#GLM

Kudos to working moms! Well working parents in general because I have realized some fathers are very much hands on at home despite their busy work schedules! Helping out with the chores, preparing meals, caring for the kids or simply putting the house in order. I have been quiet because I became actively and fully employed! At first, I thought it was going to be easy to joggle.  Jumping up early in the morning (which I hadn't done for a while), getting my toddler ready for daycare, preparing and packing his meals, dropping him off, driving to and from the office which is in another city, being productive at the office (in a field completely new to me-IT & business continuity), heading back home to prepare dinner, tidying up and then get ting ready for bed. I was completely worn out after the first few weeks of joggling this routine that I kept day-dreaming about winning the powerball, so I could quit working completely! Well, I still dream about winning it even though I...

As we celebrate International day of happiness today, I want to incite you to release your happy juices regardless of the circumstances you are going through. A simple way to get those juices flowing is through laughter! Yes, you heard me right. How does laughter make you happy you may ask? Well, read further and you will see some empirical backings to my advice. WHAT IS LAUGHTER? Making sounds and movements with your face that show that you are happy or think that something is funny. Therapeutic laughter is any intervention that promotes health by stimulating a playful discovery, expression or appreciation of the absurdity of life’s situations In 1964, Norman Cousins published his work, “Anatomy of an illness”. He was diagnosed with   ankylosing spondylitis , which is a crippling condition. He was given a 1 in 500 chance of recovery. Norman decided to infuse himself with his self-designed humor treatment and discovered that 15 minutes of steady laughter produced tw...

As a mom to an amazing, bubbly and often naughty 18 month old, I find myself torn between keeping up with TV shows like new episodes of Scandal or How To Get Away With Murder, the news feeds on Facebook, browsing through amazing posts on Instagram, surfing the internet for relevant information or putting all these aside to spend those cherished moments with my son. Just to enjoy hanging out with him or engaging him. Either by reading to him, kicking a ball around the house, running around with other kids at the Arcade, building Lego blocks or just playing good old peekaboo! It is so tempting to just strap him into his high-chair and thrust him behind a screen playing nursery rhymes all day, part of the perks of the digital age I must say. And then convince myself that they learn a few gestures and words from the rhymes, which in turn aids early communication. But not only does my son and similar kids get bored after a few minute...

I had a conversation with a friend a few weeks ago on the difficulty of finding a decent spouse. She compared the ordeal to looking for a needle in a haystack and we both laughed at the extreme analogy partly because it was an exaggeration but mainly because technically, there are more men in the world than women. Not a healthy difference, but significant enough to counter the anxiety of ‘men’ emptying out in the world. According to a recent human sex ratio report by the Central Intelligence Agency, there is an average of 107 boys/men to 100 girls/women. Now, whether these men are in your city or meet your criteria is another ball game. I want to attempt to jump the hurdle of even meeting and dating. So all I’m asking is that you keep an open mind and attempt these processes of mine in a quest to uncover all the ‘needles in the haystack’! Let’s start with ASKING. You can call it praying, but I want to strip it bare so you don’t make it overly spiritual and lose sight of my intended...

Courtesy: The Gallante I was rummaging through baby foods in the baby section of Target when I heard an interesting conversation between two ladies in the aisle across from where I was. African in accent and disposition I deduced since I am one myself. Having found the pureed sweet potatoes food I was looking for and of course, had heard enough gossip, it was time to head to check out. I smiled when I walked pass the ladies and they smiled back. The crux of the argument I eavesdropped on was that white men were better gentlemen than black men. They argued that on the average, white men displayed what was important about love, romance and commitment when in a relationship with you. Demonstrations a few black men interpret as vulnerability or even foolishness. So one concluded that in another life (if any) she will get married to a white man instead of another black brother…hilarious resolution. Anyway, I was thinking about their conversation as I hurried over to check out with...

‘Life begins at 40 ’ is an American catch phrase that became popular in 1933 after William Pitkin’s self-help book became the no. 1 bestselling nonfiction book in the U.S. It was written during the rapid increase in life expectancy from 40 years to 60 years and now it is 79 years in the U.S according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This signified that people could look forward to happier and more fulfilling lives even past the age of 40 as long as they maintained a positive attitude and outlook on life. Courtesy: MM. Lafleur In recent times however, 40 is hardly an anticlimax of existence on planet earth. It has literally become the new age for ‘new beginnings’! Life really seems to begin at 40! New or better career, nicer apartment and car, more financial stability as well as more comfortable friends hence better hangouts, more independence etc. It is as though people actually start living when they approach or turn the age of 40. At age 40, ladies becom...

From sleepless nights, two hourly feeding, diaper change, special meal preparations, bottle washing, laundry, hospital appointments, engaging in developmental or educational activities to managing a career, doing house chores, grocery shopping and bill payments. The list is endless actually but we pretty much get the picture of the life of a single mom. She switches between roles within the twinkle of an eye. From serving as the father to being a mother, from teacher to listener, scolder to comforter, mom to friend. She barely has quiet moments and rarely has anyone to rely on when she is feeling lazy or sick. She has to constantly remain enthusiastic and energetic for her kids, yet maintain her enthusiasm for her boss and colleagues. She is forced to learn about all subjects, to help her kids with their assignments, including the most dreaded mathematics! She is a seamstress, cook, maid, gardener, driver, instructor, accountant, hair stylist and many more hidden roles. She is ...