I am haunted with the thought of the germiest potential illness causing thing that my child got in contact with; at the water fountain, the gym, the cafeteria or just shared something with somebody who is already carrying germs.

I am haunted with the thought of lingering symptoms and troubles that bother the child over days.

I am haunted with the complete overhaul in schedules that goes because of the sick kid being home.

This is no end. What follows is even more stressful!

Yes, you are right! That uncanny feeling of guilt that sets in.

What wrong did I do?

Did I not stop him from having that glass of cold drink that caused the bad throat?

; or just that I have not done my enough to strengthen the immune system of my child!

As parents, we live in this constant fear of our kids contracting illness specially from school. After all, there is no place more contagious than school in spreading illness of all kinds.

It’s not possible to completely eliminate kids from getting sick. Even if we take a reasonable number of steps, it’s quite normal for kids to get sick a couple of times. However, there are some of the preventive measures that could be taken to avoid sickness.

Ensuring that the entire family gets their annual flu shot. The recommended season for getting the flu vaccine is early in fall i.e. by October so that the protection continues throughout the flu season.

Teaching proper hand washing technique to kids which includes scrubbing for 20 seconds and rinsing and drying with a dry paper towel. Also, ensuring that kids wash hands specially before and after meals, after using washroom and coming back from outdoors.

Including healthy fruits and vegetables that boost immune including vitamin C (oranges, blueberries, papaya) probiotics (greek yogurt), glutamine (tuna, spinach, tofu) and above all making them stay properly hydrated.

Communicating preventive etiquette involving proper covering while coughing, sneezing and nose blowing. Also, avoiding sharing supplies, food and anything that might spread germs.

Taking care when using water fountain that includes avoiding contact with the spout and running water for few seconds before drinking.

Getting plenty of rest and sleep (around nine to twelve hours for kids). Sleep deprivation can make kids three times more prone to getting cold, according to research.

Avoiding sending to school if the child just doesn’t seem normal and checking with the school regarding the return policies if in doubt.

Consulting paediatrician if any of the symptoms are followed by a lack of appetite, lethargy or a distinct change in mood, which could signal something more serious is developing.

Finally, staying calm and thanking goodness after every recovery.

It doesn’t matter if you are a people’s person or a bit less of it.

It doesn’t matter if you have a huge count of friends or a few of it.

It doesn’t matter if you are too conscious, fearful, or cautious of being judged, accepted or deceived in relationships or just don’t give it much of a damn.

It doesn’t matter if you come with a natural sense of creating bonds or it’s just not your thing.

What matters is real happiness.

Happiness lies in real relationships, expression of real emotions and making heartfelt bonding. It needs to be got ridden of insecurities of losing on something or fear of being judged.

By the way, happiness does by no means is momentary fun. It’s a state of being which is persistent and which reflects in everything else around that being.

Happiness can only be derived with people who we are real friends with; who we depend on or enjoy with.

And if you have a such circle of people (even a very few) who you are real friends with, you surely have learnt the following lessons in life.

People who value you will by anyhow show how much you matter to them in some or the other ways. You understand and appreciate people for doing their bit, even if it’s by a little.

However, not everyone one will respect your effort. For them, you come at terms with the fact that those are the values you have grown with and the values that represent you. You train yourself to look beyond. And above all, you are proud of the values that make you.

You don’t compare apple to oranges

You cheer for their accomplishments, possessions and life stories, but not let their adequacies feel inadequate about yourself.

Well spending time with somebody whom you are just not happy with is a waste. You surround yourself with somebody who uplifts and is your well wisher. Not just for whom you are just an option.

You take time to invest

People don’t belong to us and they need to be reminded that they are special. You never underestimate people who care, who drops down to check your well being and ensure you are doing well. You value them and hence take time to tell them that how much you value them.

You chose to be real

You know how to be happy from inside and not just to show it to the world. Your mind is healthy and your heart is hail. You don’t carry the burden of things and bear no grudges.

Continuously blaming people for not doing their part makes you drained and unhappy in relationships. You try not to attach negative interpretations of what others do or not do in most of the situations. You believe in clearing your doubts if any so that you live without any burdens.

You understand the difference between a bond and a phase

Friendships exists because there is just something that clicks. It’s free of ulterior motives and notions. It develops over a period of time and gets deeper, silent and bigger as time passses by.

You and your set of people do understand that there are times when you can’t be available for each other since there are chores to be performed or obligations to be fulfilled. There is something over and above the superficial, the internal bond of understanding and just being there.

There are situations that are disturbing you or people who are just ruining the peace of your mind. Even the most perfect set of things are bound to face some ups and downs at certain points of time.

You tell yourself what is important to you and train yourself to get rid of all such thoughts. You are your own friend and by no means let the outer turbulence distract your presence for the people who matter to you the most.

Dear son,

The summer holidays are over and I still can’t get over it.

No sooner had it been about parks and beaches and picnics and road trips than it would be about conferences and book fairs and classroom parties and field trips.

I will surely miss your lazed out morning schedules; and my constant nags of dragging and draining you for all little things.

“Wake up, it’s almost 9 now.”

There’s hardly gonna be any scope of it now. You shall be hard on your responsibility of getting up early now so that you could make it to the school.

I will miss your incessant complains of being bored after every while and what next can be in your option list of to-do’s.

You are gonna be so consumed by a tiring day followed by classes and activities that the days will end in a jiffy now.

I will miss the constant company of yours that I got so used to. My reading partner, my painting buddy, my morning sunshine, my evening delight.

A lot of peaceful times that I am gonna have is surely going to have some big deal amiss in it.

I am gonna miss our summer together; day outings, visits to the pool, trips to the liabrary, play dates with friends, enjoying ice cream treats and playing with bubbles and all little things that bring a smile on your face.

My litle man is ready for the first grade now. This is officially the class of you getting started to the first level of education.

It fills me to a deep level of excitement and to a deeper level of nervousness.

Excitement, to see you grow, do all those little things by yourself and learn wiser lessons of life.

Nervousness, as time draws you closer to itself and one step away from me; probably you needing a bit less of me.

It’s the first now and it will be no sooner when you will be ready to fly all by yourself.

Seeing their kids grow is what we all parents want, still feel so shaky when that happens!

Well, that’s the irony of life.

Nothing, but hail and hearty wishes from your mom my little boy.

The stage is set for you to do bigger things and I am sure you are there to win it.

Rainbow Fudge is one gorgeous and superbly simple dessert that can be a real delight for kids as well as grown ups equally. This no bake fudge is so easy and fun to make that you can safely make it with your kids. Serve this eye candy and melt in mouth dessert at a party or a celebration or give it to your kid as an after school snack, it’s going to be a hit for sure!

Ingredients:

1. 36 ounces white candy melts (or white chocolate chips)
2. 3 cups sweetened condensed milk
3. 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
4. 1 pinch salt
5. Food colouring (purple, green, blue, pink)

Directions:

Prepare a deep square pan; lining it with butter paper sheet.

In a pan, add white candy melts, sweetened condensed milk, salt and vanilla extract and heat. You can also mivrowave it in a bowl for 30 seconds, then stir.

Once melted and smooth, divide the mix into four different bowls. Add a few drops of purple, pink, green and blue gel food coloring and stir until the color is nicely mixed.

Add the purple fudge mixture into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer.

Chill the pan to set the layer for about 30 minutes in the refrigerator or 10 minutes in the freezer.

Repeat the process with pink, blue and green colours of fudge, refrigerating it after adding every layer.

After it’s completely set, remove the fudge by taking out the butter paper sheet and cut it into squares using a large knife.

Note:

You can store the Rainbow Fudge in an airtight container at the room temperature for around a month.