Movies like Sound of Music painted a glowing picture of a big family with warmth, sharing and fun and ready to support playmates. They reflect the belief that large families encourage resourcefulness, independence and responsibility while discouraging selfishness and feeling sorry for oneself.

Not anymore! Some think that a big family can be a buffer against what they see as the rootless ness and isolation of modern life. Whatever, the brunt of raising a family falls mainly on the woman, despite efforts at equalizing the burden. The real problem begins when there is sibling rivalry. Sibling rivalry is a competition for the affection and attention of their parents. Two best known Bible stories deal with bitter feuds between brothers – The Cain and Abel and the rivalry of Joseph and his brothers.Psychologists authors of ‘Siblings without Rivalry’ suggest that instead of thinking of equality in everything from parental attention to music lessons, parents should be sensitive to each child’s individual needs. Usually, when the younger child is born, the older is bewildered one as at the corner of his mind, he is scared of his own security and unwilling to share the parental love. Early influences play lasting roles.

Getting frustrated with Siblings problems is no solution – god has fashioned a way of loving and nurturing the tender hearts with warmth and love which is the real ‘roots of love’ – all about loving relationships!

Read Counselling Pages @ Kidsfreesouls



I recommend this read. Psychologists authors of ‘Siblings without Rivalry’ suggest that instead of thinking of equality in everything from parental attention to music lessons, parents should be sensitive to each child’s individual needs

- Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

If dreams had wings, we could fly and soar high in the skies. We really did have day dreams as a child as we read the stories like Hansel & Gretel, Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and more n more! These stories make your dreams sound true. It had fascinated us as we read the Classic Adventures of Arabian Nights with stories like Alladdin, Ali Baba and forty Thieves, Sinbad the Sailor ....Wow, it really had been so much Fun. Gone are the days of fun reads as today's kids have no time to stand and stare. They are so much into school texts, computers, television, video games and fun galore! Reading is almost on the back seat. Ask a child to sit in the cosy corner of the room and read, bounce back a reply 'It would be great if I can play a game on my computer or watch a cartoon show' - Now, sure this is the next Gen, Techno Kids, Hi-Fi on road to super highway of Information & Entertainment. Relax, its usually we follow herd mentality but than whoever steps aside, is an 'Exceptional' Whizz too! Enjoy the Reads, encourage Reading, Pursue Creativity.

- Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

Today I hung the Ferrari Poster in my room and getting ready to watch the Formula 1 Racing on Saturday. This excites me also to let you know of 'Brum' the kiddy car on Pogo channel. Hey, its just like the Herbie - running after the villain who has stolen the crown and makes you laugh kiddishly with its tricks. Well, I think, the suave James Bond also geared for perfection as per his image in the books of Ian Fleming with usually a plot revolving around a mission with characters like a special woman, a villain, an exotic location and a car!!! The cars in James Bond movies are ‘special featured’ and they can speak, listen and swing in action too! Hey! Car freaks, there's a new song of Evanescence 'Bring me to Life...Wake me up Inside' in the latest Mitsubishi Lancer Advertisement...Woww....what a Car! Watch it cool there - switch on to HBO!

Play games on my site - www.kidsfreesouls.com/games.htm

-Blossomsmile ilaxi
Editor, Kidsfreesouls

My in-depth study on the psychology of childrens' minds reveal the facts that their attitudes are solely dependent on their circumstances and their upbringing levels at home & school. It's one thing sure any kid require is 'Love, patience & Self Esteem.' Communication is proven skill. Talking n Listening to kids simply doesn't mean communication but Understanding with luv and patience is the key to successful parenting. It is a marathon task coping with parental frustrations and negative attitudes of kids. The child would not develop warm relationship due to damaged sense of self. The higher children's self esteem, the more secure, decisive, friendly, trusting, cheerful, optimistic and purposeful they are. Child's willingful cooperation, setting limits, alternate punishments are all the points to be focused so that parenting becomes more a joy to bring up kids. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish is my recommendation for reading and as we see the world on brimming new technologies, the techno hi fi kids too need a lot of understanding.

- Blossomsmile ilaxi
Editor, Kidsfreesouls

"The woods are lovely dark and deep,
And I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep"
- Robert Frost

The Romantic poets of the 1800s believed people could live in harmony with nature. Robert Frost, the poet whose poetry enriched the culture of the US and the philosophy of the world had a different note to say. He thought, the purpose of people and nature are never the same and so nature's meanings can never be known. Probing for nature's secrets is futile. Humanity's best chance for serenity does not come from understanding the natural environment but comes from working usefully and productively amid the external forces of nature.

Work is worship I guess but the conern is when people become workoholics, many feel the blues and this is when one needs to apply 'brakes' - One needs apply the art of 'Let Go'. Let go create spaces, simply doing nothing, sitting silently or just freaking out. Stop doing, stop being creative. By 'Let go' workoholics would not turn towards lazy attitude but on the contrary, be more relaxed, the more powerful explosions and work will start having quality of creativity. Loving the work is art itself but knowing potentialities and plunging into creativity is Happiness.

- Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

A poster in my room reads "Attitude is everything in life" with four glasses filled with drink – Half filled (Pessimist), half empty and half filled brimming from top (Optimist), full empty floating on top (spiritualist) and finally, full glass empty (Realist) Now, one can say, vision is the art of seeing things invisible and so, when we think deeper, it gives us a sense what it means to possess a ‘Positive’ or ‘Negative’ Attitude in life. The circle of life is the path which treads through the thick and thin and it’s the Attitude – It makes a big difference! Happiness and success are thought to be inter connected but really speaking, our vision to change Attitude so as to attain peace of mind or that flows by being pessimist, optimist, spitualist or just being realistic! Isn't this true?

-Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

It’s the need of the hour for Multiple use forest management as we mark 21st March as World Forestry Day. Forests can provide water for communities, food and shelter for wildlife; and recreation areas for campers, hikers and picnickers and business for many. As a growing concern for Environment, we see a lot of weight put on campaigns like Save Trees, Save Water, Save Wild Life, Save Environment – In fact, on a concern ‘How many of Rainforests are protected?’ at Environment Talk @ Kidsfreesouls.com, it is understood that Scientists and policymakers at the Switzerland-based World Conservation Union (IUCN) estimate that there are 44,000 “protected areas” worldwide, covering over 13 million square kilometers, an area equivalent to the landmass of India and China combined. These areas, which include rainforests but which can also be agricultural lands, national parks, reserves, forested land, marine sanctuaries and more, cover about 10 percent of the Earth’s surface. To Save Environment is a worldwide concern and as the ozone hole enlarges, it is estimated that sea levels would be rising high by 2020, nevertheless, changing the parts of the world.

More information on Rainforests can be derived at Worldwatch Institute, www.worldwatch.org; or Rainforest Alliance, www.rainforest-alliance.org . If you want to ask any Question, send to me at Environment Talk on my website. Editor Doug Moss is sure to answer your queries.

- Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

I have the series of Books of DK Essential Managers and find Tim Handle's Books too informative. Manage Your Time (For Instant Managers) By Tim is one of the book which is sure a handy pick for newbie Management Buffs. How often we hear guys shrugging off casually: 'ugh, time is short, we're busy' I think, we all have 24 hours in a day, 7 days a week, yielding 168 hours per week. Take away the sleep hours and hours engaged in fetching results we desire! Hence, its wise to work 'smarter' than work 'harder' and this requires efficient 'Time Management' Walt Whitman, the poet, said it best, "The most powerful time is when we are alone, thinking about what we are to do." Daily Planning helps us to focus on what is really crucial and important in our day to come and permits us to identify time to use wasted hours more productively. This has been my experience but when I read this book of Tim, it sure is more to Accomplish 'Managing Time' with his neat tips under various categories like :

1. Understanding Time - Changing Attitude
2. Analyzing use of time - Keeping Time logs,
3. Assessing ability - A quick Quiz
4. Planning for success - Analyzing goals, work, prioritizing
5. Using Time Planners
6. Getting Organized
7. Phone Calls - Managing calls
8. Reading & writing - Dos n Dont's
9. Technology skills
10.Meetings & Travel tips

This and more, the Book is thorough self training and changing Attitude. I have all time in the world to read, write, web design, promote, market, handle admin work, attend meetings, run kids class, meet friends, go partying,listen n play music, cook and what not - all coz of Time planning and planning time with 7 days a week. This book has cool tips of dos n don'ts, analyzing quiz, charts and very good presentation and once you shrugg off the wry look to wring for an extra half hour, think of the wonders a human brain can do - a cool book for every student, business guy, tech buffs and especially those bubbly MBAs who seem to lack time! A great Pick - Get Self Trained, Get More Accomplished with your Time.

For more reviews on this Essential Manager series, you sure have to visit my Amazon freak place. All you do is click to 'Blossomsmile ilaxi' on side bars or on my website.

-Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

Last two days, I couldn't log but tuned late nights playing with my Remote and switching to channels on Television. All the news channels almost had some sort of 'Crime' - creating sensational hype of news. One day it was Bombing the Baghdad Hotel and the next day, a rape case of an Australian lady and all the sort of power, swindling, corruption, political pulling legs - crimes galore!

Have you ever thought that kids are the silent observers and respond faster to the environmental influence surrounding them? Drugs, Kidnapping, Stealing, Beating, bullying, sexual abusing, violence are the many things that threaten crime calling for alarm signals. Early influences play lasting roles in lives of kids. There has been a new light on bad habits that shape their character. Cigarette addicts, drug addicts, alcohol addicts, chewing tobacco or being spendthrift - Any kind of vices adopted are almost influenced from their nearest surrounding. Children watch out and are sensitively alert to the happenings that take place. There is a constant interplay of mental faculties with the hearing, seeing, speaking and thinking capabilities that nurture their growth. This is a tricky time to protect kids from Crime. Necessarily, protecting from crime – from being kidnapped, raped, humiliated, bullied, rejected, being addict to drug, alcohol or vices and on other fronts, protecting them from being Criminal minds. Some movies that show Gang wars,Bank Robbery or like, it’s the alert signal for a parental to be ready for a feedback to the young mind who may sense out the message in a negative influence. An Italian Criminologist, Cesare Lombrose theorized that most criminals arise mainly from environmental conditions such as urban pressures, poverty and a poor home life. Kids, especially Teenagers who are negativistic, destructive, aggressive and delinquent have strong influence on others trapped under their unhealthy murkiness attitude.

Come Elections in India and its time to Stop the Crime – It’s in our hands. The Mob frenzy in Gujarat has directly or indirectly made many kids the victims of Crime – Stop them being Criminals too! Let there be no more Community flare nor a mob fury. It's time to teach the kids to live out. Teach yourself to survive too. Build the basics and build them strong to protect kids from Crime – to stop them from being criminals. It's the need of the hour to Build the Pillars of Characters.

Protect kids from crime : www.kidsfreesouls.com/crimenkids.htm


- Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

A few days ago, I visited N.R.School (GLS) to judge kids for 'Proficiency Award' for the Year. The Principal Ms. Rita Baker had the students gathered in a Hall where after a brief Introduction, we set off to take the Proficiency test. The first was a picture round and the second a Prop round and finally, some general IQ questionnaire. When asked to a child 'If you were told to earn some money in a day, how would you do?' Prompt came the reply by Raj Sanjay Shah of 7th std, "I will open a Sandwich shop" and Aishwarya, 4th std. said "I will teach the weak students and be a tutor". Well, Confidence is the Key to success and it's the right attitude that makes a big difference in Life. In the Prop round, it had been 'Imagining' ...and this reminded me of Peace song by John Lennon and I guess, if there were no 3 p's (Priest, Politician & Press) in the world, there would be peace around! Here goes the song for you all :

Imagine by John Lennon

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No Hell below us
Above us only sky.

Imagine all the people
Living for today ...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace ...

You, you may say I am a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one.

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world ...

You, you may say I am a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one.

Sing along, spread peace & Keep the Faith!

Attitude :http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/attitude.htm

- Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

It is said 'A Consumer is the King' - 15th March marked as a world consumer day, it's time to be a 'Smart Shopper' and not led by misleading advertisements that we often come across.Today, women are a prime target for many products and services as women influence greatly purchase decisions and so do the kids focused in 'buying roles'. Women acts as initiators, influencers, decision makers, purchasers and findings reveal that working women plays a major role with purchases as it is attributed to their financial autonomy and need for such goods to reduce workload and maintain status quo. As a result, the choice of store is choosing 'comfortable shopping'. However, men too go in for brand shopping and more. It is the Consumer Awareness which is prime concern for Human Rights.Time be alert not to get cheated, find out what ISI Quality mark means and if you go for shopping, make sure to ask for a receipt. The Indian Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is geared up for Consumer Protection on World Consumer Rights Day, 15th March 2004. Take the opportunity to get consumer literate and find out whether the products you use are genuine, properly weighed, what you pay is worth - Even don't hesitate to bargain on M.R.P. (Market retail price). The Gujarat Government Hon.Minister Mr. Kaushik Patel for Revenue with Additional charge for Food & Civil Rights & consumer Affairs and Consumer Cell, is all geared for Consumer Awareness Programme which will be open for public with practical examples. Indeed an Initiative Step! Afterall, 'Swadeshi' is labelled with 'imported' and the mix blends do need a 'Consumer Watch' sometimes!

-Editor, kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

Albert Einstein - The Genius was born this earth on March 14, 1879 in Germany. One of the fathers of the Nuclear Age, he wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 2nd august 1939 that it might be possible to build an atomic bomb. Einstein had urged Roosevelt to provide governmental help for the study of the release of nuclear energy. Einstein also warned the President that Nazi Germany might already be trying to build an atomic bomb. His letter helped set the United States on the long, difficult and costly path that finally led to the production of an atomic bomb in 1945.

A day came when dropping of the Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima became a History and a bitter Memory! This reminds me of a read of a book 'Germs'. Maybe if any of you passing by my blog find it interesting read, here goes my Review @ Amazon :Germs

In this groundbreaking work of investigative journalism, Judith Miller, Stephen Engelberg, and William Broad of The New York Times uncover the truth about biological weapons and show why bio-warfare and bio-terrorism are fast becoming our worst national nightmare.

Among the startling revelations in Germs:

How the CIA secretly built and tested a model of a Soviet-designed germ bomb, alarming some officials who felt the work pushed to the limits of what is permitted by the global treaty banning germ arms.

How the Pentagon embarked on a secret effort to make a superbug.

Details about the Soviet Union's massive hidden program to produce biological weapons, including new charges that germs were tested on humans.

How Moscow's scientists made an untraceable germ that instructs the body to destroy itself.

The Pentagon's chaotic efforts to improvise defenses against Iraq's biological weapons during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

How a religious cult in Oregon in the 1980s sickened hundreds of Americans in a bio-terrorism attack that the government played down to avoid panic and copycat strikes.

Plans by the U.S. military in the 1960s to attack Cuba with germ weapons.

Frightening and unforgettable narrative of cutting-edge, Germs could be the worst nightmare, a weapon of 21st century!! Aren't we experiencing with Iran, Iraq and rest of the world somewhere or the other?

- Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

Gone 12th March and it's been 18 years completion of Sambhaav Newspapers with 'Kids-Freesouls' as its 6 years supplement input. It has strived to inspire its readers with its Leadership qualities, motivating and promoting creativity with clear communication and offering the best Information, Education, Entertainment and lots more. It’s the Human relations that counts for a ‘Team Work’ as Kidsfreesouls focus more on ‘We’ rathar than ‘I’ and the secrets of a longstanding successive years as they roll by are based on the developed ‘Strengths’ – the inner power of managing to achieve Excellence with a dash of determination and confidence to reach the goals.

Napoleon described a journalist as "a grumbler, a censor, a giver of advice... a tutor of nations," and added that four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets. True, and more true in these days of moral corrosion in public life. Against this background, a journalist acquires great significance; he can make or break, destroy and mould. A writer can expose, review, inform, entertain, teach, preach or just about perform his role in writing media with clarity, power and impact. News, comments and entertainment are the axis on which the media world revolves. While newspapers and magazines by and large cater to the serious minded who are seeking in-depth reports and analyses or information or a bit of entertainment and education here or there, television and radio is for the fun loving. Nevertheless, the power of the electronic media to capture and bring live what is happening around the world into your drawing room, is simply matchless. If the electronic media is the first with news, the print media is the best with news – giving a wealth of insight, detail and perspective. The print media is unbeatable with range of coverage, local as well as global with additional inputs on entertainment, education, political, science, sports etc. Thousands of events happen everyday, which can neither be found in print media or can be viewed on television or surfed on net. Television viewing and Net surfing demands a lot of time, money and energy but for a mass community, print media is a sure fire way towards keeping oneself informed, aware, entertained, educated!

Yeah, I have to say now that Technology is changing and with this change, anyone can now Syndicate their news, websites, blogs - Viola, all you got to do is get that xml.rss feeds. You can syndicate your news or get news feeds on your site. Just log to www.kidsfreesouls.com and click the 'Add to My Yahoo' button and You can now add my blog to your Yahoo and as you log enter 'My Yahoo', set the news feeds as per your choice and taste. It's cool to read the stuff while you work online! A much better feel to view your fav song or find your Best read on Bookshelf.

Happy Reading....Keep the Faith!

- Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

Coming 14th March, it reminds us of the great Composer Johann Strauss, largely self-taught as a musician, he developed the waltz in the form and style we associate with the family. He wrote 251 opus numbered works (out of a total of over 300), among them 153 waltzes, the most famous of which is Sounds of the Rhine Loreley (1843). As such, and somewhat surprisingly, he was the only member of the family to write more waltzes than any other type of dance, but his most famous work is surely the Radetsky March. However, Johann II became more famous as he formed his own orchestra. The Johann Strauss Society of Great Britain interests cover the whole spectrum of Viennese and related light classical music and operetta in all forms to suit all ages and tastes. 1999 marked the 150th death anniversary of Johann Strauss Sr. To commemorate this, in Vienna's grand Heldenplatz, almost 8,000 people gathered for a gala concert. This Wiener Philharmoniker performance was conducted by Zubin Meta, an Indian who makes us proud.

Well, Music is the Speech of Angels! A universal language of mankind. In music, one must think with the heart and feel with the brain and so, after every silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music! That’s when you dream and your every dream precedes the goal! There was a day when I wanted to learn Piano and Sister Octavia told me 'Child, you can learn and it's easy. But somehow I couldn't fulfil my dream. Years rolled by and I got a synthesizer for my son..Viola, I became a Keyboard Player, quick and easy self learning and even taught kids and performed shows! Now, You have the power to live each day exactly the way you want to live it. Think about that - the resources to create the life you desire lie within your mind.Don’t you think it’s time for you to take control and begin fulfilling your own dreams? You’re probably saying, "Yes! Of course I want to live my dream life, Blossomsmile, But I don’t know where to begin." All you got to do is, Jump to action, get motivated and be determined. You succeed!

Visit my Music page http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/artist.htm or log to kids songs. For Johann Strauss, surf the web with your favourite search 'Yahoo' or 'Google' or any or just log to http://www.johann-strauss.org.uk - The Johann Strauss Society of Great Britain and visit my classical music reviews at Amazon.

Keep the faith.

-Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

To mark the International Womens' Day, various programmes were held in my town calling in Woman Achievers. I happened to meet Ms. Tarla Dalal 'Kitchen Queen' of Delicious Recipes at a Seminar organised by Gujarat Chamber of Commerce, Ladies wing. The other woman achievers who graced the function were Justice Sugnyaben Bhatt, Ms.Esther David (Journalist writer) and Ms.Smriti (Tulsi) Malhotra (TV Star).
Tarla Dalal is a sophisticated Indian woman who has reached to fame with her various Recipe Books and TV shows to her credit. On asking her the secret of her success "Recipe for Life", she humorously quipped "Laughter is the best recipe and keep laughing whatever happens in your life". Now, isn't this so very true? Rathar difficult but one can try coz smiles takes you to miles. Afterall, life isn't a bed of roses nor midsummer night's dream. We've to create our own destiny and maybe "Kidsfreesouls Recipe for Life" may help you out sometimes - Enjoy & Relish the taste.

Visit www.tarladalal.com / www.kidsfreesouls.com/recipelife.htm

Keep the Faith!

-Editor, Kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

International Women's Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women's movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women's conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point for coordinated efforts to demand women's rights and participation in the political and economic process. Increasingly, International Women's Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of women's rights.

However, women at large, are exploited, molested, mistaken and taken for a ride many a times. Women are infiltrating what was once the exclusive domain of men. On work fronts, more women are active as ever. Women’s liberation & rights are sorted over but the question remains burning with abuses, dowry, extra-marital affairs, etc. She is yet scoffed, scorned, misunderstood, exposed , exploited, molested, tormented...

Finally, it’s a man’s world and all is said and done - A woman is puppet on a chain and pondering over rightly justifies that "A man’s world is woman and without her, there would be a wide gap making him forlorn and lost.

Mark Twain once said in a tribute to his wife:

" Wherever she was, there was Eden "

- Editor, kidsfreesouls,
Blossomsmile ilaxi

WOMAN - THE QUEEN OF THE CASTLE
Wherever she is, there is Eden!

The Most prized & precious woman in your Life - Is she your Mom? Is she your Wife? Your Sweetheart? Maybe Girlfriend? A cousin? A sis or aunt? Or your Inspirational role model? Or a net surfer in disguise? Whoever she is, she is the ocean of Love, take a dip in that ocean and you will realize the immense strength a woman possess!

Happy World Women's Day to all women

- Editor, kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi

March had been the first month on the early Roman calendar and was called Martius. Later, the ancient Romans made January the beginning of the year and March became the third month with 31 days and its name honors Mars, The Roman God of War. In India, Holi is round the corner and on the full moon day of the month of Phalgun when the Ashoka trees and Mango trees are in bloom, when the foliage buds of leaf almond are long and slender against the blue and when the scarlet plumes of the Palash stand out on its naked branches - Here comes Holi and its Colors of Love, colors of Life. It's time to paint the town red and spread the message of love - colors fill live with beauty and leave lasting impressions on minds. Your liking for different colors reveal your moods and personality. You can check your Sun Sign Character or Number reveleations too. Check this out and Paint the town Red with Kidsfreesoul ideas.

Happy Holi - Enjoy...Keep the Faith!

-Editor, kidsfreesouls
Blossomsmile ilaxi)