Parenthood HQ

No matter what you say or do, your kids will chat and use IM (instant messengers) over the internet. That’s a given. But since you have the obligation to protect your children, be aware that there are parent-friendly software tools that can assist you.

Chat Watch

Chat Watch logs both sides of instant messages on AOL, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo. Chat Watch features parental controls, chat scheduling, a chat acronym translator, and more. Chat logs can be automatically e-mailed to you, copied to a network computer, or uploaded to a remote server. Chat Watch is password protected and can run hidden in stealth mode and accessible by a hot key. Chat Watch allows you to monitor and be in control of your child’s instant messaging.

Baby furniture can be made up of many different pieces and often makes an ideal baby shower gift. With an endless variety of choices to choose from such as cribs and dressers or toy boxes and rocking chairs you can be sure to find that timeless shower gift.

Furniture goes in phases

A baby has furniture needs that older children and adults do not and happily there are many pieces of nursery and baby furniture to select from. One of the first pieces to look for when selecting furniture for a nursery is a baby crib. Depending on style, exuberance or functionality, this key staple in kids bedroom furniture can often set the tone for the rest of the room.

Do any other reality TV junkies remember a show on TV last year called “Who Wants To Marry Our Dad?” Well, my life is starting to sound very very similar lately. All you have to do is listen to my kids for a day, and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.

Their father and I separated this year after 10 years of marriage, and all of us have been through some huge adjustments in our lives. I won’t dwell here & now on all the details, but just know that it hasn’t been easy. We are just now starting to cope well with our new lives, and learning how to figure things out and move forward.

Despite the potentially dangerous side-effects of Ritalin, public school authorities now pressure many parents to give Ritalin to their children so these kids won’t "act up" in school.

Naturally, most parents don’t want to drug their children just because they are unruly, bored in class, or high-spirited. However, compulsory attendance laws force parents to send their children to public schools. Just as school authorities resort to compulsion to get their students by force, so they apply the same compulsion against children and their parents to pressure parents into giving Ritalin to their kids.

The word no is probably the most overused word in the English language. I speak from experience since I myself use it frequently.

I might begin a normal day by saying, “No, Joshua, you may not have a hotdog for breakfast,” or “No, Alex, please don’t throw your cereal on the floor.” After breakfast, I might say, “No, Joshua, don’t hit your brother,” or “No, Alex, don’t kick your brother.”

While I’m making lunch, I usually need to tell Alex, “No, you cannot climb onto the kitchen table.” By early afternoon, which is the time of day I set aside for my work, I usually find myself telling Joshua, “No, you cannot wake Alex from his nap” or “No! Don’t touch Mommy’s computer!”

Acne And Teenage Girls
 by: Terry Lowery

Over 70% of teens say that acne has affected them in a negative way. An estimated 20 million teens suffer from acne, but even the fact that they’re not alone doesn’t ease the pain they feel. Teens are embarrassed at a time when they are unsure of themselves. They may become depressed and withdrawn. Acne is especially hard on teenage girls. At a time when they’re noticing boys, and visa versa, acne can be devastating. They’re surrounded by visions of beauty all around them on TV, in movies, in magazines and on line. We live in a society that worships youth and beauty.

Late vs. Too Late

Every now and then, I’ll hear a parent tell me something like this,

“I know we should do something about how we handle our son/daughter, but it’s really too late since they are almost 18.”

Sorry, but you are wrong.

While it certainly may be late in the game, it is never too late. I often find myself thinking I wish I could have worked with this teen/family/marriage sooner. It’s always easier to work with a problem when it has first begun, because there is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to notice yet still small enough to solve easily.

There are many early signs that you may be pregnant. The obvious one is a late period but this can be caused by a number of things, an excessive weight gain or loss, a change in birth control methods, or just an imbalance of hormones.

Nausea and vomiting, commonly known as morning sickness, will last for the first 2-8 weeks of gestation. Though its common name is a little misleading, as it can occur throughout the day, not just in the morning. There isn’t actually any known reason as to why women go through this nausea and little is known on preventing it. Women differ in how they deal with it. Some women find that a cup of tea and a ginger biscuit in the morning help, others find acupressure and massage can help. It’s all about finding what works for you best.

The baby carriage or buggy has come along way. Thanks to companies such as Cosco, Graco, Peg Perego, Evenflo, Century and Maclaren strollers have become an indispensable baby and toddler transport product.

Find a stroller from a credible manufacturer

When selecting a stroller for that special baby or toddler choose a credible and reliable manufacturer to ensure the best quality. Cosco, Graco, Peg Perego, Evenflo, Century and Maclaren are well-known and trusted names when it comes to strollers and have a stroller to fit your lifestyle and budget.

Q. My daughter has gotten very good at manipulating us, and sometimes we do not even know it has happened until much later. How can we tell if we are being manipulated, and how can we stop it, or at least handle it better?

A. Here’s the thing about teens and manipulation:

The average 15-year-old is 15 going on 25 and 15 going on 5 all at the same time.

What this means is they combine the verbal ability and “wisdom” of the 15-going-on-25-year-old with the “I want what I want when I want it which is NOW! and I will make you pay if you say no” of the 15-going-on-5-year-old and come up with some very powerful manipulation.