I'm also dealing with same with my daughter. Since she's started kindergarten, she's darkened considerably on her face and arms. I know it's because of the amount of sun exposure during recess which is out of my control plus it's very sunny in California. My suggestion is to get her sunscreen which you'd use for her before school. That will stop further sun damage/ discoloration. And when they're on holidays, you limit sun exposure and focus on sunscreen.

That's what doctors constantly preach here....sun avoidance and protection especially between 10 - 2pm. I schedule my daughter's activities outside of those hours, load on sunscreen, hats, light long sleeved tops and sunglasses. Both her and I.

I went to Naija with my 3yr old in Nov, flew San Francisco to Houston to Lag. I told my hubby never again will I fly that route. The Nigerians in Houston are something else. Lmao at the pp that said they are farmers. I swear they look like and act like it.
We landed in Houston and had to run to our gate to catch the Lagos flight because we were late from Sf. All the passengers were seated and waiting for us coming from Sf. Our seats were already occupied by folks who were praying we wont show up. Even though there was only one woman seated on our row, she had filled the overhead compartment with Ghana-must-gos, poly bags etc. They had to take my carry-on from me to be checked in and I forgot to remove my daughter's pull-ups and food. I was so upset as I had to go look for another family to beg for diaper when my daughter pooped.
When we were taxing to the gate in Lag, people started getting up and the hostesses were shouting for them to be seated, it took a few other people intervening for them to sit down. Then the shouts of Jesu O se o.

It was quite an experience. From now on, I go through Frankfurt, Amsterdam or London.

This is why I wish Nigerians would start using car seats for their kids. Rear-facing infant seats for babies under 2yrs and forward-facing toddler seats for 3-5yrs and booster seats for kids under 8yrs. But na lie. You'll see mothers with babies on their laps or younger kids in the front.
When I went home, I travelled with my toddler's car seat and they all thought I was forming oyinbo. But the oyinbo people know what they're doing when they made it a law. When I told my sister to get a car seat for her 4yr old, she said she's too old for it even though my girl is 3 1/2 and will be in a car seat till she's 8. We need to enlighten ourselves and do better. My niece even though sits at the back, never wore her seat belt no matter how much i shouted. You see them standing against the door, when I got tired of shouting I had to keep quiet. My mind was never at rest with them all over the place in the car. Let them not say my own is too much because you live abroad now.

Mrkuvuki: I had one successful shipment with impex..and it felt good and the 2nd one I lost 5 perfumes then a note was tucked in my package, saying samples might have been taken by Nigerian customs service..my package was supposed to be 37lbs,but on picking it up it was 31.44lbs I told them 2 take note....on getting home I discovered that 5 of my colognes were missing from the box,I called there customer care unit,I also sent an email..all they could tell me is that the fault is from Nigerian custom service...they couldn't find my stuffs,they couldn't even refund money for the missing 5.66lbs...I sent an email to their HQ in newjersey since 2 weeks ago,yet they haven't replied me,I called yesterday all the phone attendant did was to take my number and promised her supervisor will call me back,Right now I'm thinking of trying out ALLWORLD OR SHIP AFRIKA....any one here ever used them?pls ineed ur views,u can also suggest otther airfreighters that u've tried..

I hope you read this soon enough. I used Allworld's service in August to ship to Lagos (sent stuff from California to their New York office). Though they were cheaper than my 2nd option Expedited Shippers, my goods were delayed. The told me it would take 5 working days to Lagos but it took about a month. Their aircraft supposedly developed some faults in Europe and it had to be fixed. So all the goods on board had to wait an eternity for the aircraft to be fixed, I asked why they don't just switch to another but they said they just couldn't. After about a month of 'repairs', the goods finally arrived Lagos. It took another week or more to clear them at the airport. Each time we called the Lagos office, the contact was always evasive. The new York contact didn't help either and was so unapologetic saying there was nothing they could do to speed things up that I had fashied my goods thinking they were a fraud. Thank God my sister was able to pick them up after so long but I vowed never to go back to them. I'm still searching for another shipper.

ebuchuks: Hav u received ur stuffs yet? @Brentwood

Yes my goods finally arrived after 3wks. Definetly not using them again.

Vicjustice:
NEGATIVE. Your daughter (with her name endorsed in your Nigerian passport) does not need a Nigerian visa to enter into Nigeria, she would only be required to obtain a Nigerian visa if she is travelling with her US passport: but if she is travelling with you in your Nigerian passport which carries her names, she can travel into the country without a visa. But you won't be allowed to fly out of the country with the same passport, you are required to obtain the E-Passport in order to leave Nigeria. This is how it works

Thank you. Sounds more like it.

tnktosin: Mehn, God punish poverty... I go die neck wey be like MTN mast b4, c my man clean-up like say 2mao no dey.. Nice one bro

#dead#

snowbuster: Yes she will need a naija visa . so i will advice you get her Nigeria passport or get a visa to travel and apply for the passport when you get home . but i will advice you to apply for the passport here before you travel so you wont need to stress your self much when you get home about going around to get her a new one .i Raise my case

Really? Even with her endorsed on my passport, she still needs a visa? So whats the point of endorsing kids on ones passport?

newacca: how old is she? within few hours,some experienced members will give you good response.

She's 3yrs.

Pls anybody home? Dont just view.

Pls i need some advise. I will be travelling home with my daughter this year by God's grace. I have the old naija passport which i renewed and have her endorsed on it. She also has a US passport. I dont plan to get her a visa. Will she be allowed out of US? Into naija? What else do i need to do?

Pls i need some advise too. I will be travelling home with my daughter this year by God's grace. I have the old naija passport which i renewed and have her endorsed on it. She also has a US passport. I dont plan to get her a visa. Will she be allowed out of US? Into naija? Do i need to do anything else?

Pls me too i need advise. I will be travelling home from the US with my daughter. I have the old nigerian passport (expiring in 2015) and she's endorsed on it. S

Pls does anyone know any shippers in California? Or on the West coast. I'm tired of shipping to New york.....Allworld. Didnt have a good first experience with them. Thanks.

Based on reviews here, i decided to ship some goods from the US to lagos through Allworld international. They shipped out last week wednesday....at least thats what i was told, expecting to be in their lagos office for pick up yesterday. Now i received a mail from the US guy(DJ) on monday saying the flight was delayed and the goods wont arrive yesterday as slated but till next week.

Problem is this is my first time so i'm worried sick. The goods arent mine, i was helping my younger sister start up her business so i dont want to be seen as the one who made her business fail. Why was it the day i paid into the company's acct that i get the email? Were they just waiting for me to pay to run off? I've been trying to reach him for the past 2 days no response.... by email & phone. My sister called the lagos office, she was told the aircraft hasnt left the US. That wasnt what i was told.

Pls any experience with this Allworldinternational? Abi i've been duped ni? I dont even know where to start.

Pls where can i watch nigeria's race? US would never show other countries unless they're competing. Pls i'm dying to see my people compete.

Kay-Dee:

[size=13pt]Most of these village/family gatherings are for the children sort of, to learn a bit of what they're missing by being out of naija and mingle with other naija kids, my only problem with it is that it usually stretches late into the night. I went to one @ Alameda last June, it closed at around 4am and we had to drive about 30miles back home with kids, everyone in the car passed out. Running a red light is a different case though. [/size]

Hey 'Alameda', Contra costa here.

I'm a Stay At Home Mom of a 2 1/2yr old daughter and i'd say its the most rewarding thing i've done in my life. I cant imagine anyone else raising my child, not with all the pedophiles running loose. I have a 1st degree and i'm currently taking online courses to further my education. There are also online conferences for moms to keep abreast in their chosen careers or for transitioning back into the work force. I intend to go back to work when she is 3yrs and starts preschool. By then she'd be very verbal and can express her needs, hurts and abuse etc (God forbids any). And if we think she isnt ready then, i'm ready to wait.
I know you said your hubby wants you to 'retire', cry out to God telling him your heart's desires then talk to your hubby. You should be ready to reach a compromise. As others have suggested, maybe open a store or something else you'd like to do other than a 9 to 5 job.

It wasnt something i thought i'd do before marriage or having kids but when i had my daughter, my hubby and i both agreed it was for the best. My extended family still gets on my case cos they cant imagine me being a 'housewife', maybe they're even ashamed based on naija mentality. I cant bear leaving her in anyone's care even though she's no longer an infant but when i can do it myself what stops me. My husband has a very good job and he's a very good provider so i cant complain. Once he lost his job for a yr and we lived on our savings but God was faithful. We never lacked. No one ever knew and God gave him a better job. That's what motivated me to do something.

Kids grow up so quickly that you'll soon wonder where your 'baby' went and you'll be left with just memories. Plus these are their formative years that any wrong step cant be taken back.
Meanwhile i keep busy with my courses and work-from-home opportunities so that i make some money and i'm not at someone's mercy. I also take my daughter for lots of 'mommy and me' classes and activities that its rewarding to see her blossom and grow into the person God intends her and i wont trade the bond we share for the world.
Dont make a hasty decision because it may seem like the perfect solution or you may live to regret it. And remenber whatever you decide, what works for one household may not apply for another. Goodluck.