Raising Boys

Last week I had to go out to a meeting for my son's soccer team. I have been a hard core supporter of soccer(or as I prefer to call it, football)ever since I saw the World Cup in 1982. The semi final that year between France and Germany is still vivid in my head...but I digress.
Before I left the house, I told my boys that I wanted the kitchen tidied up before I got back. Half expecting to arrive with the dishes still in the sink, I was blown away by what I saw. They had not only cleaned the kitchen, but they vacuumed the front hallway, organized the shoes and boots and had a glass of red wine and candles out and the fireplace on.
I was flabbergasted. They went above and beyond the call of duty. I was so proud of them that I boasted incessantly to anyone who would listen. It made me realize that I have two wonderful boys and they are on their way to becoming wonderful husbands in the future.
But of course, as with anything I do or say, there has to be a snarky remark from my older sister. She quickly commented on my Facebook page that my kids were probably up to no good and that I should check their phone calls, Emails and measure the wine bottles, and that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
It's true, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and that is why my kids are so wonderful and have free spirits that haven't been quashed by some pseudo-conservative household regime. My mom even says that I act more like a big sister rather than a mother. I am the 'cool' mom to my kids friends. We listen to rap and AC/DC and love to dance together in the living room. The way I look at it is if you are close to your kids, they are more likely to open up to you about what is going on around them. If you are the super authoritative figure who is unapproachable, they will internalize their inner angst and do something stupid(drugs, fighting etc)
When you become a mom, there is no right or wrong way to raise a child. There is no Owners Manual to follow. Being a single mom is even more complicated.
In the end, I wouldn't trade my kids for anything in this world. I am just raising them to be good husbands in the future.

Obesity Has Hit Everywhere

 

The epidemic of obesity has hit the shores of Brazil. Gone are the days of perfect bodies. They still do exist but are farthur and fewer between. It is very sad. The typical Brazilian diet of rice ,beans, meat and vegetables has given away to fast food and processed food. My mom figures that ever since McDonalds opened up in Brazil, the number of obese people has increased.

TV Globo..Also Known as the Contraceptive Network

Six nights a week, all over Brazil, people from all walks of life tune into the 'novela das 8'. The most popular are shown on the TV Globo network. Contrary to American soap operas which are shown during the day, Brazilian soap operas are shown during prime time and have story lines that run for 6-9 months (as opposed to 30 plus years in the USA).
I always joke to my Brazilian friends that they live their life like a 'novela'. Full of drama,full time.Apparently my observation has merit. A study has shown that in small villages that receive the Globo signal, the birth rate has decreased and the divorce rate has increased.
More proof that we are influenced by that black screen in our living room.......