Writing

I finally put links to all of my articles at AC here. It took some time but I hope you will take the time to read a few of them and, perhaps, leave me a comment. I haven't had as much time to write for the past couple weeks as I would like. Hopefully that will change soon.

I did get good news today. My computer is on its way here. I'll have it up and running within a week. I am sooooo excited!! This computer is okay, if I had a lot of time and nothing else to do but trying to figure out why it wasn't working properly. Perhaps if I was a computer whiz I might find the challenge fun but, I really don't like trying to figure out what is wrong with my equipment in the middle of what I am doing.

I've been online looking for places to increase my traffic to my articles. I'll get it figured out soon. Until then, I better get back to writing. I have a lot of ideas. I just need time and a computer that doesn't want to fight with me. At least I'll be getting one of those soon.

Healthy After School Snack Ideas

My kids get home from school and go straight to the kitchen for a snack. Some days I wonder why they serve lunch so early. After school snacks should compliment your child's diet. Healthy after school snacks can be quick, easy to make and tasty. Some of my kids' favorite after school snacks are listed below. READ MORE....

Pregnancy Planning Tips for Expectant Fathers

Once you decide to have children there are many things to decide. Both parents, expectant father and expectant mother, should be comfortable with the choices that are made involving the birth of their child. That being said, expectant mothers by nature have more say in many areas than expectant fathers do. I have covered a few areas that expectant fathers should go over when planning pregnancy and the birth of their child in this article.

Once you have decided you are ready for an addition to your family you need READ MORE....

Parenting Tips: Road Trips with Children

Taking long road trips with children can be difficult. During the past three years I have moved from Utah to Texas, from Texas to Oregon, from Oregon to Arkansas, and from Arkansas to Oregon. Each trip took us several days to get to our destination. Then there are the shorter trips we have made where we were only going 50 miles. When you travel with children you need to be prepared. READ MORE....

Attachment Disorders Start During Childhood

Children with attachment disorders have difficulty trusting anyone. Attachment disorders lead to other psychological problems including antisocial behavior, mistrust, poor empathy skills, poor peer skills, and behavior problems. People with attachment disorders have difficulty 'fitting in' in society.

Forming a secure attachment is a complex process READ MORE....

The Best Sleeping Positions While Pregnant

When you are pregnant, finding a comfortable position to sleep is difficult. The larger your unborn child grows the less likely it is that you are going to have an easy time finding a comfortable position anywhere. First time moms are often left to wonder what is the best position for sleep and what positions should be avoided. READ MORE....

Healthy Snack Ideas for Toddlers

Toddlers need to have healthy snacks between meals. Toddlers are at a stage where they are learning eating habits that will stay with them throughout their lives. Healthy snacks help your toddler to get into a habit of eating healthy foods. If your toddler learns to avoid certain types of foods he will most likely continue to avoid those foods as he grows. Teaching your toddler good eating habits early in life is important for his health. Healthy snacks help your toddler grow properly. READ MORE....

Parenting Tips: Talking to Your Child About Sex and Puberty

Most parents don't look forward to talking to their children about sex and sexual development. Some parents never do talk to their children about sex and sexual development. If parents don't step up and take responsibility to teach their children about sex and sexual development, their children will find out somewhere else. Children who do not get the opportunity to have their questions about sex and sexual development answered by a responsible adult often have an increased curiosity of the subject.

The Birds-and-Bees Speech... READ MORE....

Parenting Tips: The Terrible Twos

Your toddler has started having frequent temper tantrums. His mood swings are as predictable as yours were when you were pregnant with him. The most frequent thing uttered by his sweet lips is 'NO'. Welcome to the Terrible Twos.

The terrible twos can start anytime after your child's first birthday. READ MORE....

Fostering a Strong Work Ethic in Children

When you found out you were going to have a baby you started to dream about how your child was going to turn out. Dreams of your child's future probably included your child being successful and having a strong work ethic. Raising children with a strong work ethic doesn't happen by chance. Parents need to teach their children work ethics by example.

The first thing you need to do to foster a strong work ethic in your children is READ MORE....

Emotional Development of Infants

During the first two years of life babies go through many developmental changes. The first two years of life experiences are much of what defines who we become. Emotional development from birth to age two can be broke down into small stages.

First Month READ MORE....

Have a Bedtime Routine with Your Toddler

After a day of running to keep up with an always on the go toddler, most parents look forward to bedtime. Getting your toddler to look at bedtime as a blessing is not as easy. If bedtime for your toddler has become dreaded, you need to set up a bedtime routine. Starting a simple bedtime routine while your child is young and sticking to it keeps bedtime from being a nightmare. READ MORE....

Discipline vs Child Abuse

Disciplining your children is not the same as child abuse. Parents should not fear being arrested for disciplining a child in public. It is a parent's job to discipline their child, in public and at home. The difference between child abuse and discipline is not only intent. Intending to teach your child to behave doesn't give you the right to cause bodily harm.

Child abuse is harming a child physically or emotionally. READ MORE....

How To Stop Your Toddler's Temper Tantrums

Spinning out of control like a Tasmanian Devil on caffeine, your bouncing baby boy can tear up your house in the time you takes to answer the telephone. As the latest toy your toddler had to have bounces off of the back of your head you might wonder why you decided to become a parent. The temper tantrums your toddler throws are enough to make you want to call out, "Calgon, take me away!" Unfortunately for stressed parents around the world, shouting for Calgon only works in commercials.

Toddlers want attention and will settle for negative attention if it is readily available. READ MORE....

Living with your Adult Child and Spouse

Watching your children struggle is difficult, even when your children are adults. Part of parenting is letting your children experience the natural consequences of their actions. Adult children are still your children, but they are also adults. They need to be treated like adults.

Adult children moving back home with their parents has become a common occurrence anymore. Living so close to your adult children you can expect some aspects of privacy to be lost. READ MORE....

Twenty Ways to Make Your Child Feel Loved

Recently I was asked for ways parents can make their children feel loved. I came up with this list of twenty ways to make children feel loved. READ MORE....

Teaching Children Not to Lie

Children do not automatically know to tell the truth. Children must be taught how and when to be truthful. Children often lie to increase their chances of getting something they want. Children lie to avoid getting punished. Sometimes when children lie they are just stating how they wish things were.

We, as parents, need to remember that telling the truth is actually counterintuitive. READ MORE....

How to Get Your Child to do Chores

Children who learn how to do chores become more responsible adults than those who didn't have responsibilities. Getting your child to like to do chores is harder than getting your child to do chores. Most children do not like doing chores.

Having your child do chores not only teaches your child responsibility, ... READ MORE....

Potty Training Made Easy

All parents at one time or another look forward to the day they no longer have to change dirty diapers. Potty training is a big step in your child's life. For some potty training is easy. For other children potty training is a struggle. My daughters were all potty trained before they were 28 months old. Two of them were potty trained before they were two. My son was two before he finally caught on.

After helping to potty train not only my children but many foster children I have some tips to make potty training easier. Potty training is a learning experience for you and your child. I have two rules that will help speed the learning process. READ MORE....

How to Tell the Difference Between Reasoning with a Child and Commanding a Child

What is the difference between reasoning with a child and commanding a child? Reasoning and commanding are common parenting approaches. Reasoning with children helps develop analytical thinking. Commanding children teaches them the parent has power over them.

Commanding parents often make hurtful comments when... READ MORE....

A Parents Guide to Keeping Lines of Communication Open

One of the most important things for a parent to do is to open lines of communication and keep these lines open. Children who feel they can go to their parents with their troubles are usually better adjusted than those who do not communicate well with their parents. During stressful times children should feel they are able to go to their parents.

It is never too early. READ MORE....

Getting Started Home Canning

Home canning is not only a great way to use produce from your garden. Home canning is a way to be sure your family has high quality food. Home canning can also be fun. Before you start canning you will need to have the proper equipment available. Below is a list of the basic equipment needed to start home canning.

Equipment Needed READ MORE....

Teaching Teens How To Budget

If you start teaching your children how to budget while they are young they will do much better as adults. Teens often want a lot. Teens need to learn to stay within a budget when they just have to have something whether it is a pair of jeans or a prom dress. Teaching your teen to budget before he moves out and starts a family of his own is the best gift you can give him.

To teach teens to budget they need an income of some sort. READ MORE....

Babysitting Basics: What Every Babysitter Should Know

Babysitting is more than just existing with some kids while you wait for their parents to get home and then collecting some money. Babysitting is a job. It is one you can either love or loathe. It can be fun or it can be a nightmare. The experience you have will matter on how you tackle the job. Here are some of the basics to help you to have a positive experience. READ MORE....

Reasoning with Teens: Builds Self-Esteem and Teaches Common Sense

All parents give their teens instructions. The way parents convey these instructions has an impact on teens personalities.

Teens who grow up being reasoned with have more self confidence. Teens who grow up being commanded have lowered self esteem. Teens who were not taught reasoning also have difficulty making good decisions.READ MORE....

What a Stroke Is and How to Tell if Someone Has Had a Stroke

Stroke (AKA: cerebrovascular accident (CVA), transient ischemic attack (TIA), "brain attack") is the third leading cause of death and the number 1 cause of adult disability in the United States and industrialized European nations.
According to Wikipedia: on average, someone has a stroke every 45 seconds, someone dies every 3 minutes from having a stroke, of every 5 deaths from stroke, 2 occur in men and 3 in women. READ MORE....

How to Can Apple Pie Filling

Apple Pie is one of my favorite desserts but I have a difficult time finding one in the freezer case at my local supermarket that doesn't taste like perfume or feel like I am chewing rubber. I make it possible for me to make pie within an hour by canning my favorite recipe for apple pie filling. Whenever I want apple pie throughout the year I just open a jar and empty its contents into a pie shell and bake. It's that easy.

Canning apple pie filling isn't difficult either. READ MORE....

How to Get the Most Out of Public Education

There are few things that impact your child's life as much as education. Getting the most out of your child's education is of the utmost importance. Helping your child to take full advantage of public education is one of the most important things you can do for your child. These few simple steps can be followed by any parent wishing to help their child get the most out of Public Education.

1. Get Involved Early And Stay Involved. READ MORE....

A Guide to the Atkins Diet; its not about eating unhealthy fats

One common misconception is that when you are on the Atkins diet you eat nothing but meat and extreme quantities of unhealthy fats. This is not the case at all. The Atkins diet is about reducing carbohydrate intake and slowing the effects carbohydrates have on blood sugar levels.

Getting started with the Atkins diet is the hardest part of the diet. Not only will you have to cut your favorite dessert out of your diet but you have to cut your morning cup of coffee out as well. Caffeine has a negative impact on blood sugar levels so for the induction phase you have to go decaffeinated. READ MORE....

How to Control Diabetes Through Diet: ...Eat your way to lower blood sugars

When my husband was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes in 2002 his doctors put him on one medication after another. His diet didn't seem to do anything to his blood sugar levels. Daily he would start off with his blood sugar sky high. Within a few short months my husband was taking a large amount of insulin . A formula was given to him to figure out the amount of fast acting insulin he was to take for the carbohydrates he consumed.

In 2003 when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes we realized his method wasn't going to work for my situation. We needed to find out how to control my blood sugar levels quickly to reduce the possible effect my diabetes would have on our unborn child. After searching through every pamphlet, book, and web site we could find we discovered not only could my blood sugar levels be controlled by diet but his could also. READ MORE....

How to Child Proof Your Bathroom, A Guide For Parents of Toddlers

My parents have been taking in foster children off and on since I was five years old. Over the years I learned there isn't a room that toddlers do not want to play in. Bathroom included. To make your bathroom safe for your toddler you have to use common sense. Look at the contents of your bathroom as something your toddler is going to try to play with. READ MORE....

How to Use Positive Discipline

Parenting means "to teach a child life skills by example, instruction, and making corrections when needed." It is imperative that the corrections from you, as a parent, are designed to build your child up instead of tearing your child down. This is where Positive Discipline comes in. Positive discipline uses positive intervention to teach a child to better handle a situation.

How Do Parents Use Positive Discipline?

To use Positive discipline you, the parent, must:
1. Stay in control of your own emotions when disciplining your child.
2. Take advantage of your child's parenting team.
3. Use logical consequences when disciplining your child.
4. Distinguish between your child's behavior and your child.
5. Use more praise than criticism when disciplining your child.
6. Allow your child to start over with a clean slate. READ MORE....

How to Teach Children Responsibility

The goal of teaching responsibility is to teach children to make choices that require thoughtful consideration of a situation. In a country where true heros are difficult to find and examples of irresponsibility saturate society, where we continue to see the results of a mindset where the rights and freedoms of individuals are often protected over the well-being of the community, parents must rise to the calling to teach their children responsibility.

Parents are the first (and most important) teachers children will ever have.
To teach children responsibility parents must:
(1) create an environment where responsibility is the norm,
(2) be responsible role models,
(3) teach responsibility from early on in life,
(4) expect children to act in a responsible manner,
(5) reinforce the responsible behaviors their children demonstrate, and
(6) stop irresponsibility before it becomes habit by using logical consequences. READ MORE....

Raising Children with Control Issues

While some people might say children with control issues are just playing games, working with children with control issues daily can wear down even the best parents.

All children will push their boundaries on occasion but children with control issues go beyond testing their boundaries. Children with control issues usually are masters at manipulating situations. Temper tantrums, pouting, refusals to comply, lying, disrespect, drama, distractions, shock and defiance are their tools. Many times it is hard to see what the real goal is: CONTROL. READ MORE....

My New Laptop

My new laptop is having shipping difficulties and isn't here yet. The computer I am currently using is running slow and some how has been infected with malware (not sure if it is true viruses or just spyware trying to get me to purchase their bogus software). I am unable to do things very fast with this machine.

My new computer was being shipped on Monday the 19th of March. It didn't get into the mail (he ran out of time--I can see it happening because Mondays are busy with school and work).

It was being sent on Tuesday and at the end of the day I called and he said he would send it on Thursday.

Thursday he worked late so he was sending it on Friday.

Finally, Friday came and UPS sent me an email telling me they were sending me a package. It was not even 15 minutes later that they sent another note that they shipment was cancelled. After all that to get the package sent the system wasn't working and couldn't take his credit card. Since it was during the last 15 minutes they were open he couldn't run to an ATM and get cash.

I wonder what Monday will have in store for my laptop.

I have two kids going to Oregon Connections Academy, a computer based school. The two of them trying to get their lessons done have been keeping me from getting much done. I wanted to get 5 to 10 articles a day written. I guess I better get busy this weekend and see if I can make up for lost time.

Spring Break is next week. I would love to go to the coast with the kids but I have a bzillion things to do here. We will see what happens.

Lottery??

Okay, today I got a check in the mail for $2,600USD. I was a bit intrigued when I noticed the letter was from outside of the United States. When I opened it and a check fell into my lap I was sure it was one of those "you get this money if you pay us so much each month" type of things.

I read the letter with the check and it says I won an international lottery. Hmmm, don't you think I would remember getting a lottery ticket at some point? Even so, I have looked over the check and it seems real. I think I'll do some calling just to figure out what the scam is tomorrow.

The note says I won $120,000USD and the check is supposed to be to cover the taxes and fees I'll have when I collect the $120,000 and that I have to collect the money before the 30th of March or the winnings go back into the lottery. I wonder what they would do if I only wanted the $2600 and not the whole $120,000? :-)

It would be nice to win anything. With $2600 I could get a new computer! With $120K I could get a new home. Actually, I think the first thing I would do is hire a learning coach to help me with my 14-year-old's home school since she has become irritable lately.

I've been told you get what you pay for and since this is a "free" lottery I don't expect to get anything but it was entertaining anyhow.

I did get a refund yesterday that I forgot about so I bought a new vacuum cleaner. That is close enough to winning the lottery for me.

Technical Issues

Today I got up bright and early planning on getting 8 to 9 articles written. Well, I didn't get that many finished. I did get several started, just none are finished yet. I am going to try to get them finished tonight so I don't want to say I didn't get anything done.

I finally got my kids started in Oregon Connections Academy. They start their classes tomorrow from what the lady in placement and the lady in registration said. I need to do the tutorial still, my computer decided not to have sound when I tried it earlier.

I have been having issues with my computer. Somehow I erased parts of Windows 98 and I lost my disk and have had a heck of a time to get a copy. I spent half of the day trying to get my computer back on track then I picked up a pepperoni pizza on the way home from Starbucks (I think I am getting addicted to their blended drinks).

I have a sinus headache so I took sudafed and now I am wide awake so perhaps the day isn't a total loss. I hope Lee is having better luck than I am.

G'night!

New Challenge

When I was a kid I remember listening to talks in church where the speaker would challenge the congregation to do something. I didn't take most of those challenges but often pushed myself to do better because of a challenge that was brought up on Sunday.

Today happens to be Sunday (or was when I got out of bed) and while I was trying to catch up on forum posts at Associated Content (AC) I ran across a post by Lee Andrew . Lee decided to do an experiment to see if he can make a living at AC. I am curious how good of an income I can make at AC so I am going to try to follow his plan for the week and see what happens. I'm not going to write an article about my results, instead I'll put the details here.

First step to writing 51 to 60 articles in one week is to get enough sleep. It is nearly 3AM so I'm off to bed.

G'night!

Okay, this is my first attempt at blogging.

I have been doing some freelance writing at Associated Content. I enjoy writing and I really enjoy getting paid to write. I have several articles that I have published with AC currently online here .

Being a stay-at-home-mom isn't a really lucritive business, financially speaking. I am sure in the end it will prove to be the best paid position I have held.

This week I have been getting ready to get a new computer and give my old computer to my kids. I will be so happy when I finally get my computer.

If there was a list of all time best "soon-to-be-ex-husbands" mine would be at the top. He was willing to not only help me figure out what needed but he has picked up my computer and got it up and running for me. Makes me want to kiss him (but I don't think that is allowed anymore).