Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Seven Ways You Can Increase Your Child's Success in School

School is back in session for lots of kidlings around the country, so how are you gonna help your child tackle another year of new experiences? The parenting gurus over at Shine!.com put together this list:

1. Make Sure Your Kids Get Enough Sleep. Lack of z's can seriously impact a child's ability to learn and perform. Set a bedtime routine, stick to it every night and shut off the cell phone, TV and computer at least thirty minutes before bed.

2. Applaud Their Efforts the Right Way. Studies from Colombia University show how you praise your kids can enhance --or impede--their achievement. Rather than emphasize getting straight A's, ask how hard they're working. This will encourage their persistence and they'll be less likely to blame bad grades on lack of ability.

3. Respect Their Learning Style. There are eight kinds of intelligence or, simply put --ways people learn. Pay attention to which type your child gravitates to, even if it's not the way YOU would do it.

4. Pay Attention to Their Peers. Peer pressure exists --but it's not always bad. Keep tabs on their friends' grades and talk, talk, talk about the future and all the possibilities. One Ohio State University study found that kids are more likely to have buddies who plan to attend college if they have a warm, positive relationship with their parents.

5. Make Family Meals a Must. Get everyone together at the dinner table and you'll be poising your precious bundles of joy to make good choices. Colombia University researchers discovered kids who eat with mom and dad are less likely to use drugs, alcohol, develop eating disorders and achieve higher grades. What you have really doesn't matter --but turn off the phone and TV so you can enjoy one another's company. Are you schedules headed in every different direction? If time doesn't allow a group supper, shoot for a late-evening snack or dessert.

6. Cut the Stress. Conflict within the home impedes a child's ability to learn. "De-stress" your babies with long walks, group stretches or movie night. Do you have a sticky wicket in the house? Teach them its okay to walk away from an argument, refuse to engage with a "screamer" and watch for warning signs that someone's about to come unglued.

7. Tailor Expectations to Your Child's Abilities. It's natural to imagine your mini-me is the next Rhodes Scholar --but every child is different. Approach school like a rubber band --gently stretch but don't snap! While a neighbor may brag about test scores, grades or their offspring's gift of intelligence, the apple of your eye will still go on to do amazing things. Remember this mantra: "Tailor thy parenting only to thy child."

Friday, August 20, 2010

Domestic Habits That Annoy Women


Men. They drive us crazy, but we woman can't live with them and we can't live without them can we? Whatever the reason, men have a unique and sometimes gleeful way of irritating the ones they love most. Here are the 10 most annoying things men do when living with women. If you can think of more, feel free to comment below!

1. Men leave a wake of empty containers
2. They splash the mirror when they brush their teeth
3. Leave hair in the sink after shaving
4. Use 10 drinking glasses a day instead of one
5. Pee on the toilet seat
6. Litter the ground with laundry
7. Don't do house work
8. Burp and fart indiscriminately
9. Develop a martyr complex when sick
10. They channel surf rapidly (and seemingly aimlessly)

Monday, August 16, 2010

What's Your Purse-onality?


One of the most vital pieces of a woman's wardrobe is her purse. And what's inside your bag provides a wealth of clues about her:

Colorful clutch -- Bright-eyed and energetic, you bustle through life with a charming effervescence that draws others to your circle in droves. You overcome most of life's pitfalls with a cheerful grace, and you easily pump up the spirits of family and friends who are feeling blue.

Couture -- You're a go-getter who wouldn't be caught dead without your designer duds. Sure your bag may be costly, but you're a self-confident sort who knows you deserve only the best. Your belief in your own abilities makes you a natural-born leader, and others trust your judgement in important situations.

Backpack -- You're an unpretentious woman who's physically fit and ready for whatever life brings. You're never more alive than when you're enjoying outdoor activities that challenge your endurance, but your loved ones are also vital to your happiness. Wherever you go, your family unit will always be included.

Carryall -- There's a cornucopia of items in your bag -- from over-the-counter drugs to a complete makeup kit. You're a practical woman who's prepared for any contingency, and your mother hen approach is just fine with your family and friends who thrive on your nurturing warmth.

Shoulder bag -- You have your eye on the man chance, and you believe that hard work coupled with burning ambition will carry you to the top. People admire your drive because you get ahead with out hurting others. You're also a witty conversationist who is a welcome addition to any gathering.

What your dreams mean....


Ever wake up in the morning and wonder what that strange dream you had last night was all about? Dr. Martin J. Aronson, professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, says the meanings of dreams vary tremendously, but the interpretations of certain dream symbols is universal and easy to translate to your everyday life. Here are six of the most common themes, and how they could relate to you:

Caves -- Tunnels, doorways, bureau drawers or mossy caves represent a desire for affection of the need to get closer to a female in your life.

Running -- Being chased means you are running away from something that is too difficult or you are avoiding a confrontation.

Aliens -- Dreaming of creatures from outer space can be an indication that some outside force is playing a role in your life and you are uncertain of your surroundings or something that is going on in your life.

Water -- A calm stream of water stands for security, safety and comfort. Turbulent water on the other hand can mean there is a disruptive force in your current environment or that you feel overwhelmed.

Falling -- A drop generally means instability in your life but a free fall with no clear beginning or end represents a lack of connection the world around you.

Nightmares -- Contrary to what most people think ongoing nightmares are nothing to worry about.

And the celebrity you dream of reveals changes you may have in your life, if you dream of...

Madonna -- You'd like to make a change in your life.

Johnny Depp -- You want to make more intellectual, independent choices.

Courtney Love -- You'd like to be more gutsy.

Robert Downey Jr. -- You fear your own talent is somehow being squandered.

Britney Spears -- You're unsure how you should present yourself to the world.

Ben Affleck -- You want to be more carefree and adventurous.

Simon Cowell -- You fear that you're inadequate.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Sick of it All?


Being sick is terrible. You look horrible, feel bad and have to blow your sick days recuperating. Sick of it all? Here's how to wage germ warfare at the office.

Close your mouth. Germs travel through the air. In fact, they can fly as far as 30 feet. So if you're forced to sit near someone who's coughing, wheezing, or sneezing, keep your mouth shut; it's better to breathe through your nose where tiny hairs act as filters to keep out the germs.

Wash your hands. You get infected by touching hard surfaces: the coffee maker, the copy machine, and elevator buttons, where filthy, germ-encrusted co-workers have inadvertently left behind viral critters that can live for hours. A study by Purdue University says that the fix is to wash your hands often with antibacterial soap and warm water.

Hit the gym. Moderate exercise two or three times a week will help ward off a cold: A mellow workout increases the circulation of your immune cells, boosting the chances that they'll collide with and vanquish the virus.

Get a window seat. You want to avoid stagnant, germ-laden air at all costs, so get to the conference room early for meetings and snag yourself a spot near an open window or an air vent.
If you must share an office with a bonafide sicko request a desk fan.

Have a party with your buds. More friends, fewer colds, according to a Carnegie Mellon University study, because your pals help you deal with immune-system-suppressing stress. And a couple of stiff drinks a day seem to help keep the colds at bay. (Some docs say alcohol hurts a cold virus's ability to reproduce.) But the bartender should cut you off after two so you don't get dehydrated.

Kiss someone hot. Good news: Lipsmashing is still safe, since 90 percent of cold viruses lurk in your snot, not your spit.