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3 safety & security tips for moms

Posted on October 25, 2014

With all the recent stories of abductions, women, including moms, need to read up on ways to stay safe and secure when out and about.

Self-defense expert Jarrett Arthur offers these three tips for mothers who are particularly susceptible to be victims of crimes because they’re always distracted.

1) Be aware of your surroundings and limit distractions. Generally speaking, violent criminals look for easy targets. When walking from point A to point B, being on your phone, listening to music with your earphones, sending texts or emails, rummaging through your purse or bag, or simply not being present in the moment (read: thinking about that incident at work, or your ever growing to do list) signals to a bad guy that you might be an ideal victim.

2) Reduce the time it takes you to transition into/out of cars and homes. The entering or exiting of vehicles, buildings, and homes is often one of the prime times a violent criminal looks to make a move. Pay extra attention to your surroundings (including behind you) and potential hiding places, close and lock doors immediately, and limit the time it takes you to fully get in or get out of your home or car. Sitting in your car with the driver side door open while you gather or organize your belongings is aparticularly dangerous habit to engage in.

3) Use verbal and body language boundary setting if you’re being threatened. You might not have the option to use verbal and body language boundary setting techniques to deescalate a potentially dangerous encounter, but if the incident hasn’t immediately started with a physical assault you could have the opportunity to establish your boundaries using a tall, confident body posture, eye contact, keeping your hand up in front of you in a “stop” signal, and in a clear, loud voice state the actions you want this person to follow, “Stop! Back up! Don’t come closer!”

Good luck and stay safe!

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How to encourage your child to learn a second language

Posted on October 23, 2014

Guest post

Children in high-achieving countries around the world spend an average of 200 days in the classroom each year. In the U.S., the average is 180. And while time at school isn’t the only factor at play here, it undoubtedly has a role.

The good news is that as parents, we easily make up for that lost time and help our children be more academically competitive – not by taking weeks off of work, but by encouraging our kids to learn in fun 15-minute intervals. Best of all, those snippets of learning can take place during what we normally consider as “wasted time” – in line at a store, in the car, or waiting for a sibling’s soccer practice to end – those times when boredom and whininghave a way of putting everyone on edge.

With the digital devices we carry with us all the time, we can provide our kids with hours and even days of extra learning and skill-building. Researchers on mobile learning have found that small increments of academic practice or game-playing is beneficial to students by ensuring that “only a few points are made at a time. This leads to enhanced retention, probably as a result of minimizing cognitive overload.”

To encourage our own kids to take advantage of lost time, we instituted the following deal: “15 for 30 up to two.” If they read or play an educational game for 15 minutes, they can earn 30 minutes of their favorite electronics up to a maximum of two hours a day. “Despite their repute as mind-numbing toys, digital games have been shown to help children gain content and vital 21st century skills, from literacy to complex problem solving.

Educational digital games offer a promising and untapped opportunity to leverage children’s enthusiasm and help transform teaching and learning in America.” Fifteen minutes worked well to get them in the habit of filling lost time with productive play.

To get ideas for what would be most valuable, we talked with our kids’ teachers to find out what they were studying in the classroom that year and then searched for tools, apps, and games that reinforced those concepts. For example, when my son had to learn the U.S. states and their capitals, we found an app that not only helped him memorize the information, but also showed the shape of the state and where it was located so he learned a little geography.

Younger children learning Spanish and working on their reading skills can subscribe to the Wonderful World of Maggie McNair to have six to nine pages pushed to their parents phone a couple of times a week. These humorous bilingual stories not only teach a second language, but also help kids learn good habits and fun science facts.

With mobile learning tools in your pocket you never have to worry about leaving the book at home. When done well, kids get so engaged with the games and devices that they easily go beyond the 15-minute challenge, making it easy for you to help them achieve another 20 days of learning in a year.

Cindy Davis is chief marketing officer for Muuzii, a pioneer in real-time language translation technology and services. www.muuzii.com

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5 Fact-Filled Halloween Infographics

Posted on October 20, 2014

We love a good infographic and there are so many great ones we’ve seen this Halloween season. We want to share as many as possible but narrowed down to five really good ones choc full of bite-sized trivia and info.

Check out our favorite information packed graphics we discovered on Visual.ly to share. They are about popular costumes through the years, costumes that let you dress up your eyes, pets Halloween costumes and staying safe on Halloween. Good stuff!

by lglynn.

Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

Halloween Costumes: Pop Culture Favorites

by Lemon.ly.

Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

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7 Ways to Save on Halloween Candy, Costumes and Fun

Posted on October 19, 2014

Halloween is now reported to be the send most expensive holiday of the year! Even though we don’t exchange expensive gifts on Halloween, it is easy to rack up big bills on costumes and candy. The good news is that there are many easy ways to save money on Halloween expenses without compromising on the fun.

Stephanie Nelson of www.CouponMom.com offers these 7 tips on how Halloween costumes, candy and fun:

1. Be creative. It can cost $35 to $50 for many popular children’s costumes at party stores, which adds up quickly if you have more than one child. With a little creativity, you and your children can make easy costumes with items you have around the house. You can also shop at a local thrift store to buy vintage clothing to use as costumes.

2. Research ideas on-line. My favorite costume idea resource is FamilyFun.com, which lists 100 easy and inexpensive costumes you can create at home — whether you have a few hours or only a few minutes to put an outfit together.

3. Don’t overbuy. If you live in a neighborhood, you will most likely be buying candy to give out on Halloween night. The challenge is to avoid overbuying — who wants bags of leftover candy when the kids come home with far more than they need? If you are nervous your stash won’t last, consider buying Hershey’s Kisses or similar chocolate candy that you can use later for holiday baking.

4. Look for coupons. You can also save money on candy and costumes by watching for store sales and coupons in the Sunday coupon circulars or in your mailbox. Find coupons in the Sunday newspaper ads throughout October.

5. Carve a pumpkin. The easiest decoration that is also fun for kids is carving a pumpkin together. For just a few dollars, you can create a memorable annual tradition with your child and decorate your front porch or window at the same time. Save the seeds and find a recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds, as well.

6. Get crafty. You can find plenty of inexpensive Halloween decorating projects from books in the library, local family magazines distributed free at libraries and schools. Easier projects include making ghosts to hang in the window made out of string, glue and waxed paper. Doing a project with your children will be much less expensive and far more memorable than shelling out $100 for decorations at the local party store.

7. Save on admission. This is the time of year for pumpkin festivals, Halloween fairs, hayrides, haunted house tours and more. Many schools and churches offer free festivals and fairs as family-friendly alternatives on Halloween.Prices for these family events vary widely, from free to as much as $20 a head. Check the local event websites or the calendar section in community newspapers and magazines to find inexpensive events.

Be on the lookout for admission coupons in your local paper and check the web sites of Festival sponsoring organizations to find printable coupons for reduced admissions. Your local grocery store may sell discounted tickets for these events either on their Web site or at their customer service counter in the store.

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8 Solid Tips for Moms returning to work after baby

Posted on October 17, 2014

Last week, while speaking at a women’s conference Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said he said it is bad “karma” for women to ask for raises but that they should wait for “the system” to recognize that they deserve one and reward them. Obviously, the remarks triggered a firestorm of criticism and he walked the statements back.

On whether women should wait for recognition, far from the truth say experts at New York City-based executive recruiting firm Harris Allied. Women need to take charge of their own success and chart their own advancement in the workplace especially women re-entering the workforce after having children.

“No one is going to hand you a huge raise each year just because you show up and wait patiently for your reward,” says Kathy Harris, managing director of Harris Allied, which specializes in recruiting technology professionals. “Likewise, women who are reentering the workforce after a hiatus need to advocate for themselves at the onset of their job search. It’s their responsibility to be clear about what they need from their new position – such as flexible hours or telecommuting – and they need to be prepared to speak about the value they bring to the company, team and role. A woman interviewing today, especially following a hiatus, needs to present herself as relevant and accomplished. That way, no one is left surprised or disappointed by the outcome.”

“But it’s understandable why many women might feel uncertain when they are about to jump back into the game – both about the value they bring to an organization and what they can legitimately ask of their prospective employer,” Harris explains. “They don’t always know what the company will expect from them or how they will manage their new workload. Plus, technology changes so quickly that many women are concerned that their technical skills are a little rusty after being out of the loop for a few years.”

Harris offers the following suggestions to women who are looking to reenter the workforce to ensure a good fit:

1. Bring your skills up to speed before you start interviewing and share what you know. If you are a developer, read about current and emerging technologies. Get a GitHub account so you can see what people are working on; post samples of your code and use that online resource to get current on what’s out there. Stack Overflow accounts are also helpful – job seekers can pose and answer questions, so join the conversation. You can include a link to these sites or to your online portfolio from your resume so employers can readily check out the quality of your work.

2. Make sure your compensation expectations are aligned with the role. Many job postings have salary budgets posted. Make sure the compensation budgeted for the role is in line with your expectations before you apply and start the interview process. Check the employer’s website for information about work life and other benefits. Speak with your recruiter about your compensation requirements and confirm they are accurate for the market and industry.

3. Be prepared to discuss the gap in your resume. It’s important to be able to speak to your time away from the workplace without apologizing. Let your future employer know that you and your family made the decision for you to stay home consciously and with a plan to return to work when the time was right.

4. Include specific accomplishments from previous roles in your resume. Consider your achievements, honors and major projects that you delivered. Include these on your LinkedIn profile as well as on your resume.

5. Look at all considerations that impact how much time you will spend at work including commute, evening events, client dinners and travel. Be sure to ask about outside work events during the interview process.

6. Be honest with prospective employers about what work-life balance you are trying to achieve. But also be honest with yourself – know what is going to make you and your family comfortable in the long term. Be prepared in advance to have a backup plan for childcare if your babysitter gets sick, for example. Ask your employer about the kinds of hours the position requires. Ask about the work culture. Don’t be afraid to work hard, but be honest with yourself about the kind of scenario that will really work for you.

7. Talk honestly with your recruiter. Ask them the tough questions and be forthcoming about any concerns or restrictions you have. They want both you and the client to be happy and for you to be successful in the role. It’s important to make sure your expectations are aligned with the prospective employer’s.

8. Forge relationships with other women. Even if there are no or few other women in your actual department (that is especially true in IT departments), seek out other women in the company. They might be in the HR or communications departments, for example. They could become your best ally at work.

“Women who are returning to the workplace need to be able to compete in the market in order to win a great job. By being prepared with the right skills and support systems, you will limit the surprises and manage everyone’s expectations to ensure a smooth re-entry into the workforce,” says Harris.

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Birth Order Rules: How to care for your Eldest child

Posted on October 13, 2014

Following up on our post on caring for an Only Child, Middle Child, Extrovert and Introvert Child, here is a great excerpt from Education.com on caring for that Eldest child.

Did you know that almost all of the U.S. presidents were either the firstborn child or the firstborn son in their families? All but two of the first astronauts sent into space were firstborns, and the other two were “only children.” The eldest child is more likely to be confident, organized, intelligent, determined, eager to please, and a leader. This is also the sibling more prone to become a CEO, win a Nobel Prize, and be more academically successful as well as financially secure.24 There’s no doubt that being the firstborn has clear advantages. This is the only child who will receive our undivided attention and one-on-one time, and research shows that this makes a big difference in how they turn out.

A Norwegian study led by psychologist Petter Kristenson meticulously analyzed IQ scores of 250,000 men and found that the oldest child is smarter than the next oldest sibling by an average of 2.3 points (who in turn beat the third-born brother by 1.1 points).25 Although 2.3 points may seem measly, in today’s test-crazed society they can be just enough to give a child an academic edge and be the difference between earning a B+ or an A, going to a state school or a university. But here’s the real kicker: if the eldest child dies, the second sibling becomes the smartest one. That means it’s not just the birth order that boosts those IQ points but the dynamics in the family and how the firstborn is treated. It appears that our parenting really does make a difference when it comes to giving our eldest a clear intellectual edge.

With all those positives, how could there possibly be a problem with being the oldest kid? Well, consider things from your eldest’s view. There is a downside to being the oldest, and even though you can’t change his family rank, there are a few solutions to help this kid turn out the best he can be (as well as relax and enjoy life just a tad more).

Focus on your other kids. Watch out! A few researchers find that parents do have favorites, and as much as we’d never admit it, we often favor our firstborn child. After all, that first birth is a life-changing, incredible event. And although that’s a huge boost for your elder kid’s self-esteem, it also can fuel sibling rivalry. Those jealousies can linger for a long time and cause a wedge between your eldest and his younger sibs. So beware of your interactions with your kids and ask yourself now and then, “Does each child feel I love him best?”
Watch those responsibilities. We give our elder kids more responsibilities, and we just plain expect more of them at a younger age. But are you expecting too much? The eldest kid hates being told, “You’re in charge of the house until I get back” or “You’re the oldest, so I expect more of you.” Every now and then take a reality check to make sure you’re not imposing too many responsibilities on this kid or treating him as if he were older than his chronological age. (And do temper those “You’re the man around the house” comments at least until he (or she) comes of age.)
Relax and take ten. Although the firstborn has the clear advantage of having our undivided attention (at least until the next sibling comes along), he also stands the chance of being the most stressed. We really are stricter with our eldest child and let their younger siblings get away with far more.26 We do inflate our expectations a bit for our first and expect more from him. Because this is our first-time parenting experience, we’re more overly anxious in our response to this kid.27 It’s one reason the firstborn child usually is more anxious—our expectations and stress rub off on him. Take a few deliberate breaths before responding to your first (he is also more clued in to your reactions and feeds off your stress). And maybe pare down those expectations just a wee, wee bit.
Let your child go his own way. Birth dynamics play an interesting role in how our kids turn out. We are tenser and have higher expectations for our oldest, and he tends to be a less of a risk taker, sticking to the path we’ve forged for him. Research also finds that we encourage our eldest child to pursue more cognitive and analytical interests that could lead to more prestigious careers like law or medicine.28 (We also tend to be more open and relaxed with our younger child and far more receptive to letting him stray off that “straight and narrow” path to follow his more artistic and creative interests and become the poet or graphic artist.) The key is to identify from the get-go your oldest child’s unique passions and strengths so that he can become his own person and develop those interests that may lead him to the career of his dreams. And while you’re at it, encourage him to deviate a bit from the norm, take a risk, and think outside the box as his younger siblings do.
Let your child tutor his younger sibling. The eldest child has another benefit: he has a younger sibling to help. “Can you teach your brother how to read?” “Will you show your sister how to turn on the computer?” Teaching someone a skill helps not only the tutored but also the tutor. In fact, in many cases, the oldest child gains the most (IQ-wise, anyway) from teaching his younger sibling. So, assuming he’s willing and has the time, encourage your eldest to mentor and teach. Just remember to use the same strategy for your other kids so they can benefit as well.
Watch out for allergies. A review of over fifty studies found that the oldest kids are more likely to suffer from hay fever, eczema, and other allergies.29 One hypothesis: the eldest is overprotected and not exposed to those germs and bacteria, and so is far more susceptible to colds and likely to develop a weaker immune system (whereas the younger siblings battle the bugs at home before they start school and develop a stronger immune system to fight off those germs later on). Some doctors contend that all those colds firstborn kids tend to catch are really allergies in disguise. (The most pronounced symptom of an allergy is an itchy nose and no fever, ache, or chills.)

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Not Just for Baby: 17 other uses for breast milk

Posted on October 13, 2014

Yesterday, I learned for the first time from friends that is has been well known that breast milk is great for solving eye irritations for any person, not just the baby. My first thought is, hmmm so you catch pink eye and instead of going to the pharmacy for eye drops, you go across the street and ask your lactating neighbor, “may I borrow a cup of your breast milk?”Too Funny.

So some research revealed there are lots and lots of uses for breast milk that many people probably were clueless about, such as the fact that Hospitals use donated breast milk to soothe the scars of burn unit victims! Wow!

Check out some other uses listed by a breastfeeding site:

Breast milk and its uses

Other uses for breast milk…

All of the below uses for breast milk or breast milk cures can be used for the whole family…

1. Pink eye breast milk (eye infections). You can put a few drops of breast milk into baby’s eyes or any family members who are suffering from pink eye. The breast milk will keep the area clean and will initiate healing. You can do this as often as possible.

2. Eye puffiness or redness. Wonderful for removing puffiness and is used just as you would cows milk for the same purpose. Dab on with some cotton wool.

3. Opening a stuffy nose. Breast milk is natural and a great alternative to medications which might even make the situation worse. Just squirt a few drops into baby’s nose while he is lying down, then use a bulb to suction the excess out from his nose.

4. Sore throats and mouth sores. Swirling some of the breast milk around in the mouth and even gargling with it can help. Even a breastfed baby can be given some breast milk in a cup to rinse out the mouth.

5. Eczema and other skin rashes. Breast milk will keep the skin clean and will prevent flare ups. Just apply a layer of breast milk to the area and allow to air dry.

6. Dry skin. Using breast milk as a moisturizer.

7. Cradle cap. Just apply to baby’s scalp a few times per day.

8. Breast milk diaper rash. Using breast milk to treat and prevent normal nappy rash.

9. Breast milk ear infections. Squirt a few drops inside the ear for healing and some pain relief. (can be used for infants and grown-ups)

10. Insect bites. Rub a small amount on the bite to relieve the itching and promote the healing process.

11. Chicken pox. Apply the breast milk on the skin to relieve itching just as you would any other ointment.

12. Warts. Apply daily on the wart until it dries up and falls off.

13. Treating sore nipples. Putting some breast milk on your nipples can often heal them faster than any over the counter nipple cream. It can also prevent cracking by keeping them supple.

14. Immune boost. Older children can be given a glass of breast milk or more everyday to boost their immune systems and keep them from becoming ill.

15. Ease cold/flu symptoms. Get over your cold quicker with some liquid gold breast milk. Drink as much as you can.

16. Make-up remover. Breast milk can naturally and easily remove eye make-up.

17. Skin cleanser. Breast milk will gently cleanse your skin and can prevent acne because of its antibacterial properties.

Well now you know!!

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10 ways to encourage a kid to read more

Posted on October 12, 2014

Reading is a skill that your child will master at some point. Every child learns at a different pace and in different ways, however, so be patient with the process. In the meantime, here are some tips to encourage healthy reading habits in your child.

1. Visit the library – The library is a magical place for children! Help your child register for her own library card so that she can check out books independently. This independence will allow her to choose the books she’d like to read and help her become responsible for taking care of those treasures. Encourage her to look for books she is interested in, show her where to ask for help if she can’t find something and allow her to make her own choices.

2. Read to and with your child daily – About 30 minutes of reading per day is what is recommended to encourage healthy reading habits in your child. Start at a young age by reading to your child and then gradually transition to him reading out loud to you. The reading doesn’t have to be done all at once, but can be broken up into smaller, more manageable slices of time.

3. Role model at home – Children who see the adults around them engaging in reading are more likely to follow your example.

4. Write short notes to your child – Put them in lunch boxes, backpacks or leave them on the counter for your child to read. You can write about anything; tell her that you love her, leave her a small fact to read or even write down her chores for her!

5. Ask open-ended questions about the story that you are reading – Asking your child open-ended questions will encourage him to think about what is going to happen next in the story and to put together what has already happened. Ask him how he’d have the story end or to predict what he thinks will happen next in the story. Once you read more of the story, look back on your discussion and compare his thoughts to the actual story line.

6. Use context to check vocabulary words – Throughout your life you use context to check the meaning of words you don’t know, so encourage your child to do the same. It’s an essential life skill.

7. Practice writing skills – Reading and writing go hand in hand because you learn one while you are learning the other! Have your child practice sounding out words while she is writing, encourage her to create her own story with illustrations and have her write letters to people in your family (and have others write back to her!).

8. Let them pick the books that they read – Giving your child ownership of the books he chooses will mean that he is more involved in the reading process from the beginning. Encourage him to read the classics as well, but let him pick out what he is interested in reading.

9. Make reading fun – While you are reading together have her act out stories, recreate them or illustrate them how she thinks it should be done!

10. Play reading related games – Choose games that require reading to play together. Games that involve word play (Scrabble or Boggle), games with cards that you read (Fluxx or Pictionary) or games that require you to read spaces (Life or Monopoly) all encourage children to read independently while playing.

h/t 4Nannies.com

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10 Photos of Kids Risking their Lives to get to School

Posted on October 8, 2014

This morning, my 12-year old was complaining about having to transfer his stuff and walk from my SUV to my husbands Sedan after we made a last minute switch on who would drive the kids to school.

My husband recalled seeing some of AmusingPlanet.com photos of children traversing some very dangerous terrain and conditions to get to school, and quickly pulled it up on his smartphone to remind our tween of how good he has it!

Here are a few to show your kids when and if they ever pitch a fit about walking a few feet or taking a bus to get to school. Click HERE to get the back story to each image.

You’re welcome!

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Search for Fall/Pumpkin Festival this Fall to Go To

Posted on October 7, 2014

October is a month many families take their kiddies to the pumpkin patch or to harvest festivals to enjoy a hay ride, feed some farm animals and pick pumpkins to take home and carve. While at farms, many families get to pick up some home made jams, fresh produce and other local harvest treats.

If you are looking for a festival in your region, here is a website that lets you input your location and will give you a pretty generous listing of area festivals. FESTIVALS.COM.

Have Fun!

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