Kamis, November 30, 2006

Hati-hati sama Televisi

Setelah sebulan lebih sibuk sekali dengan Shifa, akhirnya hari ini bunda sempat nulis juga :)... berikut tulisannya.


Dua hari lalu saya membaca koran, ada berita tentang anak yang menjadii korban smack down. Seiring berjalannya waktu ternyata berita itu hanyalah puncak gunung es, karena masih banyak korban-korban smack down. Ada yang patah tangan, memar plus jahitan di wajah. Bahkan ada yang gegar otak ataupun meninggal.

Dari dulu saya sama sekali tidak suka dengan acara gulat bebas ala Amrik yang ditayangkan di Lativi itu. Karena saya tidak suka kekerasan dan tidak tega melihat orang berdarah-darah kesakitan. Meskipun ada yang bilang kalo itu hanya rekayasa, tidak beneran. Tapi tetap saja saya bisa menikmati acara itu. Tidak mutu, tidak mendidik. Tidak ada nilai positifnya sama sekali, selain mengajarkan alam bawah sadar kita untuk menyelesaikan permasalah dengan kekerasan. Sekitar tahun 90-an acara itu pernah ditayangkan. Malahan di beberapa stasiun TV. Tapi efeknya tidak seheboh ini. Apa karena zaman makin edan ya..???

Makanya saya bener-bener ekstra hati-hati berteman dengan kotak ajaib itu. Terutama untuk Akhtar, anak saya. Karena anak-anak sangat suka meniru apa yang dilihat dan didengarnya. Sebenarnya TV bisa jadi teman yang baik kalo saja acaranya adalah edutainmen. Semisal Dora The Explorer, Blues Clues. Tapi acara itu sangat terbatas sekali di dunia pertelevisian kita. Alhasil saya putar VCD edutainmen kalo acara bermutu untuk anak-anak sudah habis jam tayangnya, misalnya Barney, Twinnies, Baba (VCD hadiah dari susu instan Akhtar). Itupun saya masih selalu mendampinginya menonton.Terus terang, kalo ada Akhtar di depan TV, semua harus mengalah. Tidak ada sinetron, tidak ada film ataupun acara yang tidak mendidik.

Lho, di TV kan masih banyak kartun lainnya??? Kartun memang banyak, tapi gak semua tata bahasanya, prilaku karakternya bagus untuk anak kita. Tidak semua kartun untuk anak-anak. Banyak kartun-kartun yang anti sosial, misalnya Sincan, Tom & Jerry, Sponge Bob. Tata bahasa kartun yang tersegmen untuk anak-anak pun terkadang tidak bagus, misal kata-kata ‘bodoh’.

Lho, kan ada sinetron untuk anak-anak??? Sinetron yang pemainnya anak-anak dan ABG sih banyak. Tapi kalo sinetron dengan cerita yang yang benar-benar untuk anak-anak……yang mana, ya?? Banyak diantara sinetron yang bintang filmnya anak-anak, isinya tentang permusuhan bahkan bunuh-bunuhan. Mungkin salah satu acara non sinetron yang pas buat anak adalah “Si Bolang”.

Selasa, November 28, 2006

Cemburu pada Adik baru

Kedatangan adik baru, bagi seorang anak kecil dapat menjadi hal yang tidak mengenakkan. Yang pada awalnya, semua perhatian hanya satu untuk dia, sekarang harus dibagi dengan adiknya. Sudah dibagi, dia mendapat bagian yang lebih kecil pula. Termasuk juga Akhtar, sejak ada muncul makhluk baru yang sering nangis didekatnya, dia sering merasa cemburu. Yang paling sering (tidak selalu sih), dia menunjukkan rasa marah jika ayah atau bunda-nya gendong adiknya. Dia biasanya ngomong "Taruh.. adiknya ditaruh ayah..". Yang lain lagi adalah dia pura-pura nangis dan minta digendong seperti gendong Bayi. Bayangkan 12 kilo digendong pake tangan kayak bayi!
Adakalanya juga dia seperti sayang pada adiknya. Misal waktu dia main sama ayah, tiba-tiba adik menangis, dia ngomong "yah.. adiknya nangis.. digendong dulu".
Berikut adalah langkah-langkah yang seharusnya dilakukan agar anak kita tidak cemburu kepada adiknya. Diambil dari babyparenting.about.com dan www.minti.com.
- Selama adik di perut bunda, bangun rasa memiliki dan rasa exciting kepada kehadiran sang adik kelak. Bahwa nanti kakak bakal punya teman main, nanti kakak akan mengajari ini itu pada adik, dan sebagainya.
(Akhtar sangat senang menciumi perut bunda-nya, sambil ngomon "sun..adik..muahh", tapi sampai sekarang belum pernah cium adiknya yang sudah lahir, takut katanya :) )
- Saat bayi lahir, berikan hadiah untuk sang kakak. Biasanya, kado-kado datang untuk adiknya saja, dan ini bisa memicu rasa cemburu.
- Libatkan kakak sesering mungkin dalam hal merawat bayi. Mengambilkan bedak, popok, dan baju ganti menjadikannya seperti dibutuhkan. Jangan lupa menunjukkan rasa bangga dan terimakasih akan hasil kerjanya. Juga tunjukkan bahwa adiknya sangat berterima kasih kepada kakak.
- Orangtua biasanya tidak menjadi melupakan sang kakak. Tapi pastikan juga keluarga-keluarga yang lain dan tamu-tamu juga tidak melupakan sang kakak. Ceritakan tentang bagaimana sang kakak saat membantu merawat adik. Meskipun tamu-tamu mungkin tidak terlalu memperhatikan, tapi jika cerita ini didengar oleh kaka akan sangat membanggakan.
- Sebisa mungkin jangan menjadikan adik sebagai alasan. Misal jika kakak minta diambilkan sesuatu sementara kita masih repot dengan adik, jangan katakan "Bunda masih repot ganti popok adik ini lho!", lebih baik kalimatnya diubah semisal "Iya bunda ambilkan segera setelah selesai ganti popok adik ya.. Abangnya mau nunggu sebentar kan?"
- Selalu berikan pelukan, usapan, dan ciuman sambil berkata kalau kita sayang sama kakak. Akan lebih baik lagi jika hal ini dilakukan lebih sering dibanding saat sebelum adik lahir. Hal ini mungkin terlihat mudah, tapi sering terabaikan saat kita sibuk dengan bayi.
- Jangan membanding-bandingkan antara kakak dan adik, apalagi membuat seakan yang satu lebih baik dari yang lain. Buat kedua-duanya meskipun berbeda tapi sama-sama spesial.

Minggu, November 26, 2006

Anak kami kemasukan jin ?

Sudah beberapa hari ini Akhtar sakit panas. Kalau siang hari panasnya turun, kalau malam naik lagi. Saat menjelang malam dia dia suka merintih-rintih seakan badannya pegal-pegal semua. Seperti juga Kemarin waktu menjelang Maghrib, mula-mula mulai tidak nyaman dengan dengan dirinya dan sekitarnya. Minta ini minta itu, sambil sesekali merengek-rengek. Kami pikir wajar, orang sedang sakit kan biasa begitu.
Tapi lama-kelamaan Akhtar jadi uring-uringan sambil teriak-teriak. Yang saat itu menjaga Akhtar (opa-nya) jadi bingung Begini salah begitu salah. Minta begini dan begitunya sambil teriak-teriak, kalau tidak dituruti teriak-teriak, kalau dituruti yang barusan dia minta ditolak. Misal minta dipindah ke kursi, setelah diangkat, dan mau ditaruh, dia teriak "Gak Mau di Kursi!" . "Minum, minta susu!" setelah diambilkan susu, dia teriak"Gak mau!". Aneh, seperti seakan-akan ada 2 kepribadian dalam dirinya. Ada bagian dirinya yang mau minum susu, saat botol susu siap ditangan dan mau dimasukkan mulut, tiba-tiba ada bagian yang menolak minum dan ingin menyingkirkan botol jauh-jauh.
Kebetulan datang guru ngaji, dan diperailahkan duduk di ruang tamu. Karena kami semua berpikiran sama ( siapa tahu Akhtar ada yang ganggu), Akhtar diajak ke depan maksudnya biar dilihat oleh guru ngaji. Tapi belum sampai keluar ruang dia sudah meronta-ronta dan teriak-teriak "Tidak mau! tidak mau!". Kemudian sang guru ngaji minta air segelas, untuk didoakan. Setelah itu kami usapkan air tadi ke seluruh badannya. Akhtar menjadi agak tenang dan beberapa saat kemudian tertidur.
Tapi selang beberapa menit setelah guru ngaji pulang, Akhtar terbangun dan teriak-teriak lagi. Kebetulan Saya sama Bunda-nya Akhtar mau keluar belanja. Akhtar mau kami ajak, biasanya kalau jalan-jalan dia jadi senang dan melupakan sakitnya. Saat kami ajak, tidak seperti biasanya dia tidak mau. Tapi saya yakin kalau Akhtar pasti mau, dia tidak pernah menolak jalan-jalan dengan orangtuanya. Kami pura-pura pergi dan menuju pintu, Akhtar teriak "Ikut!", tapi setelah kami berbalik dia teriak "Gak mau ikut! gak mau ikut". Saya semakin yakin kalau ada yang lagi mendompleng di tubuh Akhtar. Tubuhnya langsung saya angkat dan saya bawa keluar. "Ayah tahu kalau bener Akhtar pasti mau ikut! Siapa sih yang gak mau ikut ini!" Kataku agak keras didepan muka Akhtar.
Di halaman depan dia meronta-ronta lagi tidak mau ikut dan minta pindah digendong Opa-nya. Saya yang tetap yakin kalau Akhtar mau ikut, terus saja menstarter dan mengeluarkan mobil dari garasi. Begitu mobil mau meninggalkan rumah, Akhtar berpaling ke mobil dan ngomong ngomong pelan "Mau ikut..". Sejurus kemudian Opa-nya segera memasukkan Akhtar ke mobil. Tetap saja ada bagian yang meronta tidak mau. Akhirnya Akhtar duduk disamping bunda, dan mobil melaju. Ajaib! segera setelah itu dia tersenyum dan berkata-kata dengan ceria... seperti Akhtar kami yang biasanya...

Apa jin tidak suka naik mobil kali ya? atau, jika bukan karena diganggu, memang sakit panas ini menyebabkan dia begitu? atau, memang Akhtar punya kepribadian ganda.. hiii.. saya lebih ngeri jika Akhtar punya kepribadian ganda daripada diganggu jin. Kemudian kami jalan-jalan dengan riang, dan syukurlah, sehabis jalan-jalan dia ngantuk dan langsung tidur.

Jumat, November 24, 2006

10 reaksi programmer

Barusan ada mahasiswa yang demo buat maju Tugas Akhir. Setelah kutak-katik agak lama ternyata yang mau dia demoin gak jalan. Saat ditanya kenapa kok gak jalan, dia menjawab persis seperti salah satu kalimat di joke tentang 'reaksi programmer jika mendapati programnya error' yang lima tahunan lalu sering beredar di milis-milis. Bahkan dia pake dua alasan dan dua-duanya ada dalam joke tadi. Maka itu saya gak jadi marah dan justru geli ( tampang mhs-nya emang lucu sih ).
Well, untuk mengingat-ingat kembali tentang joke tadi, inilah 10 reaksi programmer ketika tahu programnya error:

Daun seharga motor

Seperti biasanya, kalau pas hari-hari ada rapat pembahasan anggaran antara pemkot dengan dewan jadi sering pulang larut malam. Jadi gak sempat bersih-bersih rumah, apalagi halamn. Tanaman di halaman, sudah waktunya dipotong. Di halaman depan itu ada tanaman yang cepat sekali tumbuh padahal gak pernah disiram. Gak tahu tanaman apa namanya, pokoknya warnanya hijau daunnya kecil-kecil se kacamata dan keriput-keriput. Sering saya memandanginya dan melenguh.. heehh... seandainya kamu ini tanaman aglaonema...

Rabu, November 22, 2006

can child see ghost ?

Beberapa kali saya pernah menjumpai Akhtar tiba-tiba seperti takut akan sesuatu. Dia tutup mata, memalingkan muka, dan ngomong setengah teriak.."takuuut!". Setelah ditanya takut apa, ada dimana, dia gak menjawab, tapi menunjuk itu..diatas situ... Terakhir kemarin, giliran bunda-nya yang mengetahui kalau di takut sesuatu yang ada di jendela.. bahkan kali ini di sudah bisa ngomong.. takut hantu.. Ketika ditanya bundanya, dia jelaskan hantunya di jendela, besar... Apakah benar dia melihat hantu ( dalam pemahaman kami adalah Jin ) belum bisa dipastikan, tapi yang jelas Akhtar tidak mungkin berbohong ( tepatnya belum bisa bohong ) dan dia juga pernah ketakutan melihat tokoh Lampu yang bisa ngomong dan Gigi yang bisa ngomong. Kalau dilihat persamaannya, kedua-duanya berwarna putih, terus ada muka-nya. Bukankah hantu-hantu seperti yang sering kita lihat di TV juga biasanya berwarna putih...
Saya sendiri percaya ada orang yang bisa melihat jin dan saya pernah membaca juga kalau binatang dan bayi juga bisa. Meski menurut saya masih kurang jelas penjelasannya, tapi salah satunya ada di http://theshadowlands.net berikut :

The existense of ghosts has been debated for centuries. It is only in modern times with technology having advanced to it's current stage that we may now capture on film and audio what many believe to be images of the supernatural. The questions of why some can and yet others cannot see or sense the presense of these entities has been contested with numerous theories both for and against the subject of spirits. One such cause for speculation is do our children see and sense what many adults either cannot or will not see?
One theory is that children have not had years to adjust their thinking and have not had the time to train themselves as to what to accept or not accept as reality like adults have. Adults program their thinking and consequently refuse certain images, noises, and feeling as real simply
because in our minds we cannot accept impossible or unproven science.
Some parents unknowingly start to teach and train their children at a very young age to block these images. They do it out of protection and misunderstanding of the situation. How many parents have tucked their little ones back into bed with the words that they thought were reassuring; there are no such things as ghosts, you just had a bad dream, it wasn't real, it
was just your imagination? I think most parents are guilty of this including myself. How many parents are guilty of telling their children that their imaginary friend is not real, maybe not realizing that not only is that friend real but a ghost? I am sure it has happened before. Do you ever wonder if any of those bad dreams, those images seen in the night, those imaginary friends how many may actually be ghosts that for whatever reason have shown themselves to a child?
When we tell our children it was just a bad dream we may inadvertently teaching them to mistrust what they may have actually be seeing. Eventually training themselves to block what they have been taught cannot be real. Where as the opposite side of this theory; the parent who teaches their children that sometimes for whatever reason, a spirit may linger after death,
is leaving a space in that child to be able to accept the vision, the noise or the feeling of the supernatural. Could this be why some people are able to accept the supernatural with an open mind and yet others cannot? Does the door get shut at childhood or can it remain open? This is just one of the may theories used to explain why children see more of the supernatural world then adults do.

only you, God, and google know...

Sudah sekitar seminggu dari hari diterimanya permohonan google adsense. Setelah lihat web maupun blog, baik lokal maupun luar, yang menjadi perhatian biasanya adalah agreement dengan google agar kita tidak meng-klik sendiri adsense yang ada di web kita. Secara logika sederhana sih memang hal ini pasti bukan cara yang benar dalam mencari uang bahkan mungkin bisa dikategorikan tidak halal. Tapi pasti timbul pertanyaan, bagaimana ya google tahu kalau yang ngeklik itu pemilik web-nya sendiri. Well, ada web yang yang khusus membahas itu dan cara men-cheat-nya, tapi tidak etis jika alamatnya ditaruh disini.
Yang jelas :

Jumat, November 17, 2006

Myths about baby's sex

Mitos-mitos tentang jenis kelamin bayi dalam kandungan. Diambil dari www.having-a-baby.com

Curious about the sex of the tiny tenant who’s been subletting your uterus for
the past nine months? You’re not alone. Since the beginning of time, expectant
parents have tried to guess whether the baby they are carrying is a boy or a girl.
Here’s the scoop on seven of the most prevalent myths about predicting the sex
of your baby.
1. “A heartrate of less than 140 beats per minute means that you’re
having a boy while a heartrate of over 140 beats per minute
means that you’re having a girl.” Although this particular myth has been
kicking around for decades, there’s only one study on the books that
supports it: a 1993 study at the University of Kentucky that concluded that
the fetal heartbeat could be used to correctly predict the sex of 91% of male
fetuses and 74% of female fetuses. Every other study conducted before or
since has reached the exact opposite conclusion – that the fetal heartrate
can’t be used to predict the sex of your baby.
2. “If you’re carrying your baby high, it’s a girl. If you’re carrying your
baby low, it’s a boy.” If you’ve managed to get through nine months of
pregnancy without having someone predict the sex of your baby based on
the shape of your belly, count your blessings! Many people still lend credence
to a rather sexist bit of English folk wisdom that states that boys are carried
down low and out front because they need greater independence while girls
are carried up high and across their mother’s body because they need greater
protection – the origin of this particular sex prediction myth.
3. “If you are experiencing severe morning sickness, you’re having a
girl.” Theories such as this one have been tossed around for years, but a
recent study added more fuel to the fire. Swedish researchers discovered
that 56% of women hospitalized with severe morning sickness ended up
giving birth to baby girls. Even if there is something to this study – something
that’s led to more than a few heated arguments among obstetricians – the
findings aren’t exactly definitive. At best, you can conclude that you may
have a slightly higher-than-average chance of having a baby girl if you’re
feeling exceptionally crummy. It’s up to you whether you want to paint the
nursery pink on that basis!
Pregnancy Tips
4. “If the baby is very active, you’re having a boy.” Here’s yet another theory
based on some rather sexist assumptions: males are boisterous while females
are placid. What this theory fails to take into account, however, is the fact that
the amount of fetal activity that the mother feels is largely a matter of
perception. If she’s running around at breakneck speed all day, she may fail to
pick up on the movements of all but the most energetic of fetal kickboxers!
5. “If you’re craving sweets, you’re having a girl. If you’re craving salt,
you’re having a boy.” While it would be convenient if you could rely on your
craving for chocolate as proof positive that there’s a baby girl on the way, there’s
no hard evidence that cravings are linked to the sex of your baby. In fact, the jury’s
still out on whether cravings exist at all! So don’t count on your cravings – real
or imagined – to tell you whether to buy pink or blue.
6. “If a wedding ring or needle suspended over your belly moves in a
strong circular motion, you’re having a girl. If it moves to and fro like
a pendulum, you’re having a boy.” This particular method of predicting the
sex of your baby works much like a ouija board. Micro-muscle tremors over
which you have no control cause the ring to move in a particular direction – a
sensation that can be spooky to say the least, but that doesn’t tell you a thing
about the sex of your baby.
7. “The Chinese conception chart can tell you if you’re having a boy or a
girl.” The Chinese conception chart – the brainchild of a 13th century scientist –
claims to be able to help you to predict the sex of the baby by linking your age
and the month of conception to the sex of the baby. While it has a reputation
for being highly accurate in China, it simply hasn’t been able to stand up to the
same scrutiny here in North America.
So if these myths are consistently off the mark, why do we keep turning to them
again and again? According to the experts, there are two factors at work: the fact
that you’ve got a 50/50 chance of being right each time you predict your baby’s sex
and the fact that you’re more likely to remember your successes than your failures!

Myths about marriage

Mito0s-mitos seputar penikahan, diambil dari marriage.about.com.

Myths Such as these Can Hurt Your Marriage
We think that many myths that surround marriage give couples unrealistic expectations. Disappointment is sure to come for people who are looking for the Cinderella-like happily-ever-after storybook marriage year after year.

If you watch late night TV, enjoy classic movies, listen to love songs, or read romantic novels, then you may have an image of marriage that never, ever was.

Do you remember or have you watched Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet, Bewitched, I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Donna Reed Show, Lassie, and Cinderella?

Think about the fact that nearly all of these households were the traditional family of mom, dad, and kids. They didn't seem to have any real problems either because there are no story lines about prior marriages, step-children, physical abuse, infidelities, drinking problems, drugs, dropping out of school, political discussions, civil disobedience, unemployment, severe economic problems, and threats or even thoughts of divorce.
The father was the breadwinner and the mother made the bread. Until All in the Family came along, plots seemed to focus on white lies, mischief, and misunderstandings.

These shows made us believe that life was wonderful, that all of our needs could be met by our spouse, children were the icing on the cake, marriage would solve all of our problems, and we would live happily ever after.

# MYTH: Loneliness Myth that marriage will end our loneliness.
REALITY: Many married people are still very lonely.

# MYTH: Fulfillment Fallacy which makes us believe that being married makes us complete human beings.
REALITY: A couple complements one another, not completes one another.

# MYTH: Marriage Is for Everyone.
REALITY: There are a lot of unmarried people who are extremely happy.

# MYTH: Monogamy Myth makes a couple believe that they are the only ones who are dealing with infidelity or that it only happens to bad or weak people.
REALITY: It is a societal issue that needs to be openly addressed so that monogamy becomes more attainable for more people.

# MYTH: Romance will always be alive in a good marriage.
REALITY: Nearly all relationships experience peaks and valleys. The everyday problems and challenges of married life can often cloud over romantic feelings. This is when making the decision to love is important.

# MYTH: Marriage makes people happy.
REALITY: We can't expect our spouse to be our one source of happiness. Our personal happiness must come from within ourselves. Marriage can complement our own individual happiness but it can't be the primary source.

# MYTH: We won't have major problems if we truly love one another.
REALITY: A good marriage doesn't just happen. It takes nurturing and work.

# MYTH: My spouse should know my needs without my saying anything.
REALITY: Just because we're married doesn't mean we can read minds. We have to tell our spouses what our needs are.

# MYTH: Conflict means a lack of love.
REALITY: Conflict happens in every marriage. Fighting fair and for the relationship, and not just to "win" is healthy in a marriage.

We believe a marriage needs love, support, tolerance, communication, realistic expectations, caring, nurturing, and a sense of humor to be successful. Many of the more recent television shows like Mad About You, Home Improvement, To Have and To Hold, The Cosby Show, Dharma & Greg, and Everybody Loves Raymond reflect these values and show that marriages can survive conflict, disappointment, and problems.

Myths about eye

Mitos-mitos seputar kesehatan Mata. diambil dari www.agingeye.net.

Myths about Vision and Eyeglasses
● "Although eyeglasses makes you see better, they cause vision to get worse over time.
Eyeglasses will need to be constantly changed with higher powered one."
● "Don't wear your glasses so often, you need to exercise your eyes!"
● "Overuse of the Eye' or 'use of eye' makes vision worse"
● "Sitting Too Close to the TV Is Bad for Your Eyes"
● "Reading in the Dark Will Damage Your Eyes"
● "Eye exercises can improve vision"
● "Over the counter reading glasses hurt the eye"
● "Wearing contact lenses will prevent nearsightedness from getting worse"
● "Eating carrots can improve vision"
● "Using night light in infant rooms will make then nearsighted"

The Facts
Before you start wearing glasses, you are accustomed to seeing a blurry world around you. Since this is all you have seen ever - you accept it as normal. When your vision is corrected with eyeglasses you start seeing a clear world. Now when you remove your eyeglasses after wearing them for several months - you are presented with the same blurry world as before. You feel you were able to get around without wearing glasses before but now when you remove glasses you see all blurry and cannot get around. In reality its your perception that has changed. Now you know the difference between clear vision and blurry vision and do not accept the blurry world.
Of course it is possible that your eye power may also have increased as you age - but this increase would have happened regardless of whether you wore the glasses or not. Using you eyes for any length of time does not make them weaker. You may get tired and may even get a headache with long reading hours, but these symptoms have nothing to do with eyes getting weaker. Sitting closer than necessary to the television may give you a headache, but it will not damage your vision. Modern TVs do not emit harmful radiation, so eye damage due to radiation is also not an issue. As with sitting too close to the television, you may get a headache from reading in the dark, but it will not weaken your sight.
Any eyeglass or contact lens of the right prescription will help you see comfortably. Contact lenses have a cosmetic advantage - but they do not offer any beneficial affects like preventing nearsightedness from getting worse. Usually people over the age 40 need reading glasses. Over-the-counter reading glasses may be fine if they allow you to read comfortably. These reading glasses do not hurt your eyes. Taller people can stretch their hands further, so if you are 6 feet plus in height, you may be able to get by without reading glasses till late 40s by holding the reading materials further from the eye.
There are no eye exercises that will help your eyes see better or that will prevent the nearsightedness from getting worse. The article 'Can Eye Exercises improve vision?' provides information on how the concept of eye exercises helping vision came about. Some of the eye exercise methods are the 'Yoga method' and the 'See Clearly method'. Carrots won't improve eyesight for someone eating normal healthy food. However, carrots are rich in beta carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is important in maintaining normal vision, and worldwide, Vitamin A deficiency is a leading cause of blindness. Therefore in the developing world, where deficiency of vitamin A is possible, eating carrots may be good advice.
● In the May 13, 1999, issue of the highly respected medical journal Nature, a group from the University of Pennsylvania have raised the alarm that the use of a night light in the rooms of infants may be a factor in the development of myopia (near sightedness). This is a very controversial issue.


Cataract Myths
● "Vision improves in older people as they gain second sight"
● "A cataract is a new growth inside the eye"
● "Cataract has to become 'ripe' before it can be removed"
● "Cataract is removed using lasers"

The Facts
The "second sight" refers to ability of a person to see better, usually upclose, as they age. The reason for this "improved" vision is that the lens power changes due to increasing cataract. So actually second sight is due to the cataract having advanced.
A cataract is not a new growth in the eye, rather it is a term that means that the lens or its capsule (normally transparent) have now become less transparent due to the lens substance (fibres) becoming opaque. Any opacity of the lens is referred to as 'cataract'. Cataract is not a new growth in the eye or lens.
The concept of waiting for cataract to become 'ripe' before it can be removed is valid when the surgical procedure used is the one where a large incision is made and the lens is manually removed. Given the higher likelihood of potential complications with this earlier surgical procedure, it made sense to wait till the vision became really bad - and that meant waiting for the cataract to get advanced or 'ripe'. The modern surgical procedures use a very small incision (that usually closes without suturing) and an ultrasound (phacoemulsification) machine. Although the procedure is not without risks, it is very safe in experienced hands. Therefore if any patient complains of reduced vision that is interfering with their routine daily activities, then cataract surgery may be offered. At this point the cataract may not be far advanced or 'ripe'. The risks and benefits of the surgery have to be debated by each patient individually, since what is limitation of routine activity for one individual may not be considered as important by another individual.
Cataract is not removed with lasers. An ultrasound (phacoemulsification) machine is used to remove the cataract. Sometimes, several months after cataract surgery, the transparent membrane behind the intraocular lens may become hazy and reduce vision. A YAG laser is then used to make an opening in the capsule.


Glaucoma Myths
● "Glaucoma is a disease of old age"
● "I have 20/20 vision so I don't have glaucoma"
● "My eyes would hurt or feel different if I had glaucoma"
● "Canola oil causes glaucoma"

The Facts
Although it is true that the risk of developing glaucoma becomes higher with increasing age, younger people also may develop glaucoma especially if you are an African-American. Glaucoma affects the peripheral vision first. The central vision is affected when the glaucoma is far advanced. Therefore you may be able to read 20/20 (central vision) and still may have glaucoma. A peripheral field of vision test (using an automated field testing machine) is required to detect early glaucoma.
In general there are no symptoms (eyes do not hurt), which is why glaucoma is often referred to as the 'sneak thief of vision'. There is no evidence of Canola oil causing glaucoma.

Myths about Children

Mitos-mitos umum seputar kesehatan anak. diambil dari www.texaschildrenshospital.org

The dictionary defines a "myth" as an unfounded popular belief that has developed over the years about something or someone. They are usually passed on from generation to generation and persist until replaced by knowledge or facts. With this in mind, here are some common pediatric myths that continue to linger on in the folklore of parenting.

1. Feed a cold, starve a fever

When your child is sick, they need calories to help their body fight the infection. So let them eat if they are hungry. Always encourage liquids, since both colds and fever can cause dehydration.

2. Cold or wet weather causes colds

Only indirectly. Colds are infections of the upper respiratory tract caused by viruses. They are not caused by getting wet or cold. They are caused by coming in contact with the infected nasal secretions of other people who have colds. Getting wet or cold does not weaken the immune system to the point that it would cause a child to catch a cold. Colds are more frequent during cold or wet weather, simply because children stay indoors, in closer contact with each other, at these times of year. This creates a breeding ground for viruses to spread from child to child.

3. Thick yellow-green discharge from the nose during a cold is a bacterial infection and needs antibiotics.

This is not necessarily true. It can be the normal end stage of a cold running its course. Nasal discharge from a cold generally starts out clear and watery and can become more cloudy and thicker and finally turn green or yellow at the end of the cold. In an era of antibiotic overuse, it is important not to over treat a green runny nose. Treatment should be considered for a green runny nose that does not clear after seven to 10 days or the cold symptoms do not go away by 10-14 days.

4. Children get ear infections because they do not keep their ears covered.

Ear infections are not caused by not wearing a hat or getting water in your ear. Ear infections occur in a small area behind the eardrum called the middle ear cavity. This space is connected to the back of the throat by a small tube called the eustachian tube. When a child is congested, either because of a cold or allergy, the eustachian tube doesn't work properly, and fluid builds up in the middle ear space. This fluid acts as excellent culture medium for bacteria, which then multiply causing a middle ear infection.

5. High fever causes brain damage.

Fever itself is not likely to cause brain damage. This myth got started because one cause of fever, meningitis (an infection of the brain and spinal cord lining), often results in brain damage.

6. Sugar causes hyperactivity.

It certainly would be nice if this were true. We could then treat hyperactivity with special sugar reduced diets instead of medication. Repeated research published in medical journals, however, tends to disprove this theory. These studies find no discernible difference in behavior between children eating sugar and those who are not. This myth probably started as a "self-fulfilling prophecy." Parents believe that sugar affects behavior, so when their child becomes overly active, they blame the sugar. Children ingest higher amounts of sugar during exciting events such as holidays and parties and therefor it is common for adults to blame a child's behavior changes on the increased sugar intake. More than 100 research studies done on this subject all point to little if any effect of sugar on children. There is also no difference between the effect of sugar on ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactive disorder) children and non-ADHD children with regard to behavior. Furthermore, Sugar does not cause ADHD,

7. Standing will bow a baby's legs.

This myth originated years ago when children suffered from rickets, a Vitamin Deficiency that caused softening of the bones and bowing of the legs. Today, rickets has all but disappeared and there is no danger that standing will bow your baby's legs. The legs of most babies are already bowed at birth from being wrapped tightly around their bodies inside their mother's womb. It takes years for them to straighten out but allowing a baby to "stand" on their legs does not cause the bowing

8. Children must eat their vegetables.

Vitamin deficiencies are extremely rare, and it's unlikely that children will harm themselves by not eating vegetables. It is important to serve well-rounded meals, but you don't have to fight daily battles about eating all your vegetables. In fact, perhaps if parents did not make an issue of eating vegetables, kids would be more inclined to try them. They might find that broccoli is not so bad!

9. Mothers who are breast-feeding should not eat garlic, onions or chocolate.

It used to be believed that eating highly flavored foods while breast feeding made an infant more fussy and caused gas and upset stomach. Simply not true. In fact, a study that monitored the eating habits of nursing mothers showed babies seemed to prefer milk when their mothers ate garlic and they even nursed for longer periods of time and actually gained more weight!

10. Iron-fortified formulas cause constipation

No studies have ever found a difference in the number of stools per day, type of stool, the number of days without stools, the frequency of colic, spitting up or vomiting between infants fed either un-supplemented or iron-supplemented formula. Babies need iron fortified formulas and constipation is not a reason for switching to an un-supplemented type.

11. Going outside with wet hair can cause a cold

See Myth #2, Actually, viruses, not water, drafts, or cold weather, causes colds.

12. Feeding infants cereal at night makes them sleep longer

Research has consistently shown that giving solids before bedtime will not change when an infant will start sleeping through the night. Most babies will not develop a dependable sleep cycle until somewhere between 3 and 6 months of age. When a child sleeps through the night is more dependent on how they are put to sleep, where they are put to sleep, and how parents respond when they do wake up at night. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition, cereal and other solids should not be started until 4 to 6 months of age in order to reduce the risk of allergies

13. Teething often causes a fever

Medical "experts" since Hippocrates have blamed fever, diarrhea, and colds on teething. Recent research has not shown a relationship between teething and the onset of such symptoms. If teething does cause a fever, it is never more than 101 degrees F

14. Acne is caused from not washing your face.

Acne is not related to dirt on the skin or greasy foods. It is caused by inflammation under the skin, not dirt on the skin's surface. Keeping the face clean is always good, but scrubbing could make acne worse.

15. Okay, if acne is not caused by dirt, then it is caused by chocolate and other foods in the adolescent's diet.

This is one of the oldest myths. Extensive scientific studies have not found a single connection between diet and acne. In other words, chocolate, french fries, pizza and other fast foods do not cause acne. It does make sense to limit fatty foods to prevent obesity and cardiovascular disease, however. Studies have shown that foods with a high iodine content (such as shellfish) may aggravate existing acne, but does not cause it.

16. Vitamins will provide children who have poor appetites extra energy.

Vitamins cannot supply extra energy since they contain no calories. Unless your child has a specific vitamin deficiency, their energy level will not change if you give them vitamin supplements.

17. When children crack their knuckles, it will cause arthritis.

There is no evidence that cracking joints will impair joint development or lead to arthritis.

That annoying popping sound is caused by the breaking of the vacuum in the joint and bubbles of nitrogen gas form in the joint fluid. The cracking noise happens when those bubbles collapse.

18. Children's aspirin is best for treating children's fevers

Taking aspirin is not recommended any more for children unless recommended by the youngster's doctor. Aspirin has been linked to serious medical problems, such as Reye's Syndrome.

19. Going barefoot causes flat feet

Going barefoot is probably best for kids. It allows their feet to develop naturally. There is no evidence that children's feet develop any differently with or without shoes. The only real reason kids should wear shoes is to protect their feet from injury and cuts.

20. A baby's eye color at two months is their adult eye color.

It has always been thought that no changes in a baby's eye color occur after 2-3 months of age. A recent study, however, disputes this widely held belief. The research found that eye color did not become stable until age 6 in 90% of children. Of the remaining 10%, half continued to show changes, either lighter in shade or darker). Therefore, it looks like parents will have to wait a little longer in order to find out their child's final eye color!

21. Don't give milk when a baby has a cold. It will increase mucus production

Many parents believe that drinking milk when a child has a cold will increase mucus production in the respiratory tract. A number of recent studies have concluded that there is no association between milk intake and the amount of respiratory tract mucus produced during a cold. Children need milk for both its protein and calcium and to withdraw such an important food item during a cold makes no sense. While some children prefer other fluids when they are sick (fruit juices, for example) parents can give milk if the child wants it without worrying about making their child worse. (Milk allergies, on the other hand, may produce a stuffy or runny nose.)

22. Rubbing the skin with alcohol will help bring down a child's fever.

This widely held belief could make the child sicker. Alcohol evaporates so quickly that it can bring on chills, which signal the body to raise its temperature even higher. Furthermore, there have been cases of alcohol intoxication if too much is applied and it is absorbed into the skin of a child. Remember that fever is a symptom, not a disease. In fact, fever may be helpful in fighting infections. If the fever is making your child not feel well, parents can make them feel better by giving (on the advice of their doctor) acetaminophen (such as Tylenol or Tempra) or ibuprofen (such as Motrin or Advil).

23. Putting a baby to sleep on their back increases the chance that they will choke if they spit up at night.

Babies are now put to sleep on their backs instead of stomachs to prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Many grandparents, who did just the opposite with their children, worry about their grandchildren spitting up and choking while sleeping on their backs. In all the research studies done on infant sleep position and SIDS (and there has been a ton of them), there have been no incidents of babies choking on "spit up" in their sleep since the "Back to Sleep" campaign was introduced in 1992, millions of babies have been put to sleep on their backs without choking in their sleep.

24. The brain is fully developed at birth.

The brain is the last organ to be fully developed in a human body. Most of the brain development happens in the first three years of life. 75% of the development is finalized by age seven.

25. The child should not be vaccinated if they have a fever, cold and cough.

There is no proof for that this widely held belief is true. Unfortunately, many parents still believe it and their child falls behind in their immunization schedule. In case of mild fever, cold, or cough a child can be safely vaccinated along with symptomatic treatment. Immunizations are only contraindicated when the illness causing the fever is severe. A mild illness (such as an ear infection) is not a reason to withhold a vaccine, even if the child has a fever.

26. Walkers will teach a baby to walk sooner.

This myth is not only false but dangerous. Many infants have been injured tipping over or falling down stairs. In addition, the infant can now reach things that are up higher than she could normally reach. Furthermore, walkers may actually delay walking since the muscles used in scooting around in a walker are different from the ones used in walking.

27. A baby is "constipated" if they do not have a bowel movement at least once per day.

No where is it written that a child has to have a bowel movement every day. As long as the bowel movement is soft, a baby can go every two or three days. Babies that are solely breast-fed sometimes have a bowel movement as infrequently as once a week! A baby is not constipated when they grunt, squirm, turn red, or cry while having a bowel movement. If the result of these gyrations is a soft stool, the baby is fine!

28. It is safe for young children to ride in the front seat of cars without air bags or the air bag turned off.

Compared to children seated in the front seat, the risk of a child dying while seated in the rear is 41 % less. If there were passenger seat airbags and children sat in the rear there were 46% less deaths, thus confirming previous studies. Rear seating was found to provide the best protection in front end collisions and rollovers. Even a child sitting in the front seat of a car without airbags but who is properly belted in is in more danger than a child sitting in the back seat with the same restraints.

29. Children must be made to eat what's good for them whether they want to or not.

Study after study has shown that very young children will eat what's good for them even when surrounded by unhealthy, rich foods, if they are left alone. It serves no purpose to force kids to eat things they dislike or to eat more than they want. Rather such practice cause food to become a tool used for resisting authority and sets kids up for eating disorders later on in life. Pressuring a child to eat has been implicated in causing anorexia, bulimia, or obesity later in life. While it is always appropriate to limit kids' consumption of junk foods, it is best to let the child's appetite be your guide. Children are the only humans that use food for the right reason: fuel. They eat more when they are growing and less when they are not in a growth phase. Don't make mealtime a battle ground.

30. White spots on fingernails mean a calcium deficiency

White spots on your child's fingernails are not a sign of calcium deficiency. The technical term for those marks is leukonychia. They are harmless and will grow out as the nail grows. They are usually caused by a bump or minor trauma to the nail. White spots can also be the sign of temporary illness. If a person is sick, the cells that make the nail may not be working properly.

Myths about children's health

Mitos-mitos seputar kesehatan anak. Diambil dari www.texaschildrenshospital.org.

Despite the overwhelming amounts of information available to parents today, it remains important to

separate fact from fiction when it comes to your child's health. Many myths about caring for children are
spread to new parents by well-meaning family members and friends. Most myths are not harmful but can make it more frustrating to figure out how to do the right thing for your child.

Myth #1 - Teething often causes a fever or diarrhea.
Teething may cause fussiness or sleep disturbances, but it doesn't cause a cold, fever or other symptoms of illness. These additional symptoms may be a clue that your baby has a cold or other virus.

Myth #2 - Treating an ADHD child with stimulants leads to drug abuse later in life.
Actually, studies have shown that proper treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder helps improve a child's self-esteem, school performance and social interactions. Feeling successful in life helps a
child or teen say no to drug experimentation and other self-destructive behaviors.

Myth #3 - Going outside with wet hair in winter or getting your feet wet while outdoors can cause a cold.
Viruses cause colds or influenza, not chilly, wet weather or drafts. However, children spend more time indoors together during cold weather and that creates an environment for the easy spread of the viruses that cause colds.

Myth #4 - You should force a picky eater to finish dinner.
Forcing a child to eat when he or she isnt hungry may lead to eating disorders later. Toddlers often go
through periods of refusing to eat certain foods or new foods as a show of independence. Allow experimentation, provide healthy choices, but if your child doesnt want to eat, dont cook something different for their dinner.
Offer a small portion of one or two new foods each week. Toddlers generally will try a new food after it has
been offered 10 or 15 times. Also, limit access to sugary foods and dont provide too much milk or juice so that your child is too full for solids. Finally, remember that its okay for a small childs diet to be
balanced over an entire week rather than every meal, every day.

Myth #5 - Children with a cold shouldn't be given milk or dairy products because it increases mucus production.
Not true. Their usual diet is okay while your child has a cold. If your child doesn't want to eat, try the BRAT diet which is easy on the digestive system. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.

Myth #6 - Potty training should begin a XX age.
Most children are ready to begin potty training between 18 months and 3 years old. However, this depends on the child's physical and emotional development and all children are unique in how they grow. Signs of
being ready to potty train include staying dry for two hours at a time; asking to have a dirty diaper changed; asking to wear regular underwear; and asking to use a potty chair or toilet.

Myth #7 - Acne is caused by greasy foods and not washing your face.
Teen acne is caused by inflammation under the skin, generally triggered by fluctuating hormones, not dirt on the skin or diet. Of course, keeping skin clean and limiting intake of fatty foods is always good. Encourage your teen to clean their face with a gentle cleanser because scrubbing can make acne worse.

Myth #8 - Fresh fruit and vegetables are more nutritious than frozen or canned.
This myth was actually true until a few years ago. Today, however, frozen fruits and vegetables are frozen so quickly that few, if any, nutrients are lost. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows manufacturers to
advertise frozen fruit and vegetables as the nutritional equal of fresh foods. Fresh or frozen is more nutritious than canned.

Myth #9 - Watching television stunts a child's brain growth.
While no research supports this theory, parents should closely monitor the amount and quality of television that their children watch. Too much television contributes to lack of exercise, which can lead to weight
problems. Violent or disturbing content on television may cause behavior or sleep problems.

Myth #10 - Children need a daily multi-vitamin.
Most children with a normal diet do not need a multi-vitamin. The average child can get his or her nutritional needs by eating a reasonably balanced diet. However, children with a poor or restricted diet, liver
disease, or a chronic disease such as cystic fibrosis may benefit from taking a vitamin and mineral supplement.
Children who live in an area without fluoridated water may need a fluoride supplement. Consult your
pediatrician before giving your child any type of vitamin or dietary supplement.

Myths about pain

Mitos-mitos seputar sakit, diambil dari www.emla-us.com.


Myth
Facts
Pain builds character. Absolutely no evidence of this exists.
Children will tell you if they are in pain. Children often do not convey that they are in pain, but turn inward and become quiet to cope with it.
If children are in pain, but do not appear to be, they don�t need medication. Children learn to adapt and may not show visible signs of pain. But it is the health professional�s ethical obligation to ask them if they are in pain.
Pain killers are addictive in therapeutic doses.
Pain killers are NOT addictive in therapeutic doses. Overdoses are rare and in most cases reversible.
Children neither experience nor remember pain to the same degree as adults. By at least 30 weeks gestation, the fetus� pathways for the transference of pain are established and functioning. Very young children feel and experience pain in similar ways as adults.




Myths about pregnancy

Selama seorang wanita tengah hamil, pasti dia seringkali dinasehati baik oleh orang tua, maupun tetangga-tetangga sekitar. Diantaranya ada yang baik dan masuk akal, juga ada yang hanya mitos. Ternyata di Amerika-pun terdapat mitos-mitos seperti disini, berikut adalah mitos-mitos seputar kehamilan yang diambil dari www.kidshealth.org. ditambah mitos-mitos yang sering terdengar disini.

Pregnancy myths may vary from generation to generation and from region to region. Myths your grandmother in Texas claims are true might be different from what your uncle in Alaska believes. Here are a few of the most common pregnancy myths:

Myth: Standing on your head after sex can increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
Truth: Although some experts say that lying down after sex for 20 to 30 minutes can boost your chances of conception because it keeps the sperm inside you, standing on your head has not been proven to aid in conception (and you might hurt your neck while trying to do it!).

Myth: The shape and height of your belly can indicate your baby's sex.
Truth: The popular belief that women carrying boys carry low and that women carrying girls carry high just isn't true. The shape and height of your belly is determined by your muscle tone, uterine tone, and the position the baby is in. That's why someone may think you're having a boy because you're carrying low, when actually the baby just dropped lower into the pelvis because you're closer to delivery. So, what's the most accurate way to determine your baby's sex? Talk to your doctor about getting an ultrasound.

Myth: Fetal heart rate can indicate your baby's sex.
Truth: A normal fetal heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats per minute (bpm), although some people think if it's faster (usually above the 140 bpm range) it's a girl and if it's slower it's a boy. But there have been no studies that conclusively show that heart rate is a predictor for a baby's gender. Your baby's heart rate will probably differ from prenatal visit to prenatal visit anyway - depending on the age of the fetus and activity level at the time of the visit.

Myth: The shape and fullness of your face during pregnancy can indicate your baby's sex.
Truth: Every woman gains weight differently during pregnancy, and every woman experiences different skin changes. If people tell you that because your face is round and rosy you're having a girl, they might be right - but it's just as likely that they're wrong!

Myth: If you experience heartburn during pregnancy, your baby will be born with lots of hair.
Truth: Because it's extremely common throughout pregnancy, heartburn isn't an accurate predictor of whether your baby will be born with lots of hair.

Seeking the Truth

As you go through your pregnancy, it can be fun to collect and record various people's tales. However, for medical advice pertaining to pregnancy, you should always consult your doctor first.

And keep in mind that every woman's pregnancy is different, which means that your doctor can provide you with information tailored toward your personal medical situation. That's information that friends, family, and strangers at the mall won't have when they tell you their pregnancy predictions.

So, enjoy the stories - but talk to your doctor before you do anything that could affect the health or well-being of you or your baby.



Jika disini, wanita hamil akan sering mendengar :
- Minum es membuat bayi jadi besar hingga keluarnya nanti akan susah, maka wanita hamil jangan banyak-banyak minum es.
Yang benar adalah bukan es atau dinginnya yang membuat bayi jadi besar, tapi gula yang membuat bayi besar. kebetulan kebanyakan es itu manis, jadi seakan yang menyebabkan bayi besar adalah minum es.
- Makan kepiting membuat anak akan jalan miring.
- Makan udang membuat anak jalan mundur.
- Makan terong membuat anak kulitnya keriput.
Dari keterangan dokter, ketiga diatas belum terbukti secara medis.
- Wanita hamil (termasuk suami) dilarang membunuh binatang, seperti kecoak, dan lain-lain. Takutnya misal kecoaknya nanti tangannya patah, bayinya juga mengalami hal yang sama. Meski bisa hilang jika kemudian ngomong "amit-amit jabang bayi".
Jika ini sih, mungkin lebih baik dihindari aja, toh seperti kecoak bisa tidak kita bunuh dan hanya dibuang saja ke tempat yang jauh.

Myths about protecting child

Ini diambil dari www.wander-wear.com, Sebuah organisasi yang bergerak dalam hal menjaga keselamatan anak. Tentang mitos-mitos seputar menjaga keselamatan anak cukup sering kita dengar juga disini. berikut adalah isinya :

No doubt, parenting is tricky. Parenting information changes all the time plus everyone feels compelled to give their personal, often contradicting, opinions. Unfortunately, even some of the basic “rules” of parenting can’t be trusted. Here we discuss four such myths that can make life or death differences.

MYTH #1:

I am a careful, watchful parent and my kids are well behaved so they will never get lost.

It happens to virtually everyone: 7 out of 10 children will experience being lost at least once in their lives. 90% of families will be impacted and the traumatic memories of these incidents will forever remain in the minds of both the parent and child. We teach our children to be curious and independent but then we scold then for getting accidentally lost. Therefore, it is actually good parents that realize this is a common situation. They proactively teach their children that getting lost can be dangerous and they all know what to if it happens. While most incidents result in safe returns, both children and adults often retain traumatic memories for the rest of their lives.

MYTH #2:

Don’t talk to strangers.

When a child gets lost, he/she may be too scared, too young, or simply unable to communicate to assist an adult that is trying to help find the child’s caregiver. One of the best safety practices is to tell your child to find another mommy if he/she gets lost. There is an important difference in empowering your child to ask a stranger for help versus having a stranger approach your child unsolicited. Mommies are easy to identify and find in most family venues – plus mommies are usually eager to help (and least likely to harm) a distressed child.

MYTH #3:

Don’t put identification outside of your child’s clothing.

Safe identification includes a cell phone number that is visible and easily accessible on a child. If the child is lost, another person can quickly call to reunite the onsite caregiver. Do not hide the information in a shoe or in the child’s clothing. You do not want a stranger undressing your child to find such a clue. Even if your child knows their home phone number, you don’t want to continuously be dialling your home voicemail to see if there is any information about your lost child.

Many parents worry about having a child’s name visible. Even though most children will willingly give a stranger their name, there are dozens of other ways that a predator can lure your child away. However, putting the child’s address is actually very dangerous because in the wrong hands, your home can become a target. Whether going to a mall, to a ballgame, or to school, young children should always have safe identification visibly on them.

MYTH #4:

My entire family dresses in the same color when we go to a crowded place.

It may be cute but it is rather ineffective to put your family in the same colors unless they are very bright. A small child can be much more easily spotted if they are in bright green or bright yellow. Wearing such colors (hats, shirts, jackets, etc.) can make it easier for you to see them. If you need to get other people’s help to find a lost child, the bright colors make it easier for them too. It is more helpful to describe a child’s physical attributes (hair color, eye color, height, weight, etc.) when you can also note that they are wearing a unique color. Keep that clothing as a special outfit for when you do venture away from home. This will help you remember what the child is wearing should you need to recall that under stress.

These four parenting myths are just some of the unfortunate bad parenting advice that has been passed down for generations and not been updated given new technology and information. Realize that these myths can be very harmful to your child and be a smart parent by preparing yourself and your family. With less effort than it takes to put on a seatbelt, teach your children not to get lost and what to do in case it happens.

Thanks to SQL Server DTS

Barusan sampai di kampus. Dari Mojokerto jam 05:30, dan sempat makan dulu. Kemarin kesana soalnya Akhtar sakit (semoga lekas sembuh ya nak). Mau ngajar tentang Datawarehouse, dengan topik tentang SQLServer DTS. Salah satu topik favoritku.
Soalnya selain cukup asyik cara pakainya, juga cukup membantu dalam pengerjaan proyek-proyek terdahulu. Dengan DTS kita bisa mentransfer data dari format database apapun, termasuk excel, ke format database apapun. Kita dapat mengambil struktur tabel yang bagaimanapun bentuknya, untuk kemudian diubah strukturnya dalam bentuk yang lain.

Rabu, November 15, 2006

Why baby crying ?

Habis ngajar sampai malam, terus export blog ini ke versi baru, sekalian cari-cari kenapa Shifa kalau menangis cukup mengerikan. Jadi Shifa itu kalau nangis itu seperti ada level-levelnya, level awal pelan-pelan, level tengah agak keras, level tinggi keras sekali. Belum sampai disitu, masih ada level super dan level ultra :). Kalau level super dan ultra itu tangisannya seperti bayi yang menderitaaa sekali, kayak disiksa gitu. Naiknya level dari level awal ke level ultra ini cukup cepat, 5 - 10 menit. Tapi begitu kembali di gendong langsung berubah jadi anak yang manis. Termasuk juga malam kemarin, dari jam 9 sampai jam 12 dia bangun gak mau tidur, kalau yang gendong capek, terus ditaruh, dia nangis lagi, terpaksa digendong lagi.
Nah barusan nemu artikel yang mungkin bisa dijadikan petunjuk, yaitu kenapa bayi menangis. Bayi menangis karena memang dia belum bisa ngomong ( glodak! semua orang juga tahu). Penyebabnya adalah:
1. Lapar
Bayi akan menagis jika minta susu.
Memang Shifa kayaknya sering kelaparan akhir2 ini. Minumnya banyak sekali dan hasilnya dalam 2 minggu beratnya nambah 5 ons!
2. Popoknya basah
Bayi akan tidak nyaman dan minta popoknya diganti setelah terlalu basah.
Kalau ini Shifa sering tenang-tenang aja meskipun basah kuyup :)
3. Temperature
Bayi telah meninggalkan tempat dengan hawa yang paling nyaman yaitu rahim ibu. Jadi kalau terlalu panas atau terlalu dingin dia akan merasa tidak nyaman.
Nah, kalau masalah cuaca memang disini kan lagi panas-panasnya, jangan-kan bayi, yang tua-tua-pun banyak yang gak kuat.
4. Tidak nyaman dengan tempatnya
Bayi suka dan merasa nyaman terhadap sentuhan-sentuhan dengan kulit. Dan tidak begitu suka bersentuhan dengan kain apalagi 'perlak' yang panas.
Shifa kayaknya termasuk yang disini nih. Mungkin kalau tidur beralas Kulit Sapi bisa lebih nyaman ya?
5. Stress tidak bisa tidur
Tapi hanya biasa terjadi pada bayi yg lebih dari setengah tahun.
Shifa pasti bukan termasuk karena baru 4 minggu, dia cepat tidur, tapi tidak mau ditaruh.
6. Colic
Sebagian kecil bayi memang bisa menangis berjam-jam seakan-akan tidak bisa didiamkan dengan cara apapun dan biasanya berlangsung saat malam saat orangtuanya sudah capek semua. Ini yang disebut dengan Colic. Satu-satunya cara adalah bersabar dan terus bersabar dan yakin bahwa hal ini tidak akan terjadi terus-menerus, suatu saat nanti bayi-nya akan berhenti colic dengan sendirinya.
Sabar, sabar, dan sabar. Jika sudah merasa stress, letakkan bayinya, pindah ke ruangan lain untuk menenangkan diri, dan jika sudah tenang gendong kembali bayinya.
Apa mungkin Shifa termasuk yang ini ya? Soalnya kalau tengah malam dia bangun selama 2-3 jam dan akan terus nangis jika tidak digendong2. Atau mungkin dia cuman setengah Colic aja kali ya.

Well apapun itu yang pasti Shifa lebih susah dari Akhtar dan sering bikin stress ayah bunda-nya. But, We all love you baby !




Senin, November 13, 2006

The happiest baby in the block

Nguantuuk.. kali ini bukan karena qcodo, tapi karena Shifa ngajak bangun malam-malam. Dasar bayi, gak tahu bedanya antara siang dan malam :) . Kenapa kok ikut bangun, soalnya Shifa kalau bangun dan tidak digendong, biasanya nangis..semakin lama nangisnya semakin keras. makanya biar gak gangguin tetangga, harus digendong. Memang kalau urusan mendiamkan Bayi nangis sih bagi kami cukup mudah, salah satunya ya digendong tadi. Mungkin karena sudah pengalaman saat Akhtar dulu dan sudah dibekali ilmu dari Dr Karp tentang "The happiest baby in the block" (www.thehappiestbaby.com). Kami beli bukunya yang edisi Indonesia. Warnanya ijo, tebalnya sekitar 1 cm. Isinya cukup memberi pengetahuan. Berikut adalah sebagian isi dari buku tadi:

Inti masalah bayi menangis adalah karena ia tidak/belum terbiasa dengan lingkungannya yang baru sampai dengan 3-6 bulan kedepan. Bayi masih sangat mendambakan suasana seperti saat di rahim ibu yang nyaman. Makanya bayi akan tenang apabila suasana dibuat seperti dalam rahim Ibu. Cara-caranya adalah:
1. Digendong dan diayun-ayun.
Karena saat dia di rahim Ibu memang serasa diayun-ayun apabila sang Ibu jalan atau bergerak. Ada mitos di Masyarakat modern kalau digendong itu akan mengakibatkan anak menjadi manja. Mungkin mitos ini memang berlaku , tapi apabila bayi sudah berumur lebih dari 6 bulan. Sebuah suku di Afrika bahkan tidak pernah melepas bayinya dari gendongan (digendong dengan suatu kain seperti selendang di sini) sampai bayinya 6 bulan. Mereka melakukan segala aktifitas dengan selalu menggendong bayi. Hasilnya bayi mereka sangat tenang dan jarang sekali menangis.
2. Diberi suara keras, berisik, dan konstan
Di rahim ibu, satu-satunya suara yang terdengar oleh bayi adalah suara dari aktifitas tubuh Ibu seperti suara denyut jantung dan aliran darah. Dan suara tadi mempunyai ciri keras, berisik, dan konstan. Biasanya untuk menyerupai suara ini, kita membuat suara SSSSTTTTTT..SSTTTTTTT..SSSSTTTTT... . Cara lain adalah mendekatkan bayi pada hairdryer, vacuum cleaner, dan suara-suara mesin lain. Tidak heran jika bayi akan tidur tenang saat dia diajak jalan-jalan dengan mobil.
3. Digedong
Digedong adalah bayi dililit dengan kain yang cukup rapat dengan kaki dan tangan lurus. Di dalam rahim Ibu, terutama pada bulan-bulan akhir, bayi cukup kesulitan bergerak, sekarang saat sudah lahir, dia bisa bebas bergerak. Tapi bebasnya dia justru membuat bayi takut dan merasa tidak aman. makanya bayi perlu dibuat agar tidak bebas bergerak dan merasa aman, yaitu dengan cara digedong tadi.
4. Dengan Empeng
Cara ini tidak membuat bayi seperti di rahim ibu, tapi membuat mulut bayi cukup sibuk (mengenyot-enyot) sehingga dia melupakan tangisannya. Cara ini cukup mudah dan sangat manjur bagi sebagian bayi tapi mungkin tidak bagi sebagian lainnya (Akhtar bisa ditenangkan dengan empeng, sementara Shifa tidak). Apalagi jika tangisannya sudah menjadi2 maka akan sulit mengalihkan mulutnya dengan empeng. Maka biasanya dilakukan sebelum tangisannya keras atau setelah tangisannya agak mereda.

Dari pengalaman kami, yang paling cepat biasanya ya dengan menggabungkan cara 1 dan 2. Kalau belum bisa, digabung lagi dengan cara2 dibawahnya. yang belum terpecahkan adalah bagaimana membuat bayi tenang saat diganti pakaiannya ( baju, grita, popok ). Soalnya kan tidak bisa diganti pakaian sambil digendong. Shifa termasuk bayi yang menangis keras saat diganti pakaiannya. Well, makanya hari ini coba cari-cari di Internet, sapa tahu ada solusi..

Jumat, November 10, 2006

goodbye smarty, welcome qcodo

Nguantuk.. kemarin gak tidur... nyoba2 cari "inti"nya Qcodo. Untung akhirnya ketemu (lumayan ada pencerahan). Soalnya mau merombak website E-Budgeting Pemkot untuk tahun 2008 (mungkin juga dipakai 2007 PAK).
Kalau dihitung aplikasi ini sudah 3 kali berganti engine. Pertama untuk tahun 2005 dan awal 2006 menggunakan template engine speed template. Yang Kedua untuk tahun 2006 PAK dan 2007 pake Smarty. Masih seneng-senengnya pakai smarty, eh dirombak lagi pake qcodo.

Rabu, November 08, 2006

First Posting : Bunda..Ata..Shifa , ayah datang ..

Ini posting pertama untuk ngetes blog. Sudah malam, mau perjalanan ke mojokerto dimana Bunda, Ata, dan Shifa tinggal sementara waktu sampai dengan selapanan-nya Shifa.