Archive for the ‘All the Latest News’ Category
Most Mothers Give Infants Solid Food Too Early
Came across this article online. Interesting discussion about the best age to start an infant on solid food. What do you think? Any comments? Share…
Most Mothers Give Infants Solid Food Too Early
By Rachael Rettner, MyHealthDaily Staff Writer / LiveScience.com
More than a third of U.S. mothers start feeding their infants solid food too soon, a new study finds.
In the study, 40 percent of mothers said they gave their infants solid foods before the age of 4 months, which is earlier than recommended. About 24 percent of mothers who breast-fed, and 53 percent of mothers who formula-fed, gave their babies solid food too early. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Thigh Gap’: New Teen Body Obsession?
I caught this segment on ABC’s Good Morning America this morning. Apparently a ‘thigh gap’ is the latest must have in order to have the “perfect” body. This obsession is rampant among teens and I’m sure tweens too. Unfortunately, these girls don’t realize that 99.9% of the photos they see in magazines have been retouched to death. OK, some women are born that way. I would venture to guess that the majority of us were not. If nothing else this article will give a parent a heads-up on a potential body image issue.
‘Thigh Gap’: New Teen Body Obsession?
The Stories That Bind Us
What is your family’s narrative? Are there stories passed down from generation to generation? The following article will make you realize the importance and impact of your stories about family struggles and success. You’ll come to realize it’s the glue that binds your family together and helps each member realize their place in a legacy that’s bigger than themselves.
The Stories That Bind Us
Dental Injuries In Young Children
Thanks to a very hard fall onto the wooden arm of a couch when I was very little, under two years old, I had all of my front teeth pulled. Needless to say it was a very different kind of face I showed the world for many years to come. I had no front teeth until my second set of teeth finally came in. With great empathy for the topic of this article I just came across, I am sharing some important information about dental injuries in young children.
Dental Injuries in Young Children
The Hungry Hoard At My Table
As another round of holiday meals is approaching I thought I’d share…
Some of my fondest memories are of large holiday gatherings. When the gathering is happening in my house you can be sure that I’m going all out to make it a special occasion. I plan out my menu. I shop with careful consideration of every part of the meal. I try to be innovative and definitely festive. Being a designer I take special care to decorate and present my creation in a way that I hope will bring delight to my guests the moment they see my handiwork. It is with great pride and anticipation that I put myself through the rigors of preparation and presentation. While this might sound like a lot of self-inflicted angst, it is always a labor of love. The moment I hear the praise of “what a lovely table,” or “something smells good,” I know I’m on the track to success.
There is one element of this process that I have no control over. It is the hungry hoard that pounces on my table before I’ve had a chance to thoroughly secure it. Read the rest of this entry »
Mom Finds Devastating “Diet List” on 7-Year-Old’s Bedroom Floor
As a mom we are aware of the pressures put on our little girls to be “pretty” and “fit”. You do your best to steer your daughter in the right direction so she makes good choices when it comes to what she eats and her activity level. All the while you think you’re doing the right thing. When do the influences get to be too much? Was it something you said or did? Is someone outside the family making comments that are pushing your daughter to excess? At what age should you start to be concerned about your child’s self image? If nothing else, this article will make you think. It will make you want to pay closer attention to how focused your daughter is on her physical being.
Mom Finds Devastating “Diet List” On 7-Year-Old’s Bedroom Floor
Protection from Whooping Cough Vaccine (DTaP) Wanes Over Time
I just came across this article from whattoexpect.com and thought I’d pass along the information…
Protection from Whooping Cough Vaccine (DTaP) Wanes Over Time
by Sharon Mazel
Your little one gets vaccinated against whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, and tetanus with the DTaP vaccine five times before age six, but a new study published in the journal Pediatrics finds that protection against pertussis starts to weaken just a few years after preschool kids get their final shot and well before children get their recommended booster (called Tdap) at age 11 or 12. Read the rest of this entry »
Kids. Clothes. Choices. Oh my…
A great way to express one’s individuality is through the clothes you choose to wear. The end result can be interesting and expressive when it’s an adult accomplishment – humorous, playful and sometimes “out there” when it’s a child. I have to say, for me, clothing/fashion, is always a statement. It’s a very personal way to show off how you feel about yourself and your place in this world. It’s a way of expressing emotions. Like any design element, it initiates thought and a conversation. Whether you engage a person based on what they are wearing or spend time with them in your mind, you are giving them some consideration. Who is this person? Wonder what they like/don’t like? What do they do? All sorts of things run through your mind. You may not even be aware of it. As your brain scans what your eyes see it instantly starts to form an opinion, a relationship, and decides how you relate to what you’ve just seen.
As our kids get older they eventually reach the stage where they learn to dress themselves. A huge accomplishment for a child. At this point they are so proud of this new skill that it doesn’t really matter to them which pair of socks they’ve learned to put on. Just the fact that they can get that blue sock on their foot is good enough for them. Time goes by and they begin to recognize that all clothes are not the same. I like the hoodie my brother wears to school. I don’t like the pants my mom bought me to wear to grandma’s birthday party. At this point kids are learning that they can make choices. They are developing their own sense of themselves. Their personalities start to shine. As a parent, the worst thing you can do is forget that each child is unique. At this stage in their development you have to take a step back and let them show you who they want to be.
Aside from all of the benchmarks and benefits associated with the newfound discovery of the ability to chose, there are some interesting family dynamics that accompany this phase in your child’s life. I’ll post some links for you if you’re interested in the child development aspects of all of this. For now, let’s explore some of the fun and contentious moments involving what your kids choose to wear. Read the rest of this entry »
Birthday Parties – Necessity, Obsession, or Treat?
Birthday Parties – Necessity, Obsession, or Treat?
Today on the morning news I saw a story about a man in Florida who has saved his business by offering alligator pool parties for birthdays. The man is experienced with alligators, mind you, and so he feels that it’s a perfectly safe offering. He must know something about the current state of birthday parties because he is doing quite well with this endeavor. Here is the link to the news story if you’re interested in seeing what his alligator pool parties are like.
Anyway, this got me thinking…
- Do parents feel obligated to have a birthday party EVERY year for their child?
- If you do have a party, MUST it be a big event in order to be considered successful?
- Have you ever spent more than you know you could afford on a birthday party?
- What would happen if you toned down your child’s future birthday parties?
