The noncustodial parent, often the dad, must make a special effort to maintain a close and loving relationship with the children. Jack Feuer, a journalist, a divorced and dedicated father, and the author of several books for divorced dads, has some winning strategies for forging bonds when a parent is not in daily contact with the kids: Put a phone line in your child’s room so you can call without going through your ex-spouse....

As with all types of adoption, there can be beautiful aspects to how these families are formed, come together, and learn and grow with each other. But there can also be ethical complications and important considerations for parents to keep in mind. How Transracial Adoptions Happen Some families go into adoption with the specific goal of adopting a child of a different race. This happens specifically with families who are looking into foreign adoptions (which can also have their own set of complications to consider)....

Here are the things that twins hate to hear. While twins do share a strong bond, it isn’t exactly a metaphysical phenomenon. Some twins do report experiencing unusual physical sensations in response to their twin’s condition. For example, a twin sister reported feeling abdominal pain when her sister was delivering a baby. However, most twins don’t ever encounter such a situation. If they do, they’ll tell you about it. No need to inquire....

Toys “R” Us History The company was founded back in 1948 by Charles Lazarus. Before coming to the toy market and the brand that we all know, Lazarus first sold only baby furniture. The very first Toys “R” Us store opened in 1957 and that is when the switch was officially made to selling toys exclusively. The logo was actually designed by Lazarus as well, and the backward letter “R” was to give customers the impression that it was written by a child....

Give each of the players a bag filled with ten pieces of wrapped candy. Have the players write their names on their bags so that the bags don’t get mixed up. Decide on a time limit. If you are giving a party, you could keep the game going the entire time, even while you are doing other activities. The object of the game is to catch people saying any of the following words:· HALLOWEEN· CANDY· WITCH· PARTY· GHOST· PUMPKIN It might be helpful to write the words in large letters on a piece of paper and tape the paper up where everyone can see it....

Large cardboard mailing tube or gift-wrap tube Tennis ball String Empty basket or box Directions

During an ultrasound, a technician spreads a warm gel over the lower part of the abdomen, and then presses a tool called a transducer against the belly to examine the fetus using sound waves. An image of the fetus appears on an accompanying computer screen. While looking at this image, the technician takes some standard measurements from different angles and listens for a heartbeat. While you may be more familiar with this trans-abdominal ultrasound, it is common for doctors to use a transvaginal ultrasound for pregnancy dating, especially early in the first trimester....

An ultrasound—also known as a sonogram—uses sound waves to produce a picture of your baby in the womb. These pictures show up on a computer screen at your bedside during the test. Ultrasound is an amazing tool for tracking the development of a pregnancy, and it gives doctors a lot of useful information for providing optimal prenatal care. It also, of course, gives you the first glimpse of your baby!...

Although very people (about 1%) get hyperemesis gravidarum, the most severe form of morning sickness, even mild or moderate morning sickness can make life downright miserable. Morning sickness can start as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy and can last up to 14 weeks, or even longer. And “morning sickness” is a misnomer. It’s more like “morning, noon, and night sickness” for many people. If that’s you, talk to a healthcare provider about trying Unisom and B6....

As a parent you have one great weapon: your instinct. When a friend of your daughter gives you an uneasy feeling, examine the reason. Is this girl dressed strangely all the time? Does she wear outlandish makeup every day? From age twelve on, some girls consider adults the enemy and want to get back at them by exposing body parts, wearing underwear as outerwear, and getting lots of tattoos and body piercings....

If vaginal dryness is a significant problem for you – as it is for many nursing mothers, due to the effects of the hormones that stimulate milk production – you might benefit from the use of a vaginal estriol cream. These creams are usually used by postmenopausal women, and must be prescribed by a physician and obtained from a compounding pharmacist. The dosage recommended by natural hormone expert Dr. John Lee is 2 milligrams every two to three days....

Because when it comes to kids, time really does fly by. And before I know it, both girls will be packed up and headed off to the school of their dreams. On the off chance they don’t get full rides (hey, I can dream, too), I’d better be ready. More: How to Start Saving for College with CollegeBacker To alleviate my financial concerns about college, I consulted with personal financial expert and best-selling author Chris Hogan of Ramsey Solutions....

Comments like these—or worse—are not uncommon among children, or even with adults. We now live in an age where photos and posts online can garner nearly instant and anonymous comments from total strangers and acquaintances alike. These reactions can be rude, hurtful, and even malicious. It is more important than ever that parents teach children to be kind to others. Why We Need More Kindness Today, judging others seems to be an activity practiced by far too many people....

While most children should not be put on a severely restricted diet, weight management by a combined approach of a sensible diet and regular exercise will help to control their weight gain. Daily Caloric Needs by Age Children normally need a certain number of calories each day (energy allowance) that their bodies use as energy for normal daily activities (walking, breathing, etc.). As with adults, the daily caloric needs of a child depend on their sex, age, and activity level....

Uterine contractions cause the cervix to thin and dilate or open for childbirth. They also allow the baby to descend into the birth canal. You can experience several types of contractions. But only two types determine if you are going into labor or not: true labor and false labor contractions. True labor contractions are the ones that indicate real labor is on the horizon. They are more intense, closer together, and don’t go away....

Full-term pregnancies typically last from 39 to 41 weeks, but it is also not uncommon for a baby to come slightly before or after that timeframe. In fact, studies show that fewer than 5% of women deliver on their due date and only 70% give birth within 10 days of their due date. Additionally, most doctors do not consider a baby to be “late” until at least 41 weeks, and some wait until 42 weeks before they intervene....

School safety is everyone’s business. The best safety effort will involve all aspects of your child’s school, including classroom instruction, school services, and the school climate. If you’re like many parents, the very idea of " school safety" is overwhelming and frightening. Do your kids feel safe at school? What’s the school doing to keep its students safe? Use this list of questions to find out if you school could be doing more....