Gummi Bears and Vodka...What Will They Think Of Next?

Be aware of the new crazy that our tweens and teens are engaging in... Vodka soaked Gummi Bears. If you think I am giving away the secret about how to make these liquer filled candy to your children, think again. It is all over YouTube. My reason for posting the instructions here are so that you are aware of how they are doing it. An educated parent is an armed parent and if you are anything like me you don't spend a great deal of time on YouTube. It's so simple, all they do is dump the gummies in a pan, pour the vodka over the bears, and let it sit. After some time, the bears absorb the alcohol, turning them into an alcohol-soaked candy your child could be chewing on, even while sitting right next to you. The real problem is that they smell like gummy bears. With an entire bottle of vodka poured into a pan of gummies, there's no way for a child to know just how much alcohol they've ingested. Add to that the fact that those little bears are quite addictive themselves. I never eat just a couple, do you?

Who would have thought that schools and parents may have to keep their children away from those seemingly harmless gummy candies, not me.

Unique Way to Help Your Child Deal with their Anger

Here is an unique idea when it comes to teaching your children about dealing with their anger if the traditional methods of breathing and counting are not working for your child. Writer/director Andrea Blaugrund Hevins. Have child press their palms together hard in order to "lasso" the wild feelings before they go on the rampage.

Look to previous postings on this topic for additional ideas.

Leaving Your Young Child in a Car Alone is NEVER a Good Idea!!

Although this may not be the whole story in the Sky Metalwala abduction but it does leave me thinking that I should address the thought of leaving your young child alone in a car. I am going on record right here and now to say that leaving your young child alone in a car is NEVER a good idea. If you start thinking that it is only going to be for a few minutes, they'll get really cranky if I wake them up or that it is going to be too difficult dragging the child around then you should rethink you plans.

The Department of Justice estimates that there are approximately 12,000 non-family child abduction a year. They also report that approximately 37% of these abduction are done by a stranger. Don't give a potential kidnapper the opportunity to take your child. Take your child with you eventhough it seems really inconvienient or plan on running your errand at another time.

I Survived Two Teenagers and So Can You!

In the title of this post I used teenagers but probably more accurately I should say tween/teen with as fast as our children are growing up now a days. Anyone who has had one of these hormones on feet living in their home knows that it can sometimes be a rollercoaster ride or maybe a trip through a fright house. What can you do short of giving them away? I have some thoughts for you, but most of these ideas involve you doing something, or nothing because I don't have a magic wand that takes away hormones.

First and foremost, think back and try to remember that time in your life. How out of whack you felt all or most of the time and have some empathyy for how your child is maneuvering through this time of life given all the pressures of our ever connected society. I don't know about you but I have no wish to revisit that time of my life.

Second. engaging does not help. When they are pitching a fit, argueing with them is counterproductive. Leave them alone until they are ready to rejoin the human race and then talk about whatever they had on their mind.

My last suggestion is a little crazy but I find that it works and I recently suggested it to a friend who actually cracked a smile during her child's tween years whcih says to me that it might just work. Either get in your mind the picture of what a hormone on rollerskates might look like everytime your tween/teen flies off in to tirade. This may just help you gain perspective and keep from engaging in an all out battle. Listen to someone who knows, this interaction never ends well.

Trouble Adjusting to the Time Change? Me, Too Says Your Child

Fall behind, Spring ahead. That means an extra hour of sleep for all of us this Sunday morning, yeah right. Someone should tell my internal clock. It will take most of us, chldren included, two weeks to adjust to the new time and lighting schedule. It is nice that it is light out when our children are going off to school, but it does seem to come home from work or activities in the dark. Understanding that you and your children will have some difficulty adjusting to this time change (yes even with an hour more sleep)will help. Consider taking it a little bit easier with regard to activities and bedtimes during this adujustment period.

For most of us, the time changes marks the beginning of wintery, dreary weather. Studies suggest that some individuals suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which is a form of depression that occurs in relation to the seasons, most commonly beginning in winter. This disorder may begin in adolescence or early adulthood. Like other forms of depression, it occurs more frequently in women than in men. Most people with the "winter blahs" or "cabin fever" do not have SAD, but some do.

The cause of SAD is not known, but it is thought to be related to ambien lighting, changes in body temperture and hormones associated with winter weather. Since many of us suffer from mild forms of the symptoms associated with this disorder in the winter time, don't automatically assume that you or your child is suffering from it. After seeing the list, I think that you will agree with this last statement. Symptoms include:
afternoon slump with decreased energy and concentration, carbohydrate cravings, decreased interest, depression that starts in fall or winter and ends in spring and summer, increased appetite with weight gain , lack of energy and social withdrawal. Treatment for this disorder can include antidepressant medication, but I really support trying talk therapy or light therapy with a special lamp to mimic light from the sun. Why rely on pills to treat something that could be effectively treated in both you and your child with talk and light.

If you find the winter weather is really getting you or your child down in the dumps in a major way consider consulting your doctor as there may have some help for you and your child. Don't just sit back and wait for what seems to be a never ending season to end, when there is help out there.

David Arquette...Role Model for His Daughter Coco and Our Children as Well

My parenting hat is off to David Arquette for using being voted off Dancing with the Stars as a teachable moment (times two) for his seven year old daughter Coco. The announcement was met with boos from the crowd, and was especially rough since David was cut when Nancy's performance was clearly worse. Even though this elimination seemed unfair, he displayed good sportsmanship and was an excellent role model for his daughter and children everywhere. He joked with the audience, and never stopped smiling as he thanked his partner Kym for her sweetness and patience all season long.

David reported that he had a second teachable moment when he returned home. Coco stated that his being voted off wasn't fair, and David used this time to teach her that life often times is not fair. A lesson many of us need to teach our children in this "entitled" generation.

Don't forget to turn those life lessons that occur in your life into teachable moments for your children and remember that your children learn from your example much more than from your words.

Does the Facebook Age Restriction Really Keep Our Children Safer When They Are On the Internet?

In a recent study parents reported that although Facebook's minimum age is 13, 36% of all parents surveyed reported that their child joined Facebook before the age of 13, and that 68% helped their child create the account.
78% parents surveyed think it is acceptable for their child to violate minimum age restrictions on online services.

Given the results of this survey, I think that our money could be better spent by educating parents and children on how to stay safe on the internet, rather than enforcing an outdated law passed in 1998 before sites like facebook were created that children and parents can get around by lying about the child's age. Websites like isafe.org, www.netsmartz.org, and www.stobullyingnow.hrsa.org provide great information both for parents and children on how to stay safe online.