Family Bond Paper™

Source: The Parent Institute. (n.d.)  Did you know that experts estimate that 70% of all American girls begin dieting between the ages of 14 and 21--regardless of their body image? Do's and Dont's Point out that bodies come in a lot of shapes and sizes. Provide examples of potential role models that your child looks up to. Don't allow your child's concern about body type take over their life. Help your child remember what's really important. Know your own feelings about body type. Be careful what you say and how your body expresses it around your child. Don't judge others on the basis of their unique appearance, body size or shape. Whomever is the cook at your unique household, be the example for your child of healthy eating habits by teaching food planning. Danger Signals Your child will not eat foods that contain fat. Your child is losing a lot of weight. Or, isn't gaining a normal amount of weight for their age and height.  Your chil...

Source: rd.com. Who Knew. M. Crouch. (Feb. 2014). 1. How big is your shopping cart? A big cart means more room for ... 2. 95% of shoppers don't know the average price for an item unless shopping for milk, bread, bananas, and eggs. 3. Be mindful of buying larger sizes. Is the item really needed? How soon will you use? Can you freeze it? Or ... will you eat it all in one consumption?! 4. Grocery stores really do not make a lot of money off your shopping, just 1.5% net profit a year. Restaurant tips are around 15-20%.  5. Most clerks have a fixed time to complete your shopping experience. 6. The average apple in the supermarket is over a year old (14 months or older). 7. Packaged cheese may cost less than in the deli area. 8. If your grocery store is having a sale on a baked item, ask if you can buy it now, during the sale, but not pick it up until your event. Keep your receipt to show when ready to pick-up. 9. If you don't see an item, ask the store manager if...

Source: Too Young to Wed: The Secret World of Child Brides.  National Geographic (2011) There is an alarming trend of missing children and sexual molestation in the U.S. Other parts of the world are participating in child brides. As one, who was in a forced arranged marriage, for close to 17 years (see The Script in My Box: A Journal of Forgiveness , S. Stevens, 2012), I have empathy for the young females as well as their families. Facts of Child Brides Children as young as 5 are forced to marry actual men. Child brides wear makeup for the first time on their wedding day. Most often such marriages are considered a business transaction.  Such marriages tend to be relational such as an uncle-in-law's male family member (e.g., cousin, brother, father). The mother of the bride gets to live in the village or community of her new son-in-law. In India, such activity is named guana or paraya dhan : Young brides are chosen and marry typically after puberty. The groom waits....

May is my hosted theme of Women Appreciation Month. Ladies, I welcome you to participate and know that I "appreciate" each one of you. For more info, sherleneonline.com We all know that we should have out a little shopping list when visiting our local stores.  You can also create a future shopping list for meals, holidays, sales, etc.  Do you have a store card where you shop the most? A store card normally offers special deals whether you shop at your local store or online.  Do you purchase your weekly newspaper? Often your local paper will have coupons and weekly sale flyers to prepare you shopping list. Shop around or review several sale flyers before making your buying decisions. Sample generic products when they are on sale. They tend to be 20% cheaper than popular brands. If you like, you just found a cheaper product that will save you money to spend on something else for your unique household. Just make sure that you are not dropping a popular brand that you...

Spring Cleaning Ok, those participating, we have finished the normal spring cleaning. Source S. Getzkin. (March 21-23, 2014). Hoarders: Buried Alive . USA Weekend. Have you cleaned? Clean and store winter tools and sports gear. Bring out spring gear. Clean and store winter clothes in pest-proof bags and containers. Toss in a cedar bar if possible. Bring out spring and summer items. Donate any items not using, consignment, or have a yard sale. Wash winter sheets, blankets and comforters. Make certain that you have reviewed all food expiration labels. Donate any canned goods not using to a local food pantry. Throw away freezer food items that are more than six months old. Donate any magazines and books you've read to your local library, senior center, or hospital waiting area. Remove the address label of each item donated. Use a basket to hold traveling items in your vehicle trunk. Take an inventory of gardening supplies and plants that survived winter. Create a nurse...

The best vacuums are built to handle only hair, dust, and dirt. Anything else can damage the filter and clog the engine. More suction isn't always better. If suction is too strong, carpet gets pulled into the vacuum, creating a seal that dirt can't get past. Use your adjustable power settings whenever possible. Uprights tend to be better on carpets.  Canister vacuums are lightweight, and they're almost as powerful as uprights. If you vacuum regularly or daily, you do not need a powerful suction vacuum cleaner. Replace (or clean) any vacuum filter. Write the date of replacement in your household journal. Source: S. Getzkin (March 21-23, 2014). Tips for Spring Cleaning.  USA Weekend. Source: B. Driscoll (April 2014).  Esquire .