A mother of 2 died at the age of 38 after her long-term unsuccessful battle with alcohol addiction.
Vicky White was drinking 330 units of alcohol weekly, including five bottles of wine a day and vodka for breakfast, Daily Mail reports.
Vicky’s partner Steven Hough devastated over the loss said she had tried hard to stop, but was always subdued by the addiction. The two children, aged 7 and 17, are spending their first Christmas without mother who died in July from liver failure.
Vicky White’s family
Hough lamented:
“Like every family with young children, we always loved Christmas. But this year, our first without her, was hard. All Mia wanted for Christmas was to have her mum back again.”
The 43-year-old man confessed he had to pluck up all his courage to tell Vicky’s younger daughter the truth.
“My heart breaks for the kids. It took days for me to find the courage to tell Mia that her mummy is an angel in the sky and she was sobbing. I just want Vicky’s story to be a lesson for others.”
Vicky had drunk every day since she turned 18. The deterioration of her her health could not stop the woman from abusing alcohol for more than several days. Her eyes and skin were gradually turning yellow.
She was first close to death in 2011 after downing vodka for breakfast followed by five bottles of wine every day. She tried once again to quit, but it did not work.
The mother of two failed in her battle with the addiction
Hough said:
“When she wasn’t drinking, she became such a good mum. She loved walking Mia to school. She wanted so much just to be normal and to care for her family.
Vicky’s partner Steven Hough tries to cheer Mia on her first Christmas without mom. Credits: Daily Mail
“Mia cries all the time and asks for her mummy. I worry how she will cope with the news that Vicky drank herself to death, when she is older.”
Helen Ezeh 16 years old girl in Delta State has given birth to a set of triplets, according to reports, she delivered these babies in Owhelogbo community in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta state.
The children were said to have been born prematurely, just after seven months of pregnancy.
However, both the mother of the children and the newborn babies are doing well.
Helen's husband, who is also the father of the children John Eyavoro has also reportedly given thanks to God for the miraculous birth of the babies.
Could this be a warning from God to these great men of God we look up to in our christian race or just another attempt to soil the names and reputation of these said men?
Continue reading to see a story of a young girl who claimed God spoke to her about the aforesaid men of God.
Seven year old Iretioluwa is like every other children, but what makes her different is her spiritual proclamations, which makes her an extra-human being. Whe some reporters were invited by her parents saying “our daughter wants you”. It was like a call not too clear. But upon enquiry made by their editor, they discovered that it was not just a call but a diving call that requires a diving response.Ireti-Oluwa has become a friend of Jesus Christ upon whom she resides and proclaim messages for the world. “Most times Jesus Christ appears to her and tells her lots of things especially hidden things which He (Jesus) wants us to know” declares the mother. “But the most shocking of all she has been told is about men of God whom we reverence in this country and she told us to look for a Christian newspaper. In fact, she wrote the name of your magazine and we started looking for it” – the father said in.
The reporters who went there were ushered into the spacious living room of the Ifedayos when Iretioluwa was taking her breakfast.They waited for her to finish and settled down for the business of the day.
Iretioluwa, a primary three pupil was so bold as she declared what she said was told her by Jesus Christ.
According to her, my Lord and saviour said i should declare to Pastor Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God that he cannot make heaven. Though he started very well in spite of his works, he has compromised. “He has missed me a long time ago. I am only honouring my name in his life. He no longer has a place in me. Tell him to go back to his first love and drop every load of compromise he is carrying.
“Tell David Oyedepo that his hands are soiled with human blood. His name is not in the book of life. He has missed it a long time ago. Tell him what will profit him if he gains the whole world and end in Hell fire.
David Olukoya of Mountain of fire and miracles is encouraging evil and dsn’t want to repent. Tell him to stop living a double life. He knows the stones in his hands, tell him to drop them if he MUST enter heaven, he has to live a complete life of holiness.
Ayo Oritsejafor is not my servant. He has gone astray in the pursuit of fame, power, money. Warn him to repent before he ends where his boss his.
T.B. Joshua is an advocate of Satan in Nigeria, he has sold his soul to the devil and he knows hell is awaiting him.
Christ Oyakhilome made a vow to Satan and he has succeeded to win souls for Satan. He is the front runner of the new age teachings in the world.
Many pastors that hoist flags of different churches know why they are doing so. Beware of such gathering.
Evil altar has reached an alarming rate in Nigeria.
The Governor of Imo State Owelle Rochas Okorocha have often been described as a wise man, yet again he has shown the world why he has been regarded as such.
On his twitter handler, he posted pictures of himself and kingsmen dinning and winning at a christmas party he hosted, according to Mr. Okorocha, he said he did this just to appreciate them for their continuing cooperation, partnership and support of his government.
The girl, who identified herself as Zaharau Babangida, narrated how her own father had made her terrorist.
According to Vanguard, she disclosed:
“It began one day when my father took my mum and I to a forest in Bauchi where we met people claiming to be working for God… In the Bauchi forest I met some other girls who I guessed were my age mate and their leader told us to give our lives to God and enjoy the bounties of heaven.”
“I was not moved by the soul searching preaching of bounties in the heaven and it was at this point, their leader resorted to threat and intimidation to obtain my consent. We were shown a deep hole where the leader of the group threatened to bury us alive at a point if any of us refused to play along, and at another time he picked a big gun and threatened to shoot anyone who fails to obey his command.
Speaking on Wednesday, December 24, with journalists, the teenager continued:
“It was at this point my father stepped forward to persuade me to play along, and told me to prepare to die as martyr and clear the way for him to join me soon.”
Zaharau said that the men in the bush had continuously preached to her and other girls about suicide mission, Premium Times adds. She refused to accept the ideas introduced, but was threatened that she would be buried alive.
“I was in the bush when the people some who looks like Arabs and some huge black men told me that did I know what is suicide mission, that is one killing himself? I said no I don’t know, they explained it to me and said that if I did plus reciting Sura Albakara I will straight go to Paradise.
“I declined and told them I will not do it, they now told me that they would dig a hole and bury me alive because that is what they do to all women who refuse to adhere to their demands, and they said they meant what they said, I now complied.”
Thus the terrified had no other choice but agree to go on Kano mission, together with two other young girls.
The 13-year-old narrated what happened on the fateful day of the bloody Kano attack, which killed those 2 girls and 4 residents. According to Zaharau, they had a special guide who took them to the place.
“I and two other girls were conveyed to Kano and quartered at the outskirt of the city by a man I could hardly remember his name, and this same man conveyed all of us to the market square and deployed us at strategic positions at Kwari market on the day we struck.”
She said she had refused to commit the crime and follow the other girls. But the two soon they blew themselves up and left Zaharau injured.
“I was taken aback when my partners were shattered to pieces barely a second after they detonated. I then rushed out of the scene to pick a commercial rickshaw to a hospital in Dawanau area of the city for medical treatment, and doctors were already attending to me when the driver of the Keke NAPEP resurfaced and showed me a metal object and requested to know whether it was mine of which I answered in affirmative.
“I told him the object he dangled before me is a bomb and its mine, and in no time armed soldiers picked me from my sick bed to their headquarters.”
Meanwhile Kano State Commissioner of Police, Aderele Shinaba, revealed that one of the girls’ guides had been arrested. He however didn’t say what had happened to Zaharau’s father.
Nigeria’s former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, did not make commitment on the 2015 presidential poll to President Goodluck Jonathan at the recent meeting in Minna.
Ibrahim Babangida
It would be recalled that following the closed-door December 27 meeting it was reported that Babangida urged Nigerians to support Jonathan in the next-year’s elections.
According to The Nation, however, contrary to the widespread insinuations, the former President only touched upon the national issues and problems.
It was additionally learnt that Jonathan allegedly started reaching out to key emirs and leaders of the North is search for support, which is part of the President’s plan to reduce the influence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the region.
Gen. Babangida’s key aides based in Abuja disclosed the details of the Saturday’s meeting in Minna.
“It is true that the President visited Gen. Babangida at his Minna Hilltop mansion but the nature of his message was based purely on unity of the country and not about 2015 presidential election.After the former ruler was blasted for backing Jonathan, the source, who pleaded for anonymity, debunked the reports making rounds:
“As a former president who fought for the unity of the country, he was of the view that the president needs support as President and not as presidential candidate per se.
“It is his view that the country needs to be united as one before we can begin to talk about election. Only a united Nigeria can guarantee credible election.”
The source stressed the importance of not misinterpreting Babangida’s words:
“What Gen. IBB said should be viewed within the context of the larger Nigeria interest and not that of any parochial interest that is likely to unsettle the system.
“Those of them who fought in the civil war to keep the country one understand the dynamics and challenges facing us now in the face of grave insecurity and poor economic realities.”
The aide also urged critics to take it easy on Babangida, who is anyway the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) card holder, “even as a nominal member”.
“As a leader and former president who was privileged to preside over the affairs of the country and who also fought in the civil war, he will continue to speak the language of unification than that of division.”
According to the source, Gen. Babangida maintained that Jonathan, as a country leader, deserved the support of all to keep the country united.
Regarding the main political battle between Jonathan and the APC candidate Muhammadu Buhari, the aide said:
“The President, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, PDP governors, and leaders will be embarking on shuttles to some of these key Northern leaders for support.
“They are desperate to take the battle to Buhari’s stronghold but no one can say whether the President and the PDP can go far or not.”
Speaking about the intense pre-polls months, another source also added:
“Jonathan’s game plan is to split the North. This explains why Northern leaders were concerned about the President’s renewed interest in the North after he failed the region in many promises he made in 2011.”
It would be recalled that yesterday President Jonathan addressed Nigerians asking them to endure the hardships connected with the drop on global oil price and to pray for the politicians’ wisdom ahead of the upcoming elections.
Getting back into the swing of your sex life is probably WAY easier than you think.
A big sigh of relief, Finally. The work day is over, the dinner dishes are washed, the chores are done, and the kiddies are tucked away for bedtime. Finally, you and your partner can be alone.
And just when things are getting steamy, you hear it: Knock knock knock.
And with a creeping dread, you hear a small voice through the door call, "Mooooom?"
Sexy-time thwarted again.
The worst, am I right? When will you two ever have some time alone? If you're a parent – you totally get it. Intimacy – and how often it happens – changes after becoming a mom or dad.
YourTango and the makers of Trojan™ Lubricants surveyed more than one thousand parents to ask them how having children affected their sex lives. Before becoming parents, the majority of respondents said they enjoyed sex almost every day. After kids? That dropped to a 15-minute quickie once or twice a week. And 78 percent of people confessed that they have less sex now that they are parents.
You know that their little lives have changed your life forever – and while you wouldn’t change anything about that for the world, it's not exactly doing wonders for your sex life. So how can you take back your sex life? We consulted sexologist and relationship expert Dr. Logan Levkoff for tips on how to embrace your changed sex life after parenthood. And believe us when we say, it changes, but change isn't always a bad thing.
Be Spontaneous, Be Inventive!
Parents are the masterminds of being creative, whether it's helping your kids on their science projects or explaining long division to them. So bring that ingenuity and spontaneity to your sex life!
For one, your parent "play date" should always be a kid-free zone. Get a babysitter to keep an eye on your little ones (even if it's just for an hour or so) and sneak away together. Run off into the backyard woods for some "fresh air." Or tiptoe over to the garage and clamber into the backseat of the car, making out like a couple of teenagers.
And at night, don't let your kids sleep in bed with you. Keep the bedroom a "mommy/daddy only" space. That’s not to say you should leave your toddler running amok through the house unsupervised or neglect them when they run crying to your room after being shaken awake by a scary nightmare. But once your kids go to bed, generally, that's where they should stay – in their own beds. Naptime means nookie time for you!
Secondly, talk in code. This can be fun! Meet eyes with your partner across the room and announce that you have to "pay the electricity bill" with a flirty wink. Or tell the kids you both need to have a "timeout." Think of this wordplay as foreplay.
And don’t just stop there. Try a crazy new position, that new sex toy or that oh-so tempting Trojan™ Arouses & Intensifies lubricant. It all adds up to making your sex life oh so steamy.
Let’s Redefine "Sexy Time"
Prioritize play time (and no, we aren’t talking about the kids). Sure, you're both utterly exhausted and ready to collapse into bed. Sex is probably the last thing on both your minds. And we know, we know: Scheduling sex is about the least sexy thing. But here’s the good news: The best sex doesn't just happen between the sheets, after dark.
"Intercourse is not the only sex act out there!" Levkoff says. “There are many behaviors that add up to pleasure, find what you and your partner love to do and have time for.”
For you and your partner, maybe "sexy time" is slipping into a hot bathtub frothing with bubbles and lined with dimly lit candles, wine glasses in hand. Maybe it's going to see a movie together (other than Frozen). Or hey, maybe it's something as simple as meaningful pillow talk after tucking the kids into bed. Whatever makes you feel closer and more bonded with your partner is something to make time for and can lead heightened sexual pleasure in the long run.
You’re Not Just 'Mom' Or 'Dad' – Love Yourself!
When you have a little one, it flips your whole world upside down. You go from being a lover to "Mom" or "Dad." You go from putting your needs first to putting the needs of your children first. And somewhere between the piles of dirty diapers and the spills on the floor, your sense of self gets lost in the mix. Take it back!
As part of redefining intimacy, you have to redefine your own sexuality. Dr. Levkoff suggests doings the things that make you feel sexy in your life – inside and outside of the bedroom. Go ahead and splurge on that sexy lingerie that you’re sure will make his jaw drop. Pamper yourself to a yummy flavored latte. Or treat yourself to playing 15 uninterrupted minutes of songs off your favorite album. You'll feel great, fulfilled and on-top-of-the-world confident. And confidence is sexy and a turn-on – for your partner and for yourself.
Stop With The Excuses – Make Love-Makin' A Priority
Sure, there are going to be nights when it's just not happening, but so often, we parents can find one excuse or another to put our needs (and sometimes, even the needs of our partner) aside for the sake of family or sleep. In fact, in our survey, 60 percent of parents said that they would forgo a night of passion for some extra sleep. Some of the other excuses topping the list? They were too busy or the kids were around.
Make a pact together: Never say "no" to one another. If you're not in the mood, try to get yourself in the mood with the help of a little foreplay or perhaps your favorite Trojan vibrator. Remember, happy parents have happy kids!
In Other Words: How Not To Raise A Spoiled Brat (You’re Welcome)
In my private practice I often see affluent families struggling with wanting to raise "grateful and unspoiled children" despite being wealthy, going on lavish vacations, having beautiful homes and owning the latest gadgets, toys and luxury cars. They ask me if it is really possible and my answer is "Yes, but you are going to have to work hard at it." I call it intentional parenting and it takes discipline to pull it off.
So, here is my list of the top 10 things around which you need to have clarity and consistent follow through in order to raise unspoiled children.
Say no...often. Practice delayed gratification and simply not always giving your children what they want, even if you can easily afford it.
Expect gratitude. Go beyond teaching your child to say please and thank you. Also teach them eye contact, a proper hand shake, affection and appreciation for the kind and generous things that are said and given to them. If this does not happen, have them return the gift (either to the person or to you for safe keeping) and explain that they aren't yet ready to receive such a gift.
Practice altruism yourself. Donate clothes and toys to those in need (not just to your neighbors when it's easy and they have younger children!) and have your kids be a part of that process. Do this regularly as a family and sort through, package and deliver the goods together so the kids really see where their things are going. Do this often and not just around the holidays.
Be mindful of the company you keep. If you only hang around other affluent families who are not raising their kids with intention, you may be surrounding yourself with those who will not help out with what you are trying to accomplish. Be sure family or friends you are spending significant time with have similar values to yours, otherwise you are going to feel defeated after a while.
Write thank you cards. Yes, handwritten on paper with a pen! Kids these days generally have shorter attention spans, are easily distracted and aren't taught to take careful time and attention to express their appreciation. This simple yet important act can go a long way as a skill to teach expression of feelings and thoughtfulness.
Don't catch every fall. Practice natural consequences from an early age — share some of your own experiences and teach them lessons such as "life is not fair." In addition, don't over-protect them from disappointments. You have to really understand and believe that failing and falling is a part successful childhood development.
Resist the urge to buy multiples of things. Just because you can doesn't mean that you should! Don't buy four American Girl Dolls—buy just one and have your child loveand appreciate what they have.
Talk to their grandparents and explain your intentions to them. Share with them your desires to have respectful, appreciative, kind and responsible children and the ways in which you are going to achieve that goal. You will need their help in doing this if they are like most grandparents who want to spoil their grandkids! Ask them to spoil them with love, time, affection and attention—not toys, treats and money.
Teach them the value of money. Have your child manage their money through saving, giving to charity/others and then spending. If you do this from an early age you are truly setting a foundation of responsible wealth management.
Share your story. Last but not least, you should tell your kids the legacy of your family's fortune. When I say wealth or fortune, that is all relative. If you come from significant wealth tell the story of how that was earned and created. If you are self-made, tell that story too—just don't forget that "giving your kids everything that you didn't have" is not always a good thing. There is probably a lot that you learned along the way by stumbling to make you the person you are today.
And at the end of the day, if you have a spoiled child—one who relentlessly nags, cries and throws a huge fit when they do not get what they want—you only have yourself to blame! Stop giving in and start applying most if not all of these values and approaches. You will have greater enjoyment in being a parent, your child will be happier and better adjusted and there will be greater peace and love in your home. And that is something money cannot buy.
I bet you dn't know this as a father, well read and thank me latter.
Photo Credit: iStock
By Keith Dent
As my phone rang, I touched the red button on my iPhone and said, “Hello.” Henry pleaded, “Coach, I need your help.”
Henry was a student of mine whom I had mentored since he was a senior in high school. He was now a 28 year-old single parent of a 3-year-old son. He had just recently received sole custody of the boy and was doing everything he could to raise his son the right way.
Henry’s son had just lashed out physically against his girlfriend. When Henry asked him to apologize, he refused and began to cry uncontrollably. Henry was at his wits end, because he had no idea what to do next, who would he ask for parenting advice.
It wasn’t just because Henry was new to this parenting thing. Unfortunately, he didn’t have any history on how to raise a son because his father didn’t raise him. He died at an early age. But he’s not the only black male to grow up without a dad around. The epidemic of fatherless sons is far too common now in the African-American community and it’s having life and death implications for our sons.
According to Children: Our Ultimate Investment, 72 percent of black children were born to unwed mothers in 2008, the most recent year for figures. The figures are 17 percent for Asians, 29 percent for whites, 53 percent for Hispanics and 66 percent for Native Americans were born to unwed mothers in 2008, the most recent year for which government figures are available. Other telling figures:
Children in father-absent homes are almost four times more likely to be poor. In 2011, 12 percent of children in married-couple families were living in poverty, compared to 44 percent of children in mother-only families.
Children in father-absent households had significantly higher odds of incarceration than those in mother-father families. Youths who never had a father in the household experienced the highest odds.
Adolescents, particularly boys, in single-parent families were at higher risk of status, property and person delinquencies. Moreover, students attending schools with a high proportion of children of single parents are also at risk.
By not having a male role model, Henry had planned to use the only discipline he was expected to use, physical punishment. Fortunately, he reached out to me first. (I have two boys who I have been blessed with raising.) I offered these suggestions that will go a long way to saving our black boys to suffering the same fates as Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Eric Garner and countless others.
1. Use Your Words
In school we taught our kids at an early age to use their words to express their feelings. One of the challenges is as men we don’t often practice what we preach and lash out physically when we get frustrated. Since our boys are going to emulate our actions, then we have to start modeling less physical methods of confrontation. Minnesota Vikings player Adrian Peterson used corporal punishment because that’s the way he was raised. Your son will do the same thing and it may eventually land him in a situation he may regret.
2. Apologize for Your Actions
We must help our sons realize that their actions have consequences. If you are going to lash out, commit a crime, beat up your wife, or attack a police officer there will be consequences which you can’t control. In order to make amends, you must apologize for your actions. We can no longer claim to be a victim for our behavior.
3. Acknowledge You Have a Choice
After doing the wrong thing, show him how to do it right. By showing him he has an alternative, will empower him to hopefully make the right choice when he is confronted again. I know Eric Garner was tired of being harassed by the police for the same crime. Instead of initially letting the police take him into custody, he chose to put up a fight which ended fatally. Walk away if things get too intense.
Henry, as an inexperienced father, was ready to lash out at his son. The pressure of the crying, the constant whining was getting too intense for him to handle. Since we’re taught to not back down from conflict, or a challenge he was prepared to handle it the only way he knew how.
"I’m ready to give spank him," he said. Then I asked him, "Imagine if this was you being hit? How would you feel about that?" The smart thing to do is to walk away, count to 10, gather your thoughts then come back to address the issue. According to the testimony of police officer, Darren Wilson, Michael Brown was asked to just walk on the sidewalk. Michael Brown, chose to not to walk away, but to confront.
4. Hug Him and Tell Him You Love Him
When I was talking to Henry, I could hear his son in the background yelling, “Daddy, Daddy!” So I told him, “You need to assure your son you’re not leaving.” Unfortunately, his son’s mother after a couple of years of arguing with Henry on how to raise their son, decided she wanted no part of it, and left him sole custody. At 3, he was still trying to process not seeing his mother every day, just as he would if Henry was not there.
Christmas lights are a surefire sign that the holiday season is upon us. But perhaps no one takes holiday decorations quite as seriously as Australian dad David Richards, who claimed the Guinness World Record title last week for his Christmas display made of 1.2 million LED lights.
Richards, who also holds the world record for the most Christmas lights on a residential property (502,165 in his home display last year), strung together 1,194,380 lights — that’s 75 miles of multicolored bulbs! — to create a 3D image of three wrapped gifts set in front of a illuminated holiday backdrop, according to Guinness World Records.
Photo: Alan Porritt/AAP Image/AP Photo
The holiday display, which Richards set up with the help of volunteers including architects, civil engineers, construction companies and sound engineers, is on display at a shopping area in Australia’s capital city of Canberra and is expected to attract 200,000 visitors, according to News Corp Australia.
Richards, a lawyer and father of three, uses the extraordinary light show to raise money for Sid's and Kids, an Australian organization dedicated to raising awareness for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and supporting bereaved families. In 2002, Richards and his wife lost their one-month-old son Thomas to SIDS, and he told News Corp Australia that he wants to help other parents get the necessary counseling after losing a child. “How do you get in the car and leave?” he told the site about leaving the hospital after such tragedy.
Photo: Stefan Postles/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Since starting with his elaborate light displays, Richards has already raised more than $200,000 for the charity, according to Guinness World Records.
The current light extravaganza, which was nine months in the making, is free for visitors through New Year’s Eve, though donations to Sids and Kids are encouraged.
Richards’ display overturned a previous record of 181,540 lights set in southern Uzbekistan.
