Parenthood HQ

Who doesn’t love cool gadgets that morph into dozens of tools with a twist of the wrist. Finding baby equipment that grows with your child is like hitting the jackpot ? particularly when it involves big ticket items.

Purchasing a crib is one of the major decisions you’ll make when furnishing your child’s nursery. Size, style and color are important considerations, however another option is quickly moving up on the priority checklist ? being able to convert from a crib into a larger bed.

Family Meetings: 3 Behaviors That Don’t Work
 by: Jean Tracy. MSS

There are 3 behaviors that can upset any Family Meeting. As a kid, I had all three. In fact, my grandmother called me a “Butinski”. I’ve never seen it spelled but it sounds like: But-in-ski. I was always butting in on the conversations between my mother and grandmother. I thought I’d have to wait forever if I didn’t speak up. Of course, I didn’t care for my cranky grandma and she didn’t care for my interrupting.

How about your family, do these 3 behaviors get in the way of your communication?

8 Cheap Activities To Do With Your Kids
 by: Jennifer Shircel

These inexpensive ideas are sure to get your kids creative juices flowing! The kids will love them because it gives them something productive to do and mom will love them because they’re easy and cheap!

1.) Fly a kite at a local park. Kites can usually be found at any local dollar store. We found a cute Tigger kite at our local Dollar Tree.

2.) Blow bubbles. Now how cheap are bubbles, like $.50 a bottle?! Kids can have contests to see who can make the most or the biggest bubble.

How To Tell A Test Quiz Before It Bites You On The Nose
 by: Brian Fong

Q. My teacher says that we are going to have a test quiz next week. Isn’t that term a bit redundant? What in the world is a test quiz?

A. Ah, the wiley test quiz. It’s an odd creature indeed and it is very rarely encountered in the wild. In fact, you are a very lucky student to have a teacher that even knows what a test quiz is much less is wiling to administer one.

Family Meetings: Parents Help Your Kids Discuss with This Special Formula
 by: Jean Tracy. MSS

Do sarcasm, put-downs, and pouting keep you from holding Family Meetings? Do you want your kids to speak up, to listen, and to be respectful? Do you want them to become people of character?

In his book, Character Is Destiny, Senator John McCain said, “It is your character alone, that will make your life happy or unhappyand you choose it.” Parents, if you want your children to be happy, help them to choose character. The Family Meeting is an excellent tool to help them make that choice.

How To Make Your Own Baby Food
 by: Jennifer Shircel

Those little containers of baby food sure are expensive once you start totaling up how much you use in a day. Now you are probably wondering how you could possibly save money on baby food (besides those $.25 coupons). Well, you can’t save money on those little containers, but you can on baby food itself. How? Make it yourself! It’s really not as hard as you think. Do a search on the internet for “homemade baby food” and you’ll find tons of recipes on how to make just about anything perfect for your little one.

Baby Name Bracelet: The Perfect Gift For A Newborn Baby
 by: Christopher M. Luck

It happens all the time: someone close to you, a friend, a family member, a close colleague, has a baby and you have no idea what to give them. You feel guilty, you fish around for the usual clichéd presents: the booties, the mobiles, the picture books. You yawn and wish there was something you could give that would show how truly happy you are for the parents of that bundle of joy, and this is where a baby name bracelet can help you end that tedious search.

Americans have long depended on jarred baby foods for convenient feeding. In the past few years more and more processed food options have entered the children’s food market. The big brands have expanded into pre-packaged "toddler meals" and "school lunches" all in the name of helping busy parents who need things to be fast and convenient. Even for those parents with the best effort and intention, there may be times when you just can’t make or safely pack your own food. One of my clients had served her eight-month-old homemade, organic baby food from his first bite. However while traveling with her son to England; she brought a few jars of food "just in case" she ran out of fresh items on the flight. Here are some tips for buying commercially jarred foods, when you’re in a pinch.

World Of Warcraft, Could It Be Killing Our Teens
 by: Mark MacKay

The parents of a teenage son who committed suicide just over a year ago claim that their son become addicted to the massively multiplayer online role-playing game, World of Warcraft. They believe that as a result of this addiction he took his own life. Now these parents are suing World of WarCraft developers Blizzard Entertainment, blaming the game developers for the tragic loss of their son.

Quite often expectant fathers get bent out of shape over what they should be doing during the pregnancy. The pregnant woman is often the focus of all attention. She’s the one carrying the baby. She’s the one doctors examine. She’s the one with oodles of books written especially for her. She’s the one who has to push when the time comes and they put the baby on her belly when it is delivered. So, the question is: Are you only along for the ride? Yes, you really are only along for the ride.