“How I saved my kids from sugar”

 The writer Yoni Freedhoff shared his experience in the article “How I saved my kids from sugar” (November 2018), saying that kids consume too much sugar from their friendly environments like grandparents and teachers. He then discussed how the parents could prevent it. He called them “The pushers.” Who are the people encouraging or giving sugar to the kids? According to the writer, these “Pushers” are everywhere. Mr. Freedhoff is a parent and a doctor who knows very well how much sugar a child can have in a day and how much they take in real life. Sometimes, people are taking sugar unknowingly. Traditionally, kids have been treated with sugar or sugar-based products, like candy. However, people can get enough sugar naturally from different fruits and vegetables. After that, unknowingly, they might consume more sugar from processed food, like tomato juice, yogurt, etc. Too much sugar consumption may cause various diseases. So, the government has made a rule that on the package, the ingredients list must mention that the product has sugar. Parents can also stop preparing junk food or sugar-based items at home and parties. Freedhoff also said it is tough to stop taking these tons of sugar because of politicians and greedy businesspeople.

 

Source:

Freedhoff, Y. (2018, November). How I saved my kids from sugar. The Walrus

https://thewalrus.ca/think-you-can-limit-your-kids-sugar-intake-think-again/

Biography 103: Headmistress 2

 When we were in grade 10, I realized that our iron, lady the headmistress isn't in her regular mood anymore. We use to see her every day scolding someone or patrolling the school or hear some news of her strong activity. When suddenly all stopped, I was a little surprised. What's going on?

One of my classmates informed me that she is going to retire, so now she is very nice to everyone. Aha, let's utilize this situation.

Our school was from grade 5 to 10. So, grade 10 students are the most senior of the school and they mostly run all activities of the school. Kind of boss of all students. I never did or never had seen to dictate or bully any junior student. We were very nice with all, but we were the decision-makers and the captain of every activity.

One day some of us were staying in the school after school time. I don't remember the reason, probably we were waiting for the extra class for our SSC exam. As we had some free time, we were playing, ran, rode on trees etc. Then we started starving. I saw our headmistresses room is open, so she was there. I asked other girls, let's go to her and ask for money to buy some snacks. Other girls got afraid, I said no worry, I will ask her. I went to her room, some of the girls joined me to watch the drama. 

I give her salam, she replied. I told her we are here in the school from the very morning, now starving. She laughed at me (As I expected) then took her bag, bring out some money and give it to me. I told her, some more girls are waiting outside too. She laughed out loud, again she gave me more money. I don't remember how much she gave to me, it wasn't any big amount, but it was a great memory with her. It was the last conversation with her. I only spoke with her twice.

Then we all run out of the school and decided to buy some pickles from a pickle seller in front of our school. We came inside and sit on the trees and started enjoying the pickles. Some of our teachers were going out to their homes. They saw us, we are eating pickles in the noon. One of them said, what are you guys doing? is it a time to eat pickles? I replied, our headmistress gave us money to buy this. They all laughed and the teacher said, I'm sure she didn't give you money to buy pickles.

Biography 70: New friends came

 We have started living in Bangladesh permanently when I became 8 years old. We had rented an apartment in a new place. One day some kids from our neighbourhood came to our house. My mom opened the door. They talked, then my mom called us (I and my older sister) and said, these kids are from our neighbour, they came here to pick you up to play with them. Every afternoon they came for a couple of days.

Now I can say, I lived in many places. But never neighbourhood kids came to help us to join them. It was a great gesture from the kids and their parents, which I never had after that, nowhere in this world.

They took us downstairs. There was an open space near our boundary wall. Now a new apartment builds there, so no space for future kids. On that day, didn't take us over there as we were very new and don't know the roads. They just stay on the main floor of our apartment. Then they asked us, what can we play. I was very new in Bangladesh. I didn't know the game names they were suggesting. Finally, I found one known game, "Kumir Kumir (Crocodile crocodile)". It means all kids will stay in a little higher place. The plain land will be the area of a crocodile. If anyone gets down and a crocodile touches them, that person will become the next crocodile and everyone else will stay in high land. When anyone came down to the crocodile area, they usually say, "Crocodile, I'm here in your water".

We played for a couple of days that game until everyone get bore.

Biography 09: Little people’s gang

 

If you have an older brother or sister, you can relate to this situation. When they play, they don’t want you to play with them. Because you are small, you can’t play like them. Nobody wants to listen to you, because they think, you only speak on unnecessary issues. No one cares what you want, because you are a very little person, so you don’t have any need. Whatever elders decide about you, that’s final. You don’t have any word.

 

I have heard, people want to go back to their childhood. I never want it back. I like the freedom. I know I make lots of mistakes. But still, I like to take a final decision about myself. No one else shouldn’t put anything on me.

 

When I was about 3 years old, I started facing problems with older people. In those days’ guardians didn’t feel trouble to let kids go around the neighbourhood. So, all kids like me in a neighbour made a group. The reality is older kids kind of push us back in a group. And I became the gang leader. My first leadership. I used to listen to all, But the final decision is mine. I am a good leader (I believe).

 

On Eid, there is a big Eid fair use to hold on to the Komolapur Railway field. Hour home was near that place. All kids collected Salami the whole day and then go the fair to shop and enjoy various rides. I wanted to go there. But older decided, we have nothing to do over there and it’s a burden for them if must take and look after us. No one will like this decision. So, we kid decide to go by ourselves. We knew the path, we can walk.

 

We didn’t have much money but whatever we had we took it with us and went away. After a few hours’ parents notice a bunch of kids are missing in the neighbour. They asked the older kids and they have no idea what happens. As the whole group is missing, they understood, we are all together, probably went to the fair. Why not?

 

I don’t know how we get inside without any ticket, or there was no ticket. It was very crowded, so soon we get separated. We didn’t mind. We all know how to go back home. It was in my neighbour. I was looking at toys (Kitchen cook wear) and thinking about how I can buy those with a small amount of money. Suddenly I felt someone put a hand on my shoulder. I looked back; it was my uncle. Then he had a big smile like EUREKA! He said, no worries I will buy you whatever you like. Let’s go home.

শিশুরা অনেক স্মার্ট (Kids are actually very smart)

[English version has given below]

ছুটির দিন, টিভির সামনে বসলাম, সকালের নাস্তা খেতে। এ এক্স এন- এ "হাউস" দেখাচ্ছিল (একজন ডাক্তারের নানা অভিজ্ঞতার কাহিনী)... 
হসপিটালে এক ভাই, তার ছোট ভাইকে নিয়ে এসেছে। ছোট ভাইটি এতো ছোট যে বসতে পারে কোন রকমে। সে নাকের মাঝে একটা ছোট খেলনা ঢুকিয়ে ফেলেছে। এখন চিৎকার...। ড: অনেক কষ্টে ফরসেপ দিয়ে টেনে খেলনাটা বের করেছেন। দেখলেন একটা পুলিশ (পুতুল)। পরের দিন আবারও একই ঘটনা। এবার ড: নাক থেকে বের করলেন পুলিশের গাড়ি (খেলনা), পরের দিন আবার একই ঘটনা। বড় ভাই বললেন, "সব ওর হাতের নাগাল থেকে সরিয়ে ফেলেছি তারপরও কিভাবে যে খুজে বের করে ঢুকিয়েছে। এতো ব্যাথা পায়, তারপরও বোকা ছেলেটা যে আবার ঢুকায়।" ড: সেদিন বের করলেন একজন ফায়ার ম্যানের পুতুল। ড: অনেকক্ষন খেলনা ৩টার দিকে তাকিয়ে রইলেন। তারপর বললেন, "মনে হয় আপনি যা ভাবছেন তার চেয়ে আপনার ভাই অনেক বেশি স্মার্ট।" ড: তখন নাক থেকে এক ধরনের মেশিন দিয়ে (দাতের ডাক্তাররা যা দিয়ে পানি শুষে নেয় মুখ থেকে) নাকের ভিতর থেকে বের করলেন একটা ছোট স্টিলের বিড়াল!! 
ছোট বাচ্চাটা আসলে এটাকে বের করার জন্য একবার পুলিশ, একবার ফায়ার ম্যান আর একবার পুলিশের গাড়ি নাকে ঢুকিয়েছিল!! (সে মনে করেছিল, পুলিস বা ফায়ারম্যান তার নাক থেকে বিড়ালটিকে বের করে দিতে সাহায্য করবে)

[২৮ শে ডিসেম্বর, ২০০৬]

It was a holiday, so I took my breakfast and sit in front of TV. On moment in AXN (TV Channel), House (Drama serial) was going on (Here they show a doctor’s different experience in his life)…

A big brother came to the hospital with his younger brother. The young man was a small kid, which he can only manage to sit somehow. That small kid put a toy into his nose, now screaming in pain. After trying hard the doctor could bring out the toy with a forceps. He found it’s a police (toy). Next day that kid had came again in the hospital with same problem. This time the doctor brings out a police car (toy), and next day again same problem. The elder brother really couldn’t found a clue how this is happening, he said, “I had hid all the toys to stop this incident, but still he search and found and then put that into the nose in others absent. He is feeling the pain, but didn’t stop this playing, what a stupid kid!”

The doctor looked at the 3 toys for long time, then replied “The kid is smarter than you thought”

Then he uses a sucker machine (Generally dentists use it) and put it into the nose, and brings out tiny cat made of steel! To bring out that cat the kid was sending the police, police car and fireman into his nose…

[December 28, 2006]

If we don’t educate humanity to our kids, then from where they will learn?

Me with kids

Generally boys became closer to mom than girls. In the same way girls became daddy’s favorite kid than boys. My younger boy was little different. Generally he never goes to my mom unless he needs something. One day I read a poem from my school book “choyonika” (it’s not available now). It was “Bayojeed Bostami” and explained to him (It’s about a boy, whose mom asked water and then fall in sleep. The boy woke up and went too far place to bring a glass of water and stand still next to mom until she woke up to give her water).  After that I saw my brother changed, he started stay near to mom and listen to her (well his attitude didn’t stay for long).  And I found that a good writing can really make a person better.

I believe if we put good writing, poem of our good poets in our text books, the kid will learn how to love their motherland, how to love the environment of our country, how to respect our parent etc. They won’t learn anything if they get to know that one bridge was get fired and drop down, or some kids fall down from a hill or any egg drops and break down.