Family and Relationships: The Mother Load by Gina Stepp

When discussing the importance of family and relationships, motherhood entails countless personal sacrifices. Theodore Roosevelt acknowledged as much in 1905, when he told the National Congress of Mothers, "Your duty is hard, your responsibility great; but greatest of all is your reward." While his statement rings true on many fronts, there may yet be one more to explore.
Motherhood has long been considered the embodiment of self-sacrifice, and for good reason. From the first manifestations of "morning" sickness, sacrificial acts consume mothers, body and soul. Of course, it doesn't stop with pregnancy. Every stage of a child's life requires a different set of sacrifices, most of which are made willingly but pass unnoticed by their primary objects. The running joke is that the sacrifices of motherhood run so deep, they even affect the brain: "Insanity is hereditary," goes one adage; "you inherit it from your children." More than one mother has, at one time or another, ruefully (perhaps even proudly) pointed to her children as being responsible for what she considers a decline in her mental capacities.
Fortunately, however, research may have uncovered just the right information to distract us from obsessing about our sacrifices long enough to consider some of the things we might actually be gaining from motherhood.
In this vein Katherine Ellison, author of The Mommy Brain: How Motherhood Makes Us Smarter (2005), brought welcome news to mothers everywhere. It's true, she acknowledges: we mothers have long perpetuated the notion that having babies zaps our brain cells. This notion finally became so entrenched, she informed Vision Media recently, that dozens of scientists set out to discover whether it is actually true. And the truth is? It is not.
In fact, she found, study after study shows that having babies contributes to increased brain cells, and along with these little darlings (the new brain cells as well as the babies) come increased skills of all kinds.
At the center of this life and health study is that now-familiar phenomenon, neurogenesis: the brain's process of growing and changing through the development of new neurons. This amazing brain plasticity is encouraged by repeated new actions, especially of the "positive, emotionally charged, and challenging" variety, referred to by scientists as "enrichment." As it turns out, the process of child rearing, beginning even in pregnancy, is enrichment's mother lode. The abundant variety of intense new experiences forced on us mothers by daily interaction with our children strengthens much more than our flexibility and our multitasking skills. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reveals increases in a long list of areas, including (but not limited to) emotional intelligence, sensory powers, mental perception, motivation, attention, problem solving, prioritizing, memory and learning. And the gains are not temporary. In fact, indications are that the positive changes brought about in the brain by pregnancy hormones, and subsequent stimulation from our babies and children, last for the rest of our lives--long past the time our grandchildren are born.
So why have women almost universally embraced the idea that pregnancy and childbirth turn their brains to jelly? Sleep deprivation certainly plays a role, but Ellison again marshals a long list of neuroscientists whose findings add other crucial pieces to the puzzle. "What's really going on," she translates, is that "a pregnant and early postpartum woman's brain is tied up in a major, hormone-powered transition." In other words, our bodies have just served us a powerful hormonal cocktail designed to prepare our brains for unprecedented growth and reorganization. "Motherhood--" says Ellison, "just like puberty--may knock us off our feet for a time, only to set us back up, often stronger than before." Comparing the forgetfulness of pregnant mothers to Einstein's famous distractedness, Ellison is nevertheless careful to qualify the analogy: "Encouraging as this paradigm may be . . . it's important to remember that new mothers are coping with some serious physical challenges that Albert Einstein could barely have imagined."
Despite the role of pregnancy-induced hormones in this brain-enriching experience, the good news is not only for mothers. Research is hinting that the benefits of child care may turn out to be a "father lode" as well.
Citing research on rodents, Ellison remarks that "modern, engaged dads may be gaining some of the same learning and memory advantages from parenthood as have been found in maternal rats. The key appears to be the degree of involvement with the children." Further, she notes the documented rise of certain "parenting" hormones in men when their wives are pregnant, and points to the well-known phenomenon called Couvades syndrome, in which "sympathy morning sickness" and "sympathy weight gain" are factors.
But are these pre-baby changes only "sympathetic" in fathers? A 2006 study by neuroscientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that something physiological is actually occurring. In the first nonhuman primate study into this phenomenon, researchers concluded: "It is clear that expectant fathers of these [primate] species are physiologically responsive to their mate's pregnancy and the impending birth. Males need to be prepared to engage in infant care immediately after birth and this requires carrying multiple infants weighing up to 20 percent of their adult body weight. Both the hormonal and the physical weight change suggest that marmoset and tamarin males prepare for the demands of infant care."
If, as scientists speculate, these physiological changes are brought about by the exchange of pheromones between pregnant mothers and fathers, it may be one more benefit to be gained from the cultivation of close family and relationships.
While adoptive parents and other caregivers also reap some of the brain-boosting benefits of child rearing and also experience some physiological changes, "there is no denying," says Ellison, "that the nine-month preparation of pregnancy and the experience of delivering a child give biological mothers an advantage in making what's usually a life-long commitment."
Ellison's thoughtful collection of research certainly dispatches the sometimes popular notion that raising a child is "less worthy" work for intelligent people. In fact, it's beginning to look like one of the best avenues for becoming a creative human being.
Perhaps motherhood is, after all, its own reward.
About the Author
Author, Gina Stepp, writes articles on family and relationships, current events, society and culture, for Vision Media. More information about these and other topics can be found at http://www.vision.org.

Let The Kids Play And Learn With Confidence - Trust Video Security Systems by Nahshon

A Day Care Center for kids is a place of fun and learning. With video security systems, you learn about the kids' progress and keep them safe at the same time. This is a double whammy for your investment.
No time to think about it?
Hemming and hawing about installing video security systems in your Day Care Center because of the expense is like refusing the extended hand of a lifeguard when you are drowning. Such comparison may be excessive, but when thinking of the safety of the children, you have to go the extremes.
The responsibility of everybody's safety is yours because the parents have trusted their children to your care. You have to play your cards right in the choice of video security systems for your Day Care Center. Video security systems will provide you a better way to observe the development of the children. You can effectively provide input to improve the child's performance in some areas and coach your day care center workers and caregivers on handling the children, all based on your observation through the video security systems' closed circuit TV.
What do you need?
For your video security systems, you need high resolution cameras, speedy capture of images, and cameras that work well in all lighting conditions. You will also require audio recording and covert cameras in some areas of the building. This is to ensure that you have not left any ground uncovered, any stone unturned. A careless omission may cause you problems later on.
Video security systems have different equipments which can be incorporated when you install one. Here are some of the things you will need for your Day Care video security systems:
* Security Video Intercom - This includes a monitor and a flush mount camera. The two-way manual switch will allow you to check on a monitor or two and you can check all entry ways in the day care center.
* Quad video monitoring system - With this, you can check four areas in the building simultaneously. This saves you time, as well.
* Wireless B/W Pinhole Camera - This ready-to-run camera transmits and receives high resolution images from a range of up to 300 feet. This can help you check on the caregivers if they are treating the children well.
* Digital video recorder - You can play and record simultaneously without interrupting or stopping the recording.
* Lighting systems - Have back lighting and other lighting applications installed for better performance of your cameras and monitors.
Studying behavior through candid camera
In addition to the children's security, you can study their behavior. You can detect aggression, depression, and other signs of negative behavior, which you can deal with effectively. You can also discuss your concerns with their parents or caregivers.
Behavior is a clue to the child's stress levels. You can help a child overcome difficulties by knowing how he is faring. Happy and safe children are your best bets. Make your Day Care Center a safe and happy place with smart video security systems. After all, all children need a haven to be children.
About the Author
Want to always be on the watch? Invest in video security systems. Visit video-surveillance-guide.com for the best surveillance cameras and a state-of-the-art CCTV camera system.

Children's Day: Celebrate Innocence by Denis tyler

Childhood is perhaps the best part of anyone's life as during this time we enjoy life to the fullest. Children do not know what sorrow is, they do not know the harsh realities of time and go about being happy in their own merry world. Children's day is a special day that aims to celebrate childhood, the most wonderful stage in the life of a person. Universally children's day is generally celebrated on the 1st of June but not regularly. The International Children's day has its origin at the World Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland for the well being of children. In India 14th November is celebrated as Children's day, this day commemorates the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister. Pt. Nehru liked children very much and he was often photographed with them and it is perhaps very apt that his birthday is celebrated as children's day.
Pt. Nehru is seen as a special child of India as he was the country's first Prime Minister which it achieved after a long struggle for freedom and independence. On this day all the school organizes different types of fun activities for children. Communities and cultural clubs also organize different activities for children. There are also different types of competitions held on this day and prizes are distributed to the winners. It is that one day in the year when we not only celebrate childhood but also remember one of the most prominent leaders in the history of India. Almost all schools have some or the other events lined up on this day and this is one day that children look forward to. And now due to the huge inroads made by satellite television, you will invariably find channels beaming out different programs to attract the children's attention on this day.
The earlier memories that come to my mind about children's day are the excitement and anticipation that I and my friends used to have. It was a huge occasion for all of us and we really wanted to take part in all the activities and win those prizes as well. In those days all my friends aimed for those prizes on children's day as most of them were tickets to some ride in an amusement park. Now what better than this can be as a gift to a child? I remember taking part in a quiz competition with my friend, and we won the first prize there. The prize was a book on fairy tales and let me tell you this is one of the most treasured possessions in my collection of books.
Children's day is celebrated on different days in different countries across the world. In Japan it is celebrated on the 5th of May and this day is known as Kodomo no hi, in Israel it is celebrated on 9th October, Hong Kong on 4th April. Children all over the world look forward to that day when children's day is celebrated in their country as this is the one day where they can enjoy and celebrate the joy of childhood.
About the Author
Denis Tyler advices people on what gifts they should give to their near and dear ones.To know more about photoworks,children's day,photo gifts,fastival cards, share photos,Greeting cards,online photo card,send gift to india visit www.fobaz.com