ARE GUARD DOGS STILL RELEVANT?

As parents in general and fathers in particular the security of our homes should be of immense importance to us. That is why we get the guard dog to be part and parcel of our homes as soon as we settle down in matrimony .Our general belief is that the mere bark of the guard dog or in any case, any dog for that matter should discourage any home robbery in our homes. However statistics are showing that thefts and home robberies still occur in spite of the presence of these guard dogs.

HEAVEN HELPS FATHERS MAKE ANGELS OUT OF DEVILS!

Have you discovered that your kids have become more and more unappreciative of all the things or at least most of the things you buy for them? Welcome to the club. Parents are working their selves to death today more than any other time in the history of mankind and yet the children see it as no big deal what so ever. No doubt many parents are bewildered and confused about the situation. The scariest thing about the whole affair is that these same kids will in two decades at most, be parents, adults and workers. Makes one cringe at how the world will look like if something is not done now and fast to make our kids more thankful for what they’ve got don’t you think?

Well as parents concerned about the present state of morals in our kids, the solution is not to meet at the local P.T.A meeting, compare notes and sulk at the situation. Certainly not- The right thing to do is to take a proactive step with the aim of making our children much more sensitive or appreciative of how lucky they are in the first place to come from real homes with parents or at least a parent; who cares and provides for them. The therapy is quite simple. Can you recall going to visit someone in an intensive care unit? Have you ever watched a documentary of starving children in a war torn country? No one with a heart can forget the face of a dying kid somewhere in a famished land grasping for dear life or a patient suffering in an intensive care unit. The images say more than any words can say. Every one comes out feeling thankful for the life they have.

This is the experience parents must make their kids go through not to scare the hell out of them but to make angels out of the sure little devils that they have become for what ever reason. Take a weekend and visit an orphanage with the kids. Before then, go shopping with them for the presents you intend to offer the poor orphans. At the orphanage, make sure your kids share the presents to the orphans and really interact with the orphans. Play games with the orphans and let your kids participate, allow them see the fact that the orphans are kids just as they are this ritual repeated from time to time will surely make the scales fall from the eyes of your kids for certain.

Common mistakes we make with house helps or maids

There are many mistakes we make in the management of our maids or house helps that leave us feeling betrayed, unappreciated and angry when things go awry. However, a dispassionate look at the issues will sooner than later, reveal more than meets the eye. Here are some of them.

1. Gifts: Gifts are good; they show how much the person presented with such a gift is appreciated. The flip side to this seemingly innocent display of kindness is the fact that one might be inadvertently sending the wrong signal. When you spoil your house help or maid with gifts you might be indirectly sending a message like “I am sorry for all I put you through” or “don’t leave me- you are indispensable! I can not survive without your services”-you just imagine the attitude of a house help or maid who is convinced that his employer is if you like ‘bribing’ him or her? Hello! This is a wake up call or else you would soon find yourself saying ‘after all I did for him/her my kindness was repaid with insults and ingratitude’.

2. Confusing them for family or friends: Unless a house help or maid has literally donated one of their kidneys to you or something that heroic don’t ever confuse them as anything other than a house help or maid period.

3. Pretending to be civil. We sometimes allow offenses to be swept under the carpet because we pretend to be nice or civil-be firm let them know where you stand when they go wrong.

4. Keep promises. Never make the mistake of promising something you know you are not going to deliver.

5. Be yourself: Don’t be any other person to your house help or maid but yourself-they can tell.

6. Do not be dictatorial: Don’t shout orders all the time like a dictator. You can still enjoy the respect and loyalty of your domestic staff whilst being humane. Never physically or otherwise abuse your house helps or maids and if you want their opinion about something you don’t know, do so freely and thank them for their opinion afterwards.

7. Reward good deeds: Mark the fact that I said “good deeds” not hard work – hard work is something you should get if you pay them well.

8. Secrets: Never fall for the temptation of telling your domestic staff any of your secrets you may live to regret it.

Avoid these pitfalls and you will bring out the best out of your house helps or maids.