The Circus

ABRAHAM asked:


Old Family Traditions And The New Generation

Carried forward through the years by each new generation, old family traditions are a powerful means of strengthening the bonds that hold families together. Old family traditions often serve to connect the older generation with the new generation, encouraging interaction through shared activities, and can also offer a way for families separated by distance to feel close.

Many of the most meaningful old family traditions revolve around food, with families gathering to eat and celebrate together. Often the foods served at the meal are determined by tradition, with recipes passed down from generation to generation or specific family members preparing their specialties year after year.

That food should serve as a centerpiece for so many of the old family traditions that are passed to the new generation comes as no surprise. Food is essential to survival, and being grateful for the success of its production, whether through agriculture or the hunt, is at the base of not only many old family traditions, but also many of the world’s ancient religions.

Celebrating the abundance of the harvest is done throughout the world, with each culture giving rise to a particular set of old family traditions. However, as different as these cultures may be, the foundation of these celebrations is the gathering together of families to feast, to share food, to break bread.

There are many old family traditions designed specifically to celebrate the new generation. Some are as lighthearted and fun as the yearly birthday gathering for cake, ice cream and gifts. Others are built upon meaningful, often symbolic, rituals marking the milestones along the path to maturity. In each, it is the older generation celebrating the progress of the new generation, as one day that generation will do for its own children.

Even when families cannot gather together, which is increasingly common today as families find their members scattered throughout the nation and even the world, old family traditions can help to maintain family ties. Knowing that thousands of miles away, other family members are engaged in the same activities can help keep that feeling of closeness among family members.

Often the new generation uses old family traditions to honor those who have passed before them. Many children learn the history of their families in this way, listening as family members share memories of those who are no longer with them and of their own childhood remembrances. Sometimes it is the old family traditions that hold a family together, the adult siblings continuing to gather with their children after their parents have died.

Participating in the old family traditions builds memories that will last a lifetime, and serves to build relationships, not only between the old and new generations, but also amongst those that will be continuing the families as the elder members pass away. Teaching the new generation to honor old family traditions can help to preserve the family through the years, even through the times when its members cannot gather together, fostering a sense of belonging that will be a source of joy for years to come.



TYSON

Sig Yanosway asked:


Every family does have conflicts. This is a normal issue as a family comprises of many different individuals and the fact that they are different individuals entitles them to different behavior patterns and opinions which may not agree with everybody else and can result in conflicts. The problem arises only when these issues blow out of proportion.

A family is an important institution and the relationships must not be allowed to weaken therefore it is advisable to seek help from a family counselor to rectify the problems right at the onset. Qualified professional counselors are available today who help families in resolving the issues.

These family counselors are able to seal the cracks that have emerged in the relationships. They help the family to deal with the issues, discuss their problems and find a solution that is acceptable to all . In this way with family counseling it is possible to bring back those bygone happy days once again.

Family counseling is important to find a solution to the issue before the family itself disintegrates. When relationships begin to turn sour and people in a family become selfish and are not bothered about the other members feelings the matter is indeed serious and requires someone to step in or else the situation may soon become so bad that nobody would be in a position to help.

Problems do exist everywhere and a family is no exception. Problems can exist in any family but the members of the family have to be the first ones to realize the existence of a problem. In case they are not able to solve the problems they must seek professional help from a family counselor.

A family counselor should have the following characteristics to be able to make a difference.

· Should be professionally qualified to be a family counselor

· Should be a patient listener and be able to give a good ear to the problems of the members of the family.

· He should be capable of getting the family members together to discuss their issues.

· Should be able to counsel the members as per the requirements either individually or together and be able to provide sound advice

· Should have an analytical mind so that he is in a position to look at the situation analytically and in an unbiased manner.

· He should be able to spot the problems , bridge the gap and find the right solution and would treat the problem from its root.

A family counselor is an expert in relationships and should be able to unite the family and bring back their happiness. Family counseling thus, plays an important role by not only resolving the issue but also restoring the happy days that the family at one time shared and enjoyed together.

Family counseling is your professional friend who has the qualification and experience to make a difference in your life. He is your friend indeed and can be the friend, philosopher and guide you need to hold your hand and see you through the crisis.

The initiative must first be taken from your side and once you detect the problems and see that you are not in a position to remedy it, seek immediate help from a family counselor before its too late.



ISAAC

Aakash Shah asked:


Family Portrait Is A Momentous Icon Of Love, Warmth, Care And Affection!

Who would not wish to captivate, the most felicitous moments of the family re-union or the gathering of the family, in a lovely portrait to treasure it for years to come?

A family is a most inspiring theme that exalts almost all of us. And it looks fabulous when painted and hung in the home. But painting is not everybody’s cup of tea. Still, you can get it done by an expert family portrait artist. 

Though for many people it seems a tedious job to find a specialized family portrait artist who can captivate the precise likeness with minutest details of the moments through his talent and give life to it, in his painting.

And it is very true at times that getting an expert artist can be a real challenging task. However, it’s not completely impossible as well. Each person in this world is expert in some way or the other. This phenomenon implies on artists also. Each artist will be specialized in some art or the other. Some artists will be good at abstract art; some will be expert in landscape painting. In the same way there will be surely many family portrait artists who dedicate themselves to the art of family portraits.

Now the question is how to choose a specialized family portrait artist?

Call or approach a family portrait artist whom you know or whose work you might have come across at some instance, somewhere around in a painting gallery or in your neighbor’s or friend’s place, or probably you might have admired some great works of art  in a magazine or a newspaper, or on internet as well.

Now, even if you don’t know any artist and haven’t come across any such admirable works-of-art, still there is nothing to worry about, because you can always get suggestions from your peers. Relatives and friends will be always loaded with great information and excellent suggestions, so any time they will prove to be of great help.

However, here are a few simple ideas to help you decide, whether the family portrait artist, you have hired is the best and can do a perfect job or not.

Firstly, before hiring an artist, make sure to look some of his family arts. When sighting his family artworks, analyze the different ways the artist has approached to get at the depth of his subject. And try to examine what does the portrait depicts? Is the pose more formal or casual? And try to judge about the family in the portrait that the artist has painted. And if can judge yourself all these things from a portrait then artist is sure to be an expert.

With all this, if you are much satisfied with his work-of-art, then without a doubt you can hire him. And get your family portrait painted by him.



JOAQUIN

Dalip Singh Wasan asked:


Joint family system is breaking

Dalip Singh Wasan, Advocate.

Even in India joint family system is breaking. All women including women in India had been having one desire in heir mind that they shall be establishing a home of their own in which they had been desiring that there shall be one husband, they themselves, their children and no one more. That is the reason the family concept defined in all the government documents include these people and if the parents of the husband are allowed to be remain in this family they are not called members of the family, but they are called dependants and they are allowed to live with the family and are maintained by the family because these are social obligations and nothing more.

The people may remain with one family till there are family obligations. The daughters in the family are to be married and they shall go out of this family. They shall need dowry when they are married and the marriage party is to be given a good welcome and service and therefore, all the brothers in the family must join in this venture. The old parents should not be allowed to suffer and bear all these expenses because they are already short of resources. Similar is the position when a daughter becomes widow and is thrown out of the house of her in laws. The parents and the brothers are obliged to keep this daughter with them and maintain her. Similar is the position if the son in law is not maintaining the wife and she comes back to the house of her parents. These daughters of the house are the obligations of the house from where they had gone to the houses of their in laws. These are our traditions and every house is liable to obey these traditions.

There are families when they want to break, they are facing difficulties because the old parents are being left all alone and they are not having any source of income. They are having sons or son but none of them is taking them with him and maintain them. If the parents have got resources with them, here is a tradition that the sons should serve these old parents who are not able to do anything because of old age or because of some infirmity. The sons should keep such parents with them and should maintain them because there are no provisions of old age people house in this country and therefore, only the sons and daughters are obliged to keep these old people with them and they should not break the family of the parents and run away from these responsibilities because all the people around shall be passing adverse remarks against such children who leave their parents helpless.

It is correct that the woman who has been brought in the house wants a separate house of her own where she should be the master and all in the family should obey her. The most troublesome game is the maintenance of the kitchen. Here in India the people prepare fresh food daily and very rarely they utilize backed food purchased from the market. Similarly they do not utilize packed food. The women do not want to take up all these responsibilities and prepare food for so many members in the family and that could be one of the reason they are breaking from the joint family. They are not tolerating the adverse remarks passed by the sisters and mothers of their husbands and that could be another reason they are breaking the joint family system. The woman cannot tolerate another woman in the house though she may be the sister of her husband or the mother of her husband. Similarly she would not be tolerating all other women who are wives of the brothers of their husbands. They want that they should be all alone in the house and even they shall desire that their daughter should go when she is young and should not remain in this house. The women of today are having a desire in their heart that they should be sent to a house where there is no mother in law and no sister in law. They also want that the parents of the husband are well settled and they shall not be dependant upon the husband.

The joint family system had been breaking and this process is still continuing. We have noted that in some house the families are breaking, but they are keeping the business joint and they are running their business and are sharing the profits as agreed upon. This is the best process because people from one family could have faith in each other and they shall be running profitable business or other ventures. If we conduct a survey, we shall find that women have started liking living separately and they are not in favour of joint family system and therefore, the men should not compel them to maintain a joint family. It shall be in interest of the house to separate the son when he is married and it should be done without any further delay because such a course shall bring peace, happiness, prosperity and joy in the house. In joint family system there is no happiness and each house is turned into Kurkshetra which is not good for the house and for the children of each couple because they are not looked after properly in this crowd and they are not given proper education, proper training and proper adjustment in life. Joint family system is a crowd and nothing more and it has lived its part and should not be continued in the present age where the parents have got so many responsibilities towards their children.

—————————–



REUBEN

Marcia Chumbley asked:


Meal Time - A Family Affair for Many Generations

In the past, it was traditional that at all three mealtimes, breakfast, lunch and dinner, the family would all gather round the dinner table to eat. Someone - usually one of the children - would set the table, Mom or Grandma (or both!) would prepare a healthy, delicious meal which would be laid out on the table. Dishes would be passed around the table, a prayer would be said, and clean-up would take place before any children could play.

While that probably reminds you of your own childhood, how often does it take place in your own home? Having a family mealtime can afford you with a lot more benefits than you might think. Sure it takes longer, and sure, everyone has to bend their ever-so-busy schedules to it, but just imagine some of the wonderful benefits of a family mealtime!

A family mealtime can enable you to be able to teach your children how to cook - properly! Many children today simply can’t cook anything out of a microwave, and don’t know how to follow a basic recipe. Using family mealtimes as instructional times can be a wonderful opportunity for you to teach your children how to cook good, healthy meals. Showing your children and grandchildren the basics, such as how to time cooking many dishes at once, food preparation and substitutions, the mathematics involved in cutting a recipe in half or doubling it, and many other cooking lessons can be invaluable later in life. Passing on of family recipes from one generation to another generation.

Having a family meal also allows you to bring your family closer together as a family unit and to involve the entire family with an activity all at once. In today’s world, how often does your entire family get to sit down with one another at the same time? Use this fantastic time as a way to start conversations between members of your family. Discuss the high points and low points of each family member’s day. Learn how your children are doing in school and extra-curricular activities (if they are not home schooled). Most of all this provides an environment where your family can talk to each other and listen in an open forum. Grandparents offer discussion of history and family traditions.

This can also bring your family closer together in other ways. You can have each family member plan one meal for the week, or have your family plan meals together. Use this as a time to think about the nutritional value of each meal, to incorporate all of the food groups, and to also make sure that everyone has a chance to eat their favorite foods! The ideas are limitless, and it will encourage an atmosphere of sharing, kindness and caring.

Let each member of your family take part in mealtime, from setting the table to taking turns doing the dishes afterwards. It is all about family participation and sharing. Include every member of your family and be sure to be absolutely firm about this aspect of your lives. Many times schedules and appointments can interfere with family dinners, but this is a very important part of your family life, and it should be treated as such by all members of the family.

Meal time isn’t simply the time for us to eat, it is a time for us to come together as a family unit and to strengthen our bonds together. Whether you can eat one meal together a day or three, it is important to set aside at least one meal a day as a “family meal”. Your family will thank you for it!



WILLIAMS

Raymond Plona asked:


Have you ever considered having a party and coming up with the decors and embellishments yourself? For those with a good sense of creativity and artistic skills, having to do these themselves will not only bring joy to them but also as an avenue to showcase their sense of creativity. Hiring pros to do the job for you will not be easy on the wallet. Even pretty decors don’t come cheap. If you can do this yourself, you will not only save money but you will also experience a feeling of joy and accomplishment. If you don’t have time to prepare for the party then you need to be making a trip down to the thrift shop. There, you can find party decors for cheaper prices and you can also buy in bulk to even more discounts.

If ever budget will not be a problem, search the Web for those online party sites that offer a range of party products and order from them. For sure there will be plenty of choices to choose from and they also offer discounts depending upon the total quantity of your order. There are also some decorations and party props (like backdrops, additional wall decors, lights and sound effects) that can be rented for a minimum fee. You can also hire a party host or party actors that could spice up the whole event and render further entertainment.

Establishing a certain theme for your party will help you choose the kind of decorations and props that you will incorporate in the party. If the party will be catering to children, wonderful themes normally include those that are taken form television shows and movies where they could easily relate to like Harry Potter, X-men, Spiderman, Dora the Explorer, Disney and Looney Tunes characters, Sesame Street, Spiderman, Pokémon and Pirates of the Caribbean (who could ever forget Captain Jack Sparrow?).

As for their counterparts, adults (and those young adults) can chose form the following exciting themes as stated below:

Disco Fever Theme Loud colors and music is the main must haves for this theme. You should also have a wide open space that can serve as the dance floor. A disco is incomplete without a glittery disco ball.

Circus Theme This theme would come to life with clowns and gypsies. Booth like cotton candy and kissing booth should be around too.

Tropical Theme (think of Hawaiian set up, coconut palms, flowery shirts and shorts, grass skirts, flower and shell garlands, refreshments serve on partially opened coconut fruits, a Caribbean backdrop complete with the depiction of sun, sea and sky)

Rock and Roll Theme Get inspired by rock and roll groups such as KISS and Scorpions. Motorcycles, boots and leather jackets are must haves.

Arabian Nights Theme Deserts, sands, full moon as well as camel and magic carpets are the essentials.

Royal-Inspired Theme (think of kings and queens, princes and princesses and other royal blooded men and women, crowns and scepters, jewels)

Safari theme There should be lots of trees and greens as well as wild animals depicted.

Sports Theme (think of jerseys and baseball caps for designs, bats and all kinds of sports balls, sports drinks that will serve as substitute for cocktails)

Time-inspired Themes (you may choose from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s or ’80s and from there think of the stuffs that are associated with a particular period)

Hollywood Theme (think of the red carpet, flashy cameras, elegant clothing)

Ultramodern or Futuristic Theme (think of high technology attires and stuffs, you may also use glimpse of the galaxy or the universe or the Milky Way for the backdrop or wall designs)

Las Vegas Theme What more will depict Vegas than casinos? Should also have lots of lightings and even roulette.

Egyptian Theme Dress like the pharaoh, have hieroglyphics on the walls and even miniature sphinxes and pyramids.

Cultural-Inspired Theme It could be anything from Chinese New Year with dancing dragons, Deewali with lots of lights and even traditional Spanish festive.

You can go an extra mile by having party shots for the event. This way, your guest will be thrilled that they not only get to spend such a wonderful time but also have something to remind them of it years after. Party photo albums makes a great party favor.



DANTE

Sarah Gasu asked:


I love children’s parties, I love brainstorming them, I love organising them, and sometimes, I even love going to them, sometimes.

As a parent, throwing a party for your child can be a little daunting, the thought of all those little sugared up tykes tearing around can create fear in those with the most amazing constitutions, which is probably why our dear husbands suddenly disappear with fishing rod over shoulder about 20 minutes before the guests start arriving.

But with a little enthusiasm, and careful planning your party should be a hugely successful and enjoyable experience for all involved. Organisation is the key.

There is always a method to ones madness, and my method involves a step by step system to throwing the perfect party without tearing my hair out in the process.

The first and most important of all these steps was detailed in my last article, and in short, involved creating a detailed list of your ideas. Now it is time to think entertainment.

In other words, what are the kids going to do to stay occupied? This could be in the form of professional entertainment, a magician or clown, or equipment like a bouncy castle, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to still provide great entertainment.

Young children need a lot of games, and the simple ones work best. Older children want good music and time out from the parents. But no matter the age, a few well thought out games are essential to a memorable party.

For a two hour party you will need to plan around 4 to 6 games.

When planning your games naturally you will consider the ages of the guests attending, but it is also wise to consider the number, some games need even numbers to play, and if you have odd numbers you could run the risk of having someone left out. If you have boys and girls attending, consider that they don’t like each other cooties, so may not want to do anything that involves contact with each other.

Booking professional entertainers or party play equipment can take the pressure off a bit, but remember to get the best entertainment you will need to book around 6 to 8 weeks in advance, and even earlier if your party falls around a holiday to avoid disappointment.



ELLIOT

Andrea Ayling asked:


Is it possible for everyone to enjoy your kids birthday party? Including you? The answer is yes. It just takes a few kids party games a little bit of planning and the following tips. You don’t need to pay an exorbitant amount of money to have a successful party. Say no to booking that clown, fairy or magician. Say no to booking that fancy restaurant or indoor play center. You can do it yourself, save money and most importantly enjoy the experience that much more. Your kids will love you for it.

A little preparation on your part will ensure the smooth running of the party. The point of this preparation is to maximize fun at the party. It will ensure you are not running around looking for bits and pieces of equipment for a particular game or trying to understand how a game is played. Fun is the name of the game and parents are entitled to have some fun too.

A checklist of the equipment you need and the order in which you intend to play the games you select is most helpful. This way you know that your party will run smoothly and be trouble free. Flowing from one game to the next will keep the kids so enthusiastic and excited you will be surprised how quickly the time flies.

Don’t worry about supplying enormous amounts of party food either. The kids will be so involved in the games, that the food will take a back seat to everything else. Some of the games you play will include food anyway, but in a much more interactive manner.

So come on parents, save yourself some money, give yourself a laugh and bring back the kid’s party that we all grew up with and loved.



JAMEL

Angela Leon asked:


All parents have had the beautiful day dream of doing a project together as a family. Our latest one consisted of the simple task of planting a flower bed. Imagine a father, a mother, Chase a 4 year old, and Bryce and Conner twin two year olds, sadly Breanna the 13 year old was at school. Father and mother make the plan and smile at the thought of creating something beautiful together with their children.

Plan for family project!

Step 1: Mom goes to buy plants while dad and boys stay home to clear the section to be utilized as the flower bed.

Step 2: Mom returns home with flowers and the fun begins.

Step 3: Mom digs holes.

Step 4: Dad hands flower Chase.

Step 5: Chase places flower in hole.

Step 6: Bryce & Conner fill hole up with dirt.

Step 7: Water the newly planted flowers.

Step 8: Wash up and put boys down for a nap.

“The boys will have so much fun, digging in the dirt, placing the flowers in, and watching the flowers grow.” It all sounds like such a fairytale.

Reality of the family project!

Mom heads off to the store and dad begins to dig. It does not take long, approximately 5 minutes, till the boys want to help dad dig. Although their help is not in the plan for this phase, being the good dad he is, he gets each one a garden tool and shows them how to dig and remove the weeds. The boys are busy again so back to work. A couple of dirt turns in, Dad hears the familiar sound of boys screaming the famous words “that’s mine”, “I had it first”, immediately followed by “your not doing it right”! Dad stops his digging AGAIN settles the argument and back to work. He gets quite a bit further this time since it does not take long for the boys to realize playing on the swing set is more fun than digging. Dad is almost finished when he hears a scream followed by crying, Conner is lying on the ground crying. No need to worry, he is o.k., just a bruised foot.

Mom gets home during lunch, has a quick bite to eat with them and giggles at dads stories from the morning. While the boys are distracted looking at the new flowers and getting instructions from mom, dad quickly finished clearing the area. Ready to get started, mom digs the first hole, Dad hands the flower to Chase who puts it into the hole, and Bryce & Conner fill hole up with dirt. This plan is working wonderfully, until the dog runs off with the garden tools, and the boys start fighting (again) over who is supposed to do what. “When do I get to dig?” “I want to get my own flower out”. “When can we water them”? After much deliberation and chasing down the dog, mom continues to dig and dad hands each boy a flower that he is responsible for putting in the hole and filling with dirt. The boys did their jobs till they got tired of it and mom and dad came behind to finish covering with dirt, or turning over the flower that was placed in upside down. The project is finally considered done. With a light sprinkle of water, the tools are put away and the boys are herded inside to get cleaned up and ready for nap. After lots of soap, water, and a new change of clothes, the boys are put down for a nap.

At the end of the day, only about 2/3 of the flowers got planted the rest were torn apart by the dog or torn apart by the boys who really thought that they did not need help taking out the flowers. So in reference to the question, “Is it a Fun Family Project or a Three Ring Circus?” With this many kids, it is always a circus, and nothing make me happier than being at the Circus!



RODOLFO

Linda Cress Dowdy asked:


Birthday parties have somehow evolved to out of controlled expenditures with great efforts to rival celebrations at any age level.  One often wonders if the party was designed to entertainment the parents rather than the children in attendance.  This certainly does not have to be the case and I assure you the birthday child will feel just as special, if not more so with a traditional party that targets fun rather than expense.  Here are some suggestions for throwing an inexpensive birthday party that will impress parents and children alike.

The best parties are those at which there is plenty to do and everyone feels a part of the celebration, with the birthday boy or girl at the center of attention.  A return to these basics will insure pleasant memories all around.

 

To begin with, set a theme for your party or just have a traditional party with games and cake.  Select birthday invitations that include all the necessary information such as date, time and location address with your phone number.  These can be hand delivered or mailed.  It is best to make sure they get directly to the parent.  Do not hand them out at school unless you are inviting everyone in the class.

Before parents rented party venues, inflatables, ponies and clowns, parties were thrown at individual homes with parents and family members pitching in to help.  Simple crafts and games kept the party jumping before presents were opened and cake and ice cream consumed.  The birthday girl or boy was pleased, guests left happy and parents were left with no bills to pay.

Begin with simple crafts to keep everyone engaged and happy while waiting for others to arrive.  Children can make their own birthday party hats and goodie bags.  Have them decorate precut hat shapes with crayons and stickers, then staple them together and add an elastic band.  Goodie bags can begin as plain brown lunch bags.  Inexpensive prizes from games played can be collected in them.

Simple and timeless games like musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey, go fish or a bean bag toss can be enjoyed by all.  Easy to create and inexpensive, the children will enjoy the games and parents can easily manage and enjoy the laughter that comes with them.  Prizes can be inexpensive and put in their goody bags.  At the end of each game, make sure everyone gets a prize for competing and being a good sport.

A home made paper mache piñata is great fun and inexpensive to make.  Let the birthday girl or boy help design and paint it and fill it with bulk candy beforehand.  Take it outside for everyone to have a whack at it.  This loot too can be put in their goody bags.

At gift opening time, put a gift in each child\’s hands and pass them to the right while music plays.  Once the music stops, the birthday child opens the birthday cards and gift he or she is holding or the one nearest to him or her.  Repeat until all the presents are opened.

Next up is cake, singing and candle blowing.  A home made cake is simple enough with boxed mixes and pre-made frosting.  Or individual cupcakes can be fun too.  Add a scoop of ice cream and small cups of juice and enjoy.

For a final wrap up as you wait for parents to arrive, play a game of charades until all the guests have departed.  With goody bags already in hand everyone leaves happy.  Simple and traditional, hold the party outside if weather permits.  Make sure the birthday party invitations specify an end time and relax.  You\’ve done your best knowing that each year the party will get a bit easier and your child a bit older and more independent!



ALDO