Dangerous competitions: 6 Dangerous Games Your Kids Should Avoid

In this report from US News and World Report, they highlight Six Games that your child should avoid:

• The choking game
• The cinnamon challenge
• Gallon challenge
• Chubby bunny
• Ice and salt
• Water chugging

Dangerous competitions: 6 Dangerous Games Your Kids Should Avoid - US News & World Report

Energy Drinks can Prolong QT Cardiac Interval

Research on energy drinks, presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans (2013), found that energy drinks can change the heart rhythm, specifically drinking 1 to 3 energy drinks in a row prolongs the QT interval by about 10 msec.

ICD-10 I45.81

Cyberbully - What is it and how do we make it stop?

Cyberbullying has become a huge problem. It is easy for a kid to send off an angry email or text message. But when a kid cyberbullies they don't have to look the other kid in the eye and so it is easier for the bully to amp up their anger and keep it coming until they somehow feel vindicated. But in the meantime they may never fully know the full impact of their actions because they never look their victim in the eye.

You can learn more about cyberbullying and how to help at WiredSafety.com

Book Club

Yes Moms - we do have time to read. The Stay at Home Mom bookclub is designed for all of us moms who fall asleep on the couch when we have a second because we are so tired from chasing toddlers, doing laundry, and trying to keep up with life in general.

Check out this month selection

What happened to the girl I married?

at Stayathomemom.com

Great Way to Give during the Holidays

This year the grown ups decided to just exchange cards at Christmas. So, I was talking to my kids about this and they suggested I go to one of their favorite charity sites and buy the Christmas cards directly from the charity and that way I could send the card that I want to and also donate to the charity at the same time.

( I love having brilliant kids ).

Here are the sites they suggested:

Child's Play - a charity that donates video game equipment and games to hospitals so that kids will have something fun to do while they are there recovering or getting lengthy cancer treatments.
Holiday Card page

Children's Cancer Research Fund - A site dedicated to giving children hope and advancing research in childhood cancers.
Holiday Card page

Habitat for Humanity - bringing families home.
Holiday Card page ( click on Holiday Gifts )

PG-13 is PG-13 for a reason

This weekend is the big release of the new movie "Quantum of Solace". This is the latest in the 007 James Bond series and promises to be even more action packed than any previous movies.
The movie has been smashing records in Europe and will probably do the same here.

The good news about this movie for parents is that it is not being marketed to the tween market. Earlier this year we saw the marketing blitz of the latest Batman movie. This was surrounded with hype because of the tragic death of Heath Ledger just prior to the release of the movie. But it was also problematic for many moms with young sons because Batman is a major figure in the toy industry and still one of the most popular halloween costume for kids under ten.

We were fortunate because our ten year old has his older brothers watching out for him. The older boys went to the opening night and after seeing the movie they said that there was no way they would let their ten year old brother see it if they were in charge. Way too scarry.

But this weekend we do not have to worry so much about the ten year old campaigning to go to see the movie with the big boys when he is presented with an alternative activity to go with his friends to the science center.

Recently, my husband and I went to a movie that was rated r and it was loud with explosions, bad language, and all the other things that go along with rated r movies. I was a little amazed to see a couple there with their little baby. I don't mind babies in theaters or restaurants or airplanes - I love kids and I know everyone was a baby at one point. I heard the parents tell a friend sitting with them that they couldn't find a babysitter and they really wanted to see the movie. My personal opinion is that even babies who can't talk yet still can take all these images and noises in and it can negatively impact them.

In these days of DVD sales there is just no reason to send your kids into the movie theater unless you are 100% confident that they are old enough to handle what they will be bombarded with. And even if you have a child is mature and has seen other vile movies at home on DVD there is still seems like we should, as parents, protect their childhood as much as possible. And there is no reason to take a little baby into a theater just because there is no babysitter that night.

Kids today are being asked to grow up much faster than ever before. Underaged Disney stars are having babies and dating men well over the age of 21. And I love the Internet but since my older boys have been more involved with various social sites I have been amazed at the photos of teenage girls that are scantily clad in provocative poses - I wonder where their parents are.

Kids can benefit from listening to a wide variety of music. They benefit from trying a wide assortment of food. They benefit from learning to read and are given the opportunity to read some of the great classics. They can benefit from adhering to the PG-13 rating.

Let our kids be kids.

Saving Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the kick off to a blur of activity leading up to and through the New Years Eve celebrations. It is a great day for families to get together and celebrate the foundations of our country and our foundations as a family. It is a celebration of families coming together. The day is steeped in tradition.

Too often though the day can also be a day for family dissention. If you are hosting the dinner at your house you are invariably going to do something different than the way it has always been done.

Several years ago my husband came up with a great idea and it has now become our family tradition. On Thanksgiving we invite family members well in advance so that there is a formal invitation. On occassion we do go to other relatives homes for the day but the basic plan remains intact.

• Plan out the menu.
  Once the location has been determined then the menu is announced.
  This may sound silly but some people have very firm ideas about what the most important dishes are for the Thanksgiving dinner. In our family there was strong feelings for the 5 bean salad and the ambrosia. My mom loves peas. No one else really had a strong feeling about the peas and after the peas campaign of 2001 we have now added peas to the menu. With everyone knowing what the menu is going to be in advance there is no snide comments on the day that a certain dish was missing or that there was a certain dish that was supposed to be made a certain way.
• Schedule.
  Make a schedule for shopping, cooking, and any other activities so that the actual day runs smoothly with no big glitches ( There is nothing like getting the pies ready in the morning and then remembering that you have forgotten to pull the 20 pound turkey out of the freezer and now you won't be eating until 10pm at night ).
• Be Thoughtful.
  Be considerate of your family as though they were guests in your house. They aren't - they're family but still remember to treat them the same or better than you would a perfect stranger. If Uncle Charly likes watching football all day but you want to play board games then perhaps make a couple of concessions so that everyone can have a lovely, pleasant, and relaxing day. Set up different zones in your house to allow for a variety of activities and allowing for family members to separate if that is needed.
• Plan topics of conversation ahead of time.
  If you know your mother-in-law likes to talk about how she was a better parent - or some other topic that you know will almost guaranteed drive you crazy - make a plan ahead of time how you will change the subject and what you can both talk about. Football is always good, current styles, and this year the economy - how are we all going to save money and still make the holidays special. Think of neutral conversations that can carry you out of an uncomfortable moment.
• Delegate.
  Get everyone involved in some little way. Be specific. Most people will say "Let me know if there is anything I can do to help" and leave it at that.
  
• Laugh.
  Have a great day and don't get too excited if the mashed potatoes are rubbery, and the broccolli is cold. The most important thing is the time together with your family and the happy memories that you are passing along to your kids.