How to Ease a Toothache

For me, dental pain is the most dreaded pain to have. That’s the reason why I am very meticulous in the taking care of my gums and teeth.

Last month, coincidentally, my husband and my son had a toothache on the same day, which happens to be a Saturday. Both of them took an ibuprofen hoping the pain would go away.  But as the day progressed it was getting worse. My husband called the dentist, got an appointment but not until Monday. Sunday was my husband’s birthday. The celebration was cancelled and I was disappointed while both men were nursing their toothache for the rest of the weekend.

Toothache always comes unexpectedly and oftentimes in the most inappropriate moment, like the middle of the night or on a weekend (when dental clinics are closed).  So being fearful of toothaches myself, I had gathered some home remedies that would help us alleviate our misery while waiting for the dentist appointment. 

• If the pain is mild, try to ease it by taking aspirin or an ibuprofen. Rinse your  mouth periodically with a solution of baking soda and warm water.
• Try gargling some Listerine Antiseptic.
• If gums are temporarily irritated or swollen, you can make yourself a delicious ice pack: pineapple sherbet. It tastes good, the cold reduces the swelling and according to some studies pineapple has curative effects.
• Floss between the aching tooth and its neighbors- sometimes impacted food can set up the pain.
• Rest an ice bag or a cold compress on the jaw of the affected side. If cold applications don’t help, try a hot water bottle or a warm compress.
• If you see a cavity, clean it out gently, using sterile cotton on the end of a toothpick, then saturate another bit of cotton with oil of cloves and pack it gently into the cavity with a toothpick. Clove has antiseptic properties that help decrease infection and relieves pain.
• Apply ice on the web of the skin between the thumb and the index finger on the same side of the body as the toothache. 
• You could also try an acupressure technique, with your thumb, press the point on the back of your other hand where the base of your thumb and your index finger meet. Apply pressure for about two minutes. This helps trigger the release of endorphins, the brain’s feel-good hormones. (not applicable for pregnant women.)

There are a lot more toothache remedies out there, but these are the ones that me and my family had tried. Dental pain is an indication that something is wrong.  These measures are temporary relief while visiting your dentist is still advisable.   

   

Taking Baby Steps To Blogging

I'm happy that finally I got over with my fear of blogging. Little accomplishments in life give us inner joy because we know that it will lead to bigger accomplishments in the end. 


A few weeks ago, I didn't even know where to start. Now I’m the proud owner of Homebody Mom. I am just a baby when it comes to blogging. Like a little child, I have to learn how to walk but one day, I will be running like a pro. As a new blogger, I am still taking baby steps in learning how to blog. One step at time towards my goal!

Ever since I found out about blogging in 2007, I had been dreaming of becoming a blogger one day. But I always have self doubts. I am not a tech savvy. I have no confidence in my writing skills, have limited time, and my excuses went on and on. 


So for years, I was just a lurker on the blogging scene. Every time I read blogs, I would get inspired, entertained, amused and learn something new. Lately, I kept saying, I wish I had a blog of my own but I didn't know if I could do it or not. My son probably got tired of my ramblings and said “Mom, just do it. You will never know unless you try.”


So here I am…

Living My Life As A Homebody

Home is where my heart is. I love being at home! I don’t feel bored when I’m home all day. I can do many fun things without leaving my four walls.  I can sew new curtains, redecorate my house, bake some dessert, tend my garden, play with my dog, internet surfing, the list is endless. I am a certified homebody and I think there is nothing wrong with that. But of course, I love to go out also, once in a while that is! I go out twice a week, a day for grocery shopping and a day just to do random things. It could be just window shopping, going to a beauty salon, visit my relatives, etc. 

Modern technology is a huge help for us homebody people, to get in touch with what's going on in the world, to keep up with friends and relatives at anytime, or earn a living without having to leave the comfort of your home. I am aware that I am an introvert person, that’s my personality. I can’t change who I am because I was born this way. Sometimes introverts can act as extroverts, but at the end of the day it can be exhausting and frustrating. I know, because I experienced it before. One time in my life, I thought I want to become like my out going friends, so I forced myself to leave the house everyday. The act didn't last very long because I felt that pretending to be somebody else is not worth it. Nowadays, I just live my life how I want it to be and I am happy for who I am and what I am!

According to studies the difference between extroverts and introverts are:

Extroverts are sociable, friendly, self-confident and outgoing. They appear relaxed and confident. Extroverts have trouble understanding life until they have lived it. When extroverts are feeling bad, low in energy, or stressed, they are likely to look outside themselves for relief. They might go shopping, call friends to come over, or arrange a party. They gain their energy from the outside world. They want to be always on the go and become more energetic by engaging outside adventures.
  

Introverts are stimulated from "within" and they are oriented towards the inner world of ideas, imagery, and reflection. Introverts get their energy from within rather than from the outside world. An introvert values quiet time alone for thinking while extroverts want time with others for action. Introverts believe that they cannot live life until they have understood it. 

When an introvert is tired, stressed or feels bad he is likely to withdraw to a quiet place and engage in reflective activity. Introverts look to the inner world for energy and meaning. Introverts are often misunderstood.  They can be percieve as reserved, quiet, shy, aloof, and distant. 

Family Pet

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.  ~Josh Billings

  

Maria is our pet, a Mexican Chihuahua. She’s been with us for six years now. We love her to death but she loves us even more. For our family, she is the best pet in the world!

 She makes our lives richer and happier.  We are always amazed at her smart and funny ways. For her, we are the center of her universe and not a single moment goes by that she is not guarding us and our home. Her ears are always on alert mode even when asleep, listening for the sound of intruders. She would let us know if there’s a stranger close by. Maria is a small dog, but people are scared of her because she is so ferocious and would bark relentlessly especially when people are too close to her domain. She loves to guard, even inside our fence, she would let us know if there are some unauthorized animals in the yard, it could be a neighbor’s cat, rat, frog, etc. She is a happy dog and loves to play. She is always at her happiest when we are all at home.

Like most other dogs, she is scared of loud bangs, fireworks, rain and thunder as well. Here in the tropics, it rains a lot and the thunder is sometimes very loud. It is heartbreaking to watch her shake and cower in fear, pacing around the house looking for places to hide. She goes behind the fridge, in the closet, under the bed, in my son's shirt and so on. When she was younger, picking her up and giving her our reassuring words and strokes would not be enough to calm her down. So we just let her find her ways of comfort.

Nowadays, she seems to have outgrown her fears a little bit. She still doesn’t like the rain, thunder, fireworks and loud bangs but now she finds comfort with our touch and our presence nearby. I am her first choice on everything except when there is a storm accompanied by loud thunder, she always leaves me and goes to either my husband or my son. She's probably thinking, "Big guys can protect me better!". LOL!!

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How to Help Your Teenager Deal with Failure

Every year my son's school is having a beauty pageant; it is called MR. and MS. P.T. (Physical Therapy). One of the male contestants backed out on the last minute. The organizers were begging my son to fill in the vacant slot. After thinking about it, he decided he wanted to be in it and win the title this time. Two years ago, he joined the said competition and landed the prize of first runner up. He got disappointed, but since it was his first time and didn’t know what to expect, he got over with his disappointment quickly. This year would be his second time to join. "I am going to win the title this time, he said with confidence and great determination."

Last night, few minutes after the competition was over, he sent me a text, “I didn’t win, and I’m first runner up again". I know he was disappointed. He really put out a lot of energy in preparation a day before the competition. I congratulated him and told him, it is okay, you did your best. I asked him if he enjoyed the experience. He replied “yes”. Then I said well, “that's all that matters then”. I didn't know if those words had given him some comfort. So I did some research to reassure myself.

According to some experts, it is okay for teen-agers to be able to experience failure, disappointment, loneliness, grief and sadness. As parents, we may let them know we are around when needed, but we should not attempt to rescue them from their misery in the name of self-esteem. This way, teenagers will understand the depth of their resourcefulness and resilience when difficult situations arise in the future. Your quiet support strengthens the connection between you and your teen. It will send a message that I will not abandon you and you can handle this situation.

It is best if your teen will have these experiences while they are still living at home because you will be around to see them through these tough times. So, when they're older and living on their own, they have those understandings to fall back on. The last thing a parent wants is for their teen to leave home never having experienced emotional setback in their life. We would like our kids to learn from their failures so they know how to deal with the inevitable when we are not around them anymore.

Let them build their self-esteem.  As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”  They may be scarred but well prepared when they face the real world.

Yet after your teenager experiences a setback, it's difficult to remain on the sidelines quietly and expectantly waiting for them to get back into the swing of things. Yes, they need your support, but more than ever they need your honest support and reassurances. This means you must acknowledge reality as you encourage them to move forward. You also want to help them how to learn from their mistakes as they continue to improve.  As parents, our role is to reassure them our love and support.

Welcome To Homebody Mom

After reading so many blogs on the web and doing  a lot of research, I have finally started my own blog. Please bear with me, I am very new here and still learning.  

I am very eager to share hints and handy tips that I have had collected throughout the years. I hope the valuable information that I will be writing here will also help others with their everyday lives.

Aside from being a mom and a wife,  I am also a wannabe writer. So this blog is also a fun way for me to improve my writing skills. A place to record my thoughts and ramblings…

Thanks for visiting!