Family - The Basic Social Unit

Family is the basic social unit. Family represents people living together by ties of marriage, blood or adaptation, thus representing a single household. According to sociology, the family has the primary function of reproducing society; biologically, socially, or both. There are various structures of a family based on the relationship shared between the parent and the children. The different types of family are patrifocal, where the family consists of a father and his child; matrifocal, where the family consists of a mother and her child. Consanguineal family is one which consists of the mother, the child and other people, mainly belonging to the family of the mother. The conjugal family consists of one or more mothers and their children, with other people and one or more spouses.

The parent-child relationship varies due to different cultures. One of the prominent forms is the nuclear family. It consists of the marital pair living with their offspring separately. The joint family is an extension of the nuclear family. Joint family occurs when children of one sex live at their parents’ house. In a joint family, the children bring along their spouse to live with them at their parents’ house after marriage. A joint family usually consists of an older man and his wife, his sons and unmarried daughters, his sons’ wives and children. Members of a joint family share all the task of trade, food gathering and preparation and child rearing.

Children who share one parent but not another are called “half–brothers” or “half–sisters”. Children who do not share parents, but whose parents are married, are called “step-brothers” or “step-sisters”. Similarly, if a person is married to the parent of a child, but is not the parent of the child themselves; they are called “stepfather” or “stepmother”.

A complex family involves more than two adults. It refers to any extended family or to polygamy of any type. A joint family is also known as a complex family. The parents and their children in a joint family live together under a single roof. In a joint family setup, the womenfolk are often housewives and cook for the entire family. The patriarch of the family is usually the oldest male member, who lays down the rules of the family. This kind of setup is fast eroding in many parts of the world. Almost all the urban families are switching over to the nuclear family society.

How to be a Coupon Queen

So you want to be a Coupon Queen ? Well to be a Coupon Queen you first have to have the right attitude. You have to learn how to think like a Coupon Queen. You have to be willing to work hard and think outside the box. "It's not Impossible to save 75 to 80% off you grocery bill "

For starters you cannot be brand loyal. Be open to try new things.You will find that you can get alot of the top name brands for free or almost free by just simply watching for sales and clipping your coupons. Store brands are not always cheaper than name brands when you are using coupons. .Also buying in bulk is not always cheaper especially when you can catch a sale Now that you have the right mind set lets tell you how to get started!!!


Where To get coupons:
You need to start by subscribing to your local newspaper!
Ask friends and neighbors for their coupons.
Check local coffee shops and book stores for newspapers that people leave.
Check local recycle bins for papers there too!! Look for coupons in your grocery store! Email companies tell them how you like or dislike products and they will send you coupons! We have a page provided for you with a list of companies to write to on my website at http://www.morestealsanddeals.com .


Organizing your coupons:


Start with a small $1 coupon organizer until you've mastered your own system and you want to get serious then you can go to a 3 ring binder with divders and clear baseball card sheets! Label your dividers like:

Canned/Frozen

Dairy/Meat

Produce

Breakfast/Breads

Baking

Pasta/Rice

Boxed helpers

Condiments

Snacks/Drinks

Cleaning

Hba

Baby/kids

Pets

Household

*You can even divide them out further the more coupons you get!!



For multiple inserts:


Start by tearing out pages from your coupon inserts and laying them out on the floor. Continue doing this and matching up identical pages from the rest of your inserts. then staple each stack of like coupons together so you can cut them all out at once and that also keeps your coupons together as well! Invest in an electric stapler and good pair of kitchen sheers!!


Don't forget to save money on gas ,you can take competitors ads and price match at some stores! You can also get extra discounts by shopping at a store that offers a club card or catalina coupons! What is a "Catalina Coupon" you may ask? A catalina coupon is a coupon that spits out at the register when you buy certain items. Sometimes they will apit out for buying certain products.These coupons say manufacturer coupon on them BUT..... Most people have no problems using them with the coupons you get from the sunday paper etc. So more savings for you!!!!

Don't forget about online coupons as well! Many sites like ours offer coupons that you can print out online and take to the store to maximize your savings! Check out at http://www.morestealsanddeals.com

Tips for a Winning Grandparenting

Why grandparenting and not just parenting? Because... Parents enjoy a break for short periods of time, children enjoy getting away from their parents from time to time and grandparents enjoy being a special part of this essential relationship. As a grandfather of six grandchildren, I can tell you for sure that building on a special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is a lifetime privilege. As grandchildren grow, the principles of the relationship remain applicable at any age, but the role of the grandparents in the lives of their grandchildren changes. Grand Parental Control and Safety of the Grandchildren All children need to be warned about the limits and must learn to respect boundaries. Unfortunately, our children learn in kindergartens and schools only about their rights, not much about their obligations. However, grandparents can intervene yearly in their grandchildren’s education and help them to understand the life limits and boundaries. When an activity begins you, as a grandparent, must be clear about your expectations. This fact frees you and the grandchild to enjoy the event and guarantees the safety of everyone involved. When the restrictions are being violated, always remind your grandchildren again about the rules and restate them as many times as necessary. A very good idea is to write the rules and post them in a visible place. If a rule is violated during your shared activity, ask the child to repeat or read (if the child can do it, of course...) the rules again. Parents’ Wishes and Rules Must Be Pursued Anything you do for your grandchild needs to be planned and discussed first with the parents, who make the rules. Helpful grandparents must support the parents in children’s education. Never keep secrets from the parents and never ask the grandchildren to keep secrets from their parents. And, do not undermine the relationships between the parents and the child by considering that some information should not be shared with the parents! A Successful Grandparenting Requires Proper Planning... Proper planning makes any activity more successful. It is safer to have a plan and to discuss the activity with the parents. Of course, you can be spontaneous, but this should happen within a planned activity. When start planning, discuss with the child and the parents what he or she would like to do. Before you begin any activities, see what is appropriate for the child’s age. In this way you are giving your grandchildren choices and increasing their self-confidence. The Best Gift for Your Grandchildren Is the “Time Together” Physical gifts (objects) are an option and do not have to be very expensive. Also, surprise gifts are the best, as a gift is real especially when it is unexpected. Do not forget that “time together” is the best gift we can give to our grandchildren. A well-planned journey provides time for the grandparent and grandchildren to discover and appreciate each other’s real life gifts. Giving time your will achieve friendship and great success with your grandparenting! Grandchildren and Grandparents Should Have Fun! Having fun is good for you, your grandchild and your relationship. Be always ready to share with your grandchildren how excited you are about being together.

The Occupation Of An Au Pair

An Au Pair is typically a young woman between the late teens to mid-thirties whom is in the occupation of child care. They trade room and board abroad for their services in child care. An Au Pair will get into the business with the hopes of furthering their education outside of their country of origin, or having the luxury of traveling where they may not typically have been able to afford to do so, giving them the experience of being with a host family in a foreign country. Au Pair’s usually have some previous childcare education and experience. However, sometimes this is not the case. There are many downfalls as well as benefits to hiring an Au Pair. One benefit to hiring an Au Pair is receiving low cost child care and, if you go through a trust-worthy agency that does background checks on their Au Pairs you may end up with a good catch. The downside to this is, on a work Visa to a foreign country, an Au Pair that becomes attached to a family unit only has a limited amount of time to be in the home before returning to their country of origin. There are agencies internationally dedicated to matching families in need with qualified trustworthy Au Pairs. They do everything from background checks and reference checks to providing some Au Pairs with the services of obtaining their respective work Visas and even providing some with formal training in child care. It is safer to go through one of these agencies than it is to just hire one from a classified ad. When searching for an Au Pair you will want to hire someone you feel comfortable leaving the well being of your child with. Someone with a past history of aggression or short temperedness is not recommended. You need to hire someone you feel could be an asset to your family and fit in with the setting and environment which you have created. Make sure the candidates you review have experience with children in the age range of your own children, this ensure if any problems or concerns should arise with your child, the Au Pair will be able to handle the situation and act accordingly. There are also agencies internationally that can investigate child abuse suspicions. If you have hired an Au Pair and you suspect they may be abusing your child, these agencies will provide surveillance to assure that your children are in safe hands. Typically agencies such as these work in conjunction with agencies that hire, train and place Au Pairs with host families. When choosing an agency to hire an Au Pair you should always ask which, if any other agencies they are associated with and what services those companies may offer to make your experience with an Au Pair the best. If you are a busy working parent and require child care, with the assistance of a trust-worthy agency and following up on references given, an Au Pair might be a cost effective answer to your child care needs. Not only will you be welcoming into your home someone who truly loves their profession but with an Au Pair you will be helping out a person who may not have been able to experience other cultures otherwise.

Minimize Injury With A First-Aid Kit

Imagine if an accident or something terrible happens to your friends or families, or children especially. You really want to save them immediately, don't you? What you must do is to give a first aid. CPR, for example. Having first-aid equipments is another essential effort. In other words, you must prepare for emergency. The first-aid kit is so important in this kind of situation. No matter where, keep the kit with you. What you need to have is a set of first-aid equipments. In general, here's your first-aid kit checklist. first-aid manual thermometer (a digital one is preferred) acetaminophen (to lower fever and relieve pain) prescription medications sterile gauze adhesive tape liquid soap (use mild type which will not endanger your children's skin) scissors (always check if they are sharp) alcohol wipes antiseptic wipes emergency phone numbers (your physician's or pediatrician's) flashlight and batteries disposable gloves blankets sunscreen lotion Have you gathered all those gears? Keep them in a durable container. Choose one that is roomy, lightweight, easy to carry, and can be opened easily. Some drug stores provide this bag, even with some of the equipments. The first-aid kit should be available at home and in the car. Put it carefully, out of reach of children, as all the equipments can be dangerous for them. Don't forget to check the kit regularly. See whether some medicines are outdated or not and make sure that the batteries of the flashlight still work well. Now, have you been trained to use the kit? You probably have seen people doing CPR or any other emergency assistance, but you've never done it all alone by yourself. The American Red Cross has programs aimed at giving anyone the confidence to act in response to an emergency situation with skills that can save a life. It's of course a great chance for you to take this program. Here's the address of the American Red Cross programs: http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/ You can bookmark this web address for your handy emergency guide.

Healthy Living for You and Your Children

We all want what is best for our children. In my case, it has been very important to me right from the beginning that my son live a healthy lifestyle. I didn’t exactly know back when he was first born what all that would entail, but I have learned three essential rules that I believe promote healthy living for the whole family. *Eat a nutritional and well-balanced diet. Before my son was able to eat “real” food, I never put much thought into the quality of food I was eating and/or preparing for our meals. Once he was able to join us for meal time and ask/beg for food, I realized very quickly that the food I provided for us ALL had to be healthy. I could no longer feed him the “good stuff” while my husband and I inhaled a greasy pizza. He wanted to eat what Mommy and Daddy were eating so things had to change – FAST! This wasn’t as difficult as I had expected. I simply sat down and made a list of the foods I wanted him to eat based on their nutritional content – this included lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and very little processed and sugary foods. The next time I went to the grocery store I stuck to that list. Whenever I had the urge to throw in a box of cookies or potato chips I just asked myself, “Is this something I want my son eating?” Most of the time the answer was “NO” so I would keep on walking by. I’m happy to say that my son eats a very healthy diet. Instead of begging for candy or chips, he begs for bananas, grapes, and blueberries…SERIOUSLY! The bonus to all this is that my husband and I are eating healthier and feel great. Being a good example for our son has benefited us as well! *Get moving. As with everything I’m discussing here, it’s all about being a good example for our kids. They so much want to be just like us, that they will do EXACTLY what we do, whether it’s good or bad. If we show our kids from a young age that exercise is fun and worthwhile, they will enjoy it as well. My son is now two years old and loves to dance, chase bubbles, run with his dogs, and go for walks. These are things he already enjoys doing and when we do them together, we both get a great workout! *Drink plenty of water. Some parents probably think I’m crazy but my son is over two years old and has probably only had juice 4 or 5 times. He went directly from breastfeeding to milk and water. Occasionally I will give him some watered down orange juice because, of course, he sees Mommy drinking it and wants to be just like me. But in general he only drinks water. He doesn’t beg for soda because he doesn’t know what he’s missing and that is fine with me! Plus, he sees Mommy and Daddy drinking water all day long so he knows it’s the “cool” thing to do. The most important thing I’ve learned in these 2 short years is how impressionable children are. They want nothing more than to be just like us. It’s quite an honor, actually. But also a great responsibility. I believe that by following these three simple rules my entire family will be healthier and most importantly, my son will grow up having already developed healthy living habits. I hope you find these tips helpful and I wish you and your family very healthy living!

When It is alright to let them decide?

Yesterday I took my son to the barber shop to get his back to school hair cut. As we sat in the barber shop, I reminisced over how much my son has grown. I remember the first time I took him to the barber shop, I had to sit in the barbers chair and have him sit on my lap just so he could stop squirming and get his hair cut. And now look at him, he walks into the barber shop as if it is second nature. True, I still have my moments when I stand by the barber’s chair, and oversee him and my son as they have their “man” talk. But yesterday all that changed. As I went to the barber shop with my son, he ran over to the pictures of hair cuts on the wall and said “mommy, I want this one.” All of the guys laughed at him, jeering him “your mother is not going to let you get that son, not until your older.” But as I looked in Isaiah’s eyes, I couldn’t help it. I had to allow him to have this one decision. For once I was going to step back and let him decide on how he wanted his hair to look. As I swayed past the older men in the shop, to get a closer look at the picture, I couldn’t believe it! My son wanted to get a Mohawk with a spider man design on the side. As I turned around to tell him pick another cut, I remembered the look in his eyes and the excitement on his face as he marched up to the picture and pointed to it and said: “mommy, I want this one.” How could I turn around and tell him no. As he sat in the chair, the barber looked at me, the older men looked at me, and Isaiah looked at me as if they were all waiting for me to yell: STOP, I’m not ready for this, he’s too young to make this choice!” But I just politely smiled and stared back at them and cheered Isaiah on. As I watched him get his hair cut, I began to wonder, at what point do we let our children began to make decisions for themselves? When do we step back and let them take control? Sure this time it was something as minor as a hair cut. But later on who knows what it will be? How do we prepare them to make good decisions? Or to accept the decisions that they’ve made? As parents we always want to hold their hand, choose which path that we assume is the right path for them and watch themhappily march down it. We always want to be the ones who block the bumps, pitfalls, and cover up the spills, but when do we stop? Should we start teaching them decision making skills at at four, five, six? Or do we wait until they get older? After Isaiah got his hair cut and I brought him home, he rushed upstairs to the mirror and looked at his hair cut. I couldn’t quite figure out what he was doing, so innocently I asked “what’s up?” As he turned around to answer me, he had... (read the full article at the link below)

Family Ties – When to Let Go

Title: Family Ties – When to Let Go Word Count: 708 Summary: Ruth consulted with me because she was confused about what to do regarding her mother, her brother, and her son. From the time Ruth was born, she never felt like she belonged in her family. Her mother ignored Ruth, obviously preferring her brother, and consistently allowed her brother to beat Ruth up. Ruth had some connection with her father, but he was a weak man and never stood up for her or protected her. Keywords: family, home, time, time management, memories, life, nostalgia, seasons, parenting Article Body: Ruth consulted with me because she was confused about what to do regarding her mother, her brother, and her son. From the time Ruth was born, she never felt like she belonged in her family. Her mother ignored Ruth, obviously preferring her brother, and consistently allowed her brother to beat Ruth up. Ruth had some connection with her father, but he was a weak man and never stood up for her or protected her. Ruth was a loving child and tried in any way she could to please her mother and brother, to no avail. She could never understand why her family didn’t like her. As an adult, she married an emotionally unavailable man, a man very much like her mother. As with her mother and brother, she tried in many ways to get his love and never succeeded. Her son, Dylan, was eight years old when they divorced. Dylan always seemed to prefer his father, and finally went to live with his father when he was sixteen. Once again, Ruth was completely in the dark regarding why her son didn’t like her. She had been such a devoted mother, so why was he rejecting her? Ruth finally married again, this time to a loving man, and had another child. Her current family was totally different from her previous family and from her family of origin. However, she still hoped to have a relationship with her mother. She would send her mother birthday and Christmas cards, but rarely heard from her. The final blow that sent her to seek my help came when she found out that her son had gotten married without telling her, and that her brother had moved her mother into a nursing home and sold everything without telling her. Ruth was a shining light of love. Her eyes, her smile, her gestures all radiated love and compassion. Her deeply gentle and peaceful nature was evident at first glance. “Why? Why don’t they like me?” she asked. “Because you are a giver and they are takers,” I told her. ‘Givers care about others, while takers just want to take from others. You can never give enough to a taker to receive any caring back, because they don’t like themselves. They reject themselves and try to get others to give to them. Because they have emotionally abandoned themselves, they are angry at others for not giving enough to them. Your mother and brother were united in their taking from you, as were your first husband and son. They look at you and see a fountain of love coming from you and they want it, but they are incapable of receiving it. Your light contrasts with their darkness and they hate you for it.” “But what can I do?” “Nothing, other than not be around them. They will suck the life out of you if you allow them to spend time with you. I know you care about them, but they are incapable of caring about themselves or you, so you have to let them go. It is not in your highest good to be with people who are incapable of valuing you – who just want to take from you.” “But can’t I help them?” “No, because they are not asking for help. I know you have believed that if you just love them enough, they will heal and love you back, but this will never happen because they are not open to your love. They feel inadequate in the face of your open heart and their closed hearts, and they take their self-judgment out on you. There is nothing you can to do to help them open their hearts. Only they can do that. It is unlikely your mother or brother will ever open their hearts, but perhaps your son will in time. He will come to you if he does.” “But I have such a great life now. Isn’t it selfish of me to just let them go?” “No, it is self-responsible. It is not loving to yourself to be around people who treat you badly.” Ruth understood. She felt sad, but relieved. She finally saw that all she could do was pray for them to open their hearts.

The Frustrations and Rewards of Parenting Teenagers

Most parents - whether they admit it or not - react to the onset of their child's teenage years with either trepidation or absolute dread. We look back to our own teenage years, and wonder how our parents lived through our fads, our raging hormones, our rebellion, and our attitudes. It's almost as though, overnight, our parents went from knowing everything to knowing nothing, from understanding our hopes and dreams to being clueless about who we are and what we want out of life. Looking back, we know that parenting teenagers is no cakewalk, and can't begin to imagine how we'll survive the ordeal. If only there was a parent handbook or parent directory, teens would be so much easier to raise. Even a family newsletter with tips and hints would be welcomed and make us feel as though we're not alone in our journey. There's never a doubt that we want what's best for our children, but what are we supposed to do when we lose our equanimity and get sucked into yet another argument about friends or clothes or the car? Is there any hope of ever having another enjoyable family vacation? How do we know when our teenager just has the blues and when he or she is clinically depressed? If it's the latter, what are the skills involved in parenting troubled teens? Although we may approach our child's teenage years with dread, the truth is that parenting teenagers can be rewarding. Here are four tips to get through those teenage years. 1. Acknowledge our power. Although our teens would be loath to admit it, we still wield an enormous amount of influence over them. We may not think they're listening to us, but they are. During stressful times when we're tempted to take the bait and lay down ultimatums or get into an argument, it's important to remember that we're still role models for our teens. The more often we take the high road, the more they'll benefit. 2. Loosen the apron strings. It's difficult to accept that the purpose of the teenage years is to separate and differentiate from parents. When our teenagers begin to develop their own personal tastes and opinions, and especially when they want to be treated "as adults," it's hard to find the right balance between maintaining control and allowing them to nurture their individuality. We have the right and the obligation to set rules and standards, but we can't set them arbitrarily. If our teens demonstrate that they're trustworthy, we must give them room to grow. 3. Be vigilant. It's difficult to imagine that parenting teenagers is more difficult than parenting toddlers, but it's true. We may have loosened the apron strings, but that doesn't mean we should let go. All teenagers have secrets, and it's our job to make sure that our teens' secrets don't have the potential to harm themselves or others. That doesn't mean snooping (trust goes both ways), but it does mean staying involved in and aware of their activities and friends. 4. Listen with our ears and our hearts. Teenagers are notoriously uncommunicative, so listening is doubly important. This means listening both when they're speaking and when they're not. As the saying goes, silence can speak volumes, so it's crucial to learn to interpret the different kinds of silence. We also need to learn to listen by asking. This doesn't mean hounding our teens with questions, but asking their opinions and truly hearing what they have to say - without passing judgment or correcting them. All teens seek acceptance, and although most go through periods of feeling acceptance is lacking from their peers, we can fill in the gaps. There's no doubt that parenting teenagers is incredibly challenging. And the reality is that we may not see the fruits of our efforts for several years. But when we devote the time and develop the skills to effectively parent our teens, we will experience the rewards, both now and in the future.

Choosing

It is no secret these days that breastfeeding is best. This information comes at new mothers from every direction. Obstetricians, pediatricians, and parenting magazines all agree that breastfeeding is the way to go. So why are there so many different bottles on the shelves these days? Because not all mother’s are able to breastfeed and those that do, need an occasional evening away from baby. With all the choices out there, it can be difficult to decide which bottle is best. When making your decision you should take into consideration the cost of the bottle, your baby’s preference, and any health problems your child may have. Here is a brief description of the bottles on the market right now. This information should make your decision a little easier...(read the full article at the link below)

Changing A Nappy

Congratulations! It's a boy... or a girl... You've imagined those words throughout your nine magical months. But, what you probably have not thought about is the part where you need to put a fresh nappy on the little person!

Even after having two little girls I worried about changing my little boy's nappy for the first time. For some reason I thought it was going to be really difficult. But actually it was easier!

So how do you change a baby's nappy? Assuming you are using disposable nappies, as most mums do, at least in the beginning, here are some tips:

Lie your baby on a flat surface, preferably on a soft changing mat; this allows little accidents to be wiped up quickly. If you are placing your baby on a raised surface or a changing station, never leave him unattended for even the slightest moment. Babies can and do fall off raised surfaces, often with disastrous consequences.

Advances in technology allow us to keep the wet surface of the nappy away from the baby. Although this is great for your baby,it can make it difficult to tell if the nappy is wet. So how will you know if the nappy needs to be changed? A wet nappy will feel soft and squishy on the outside. It may also have increased in size. The moisture absorbing material within the nappy swells when it comes into contact with urine making it easy to tell if the nappy is wet.

Obviously, a soiled nappy is easier to detect as you can just peep inside; or, more often than not, you can smell it!

As your baby gets older he will become more wriggly at every nappy change. A good tip is to hang a mobile above his changing station or give him a different toy to keep his interest at changing time - making nappy changes much less tiring for mum!

Remove the old nappy. Wipe the baby's bottom with some cotton wool pads soaked in warm water. You do not need to use soap or scented wipes on a newborn baby. Newborns have extremely soft, sensitive skin which is easily irritated. A so-called top and tail, or a warm bath once a day, is enough. When the baby is a few weeks old you can wash him with a warm soapy cloth or some sensitive baby wipes at each nappy change.

Wipe baby girls from front to back to avoid the risk of cross infection. With baby boys you will need to ensure you wipe around and under their little bits! However, never pull back the foreskin. You may cause damage and infection if you attempt to.

Creams and talc are unnecessary. Nappies today are so effective at keeping moisture away from the skin that creams are not required. In fact, creams can actually hinder the nappy's performance, making irritation more likely.

If your baby has nappy rash, and you really feel that cream is required, apply it very thinly before putting on the fresh nappy. Also, let the air at your baby's bottom. Let him lie on the changing mat on the floor for a while without a nappy. You may want to put an old towel or absorbant bed cloth under him so that he will not be lying in a puddle getting cold, if he does wet it.

Put the fresh nappy under the baby's bottom, with the sticky seals at the back!

Lift the front of the nappy up over the baby's bottom and fasten it closed. Do not fasten it too tightly as this will be uncomfortable. Allow the baby some room to breath!

Voila! All Done... until the next one!

Boost Your Child's Vision

Vision problems often run in families, but there are some factors that you can control in your child’s environment to help their eyesight. Try these tips to give your child’s vision a better chance.

Brighten things up.
Unfortunately, your mom was right: reading in dim light can wreak havoc on your eyes. Buy your child a good reading light, or make sure that homework is done in plenty of natural light.

Give them space.
Place a pillow about eight feet away from the TV, and tell your child they have to watch it from that distance. Sitting too close to a television leads to the same focus problems that your child can develop from using computers and video games.

Take breaks.
Experts agree that kids’ increased computer use can cause focus problems, particularly the ability to refocus on objects far away. Take note of how much time they spend in front of the computer, and make sure they take a ten-minute break every hour.

Buy shades.
Your child may not need glasses, but it’s a good idea to buy them sunglasses. UV exposure can lead to macular degeneration or the early development of cataracts.

Don’t skip eye exams.
Children should be screened by an eye doctor or pediatrician between 6 and 12 months, 3 and 3 ½ years, at 5, and then annually after that.

It’s not too late for adults to start practicing these techniques, also. Make them a family habit, and you could slow the loss of your vision as you age. It’s important to set a good example for your children, too.

5 Cheap Nights Out With The Family

Taking the entire family out for an evening of fun can be exciting and something all parents want to do on a regular basis. However, going out costs money and frequently it can cost more than the average family can afford. So, if you want to enjoy an evening with your family consider these 5 cheap nights out where you can really enjoy some family bonding while saving money at the same time.

Cheap Family Night #1 The Movies

I know you are thinking the movies are really expensive and there is no way you can afford to go. However, frequently during the week movie theatres offer specials, even 2 for 1 deals, to get more people in to see movies during the middle of the week. As a result, by taking your family to the movies on a Tuesday or Wednesday as opposed to Friday or Saturday you can save a lot of money. Also, consider popping popcorn at home and carrying it with you in a purse. That way you can enjoy popcorn without spending $5 for a small bag.

Cheap Family Night #2 Bowling

Bowling is a great family activity and like the movies many bowling alleys offer specials during the week, especially for kids. So, have a great dinner at home and head to the bowling alley. Of course, call ahead and find out when your local bowling alley offers specials for families and children.

Cheap Family Night #3 The Park and Ice Cream

All kids love to go to the park and since the park is free it is perhaps one of the best places to go! Your kids will love playing on the monkey bars and merry go rounds and you as parents will enjoy some family time and fresh air. Then, head to your local ice cream parlor and have a cone of your favorite flavor or buy a gallon of ice cream to enjoy at home.

Cheap Family Night #4 Local Sports Game

Many kids really love sports so consider a family night out to a local sports game, even a high school game. Entrance is inexpensive and it can be a lot of fun to watch local people playing a sport. Also, if you head to a high school game you can frequently pay entrance and see girls and boys play. A great family night out!

Cheap Family Night #5 Pizza and Arcade

Another great night out with the family can be enjoying a family size pizza and then playing games in an arcade. Not only will you have a great meal that is inexpensive, but the arcade games are generally inexpensive as well. You can give each child $2-3 in quarters and let them play until they are gone.

Family Safety Tips For Fairs, Festivals, And Amusement Parks

: How do you keep your child “stranger proof” this summer? When children are out of school, there is more time for families to make life-lasting memories when going out to enjoy fairs, festivals, and amusement parks. Here’s a plan to keep them safe. Parents, you know there is always an increased stress when it comes to the safety and security of your family during an outing. Can’t stand the anxiety? Not sure where to start? Take a few minutes with a family safety plan by following some of these easy steps so it’s not just the kids having all the fun…you can too! Before going to the event, tell your child... ... to have fun while paying attention to where they are and who they are with at all times. ...they should not be alone in the park or become isolated with anyone, even characters in costume. Tell them not to accept any prizes, offers, or gifts from anyone until they have checked with you FIRST. ...they should be cautioned not to engage in conversation with or offer assistance to anyone until they have checked with you. ...to tell you if anyone approaches them or makes them feel uncomfortable. Tell you children if they are approached by anyone who tries to take them to yell “This person is not my father (mother)!” and do whatever they need to do (kick, punch, scratch,) to get away from that person. ...if you become separated in the park to go to the closest “Help/Information Center” to ask the people there to “find my parents and bring them to me here at this Center” or, in the case of older children, make the “Help/Information Center” the spot where you can “meet up”. Make sure your child understands they should never search for you on their own or look for you outside the park, especially in the parking lot. ...these rules also apply when they are taking part in a field trip through their school or youth group. If you are not joining them for the trip, they need to check first with and tell the responsible adult in charge or a designated chaperone if anything is wrong. As a parent you should... ...get all the information about the park prior to you trip, and review the park guidelines, particularly those regarding lost children. Discuss the information with your family, including what to do if you become separated. As your children what they would do in certain situations, and practice appropriate actions and responses with your children. ...get a map immediately arriving, identify the “Help/Information Centers” throughout the park and reinforce the idea these are the places for children to go to in case you become separated in the park. Making a plan before hand, in case you are separated, should greatly speed up the reunion. ...talk to your child about who can help them if they become lost, need help, or are in trouble. Examples: park personnel with nametags or uniforms or mothers with strollers and children. ...never let your child use public bathrooms or changing facilities alone. ...not put your child’s name prominently displayed on clothing, backpacks, or jewelry. ...make sure your child has emergency contact numbers with them if they ever need assistance including your cell phone numbers. ...dress your child in or asking them to wear brightly colored clothes so you can easily spot them in the park. ...accompany young children on rides in the park. Older children should stay in groups and take a friend with them wherever they go in the park. If you decide to let young children go on rides without you, wait with them in line, watch them enter the ride, and immediately meet them when they exit the ride. ...immediately report any suspicious or inappropriate behavior to authorities. ...make certain your child has change to use the telephone. If you have a cell phone or pager, make certain your children know those numbers and how to activate them on the phone. Parents might want to invest in two way radios so family members can keep in contact with each other. ...immediately report your child missing if you become separated. Be prepared to give an accurate and detailed description of your child. You should carry a recent photograph and be able to accurately describe the clothing the your child is wearing ...make certain there is going to be qualified supervision of the children by responsible adults when granting permission for your child to go on a field trip. By taking the time to share with your family a safety plan for your next trip to a fair, festival or amusement park fun can be had by all, without the worry of a family member missing or lost.

Families are Beautiful

It's nice when the whole family spends time together. You share a special bond between one another that cannot be recreated with anyone else. Father, mother, sister, brother, you all belong to each other in a special way. Each member of the family needs to rely on each other for love, companionship, advice, support and sometimes just to listen. Times aren't always going to be smooth sailing. A family that is strong in love can make it through the worst of times. In order for a family to work well together, each member needs to give of themselves to one another, without thinking about getting anything in return. This is giving from your heart. If each member were to do this, everyone's needs would be met and there would be no selfishness in your family, only true love for one another. Sometimes in a family, there can be a fight where it is so bad, that one seperates themself from a member of the family or the entire family for a long period of time. It's a shame when something like this happens. It can hurt a family really bad. There's bitterness and pain that winds up leaving a void in one's heart because they seem to have lost that bond they once had. No matter what happened or how terrible it may have been to cause such a seperation, families need to be reunited. Forgiveness can mend more than one heart. Pride is not worth losing family over. There's nothing like having dinner together as a family. There's just something that makes the end of the day more pleasant. Take for instance if you had a bad day or you have a problem that you would like to discuss. Here at the table, you have loved ones that are willing to listen and help you get over your bad day. Nothing like quality time with your family. You have to eat, right? Eat together and spend that time keeping the bond tight and the love flowing. Family time together, whether it would be watching a movie or going to a movie, or a day in the park, or maybe a camping trip(here's a hint:you could even camp out in your backyard) it's what you do with the time you have together. There's many things a family could do together. Sometimes there's always that one member who doesn't want to go. If you are that one member, forget about yourself and think of your family. Remember that you are not always going to be living together. The time is going to come when either you are going to be moving out or if your the parent your kids are going to be leaving. Don't miss out on the time you could be sharing with one another. Quality time together is important. Many households have both parents working. The kids come home from school to a empty house. These days even if everyone is home, you can still be seperated. There are so many electronic gadgets to keep everyone busy by themselves. Let's see what we have. Cell phones, gaming computers, laptops, ipods, mp3 players, video games, 200 plus channels on T.V., etc., etc. All the things on the web that will keep you busy like blogging, chat rooms, my space, and so on. There are so many things one can do to entertain themselves without the family. Most of these things can be addictive. People can become strangers in their own family. It only takes one family member to get the ball rolling. So if your family is not as tight as it should be, you could be the one to change it. There's nothing worse than sitting down one day and looking back at the time one missed with their family. You can't go back and change things. Regret is very painful and it will last you the rest of your life. May God Bless You.