Common Challenges Faced by Middle Schoolers Below are a few typical middle school problems your child may have to face. Make sure your tween knows that whatever his challenges might be, you’ll be there to help, offer advice and work through them together. Self-Esteem Even once confident kids may experience a severe drop in self-esteem in the middle school years. Your child will compare herself to her peers, and she may decide that she just doesn’t measure up to others whom she believes to be smarter, prettier and more popular....

1950s: Adult-centric family structure, where children were part of the family, but not the focus of the family. Adults and children lived parallel lives, with parents interacting with children for discipline and life lessons. Children were sent off to play on their own. 1960s: A continuation of the 1950s, with a move towards more permissiveness and creativity. As the world began to grow more open-minded, so did parents. 1970s-1980s: As divorce became more common and women entered the workforce, children began to take on more responsibility for their well-being and day-to-day needs....

Level: Moderately easy Time involved: Two to three hours, plus overnight to dry Materials: Newspaper 9-inch balloon Mixing bowl Flour Water Mixing spoon Sharp scissors Craft paints Paintbrushes 8-inch piece of elastic

For Bowman to be the mother she wanted to be, moving to a more rural setting was the first step. “For me, being a parent is about creating an environment that allows them to do their thing well,” says the mom-of-two. “I’ve always felt that my job as a parent was to get them in the best environment to let them do their natural biological thing.” The other crucial part: Helping them move as much as possible, a piece that is at the heart of Bowman’s work as a biomechanist....

Wedding Vows Marriage notices were—and still are—popular newspaper fodder. First, perhaps news of the engagement was published, often with photos. Next, the couple may appear in a column of wedding licenses issued. This column usually lists the name of the intended bride and groom, their ages, and perhaps other significant details. After the wedding, there may be an article with a full description of the event and, again, a photo. The language and details or the editorial commentary in earlier newspapers was much more intimate than we see now....

Getting extra support is very important during those first few months. For families where both parents work full-time, parents of multiples, older parents, or even parents of fussy infants who wake up frequently all night, a good solution might be hiring a night nanny. Night nannies, also known as baby nurses or newborn specialists, are gaining in popularity as an option to help exhausted new parents get much-needed sleep. Night nannies are typically employed for about four-to-six weeks up to three months for single births–often longer if there are multiples–and are used to help establish sleep and feeding schedules....

Olivia is a Latin name meaning “olive tree,” and the feminine alternative to the boy name Oliver. Records of the name Olivia date back to 13th-century England. Its initial popularity might be attributed to the beautiful, sought-after heiress in William Shakespeare’s play, Twelfth Night. There are only a handful of popular O names for girls in the U.S., with Olivia taking charge as the favorite option. How Popular Is the Name Olivia?...

Your baby does this without thinking about it because it’s an innate instinct that is actually quite soothing to him as well. Some babies do have a little more trouble with it, however. There’s a simple way you can test your baby’s sucking reflex and things you can do to work through sucking problems. The Sucking Reflex The sucking reflex is one of seven natural reflexes newborns have, including the Moro reflex, the grasping reflex, the rooting reflex, the stepping reflex, and the fencing reflex....

As many disposable diapers, plus 8 to 10 more, as you’ll likely need en route. (The extras are for unforeseen events such as diarrhea and to give you a little time to settle in once you’re there.) Unless you’re heading for the wilderness, plan on buying diapers when you arrive at your destination. Any medications he takes and a prescription for each one in case you lose it, spill it, or run out Medical insurance information cards and your baby’s medical records A baby monitor to give yourself a little more freedom of movement when he’s sleeping A night light if he’s used to sleeping with one in his room...

Second, painful sex itself can make getting pregnant difficult to impossible. If you can’t tolerate sexual intercourse, especially around the time of ovulation, you won’t be able to get pregnant. Learn what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to sexual pain, what medical conditions may cause painful intercourse, and what you should do if you’re facing this problem. Note: While this article is focused on sexual pain in women, it’s important to state that men can also experience sexual pain....

But as with everything else during pregnancy, diligence (and careful timing) is necessary. So, discuss all medications that you take—including over-the-counter (OTC) drugs—with your OB-GYN. Here’s a breakdown of pain relievers, along with guidelines for those that are safe to use and those that should be avoided during pregnancy. Again, be sure to consult with your physician before taking any medication during pregnancy, whether OTC or prescription strength. OTC Painkillers Pain medications, also called analgesics, can be obtained either over the counter (OTC) or by prescription....

Cool off on a warm summer afternoon while making a piece of Kool-Aid art. Materials needed:· Newspaper· Water· Ice cube tray· Tooth picks· Kool-Aid (assorted flavors/colors). You’ll use one packet of each color per picture.· White construction paper What to do: Step One: Fill the ice tray with water. Place a toothpick in each “cube” and keep the tray in the freezer until the ice is completely frozen. Step Two: Place newspaper over your work area in case of spills....

Effort: Easy - some sewing Materials: Brown trousers Brown turtleneck Small oval of brown craft fur (for tail) Any style devil horns Drinking straws Twine Glue Brown paint Instructions: For the bottom half of Pan, Glue brown piece of craft fur to the back of the pants for tail. To make the Pan flute, lay down a row of straws next to one another and glue them together. Then cut a diagonal from one corner down about 2 inches....

Paper lunch bag Newspaper or other paper for crumpling Twist tie, rubber band, or string Orange and green tempera paint Paintbrush Black marker Directions

The Dos and Don’ts of Mothering an Adult The secrets of handling this transition gracefully are pretty basic. Here’s a quick overview of how to manage it: The essential message is this: You can’t be so smothering that you undermine your adult child’s sense of independence, but you want to avoid being so completely accepting of her independent status that you give the impression that you don’t care about her anymore....

Ping-Pong came to the United States in about 1900. It is believed that an Englishman named James Gibb, pocketing a handful of celluloid balls, brought the game across the Atlantic coining it “Ping-Pong” after the sound the ball makes upon hitting the table and the racket. The name “Ping-Pong” was registered in 1901 by an English sporting goods manufacturer named John Jacques, and later sold to Parker Brothers, who manufactured a new kit under the new name....

There’s a difference between the immediate (say, in the car going home) conversation and the one that happens a few hours later or the next day. In the initial aftermath of a competition, your child may just need time to decompress, and may not want to talk about the event at all. Respect their feelings, and learn what works best for them. Every kid is different. Why Have a Post-Game Chat?...

Impact activities are not recommended during the time immediately after delivery, as this can cause increased uterine bleeding and stretching of the ligaments that hold up your uterus. Swimming should also be avoided until vaginal bleeding or episiotomy tears have healed. A healing episiotomy also limits cycling, although riding a recumbent bike with padded shorts is possible as long as it is not irritating the area. You should gradually return to exercise....