As she started displaying these symptoms 2 days after the vaccination, it seemed logical to us that they were a reaction to the MMR. However, at the onset of the symptoms the doctor concluded it was chicken pox. Assuming the doctor was correct, we took the sensible precautions – keeping her away from other children, washing hands frequently etc This of course did result in disruption to normal family routine ie.One parent cant go to work for a week. A fairly normal sacrifice parents need to anticipate upon having children and we had no problem doing this. However, three days later, with no blisters developing, itchy skin or any other chicken pox symptoms, we concluded it could not possibly have been chicken pox after all. Which brings us back to the MMR. Although we can never be certain, it seems a fairly logical conclusion that a normally very healthy baby who gets sick 2 days after an injection, gets very sick due to the injection.

Despite the distressing sickness for a few days, this was probably quite a mild ‘illness’ in comparison to those Tamar may have had if she didn’t have all her vaccinations, and in many ways, I still agree with our decision to go ahead with them all. My real grievance is the lack of openness concerning the possible side effects these vaccinations have and the eagerness by many medical professionals to pin these symptoms on other illnesses. One suggestion has been made that many doctors wouldn’t admit these kinds of reactions are caused by vaccinations because it would add to the already questionable safety issues surrounding them, especially the MMR. But as parent, I would appreciate the truth that a vaccination causes these symptoms, and be able to deal with them accordingly rather than be panicking over a illness that isn’t really there in the first place.

Anyone else have an opinion or personal experiences they would like to share? Would love to hear from you!

As a parent, this struck me as a very direct message from the Lord.  The way in which we bring up our children and live our lives before them, will undoubtedly have an effect on how they will raise their children, and their children after that, and so on for countless generations.  Wouldn’t it be amazing to go to Heaven and meet lots of further generations of your family!

The example of the apostle Paul also reminded me that the reason we are still reading those letters today is because God had his hand upon Paul’s situation and he knew those letters would be part of the bible.  So shouldn’t we be even more anxious to be in the centre of God’s will so that his unseen plan for our lives can develop and continue to influence others, even after our death?  Surely if we are living our lives in accordance with our own selfish plans and purposes, then God would see no profit in using us as an example for other people to learn from.

I was listening to an interesting podcast today which made the point that although we go through tough times in our lives, sometimes God lets us go through the storm, rather than rescuing us from the middle of it.  There are a number of reasons as to why this happens but one which I found very thought provoking was that sometimes we suffer because eventually other people can benefit from it.  Again take the example Paul, I’m sure sitting in a prison cell was the last place he wanted to be, but God used that situation as part of a bigger plan.

If Paul hadn’t gone through that storm, the bible wouldn’t contain those letters.  In the same way, the storms of life that we go through, can almost certainly be used in shaping our spiritual character and eventually will influence us in the way we teach and instruct our children. Storms remind us of our dependence on God, without them we would be self-sufficient and so never feel the need to teach our children to read and pray and go to church and lead Godly lives.  A humble heart, mind and spirit will always admit their need of the Lord and will have an intimate relationship with him.  This example will hopefully be carried on for generations in our family, and I look forward to an amazing reunion in Heaven!

Matthew 21 v 13 “My house shall be called the house of prayer” (Forgive me for taking this verse a little out of context, but it signifies the whole point of what I’m trying to say).

Personally, we have made some major adjustments, but we don’t mind.  Not having as much freedom to go where you like, when you like, is a big change.  From experience we have learned that there is no such thing as just jumping in the car with the baby in the back to go shopping.  You have to plan the time of day you go, depending on when the baby will be eating and napping.  You have to pack a bag with all the things you could possibly need, which is quite a lot of stuff.  Going out for a meal can seem pointless because if the baby decides it wants attention, then one of you will be eating with one hand, which isn’t the nicest way to enjoy a meal out.  I really don’t understand how a parent could just ‘fit their child into their lifestyle’.  They should really share their secret with the rest of us!  Actually, on second thought, I wouldn’t want to know, I’m loving life just as it is now

Theologically, I believe that there are references in the bible to smacking children, as a form of discipline.  Sadly, as with many things in our society, sin has distorted this, with many people using it as a justification for outright abuse and assault on children.  Personally, smacking would be a part of the way I would discipline my child, but not the main way or the primary way, and certainly not in an abusive or sinful way.  We will all have different opinions on this, and as I have said many times before, we will all have different ways of raising our children, so I would never seek to push my opinion as the truth, it is merely my way of doing things, and I respect your way if it is different.

However, in light of this new loophole in the law, I cant help but wonder whether schools benefited from the right teachers had to smack children? So often we read stories in the media of the rebellion taking place in classrooms all over the UK, with verbal and physical assault on teachers happening daily.  I found it hilarious but also a little disturbing  that when my husband was inquiring about Income Protection Insurance, he was in one of the top two professions which are most likely to be out of work for a long period of time because of a stress-related illness!  Therefore making insurance quite expensive.  (For those who don’t know, my husband is a teacher).  As time has moved on, discipline in schools would appear to have become more relaxed, with physical punishment being banned.

Is there a connection between standards slipping and forms of discipline changing?  I believe there is a strong connection, but I must also point out that I in no way would ever want anyone else to physically punish my child, as I think that IF this is ever necessary, it is our decision, as parents.  Could it be, that it is not the taking away of smacking in schools that has resulted in the discipline slide, but what smacking represents?  The authority of a teacher over children is very important when keeping order and structure within a school, and the pupils need to respect this authority.  Maybe for many years this respect was earned through fear of physical punishment and now there is nothing to encourage children to respect figures of authority.

From a Christian perspective,  respect for figures of authority is taught throughout the bible.  One of the 10 commandments is devoted to importance of Honouring our father and mother, with many biblical teachers suggesting that this commandment is also a parallel to other structures of hierarchy in our society, such as the justice system.  If we were all living our lives according to the way the bible teaches us, then respect for teachers would be normal in schools, because it is a commandment of God to respect those who are in authority over us, not out of fear, but out of love.

I believe that it is the selfish, self-important nature of modern day living that has resulted in a corruption of scriptural hierarchical structures, which in turn has meant that we are not showing children how they should behave toward parents and teachers.  If we teach children that the bible is irrelevant and they can live as they please, then what do we use as justification for telling them they should respect their elders and follow certain rules?

Scientific fact shows that breastfeeding protects a baby from many illnesses and also decreases the mothers risk of contracting certain cancers.  The evidence for this is clear and cannot be argued against.  So why do statistics show that a very small percentage of babies are breastfeed in UK?  In comparison to many other European countries, we should be ashamed!

The Office for National Statistics performs its Infant Feeding survey every five years.  In 2008, the figures for the survey in 2005 were published.  Although the data is now a little dated, it gives us a general picture of the situation and we can assume that the statistics won’t have changed dramatically since then.  They recorded “only 35 per cent of UK babies are being exclusively breastfed at one week, 21 per cent at six weeks, 7 per cent at four months and 3 per cent at five months”.

As a breastfeeding mother, I feel that the reason for these low figures can be found in societal attitudes towards breastfeeding.  I believe that the corrupt and sinful way in which a woman’s body is objectified in the media and through other sources, has distorted and sidelined the original intention of a woman being formed in the way she is.  The ability to give birth and being able to feed her baby are the reason that women have a different type of body to that of men, this is how God created us.  I think that if more people in society were to remember this, then there would be a much greater acceptance of breastfeeding rather than a stigma attached to it.

Although it is a very natural thing, we should never assume that this makes it easy!  Learning how to breastfeed is one of the most difficult challenges for new mums, which is exactly why we should be as supportive as possible!  There should not be a fear of going out in public just because we worry that the baby may get hungry.  A baby has just as much right to eat as everyone else does and a mother quickly learns how to do it discretely so as to save the embarrassment of others.  By talking about it and making it a normal part of having a baby, we are making it easier for mothers to feel comfortable about doing it in public.

The World Cancer Research Fund lists breastfeeding as a PREVENTION for breast cancer. Imagine how many cases of breast cancer could be avoided if every baby in Northern Ireland were to be breastfed up to six months?  We all have a responsibility to make this happen and it is within our power.  Its all about our attitudes.  Are we encouraging or judgmental?  Accepting or narrow-minded?  Each one of us needs to make a choice, and make a stand.  Don’t sit on the fence.

This brought home to me the importance of setting before them a Godly home, a loving family and a moral courage to do the right thing! Though we may think that the main channel of learning is education, we must realise that by the time our children reach school age many important traits in their personality have already been formed. Their personality and attitude to others, will reflect the surroundings they have experienced in the early years of their lives. Love, respect, charity, responsibility, kindness and courtesy need to be presented to our little babies and toddlers so that they will grow to accept them as a good way of living your life. Ultimately, the teaching of God’s Word and setting a good example in the way we live our lives, is how we give our children the best start in life.

Proverbs 22v6 “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”