Truffle

Lol yes to the “very serious conversation” bit, my kid would geta stern look at times and I always thought it was because for them, I was on “teacher” mode, very serious.

If some giant towering over me would sudddenly get right in my face not respecting my personal space talking in a cutesy voice I would hate it too. Maybe the giant has bad breath and/or is asking me inappropiate questions like if I have a girlfriend yet or to come and hug him. I would be terrified.

Getting down to eye level to talk to small children is the norm in early childhood education. While getting my Montessori training, we had a special portion of the program learning how to appropiately adress children in a respectful way to invite them and engage in x or y activity. Even where we had to sit to teach a lesson depending if the child is left or right handed. Small details are very very important.

Aways come down to their height level when you talk to them so you can show them and read their facial non verbal language, you want to be on their same eye level but not on their face. Don’t stare or make too intense eye contact.

Pick a topic and see how much enthusiasm the kid shows, that can be a useful clue to see if you re going the right way with your interaction. Take into account that some kids (and some adults too!) don’t like interacting at all and that is also fine.

Some popular ones are: Dinosaurs, pets, tv shows/videogames, favorite color, favorite ice cream flavor, favorite song, favorite book.

Hope this helps.

Not me but my SO is a black belt judoka. He started as a kid and kept on practicing all the way through college where he managed to train and compete as a professional. Went to one edition of panamerican games and scored a first place.

My FIL is also a black belt judoka and at one time him and my SO taught classes for beginners and advanced students alike, they even had a class for little kids with some behavioral issues. They were beloved teachers by many students.

At one point they even had a student with impared vision and a student with impared hearing and that never stopped anyone from practicing judo safely and learning techniques.

Regarding your bit about using martial arts as self defense, I think it is more of a hollywood idea. Noone is faster than a bullet so good judgement is better than any martial art.

My SO has taught me that “It is better to be a warrior who can garden, than to be a gardener who has to go to war” and he is the most level headed, peaceful individual you can imagine.

He also says that judo is the discipline that has shapen his whole life through “Jita Kyoei” and “Seiryoku zenyo”: Mutual benefit and maximum efficiency.

“August and everything after” Counting crows

Spanish, english, german.

“Come closer” by Sara Gran. I’m half way through it. I loooove spooky books and this fits the bill. ETA: Finished it yesterday and the ending kinda fell flat.

You are in for a treat I’m sure! I hope your doctor gives you the green light to go try it.

I get this feeling too and actively look for it. My best times achieving this have been scuba diving or snorkeling, sitting still after an intense ashtanga class, stopping by after a storm while driving out of a woodsy lonely area. That lack of auditory or otherwise sense stimuli makes me feel super calm but I try to watch out how I do it so I don’t freak myself or others out. I have been tempted to go to a flotarium, you know like that kid from Stranger things in her giant tub of water, but it kinda scares me.

You must have had a class on how to do research, how to cite a paper, how to look for books in a library, etc. No?

I am not trying to come of as condescendent at all, it truly baffles me because I had such classes starting in middle school all the way up to graduate school and they were mandatory. Isn’t that the standard in higher education?

Plus the visuals and ambience creation were superb IMO. Mads Mikkelsen is such a vesratile actor. I especially liked his Hannibal.

OP: I am babbling all over your post because I am so excited to find interesting shows, movies and people in it. Sorry for the rambling.

Oh my absolute favorite detective. I remember waiting a freaking year when they announced “Midnight sun” to come out as the series finale. Great british TV!

The sinner season 1 was great! Jessica Biel surprised me with her character but it’s the little sister that does it for me. Have you watched “Sharp objects” with Amy Adams? I love how gritty and sordid it is. Kinda slow at first butvthen it picks up quickly for a riveting ending.

I guess you are talking about the tv series? Because that was, indeed, kind of not so good. I watched a couple of episodes.

The movies, at least for me, were good in a general sense but La habitación del niño was great in my opinion.

That Unabomber series was such a touching piece for me. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, but it made feel vey sentimental how his vulnerable side was presented.

Spot on! Very dark and dramatic, I remember reading the Millenium series when it first came out and then went to the theater to watch The girl with the dragon tattoo, the original european version with Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander. What a great actress!

IKR?! I read the book some time ago and I was like, man this part here would have made such a great episode.

Have you watched “Historias para no dormir”? It was series of Spanish horror movies, I think four or five. My favorite from that series was “La habitación del niño” such a good story! I am a horror buff and it is always refreshing to watch something that surprises me in a good way.

City of god was a great movie

You are in for a treat!

I am glad I could share something interesting with you.