Laughter, the Best Medicine

1) I had just eaten the worst meal in my life & had to say something. "Is everything ok?" the waitress asked. "No", I replied. "The chicken is so tough, you can't cut it with a knife." "I'm so sorry," she said. "Can I bring you a different knife?"

2) Eager to be a hands-on dad, I wanted to prove I could change a nappy as well as anyone else could. I watched my daughter looking up wide-eyed at me as I tackled the task. The reason for her wonder became apparent when I completed the change, lifted her up and found her left arm tightly bound inside her nappy.

3) When you've got a long list of things to buy at a department store, you tend to tune out announcements like "All cashiers to the front register" or "Service Manager, pick up line three." But one did catch my attention: "Customer service needed in men's boxers."

4) Every senior class at our school brings with it a new senior prank. Recently, a group of students let three pigs loose inside the school. They were labelled Pig #1, Pig #2, and Pig #4. Schools officials quickly rounded up the three pigs but spent the rest of the day looking for Pig #3.

5) My mum-in-law bought her first mobile phone. Its ringtone was the William Tell Overture. "I'm getting lots of calls but they always hang up," she told my husband. "That's odd, " he said. "I'll phone you and see what happens." He then dialled her number, but she sat motionless for more than a minute as her handset trilled away. "Why aren't you answering?" he asked. "Oh sorry," she said. "I thought I had to wait for the tune to finish."


HAHAHA... Funny isn't it....

Question : Does the gender makeup of the family count?

Answer :

Gender is considered an important factor.

Studies show that children with brothers generally encounter more "masculine" challenges than those who have only sisters.

Girls who have brothers are generally more ambituous, aggressive and do better in intellectual aptitudes tests than those who have only sisters.

Boys with older sisters are less aggressive and daring than those who have older brothers.

The complex web of interactions can have an effect on psychological development processes. Some of the areas where these effects can be appreciated are in interests, preferences, self-esteem, ways of thinking and the learning of various aptitudes.


-from Reader's Digest, May 2008 -

SIBLING RIVALS

Want your children to grow up as friends?
Try these tips from Parentlineplus.org.uk.

AGE DIFFERENCES mean that siblings will be at different stages of learning. So introduce activity that all age groups can participate in. Encourage older siblings to help the younger ones with an activity, to make older children feel more important.

DON'T RUSH to stop an argument - children sorting out their differences themselves can be a valuable lesson.

DON'T TAKE SIDES. It will make them think you have a favourite.

PRAISE them when they are getting along. Only noticing when they are misbehaving will make them think this is the best way to get your attention.

TEACH them how to cooperate, such as taking turns to play with a particular toy and then swapping.

REMIND children to talk through problems. If things get too heated, make sure they know how to ask an adult to help resolve the conflict.

ENCOURAGE them to think of others. Ask them how they think their brother or sister is feeling and what they would want if they were in their position, helping them to empathise.

REMAIN CALM. It will remind them that it is not such a big deal and will help them to listen to you.

SPREAD THE LAUGHTER

Laughter reduces stress, improves memory & helps keep our hearts healthy. The ability to laugh is hardwired into our systems, & new research shows that it's not only good for us, it's contagious. There's a reason sitcoms are funnier when we're in a group: when we see someone laugh, our brain seems to activate "mirror neurons" that send us into the same fit of laughter.

A little fun can lead to a more positive approach in everyday situations.

A good giggle helps u :

SCORCH KILOJOULES.
Laughing for 10 to 15 minutes increases ur heart rate by 10 - 20 %, which means u can burn an extra 40 - 165 kJ a day. Over a year, that can add up to around 2 kilograms in weight loss.

EASE PAIN.
In a US study, experts discovered that children tolerated pain better than usual when watching a funny TV programme.

STAY HEALTHY.
Humour increases the production and effectiveness of natural killer cells that stomp out germs. These cells are elevated for at least 12 hours after just an hour of watching funny shows.

Simple Tips for the Morning

If u're like many people, the start of the day isn't ur favourite time.
So here are some tips u can sneak into ur routine without much effort.
Try at least one of these tomorrow....

STRETCH EVERY EXTREMITY for 15 seconds. Try this before you open your eyes. Lift ur arm and begin by stretching each finger, then ur hand, then ur wrist, then ur arm. Repeat with the other arm. Then ur toes, feet, ankles and legs. End with a neck and back stretch that propels u out of bed.
U've just limbered up ur muscles and joints, and enhanced the flow of blood through ur body, providing an extra shot of oxygen to all ur tissues.

BRUSH UR TOUNGE for 1 minute. There's no better way to rid urself of morning breath and begin the day minty fresh. Hundreds of bacteria take up residence in ur mouth every night, so just brushing ur teeth alone isn't going to vanquish them all.

DRINK A GLASS OF WATER. Remember, u've been fasting all night long, so u wake each morning dehydrated.

CHECK UR MORNING CALENDAR. Have a large calendar or whiteboard in a prominent position in the kitchen. On it, write everything u need to know for that day. Check it each morning as u sip ur coffee - it will help u avoid the stress of forgetting something important.

KISS ALL THE PEOPLE U LOVE in ur house (including the dog and cat) before u leave. Connecting with the ones u love soothes stress & gives a positive start to ur day...