Some other kids just dread going to school. For these kids, going to school may become so stressful that they throw temper tantrums over going to school or complain of symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, or chest pain. Why Kids Refuse School For some kids, there is an easily identifiable trigger for school refusal, such as being bullied, experiencing a death in the family, or moving to a new neighborhood....

Your time only Are your kitchen cupboards and drawers filled with all sorts of foods and dishes? Look again—everything you see has been reduced to its simplest shape, and just in time for a game of kitchen geometry. Call out a shape, such as circles, and see how many items of that shape your child can find in your kitchen. For example, your child might spy plates, cookies, jar lids, yogurt tops, and the like....

Why all the confusion? For starters, some people confuse weight gain from fat with weight gain from carbohydrates. One gram of fat has more than double the amount of calories as one gram of carbohydrate. What some people don’t realize is that fat usually accompanies carbohydrates at a meal. For instance, people remember that they had pasta for dinner but forget that the pasta was swimming in oil, butter, cheese, or Alfredo sauce....

Finding a Boarding Kennel Many boarding kennels accept cats, and many veterinary hospitals offer boarding for client’s pets. If your cat requires special care due to medical problems, consider boarding your cat at the vet’s when you travel. Good boarding kennels can handle most routine support for cats with special needs, too. Consider your cat’s overall comfort, the quality of care and attention he’ll receive, and how long he’ll be boarded....

Directions

Effort: Easy - no sewing required Materials: Smock-type apron White slacks Hair net Brown eyeliner Latex gloves Various kitchen utensils (spatula, turkey baster, etc…) Instructions: Put on clothes, gloves, and hair net. Use eyeliner to draw a large mole on face. Carry around utensils of your choice. Practice saying “Sloppy Joes, slop-sloppy Joes…” More Costume Ideas

Use colorful but outdated maps as wrapping paper. This is especially appropriate for a man’s gift or a gift related to travel. Topographical maps that are no longer accurate can sometimes be obtained for free from local community agencies and are quite colorful and interesting. Plain brown paper becomes an excellent base for any number of homemade paper techniques. For example, use a hot glue gun (adults should do this) to glue pennies onto a brown-paper-wrapped package in either a pleasingly spaced pattern or a specific design....

Ideas for Dating When You Have Kids Some parents are very good about going out every week or so without the children. Unfortunately, these days it’s more common for parents to forgo time together for family time. Don’t let that happen to you! The following suggestions take into account the huge time commitment and general exhaustion most parents have: See an afternoon movie on the weekend and have an early dinner afterward....

If you don’t want to go to a professional, you can work to get a handle on financial issues by listing your income, assets, and expenses. (See below for a worksheet to help you.) Then you will know if your current income is adequate, or if you must strive to earn more. Notice that we haven’t mentioned putting more debt on your credit card. Adding debt will ultimately lead you into a quagmire....

If your family travels on a regular basis, the Marpac Hushh Compact Sound Machine is a must-have. Unlike many other white noise machines that weigh down your luggage, this one comes in at only 3.5 inches in diameter and 3.8 ounces. My husband and I have used another Marpac sound machine for over a year now, but we wondered if this smaller, rechargeable model would deliver the same great sound—and in a travel-friendly package—so we put it to the test, using it in our kids’ room for full week in our home and for a week away at grandma’s....

Adult Mean Girl Behavior What most people refer to as “mean girl behavior” is really relational aggression, which is a specific type of bullying designed to harm the social relationships and status of an individual. Essentially, people who engage in relational aggression aim to make you look bad to others. Additionally, they may try to intimidate you by threatening to leave the relationship you have with them. Although it can be referred to as “mean girl” behavior, relational aggression is not restricted to girls and women....

What exactly are meconium stools? What does it mean if your baby doesn’t pass meconium stools? And what happens if your baby passes meconium before she is born? What Are Meconium Stools? Meconium stools are the thick, sticky, black or greenish-black bowel movements that newborn babies have during their first two or three days after birth. Meconium is made up of cells and substances that were released into the digestive tract during pregnancy....

Say you walk into Emergency with Billy, who is choking to death on a cherry-flavored popsicle stick. Yes, they’ll treat him no matter who brings him in; delay would cause serious damage or death. And if you bring him in with a broken arm, they’ll probably treat him at your request, though they may try to delay until they reach a bioparent. They may very well not treat him if he needs major surgery—at least until a bioparent can be located....

Effort: Easy - sewing optional Materials: Sweatpants Sweatshirt (w/hood optional) Hat (if no hood) Colored strips of fabric Needle and thread or no-sew glue (Available at any craft store) Instructions: Cut out lots of fabric strips of every color. Sew or glue them to the sweatpants and shirt. Don’t forget to do the hood or hat. Put the finished clothes on and you have an instant monster! Tips: It is okay if the costume is too big, as long as your child can maneuver safely without tripping....

The Average Birthweight of Twins While the risks for twins are not as elevated as they are for higher-order multiples, twins are still more likely to be born early and weigh less. In the data which was collected from births in the year 2017, 19.51% of twins were born early preterm, (which is defined as prior to 34 weeks) and more than half (59.43%) were born prior to 37 weeks gestation....

1. You Are Not Pregnant The most obvious answer may also be the most disappointing. If you feel pregnant—with symptoms such as breast soreness and unexplained nausea—it’s understandable that you may have assumed you were pregnant. But, there may be other explanations for these symptoms. Some may be incidental or premenstrual; others may, in fact, require medical attention. If you are suddenly experiencing abnormal periods accompanied by other symptoms, such as cramping or constipation, it’s a good idea to see a doctor and have it checked out....