24 Questions For Facing Your Fear

Much of the fear that fuels our anxiety is based in fiction – false truths that have no basis in reality. From a fear of public speaking, to a fear of leaving the house, our level of anxiety is distorted in relation to the actual potential for danger. These are familiar behaviors that start in childhood – that fear of the monster in the closet or under the bed. You may not be able to see it or hear it, but you believe it is there. The child’s response is to shrink in fear: “If I’m quiet enough and still … Continue reading

The School System and ADHD

While, this is the homeschooling section, I think it’s important to keep up on what goes in the school system. I believe what goes on outside our homeschool world can have a direct effect on our homeschool. We should always be informed on new educational laws, requirements and controversial topics. The topic of ADHD is relevant in today’s school system since many children have been given the diagnosis after a teacher recommended a child be seen by a doctor. These children are more times than not put on drugs. This may alleviate the stress this child puts on a teacher … Continue reading

When a Child Makes a Racist Taunt To Another Child

No matter how much we read about adoption, there is a tremendous tendency to believe that your own kids are not getting questions or comments about race or adoption. The last few blogs have talked about helping to avoid stereotypes in children by having diverse books, dolls, and posters in their environment, and by specific actions and discussions to help kids develop empathy and learn about the contributions people of various races have made and are making to our society. Now I will mention some suggestions for a time when a child actually says or hears a racist comment or … Continue reading

Keeping Your Hands to Yourself May Save You Money

I have been so frustrated with the whole H1N1 Swine Flu issue that has been going on since the spring. I’ve only managed to be able to have one of my children vaccinated, and my own doctor said that it was unlikely that I or my husband would be able to receive vaccinations either, even though I fall into the high risk category. So, needless to say, I have been trying to refrain from touching things as well as teaching my kids to do the same. If you don’t touch the germs it will make it hard for them to … Continue reading

Six Questions to Ask Your Self Before Buying Something New 2

If you want to get ahead financially, you have to spend less. One great way to do this is to avoid purchases that aren’t really wanted or needed. To do this, it is helpful to ask yourself six different questions before you actually purchase something. This will help you determine if you really want or really need the item, or if there is a way to get the item for free or for a lower cost. You can also find out if the item is worth the expense. In yesterday’s blog post, I counted down the first three questions to … Continue reading

Minimizing Allergies from Cleaners and Detergents

If there is any asthma or allergies in your family, then you might want to take a good look at the cleaners and the detergents that you use in and around your home. The same goes for personal care products. Many of these products contain chemicals, perfumes and dyes that can bring on indoor allergies and dangerous asthma symptoms. While you can focus on buying natural products, these can be expensive and some may still cause allergy irritation. Here are some general guidelines about reducing the allergens in your home from cleaners and detergents. Avoid dryer fabric softener sheets. These … Continue reading

Why My Husband Didn’t Force Me to Go to the ER

Yesterday I shared why Wayne almost forced me to go to the hospital on Saturday morning. Later in the weekend, he told me what a conundrum he’d been in. As he held me while I bawled because I was alternating between coughing so hard and gasping for breath that I almost passed out, he debated whether he should just sling me over his shoulder, haul me downstairs, toss me in his truck and drive me to the ER. Instead he opted for the bargaining approach. (He feared I’d jump out of the car and get myself killed in traffic if … Continue reading

Baby Blog Month in Review: October 2008

If you had an October baby, congratulations! I hope that you will spend some time with us here at Families.com, as we bring you the latest news and tips for you and your family. Here is the Baby Blog month in review for October. October 1st Insect Repellent and Young Children Protecting my children is the number one priority, but one thing that I tend to avoid is insect repellent. I figure that putting additional chemicals on my kids is not the best idea, that is until now. These days, a mosquito bite is not just an annoyance, but it … Continue reading

Yes or No? Answer These Frugal Questions

When it comes to frugal living, there is sometimes a fine line between being smart about saving and being a miser. Here are some practices that many frugal people use. Are they common sense or going to far. See what your responses might be, yes or no, to each of these questions. You go out to dinner and want to keep your bill as low as possible. Would you do any of the following: You order a free water with lemon. You then squeeze the lemon and add some sugar or sweetener to make your own lemonade. You order a … Continue reading

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

We want our customers and clients to ask us questions so that we know how to better serve them but you may be hesitant to ask questions yourself. Unfortunately, asking questions is how we gather information, find out what we need to do and even discover what the possibilities are. Whether you need to get better service from your vendors or suppliers or are trying to meet the needs of your customers or clients, it is far better to ask pertinent questions than to try to read minds and make a mistake in your guessing. Many of us believe that … Continue reading