Getting through the School Daze
October 31, 2006
It’s back to school time again. Does the thought of having to get everyone organized and out the door make you want to send for boarding school brochures? Here are a few tips to help get through that back to school daze.
Making Merry Mornings:
The biggest cause of whining and tantrums in the morning is a sleepy child trying to make a decision. Eliminate the choices along with the grumpiness.
- Lay out clothes the night before. This simple action can prevent wasting time looking for a missing shoe or favorite pants that are still in the dryer.
- Pack a lunch or put out lunch money the night before.
- If family members share a bathroom in the morning, work out a schedule and have them stick to it.
- A good night’s sleep is essential to reducing some of the morning moodiness. Keep a regular bedtime ? both parents and children.
Staying Cool At School:
New situations can make children anxious and uncomfortable. Knowing what to expect the first day can ease some of the anxiety.
Baby Car Seats Safety - Frequently Asked Questions
October 31, 2006
In this article you will be provided with information about baby car seats and keeping your baby safe while in the car. There are tips for buying new and used baby car seats. Answers to some of the most asked questions about car seats are provided as well.
Q. What is the best baby car seat?
The best car seat is the one that matches your baby’s size and weight. It also fits properly in your car and is easily installed.
Q. What types of baby car seats are available?
There are several types of baby car seats such as infant seats, front facing car seats, and convertible seats. There are also combination seats (can face front or rear), booster seats and integrated car seats. With each type of seat there are variations.
Q. Is a five-point harness or a shield safest for my baby?
A five point harness gives your child the greatest protection because it holds your baby tighter in the seat in the event of a crash. A T-Shield or over-the-head restraint allows too much room or can get in the way of chubby tummies and legs. The stalk of the T-Shield can cause serious injury to your baby.
Muscle Pain And Children Do Not Mix
October 31, 2006
I am in pain. I’ve been in pain all day. Last night, I was in “searing pain”, which is pain multiplied by pain, divided by relief, then multiplied by pain to the tenth power. In case you are not a math whiz, that equals pain with 33 zeros after it. Two days ago, I was in pain (just regular pain, no zeros). In fact, I was in pain all week.
Welcome to my humor column.
Actually, pain is not really all that funny … unless it happens to somebody else. Oh, come on. Don’t get all sanctimonious on me. Pain is the very essence of the Bugs Bunny Show. And the Three Stooges. And every sitcom that relies on personal slights and insults. Without pain to tickle the funny bone, the entertainment industry would be no bigger today than George Bush’s collection of feminist literature.
Of course, pain is funny only when it happens to somebody else. It’s a lot like reality TV. If it was you stranded on a desert island with a dozen other maniacs, trying to cook worms without emptying your stomach first, would you feel “entertained”?
Safe From Strangers
October 31, 2006
There are few thoughts as terrifying as the abduction of your young child by a stranger. The fear causes parents to think long and hard about their children’s safety. They tell them in a very clear voice, "Do not to talk to strangers."
The problem is though, that a child’s view of a stranger is very different from a parent’s view. From the child’s perspective, because a stranger is someone they are supposed to be afraid of, they expect a stranger to look ugly or scary. In fact, few, if any strangers actually look like the child’s notion. Then to make matters more confusing for children, we teach then to respect and listen to their elders and be polite. Then as role models, children see us talk to people we have never met before, day in and day out.
So young children get it and will not to talk to strangers. They will very willingly avoid scary looking people. However, when confronted by a friendly, kind looking older person, they will likely respond politely, which in most cases means "speaking when spoken to" and as they are taught in school, they will follow their directions.
Home For The Holidays: Avoid Aging Parents Becoming A Burden
October 30, 2006
By not planning for the future we guarantee that we will leave our children with a tremendous burden. Just about the time they are preparing for their own retirement and their children’s college education, adult children often are overwhelmed with decision-making for their aging parents.
As a long term care administrator I heard it daily, "I don’t want to be a burden to my children." But unintentionally most of us make it even harder for our children by not clearly defining our wishes or preferences. We can help them out by asserting control over our future health care, residential choices, and even how we will die. There are specific and discrete steps we can take to shape our own destiny. Many of these tasks only take a few moments of your time, some take a little research and others may require professional assistance. None of them are extremely costly or difficult.
So why don’t more of us do this type of planning? Seniors are concerned about losing control of their life and being a burden to their grown children but many just don’t know what to do. For instance, the majority of people want to die at home, but very few do. Become familiar with your options and make your preferences known while thinking clearly, while free from pain and prior to an emergency or crisis.
Gothic Décor - Enter The Dark Realm
October 30, 2006
Gothic Décor - Enter The Dark Realm
by: Michael Holland
Gothic décor is often associated with medieval designs, which is not
surprising considering the two are quite similar.
However the major difference between gothic and medieval, is that
gothic décor is usually much darker, and perhaps in a modern sense, a
little more “stereotypical”.
When it comes to gothic décor you need to think dark. Everything
considered gothic is void of bright colors. The major gothic colors
include black, deep purples such as eggplant or violet, black, deep
greens such as forest green, black, royal blue, black, crimson reds,
black, silver, and black-you get the idea.
Gothic décor themes will vary depending on what tastes your child
has. There are two basic gothic types that will be taken into
consideration here:
1. Traditional Gothic theme
2. Modern Gothic theme
The traditional gothic theme is one that consists of dark colors, and
is lightly based on the period that existed in Northern Europe
between the 12th and 15th century. A room fashioned in this type of
Home For The Holidays: Ask Yourself Some Questions
October 30, 2006
Annie easily slipped into becoming the sole caregiver of her parents. What started out as monthly grocery shopping for them, over the course of 2 years became a full time duty, an overwhelming burden and just about broke her emotionally and financially.
They say that it’s good that primary caregivers don’t know what to expect or they would not enter into the situation. That is only true if they aren’t honest with themselves and with others, don’t research the many options and review the abundant material now available to families. Not everyone can take on the responsibility for any number of reasons. So potential caregivers of aging parents should ask themselves the following questions as the need for care and assistance begins to grow:
- What level of care am I able or willing to provide?
- At what point will I need to involve a professional, like a care manager or lawyer?
- How has my family resolved issues in the past involving difficult and complex concerns?
- Are my loved ones very private people and how can I best be respectful?
- What is my relationship with other care providers and how are our roles similar or different?
- Do I have the feeling my loved ones are making the right decisions about their future? Do other caregivers agree with me?
Gather the important people who participate in caring for the aging adult, then agree upon the specific roles that each person will play. Be honest about what you’re able to give — for example, will you give more time or money?
Educational Toys That Stimulate Chidrens Mind
October 30, 2006
When children start to walk more steadily, run, push, pull, climb and grab things - they are growing from infants to toddlers. Between their first and second birthdays, they are self centered and get busy doing various things like - to flip light switches, pour things in and out of containers, unwrap packages and empty drawers. The toddler stage is very important in a child’s life. It is the time between infancy and childhood when a child learns and grows in many ways. Everything that happens to the toddler is meaningful.
How do I know this?
I am a mother of two boys who I love dearly. I decided to stay home and raise my children with the best education and values I could provide. We made sacrifices and reorganized our lives for them. I learned the importance of educational toys as we saw our sons playing together with toys all around the house. This is when I realized the value of educational toys and started lulu-baby.com, to help other parents provide greater richness and diversity to their children. I truly believe that educational toys are the one option that can make every parent’s dreams true.
Home For The Holidays: Is it Time for That Talk?
October 29, 2006
Just a couple of years ago Annie helped her parents get the washer & dryer moved from the basement to a bedroom on the first floor after her mom missed the last step & broke her toe. Annie reassured them that she would make sure they would stay in their own home no matter what. Before she knew it she was fixing every supper for them at their home, taking care of the yard and cleaning the house on the weekend.
Then, Annie started to receive calls during the day at work. Mom had an accident with the car or Dad couldn’t get out of the bathtub. She hired a home care aide during weekdays after she talked them into selling the car & accepting help for cleaning and cooking. Annie continued to promise her parents that they would live in their home forever. Her life was consumed with their care.
She hid a house key outside their home after the second time the EMTs called in the middle of the night because they couldn’t get into the house for her dad who had fallen while going to the bathroom in the night & her mom couldn’t get out of bed to unlock the door. Annie hired a nighttime aide. They now had help 24 hours a day.
True Romance for Couples with Kids: 10 Inexpensive Ideas
October 29, 2006
Anyone can splurge on a formal dinner or a pricey bottle of perfume, but it takes creativity and forethought to be truly romantic.
The key lies in personalizing your celebration. Here are ten ideas to fuel your own creativity:
1. Empty a box of chocolates. Then cut out 50 to 100 hearts from lace doilies, construction paper, or fabric. On each cutout, record something about your mate that you love. Be specific, “The way you smell when you come to bed at night,” “The way you take care of me when I’m sick,” “Your recipe for pancakes”…
Fold the cutouts, place them in the chocolate box, and top with a red satin bow.
The time you spend coming up with these ideas will contribute to your own romantic mood, and what your partner thinks is a plain-old box of chocolates will instead be a treasured gift for years to come. Plus, you can add to the box for future birthday, holiday, or Valentine’s Day celebrations.
2. Build a romantic fire. Before the kids go to bed, have fun roasting marshmallows. After their lights are out, host your own indoor picnic, complete with a bottle of wine and chocolate-covered strawberries.
