Tips for Breaking the Ice – How to Talk to Your Grandchildren
There can certainly be awkward moments when trying to warm up to your grandchildren, especially if you don’t see them very often. How do you start a conversation? Kids don’t often want to talk about the same things that adults do. Here are some tips on breaking the ice, and how to talk to your grandchildren.
1. Avoid General Questions
Try to avoid broad questions like, “How’s it going?” or “What are you learning in school?” Instead, ask some specific but non-threatening questions, such as, “Do you like your teacher? Does he/she assign a lot of homework?” or “Are you playing any sports this year?”
2. Share Your Experiences
A good ice-breaker with grandkids – and a conversational way to follow up some of the above questions – is to share a funny or interesting (and brief) story. If you’re asking about school as suggested above, you could start by telling a story about one of your teachers or a funny experience you had at school. Then you could follow up with a question like, “You ever have anything like that happen to you?”
3. Reveal a Few Funny Details
You knew your grandchildren’s parents when they were kids, so why not tell about that one time that their mom stole a candy bar from the store and you had to pay for it, or the time their dad blew up the pressure cooker trying to cook dinner. Kids love to hear that their parents are “human” too, and that they were once kids who made mistakes. You can also tell about your siblings or yourself – think of incidents that are funny without being humiliating. Then your grandkids might just tell you more than you wanted to know!
4. Play a Board Game
No matter how electronics-oriented kids are, a good board game can still break the ice. Some board games are more conversation-stimulating than others – try to choose one where the players need to interact.
5. Silence is Okay
Learning to be comfortable when others are silent is an art. Many people feel really awkward with silence, but your grandchildren may actually appreciate the open time and may find it helps them to open up. If you wait for your grandkids to fill in the quiet gaps, they might appreciate you for allowing them to take the initiative. Like some adults, not all kids like small talk.
6. Ask and Talk About Pets
If your grandkids have pets, these can be a great conversation starter. Many children who don’t talk very much will really open up when it comes to their animal friends.
Learning your grandchildren’s own personal style of communication is a good way to start. Then work within that to break the ice and enjoy your time with them.
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Getting Your Child to Sleep through the Night
When you have young children, you wonder if you’ll ever sleep through the night again. The answer to this is yes, you will, but it will never be the same. Eventually your child will sleep through the night. Pay no attention to those people who say that their babies sleep through the night at one day old. That is extremely rare.
Newborns need to eat frequently because of their small stomachs. By the time they reach around 11 pounds, they can go at least six hours. By around six months if your baby wakes frequently in the middle of the night it might be from habit, but this is also the time when he or she begins to remember you.
If you are desperate for a full night’s sleep, then you’ll want to take some steps early to make sure your baby learns how to self-soothe. We all wake through the night as we go through different stages of sleep. It all depends on how you handle sleep in the early days how difficult it will be later on.
To start with, you want to make sure your child is not sleeping too much during the day. You also don’t want a late afternoon/early evening nap. So you might have to try adjusting nap times. A mid-morning nap and a mid-afternoon nap for an hour or two each is enough for most babies less than a year old. Some babies do better with one longer nap. Once you find a good daytime nap schedule for your baby, you can really focus on the evening routine.
When you put your baby to bed for the night, make sure she’s awake when you put her down. This way she has to figure out how to fall asleep on her own. Now you need to decide the method with which you want to get your child to go to sleep on her own.
You can let her cry it out. You’ll hear people who swear by this method and others who say it’s cruel. However, since a baby’s way of communicating her needs is through crying , she has figured she can get her way with tears and you’ll come running. You may want to make it clear that night-time is bedtime and crying should only be used when it’s really necessary. In other words, you might not want to send the message that if you throw a temper tantrum you get your way.
If you are truly morally opposed to this method, though, then don’t try it. You will have to use music, or a pacifier, or nursing to get your child back to sleep. Just remember: if she wakes in the middle of the night, you’ll have to offer one of these things at that time as well to get her back to sleep – which defeats the whole “sleep through the night” idea.
There are different ways to let babies cry it out. For example “Ferberizing.” This is where on night one you put your baby to bed awake, give a little pat, say goodnight, and leave the room. When she starts crying, allow her to cry for five minutes, then go back in and give her the some reassurance, but do not pick her up. Then leave. This time, if she begins to cry again leave her for ten minutes, then go back in for reassurance. You continue doing this, expanding it by five minutes each time before you return until she’s asleep. Each night after, extend the amount of time she fusses by a few minutes each night.
If the crying changes at all, you can go in and check just to make sure she isn’t hurt or stuck. Make her comfortable again with a few little pats and gentle words and then leave.
If you are trying to get an older child to sleep through the night, then stay in the room in a chair giving reassuring words until she falls asleep. Move the chair further from the crib each night until you’re at the doorway.
Try systematic awakening. Start out by keeping a diary of your child’s sleep patterns. Write down when she wakes at night and find the patterns. Then set an alarm for half an hour before your baby usually wakes and go wake her up and do what you would normally do. Feed her, change diaper, rock her, whatever. Gradually expand the time between these systematic awakenings and begin to eliminate them all together. Within a few weeks you should be able to phase them out altogether.
If you never let your child become overtired to begin with, then this will help eliminate sleep problems. Anticipate your child’s natural sleep patterns for nap and bedtime, then when you put your baby down in her bed she will fall asleep easily because she’s already tired. If she does wake during the night, then briefly respond with reassurance, but let her fall asleep on her own.
Gradually remove sleep aids that you use to get baby to sleep. If you nurse her to sleep, gradually remove that feeding at bedtime. If you rock her for 20 minutes, reduce it by five minutes each day. Put her to bed drowsy, but not asleep, so she can drift off to sleep. If she does still wake at night you can respond, but not by picking her up or feeding her – just give a reassuring pat.
Whatever way you choose to do this, just be consistent. Don’t do it one night and say this doesn’t work and give up; keep at it. Give it a solid two weeks to really know if it works or not. Even if you aren’t going to let your child cry it out, don’t jump up at the first sign of distress either during the night. Sometimes babies cry out while still sleeping and will fall right back to sleep. Always give the crying a few minutes to see if it subsides on its own before you go in to offer comfort.
With consistency and perseverance you will see a great difference in how your child sleeps through the night. And once it happens, you’ll think that wasn’t such a big deal.
Fresh Corn Salad
6 ears of corn OR 16 oz. pkg. frozen corn, thawed and drained
1 green or red bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch green onions, sliced
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 Tbsp. garlic vinegar
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
If you are making this salad with fresh corn, husk the corn and remove as many of the silks as possible. Add a small amount of sugar to a large pot of water. Bring it to a boil and cook the corn for 1 to 2 minutes. You want to just heat the corn, so you don’t want to cook it much longer. Shock the corn to stop cooking by adding to a bowl of ice water. Let it stand in the ice water for about 4 minutes.
Cut the corn off the cob by using a sharp knife. Place the corn in a large bowl and then add the green pepper, onions and tomatoes. Stir
Cut the corn off the cob using a sharp knife. Combine in a large bowl with green pepper, onions, and tomatoes.
In a small bowl combine sour cream, mayonnaise, basil, garlic vinegar, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Pour over corn mixture and toss gently to coat. Chill for 1-2 hours before serving.
Getting Baby on a Schedule
There are two schools of thought when it comes to babies and schedules. One says don’t do it – follow your child’s needs. Another says do it or you’ll never have normalcy. It’s really a personal decision with no right or wrong answer. If you are a person who thrives on a schedule and like to know what to expect, then here are some tips for you.
Putting Baby on a Schedule
If you are going to put your baby on a schedule, remember to be flexible with that schedule – especially in the first two years or so of life. Babies do a lot of growing in the first year of life and sometimes they will eat more or sleep more during a growth spurt. You never want to deprive your child of these things, especially in that first year when your baby is developing so quickly.
Most babies have their own schedule anyway. You just need to tune into it. Some are stricter than others, but for the most part by the time your baby is three months old there will be a routine you will see to his or her day. It will be a lot easier on all if you try your best to stick to your child’s natural schedule.
However, if your baby seems to have her nights and days confused, you can remedy this. Whenever your baby is awake during the day, encourage her to stay awake. Don’t feed her right away and instead play with her a little. Change her diaper. Sing some songs with her. Read a book. Make the most of the time she is awake.
Don’t let her sleep longer than three hours at a time during the day either. If it has been three hours since she last fed, wake her up to feed her. At night, don’t go running at the first sound – after around three months old, that is. Let her try to self-soothe. If you do have to go get her, make things as low key as possible. No talking, no playing, and don’t turn on lights. If a diaper change is needed do so, then feed, and back to bed. Night-time is boring. Make it that way, and baby won’t want to be up at night.
Here are the key points to putting baby on a schedule:
* Pay attention to your child’s natural sleeping and eating patterns.
* Never think of a schedule as a rigid set of rules which must be followed to the letter.
* Make a flexible timetable which your baby’s day revolves around.
* Don’t deprive your baby of food. If you believe baby is hungry, feed her, even if it’s not “time
What to Look for When Choosing Baby Formula
There is so much to think about when we are deciding on the perfect first food our baby will ingest: brand, price, ingredients, allergies, sensitivities, and even recalls. All of these can come into play when choosing the right formula to make sure our child is healthy and thrives.
Choosing the Brand
When we say choosing the brand, we don’t so much mean whether to choose Enfamil or Similac. We mean the different kinds of formula, like milk-based or soy. Formula in the United States is regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and has to meet certain standards in order to be sold. And today’s formulas are as close as you can get to breastmilk – minus the antibodies. They provide the necessary proportions of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, sodium, vitamin, minerals, water and other nutrients. They come in different bases and forms, though, and your individual child’s needs will determine which one you choose.
First you will want to talk to your doctor. Barring any known complications at birth such prematurity or metabolic disorders like PKU, he or she will likely recommend a cow’s-based formula to start out with. Don’t be fooled into thinking regular cow’s milk is good enough, though. A baby under one year old is unable to digest cow’s milk. Formula has been fortified with all of the nutrients a baby needs, so make sure you choose a formula. Your doctor can give you some samples so you can figure out which ones will be the best for your baby before you actually purchase one.
If your doctor determines that your child can’t handle cow’s milk, he might recommend a soy-based formula. These are only recommended for babies who have a special health consideration like a cow’s milk allergy. The problem with soy is that it has been shown that babies drinking it are more likely to develop a peanut allergy later on.
There are also lactose-free formulas and hypoallergenic formulas which can cause fewer allergic reactions in babies. These formulas are generally only recommended for babies who are prone to allergies. These are also far pricier formulas, so don’t bother trying them unless your doctor recommends them. If your doctor does say your child needs to be on one of these special formulas and you are worried about affording it, ask your doctor if he can write it as a prescription. Some insurance plans will pay for specialty formulas, but you will have to find a pharmacy that can supply them.
You can probably avoid the follow-up formulas that are designed for older babies when your baby reaches a certain age. Again, check with your child’s doctor, but regular baby formula should have everything your child needs to thrive for the first year or more of her life.
You want to make sure you have an iron-fortified formula. While you can get low-iron formulations, these aren’t considered a healthy option. The AAP recommends babies receive iron-fortified formula from birth until one year old.
Finally, just watch your baby for cues that she’s accepting it. Spitting up is to be expected, but if it seems excessive and is coupled with uncontrollable screaming every time she eats for more than a week, then you might want to consider a switch in formula. Always discuss it with your pediatrician to see what he recommends in this situation. It might just be that the brand needs to be changed, or you might suspect a milk allergy and need to switch to soy. Just consult with your doctor.
What’s the Best Concentration of Formula
As if choosing the right formula wasn’t hard enough, you also have to decide which form it comes in. This is really personal preference. Formula comes in four different forms: ready-to-use, ready-to-pour, concentrated liquid, and powder.
Ready-to-use is already premixed formula that is in bottles. They come in either 4- or 8-ounce bottles. This is typically what hospitals give out. All you have to do is add a nipple to the bottle and you’re ready to go. These are for single serve, though. If your child does not finish the whole thing, then you have to dispose of the unused portion. This is easy and convenient, but it can be more expensive.
Ready-to-pour is a liquid formula that is already mixed with water; you just have to pour it into the bottle and feed it to baby. Once the can is opened, you must store it properly in the refrigerator. While this is cheaper than the ready-to-use version, you are still paying extra for the extra convenience.
Concentrated liquid needs to be prepared. You have to dilute it in equal parts of water to make the formula ready to drink. You have to be very careful with this measuring too, because too much water is not a good thing in formula. This also needs to be stored in the refrigerator once opened. Again it’s cheaper still than the ready-to-use and the ready-to-pour, but it is less convenient.
Powder is the least expensive option and can be the most work and potentially the messiest. It’s kind of like powdered milk. You have to reconstitute it with a specified amount of water. The up side to powder is it does not need to be refrigerated. This makes it easier to be out and about. You just add water when you need it. Making sure it’s mixed properly can be a bit of a nuisance, though.
Choosing formula is all about preference and what your baby can handle. Don’t assume that because your child is super fussy right after having a new formula that it’s solely because of the formula, though. You’ll have to give it some time. When in doubt, ask your doctor for his recommendations. And pay close attention to recalls as well. While it doesn’t happen a lot, it does happen with all foods; so you want to remain aware of possible problems.
Should You Supplement Breastfeeding with Formula
There might be no greater debate to start out our lives as parents than whether to use breastmilk or formula. No one will argue with you that breast is best, but in all honesty formula has its place too and is a perfectly safe and viable supplement to use when breastfeeding. Here are some reasons why you might need to supplement some formula.
Why Supplement Breastfeeding with Formula
There are numerous personal and biological reasons why one would need to supplement feedings with formula for an infant. Let’s took a look at some of those.
* Your child is failing to thrive. Sometimes babies just don’t get enough calories from the breastmilk that they need to thrive. We don’t always know the exact reason why, but if your child is falling dangerously off the growth curve, then you might need to supplement with some formula.
* Mom just doesn’t want to exclusively breastfeed.
* Pumping doesn’t produce enough milk and mom has to go back to work or leave baby for some other reason.
* If mom gets sick and has to be on a medication that is not safe for breastfeeding, or needs surgery and can’t breastfeed for a period of time and there’s not enough milk stored up, she might want to start using formula.
* Extremely sore and cracked nipples in mom resulting in numerous breast infections.
* Too time-consuming or just plain exhausting.
For these and maybe other reasons, you might be thinking of supplementing with formula – either all the time or just on occasion. Whatever the reason is, though, you want to make sure you do it right. With that in mind, here are some tips for combination feeding.
How to Effectively Supplement Formula for Breastmilk
While it might be very easy to say that a woman didn’t try hard enough to breastfeed for whatever reason, we don’t know what another woman’s pain is like. If she’s willing to continue breastfeeding with a little supplement of breastmilk, then more power to her. This is a perfectly viable option for any of the reasons given above.
Here are some ways to make the supplementing formula go as smoothly as possible.
* Try to wait to offer a bottle until breastfeeding has been established. That means give it at least two to three weeks. This will help ensure your milk supply is built up and help avoid nipple confusion.
* Barring any unplanned event, try to make the transition a slow transition. Start out giving one bottle a day for a few days two or three hours after breastfeeding. Add a second bottle after a few days, slowly taking out one nursing session and replacing it with a bottle. This will help eliminate clogged ducts and breast infections.
* Keep an eye on your supply. The downfall to supplementing with formula is your supply will likely dwindle. So long as you give around six good nursing sessions in a 24-hour period, your supply shouldn’t be too greatly affected. However, you might have to pump to help keep your supply up if your baby isn’t nursing long enough or well enough.
* Make sure you have the right nipple for the job – on the bottle that is. Try to find the ones that look most naturally like a nipple, with a wide base and a slow flow.
Following these tips you should be able to combo feed without a problem if you discover that’s the best choice for you and your family. Breastfeeding doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing deal.
Crockpot Chicken Tacos
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 (16 oz) jar salsa
flour tortillas (6 inch)
In a small bowl, add the seasonings and stir well. Then add the salsa and stir again.
Place the chickens breasts and remaining ingredients into a crock pot and stir until the chicken breasts are coated evenly.
Cover the crock pot and cook the chicken on low until the chick is fork-tender. It will also shred easily when it thoroughly cooked. This will take about 6 hours. You could also cook it on high for about 4 hours.
Shred the chicken and return it to the crock pot. Heat the tortillas according to the directions on the package. Divide the chicken evenly among the heated tortillas and then top them with whatever toppings you enjoy.
How to Wean Baby from Breast or Bottle
Weaning your baby from the breast or the bottle is something we all must tackle at one time or another. Some babies just wean themselves, but most need a little nudge. If you’re at that point, or just about at that point, then here are some tips for you.
How to Wean from Breast
Weaning is a natural function. While there can be a lot of emotion involved in weaning, it doesn’t have to be dreaded or cause tears. Done slowly and with love, it will be stress free for all involved.
* Do it gradually. Start by taking out one midday feeding a day for a few weeks. Do this until you’re left with only the morning and before bed feeding. This decreases your supply, but doesn’t make your child feel deprived of anything.
* Check with your doctor to see what he or she recommends you replace breastmilk with. A child before a year old will need to be on formula.
* When you offer the replacement to the breast, whether in a cup or bottle, make sure to give your child lots of closeness. He or she is used to lots of physical touching while eating, so provide that to her even though you’re not offering the breast.
* If you’re weaning a toddler (2 and older), set firm limits on your time of nursing. Only offer it when it’s convenient for mom.
* If you have another person around as a caretaker, see if they’ll take the late night wake-up calls. At a certain age these are less about hunger and more about comfort.
How to Wean from the Bottle
Weaning from the bottle isn’t all that different from weaning from the breast. Some children become very attached to their bottle. The younger you try to switch over to a cup, the easier it will likely be, though. Here are a few more tips.
* Find the right cup for the job. Some sippy cups can be very difficult for a child to drink from. You might need to do a lot of trial and error to find the right cup. Be open to trying cups with straws or ones which aren’t spill-proof as well.
* Offer the cup gradually just like taking out the breast gradually. Offer a cup with breakfast to start with instead of the bottle. Once she’s taking that, then expand to lunch, and dinner.
* The last bottle to go should be the bedtime bottle and when that goes you will want to offer other things of comfort in its place. Extra cuddles, a favorite toy, or a nice cozy blanket. Offer a cup of water if you need to, but not milk.
* Use positive reinforcement. When your child drinks from a cup, make a huge deal about it with lots of praise.
* If your child asks for the bottle, figure out what she really wants. Hungry? Give her food. Thirsty? Give her a drink in a cup. Sad or hurt? Give her extra love, hugs, and comfort.
* When you do offer the bottle, make it less appealing. Gradually start watering the milk down. Eventually your child will see that the milk tastes so much better in her big girl cup; she’ll stop asking for the bottle.
* Out of sight, out of mind – get rid of the bottles. If you don’t have them, your child can’t ask for one.
Always remember when weaning to remain positive and be prepared to offer lots of extra snuggles. Be patient. No child has gone off to college still breastfeeding or drinking from a bottle. You know your child best, so pay attention to her cues. Weaning is not something you should stress over.
Eight Hidden Spots Where Germs Collect
Germs are everywhere. Some are harmless enough but others are not. If they are given a chance to hide, they will multiply and then they become a problem. Read on to find out about eight spots where germs could be breeding right now.
People are afraid of germs. For one, they are too small to be seen so you don
DIY Home Repairs Anyone Can Make
Who says that you always have to call the professional to get the job done around the house? When it comes to certain projects, the only thing you need is a little knowledge and some elbow grease. Below is a list of DIY home repairs that you can certainly handle yourself.
Hiring professionals costs money. In light of past issues with the economy, many people can
Cornucopia of Summer Fruits
1 medium watermelon
12 cups assorted sliced fresh fruit or berries
Fresh mint leaf
Using a sharp knife, begin by cutting off one-fourth of one end of a watermelon. Be sure to cut the watermelon at an angle so what remains of the watermelon is shaped like a cornucopia. Wrap the smaller end in plastic wrap and then place it in the refrigerator.
Cut a thin slice from the bottom of the watermelon to allow it to stand level. Run a sharp knife around the rim of the watermelon leaving about 1/2 to 1 inch shell. Scoop out the watermelon with a small scoop. Place the watermelon into a large bowl. Drain the liquid from the shell.
Scallop or create a decorative edge to the cut edge of the watermelon. Cover and refrigerate the watermelon shell for up to 24 hours.
Right before serving, place the watermelon on a large serving platter. Fill the watermelon shell with the fresh fruit and watermelon chunks. Allow the fruit to fall out of the watermelon and onto the platter. Garnish the fruit with fresh mint leaves.
Top Five Multipurpose Cleaners
When it comes to cleaning, less is more. You want to spend less time maintaining your home and more time enjoying it. One way to do that is to utilize these top five multipurpose cleaners.
The Benefits of Multipurpose Cleaners
How many cleaners are under your kitchen or bathroom cabinet right now? If you have more than two or three, then you have too many. Too many chemicals around the house could lead to mixing smells that might knock you out.
Using multipurpose cleaners eliminates the need for bottles and bottles of chemicals in the house. They are designed to do the job of several in one bottle.
Usually less chemical is needed when dealing with multipurpose cleaners. Because they clean more than one surface, they are stronger than some single use products. Follow directions carefully to get the most benefit safely.
Top Five Multipurpose Cleaners
There are many cleaning products on the market but very few that can do the job of more than one item. Here are five of the top cleaners you might want to have around your home.
1. Mr. Clean Antibacterial Multi-Purpose Spray
Six Common Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid
When it comes to spills and messes, you just clean them up – right? Apparently not. There is a wrong way to clean some messes or the wrong technique to use, period. Keep reading to find out about six common cleaning mistakes that we all have made but need to avoid in the future.
The Truth about Cleaning
It drives you crazy but it is a necessity. We are talking about cleaning. You put it off as long as you can because, well, you don
Five All-Natural Stain Busters
Stains can be insidious. Even the smallest one can ruin a good piece of furniture, clothing or even a rug. Find out how to get rid of stains the natural way.
Spills and their resulting stains happen all the time. Instead of getting bent out of shape over them, learn how to treat them successfully. All too often stains are taken care of the wrong way, which makes them even harder to remove.
How Not to Treat Stains
* Don
Steak with French Avocado Relish
4 ribeye steaks
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 avocado, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
3/4 cup French salad dressing
Preheat and prepare the grill. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the steaks to season them. Allow the steaks to rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes.
While the steaks are resting, prepare the relish by combining the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl and mixing well. Set the relish aside as the steaks cook.
Place the steaks on the grill and turn only once, until they reach the desired doneness. Reaching “medium
Five Diet Mistakes You May Be Making
Diet is such an ugly word. It conjures up images of starving people who are totally unhappy. In this article,