Parenthood HQ

Activity + Poor Food Choices = Non Healthy Lifestyle
 by: Sue DeFiore

One of the biggest misconceptions people have today is what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. Just because you exercise does not mean you are healthy. I hear much too often, oh, I can eat this because then I will work 30 or 40 minutes on the treadmill, jogging, walking, (fill in the blank with the exercise of choice). NO, NO, NO! Once in a while transgressions are one things, however, if you want to be healthy you need to eat healthy and exercise, the two go hand in hand.

Dinnertime Chatter
 by: Sue DeFiore

One of the themes I see on the various internet boards I belong to is that children eat and run. First, whatever happened to manners. We were not allowed to leave the table without permission and unless it was an outright emergency we had to stay until everyone was done eating. Also, we used dinnertime to catch up on the day’s activities. When my dad wasn’t there, my mom would ask my sister, brother and I how our day was. Did everything go well, any problems? WE COMMUNICATED.

Don’t Make Fast and Furious Food Changes
 by: Sue DeFiore

OK, moms and dads out there, we hear you when you say, my children won’t eat healthy foods. If we even say the word, they tune out and already decide they don’t like it. Well, my first response to this is “who is running the house, you or the kids”. If you say the kids, you have more problems than I can help you with. Put your foot down, you and your husband, spouse, significant other, (fill in the blank) are the ones making the living and doing the providing. I fully realize that children don’t like the concept of healthy foods. However, most children don’t realize that many of the foods they do like are healthy for them. Most kids I know love peanut butter, well that is a good food for them. So try some peanut butter on that apple or celery they refuse to eat. Or try some low fat or fat free cheese sauce on the cauliflower or broccoli they turn their nose up at.

Fitness - It’s A Family Affair
 by: Sue DeFiore

OK, you are eating healthier meals and now you want to get your family to exercise together. First, sit down and talk about the different things you all like to do. Give everyone a turn to come up with a week’s worth of activities. Numerous studies have shown that if you exercise for 30 consecutive days it becomes a habit. So once you all get past the first month it will become routine and part of your lifestyle. Just remember to keep it fun and give everyone a chance to participate in coming up with different things to do. Everyone wants to give input, no one likes to be told over and over what to do!

8 Simple Tips To Help Your Child Read
 by: Linda Ogier

Take away the skill of reading and not only books become a mysterious and foreign world, but reading train timetables, ordering from a menu, understanding bank statements, and any number of straightforward daily activities become virtually impossible.

If your child is struggling to read, the effects of their problem can reach into adulthood, be humiliating, and extremely limiting.

The world of a non reader is a mixed up place where only those who know the ‘secret code’ can decipher the strange symbols around them and fully participate.

Ending Child Labor
 by: Rose DesRochers

Your Nike shoes that cost you 150 dollar and your 70 dollar pair of Levi Strauss jeans were most likely made by a young person from the age of 5-14 living in Indonesia, Honduras, China or Haiti. They are forced to work with no benefits, low wages, long hours, and unsanitary conditions. They are basically slaves. Some factory management assault, rape, and abuse the workers.

Women, War, and Dating
 by: Ed Williams

I guess I should’ve figured something like this would happen one day. My son Will, who has just turned sixteen, is now dating, and was out on one this past Saturday night. I happened to be sitting in the den watching one of those high speed cop chase TV shows when he returned home from said date. He walked in, nodded, and then looked at me somewhat seriously and said,

Body Piercing, Is There Anything Wrong With It?
 by: David Kunstek

When you spend a day at the mall, you see people with body piercings. Perhaps you see someone with a nose ring. Another may have a belly button ring. In fact, you may see people with some really crazy body piercing. Is there any reason that people should not have so many body piercings? When it all comes down to it, it is everyone’s separate decision to be made, but we must ask, is there anything wrong with it, really?

Geomag Magnetic Toys
 by: Anton Komarov

There are many different types of magnetic toys that can be purchased for children. Most of these toys are extremely fun for children as well as adults. Many of these toys are also educational in addition to being fun, which is great for parents who enjoy educating their children in entertaining ways. Magnetic toys can be purchased from toy stores, educational stores, and online.

Boots! Boots! Boots!
 by: David Kunstek

Nothing feels the same as slipping into a pair of leather boots for a night on the town. The exact opposite is the feeling you get sliding on boots for the winter snow and slush mess outside. Boots come in many shapes and sizes. They are made for stylish events as well as a way to tame the outdoors. Are you thinking about purchasing a pair of boots? You could even check the online retailers to find some great deals!