Welcome FlowerChild

Yesterday I used the Wii balance board again after quite some weeks of being in-active. During the summer the whole family used the board intensively and everybody, young and old, enjoyed competing with family members to be the best at hoolahoop or skiing. Today, when I read once more figures on obesity among children (1 in 7 children is obese!!), I had a vision of availability of sports facilities for all children. Obesity has a profound effect on a child’s life. It not only increases the child’s risk of numerous health problems, and it also can create emotional and social problems. Dieting has a negative effect on kids, but changing their exercising habits works best. In our world where more and more services are free of charge thanks to advertising, it should be possible to give away more Wii’s and change a lot of kids’ lives.  

I guess many other busy mothers have the same problem memorizing when children have their school holidays. I found this card in Madame Figaro. All holidays in different regions of France are listed. It is very handy for my work in youthmarketing and for planning my children’s activities. Although I would probably never buy this brand for my children, I still thank you Ralph Lauren!

This weekend I finished a research for one of our clients and compared data on family life in 10 different European countries. With the help of our international teams, we found out some very interesting things. One of the questions was a salary comparison of households with kids between 6 and 12 years old. The differences are huge in Europe. The Norwegians are richest with a net yearly income of 71.000 euro. In Poland families are a lot less fortunate with only 4.100 euro per year. Raising kids with barely enough money to buy food is unimaginable for us, but it happens even in Europe.  I really hope that one day there will be equal chances for all children.

Schools have finally started again last week after nine weeks of holiday. La Rentrée is always a big happening here in France, where we live. Commercially, it is a period that is very well exploited. First of all parents need to spend a fortune on all the materials the children need for their education. Even for primary school the budget spent is at least 80 euro’s. On top of that all the children get new clothes, new shoes, new bags. The schoolyard was like a “défilé de mode” with lots of proud parents too. I realised again what a crazy world we live in, where “having things” is growing out of proportion. My children (5&6 years) are a bit too small to be confronted with these images, but I will continue to tell them to be happy with what they have and how lucky and privileged they are.

 If you think your salary is low, how about her?

If you think you are unhappy, look at them

When you feel like giving up, think of this man

If you think you suffer in life, do you suffer as much as he does?

Enjoy life how it is and as it comes. Things are worse for others and is a lot better for usJ There are many things in your life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart….pursue those..