Parenting Children

B.K. before kids, my husband and I would have a great New Years Eve planned. I was never into theose prepackaged dinner/dancing club things that they had on New Years Eve and I wasn’t one for elaborate plans either because I was always disappointed.
Dinner at a nice restaurant with friends, people coming over to ring in the New year at our house. I always made a ton of finger foods if we were staying in and we would pig out. We would watch silly marathons on TV like Iron Chef and hang out until the ball was ready to drop. We always had my favorite champagne on hand and we really had a great time.

Now that we have kids, all of that has changed. We stay in, we don’t live around any of our family or fiends so we are usually alone. We have had a babysitter in the past and gone out for dinner but it seems like all the restaurants have a fixed menu that is way overpriced on this particular night. We stay in and still make a ton of crappy finger foods and still get champagne but it is not the same.
This year I will not be eating all of that crap since I am already big and this pregnancy doesn’t allow me my favorite thing of all- champagne. I think I will watch something on television and go to bed way before the clock hits 12. I think this day also requires a nap.

Is this what all adults do once they have kids or are we just boring? what are your plans for rocking in the new year with kids?

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Making mom friends is harder then I thought it would be. I live 1.5 hours away from all of my family and friends and it is hard not having someone to do things with or to meet for coffee, play dates etc. I get lonely and so do my kids.

I did typical “mom” things as soon as the kids were old enough, we went to gymboree, story time, the park, gym classes but all the other moms had friends in those classes or were cliqued up right away. I didn’t seem to fit in and I found out the hard way, my people and friend making skills were rusty. After all I hadn’t had to make a friend since kindergarten, since then it was easy as pie.

Lately I have been scoped out by some other mothers at my children’s school. We have exchanged pleasantries, admired our children’s artwork together and even gave a few up and down looks.
I know what that means. I am about to be asked out on a date.
A mom date.

I mean the pick up lines “what play parks do you usually go to?” “which development do you live in” give it all away.
Finding a mom friend to bond with, with kids or without is like dating. You have to see if you mesh, if your kids get along. You don’t want to go too far, too soon, what if she never calls again?!

It is going to be rough but I am willing to date around until I find the right mom for me.
I have to, I just can’t go to Starbucks alone again!

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My twins will be five next month, just old enough to have definite ideas about what they want for Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, they have always had “favorite” items on their lists like a Little Einstein movie they had seen or a Dora doll. This year they have been preparing their lists for weeks. I introduced them to all the great Christmas movies from my childhood, Rudolph, the Grinch and Frosty. All of which were on regular television, which they are not used to watching. Anything they watch I Tivo and it is from Noggin or Nick Jr where there are no commercials. With these classic movies came the introduction to commercials for everything they don’t need but have to have.

Two weeks ago my daughter started asking for High School Musical 2 DVD. I have no idea what this movie is about, I have only heard of it in passing. I told my daughter this movie was for older kids and that she could get it when she was older.
That was not the answer she wanted to hear.

So for days now, she tells me “I know I am going to get High School Musical!” and ” I know Santa is bringing me High School Musical”. So what do I do? My fear is she will open all of her gifts and wonder where this one DVD is, the one thing she wanted. On the other hand is this movie for older kids and if so should I stick to my guns and not get it for her?

What happens when your child really wants a gun and you do not approve of them? What about when your daughter wants a Bratz doll or makeup and you think those are not great gifts for children?
What do you do when your kids ask for gifts that are not age appropriate?

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Those first few weeks and months after becoming parents for the first time are just a blur now. We were living in a new town away from our families, we just had twins and my husband starting working in a new territory. Hard wasn’t the word for what we were doing. Looking back on it, I would never have it any other way though, it made us stronger and we what we wanted to be: a family. If you are looking for a gift idea for your husband, maybe he is a new father or soon going to be, Crawling: A Father’s First Year is a great idea.

In Crawling, Elisha Cooper lets us in on what a first time Dad is really thinking and feeling about his new family dynamic and life changing event. He takes a main role in his first child’s life, Zoe, but at the same time is impacted when he cannot be everything to her all the time. There is a part of the book that resonated with me, a mother. Elisha is bringing his daughter to his childhood home for the first time, and he writes “she’s in a place where she never existed, but was always part of the future story”.
That is exactly what it feel like as a parent to show your child their roots.

My husband loved this book as well. It was well written and an easy read. It is a moving journey through the first year of parenting. This is not a book just for new dads, it is a book for every parent.

I want to thank Elisha Cooper and Momcentral.com for giving me the opportunity to review this wonderful book.

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I love winter in New Jersey. Don’t get me wrong, by February 1st I have usually had enough but for now I am still in that “I love winter!” phase. What I don’t love so much about winter is being stuck indoors with my kids all the time. Not only is ii boring and isolating but I am always waiting for one of us to get a cold and pass it on to the three others. I am also six months pregnant so getting sick is not an option for me this winter.

I recently had the opportunity to check out the guide “What to Expect Guide to a Healthy Home” from the author of popular book “What to Expect When You are Expecting”. This guide gives you every day tips and tricks for keeping your house healthy. Did you know that most people touch 300 surfaces every 30 minutes? Think about that and try to remember everything you have touched in the last 30 minutes. Gross, right? That is why washing your hands and reminding your children to wash their hands throughout the day is so very important for keeping the germs at bay.

The guide includes tips for food safety, healthy habits for the entire family, keeping your new baby from germs, fighting the flu and many more. It covers every room of your house.
If you are interested in this informative guide brought to you by Clorox, you can download your own copy here: www.clorox.com/healthierlives.

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We love books in our house, I have so many I have no place to contain them all anymore. My kids have lots of books too but I don’t mind. I would rather buy them books then toys. My kids also love going to story time at our local library and our Pottery Barn Kids and it gets us out of the house.
I have compiled a list of books for your kids of all ages and their parents to enjoy during this holiday season. If you have already finished your Christmas shopping, or don’t need any more books in your house, then take them out from the library for your whole family to enjoy.

We Three Kings. Buy this book for the illustrations alone! First written in 1857, We Three Kings is one of the best Christmas carols as it tells of the wise men’s journey to visit the manger in Bethlehem.

The Christmas Story. This is the story of Christ’s birth from the bible. Again, this book has beautiful illustrations.

Olive the Other Reindeer. It really is a cute story complete with pop ups, pull tabs and scratch and sniff.

A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree. From Amazon “Feeling sad because no one chooses it as a Christmas tree, a bedraggled forest pine discovers the importance of being appreciated all year long.” A great story for kids to hear.

The Tale of The Firebird
This book is based on three popular Russian fairy tales. The artwork is stunning. This book is great for preschoolers to adults.

What are your family’s favorite Christmas or holiday books?

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This week New Jersey government voted on a bill to require all children to be vaccinated with the flu vaccine. The bill was approved by the Public Health Council but still needs to be approved by the State Health Commissioner. NJ would be the first state to make this vaccine mandatory. What makes this bill so infuriating to me is that these vaccines contain formaldehyde and 25 micrograms of thimersol (mercury) per dose! The vaccinating of even this small amount of mercury repeatedly year after year from multiple vaccines can cause brain damage.
What happens when there is a flu vaccine “shortage” like they have every year and you can’t get the vaccine for your children? Do they not get enrolled into school?

Now Merck has voluntarily recalled about 1.2 million doses of its Hib (Haemophilus influenzae Type B) vaccines because they may not have been fully sterilized. During testing, Merck found certain bacteria in their vaccine manufacturing equipment, but not in the vaccine themselves. The Hib vaccine is recommended for all children under 5 and is usually given in a three-shot series, starting at 2 months old.

Here is a quote from Dr. Furhman, from the Eat to Live book on these mandatory vaccines that are popping up:
“It seems that lawmakers do not understand that freedom should include freedom from forced medications for ourselves and our children. The fact that we grant religions the right to do anything, but if not under a religious umbrella, those with strong science-based, philosophical-based or strong-personal belief get no such rights, I think this is unconscionable”

Even if you support all vaccines for children, you have to be concerned about the amount of vaccines that are to be administered to children. I would love to hear from you, what do you think about the safety and amount of vaccines required for our children?

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I have had many emails asking me how can parents know if their child’s toys are safe, so I decided to write some tips you can look for when you are buying toys. Chances are if you have older kids, their hand-me-down toys are not all safe. Since babies and young children put everything in their mouths, you may want to replace your toys. You can check on the manufacturer’s web site to see if they were recalled. This web site also has a list of recently recalled toys you can check out.

The paint on your child’s toys probably have volatile organic compounds (VOC). Check for toys that have water-based paint with low VOC or ones with no VOC paints. They will say so on the box!
Cheap plastic toys are cheap for a reason, they are almost always made with PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Sippy cups, teethers and baby dolls are almost always made with this material. PVC contains phthalates which has been linked to cancer and hormonal problems. Look for PVC free toys.

Try wooden toys. Not only are blocks and building systems fun for kids of all ages, if you buy non treated wood, it is safe for your children to put in their mouth (watch out for splinters!). These toys can be more expensive but try buying them on Ebay or craiglist, or find a relative or friend that has older kids and would be willing to give you their old toys.

You can always check out this website for more information on being green in your home.

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Part one was safe gift ideas for girls, and now we have some boy themed ideas. All of these are safe toys that are lead free and most are made in the USA.

Have a train lover on your hands? Why not take a stroll down memory lane and get these trolleys you may remember from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. They can also be personalized!

If you have someone at home that loves to build or loves blocks this log cabin set would be perfect. When built, this 120 piece Woodlinks set is large enough to play with your toy animals or farm gear.

My son loves all superheroes but Spiderman is his favorite. Here is a Spiderman game for kids seven and up. Battle between good and evil!

This is a starter remote control dinosaur for your dino lovers three and up. Just press the button and talk into the remote to hear your T-Rex speak, or use the controls to make T-Rex spin and move. This is a must have for $19.99!

Do you need decorating ideas for your boy’s room? This is a racetrack for any age to enjoy. It comes with toy cars to race on it. Play with your toy cars on it or just build a room theme, this is so original.

Have you heard of Zome toys? Make buildings or spheres as big as your imagination. I think I would love these.

We got this marshmallow shooter for our 12 year old nephew for his birthday and he loved it. It shoots over 30 feet, is safe but should still be used outdoors. It holds up to 20 marshmallows for rapid fire shooting. I have to say it was hard to pry away from my big kid (my husband). It is reasonably priced at $23.00.

What are your favorite picks for the boys on your holiday list this year?

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I am sure you have knowledge of many aspects of childbirth but have you ever heard of a doula? Maybe you are familiar with the word, but are not sure what a doula does? A doula is a professionally trained labor coach who provides emotional, physical and informational support. There are also post partum doulas who specialize in helping a woman and her family after the baby is born.

During the delivery, doulas are with the mother at all times. They can provide alternative pain relief techniques, like massage and laboring positions. A doula should act as an advocate for the mother, encouraging her in her birthing plan. The purpose of a doula is to help the mother have a safe birth experience. She is to help with the birthing process not take the place of the father or birthing partner.

There are a few thngs you should consider when finding the right doula for you besides good qualifications. Here are a sample of questions you need to ask prospective doulas to get a good match for you and your partner:

Does the doula have a backup person if she is unavailable when you go into labor? When can you meet that person?

Does the doula offer a payment plan if you need one?

What is her philosophy on childbirth? Is she opposed to medical intervention if your doctor thinks it is necessary?

If you are interested in finding a doula in your area you can call the American Pregnancy Association at: 1-800-672-2296 for a list of doulas in your area or check out this web site.
Have you used a doula? What was your birth experience with a doula like?

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My kids are just getting into playing games on the computer. They loved the Thanksgiving and Halloween printouts and games I found for them. It surprised even me, how may things there are for them to do online, since they are only four. Here are some things I have found that I know my kids love, we love and I know you will love too.

Go check out the Northpole for fun stories and activites. While you are there send a letter to Santa.

Whether you are baking Christmas cookies, putting up the tree or doing your homework play some Christmas music. This site has a ton of free streaming Christmas music stations.

This web site has all the answers to question you may have about Christmas traditions. It has Christmas tree facts, the history of mistletoe and Mrs. Claus or find out about Christmas traditions around the world.

If you are looking for some Christmas games to keep your kids occupied while you wrap gifts, try this site or this one.

Go elf yourself! Turn yourself and up to three other people into elves that sing and dance and is truly addicting. Call in and get your voice elfed too! This is so funny, we did our whole family and sent it to all of our family.

Lastly, get some Christmas jokes for your parties this year, track where Santa is on Christmas Eve, get the real lyrics to the carols you have been singing and do some crafts with your kids.

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I am always looking for an alternative to traditional medicine or over the counter medicines when my children are not feeling well. I never like giving them anything even something as “safe” as Tylenol. Now a new study out of a Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey may be a better alternative to cough medicine for kids.

The new study found that a small dose of buckwheat honey given to kids before bedtime provided better relief of coughs during the night and sleep difficulty in children, rather than no treatment or dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan is the DM you see in many over the counter cough suppressants. There are dangerous effects of DM in young children like dystonic reactions, severe involuntary muscle contractions and spasms. Also DM is the drug of choice by some teens.

It also did a better job with job reducing the severity and frequency of nighttime coughs. This randomized study of 105 children was partially double-blinded. parents rated honey as significantly better than DM or no treatment for symptomatic relief of their child’s nighttime cough and sleep difficulty. there were a few side effects that were mild in the children who took the honey like hyperactivity.

This is good to know since the FDA recommended that OTC cold medicines not be given to children less than 6 years old. Honey has antioxidants and antimicrobials, which are good for you anyway. Also note, honey should not be given to babies under 12 months old because it may contain bacterium Chlostridium botulinum.
I bet it will be a lot easier to get kids to take their honey then it was to get them to take their medicine!

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These days every parent tries to give their child a head start on learning. With baby Einstein videos flying off the shelf, flash cards, and classical music cds all geared for the under three set, it didn’t surprise me when I heard there was a set of dvds called “Your Baby Can Read“.
I knew I wanted to see for myself how good this dvd set actually was, so I was very excited when the company sent me one to review.

This development system is made of five dvds and a set of pull apart flash cards made for children 3 months to five years old. There is a starter video that introduces children to 20 key words, volume 1 over 40 learning words plus songs, animals, and word games, volume 2 introduces new words and new songs, volume 3, starts two and three word phrases and the review video which reviews words from the starter video thru volume 3. This video is just for children after they are familiar with the first four videos in the series.
Don’t worry there is a parent segment which helps you to understand how this works and how to work with your child along with the videos.

My kids instantly loved the flash cards and I loved the blank wipe clean card that you can write your own words. This dvd set is not the magic tool to instantly get your two year old to read. If you think you can sit them down in front of the TV and go and do something else and your kids will read all on their own, you are wrong too. You need to work with them and engage them. That being said, I think this is a great find. My four year old twins recognized the words they saw, loved the music and pictures and were excited to learn to read. They now know certain words and we work all the time with new words, with the blank flash card they provided.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a gift for a young child this holiday season. It doesn’t have any lead and parents will appreciate it more then another stuffed animal or toy they do not have room for.
You can buy the individual dvds for $14.95 each or the dvd set for $79.95. I know I want extra flashcards, and I am excited that they also offer new ones.
Either way I will be recommending these dvds to parents who want to start teaching their children to read.

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Are you looking for Christmas crafts for do with your kids? I know I am always looking for arts & craft activities to do with my kids during this season. Maybe you just want a new way to decorate your tree? Here are some ideas both you and your kids can do even if the weather outside is frightful.

Make edible ornaments. Buy cookies that have a cutout center. Tie with 18 inch pieces of ribbon. Fold ribbon in half, pull looped end through the cookie, thread loose ends through the loop and tie. You can make cookies just for this, or decorate store bought ones.

Add some fun to your tree. Buy different color parasols in a gift or dollar store. You know, the kind that come in fruity drinks. Clip them all over your tree with mini clothespins.

Add some fun to your indoor decorations. Buy a styrofoam wreath and two white (or any color you want) boa at your local craft sore. Use craft glue to stick the end of the boa onto the wreath. Wrap the boa around the wreath form and glue the other end. Repeat with the second boa. This looks like a feather wreath I have seen being sold in stores for $19.99!

Let your kids make their own ball ornaments. Buy plain colored ball ornaments in various sizes and colored glitter at your local craft store. Using glue make any pattern you want on the balls and then sprinkle your glitter onto them over a plastic container to catch all the extra glitter. Cover the whole ball with glitter, let your kids do their name and date or make cool patterns. This is a great keepsake and fun to make.

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