Do your kids tend to prefer television or video games over playing outside? Well the results of this Australian study might prod parents to encourage their children to stay outside more than mere few minutes each day.

The said study found out that the simple lack of exposure to sunlight increased the likelihood of myopia or near-sightedness. The contrast in school children's activities was conducted between Singaporean and Australian students who are spending 30 minutes and 3 hours outdoors, respectively. Myopia was found to be up to 90% in young adults in Singapore and other East Asian countries, while only 10% in Australia, up to 40% in Britain and a very low 3% in Africa.

The researchers believe that exposure to the sun's rays stimulates dopamine production, which in turn stops the eyeball from growing elongated and distorting the focus of light entering the eye.

Myopia by haglundc

I am happy that Canadian schools have made it a policy to allot more time for outdoor activities, even during the winter months; and the government providing incentives for programs involving sports and physical activities, which not only prevent obesity and related lifestyle diseases, but possibly near-sightedness as well if these are done outdoors.

Now let's get our kids out of the house and play outdoors.  Better yet, parents should play, exercise, walk or even just hang out with them under the sun.  That's my cue to close my computer and head out...it's a lovely spring afternoon for the whole family to enjoy.  Gotta go.

   
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Wonderful Spring

Posted by Papa Sez | Monday, April 02, 2012


Wonderful Spring

 by Rica Emmanuele



Oh spring, oh spring 
Oh wonderful spring 
Snow waves goodbye 
And birds start to sing 


You bring back the flowers 
You bring back fresh air 
You bring back the leaves 
Of trees high up there

  
Rivers start to flow
Ice turns to water 
It starts to get warm
Bringing refreshing rain showers

Photo courtesy of turtlemom4bacon

The kites start to fly 
The boats getting rowed 
The cars move along 
On snow-free dry road 


Oh spring, oh spring 
Oh beautiful cool spring 
After the cold winter 
Comes a new beginning 
   
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We're Thirteen, My Josephine

Posted by Papa Sez | Sunday, March 25, 2012




Today, on our thirteenth wedding anniversary
I just wanted to express my feelings deep inside 
But which words to use, I find difficult to decide 


I could have written about our fave number thirteen 
That we consider lucky for us and our children
In their names the number and our history written


I could have written about blessings that came our way 
Foremost are our children and the people we care for 
Earthly resources and otherwise, we have much more 

I could have written about our wealth of experience 
Our projects and adventures, successes and failures 
Collected with passion to be where we wanna be 

I could have written about our vision of success 
Many moments in our journey we chose happiness 
Ov’r a life of meaningless races and pettiness 

I could have written about how wonderful you are 
Beauty that is not only a sight to behold 
But also evident to all ‘cause your heart is gold 


I could’ve written about your remarkable talents 
The answer to “why is Rica such a great dancer?” 
You’re artistic, learn quick, adroit and a go-getter 

I could’ve written about my luck that you're in my life 
And the years we were friends, before you became my wife 
And from thereon meaning, feeling, passion had been rife 

I could have written about how great you make me feel 
That I can do anything, be what I wanna be 
That despite of and because of, you’ll be there for me 

10 
I could have written about thirteen years together 
Starting with our first one and every year thereafter 
But that would’ve taken volumes to write, years to finish 

11 
I could’ve written thirteen reasons I’d marry you ‘gain 
Though one is enough, the most important one at that 
Because we love and have each other no matter what 

12 
I could have written thirteen stanzas to make a point 
Of how much I love you and how much you mean to me 
I probably would, no matter how silly it’d be 

13 
Life has been great these thirteen years, the next I am sure 
Would be incredible, ‘cause we’re in for the long haul 
Together in this our journey to our final goal.


Happy 13th, my dear,



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About Us (circa 2009)

Our journey led us to this place. A little more than 10 years ago we began our journey as husband and wife. Three years later, we found ourselves with two bundles of joy- a daughter and then a son. They're the children we've dreamed of having.

About five years since the birth of our son, an unexpected gift came- a younger brother to our school-age kids. And soon enough, a baby girl arrived to round the family membership.

Brave was a term used by a friend to describe us. Challenging... and loving it -- yeah, this journey is not for the faint of heart.