Health Before Pregnancy

There are a number of health conditions that can make it difficult

to get pregnant, but if you have made the decision to try for a baby the good

news is that many of these conditions can be avoided just with a bit of

preparation.

One of the first things women who are looking to get pregnant should do is ensure that they are up to date with their immunizations and track their menstrual cycle so as to be able to assist their doctor with calculating an accurate due date.

Women who are overweight or obese need to cut down their BMI size in order to have the best chance of getting pregnant and then having an easier time during pregnancy and at the actual birth.

Women should also go to their health professionals to discuss any other health issues they may have. This is the time to get all chronic illnesses and medications under control.

Making Your Home Learning-Friendly

Many students do homework or study outside of class and families can help to improve their regular study habits by following a few helpful tips.

Studying can be made to feel like a daunting task thanks to piles of papers and workbooks.

You can help by organizing your child’s learning materials and storing them in a particular area such as a filing cabinet or using paper folders for each individual subject. A chart could be posted on the inside front cover of said folders to note the completion of assignments and chapters and track studying time.

Noise levels from televisions, phones and other outside noises can be very distracting to children who are trying to study. Try and avoid playing video games or having loud conversations while your child is trying to study and if possible silence electronic devices which can also interfere with concentration.

Having a specific room or table for the child to be able to study at is very helpful, creating an environment which is conducive to learning as well as helping the student to get organized.

Teaching Siblings to Get Along

Sibling rivalry may be as old as the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. Fortunately, most conflicts between siblings don’t lead to the same tragic result, but they can be distressing to parents and children alike. To keep the peace in your household, follow this advice: • Start early. Involve the older child before the younger brother or sister comes along. Talk about how life develops in a mother’s body, discuss what changes the family should expect, and reassure the child of his or her parents’ love. • Pay attention. Many struggles between siblings arise because one of the children feels neglect¬ed and wants his or her share of attention. Do your best to devote some special time to each child so he or she doesn’t feel less important or unloved. Avoid any behavior that might appear to favor one child over the other. • Don’t compare children. Holding up one child as an example to the other can spark resentment and jealousy. Don’t expect them to become mirror images of each other. Appreciate each child on his or her own merits, and respect your kids’ individuality. • Teach children to settle their own conflicts. If you impose a solution, or drop everything to mediate a conflict, chances are good that no one will be happy. Talk to children about how they can solve the problem on their own—by asking politely, taking turns, seeing things from the sibling’s point of view, and so forth. If you must get involved, try not to take sides; help the children negotiate their own solution. • Hold family meetings. Bring everyone together once a week to discuss issues and explore solutions. Most of the time children just want to be heard. Give them a chance to speak and respond, and work together to resolve differences and disagreements.

Keeping Your Dignity at Work

Maintaining your dignity is about confidence, fairness and self-respect, and there are ways to make sure that no matter what challenges are thrown at you, you can keep that dignity while in the workplace.

One good tip is to make certain that your boss realizes that you are an asset to your firm. Be helpful, willing to pitch in when needed and visible, but avoid brownnosing. No truly strong leader wants to be surrounded by nothing but “yes men” so you should never hide your talents and take pride in your accomplishments.

Another good piece of advice is to avoid being perceived as a whiner. Chronic complainers rarely get promoted and it is a bad idea to go to your boss with every minor concern you may have. So long as they fall within your area of responsibility in the company, you should make your own decisions without constantly needing praise or validation from your boss.

You are entitled to safe, suitable working conditions and reasonable pay. You should never be afraid to stand up for your rights. A paycheck is not worth your self-esteem. 

Simple and Special Valentines Treats for Busy Parents

Nothing says “love” better than a homemade gift or treat from your child on Valentine’s Day. Here are a few ideas to help create some handmade gifts and memories with your children:

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     -Yarn Heart Cards: Give your kiddos child-safe plastic needles to stitch up some yarn heart cards. All you need is some colored card stock, scissors, tape colored yarn and the child-safe plastic needles. Fold the card stock in half, draw a heart and cut it out then tape it to the front of the card stock. Lay the card flat and with the heart as your template punch holes in the card stock with the needle and then discard the heart template. Have your child thread the needle with the yarn and knot the end. Start inside the card and stitch from side to side and finish by knotting on the inside of the card and trim the excess yarn.

-Paper blooms are another simple and fun project to make with your kids. Again you’ll need colored cardstock and also wooden spools, heart craft punches, straight pins, craft glue, cloth-covered floral wire, small buttons and grosgrain ribbon the same width as the spools you are using. Punch out a circle from cardstock and poke a small hole in the center with a straight pin. Child: Punch out five heart shapes and fold in half lengthwise for petals. Glue the petals around the circle, leaving the hole unobscured; set aside to dry. Thread one end of a length of floral wire through two holes on a button and twist to secure. Push the opposite end of the wire through the hole in the middle of the flower shape for a stem. Repeat to make more flowers. To make the “vase” - Wrap a length of ribbon around the spool and glue to secure. Trim the flower stems and stick them into the spool to display.

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     **Want an easy and yummy Valentine’s snack? Make ice cubes from pomegranate juice and float them in a fruit smoothie.

You can teach your child that love is in the air with these easy Valentine’s Day gifts they can make with you. 

Boosting Your Child's Self-Esteem!

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is a positive self-esteem. Why? Because children with high self-esteem are competent, feel loved and ultimately grow into happy, healthy and productive adults. So what can you do to boost your child’s self-esteem? Here are some easy ideas:

·         Give your children choices – within reason. Choices with a reasonable set of options allows your child to feel empowered. Let them make smaller decisions now and this will help them with bigger decisions as they grow.

·         Don’t do everything for them. Have some patience and let them work out a situation on their own. This allows them to face more challenges and as they do so, they become more confident.

·         Make sure your child knows that noone is perfect and they shouldn’t expect to be either. Watch how you react to things your child does and mistakes they make. Your reaction determines how your child will react.

·         Give your children chores that are appropriate for their age. These can be anything from setting the table to walking the dog and anything in between. Assigning certain tasks and allowing them to do them gives them problem-solving skills and a sense of competency.

·         Don’t compare your children to each other or two other children. Each child is unique in their own way and their differences should be celebrated.

      Spend one-on-one time with your child on a regular basis. It doesn’t matter if it’s over lunch or on a bike ride or a walk in the park – spending time with your child in this way allows them to discuss things that are on their mind and further strengthen the bond you have with each other. 

Kids in danger from E-Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes have been surging in popularity due to being sold as a cleaner, safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. However these smoking substitutes are a long way from being safe, according to some doctors and researchers – and children are particularly at risk.

These products are being tried by more and more teenagers, even as worries about the effect that e-cigarettes have on children with their secondhand vapor being increasingly raised by scientists. Age restrictions may soon be recommended on e-cigarettes by some public bodies, who feel that children who are being accidentally exposed to these products is a public health concern that needs to be taken with the utmost seriousness, as well as making parents realize how potentially dangerous they could be.

The FDA is also looking into the possibility of regulating e-cigarettes, although for adults it is still believed that they are a much less dangerous form of smoking than ordinary cigarettes.