Q: Since banana leaf meals are typically eaten without utensils, ensure your hands are clean before eating. Especially take care to do this if you are taking part in a communal meal where everyone shares food from a single leaf. Double-check your fingernails to make sure that all dirt and grime has been removed. Some restaurants will offer extra sinks just for this purpose. If no water or soap is available, wiping your hands clean with a cloth or towel is acceptable. Since your hands will undoubtedly get messy, be sure to wash them after eating as well. Remember that many societies that use banana leaves also happen to believe that the left hand is "unclean," even if you thoroughly washed it before sitting down. Respect their traditions and keep your left hand below the table. Only use your right hand to handle food and other items. This rule exists because such societies are supposed to use their left hand only for cleaning their body. So placing this hand on the table where others are eating or handling shared food with it is considered disrespectful. When sharing a communal meal, be conscious of the fact that the person next to you will be helping themselves to the same dish as you. Avoid double-dipping bread, rice, or other items in shared food. When bringing food to your mouth, be careful to only place the food inside, not your fingers. Additionally: Do not help yourself to the last serving of a communal dish. Wait until your fellow diners make it clear that they do not want it. If you use a toothpick afterward, shield your mouth with your hand to catch any bits that may escape your mouth. If smoking is permitted, wait until everyone has finished eating so you do not ruin their experience. Indicate to waitstaff that you have finished eating by folding your leaf in half. Fold it along its spine, with the spine facing away from you. Be aware that folding it the other way around (with the spine closest to you) is a special custom in some societies, reserved exclusively for funerals, in order to show sympathy toward the surviving family.
A: Wash your hands before and after. Use your right hand only. Respect your neighbors. Fold the leaf afterward.

Q: A child who is three years of age or older can usually understand if you explain why she needs to take medication. If your child is still having a hard time taking her medication, be honest and explain in terms that she can understand. It's important to be honest with your child and not lie to make things better. You may find that appealing to your toddler's sense of reasoning can help her take the medication. Tell your child you know the medicine tastes bad and that the bad taste will go away quickly if she takes it quickly and in a way you suggested. Explain why medication will help your toddler. Asking your toddler why the medication is necessary can help start a simple conversation that may help her take the meds. Remember to reassure your child and be honest. Say, "I know this medication tastes bad, but taking it will make you feel better." You may want to bolster this statement by adding something tempting like, "You'll be able to go back to the playground soon if you take your medication." If your child is having difficulty taking one form of medication, see if others are available. Many companies offer their medications in liquid, capsule, and chewable options to appeal to a variety of patients. Get in contact with your doctor to see if he can prescribe a different delivery method for your child's medication. Consider asking your doctor if you can get the medication in a higher concentration, which may mean a smaller dose. Make sure to let your child know if you change the delivery method. For example, you can say, "No more yucky pills. I got you a medicine you can drink that is purple and tastes like strawberries!" If your child is being especially uncooperative, enlist the help of a friend or loved one. This may not be pleasant for any of you, but it can help get the process over quickly. You should only use this method if your child is taking liquid medication to prevent choking. Have one adult hold the child sitting on her lap. This adult can use her hands to keep the toddler's hands and head from moving. With one hand, open your child's mouth by pushing on his chin or running your fingers inside his cheek and pushing down on his lower jaw. With the other hand, insert a pre-filled syringe between your child's teeth and drip it onto the back of the tongue. Keep your child's mouth closed until he swallows. Tell your child following the dose, "I'm very sorry we had to give you medicine this way. If you help out next time, we won't have to hold you." You may want to give your child a hug or some other type of positive reinforcement in addition to this. In some cases, your child may spit out or vomit her medication. If this happens, contact your health care provider and explain what happened. He can let you know the best way to proceed for you and your child. Avoid repeating a dose unless you've spoken to your doctor. Some medications can be given again without a problem, but even a little bit of others may be harmful. If all else fails, speak to your child's doctor. She may have alternative suggestions about how to give your child the medication. The doctor may also prescribe something new that looks or tastes better or comes in a different form. Avoid forcing your child to take capsules or chewable tabs. While you can force a child to take liquid medication, capsules and chewable tabs are another story. There is a very real danger of choking and aspirating the drug into the lungs, which is a serious medical emergency. Consult with your health professional for ideas on how to give your child medicine without forcing him, which is a better idea than forcing medication on a resistant child.
A: Talk to your toddler. Find a different delivery method. Use two adults to give the toddler medication. Stay away from double-dosing. Talk to your health care provider.

Q: Forgiveness is about accepting what has happened and moving forward. It is not a denial of the betrayal or a justification of what the other person did. It does not guarantee that the other person won't hurt you again, but it can bring you a sense of power and peace. You can choose not to forgive, but keep in mind that if you dwell on the broken trust, you might experience depression, anxiety, anger, and lack of connection with others. You can forgive someone without reconciling or staying in the relationship. You can start the process of forgiveness by reflecting on how the experience of broken trust has affected you and your relationship to the other person. You can also reflect on the positive times in your relationship. What do you miss about your relationship and how would you like to get back to that? If you get stuck: Consider the other person's perspective and what you would want if you were in their position. Consider other times and experiences in life where your trust was broken or you broke someone's trust. How were you able to forgive or were others able to forgive you? Consider journaling, talking to a friend or loved one, or talking to a counselor to help guide you. Instead of replaying and reliving the hurt feelings in your head, try to shift your focus to looking for healthy relationships and experiences that bring you happiness, hope, and peace.If you get overwhelmed in feeling the hurt while you're trying to forgive, try practicing these techniques to ease your stress level: Deep breathing Meditation Mindfulness exercises Forgiveness is not complete without reflecting on what you've learned. Use this experience to set boundaries and expectations in future relationships. Above all, trust yourself. If you're unable to move on and completely forgive just yet, it might be too difficult to be around the person who broke your trust.
A:
Understand what forgiveness is. Begin to forgive. Shift your emotions. Learn and move on.