Whatever the case, if you are wondering if a big age gap is right for you, there’s lots to consider. How is a big age gap going to affect your kids, your marriage, your lifestyle—and most importantly, your ability to be the best parent you can be to your children? These are concerns many of us have as we make decisions about how to space our children. Learn more about how big age gaps between kids can impact your parenting....
Writing the Biography Once your child has gathered all the information they need, they need to come up with an “angle.” This is what makes one biography substantially different from other biographies. Coming up with an angle just means figuring out the main idea of the biography or the point the biography will make about the person. It is really like a thesis statement. For example, a child might want everyone to know that his grandfather was an honest, hard-working person who, in spite of many hardships made a good life for himself and his family....
Yet, it’s easier talking about why running is good than actually doing it. Many parents already feel parental guilt for not spending enough time with their child. And if one parent finds more time to exercise than the other, this can lead to marital conflict as well. But there is hope. There are a number of different ways you can find time to run. The methods that will work best for you may differ from those another parent, so we offer a number of different suggestions....
It’s important to respond in a manner that will deter your teen from doing it again. Clearly, you never want your teen to speak to a future employer, romantic partner, or friend with the same level of disrespect. How to Respond to Swearing in a Productive Manner Whether your teen blew up because you said they couldn’t go out with their friends or they’re angry because you told them to clean their room, swearing at you is clearly unacceptable....
Learn how to best ask questions and don’t come across as antagonistic or defensive to get the best open and honest replies. This does not mean you do not speak up if your child has been harmed. Rather, it means ensuring that as a guardian, you are not acting as a stumbling block in the process of getting your child an appropriate education.
Those suffering don’t share their experiences with others. Non-members of the infertility-and-loss club don’t know how to react or what to do when they are told of a friend’s struggle. Some honestly are uncomfortable hearing about it at all. The stigma is strong. Why? With 1 in 8 couples experiencing infertility – and up to 25 percent of pregnancies ending in miscarriage – why as a society are we so uncomfortable discussing these relatively common life events?...
Because it receives constant, daily use you need to know what to look for in a backpack. Quality Counts in Backpacks The widest selection of school backpacks is available during the back-to-school shopping season. You will find that quality and price can vary widely during this time. This is the best time to take advantage of backpack sales, just remember to shop smartly. You might be tempted to buy a backpack that is inexpensive and trendy, and just assume that if you have any problems you will be able to replace it....
In fact, the regular and frequent use of a breast pump to remove breast milk from your breasts can help you create, maintain, or increase your breast milk supply. This is because breast milk production is based on a supply and demand system. So, the more breast milk you remove, the more you will make. Whether you’re pumping in addition to breastfeeding or exclusively, fully draining the milk from your breasts and the stimulation of the breast pump encourages your body to make more breast milk....
Why Bullying Occurs on the Bus On a school bus, bullies have a small space, a captive audience, and a bus driver whose focus is on the road. Add to that the contained environment, a ride that can last up to 30 minutes or longer, and very little supervision, and you can see why buses are one of the top places where bullying takes place. To make matters worse, it is impossible for victims of bullying to walk away from a bully on the bus....
Select the Right Site The single most important choice you will make, and that will have the greatest chance to make or break your family camping experience, is the site you select. You may really like the idea of backpacking several miles into a remote location and setting up camp, but your kids (or your partner) may not be quite as into that idea as you are. If you have some novice campers, choosing a campsite in an established campground at a state or national park might be a good idea....
Here’s why self-care is important for new mothers, what self-care really means, and how to get what you need. What Is Self-Care? There’s a misconception that self-care is all about luxurious bubble baths, 90-minute massages, and premium mani-pedis. While self-care can include spa treatments, that’s not what everyday self-care is about. When it comes to self-care, your goal is to be sure you: Eat nutritious, enjoyable food.Exercise, something to help you feel good in your body and get a rush of endorphins....
Juggling your responsibilities as a mom along with the other duties you have can be challenging. Whether you’re also a spouse, employee, or volunteer in addition to being a mom, it can be hard to fit everything in. Fortunately, the joyful parts of motherhood can help you deal with those times that are more stress than fun. One of the best ways for mothers to reduce stress is to cherish the joy of motherhood—to really enjoy your kids and make the most of all the gifts and benefits that come with being a mother....
It’s not anyone’s favorite parenting moment: the dreaded stomach flu that seemingly comes from nowhere and takes the whole family down before you know what’s hit you. It’s an icky illness, but there are a few things you can do to keep your kids comfortable (and well!) when it comes knocking. What is the Stomach Flu? First, it’s not actually a flu at all. “Most cases of ‘stomach flu’ are caused by viruses," says Jamie S....
Changing Your Baby’s Formula Most of formula changes are usually unnecessary, such as changing formulas to treat a thriving baby with simple infantile colic. On the other hand, formula changes can be life-saving in infants born with particular metabolic diseases such as galactosemia. A formula change may be recommended if a baby has true medical problems, such as: Suspected cow milk protein or soy protein allergyGalactosemiaLactose intolerance (though it’s very rare for an infant to be born without the ability to digest lactose, the primary sugar in breast milk)...
Doctors disagree about whether it is a distinct disease that’s caused by pregnancy or a form of pustular psoriasis that’s triggered by pregnancy. Despite the name “herpetiformis,” the rash is not caused by a herpes virus. It is named “herpetiformis " based on the appearance of the pustules, which can look like those that are caused by herpes viruses (such as chickenpox.) Impetigo herpetiformis is unrelated to a similarly named condition called dermatitis herpetiformis, a rash that has been coined the “celiac rash....
For a long time, more common in junior and senior high schools and colleges, accreditation is becoming more popular in early childhood education. This is mostly because that while a good number of elementary, middle, and high schools are run by public school districts and are subject to certain standards and evaluations, the majority of preschools are run privately, whether it is through a corporation, church, community group, or some other organization....
Between January 2019 and December 2020, 254 incidents—including 21 deaths—occurred as a direct result of infant sleep products. Up until now, the safety of many infant sleep products was determined only by the manufacturer. Now, in a new move, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has set stringent federal safety standards for infant sleep products that manufacturers must meet by mid-2022. Applicable products manufactured in the United States, or imported for sale in the United States, from June 23, 2022, must comply with the rule....
Check With Your Local Group for Their Rules Typically, preschool soccer leagues start accepting children around age 3 or 4 but check with your local group to find out how they operate. Some leagues play in the spring or the fall, while many do both. Depending on the league, you’ll need to get a uniform (shirt, shorts, and socks), a soccer ball (preschoolers usually play with a lighter, smaller ball), shin guards and cleats (although many leagues allow children to play wearing sneakers)....
Alternative Schools as an Option Alternative schools provide educational options for students who are not successful in typical schools. Over the years, they have been viewed as schools where “bad kids” go, but that’s not necessarily the case. Many students in alternative schools do not have behavioral problems. However, they may have attendance problems and need an alternative school to get back on track. In some alternative schools, children attend for the purpose of credit recovery, and once they’ve earned a sufficient number of credits, they transfer back to a traditional school....
“In some families, middle child syndrome is a real thing,” says Jane Hammerslough, LMFT, a marriage and family therapist practicing in New York, California, and Massachusetts and a clinical fellow with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. “Birth order does impact the way you move through the world.” So it’s natural to worry that your soon-to-be middle child may get the short end of the stick. However, says Hammerslough, being in the middle isn’t all bad....
