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Coping With Toddler Won’t Share Syndrome “MINE!”

If you’re the parent of a toddler I’m sure at some point you have experienced the above named syndrome, and if you haven’t beware… It’s bound to crop up in the not too distant future.

The first thing you should know is that your toddler is experiencing a very normal part of development. Even the most reasonable of toddlers will not want to share their precious things at some point.

As embarrassing or difficult as this can be don’t get too discouraged by their behavior and certainly don’t blame yourself or your parenting skills. Take comfort in knowing that this is simply part of your toddler’s development and is helping her prepare for her next stage of life.

The good news is you can gently deter this situation even before it starts. Here are a few tips:

Distraction Technique – Distract your child with another toy or ask her to come and join you to play on the swings, etc. without making a big deal about sharing. This will often work as toddlers get bored quickly and she’ll probably appreciate the distraction.

Nip it in the Bud – Anytime two toddlers are playing together it’s best to keep a close eye on things. As soon as you see a potential situation about to erupt, dive in there and break it up. Tempt your child with a more interesting toy or show them a fun new game.

If your child is playing nicely and another child is trying to take her things then distract that child. Find something similar or a close replacement to what your child has and offer it to them. Tell them how great it is, of course, don’t overdo it or then you’ll have two toddlers fighting over this new and wonderful toy you’re talking about.

Walk Away – If things get really bad and your child refuses to give back a toy to their crying owner then it’s time to take action. Gently pick up your child and walk away. They may kick and scream but remember YOU are in charge. Take him to a quite corner or space and wait for him to calm down. Then give him a hug and explain that you know he really wanted that toy but that it belongs to someone else.

Chances are your child isn’t going to understand or accept the meaning of this but you’ve now diffused the situation and can continue to play happily.

The Aftermath – After the fact it’s great to talk things over with your child and explain why it’s important to share, but be realistic. Most toddlers won’t understand the concept of sharing or why they should do it and all the talking in the world isn’t going to change things.

As your child starts to mature that’s the time when it’s more appropriate to try and reason with them since they will start to have an understanding of actions and consequences. During the toddler years that understanding isn’t there.

The best way is often to avoid and / or distract your toddler. This will help diffuse
a lot of incidents before they even start.

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Boost Your Confidence With These Easy Tips

Juggling all the aspects of your life can sometime seem like things have gotten out of control, and it’s all crashing down on you at once. You begin to wonder if you’re doing this, that, or anything at all, right. When your self-confidence wavers, try some of these quick tips to shore it up again, and give yourself a break.

  1. Stop setting the bar so high – You’re not Super Mom. Nobody is. Sit down and list all of your current commitments. Must you do them all? Prioritize them to better manage your time and feel less stressed, and drop the ones you don’t have the time for.
  2. Set time aside for yourself – Remember that along with your financial, spousal, and maternal duties, you have one more: to yourself! Budget your time so there is some left over for you. Get a babysitter if necessary, so that you have a regular evening off/out. Do whatever you feel like doing. Take a class in something that interests you, or just relax with a book in the tub. You’ll come back to your other obligations refreshed, and better able to deal with them.
  3. Dress for success. Whether that’s at the office, or a meeting with your children’s teachers, wear the things that make you feel good. Choose colors that please you, in styles that are appropriate to wherever you may wear them. Get a new haircut, facial, or make-up consultation. Let the real you shine!
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Becoming A Grandparent

Every parent waits for the day their child gives them the exciting news that a grandchild is on the way. This is a chance to relive their parenting days without the need to parent. They are now free to simply enjoy all the wonderful moments they many have missed or forgotten while raising their family.

Empty nesters go through a dilemma when their children suddenly are gone. Even if the transition has taken many years to complete, suddenly they are alone. It’s time to redefine their life and who they are now. Maybe take up new hobbies they never had time for; reconnect with old friends or even make that big decision to move to a smaller house.

Whatever they are doing and however they are resolving the internal issues, it always comes back to family. Your mind is free to wonder and suddenly you are back in your child’s soccer years; or those hours spent at the ballet studio; or the hours you spent chauffeuring them to all the different activities, or the times you couldn’t make specific events because you had to work..

Then the questions start popping up; did you do enough; were you too busy; did they know how much you loved them back then? And then suddenly, after all the self doubting, living through memories you did not want to relive, you find you are going to become grandparent! Ah…this is why you have had all the memories. It’s time to pass them on to the next generation.

Now is the perfect time to tell your stories to your new grandchild. Search on the Internet, cruise your local book store and invest in a journal that best suits your needs. You’ll find hardbound, quilted, paperback and even software applications you can use on your computer. Some are made especially for recording grandparent memories.

Now all you have to worry about is how much you can fit into the journal before you decide it’s too much. Why not make the decision to create a keepsake journal for each grandchild that arrives so they each have their own grandparent journal? This way, they’ll all know how special they are and how giving you are to have shared your thoughts, feelings and your life stories with them.

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Baby Parenting – Learning To Listen To Your Instincts

New mothers often feel inadequate as a parent. They question their instincts because it’s strange and new to have these feelings. An important thing to remember is that your instincts are real. Every woman has intuition. As a mother, your intuitive instincts will grow even more. Here are a few points to help you as you learn to listen to your instincts.

Trust Yourself
What is your inner voice telling you? Be still and quiet and you will hear it. Let’s suppose your baby is crying and running fever but has no other symptoms. Your instincts tell you that she has an ear infection, even though you haven’t noticed her pulling at her ears. Do you trust yourself enough to take your baby to the doctor, or wait?

Don’t Second-Guess Yourself
You know your strengths and weaknesses. Are you naturally jumpy, or nervous? Do you overreact to minor situations? Do you rely on other people’s instincts or advice instead of following after what your own intuition tells you? Never second-guess yourself. If you think your baby needs medical attention, even though a “veteran” parent says that you’re overreacting, what would you do?

Know that You are Capable
One of the greatest fears of a new mother is that you will fail your child. Be assured that you know what is best for your child. You are able to provide for his needs. You are the best person for the job!

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Avoiding Toddler Tantrums

The terrible twos… Even the most dignified parent has been left red-faced and wanting to be swallowed into the ground while their toddler is having a public meltdown.

Here are a few easy ideas for avoiding toddler tantrums:

Don’t Let Them Get Over Tired – Don’t let your toddler become too tired. Set a regular nap routine and try to stick to it, and make sure he goes to bed at a reasonable time and gets enough sleep during the night. Tiredness is often the first reason for a tantrum.

Keep Sugar Levels Stable – Don’t let your toddler’s blood sugar levels dip too low. This will make him irritable and tired, the tantrum will soon follow. Make sure he has plenty of small nutritious snacks throughout the day to provide him with a steady source of energy to avoid blood sugar dips.

Give Them Time – Allow enough time for activities like getting dressed, brushing their hair and getting in and out of the car. Your toddler will want to do a lot of these things on his own and rushing him is a sure way to start a tantrum. Give him a little extra time and let him try to be independent by allowing him to do certain things for himself.

Put it Away – Is there a certain item that always causes your toddler to have a tantrum? A food that’s only for after dinner or an item he shouldn’t have. Then put it where he can’t see it. Out of sight, out of mind, is a great way of avoiding tantrums.

Ignore It – This is easier said than done and of course it depends where your child is having his tantrum. If you’re in the middle of the supermarket you can’t just walk away or ignore your child especially if they’re grabbing or breaking things. In this instance it may be best to gently pick up your child and take him outside or to an area away from people and noise. Give him a few minutes to calm down and a big hug.

If your child is having a tantrum in a safe place like at home, then it’s best to walk away until he calms down. Make sure he can’t hurt himself or anything or anyone else and just walk away. Once he’s finished give him a hug and talk about what he’s feeling.

Give Him a Hug – Many times your child just needs to be held and needs you to help him control his emotions. If he’s in the middle of a tantrum try gently hugging him and just hold him. A lot of the times this will completely diffuse the tantrum. Be sensitive to his reactions and if you see your hug is only making him more upset then give him a little space instead or try a different approach.

in Travel & Family

Getting The Kids Ready! Avoiding The Morning Rush

It’s stressful isn’t it? Having to get all those things ready, trying not to forget anything, not to mention bickering kids, tantrums about what to wear or the sleepy head who doesn’t want to wake up. No, the morning rush isn’t any fun but luckily there are a few things you can do to bring peace back into your family’s morning routine.

Prepare Ahead – Sounds simple enough but did you know you could actually leave just about everything ready for the next day? It might take a few extra minutes out of your evening but you’ll be much faster if you prepare everything once the kids are asleep rather than rushing in the morning.

Lay out the kids clothes for the next day – Include things like hair clips, socks and shoes. And don’t forget to lay out your clothes too.

Leave breakfast ready (or nearly ready) – Depending on what you have for breakfast you can often pre-prepare a lot of it. If you have pancakes make the batter the night before and stick it in the fridge. If you have cereal and toast, leave the cereal out, bowls, spoons and bread. You can even set the table to save time.

Pre-Pack Lunch Boxes – If your kids take a packed lunch to school prepare it the night before. Most things like sandwiches will be fine left in the fridge overnight.

Pack Their School Bags – Look through their bags and make sure there aren’t any last minute dates or events you’ve overlooked. Pack all their books and things in their bags and leave everything by the front door.

Get The Kids Involved – The responsibility of getting the kids to school shouldn’t completely lie on your shoulders. As soon as children are old enough to help out then they should. Even the youngest of kids can help.

Make a Chart – If your kids (like most kids) are forgetful, make a chart for each one which explains in order all the things they need to do in the morning. You can draw pictures for the really young ones and write a description for the older ones. For example, you can have a picture of a toothbrush, then the school clothes, hair brush, etc.

Talk to your kids about the list beforehand and explain it to them. Then stick it up in a prominent place in their rooms and the next time they ask you “mom, what do I do know?” tell them to go look at their list. This is a great way of getting kids a little more involved and to start teaching them responsibility.

By preparing ahead you can’t avoid all of your family’s morning stresses but it will certainly help a lot, and who knows you may even have time for that extra cup of coffee.

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Traveling Essentials With Kids

It’s fair to say that air travel with children isn’t always easy. Even the shortest of flights can sometimes pose problems. However, there are a few things you can do to make your family’s air travel experience a little easier and definitely more enjoyable.

The best way to avoid unexpected problems is to make sure you pack all the necessary carry on essentials. This will, of course, vary according to how many kids you’re traveling with and their ages.

A good thing to do is make a list of everything you may need. Think of unforeseen situations like a child getting sick or a baby teething. If you’re flight is short then you don’t have to worry as much but for long international flights it definitely helps to be prepared.

You not only need to make sure you have all the essentials for during the flight, but also be prepared for any unavoidable delays at departures or arrivals.

Here’s a list of some things to consider when packing your carry on bag:

Food for babies and toddlers – Take your diaper bag as you would normally do but make sure it’s stockpiled with foods such as various crackers, cheerios, or dried fruit and other healthy snacks. Also, you’ll want to make sure your toddler doesn’t have too much sugar on flight, especially a long flight. For baby, take along any baby food or formula you normally use. It’s always good to take a little extra but you don’t have to overdo it. For example, if you’re flight is 6 hours then you may want to take enough supplies for 8 or 10 hours (just in case).

If you have kids that need special attention or medications you may want pack these essentials separately, or into one bigger bag so you’re not digging around for it during the flight. You may also want to pack some medicine in case your child develops a fever or headache.

Food for preschoolers & Older Kids- Keep in mind that not all kids enjoy airline meals so take plenty of snacks in case they choose not to eat the in- flight meals. Pack a variety of fun and nutritious snacks such as granola bars, pretzels, cut up fruit, etc. You can also purchase some of these things on flight.

Drinks – You’ll be able to get drinks on most flights but for times like delayed take offs or landings, make sure you have some bottled water or juice on hand.

Change of diapers and clothes – Pack a bag full of diapers adequate for the length of the flight. Don’t forget to include wipes, changing mats, and diaper rash cream. It’s a good idea to pack extra wipes to wipe sticky hands and faces too.

And make sure you pack an extra set of clothes, not only for the kids but for yourself too. It is no fun sitting on a long flight in the same clothes your child has thrown up on. These things do happen and kids sometimes get motion sick on flights. So when packing a spare set of clothes add one for mom and dad too. Also, pack a few empty plastic bags to put soiled clothes in.

Games and Toys – Pack a few bright toys like teethers, stuffed animals, along with a favorite book to keep them happy. Make sure all toys are lightweight and safe. If your child is bringing along a handheld electronic game ask the flight attendants what period of time this can be used on flight. Electronic devices can interfere with aircraft navigational or take off safety system. Explain this to your child beforehand.

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World’s Famous Tourist Spots From A to Z

Here is an interesting exercise. How many tourist spots can you name using the alphabet? While it’s a tough question, let’s review our choices and see if you can come up with similar locations.

Amazon Rainforest in Brazil
Biscayne Bay in Florida
China’s Great Wall
Disney World in Orlando, Florida
Eiffel Tower in Paris, France
Frank House in Amsterdam
Grand Canal in Venice, Italy
Hapsburg Castle in Switzerland
Iditarod in Alaska
Jurong Bird Park in Singapore
Kilimanjaro in Africa
Louvre in Paris, France
Mt. Fuji in Japan
Niagara Falls in New York
Oregon Trail
Pyramids at Giza, Egypt
Quintana Roo in Cancun, Mexico
Roman Coliseum in Italy
Sydney Opera House in Australia
Taj Mahal in India
University of Notre Dame in Indiana
Versailles Palace in France
Westminster Abbey in London
Xcalibur Hotel in Las Vegas
Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming
Zion National Park in Utah

Well, how did you do? Although there are hundreds of thousands of famous and slightly famous tourist spots you can think of, these are probably the best of the best. Now the question is: What to do with the list? Well, if you are an adventurer and love to travel, you might want to write each tourist spot listed here on a slip of paper, fold it, and when your vacation time rolls around, choose one tourist spot from a hat and make travel arrangements.

From A to Z, every tourist spot listed is well-renowned for being special in some specific way. This list offers ideal places that are adventurous, exciting, historical, beautiful, exceptional, musical, intriguing, cultural, whimsical; well, you get the idea.

While trying to come up with well-known tourist spots was a challenge, one can say it was met with thought and diligence. Now, please don’t discard the list but save it for vacation time. Who knows, you may be quite surprised with your first pick!

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Discover The Best “Kids Stay Free” Deals For Your Next Vacation

One of the most affordable vacations for families encompasses packages wherein kids stay free. The good news is that there is a mountain of online sites which offer such package deals for families. Let’s take a look at a few vacation spots that are all inclusive.

  • Holiday Inn in Aruba
  • Kaanapali Shores in Maui, Hawaii
  • Barcelo Beach Resort in Ixtapa, Mexico
  • Melia Cabo Real Beach & Golf Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico
  • Sunset Beach Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica
  • Paradise Island Resort in Nassau, Bahamas
  • Crown Paradise in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
  • Riu Bambu in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

In addition, you can also find kids fly and stay free in most of the Orlando packages as well. If you are thinking about traveling to Europe, the Novotel chain is offering free stay for kids ages 16 and under. With a few hours time, you can find virtually any travel destination that accommodates kids for free and offers inclusive air and hotel packages as well.

Moreover, you can also check with the airlines, such as Delta, who is also offering kids stay free packages to destinations including: Hawaii, Las Vegas, Orlando, Florida, Cancun, Cozumel, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica.

Other online sites offer kids stay and eat free to places in Mexico, including: Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel, Hualtulco, Ixtapa, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta.

If you prefer a cruise, many of the top cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Line offer kids stay free packages to many Caribbean destinations.

For more information on kids stay free deals, check your local papers every week and on Sunday. They offer travel packages designed for families and/or highlight resorts, cruises, and other packages along with the price, including air fare.

Since the rise of online travel sites, more and more families have the opportunity to find the best deals on packages around the world. Furthermore, whether the packages include airfare or not, you can certainly find just as many sites which offer great savings on flights as well.

Take the time to research the many sites available online and you will be sure to find destinations that offer kids stay free deals. Moreover, you may also find destinations that are a bit off the beaten path. Whether you are traveling during the summer months or off season, there is a package out there for your family.

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Family Camping, Getting Started!

One of the more affordable vacations your family can engage in is camping. Whether it’s choosing a location at a state park or camping grounds in national forests, you can be assured it will be a family vacation filled with memorable moments. While there are several methods one may choose when preparing for a camping trip, most people prefer the free style, that is, pitch a tent and let the good times roll.

Even though you have to purchase tents, sleeping bags, and other gear for your trip; the cost is minimal as compared to utilizing an RV or staying at a camp site that offers plenty of amenities, which tend to minimize the true camping experience.

Camping free style affords you the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company, have conversations around the campfire, live off the land, and become one with nature. Camping combines adventure, excitement, fun, and a rare opportunity to discover just how rich an experience this type of family vacation can be.

As mentioned earlier, you’ll need to purchase the basic camp equipment such as a tent,
preferably one that will house the entire family, food, a cooler, ice, sleeping bags, camping stove, as well as the following items: pillows, cleaning supplies, folding table, cookware, utensils, cups, and toilet paper (especially if there are no restrooms around), first aid kit, and board games, fishing gear, flashlights, and extra batteries.

Expert campers recommend purchasing a tarp to place under the tent, especially in inclement weather, to prevent water from seeping into the tent. It will also serve as a tent floor as well. Also recommended is a battery lamp. These items can be purchased at any of your local department stores.

In addition, now that you have the basic supplies, you can always supplement your gear with additional items you need the next time you go camping. You can easily check online to find a campsite in your state, as well as the low cost for staying in a national park or forest reserve.

Spending quality time with family has become the exception these days. Camping gives a family the opportunity to come together, without any distractions, and bond in a unique setting. Whether dad takes the kids fishing, while mom has some leisure time; or mom takes the kids hiking while dad enjoys some quiet time – or whether the entire family engages in both activities – camping reunites the family unit in a way no other type of vacation can.

If you are looking for an affordable vacation, camping is the way to go. Think of all the laughs and memories you’ll be able to share with each other in years to come!

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