Family Life Resources

Alpine Village Family August 20th, 2008

To me it’s a silly question, or at least it was. If your kids get a check for their birthday, do you let them cash it and then spend it or do you deposit it into their respective checking accounts and not let them touch it?

To clarify, i’m not talking about big sums of money here - just maybe $50 or $75 dollars from an Aunt or Nana and Papa for example. To me, they should be able to spend it unless there was an instruction from the gift giver that the meoney is for saving. Otherwise the gift they gave… well, it seems to the kids that they didn’t even GET a gift

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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.

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Alpine Village Family December 10th, 2007

I’m having a serious dilemma that’s making me feel pretty darn guilty for even pondering my options. You see, I had been planning to have a tummy tuck in February or March of 2008. I had it all figured out time-wise and money-wise too and I reallyy, reallyyyyy, reallllllllllyyyyyyyy want one since my two kids did a number on me

Anyway, now I have a new full time job and I’ll only get 2 weeks vacation this year - one in the summer and one in the Fall. What I’m wondering though, is whether my boss would be okay with me taking a 2 week, unpaid leave of absence this Spring.

The problem is, Hubby says that if I can get a leave I should be spending it with my kids and NOT recovering from plastic surgery
.

My issue is that I’ve spent the last 8 years spending EVERY day of my life with them. I don’t see why it will make such a bad person to do this thing for myself that I have been wishing and hoping for for the last 3 or more years. What do you think? Am I a bad Mommy??

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Alpine Village Family December 10th, 2007

Okay, you’re right, I can’t really speak for the entire state of Florida BUT the mini mall by my mother-in-law’s place was pretty darn cool.

Where else can you see a listing of stores as diverse as a Bulk store, jewelery store, kids’ clothing store and one with a sign showing ” rhinoplasty Naples “? I guess it’s just in case you feel like you need a big bag of Swedish Berries before you get your nose job . Either way, I’ve just not seen a store grouping like that in Canada

Mind you, we do have a mall by my house that has a Jenny Craig Weight Loss Center AND a Quizno’s sub place side by side - that always makes me smile . And, you can bet that some of us (yes, I’m a die-hard Jenny Craig member), go weigh in at Jenny Craig and then go straight to Quizno’s for lunch - or maybe that’s just me LOL

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Alpine Village Family December 10th, 2007

Have you heard that rumour? The one that says that potty training boys is so much tougher than potty training girls. What are your thoughts on it?

Personally I found both of my kids to be pretty much the same. Though I think Jenn was a little bit easier than Matt, I don’t think it was because she is a girl. I’m pretty sure it was because she had a lot of support from her big brother AND she wanted to pee on the potty just like he did . Well, not EXACTLY like he did . Since he was standing LOL!

So, are girls easier to train? Well, not at my house they weren’t LOL. I’d say I’m more on the camp that says that second and third kids are easier because they can watch and mimic their older siblings - whether they sit or stand to pee

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Alpine Village Family November 16th, 2007

I have a confession… well maybe you already know about it but… I LOVE reality TV

From Survivor to game shows to the real estate shows like Flip That House. The real estate shows speak to me especially though. Must be the entrepreneur in me that thinks “man that looks like a pretty challenging but fun time and there’s money to be made big time.”

Next thing I know I”m off into lala land thinking about my own real estate franchise and how many houses I’d have to “flip” before I could pay cash for my house. Yes, I know I’m silly

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Alpine Village Family November 16th, 2007

I’ve always thought it was soooo cool to jog. I’d see all the cool people out with their outfits on, jogging away, looking so fit and trendy and think “hmmmm, that would be cool but I think I’d pass out after one block” LOL!!

Don’t get me wrong though, I love to do cardio and I enjoy the treadmill and the ellipticals a lot (especially when I could work out AND watch TV at the same time ). But to jog? Nope.

Then recently my girlfriends started up at it and have been telling me how great it is. So… yes, you know I HAD to try it too . I was sooo surprised to get as far as I did (maybe two miles) before I needed a break. I’ve been doing it every day since and I’m loving it. I’ll keep you posted on how long I stick at it but so far so good

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Alpine Village Family October 28th, 2007

With Matt and Jenn being 8 and 6 now they are very understanding of my need to have work-time. As long as I explain ahead of time that Mommy needs to work for an hour, and then after that we will _____ together. I pick something that they’ll enjoy and they are fine with occupying themselves for that hour.

That is, unless someone slips or gets some kind of ouchie ;). Jenn will still inevitably come to me for a kiss or hug like she did just now. It really is pretty sweet and nice to know that I’m still the special Boo-Boo kisser ;).

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Alpine Village Family October 15th, 2007

I’ve decided to cope with the loss of my garden by focusing on what that area can be instead. Of course I’m thinking “play area” like most moms would be ;).

I can put some stones down and maybe this year we can make building a fort/playhouse a summer activity. …and, maybe there will be a little area for Mommy to rest too. We’ll add a comfy chair and some pretty landscape lighting and maybe even side table to hold my cup of tea while I read my book ;). Hmmm… this may work out just fine after all :D!

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Alpine Village Family October 7th, 2007

Does anyone else have friends with kids whose houses show absolutely no indication of their presence? Not only that but there furniture is all very expensive ($10,000 dining table), accessories breakable and even their lighting looks like it’s from Murray Feiss. Frankly their home always looks like they are trying to sell it. Meaning that it is always pristine and never a toy in sight - even though they have a 2 year old and a 5 year old.

Toys are to be used one at a time and then put away and never, ever brought upstairs. Toys belong in the basement (nicely finished) and must be returned to the playroom closet when not in use. Call me crazy but it seems like a recipe for insanity for any mom to try to live up to. I’m certainly glad it’s not my house… although it would be nice to not always worry when the doorbell rings LOL :).

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