Every Mom Worries
July 31, 2009
Sitterphobe "I never have a second to myself," this mother tells you (and tells you and tells you). You agree, judging by her slightly frazzled demeanor, that she could use a break. Maybe a trip to the gym. A date with her husband. Time to herself. So you recommend the great babysitter you’ve found. She responds with one of those "but-I-love-my-children" looks. And says something like: "Nobody can care for a child as well as her own mother."
Reality check: "A lot of mothers suffer incredible guilt about needing help to care for their children," Dr. Berger says. "And if Mom works full-time, the guilt is compounded. Every spare second, she figures, needs to be lavished on her kids." Trouble is, an overwhelmed mom isn’t going to be on top of her game. Every parent (and every marriage) can benefit from the occasional kid-free outing. "It recharges your batteries and allows you to breathe in a different kind of atmosphere," Dr. Berger says. "When you take care of yourself, you take better care of your kids." And if you don’t work outside the home, hiring the occasional sitter teaches your children that people other than you can provide them with care and safety. Besides, there’s another bonus to getting away every now and then: When you return home, not only will you appreciate your kids even more, they’ll appreciate you more too.
Hiking with Children
July 30, 2009
There is nothing quite like hiking with small children. The thrill of introducing these young ones to the wonder of nature is matched only by their eyes as they take it all in. If you follow a few simple rules when hiking with children, things go extremely well. Forget these simple rules and your treks with the young can be a recipe for disaster.
The first thing to remember is that young ones don’t understand or know the dangers of a trail that might seem the most basic of realities to anyone else. Poison oak, snakes and wild animals seem fun to the youngest of hikers. You know better and need to make sure that your partners do as well. You’ll need to be the eyes and ears of those who eyes and ears aren’t yet up to the task. You’d be surprised how quickly they can get themselves into trouble so you’ll need to keep on your toes.
Secondly, you’ll want to bring lots of snacks. Little legs burn a lot of energy when they’re hiking and their little stomachs require that you feed them often. Obviously, go without quick fixes of candy and the like. Nuts, whole grains and dried fruit all taste great and work well for all ages. Make sure to bring lots of water as well.
Government Research Procurement Fails to Bring Efficient Bidders
July 29, 2009
Many have complained of the Government’s procurement process for research proposals. It is totally flawed. Instead of giving bids to entrepreneurs who know how to get things done on the fly, they so often give the grants to the best paperwork pushers. Teams of grant writers from Universities and Corporations sit down and fill out forms and make enticing proposal fluff out of what appears to be mundane subject matter. The fact is many of the research projects are far from mundane; many have the potential to hyperspace the human race forward in a single discovery. Once the proposal is won or lost the grant or proposal team is onto the next proposal and then the next. Sometimes it is nothing more than a numbers game where teams are judged by future funding captured rather than having any sense of seeing the project thru to fruition.
Those who will be doing the work at the Corporate Level are assigned a project manager specialist, generally not from the field but a team leader who sets timelines. Then the bureaucracy starts. The project is doomed to develop slowly, have turn over and eventually come to some findings relevant, while the team is asked to cut budget, save money and all the scientists and consultants become disenchanted and the top thinkers move on after listing one more project participation on their resumes. Two years gone by and the engineers move on, perhaps they have a working prototype; perhaps not.
Teenagers and What Parents Should Do About Them
July 28, 2009
Chiladult? Whatever you call them, teenagers are a changin’ and parents need to know what to do.
Wow… What Happened?
That’s what most parents find themselves asking about the time their kids hit twelve or thirteen. But the changes really start unfolding between nine to eleven years old.
Your sweet little babies who’s whole world has revolved around you start revolving around everything but you. This can be really hard on the old ego, but it requires a steady hand, and an even temper. While your kids may not agree, they need you now more then ever.
This is a time when they start to explore new worlds, take steps of independence, and try to spread their wings and see what it is like to “Fly Alone”. Scary stuff for a kid, a lot more scary for the parent.
The best thing you can do as a parent is stay involved in their daily lives. Spend time together. Listen to what they are trying to tell you. Don’t be too judgmental. And help provide the tools that will still educate them, and steer them in the direction you want them to go.
How Much Water For Baby?
July 28, 2009
While drinking more water is a good idea for everyone, especially during hot summer months, too much water can be harmful to infants 6 months old and younger. According to a study in Clinicians Reviews a 1997 survey of new mothers found that nearly 25 percent give their babies water at least 3 times per week in the first month of life.
Water intoxication is rare in children and adults who are able to judge their own water needs by thirst and activity. But babies are not able to do this. Also, the kidneys of newborns filter more slowly than those of older infants, causing sodium levels in the blood to be diluted.
According to doctors, 24 cases of water intoxication were reported at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital in the years 1989 to 1991. The problem seems to be increasing since only 10 cases were reported from 1985 to 1988. In the cases reported the otherwise healthy babies were 4 to 5 months old and drank three 8-oz. bottles of water within 6 to 12 hours.
Symptoms of water intoxication include pale urine, using more than 8 diapers a day, and baby sleeping more than usual and being difficult to wake up.
Hold a Childs Birthday Party for Charity
July 27, 2009
As a parent, you probably know that the birthday party routine can be an almost painful experience. With about 20 children in your child’s class, going to more than one birthday party in one weekend can occur quite often. If you have more than one child, birthday-party weekends can take over your entire life. Finding the right gift takes hours, wrapping the present and preparing the card is more time. When it is your child’s turn for a birthday party, do you really want to put other parents through the same routine? Will your child really appreciate 20 birthday gifts on top of what you and your family have already given him? Does your child really need more toys?
Teaching our child that it’s just as wonderful to give as it is to receive is almost never easy. But once they understand the concept, the rewards can last a lifetime. As a parent, you probably want to guide your child to become a healthy and ethical adult. How can you lead your child to a healthy future? What kind of activities can you do together as a family that will steer your child towards becoming a compassionate adult? Community service and Volunteerism are your answer. Not only will you show your child that it is "cool" to care for others, but it will also be a wonderful way to get others involved. You can do just that with a charity birthday party.
10 Universal Laws for Parents of Teens
July 26, 2009
1 “Law of Belonging”: The greatest need of teenagers (after music and the phone) is a strong sense of belonging. They need to feel they are a part of something bigger than themselves. If they don’t get it in a healthy place - with family, worthwhile friends, clubs, sports, youth groups, etc. - they will get it in an unhealthy place - with inappropriate friends, drugs, gangs or cults.
2 “Law of Hope”: Recent statistics show that one of the age groups in which the suicide rate is rising is adolescents. This is the direct result of a lack of hope - hope for the future, hope that things will get better.
3 “Law of Power”: Once you enter into a power struggle with a teen, you have already lost it. Remember the closing line of the movie War Games: “Interesting game . . . the only winning move is not to play.”
4 “Law of Management”: A management approach to raising teens puts parents clearly in charge. The goal is to manage them eventually out of your lives and into their own. Parenting is one of those jobs in which the goal is to eliminate the need for your job.
The Great Baby Name Debate
July 25, 2009
Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you choose for your child will last a lifetime. Whether you’re looking for something original that will stand out from the crowd or a traditional name that people will instantly recognize, choosing a name for your new baby is a huge responsibility.
It goes without saying that you as the parents must like the name. Names that hold bad associations for you are out (Jeremy was a bore at school, you can’t stand Bella in the Tweenies), and if you consider your own name uninteresting, you may wish to choose something more exotic - or vice versa.
Think carefully about combinations of first name and surname. Are they compatible? You may like a mixture of an unusual first name with a more familiar surname (Zara Phillips), but be careful about rhyming the two names - Mark Clarke won’t thank you for it. Beware initials that could cause hilarity to your child’s future friends - Ethan Thomas or Peter Oliver Ogilvie won’t be joining in the giggles! Trying to be clever can also cause grief - Poppy Fields or Summer Winters may sound cute at the time, but can eventually grate on everyone’s nerves!
Making Time For Yourself While Homeschooling
July 24, 2009
Making Time For Yourself While Homeschooling
by: L. D. Mairet
Making time for yourself while homeschooling seems like a dream. There are several tips that you can do to help yourself while you are staying home and giving so much to others.
First, get up an extra half hour to an hour before your children do. Make your coffee, read the newspaper, whatever you like to do just to start the day off relaxing. Eat a little breakfast to get you going. I personally enjoy sitting out on my back porch, drinking my decaf coffee, and enjoying some fresh air. Nice and relaxing not to mention quiet. Don’t think about anything other than just relaxing. I know its hard because there are so many things you could be doing, but don’t. Take the time for yourself. Everybody demands a lot out of you and you play so many rolls during the day, wife, mother, cook, house cleaner and educator. It’s a lot of stress and you deserve the time for yourself.
Choosing Wooden Toys For Children
July 23, 2009
Wooden toys are one of the best alternatives for the huge number of toys made of plastic and other synthetic materials that you can find in all toy stores.
In addition, most children’s wooden toys are handcrafted. This makes them look wonderful. Not only that they are great toys for children, but they are also incredible works of art.
Wooden toys in the past
People started being preoccupied with manufacturing toys for their children many thousands of years ago in order to keep children busy while parents were working.
Because modern materials like plastic andrubber were not yet discovered, the only material available to be used at creating child toys was wood.
Although rudimentary at first, children’s wooden toys became very popular with children from rich families in Egypt and The Roman Empire.
One such case was that of a ten years old girl from a wealthy roman family. She was mummified and put to rest in her tomb alongside with her most loved things.
One of her personal objects found was a wonderful wooden toy doll. It was really carefully carved and varnished, proving that parents in the Roman Empire were preoccupied with the quality of the wooden toys they choose for their children.
