by Karen Sibal

Recent statistics indicate that about 90% of household injuries to children are predictable and preventable. Here’s a checklist that parents and caregivers can keep handy to help ensure your child’s environment is safe.

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Editorial Comment: Having a child with ADHD can be difficult. Working closely with a medical profession is important. It is also important to understand what ADHD is and how it affects your child to parent effectively. This article gives a few tips that may help.

Parenting a child with ADHD can be a real challenge. ADHD is a neurological disorder that is controlled by medications which help re-balance the brain chemistry. However please keep in mind that acting impulsive, inattentive, sometimes out of control or easily distracted is all that your child has ever experienced.

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Editorial Comment: with summer here and families taking vacation I may be a little late in posting this article. Finding a vacation that we suite everyones needs is a daunting task indeed. Especially with a large family. I found this article that I hope will be of interest. It outline 5 places that are family friendly and have things to do that will suite a wide variety of interests. I hope you enjoy.

Planning a family vacation that will suit everyone’s taste is not easy. Generally the younger kid wants one to do one thing, the other wants to do another, while the parents have their own preferences. Keeping everyone satisfied may be difficult, but it’s not impossible.

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I just wanted to make a quick post. I recently saw an interesting statistic that 80 per cent of premature babies and 50 per cent of full-term babies develops jaundice. It is caused by blockage of the intestines and is a sign that the liver or bile duct system is not working normally. We recently had our own child and I was shocked to learn he had jandice. I did everything I could to read up on the subject and became more comfortable when I learned that if caught right away, it is usually very easily treatable.

What are some of the signs of jaundice in a newborn? Yellow tint to the skin and eyes can be one of the main symptoms. It was in our case. We were able to be proactive and were told to keep our newborn in indirect sunlight and well hydrated. Within a week he had improved.

It if very important if you suspect Jaundice at all to seek medical attention right away. It can be very serious. In fact, from what I have read, jaundice can be more serious and bilirubin can reach toxic levels, leading to kernicterus, which can cause long-term brain damage and even death. It is a condition people need to be aware of and take proactive action.

Kevin

by Michelle Donaghey

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You’re at your wit’s end, you have one nerve left, and the kid is on it. You are stressed to the max, and it’s really not funny because you are honestly afraid you might do something to hurt your child. Where do you go to get parenting help before the neighbors call Child Protective Services? Read More

A family vacation is a great opportunity to unwind after a lot of hard work or school. Your children will love to go on an adventure trip for the summer and you will enjoy spending some quality time with your family in a beautiful setting. However, with the increasing cost of airfares and lodging, many people feel they can no longer afford to go on vacation. The good news is that with a bit of extra effort, you can plan a budget family vacation that everyone will enjoy. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Start planning in advance.

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Editorial comment:As a child my family was too busy for an organized family vacation. In the fast paced life we have today we need to take more time for ourselves and our family. I don’t plan on letting the same thing happen to my new family. This article talks about the important of planning a trip as a whole family. That extra planning and participation can make trips more enjoyable for everyone and bring a family closer together. Well enough with my editorial comment, I hope you will enjoy the article.

A time for bonding. An enjoyable family vacation is a great opportunity to bond with your family and share some unforgettable experiences. It all begins with planning a family vacation together. The key to a perfect vacation is a good plan. If you do it the right way, the planning will be half the fun. Here are a few tips for planning a family vacation the best way possible.

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Tristan Bayne Heath 

Born: 6/30/06 at 1:05 pm

Weight: 8 lbs 14 oz

Length: 21.5 inches

from Mom and Dad: Welcome to the world Tristan, we love you!

notable comment from mom: "its easier the second time"

notable comment from dad: "you sure make big boys!"

Tristan was the Heaths 2nd child and induced early so he would not be as big as their first child. Their first child, Kailan, a boy, was 10 lbs and 21.25 inches.

 Do you have a celebration or special announcement? Let us know and we will post it for you if it meets our editorial review. Use our celebration contact form.

by Karen Sibal

Continued from Part 1

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Editorial comment: What is family parenting? The article below broght up some interesting points as a parent. Why parent alone? If you have a good size extended family, identifying strenghts and weakness can help your family become closer by working together and drawing off each others knowlege. Now one with the article:

Working the System:  Family Parenting Tools

Families are systems and the members of a family are both individuals and part of a whole; they interact and play off one another.  When you think about your family that way, you can see that if one part is skewed a little bit, it will throw the whole system off balance. Since we are all skewed a bit, our family systems can get kind of crazy. 

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Authoritative Parenting: A Balanced Parenting Style

There are four styles of parenting: authoritarian, authoritative (sometimes called egalitarian), permissive, and uninvolved. The uninvolved style is not so much a way of parenting as it is a lack of parenting, and it’s hard on kids. Kids with an uninvolved parent often struggle with feelings of rejection, lack of self-esteem, and trust issues. Read More

by Michelle Donaghey

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by Karen Sibal

It’s the most wonderful time of the year … and no, it’s not Christmas. It’s little Ashley’s or little Brendan’s birthday. And it’s crept up on you faster than you expected. Maybe you’re lucky and have a month to go before the big day, or perhaps you have just a few days. Nevertheless, your kid has begun the count down and has been relentlessly asking “Can I have a party, phuleeeeeese?! Read More

by Michelle Donaghey

POOLS
Shimmering water, clear as a bell- that is heaven to dive into when the temperature is high. Whether it be the local park or a backyard, summertime is the time for these man-made water holes. Shimmering water, clear as a bell- that is heaven to dive into when the temperature is high. Whether it be the local park or a backyard, summertime is the time for these man-made water holes.Phone first and ask questions! Planning to visit a local pool? The rule is always phone-first. While the pool may have their hours listed, often they do not list when there swim lesson times are which coincide with their hours. Before your day is ruined because you went when lessons were going on, call. Besides, you can find out if they have lockers to rent or for free and much admission is. Also ask if water toys and or life preservers or water wings are accepted- some pools allow them while others may not.

At the pool
It’s a good idea to leave the purse in the car hidden from view. Buy a small money holder that hangs around your neck that you can put change in. Pin your car key into your bathing suit and mark your towel with your name with a laundry marker- your towel may be unusual to you, but at the pool, three other people may have the same towel. And don’t forget the sunblock! Diving boards are tempting to kids of all ages, but it is best for only kids who are good swimmers to use them. It also may be tempting for you to teach your kids to dive, but it is best left to the professionals. If you really want them to learn, find out about lessons. Children are not developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday according to the A.A.P. which also notes that whenever infants or toddlers are around water, an adult should be within arm’s length, providing "touch supervision." "Never leave children alone in or near a pool, even for a moment," says the A.A.P.

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