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As a foster-adoptive mother who spent nearly four years with kids in care, here are the top ten things I learned from fostering. 1. It’s Your Job to Advocate for Your Child Kids in care are experiencing fundamentally unstable, uncomfortable, unfamiliar situations. Meanwhile, court dates change, parents no-show or bring unexpected guests, social workers drop off the radar without warning, or promised resources disappear. I learned that I should not count on all of the information in my children’s files to be accurate, or be certain that I’d be notified of key dates and changes....

Types of Giftedness First, it’s important to understand that giftedness is not just a matter of academic achievement. A child (or adult) may be gifted in several different domains: AcademicArtisticCreativeIntellectualIntuitiveLeadership So, even if your child isn’t an academic whiz, they may be gifted in other areas. While schools are most likely to be interested in intellectual and academic giftedness, parents should be supportive of their child’s creative, artistic, or other gifts....

Chinese names are usually made up of three characters. The family name is the first character, and the remaining two characters are the given name. Sometimes, especially in Mainland China, the given name is just one character. Most Chinese characters have a meaning that can be translated into English, but Chinese names are often not fully translatable. Traditionally, parents would consult an astrologer to suggest a good name for their baby....

Finding toys that aren’t made in China or another faraway place can be tricky, so we’ve done some of the legwork for you. Check out this list of super-fun toys that are proudly made in the USA. Not only will you have the satisfaction of knowing you’re supporting the U.S. economy — you’ll also appreciate that the toys are more likely to meet and exceed product safety standards and be much more “green” in some cases, too....

Names that start with “W” run the gamut from unique to popular and include everything in between. You’ll find just about anything your family requires and can keep your children on trend and on theme. Find the origins and meanings of popular names that start with “W.” Wade Origin: English Meaning: Traveler by the Ford Famous Namesakes: Actor Wade Williams is one of the famous people with this first name, but you may also see it as a last name, like former NBA player Dwyane Wade....

Names that start with the letter “V” are some of the most unique you’ll come across. If you want unique baby names for the whole family, starting with the letter “V” could be an ideal way to accomplish that. If you’re looking for baby names that start with “V” to bestow upon your whole family, this list has popular names, unique names, and everything in between. Vadim Origin: Russian Meaning: Proving, arguing Famous Namesakes: Vadim is more commonly seen as a last name, like French director Nathalie Vadim or screenwriter Roger Vadim....

Your Baby’s Development at 34 Weeks At 34 weeks, a baby is over 12 1/4 inches (31.1 centimeters) from the top of their head to the bottom of their buttocks (known as the crown-rump length), and baby’s height is nearly 17 1/2 inches (44.2 centimeters) from the top of their head to their heel (crown-heel length). This week, baby weighs about 5 pounds (2,312 grams). Which Trimester? Third trimester How Many Weeks to Go?...

From the classic Inez, which actors Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively chose for their daughter, to more unconventional names such as Idris or Inara, your baby boy or girl will have a fun, unique name to match their unique personality. Ian Origin: Scottish Meaning: God is gracious Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ean, Eann, Eion, Iann, Iain, Ion Famous Namesakes: English author of the the “James Bond” spy novels, Ian Fleming, and English actor Ian McKellen Peak Popularity: Ian has been in the top 100 baby names for boys since 1982 and reached peak popularity in the early 2000s....

1. Overnight Oats Photo source: Joy/Flickr Overnight oats are a real treat. Instead of cooking the oatmeal, it soaks in a combo of yogurt and milk until it’s super creamy and delicious. The basic recipe calls for one-half cup oats, one-third cup milk, one-half cup yogurt and one teaspoon vanilla extract. Add any toppings and mix-ins you like, such as fresh fruit, nut butter and nuts or seeds. 2. Easy Spinach Quiche This easy spinach quiche feeds a crowd and tastes delicious, but only takes a few minutes to whip up....

Induction of labor can be a positive experience. Having an understanding of what a labor induction entails will help you prepare for the big day. Understanding the process and having realistic expectations are key to helping you prepare. Know Your Cervix Once you and your provider have determined that your labor will be induced, you’ll need to know a bit about your cervix. Your doctor or midwife will do a vaginal exam and calculate a Bishop Score that estimates how likely an induction is to bring on labor....

More: 75 Bright Names That Mean “Light” For Your Little One If you’re on the hunt to find a baby name that means sun, then you’ve come to the right place. Included you will find baby girl names, boy names, and gender-neutral names for your little ray of light. Girl Names that Mean Sun Boy Names that Mean Sun Gender-Neutral Names that Mean Sun For more baby name inspiration check out these popular baby name lists:...

If your child has angry outbursts, and especially if your child’s anger interferes with their relationships and quality of life, it’s important to teach them the skills they need to deal with their feelings in a healthy way. Guidance from a mental-health professional can also be very helpful. Teach Your Child About Feelings Kids are more likely to lash out when they don’t understand their feelings or they’re not able to verbalize them....

To counteract this, have a purposeful, well-articulated plan for what to do when rules are broken. Often, the problem is that consequences are not being used in the most effective way to curtail misbehavior and teach expectations. The good news is that a few simple tweaks to your discipline techniques can make a big impact on kids’ behavior. The spirit of using consequences is not to make your child feel humiliated, embarrassed, ashamed, or unloved....

How Grounding Affects Teens Interaction with their peer group is a strong priority for teens. Branching out from family and connecting with others of their own age is an important part of the transition to adulthood and independence. Knowing the importance of these associations, taking them away for a time seems to be a logical punishment when a parent is ready to impose discipline. In many cases, it is. Fear of being grounded will often keep a teenager in line....

See our list below for girl, boy, and gender-neutral unique and popular names inspired by Black leaders. Black Girl Names and Meanings Black Boy Names and Meanings Gender-Neutral Black Baby Names and Meanings For more baby name inspiration, visit our Baby Name Center. Pin it for later: 

When you are choosing a name for your little one, think about what nicknames you, your loved ones, and their future friends can call them. These monikers also make great middle names for your little girl or boy. Girl Names with Great Nicknames Boy Names with Great Nicknames Gender-Neutral Names With Great Nicknames Looking for more baby names and inspiration? Check out our Baby Name Center. Considering one of these names?...

1. Indulging Is So Much Less Fun Make sure to have someone test that eggnog for you before drinking it. The holidays often mean you’ll be spending time socializing while sober. “I’m a sucker for a glass (ahem, bottle) of wine over the holidays (or eggnog, baileys or mulled wine - I’m not picky!),” says Lucy Cantley, mom of a one-year-old, “so being pregnant definitely made me feel like I missed out on the holiday spirit(s)....