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Phrases that destroy children’s self-esteem

Posted on 11/10/2021 - 15:02 by

Self-esteem is the opinion that children have of themselves, but how is it formed? Where does it come from? The answer is simple. It comes from the exchanges of affection they have with their close references: mom, dad, family, friends, etc.

Everything you say to your child will influence him. And just as there are words of encouragement that comfort, there are also phrases that destroy that self-worth.

According to the book, Consejos de oro para mejorar la autoestima en los niños (Golden Tips for Improving Self-Esteem in Children), by Más Editores, self-esteem is a self-assessment that entails, on the one hand, a learned judgment (it is not inherent to the child, it is picked up from somewhere) and on the other, it implies a strong negative or positive feeling.

“High self-esteem is related to positive feelings such as pleasure, confidence, joy, enthusiasm, and interest. Negative self-esteem involves pain, sadness, inertia, guilt, shame or feeling empty”, says the book.

The influence of parents on children

There is a close relationship between parents and children’s self-esteem. “In the first years of life, information about oneself is received almost exclusively from parents. Over the years, other significant figures are incorporated, such as teachers, schoolmates and friends”, explain Jael Vargas and Laura Oros in their research Parentalidad y autoestima en hijos (Parenting and Self-esteem in children).

The more positive the family relationship is, the higher the children’s self-esteem tends to be. On the contrary, negative experiences at home contribute to an inadequate self-definition.

It is not only the physical mistreat

It is not only the physical mistreat, abuse or abandonment, but also the psychological one, the phrases that you say over and over again to the children, until they believe them.

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10 types of phrases that destroy children’s self-esteem

Parents often repeat these words without being aware of the damage they can cause to their children.

But the worst thing is that there is a risk that they become core beliefs that are “tattooed” in the mind. In the long run, the child (and the adult he becomes) clings to the destructive idea, despite evidence to the contrary.

1. Phrases that promote disability

  • You can’t do anything right.
  • I don’t know when you’re going to learn.
  • You suck.
  • I’d better do it, I am already desperated.

The core belief that is taught is ineptitude.

The child thinks it so strongly that he acts accordingly. Instead of working to increase his ability, it unconsciously tries to show that he really “can’t do anything right”.

Positive Alternative: We all have abilities and limitations. With patience and practice you can do anything. Let’s work together until you achieve it.

2. Phrases that put a label

  • You’re a liar.
  • You are fat.
  • You are a mess.
  • You’re a wimp.

Labels highlight the “negative” characteristics of children and cause them to develop feelings of inferiority, besides generating identity problems.

The core belief that is promoted is that, “You are full of flaws”.

Positive alternative: If what you say does not match what you do, it will be difficult for me to trust your word. /You are normal, with strengths and weaknesses. If you want to change something, I can help you. / It’s okay to cry, it helps you calm down.

3. Phrases that humiliate

  • Shut up, don’t talk nonsense.
  • Are you a fool or just pretending to be one?
  • You are old enough to stop wetting the bed.
  • You look ridiculous in that.
  • I’m going to spank you in front of your friends.
  • You embarrass me.

When the kid’s opinion is belittled, he is denigrated, his difficulty is evidenced or he is even exposed in public, we are talking about humiliation. The psychological effects of shame and humiliation include decreased self-esteem and in his sense of dignity.

Make corrections in private, never in front of other children or adults.

Positive alternative: I’ll explain it better, don’t worry. / It is not easy to learn to use the bathroom, sometimes accidents happen. You will achieve. / Do you feel comfortable with what you are wearing? Ok! It is up to you.

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4. Phrases that cause guilt

  • You are making me sick.
  • Do you see the trouble you are making?
  • You’re going to drive me crazy.
  • If you leave, I will be very sad.
  • I´ll have a heart attack because of you.

This is, plain and simple, blackmailing.

Blaming children for situations beyond their control makes them believe that they are responsible, when you know very well that it is a lie. Passing blame on them can cause great anxiety.

Positive alternative: Let’s both calm down. / Adult problems are not your fault. /When you’re not here I miss you, but I know you’ll be fine. If you have any concerns, call me, you can trust me.

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5. Phrases that condition love

  • Not now, I’m busy.
  • Move away, get off my back.
  • Go away, I don’t want to see you.
  • Go away, I don’t love you anymore.

If you reject your child when he wants to express his affection, you are sending him a very destructive message: he does not deserve to be loved. He will not feel safe, loved and accepted.

The consequence of this idea will affect their relationships in the future.

Positive alternative: You are the most important thing to me, but right now I have to solve something urgent. Give me a few minutes and I’m with you. / I love you, you can be sure of that.

6. Phrases that compare the child

  • Why aren’t you as smart as my friend’s son?
  • At your age, your sibling was doing much better.
  • I wish you were like your cousin.
  • Learn how John Doe does.

Through comparisons only jealousy, resentment and rivalry are created. The child perceives the other as an unattainable model and will have the belief that he must be different to be loved.

Problems of identity and acceptance are generated. He will not know who he is and will try to imitate others.

Positive alternative: You’re good, we’re going to keep pushing. I will help you. / It’s not a competition, everyone has his place.

We recommend: Why you should stop shouting to your kids when you tell them off?

7. Phrases that threaten

  • If you don’t do this, I’m going to punish you.
  • You’d better come here immediately.
  • I’m going to leave you alone, I’ve had enough.
  • If you misbehave, Santa will not bring any presents to you.
Threats are based on fear and erode children’s trust in their parents. We are teaching them that it is good to use intimidation to get things.

Furthermore, if that threat is not followed through, we lose credibility and send the signal that their actions are inconsequential.

When the threat is abandonment (leaving kids alone) feelings of dependency are generated.

Positive alternative: Every act has a consequence, if you do not fulfill your responsibility, you will have to assume it (fulfill that consequence).

8. Phrases that seek perfection.

  • A B is not a good grade, it means you didn’t study enough.
  • Grades below A are not worth it.
  • You should always get straight As.

It is good to instill discipline and effort, but not to the point of demanding perfection. The reason? You create high expectations that are difficult to achieve, as well as chronic dissatisfaction.

You teach them that they must judge themselves permanently.

In the future they will give a lot of thought to the possible mistakes they make, no matter how small. They will have a continual need for recognition, a low tolerance for change, a need for control, and difficulty at making decisions.

Positive alternative: You tried very hard and that’s what’s important! / If you can give more, go ahead.

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9. Phrases that predict failure

  • You are lazy, so you will achieve nothing in life.
  • You’ll never succeed.
  • You will always be a failure.
  • If you don’t study, you will be an ignorant.

The intention of the parents is that the children realize that they will regret it if they do not get good grades or make the wrong decisions.

However, far from leading to positive reactions, it causes frustration, disinterest and anger, because they think that their parents do not believe in them.

Positive alternative: I know you can do better / People who study have more tools to be successful. You have a lot of capacity.

10. Phrases of hate or verbal aggression

  • Despicable you.
  • Son of a…
  • I hate you.
  • I wish you had never been born.
  • I’m sick of you.
  • You are a nuisance.

The verbal abuse that some parents use in the upbringing of their children is the worst of all. It generates emotional and psychological damage imperceptible to the eye, but with deep traces.

With these harsh words, the child is stripped of self-confidence, courage and ability to react.

The insults are so hurtful that they paralyze many times throughout life.

Positive alternative: I love you.

THE LOVE OF A FATHER OR A MOTHER SHOULD BE UNCONDITIONAL

You know it, the love we feel for our children is that kind of love that comes from the depths of our guts and seeks the best for them.

Many times we make the mistake of saying one of these phrases due to ignorance, trying to forge the character of children or simply because of stress. Do not make mistakes.

Words hurt and very deeply. Before saying something you will regret, breathe, calm down and try to find a way to better explain what you want without damaging your children’s self-esteem.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

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The 15 most popular songs by Francisco Gabilondo Soler “Cri-Cri”

Posted on 07/10/2021 - 11:49 by

Who is there? It’s Cri-Cri, it’s Cri-Cri. And who is this man? The Singing Cricket. Francisco Gabilondo Soler, “Cri-Cri”, is the greatest composer of children’s songs in Mexico. His music crosses the barrier of time and space. He is appreciated by many generations, especially in Latin America.

Francisco Gabilondo: A curious and self-taught boy

Cri-Cri was born on October 6, 1907 in Orizaba, Veracruz. According to the Society of Authors and Composers of Mexico, from a young age he showed interest in learning and studying, but he did not like going to school, “he preferred the whispers in the forest, to the annoying noise of his classmates”.

In his childhood he loved learning languages and new words. He “devoured” books and loved to imitate “voices” of nature: the song of water, the sound of insects, of the air… He had a privileged hearing. His grandmother’s chatter and the music she played for him on the piano were transformed in his mind into new melodies. Methodical and self-taught, he became interested in various areas of knowledge. At age 17 he traveled to New Orleans where he was captivated by the jazz movement, so he decided to learn music formally.

Cri-Cri’s first fantasy songs

He began his career playing in bars and composed his first songs in 1930. Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta gave him a chance on the radio after noticing that children paid attention and liked listening to his songs. This was the beginning because on October 15 of the same year he wrote and performed, only with his voice and his piano, El chorrito, Bombón I and El ropero. He never imagined his songs would be successful, but his show stayed on the air for 20 years.

Francisco Gabilondo Soler has become an idol. His repertoire includes 226 compositions, 120 were recorded. He created more than 500 characters, wrote more than 3,500 pages of texts and stories. Walt Disney tried to collaborate with him and buy the rights to his songs on many occasions, but he always refused. Cri-Cri died on December 15, 1990 in his ranch in the State of Mexico.

All Mexicans have grown up with his songs and our children will, too. That is why we suggest 15 of his most popular, so that your little ones can delight in his music, just as you did.

This is a list with 10 emblematic songs of the great Francisco Gabilondo Soler “Cri-Cri”.

1. The Little Duck (La Patita)

  1. The Cowboy Mouse (El Ratón Vaquero)

3. The Water Trickle (El Chorrito)

4. The Wardrobe (El ropero)

5. The March of Letters (La marcha de las letras)

  1. Walking to School (Caminito de la escuela)

7. The Ugly Doll (La muñeca fea)

8. Cucurumbé, the Black Girl (La negrita Cucurumbé)

9. Eyelashes John (Juan Pestañas)

10. The Pot and the Skillet (La olla y el comal)

11. The Puppy (El perrito)

12. Sleepy Pigs (Cochinitos dormilones)

13. Rainy Afternoon (Tarde de lluvia)

14. Che Spider (Ché Araña)

15. Black Dancer (Negrito bailarín)

And there are so many missing… Which one is your favorite?

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

When should my baby’s eyes be examined?

Posted on 06/10/2021 - 18:26 by

Did you know that just as there is a neonatal screening which detects serious metabolic disorders that are treatable and are not visible at birth, a visual screening should also be performed?

In fact, by law it is mandatory that a baby’s eyes be examined from the first weeks after his birth. Within the framework of World Sight Day, which is commemorated every year on the second Thursday of October, this time on October 14, APEC Hospital for the Blind invites, through the campaign, Ama tus ojos (Love your eyes), parents and caregivers to monitor the visual health of their children from the moment of their birth.

“Let’s not neglect sight because it is a sense that allows us to connect with the world and develop any other behavioral or cognitive ability”, said Dr. Linda Cernichiaro, a specialist in pediatric retina.

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When to examine my baby’s eyes

According to the specialist, both in children and adults, whenever we check the general state of our health, we must include an eye test, not only with the optometrist but also with an ophthalmologist, in order to diagnose conditions in a timely manner.

“Whenever a condition is diagnosed late, it will generate a visual alteration that can interfere with our activities, our development and our interaction with the world”.

In the case of babies, from the first weeks after birth, it is essential to carry out a neonatal visual screening, “The idea of the ​​screening is that children are checked early since, unlike adults, they do not they manifest or express that they have some ailment or disease”.

Visual neonatal screen

According to Cernichiaro, the pediatrician or the treating doctor should not only see the general health of the baby. He must also check the organs that usually have alterations that cause disability.

“There are five screenings:

  • Auditory screen detects if the child hears well.
  • Orthopedic one checks if there is no alteration in the hip that interferes with walking.
  • The cardiac one allows to know if there is any congenital failure of the heart and the metabolic one that there are no rare diseases of the metabolism.
  • Visual screening was created under the same concept”.

What does the neonatal visual screening consist of?

The neonatal visual screening is an examination performed by the pediatric ophthalmologist in the first four weeks of life. Most eye diseases have treatment and a good prognosis if they are detected early, hence the importance of their performance.

“Children generally do not complain of a visual problem and manifest it late like the pupil looks white, one eye squints (strabismus), kids stumble, they don’t turn to see their mother”…

“It had always been thought that until the alteration was evident, it was when they visited the ophthalmologist. But it is now understood that, as with the other screenings, a timely visual examination could detect early alterations that could leave sequelae”, explained the expert.

It’s not painful

The ophthalmologist’s recommendation is to do this study before the first month. However, if your baby is older, you can take him for the test. It is not painful and lasts about five or 10 minutes.

“It is suggested that babies do the test at that age to detect diseases and being so young, it is not painful and it costs less to do the exam. Older children are more distractible and less cooperative”.

How often should we check up our kids’ eyes?

The General Health Law in its article 61 establishes that children must be checked by an ophthalmologist at the first month of life. Then, between the 6 and 8 months. Later it is suggested that they be checked before they enter school, between the ages of two and three.

“At birth it is important to check the eyes are fine. At 6 and 8 months to see the function of their sight. And the 2 or 3 years to see if they need glasses or some optical aid”.

On basic vision care in children, the doctor recommends avoiding the use of electronic devices when they are babies. No child under 18 months of age should be in contact with any electronic device, zero tolerance.

At 4 or 5 years old, it can be left for an hour under the supervision of an adult and more than 50 centimeters from the eyes. Not close to the screen.

“If kids are online or on the computer with homework, they need to be next to natural light. That is, next to a window so that natural light is the one that illuminates. Outdoor activities must also be promoted, that makes develop less diopters”.

Premature babies should do their visual screening before

Cernichiaro noted that premature babies, born before 40 weeks, should be checked between the second and third week of life.  

“If they were born before 34 weeks or weigh less than 2 kilos, they must be checked between the second and third week of life. This is to prevent a disease called retinopathy of prematurity, which is treatable and if it progresses, it can lead to blindness. It is the first cause of blindness in our country”.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish versión: Here

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10 family movies that teach love and respect for animals

Posted on 01/10/2021 - 19:09 by

Respect for other species makes us better people and it is important that from a very young age, children learn and recognize that all sorts of life is valuable. 

Gandhi said that the greatness of a civilization can be judged by the way it treats animals.

These are 10 movies that will help you teach your children the love for animals.

10 movies that teach love and respect for animals

Ideal for children and adults.

1. Beethoven (Brian Levant, 1992)

Review: A St. Bernard puppy escapes from a gang of thieves that break into a pet store. After spending the night in a garbage can, he is rescued by the Newtons. Little Beethoven is adopted by the family and in a short time he becomes 80 kilo dog that often causes problems.

Teaching: A classic in the family comedy genre that shows us the docile, playful, affectionate and sociable nature of dogs.

This movie made all the kids in the 90s know and love the Saint Bernard breed.

Beethoven (Brian Levant, 1992 Photo: Universal Studios
Beethoven (Brian Levant, 1992 Photo: Universal Studios

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2. Mía and the White Lion (Gilles de Maistre, 2019)

Review: Ten-year-old Mia develops a special bond with a beautiful white lion named Charlie. When Mia discovers a secret that puts Charlie in danger, she begins a journey across the plains of Africa to find him a shelter.

Teaching: This is a captivating and value-filled film. The director had the idea of ​​doing it after doing a research he did for a documentary about the bond between children and wild animals.

It is based on a true story and a personal anecdote. The little boy who inspired the film risked his life when he discovered that his family raised lions to sell to hunters.

In the film, it is shown the affection of the little protagonist for her lion, and by saving him, she tries to compensate the damage to the rest of the felines.

Mia and the White Lion (Gilles de Maistre, 2019) Photo: Photo: Galatee films
Mia and the White Lion (Gilles de Maistre, 2019) Photo: Photo: Galatee films

3. Brothers of the Wind (Otmar Penker and Gerardo Olivares, 2017)

Review: In an unspecified place in the Alps, in the 60s, Keller (Tobias Moretti) and his son Lukas (Manuel Camacho) live in the mountains, alone, after the death of Maria, Lukas’s mother and Keller’s wife. She died when the family house set on fire.

Teaching: Critics called this film a poetic look at the environment and it marked the end of a trilogy about nature and childhood that is completed with other films such as El Faro de las Orcas (2016) and Entrelobos (2010).

It’s a fictional fable that fuses a documentary with a fantasy film. The story is easy, perhaps a little simple, but it teaches us how beautiful the planet and all animal species are. And it’s worth it for the cinematography.

Brothers of the Wind (Otmar Penker and Gerardo Olivares, 2017) Photo: Terra Mater Factual Studios
Brothers of the Wind (Otmar Penker and Gerardo Olivares, 2017) Photo: Terra Mater Factual Studios

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4. Bambi (Clyde Geronimi, David Hand, Samuel Armstrong, 1943)

Review: A young deer named Bambi discovers the values ​​of life on his way to adulthood. He is accompanied by his new friends, Thumper, the playful rabbit, Flower, the shy and adorable little skunk and wise Friend Owl.

Teaching: Bambi is a children’s classic that teaches morals such as family, friendship and solidarity, but it also gives the opportunity to talk to your little ones about respecting the lives of animals.

Who has not cried with Bambi?

Bambi (Clyde Geronimi, David Hand, Samuel Armstrong, 1943) Photo: Disney
Bambi (Clyde Geronimi, David Hand, Samuel Armstrong, 1943) Photo: Disney

5. The Jungle Book (Wolfgang Reitherman, 1967)

Review: After being rescued by panther Bagheera in the jungle, a pack of wolves raises the newborn Mowgli. Mowgli’s happy and peaceful life in his adoptive family is shattered when the dangerous tiger Shere Khan arrives.

Teaching: The Jungle Book is a fantasy story, but it teaches us that the human being is one of the many other species that inhabit the Earth and that we are not the owners of the world.

Little Mowgli makes it is possible to instill in our little ones respect and appreciation for nature.

The film conveys the fun and enjoyment of everything in the jungle. If you surround yourself with nature and take advantage of all its resources with respect and harmony, you will be much happier.

Just look for the most vital!

Do not miss the opportunity to mention that the Spanish dubbing of Baloo is carried out by the great genius of Mexican comedy: Tin Tan.

The Jungle Book (Wolfgang Reitherman, 1967) Photo: Disney
The Jungle Book (Wolfgang Reitherman, 1967) Photo: Disney

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6. Spirit (Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook, 2002)

Review: In the Wild West, Spirit is a wild mustang that gallops through the prairies. But everything changes when men cross his path.

Teaching: Spirit shows us the happy life of animals in freedom until they have the bad luck to meet evil people who want to take advantage of them.

It is a strong criticism of humans, but also a message that we can live in peace and respect with nature. Spirit logically refuses to be tamed, but later he forges a great friendship with a young man from the Lakota tribe named Little Creek.

He doesn’t own him, the boy and the horse become real friends.

Spirit (Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook, 2002) Photo: Dreamworks Pictures
Spirit (Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook, 2002) Photo: Dreamworks Pictures

7. Hachiko (Lasse Hallström, 2009)

Review: Parker Wilson, a university professor who teaches music, adopts a Japanese Akita dog abandoned at a train station. Parker discovers the intimate bonds that can unite a person and an animal.

Teaching: It is another film based on a true event. The real Hachi was born and died in Tokyo, Japan. In the place where he faithfully waited for his owner until his death, a statue stands as a reminder of the love and healthy coexistence between humans and animals.

This film teaches us that loyalty and friendship can be infinite, and that not only people are capable of feeling, but also animals.

Hachiko (Lasse Hallström, 2009) Photo: Stage 6 Films
Hachiko (Lasse Hallström, 2009) Photo: Stage 6 Films

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8. Les Oiseaux de Passage (Olivier Ringer, 2015)

Review: Cathy has a father with very curious occurrences. For her birthday, he gives her a duck egg with the intention that she incubates it and later be her mother. But, coincidentally, the one the duckling sees first is Margaux, a friend of Cathy’s who is in a wheelchair.

The little duck has identified Margaux as its mother, but her parents don’t want her to take care of it. To protect and save the bird, the two girls run away and embark on an adventure of freedom, in which they will discover much about themselves.

Teaching: Les Oiseaux de Passage has great messages for children and adults. The relationship between Cathy, Margaux and the little duckling is touching, but it also exposes the risks of overprotection and the need for emancipation that we all experience at some point.

Yes, it talks about love for animals, but also about self-love and the dream of freedom.

Les Oiseaux de Passage (Olivier Ringer, 2015) Photo: Les Films d'Antoine
Les Oiseaux de Passage (Olivier Ringer, 2015) Photo: Les Films d’Antoine

9. Celestial Camel (Yuriy Feting, 2015)

Review: In the Russian steppes, Bayir, a twelve-year-old boy, embarks on a journey on an old motorcycle to find Mara, the camel, who has escaped and is the basis of the family’s livelihood.

Teaching: A cute movie that moves us, but it is not corny. When Bayir finds out that the camel was sold by the patriarch, he doesn’t think it twice and sets off in search of him on an old motorcycle.

A story of love, friendship and justice. The little camel is sold when he still needed his mother. The suffering of the animals is noted when they force the calf to separate from his parent.

The approach is simple, the boy loves both camels and will do whatever he can to get them back together.

Heavenly Camel (Yuriy Feting, 2015) Photo: Production Center "Vse horosho"
Heavenly Camel (Yuriy Feting, 2015) Photo: Production Center “Vse horosho”

10. Kauwboy (Boudewijn Koole, 2012)

Review: Ten-year-old Jojo is often left alone. His parents divorced, so they don’t pay much attention to him, so the boy secretly finds some comfort with a crow that fell from his nest.

Teaching: In the company of his crow (a black bird similar to a magpie), the little boy finds happiness. JoJo lives with his father, who works all day and is not self-confident. His mother is absent and has left a great void in the child.

Jojo seems to only have his bird and becomes infatuated with it, even against his father’s wishes.

This is a film that shows the emotional bond that can be established with animals. Surprisingly it is reciprocal, even if we are talking about a small bird.

Kauwboy (Boudewijn Koole, 2012) Photo: Waterland Film & TV
Kauwboy (Boudewijn Koole, 2012) Photo: Waterland Film & TV

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

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My child wants a pet, what do I do?

Posted on 29/09/2021 - 17:10 by

If you have children, you have surely faced (or will face) the request for a pet. Most children dream of a puppy or a kitten, and at first glance, it seems like a good idea. Baby animals are charming, the ideal image of love. However, if the great responsibility that it implies is not clear, it can cause great problems in the house and, worse still, many end up abandoned on the street a few months later.

Responsibility does NOT belong to the children

According to Dr. Fausto Reyes Delgado, Zootechnician Veterinary Doctor and director of the UNAM-Banfield Veterinary Hospital, there are advantages for children to have a pet, “humans are group animals”, he says, but there is a huge problem when people give children a living being.

“There are many people who think that it is good for children to have a dog so that they learn to be responsible, but the ones who have to be responsible are the adults, not the child.

The child has to play, he has to learn. It is the adult who has to educate the child on the care of his pet and mark how far he can and how far he cannot interact with it. If we don’t have those rules, if we don’t set those limits, we unfortunately see a lot of accidents where pets get seriously hurt”, he adds.

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Does your child want a pet? Visit the vet first!

Before incorporating a pet into the family, it is very important to visit the veterinarian. The specialist will guide you on which is the most appropriate animal according to the future owner’s economic and social capacities and time for it.

“Ideally, before a kid has a pet, both the child and the adult visit the veterinarian. That is something that usually fails”. What almost always happens is that the child wants a pet, the parents take it home and then go to the vet, but when they already have it.

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Not everyone is fit to have a pet

According to the UNAM veterinarian, the most serious problem that implies a great risk is that not all people are suitable to have a pet, they are not clear about the responsibility and commitment that another life means.

From the basic action of providing it with food two or three times a day, as the case may be, to providing it with attention, bathing it, giving it affection and investing in its health. Veterinary doctors ask five questions when families are thinking about getting a pet:

  1. What do I want it for?
  2. How much time am I going to spend on it?
  3. Do I have space at home?
  4. How much do I plan to spend?
  5. Who is he going to live with?

“When you answer this questionnaire with the help of the expert, you will be able to identify if you can really have a pet. 50% of dogs and cats are in houses not because they are loved, wanted or well-cared, but for custom”, adds the expert.

It doesn’t have to be a dog or a cat

According to Dr. Fausto Reyes, dogs and cats are almost always the first options, but when you analyze the questions well, you realize that other types of animals, such as fish or a hamster that might be more convenient for you.

Opting for a dog? The specialist will also help you determine which one is best for your family. “If you want to have a dog, go ahead, but you have to pick the right one; if it gets along with children.

You have to analyze it before, but unfortunately it’s almost always the other way around.

Then you realize that the parents work all day, there is another person who looks after the children, but they don’t like dogs. Can you imagine the atmosphere?”, asks the director of the UNAM-Banfield Veterinary Hospital.

AN AGREED DECISION

A pet is a permanent commitment, so the decision must be consensual and involve all family members. If one does not agree, it is better not bringing an animal home.

Also remember that they will not be puppies forever. Many times as they grow, pets lose the attention of their owners, especially when it comes to tasks such walking or cleaning it. These are demanding tasks that must be considered. In addition to the above, there are many costs associated with having a pet, not just food and visits to the vet, when they get sick they may require surgery or hospitalization.

Having a pet is procuring another member of the family, a companion for many years; it has enormous emotional and social benefits for children, but it also involves a lot of work. Talk to your family, get advice from your trusted vet and make the decision responsibly.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

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How to take care of the heart of mom and dad: let’s anticipate trouble

Posted on 28/09/2021 - 17:25 by

September 29th is World Heart Day, a reminder that seeks to raise awareness in people about making healthy decisions for our well-being and thus reduce the risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases. It is the ideal occasion to talk about how to take care of the heart of mom and dad.

Heart disease: the permanent pandemic

Did you know that cardiovascular diseases are the first cause of death in the world? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), myocardial infarctions and strokes claim more than 17 million lives a year and it is estimated that the figure will increase to 23.6 million by 2030. In Mexico, more than 150,000 people die from heart problems a year, “It is a true pandemic, but unlike COVID-19, which will eventually go away, like all infectious epidemics, arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases remain”, said Dr. Enrique Gómez Álvarez, Postgraduate professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

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Men and women are equally affected

In past times, it was believed that men were affected to a greater extent, today according to WHO data, it is known that these conditions impact women almost equally. And there is more information: In our country, 19% of women and men between 30 and 69 years old die from cardiovascular diseases, indicates a paper published in the Mexican Journal of Cardiology.

It is estimated that 70.3% of the adult population lives with at least one cardiovascular risk factor such as hypertension (17 million), diabetes (6 million), obesity and overweight (35 million), smoking (15 million) and/or dyslipidemia or high concentration of lipids in the blood (14 million).

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Risk factors

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) indicates that the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases due to any of the following causes:

  1. An unhealthy diet: low consumption of fruits and vegetables and a high consumption of salt, sugar and fat.
  2. Overweight and obesity
  3. Sedentary lifestyle
  4. Exposure to tobacco

“So far in 2021, 326,892 Mexicans have been diagnosed with overweight. In other words, every week 9,080 people have been detected with one of these conditions. If only obesity, and therefore high cholesterol and high blood pressure, were controlled, 8 out of 10 deaths caused by diseases could be avoided”, says Dr. Laura Jessy Chávez Hernández, Medical Manager of the Cardiovascular Area of the Silanes Laboratories.

In addition to personal care, there is low investment by the State in Health; it is only 6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while in developed countries the figures are in two digits. The worst thing is that the biggest expense is in therapeutic care and not in prevention.

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How to take care of the heart of mom and dad

The best way to combat cardiovascular diseases is through prevention. These are some tips given by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) to reduce risk factors:

  1. Go to preventive medical care, particularly people with family antecedents, obesity, hypertension and a sedentary lifestyle. Actions such as the follow-up of weight, height, Body Mass Index, blood glucose and fat levels, kidney function, blood pressure and heart rate are essential.
  2. Control your blood pressure. Check it up at least once a year and more often if you have high blood pressure.
  3. Make healthy changes in your lifestyle. Avoid hyper caloric diets and do physical activity.
  4. Monitor and keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels low.
  5. Maintain a healthy weight.
  6. Limit alcohol consumption.
  7. Don’t smoke.
  8. Control your stress.
  9. Controls diabetes (it doubles the risk of diabetic heart disease).
  10. Make sure you get enough sleep.

Heart Day reminds us that we must take care of our health. It’s not too late, start now.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

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Being a woman is not defined by being a mother: giving up full-time motherhood

Posted on 27/09/2021 - 13:06 by

Those of us who have children know that we can give our lives for them. That is undeniable, but there is a fact that we should all take into account: being a woman is not defined by being a mother.

It is just as valid and respectable not to want children, as it is to look yourself as a person when you already have them; giving up full-time motherhood (the famous selfless and long-suffering mother) and remember that a happy woman is also a good mother.

Being a woman is not defined by being a mother

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According to Kalinda Kano, with whom we spoke about her book Perfectamente Imperfecta, the idea that just because we are women we have to be dedicated moms is very old-fashioned and we should eradicate it,

“Life is not automatic, and not because ‘that’s how it’s always been’, it means this is it, that’s how it has to be for you too. Being a woman is not defined by being a mother. One thing is being a woman and another thing is being a mother”, says the author.

The writer explains that motherhood is not the only way in which we assist others, “There are family structures in which one of the daughters or sons takes care of her parents for reasons of health, old age or customs. There are mothers-in-law who live with married couples, cousins who for some reason end up sleeping in your couch, dependent roommates, friends who need you to be with them, even bosses who ask you more than expected”.

There will always be people who require your attention, energy and time.

We believe that the more we serve others, the better people we are. This not only applies to the idea of ​​the mother who goes out of her way for her children but in all kinds of relationships. We have been raised with the belief that you must give yourself to others, otherwise you are selfish, but that is a big mistake.

Taking care of you has the same priority

“Taking care of yourself and your needs should have the same priority or even more than taking care of others. Repeat after me: I am worth it, my needs are important and dedicating time to myself does not make me selfish or a bad person”, emphasizes Kalinda Kano.

The key is to set priorities and always maintain your individuality.

Let’s not only talk about reconciling family and work life, but also about reconciling your family (and maternal) life with your personal space. Each of us has pillars: home, children, work, family, friends… Where are you?

You can read: 5 stigmas faced by working moms

Keys to recover yourself

Kano recommends 4 clues to recover your individuality:

  1. Block and formally schedule a certain time per day or week that is just for you. No children, no partner, parents, friends or acquaintances. It’s your time to do what you want. It can be watching the series you like, having your nails done, taking lessons of whatever you want, putting on a beauty mask, taking a nap, etc.
  2. Don’t always be available for others. Let them know that sometimes you can help them and other times they will have to wait. It is important for you and for those involved. Let your family know that you are going to read, meditate or listen to the podcast you like and that they cannot interrupt you. At first it will be a challenge, but at some point they will understand.
  3. Rediscover your passions. Remember something you loved and do it.
  4. Seek for help. Don’t try to carry the world by yourself. Ask your family for help. Sometimes they can help looking after the children. Hire a babysitter a few hours a week, tell your friend to take over with the other friend who is getting divorced and needs moral support. Asking for help doesn’t make you weaker, it makes you smarter.

We could add a couple more points:

  • 5. Take care of your body. Not only for aesthetics, but for health. You need yourself healthy, your children need you healthy. Exercise, eat a balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, especially green leafy ones.
  • 6. Be imperfect. As Kalinda Kano says, “Don’t try to be Superwoman”, or as educator Ale Velasco suggests, “Give yourself a chance, be deliciously imperfect”.

These tips apply to every one: those who have children and those who do not. There will always be someone who will need your time, it depends on you how much you are willing to give it.

You have to see: What advice should we mothers follow?

Giving up full-time motherhood

You must understand that it is not about being a bad mother. You love your children, no one will love them more than you do. The proposal is that you just give up full-time motherhood and allow yourself to take care of yourself.

There are those who are forced by life to give up their mother’s full time for work. Sometimes you have to do it to make ends meet. Many women leave their children in the care of others for at least eight hours and when they pick them up, they find it hard to think about anything other than their children.

In this case the key is quality time. Quality time is what will allow you to make individual spaces in your busy agenda.

Of course, it is also essential that you set limits on your work, no answering messages, when it is your children’s time.

Balance, organization and limits are the ingredients to balance your life. Would you try it?

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

Other topics of interest:

To be or not to be a mother, a well-thought and individual decision

Children beyond the family What the lockdown took from the children

10 family movies that teach the value of tolerance

Posted on 24/09/2021 - 15:02 by

Why should we teach the value of tolerance to children? Tolerance is one of the greatest expressions of respect. Being tolerant means understanding, accepting and respecting the differences, ideas, beliefs and thoughts of others. In addition to instilling this value by your practice of it, it is a good idea to use playful resources such as movies, so here we have 10 family films that address the subject.

Movies that teach tolerance to children

They will help you teach your children in an attractive and fun way. Feel free to start the conversation after the movie, answer your kids’ questions, explain what tolerance means, and give them examples of how it could be applied correctly.

1. Wonder (Stephen Chbosky, 2017)

Review: Auggie Pullman is 10 years old and dreams of becoming an astronaut one day. He was born with a severe facial malformation and had to undergo ten years of operations and long recovery periods at home. Now Auggie must face another great challenge: attending class for the first time.

Teaching: This tape is ideal for reflecting on tolerance and the need to adapt. The story is very humane and inspiring. In an effort to protect him, his parents homeschool Auggie, but the time has come for him to go to school. It will not be easy, but the child will find great friends. Ask your children what they would do if they were the protagonist, or the classmates, or even the parents.

Wonder (Stephen Chbosky, 2017)
Photo: Lionsgate

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2. Billy Elliot (Stephen Daldry, 2000)

Review: The life of Billy, the son of a miner from the North of England, changes the day he discovers how fascinating ballet is and how gifted he is at excelling at it. He thus decides to change his boxing classes for dance lessons.  

Teaching: The story takes place in the middle of the miners’ strike carried out between 1984 and 1985 in Tony, Everington, a small town in England. Billy’s family is formed by his grandmother, his father and his brother, who believe that ballet is not “for men”. The film talks about tolerance and acceptance, but it also gives opportunities to talk about other topics such as friendship, prejudice, the importance of fighting for what you want, being yourself above all, even when there is an absent mom.

Billy Elliot (Stephen Daldry, 2000)
Photo: BBC Films

3. I am Sam (Jessie Nelson, 2002)

Review: A mentally disabled father must fight to regain custody of his beloved daughter.

Teaching: Love, family, friendship, overcoming trouble, struggle, drive, and courage of a father to be close to his daughter is what this film presents. Sam Dawson must fight in court to be with his little girl. Due to his condition, he is discriminated, ridiculed, the people in suits believe that he is not qualified to take care of her.

At first Sam’s own lawyer shows rejection and disinterest, until she manages to see beyond his appearance and discovers the immense love he feels for the girl, as well as his determination to defend his rights.

I am Sam talks about tolerance and the importance of breaking down prejudices. But above all, he reminds us that with love, nothing else matters, everything will be fine.

I am Sam (Jessie Nelson, 2002)
Photo: NewLineCinema

4. Planet 51 (Jorge Blanco, 2009)

Review: Astronaut Charles ‘Chuck’ Baker arrives on a planet where the inhabitants are small green beings with pointy ears who live peacefully, and who are trapped in the fifties. Their only fear is being invaded by aliens. Captain Chuck, along with his companions will have to make a place for themselves among these beings, until they are part of the Space Museum of Alien Invaders.

Teaching: This is a Spanish digital animation film that puts a common situation in another context. What if humans were the strangers, the aliens who arrived on another planet and had to “earn a place”? It is obviously a great analogy to explain migration and tolerance to different cultures and ideas.

In addition to the value of tolerance, it also deals with the courage to face difficult challenges, empathy, putting oneself in the shoes of others to know their way of feeling and thinking, the critical attitude towards prejudice and the rejection of those who are different, the warning attitude in situations that represent fear, as well as the use of creativity to find solutions.

Planet 51 (Jorge Blanco, 2009)
Photo: HandMade Films

We recommend: 10 movies for children that teach the value of solidarity

5. Pocahontas (Eric Goldberg, Mike Gabriel, 1995)

Review: Pocahontas is the daughter of Powhatan, the chief of a North American tribe. She one day sees the arrival of a group of English settlers, led by the ambitious Governor Radcliff and the brave Captain John Smith. Accompanied by her animal pals, Pocahontas starts a friendship with Captain John Smith. However, the ambition of the newcomers causes tensions to arise between the two cultures.

Teaching: Pocahontas has a free and adventurous spirit, but as the daughter of the chief of her village, she has the responsibility to protect them. In her first encounters with John Smith we can see how she becomes defensive against his and the rest of the Englishmen colonizing racism, “Who are they to call us uncivilized, savage and ignorant?” she questions.

Despite the situation, she defends respect and tolerance, she tries to mediate between both cultures. She falls in love with the “enemy”, which means betrayal to her own people. However, until the last moment, she cries out to her own father for listening to others, in a gesture of humbleness and kindness.

Obviously there is a lot to cut through, the love between two people from different cultures, respect for nature, but it is also an excellent opportunity to explain the encounter of two worlds, the European colonizers who arrived in what is now known as America.

Pocahontas (Eric Goldberg, Mike Gabriel, 1995)
Photo: Disney

Don’t miss: 10 family movies that teach cultural diversity

6. Forrest Gump (Robert Zemeckis, 1994)

Review: Sitting on a bench in Savannah, Georgia, Forrest Gump waits for the bus. While it arrives, the young man tells his story to the people who are sitting down waiting with him. Although he suffers from a little mental retardation, this does not prevent him from doing wonderful things. Without fully understanding what is happening around him, Forrest takes sides in the most important events in the history of the United States.

Teaching: Due to his limitations, many people treat Forrest differently and look down on him. During his childhood he suffers from bullying and must flee from his bullies multiple times. However, his mother helps him so that he does not feel inferior at any time, she does not victimize him or minimize his chores, on the contrary, she encourages him at all times.

You can talk with your children about the importance of not discriminating against anyone for any reason.  

Forrest is also an example of self-improvement and perseverance. He teaches that there are no insurmountable obstacles. He is able to overcome any setback by being constant and making an effort. Another value that this film teaches is humbleness, the ability to accept achievements but see our own flaws and learn from them.

Forrest Gump (Robert Zemeckis, 1994)
Photo: Paramount Pictures

7. To Kill a Mockingbird (Robert Mulligan, 1963)

Review: The sons of a southern lawyer face racial prejudice when his father defends an innocent black man accused of raping a white woman. Film based on the book of the same title by Harper Lee, it explores the racial conflicts in the American South during the time of segregation.

Teaching: This is a classic of cinematography that deals with the challenge of living in peace with people who are different. The film is based on Harper Lee’s 1961 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Not only is it a good story that grips you from the start, it also makes you wonder, what would you do? Would you stand up for what is fair even if you had to face criticism and even hate?

There is a blunt sentence that lawyer Atticus Finch says to his children, “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway, and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do”.

To Kill a Mockingbird (Robert Mulligan, 1963)
Photo: Universal Pictures

8. My Name is Khan (Karan Johar, 2010)

Review: Rizwan Khan is a Muslim boy who suffers from Asperger syndrome. As an adult, Rizwan falls in love with Mandira, a Hindu single mother who lives in San Francisco. But after the 9/11 attacks, Rizwan is arrested as a suspected terrorist.

Teaching: Difficult, but true. The September 11 attacks in New York triggered a xenophobic wave in the United States. First neighbors, then customers, then friends turned their backs on many people of Muslim descent. Khan travels across the country to convey to President Obama his message: “My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist”.

Through this film, we can talk to our children about the need to see beyond mere appearance and not judge, it also shows the influence of the context and the need for social inclusion.

My name is Khan (Karan Johar, 2010)
Photo: Red Chillies Entertainment

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9. The Blind Side (John Lee Hancock, 2009)

Review: Michael Oher, a young black homeless man, is taken in by a white family, willing to give him all of their support so that he can succeed both as a football player and in his private life. For his part, Oher will also influence the life of the Touhy family with his presence.

Teaching: This film is based on real events included in the book “The Blind Side”, by Michael Lewis. The film presents us the confusion of a young man who does not have a family, he is very confused, and denies everything. But in the midst of adversity, he finds Tuohy, a kind woman who decides to take care and love him.

The film is not a fairy tale, it shows how difficult it is to welcome a person into a family. All customs and habits change, the challenge is that with love, tolerance and acceptance, everyone adapts and integrates the new member of the family.  

Another lesson that he leaves us is that we must help children to know what their qualities are and invite them to develop them.

The blind side (John Lee Hancock, 2009)
Photo: Alcon Entertainment

10. The African Doctor (Julien Rambaldi, 2016)

Review: A doctor and his family seek to flee from the dictatorship in Congo; the mayor of a small French town offers them a new life, but in a completely different culture.

Teaching: The film “The African Doctor” is based on Dr. Seloyo Zantoko’s real life events, an orphan doctor who comes from Kinshasa, the capital of the former Republic of Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In this feature film you can appreciate the racism that existed in the decade of the seventies in rural Europe. However, it is very clear that the origin of discrimination is the fear of the unknown and the belief in the “dominance” of the white race.

Yes, it is important that our children know how the world used to be and how unfortunately it continues to be in many places. In the midst of mistrust and fear, the doctor overcomes economic difficulties and even shame about his own origin, “An African doctor is a disgrace to French medicine”, they tell him.

A theater play presented by the children of the town (the segregating chi) represents the rejection suffered by the African family and becomes the way for adults to become aware of the situation.

The African Doctor (Julien Rambaldi, 2016)
Photo: Groupe TF1

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

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5 stigmas working moms face

Posted on 23/09/2021 - 13:45 by

In the 21st century, women are still forced to choose between motherhood and professional development. How many of us have been told phrases like “I don’t hire moms” or “we need someone without children”? No more discrimination and stigmas for working moms.

Juggling and wage gap

According to UN WOMEN, the gender wage gap is 16%, this means that women earn only 84% of what men earn.

In addition to being over-represented in vulnerable and informal jobs, women perform more care and domestic work than men, globally.

“The disadvantage due to motherhood is a reason for wage inequality. On average, working mothers are paid less, and the disparity is greater as the number of daughters or sons increases”, says UN Women.

Through a document that addresses the wage gap, the agency explains:

“The fact that mothers have lower wages is related to reduced working hours; being employed in jobs suitable for family life but with low wages; hiring and promotion decisions that harm their careers and with a lack of programs that support returning to work after being out of the labor market”.

In the book Overwhelmed, by Brigid Schulte, the author talks about confetti time: countless fragments that we cut out throughout the day in an attempt to satisfy the greatest number of demands. Working moms must “juggle” balancing their professional and family lives.

5 Social Stigmas against Working Moms

According to the ranking, Mejores empresas para madres trabajadoras, by Mamá Godín, out of the 960 executive positions, 334 are held by women. That is, 36% of that figure, only 13% are mothers, in contrast to 64% occupied by men, of whom 27% are fathers. “With these data we can analyze the situation of mothers and their low participation in the labor force”, says Aideé Zamorano, founder of Mamá Godín.

Inegi data indicate that 33.4% of working mothers work in the informal sector. In addition, they do not have access to health services as a labor benefit.

In addition to inequalities at work (the salary gap and the glass ceiling), working mothers face social stigmas that limit their development.

Do not miss: What advice should we mothers follow?

1. “I don’t hire women with children because they ask for a lot of permits”

Many companies do not want to give mothers maternity leave, nor are they flexible with them during pregnancy and lactation.

Between January 2011 and March 2020, the National Council to Prevent Discrimination (Conapred) received 723 reports of women fired because their employers found out that they were going to be mothers; even though this is illegal.

Most working mothers feel that they are not given flexibility in their jobs. They prefer to work in companies where they can do remote work or opt for informal work to have more time to spend at home and raising children.

2. “Working mothers abandon their children”

There are tensions between working and non-working mothers over how to raise children. Mothers who decide to work are singled out and it is believed that they do not pay the same attention to their children or do not “take good care of them”.

This is deeply rooted in society; historically women have been in charge of raising children. The ideal would be to create a national care system, or increase government support and programs aimed at working mothers.

As for companies, they should implement flexible hours, remote work, coaching programs, support groups for working mothers, as well as medical and psychological care for infants and mothers, especially in times of pandemic, since high rates of stress, depression and anxiety have been reported, according to WHO data.

We recommend: The real experts in caring for a baby are the parents themselves.

3. “Housework is a women’s thing”

Historically, women are the main heads of the household, which makes it difficult for them to combine motherhood and housework with a steady job.

Women spend an average of 4.1 hours a day on housework and childcare, in contrast men spend 1.7 hours a day, according to the Covid-19 report and the economy of care, prepared by UN Women. In addition to their working day outside the home, women carry out another workday inside the home.

Some approaches focus on promoting new models of fatherhood among men, as well as educating girls and boys to share these responsibilities. For example, the Three Rs approach: recognize, redistribute and reduce domestic and care work.

4. “Caring for children is mere responsibility of mothers”

Culturally established gender roles in society tend to make women’s participation in newborn care mandatory.

The Federal Labor Law reinforces it, since a pregnant woman in Mexico is granted 84 days of maternity leave, distributed before and after childbirth, while a man only 5 days of paternity leave.

“It is the companies the ones that have the responsibility and the challenge of equalizing maternity and paternity benefits, in order not to reinforce stereotypes in the laws, since the bias drives women out of the labor market”, adds Zamorano.

You can read: Is the coronavirus a professional alert for moms?

5. The “luchona” (fight) moms

Mothers who for some reason live without the father of their children are singled out and stigmatized. With the arrival of social networks, this mockery has gone viral and they are called “Luchona (wrestling) moms” forgetting the responsibility of the father who abandons his children and the mother is the only one in charge of providing and caring for them.

In 2020, 36.7 million women aged 15 and over who have at least one daughter or son were identified, of which 11 million do not have a spouse, which represents 30.1%.

Of the total number of mothers who do not declare having a spouse, 66.9% were once in a relationship, and are currently divorced, separated or widowed, while the remaining 33.1% declare themselves single.

As for the economically active population, 5.9 million are single mothers, of which 43% are single and 57% were once in a relationship.

Mothers without a spouse who are heads of their household and are employed are 3.4 million, equal to 71.8% of all women who declare themselves in charge of their household, according to a document prepared by Inmujeres.

We need public policies with a gender perspective that do not reinforce these stereotypes. It is essential to promote tax incentives for companies that hire more women and mothers, as well as a Government provider of a national care system and other initiatives that can be implemented to break down stigmas. But above all, society is also required to get involved to really achieve a change in mentality, ideas and beliefs.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

Other topics of interest: To be or not to be a mother, a well-thought and individual decision Children beyond the family What the lockdown took from the children.

Names for Girls and Boys Inspired in the Autumn

Posted on 22/09/2021 - 17:22 by

Last September 22nd, autumn 2021 arrived, a season that is described by its vibrant golden, orange, brown and red colors. It is a beautiful season where there is less daylight, but the moon and stars look spectacular. How about some names for girls and boys inspired in the Autumn?

Baby names inspired in the Autumn

These are eleven options for girl and eleven for boy that you will surely like. By the way, in this other article, we share with you some names inspired by the sun.

Take your time!

Girl names inspired in autumn

  1. Amber: English option of the Arabic name “Ámbar”. Amber is a semi-precious gemstone made of a fossilized tree resin. It is also used to describe the dark yellowish color. In general, Amber means “Yellow-brown”, the autumn’s colors.
  2. Blanca: It means “Pure and bright”. Its origin is Italian. Another meaning associated with it is “Woman who shines with her own light”.
  3. Cecilia: Cecilio’s feminine. From Latin, it means “Small blind” or “Tiny blind”. Its diffusion is due to Saint Cecilia, Roman martyr of the third century and patroness of musicians, whose birth was on November 22nd. In other languages the name appears with some variants: Cécile (French), Sheila (Irish), Caecilia (in ancient Rome), Cecília, Cila (Portuguese), Tsetsiliya (Russian), Cecelia, Cecily, Cicely (English), Cecylia (Polish), etc.
  4. Diana: Of Latin origin and means “Princess” or “The one who is enlightening”, “She of divine nature”, “She of pure nature”. In Roman mythology, Diana was the virgin goddess of hunting, protector of nature, the Moon and autumn.
  5. Dhalia: From Greek, it means “Beautiful woman”. Dhalia is a flower native to Mexico, in Nahuatl is called Atlcotlixochit, and grows during summer and autumn. It’s our country’s national flower.
  6. Greta: Diminutive of Margaret, its origin is Germanic and means “Pearl”. The Saint’s day is celebrated on November 16th.
  7. Luna: It comes from Latin and is a contraction of “Lucina”, which means “Shine” and “Illuminate”. The name Luna refers to the satellite that spins around the Earth. It means: “The one who shines”.
  8. Melania: It comes from the Greek word “Mélas” which means “Black, dark, darkness”. In Greek mythology it was the nickname of the goddess Deméter, divinity of the crops.
  9. Teresa: Its origin is uncertain, although the most accepted theory is that it comes from the Greek Therasia which means “Harvest” or “The one who harvests”. Another proposal associates the name with the Latin Tharasia, wich means “Huntress”. The onomastic of Teresa is celebrated on October 1st.
  10. Oriana: This name comes from the union of Oria and Ana. On one hand, Ana comes from Hebrew and means “Woman full of grace”, and in the other hand, Oria comes from Latin, and the translation is “Golden”, “Brilliant”. The combination means: “The one who is made of gold”.
  11. Zahira: It comes from Arabic and means “The one who is luminous” or “The one who has flourished”.

  Boy names inspired by autumn

  1. Amir: It is of Hebrew origin and means “Treecup” or “He who is tall”. It is relatedto power and fortune. In Arabic means “Chief” or “Prince”. The Spanish variant is Emir.
  2. Akimitsu: From Japanese, it is formed by the word ‘aki aki’ (which means autumn) and ‘ìmitsu’ (light). All together this name means “Autumn light”.
  3. Dionisio: It comes from ‘Dios’ and ‘Nox’, and it means “He who consecrates himself to God in adversity” or “Consecrated to Dionysus, God of wine”. Dionysus is the Greek God of wine, feasts and grape harvest. The French equivalent is Denis and in English, Dennis. Its Saint’s day is celebrated on November 17 th.
  4. Donovan: It comes from Gaelic ‘Donna’, which means “Brown” and ‘Bhain’, “Dark”. Together is means “Darkness”.
  5. Flavio: From Latin, Flavius, it means “Blonde hair”, “Yellow” or “Golden hair”.
  6. Guthrie: Gaelic Scotian name that means “Wind” or “Free as wind”. Another meaning associated with it is “War Serpent”.
  7. Leónidas/Leonids: From Greek, it means: “From Lion Caste”. It was a name given to several kings of Sparta. The rain of stars that occurs in autumn is also named Leonids.
  8. London: It comes from English and means “Fortress of the Moon” or “Lunar Force”. London is also the capital of Great Britain.
  9. Mauricio: It derives from Latin and its means: “Brunette”. Saint Maurice is celebrated on September 22th, day which usually corresponds to the fall equinox, when day lasts as long as night.
  10. Miguel: It comes from the Hebrew “Mica’el” which means “Who like Him?”. It is literally a rhetorical question that means “No one is like God” or “God is righteous”. Michael is the name of the divine Archangel who led the defense of God against Lucifer. Michael celebrates his onomastic on September 29th. In other languages there are variants like Michel, Michael and Mikhail.
  11. Santos: It comes from Latin and it means “Do something sacred”, “He who is sacred”. It refers to the feast of All Saints which is celebrated on November 1st.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara  

Spanish version  

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How should a baby sleep? Positions and recommendations to keep him safe

Posted on 22/09/2021 - 14:13 by

Many moms make the mistake of putting things in their baby’s crib when he goes to sleep: blankets, pillows, bumper pads, quilts, stuffed animals…

But the doctors’ recommendations are contrary to a crib full of items; it is not a good idea to lay them face down, as our grandmothers used to do. What should the place to sleep our little ones be like, what is the safest position for them?

Safest position to sleep a baby

The writer and mother, Emily Oster, with whom we spoke about her book Parenting without myths, explains that when we were children it was common to sleep babies on their stomachs, covered by a thick blanket and surrounded by protectors, “It made sense, babies are so small and the cradles are not comfortable”.

The idea of a tiny baby lying alone in a giant crib is a bit scary

“Until the early 1990s, the most common sleeping position for babies was on their stomachs, most likely because they “don’t wake up much”.

However, since the 1970s there has been evidence that sleeping on the stomach is associated with an increased risk of premature infant death syndrome, also called crib death.

As time has gone by and through very serious research that supported the danger of sleeping on the stomach, pediatric academies around the world issued different recommendations.

The guide, Safe Sleep for Baby, from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), explains that babies sleep safer on their backs.

“The supine position is the safest position for all babies up to one year of age and they should be placed in this position as soon as possible after birth”.

“Babies who sleep on their backs are much less likely to die from SIDS than those who sleep on their stomachs or sides. It is recommended that they sleep like this during naps and at night”, the document says.

It is even pointed out that babies who are used to sleeping on their backs, when placed on their stomachs for a nap, are at very high risk.

Should the baby be repositioned if he changes position?

According to the guide, “if the sleeping baby rolls by himself from face up to face down or vice versa, there is no need to reposition the baby. Putting him to sleep on his back at bedtime is the most important thing to reduce the risk of SIDS”.

Best place to sleep a baby

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) agrees that newborns should sleep alone, in a crib or bassinet, and on their back.

“AAP guidelines say that there should be nothing inside the crib with the baby. Bumpers should not be used, that is, the pads around the crib to prevent their little hands or feet from getting caught”, explains Emily Oster.

Oster recommends that newborns sleep in their parents bedroom, but in their own crib or bassinet, not in bed with them.

“These recommendations are designed to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome”.

On the other hand…

The NICHD guide also refers to not putting things where the baby sleeps, “When putting your baby down to sleep, use a firm and flat surface, such as a mattress in a crib, bassinet, portable crib or playpen, covered with a fitted sheet. Do not include other types of bedding or padded objects in the sleeping area”.

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Places that are NOT recommended to sleep your baby

The NICHD also lists certain places we should never sleep our baby. For example:

  1. Never place your baby to sleep on soft or cushioned surfaces, such as a couch, sofa, waterbed, pillow, comforter, sheepskin, or blanket. These surfaces can be very dangerous for babies.
  2. Don’t put your baby to sleep regularly in a car seat, stroller, swing, baby carrier, cloth carrier such as a wrap, ring sling or similar products.
  3. Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, couch, or chair alone, with you, or with anyone else, including siblings or pets. Sharing a room reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
  4. If you take the baby to an adult bed for feeding or soothing, remove all soft or padded items and blankets or covers. When you’re done, return the baby to where he sleeps alone, such as a crib, playpen, or bassinet, and close to your bed.
  5. Armchairs and sofas are very dangerous for babies if adults fall asleep while feeding, soothing or holding the baby on them. Parents and other caregivers need to be aware of how tired they are during these times. There is no evidence for or against devices or products that claim bed-sharing is “safer”.
  6. Don’t put any padded objects, toys, bumper pads, or loose blankets or bed covers under the baby, on top of the baby, or anywhere the baby sleeps.
  7. Dress your baby in sleepwear, such as a sleeping bag, designed to keep him warm without the need to wrap him in loose blankets. Dress him appropriately for room temperature and not too warm. Parents and caregivers should watch for signs of overheating, such as sweating or the baby’s chest feeling hot to the touch. Keep your baby’s face and head uncovered while he sleeps.

Don’t fall into temptation

For Emily Oster, while the recommendations from the AAP and other institutions are very easy to understand, they can be difficult to follow, particularly amid the exhausting confusion new parents experience.

“Many newborns sleep best on their stomachs and it’s too tempting to let them sleep that way all the time when nothing else works. It can also be tempting to let them sleep in your bed or on the couch, especially while you are breastfeeding, but you have to think carefully about the risks”, concludes the author.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

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Celebrity babies who are adorable

Posted on 21/09/2021 - 17:13 by

September is the month of babies, so we want to celebrate it with eight adorable little ones, children of celebrities, who have style and good taste in their blood. Get ready to die of love with these photos that their parents have shared with us through social networks.

Adorable Babies of Famous Dads

1. Manuel and Emiliano

Sons of Celebrity Anahí and Manuel Velasco

The singer and actress is more than happy with her two beautiful and adorable children: Manuel and Emiliano. From the first moment they conquered us with their smiling and charming expressions, in addition to those beautiful intense blue eyes, which they inherited from mom and dad. They are cute! “Here are my reason, my engine and my greatest loves in a photo”, Anahí published in the description of an image next to her babies and her husband.

Manuel and Emiliano Velasco Puente.
Photo: Instagram @Anahí

By the way, the clothes that these beautiful little babies are wearing are from Baby Creysi and are available in our online store.

2. Mary and twins Nicholas and Lucy

Children of Anna Kurnikova and Celebrity Enrique Iglesias

The former Russian tennis player and the Spanish singer have three cute children, the youngest is Mary, who was born on January 30th, 2020. The mischievous twins are named Lucy and Nicholas. The couple recently shared the first image of their little ones together, enjoying a ride in a red minicar.

Little Mary and her brothers, the twins, Lucy and Nicholas.
Photo: Instagram @AnnaKurnikova

3. Mathilda

Daughter of Celebrity Hanna (Ha*Ash) and Juan Carlos Herrera

After six years of marriage, Hanna welcomed her first daughter on June 3rd, 2020. This cute little doll is called Mathilda and since she was born, her mom has made us part, through her social media, of her most tender moments. “I want to share with you the most important and greatest triumph of my life… being a mom!” She wrote at the time of announcing her pregnancy. Beautiful!

Mathilda is Hanna’s joy.
Photo: Instagram @haashoficial

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4. Gianna and Luka

Babies of Celebrity Karla Souza and Marshall Trenkmann

The Mexican actress and the American banker have two little ones, a son and a daughter. The oldest is Gianna, three years old, and the youngest is Luka, who turned one-year-old on June 12th.

“There is so much injustice in the world and, as a mother, it makes me think about which world I want to see my children grow up in. I look at Luka and Gianna and they bring me hope, but it also inspires me to dedicate myself to being part of the change we so desperately need”, Souza wrote on her Instagram account.

Luka is one-year-old and Gianna is three.
Photo: Instagram @KarlaSouza

5. Vida Isabelle

Daughter of Celebrity Natti Natasha and Raphy Pina

Last year the Rampampam singer surprised the world with her advanced pregnancy. After a long time looking for a baby, she even described it as a miracle. “So many times many doctors told me, ‘You are not going to be able to be a mother,’ and today, in front of all of you, I share this six-month-belly with the whole world”, she said during an awards ceremony.

Little Vida Isabelle came into the world on May 22nd, 2021 and although she is only a few months old, she already has her own Instagram account with more than 1.6 million followers. She is a fashion baby and full of tenderness.

Little Vida already has her own Instagram account.
Photo: Instagram @queenvidaisabelle

6. Maria Paula

Daughter of Celebrity Dulce Maria and Francisco Alvarez

Another beautiful baby, ex RBD. This is María Paula and she was born in January 2021. Her mother has shared several photos of her baby with us. “You taught me a kind of love that I did not know, an immense love greater than fear”, it reads in one of her posts on her Instagram.

With the arrival of her little daughter, Dulce María has been sharing with her followers her memories as a mother:

“I love you my little moon, my little star, the most beautiful thing in my world and also the most tiresome one. I love you”.

María Paula is Dulce María’s “little moon”.
Photo: Instagram @dulcemaria

You can read: Become an expert in holding your baby

7. Masha and Santiago

Children of Celebrity Ana Layevska and Rodrigo Moreira

In December 2018, the actress became a mother for the first time. “I always wanted to be a mother. I didn’t know when. This life and my career are complicated, but I always wanted to start a family”, she confessed when announcing her first pregnancy. Two years later she announced the arrival of Santiago and, since then she has given us beautiful images of her Little Suns, as she calls them. They are beautiful!

Both babies took after their mommy. Photo: Instagram @analayevska

8. Bella

Daughter of Celebrity Marlene Favela and George Seely

Nice Bella melts us with her photos on her own Instagram account. As her name says, she is beautiful, but she also radiates tenderness and cuteness. She is two years old, yet an influencer with a lot of style to wear.

Bella is a real doll. Photo: Instagram @bellaseely_

Aren’t they adorable?

Remember that you can find the most beautiful clothes for your baby in our online store, Baby Creysi. The outfits that Anahí’s little ones wear are very cool.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

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