Archive for the ‘Parenting’ Category
Dec
28
Posted by Kim Allissa on
December 28, 2009
Perhaps you are a single parent and you have considered dating again. However, something is holding you back, and that is your children. You may be concerned with how to date when you have children. After all, let’s face it; dating with children is definitely not the same as dating as a single person with no children!
Although this should go without saying, always make sure that your kids stay the most important people in your life. Dates will come and go, but you want your children to be able to know that you are always there for them as they are growing up.
In all instances of dating, you must ensure that your children remain your top priority. That may sound like common sense, but I have seen it many times, where the adult’s needs end up becoming number one even when they never meant for that to happen.
So how exactly do you date again when children are in the picture?
* Keep your children safe psychologically and physically – by keeping your dating world separate from your children. Do not introduce them to all of your dates. There are many reasons for this. First, if your children have a second parent (i.e. your ex), they are probably not interested in the thought of having another one. They may even feel threatened that the person you are dating is going to steal time away from them. Another reason is that you do not want your children to get too close with someone you do not intend to have a long-term relationship with, as this may cause feelings of loss for your children. This could be particularly traumatic if your children have lost a parent to death or a parent who walked out or was just never there for them.
* Find ways to date that save you time – It costs money to hire a babysitter every time you go on a date. It can also use up a lot of your time, which is something you probably do not have a whole lot of these days. Do not go out on lengthy initial dates. Look into other options of dating such as online dating sites that allow you to meet people from home.
* Take the pressure off yourself – Do not feel like you have to date, and do not let other people’s expectations of what you should or should not be doing influence you. If you want to date, then do it with only the intention of having fun and finding companionship. Do not look at it as a way to meet a new mother or father for your children, or as looking for someone that you will be spending the rest of your life with. This may very well happen, but do not let these thoughts pressure you as you will then not make decisions that are as wise for yourself and that of your children.
* Date with the intention to enjoy an adult’s company – not with the intention of meeting your next wife or husband! You do not want to rush into anything, nor do you want to give that impression. If you date for the right reasons, you are likely to meet up with someone that you do end up in a committed relationship with.
In summary, dating with children is something that many parents are doing. However, there are ways to go about dating that will make it easier for both you and your children. Make sure to keep the tips just explored in mind and to put them to use as you take on this new adventure in your life.
Make sure to visit my Parents Dating blog for many more practical ideas on dating as a Single Parent, and to get information on Internet Dating specifically for parents.
Dec
26
Posted by Bryan Post on
December 26, 2009
The Holidays are a time of joy, peace, and love–right? Even though that is the way it should be, often foster and adoptive families find themselves dreading the season because of the way their children react to it. Kids who have been neglected or abused or who have Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or ADHD, many times experience the month of December with a feeling of anxiety or even anger, making their behaviors worse than ever.
So how should foster and adoptive parents respond during this time? What type of discipline is the most effective in reducing severe behaviors? Can parents prepare ahead for the holiday season–ensuring that they are ready with tools for when the hardest moments arise? Starting with the question of discipline, we’ll give you a few tips.
The definition of discipline is to teach. Teaching requires preparation, thought, and ability to convey a message effectively. As parents, it is easy to punish, shame, and condemn, but it is much more difficult to provide true discipline–which looks like what we typically call training. Consequences, restrictions, and isolation require far less flexibility and patience than diligently training. Misunderstanding and fear drive many behaviors that fostered and adopted children display and recognizing that can be a big step on the road to healing for these kids.
I’m not saying to throw out boundaries–children always need rules and understanding the behavior will do you no good without guidelines for your kids to follow. I am saying that assuming your nine year old knows what the right choice is every time he is faced with a decision is a falsehood. When children are stressed, they revert back to younger developmental ages and thinking–which means their decision making is affected as well. Knowing that, it is easy to see why the holidays would evoke so much bad behavior. If you are stressed during this busy time, you know your formerly neglected and abused child will be!
So what are some tools parents can use this time of the year to make the holiday season go more smoothly?
1. If you see misbehavior coming, breathe and take a minute to think. Consider what may be causing the behavior. Is your child tired or hungry? Did he have too much sugar? How long has it been since you hugged him or looked him in the eye?
2. Consider if there is a reaction going on to something related to your child’s trauma. This creates in you a sense of understanding that children pick up on–it is immediately calming. If the answer is yes, see if you can eliminate the negative stimuli, thereby cutting down on your child’s stress and poor behavior.
3. Instead of putting her in time out or taking away a favorite toy, act out the right choice together (dare I say you should laugh while doing it?) and put that good choice into her motor memory. That is powerful stuff! It is also training, which is much more effective than punishing.
This year, take a different approach if you are having trouble with your children’s behavior. After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Make understanding your new approach for the holiday season and watch true peace descend upon your household.
You can receive a free Parenting Solutions Journal and get help for kids with Oppositional Defiant Disorder by clicking on the blue text.
Dec
23
Posted by Anna Mae Smith on
December 23, 2009
Whether you happen to be anticipating your first child or gathering materials for a future grandchild, you are most likely readying yourself for the new changes ahead. A lot of today’s parents share concerns over their capacity to get up and go spontaneously on a moment’s notice; however, you will have nothing to stress over with the help of the Graco Quattro Tour Travel System! Having a baby come into your home is something special, but it should not be something that hinders you at all.
From the moment your child is born and until the premise of toddlerhood, this will be the only stroller you will ever want or need. This stroller is packaged with three matching parts: a SnugRide32 infant car seat, an adjustable base for inside the car and a stroller with a sturdy aluminum build. Overall, this system enables a parent to reposition their child in a matter of seconds from between the stroller and vehicle whenever it is needed. This will get rid of all or any difficulties typically involved in the process of lifting your child from their seat entirely!
It takes only seconds to move your little one from the car to wherever you are going with ease and speed. In addition, the Graco Quattro Tour Travel System will hold up to fifty pounds, making this a system that will truly grow with your child into their toddler years. The stroller seat can also fold down completely to allow for napping, in addition to riding sitting up and taking in all the sights. The infant car seat is equipped with the recommended five point harness, and it can snap into the stroller in a rear facing position so as you go for your walk you can enjoy having eye contact with your little one. For added convenience, there are also built-in cup holders and a handy storage compartment.
The only major problem with the Quattro Tour system is its hefty weight, which happens to outweigh most strollers of today. With Graco, this is not an issue; however, it is a problem posed to parents who have full-size travel systems. However, the adaptability and simplicity of having all you need for to get your child from one place to the next with such ease is definitely worth the heavy weight in most cases. There are a lot of parents who also see the weight as being a minimal agitation since this stroller was made to fold up with one hand.
The Graco Quattro Tour Travel System comes in a variety of color combinations and models, each with slightly different features. There is even a Sport model for parents with more active, fast paced lives. They are designed to give parents the spontaneity they need to get through their day and offer a touch of modern style that parents appreciate. You never have to disturb a sleeping baby just to carry them into the mall and you don’t have to worry about propping a small baby up in a stroller that she hasn’t yet grown into. This eliminates the biggest hassles that life with a small baby can bring. If you spend any amount of time on the go and are expecting a new baby, a travel system is absolutely essential these days.
To learn more about Graco Quattro Tour Travel System and other baby stuff, visit BabyStuffHQ.com
Dec
22
Posted by Robyn Rae on
December 22, 2009
If you’re shopping in your local department store for designer maternity clothes, you won’t find much to choose from, that’s for sure. And trying to find a pair of designer maternity jeans is worse then looking for a needle in a haystack. When even a super model like Heidi Klum refuses to wear designer maternity clothes, you know you’re in trouble. If she can’t find designer maternity clothes that she likes, how are the rest of us supposed to?
When you’re pregnant and carrying around that baby bump, you want comfortable clothes and I’ve always felt most comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt. But not just any jeans. I like designer jeans best. They just have that extra little pizzazz to them that regular, off the rack jeans can’t seem to carry off.
In the beginning stage of my pregnancy, I was able to continue wearing my low rise jeans and I just let them ride under my belly. I even bought a bigger size, too, but that only helped for another month. One of my friends suggested that I raid my husband’s closet and try his jeans and, while they were comfortable, they just weren’t my style. I might be pregnant, but that doesn’t mean I have go give up my designer clothes. So I finally figured it was time to go on a search for designer maternity jeans.
Like I said, I wasn’t able to find many decent maternity jeans in my local stores. Oh, I found a few here and there like at the Gap and Old Navy. But I wanted designer jeans, so I decided to try my luck and see what I could find on line. And I came across Sierra Maternity who just happens to have a huge selection of designer maternity jeans! And they even carry two of my favorite designers – Citizens Of Humanity and True Religion. Of course, they also carry maternity jeans by Rock & Republic, Hudson, and Paige, too.
When I looked further into their website, I found that they also carry all sorts of fabulous designer maternity clothes like Juicy Couture, Ingrid & Isabel, Bump Couture and ChiaraKruza maternity wear. They offer pants, skirts, short, tops, even coats and bathing suits, and all by fabulous designers.
As I continued to search I found a lot of other websites, too, that carried designer maternity clothes, like A Pea In The Pod. Now THAT website has a LOT to offer. So if you’ve got your heart set on designer maternity wear, don’t give up. There are plenty of shops on line for you to find any designer you want.
Robyn Rae is a freelancer for all-maternity-clothes.com. Be sure to read her information on maternity clothes before going shopping. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.
Dec
21
Posted by Sue Kennedy on
December 21, 2009
Diabetes in pregnancy — just like type 1 and type 2 diabetes — presents in a variety of symptoms which are quite different from patient to patient. Symptoms appear in different ways over the course of weeks or months, and oftentimes the person is not even aware they are diabetic. When your doctor first confirms your pregnancy, he/she will prescribe a glucose tolerance test to determine that you are not diabetic. The test is necessary because gestational diabetes symptoms are commonly not significant. Even if your test comes back negative, it’s still possible to develop gestational diabetes later into the pregnancy.
The symptoms of gestational diabetes consists of increased thirst, blurred vision, increased urine output, tiredness, skin infections and cuts that won’t heal, weight loss and always feeling hungry. These symptoms are also used to diagnose type 1 and 2 diabetes.
Once your baby is born, typically your blood glucose levels will return to normal and the gestational diabetes disappears. However, if you do develop diabetes in pregnancy, you are a greater risk of type 2 diabetes later on. Type 2 diabetes can be avoided by eating a healthy well balanced diet, regular exercise and optimum weight.
A body’s insulin needs during pregnancy are two to three times higher than normal, a factor that increases the more overweight a woman is. If a woman’s body is unable to produce sufficient insulin to overcome the insulin resistance, then her blood glucose levels will increase above a healthy range.
If gestational diabetes is not detected and treated, it places the baby at risk of growing large inside the womb, which will cause a difficult birth and place the baby at higher risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other health complications. Therefore, it is recommended that you test for glucose tolerance between 24-28 weeks of gestation, and your doctor may want to test again later in the pregnancy
Watch closely for the symptoms of gestational diabetes and let your doctor know so that it can be treated immediately, this way you can avoid further complications later on.
Looking to find the best deal on Gestational Diabetes, then visit www.DefeatDiabetesNow.com to find the best advice on Diabetes Homeopathic Remedies for you and your baby.
Dec
20
Posted by Joshua Appletreegrabwood on
December 20, 2009
Becoming a parent for the first time is a great occasion. You must be prepared though. There is a range of products that are essential for bringing a baby into the world safely and enjoying your first year.
Many new parents spend a large amount of time trying out baby pushchairs and reading reviews. The huge range of options coupled with baby jargon makes the task even tougher
Do you live in a city or in the countryside? You may want to choose a 3 wheel pushchair if you will be using it more in the countryside with less roads.
Where do you plan on storing your pushchair?
A lot of parents don’t store their pushchairs on the ground floor so you must really consider the heaviness of your baby pushchair. If you live or store it on the second floor, then a 16 kilo pushchair will begin to take its toll on your back very soon. Remember though, the more compact the pushchair, the higher the costs usually.
In the UK, you will not be allowed to check out of the hospital without a car seat. If you do plan on travelling by car regularly, it may save you some money to buy a bundled travel system.
Newborns should not be sitting upright in a pushchair in the first 6 or 7 months of being born. Their backs are not strong enough yet to support it. Most pushchairs will have a carrycot that converts into an upright seat. Be sure to check this so you do not incur additional costs by having to by another part.
Young babies often feel more secure when they are able to see their parents. But mostly it is the parents who feel more secure when they can see their babies!
A lot of parents rely on the baby pushchair to not only carry their babies safely, but as storage for their heavy shopping. Always consider how much you can fit in your pushchair.
Parents who live in the UK would be wise to invest in a rain cover and umbrella.
Before you buy anything online, make sure you check other excellent free Baby Pushchairs
Dec
10
Posted by Administrator on
December 10, 2009
jane asked:
How would you rate your parenting on a scale from 1 to 10, with ten being perfect?
How would you rate your parents’ parenting?
And your friends?
Do most people think they are worse, equal or better parents than the average parent?
Sep
16
Posted by Administrator on
September 16, 2009
Maureen asked:
I know we belabor the point here, sometimes…
But, whenever I read people replies from people in the neverending spanking/not spanking debate, it seems like there are some who think the only choices for teaching our children are:
Spanking
Timeouts
Taking away toys/priveleges
1-2-3 Magic
That’s it. Just straight pavlovian stimuli/response to train the children what to do and what not to do, until they’re grown.
Just wanted to get a list of other parenting methods that people use, to let people know that there are other choices that involve actually teaching your child to make good decisions without the contrived stimuli/response reward/punishment system.
So, what are some of the other alternatives (besides, I guess, totally ignoring & neglecting your kids or abusing them). What are some parenting methods that you’ve used or seen working in real life, besides the above ones?
Along with using facets of attachment parenting (http://www.attachmentparenting.com/ ), we, for the most part, use the methods described in the book Parenting with Love and Logic (http://www.loveandlogic.com/ ) which helps you guide your children to an understanding of how their choices affect themselves and others, using the natural consequences of their actions to help them really internalize the lesson and be able to apply it to other choices in their lives.
It’s worked pretty well, so far, on our natural kids.
Didn’t work too well on a niece who we fostered through her early teen years, but, as she had Reactive Attachment Disorder, I’m not sure what would have worked on her.
Oh, and we’ll use 1-2-3 magic and timeouts from time to time. Life is hectic & sometimes you just need a quick solution.
When trying to create good habits, we’ll go with a sticker chart.
And, like Biz, we’ve found that sometimes ‘natural consequences’ aren’t obvious enough, so we’ll creatively enhance them a bit if needed 
Sep
03
Posted by Administrator on
September 3, 2009
luckytacs asked:
Basically, nature vs. nurture. Like, do you think a psychopath is born or made? Do you think some of the world’s finest could have turned out to be serial killers if they’d had a different upbringing?
Also, what kind of parenting do you think constitutes “good parenting” or “bad parenting?”
The person with the most thorough and well thought out answer will get the 10 points.
Kat: “mental illness” covers a whole range of illnesses, some of which are genetic, some of which are environmental, many of which are both.
Find the Perfect Babysitter!
Jul
29
Posted by Administrator on
July 29, 2009
.vato. asked:
I’m just curious how other people do this or if there is even a decision at all. My husband and I have two totally different ideas of parenting but somehow we do pretty good together through compromise and strategy.
So, how do you make parenting decisions? Does one person do the majority of the parenting? Do you even discuss parenting with your significant? I’m just curious! Thanks!
One more question–are your kids involved in parenting decisions?
