Why Men Won't Go To The Doctors?

Here's yet another mystery that I have yet to solve where men are concerned. My humorous post on why men don't ask for directions was written about a few months ago and I had gotten many replies as to why they behave in that manner.

Now, I want to hear your take on why men will not go to the doctor. It seems along with myself, many women complain that the men in their lives refuse to see a doctor, even when they are experiencing symptoms or feel ill.

Is it because they will feel weak, less manly if they go to the doctors? Do they not want to know if something is wrong?

I can't even get my son to get his yearly exam for two health issues. I get the 'eye roll' and the 'shoulder shrug'.

There are a few men I work with that obviously have a health issue, but will not go or go back to the doctors to receive treatment. It boggles my mind.

I understand that we all are fearful sometimes of what the doctor may say, but isn't it best to find out and take care of an illness before it is too late?

Us women take preventative care and in most cases, I believe it saves lives. I know we hate to take time out of our busy schedules to make an appointment, but...we do it. What women likes to go have their breasts painfully squashed during a mammogram or go see their Gynecologist? Um, they are not pleasant visits...

Men you are no different. You are not indestructible. Taking preventative care is important for you as well.

Men's Health magazine posted a guideline to follow. On my blog, Mind Body & Soul, I posted their recommendation. If you men aren't interested, Women...go take a look and see if you can't get the man in your life to take care of himself.

Believe it or not, we women want you around for a long, long time...

Happy Father's Day

The memories of my dear Father, instead of the agony I once felt, are now sad sweet feelings in my heart...

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

~~Author Unknown.~~

Reading To Your Children

Reading to your children is a wonderful way to create a bond. It promotes not only learning, but expands their minds and imagination. Reading helps promote communication skills and the more your read to them, the more you are encouraging them to love reading. This is the best start you can give them.

My niece loves books. She can't seem to get enough. We all have been reading to her since she was an infant and that is probably why she loves books so much. I buy her a book every time I know I'll be seeing her. When she sees the book, she gets all excited... immediately sits down and waits for me to read it to her.

Leketha Marie Johnson wrote a wonderful book called Sunny's Adventures. Sunny is a little girl that loves to solves mysteries. This requires thinking on her part and she has to solve the clues she finds along the way.

As you read this book to your child, he or she must use their own minds as they listen to the story. It also gives them the opportunity to try and solve problems. Sunny also teaches how to help others because she needs to help find a lost puppy, a turtle, a stolen pie and other missing items.

Choosing books that teaches a life lesson is so valuable to your child. You will be helping them fulfil their potential. Reading is also a great way to give your pre-school aged child a head start.

Leketha Marie Johnson has a great website dedicated to Sunny's Adventures at www.sunnysadventures.com
For parents and for teachers, she offers many resources on her Home page. You can download a free Sunny's Adventures coloring book or decide to implement the educational activities she provides. She also offers a newsletter you can register to receive.

Buy The Book and read the best children's mystery book to your child.

Before I Was a Mom

Before I was a Mom~
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom~
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom~
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a
baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom~
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom~
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom~
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,
the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.


I believe this holds true for...Before I Was a Dad also...Isn't it just amazing how a bond is formed immediately with your newborn? How you feel this tremendous amount of love as soon as you look into your babies eyes...it's just an awesome feeling

Do Parents Need a License?

I was recalling a past experience when I worked for a couple with two children (aged 3 months/5 yrs). It seems this professional couple was not equipped, mentally or physically to care for their children. They employed a live in nanny and also needed an extra pair of hands in the evenings to provide the care necessary.

Customers of the auto dealership I was working at the time, they took a liking to me. The Mrs. practically begged me to help her out with the kids in the evenings. Thinking what the heck, I agreed. I guess I felt bad that this couple, although professional career oriented people did not have the life skills or the parental instinct to care for their children.

Either they were never home or just did not know how to do things. Simple things… like get dinner ready, go food shopping, dress the kids, bath the kids, help with their homework and wash clothes. I never saw them discipline or teach the kids any life lessons. It was not because they didn’t have the time. They purposely had other people in their home, so they didn’t have to be. There were no hugs, no I love you’s,no touching. No quality. It was all rather cold.

The nanny and I became close friends. Actually she was like the sister I never had. We worked together for several years. The environment I observed was not one I considered healthy for the kids, but I didn’t want to quit this ‘job’ for the children’s sake. We were providing the nurturing they needed. Eventually I did leave because it started to interfere with my life. The kids are now 14 and 8. We are all still in contact, but unfortunately the atmosphere they are still living in has not improved. This is now reflected in their behaviors.

I always pondered why some women just don’t have that motherly instinct. Or a father doesn't know how to be a Dad. How some people just don’t have life skills ?

Is this something we are taught or something we are just born with?

Now, don't get me wrong. I am totally for parents making the decision to work outside the home and having day care. If you can afford a nanny for your children...go for it. I was a single mother, so I know.

But, it does amaze me when I see people with children who clearly do not want them or do not have the life skills to care for them, nor process any parental instinct. Did they just live the life they thought they should? Their goal being to get married and have kids. It seems to me that the children are the ones who suffer.

It seems we all need a license for something. To drive, to operate a business, to get married, to perform services such as manicures, a hairdresser, electrician, plumber etc…

The most important and hardest job we can have is to be a parent. Maybe we should all be required to obtain a license before having children…

My Mother Taught Me

While at my friends' daughter's 6th birthday party over the weekend, I stood by watching the kids enjoy the festivities.
As you can imagine having 20 little ones together can keep parents pretty busy . There were a few trouble spots over the 4 hours we were all together.... one little one wouldn't share or one didn't want to play with a certain child, pushing started or the occasional "tap".

I listened as the parents tried to teach their child the appropiate behavior...I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I heard "fight nice"...fight nice? My mom actually use to tell my brother and I that very same thing. Of course I never really knew what that meant. Maybe it was the shock value of hearing it, but I remember my brother and I would stop fighting...

I also heard...do you want me to call your father? That's a good one...and try putting a child in time out while a birthday party is going on....that was pure hell to watch.

Hearing some of the comments spoken to these kids in order to teach them a valuable lessen did bring back some memories of my own childhood and the rare times I spit out the very same comments to my own son.

What did your Mom and Dad teach you while growing up?

Here's a few...
My mother taught me to APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

My mother taught me about RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

My mother taught me about LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."

My mother taught me about FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

My mother taught me about IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks like a tornado went through it."

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times.. Don't exaggerate!"

My mother taught me about the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"

My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
"You are going to get it when you get home."

My mother taught me about MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

My mother taught me about ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you'll be cold?"

My mother taught me about HUMOR.
"When that lawnmower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

My mother taught me about GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

My mother taught me about WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand.

My mother taught me about SHARING.
"I'm going to give you a piece of my mind!"

and my favorite one....
My mother taught me about FEAR.
"One day you'll have a child who'll do the same things to you." How true I found this to be...

Father's Day

I hope everyone had a nice day and enjoyed your loved ones.

For me, Father's Day is a bittersweet kind of day. Since my father's passing 6 years ago, there hasn't been a day that goes by that I don't think of him....something or someone reminds me of him...or I realize something I have learned from him or because of him.

So today with the weather so warm and full of sunshine, I chose not to feel sad or let negative feelings stop me from enjoying the day. Instead I thought of all the happy memories I have of my Dad, the times we laughed or cried and the lessons learned.

While I was brushing my dog this afternnon, I thought of the times Dad and I spent with our family dog years ago. How he taught me to train her, the proper way to care for her and how to respect animals. I guess that's why I am such an animal person and why I chose to work with animals many years back. hmm....

Today and everyday, create memories with your family...spend quality time...share something special that will leave a lasting memory.
Take pictures, record the happy times and leave a 'verbal' message on tape for your children.

Hearing my father's voice taped as he was singing brings him closer to me. I have listened to that tape so many times. It's like a gift...Allows me not to forget his voice...and how so many times as a kid we danced...my feet on his feet...he spun me around...

For My Dad...