Family

Candle Lit – Word Wednesday

October 4, 2017October 4, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha37 Comments

I can barely find the words to express how touched and happy I felt when my ten-year-old son offered to take care of me and make me something to eat last night as an effort to ease my stress.

Several packs of tagliatelle, cheese, carrots, tomatoes, ketchup, fish-fingers, all my spices and a messy kitchen, the young man whipped up a candle-lit dinner.

The food tasted better than any that I’d had in ages. It could have done with a little more simmering to soften the tagliatelle, but it was just perfect.

There was oodles of love, a dash of care and sprinkles of appreciation washed down with a cold glass of orange juice 🙂

Family

Transform Your Kids Into Pagemasters

September 13, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha10 Comments

You might be thinking about trying to get your kids more interested in reading. There are plenty of kids who just aren’t interested in reading at an early age and have to be encouraged at a far later stage usually, in teenage years. Of course, we teach our kids the basics but once they have grasped this many only read when they are forced to, rather than in their spare time. That said there are many benefits of encouraging your kids to read in their spare time.

First, research shows that reading boosts a child’s vocabulary as well as their general level of intellect. Reading may also lead to improvements in memory and general cognitive performance. Through reading, some children may also be encouraged to write in their spare time, finding a passion for creative writing that could serve them well over the next few years. You might think that it’s too late to get your kids interested in reading, but it’s never too late. Some people find a love for reading well into adult life and become people who can’t go through a week without picking up a good book. But how do you get your kids interested in reading?

Passive Reading

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You might struggle to get your kids to pick up a book or download one, but how about listening to a book? There are some fantastic audio books out there that kids will love. For instance, you can pick up the Harry Potter books read by famous British comedian Stephen Fry. The man reads with such expression and adds his own unique magical wonder to this truly fantastic book series. You might think that passive reading isn’t as beneficial for children as picking up a book. It’s true that some of the words will wash over them, but others will stay in their mind. They might even hear a word that they don’t understand and look it up later.

Find A Book They Love

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The problem that most people find when trying to get their kids to read is that they push the classics into their hand. The Call Of The Wild is a brilliant book, and some kids are going to find the novel from a dog’s perspective enthralling. Others, however, will be completely bored. They might be more interested in a novel series such as Alex Rider. This book series is based on the adventures of a teenage spy and is just one in a sea of similar books in the genre. However, the brilliance of this particular trilogy is that it’s written by a prestigious murder mystery writer who has worked on classic shows like Foyle’s War and Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. As such, the books have such pulse pounding tension that kids find them hard to put down. The books also have a fairly loyal adult following.

Introduce Them To The Digital World Of Books

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If you really want to get your kids into reading, you might want to think about buying them a Kindle. This will allow them to read and download as many books as they want without buying each individual hard copy. This gives kids a lot of freedom to let them read what they want, how they want. You probably already have a Kindle yourself. If you do, you’ll know one of the major benefits is that there are a lot of free books available by great authors that are slightly less well known. If you’re wondering where to get free Kindle e-books, there are lots of different options, with some even recognized and recommended by popular published authors. This allows kids to go off the beaten path a little more and find writing that they have probably never heard of before. Don’t worry, kids won’t be able to read whatever they want on their Kindle. There are parental controls to ensure you are still in control of their reading.

Family Reading

Family, Reading Time, Bonding Flickr Picture

Finally, if you have younger children, you may want to try family reading times. Family reading works a lot like reading in school. The children get to pick the book to read, and you all take turns reading it out loud as a family. It’s a great way to share reading together, and kids often love hearing the expression that their parents put into it when it’s their turn to take a chapter.

I hope you use these tips to get your kids a little more involved in reading, outside the typical books that they will usually find in school. It can bring fantastic benefits.

Family

Dressing Up For The First Time.

March 24, 2017March 24, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

Of course, I knew that she would grow up, I watched her do so right under my eyes’ but I didn’t expect it so soon. I can still remember our toddling days with amazing clarity.

Yet, nothing really prepares you for the teenage years and seeing your baby girl all dressed up, sparkling in a teenage fashion dinner dress topped off with beautiful inexpensive fashion jewelry has a way of bringing a lump to your throat.

My rough and tumble tomboy has turned into a princess. The old gives way to the young and the circle of life continues.

We chose a simple off-shoulder blue-black ball gown that is not overwhelming and the fashion jewelry of shiny stones and sterling silver.

Quick tips for choosing jewellery.

Keep it simple. Don’t go over the top looking for prestigious names.

Silver is in and has a way of blending with anything.

Check the mark and look for products marked sterling silver, which is 92.5 percent silver. Avoid Nickel and German silver. They don’t really have silver in them and some tend to irritate the skin especially if they are not hypoallergenic.

Enjoy the shopping experience. Find laughter and fun. These are memories that would last a lifetime.

P.S. I chose not to put her full photo.

Family

This is what love looks like.

February 15, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha30 Comments

Yesterday, my young son spent some quiet time scribbling in a corner and every time I passed by him he hid his work. I thought that he was drawing one of his lovely artworks (he’s gifted and draws pretty well) and didn’t bother him.

To my delight, he presented me with a nicely wrapped parcel – he had raided my bathroom and wrapped some of my bottles of bath gel and scented candle along with his sweet card.

What can I say? Just that my heart is filled with joy and thankfulness for this child of mine. He’s always sensitive to others. Always seeks ways in his little capacity to make everyone around him happy – even outside our home. He’s just an awesome blessing.

Family · food

9 Great benefits when our young children cook for the family.

June 11, 2016January 28, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha28 Comments

For quite a while now, most weekends I involve all my children in cooking a meal or two.

This was how I learnt in my mothers’ kitchen and it’s invaluable to start them young (as soon as they are old enough to help with bringing the tomatoes) for so many reasons.

It builds their self-esteem, confidence and they feel like valued contributors.
It helps to grow their sense of independence so that even when you are not around, they can easily cope on their own.
It helps you a great deal on days that you are just too worn out to think straight. They can easily whip up an omelette for you.
It’s fun and offers a great bonding time as well. We swap stories or just generally chit-chat.
It offers them the opportunity to learn a basic life skill and you never know what direction life can take them.
Real life science and opportunity to experiment.
Calculation skills are introduced here as well as better comprehension; I ask them to write down what they learnt or to read a recipe and explain it to me.
You increase their imagination – to the point that my children now hunt for new recipes that we can try 🙂
A nice way of sneaking in the vegetables, since ordinarily, two of my children avoid veggies, but taking part in making it does a wonderful thing to the mind.

…and yes, the food tastes extra special 🙂

Yesterday, we made our own version of baked potatoes and vegetable casserole with meatballs.

My daughter selected and washed the items according to my directions – I was the Operations Director 😉

They all participated in the paring, grating, cubing of the vegetables and potatoes, whilst mommy’s responsibility was to add the spices, assemble the processed items and set it to bake.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the finished product before we dug into it, luckily, I took a couple of photos when we started.

Recipe:

1 big sweet potatoes – peeled, washed and grated

3 medium sized Irish potatoes – peeled, washed and cubed

Half a head of Broccoli

3 large tomatoes

1 large onions

4 medium carrots – peeled, washed and grated

4 big white mushrooms

I large yellow bell pepper.

2 beaten eggs for binding.

Fresh garlic – out of a clove, I use like 4 pieces.

Spinach – a handful

A sprinkle of parsley

Oregano – half teaspoon

A dash of curry spice

Salt – 3 teaspoons

2 cubes of Maggi stock

25-50 gms of grated cheddar cheese – layered through and sprinkled on top.

1 pack of minced meat – spiced and rolled into balls with breadcrumbs.

Served a family of 5 with generous helpings and leftovers 🙂

Have a great weekend and do share your tips with us.

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

From the very first poem, “Dreams,” this book captivates with passionate and perceptive words. Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha captures a broad expanse of the human experience in this book of richly layered poems.

Family · Fascinating · Mundane Monday

Friend or Foe…Mundane Monday

May 30, 2016May 30, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Mundane Monday challenge is created to find beauty in almost everything.

The challenge is simple : find beauty in everyday mundane things, capture the beauty and upload the photographs.

The friendly Moth on the window pane came flitting by to say hello where I sat outside having a bit of chill time with my daughter who was filling my ears with school stuff.

My girl squealed and took off so fast you would think the moth is a foe. We are all differently cut out.

Interestingly, she can stare at vile snakes (at the zoo) that mere thoughts of them gives me the heebie-jeebies, while a Moth gives her the shivers 🙂

I had to fish out facts about Moths to teach her that they are harmless.

Below is my first Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Family

May 25th…3 years today…

May 25, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha31 Comments

It’s been three years today
that you went from dust to dust
yet, the tugging pain
feels like yesterday.
Ever in my heart
and on my mind
Forever you remain
the best dad
I could have
asked for.

Gone but never forgotten.

Family · food

Breakfast in bed…

May 21, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha29 Comments

My soul gives thanks
for the blessed hands
that prepared this morning’s fare.
My children felt that their mommy
deserved some breakfast in bed.
Some greasy eggs and diced sausages
they whipped into an omelette.
I ain’t complaining, greasy or not
it’s certainly delicious 😊
A handful of grapes
Some toasted bread
a dab of cheese and tea
now my tummy is all ecstatic
mommy is thinking poetic.

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Eyes full of resplendent thoughts,

I watched a butterfly flit around

from a petal to another like a true flirt,

not too sure on which one to settle.

It’s an appetite inducing exercise to listen raptly,

I dug into the sizzling barbecue with a sigh of pleasure.

***

*an extract from my poem*

Family · The Great Book Of Lists

Those who influence my life…Personal

May 12, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha9 Comments

This week’s prompt for The great book of lists, La Duchesse wants us to talk about those who inspire us, so here goes:

At each juncture in my life, there are those who have inspired me and still inspire me. Their presence influences my past, present, and future.

My Dad: Without doubts, my father -God rest his soul- has remained the most influential man in my life.

He was a peaceful, loving, upright and hardworking soul whose views to life was very simple.

His integrity was impeccable and he would always tell us that once you don’t covet that which belonged to another, you would have a peaceful life.

There’s no day that passes that the echoing whisper of his words doesn’t reverberate in my mind. Especially when he would always tell you that anything worth doing, is worth doing well.

My quintessential mother: A gracious, generous, beautiful woman.

If half of the milk of human kindness that flows in this woman’s veins flows through mine, then I will consider myself a decent human.

She still remains my confidant, my prop, my source of inspiration and light.

My dear Himself: This husband of mine who drives me crazy, loves me and makes me know what love is. He’s a good man. A generous and loving dad to his children.

He pushes me to be better and to aspire for more.

He dreams big dreams and his intelligence never fails to impress me.

Now, if only I can get him to agree to everything I say….;-)

My children inspire me every day. I want to be a great parent because of them.

I want to leave a legacy that when they look back tomorrow, even when I’m gone, they will be happy that God chose me as their mother.

Others: I have a healthy dose of respect for people (famous or not) who wear the aura of positivity despite all the challenges that they might have faced or are facing. Such people inspire me.

My aggressors: Why would I choose such negative crowd?

This is a story that hasn’t been told.

Not because the words and the memories are gone, but because I’m not mentally ready and maybe some day, it will find it’s way into my memoir.

Yes, they inspired me not to curl up and die.

They inspired me to rise out of the burnt ashes from moments of insanity.

I will rest here. Blessed Be.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

I can see clearly now the ghosts are laid to rest

Broken visions melded and better than the first

Atop the ladder of scattered dreams and buried bones,

I glimpse the brighter vision reflected and renewed.

**an excerpt of my poem**