Raychel and her left hand

Raychel has been developing her fine motor skills without any complications - however we have noticed that she favours her left hand more than her right to feed, colour, grab any items, etc. I don't think is a big issue, since both her maternal grandfather, 2nd cousin William and great-grandfather are lefty's, but Ray fears that she will face challenges in the world b/c it's designed for righty's only. I think this fear also is naturally engrained from a past stigma b/c society would not accept left-handed people and would force them in some shape or form to use their right hand. Either way, Raychel's left hand is a lot stronger and easier for her to use than her right and we should just encourage her to be herself.

Interesting facts:

• Experts say that parents won't be able to determine true right- or left-handedness until a child is 2 or 3 years old, when a child begins to favor the same hand consistently.
• Also, some children may be ambidextrous (using both hands equally) until they're 5 or 6, when they finally make a choice.
• Lastly, hand dominance is greatly influenced by genetics. So, if both parents are left-handed, your child has a 45 to 50 percent chance of being left-handed as well (about 10 percent of people are left-handed).

Raychel's lefty behaviour could be temporary - who knows? And if she is a lefty - that's okay too.

Top 10 Favourite Parenting Items/Places to take Raychel of 2010

1. Favourite Parenting Magazine: Today's Parent
2. Favourite Toy Brand: V-Tech
3. Favourite Children's Clothing Brand: Carter's
4. Favourite Infant snack: Baby Mum Mum's
5. Favourite Formula: Heinz
6. Favourite Family Restaurant: The Keg (yes, I know it's not normally known for being a family restaurant but she loves their bread and mashed potatoes).
7. Favourite Infant Juice: Heinz Pear Juice
8. Favourite Hotel: Kowloon Hotel, Hong Kong
9. Favourite Movie in theatre: Tangled
10. Favourite Outdoor Attraction: Tie - Toronto Zoo/Whittamore's Farm

I also have some great 2010 milestones that deserve to be mentioned.

Special mentions: - Disneyland (HK)/DisneyWorld, Coney Island, Central Park, Wonderland, CNE, Chuck'e'Cheese, Hong Kong, Englewood Beach, all of Florida, all of Hong Kong, the Cottage (Haliburton).