Family Concerns

What parent doesn’t want to get their kids to eat all their vegetables and stay away from pizza etc? Unfortunately, it is certainly easier said than done. Zucchini doesn’t stand a chance against golden crispy French fries steaming at the drive up window and cakes and cookies are so much more tempting than an orange.

However, if you start at a very young age, nutrition for kids does not have to be such a challenge as kids will have not experienced anything different. If you want them to amend eating habits later in life, then it will be much more difficult. Here are a few practical tips to make this uphill task a little easier.

Lead By Example
Parents are the number one role models for young kids and while we feel they watch Banrney and Dora all the time, they see what we do even more. Nutrition for kids is easier to focus on if the whole family is eating healthy. For example, if they see you drinking a lot of water as opposed to soda and other stuff, they are more likely to follow suit. Or, if they see Mom making a sandwich on whole wheat bread for herself, then they wouldn’t even ask for the refined, white version.
That means making sure your grocery basket is full of good nutritious foods and snacks.

Eat Together
Even though day planners [pin]seem to be|are getting [/spin]increasingly busy, sitting down and having at least one meal together on a daily basis is a big step in the right direction towards nutrition for kids. Nutritious meals are easier to plan and prepare and serve if everyone is going to eat them as opposed to making everything from scratch for just one or two members of the family.
Try to make these meals a relaxing affair around a table – no TV dinners. It’s an opportunity for everyone to discuss their day.

Get the Children Involved
If nutrition for kids is important to you, get them involved in menu planning, grocery shopping and meal preparation. That way they will feel they have more control over what they eat and if you lay down the right guidelines they just might get into the habit of making healthy choices.
One suggestion that I have found works really well is to try a new ‘color’ vegetable or fruit each week. Make a chart, so if week one is purple, they might try egg plant or purple grapes and if week two is yellow, they may try squash and banana milkshake. In our family we took it a step further. It originally started near Halloween time when I said to the kids that if they tried squash as a vegetable at dinner time I would paint a pumpkin face painting design on their cheeks. After that there was no problem getting the kids to try new fruits or vegetables or new dishes. And, not surprisingly my face painting skills improved too as the kids came up with new designs for me to learn.
You too can learn to face paint - find out more
Face paintings
Face painting ideas
face painting ideas

Think of teaching nutrition to kids as an investment in your family’s health and wellbeing. While you cannot predict or completely prevent anyone from any disease, you can at least do your best. Who knows, your healthy eater may positively influence his or her spouse and another generation where nutrition plays an important role in the family dynamic.

Let’s begin by looking at the typical duties of the father of the bride.

Tradionally the father of the bride paid for the majority of the wedding costs. These days, the groom’s parents and the couple themselves usually contribute.

Of course, the father’s main duty is to walk his daughter down the aisle. Even if you are not having a church wedding most brides still opt to observe this tradition.

The other very public duty of the father of the bride is to make a speech at the reception. Normally this includes some funny and touching story about his daughter, welcoming his new son in law into the family and thanking the guests for joining in the wedding celebration. The speech usually ends with a toast to the bride and groom.

Generallythe bride’s parents act as hosts for the wedding reception. If there is to be an official receiving line then they will usually be the first two people to greet the guests. Alternatively, a parent from both families could be the first two people to greet the guests.

The father of the bride may be responsible for ensuring the wedding cars, or other modes of transport such as horse drawn carriage, arrive on time. And of course he has to make sure his daughter at the ceremony arrives on time, or only a few minutes late!

Often the father of the bride can feel left out of all the preparations that go into planning a wedding. Whilst most fathers would not want to get involved in selecting floral arrangements, color schemes, wedding reception themes etc there are some duties that he might might be willing to take on.

For example, most men consider themselves good at map reading and giving directions so what about asking your father to be in charge of sending maps and directions for getting to the ceremony venue and from the ceremony venue to the reception venue? Such information is sure to be appreciated by all out of town guests.

Now let’s take a closer look at the emotional side.

Don’t just assume that your father will give you away on your wedding day. Ask.

If there is to be a father and daughter dance at the reception why not let your father choose the song you dance to. Maybe something that reflects his personality or a song that has some special meaning.

Ask your future husband to discuss outfits with both his own father and yours. Traditionally the fathers wear the same outfit as the groom and best man so you want them to be comfortable with the choice of outfit.

Your wedding day is an emotional occasion for your father. Leave a little momento for your father to find on his return home after the reception. Maybe a framed photograph of you and your dad, or a poem about fathers and daughters, or a hand written note thankingt your dad for all that he has done for you over the years.

And don’t forget to say a special goodbye to your father before you and your new husband leave the reception.

One of the best ways you can ensure that you, your husband to be and the rest of the Wedding Party can relax and enjoy the wedding reception is to ask a responsible friend or family member to act as your master of ceremonies. Check out these articles to learn more
Wedding mc
Wedding reception mc
Wedding master of ceremonies

Most children like all things Halloween. As adults, we assume it’s because Halloween means candy and children generally love candy. But many children love more than just the abundance of candy at Halloween time. They really get into the ghoulish aspect of the holiday and delight in the displays of goopy brains and squishy body parts.

Halloween games, therefore, can be really fun and goopy, if you wish. The children will go with it, don’t worry.

First up, a brain game. There’s a fun game on store shelves where you pick through a rubber “brain” to figure out what’s in it. You can create this easily yourself. Make some jello and fill it with a variety of items, such as gummy worms and other gummy candies, some small candy and trinkets and other items. Tell the children to root around in the bowl of jello (call it a “brain” if this will get the children more interested) to figure out what’s in it. It’s goopy and messy and children love it. Better still, color the jello black so it’s too dark to see what’s inside and it looks more like goopy brain matter (the way kids see it, anyway).

In that same, or similar vein, children love the spaghetti game. Be sure they are wearing a smock over their clothes or are wearing play clothes before playing this game. Make a big bowl of spaghetti and fill it with all kinds of items, such as plastic bugs, gummy worms and other items that might feel a bit strange. Make the children feel around in the bowl of spaghetti and identify the items they feel. Once they are done and cleaned up, have them list as many items as they can remember. Whoever gets the most items listed (and right) gets a prize. Spaghetti, anyone?

Of course any Halloween game or activity is much more fun if you are have a scary face painting design painted on your face. There are so many designs to suitable for the halloween holidays. For example how about a skull, ghost, witch, or an alien. And, you’ll be pleased to know that learning to face paint is not that hard. Even if you think you are not artistic. All you need is to follow along to step by step instruction.
face painting patterns
face paintings
face painting designs

And, of course, practice, practice , practice those face painting designs. But you’ll find you are never short of volunteers to sit for you. In fact, you are likely to find that you’re the most popular mom in the neighborhood.

It’s a shame to have the intelligence and skills to succeed, only to get hampered by unwanted procrastination. You don’t have to be a victim of this type of situation your whole life. Act now!
Here are some of the things I do to manage time better. Hope you learn from them.

I keep my inbox organized.

When I get a new message at my inbox, I file it to a folder right away. This spares me all the trouble of looking for the message that I need. And this allows me to store an unread message for later, and find it easily when I need it. And I get to move on to the more important thing I’m doing.

I cut down on my multitasking habit.

Multitasking is good. You can even call it a skill. But still, you should not overdo it. Too much multitasking can lead to decreased productivity. Sometimes, effective time management comes from having the capacity to focus on one important thing and keeping all your efforts geared towards it.

I take charge of the top-priority tasks first.

Before I even consider doing anything at all, I make sure that I have my top-priority task finished already. I would usually dedicate the first hour of the day working on it. Then I would pay attention to other less important tasks.

I stick to my schedule.

I set a schedule for reading emails. I avoid reading them as they come, and responding to each and every one of them as if it was my obligation to do so. Unless the email is important and work related, I keep my responses on schedule. After all, people want predictable responses, not necessarily immediate ones.

And I avoid browsing too many sites. I keep my wanderings on schedule as they tend to eat up my valued time.

I always keep track of time.

And what better way to manage time than to keep track of it? And keep track I do. Anybody should know it; by the way I have several collectible mantel clocks and unique wall clocks at home. You’d actually think I have a whole collection of them. But why, I even have world time clocks for my travels across the globe.

Okay, so here’s the confession. Everything mentioned here are on my wish list. I’m still struggling against procrastination. Well, at least I’m working on it.

I’m an avid health buff. I take many different types of vitamins. I spend for pricey dietary supplements, all in the hopes of becoming as healthy as possible. But the big irony is that I indulge in guilty pleasures that are anything but healthy. You name it -cigarette (and pot on occasions), booze, unhealthy sleeping, and eating habits, and I have it.

But heck, that’s how I am, contradictory in many ways. No wonder people think I’m odd. What do you know? These contradictions may have the balancing effect I need. All the dietary supplements I’m taking may just offset the risks of smoking and drinking. Besides, I don’t ever want to quit cigarette or booze. And I actually have good reasons for not wanting to.

For one, cigarette cases are just way too fabulous. If I quit smoking, I won’t have any reason for bringing them around anymore. And practically everybody around me smokes. Even if I do stop smoking, I will still be inhaling second hand smoke, which is just as perilous. If I don’t smoke, I will be getting all the adverse effects without enjoying my guilty pleasure. And oh, my favorite Zippo will lose its utility. What a shame.
And what if I give up drinking? My uber sophisticated leather wine carrier will be gathering dust at the pantry. Nobody wants that. And my social life will be totally dead, not to mention the family ties severed. I won’t be able to bond with my friends anymore. Now imagine all the profound talks I will be missing.

Besides, it’s my privilege to be born in this post-Prohibition era. During the Jazz era, when booze stopped flowing because of the dry forces’ success to move forward a law banning the distribution of alcohol, people had to go underground to get a decent drink. Some had to make their own alcoholic drink at home while others had to get false prescriptions just so they can get their hand at some medicinal whiskey. It would be a shame to let alcohol pass me by when they’re easier to get by.

Also, I am well aware that my sleeping habits are unhealthy. But if I do take on a healthy sleeping schedule, I will not be seeing my friends anymore, or any member of my family for that matter. But why, they are all a bunch of night owls. As for the unhealthy food I eat, I will be getting them only now, while I’m alive. So why miss on them? I won’t be having them when I’m dead.

Go ahead and enjoy your own guilty pleasure!

Looking for somewhere to go this summer? Have you thought about going to somewhere where there’s a nice sandy beach, where the summer sun just beats down on your head and where the jewel toned waters will cool you down? If you’ve been thinking beach Cancun is the way for you to go then. There’s no place quite like Cancun and it’s the perfect spot for you to get away from all your troubles.

Since you want the beach Cancun really should be the only place you need to look. Yes, there are other beaches in Mexico and yes there are other beaches elsewhere as well, but why spend all that money on getting to these places when you know in your heart of hearts that Cancun is the place for you to be. There’s no place like home as the famous line goes and there’s also no place like the beach Cancun is famous for, for spending your vacation.

If you go in the height of summer though be prepared to pay the price for that as you will have to find a spot for you to camp out in with great difficulty. Being one of the places for Americans to go along with a few other choice destinations of course, you’ll find that the beach Cancun is famous for is fully loaded, even overloaded, with tourists and locals alike.

Some days it will be all you can do to get a finger in much less your beach towel and your whole body! On these days if you don’t mind forgoing the beach you can go sightseeing around Cancun and avail yourself of its hospitality. There are many things you can do while in Cancun, although most of these things do tend to center around the beach Cancun also boasts of other attractions but these might not be to your taste.

You could of course always go on a tour of Cancun, or maybe even on a tour which will take you further afield. These can be just as fun ways to spend your time in Cancun as any. However since the beach is what you came for, the beach Cancun is famous for is what you should get. So if you can brave the press of people it’s very easy to wriggle your way around people and find the perfect spot for you to dump your beach towel on, and then you can be away swimming in the cool waters of the sea.

Now that you have decided that homeschooling is the way to educate your son or daughter, get ready for the ecstasy and the anxiety - the road ahead is a bit bumpy, but the rewards more than make up for it. Producing a well-adjusted and well-rounded personality is no mean achievement.

for starters, it is important to check out your state laws on home schooling. Some states need an affidavit filed with the State’s
education department. There are basically 3 categories for homeschooling laws. These are: private school laws, home education laws and equivalency laws. Find your state laws. You may also need to maintain a portfolio that records the child’s educational progress. It is important to look into the legal requirements BEFORE you begin homeschooling. Some States also stipulate a minimum educational qualification for the parent or teacher.

Next, look for a support group. If you live in a friendly or curious neighborhood, well-meaning friends will try to dissuade you. At the very least, they may put a lot of uneasy questions in your mind. A support group that consists of like-minded people
will insulate you from the criticism, pressures and questions of regular school-goers. Many groups organize fun events like visits to the zoo, museum, tours to the ice cream shops etc. And if your children hit it off with other homeschoolers, they will be able to build lasting relationships that do not fade when their friends change schools. These groups offer an important avenue for socialization.

The next important thing to do is to select a curriculum. Depending upon the method of homeschooling, you may choose various tools that aid you in this process. The internet is also a rich resource for homeschooling. Do some research and look into the
material that is available. For example, how about face painting as part of art classes.
childrens face painting ideas face painting ideas face painting ideas

Set certain ground rules. Homeschooling demands a lot of self-discipline and hard work. Here is a list of the things you will need:
1) Eagerness to learn
2) Hard work and effort
3) Discipline
4) Time and patience
5) Flexibility
6) Enthusiasm

Consider why you want to opt for homeschooling. Your motives and your reasons are important pillars on which the whole edifice of
your son or daughter’s lessons depends. Also, consult with your kids. Ask them what they feel about homeschooling.

Select a curriculum or custom-make a curriculum that best suits your son or daughter. Record keeping is an essential part of homeschooling.
Look into the various methods of record keeping. Set up a schedule. Your son or daughter does not have to learn 6-7 hours a day. Allow
him or her to dictate the time. Flexibility and fun are the cornerstones of homeschooling. Do not stuff too many skills into a single term or year. Prepare a skill list. Make the child learn the skills that he is ready for.

Gentle parenting is the secret to successful homeschooling. Children make great advances in learning and show more enthusiasm. They also turn out to be surprisingly well balanced and well informed when they are taught at home.

When my mother finally decided to take that top job as a Divisional Head, I knew I was in trouble. Her office hours stretched long after my school hours. And anyway, I was privy to the many discussions my parents had about ‘Honey, what do we do with the kids?’ Well, finally they struck gold - an educational after school program. Won’t that be just grand? Kids are learning new things while parents are happily earning the dollars!

And so, we went directly to another class after our school. The brochure said that they would be ‘using fun activities and innovative teaching methods to fill the gap in your child’s understanding’. I suppose they meant that the teacher would write down the homework and we were to copy it. At least, this is what happened most of the time. Of course, we didn’t tell our parents. How would that help? They’d simply get smart and shift us to a class that would actually make us solve our homework.

I disliked the classes. Mostly, I was bored to tears or falling asleep. After so many hours at school who’d want to spend the entire afternoon with the same books? But, as a child, one had little choice in these matters. Especially when your parents were cleverly telling you that mom’s salary will help get us that new TV or that video game. Lose some, win some!

Then, one day, my sister decided to rock the proverbial boat. She decided she had enough of studying and refused to go to the after school program. That’s when my parents began to smell something stale. Shortly after that, they put us in a better program (yes, another educational one). This was bigger, brighter and somehow more fun. We had some interesting games, and a COMPUTER too. Each of us got a chance to do something on the PC (this, when PCs were just beginning to make their presence felt). We somehow managed to blaze through our homework, most of which had to be done by us. Then it was time to have fun. We had a little bit of everything. Acting classes, speech, games and of course painting.

Those hours we spent splashing color on pages and laughing at silly jokes were really the highlight of an otherwise boring day. Ironically, I began to look forward to my after school program.

Now, many, many years later, when I have to take up a career and leave my own child alone till I get back, I know how important these after school programs have become. Talk about history repeating itself! I just hope I’d
get her into a good one, and yes, it’s going to be educational too. And, of course, I hope she will be able to confide in me her true thoughts about her after school program.

And why not find time to have a shared hobby with your child. Face painting is quite easy to learn and great fun. And think how useful it will be come Halloween or at birthday parties etc. Find out more
face painting instructions
simple face painting
face painting designs

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