Family Life Resources

Alpine Village Family January 27th, 2008

Baby potties are a necessity, and something we probably don’t think about until it’s time to get one. Finding the right potty can make all the difference in the world when it is time to start training a toddler out of diapers. If you have the wrong potty, it could actually make matters much more difficult than they need to be and cause you and your child a lot of needless frustration.

Baby potties make excellent baby Christmas gifts. Many experts agree that one can never have too many baby potties, as one goal of training baby to use the toilet is to give the baby success experiences. In the early days of training, a potty will need to be available as soon as the child expresses the need to go, so having more baby potties will increase the chances of making it to the potty. Therefore, if you are searching for baby Christmas gifts, baby potties are always an appropriate choice. If you do not wish to buy a baby potty, potty training accessories such as books or dolls are also great baby Christmas gifts.

There is a dizzying array of baby potties currently available on the market. Experts say that you should seek a model with firm back and thigh support. Arm rests or handles can also make the child feel more secure. If you select a standalone unit, make sure that there is an adequate splashguard and a removable bowl for easy cleaning. Some baby potties teach children to flush as well, using music as an incentive for pushing the handle.

Baby potties haven’t always been the user friendly models we see today. In earlier times, a potty chair may have been made from wood with leather padding and a ceramic or plastic bowl inserted under the center of the seat. Modern methods of construction include molded plastic shaped to fit the curves of your child’s body or soft, cushioned rings.

Another design idea that is quite popular in baby potties is the trainer seat. This seat snaps onto a traditional toilet, over the regular seat. The trainer seat is small and comfortable for a child. Better models include handles and even leg/foot rests. Most trainer seats snap into the toilet lid to get them out of the way for adult toilet use.

Toilet training baby boys can be a challenge. They might see their father or brothers standing at the toilet and wonder why they can’t do that too. There is a product on the market that could help, and it is called the mini-urinal. The mini-urinal attaches to the front of the toilet and hangs low enough for a young boy to use, however, you will have to offer some explanations to your guests if you have only one bathroom. In the end, all that matters is your child’s comfort so he or she can learn more easily. Baby potties need to be one that the child will actually use.

• Family Helps , Family Life Resource , Parenting Helps
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Alpine Village Family September 18th, 2007

Two days ago a friend asked me what I do when I’m feeling blue.  I had to think about it a bit because I wasn’t sure what to say.  The thing is, what works for me may not work for someone else.

I decided to be honest and tell her what works for me but that we are all different ;)  So, I shared that I

• watch a funny movie to get me laughing
• go ahead and have a Whopper with cheese and fries on the side
• go to the library, pick a good book and read ’till my sad feelings have passed
• talk to a friend who tends to have funny stories - not so I can share my feelings but so that I can hear his/her funny ones.
• remind myself that life is short and I deserve to be happy so if something is wrong, I need to fix it not dwell on it

So, that’s my list.  There are probably lots of other things too but those are a start.  What things do you like to do to cheer yourself up?

• Family Helps , Marriage Helps , Misc
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Alpine Village Family September 2nd, 2007

I can’t get over how quickly the summer passed. I have to admit I was excited for Fall this year because both of my kids are now in school full time That means more time for me to work on my online endeavors - I’m so happy about that!

For those of you with little kids who are either just starting out or are old enough to start learning the basics, I have a great online coloring book to share with you:

ABC Animals Coloring Book

It’s big letters with little pictures inside - will keep the littlest ones busy and the older kids can enjoy it too …and Mommy can get 10 minutes to go to the bathroom alone - maybe

• Family Helps , Parenting Helps
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Alpine Village Family August 17th, 2007

A friend emailed me a couple of days ago to share a GREAT chore chart she had found online. I was SO excited to check it out; my kids need a chore chart badly. I really think it’ll help them to remember what they are expected to do each morning for school - without my reminding them every 30 seconds.
ANYWAY, :D, When the page loaded I realized, GASP, it was a chart for…. me! Specifically, those of us in charge of our homes - cleaning, organizing etc.. I was disappointed at first, just for a second, and then I realized that a lot of moms out there would LOVE a chart to remind them of what to do each day of the week to keep their homes in order
The best part is, it’s really reasonable at only $4 for a year’s worth (if I remember exactly). If you give it a try, please let me know what you think It’s at www.motivatedmoms.com

Enjoy

• Cleaning Helps , Family Helps , Marriage Helps , Meal Helps , Money Helps , Pet Helps
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Alpine Village Family August 4th, 2007

I have a thing for recipes and money saving ideas and… okay, I suppose I love to read all “tip-related” articles and newsletters. We all have our faults right? LOL!

Each Monday I get my email newsletter from Mommysavers and I love it! It really has a category for everything and anything you might be interested in as a woman. Whether you are a mom or not, a wife or not etc.

The recipes are great but I really like the craft ideas and to-do’s. The older my kids get - and they are 6yrs & 8yrs now, the more I need to think up new ideas

• Family Helps , Meal Helps , Money Helps , Parenting Helps
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Alpine Village Family July 20th, 2007

Aurelia Williams, a mother of two teenagers, hosts the Parenting My Teen podcast (or internet talk show). She produces two shows each month on a variety of topics that are important to both teens and their parents. With just a click of a button on her website, you’re connected.

The other regular mom that Aurelia interviewed today is Eileen Buckholtz who runs the website TeenDriving.com, which is now the top-ranked teen driving site on the internet. With another click of a button, parents and teens can learn hundreds of tips from how to drive in traffic to how to buy a used car.

On Parenting My Teen, Eileen gave some great advice for parents whose teens are learning to drive. First, teach by example. Second, expect to spend about 100 hours driving with your teen so they can get experience and confidence. Third, expose your teen to all different driving situations, such as on country roads or on the highway. By keeping a log of these experiences, they will become more confident and you can focus on some areas that are problematic.

• Family Helps , Parenting Helps , Pregnancy Helps
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Alpine Village Family July 6th, 2007

Even though my daughter is only 10 years old and considered a “tween”, I just love the Parenting My Teen internet talk show. Host Aurelia Williams, who is a parenting and life coach, doesn’t sugar coat any issues but she also doesn’t instill the common fear that raising a teenager should scare us. She knows that teens are inherently good kids and avoids any negative generalizations.

Aurelia started the show today by speaking a bit about teen dating and suggested that we teach our teens how to date and what to expect so they know how to develop a healthy relationship. Even though this may seem like a daunting subject to many parents, Aurelia’s calming demeanor will ease your fears.

Today’s special guest was Monique Howat, founder of Confident Girls Guys. She is a very positive Youth Motivator who focuses on what’s GOOD with our teens rather than what’s wrong with them. She strives to build our teens’ self-esteem through motivational speaking and workshops. As a parent, I appreciate Monique’s positive approach in the effort to prevent teens from suffering from low self-esteem and Aurelia’s positive attitude lets me believe that I will survive the teen years!

• Family Helps , Parenting Helps , Teenagers
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Alpine Village Family July 4th, 2007

Second Hand Smoke in the Home

Restaurants, stores, and entire communities are baning smoking in public buildings. Second hand smoke can be a hazard to the health of your family - have you declared your home to be a smoke free environment? (Read more about second hand smoke…)

Hidden Allergens in Your Home

Do you get sick often? Do you feel tired and sluggish during the day? Do you often itch or sneeze? The problem may not be your sleep patterns or your immune system; you may have an allergy problem. (Read more about allergens in the home.)

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Alpine Village Family June 19th, 2007

Are you planning a vacation by air this summer but wonder what issues to expect withe a baby?  Michelle R. LaRowe gives great tips on traveling by plane with your infant on an episode of Baby Talk Radio. 

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Alpine Village Family June 3rd, 2007

An email I received recently….

My name is Buffy Krajewski and I am the mother of a child born with cancer.  My son, Tristan, was born with adrenocortical carcinoma ten years ago and has now been in remission for nine years.  His primary tumor was found on a routine sonogram when I was thirty three weeks pregnant.  Tristan’s story is an amazing story and one you probably won’t find anywhere else not only because of the fact that he was born with cancer but because the cancer he had only accounts for .2% of all cancers diagnosed each year.  I am writing to you to ask for your help. 

We were among the lucky ones because Tristan made it but that isn’t the case for so many.  Unfortunately, with Tristan’s cancer came a long list of secondary ailments, another potentially fatal disease, and my depression.  I have written a book titled An Angel’s Kiss Embracing the Spirit of a Child Born with Cancer.  I take the reader through my pregnancy, delivery, my son’s diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma, and ultimately my unrelenting depression.  It is a realistic account of my fight to save my son’s life, to reclaim our family, and in the end to save myself from the guilt that I allowed to consume me for years.  I speak honestly about the emotions most mothers don’t want to admit feeling.  Most people don’t realize that even if the cancer is beaten it leaves a huge amount of destruction in its wake.  Even when the cancer is no longer visible it is never far because the ramifications of the illness last a lifetime.  I have given readers the opportunity to stand in my shoes and experience something nobody should endure; however, in the end it is a story of survival, determination, a mother’s refusal to allow her child to become a statistic, and ultimately inspiration.

When Tristan was born I absorbed myself with anything and everything I could find that had to do with his cancer or cancer in general but I couldn’t find a book that spoke honestly about the guilt, blame, and pressure we as mother’s put on ourselves during our child’s illness.  If I had come across just one book that was capable of letting me know I wasn’t alone and I was normal for feeling what I felt, my depression wouldn’t have taken over my life for as long as it did.  I have written An Angels’ Kiss in hopes that another mother who is either beginning or ending her journey into pediatric cancer will come across it and be helped by it.  I am hoping that I may make the difference in someone else’s life that I wish was made in mine.

Grab the book here.

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