our cherished children....

The best inheritance parents can give their children is a few minutes of their time every day.

Children are natural mimics, who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners.

I love to give homemade gifts...which one of my kids do you want?

Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids.

Anyone who says 'easy as taking candy from a baby' has never tried it.

I asked Mom if I was a gifted child...she said I had to be 'cause they certainly wouldn't have paid for me.

Becoming aware of my character defects leads me naturally to the next step of blaming my parents.

We childproofed our home 3 years ago but they're still getting in!


Be nice to your kids. They'll choose your nursing home.

If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it
says on the aspirin bottle: "Take two Aspirin" and "Keep away from children."

Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.

The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.

My Life

Alright so ya'll know about my "hypertensive crisis" and my trip to the ER.........well, I went to the doctor this week and after a
full exam, she believes that I have obstructive sleep apnea.......it can cause all of the symptoms that I've described. The doctor
added a 3rd hypertensive medication, it's basically hydrochlorothazide with a potassium sparing drug in it. I used to be on
hydrochlorothazide years ago, but they took me off when I became hypokalemic (low potassium), apparently, that isn't a good
thing. So, I suggested that she run a UA C&S because my urine didn't seem normal (sorry for the TMI) - she told me she'd
order a complete blood work up on me and would also do a UA - though she didn't seem to understand that I really believed
there was an issue with my urine. Well, the next day, I went for the lab work........thankfully, this doctor likes all copies of
tests to be sent to the patient as well. I got my results and saw immediately, that I'm pretty "normal" as far as the bloodwork
goes........everything is WNL. My cholesterol level is 177, but my LDL is slightly higher than it should be.......101 (it should be
below 99).......and I could see right away that there WAS something wrong with my urine. When I realized it was Friday and
the doctor hadn't called me to put me on an antibiotic, I was slightly alarmed, so I called them told them to please call in a
prescription to my pharmacy b/c I had a UTI and voiced my concern that the doctor didn't seem concerned. Well, the office
never got the results!! I've had problems with DSI/Lab Corps at work, but they do hundreds of samples a week for us, perhaps
more, I can see a mistake then. I faxed my results to the dr and they prescribed Bactrum DS. WooHoo!!! That's the good
news...........

Joey and Brittany are still fighting.........they don't want to be in the same place at the same time. Brittany stayed away for
several days, I finally got her home and then Joey left and hasn't been home since. These 2 are vicious, he ripped her posters
off the wall, she beat the crap out of him, he threw her into the sofa, BROKE it. I called Anthony and asked him to help me
deal with these 2, he tells her to come stay with him. How the HECK does that help???!!! Joey is going back to NY........I
don't know when, but my mother agrees, it is probably the best place for him. She saw it when she was here. He's miserable,
can't stand me for whatever I did to him, perhaps smacked his hands while stealing cookies out of a cookie jar, who
knows.......I hate to say it, but I just don't like him anymore. Of course, I love him.........he's my son. But he isn't a likeable
kid to live with. He has fractured this house in more ways than one.

John, well, he's just an unsympathetic putz - I liked him because of his sincerity and sensitivity......where did it go???? The
other night, I had a meltdown, a real true meltdown - locked myself in the closet and balled my eyes out! John could care less,
told me simply to get off the floor and come to bed and when I refused, said "fine, then sit there" and walked away. I felt so
awful It started b/c I was trying to avoid taking sides in the whole Brittany/Joey fiasco.........John felt it neccessary to choose
sides and began to voice why he did. When I explained I didn't want to go down that route, he grew angry at me for not
wanting to face reality. Truth is, BOTH Joey and Brittany are wrong and I refuse to let either one of them think that I approve
of their behavior.

Aargh! I'm back to trying to make nice with John and avoid a head on collision between my middle children.................I'm
feeling like a crappy wife, terrible mother, and as my husband calls me "crazy"............anyone want a PNO????

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good nor talk too wise;

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!

~Author Unknown~

Happy Mother's Day

Which TV Mom Are You? Marge Simpson (The Simpsons) You may be a bit of a nag, but who can blame you? You're the only one holding your household together. Take the quiz: Which TV Mom Are You? More Quizzes from FamilyEducation.com

Family and Friends

Teen Suicide

I received this in the Family Education Newsletter today and I forgot just how important a topic this is..........when my son was 14 years old, his best friend hung himself. This was a terrible tragedy that affected more than just my son, but our entire family. A few years later, a friend of my stepdaughter also hung herself.....with both of these teenagers, we never would have imagined that they could have done anything like this to themselves. Now in retrospect, we realize that there were signs.......if this article protects just one teenager, I'll feel better.



Original URL: http://life.familyeducation.com/depression/mental-health/56446.html

Teen Suicide: Information for Parents

Suicide Prevention
From the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide

One of the more difficult challenges of parenting is realizing that you don't always know what your children are thinking and feeling. You may be aware that suicide is the third leading cause of death in adolescence but you can't imagine your child might become one of those statistics. When do the normal ups and downs of adolescence become something to worry about? How can you know if suicide is a risk for your family? And if you are worried about it, what can you do?

If you find yourself asking some of these questions, you're not alone. Although youth suicide is a relatively rare phenomenon, thoughts of suicide are not. One national study, for example, found that almost 20% of high school students admitted to thinking about suicide. Many parents may feel at a loss. Feelings can be difficult subjects to discuss under the best of circumstances, so how in the world do you ask about feelings related to suicide?

The first step is to learn about the factors that can put a teen at risk for suicide. There are lots of sites that list risk factors; spend some time reading them--the more you know, the better you'll be prepared for understanding what can put your child at risk. Here are a few of our own tips, important things to remember.

If your parental radar is going off, there's a good chance that something IS going on with your child. What it is, however, may not be clear. The easiest way to try to get a handle on what's going on is to try the following:

* ASK your child about their concerns.
"You don't seem yourself lately. What's going on?"
"I'm concerned about you. How are you doing?"

* LISTEN to the answer. Teens always complain that adults don't listen to them, so show your child that you're different.

* PARAPHRASE what you hear them say back to them.
"So you're feeling pretty overwhelmed with school and your job and feel like the only way out is to quit the track team."
Remember, teens have very limited life experience, so the concerns and worries they have may seem minor to us. This isn't the time for a conversation on perspective--it's your opportunity to see the world through their eyes!

* OFFER TO HELP and follow through.
"Is there anything I can do to make things a little easier for you?"
Check back at a later time to see how things are going.

* BE SPECIFIC with the reasons for your concerns, especially if you get an answer that seems evasive to you.
"I've noticed you aren't spending much time with your friends anymore and even though you sit at your desk for hours, your homework never seems to be done."
Your child may minimize behavior changes ("Everyone in the class is failing--it's not just me"), so it's important to look for more than one change in previous functioning.

* ASK TEACHERS AND FRIENDS about your child. Listen to what your child's friends have to say--they are often the first to be clued in to kids who need help. Check with teachers, too. Accumulate as much data as you can from as many sources as you can. The more information you have, the better able you'll be to decide what you need to do next.

* ASK ABOUT SUICIDE DIRECTLY if you get an answer that suggests suicide is on your child's mind.
"Sometimes I think life isn't worth living."
"I'm tired of trying. I just want to give up."
You cannot plant the idea in your child's mind! "No, I hadn't thought of that, but now that you mention it..." is not the reaction you're going to get! What you will do is open up a line of communication about thoughts or feelings that are usually uncomfortable and frightening. This is the first step in addressing the problem.

* DON'T MINIMIZE the answer you get or try to talk your child out of the feelings.
"I know this is a hard time for you, but everyone has hard times."
"Why don't you go for a run--exercise always makes you feel better."
This is the time for calm reassurance.
"Those thoughts sound really upsetting--I'm going to do everything I can right now to find someone who's trained in this to help you deal with them."

* ACT IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SUICIDE OR YOUR CHILD TALKS ABOUT SUICIDE! Get your child to a mental health professional for evaluation as soon as possible. There are a variety of ways to do this:
o Call your local hospital emergency room and ask if they provide psychiatric screening for suicide risk for youth. MAKE SURE to use the words: "suicide risk". It's essential that they understand that you need this evaluation immediately and can't wait for a referral at a later date.

o If your local hospital can't help, call the National Suicide Crisis Line. Explain your situation to the person who answers the phone and ask their help in finding a local referral source. There may also be hotlines that are listed in your phonebook. Whomever you choose to call, however, must understand the urgency of your situation. Although an evaluation might determine that your child is not at immediate risk for suicide, this is a decision that is best left to a trained mental health professional.

o Use the time in the evaluation to ask questions about what's going on with your child and what you can do to be helpful. Don't worry about "confidentiality". Whenever a person is at danger to self or others, the protections of confidentiality don't apply. Here are some of the questions you might want to ask:
+ Have you determined that my child is at risk for suicide?
+ What factors did you consider in making that determination?
+ What appears to be the reason for my child's suicide risk at this point in time?
+ Based on your clinical judgment, what level of risk do you believe to be present--low, moderate, or high?
+ What are the elements of a crisis plan to contain that risk?
+ How can I, as his/her parent, assist in the provision of safety?
+ What type of follow-up are you recommending?

* FOLLOW-UP must include involvement with a mental health professional who has experience working with suicidal youth. Even after the thoughts of suicide have subsided, your child will need help to understand what caused those thoughts in the first place and how to come up with less destructive solutions to life problems in the future.

* REMEMBER that whenever someone--regardless of their age--has struggled with thoughts of suicide, one of the essential components in continuing to provide a safe environment is involving members of that person's support system. It's critical for you to stay involved and informed about what's happening with your child, even after the suicide crisis has passed.


© 2000-2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What you do is what you'll get

http://charactercounts.org/michael/2008/02/what_you_do_is_what_youll_get.html

If you want to help your children do well in life, there are a few things you can do. A high proportion of high achievers have two things in common:

First, there are lots of books in their homes and a great emphasis on reading.

Second, there is a family tradition of regularly eating dinner together.

Filling a house with books surrounds children with endless and varied opportunities and challenges to explore and learn. Books provide knowledge and the seeds of wisdom, and great stories teach about morality and character.

Eating dinner together assures that parents have an opportunity to participate in their kids’ day-to-day lives and help shape the way they think and react. Coordinating schedules so the family eats together often requires a conscious effort to elevate family time above other things. The effort itself can instill in children a sense of belonging.

But we can do more to offset the bad influences our kids are exposed to than promote reading and family discussions. Remember, everything we do to or in front of our children matters. What we allow, we encourage. And what we do ourselves teaches our children how to live and conveys powerful messages about values.

So be sensitive as to what you say and how you say it, what you read, and what you watch on TV. Be especially careful in the way you handle relationships and deal with emotions like disappointment, anger, and frustration.

That’s because what you do is what you’ll get.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

One Flaw in Women

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN


By the time the Lord made woman,
He was into his sixth day of working overtime.
An angel appeared and said,
"Why are you spending so much time on this one?"
And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her?
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic,
Have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable
And able to run on diet coke and leftovers,
Have a lap that can hold four children at one time,
Have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart
-and she will do everything
With only two hands."

The angel was astounded at the requirements.
"Only two hands!? No way!
And that's just on the standard model?
That's too much work for one day.
Wait until tomorrow to finish."

But I won't," the Lord protested.
"I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.
She already heals herself when she is sick
AND can work 18 hour days."

The angel moved closer and touched the woman.
"But you have made her so soft, Lord."

"She is soft," the Lord agreed,
"but I have also made her tough.
You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."

"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.

The Lord replied,
"Not only will she be able to think,
She will be able to reason and negotiate."

The angel then noticed something,
And reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.
"Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model.
I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak,"
The Lord corrected,
"that's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.

The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy,
Her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,
Her loneliness, her grief and her pride."
The angel was impressed.
"You are a genius, Lord.
You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing."

And she is!
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
But they hold happiness,
Love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
And laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
When they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
And cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
A birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
Yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
Can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
To show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
PLEASE pass this along to all your women friends and relatives
To remind them just how amazing they are.
And to the men who forget as well.

Natural Treatments for Toddler and Baby Colds After FDA Warning

As if mothers and fathers of today don’t have enough on their plates.

Now the FDA in a Public Health Advisory has issued its strongest warning yet over the danger of using over-the-counter (OTC) cold medications for toddlers, two and below. They are not only ineffective but might lead to an overdose or fatality.

Medications with the warning include decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines and antitussives (cough suppressants) that you can buy at any pharmacies and supermarkets, including Wyeth's Robitussin, Novartis, AG's Triaminic and Johnson & Johnson's Tylenol Plus Cold.

The FDA is considering whether to extend the warnings to include children under the age of 12 since the action of many powerful OTC medications cannot be predicted in children.

So what’s a mother (and father) to do?

Back to some tried and true remedies that parents and doctors swear by.

Researchers find a saline nasal wash made from Atlantic Sea water helps minimize cold symptoms and may minimize the reoccurance of infections.

Dr. Mercola, the number one online natural/complimentary medicine doctor tells IB News, “One of the best tools I know of for treating colds and flus is simply putting a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ears. This can be used for children and adults. It’s safe, very effective and inexpensive -- simply use the common 3% hydrogen peroxide you can find in any drug store.

Remember also that colds are triggered by viruses, and using antibiotics to treat a viral infection is useless -- it will not work. So you should definitely avoid giving your child antibiotics for a common cold.

Also, although a virus may be a contributing factor in catching a cold, it's a weakened immune system hurt by stress, a poor diet and not enough sleep that is the underlying reason your child actually has the infection.

So make sure your child is eating well -- and not consuming a lot of sugary foods and drinks like soda -- getting plenty of sleep each night and not under a lot of stress. This will help him or her to stay healthy and avoid catching a cold in the future."

Don’t ignore the child’s cold because there are some things that can make her more comfortable.

* Breastfeeding boosts immunity in your baby and extra protection against colds
* Smooth salve around a raw nose that’s running and chapped
* Never give aspirin because of its link to Reye’s syndrome
* Encourage hand washing with soap to reduce the spread of germs
* Use a rubber suction bulb to remove excess mucus from infants
* Saline drops help a baby breath easier
* Warm liquids help hydration and sooth a sore throat, yes chicken soup too
* Warm water and salt gargles reduce soreness in the throat
* Check for excess stress at school, home that can contribute to a run down child

Kellymom recommends remedies including steaming with herbs in the water.

Others swear by Zinc formulations such as Zicam, which is carried in all pharmacies, non prescription and homeopathic, and Vitamin C which Dr. Linus Pauling wrote about in “Vitamin C and the Common Cold” in the late 1970’s and he discusses in this last interview.

Mothering Magazine has many suggestions for homeopathic remedies that are often used in Europe.

When should you see a doctor?

Dr. Flavia Marino is an instructor in pediatrics at New York University Medical Center and a pediatrician in New York City. He says as long as your child has no fever, is eating and sleeping well, there is no reason to see the doctor.

However when a fever shoots up to 100 or 101 that may indicate a bacterial infection rather than a cold from a virus. And if after 10 days the cold symptoms are not getting better, your child may have a sinus infection.

Dr. Michael Macknin at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio says ''For a child under age 6 who's had a runny nose with or without a cough for ten days and isn't getting better, chances are close to 90 percent there's a sinus infection,'' Dr. Macknin says. For 6-to 12-year-olds, chances are 70 percent. Unlike a cold virus, a sinus infection should be treated with doctor-prescribed antibiotics, he adds.

Finally, Peggy O’Mara, editor and publisher of Mothering Magazine, talks about trusting your own instincts as a parent. So often we rely on experts, studies, authorities, when we really know more than we give ourselves credit for when it comes to our children. Trust your instinctual nature she tells mothers (and fathers too!).

It's amazing the healing power of parents.


According to the Consumer Health Products Association (CHPA), the cough and cold medicines that were withdrawn are:

* Dimetapp(R) Decongestant Plus Cough Infant Drops,
* Dimetapp(R) Decongestant Infant Drops,
* Little Colds(R) Decongestant Plus Cough,
* Little Colds(R) Multi-Symptom Cold Formula,
* PEDIACARE(R) Infant Drops Decongestant (containing pseudoephedrine),
* PEDIACARE(R) Infant Drops Decongestant & Cough (containing pseudoephedrine),
* PEDIACARE(R) Infant Dropper Decongestant (containing phenylephrine),
* PEDIACARE(R) Infant Dropper Long-Acting Cough,
* PEDIACARE(R) Infant Dropper Decongestant & Cough (containing phenylephrine),
* Robitussin(R) Infant Cough DM Drops,
* Triaminic(R) Infant & Toddler Thin Strips(R) Decongestant,
* Triaminic(R) Infant & Toddler Thin Strips(R) Decongestant Plus Cough,
* TYLENOL(R) Concentrated Infants' Drops Plus Cold,
* TYLENOL(R) Concentrated Infants' Drops Plus Cold & Cough.