Parents Mag

Will Kids Eat Vegetables? Yes, They Will!

admin — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:00:00 +0000

You have made the decision to grow your own vegetables. It’s a lifestyle and health choice. You want the best for your family and there are no shortcuts on the way. Good for you!

So now you’ve got all these wonderful fresh vegetables growing in your garden how do you get the kids to eat them? We should be eating 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables a day. Many adults don’t get the full servings required and you know the kids are getting a fraction of that.

If you’ve got problems getting vegetables into the kids, try a few of these strategies…

Start them young with a wide variety of tastes. If you get them between 2-4 years of age you’re more likely to capture them for life.

Set a good example. If you snack on fruits and veggies, then your children are more likely to follow your lead.

Try to prepare interesting after school or between meal snacks. I used to prepare a selection of cut up fruit, dried fruit, raw vegetables and two squares of chocolate. Okay, the chocolate always went first, but then they moved on to the good stuff to fill up.

Keep mixing it up. Prepare new types of vegetables or prepare them in different ways. Let them try just a small bit. If they don’t like it, fine. Just keep serving the stuff up.

Never make your dinner table a battle ground. It’s not worth it. If they are not forced to eat something they hate, they are more likely to continue trying different foods.

When all else fails, disguise it. Shred some carrot or zucchini into pancakes or hash brown potatoes. Blend vegetables into soups, pasta sauces or on pizza.

Involve them in the process. Take them shopping and let them pick out the veggies. Have them help plan and prepare the meals. Get them into their own gardening project!

And for something really left field, try this sweets recipe.

Vegetable Fudges

I know it sounds really bad, but it’s really good! It tastes like a veggie free zone, so if you really feel like you have to sneak it into family and friends, do it with dessert!

Different vegetables and fruits can be used in this recipe to vary it. You can add apple; chocolate; carrot; beetroot. Try your own varieties and see what happens.

The base recipe is this:

3 heaped tablespoons of butter
2 cups sugar
1 x 400g can condensed milk

Prepare a greased square slice pan or dish. Heat the butter and sugar very gently and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add half a cup of finely shredded fruit or vegetable, then add the condensed milk.

Stir constantly and keep the heat low or your mixture will burn. After about 20 minutes your mixture will be bubbling throughout. If you want to add chocolate at this stage, you can. Six squares of cooking chocolate should be about right. Once it’s completely blended throughout, pour into your dish and let it cool.

Cut into squares and enjoy!

Don’t despair, just keep trying. You know that you’re serving the best tasting vegetables on the planet when you grow them yourself organically. One fine day, your children will reminisce about that…

Judy Williams (http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com) aspires to become a fulltime earth mother goddess. This site acts as a primer for all vegetable gardening aspects covering topics like how to build a garden, nurture seedlings, container gardening and composting.

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More Water, Not Less, Will Help End Bedwetting

admin — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:00:00 +0000

More Water, Not Less, Will Help End Bedwetting
by: Graham Jones

Children are notoriously bad at drinking enough liquids. They are so busy playing they sometimes ‘forget’ to drink. Sometimes, children seem like camels - able to go for ages without having a drink. Obviously, when they are thirsty they will rush indoors for a drink. But often they look for sugary, caffeine-laden drinks which are great for quenching thirst, but do little for the body’s fluid levels.

That’s because the caffeine in many drinks leads to extra urination. The result is that more liquid goes out of the body than is taken in. And therein lies a problem. Your child’s body has inbuilt mechanisms to maintain the liquid levels. A lack of liquid intake, combined with the effects of caffeine in fluid output, means your child’s body requires more liquids to maintain the right balance. In other words, their body starts to demand more liquid.

That demand for extra liquids usually starts at the worst possible time - early evening. Your child is home from school or from a day playing with friends and they suddenly want a drink. They gulp down whatever you give them and demand more - and more. This is because their hydration levels are low and their body’s self defense mechanisms have kicked in to ensure that they don’t become dehydrated.

However, the body always takes in more than it actually needs - just to be on the safe side. So that excess has to go somewhere. It is taken out by the kidneys, converted into urine and placed in the bladder for urination. But this can take a few hours to occur. The result is that your child’s bladder has often not completed filling until after they have gone to bed.

If they have a poorly developed sense of bladder fullness while asleep, they will simply wet the bed. Many children wet the bed not because they drink too much, but because they don’t drink enough!

If a child drinks plenty of water during the day, they need less during the evening. Also, because their body has had time during the day to regulate it’s water levels, there is less need for urinating at night. Hence if a child drinks more during the day, the likelihood of bed wetting is reduced. Preventing your child from drinking too much liquid is actually working against you; it makes bed wetting more likely.

The problem for many parents is encouraging children to drink enough water during the day. As ever, changing your child’s habits starts with changing your own. Start drinking more water yourself - it won’t do you any harm! Your child will see you doing this and will not see water drinking as unusual.

Also, make sure you provide your child with water whenever they go out. Put a bottle of water in their bag and encourage them to drink it. Equally, raise the issue with school, suggesting that children should be encouraged to drink more. You don’t need to mention your child’s bedwetting - indeed you shouldn’t as it will embarrass your child. However, if you can get your child’s school to encourage more daytime drinking of water you’ll be helping the overall health of the whole school - as well as reducing bedwetting in your own child.

More information on dealing with bed wetting can be found at http://www.bed-wetting-info.co.uk

graham@bed-wetting-info.co.uk

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Top 100 Baby Names And Helpful Tips To Consider When Naming Your Baby

admin — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Top 100 Baby Names And Helpful Tips To Consider When Naming Your Baby
by: Christy Hollis

Are you an expectant parent anxiously waiting for that little package of joy? Yet, you and your spouse are still looking for that perfect name? Well…fret no more! The list of the top 100 baby names may be the answer to your prayers.

Searching for your baby’s name is loads of fun, whether you’re seeking a name for your soon-to-be baby boy or baby girl, wondering about the popularity of your own first name, or just curious about what names in the top 100 are currently hot.

What is particularly interesting is tracking the popularity of baby names over the decades. In looking through baby name lists from 1880 to the present, some amusing patterns emerge, particularly in regards to baby names for girls.

For example, in Victorian times, Biblical names such as Mary, Sarah and Ruth were very popular for baby girls. There were also many baby names that are now considered very old-fashioned like Martha, Alice, Bertha and Minnie.

>From the 1920s to the 1950s certain baby names rose in popularity. These included names such as Susan, Debbie, Patricia, and Linda. All of these baby names have since waned, to be replaced, by the 1980s, with fancier names such as Jennifer, Jessica and Nicole.

However, according to the new top 100 baby names, there’s been a lot of renewed interest in the more “old-fashioned” names like Hannah, Abigail and Ethan, plus many Biblical names such as Sarah, Rachel, Joshua, Jacob, and Samuel. There’s also been a surge in nontraditional baby names including Madison, Ashley and Brianna for baby girls, and Brandon and Logan for baby boys.

When naming a baby there are, of course, many other points to consider besides how popular or unique a name is. Here are some helpful tips that you can use with your spouse and immediate family in choosing a name for the new baby and to make the process fun:

1. Baby names need to go nicely with the sound of your last name. Also, pick a first name and a middle name that go together well. (So maybe not something like Erasmus Beelzebub Jones!)

2. When your family finds a name you all like, observe the initials to be sure that you don’t give your new baby a name with initials that will make people laugh or cause teasing by his or her peers. (For example: Pamela Iris Greer, which equals P.I.G. !)

3. You might not want a baby name that is so unusual that the other kids will make fun of your child in school which could result in low self esteem. So please do not be selfish when choosing a name.

4. You also might not want a baby name that is so trendy that it will sound funny by the time the baby is ten years old. (For example… Sunshine.)

5. Be careful not to pick a name that’s really cute for an adorable little baby but will sound silly when your little one grows up. (For example, Dimples or Cutie Pie.)

6. Avoid baby names that might produce insulting nicknames when people shorten them. (So maybe not Smellonius, or Smelly for short !)

7. You and your family might not want a name that is so hard to spell or to pronounce that people will always get it wrong and therefore, your poor son or daughter will have to go through their enire life correcting people.

8. You and your family might want to pick baby names in honor of favorite relatives or ancestors, or special names that show your family’s ethnic roots. You may even want to borrow a name from one of your favorite celebrities or sports athelete.

9. Study the top 100 baby names and choose one that has a special meaning that you like - maybe something that means “strong” or “kind” or “brave”.

10. Look at your own family names and see if using any name combinations create unusual baby names you like. Ask other family members for their suggestions, even invite your friends to give you their opinions. Does a relative have names you like? Do be careful if the names are already used. Ask other family members to be sure your favorite unusual baby names are not given to relatives. It can become confusing in families when two people have the same names.

Have fun and enjoy viewing the top 100 baby names when choosing your child’s names. Enjoy and celebrate the moment. You will know it was worth every minute spent looking for that baby boy or baby girl name…a name that will identify them for their lifetime.

christy@online-shopping-101.com

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Tips for Buying Baby Gear

admin — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Tips for Buying Baby Gear
by: Eric Koshinsky

Buying baby gear can be a frustrating experience for new parents who want to have the best for the baby without breaking their budget. You need to buy baby furniture, such as a crib or bassinet, a change table, high-chair, and a playpen. Parents also like to purchase a baby swing and a stroller for taking the baby for a walk. A cheaper alternative to a stroller is a baby sling where you can carry the baby comfortably and still keep him/her nestled close to you.

Other supplies that you need include baby clothes. When you are buying for the new baby, just remember that although an outfit may look cute, the baby needs to feel comfortable in it. Babies grow a lot in the first few months, so it is really a waste of money to buy a lot of brand-new outfits in newborn sizes. You are better off buying in the 3 - 6 month range at first. You will find that the baby will quickly outgrow even these. You also have to look at the material to make sure it won’t shrink after the first wash. Also buying gender neutral clothes that suit either a boy or a girl is a good choice. Chances are great, the baby will grow out of it long before it is worn out so you can pack it away for the next baby.

You have to decide whether you will start with a rocking bassinet or a full size crib. There are many bassinets combined with a playpen so this will save you money. Some bassinets convert into a change table and most of them are portable, making them great for travel. A crib is necessary for when the baby gets older, but for a newborn a bassinet is a good choice to make. Note: You can read a more complete article on this topic right here: http://www.greatbabygear.com/bassinet.html

You also have to look at bottles pacifiers, toys and later on a high chair. All of these come in many makes and models, but before you buy make sure that they are rated according to safety standards.

Even with all this, you won’t be allowed to take the baby home from the hospital without a car seat installed in the back seat. For this you need to look at ones that convert from rear to forward facing and that you can use a booster seat when the child gets older.

In all cases what you end up choosing to buy needs to be safe and healthy for your child and convenient and comfortable to use all without draining the bank account. With smart shopping choices guided by experienced advice, this is easy enough to accomplish.

About The Author

Eric & Lisa Koshinsky make it easy for you to get clear, unbiased information so you can make informed purchases of baby gear. Visit http://www.greatbabygear.com today for info on everything from baby strollers to baby monitors.

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Ten Hottest Careers

admin — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:00:00 +0000

Ten Hottest Careers
by: Alexandria Haber

What do you want to be when you grow up? If you are still trying to figure out which career path you want to follow, examine the following list of occupations currently considered the ten hottest careers:

Elementary school teachers
Accountants and auditors
Computer systems analysts
Secondary school teachers
Computer software engineers
Special education teachers
Computer programmers
Network and computer systems administrators
Preschool teachers
Dental hygienists

These ten hot careers are expected to have the highest demand for new recruits over the next eight years.

Born to teach?

If you love meeting new people and enjoy interacting with a wide range of personalities, teaching may be the right career choice for you. Four of the ten hottest careers are in the teaching profession. It doesn’t matter if you prefer to work with younger or older students because teachers are needed in every age range and category. If you love a challenge, consider working with special needs children or adults and become a special education teacher. Special education teachers are in very high demand and are one of the top five career choices available out of the ten hottest careers.

Computer savvy?

Considering that five of the ten hottest careers are computer related, if you have a knack for logging on and are interested in increasing and expanding your computer skills, a career in computers may very well be the right choice for you.

Take some time to analyze the ten hottest careers profiled on this page and consider all of the choices carefully. Knowing that there is a high and growing demand for qualified people in each of these occupations may help you decide to pursue one of these jobs.

info@comparedegrees.com

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Back to School-Advice

admin — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Back to School-Advice
by: Patricia Garza

It’s back to school time…. Do you have everything you need to start the year off right? Confidence is key to success!

For those first time jitters help welcome your pre-school and kinder students with a walk to the door and a quick goodbye. Quick good-byes are always best even though they can be painful to let go of your little one. Rest assured your little one is going to be well cared for throughout the day. Your confidence in your child’s school and teacher will help give your child the confidence he/she needs to say goodbye easier. Remember children learn what they see. So if you are nervous and hesitant to let go, your child will be too.

For older children, going back to school is usually filled with the wonder and excitement of sharing summer stories and seeing who is in their class this year. Elementary students through high school students usually greet the new school year with anticipation of all the new things they will get, new clothes, new books, new back packs and most importantly making new friends. While making new friends can be exciting it is not always easy for all children to warm up to new people especially if they are in a new school. Your encouragement and support will go a long way in reminding them that they are likeable and they have a lot of good qualities that will make others want to know them. If your shy child finds going to school the worst nightmare in the world, try and discuss this with your child’s teacher ahead of time and come up with ways to smooth the transition back to school.

Remember, all children have fears and anxieties about the first days or months of school, your support is needed now to guide them to succeed with confidence.

Have a safe and fun school year!

msrpgarza@hotmail.com

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Improving Spelling With Games

admin — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Improving Spelling With Games
by: Steve Hall

You got it! You can do just about any type of learning for a child or an individual learning a second language through the use of various computer games. You are sure to find something that will fit with their needs. You are also able to find a game that will keep them interested. Let’s take spelling as an example.

Many kids struggle each and every year at school with that dreaded Friday spelling test. It doesn’t get any easier because chances are good that the words just keep getting harder. For many parents, spelling is often a challenge to teach as well. The English language is nothing simple. But, what if you could teach them through the use of a PC game? That would be excellent, wouldn’t it?

Think about this. The next time your child comes home with that awful list of twenty words they just have to know, you can easily say to them, “Why not go play a game on the computer.” Yes, you can do this!

There are a number of games that are just perfect for teaching children the art of spelling. For example, you might want to try a word puzzle game like Beesly’s Buzzwords. Or, if Spiderman happens to be your child’s favorite character, you have games like Spider-Man 2: Web of Words. In this game, you child can advance through the levels by correctly spelling words. Its fun, rewarding, and most of all, it will help to improve their spelling capabilities.

The spelling games are not boring, dull, and difficult. To the opposite, these games will hold your child’s attention so that they can get the knowledge they need. That is what makes these games different. If you are thinking back to your school days and those boring computer programs you were allowed to play and wondering how your technology loving child is going to play with something like that, don’t worry. These games are much different. They are made to stimulate your child’s knowledge without even allowing them to realize that they are. To them, they are simply playing a Spider Man game.

The value of these games is huge. In fact, there are more than just spelling games, as we will see down the line. They are great ways to feed your child the knowledge that they need without boring them. When it is fun, it will get played more often. The more that it gets played, the more they can learn from it.

So, then, what is the bottom line? You can easily allow your child to play some computer games but of course, you still need to monitor their usage. And, yes, you may have to practice those specific spelling words each week, but it may just get easier as time goes on. Here’s a thought. Replace their favorite computer game with one of these for a week. They still get computer time and they still get to play a fun game. But, you get the satisfaction of knowing that they are playing an educational game as well. All in all, we think these games may be a great way to boost confidence and knowledge. Consider them for any age of child. You’ll be happy that you did.

steven@grandmatrix.com

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Important Safety and Styling Features of Baby Cribs

admin — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Baby Cribs are the feature item in any baby’s nursery. Most parents can get away with keeping their newborn in a bassinet for the first few weeks of life; eventually however, all parents will have to invest in some type of baby crib to ensure their newborns safety during the early years.

The number of different crib types available can often be overwhelming. There are sleigh, convertible, mini, wooden and rocking cribs to name a few. Some of the most popular baby cribs are those that convert into a toddler bed. Buying this type of crib is an economical decision allowing baby to use the same bedding for years to come. Other types of convertible baby cribs allow the crib to be attached next to the parent’s bedside for co-sleeping arrangements. This style of crib is often a popular choice among attachment parenting supporters, who believe that baby is better off sleeping with mom and dad for the first few months of life.

Some of the newest version baby cribs have the capability of ‘rocking’ your newborn to sleep. This can be an exceptional plus when trying to get a colicky baby to sleep. Keep in mind however, when considering this style of crib that eventually baby will outgrow the rocking crib and have to move to an ordinary bed. The transition might be a little disconcerting at first. Babies develop habits early on, and a baby who learns how to fall asleep with rocking will likely require some type of soothing mechanism in order to fall asleep in the years to come.

No matter the type of baby crib you decide on, there are certain important safety factors you should take into consideration before purchasing. These include the following:

Never buy a “used” crib unless you are certain that it is in quality shape and has all the parts. If you are missing a part, you might be able to order spare parts from the manufacturer. NEVER, EVER try to force a crib so that it works without the spare parts. Your baby’s life can be in danger. Many an infant has been critically injured or suffocated because of a collapsed crib. Most manufacturers and organizations recommend purchase of a new crib to ensure the safety of your newborn infant.
Make sure that all slats are placed no more than 2 3/8 inches apart
Ensure that the mattress fits snugly into the crib, so that there is no more than a two finger width space differential between the edge of the mattress and the side of the crib
Corner posts should be no higher than 1/16 of an inch to prevent entanglement or suffocation
Screws and bolts should all be secure

Some other considerations when you are searching for baby cribs include how secure the drop side latches are. You want to be certain that they are strong enough to prevent baby from accidentally unlatching them. Also, when setting up your baby crib, be certain not to fill the babies bed with extra blankets or stuffed animals. Such items also pose a suffocation risk, especially during the first four months of baby’s life when SIDS is a risk factor. Lastly, be certain that you do not place the crib within reach of any hanging objects that baby might accidentally grab onto and pull down.

Many parents often look for a colorful mobile to attach to the rail of their baby crib. This is a fine idea, and can provide your baby with hours of stimulating entertainment. Just be certain that you remove the mobile by the time baby is sitting up, so that she doesn’t accidentally pull the mobile down or become entangled in any loose strings.

Adriana Copaceanu is a busy mom of 2. Visit her Busy Moms Online if you are looking for ways to maximize your precious time. And if you are a new mom, you’ll find everything you need to know at her Baby’s First Year website.

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Baby Clothes You Can Use All Year

admin — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:00:00 +0000

Baby Clothes You Can Use All Year
by: Tim Henry

Few things seem more important at a baby shower than duckies, monkeys and theme colors. Once you get the baby home though, the most important thing about baby clothes is how well they protect your baby. Depending on the time of year that your baby is born, and the type of climate you live in, there are a variety of concerns to take into consideration for your baby’s very sensitive nature.

For summer babies, or babies in warm climates, overheating is not the only concern. A baby’s skin is incredibly sensitive to light, especially with the increasingly less protective o-zone layer. Sunscreen is not the only necessity for baby’s sensitive skin. Keeping a towel or blanket over the baby’s carriage or bassinet during summer play is a great way to keep the sun from harming your baby. Umbrellas and pop up tents are also great for beach days. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation but little to no sun�that way your baby won’t get sunburned or have to squint at the bright sun rays.

For daily summer wear, onesies that are made of a lightweight cotton are a great alternative to pants and shirts. In addition to being comfortable, they will easily fit in a small bag or purse that you can bring along in extra in case of a spill or accident. Another bonus of your baby being born in the summer is that it will keep shoe costs down, since a baby in a stroller in seventy five to eighty degree weather does not really need to wear shoes! Keeping a blanket in the stroller is important, especially if you’re in air conditioned buildings a lot, since babies are a lot more sensitive to the change in air temperature.

For winter wear, bundling babies in layers is a good way to combat the difference between heated buildings and the outside. Avoiding long stretches of being outside in colder temperatures is probably a good idea, but for short walks or trips between cars and buildings, warm bundling is vital. If you live in a climate that has a lot of snow, the danger of sun burn is even more prevalent than in the summer, since it attacks from all angles. Warm socks, mittens, and hats will do a good deal to keep most of the baby’s body heat in. Buntings that button down the front are a great way to let the baby escape from the heat a little bit when you are inside without too much effort for you or discomfort for the baby.

Layers work in almost every weather. As any New Englander will tell you, the ability to put on a layer or take it off is the key to combating shifting climates. This is particularly important for your baby, who is much more sensitive than you to slight changes in temperature or outside conditions. So keeping an extra sweater around, or putting an onesie underneath warmer clothing is a great way to prepare for anything that Mother Nature has in store. She likes to keep new mothers on their toes!

support@arundel.net

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Busy Moms, Don’t forget to take time out for you!

admin — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Busy Moms, Don’t forget to take time out for you!
by: Aurelia Williams

As mothers, we play so many different roles and most of us do not take the time off that we deserve. Just think about it, we play doctor, cook, chauffeur, teacher, lawyer, and the occasional referee as well.

I bet you can remember the last time you did a load of laundry, the last time one of your little ones gave you a hug or perhaps the last time one of your little ones created a little artwork on the wall (smile) but when was the last time you took time out for you?

It is very important to be sure to take time out for yourself. I made a vow a while ago to be sure to take time for myself away from home. I have a husband and 4 children and I schedule time for myself weekly. Whether I am alone or with girlfriends, I find the time that I spend dedicated to myself to be priceless.

I love ‘Girls Day out’! This is where you pal around with your friend or friends and just have fun (childless fun). Just imaging being able to drink an entire cup of tea or coffee before it gets cold or actually eating your entire meal without having to share it. It isn’t selfish to carve out a little ‘me time’ - it is actually a great way to nurture yourself and a wonderful way to rejuvenate yourself as well.

Usually after just a few hours out alone, I can be found cruising home in my van smiling and singing to the radio! I fell totally renewed, rejuvenated and ready to tackle just about ANYTHING (accept the laundry that might be screaming at me - I just yell back and tell it that I will handle it later).

Be sure to steal a few hours for yourself to get away. If for some reason you can’t leave the house perhaps just take some quiet time for yourself after the children are in bed and treat yourself to a good book, a bubble bath a nice movie or anything else that you get enjoyment from.

Here are 5 fun & easy ways to pamper yourself and nurture your mind, body and spirit:

1 - Wake up before the others in the house do and flip through a magazine or simply sip on a hot cup of coffee or tea and enjoy a few uninterrupted moments before the day fully begins.

2 - Weather permitting, take a nice walk and just enjoy your surroundings. Take note of all the beauty that is surrounding you.

3 - Take short breaks during your day whether you are a stay at home mom, work at home mom or work outside of the home, try doing something for yourself periodically throughout the day. You can close your eyes and daydream, browse through the paper or simply have a short friendly chat with a friend.

4 - Treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure or even a new hairstyle. We often are so used to treating others that we forget to treat ourselves and forget to let others pamper us.

5 - Take a nice long warm bubble bath. Fill your mind and senses with a nice fragrance and just soak for as long as you can.

info@reallifecoaching.net

Learn more at http://reallifesolutions.net

Aurelia Williams is the mom of four busy children, a Personal Life Coach and the owner of Real Life Solutions, which is an informational site that also offers products, articles and a great newsletter. You can also hear Aurelia daily on the WAHM Talk Radio show; she is the Resident Life Coach.

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