Q. I’m struggling with getting the kids to take some responsibility for all the work that needs to get done at home.� I don’t want to spend all my time fighting with them over chores, but I would love some help around here!

By the time children are about seven years old, most parents have begun to think, “It’s about time she did a little work around here!” and the battles begin. “When are you going to feed the dog?” “That garbage needs to be taken out right now!” “Honey, how many times do I need to ask you to make your bed!”

It’s good to expect children to take part in the work of the household. Children are quite capable, and feel a lot of pride in a job well done. But, like us, they acquire feelings about the jobs they’re expected to do. And when those feelings are negative, children can drain a lot of their parents’ emotional capital on the way to completing their household jobs. Read the rest »

When the brakes slammed on our economy the past year, many of us felt our lives simply spiral out of control.�

The floor dropped out of the aspects of our lives that were on shaky ground prior to 2008, and those things that seemed safe no longer seemed infallible.� In addition, perhaps the ways we once found comfort in the past (like shopping) were no longer advisable or either possible with the tightening credit market.� Read the rest »

2009 is almost here and it’s time to wipe your slate clean, start over and set goals and resolutions for the New Year. One resolution that should be at the top of everyone’s list is to save money and stick to a budget in 2009. Now that the economy is in a full-blown recession it is important to plan ahead and stay on track with your money.

CouponChief.com offers these easy tips to stay on budget in 2009:

- Write down your budget goals: It has been proven that people who write down their goals are much more likely to achieve them. Spend some time at the beginning of the year planning a monthly budget. If there is a month where you know you will spend more money, perhaps due to an important birthday or vacation, be sure to spend less in a different month. Read the rest »

Q. My wonderful, energetic, 4-year-old boy has picked up some wonderfully expressive behaviors from his Transformers, Power Rangers, Iron Man and watching friends at school. His latest play involves pretend shooting and “booming” with his hands, with sound effects, dying people, pretend-cutting people and the lot. His preschool teacher tells me that it’s becoming more and more the play at his public preschool, which has zero tolerance for gunplay. It’s so very, very taxing and upsetting, and I don’t know what the “right” thing to do is. Read the rest »

Good fats for better fertility

Once upon a time, and not that long ago, fat was a four-letter word. Diet and nutrition gurus told us (and some still tell us) to cut back on fat whenever and wherever possible. Millions of Americans have dutifully followed that advice. Guided by the low-fat mantra, we tossed out salad dressings and mayonnaise made with olive oil or canola oil in favor of fat-free versions made with extra sugar. We replaced other fats in the diet with carbohydrates, usually the rapidly digested ones in white flour, potatoes, white rice, and sugar. This purge didn’t make us any healthier. It had no effect on heart disease, its intended target. And it may have contributed to the epidemic of obesity sweeping the country. Read the rest »

How Diet Affects Fertility

You’ve probably been hearing for years that what you eat and how you live affect the health of your heart and blood vessels, your chances of developing certain kinds of cancer, the strength of your bones, and more. What about fertility—can what you eat help you get pregnant? It certainly makes sense. After all, the reproductive system is subject to the same influences as the circulatory system, nervous system, and others. Read the rest »

How do you know if your child is ready for a sleepover?
Your child will be most ready to sleep away from home between the ages of 9 – 11. If your child expresses a desire to have a sleepover at a younger age, try considering a half-night sleep party – you can pick them up at 11:00 pm in their jammies! It is important that you know the parents well who are hosting the party. Personal safety is of utmost importance when sending your child away for long periods.

Preparing a child for a sleepover
Helpful questions to ask yourself:

• Is your child evening or routine savvy?
• Can they get themselves all ready for bed on their own?
• Here is a great way to get some more information about your child’s readiness: ask your sitter how they handle their nighttime routine. If the sitter claims that they are completely independent, then: It’s a go! Yay, send them on their merry way!

Signs that it is too soon for a sleepover
If your child needs a lot of attention and assistance during their bedtime routine, or has a fear of the dark or unfamiliar people, then you may want to wait. If your child wets the bed you may want to hold off until they have mastered dry nights. Embarrassment should never be part of a sleepover, especially if you are not there to help them.

Sending a child to a sleepover

• Pack up a familiar toy, pillow, blanket or family picture to add a sense of comfort.
• Pack a flashlight, digital camera or cool book or game to share

Go over rules for which you’d like your child to follow:

• Listen to the parents
• Sleep when parents ask them to
• Speak up if they need any assistance
• Feel free to call home at anytime, to say goodnight or to be picked up
• Have lots of fun!

Hosting a sleepover

• Keep it small and manageable
• Greet the parents and the children
• Know of any food restrictions/allergies, medications and special needs of each child
• Go over the rules and let them know where the bathrooms are
• Have activities ready for the evening (games, books, DVD’s etc)
• Set up a snack area with fun and healthy snacks
• Create cool area for them to camp out in and set up their bags (have a little light on in case they need to walk to the bathroom)
• Pass phone around for each child to say “Good Night” to their family
• When lights are out, let the silliness begin
• Give a few minute warning as to when you’d like them to actually sleep
• Have breakfast food readily available for when the morning munchies set in!
• Give parents an exact time for which the party ends

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