Jay Valko is a gentleman and a scholar.

Jay Valko gives us some insights on the importance of injury prevention, starting a cover band, and his beard.

And I think he also talks a lot about Jiu-Jitsu.

Have you ever used jiu jitsu in a self defense situation?

More or less, both directly and indirectly. Straight up, I’ve used BJJ a couple of times to break up fights. I have never been attacked and had to defend myself, but twice I grabbed someone who was causing trouble in a bar.

The first time, a group of friends and I were watching fights in a bar and one guy started getting rowdy. He was coming out of the bathroom and I saw a guy push a friend of mine and start talking trash. I was right behind him so I grabbed a rear naked choke and waited for the bouncers to escort him out. He froze as soon as I grabbed him. The bouncers saw everything and thanked me after kicking him out.

Another time I had to grab a guy and carry him outside when he hit my friend. Once outside, the bouncers made sure that he was not allowed back in. Indirectly, having the confidence of knowing that I can handle myself has allowed me to defuse several potentially volatile situations. I would say that confidence is just as important, if not more so, than actual physical ability when it comes to self defense.

What role does the ego play in jiu-jitsu?

The ego is both your best friend and your worst enemy in jiu-jitsu. It’s about how you use it. For a lot of people I have to say, “leave your ego at the door,” but I also think it’s important to recognize that what brings us back day after day from getting our butts kicked is our ego. Ego simply means “I” and since BJJ is an individual sport, it’s important to always work on your ego.

There’s nothing wrong with getting beat up and being a little down with yourself, it’s natural. We are all competitive people or we probably wouldn’t be in this sport. However, if your ego or pride leads you to hurt yourself or others, then you have a problem. The fight should be against yourself, not your teammates or even the other guy you’re competing against.

What separates those who excel from those who don’t?

A variety of things. The most important thing is to remember to have fun. For some people, at some point BJJ goes from being a fun avenue for self-improvement to being a chore or a win-or-quit type of thing. Enjoy it. Enjoy the exercise, enjoy the friends you make, and enjoy the art. Beyond that, it also depends on how you define “stand out”. If you mean competition, it boils down to work ethic, patience, the ability to take a loss (or losses), how you manage your nerves, and natural physical ability.

However, you can excel at BJJ without competing. Above all, enjoyment, patience, perseverance and respect for art are needed. Many students get purple belts and think they no longer have to train or learn techniques. This is a big mistake. As you rise through the ranks, you should still treat the art like a beginner and be happy to render things. It’s also important to remember that BJJ is a marathon, not a sprint. If you want to stand out, you have to decide to be in it for the long haul, through thick and thin. Sometimes it will be difficult, but as long as you remember to have fun, it will be worth it.

How did you first get exposed to jiu-jitsu?

Through Royce Gracie. When he was in high school, he was messing around with traditional martial arts (no offense to traditional martial artists). Then I started renting the fights on video. I decided to join my high school wrestling team (Clearwater High in Clearwater, Florida) my senior year. Fortunately for me, I was able to beat another kid for the vacant 171-pound varsity spot. I did pretty well for a walk-in senior year, qualified at districts but lost both of my games at regionals. Even though a high school wrestling season is only about 3 months long, I felt like I knew more about fighting after a wrestling season than after years of martial arts.

When I graduated from high school in 1999, there was no BJJ in the area. I did get to see a wrestling class taught by Matt Furey in Tampa, which actually would have interested me more at the time because I was more of a fan of Ken Shamrock than I was of Royce Gracie (BJJiC: Me too!!), but ultimately , the trip went too far. Fortunately, Eduardo DeLima opened a Gracie Barra school about 45 minutes from my house, so as soon as I could I started training there. I was very lucky to meet Eduardo and be one of his first students in the United States. He changed my life completely.

You get nervous?

I get a little nervous before a competition; I’m just trying to remember that anxiety and excitement are very similar emotions. So, I do my best to channel my anxiety into excitement, use adrenaline to my advantage, and just try to have a good time.

What do you tell potential students?

Honestly, not much. Jiu-jitsu more or less sells itself. I am friendly and easy going, I try to provide a non-intimidating atmosphere and when I sense a new student is nervous I make sure to talk to them and reassure them. I explain that no one is going to hurt them and that they just need to relax. A new student is more likely to injure himself than someone else.

If you could go back in time, what would you say to yourself as a white belt?

Be patient and compete as much as possible. Also, enjoy the time you are not training. I remember when I was a white/blue belt, I felt like I always needed to train or someone else would let me pass. If I could go back now, I’d tell myself that most people will quit smoking before they’re a purple belt and that not getting hurt is the most important thing for longevity.

Jay says slow down, man.

How do you know when to promote a student?

It’s a combination of knowing the moves and being able to use them. Competition certainly helps, but it’s not the deciding factor. I have a student who fought his whole life and he is just a beast on the mat. I gave him the blue belt after only a month or two of training, he entered the Chicago Open as his first tournament and took silver in his division and gold in all. He regularly beats good purple belts in the gym. That said, he has been training for such a short time that he doesn’t know some basic moves and doesn’t know many advanced moves. Although I think he could successfully compete for the purple belt, I can’t give him a purple belt until his BJJ vocabulary is greatly expanded. It has to be a mix of technique and practical application.

At the other extreme, there are some guys who are virtual encyclopedias of BJJ theory, but have a harder time performing the moves in a real situation. You have to find the right balance between the two. I also adjust for other factors, like age and athletic ability. I don’t expect the same from a person who is fifty years old and has never trained before and someone who is 25 and has been fighting his whole life.

Who is the best person you have shot with?

When I was a blue belt, I rode with an old school Carlson black belt named Cassio Cardoso. He made me feel completely helpless on the mat. He was almost a purple belt and had a pretty good guard that a lot of black belts had trouble getting past. I remember him going through my guard like butter. It’s hard to know how that match would go now that I’m a black belt, so I have to say since I’ve been a black belt, the best guy I’ve ever rolled with is probably Damien Maia. I felt pretty good around him, and it was just a friendly thing, but once he got the upper hand, he was in big trouble.

Who is the best person you have competed against?

When I was a purple belt I got a silver medal two years in a row at the Arnold Classic/Gracie Worlds. The first year I lost in the final to Chris Moriarty 2-0. It was a very competitive match but he was able to sweep me at the end. The following year Matt Jubera kicked my butt in the final, I don’t know the final score but it was something like 15-2. That was the worst thing they beat me in a competition. So those are probably the best two I’ve ever competed against. I’ve also beaten some pretty good guys, when I was a blue belt I beat Ralek Gracie in the 1st National Jiu-jitsu Tournament in 2002. I think he was only 17 or something at the time. I’ve also beaten pro wrestler Brock Larsen twice at NAGA and handed Eric “Red” Schafer his only grappling loss in 2010, but to be fair, it was in the gi, which isn’t his strong point.

When was Jay Valko last tapped and with what move?

In competition, the last time I was introduced was in May 2006 at the NAGA Advanced Division Finals by a guy named Ariel Medina. He caught me by rear naked choke. I remember going into the game he was a little bit confident because he had beaten him at Arnold’s that year or the year before. He caught me pretty quick. I was upset, so when I saw him go into the senior division I also signed up (here’s that best friend/worst enemy ego thing again). Fortunately, I was able to beat him in the rematch. I’m not sure the last time I was touched in training, but it happens quite often. I think it was Allen Causevic who caught me last, with a triangle choke.

jay and allen

How many times a week should you train?

I train 5-7 days a week and I’m on the mat 7 days a week unless I’m on vacation, but it’s also my job. I say minimum for the average person should be twice a week, up to five days a week if your body can handle it. Consistency is the important thing. I think it’s better to be twice a week, every week, than to be 5 days a week for one week a month.

What kind of activities do you do outside of jiu-jitsu?

I lift pretty hard twice a week; He also trained judo, wrestling, boxing and mma. Besides training, I read a lot. I am an economics enthusiast and try to study it as much as possible. I would classify myself as a blue belt in economics, but improving. I like economics, politics, philosophy and discussing these things. I also trade futures on the Chicago Board of Trade. I have been collecting comics most of my life. I used to play drums, but haven’t since I moved to Chicago. From time to time I consider starting an 80’s and 90’s BJJ cover band. I love road trips, my girlfriend and I have driven cross country several times and so far that’s my favorite way to travel.

Why is your beard so impressive?

I would give my beard a 7 out of 10. Also, my girlfriend forbids me to shave. If you want to see a 10 out of 10, be sure to attend our Friday night no-gi class. Our no gi instructor is a brown belt named Mike Cornille and he has the most epic beard of all of us.

Many thanks to Jay for taking the time to do this interview!

Valentine’s Day cards are a great way to maintain your love relationship with your lover. Did you know that? Have you ever thought of giving a card to your sweetheart on the day of romance, every February 14? By the way, do you recognize this Valentine’s Day? Is it really necessary to celebrate it?

Well, in Uganda not so long ago people started celebrating Valentine’s Day as a day for lovers. It all started slowly with a few people in Kampala. At the time, people had mixed feelings about it. While some modern Ugandans welcomed it with open hearts, most saw it as a foreign practice that was only imported to destroy Ugandan culture.

Destroying Ugandan culture, right? Probably yes, they were right in a sense at the time because in some of our cultures, love is implicitly exhibited. Most people avoid showing their love publicly. The only public occasions when people show love are performances and weddings. When they see others having an affair, they consider them spoiled. And Valentine’s Day is a day for romance, showing love to your lover.

But as time went on, more people got involved in the Valentine’s Day celebration. It is much more noticeable and popular in urban places. However, in the rural setting, most Ugandans are still hesitant to fully accept it. Those who celebrate it, exchange gifts such as flowers (red roses) and dress in red and black to show love to their loved ones.

Although the history of Valentine’s Day is mysterious, the intentions to celebrate this day are good. And I feel like people should accept it. From the Christian point of view, love strengthens our married life and builds strong families, thus good societies. We make our Valentine’s Cards with special personalized messages for lovers who want to strengthen their love.

The Catholic Church recognizes Valentine’s Day. If true. Valentine was a priest during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, Valentinus saw a certain injustice towards young men. Therefore, he defied the law and went ahead to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Claudius found out, he ordered his death. This is how he became a romantic figure and, above all, a Saint.

Why should you use laser cut valentines to show affection to your lover?

#1: They make the opportunity valuable
First, love is a valuable commodity that God gave to human beings. Without love, couples will never be able to enjoy happy relationships in their life. Love strengthens our married life. That is why we must consider it important. And laser cut Valentine’s Day Cards are suitable for showing her love for him or her because of their high perceived value. Also, it takes some thought and time to create a beautiful personalized card for the occasion.

#2: They are the best and cheapest way to show your love
Although there are several other ways to express your affection to someone, such as writing a letter, laser cut Valentines are one of the best modern ways to do it. It is relatively cheaper to express your emotions using these cards. Simply personalize your card with the messages that highlight all your feelings of love. A simple card will play a very important role in strengthening your love.

#3: They are made with a lot of creativity
Third, card makers produce each card with a creative mind. But through creativity, one can create unique cards for our clients with the designs of their choice. You can have awesome designs suitable for husband, wife, fiancé/fiancee, boyfriend or girlfriend created.

#4: Recorded Messages Look Unique and Attractive
Last but not least, all the messages written on the cards are engraved. This is different from printing them with a digital printer, which is common practice for many other cards. Engraving makes the cards look different and attractive to everyone.

conclusion
Laser cut Valentine’s Day cards are a great way to show your love to your significant other on February 14th. Express your affection to your husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend and fiancé(e) by presenting them with a precious laser cut card.

Held annually in Quebec City in collaboration with Loto-Québec, the Québec Winter Carnival has been in existence for more than 60 years. It takes place from late January to mid-February each year. The people of New France created a boisterous annual celebration just before Lent of eating, drinking and merrymaking. This led to the creation of the annual winter celebration intended to create a social and tourist event that would, in turn, give Quebecers something to be proud of and stimulate the economy.

Over the years it has gained international fame through its renowned key figure, Bonhomme Carnaval, a living replica of a snowman. Created for the first festival in 1955, it enchants local children and has become an ambassador for all Carnival visitors. Bonhomme wears the traditional red hat and belt and appears during all the Carnival events.

Over the years the Carnival has added and enriched its activities. The Quebec Winter Carnival has become the largest winter carnival in the world today, ranking third on the List of Major Carnivals after the famous Rio and New Orleans carnivals.

Bonhomme Arrow Sash

The red suits, the arrowhead sash, a sip of “caribou”, various tests of strength and skill, and the image of Bonhomme go back to the origins of the Quebec Winter Carnival, some even further.

The arrowhead sash used as a belt to tie jackets during the 19th century to prevent colds has remained a symbol in Quebec society thanks to the Quebec Carnival. Both a practical and fashionable accessory, the red hat and belt, tied directly to Quebec folklore, are the main elements of Bonhomme’s attire.

trumpets

Long red trumpets are blown through the parade circuits to encourage people to move and dance to keep warm. Dress in red, tie your belt and grab your hat and have a party in Quebec City.

the ice castle

In 1955, a magical ice palace was built for Bonhomme. This impressive ice construction even included a dungeon that was used in jest to imprison carnival goers who refused to honor Bonhomme.

The Carnival kingdom palace is a huge structure that takes about 2 months to build with snow bricks and is then enhanced with light displays and special effects. The palace is the focal point for many of the Carnival activities.

ice canoe racing

The ice canoe race that has been taking place since the beginning of the festival has several brave teams competing in a tumultuous ride along the St. Lawrence River between Quebec City and Lévis.

Now you can go from spectator to canoeist, allowing you to experience a downtown ice canoe ride, where you’ll float and paddle down the St. Lawrence River with the ice crackling at your feet. A unique experience that you cannot miss.

snow sculptures

Sculptors from around the world turn Place Desjardins and Place Loto-Québec into a giant open-air museum of snow sculptures. Snow sculpture has become one of the key activities of Carnival. In 1973, the Quebec International Snow Sculpture Competition was officially launched. Today, the International Snow Sculpture Competition has become a prestigious event and the oldest snow sculpture competition in the world.

Carnival Night Parades

The two Quebec Carnival Night Parades have become popular events over the years. They take place during the second and third weekend of Carnival. Thousands of spectators come to celebrate and enjoy these unique events.

caribou

The Caribou is an energy drink created by Ti-Père, a business in Old Québec.

Carnival Queens and Duchesses

Each year, after a long process to qualify, 7 duchesses are chosen to represent the 7 sectors of the Quebec region. Many tasks are assigned to them and they must not forget that they are first and foremost Ambassadors of the Carnival.

At the beginning of the Carnival, a Queen is chosen through a program based on the number of candles sold in the different areas of the city. All the participants anxiously await the Queen’s coronation. Over the years, more than 12,000 women have applied to become a duchess.

Introduction

“It just hit me out of the blue when Mike dumped me. We hadn’t really been together that long, but I thought I finally found my true soul mate. Now it’s over and I feel totally rejected like no one ever has.” will love me again It’s so hard to find a decent guy and now I have to start all over again; I do not know if I can. I feel like a failure in relationships. I just don’t know what to do. ” –Eric

“Steve and I broke up after eight years together. The house feels so empty without him and the pain can be so unbearable at times. The loneliness is the worst part for me and it’s like there’s a big hole inside of me, this nagging pain. that’s not going to go away. I think about it all the time and wonder if I’ll ever get over it. I’ve never felt more alone and confused in my life.” –Josh

The end of a relationship, for whatever reason, can be one of the most painful experiences we can go through. Having made ourselves vulnerable by opening our hearts to another and loving them to the best of our ability almost feels spiritual; it has now been replaced by an overwhelming sense of loss and emptiness that feels quite devastating. The amount of time together, the quality of the relationship, and the level of emotional investment in it determine the intensity of the injury experienced when you and your lover separate.

This article will explore the grieving process related to relationship breakups and offer tips and strategies to ease your grievance and move toward healing so you can start your life on a better footing.

The grieving experience

The experience of breaking up with a boyfriend or partner can be compared to a death, with layers and layers of resulting loss. Not only is their absent physical presence felt as a loss, but other losses such as hopes, dreams, expectations, identity, security, and trust aggravate and complicate their adjustment. Life as you knew it has been shaken and your vision of your future has been altered. You live a roller coaster of emotions. It is common to feel rejected, abandoned, insecure, powerless and hopeless. Confusion and a sense of failure and regret are common, as are varying degrees of anger, depression, and guilt. You might even worry about your ex lover, obsess over him and constantly think about your life together and what he might be doing now.

In her book, “Healing A Broken Heart” (1997), Nancy Joy Carroll, ED.D describes four stages of relationship loss that are common after a breakup. They include the following:

Stage 1: Shock and Denial: This usually happens immediately after separation. You may feel numb, believe this can’t be happening, and minimize the reality of the situation. He feels sad, angry, confused and may blame himself.

Stage 2: Despair: You begin to see that the end is inevitable and you experience deep sadness, loneliness, depression and lack of concentration. You can try to negotiate with his partner to try to convince him to give the relationship another chance. You idealize your partner. You feel unpleasant, you wonder if you can do it on your own, and you feel a loss of identity.

Stage 3: Detachment: The anger becomes more pronounced and you begin to hold your partner responsible for the breakup of the relationship. This stage is particularly helpful as your anger helps you distance yourself from him and you are not as entangled.

Stage 4: Recovery: In this final stage, you come to terms with the loss and learn to “let go,” redefining yourself as a single man again and feeling more empowered to cultivate new experiences and opportunities for personal growth.

Advice along the path of complaint
You are going through a major change in your identity. Be patient and gentle with yourself as you go through the grieving process. Keep these tips in mind as you delve deeper into the pain you are experiencing to avoid any blocks or impediments in the way of healing. It can be a difficult road, but staying focused and mindful will promote a smoother and more successful transition to the “new you.”

· Everyone grieves at their own pace and pace; there is no timeline, so don’t rush. Sometimes it can take years.

·As you go through the stages of loss, keep in mind that healing is not linear. Expect to progress up and down through the stages. bear through it.

Avoid stuffing your feelings; be open to them no matter how much it hurts. Repressing your emotions only puts a temporary Band-Aid on your suffering and prolongs your healing. It’s okay to cry.

Avoid self-medicating with your feelings. Beware of alcohol, drugs, gambling, work, food, sex or other vices to comfort yourself in this difficult time. These can distract you from your grief work and become addictions.

Depression and anxiety are common emotions during this time period. If your experience interferes with your daily functioning or carrying out daily tasks, seek the help of a licensed mental health therapist.

Previous losses and unfinished business from the past can be triggered when you encounter the loss of a relationship. Be prepared to deal with these as well.

Avoid making important decisions in life. Give yourself time to become more grounded and centered first. Tort can have a deceptive way of clouding our judgment if care is not taken.

Avoid jumping into another relationship right away. Grieve this one completely first.

· Ignore others’ attempts to tell you how you should feel or that you should be “over it.” They did not live their experience and usually project their own discomfort with loss and hurt.

Avoid being friends with your ex initially. It is common for gay men to remain friends with their ex-boyfriends; decide for yourself if this is something you could do, and if so, allow yourself some time and space first to grieve. It can be very difficult to make the transition from “life partner” to “just friends” immediately after a breakup. You need time to heal and be able to properly see your ex in a new role.

Additional Healing Tips and Strategies

· Provide daily structure to stay grounded. Stay busy, but not too busy to distract from your emotional work.

Connect with others. Surround yourself with positive friends who are supportive and committed to life, no matter how difficult it is. Join a grievance support group in your area to be with others who may share similar circumstances with you and normalize your grievance.

Find a renewed sense of purpose and passion. Join an organization or cause you care about, take a class, pick up a new hobby, get involved! Bring healthy pleasure to your life.

Learn to feel comfortable being alone. Do some relaxing and nourishing activities. Find value in self-renewal.

Take this opportunity to learn more about yourself. Work with a life coach to help you learn about healthy relationships and create a new vision for your future. Recognize patterns in your relationships and identify areas where you can improve your relationship skills.

·Challenge negative self-talk by replacing it with more nurturing, affirming, and coping thoughts. Identify your strengths and values ​​to increase your self-esteem. Use the power of affirmations and write them on index cards for quick reference.

Remove items that remind you of your ex lover and store them somewhere so they aren’t a constant visual trigger for you. There will come a time when they won’t be so jarring to you.

·Create a closing ritual for your relationship (eg, have an “I’m Moving On” party with close friends, etc.) Find a way to commemorate the relationship and what it meant to help you “let go.”

Create a scrapbook or collage of memories of your relationship when you’re ready.

Release your feelings productively. Take out several sheets of paper and at the top of each one write an emotion you feel (sad, angry, hurt, resentful, etc.). Then, across the full length of the paper, write “I feel…” and fill in the blank about that particular emotion to release all the feelings you have about it as it pertains to your complaint. relationship. Do some self-soothing afterwards.

·Keep a journal or write a letter to your ex-lover sharing your feelings and what the relationship meant to you, etc. DO NOT SEND THIS TO YOUR EX! This is for your therapeutic benefit only. Or talk to an empty chair pretending your ex is sitting there and practice processing your emotions this way. This can be extremely cathartic.

conclusion

Breaking up is hard to do, as an old song once said. Realize that your pain is a tribute to the meaning this relationship had for you and that you are a survivor. How you choose to deal with the breakup will affect the direction of your life and how soon you can rebuild your life. Identify healthy outlets that you can channel your feelings into, identify potential blocks that could get in the way of your healing process, and allow yourself to be open to love again when you are ready. A new beginning with opportunity and possibility awaits you on the other side of the rainbow.

Reference: Carroll, Nancy Joy. Healing a Broken Heart: A Recovery Manual for the Loss of a Relationship. Brentwood, TN: Life Skills Publications, 1997.

© 2005 Brian L. Rzepczynski

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Certified Personal Life Coach Brian Rzepczynski is The Gay Love Coach: “I work with gay men who are ready to create a roadmap to find and build a lasting partnership with the right man.” To sign up for Gay Love Coach’s FREE newsletter, full of dating and relationship tips and skills for gay singles and couples, as well as to view current coaching groups, shows and teleclasses, visit http://www.TheGayLoveCoach.com.

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Watching a child grow from a tiny newborn to a curious toddler is an amazing experience, and teaching young children the many skills they need to learn is rewarding work. When a child becomes a toddler, he is ready to explore the world around him and is beginning to understand basic verbal, physical, and social skills. Three-year-olds have very different needs than toddlers and build on skills they’ve learned since birth.

There are some common traits that most three-year-olds share, although every child is different and develops at their own pace. If your child will soon be three years old, here are six things to know about your three-year-old.

Many children, especially boys, are not ready for potty training until they are three years old. Many parents expect their children to be potty trained by age three, but many children aren’t ready to begin the process until age three, and this is perfectly normal.

Three-year-olds are learning new words every day and usually speak in sentences of 3-5 words. Because they are learning so many new words, it is normal to stumble over words, but this is not stuttering and usually does not indicate a problem.

Some parents of young children are inclined to speak ill of their children using overly simplified words or “baby talk.” However, the best way to help your three-year-old develop proper speech is to talk to him using normal language with lots of descriptive words.

Most three-year-olds enjoy imitating people and animals, especially those they encounter on a daily basis. Three-year-olds will imitate what they see during play and begin to emulate people close to them.

At age three, children begin to develop the social skills necessary to play cooperatively with other children. Three-year-olds begin to share, take turns, and can tolerate delayed gratification most of the time.

Three-year-olds also begin to develop vivid imaginations and will often engage in imaginative play. They enjoy making up stories, pretending and acting out their favorite books, stories and TV shows.

Three-year-olds are still developing many important skills as they learn about the world around them. Teaching toddlers skills like potty training, cooperative play, and correct use of language becomes easier for three-year-olds who have developed the attention span and comprehension necessary for these tasks.

Are you spending this Mother’s Day wondering if you are, in fact, a mother? Between 900,000 and 1 million women in the US alone face this question each year after experiencing pregnancy loss. “For women who experience a miscarriage during their first pregnancy, the question of motherhood is even bigger,” says Lisa Church of HopeXchange, a company dedicated to supporting women and their families coping with pregnancy loss.

Mother’s Day is the most difficult holiday that a woman must face after the loss of pregnancy. A time that was supposed to be a celebration of new life and new motherhood turns into a time of sadness and pain. Church’s book, Hope is Like the Sun: Finding Hope and Healing After Spontaneous, Stillbirth, or Infant Death, encourages women to use the holiday to remember their babies, rather than making it a dreaded event to endure each year. . “Nothing will ease the pain of Mother’s Day, but with a little planning you can make sure the day makes sense to you,” says Church. Here are some tips from the book that may help:

– You are mother.

The best gift you can give yourself on Mother’s Day is the recognition that you are a mother. You may not have a baby to hold in your arms, but you do have one in your heart.

– Let your family know what you need.

If you feel uncomfortable being recognized as a mother at a banquet or other function, substitute an activity you feel good about. If you prefer not to receive or wear a flower, wear an item that helps you connect with your baby, such as a piece of jewelry that includes the baby’s birthstone.

– Remember your baby.

Mother’s Day can be a great time for a husband and wife to talk about their baby and what it meant to them. Go for a walk, have a quiet dinner, or just set aside some time to remember your baby together.

– Decide ahead of time.

How you plan to spend Mother’s Day should be your decision, and one you make in advance. Setting aside time to reminisce and talk about her baby will make her “feel” more like a mom on the very day designed to do so. Church also reminds women that her spouse may experience similar feelings on Father’s Day, “so be sure to ask him how he would like to spend the day.”

Hope is Like the Sun: Finding Hope and Healing After Spontaneous, Stillbirth, or Infant Death is available online at http://www.HopeXchange.com, Amazon.com, and Barnes&Noble.com or by calling HopeXchange Publishing at 757-826- 2162 .

You want your child to be a good conversationalist, right?

Before a child can be an excellent conversationalist, they must be able to remember sounds, words, phrases, and sentences. Nursery rhymes are a great and fun way to help your child develop these skills.

Sing or say some of these rhythms to your baby every day. From a very young age, he will show that he recognizes and enjoys familiar patterns of sound and rhythm. Add simple actions that he will learn to anticipate.

As he gets older, repeat the same nursery rhymes many times and continue to add new ones to the repertoire. Recorded versions can be useful to help develop memory for words and melodies, but most recorded songs and rhymes are too fast for young children to develop their auditory memory and language skills. So, as often as possible, sing them or say them yourself.

Sing and say the nursery rhymes slowly, exaggerating the rhyme and rhythm, with actions when possible. Clarify the words and when your baby is old enough, encourage him to join or complete some of the words. Have a lot of fun interacting with your baby with these rhymes and songs, as this exchange will be a crucial link in her speech and language development.

Research on language development has shown the crucial importance of helping your baby develop good listening and remembering skills.

As a speech pathologist, I see many children who have not developed good auditory processing skills (the ability to make sense of sound) and auditory memory skills (remembering exact sounds, words, and sentences). This can be due to a variety of reasons, including intermittent hearing loss.

These children find it difficult to follow directions. They often do not seem to remember what they are told. Sometimes they have trouble speaking clearly. Their grammar may be incorrect or they may have difficulty speaking in complex sentences. Then they may find that telling well-structured stories is too difficult. Getting your message across to people who don’t know you well can be difficult.

I invariably find that they can’t tell me nursery rhymes, or when they do, the words are a bit ‘fake’. It’s it is important for them to get the words right and in the right order.

Children need endless opportunities to practice the language with you. They need to hear many words and sentences and they need to hear the same words repeated many times.

They also need to understand rhyme, so they can classify and store words in their brains and manipulate sounds in a way that helps them learn to read later. Of course, Nursery Rhymes is full of rhymes and puns, as well as a wide variety of vocabulary and endless variations in sentence structure. And little kids love silly things.

Actions have been shown in research to stimulate speech and language. Nursery rhymes and action songs provide wonderful opportunities to combine words with actions. You can invent your own actions, appropriate for your child’s age. Babies will join in the actions long before they can say the words, and then they are learning how to interact successfully in communication with you!

So show your child how to have lots of fun with words by sharing nursery rhymes, books, and stories. Sing them, say them, do the actions! It will prepare your child for a lifetime of great communication.

Getting enough sleep is an important factor that contributes to physical, mental and emotional well-being. Because the effects of inadequate sleep are devastating, people in South Dallas County and ultimately everywhere need to get enough sleep. A man who was driving nonstop from California to Texas discovered that his body began to shake uncontrollably during the last three hours in Dallas. A mom-to-be was in a car accident on the freeway because she fell asleep at the wheel with two other children in her backseat. And another young woman felt her body almost shut down as she drove home from work and she had to turn the air conditioning on full blast to stay awake. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2005 Sleep in America survey, “four percent, approximately eleven million people admit they have been in an accident or near miss because they overslept or were too tired to drive.” “.

This fatigue occurs because an inadequate amount of sleep deprives the body of the necessary processes it must perform to maintain your general well-being. Occurring within the first thirty minutes of sleep, the brain moves the body into stages one and two that are preparatory. They prepare the body for deep sleep by relaxing muscles and slowing down brain waves and eye movement. Stage three is deep sleep, which means it is more difficult to wake the sleeper. Stage four is REM or rapid eye movement sleep, where temporary paralysis occurs to ensure the body is at complete rest because this is the stage of restorative sleep. The tissues repair themselves, growth hormone is released, which increases the size of the muscles and the immune system is improved. Also, sleep during this stage rids the body of cellular by-products and toxins that make us sleepy.

We do not want our body to lose sleep and be forced to harbor ailments. We want to be the healthiest, perform efficiently, and ultimately achieve success at every level. The stages within the cycle are one, two, three, two, four and two. Then the whole cycle is repeated in that order and is repeated four times at night. Therefore, it is imperative to go to bed early enough for this cycle to take place to properly cleanse and heal the body.

Furthermore, when both children and adults get adequate sleep, their performance during the day is much better than if they hadn’t gotten enough sleep. Teachers often watch students sleep in class. And when asked what time that child went to bed, the answer is always around nine or ten. However, when the children can go to bed around half past seven or eight, they do not sleep in class. And it’s the same with adults. When we fall asleep at a late hour, we are sluggish throughout the day. When we go to bed early, we function well at work.

We have to be strong and turn off those late-night shows that we love so much. Self-love is much more important. Let’s embrace the healing effects of sleep: it is the recipe for our overall success.

It is perfect in its simplicity and easy to understand and follow. First eat only two healthy meals a day. To lose weight, don’t overeat during these two meals and eat balanced meals. He wants to be satisfied, but not filled to the gills.

The great benefit of eating two meals a day is that it is very difficult to overeat. Most people overeat and any diet plan aiming for long-term success must have an element of lifestyle change. Eating just two meals a day is a long-term lifestyle change, if you stick with it. Also, many people believe that eating many meals a day overloads the organs of the digestive system. You need to rest your organs between meals, one extreme of overloading your digestion system is to eat three meals a day and then snack. Remember that you can eat a lot more than you can exercise, especially if you’re eating all the time! Without doing the two-meal-a-day plan or something similar, the amount of food you eat in a day can increase unexpectedly.

In your two main meals you should aim for healthy foods, not fried meat or excess cheese. The goal here is a balanced meal with healthy foods. You want healthy fats, but don’t go overboard, I prefer olive oil, grapeseed oil, and safflower oil.

As for snacks, stick to fruits and a few raw vegetables, like apples, pears, bananas, avocados, olives, etc. It’s best to limit snacking to easier-to-digest natural whole foods. To be tougher, cut out snacks of all kinds.

In any diet, the key is not to cheat. Do not bring bad food into the house or have it in your possession. Such as ice cream, cake, donuts, candy, etc. Instead, eat good things like raw fruits and vegetables, one tip is to replace the ice cream with a pure fruit popsicle for a cold snack. when traveling
make sure you have a packed lunch box with you at all times.

One mistake people make when dieting is not getting enough healthy fats. Don’t go overboard with fat, but you need about 20-35% of calories made up of fat. To achieve this, use the healthy oils, also eat canned olives with only sea salt added, other additives make olives not so healthy, also eat avocados.

Many Seventh-day Adventists follow this two-meal-a-day diet plan. Studies show that Adventists who follow this diet tend to live ten years longer compared to the general population. They also tend to have healthier years in old age.

Choose an exercise that you like to do several times a week, such as walking. It helps to have a goal or event to train on a regular basis. The goal or event can be anything, a hobby that encourages outdoor exercise is very helpful. Being fit for hiking and camping is an example of an activity that motivates you to be fit all year long, an additional lifestyle change that is tied to healthier eating.

Area rugs are a very popular flooring option for homes because they are warm and soft and make the whole family feel welcome and at home. Clean carpets are key to this feeling, and vacuuming even once a week is not enough to keep carpets truly clean during daily activities. Everyday life in the home places high demands on rugs, and professional rug cleaning is the best way to keep rugs in tip-top condition. There are many benefits of carpet cleaning, one of which is that it contributes to the great feeling everyone gets from walking barefoot on freshly cleaned carpets. Call today for your personal and professional carpet cleaning consultation and let the experts show you how your home can look like new again through clean carpets.

There is an idea that professional carpet cleaning uses harmful chemicals, but this is not the case. Modern carpet cleaning methods, specifically hot water extraction, use water heated to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit to remove dirt and particles and clean carpets. The pressurized water releases stains, dirt and other mites, all of which is eliminated through industrial vacuum equipment. Hot water extraction is also completely soap-free, safe for all carpets, and most importantly, safe for children, pets, and the environment. There is no residue left behind and your carpets will feel healthy and pure. Plus, hot water extraction rug cleaning is safe for all types of rugs, from deep-pile rugs to rugs with decorative patterns. Modern carpet cleaning methods won’t disturb the delicate fibers of your carpets and, in fact, will help them look newer for longer.

One of the main benefits of professional carpet cleaning is that it reduces the level of allergens in your home. Carpet attracts bits that come in through windows, fall off shoes, or enter the house in many ways. The carpet is almost like a filter because it keeps all those particles within its fibers. However, when children and pets lie on the carpet, they get close to these sometimes harmful particles, and vacuuming can even bring them close to the surface of the carpet without removing them, leading to irritations and allergy outbreaks. Professional carpet cleaning thoroughly removes all of these particles for a clean, healthy floor that you’ll feel good about letting your kids near.

The same particles that cause allergies in your family can also cause depreciation of your carpet fibers. Dirt, stains, and microscopic materials can get stuck in your carpet and wear down the fibers, especially in high-traffic areas where particles stamp more often. Eventually, those particles will cause visible wear and a distinctive roughness under bare feet, eventually requiring carpet replacement. Stains have the same adverse effects and are highly visible, even after the application of store-bought carpet cleaners. Professional carpet cleaning completely removes stains and dirt from your carpets and will extend the life of your carpets, keeping them looking newer longer and avoiding having to replace them prematurely.

Homeowners today are just as interested in the environmental consequences of their actions as they are in the effects of the products they use, and professional carpet cleaning delivers on all of the hype. The hot water extraction method accepted by professional carpet cleaners is environmentally friendly because it relies on extremely high temperatures to loosen particles, remove stains, and disinfect carpets. Even the conditioners, stain removers and protectors used on certain rugs are eco-friendly and wash perfectly. There’s no residue left on your rugs or anything to pollute the environment, so homeowners can relax knowing their clean rugs aren’t at the expense of the planet. Green carpet cleaning is a popular and highly effective home cleaning method that can be used on all types of carpets, in all homes and for all families.

One of the biggest benefits of modern professional carpet cleaning methods is that they virtually eliminate drying time for all types of carpet, reducing it to as little as an hour. With hot water extraction cleaning, the water and all the particles and dirt it contains are completely removed by industrial suction equipment, so nothing is left behind. Not only does this give the rugs the truest cleanliness, but it also means the rugs will be ready for furniture and normal life in no time. There is also no risk of mold or mildew building up because there is no moisture. The rugs are clean and fresh from start to finish and will stay soft and fluffy for many months to come.