Best Parents

When you have kids and are out to manage them on their own without the support of your better half, it is not easy. It may be for a day, or because of a divorce. However, a father has to be prepared and learn how to deal with kids. A father, who is left alone with his children to manage on his own, can have a harrowing time when he does not know what to expect. Kids can get completely in control of a situation, and that is when things start getting dangerous. They can get unruly, and do everything Read more [...]

Being a father or mother is a normal part of life, but we typically take it for granted. We often think that we immediately know what is best for our daughters and sons. Sadly, that is not the case; we'll find ourselves making unfavourable judgments sooner or later. Buying as well as reading parenting books would make us much better mums and dads and assist us in dealing with each and every stage that our sons and daughters experience. In many cases, when our boys and girls enter the adult years, Read more [...]

Hilda Franco and the Chicago Freedom School have developed a program promoting outreach to children and teens caught in the crossfire of violence plaguing Chicago Public Schools. I applaud her initiative and agree that active communication with these children is a positive move in the right direction, but I would like to challenge Times readers to take this idea one step further. As chairman of the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood, I believe the best way to reach these teens is to teach Read more [...]

Have you ever noticed how easy it is for many mom's to take responsibility for all the problems that occur in their homes, regardless of whether they are actually at fault or not? As if somehow being the all knowing all wise matriarchs implies that we should be able to control the painful influences that affect our families. Much like the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend, we hang onto the Excalibur of guilt, as if by doing so we somehow protect our families from its heartrending sting. Perhaps Read more [...]

• Sure Start Maternity Grant - It doesn't matter how tiny they are, babies are expensive. And new babies in particular need a LOT of stuff. But if you're on a low income and your baby is 3 months or younger, you could be entitled to a £500 one-off payment. Conditions do apply but if you`re eligible you won't have to pay a penny of the money back. You can claim from your 29th week of pregnancy. • Health in Pregnancy Grant - This is being phased out from January 1 2011, but if you reach the Read more [...]