages. The importance of teaching him different languages is big as his grandparents, uncles and cousins cannot communicate in English.
But Mom and Daddy also have been enjoying very much learning Signing language.
Certain very important facts about human language have been known for many years. Two thirds to three quarters of all everyday language is ordinarily acquired by the third birthday. He recommends the teaching of sign, starting at about seven months of age (Leo did start at this time too), for several reasons.
First, sign language represents a SECOND LANGUAGE, and research consistently showed that when a second language was introduced in an effective manner to a child from the early months on, the child would not only become bilingual by the second birthday, but would be ahead of the monolingual child in both languages.
Second, research showed that the period between seventeen and twenty months of age is particularly difficult time, in that the normal child is very limited in regard to frustration tolerance, and being unable to express himself exacerbates the problem. A child who can sign at that stage of life is a child who will cause considerably LESS FRUSTRATION for himself, for his parents and others. That means that the attachment process can move along much more smoothly and probably to a better outcome.
Finally, the potential for understanding mental activity in children between eight and twenty-two months of age that is made possible by sign language is intriguing.
- Dr. Burton L. White (Director of the center for Parent Education and author of 'The First Years of Life and Raising a Happy Unspoiled Child')
But above all, signing is another language and for him as well for me, is a wonderful thing to be able to learn another language.
Baby Can Sign! Workshop
Baby Can Sign! Workshop
1 ½ hour long interactive, Signing with Singing Workshop
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Location: Varsity Community Centre Address: 4303 Varisty Drive NW
Time: 10:30am til noon
Description:
Fun-filled 1½ hr interactive workshop with baby or toddler Other family members are welcome to attend
Includes: handouts with digital photos of signs;
List of child-friendly signs taught (approx. 30 signs); Songs & rhymes to sign to;
List of recommended books & internet resources.
Workshop Registration Fee: $35.00 per family
*Payment required before date of Workshop (Visa, MC accepted , or cheque or cash)*
For more information or to register :
call Tricia Davis at (403) 990-4908 or email: babycansign@shaw.ca
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Amigos saudosos
'Depois de algum tempo, você aprende que verdadeiras amizades continuam a crescer mesmo a longas distâncias, e o que importa não é o que você tem na vida, mas quem você tem na vida...' (William Shakespere - de Claudinho no Orkut)
Friday, May 18, 2007
Signing Time - Best Signing Resource
One of our most used resources are from Two Little Hands Production. They have a wide variety of fun and educational American Sign Language (ASL) products.
See: http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.php?articles_id=2
We found them at the Public Library. There are a series of 13 sign language DVDs for children to watch. I looked around online for other fun interactive sources, but Signing Time was the best option! Leandro just loves to watch all their DVDs. He is not crazy for cartoons. Actually you cannot make him watch any cartoon for more than 10 seconds. But with Signing Time, he just watches the entire show and asks for more. It is fun and educational!
See: http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.php?articles_id=2
We found them at the Public Library. There are a series of 13 sign language DVDs for children to watch. I looked around online for other fun interactive sources, but Signing Time was the best option! Leandro just loves to watch all their DVDs. He is not crazy for cartoons. Actually you cannot make him watch any cartoon for more than 10 seconds. But with Signing Time, he just watches the entire show and asks for more. It is fun and educational!
Signing Really Works!
Leo has been watching Mom and Dad sign and learning signing since around 6 or 7 months old. So, I don't really know when his first sign emerged. All of sudden there was an explosion of different hand gestures and sounds. But it was after he completed one year old that he really tried to communicate back to us. If you sign to him, I think that he probably understand more than we know, but for now he prefers to use just a few. Repetition was a key for success.
The words he can sign back to you at 15 months old are: AIRPLANE (we think it was the first one), MORE, FLOWER, CAR, CAT, FOOD, BIRD and HAT.
The words we think he understands when you sign to him are: All the above plus PLEASE, THANK YOU, SORRY, DOG, HORSE, WATER, MILK, JUICE, BEAR, BUBBLE, some of the ABCs, some of numbers, ROCK, SHOES, SOCK, TRAIN, BATH, BLOCK, CUP, BALL, BOOK, GRANDMA, GRANDPA, MOM, DAD, PLAY, STOP, GO, NO, YES, etc.
The words he can sign back to you at 15 months old are: AIRPLANE (we think it was the first one), MORE, FLOWER, CAR, CAT, FOOD, BIRD and HAT.
The words we think he understands when you sign to him are: All the above plus PLEASE, THANK YOU, SORRY, DOG, HORSE, WATER, MILK, JUICE, BEAR, BUBBLE, some of the ABCs, some of numbers, ROCK, SHOES, SOCK, TRAIN, BATH, BLOCK, CUP, BALL, BOOK, GRANDMA, GRANDPA, MOM, DAD, PLAY, STOP, GO, NO, YES, etc.
Toddler Exploring the Outside World
Leo is literally scooting away from babyhood in search of new adventures.
He just loves to examine Nature. He loves to pick up leaves and rocks, feel the bark on trees, and touch bugs. He tries to be really gentle with the ants, spiders and lady-bugs. Grass is his most delightful 'toys'.
He just loves to examine Nature. He loves to pick up leaves and rocks, feel the bark on trees, and touch bugs. He tries to be really gentle with the ants, spiders and lady-bugs. Grass is his most delightful 'toys'.
Toddler Exploring the World
Helping Your Children Explore Safely because Toddlers try to get into everything.
Parents of toddlers often feel tired, day and night. Just watching your active little person zoom around the house can be exhausting!
Keeping a toddler safe requires constant attention, and sometimes it seems you can't relax for a minute. It is surprising how many dangerous places and objects toddlers can discover.
But the extra work it takes to encourage your child as he explores and learns is worth it. Sometimes you may want to stop your child's need to explore, but remember: exploring is necessary for a growing child.
You won't have to go running after your toddler so often if you get rid of some of the dangers at home. Your toddler is just too young and too active to think about safety. She ignores things that are in the way. Bumps and falls don't stop her. Never leave a child unsupervised. However, there are a few steps to make this easier (source: Grover's Book of Cute Things to Touch by Constance Allen (Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1990).
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Put away anything that your child can easily damage or that can hurt him.
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Use safety gates on stairways and porches.
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Block the way to open, unguarded windows. Fasten screens.
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Cover electric plugs.
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Keep all medicines and poisons (like cleaning products) in a locked cabinet.
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Teach your child how to climb up and go down stairs safely.
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Make safe play areas and provide safe toys.
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Understand that your words won't always stop your child from doing something unsafe. When that happens, take firm action to stop your toddler. Then tell her why you did it.
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Be available to move in instantly when action is needed (for example, around an unfriendly dog, a speeding car, or stairs).
Toddler Exploring the World
Leo is busy from morning to night, turing up in places I would never expect! But for me, it is a wonderful thing. His curiosity, his creativity and his excitment towards simple things is amazing and beautiful. He clims on the sofa, on the bed, on little chairs, little boxes, etc. How did he get there? Next he is playing with the taps in the tub or with the toilet paper. He sometimes gets soaked with water while playing with the taps. Water just fascinates him. Later he is off to help me with the chores, soon all the laundry is scattered on the floor. A toddler's curiosity can drive some parents crazy. He gets into purses and bags. Sometimes I will find my keys in the most weird places. How did you think about that? But I just love to watch and I am one of those Mom's that encourage that kind of behaviours on little ones. I chose to not get frustrated because the pantry is messy or I may have to rewash some of my laundry, tupperware or pots. Why? Because:
- Exploring is normal and important for children to do;
- Exploring is one of the first steps in learning about objetcs and solve problems;
- Toddlers are just fascinated about how things work, feel and how they look from the inside;
- Exploring is one of the first steps in learning about objetcs and solve problems;
- Toddlers are just fascinated about how things work, feel and how they look from the inside;
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Il Divo Concert at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary
From right to left: David Miller (USA), Sebastien Izambard (France),
Carlos Marin (Spain) and Urs Bühler (Switzerland)
Il Divo Concert at Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary
Opera singers Urs Toni Buhler, Carlos Marin, Sebastien Izambard and David Miller of 'Il Divo' were in town for a concert and I WAS THERE! They are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
Kerry (Daddy) was taking care of our little one tonight. Leo is pretty good as he goes to bed at 8Pm every night. The night was cold and snowy. It was a wet cold snow and I was getting pretty cold waiting for the train to arrive. It was a 30 minutes trip to the station. I arrived at the Pengrowth Saddledome around 7.15 pm (an hour before show is suppose to start), Elvira and Liliana were already there waiting for me at the train platform. The place was packed! Lots of middle aged woman and a few couples! We settled down to our seats (uh...quite a distance from the stage, ha ha ha...) and waited for the concert to begin. It was 8.30 and we were still waiting. I was wondering what was happening behind the stage and why we had to wait for soooo long. It was almost 9 p.m., when the lights dimmed, signalling the start of the concert. The audience gasped in excitement and the show began. It was beautiful and sooo romantic! A wonderful treat.
Kerry (Daddy) was taking care of our little one tonight. Leo is pretty good as he goes to bed at 8Pm every night. The night was cold and snowy. It was a wet cold snow and I was getting pretty cold waiting for the train to arrive. It was a 30 minutes trip to the station. I arrived at the Pengrowth Saddledome around 7.15 pm (an hour before show is suppose to start), Elvira and Liliana were already there waiting for me at the train platform. The place was packed! Lots of middle aged woman and a few couples! We settled down to our seats (uh...quite a distance from the stage, ha ha ha...) and waited for the concert to begin. It was 8.30 and we were still waiting. I was wondering what was happening behind the stage and why we had to wait for soooo long. It was almost 9 p.m., when the lights dimmed, signalling the start of the concert. The audience gasped in excitement and the show began. It was beautiful and sooo romantic! A wonderful treat.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Discovering Water and Taps
This is so interesting: Water... Clear, cold and soft water. I got all wet playing this game. Closing and opening the taps. Water can run throughly-throughly and fast-fast. I played this for almost an hour! Mommy had to change all my clothes after that!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
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