Did you know that about 70% of all women experience the baby blues after childbirth?

*Jill was so excited during her pregnancy. Both she and her husband had been preparing for the birth of their baby boy for months. The delivery was fairly smooth – no complications – and family members were there to support the happy new couple. But Jill was moody. While her husband held the baby, Jill would slip away into the bathroom and cry for 15 minutes, dry her eyes, and come back out to give her husband and the baby a kiss. Jill felt like this for about two weeks, give or take a few days, and then she began to feel like herself again. Jill had the baby blues.

Did you know that about 10-20% of new moms suffer from post-partum depression?

*Pat was also excited about her new bundle of joy. She was expecting a baby girl and had been nesting for weeks! The nursery was fully stocked with all types of pink confections. Her mother was staying with her to serve as a “mother’s helper” for as long as she needed. Once Pat delivered baby Mary, she had plenty of support from her mother and husband but felt badly. Physically she was wiped out. She couldn’t sleep. Wasn’t eating well. And while she didn’t tell her family, she was constantly riddled with feelings of anxiety over the baby. Most of the thoughts had to do with “what if” she hurt the baby this way or in that way. So she just didn’t deal with the baby, but rather passed her to her mother for most of the day. This went on for well over six weeks. Pat suffered from post-partum depression.

It’s taken decades for physicians to finally recognize the baby blues and post-partum depression. It had always been dismissed as folklore, much like menstrual cramps, for years. But there is strong evidence to suggest that both occur due to hormonal changes after childbirth. The difference between the two lies in the duration and severity of symptoms.

Baby blues usually occurs right after delivery and for no longer than about two weeks. The symptoms generally do not cripple a new mother’s day to day activities. Post-partum depression presents itself much like regular clinical depression. The only difference is that post-partum depression seems to be brought on by the trigger of childbirth. Symptoms may not start right after delivery, but will last much longer than two weeks. The symptoms will also be much more severe and may render the mother incapable of having good quality of life as a new mother.

Symptoms include: loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping or staying asleep, absence of interest in her newborn and lack of interest in day-to-day routines.

Fortunately, support systems have been popping up all over to address the needs of a new mother and her family all dealing with the effects of post-partum depression. Remember it is possible for a woman to suffer from a full-blown psychotic break (Andrea Yates) if not treated seriously. Treatment may include antidepressants such as Prozac and talk therapy.

Related reading:

Beyond the Blues
by Shoshana S. Bennett, Pec Indman

Down Came The Rain
by Brooke Shields

Guest Author: David Perdew

Okay, I admit it.

I’m a radical anti-smoker. When Atlanta, GA, passed a ban on smoking in public places in 2005, I cheered. I’m one of those guys who will leave a restaurant rather than take a seat in the smoking section.

A law to ban smoking in public places could save more lives more quickly than the development of a single new anti-cancer drug according to the charitable group Cancer Research UK.

The organization’s Chief Executive argues that the single most important contribution to tackling cancer in the next decade is legislation to stub out smoking in the country’s pubs, restaurants and other enclosed workplaces.

I even believe that smokers should pay higher health insurance rates – plus more because they create second- hand smoke which has proven to be just bad as putting a cigarette in your own lips.

And then, there’s the whole moral issue of tobacco companies advertising to minors to knowingly encourage addiction to nicotine! But I won’t go there. In fact, I’m done talking about government intervention, tobacco company morality and health insurance premiums.

All this is important, but there’s a vital piece of the puzzle missing. In this 5-part eCourse, we’ll focus on that missing ingredient – it’s the piece we each have within our total control.

Smoking is a sign of something seriously wrong in the family. According to the Centers for Disease Control, factors associated with smoking (and there are many listed in the Teen Smoking report you downloaded) include:

* Use and approval of tobacco use by peers or siblings
* Lack of parental support or involvement
* Lower self-image or self-esteem
* Lack of self-efficacy to refuse offers of tobacco

Smoking is a cry for help. Kids just want to be loved and accepted. Belonging to a group – whether it’s chess club, gangs, church choirs or teen smokers – is just another way of being accepted.

How we raise our children affects their ability to choose the kinds of groups they join. If we shower them with love and acceptance while building a sense of power and autonomy, we’re arming them with the ability to resist self-destructive options and make self- affirming choices.

Over the next few days, we’ll look at ways to improve your child’s chances to remain smoke free long before he’s offered a cigarette. If he already smokes, we’ll examine ways that YOU can help him quit.

Biography: David Perdew, author of “Bad Dad: 10 Keys to Regaining Trust,” is a father and former Bad Dad. Claim your free Special Report — Teen Smoking: Is Your Teen Committing Suicide Slowly with Cigarettes? at => Bad Dad: 10 Keys to Regaining Trust

Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter .

***************************************************************************
Would you like to see your article here? Submit your articles for publication on our site and gain massive exposure, traffic and backlinks for your business. Learn more about our writer’s guidelines and good luck!

Guest Author: Karen Alonge

Here’s a quick tip to help you avert a power struggle with your child. (come to think of it, this tip works with adults, too!)

Don’t tell them what they need to do! Tell them what you want them to do. It sounds subtle, but it’s very significant. Let’s listen in on a conversation.

MOM: Son, you need to clean your room.

SON: No I don’t! It looks fine to me.

And the battle begins. What red-blooded kid could accept you telling him what he needs without protest? Especially if he happens to be at the age when his developmental task is to strengthen his autonomy?

One of the greatest joys and privileges of being human is the ability to decide for ourselves who we are and what we think. This power struggle has nothing to do with his room. It’s about the territory of your child’s mind and thoughts and opinions. Not a winning battleground for parents, believe me! Your child will defend his right to mental liberty to the bitter end. (and so would you, right? when you think of it that way, aren’t you just a little bit proud of him?)

Here’s an elegant alternative:

MOM: Son, before you go to bed tonight, I want the clothes on the floor in your room to be put into the laundry basket, and your dirty dishes loaded into the dishwasher.

SON: Awww geez, mom, you’re so picky. Okay … okay … okay.

You can never win an argument about someone else’s need. Speak only about your own needs and wants, and you can’t ever be wrong. Your child may not like your opinion — he may even think you are irritating and annoying — but he won’t be compelled to go to battle with you over his right to disagree. He’s free to think you are some kind of neat freak the whole time he’s picking up his clothes.

This example is oversimplifed to illustrate this point, of course. He may not immediately comply with your wishes and clean up his room. But at least this tip minimizes the battle territory. More likely than not, he’ll present significantly less passionate resistance while defending his messy room than he would while defending his autonomy. You’ll have a much easier time negotiating a win-win settlement.

Copyright Karen Alonge 2005
Karen Alonge is an intuitive life coach and parenting consultant with 20 years of experience helping families with all types of challenges. She offers consultations by phone, email, and IM. Clients often notice dramatic changes in their daily experience after only one session. Please visit http://www.karenalonge.com for more information.

Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter .

***************************************************************************
Would you like to see your article here? Submit your articles for publication on our site and gain massive exposure, traffic and backlinks for your business. Learn more about our writer’s guidelines and good luck!

Guest Author: Christina Bosemark

When I was growing up, the only way to raise a true world denizen was at an exorbitantly priced Swiss boarding school. Luckily, such elitism has been thrown out the window, and now parents raise bilingual and multicultural children themselves. The children grow up just as world-savvy and sophisticated — and actually know their own parents! Still for the do-it-yourselfer, a few tips can smooth the way.

The most common question people ask me is “How do I raise a bilingual child the best way? Easy, just talk to them! is my tongue-in-cheek response.

It seems almost impossible to imagine the baby transforming into a communicating creature, let alone one conversant in several languages. Although, the miraculous progress from cooing to speech occurs in exactly the same fashion whether it transpires in one or in several languages, the practicalities are different.

Here are the first steps to raising your very own polyglot tot.

1. Family agreement: Even though agreement within the family is perhaps the most essential ingredient, I am sometimes asked, “What do I do if my partner doesn’t want me speaking to our child in a language he doesn’t understand?” An insecure spouse may fear being excluded from the secret language between the other parent and the child. Discuss and compromise. It is very important that couples find some solution that is acceptable to both parents as well as beneficial to the child.

2. Enthusiastic, yet realistic: Once the idea of two languages has settled in, many people consider adding more. Usually the number of languages spoken within the household is enough for the child to absorb, but it’s actually possible to successfully introduce as many as four languages simultaneously — provided you can offer enough exposure and need for each one. Still, research suggests that a child needs to be exposed to a language 30% of his waking time to actively speak it, and since waking time is a finite quantity, so, too, is language acquisition.

3. The practical plan: Next, you need to make sure you have a plan. Agree on who speaks what language to whom and then stick to it. There are endless variations on the two most successful language systems. The most common involves one person who always speaks to the child in the foreign language. Anyone who is spending a significant amount of time with the child can function as this primary speaker.

The second common language system is where the whole family speaks in the foreign language. To add another language beyond those already spoken within the family, or if your family doesn’t speak any foreign languages, you’ll need to provide an outside source like an immersion program, a nanny or an au pair.

4. Get together: Building a support network is probably the most underestimated success factor, so find others who are raising their children to speak your language. You’ll benefit from their knowledge and be able to share both your doubts and your triumphs. It also ensures future play dates that will provide your child with the ultimate language teachers — other kids. Books, music, movies, and toys in your minority language are the most obvious ways to boost your child’s exposure, but there is also an amazing range of other household items such as place mats, tableware, posters, etc.

5 Be patient: Raising multilingual children requires patience, and there are going to be times when doubt sneaks in. As with most aspects of parenting, it’s a long-term commitment and there will be ups and downs. But remember, that’s happening to the parents of the monolingual children too!

Don’t worry if your child doesn’t speak his multiple languages as quickly or as adeptly as his peers. Instead focus upon his successes and marvel at the development of his little brain. Always praise, praise, and then praise some more! Know that when your child says, “I want a hug” in your language, you’ll almost cry with pride. At that moment, it won’t matter that it took some extra effort or that you had to wait a bit for the result.

And, hey, remember, you’re not alone. Madonna, Andre Agassi, and Antonio Banderas are among those raising bilingual children. And if they can do it, why shouldn’t you?

Christina Bosemark is the founder of Multilingual Children’s Association, http://www.multilingualchildren.org , the definitive guide to raising bilingual children featuring expert advice and real world wisdom with parent discussions, resource directory, tips, articles and more. Ask us you most burning questions or share your own experiences here!

Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter .

***************************************************************************
Would you like to see your article here? Submit your articles for publication on our site and gain massive exposure, traffic and backlinks for your business. Learn more about our writer’s guidelines and good luck!

Guest Author: Bob Lasseter

PreSchool Spanish – A Good Idea!

Do you have a 2, 3, 4 or 5 year old? Then please read this. If you introduce your child to a 2nd language now you will be giving your child a tremendous advantage in learning and life! Being exposed to a 2nd language early in life builds a foundation for success that extends way beyond just being exposed to another language. It is amazing the way a young child can absorb various information. The more educational activities they are exposed to during these early years the more the brain retains. And the introduction to a 2nd language stimulates their young minds while helping them build BRAIN POWER.

Research shows that “Younger is Better” when it comes to learning a 2nd Language. It is easier to learn 2 words for a number, color or everyday word as part of the early education process than it is for an older child who has to relearn new words. Did you teach your child how to speak English? No – they just absorb it by being exposed to English as an infant and toddler so why not Spanish in conjunction with English?

Other research shows that learning a 2nd language at an EarlyAGE results in higher standardized test scores, increased math & language skills and educational opportunities as well as becoming better problem solvers with eventual premier job opportunities. Everyone from the United States Postal Service to many of your local employers are requiring employees to be Spanish bilingual as a condition of employment – so let them get a “jumpstart” by introducing Spanish basics ASAP.

Why not boost your child’s confidence and self esteem by getting him or her exposed to Spanish basics as soon as possible. There will never be a better time than now!

Try these EarlyAge 2nd language resources:

www.spanishfun.net – SpanishFUN is a franchisor providing EarlyAGE 2nd language activities introducing PreSchoolers to Spanish

www.bocabeth.com – Fun and Entertaining CD’s, DVD’s, Flashcards and more to introduce young children to Spanish. Biography: Bob Lasseter is a CPA and the Founder of SpanishFUN – The PreSchool Spanish Franchise www.spanishfun.net

1-877-SPANFUN (772-6386)

Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter .

***************************************************************************
Would you like to see your article here? Submit your articles for publication on our site and gain massive exposure, traffic and backlinks for your business. Learn more about our writer’s guidelines and good luck!

Guest Author: R.L. Fielding

Adolescents often receive their facts about puberty from a variety of sources, such as friends, teachers, and the media. When faced with this storm of information, it is important for a girl to be able to turn to someone with whom she feels comfortable talking, who she can trust to provide good advice in most cases, that person is Mom.

The transition from childhood to adulthood can be nearly as difficult for parents as it is for their teenage children. Mothers of adolescent girls may find themselves struggling to explain the extensive physical and emotional changes their daughters are going through. To help with the parent-child dialogue, here are some answers to common questions about female puberty:

What is puberty?
Puberty can be a confusing and awkward time for young women. It is the time in life when a child becomes a young adult and sexual reproduction becomes possible.

The easiest changes to identify happen externally. Most children begin to experience large growth spurts around the age of eleven. Girls may notice their waists becoming narrower while their hips grow wider. From ages seven to thirteen, female breasts begin to grow, usually resulting in some soreness. Coarse body air may spring up in the pubic area, the armpits, and other areas. You should be certain to reassure your daughter that all women go through the same changes as they grow.

Less obvious, but much more important, are the internal physical changes. Before the signs of puberty even become apparent, hormonal alterations will have been taking place for several years. The hypothalamus in the brain and the pituitary gland begin to send signals to the ovaries. The ovaries then begin to ovulate as they release a mature egg. This egg can either become fertilized and produce a baby, or it will disintegrate and leave the body during the menstrual period.

First menstruation, also called menarche, often occurs close to the age of thirteen. This monthly discharge of tissue and blood from the uterus through the vagina is commonly known as a period. This is a sign of a normal, healthy reproductive system. Mothers should take care to prepare their daughters for the arrival of their period by explaining what will occur, why it happens, and how to handle it.

When will I get my first period?
It is impossible to pinpoint when a girl’s first menstrual period will occur as it is dependent on hormone levels and physical development. In some cases, girls as young as ten have begun their periods. To prevent embarrassing accidents, teenage girls may want to begin carrying sanitary pads to school with them, in case their period begins while they are away from home.

How long will my period last?
A typical period lasts anywhere from two to seven days. During a menstrual period, a woman’s body may gradually discharge up to one-cup of blood and tissue. Over the course of a lifetime, a woman can release 400 eggs and have this many menstrual periods if the ovulations do not lead to pregnancies. Illness or pregnancy can bring a temporary halt to monthly menstrual cycles. A woman’s periods will eventually stop completely as she reaches menopause around the age of 50-52.

What is “normal” menstruation like?
At first, it is “normal” for adolescents to notice an inconsistent vaginal discharge and an irregular period during their initial menstrual periods, but these periods will eventually become more regular, occurring every 28 days or so. Young women may want to use pantiliners to discreetly cope with any spotting that occurs in the meantime.

How do I prepare for my period?
Women can track their menstrual cycles using a calendar. Mothers can show their daughters how to mark the first day of their period on the calendar each month and count the number of days until the next period is due. This way, young girls can learn to prepare for their period in advance.

Sanitary Napkins vs. Tampons
During the menstrual period, girls have the option of using sanitary napkins, also known as “pads,” or tampons to absorb the flow. Pads are made of a soft, absorbent material that is similar to that of a diaper. They are held into a woman’s underwear by adhesive backing. In recent years, manufacturers have developed thinner, less conspicuous sanitary pads in an attempt to save women from the embarrassment and hassle of lugging larger pads with them and to make them less conspicuous when they are worn.

Tampons are inserted directly into the vagina. Much like an absorbent sponge, a tampon will gently swell as it becomes soaked with blood. A string allows for easy removal from the body. Tampons are convenient for swimming or exercising and can be paired with a pantiliner, a type of thin pad, for extra protection. When using tampons, women should change them every 4-6 hours to minimize the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), a rare, but potentially life threatening reaction to a certain bacterial infection of the vagina,

Will my period hurt?
It is not uncommon to experience some discomfort during menstruation. The blood flow does not hurt, but women may develop cramps as their uterus contracts. There is some pain from period cramps, but it is not unmanageable. These abdominal cramps vary in intensity and are different for each woman. Some women experience cramping with every period while others never feel anything. It is easy to purchase over-the-counter pain relievers that can help combat this nuisance. For severe period cramps, a doctor’s consultation may be needed.

What is PMS?
PMS, or Premenstrual Syndrome, refers to a set of symptoms that many women experience around the time of their menstrual period. Common effects of PMS include: bloating, cramps, fatigue, moodiness, headaches, or pimples. Again, there are over-the-counter medications that can ease these symptoms. To find relief while experiencing PMS, women should try wearing loose clothing or placing warm compresses on their stomach. Mothers can share with their daughters their own tricks for coping.

During puberty, many parents will notice a natural tendency in their daughters to seek greater independence but, no matter how much they protest, young women need more support and guidance than ever. Adolescent girls do benefit from having someone they can turn to for support and answers to their questions. By making yourself available to your daughter as a source of emotional and intellectual support, the transition into adulthood will be that much easier on both of you.

About STAYFREE®
STAYFREE® is a leading producer of feminine hygiene products. New STAYFREE® Dry Max offers a revolutionary QWIK-DRY Top Layer that traps fluid inside, providing the driest protection yet. For more information, please visit: http://www.stayfree.com/index2.html .

Visit o.b.®Tampons for answers to frequently asked questions to tampon related questions about you child’s menstrual period and the CAREFREE® site to learn more about PMS symptoms and period cramps.

R.L. Fielding has been a freelance writer for 10 years, offering her expertise and skills to a variety of major organizations in the education, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing industries. She lives in New Jersey with her dog and two cats and enjoys rock climbing and ornamental gardening.

This article is copyrighted by STAYFREE®. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part and may not be posted on other websites, without the express written permission of the author, who may be contacted via email at stayfree@digitalbrandexpressions.com.

Guest Author: Stacy Shattuck

Home invasions have made the news recently as a frightening form of child abduction. This type of abduction is not new, but it is starting to become more common as traditional forms of child abduction are becoming less effective.

This type of child snatching has parents panicked and paranoid. After all, where is your child safe it not in their own home? However, very few parents understand that with a little safety training, this type of abduction can usually be prevented just as easily as other forms of child abduction.

How it works
An abductor will sneak into the child’s home at night, attempting to gain access to the child. He or she will then either threaten the child with harm, or talk the child into coming with them. The child is snatched out of their bed, usually without a sound or commotion, and unfortunately, is rarely seen alive again.

What it depends on
This type of abduction, is obviously a stealth abudction. It is secretive, quiet, and depends on the child’s compliance, in one form or another. They need silent kids, period.

Defeating it
Noise. Plain and simple. Compliance gets a child nowhere, they need to yell and make a ruckus. If a person did not intend to physically harm the child, this will just scare them off. Even if they did intend to harm the child, it is highly unlikely, that in the commotion, the abductor will choose to kill the child on the spot as opposed to run off. Silence with kids is death. Yelling and screaming is life.
It is important that you sit down and talk with them about this type of abduction. Tell them that if anyone ever awakes them in the middle of the night, they are to scream as loud as they can and call for help. They need to scream, kick the walls, knock over furniture, make as large of a ruckus as they can in order to yell for their parents and try to get away. If the person grabs them and tries to run off, they should hang onto doors, windows, whatever they can to resist. Teach children to do this even if the person says they will kill them if they make noise. Explain to them the reality outlined earlier, that they are just saying that to get compliance and will probably run off if you make noise. If you go with them, they might kill you anyway.

A parents role
If at all possible, encourage children, especially younger children, to sleep with their doors open at night. Parents should also keep their doors open, (when not engaged in extra curricular activities) so that they have a means to hear their child if they happen to scream in the middle of the night. Not only does this ensure you hear them in the rare event that someone is in their room, but it will also come in handy for the everyday night terrors and other needs that your little ones require your assistance for.

Friends don’t come a knocking in the night…
What many parents don’t seem to realize, more likely of a scenario than threats, is that the child willingly walks out with the abductor because it is someone the child knows. Around 60% of all children murdered are taken by a close friend or relative.

It is important to teach children to never go anywhere with anybody except their parents in the middle of the night. If someone awakes you at night, it doesn’t matter who they are, you scream as loud as you can, and you get your mom and dad, no exceptions. Teach children that there is never any circumstance where someone they know would have a need to enter their room or retreive them at night without their parents knowing.

What to do
All parents should sit down at some point with their children and go over this subject. Explain to them all the points contained in this article, and make sure they understand. For added assistance, Global Children’s Fund also publishes a book, “Something Scary Happened” which teaches children what to do in the event of this type of abduction. Have a happy and safe year!

For a variety of free information and safety book downloads, on this and other important child safety issues, please visit us at: www.keepyourchildsafe.org

Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter .

***************************************************************************
Would you like to see your article here? Submit your articles for publication on our site and gain massive exposure, traffic and backlinks for your business. Learn more about our writer’s guidelines and good luck!

Guest Author: Emily Rose

“The heart of a mother is a place to call home. Mom means security, trust, care, and unconditional love.” -Emily Rose

Motherhood, it is selfless, hard work that in the end results in the formation of a beautiful life. Each day mothers pour out themselves to their young ones and pray that they are growing up healthy and happy. Days form weeks, weeks form years, years add onto years breathing life into a child.

They capture each moment in memory, picture, or poem. Days are filled with silly songs, t-ball games, piano recitals, homework, diapers, birthday parties, and school dances. They spend many sleepless nights worrying when the curfew has come and gone or pace the emergency room floor after a bicycle accident. They fill stockings and Easter baskets at midnight. They run here and there between soccer practice and study groups, ballet and daycare. Countless hours are spent repeating spelling words and creating planet mobiles. Dinner is on the table and popcorn and movies await happy faces. Small tiny things are done, barely noticed, but given with great care. The thank you’s may be few and far between.

One day their once tiny newborns grow wings and leave the nest. The sweetest thing is when those children return and they find that they are now not just your children, but close friends. The cycle continues when those children have children of their own and learn what their mother had so selflessly and sweetly done over those many years. A mom puts down her life to raise her children to help them reach dreams, achieve goals, be joyful, and have good character.

As mother day approaches it is the perfect time to ponder the meaning of motherhood and give thought to how you have been blessed with your mother, grandmother, or special lady in your life. If you have been touched by a mother, whether she is yours or someone in that role, let them feel the deep appreciation for what they have done. Choose a special flower, card, or gift to present to your mother symbolizing how honored and privileged you have been to have her in your life. Give her a special bouquet of roses meaning that her love was as fragrant and beautiful as the arrangement, or a personalized bracelet or monogrammed pendant she can wear in daily remembrance of how she has forever imprinted your life with love.

emilyrosejewellery.com

Biography: Author is Emily Rose owner of www.emilyrosejewellery.com

Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter .

***************************************************************************
Would you like to see your article here? Submit your articles for publication on our site and gain massive exposure, traffic and backlinks for your business. Learn more about our writer’s guidelines and good luck!

Guest Author: Larry Westfall

As your children grow up, it’s normal for them to think about having a boyfriend or girlfriend. They’ve probably been hanging out with friends of both sexes and doing things as a group, but they may be thinking about one-on-one dating. It’s time to talk about the different types of relationships and love and to prepare to set rules for dating.

Talking about relationships in regular, everyday conversations lets you and your child talk about your family values when it comes to friendship, dating, and love. Dating helps young people learn to get along with others, communicate, negotiate, make decisions, and learn to be assertive. It’s an important part of growing up, and talking about it together will help your teen mature.

So, how will you handle the teen dating scene? Parents approach teen dating in different ways. Some set strict rules while others let teens make their own decisions. However, a more “middle-of-the-road” approach may be best. This includes setting ground rules while giving young people options from which they can choose. It also means being available and open to ongoing conversations.

Setting Ground Rules

Even though they can make many decisions on their own, teens still need boundaries from you. Exactly what those boundaries are is something that you and your teen should discuss. Here are a few suggestions that may work for your family:

* Meet all of her friends, and insist that her date come into the house so that you can say hello.
* Know the details about each group outing or date, including what adults and teens will be present, where it will take place, who is driving, what they’re doing, and when they’ll be home.
* Make sure your teen knows that alcohol or drug use is not allowed by anyone on any date or group outing.
* Explain that if she wants to come home from a date, you are willing and available to pick her up at any time.
* Make yourself available if your teen wants to talk after a group outing or date.

There are many areas to discuss when it comes to teen dating. You will need to set rules that are appropriate for your child’s age and maturity level. These rules will change as your child grows up and as he handles different dating situations. For example, you may extend his curfew as he gets older. His curfew might change based on whether he is driving, his date is driving, or if a parent is driving. The curfew also might change based on the day of the week (weekend versus school-night dates) and time of year (summer versus school year).

Dating is a big deal to teens. They need you to stay involved and attentive to what’s going on. By setting rules with your teen about dating, you will help her learn to make good choices and to build healthy relationships while she navigates the teen dating scene.

Biography: Larry Westfall is the owner of http://friendstrain.com/ friendstrain

Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter .

***************************************************************************
Would you like to see your article here? Submit your articles for publication on our site and gain massive exposure, traffic and backlinks for your business. Learn more about our writer’s guidelines and good luck!

Guest Author: By James Biscardi

Perhaps the biggest obstacle for the stay-at-home business mom or dad is the kids. That screaming toddler is not going to be quiet when you have business calls or take that nap to let you get your work done. This will be the same child who will eat all of your post-its and stick food into your hard drive. As you are ripping your hair out and getting more and more frustrated you will wonder what the point of working at home was if you were going to still need childcare. You were probably envisioning no more commutes, flexible hours, and lunch with the kids’ everyday.

Your childcare options are flexible as well that is the beauty of being self-employed. Here are some of the most common affordable ways to take care of kids while you build your family’s fortune from home:

(1) Childcare Co-op: Find a group of work at home parents and swap off childcare duties. You can keep track of how many hours you watch each child and use the time you accrue when you need it most. The great thing about this is it is free. The downside is that you will have to give up work time to handle other people’s children.

(2) Trading or Mom-swapping: This is the smaller version of co-op. this will involve you and a good friend trading off childcare days. Make sure you set clear boundaries about when you will take the other child and when they will take yours. You don’t want to be taken advantage of. You will also want to make sure the kids like each other and get along well. If they don’t then this will end up being a bad experience.

(3) Sitter Sharing: Share a sitter with a friend. You can have the sitter watch both kids at the same time and split the cost or use the sitter on alternate days. Make sure that you have a written agreement on how the sitter is used and what you will be paying to avoid any unseen complications.

(4) Barter: Trade your products and services with a neighbor or friend in exchange for childcare. This will keep you from spending money and still pay the person doing the care for you.

(5) Day Care: You will find that the right day care center will be a rewarding experience for both child and parent. Which day care is best is entirely up to you and beyond the scope of this article. Costs vary from center to center and from state to state. But, you will find that the return on investment will be worth it because of your greater focus and productivity.

To come up with inexpensive childcare solutions you must be a networking prowess. Spread the word that you are looking for childcare to everyone you knows. Think in terms of trading and business opportunities. You are looking for a partner in business deal. This will help you to get what you need. Some moms are lucky to have businesses that are kid-friendly. They are the lucky for sure. Those ladies who have to make endless phone calls or have meetings may find that childcare of some sort is unavoidable. Try your best to get the right childcare for you and not spend an arm and a leg getting it.

Biography: James Biscardi is the owner and president of DynamicWealthSystems.com, a home business opportunity and resources website.

Visit: http://www.DynamicWealthSystems.com To contact James, e-mail to teacharino@yahoo.com

Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter .

***************************************************************************
Would you like to see your article here? Submit your articles for publication on our site and gain massive exposure, traffic and backlinks for your business. Learn more about our writer’s guidelines and good luck!