Take time with your loved ones: February 2012

Monday, February 27, 2012

How to Strengthen Parent-Teen Relationship

By Cherry Moriones Doromal

At the stage of puberty, family support is highly demanded to assure that the parent-teen bond is not severed by the adjustments which occur in physical, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of the child.

It’s not a very unusual scenario that parents and teens clash about various issues at home because of the many changes both parties experience in passing through a stage where the adolescent explores many things about life. This, however, is something that can be avoided when parents will only endeavor to strengthen their relationship with their teens. Here’s how:

1. Be your teen’s best friend. Just like a real best friend, spend time with your teen as much as you can-- laugh with him, cry with him,eat with him, go to the gym with him or go out on a party with him. Talk to him casually when you’re together and when he comes home from school, ask how his day went.

2. Give your teen some freedom to act without your shadow. How do we reconcile this tip with number 1 above? It's important to know our limitations in interfering with the life and whereabouts of our teens.

While your teenager might treat you as his best friend, you must know how to balance your being a parent. The art of recognizing the need to keep distance is essential. For instance, in coming up with decisions where a minor needs guidance on, such as which course to take up in college, you may get into the scene. But, in choosing which club to join,such as where, obviously, your teen is more interested in swimming or karate club, don’t force him to join the glee club.

3.    Think his age, feel his age. As parents, be open-minded about how your teens feel. Try to understand where his actions, choices and decisions come from, considering the circumstances and his lack of experience. Talk to him properly to explain issues.

4.    Show that you care while showing a certain level of understanding and respect on his choices. Teenage is characterized by a period where your kids develop crushes. Normally, it is the time where puppy love or hero worship blooms. Don’t stick your nose in whoever your youngster admires. Let him develop his own sense of identity. Slyly give sound advice when needed, and set easy-to-understand rules, such as: " It’s okay to have crush, but don’t get into any serious relationships, for now, because you’re too young."

5.    Being open makes you close. Have an accommodating atmosphere when dealing with your teenager. Initiate a welcoming attitude by being open to him. For instance, talk to him how happy you were upon being commended for accomplishing your office tasks, saying what exactly your boss said. Talk about your interests, opinions on politics and vacation plans. If you would share personal thoughts to your minor, he would most likely, open up his own feelings in the same manner.

6.    Let his voice be heard. Begin involving your teen in coming up with minor family decisions, such as how and where he would like the family to spend the next weekend.

7.    Proper orientation on sensitive issues starts from home. Teenagers usually face a lot of questions and difficulties as regards changes in many aspects of their lives. While the schools and the real world offer their own ways of teaching the minors, it's always safest and most ideal to learn from home. For instance, the menstrual cycle and basic hygiene are better explained by a mom to her teenage girl. Issues on sexuality or sexual awareness are best explained at home as the parents slot in moral values in making clear to the teen sensitive subjects.

Parents, make the critical teenage period of your child an exciting moment of discovery for you and your child by building up your relationship. The family has an extra nurturing task to perform at his stage. With proper guidance and support, you are sure to lead your teen to the right way, and correctly prepare him for his life as an adult.

More posts by this author
Dating for Married Christian Couples
10 Secrets to a Peaceful Family Home
To Spank, or Not to Spank
The Teacher as a Learner
What and Where we Eat in the Philippines
More Eats Coming Up
Take Time with your Loved Ones
How to discipline a child with Minimal or NO SPANKING
How to Teach the Bible to Kids

Author's Photo Gallery

Other links:
Cherry's Channel
Earthwide Concepts Marketing and PR
Cherry's Online CV
The Manila Saturday Club Civic Association Inc.
007 Security Agency Inc.
Proaxis Events and Entertainment
On-line Ministers Worldwide
Type W Music
Pamper City Boutique
The Paparazzo Site
Interiors by Homevogue
International School MGIS

"Cherry Moriones-Doromal, an educator at the Mahatma Gandhi International School (MGIS), is a proud advocate of high-quality global education."

Other Writings by Cherry Moriones Doromal:
http://www.mb.com.ph/node/316971/the-anti-stress-science-facebook

Ways to love your old newspapers

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/316497/ways-love-your-old-newpapers

Wow eating manners!

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/315715/wow-eating-manners

Freeze it!

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/302629/freeze-it

Journal of a Practical Mom

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/302131/journal-a-practical-mom#comment-7014

Honoring a decade of happy marriage

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/303986/honoring-a-decade-happy-marriage

Summertime ironies are cool

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/315042/summertime-ironies-are-cool

On Sowing and Reaping

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/324542/on-sowing-and-reaping

Leave the crab behind

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/325936/leave-crab-behind

Thailand Trip-- My Top 20 Kwentong Wala sa Libro #educationalpost for all with Veronica and Therese. Sharing with...
Posted by Cherry Moriones Doromal on Thursday, 18 June 2015

Friday, February 24, 2012

Dating Ideas for Married Christian Couples

By Cherry Moriones Doromal

Following the footsteps of my parents who, by the way, will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this month, my husband and I go on constant dating, so as to preserve our marriage bond. And it works— we get closer and happier each day.

While you might think that a Christian couple’s dating has to feel and look somewhat religious like going to the Church and attending prayer meetings, on the contrary, a married Christian couple’s dating can be a thrilling experience that creates closeness to the husband and wife.

Should you be curious on how we set exciting dates, here are some ideas, which I hope you'll try, too:

DATING AT HOME

As a busy couple, sometimes, we need to buy time by never having to leave our home. Attention, guys! If cooking for your wife is unusual, why not cook for your wife this time. Set the table in a romantic arrangement, just like how it is in a fine dining restaurant. Since you know your wife’s favorite food, take an effort to cook a simple menu that is made special with love. Present it the way a gourmet chef would. Complete the cozy atmosphere by lighting candles on a dim dining area. Play a classical or jazz music on the background. That’s simply romantic, isn’t it?

Breakfast in bed. What a nice morning it is for a wife to wake up with freshly picked flowers beside her, and a matching sweet note that says: “Breakfast is ready. I hope you’ll like it.” Prepare a breakfast-in-bed set and put it in a tray. Lay it down on the bed or on a table in the bedroom. Make the breakfast set look special by adding fresh fruit or salad sidings for more color.

To help you think, here are some breakfast ideas:

Tropical Breakfast
Waffles or French Toast
Bagel Breakfast

At home, my personal preference is English Breakfast-- English muffin, eggs, and orange juice and brewed coffee.

Movie time. Spend a comfortable night with your husband either in the bedroom or in the living room as you watch a good movie. Prepare movie time snacks and hot or cold beverages that you will both enjoy. Re-arrange your mock theater in such a way that it will look special.

Just to share a bit more, last Valentine’s day, I even printed a replica theater pass and gave my husband, and our two kids their own tickets, with corresponding seat number and free popcorn and meal stub. It was a lot of fun.

Picnic at the backyard.The next suggestion is a classic in our home. If you have a home garden, invite your spouse on a pre-arranged picnic with your kids, family or close friends in your own backyard. Make the occasion unique by making a personalized invitation for your spouse, and have her dress up just like she would in a real picnic. Prepare couples’ games to make the moment more entertaining.

Explore new places. If you have extra budget,it would be nice to explore local or international places together which you haven’t been to, and create memorable sweet moments in those places. I personally preserve these memorable moments through photos and blogging like this.

Out in the sun. Nature tripping, such as hiking, canoe ride, biking, and joy riding.

Restaurant hopping. For a change, try going to different restaurants serving international cuisines and enjoy the food together. It would be cool to have a casual or serious talk about your short-term and long-term plans; or simply have fun reviewing the menu and services of the restaurant.

Couple's Spa. Relieving stress may be done together! Have a regular relaxing moment with your spouse by going to health clubs or spa.

Group dating.To avoid monotony, set a group couples’ date with friends and associates who have similar Christian family values as yours. It's a good way to strengthen your ties with your spouse.

As married Christian couples, let your love grow each day and establish wonderful marital friendship along the way by dating regularly.

Photo Gallery

My baby sis Melody Arieta and hubby Pastor Efren Arieta

Dadski Ronnie and Momski Mercy who will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary next week...cheers!

The sensational couple Mark and Lily Doromal

My only bro Royce and Joyce

Cousins Rocky and Mirriam

More posts to read:

10 Secrets to a Peaceful Family Home

What and Where we Eat in the Philippines

More Eats Coming Up

Sharing my Micro World to the World
How to Strengthen Parent Teen Relationship
How to Discipline a Child with Minimal or No Spanking
How to Teach the Bible to Kids

Uncle Dong and Aunt Lhet Bernardo

Jon and Jane Asis on a Valentine's date at Burj Khalifa (the world's highest tower) in Dubai

MORE SITES
Cherry's Channel

Earthwide Concepts Marketing and Public Relations

007 Security Agency Inc.

Cherry's Online CV

Type W Music

The Manila Saturday Club Civic Association Inc.

On-line Ministers Worldwide

Pro Axis Events and Entertainment

Interiors by Homevogue

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Take time with your loved ones: 10 Secrets to a Peaceful Family Home

Take time with your loved ones: 10 Secrets to a Peaceful Family Home: by Cherry Moriones Doromal How excited are you to coming home from work or school each day? Is your home the best place you can share yo...

"Cherry Moriones-Doromal, an educator at the Mahatma Gandhi International School (MGIS), is a proud advocate of high-quality global education."

International School MGIS

10 Secrets to a Peaceful Family Home

by Cherry Moriones Doromal

How excited are you to coming home from work or school each day? Is your home the best place you can share your biggest smile, laugh at the top of your voice, and be tranquil whether awake or asleep?
How do we attain and maintain a peaceful home? Here are some tips:

1. Constant and proper communication. As in any other kind of relationship, regular communication is the key to understanding your spouse, kids or any other member of your family. Lack of communication draws you apart from one another, bringing about miscommunication, misunderstanding and declining relationship.

It’s not an excuse that you’re the silent type. A simple compliment like “You look wonderful” or a word of concern like “How’s your day?” and “Have you eaten yet?” are powerful single-liners. Communication may not, at all times, be expressed only in words—text messages, sticky notes, a smile, a cup of coffee, hugs and kisses are gestures that communicate better relationships.

As to the other party, it’s important that he takes time to LISTEN and is sensitive to what’s being communicated to him.

2. Make time for your loved ones. Busy? Who can't be busy in today’s society? Even our pets at home may be busy doing their stuff. Set aside a quality moment with your family. It doesn’t matter how short or long each day, as long as your time and thoughts are exclusively devoted for your spouse or kids on that particular moment. It may be a 15-minute meal time without interruptions, or a two-hour movie time.

3. Renew your love every day. It’s sad to realize that a lot of people around the world feel like their homes are a battlefield where enemies are ready to strike from any corner. As a result, they end up seeking for comfort from the outside world or other people, and most likely, they engage themselves to vices.

Another secret to achieving peace in your home is to fall in love with your spouse every single day. Don’t let yourself be enticed by things which will ruin your relationship. Never get tired of rekindling the sweetness you had when you were at the peak of your happy relationship.

4. Consider your family in making life’s choices. Opportunities come and, sometimes, being overwhelmed with them makes us decide in a flash without thinking of consequences. Think wisely when making decisions and consult your spouse to be certain he’s open about them and is willing to support you along the way.

5. Set rules but be reasonable. As parents, it’s all right to set rules to our kids— no video games on school days, reward for a perfect grade, no smoking, etc. Be careful, though, in setting up rules, and be sure that your rules are workable. Give everyone a certain level of freedom to express themselves or their opinions. If your kids (especially the teens) look at you as a modern day Hitler whose wishes couldn't be challenged, your kids might rebel against you. In rebellious acts begin many disorders at home.

6.   Don’t spread unhealthy rumors about your family. Every home has its own imperfection. Siblings clash and spouses disagree occasionally. Don’t gossip about your own family because this will cause unlimited trouble for everyone.

7.   Don’t gossip about somebody else’s life. It is a basic rule that we shouldn’t meddle into the lives of other people. If you‘re not a party to issues outside of your home, and if you’re not being requested to give sound advice, it would be best that you keep your mouth from talking about your neighbor’s lives to avoid chaos.

8.   Settle issues as soon as possible. Should there be any disagreement in your family, resolve the problem as soon as possible. How soon? Within the day! This might sound irrational especially when the matter is a big issue. Call me extreme, but, I think there’s nothing too big when we’re talking about preserving peace in our own home. We’re protecting our family relationship here.

Stop waiting for the right timing in the future because, most likely, pride will take its course, and no reconciliation will be had. It’s good to be guided by Biblical principles such as, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” ( Eph. 4:26 )

9. Desire peace. “THINK ABOUT”, “SAY”, and “DO” things which will bring peace into your home. Remember, what we sow is what we reap.

10. Pray with your family. This is the ultimate secret that I would like to impart. Pray with your family and ask God to take control of every situation in your life.

Praying together may not mean the family being physically together in one room. Many homes have family members in other places, for work or other reasons.

By praying together, it may mean setting a certain time of the day wherein everyone will pause for a moment to pray for the family, anywhere he may be. It may also mean praying at no specific time, where everyone will pray for a common intention about the family.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 )

More posts:What and Where We Eat in the Philippines
   More Eats Coming Up
Take Time with your Loved Ones
Dating Ideas for Married Christian Couples
How to Strengthen Parent Teen Relationship
  How to Discipline a Child with Minimal or No Spanking
    International School-- MGIS, Mahatma Gandhi Scholars

"Cherry Moriones-Doromal, an educator at the Mahatma Gandhi International School (MGIS), is a proud advocate of high-quality global education."
Other Writings by Cherry Moriones Doromal:
http://www.mb.com.ph/node/316971/the-anti-stress-science-facebook

Ways to love your old newspapers

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/316497/ways-love-your-old-newpapers

Wow eating manners!

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/315715/wow-eating-manners

Freeze it!

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/302629/freeze-it

Journal of a Practical Mom

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/302131/journal-a-practical-mom#comment-7014

Honoring a decade of happy marriage

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/303986/honoring-a-decade-happy-marriage

Summertime ironies are cool

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/315042/summertime-ironies-are-cool

On Sowing and Reaping

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/324542/on-sowing-and-reaping

Leave the crab behind

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/325936/leave-crab-behind