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Encouraging Your Child to Read

How many times do you grab a good book, pull your child or children into your lap or snuggle on the couch and read to them? So many of us are guilty of never finding the time, when reading is such an important skill for children to learn. We as parents have the greatest influence over whether or not they begin to learn or choose to learn to read. We can encourage them to learn to read by making books and reading an important part of their life from day one.

"Reading aloud with children is known to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read."

— Marilyn Jager Adams

Options For Introducing Healthy Meals Into Your Little Ones' Diet

Options For Introducing Healthy Meals Into Your Little Ones' Diet
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Almost everyone may remember when classroom bulletin boards displayed the food pyramid. The pyramid – there was only one. One size fit all. Everyone needed to subscribe to the same nutritional guidelines. Everyone was told to merely glance at the pyramid to figure out how many servings were needed each day.

Almost all would agree that it is a good thing that obsolete food pyramid has gone by the wayside! It may have taken a while, but the idea that not all people require the same food intake finally caught on. Nor are children expected to follow the same nutritional guidelines as the adults.

Frugal Tips by a Frugal Mom

Need advice on how to save money and use your time wisely. Give some of these tips a try from a frugal mom.

1. Dryer sheets: you know you can use them more than once, right? My idea: as soon as you get a new box, cut them all in half. That way you won’t feel bad buying the “name brand”. (I still buy the “off brand” and save so much money.)
2. S.O.S./Brillo Pads: Once again, cut them in half. They ruin anyway most of the time before you finish one.
3. Washing/Drying clothes: Only do a full load! I know it is tempting to throw that outfit in there because you want to wear it tomorrow or your teen just has to have it ready, resist the urge, save money!!!

Easter Around the World

This year, March is the month for Easter! Religiously it is celebrated as the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion, and secularly, it is celebrated with colored eggs, chocolate candies and stuffed bunnies. Easter is called a “movable” Holiday because it is unfixed in relation to the civil calendar and follows the cycle of the moon. In the West, Easter always falls on a Sunday anytime from March 22nd – April 25th and the rule since the Middle Ages has been that Easter is observed on the Sunday after the first full moon. Whether celebrating in the religious manner with the traditions of the church, or by decorating eggs and hiding them throughout the house, most families in the United States, as well as other countries around the world celebrate the Easter Holiday in some way or another.

Divorce and Parenting: Teaching Valuable Life Lessons to Your Children

By Rosalind Sedacca, CCT

As a divorced parent, what lessons and behaviors are you modeling for your children?

The messages you convey will influence your children into adulthood. Here’s valuable advice on leaving a positive imprint on your innocent children.

Bad things can happen to good people. Divorce is a prime example. Good people get divorced. Responsible people who are loving parents get caught in the decision to end a loveless or deceitful marriage.

When Children of Divorce Act Out � Caring Parents Step Up!

When Children of Divorce Act Out – Caring Parents Step Up!

By Rosalind Sedacca CCT

Divorce, like life, is rarely neat and packaged. This is especially true for divorcing parents. The reality of divorce comes with unexpected twists, constant frustrations and times of utter helplessness when children act up or pull away.

Here are three tips for coping with times when your children are venting, lashing out or expressing their own frustrations about being caught up in a family adjusting to separation or divorce.

Getting Baby To Sleep

For many new parents, getting baby to sleep can be a very daunting task. Some parents take it in stride, but many really lose sleep over it (literally). For those of you who are stumped, sleep deprived and seeking advice, or for those who are anticipating the long nights of fatigue and worry when their little ones arrive, do not despair. There are a few simple things that you can try. Although I cannot guarantee that our tips will solve your nightly woes, they will definitely steer you toward nights of blissful silence.

My Friend Is My Earth Angel

I wasn‘t really looking
For a new Friend to hold dear,
When she showed up on my doorstep
I found God answered an unspoken prayer.

For when I am feeling happy
My Friend is always near,
Lending her beautiful smile
To share in my good cheer.

And when I am feeling angry
My Friend is always near,
Her calm understanding
Makes my anger disappear.

When I am feeling afraid
My Friend is always near,
Her compassionate strength
Chases away all my fears.

Pop! My Bubble Burst!

Before my son came into my life, I used to take a long whirlpool bath full of lightly scented bubbles while playing my favorite CD loud enough to drown out the sound of my own singing at least once a week. That was the best stress buster I have ever found! After four years of being a Mommy, one night I decided I needed to do just that. Please God, I prayed, at least one more time before my son turns eighteen and hopefully goes away to college!

Strap your child for safety

I have two children. My son Reese is 2 ½ and my one year old daughter Kylie. My husband, Rich and I only had two car seats between us which were in my car because at the time I didn’t work and my car was used as the family car. After starting a new job opposite to my husbands shift, we had to trade the two car seats every day. Rich would take the children to our baby sitters and leave the two car seats for me when I would go to pick them up. After work I would put the car seats back in my car and take my children home. We only live five blocks from the babysitter, so when I put the seats in the car, I wouldn’t strap them in because we only lived a short distance away and I was trying to save time because I would have to pull the seats out again when we got home.