Hello nature, thanks for everything (1)

Good morning friends. How I love nature. It makes me feel good and at peace whenever I’m looking to one nature. It’s one of God’s creation that I love most. God takes good care of his creation as He takes care of us.

As a driver I have this uncanny ability to look out for something that stands out from the normal.

Whether in the city, or on a road winding through a jungle, I am absorbing details which an average person would not even notice. Innumerable times the passenger in the back, would say How can you drive, and still notice something like that? When I pointed out something. Of course the jungle roads beat the city roads by a long margin you get to see something beautiful, and I would feel so peaceful, and at ease.

Nature, wildlife and the environment, have always been close to my heart, because it is here that the Divine truly manifests. The roads through Bandipur, Madhumalai and to Kabini have always given me much joy and pleasure when as a taxi-driver I took customers there. A couple of emperor mongooses, lovely dark brown, standing still at the edge of the jungle, the sun glinting on their silver shoulders, a porcupine racing across the road in front of my car, as my passengers scramble for their camera (and losing the race), as it ducks down a tunnel. A herd of elephants crossing the road ahead of us, a rare scene, as we watch the babies ambling in the middle, my excitement peaking as I slow down.

How beautiful. Once I caught sight of a male deer between clumps of scrub brush and bamboo, stocky, dark brown with medium-sized antlers. We stopped and watched, and suddenly it bounded away, using all four legs in a delicate ballet too fast for camera, again. Later when we described the buck and even pointed out a picture in the forest personnels catalogue they refused to believe us, and said we were mistaken because this particular deer hasn’t been seen here. Well I am happy I saw it. –The times of India

Raised Well-Adjusted Children – 1

Many parents in the 90s encourage self-reliance and responsibility in their children as a way of life and also out of necessity. In more and more families, both parents go to work, and children are quite often left at home during certain hours of the day with only a maid or yaya in the house to care for them.

Learning self—reliance early in life—such as dressing up by himself or doing his homework on his own—prepares your child to become a more responsible and successful adult. He gains self-confidence and a sense of responsibility. He will be better equipped to adjust quickly to a new environment.

But how do you provide your child with the skills necessary for him to become successful and well-adjusted?

The first mistake most parents make is to rush their child into learning. Teach him one skill at a time. You are grapping with a mind and vocabulary much more limited than yours. Remember that a seven—year—old will learn things and concepts much faster than, say, a two—year—old.

Between the ages of 4 to 5, the child must be taught to do the following for himself; use the toilet, bathe, dress up, use a spoon and fork, eat and drink, comb his hair, brush his teeth, wash or wipe his face and keep himself clean. These are best taught through actual demonstration and good example. If your child saw you doing these things naturally as part of your daily routine, it would be easy for him to adopt them. As long as he makes progress, you must not fret and fuss.

But generous with praise when the child masters a skill. This will encourage him and make the learning process easier for you both.