Most Popular Articles

November 2007 Archives

Pork Chop Skillet Meal

How much easier can it get? One pan and about half an hour and you've got dinner--vegetables and all. And if you're looking for more family dinner ideas, check out our new monthly meal planner.

4 pork chops
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1¼ cup water
2/3 cup uncooked rice
½ cup chopped onion
1 tsp. salt
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
¼ teaspoon pepper

In a large skillet, brown pork chops in oil, drain, remove chops. Combine water, rice, onion and s ... Continue reading Pork Chop Skillet Meal.

Playdate Etiquette

By Jacqueline Mroz

Whenever Erika Leavitt catches her daughters misbehaving or forgetting to say please, she reminds them -- again and again and again. "I don't give them things unless they say please first," says the Basalt, Colo., mother of two.

That's exactly what parents need to do to teach their children social skills, according to Lisa Finan a mother of two in Montclair, N.J. and the owner of Courteous Child, which offers social skills classes to children. "Kids need to be constantly reminded to say please, thank you, and may I," says Finan.

One of the best times for children to practice g ... Continue reading Playdate Etiquette.

Revolutionize Your Relationship

By Julia Tolliver Maranan

Even the most loving partner does annoying things (yes, you do them too!). Ignore them -- or handle them incorrectly -- and the tension can wreak havoc on an otherwise harmonious relationship. Barry McCarthy, PhD, psychology professor at American University and author of Getting It Right the First Time: Creating a Healthy Marriage (Brunner-Routledge), offers practical solutions to help you handle some of the most common problem spots.

Problem: You ask him to do (or stop doing) something and he doesn't do it.
Relationship Rx: Make a clear request -- not a dem ... Continue reading Revolutionize Your Relationship.

Putting Lead in Perspective This Holiday Season

Lead - it's the No. 1 concern on most parents' minds as they cram the toy aisles and surf online for their kids' wish lists. After a year full of unsettling recalls, many moms and dads are wondering what's really safe - and with good reason.

With chronic exposure, lead can accumulate in the body, causing lead poisoning, which can bring on a host of serious health problems like learning and hearing disabilities, behavior problems, and delayed development. Even low levels of lead in a child's blood can indicate enough exposure to the toxin to cause subtle difficulties with behavior and learning that are mostly irreversible.... Continue reading Putting Lead in Perspective This Holiday Season.

Preparing Your Child for a New Sibling

The arrival of a new baby can cause lots of sudden change in a family. Before the baby is born, parents typically spend a lot of attention and energy on preparations. After the baby arrives, much of the family's attention involves meeting the newborn's basic needs.

All this change can be hard for older siblings to handle. It's not uncommon for an older sibling to resent the newborn for grabbing the spotlight and to react to all this upheaval by acting out.

There are steps you can take to prepare your child for all this change. By discussing the pregnancy in terms that make sense to your child, taking care of s ... Continue reading Preparing Your Child for a New Sibling.

Raising Confident Kids

It takes confidence to be a kid. Whether going to a new school or stepping up to bat for the first time, kids face a lot of uncharted territory.

Naturally, parents want to instill a can-do attitude in their kids so that they'll bravely take on new challenges and, over time, believe in themselves. While each child is a little different, parents can follow some general guidelines to build kids' confidence.

Self-confidence rises out of a sense of competence. In other words, kids develop confidence not because parents tell them they're great, but because of their achievements, big and small. Sure, it's good to hea ... Continue reading Raising Confident Kids.

Quiet Riot: Girls with ADHD Sit in Silence

By Karen Barrow

The image of a boy running chaotically around a playground is what most parents expect to see with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But that quiet girl daydreaming her way through class may also have the same problem, and the subtlety may cause it to go undiagnosed for years longer than her male counterpart.

The difference in how girls and boys with ADHD act causes a lot of confusion for parents trying to help their child achieve their best. So what should moms and dads be looking for if they suspect their little girl has ADHD?

Dr. Martin T. Stein, profes ... Continue reading Quiet Riot: Girls with ADHD Sit in Silence.

Head to Toe Winter Skin Care

Whether you love it or hate it, winter can be a horrible season for skin health. The cold temperatures, wind, and snow can leave your skin feeling dry, itchy, and uncomfortable. Don't spend the next few months nursing your skin, instead be proactive and treat the problems before they start. Here are some great tips to make sure your skin stays healthy and smooth all season long.

• Stay Protected: It seems that this can't be stressed enough. Just because your bathing suits and tanning oils are packed away until next summer doesn't mean you can forget about sun block. The sun's rays are just as destructive in th ... Continue reading Head to Toe Winter Skin Care.
  

The Flu Fighters: The Medicine Mom

By Dr. Tara Kompare, Pharm.D.

You have seen them before--mothers sporting backbacks equipped with disinfectant sprays, highchair liners, and a gallon of hand sanitizer. To some they may appear silly, paranoid even, but to those of us who have survived a flu infestation during the holidays, they are our role models for the flu season.

The influenza virus spreads like wildfire and knowing how to prevent yourself and others from catching this 'Bah-humbug" virus can hopefully help you build happy holiday memories this year. To keep the flu out of your home, follow these tips:

1. Get Vac ... Continue reading The Flu Fighters: The Medicine Mom.