Things Children Expecting From Their Parents To Do With Them

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What do you think matters most to your children? You driving them to lessons and practices, or is it the smile and hug you greet them with after school? If you guessed the latter, you are correct.

Sixteen years of teaching and giving the same assignment every Mother’s Day has led me to the exact same conclusion. You see, every Mother’s Day I would ask my students to give me advice on being a mother. They were to think about things their mother or guardian did for or with them that made them feel happy or loved. The classroom would go silent as the students wrote intensely for longer than they had ever written before. Often smiles would appear on their faces as they reflected on the happy experiences they were remembering.

Something Interesting…

After reading their responses I would add to my list all the ideas they mentioned. Surprisingly, many of the responses were the same. Year after year, in every country I taught, and in every type of demographic, the students were saying the same things and had the same message: It’s the small things that their mothers did that meant the most and that they remembered.

Many moms today feel as if they are not good mothers unless they are racing around, shuttling their children from lessons, to practices and back to lessons again. I’ve had mothers tell me that they want to give their children every opportunity they did not have. While this thinking might bring the mother some comfort, it really does not do the same for their child who is potentially feeling overextended, stressed and tired.

After speaking endlessly about this topic with my students, it became clear to me that children today are involved in too many activities and are in turn becoming less in touch with themselves and their families. In addition, my students told me they really wished for more time to “just play”. Of course many of them enjoy their extra-curricular activities, but it is not necessary they said to be allowed to do everything. What they enjoyed most, and what made their hearts happiest was when their mothers did simple things for or with them.

Important Points to Notice

Here is a list of the top ten things students around the world said they remembered and loved most about their mothers.

  1. Come into my bedroom at night, tuck me in and sing me a song. Also tell me stories about when you were little.
  2. Give me hugs and kisses and sit and talk with me privately.
  3. Spend quality time just with me, not with my brothers and sisters around.
  4. Give me nutritious food so I can grow up healthy.
  5. At dinner talk about what we could do together on the weekend.
  6. At night talk to me about about anything; love, school, family etc.
  7. Let me play outside a lot.
  8. Cuddle under a blanket and watch our favorite TV show together.
  9. Discipline me. It makes me feel like you care.
  10. Leave special messages in my desk or lunch bag.

Children are incredibly wise and tend to see the world more simply than we do. Perhaps it is time we start taking their advice. Maybe we as parents would all feel a little less stressed and be satisfied with the fact that doing little things really is… good enough.

How to Plan Your Baby’s First Birthday

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Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering of friends and family or an all-out bash, your baby’s first birthday celebration is bound to be special – at least for you and the other adults and older kids in his life!

Yes, a first birthday party is really for parents and their guests. Your baby won’t remember this party, and may even be overwhelmed by it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t all have fun. For party planning suggestions and tips on keeping your baby (and young visitors) comfortable, read on.

Who to invite

Your 1-year-old may be fearful of strangers, and strange or new places. Despite liking other babies, she won’t understand how to play with them yet. She will enjoy individual attention and likes to make you laugh. These factors often convince parents to opt for an intimate, low-budget family party or small gathering of relatives, close friends, fellow parents, and neighbors.

But no matter how many guests you have, keep in mind that your 1-year-old will want a lot of your undiluted attention. This is especially true if she’s feeling overstimulated by a large crowd of well-wishers.

How much to spend

According to our poll of more than 5,000 parents, the amount spent on a baby’s first birthday party is all over the map, from less than $50 to more than $500. A majority – 61 percent – of parents spent $200 or less, 25 percent spent between $200 and $500, and 11 percent dished out more than $500.

The amount you spend is up to you, and depends on what kind of party you want to have for your child. Keep in mind that food is the main thing that drives costs up, followed by decorations and the cake. Don’t feel pressured to spend more than you can afford – small is beautiful at this age!

Choosing a time

Your baby will probably still be taking a morning and afternoon nap when her first birthday rolls around. If so, it’s best to plan your party around nap times if possible. And if you’re inviting other young guests, check out their nap times with their parents. Once one starts crying, they all might! You may want to keep the party brief – an hour or so is probably long enough at this age.

Choosing a place

Home is usually the easiest place to host a first birthday party, and it’s where your baby will feel most secure. But if your home is too small for the number of guests you want to invite, consider a local community center or church social hall, a kids’ museum, a restaurant (you may want to go with a kids’-themed place or a fast-food restaurant with a play space), a relative’s house, or, if the weather is nice, a park or zoo.

Choosing a theme

Party themes aren’t important to your 1-year-old or her baby guests. You might want to aim for a color-coordinated look, or pick matching plates and napkins with a favorite cartoon character, but it’s more for the benefit of the keepsake photos than your baby at this stage.

Food

Keep food simple – a lot of it will probably end up on the floor anyway!

Finger foods work well for both babies and adults, and eating them won’t interrupt play or socializing. Some babies may have quite a few teeth and be able to bite into food; others may still be toothless, so cater to both extremes. Tiny sandwiches with cheese spread (you can cut them into shapes), cubes of mild cheese, cut-up fruit, pasta spirals, and mini yogurts are good options. You can also try animal crackers or graham crackers broken into small pieces.

Your small guests will probably eat very little, so aim for a variety of tastes, textures, and colors rather than quantity. And avoid serving nuts, hard candies, popcorn, raisins, marshmallows, and other foods that may present a choking hazard to little ones.

As for beverages, it’s a good idea to have water, milk, and maybe diluted fruit juice around for the kids and mineral water and sodas for the adults.

Don’t forget a wonderful birthday cake. Some parents like to have a small separate cake for the birthday baby – this way she can smash into it to her heart’s content. (It also works to serve cupcakes to everyone, including your baby.) Homemade treats are special, but supermarkets have a great variety available, or try a bakery. You may need to order the cake or cakes in advance. And don’t let your baby get too close to the candle as she’ll want to grab it, not blow on it.

Games and activities

Loud bangs from party poppers and bursting balloons may frighten your baby, and discarded poppers and balloons are a serious choking hazard until age 3. Why not have some musical fun, such as dancing with your baby, or a nursery rhyme tape on in the background? She’ll also enjoy peek-a-boo games and finding toys hidden in a box or under a cloth. And, of course, she’ll enjoy helping you open her presents (although the wrapping paper will be far more fun than the gift!).

Goody bags

Goody bags aren’t really necessary at this age, and the usual treats like candy and balloons are downright for the babies at your party. If you want to give a going-away present to your little guests, opt for a small, safe soft toy or a board book to chew on.

Birthday presents

By now your baby will appreciate toys that make noise or light up, or both, so activity centers are a good choice. It’s never too early to read, and textured board books are great fun for your tactile baby. A push-along toy to aid walking skills may be a hit, and new bath toys are always welcome. You may want to consider a big, lasting present, such as a baby swing for outdoors or a rocking horse. And if you already have loads of toys, your baby won’t object if some people buy her clothes!

General tips
  • Have somewhere clean, handy, and well-equipped for diaper changing.
  • Breastfeeding moms may appreciate somewhere quiet and private to nurse.
  • It’s crawling, walking, and climbing time – safety gates and other childproofing devices are essential.
  • Stow away precious ornaments and breakables.
  • Keep pets well out of the way (for their own protection!).
  • Keep a watchful eye on the party area for hazards, such as forks and small swallowable objects, and clear them away quickly.
  • Babies will play alongside each other, not together, so keep a variety of toys available within a large, safe floor space.
  • Relax – let your baby and her guests set the pace.
  • Make sure you have a willing volunteer to take plenty of photos and video. You may be too busy, and you don’t want to miss those shots of your baby digging into her first birthday cake!

When to Wear Earrings After Piercing?

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wear earrings

One question almost everyone asks when getting their ears pierced is how long they have to wait before wear earrings. After the initial piercing earrings are put in, your earlobes need time to heal before you can switch to the earrings of your choice. Danglers shouldn’t be worn for lengthy durations because they can stretch or tear piercings.

Ear Piercing Procedure

It is always best to have any piercing, including earlobes, performed by a professional body piercer using single-use sterile needles. Needles can be sterilised in an autoclave, which employs high-pressure steam to kill bacteria. Plastic piercing guns cannot be autoclaved and can spread infection even when disinfected. Piercings performed with sterile needles and surgical-steel jewelry often heal more smoothly than gun piercings, since a gun uses blunt-force trauma to shoot a stud through the lobe.

Ear Piercing Aftercare

Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are too harsh and drying for new piercings as they heal. The Association of Professional Piercers recommends soaking earlobes in a saline solution made of 1/4 tsp. of non-iodized sea salt and one cup of warm bottled water. After soaking, wash the lobes with an antimicrobial soap. Keep your hands off the jewelry when you are not cleaning it, and change your pillowcases frequently. If you follow this aftercare procedure twice a day, you can change your earrings in four to six weeks.

Jewelry for Initial Ear Piercings

The best jewelry for initial earlobe piercings is a surgical stainless-steel captive bead ring. Rings are comfortable to sleep in and move freely through the earlobe, making them easier to clean than piercing studs. The most common gauges for piercing ears are 18 or 20; 20 gauge is slightly smaller.

Dangling Earrings

When you first remove the rings and insert new jewelry, use a high-quality metal such as surgical steel, gold, platinum or titanium. This eliminates or reduces the risk of nickel irritating your new piercings. Choose the lightest-weight earrings you can find, and wear them for short periods of time at first. Be careful of intricate patterns that can get caught in your hair. Although your piercings are healed, they are still new. Hair caught in jewelry can pull or tear a new piercing.

Stretching a Piercing

Heavy dangling jewelry has the potential to stretch your piercings or even rip through the lobes. If you choose to wear heavy earrings, look for small silicone piercing protectors that you can insert into the holes before inserting the jewelry. These protectors provide strength around the piercing holes, keeping the jewelry from stretching or tearing them. They can also protect against metal allergies, a common problem resulting from wearing inexpensive costume jewelry. If you want to stretch your piercings on purpose in order to wear large-gauge plugs, look for a piercer certified by the Association of Professional Piercers to assist you in stretching with tapers.

Makeup Tutorial Steps to Look Like a Real Life Doll!

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To look as a real doll you don’t need to spend a lot of money or to go in some art studio, just follow these simple makeup tutorial to give yourself a cute and enjoyable look! Perfect skin Wash and moisturize your face twice a day with a product appropriate for your skin type. Wear … Read more

How to support your diet with the best vitamins and supplements…

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Most people should be able to get all the vitamins and minerals they require from a healthy, balanced diet. But statistics repeatedly show swathes of the British population are not achieving the recommendations which, alongside being more active, will help you to maintain a healthy weight and lower your risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. In fact, only 30 per cent of adults met the current recommendation of five portions of fruit or vegetables per day. Luckily, Boots stocks a range of vitamins and supplements to support a healthy lifestyle, and pharmacists are on hand to offer advice.

“People come to us who have a goal,” says Boots nutritionist Anna, “for example, to achieve healthier skin and nails. We can also give advice to people on medicines or with certain conditions that might need supplementation – but this will also be on the advice of your doctor.” Below, Anna suggests nine ways of boosting a healthy diet with vitamins and supplements.

Eat more oily fish

A recent survey by Public Health England revealed consumption of oily fish is well below the recommended portion per week, and that 23 per cent of adults aged 19 to 64, and 22 per cent of children between 11 and 18 had low vitamin D. This increased to 40 per cent for both in the winter months. In addition, 46 per cent of girls and 23 per cent of women didn’t eat enough iron.

Limit the sugar in your diet

It’s important that we should limit our intake of sugary foods, and bear in mind that some foods such as yogurt, wholegrain breakfast cereals, fruit and fruit juice are rich in other nutrients. Plenty of fruit and vegetables – at least five portions of a variety of fruit and veg a day.

Go for protein-rich items

Some protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs, beans and non-dairy sources of protein, such as nuts and pulses.

Stock up on foods which boost your immune system

Fortified breakfast cereals are a really good source of iron, zinc, B vitamins and vitamin D which are important for the health our immune systems. At this time of year, taking additional vitamin C, zinc and Echinacea may help to support your immune system. Also, during the month of December, when we might be more prone to burning the candle at both ends, B vitamins can help support general energy levels.

Get advice deciding on a supplement

Whether it would be beneficial to take a supplement, and which one to choose, can be a minefield, especially because there are so many different types on the market. Remember that your local Boots pharmacist is available in store to offer advice at any point, particularly if you wish to combine any products.

Pick lots of starchy foods

Items such as rice, bread, pasta and potatoes – choosing wholegrain varieties when possible.

Dare to try dairy

The government recommends everyone consumes a diet that contains some milk and dairy because it is needed for a balanced diet. Reduced-fat versions are available

How to Date Divorced Woman

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date divorced woman

A friend who recently divorced told me she hated having the “divorced” moniker hang over her head when she re-entered the dating pool, like a modern-day scarlet letter. That she, too, had failed to make it work, and men would recoil from her in disgust, running for the nearest 20-something as soon as possible. Date divorced woman is now common and getting more easier.

Divorce can be fantastic for males willing to see past the stigma. This puts you ahead of your never-married buddies. And here’s why:

  1. You’ve experienced loss, and rebounded from it. You have courage, resilience, strength. That’s an attractive trait to men looking for a worthy partner.
  2. Hey at least you dared to get married! You took a swing at love, rather than just playing it safe on the sidelines. You placed a bet in the lottery of life, and while it didn’t work out, you can dust yourself up and try again. Hell, even George Clooney couldn’t make his first marriage work.
  3. You know it’s better to be alone for the right reasons than with someone for the wrong. And are maybe more willing to wait for the right guy than jump into something just to have a body next to you. You don’t feel “incomplete” if you’re not in a relationship, and are maybe becoming a better person each day that you’re on your own.
  4. You now know (if you didn’t before) that love takes work. That it doesn’t just magically take care of itself, and float along in a some happy, pink cloud surrounded by unicorns and cotton candy. You know that both parties have to commit to supporting each other and making compromises on a daily basis. This, too, means you’ll have a more realistic and mature approach to your future relationships. Date divorced woman could be easier in this way.
  5. You had the balls (irony intended) to walk away from something that wasn’t working. You stood up and said, “No, I won’t stay in something that’s a lie.” And that means you have standards. Principles. And me, I like a woman who takes a stand. And isn’t afraid to face some public scorn in the process. Where others see “scandal,” I see strength.
  6. Maybe you’ve recognized that you’ve made a mistake–either in your own actions, or simply by marrying someone else who was making a lot of mistakes. And that’s incredibly valuable for your future partners in life, because you’re clearly humble enough to accept criticism and question yourself.
  7. You probably now have a deep knowledge of what sexually satisfies you (and what doesn’t). And that’s rare for women and men. And your future relationships will benefit significantly from that.
  8. Maybe you were the one who walked away, and now know what “Mr. Wrong” looks like, so you’ll better able to spot “Mr. Right.” Your bullshit detector is now iron-clad, and you realize you don’t always have to “stand by your man.” Because a lot of guys don’t deserve to be stood by. You’ll be less likely to fall for bullshit more able to identify a true heart.
  9. Or maybe you yourself realize you weren’t such a peach, yourself. That you have things to work on in your character, personality or attitude. But that willingness to accept fault is also incredibly attractive to the right guy. You’ve recognized you’re not perfect? Congrats, most of us never get there. We’ve got shit to work on, too. It’s nice to have some company.
  10. You know what it’s like to watch love slip away, and you’re more able to keep it from happening again, to have the tough conversations that need to happen. Hell, maybe you can help us prevent us from losing our way, too, if we drift.
  11. Because you look wonderful when you walk down the street alone, unafraid, cool and confident. When you sit at the bar with no one next to you, it doesn’t bother you a bit. You kind of even seem to be enjoying it. Which makes us want to be next to you all the more.
  12. So you’ve got a few scars. They make you more interesting. You’ve suffered pain and loss, so you value joy and happiness more than those who’ve never lost it. You’ve experienced a wider range of emotion in life, and have a deeper appreciation for the highs & lows.

    Please don’t fear the future. Expect the best. We find you more intriguing for your victories and defeats. Who find you more interesting and inspiring because of your flaws and stories.

    Maybe one of us will want to be by your side sooner than you think…or maybe you’ll be OK without us. Here date divorced woman comes easier.