None of us want “spoiled” kids – kids who are bratty, self-centered, demanding, inconsiderate. So, what spoils children and what doesn’t? When I was raising my children, I was often told that I would spoil them if I didn’t let them cry – if I held them a lot. Fortunately,…
New year, same old dilemma — how do you stave off those horrid hangovers after the biggest party night of the year? While the only tried-and-true way to ward off is abstinence of alcoholic beverages, there are some steps you can take that may lessen the blow. Of course, there’s…
Ah, romance! Where would we be without it? Unfortunately, romance can easily be forgotten when careers, families, and the necessities of daily life become our primary focus. But romance is important for every couple, whether you’ve been together for 30 days or 30 years. Making a little time for romance…
There’s plenty to do inside on rainy summer days, and if you have a child who’s not a big reader, then there’s no time like summer to get him interested in books. They’re great to take along on road trips and airplanes, too, and it does today’s kids good to…
There are those people who have their kids’ Halloween costumes planned out months in advance, and then there are those who wait until the very last minute. If you’re still searching for a costume this close to the Halloween, you probably fall into the latter category. The good news is…
As much as you want Christmas morning to be just right, it rarely goes off without a hitch. There’s always something you’ve forgotten or want to forget. More often than not, the kids are usually dragging you out of bed before daylight. With your eyes barely open, it’s hard to…
New parents seem to sweat the small stuff more than seasoned parents. And while it’s true that babies develop at different rates, depending on when they were born, their temperament and myriad other factors, there are a few milestones that parents should look for as they enjoy watching baby grow….
Can playing music to your baby or young child make her smarter? That was the claim of the much-hyped “Mozart Effect” several years ago, but the truth isn’t exactly black and white. Certainly, music is a great complement for stimulating babies’ brains and teaching toddlers vocabulary, but the jury’s out…
Nobody wants to think about the unthinkable. But it’s important to have a plan in place if something happens to you, your partner or spouse, or both of you. If you have property, even if it doesn’t seem of much value, then you need to designate to whom it will…
Tall, short or in between – parents can worry excessively about how their child is growing, and it starts during those first newborn checkups. Pediatricians will expect babies to grow consistently according to the height and weight chart, checking to be sure the two are roughly in the same percentile….