Decrease Stress

We ran this story as part of our Healthbeat section on the news. The segment is done through a company called Medstar. I know most of us need to decrease stress in our lives, so I thought I would share the information with you!

More than one-third of people in the U.S. report experiencing extreme levels of stress.
Stress can lead to a host of problems, from headache and muscle tension, to high blood pressure and heart disease.

Dr. Kathleen Hall from The Stress Institute (the site is currently under construction) has a specific way to decrease stress in your life. Dr. Hall explains it through the acronym S.E.L.F.

The 'S' stands for Serenity. Relax your shoulders, stop thinking about everything you need to do and maybe even shed a few tears to release your exhaustion.

The "E" is for Exercise for the body and mind. Try playing online games for 10-20 minutes if you can't get to a gym.

The “L” stands for Love. Tell someone you love them. Get love from a spouse, kids or even a family pet.

The "F" is for Food. This is not about dieting. Try staying away from processed foods and focus on eating fresh food with lots of colors.

If that doesn't work, Dr. Hall suggests playing with your kids. Try things like tag, wrestling and pillow fights.

Dr. Hall says “It decreases your risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, it alleviates chronic pain.”

Dr. Hall recommends Pogo.com for online games for parents.

For information and tips on dealing with stress:
American Psychological Association
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mental Health America
-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Cubs vs. Cardinals

This post IS about the rivalry between the Cubs and the Cardinals, BUT it's more than that because this blog is for parents, not sports fans. However, I am a sports fan too. So, the two topics are coming together tonight.

I am a Cardinals fan and my husband is a Cubs fan, a die hard Cubs fan. I am not sure why.

So, my son has been confused about which team to support. I, of course, want him to cheer for a team that has won the World Series since I have been alive (more than once). My husband wants him to root for the Cubs because he does.
I gave in this week.

The boys went to the Cubs caravan at Little Cubs Field in Freeport, Il. After hearing my 4-year-old sing "Go Cubs Go, Hey Chicago what do you say, the Cubs are gonna win today" in his cute little voice, I had no choice. Plus, dads and sons need to share a bond and often sports is that connection.
How do the kids in your family bond with their dad? Do you have a sports connection?

This site with Norman Rockwell paintings showing the bond between a father and son cracks me up. The bond is very important, but these pictures are too funny.

On a more serious note, here is a story about a father who pushed his son, who is in a wheelchair, in a triathlon. Unbelievable! It is a truly inspirational story.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

RSV

RSV. Those three little letters can be very scary for new parents. It's a respiratory virus that kills 1700 babies each year. It's basically a common cold in an older child, but in a baby (especially a newborn) it can be very serious. And guess what? The winter months are the prime season for RSV or Respiratory syncytial virus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia among infants and children under 1 year of age. The Illness begins most frequently with:

• Fever
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Sometimes wheezing

During their first RSV infection, between 25% and 40% of infants and young children have signs or symptoms of bronchiolitis or pneumonia, and 0.5% to 2% require hospitalization.

Most children recover from the illness in 8 to 15 days. The majority of children hospitalized for RSV infection are under 6 months of age.

And a little known fact you probably haven't heard? RSV can effect a child their entire life! It causes repeated infections throughout life, usually associated with moderate-to-severe cold-like symptoms; however, severe lower respiratory tract disease may occur at any age, especially among the elderly or among those with compromised cardiac, pulmonary, or immune systems.

When I read these facts about RSV each year, I tend to be more prudent about getting my kids to wash their hands. Besides avoiding being around sick people, which is impossible when kids are in school, washing hands is your best defense.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Cough and Cold Medicine

Over the counter cough and cold medicines for children were pulled from store shelves last fall over concerns that they were not only ineffective for young children, but also deadly.

Today, The Food and Drug Administration gave their official conclusion on the issue.
They say the remedies should not be given to infants or children under the age of two.

An FDA decision on whether the medicines are safe for children between the ages of three and six will be made later this spring.

My boys all have runny noses and are getting coughs. So I looked up the list of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines that you shouldn't give your kids.

Here's your reminder to print this off and stick the list on your frig:

According to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the cough and cold medicines that are in question are:

• Dimetapp(R) Decongestant Plus Cough Infant Drops,


• Dimetapp(R) Decongestant Infant Drops,


• Little Colds(R) Decongestant Plus Cough,


• Little Colds(R) Multi-Symptom Cold Formula,



• PEDIACARE(R) Infant Drops Decongestant (containing pseudoephedrine),



• PEDIACARE(R) Infant Drops Decongestant & Cough (containing pseudoephedrine),


• PEDIACARE(R) Infant Dropper Decongestant (containing phenylephrine),



• PEDIACARE(R) Infant Dropper Long-Acting Cough,


• PEDIACARE(R) Infant Dropper Decongestant & Cough (containing phenylephrine),


• Robitussin(R) Infant Cough DM Drops,


• Triaminic(R) Infant & Toddler Thin Strips(R) Decongestant,


• Triaminic(R) Infant & Toddler Thin Strips(R) Decongestant Plus Cough,


• TYLENOL(R) Concentrated Infants' Drops Plus Cold,



• TYLENOL(R) Concentrated Infants' Drops Plus Cold & Cough

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Support for Special Needs Kids

The Penguin Project is a play put on in Central Illinois by kids who have disabilities. The kids with disabilities all have peer mentors to help them memorize their actions and songs.
The Penguin Project is such a big deal for these kids and their parents. I could see the happiness in all their faces. I am grateful Dr. Andrew Morgan (the Medical Director for Easter Seals in Central Illinois) came up with this idea.

I took my 4-year-old son to the program. I had a hard time explaining to him what he was about to see. He took speech classes at Easter Seals when he was younger, but he really hasn't been exposed to kids who have obvious disabilities. So, I went on a search to find out the best way to explain the situation to a young child.

I talked to Katie Hogan, the Executive Director for the Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Society (HISRA). HISRA is a cooperative extension of Morton, Peoria, Chillicothe and Washington Park Districts. It coordinates all of the recreation programming for individuals with disabilities in these districts. Here's Katie's advice:

"I usually begin by explaining to kids that each of our bodies and brains works in different ways. Then (depending upon the age) I explain how someone with a disability may have a brain that works a bit differently (or body.) I get into some detail for individual disabilities. I always explain it is not contagious, but often compare a disability to the cold or the flu when discussing how children with a particular disability (such as CP or Autism) may have it in varying degrees."

Here are some tips I found on a message board:

"The truth is what you tell them. I have a son who is 5 with Down Syndrome, he was getting off the bus as I heard a neighbor child say that he was getting off the stupid bus...I told the child its a special needs bus for special children, but they are just like my other children and like all other children, just a bit different, and maybe slower than other children.....and that's all I told them.....you mostly want them to understand your child not be scared of them or to feel sorry for them, just treat them as any other child.....a lot has to do with that they don't understand...and also part could be how they hear others talk about other people could be an influence.....so just tell them the truth....they will understand." Anonymous Mom

"Explain things to children in words and contexts that they understand, and always model the appropriate forms of language and social cues. Also, I always allow them to ask any questions, so I might add "So do you have any more questions?"Sometimes, children need more than one concrete example or explanation in order for them to grasp something novel the first time.We cannot expect them to grasp and change their mentality and perceptions right away. So it takes time, patience, and practice. In short, children model what they see, hear, touch, experience,etc., and so it is up to the adults to set the standards or goals early on. "Milflores(Advisor/Educator)

I just spoke with Dr. Morgan from the Penguin Project. He says to wait until the child who is typically developing to notice differences when kids are young. He said,"I'm not for sure you need any explanation. These children are performers. Young kids don't necessarily identify these kids as being handicapped."

I completely agree. My 4-year-old definitely didn't notice the kids had disabilities. He just clapped and danced in his chair and kept asking when they were going to sing again! He loved it!

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. What is the best way to explain kids with disabilities to a child who is typically developing? If you are involved with the Penguin Project, let me know why it's important to you and what kind of an impact it has on your life.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Bullying

Can a four-year-old be bullied? My son woke up several times this week screaming. This is actually not a big surprise because he has night terrors. However, this week he was screaming, "No, don't hit me!" Red Flag! So I asked about what he played with his friend that day and he said pirates. O.K., I can see how he might be screaming, so I ignored it.
He didn't scream the next night. Then, he saw the same little boy and woke up screaming, "Don't hit me!" At this point, he's not playing with that little boy anymore unless I am home. I don't know what's happening, but it's scaring him and that's not good.

Stop bullying now gives some reasons why I shouldn't just let this go:

• It happens a lot more than some people think - Studies show that between 15-25% of U.S. students are bullied with some frequency, while 15-20% report they bully others with some frequency (Melton et al, 1988; Nansel et al, 2001).


• It can mess up a kid's future. Young people who bully are more likely than those who don't bully to skip school and drop out of school. They are also more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and get into fights (Nansel et al, 2003; Olweus, 1993).


• It scares some people so much that they skip school. As many as 160,000 students may stay home on any given day because they're afraid of being bullied (Pollack, 1998).


• It can lead to huge problems later in life. Children who bully are more likely to get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school. And 60% of boys who were bullies in middle school had at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24 (Olweus, 1993).

Here's what the experts suggest we do as parents:

• First, focus on your child. Be supportive and gather information about the bullying. Tell your child you are concerned about him or her and ask questions.


• Contact your child's teacher and/or principal. He or she will probably be in the best position to understand the relationships between your child and other peers at school.
• Ask the teacher to talk to other adults who interact with your child at school to see if they have observed students bullying your child.


• If you know your child is being bullied, take quick action. There is nothing worse than doing nothing, and bullying can have serious effects.

Now my son says his friend never hit him and he doesn't know why he was waking up screaming that. Go figure! I am still being very cautious!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Early Puberty for Girls

If you are a woman or you have girls, you should read this ABC News article:

Girls are hitting puberty earlier than ever, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Health professionals say girls as young as eight years old are starting to show signs of early puberty. Researchers report girls are now getting their periods around the age of 12, down from the average age of almost 15 in the late 18-hundreds.

Doctors point to environmental toxins and weight gain. We know the more fat cells a girl has, the more likely they are to have excess estrogen. That excess estrogen could raise concerns later on in a woman's life.

The more estrogen you have exposed to your body, the greater the chanced of breast cancer, and possibly uterine cancer. And that's not the only worry. Their bodies may be maturing where their mind may not be. Experts believe that is causing social pressures.

Research has also suggested that children from broken homes experience earlier puberty.

The stress of family breakdown apparently alters the balance of growth hormones and other chemicals in the body, speeding up a child's physical development.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Weight loss after Pregnancy

People keep asking me how I lost the weight after my last baby. I thoroughly expected to struggle with getting the 40+ pounds off my thighs, but ended up being several pounds lighter than before I was pregnant! All this, and I haven't gone to the gym yet. I don't know if it's what I've done or just luck, but I figured I let you know and you can make your own decision on what works.

There are two things I did differently after my second baby compared to my first. The main one? Breastfeeding. I stopped nursing my first son at four months. This time, I took a breast pump to work and continued nursing when I was at home. You can burn so many calories this way! Not to mention, it's great for the baby!

Why aren't all nursing moms back to their pre-baby weight? I have to pump at least twice while I'm at work, sometimes three times. My son is now eating baby food, so I am actually pumping more than what he would eat. Therefore, I'm burning more calories. While I pump, I sometimes do leg lifts or squats. Why not? I don't have anything else to do while I'm pumping!

The second thing I did differently has to do with my diet. A publicist sent me two boxes of these little nutrition bars called Clue bars. They are supposed to lower your cholesterol.

I am the health reporter at the station and she wanted me to find a patient and see if eating the bars for two months really lowers cholesterol. Great idea, but I didn't get anyone to play ball with me. So, the little Clue bars sat by my desk.

You know how it is when you have food right at your fingertips? Of course, I tried one, then two, thought they tasted pretty good and ended up addicted. I don't know if they're really good for you, but the nutrition label isn't bad:175 calories, 2g of fat, 7 g of protein. All I know is they really fill me up and I ate them every afternoon for two months instead of the usual half a box of Cheez-its!

Now I am out of Clue bars and suffering from withdrawal. I went to order some and realized they're $2.00 a bar! How can I spend that much on a snack each day when I don't even have high cholesterol? It's a dilemma. All I know is I ate a lot less during the day when I had those as a snack. We'll see if I start gaining more weight.

You can find some great tips for losing weight after pregnancy on the Mayo Clinic's website.
Postpartum weight loss after a new baby is also a good read.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

The Birds and the Bees

My friend overheard her 5-year-old boy say this to his 3-year-old sister in a very serious tone,"Daddy's are supposed to make babies in Mommies' bellies."

My, how wise we get when we turn 5-years-old!

How do you explain baby making to young kids? Psychologist Lisa Kainan says to keep it simple, but to explain that babies do not go in and out of a mommy like food does. She says that's what a lot of kids think.

You can also read sex talk with a 6-year-old. This article gets a little tricky. The author suggests saying something basic and seeing what questions the child has. She says most kids know less about sex than we think. They just get bits and pieces, so it's important for parents to explain it in a scientific way.

At what age do you start this talk? Doctors say it depends on the child and how much he/she understands, but most kids are hearing things at school by 9-years-old. Experts believe it is important not to act embarrassed when you talk to them about sex. They suggest having the conversation with someone else first to make sure you are ready to say what you need to.

This advice is from the site talking with kids:

"Teaching your children about sex demands a gentle, continuous flow of information that should begin as early as possible -- for instance, when teaching your toddler where his nose and toes are, include "this is your penis" or "this is your vagina" in your talks. As your child grows, you can continue her education by adding more materials gradually until she understands the subject well.

"Talk about sex in a way that fits the age and stage of your child. If your 8-year-old asks why boys and girls change so much physically as they grow, you can say something like, "The body has special chemicals called hormones that tell it whether to become a boy or a girl. A boy has a penis and testicles, and when he grows older his voice gets lower and he gets more hair on his body. A girl has a vulva and vagina, and when she gets older she grows breasts and her hips grow rounder."

Wow, I didn't realize how much I am not looking forward to this. I can see my son looking back at me like I'm crazy already. When I explain things to him now he says, "Mom, you have never told me that before" in a tone that means, "I can't believe you waited this long to tell me."

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Explaining Religion

My son's newest revelation: Jesus has a telescope!

This is always a tough subject for parents because it's hard for adults to understand and come to terms with whatever religion they choose. How are kids supposed to get it?

My son tells the sitter to lie to me and say he took a nap.(Little stinker!) She says she can't tell lies and he shouldn't either because Jesus knows when we lie.

My son's reply? “Jesus is dead." (O.K. he knows the story of Jesus dying on the cross. Where do we go now with this explanation?)

The babysitter says. "Yes, Jesus died for our sins, but she explains Jesus is still watching over us from heaven." To which he replies, “Jesus can't see us if he's up in heaven.” She says, “Jesus can see everything.”

He ponders that thought and replies, “Does Jesus have a telescope?”
Yes, Jesus has a telescope. That explanation will have to do for now!

How do you explain religion to your kids? How do you balance forcing your religion on them and letting them make their own choices? Let me know by posting a comment.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Choosing a Pediatrician

Choosing a pediatrician is one of the hardest things I have done. I admit I have been through 5 pediatricians with my four-year-old! That's partly because we moved to a new city. But still, my husband thinks I am picky. I do think this it' partly my problem. I ask a lot of questions. A big part of pediatrics has to do with opinions. So, I always want to know a doctors opinion on different topics. Most of the docs rush me along and get annoyed. Then, I get aggravated and switch pediatricians. It's our ritual. However, I have been happy with our latest kid doctor!

This question was posed to me by a reader: (I can totally relate!)

Hi there-I am a mom of 3 year old twins (boy & girl) and I recently moved to a new city (Louisville, KY). I spent the last 10 years living near Washington DC. I had a well established network of friends, doctors, business contacts, etc, but now I feel like I am starting from scratch. I have a topic for your site -- how do moms find all the necessary providers for their kids when they move to a new town where they don't know a soul? I need a pediatrician, pediatric dentist, preschool, you name it! I am trying to meet people through various moms groups, etc, but that is a challenge too. Maybe you could start a blog for how to find the best doctors for your kids when starting from scratch? I want to find a good one from a referral, but how do I know the new people I meet are reputable and their referrals are reputable? It is so hard! Just thought that might be an interesting topic...Thanks
Jennifer LathropTeam Manager, Tastefully Simple

Call the local pediatric hospital. The nurses deal with the pediatricians and they know which ones are good. Just tell them you know they're not supposed to show preferential treatment, but you are new in town and just want information. 21st Century Parenting suggests scheduling an interview with the pediatrician before you make a decision. Find out where he/she stands on issues such as breastfeeding, vaccinations, and discipline.

Preschool:

Try calling local churches who don't offer preschools. They have nothing to lose and they usually know what's out there. That's how I found a good preschool in my town.

Dentist:

This is a tough one if you don't have a pediatrician yet. I would ask my pediatrician who they recommend.

I only found one pediatric dentist where I live and she is great! In your case, I would start with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.1-800 dentist.com supposedly can find you a local dentist that specializes in treating kids. However, nothing came up when I typed in my area code.Dentists4kids.com brought up two pediatric dentists in my area. I would bet there aren't that many to choose from. I would call the offices and ask the receptionist how long they've been there and what they think of the dentist. If they don't like the dentist, it will be easy to tell.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Marriage Advice

I Emceed the Wedding Showcase this weekend at Weaver Ridge Country Club in Peoria, Illinois and talked to the brides about marriage. It was a nice event with a good showing.

Marc Lester from Marc Lester Photography took the pictures that are on this blog post. He was nice enough to send them to me free of charge.

I got an email yesterday saying my blog was getting depressing because I am covering such big topics. So, here are some trivia questions I found from The National Association of Wedding Ministries I thought you might find interesting.(The right answers are in the post underneath this one.)

The average American engagement is:

1. 9 Months


2. 11 Months


3. 16 Months

The average age for first time brides:

1. 23 years-old


2. 24 years-old


3. 25 years-old

The average age for first time grooms:

1. 26 years-old


2. 27 years-old


3. 28 years-old

The average household income of a newly married couple:

1. $60,000/year


2. $68,000/year


3. $75,000/year

The average size of a wedding party:

1. 10


2. 12


3. 14

The average amount spent on a traditional wedding:

1. $12,000


2. $16,000


3. $22,000

The average amount spent on a bridal gown:

1. $800


2. $900


3. $1,000

What is more popular:

1. Sit-down dinner


2. Buffet


3. Cake & Punch

The brides need your help. My marriage advice is to compromise. About.com has some more tips for soon-to-be newlyweds and those of us who have been married for ages.

What's yours advice for your couples?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Marriage Trivia Answers

Here are the answers to yesterday's trivia questions:

The average American Engagement is: 16 months

1. 9 Months
2. 11 Months
3. 16 Months

The average age for first time brides: 25 years-old

1. 23 years-old
2. 24 years-old
3. 25 years-old

The average age for first time grooms: 27 years -old

1. 26 years-old
2. 27 years-old
3. 28 years-old

The average household income of a newly married couple: $60,000

1. $60,000/year
2. $68,000/year
3. $75,000/year

The average size of a wedding party: 12

1. 10
2. 12
3. 14

The average amount spent on a traditional wedding: $22,000

1. $12,000
2. $16,000
3. $22,000

The average amount spent on a bridal gown:

1. $800
2. $900
3. $1,000

What is more popular:

1. Sit-down dinner(34%)
2. Buffet(38%)
3. Cake & Punch (28%)

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Best Family Pictures

My poor baby is already being treated like the second child he is. I was deteremined not to scrimp on his baby pictures, but I have. He is 11 months old and I don't have a nine month picture. I think I better just wait until 12 months. How often do you get professional pictures of your kids? It gets kind of pricey. So, I have tried several times to take what looks like a professional picture in my living room. Once in awhile, I get lucky with a good picture, but I'm not sure why.

Best Family Photograhaphy has this advice:

1. Plan ahead. Have extra memory cards and batteries available. If there's more than one child in the picture write down what poses you definitely want.


2. Experiment with different perspectives and angles. This is one where the baby is moving away from you, but still has her face toward the camera.


3. Gently squeeze the button With activity, be ready for those special action baby pictures when they presents themselves, and gently squeeze the shutter button. Why gently? Because if you jerk it quickly in an attempt to capture a particular instant, you'll likely move the camera just enough to blur the baby picture.


4. Avoid some backgrounds that are particularly bright, have glass, or shiny surfaces.


5. Try increasing the tips.com/ISO.html">ISO strong/a> high enough to take baby portraits without a flash, but not so high that the "digital noise" will ruin the photograph.


6. The use of a tripod is strongly recommended on shots longer than 1/200 of a second.

This link is for taking great baby pictures.

And Better Photos has some more tips I liked:

1. Position everyone so that their heads are close together.


2. Wear bright solid colors. Stripes, sports logos, polka dots, and plaids act as distractions, pulling the viewer's eye away from your subject.


3. Keep things simple, including just your subject and being careful to not include a bunch of other things in the picture.


4. Time of Day: Take your family portrait at a time of day that produces the nicest light - like early in the morning when the sun is just rising.

I've learned a few things. I hope it helps you too!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen