I'm Sorry
*Shouting can be the result of not being able to set a limit early enough before the child has crossed the line where you can't put up with it anymore.
*It is important to be able to recognize when you need to stop what is happening before you get to this line. As soon as you feel that this is happening you need to stop whatever you are doing and the children are doing, and do something that will help change the pace:
-sit everyone down and make a drink
-watch a video
-read a favourite story or play it on a tape
-play a favourite, not-too-exciting game
*Let children know often that you love them and that you like them and you are proud of them, to make up for the occasional times when you may say damaging things.
*If you do shout, try to make sure you do not say things that are harmful to children or put them down.
*If you do shout a lot, your children are likely to shout too. They are copying you, not trying to "get at" you.
*Remember that what you do occasionally is not what harms children, it is what goes on most of the time. If most of the time your relationship is good, that is what will count.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Holding My Breath
It was my last day at Xact last Saturday, so I'm officially out of a job. We're scheduled to meet up with our new employers later at 3PM. I hope everything goes well with the contract signing and all. At the risk of sounding too negative, there are some things that worry/bother me:
The presumably stiff, corporate culture I'm going to be immersed in. This is coming from someone who's worked in various companies where you don't have to address a superior by sir or ma'am. It's just me I guess, but calling anyone who is not a caller/customer by those titles feels demeaning. The call centers I've worked at feels like a university since everyone is on a first name basis, and the hierarchy is not as pronounced as in other fields of work. Of course, in any industry there will always be suit-wearing corporate overlords behind the scenes making the wheels turn, but thing is I've been so used to being on the front line of the hive. I'd like to think of it as trading one form of corporate slavery for another.
This career shift entails a lot of things, such as wearing a suit and tie everyday. This is a big deal for me since I've been going to work in jeans and sneakers for the past four years or so, and in my sleepwear for the last seven months. Since I can use one hand to count the number of occasions I've worn a tie, dad in law (DIL) refreshed me on how to wear one yesterday. I'll get used to it I guess. Lyn also told me that everyone of the same gender bathes together in the ofuro, aka public bath. I'm pretty much comfortable with my sexuality and not homophobic, so don't get me wrong when I say that I'd rather not be in viewing distance of another guy's weiner.
Dan's living arrangements. I can only hope that the day care center he's going to go to is humane to say the least. Lyn reassured me that the people that work there are very friendly and kind with kids. Are there any babysitters in Japan? I mean we can't just leave him there all day can we? I do recall watching one of those short TV features on Japan that talk about its culture, technology, etc. There was this one epsiode about day care centers located near the subway stations which make it easier for the parents to drop off their kids on the way to work. You could even configure your cell phone to stream a live video feed of what's going on at the center, which is perfect for a worrysome guy such as myself.
Show me the money. As of today, I've no idea how much they're going to pay us. All I know is that compensation will be in yen, so I hope that's at least twice what I've been earning in my last job. On the other hand, since they're going to invest a lot in us (housing, training, etc) they probably expect a hell of a lot in return.
It was my last day at Xact last Saturday, so I'm officially out of a job. We're scheduled to meet up with our new employers later at 3PM. I hope everything goes well with the contract signing and all. At the risk of sounding too negative, there are some things that worry/bother me:
The presumably stiff, corporate culture I'm going to be immersed in. This is coming from someone who's worked in various companies where you don't have to address a superior by sir or ma'am. It's just me I guess, but calling anyone who is not a caller/customer by those titles feels demeaning. The call centers I've worked at feels like a university since everyone is on a first name basis, and the hierarchy is not as pronounced as in other fields of work. Of course, in any industry there will always be suit-wearing corporate overlords behind the scenes making the wheels turn, but thing is I've been so used to being on the front line of the hive. I'd like to think of it as trading one form of corporate slavery for another.
This career shift entails a lot of things, such as wearing a suit and tie everyday. This is a big deal for me since I've been going to work in jeans and sneakers for the past four years or so, and in my sleepwear for the last seven months. Since I can use one hand to count the number of occasions I've worn a tie, dad in law (DIL) refreshed me on how to wear one yesterday. I'll get used to it I guess. Lyn also told me that everyone of the same gender bathes together in the ofuro, aka public bath. I'm pretty much comfortable with my sexuality and not homophobic, so don't get me wrong when I say that I'd rather not be in viewing distance of another guy's weiner.
Dan's living arrangements. I can only hope that the day care center he's going to go to is humane to say the least. Lyn reassured me that the people that work there are very friendly and kind with kids. Are there any babysitters in Japan? I mean we can't just leave him there all day can we? I do recall watching one of those short TV features on Japan that talk about its culture, technology, etc. There was this one epsiode about day care centers located near the subway stations which make it easier for the parents to drop off their kids on the way to work. You could even configure your cell phone to stream a live video feed of what's going on at the center, which is perfect for a worrysome guy such as myself.
Show me the money. As of today, I've no idea how much they're going to pay us. All I know is that compensation will be in yen, so I hope that's at least twice what I've been earning in my last job. On the other hand, since they're going to invest a lot in us (housing, training, etc) they probably expect a hell of a lot in return.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
My Plague
I take their music seriously, and I appreciate what it's for (at least for me) - which is catharsis. A release. Let them do the screaming for me. I just found it funny when Corey suddenly brought this kid to the stage at the start of the song. I don't know why I started laughing...it was unexpected mostly. I just found it funny that Corey was singing up front to this kid and it seemed like he was corrupting him right then and there.
I discovered this band when I was well on my way to adulthood, so IMHO I have the mental faculties to put their music in perspective. But what about this impressionable youth (who probably likes Slipknot as much as the next fan) that might not be able to properly digest their kind of music? It's being presumptious I guess and of course the band wouldn't put any age limit on their listenership, but there are some things that need a certain level of maturity and understanding before being exposed to it. I mean, I appreciate what Saving Private Ryan was trying to say, and the graphic scenes are meant to be seen by a mature viewer that can handle it.
I don't really know where I'm going with this, and I don't want to dictate what people should or should not do, but I think a young mind is not quite ready for certain things. In time it will be, but not just yet.
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