You will more than likely find it dominating your lounge room. There it reigns in the name of the television set. That monster stays on almost all day. We women turn it on first thing in the morning to have breakfast with our favourite morning show host. The younger kids like to watch things like "the Wiggles" before they go outside to play. Then there are the soapies, and after school childrens’ programmes, Don’t forget about the news which happens to be on just when we are having tea, we can’t miss it so we eat our meal in the lounge room. Total evenings are taken up with watching one not to be missed episode after another. I mean, really, how can we turn the television off when Simon Baker is up next?

So how do we tame the monster? Do we turn it off altogether? Do we rise up, raise it above our heads and throw it through the window as a way of publicly showing our new resolve? That should attract some attention. Perhaps we could form a group "citizens against television", meet in public buildings and brainstorm ways of destroying the infernal machine! Those options might be fun but I doubt that they would really carry much weight. There may even be a backlash of people who form groups determined to save "House" from imminent demise as one television set after another is thrown into the street. No seriously, this is not the way forward but it is good for a laugh.

One suggestion would be to turn the t.v off and sit together around the table. There may be some shocked reactions at first but they will all survive! Decide as a family how much television time is acceptable each day then ask each person to write down the name of their absolute, must see favourite show of the week. Then ask them to write down another one that they might like to see e.g. one they have seen advertised but is not on every week.

Next draw up a chart stating day, time and length of each programme. The challenge may be that some choices actually clash because of timing. This will bring us to the bargaining table. One party may be willing to give up their time for the other, if so a reward should be offered such as watching their second choice for this week, playing a card game with a parent, or helping prepare tea.

Another method of taming the monster might be to agree to turn off the television set one evening a week. You might be able to use the list if it appears that no one really has a favourite on a certain night. Use that time to do things together as a family e.g. go out for pizza, sit together in the lounge room and talk about your last family holiday and the fun things you did together. Before you know it you might all find that you are enjoying each others company so much that you sometimes forget to turn the t.v on at all.

Yet another method which has been used effectively in some homes is to only allow television on school holidays. This method is often used by desperate parents who can’t get the kids to do their homework. On school holidays the television reigns supreme but is locked away the rest of the time. It is a little drastic but it does work when necessary.

Destroy the television set? I think not. Tame it? Yes. Let’s limit the hold it has on our families and on the precious time we spend together. Believe me when you tame the monster you get back so much more in quality family time and isn’t that worth the small price we pay?

Pauline Fredrickson is a mother and grandmother who has a heart for children and for families. She has two website businesses http://www.familiesunplugged.com which seeks to help parents build awesome families and http://www.grandmastoyshop.com.au which supplies good quality toys, hobby materials etc to aid parents in their desire to teach their children healthy values.

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The first secretion of milk is the colostrum that should be fed. The colostrum is enriched with all the essential vital nutrients.

There are many postures in breastfeeding a baby, but it is always advisable to feed the baby in the sitting posture. Place the baby in the cradle position and feed, this gives the new born the warmth which it gets from the mother.

Never lie down and breastfeed as the baby would not get enough air to breathe and thus suffocates. As the days pass by the baby gets used in sucking. At this stage the new mother feels the pain, that occurs due to sore nipples and dryness around the areola.

This causes severe pain while feeding. Another reason for this is the nipple which is facing towards our body. To avoid this a simple practice, which is to be done, from the starting of the sixth month of pregnancy. By pulling and massaging the nipple outward to our body helps to come out of this problem.

The wound can be healed, by wiping the area with a wet cloth, before and after every feed. If pain still persists you can apply coconut oil.

Many mothers feel that her baby is not getting sufficient milk, but its not true.

The secretion of milk is also related to the mind of the mother. A positive thinking also induces in the increase of milk secretion. Apart from this a healthy diet, rich in iron, calcium, protein, is essential, and plays a vital role in milk secretion.

Breast feeding the baby alone on milk up to six months, provides life long immunity, compared to bottle feeding. You can start giving additional semi-solid food, by getting the advice of your doctor.

Breastfeeding mothers should wear a perfect, and loose fitting bra. this keeps the breast in shape, and avoids sagging.

Be relaxed, and tension free. You can see the baby smile happily and feel the fullness in the stomach after every feed.

Keep in mind that god selected you to serve the baby. Do the work with full satisfaction. Enjoy the happiness in breastfeeding and pass the happiness to the baby, and thus sowing the seed of happiness, and developing a healthy generation full of life.

Rani Ravindran

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There is a huge data base on the Internet on working mom versus a stay at home mom. Now that I have experienced a little of both worlds I must say each has its own pros and cons and it is really a personal thing. As a working mom the common lunch table discussions with my colleagues who were moms was the perpetual lack of time available to do enviable things stay at home mommies do – spend time children, good housekeeping and cooking and pursuing hobbies. Now that I am a stay at home mommy and I regularly take my child out to play in the evenings, I meet other mothers who too were once working women and many time the favourite topic of discussion is the desire to start work again.

I guess it is only the women who have to face this decision and never the man. The female of all species on the planet are primarily responsible for nurturing the offspring. It is not to say that the male is incapable. It is only natural that the one who gives birth is the one that has an unbreakable bond formed with the child from a fetal stage and perhaps that is why the primary responsibility.

A few generations back, say even one generation back when my mom was a mom my age, most women were quite comfortable with with fact that after graduation comes marriage and then home and kids. That was their life and quite uncomplicated at that. There was a clear divide in the responsibilities, the woman as a caretaker and the man as a provider. The complications started when women decided to foray into the man’s field and started taking equal responsibilities to earn the bread as well. With the additional responsibilities there has been a shift in the nurturing ways. These have also caused a shift in the responsibilities of the man.

From two generations back where most males would abstain from household chores, males today are helping out with the cooking, cleaning, laundry and the sundry household chores. If women have so easily accepted and conquered the additional responsibilities outside the home then why is it so difficult to get rid of the emotional baggage that comes with compromising on the first-hand nurturing. While we have evolved and adapted quite well on the newly acquired responsibilities outside home, we will have to wait and see how the we evolve on the emotional front. Shedding this baggage is still a long way to go.

Dipalee Upadhye enjoys cooking, blogging, writing, transactional analysis and spending time with family and friends. You can see her blog on http://diasez.blogspot.com.

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As women and mothers we can get so wrapped up in our jobs, children, spouse, friends, relationships and all the other cares of life to the point that we forget about ourselves. I’m not speaking in a selfish manner but rather a healthy manner. I’m speaking to the women and mothers that put everyone and everything else before them. They are supporters of multiple functions and family activities as well as the volunteers for just about anything. At some point in time it’s necessary to make time for yourself; to do something that helps to recharge you to continue to do the things you do.

With so many things to occupy our time and attention we as women and mothers need to realize that if we do not make time for ourselves, we’re going to crash and burn. To help drive my point home, my sister and I had planned to spend some time together after I got off from work. Getting off at my normal time would allow me plenty of time to get to her house, eat dinner so that we could go to Bible Study and bowling thereafter. I was looking forward to the change while spending time with family. After discussing my plan with my children the necessary arrangements were made. Unfortunately, the plan did not succeed due to poor timing on the part of my children. They decided to leave the house at 4:15 pm to pick me up by 4:30 pm when I work 45 minutes away. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed and needed some time to regroup. Since I regularly carpool with my sister/friend, I caught a ride and spent some time with her running errands before going home.

I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to regroup before arriving home and jumping into the routine of mothering and running the house, but I did get to take just a little time for myself. Now imagine situations like the one mentioned above and multiply it several times over without any time to regroup. Things happen whether we’re ready or not or like it or not. Most of us are the glue that helps to hold someone else together; we’re truly needed in the life of someone else. God made a wonderful masterpiece when he made you and me. He placed within us the desire to give and the gift to receive which equals balance in our lives. Make some time for yourself today. Call a friend or family member, pick up a good book to read, take a leisurely stroll, or just find someplace quiet to relax. Maybe you don’t know where or how to begin to take time for you.

Why not start by taking some time to check out Sista’s Common Sense Corner at: http://www.sistascommonsensecorner.com, a place where women just like you are finding time to create balance in their lives by sharing their real life experiences with each other. What may be rags to one woman is another woman’s treasure.

Charlotte Hill

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Before we continue to the necessary things you need to know let me say Congratulations to you! This is one of the best stages of being a woman; this is where you get to cherish something so precious, and you would definitely consider this as one of your greatest achievements in your life.

Many would be somehow overwhelmed with the extreme feeling you are having now and they would even have a hard time relating to you, which is normal; as the saying goes ‘it takes one to know one’. This means that it takes another mom to relate to you and sympathize with you. It’s great to mingle to other moms in this stage of your life,

I’m sure they would be really excited to help you out and give proper advice that they have learned when they were at the same situation as you do. Now I’m not saying that an OB-GYN will not be a good help but I would suggest that you get a doctor that’s already have her own kids and not someone who is still single because they will have a hard time relating to your sudden change of moods and feelings.

Here are a few more things that can help:

1. Exercise is good but be sure it’s moderate, if your pregnancy is in danger then any form of exercise is prohibited
2. Take pre-natal multi-vitamins and not just ordinary vitamins
3. Eat what you crave in moderation, don’t starve yourself just because you’re thinking of the weight you might gain (weight gain is healthy and normal)

Anthony is an avid writer in areas of business, relationship, internet marketing, fitness and health. You can visit some of his works at golf gps systems and his other writings at http://www.golfgpssystems.com site.

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Grandchildren are alot of entertainment. I think when we are older and wiser we appreciate so many more things about our grandchildren, that we may have missed with our own children. We aren’t too busy to see the world through a child’s eyes when we are older. We are certainly more patient. We get to have fun with them, and the parents do the hard stuff.

I have a 3 1/2 year old grandson who was my first grandchild. I have had the privilege to get to see him often and be a part of his life. He is so smart! From the time he was an infant until now he has enjoyed watching the new educational cartoons, and learned things alot faster than the children did when I was raising children. It is fascinating watching him learn and grow. He is old enough now to call me once in a while and talk to me on the phone. It is so sweet! He named me gah gah.

He called me on my birthday, and Valentine’s day this year. He can run programs on the family desktop computer by himself already, and can swim under water. He loads the dvd player by himself and watches his educational videos and his favorite movies. I watch them with him of course! He is a good little boy! He is a blast!

I now have a 4 month old granddaughter, who I enjoy babysitting two days a week. What a privilege that is! She is a good baby, and keeps me busy as all babies do. Her smile just melts me, and she lights up my world! It is so fun to watch them grow and learn to do new things. she wants to sit up already, and watches t.v. with me. She has found her hands and is starting to teeth. I love it when she coos and babbles so sweetly.

I know now why I was mean’t to have babies when I was young. It is delightfully exhausting to watch them for a day or two, and as a grandparent you send them on home to mommy and daddy so you can rest.

I have two more grandbabies on the way. A granddaughter is due this June, and a grandson due in July. I am so excited! It is fun to be a grandparent and watch your own children become parents. It amazes me sometimes to watch the circle of life. It’s cool to watch your children parenting and see the ways they choose to parent.

Sometimes it can be unnerving though, and I try to be careful about how I butt in. After all, they are doing it their own way. If they ask my advice I give it. If I feel compelled to make suggestion on my own, I do it very tactfully.

I look forward to every future grandchild, and I only hope that I can see them often.

Grandchildren are truly a joy. If you have them, you know what I am talking about. If you don’t yet, you have a great deal to look forward to.

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Math is just another language. Categorized like a language math is made up of only 10 words: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0.

However, children taught numbers, but never exposed to quantity find it impossible to do instant math. Instead, they rely on memorization of actual equations (ex. 7 x 2 = 14; 7 x 3 = 21) to come up with the correct answer. This differs from instant math because once you forget a fact you have to start all over again. And even if you do remember all of your times tables, what happens when you reach numbers about 12?

First you need to cover How to Teach Baby Math – Quantity Recognition, Quantity Equations, and Quantity Problem Solving (find the link below). That could be considered part one on How to Teach Baby Math.

How to Teach Baby Math then transitions into numbers by presenting the numerals from 1 to 100 and 0 in the same way that you presented quantities. Your child will move a lot faster in part two of How to Teach Baby Math, so you’ll probably switch out 3 or 4 cards a day. Once you covered up to 100 you can show a random variety of other numerals (ex. 302, 571). You don’t have to show them in order and you don’t have to cover each number. With only a little exposure to the How to Teach Baby Math Method, your child will go a long way.

You can begin equations with numerals as soon as you have taught up to 20. This follows the same pattern as with quantity equations. Just remember no mixing of addition and subtraction with multiplication and division.

The How to Teach Baby Math Method lets you gently guide your child through the simple principles of math. Tiny children only needs 5 minutes a day for about two weeks per principle and they will understand the actual process behind the principle on their own. However, you want to focus on the principle, not drilling in a specific fact. So every time you show them an equation, do it with different numbers.

Make sure to review Part One of the How to Teach Baby Math Method. Find out how easy it is to increase your child’s math literacy without having to be a math whiz yourself. Learn more about The Genius Maker: Creating a Brighter Future One Child at a Time! or visit us at http://www.squidoo.com/teachmybaby.

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Through make-believe, young children learn about themselves and the world around them. Little babies playing pat-a-cake are making believe. Depending on the age of the child, their role playing games will vary. Imaginative children don’t need fancy toys or equipment to pretend; they’re happy with a box and a toilet tissue roll. When they engage in pretend play with a variety of objects, they’re learning life skills that will help them as adults.

We’ve all watched little kids playing dress-up or ‘house.’ Children can create an imaginary world anywhere – when molding clay animals, when helping mom or dad match-up socks (sock puppets are the best after all.) If they’re this creative with just a sock, then think what they can do with special make-believe props. 

Often parents feel that their children require expensive furniture and household equipment for pretend play. Remember the little boy with the refrigerator box in his back yard when you were a kid? Everyone showed up to help build limitless structures and the play would go on for hours, or until the box fell apart. Oh well, the hours spent cooperating together and using colorful imaginations were worth far more than any expensive jungle gym or playhouse.

What spurs the imagination of a toddler or preschool age child? What type of ‘props’ should parents provide to encourage make-believe even further than what kids will do naturally? Here are just a few ideas:

1. Dress-Up – hats, jewelry, scarves, shoes, dresses and shirts, purses or backpacks
2. Kitchen – lots of plastic bowls with lids, kid size broom/mop/dustpan, towels, spoons, measuring cups, pots and pans with lids
3. Family – blankets, pillow, both male and female baby dolls, old or toy cell phones, boxes of various sizes for baby beds
4. House – kid size table, cardboard boxes to serve as appliances, furniture or TV, full-length mirror

Playing make-believe encourages little children to play together, and is perfect for play groups and for helping shy children overcome anxiety. Little children have boundless ideas for creative play, but love it when parents or caregivers take part in the activity. Many times, imaginative play can help parents realize that their child is fearful or worried about something in particular. Helping them talk about their fears through make-believe will often lessen the child’s stress and bring you closer to your child.

Encourage your child’s imagination through make-believe with simple and inexpensive toys and props. Your refrigerator box may fall apart, but the fun of building it will last forever.

First off does it really matter if your child wears red striped pants with a blue polka dotted shirt?  If we are going to church or somewhere special then yes I would prefer that my daughter at least somewhat match, but if we are at home or just running to the store I let her pick her own clothes as long as they are weather appropriate.  Yes I get some funny looks but I will have my revenge later because I of course take pictures of all the colorful clothing combinations she has chosen and will be able to tease her about them later.  My mom did the same thing with me, she has this wonderful picture of me with orange and pink flowered pants and a green and blue striped shirt.

Does it really matter if every corner of her room is picked up each and every day?  I say no, she has an area where she does her "projects" and I personally see no reason why that can’t be a little messy at times.  But we do have a hard and fast rule that once a week the room is totally cleaned and any toys or books must be picked up from other areas of the house before bed.  She wins and I win.

When it comes down to doing an arts and crafts project you need to be prepared to throw out the directions sometimes.  If their imagination takes them to a different place than the directions then so what.  Most of the time you are doing arts and crafts for them to have fun anyway, so why stifle them and make it less fun.  My daughter wanted to do a scrapbook so I got all the necessary stuff and as it turns out she really just wanted to make a book of her different "creations" using glue, markers, glitter, and other craft supplies.  So what, I put up the photographs and she had a great time and I had a blast watching and helping her when asked.

My daughter likes to help me bake cakes, her favorite part is stirring the batter.  Sometimes a little slops over but oh well, she will eventually get better at it especially if I don’t berate her and continue to let her help me.  I have found that with practice she is getting better at neatly adding ingredients and stirring.

Basically what I am saying is you cannot expect perfection from your children.  It just isn’t going to happen.  They need to practice the skills you are teaching them and sometimes they will make mistakes.  Don’t get me wrong if they are being naughty then by all means take control and dish out the appropriate discipline, but if they are making mistakes because they are trying to learn then a little encouragement and patience will go a long way.

We also all want to teach our children to be independent and sometimes they are going to show their independence a little too strongly for our tastes.  That is when you need to make the decision is this a battle I need to control or is it just not a big deal?

After all just because you are the parent and in control does not mean you have to "win" each time you and your child disagree.

Remember the parenting skills you are using now are the ones your children will probably use when they raise your grandchildren. You might also want to keep in mind that someday when you are older the roles may get reversed and your children will be the ones "in control" of you.

There are several ways to help your children in their quest for reading knowledge. There are many good programs, books, and even games on the market that help children learn the basics of reading fundamentals. With the market so saturated with different reading and phonics programs, parents often overlook a rather simple and fun way to get their kids excited about reading. Magazines are a great resource to use when you are trying to develop a love of learning in your children.

There are many children’s magazines on the market that are geared for children that don’t even read yet. While it may seem silly to buy a magazine subscription for a child that doesn’t know his letters, it is a great way to have fresh material that you can read to your toddler. Research has shown that children that are read to become readers and it is never too early to instill a love of reading in a child. If you make reading to your child a part of your daily routine, reading will become a habit to them, in much the same way getting dressed or brushing their teeth becomes a daily activity. There is also a lot to be gained relationally when you take the time to let your little one snuggle on your lap and listen to your voice as you take off on the merry adventures each story offers.

Once your child is old enough to begin learning to read or if he has already started to read on his own, a subscription to a magazine of his or her own can be an exciting treat. Let your child be involved in the process of picking out the magazine subscription. If you really want them to be excited about reading it, you should let them pick out the title of the magazine that they want. If you are worried about the choice they will make, give them a chance to choose between a select few titles that have been pre-approved by you. The main thing is to allow them to be involved in the process, so that they take a little ownership in it and really feel as if the magazine is their own when it comes. If they are old enough to do math, let them calculate the total cost of the magazine. Have them add up how much it would cost if your were to buy each magazine separately at the grocery store and then have them subtract that amount so they can see how much you are saving by taking out a subscription.

Once you have ordered the magazine remind them everyday that it will soon be coming in the mail. Once it does arrive, make a big deal about it, telling them they have mail of their very own. If you have more than one child, each one should get their own subscription to a different magazine. That way they can share them, but at the same time, everyone feels special and important because they have their very own magazine to read.

Once your child has thumbed through the magazine, encourage them to pick out a story and read it to you. This is a great way to spend time with your child while you are cooking dinner or folding the laundry. If they are reluctant to read out loud, ask them to retell you a story they read or describe what they just read about. Ask them lots of questions so they have to think about what they read and soon when they read, they will have better and better retention levels.

Magazines are a great way to get kids excited about reading and an inexpensive way to introduce your child tons of new information. With hundreds of magazines geared toward children available, you can start expanding your child’s world today!