6 Tips for Falling Asleep Faster

Are you getting tired of tossing around for a long time before you finally get to sleep? It’s no wonder – sleep deprivation can affect your health, love life, job performance, memory…the list goes on. So how can you get to sleep sooner without the tossing?

Here are 6 tips for falling asleep faster.

1. White Noise
Setting up a source of white noise can make a big difference. It can be a machine that has various white noise settings, such as falling rain or water running, or it can be as simple as a small fan running near your bed. Some people choose to turn a radio on and listen to static as they fall asleep. Whatever it takes, get some white noise going to help you fall asleep faster.

2. Make Lists
Nothing seems to keep you awake more than a racing mind. Take a moment before falling asleep to write down the next day’s plans and to-do list, and if you need to, note down brief steps you plan to take to solve immediate problems. If it’s the long term you’re worried about, make a list of long-term goals and the steps necessary to accomplish them.

3. Put Your Body to Sleep
Used by some parents to help their babies and small children fall asleep, you can try this on yourself. Start with your toes, and “tell them goodnight.” You don’t have to say it, of course, but simply wiggle your toes a moment, and then tell them to relax. Do the same for your feet, legs, and so forth all the way up to your neck. Gradually relax each muscle group and body part. It will soon become second nature.

4. Cut the Caffeine
Ideally, try not to drink or eat caffeine-containing foods and beverages past 3pm, sources suggest. The caffeine needs time to process out of your system.

5. Is it Hot?
Your body naturally cools down when going to sleep, and experts maintain that cooling the room enhances this natural cool-down process. Turn the thermostat to a cooler setting, and use fans if you need to during summer (they may help with the white noise!).

6. Herbal Help
Chamomile and lavender are two sleep-promoting herbs that have a good safety record. Try a cup of chamomile tea right after dinner or an hour before bed (if you drink it right before you go to bed, it might get you up to go to the bathroom). Spray your sheets and pillow cases with lavender mist (mix 5-8 drops lavender essential oil with 1/4 cup water and 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol in a mister). You can also make lavender tea from dried or fresh flowers and spray that. And sewing a little sachet of dried lavender flowers and slipping it under your pillow case can make for sweet dreams.

Sleep is hopefully just minutes away if you try some of these ideas.

7 Tips for a Relaxing Morning

Are you laughing at the concept of a relaxing morning? For many of us, it sounds like a joke. Mornings can be so rushed that you dread them. Maybe, if you step back a bit and reassess things, you can find some ways to make your mornings less frantic.

Here are 7 tips for a relaxing morning.

1.
Get Up Earlier
This one may seem obvious, but it’s really amazing the difference just 15 minutes can make. If you normally get up at 6:15, set your alarm for 6 and make sure you actually get up; don’t use the 15 minutes to lie in bed. If you are up for it, try getting up half an hour or even a whole hour earlier. You’ll need to go to bed a bit earlier to get the sleep you need, but it can be well worth it to have a calmer morning.

2. Wrap Things Up in the Evening
Although you’re probably aiming for an earlier bedtime, try to wrap things up before bedtime – at least some of the little things. Pack lunches and fill water bottles, for instance, and get the kitchen cleaned up so it’s ready for you to cook breakfast. Write yourself a note for things that need to be done tomorrow, so you can relax and not try to remember everything. Get purses, briefcases, and backpacks ready to go.

3. Make Dinner Earlier
To free up time in the evening, try having dinner at an earlier hour and spend less time cooking when possible. Try to have dinner eaten and finished by 6pm (for example), which frees up a couple of hours before 8pm (when you might be dropping everything to put the kids to bed). It makes your whole evening seem longer and more productive if you have an early dinner.

4. Take Five
Every morning, take five minutes to be still, look out at the sky, pray, meditate, stretch…whatever helps you focus for a few minutes. Try to calm and center your thoughts. Your morning is more likely to be calm if your mind is calm first.

5. Exercise or Stretch
Since you’ve gotten up a bit earlier, take some time to stretch a bit. Whatever you like to do – Yoga, Pilates, or miscellaneous stretches – the goal is to relax your body and get you ready for the day, and to help make you more alert. Taking a brief walk outdoors can help you get started, too. Exercises and stretching helps work out any “kinks” in your muscles too.

6. Do Analogue Activities First
Rather than heading for your phone or computer first thing, do things that do not involve the information inundation that can occur when you log on. It can make your morning feel much more rushed if you bombard yourself with e-mails, messages, and voicemails.

7. Be Gentle With Your Wake-Up Routine
Rather than blasting yourself with a loud alarm, try waking to music or a low radio that gradually gets louder. If you can, a light alarm that mimics sunrise is even more gentle.

Mornings don’t need to be rushed. Try to take a little time and rearrange your routine to make them a bit more relaxed.

Tips for Dealing with an ADHD Co-Worker

When most individuals hear the term ADHD, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, they typically associate this with children or young adults. However, the diagnosis for ADHD for adults is more commonplace now as well.

ADHD may show up differently in adults than in children. There are many symptoms that could possibly relate to an adult having ADHD, including:

* Inability to pay attention

* Lack of focus

* Difficulty concentrating

* Poor skills in the area of listening and following directions

* Unable to complete the task at hand

* Wandering from one subject to another

While these are all vague symptoms, if you work alongside someone who has some or all of these symptoms, or does in fact have ADHD diagnosed, it may be difficult to work with them. However, there are some things to make it a little easier.

Recognition

The first step in dealing with an ADHD co-worker is to recognize your co-worker’s diagnosis. It is not just a characteristic trait of being disorganized, messy, or unable to pay attention due to being a wanderer instead of a worker.

Once you recognize that it is not something intentional, it is easier to have compassion for your co-worker.

Assist

If you have a co-worker with ADHD, you could always go to bat for that co-worker by going to your employer. Seek out their help and aid to assist both your co-worker and yourself in being more productive. Perhaps some organizational tools may be of help.

Your co-worker may do better in a smaller space away from distraction. These are all ways to help your co-worker have a productive day, while also helping yourself from being distracted.

Compassion

Last but not least, having compassion for your colleague is integral. Remember, he or she may take two or maybe even three times longer than you may to complete the same task.

Offer Resources

If your co-worker seems overwhelmed, it may be necessary during a lunch hour or after work to search for resources for them. Resources may be in the form of a different doctor, new medication alternatives, or counseling. It may include all of these things.

While it may be difficult to work with a co-worker who has ADHD, recognizing and having compassion for their diagnosis will assist you both. Assisting your co-worker in getting the organizational tools that they need while giving them the space and extra time they need to do their tasks is essential to the success of both of you.

Things Men Wish Their Women Knew

Men and women may have more similarities than either party realizes. However, what many women may or may not realize is that their man has similar feelings even though he may not show them the same way that his significant other does.

One of the biggest differences between men and women is in how they communicate. Women will more than likely want to talk it out once a man has coerced her into admitting that something is wrong in the first place. Many men are more task oriented and will be done with communicating after a sentence or two.

When it comes to relationships, here are some things that many men wish their women knew.

Men Have Feelings Too

If you ask most men, one of his biggest pet peeves is that he wishes his woman knew that he has feelings, too. Just because a man is perceived as big and strong does not mean that he does not have feelings of hurt, anger, and sadness also.

Men generally would like to know that women understand this about them. Sometimes women may or may not be aware that men can have feelings of depression and low self-esteem just like women can. Being aware that men can have the same emotions and moods as women can equates to a level playing field.

On the Subject of Appreciation

A man typically enjoys it when a woman shows appreciation for his efforts, no matter how he accomplished the task. Sometimes a man may help his wife load up the dishwasher and she will come along afterwards and redo the job he has done. This may make a man feel as though his thoughtful effort was not good enough.

Appreciating a gesture or just showing him appreciation for the fact that he arises every day to go out to work means a great deal to a man.

The Guessing Game

If you ask most men, they do not appreciate the guessing game – whether it is in relation to why a woman is mad or what she really wants for her birthday. Men appreciate some straight dialogue about what women want and what they need.

It just makes his life that much simpler.

These are just a few tidbits on what men wish their women knew about them.

Things Men Stress About and How You as Wife or Girlfriend Can Help

Most men may not be as verbal about things that stress them out as women are; however, women can help them along in many ways. Women tend to go to their girlfriend, co-worker, or sister when they need to vent. Women may go to all three, as a matter of fact. Men, however, tend to keep things internally to themselves when they are stressed.

There are several different ways a woman can help open a man up to his feelings and express himself to alleviate stress.

Job or Career Stress

Whether your man shows it or not, men generally stress out about their jobs. They worry about how long they can hold on to their current positions, what step to take next in their careers, and whether or not they are good providers for their partner and their families.

If you sense that your man is stressed out due to work, rather than trying to get him to talk about it, it is best to let him figure it out himself. Your man might perceive your inquiry as an interrogation or an accusation.

A better path would be to suggest fun things to do together or even better yet, things he can do for himself. For example, if he does not belong to a gym, then perhaps you can recommend that he join one to relieve some of his stress.

Financial Stress

If you are in a situation wherein your man handles most of the financial affairs and you see that he is stressed out about this, you can offer to take some of the stress off by offering to balance the checkbook or looking into your financial investments to make sure everything is going smoothly.

Offering to make phone calls or fill out some paperwork will help to alleviate his stress.

Not Enough Time

Ask any man (or woman for that matter) what his or her biggest stressor is and he or she will probably tell you that it is not having enough time. If you see your guy stressing out about not getting to mow the lawn, for example, offer to do it or look into hiring a local neighborhood student. Be sure to speak with your partner about it first, as you never want him to feel as though he is inadequate. Bring it up casually when the mood is light.

Pick up some of the chores that he might normally do during the week such as bringing the car in for a tune up or dropping off dry-cleaning. Your guy will appreciate the extra time and effort that you put into your busy day and may just return the favor the following week.

A few little things to help the man you love will ease his stress – and in return make him a pleasure to be around, have him less stressed out, and healthier as well. You will notice that working with him is likely all he needs to get through those stressful times.

13 Things About Sleep That You Don’t Know

Sleep: do you take it for granted, consider it an inconvenience, or look forward to it with relish? No matter what you think about sleep, there are undoubtedly many things you don’t know about it.

Here are 13 things about sleep that you don’t know.

1. Sleep is Essential for Your Bones
Did you know that lack of sleep disrupts the delicate bone-building cycle in your body? During sleep, your body repairs all the daily wear and tear on your bones, and when you don’t get enough sleep, your bones don’t get repaired.

2. Giraffes Sleep Least – Koalas the Most
Of all animals, giraffes sleep the least, taking 5-10 minute naps that total only 1.9 hours day. By comparison, the koala sleeps 22 hours a day.

3. Lack of Sleep Can Kill You
You can go 2 weeks without food, but only 10 days without sleep before you die. (Other sources claim the world’s record is 264 hours awake, which is 22 days.)

4. Snore Surgery
A kind of surgery for snoring that tightens the soft palate and throat has an extremely long name: uvulopalatopharyngoplasty!

5. Sleeping Pills
The use of sleeping pills by Americans has doubled during the last 4 years.

6. Time Spent Sleeping
If you live the average lifespan of 78 years, you’ll spend 26 of those years sleeping, and 6 of those years dreaming.

7. Falling Asleep
Normal time to fall asleep is between 10 and 15 minutes.

8. Eyes Open
People can sleep with their eyes open for short naps. They may not even know it!

9. Side Effects of Sleep Deprivation
Sleep-deprived individuals experience mental disturbances like paranoia and hallucinations, and also blurred vision, slurred speech, and memory lapses.

10. Sleeping Apart
About 1/4 of all married couples sleep in separate beds.

11. Dreaming in Color?
About 12% of dreamers experience their dreams in black and white, while everyone else dreams in color. Prior to color television, the percentage of black and white dreamers was higher.

12. Chronic Sleep Deprivation Harms Health
Sources say that some of the effects of chronic sleep deprivation (that is, sleep deprivation of a few hours a night that goes on for a long time, not a “marathon” of staying awake) include:
-Weakened immune system
-Increased risk of heart disease
-Increased risk of developing (or worsening) a stomach ulcer
-High blood pressure

13. Growth
Growing animals and people need sleep to grow properly, because growth hormone is released during sleep.

It’s amazing how sleep impacts our lives!

Why Play Time Matters for Your Kids

Adults have a tendency to look at play as wasted time. Because we have so many responsibilities (and many of our kids do, too), it’s hard for us to recognize that just playing is not only not a waste of time. And we adults can’t help but think that our children should be learning something all the time. But not only is your child actually learning important skills during play; play time is important to your child’s development in all kinds of ways.

Here are some of the reasons why play time matters for your kids.

1. Learning about the World

Give a child a cardboard box, and you’ll see creative play at work! Adults forget that the world is still new to a child. A cardboard box may have a lot to teach someone so young. After all, the box reinforces shapes and how they act (boxes don’t roll, for instance; they have a limited capacity; cardboard tears under too much weight, etc.). And a simple toy like a box stimulates a child’s imagination.

2. Learning about Themselves

During play, kids discover something vitally important: some of their special talents, strengths, and abilities…and also some of their weaknesses. Play time may help a child discover that he or she is really good at hitting a ball, that she has a strong throwing arm, or that she is a very coordinated dancer. Children might discover they are fast runners, good musicians, or any number of special talents…all because they were able to spend some time in play.

3. Learning about Others

Play time is also a time to discover things about others. Children learn that there are differences in how they do things and how their friends do things; they begin to see that they may not have the same strengths and weaknesses as someone else. They also learn that not everyone reacts to things the same way, or offers the same solutions to problems.

In addition, personal preferences come to light during play. Some like quiet, imaginative play while others like active play. Children learn to put these different aspects of people’s personalities together to construct their own fun play time. They learn compromise and flexibility. After all, no one wants to play with the child who always wants to do things his/her way.

4. Physical Exercise

Playing – especially active outdoor play – encourages kids to get moving and exercise. Many medical experts agree that there is a childhood obesity problem; perhaps play time can help work toward alleviating this problem.

5. A Remedy for Anxiety, Depression, and Other Emotional/Mental Issues

During play time, whether alone or with others, children do not have to meet adult standards or expectations. There are no grades, tests, or other such things. It’s amazing what spending time in a world without pressure can do for a child’s mental and emotional well-being.

It may be that adults will just need to let it go when it comes to playing. Remember, it’s just as important as any academic lesson.

First and Second Grade: What Social Changes You Can Expect

With kindergarten behind him or her, your child is ready to take on first grade. Or maybe he just finished first grade and is moving into second. Either way, the first and second grade years bring social changes.

Find out what you can expect as your child reaches these milestones.

1. More Interaction

This tends to begin with first grade and increases in second grade. Rather than doing their own thing in a room with others, first and second graders generally love to be with other kids close to their own age. Parents will likely begin to notice their first and second grader ask for more playdates, want to have friends over, and look forward to birthday parties and other group events. In addition, children this age tend to develop closer one-on-one relationships, and seek out a “best friend.” They will show preferences for one friend over another.

2. Routine

Children generally thrive on and love routine. They still do in first and second grade, and routine may become more important to them as they grow and expand their social awareness. To help them adjust, parents can set up a routine at home that can help them adjust to the social changes they are experiencing.

3. Relationship Skills

As your first and second grader keeps forging those friendships, he’ll hone relationship skills. Parents will likely note a difference in how their child interacts not only with peers, but also at home. Your child is becoming more aware of the feelings and attitudes of other people, and parents can build on these budding skills at home.

4. Influence from Others

As first and second graders become more oriented toward their friendships, parents will probably observe the influence of peers coming in to play like never before. The family begins to have less influence than friends and others outside the family.

5. Independence

Socially, your child will likely become more independent in first and second grade. He will be more confident in interacting with others and won’t be as likely to need your help in interacting. He is becoming his own person, and this tends to become evident around first and second grade.

6. Opinions

Parents may be surprised at the opinions their child begins to express at this age. As noted above, he’s becoming his own person, and that includes thoughts and opinions. He might question why he has to learn or do something when he doesn’t see the relevance. Kids this age often have a lot of questions!

It’s interesting to watch your children grow up. Being prepared can help make the experience a smoother one.

Six Questions to Ask at Parent-Teacher Conferences

A parent-teacher conference is a time when you get to communicate with your child’s teacher one-on-one. You don’t want it to be a waste of time, nor do you want to make a bad impression. Going into the meeting prepared can go a long way toward forging a pleasant and positive relationship. Here are some ideas as to what to ask during the conference.

1. “What areas does my son/daughter need to work on?”

This helps identify weak areas where you can partner with the teacher in helping your child succeed. It’s also not accusatory – you’re not blaming or excusing anyone for your child’s performance. Listen to the teacher’s answer, and this can open the door to discussions about other aspects of your child’s school experience.

2. “How do you measure progress?”

Find out how progress is measured and what that means for your child. You may find out that your child is not working to the best of his/her ability, or that you’ve misunderstood how progress is charted.

3. “Where can I get help for these challenges?”

If your child is facing academic or social challenges, ask where to find help. Your child’s teacher will likely know about tutoring programs and other opportunities that might fit your child’s needs. It’s okay to admit if you can’t do it all, and it’s not good manners to blame the teacher.

4. “What will my child be learning this year?”

Usually, parent-teacher conferences are held at the beginning of the school year. Finding out what’s on the curriculum can help you be a partner and advocate for your child’s education experience. In addition, if you know what your child is expected to learn this year, you can have a good idea as to whether or not he/she is progressing.

5. “What can we do at home?”

Ask what you can do specifically to help your child’s academic performance. There may be expectations for parents, too, and it’s good to find out what they are.

6. “How can I help?”

All kinds of research points to the importance of parental involvement in their children’s schools. Find out what you can do and where you are needed. Teachers appreciate the help, and you can be confident that you’re boosting your child’s school experience by giving your time.

Above all, approach the conference politely and in a friendly way. This is your chance to learn what your child’s teacher is like and forge that important relationship.

Questions to Ask (and Avoid) during School Open House

Your child’s school will probably hold an open house, during which time you can go in and tour the facilities and meet the faculty. This is a chance to forge a relationship with your child’s teacher, and you want to get off on the right foot.

What you don’t say is as important as what you say. Here are some tips and ideas on what to ask about and what topics to avoid during open house.

What to Talk About

1. Communication

It’s a good idea to ask the teacher and other staff how communication is set up, and how everyone prefers to receive communication. There may be a social networking group, or a message board, or private emails. Other teachers and staff may prefer phone calls or texting. Also find out how often the teachers and staff tend to communicate. You need to get a feel for what is acceptable so you don’t communicate too often or not enough.

2. General topics

Teachers agree that open house is not the time to discuss controversial topics. Instead, keep discussions about general things such as school policy and such.

3. Homework policy

It’s a good idea to ask the teacher about his or her homework policy. It’s not controversial, but it is important – you need to be on board to help your child meet the expectations in this area.

What to Avoid

1. Telling the teacher how smart your child is

Even if your child is unusually advanced, the reality is that nearly everyone thinks this is true (whether it is or not), and teachers do get tired of hearing it. If your child is truly above average, it won’t take the teacher long to figure this out. What you can ask is if there are any gifted programs or opportunities for bright children, and what is involved with getting into those programs.

2. Comparisons with other schools and teachers

It’s not a good idea to start out telling the teacher what was done in another school, or the way your teacher did it when you were a kid, or how your child’s previous teacher did or didn’t do things. Instead, go in with an open mind that wants to learn how this particular teacher does things. It may be different, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Above all, be friendly and thank the teacher(s) during open house. First impressions are important!

6 Tips for Boosting the Family Income

Unfortunately, the economy is not recovering enough to result in substantial salary increases. According to some sources, salaries were up less than 2% in both 2011 and 2012. This means that many people are turning to income streams beyond their main jobs.

So here are 6 tips for boosting the family income. Some are easier than you’d think!

1. Sell Books
Despite the ebook revolution, there is still a market for hard copy books – a pretty big market. Try typing “cash for books” or “sell used books” into your web browser and explore the sites that are dedicated to this market. EBay and Amazon are well-known and are certainly options, but you might find something that’s a little easier and doesn’t involve fees, especially if you have newer books (less than 3 years old) to sell.

2. Blogging
If you have something to write about that you think others could benefit from, start up a blog. Research successful blogs and learn how to monetize it. You may end up with multiple blogs, all generating a little income to help out. You just have to be able to write quickly and write well, and have something to share that’s valuable information.

3. Clean Houses
This is something you can do with your children in tow if necessary. There are many people who will hire a house cleaner, and if your rates are competetive (check your local house cleaning services to find out how much they charge), you may wind up with regular clients.

4. Pet Sit
There is always a need for competent, trustworthy pet sitters. Word of mouth and a little community advertising can get the word out, and you can take in some extra cash for watching people’s pets when they are out of town. If you can care for farm animals, this can open up even more possibilities; you could care for the entire farm while the owners are away. Or you can just do some dog walking. No matter what you choose, animal care has potential.

5. Tutor
What do you know? Teach it! You can offer to help local high school students with their English papers, for instance, or see if any elementary school kids need help with math. Maybe a student with a learning disability needs a proofreader or editor. Or perhaps the local YMCA would like an art teacher for an after school program. The possibilities are numerous! See if you can branch off from your area of expertise and teach others.

6. Create a Phone App
Do you have some technical expertise? There’s a pretty good market for phone apps, and they do not have to cost a lot to develop. And it’s only getting easier as new phones and technology make the process smoother. Popular apps can generate quite a bit of cash.

Hopefully, you can get creative and boost your family’s income with some of these ideas.

6 Fast, No-Cook Dinner Ideas

When you hear about a “no-cook” dinner, do you automatically think it means carrot sticks? While it certainly can, it doesn’t have to. On busy weekday or weekend nights when you don’t have time to cook over the stove, try some of these ideas. Here are 6 fast, no-cook dinner ideas.

1. Tuna Salad “Boats”
For this no-cook idea, you just need hotdog buns and your favorite tuna salad. Load up the buns with tuna salad and serve with a side of veggie chips and a pickle. If you like, line the buns with cheese slices and/or lettuce before putting in the tuna salad.

To make a quick tuna salad, mix 1 can of drained tuna with 2 tablespoons mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish.

Easy variation: chicken or turkey salad instead of tuna

2. Fruit Mix
Cut up some fresh fruit and ball some melons, and put it all in a bowl. Serve with a side of plain yogurt drizzled with honey and some whole-grain crackers. Add some sliced cheese for the crackers and it’s a fast, fresh meal.

3. Pita Wedges and Hummus
Even though these are no-cook ideas, you can toast the pita wedges to make pita chips for this meal. Simply serve the pita wedges with hummus, and as a side have sliced cucumber salad: mix sliced or chopped cucumbers, thinly sliced onions, and chopped tomatoes with your favorite Italian or Greek dressing.

4. Veggie Wraps
You can serve this buffet-style. Lay out your favorite tortillas or flatbread at one end of the counter or table, and have a variety of spreads and veggies along the way for filling. Here are some ideas:

-Hummus
-Mayonnaise
-Mustard
-Bean dip
-Horse radish
-Cucumbers
-Lettuce
-Tomatoes
-Cheese slices
-Avocado slices
-Apple slices
-Sliced ham, turkey, chicken, or roast beef
-Sliced onions

Everyone can make their own. Serve with a side of applesauce or mixed fruit.

5. Build-Your-Own Salad
You can raid the pantry for this one! Using lettuce as a base, let your family choose their salad toppings and sides. Put out a variety of dressings, too. Here are some ideas of things you can put out for the salads:

-Cold cuts or sliced, leftover meat from previous dinners
-Tomatoes
-Onions
-Scallions
-Raw mushrooms
-Carrot slices
-Croutons
-Grated cheeses (a variety is good, like cheddar, crumbled feta, mozzarella, Parmesan, etc.)
-Sliced cold boiled egg
-Raisins
-Dried currants or cranberries
-Slivered almonds or chopped peanuts
-Thawed frozen peas
-Olives

There’s something for everyone here, even if someone takes just cheese, olives, and raisins!

6. Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad
To serve 4, chop 2 large, fresh tomatoes and add 1 cup of cubed mozzarella (you can use grated mozzarella too). Stir in about 1 tablespoon of minced fresh basil and 2 teaspoons olive oil. Mix well and serve with bread on the side.

As you can see, there are lots of no-cook dinner ideas out there. Hopefully, your family will enjoy some of these soon!

New Parents in School: How to Fit In

Many of us can remember when a new kid came on the school scene, or maybe we were that kid. You learned how to adapt and make friends. But how about being the new parent at school? A lot of the other parents may already know each other, causing you to feel left out. Or maybe you’re the only dad in a large group of involved moms (or vice versa). Parents can form “cliques” too!

These days, more and more parents are getting involved in their kids’ education. Studies show a myriad of positive effects from parents being involved. So sitting on the sidelines when you’re new is less and less of an option.

Here are some tips for fitting in when you’re the new parent at school.

1. Observe the Groups

At first, it can be beneficial just to watch the groups. See who’s in which group, which parent is the “ringleader,” and who’s on the outskirts. Pick out individuals who seem like they’re approachable (probably not the ringleader).

2. Talk to Individuals

Each individual is like a “door” into a group. Strike up a conversation with a person you’ve observed interacting in a group, and just get to know him/her. Try to keep it low key; exchange basic information and see if you have any interests in common. This is easier than trying to socialize with a whole group at once.

If you find it hard to initiate conversation, try starting with a compliment, either about the parent or his/her child. Most parents warm up when you say something good about their child.

3. Spend Some Time in the Classroom

Volunteering to help out in the classroom or in some other way at your child’s school is a great way to meet other parents who are doing the same thing.

4. Initiate a Gathering

Sometimes, it’s easier to host something yourself than waiting to be asked to an event. See if some other parents would like to meet you somewhere for a playdate, such as a park. It’s less pressure than having them over to your house, and it’s an opportunity for you and your child to meet with other families.

5. The Teacher Is Your Friend

It’s important to realize that your child’s teacher is an ally. He or she sees parents come and go, and has valuable insights into how the parent “cliques” work. Try not to be intimidated – the teacher is just an ordinary person who may be close to your age. It’s not a bad idea to get to know the teacher and gain some valuable tips and suggestions.

Men’s Actions and What They Really Mean

Women and men are somewhat similar in their actions, as well as in their feelings. For example, there are times when either party will say one thing and act another way. Both men and women will be angry, but when asked, he or she will clam up and keep quiet saying that “nothing

How to Help Your Guy through a Mid-Life Crisis

When someone thinks or speaks of a mid-life crisis, most often the conversation veers toward the impact and difficulties women suffer through while going through such a time. However, mid-life crises can influence men just as much as they impact women.

Signs of a Mid-Life Crisis

There are many ways to recognize if your man is going through a mid-life crisis, and there are many ways to guide him through one, too.

* Withdrawing – You may notice that your man is going through extended periods of withdrawal time wherein he simply does not want to interact or communicate with you. He may also be spending quite a bit of time alone, such as down in the basement or in the garage.

* Being more social – You may have noticed that your partner is suddenly, after decades of being quite introverted, becoming more and more social. He may want to try new things such as golf or poker. Spending more and more time with the boys may become more important to him. Accepting invitations to go out solo is another possible indicator that he is going through the beginning stages of a mid-life crisis.

* Purchasing new items – Your partner may be buying new items that are big-ticket items at that. He may be in the market for a new vehicle or a brand new set of gold clubs when his golf clubs are barely used. A motorcycle seems to be one of the favored big-ticket items that men purchase during mid-life crisis.

How to Help

Once you begin to recognize the signs of a mid-life crisis, it is a little bit easier to assist him through this life event. You can do this in several ways:

* Give him some space – Sometimes all your partner needs is the space to go through this rite of passage, so to speak. Nagging him and weighing him down with your worries and concerns will only push him away. Take a step back and give him some room to breathe.

* Do not make it about you – Do not make your partner’s mid-life crisis become all about you. Do not take everything and anything he says or does not say personally. It is something he is going through and not necessarily having anything to do with you.

* Learn when to speak and when to stay silent – Watch for the signals of when he is reaching out to you and when he is withdrawing. When he withdraws, take a step back and let him go through the process on his own. When he leans toward you and is ready to open up, no matter how busy you are, stop what you are doing, and make time to listen. Do not give unwarranted advice, just simply be, and listen.

These are just some of the signals of a man’s mid-life crisis and some of the tools and tips you can use to get him through.

Five Strategies for Encouraging Early Literacy

Many parents want their child to read early. While you can certainly go too far in this direction, trying to force kids into something they are not ready for, we’re going to talk about encouraging early literacy while respecting your child’s developmental level.

While early literacy may not mean early reading, it does mean that children are introduced to reading and its concepts at an early age. And hopefully, this familiarity will foster a love of reading that will motivate him or her to learn to read.

Here are five strategies for encouraging early literacy.

1. It’s Never Too Early to Start Reading

…for an adult, that is. Your child is never too young for you to read to him or her. Even newborns can benefit greatly from being read to, sources say. This very early reading is not about teaching or learning anything specific; it’s just a low-key, fun time to read aloud to your infant. Keep up the habit – reading to your child is the number one thing you can do to encourage early literacy.

2. Rhyming Games

Foster a love of words and language by making up rhymes and playing rhyming games. Kids often find rhymes really funny. Keep it light-hearted and fun.

3. Choose Books and Subjects They Like

While we all have to read things we don’t really love and enjoy, forcing that sort of thing at the beginning can hamper a child’s interest. Remember, this is to encourage literacy; there will be plenty of time in the future to read things that they don’t particularly enjoy!

To foster an interest in literacy, choose books, magazines, online articles, and so forth that tap into your child’s personal interests. Observe what your child likes to do – cooking, constructing buildings, spending time outside, water play, etc. – and pick up books and magazines about those subjects. Then read them together!

4. Accessibility

This one is so obvious you may not have thought about it! Keep appropriate books on a low level so crawling infants can explore them. Children can develop a life-long love of a character, genre, or topic just from “poking around” in the available books.

5. Use Books to Help with Transitions

For young children, transitioning from one activity to another can be challenging. A book can help. If you need to go cook dinner, for instance, read a story about cooking before heading to the kitchen. Before bath time, read a fun story about a child or baby taking a bath. Young children may also begin to learn that books hold relevance to everyday life.

A love of literacy, language, and reading is a gift you can give your children. It’s never too early to get started!

Easy Techniques and Tips for Relieving Back Pain

Back pain can be a terrible thing to live with. It keeps you up at night and suffering during the day. And loading up on medications can be dangerous and unhealthy. So what can you do?

Thankfully, there are some key things you can do to help. Here are some easy techniques and tips for relieving back pain.

Remember, talk to your physical therapist and/or doctor about your back pain to make sure it’s nothing serious, and to clarify what you should and should not be doing.

1. Posture
It’s not a very spectacular remedy, but it’s astonishing how poor posture can affect back pain. Here are some good posture tips:

-When you stand, tuck in your tummy and your rear. This takes the stress off your lower back.

-When sitting, keep shoulders relaxed and slightly pulled back.

-Imagine the top of your head being pulled up to the ceiling. This stretches your neck and spine and takes the weight off of sore spots.

-When walking, keep your head up and your shoulders back. Tuck your chin in slightly.

2. Your Bed
Make some adjustments to your sleeping quarters. Try sleeping with a pillow between your knees, or try a firmer sleeping surface if you have a soft one now (and vice versa). You can add foam toppers and other additions without having to buy a new mattress. But if it’s in your budget, a new mattress may be just the thing.

3. Move and Stretch
Sometimes, lying down helps the pain pass; other times, it can make it worse. Some kinds of back pain result from weak muscles (more on that next). So when the pain comes on, consider trying some gentle stretching or going for a nice walk.

4. Strengthen Core Muscles
Exercising isn’t just for relieving back pain when it starts. Regular exercise is helpful for keeping it at bay in general. Strengthening the core muscle groups is key, because these muscles hold your skeleton – including your spine – in alignment. Walking, water aerobics, and swimming are good ideas. Experts agree that strenuous exercise that strains certain muscle groups – like weeding the garden or doing heavy lifting – are to be avoided.

5. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Excess weight can wreak havoc on your back. It pulls your spine out of alignment and strains muscles, all day. Check with a nutritionist, personal trainer, or other professional to help you choose the proper exercise and diet, and shed extra pounds.

Sometimes, it just takes something small like a changed habit or a new exercise routine to relieve nagging back pain.

Tips for Helping Your Child Develop Writing Skills

There’s no doubt about it – good writing skills are keys to success. From resumes to business letters, writing skills can greatly influence your child’s future. In addition, he or she will be more likely to perform better in school if he or she has good writing skills.

So what can you do to help your child develop writing skills? Here are some tips.

1. Read to Your Child – Interactively

Most parents know that reading to your child is important for developing all language skills, including writing. But research shows something interesting: how you read to your child matters.

It’s good to read often and to read quality books, but studies show that it’s equally important to allow the child to participate in some way. Some ways you can let your non-reader participate are to ask your child questions about the story as you read, point out objects in the book’s illustrations and ask your child to name them, or ask your child to re-tell the story (or portions of it) in their own words.

2. Easy Access to Writing Materials

Encourage your child by having paper, markers, pencils, crayons, and so forth handy. For paper, you can use both lined and unlined. A well-lit table or other level surface should be available all the time.

3. Talk about Drawings

Attach words to images. Ask your child to describe their drawings by asking specific questions. See if he will tell you a story about the picture, or if he will draw other pictures to illustrate progressive action.

4. Comic Strips

Reading the comics is a great way to get your child to read from left to right. The colorful, fun images and easy-to-read lettering tend to appeal to children, too.

5. Dictation

Type or write while your child tells the story. Ask him or her to come up with a story about a pet, drawing, friend, family member, place, or whatever interests her. Then write it down and read it together. If she hasn’t illustrated it, ask her to draw some pictures about the story.

6. Include Your Child in Everyday Writing

Let your child write something on the grocery list, or sign birthday cards. She can write down chores on a list, too. A dry-erase board is great for this.

7. Writing Games

Play with your child so that she can write. If you have a pretend store set up, she can write the price stickers. Is your child interested in roads and highways? She can make road signs for the hallways and rooms. Maybe she could write up a menu so you could play restaurant. Get creative, and she won’t even “know” she’s writing!

With a little creativity, you may just have a budding writer on your hands! Hopefully, your child will do better in school and succeed in life because of his or her writing skills.