The Student - THIS is the FINAL year!

We still have a student in the home! The Student needs to complete that final subject for her Business diploma in the first part of the year.

I had to answer the following question this holiday: When do you stop supporting your child?
I suppose it stops when they are able to support themselves?
Or are you strict, and have a cut-off date?

The plan was that she stayed in Potchefstroom to complete the studies, but she was unable to secure a student job. The direct call center job did not pan out in December as we had hoped for.

We are back to the draw-board here in Johannesburg.
She is searching for student jobs, and internships and starting jobs in Communication.
It seems she will be able to start working full-time, because she can attend classes for the outstanding subject on Saturdays.

If anyone of you know about jobs in Communication, PR, HR and Media in Johannesburg, please give us a shout? (She has completed her BA Communications degree in 2014)

7 Great Ways to Bond With Your Family

It is time for a Friday guest post.

Developing a strong family bond is extremely important for any family. From a child's birth to growing up and becoming an adult, bonding is very important.

Here are seven ways to do so, and even just practising one can have immense benefits for your family.

1. Communication
Communication is extremely important, because if a child cannot express their opinions or feelings, they won’t feel they can trust others. As a parent, use an open mind and listen. Closing off the lines of communication might mean that your child will become a troubled teen, and as an adult will not be able to communicate effectively in relationships or jobs. Become best friends with your child for life by building strong family ties early on.

2. Spend Time Together
No matter how busy we are, we must spend time with our kids. We can come home from work tired and grumpy, but you don’t want to give the impression that you don’t want to spend time with your child. Your child could have had a bad day at school too. Instead of fretting, consider that both of your days could become brighter by spending time together. Have a pizza night and pop in a movie. Or get away from all the digital products and learn to skate together, or go for a picnic!

3. Activities
Participating in constructive activities together strengthens any family bond. If you are a single parent, then join a group in which parents and kids can come together to make new friends and become an extended family. Always plan one major activity every week, no matter what. Doing things together will have everyone excited and looking forward to the activity.

4. Learn Together
We have all made mistakes. Instead of keeping secrets, be honest about them. If your child thinks they have screwed up somehow, tell them about a life experience that happened to you. This will help your child relate to you and grow. Similarly, don’t be afraid to tell your child when they need to change a behaviour. Honesty is always the best policy in building family bonds.

5. Trust and Honesty
When your child comes home and tells you something juicy that happened at school, that is told in
confidence. Whether the child is young or older, you are teaching your child that is between the two of you. The same goes if you told a child something and you asked to keep it between the two of you. This is where trust and honesty is built. Speak openly and be trusted but also be honest. This is huge in making a family bond. Take your kids seriously and treat them as adults, they’ll thank you for it.

7. I Love You
“I love you” is so matter of fact. Think about it for a minute. Do you really mean I love you? You need to mean it when routines are created and everyone is running out the door to start the day or heading off to
bed. A hug and a kiss are awesome too, as a child needs this encouragement. This build a bond that will
never be replicated – you don’t want to teach your children that affection is weak or strange. Do them a
favour and show it to them now, plus build a great bond at the same time.

Joannie Singer likes to write about parenting and saving her family money at backgroundcheck.org.

Movie Clip Monday #19 - Look at me when I talk to you!

The Toddler makes sure we listen to her. She takes our faces in her hands when she wants to talk to us.
Even with friends we don't see that often...

I hope it does not say something about our communication styles?

(This cellphone video was shot last week in the Mall)

Lending Movie Clip Monday from Tasneem at MumDrum.

Cellular miscommunication and relationship problems

I am not great in the verbal department. Hand me a telephone, and you get the shortest of grunts, and mostly a very brief encounter of matter-of-factness. I try my utmost to put on the smile and to recite the list: 1) identification; 2) place of work; and, 3) hello. But most of the time it is stripped to a short “Karen!” (I am busy, thank you very much!)
I know – it is on my list of things to change for the New Year.
Add a cellular phone and the signal problems in Jozy, and the Hubby gets it even worse. He has given me numerous lectures on how not to do it. And he has called me back a good number of times, after I have put down the phone on him and he still wanted to talk to me.
In my previous life (BD – Before Dries) my telephone skills were once blamed as one of the reasons the guy was not that impressed. It says a lot about Dries, for sticking around! Thanks, Dries!
I can’t even blame the bubble brain, although it has been worse in the recent year. (Yeah, right, Karen! We’ll stick with that!) I don’t enjoy talking over a telephone, especially one that jumps around with signal strengths and losses…
Me: “Hello.”
Dries: “Hello.”
Me: “What’s up?”
Dries: crackles… “plans…” sshhhhhhh…
Me: “I can’t hear you?”
Dries: “Sh&t!”
Me: “Talk to you later.” (In the hope that he will hear it)
Put phone down.
Our conversations boil down to this, most of the time…
I blame the cell phone companies.
I am sure there are many relationship problems because of the bad network coverage? Is there anyone else who can relate? Horrors if it is only us experiencing these problems…