Fun Friday Photo -- April 30, 2010

Now that's optimism!!

Thanks to Kristie J. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

April Giveaway Reminder

Have you entered our April giveaway yet? If not, today and tomorrow are your last chances! Don't miss out on this great opportunity.

We are giving away 10 copies of Chris Coppernoll's newest novel, Screen Play. (Click here for more information about the book.) Everyone* who posts a comment on our blog during the month of April will automatically be entered to win a free copy of Screen Play.  A winner will be drawn randomly on May 1, 2010. So let us hear from you!

 *LifeWay employees are not eligible for this giveaway. Multiple comments do not increase chances of winning.

Who are some of your favorite novelists?

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is right around the corner. If you are a mom, maybe your family needs some Mother's Day gift hints! Or maybe you are a dad trying to figure out something new and creative this year for your wife!

Maybe you will be inspired by the following ideas!

• A trip to a Bed and Breakfast. Every mom needs some time to relax and rejuvenate, and a great way to do that is to visit a bed and breakfast. Visit BnBFinder.com, to find a bed and breakfast package that is just right for Mom. 
• Meals for Moms. In honor of your mom (or your wife) do something kind for a homebound senior mom. The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) has just launched a new campaign called Meals for Moms to raise awareness of all the homebound senior moms facing the threat of hunger this Mother’s Day. You can send a free virtual bouquet of flowers to anyone (including a homebound senior mom) by visiting www.mealsformoms.org. If someone selects that their bouquet go to a Meals On Wheels client, those e-cards will be printed out and distributed by Meals On Wheels programs, along with any special messages written by the card creators. 
• A World Vision Gift. When it comes to Mom's priorities, children's needs come first.  What better way to honor Mom than by helping disadvantaged mothers provide for their children? World Vision Gift Catalog offers a variety of opportunities to assist mothers and their families in Haiti and around the world, by purchasing essential life-sustaining items. The World Vision Gift Catalog, located at www.worldvisiongifts.org, offers more than 100 poverty-fighting gifts ranging in price from $16 to $39,000 that can be purchased in the name of a mother, child, friend, or loved one.
• Make It and Take It. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores will host a free Make It-Take It event in every store across the country on Saturday, May 8th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Children will have the opportunity to make two projects – a “hand” made flower bouquet and a fingerprint card. While the kids are crafting their masterpieces for mom, dads can stroll the store to find many great gifts — sewing machines, scrapbooking albums, picture frames, yarn, and gift cards to name a few ideas. To find the location nearest you, log onto Joann.com.
• For more great Mother's Day Gift ideas, be sure to check LifeWay stores. Stop by www.lifewaystores.com and browse their catalog "Mom: One Day Is Not Enough." You'll find great products like books, music, and home decor.
  

If you are a mom, what have some of your favorite Mother's Day gifts been? If you are not a mom, what are some creative ways you have honored your mother on Mother's Day? Share your ideas with us!

Blending Families

Dr. Linda Mintle answers your questions each month in the "Real Life Solutions" department of ParentLife magazine. This month Dr. Linda answers questions about losing baby weight and minimizing frustration due to the "terrible 2s." Each month we post an extra question on the blog. In this month's extra questions, Dr. Mintle gives some advice about blending families.

Q: I am a divorced single mom of a 4- and 6-year old, but I am about to remarry. Right now, my children are stable and I am worried about blending two families. My fiancé has a 9- and 10-year old. What do I need to know in order to make a smooth transition for all the kids?

A: Blending families is a complex process and takes time. Your concern is good considering divorce destabilizes children and requires a new adjustment. When you remarry, your children will be destabilized once again. The following list covers the big issues involved.

Blending families is easier in the following situations.

• There is a reasonable interval between marriages, allowing children and you to grieve losses. People do not always give themselves enough time to grieve losses before moving on to new relationships. Do not be in a hurry to remarry if enough time has not passed.
• Custody changes at the time of remarriage. If you can work out custody issues before the remarriage, it helps minimize the number of changes the children must undergo.
• Both extended families approve of the remarriage. The more buy in from your extended families, the more support, encouragement, and help they will offer.
• Children have access to biological parents. Make sure your children know they will still see their biological father.
• Ex-spouse conflict over children is minimal. The more you can problem-solve with an ex-spouse and develop a system that works, the better.
• Your children are younger than teens. The older the child, the harder it is to adjust to a new family.
• You allow an adjustment time of two to four years. This may sound like forever, but it takes time for adjustments to stabilize.
• The immediate goal is mutual courtesy versus mutual love. Remember you picked a new family, your children did not. Children must behave and be polite, but do not force their love or immediate acceptance. When they miss Daddy, acknowledge their loss. Do not say: “You have another daddy now.” Rather: “I know you do.”

Many newly blended families hope for instant acceptance and intimacy, however it takes time for family members to feel a sense of belonging. Talk about the changes to come, allow time for feelings to be acknowledged and discussed, work with extended families on the upcoming changes, and keep God the center of your family life.

Send us your questions for Dr. Mintle! Leave a comment or e-mail us at parentlife@lifeway.com.

Homeless @ Heathrow

If you have been keeping up with the news, you are aware of the air travel problems all over the world due to the volcanic ash in the air over England from the volcano that erupted in Iceland. Two of our favorite ParentLife writers, David and Lisa Frisbie, are actually stranded at London's Heathrow Airport and have been for days! And as Lisa says, "What do writers do when they're stranded? If you said 'Write,' you're right! Here's proof."

Homeless @ Heathrow, we’re among an estimated 500,000 people stranded in the United Kingdom, far from their homes. We’re en route to speak at a regional conference for pastors, missions workers, and their families – and we don’t yet realize that this “volcano thing” will entirely prevent our attendance. So we’re minding the kids – in this case Ian, about 4, and Natasha, perhaps 18 months. Their mother, traveling alone with two small children, simply wants to stand in line for the restroom. (Standing ‘on queue’ in these parts.)

National TV Turnoff Week

Being the editor of a parenting magazine comes with lots of advantages. One of those advantages is that I am able to keep up with the latest news in child development, which I hope helps me become a better, more-educated parent. But being aware of this news also comes with disadvantages ... like episodes of mommy guilt when I don't follow some of the guidelines set by experts like The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For example, The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that parents not expose their children to TV until 2 years old. (Children older than 2 should be limited to 1 to 2 hours of total screen time a day.) Before I had Jack, this sounded completely doable. But I must confess ... TV has become a routine part of Jack's day ... a small part ... but a routine part nonetheless. We have discovered that letting Jack watch an age-appropriate DVD before nap time and bedtime makes it easier to change a super-wiggly toddler's diaper and clothes and helps his body wind down a bit before trying to sleep. It's a bit selfish on our part, but it simplifies life and works for our family. I do feel guilty when I read about the AAP's recommendations. That's why I'm committing to stick to the guidelines once Jack turns 2 and limit his screen time.

Does your family spend too much time in front of a screen? Did you know that this week is National TV Turnoff Week? It is the perfect opportunity to turn off the TV, computer, and video games and spend some quality time together as a family. Go for a walk or a bike ride together. Go camping in your own backyard or in a local state park. Play in the yard until it gets dark outside. Play board games together. There are so many great things families can do together besides watching TV.

 Looking for strategies for taming screen time? Don't miss Rebecca Isbell's Growth Spurts article "Taming Screen Time" in our April 2010 issue. And for simple ideas for using household items to create hours of imaginative play (without a screen), check out G.G. Mathis' article "The Value of a Box."

Sports Injury Prevention Tips

My boys love sports! They are both playing baseball right now, and my oldest also is running track for his school. But how much is too much? And how can I guard him against injuries. The following tips are provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to answer questions like these.

Injury Risks

All sports have a risk of injury. In general, the more contact in a sport, the greater the risk of injury. 

Most injuries occur to ligaments (connect bones together), tendons (connect muscles to bones) and muscles. Only about 5 percent of sports injuries involve broken bones. However, the areas where bones grow in children are at more risk of injury during the rapid phases of growth. In a growing child, point tenderness over a bone should be evaluated further by a medical provider even if minimal swelling or limitation in motion is appreciated. 

Most frequent sports injuries are sprains (injuries to ligaments) and strains (injuries to muscles), caused when an abnormal stress is placed on tendons, joints, bones and muscle. As always, contact your pediatrician if you have additional questions or concerns. 

To reduce injury:

• Wear the right gear.  Players should wear appropriate and properly fit protective equipment such as pads (neck, shoulder, elbow, chest, knee, shin), helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups, and/or eyewear.  Young athletes should not assume that protective gear will protect them from performing more dangerous or risky activities.
• Strengthen muscles.  Conditioning exercises before games and during practice strengthens muscles used in play.
• Increase flexibility.  Stretching exercises before and after games or practice can increase flexibility.
• Use the proper technique.  This should be reinforced during the playing season.
• Take breaks.  Rest periods during practice and games can reduce injuries and prevent heat illness.
• Play safe.  Strict rules against headfirst sliding (baseball and softball), spearing (football), and body checking (ice hockey) should be enforced.
• Stop the activity if there is pain.
• Avoid heat injury by drinking plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise or play; decrease or stop practices or competitions during high heat/humidity periods; wear light clothing.

Sports-Related Emotional Stress

The pressure to win can cause significant emotional stress for a child. Sadly, many coaches and parents consider winning the most important aspect of sports. Young athletes should be judged on effort, sportsmanship and hard work. They should be rewarded for trying hard and for improving their skills rather than punished or criticized for losing a game or competition.

For the AAP site and entire article, click here.

What are some things you have had to watch for as your children play sports?

Fun Friday Photo -- April 23, 2010

Ten-month-old Anna Claire enjoys her first trip to a candy store!

Thanks to Missy B. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

Fun Friday Photo -- April 16, 2010

Happy Spring! from 3-year-old Heidi and 2-year-old Luke 

 Thanks to Katy R. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

Audience Participation! -- Redesign Feedback

Big news!! The ParentLife team is working diligently on redesiging our magazine for the March 2011 issue ... and in order to the best we can, we need your help! We want to be sure our magazine is meeting the needs of our readers ... so we want to hear from you! 

How can you help? By grabbing your most recent issue of ParentLife (needs to be a 2010 issue) and taking a few minutes to answer the following five questions. (If you don't have a recent issue of ParentLife, e-mail me at jodi.skulley@lifeway.com and I'll send a pdf of January 2010 your way.)

1. What do you see of the design of the cover and interior of the magazine that needs to be updated to fit current magazine trends and appeal to parents?
2. What types of content would you like to see in ParentLife features?
3. Are there any departments you think are not effective/helpful? Are there any departments you think are worthy of adding on a monthly basis?
4. How could we “redesign” our “A Life of Worship” department (p. 47) and our Growth Spurts section (pp. 7-17) to make them more helpful for parents?
5. How could ParentLife better integrate the spiritual into its content?

Respond by leaving us a comment or by e-mailing your thoughts to parentlife@lifeway.com. Can't wait to hear from you!


 

Standardized Testing and College Admissions

If you read Jeanette M. Brooks' article "This Is a Test, Only a Test" in the April 2010 issue of ParentLife, you might have been encouraged by perspective it gave related to standardized testing in schools. But you may be asking yourself, "What about college admissions? Don't test scores affect college admissions?" Jeanette has insight into that question as well.
 

Many of the nation’s high schools — as well as middle and elementary schools — have started to re-examine their philosophy on standardized testing. And they are in good company. In fact, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing reported in 2009 that more than 815 colleges and universities in the United States no longer require most applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. The reasons are varied, but many institutions cite concerns that standardized tests under-predict the success of women, minorities, non-native speakers of English, and students from lower-income families — not to mention the unnecessary stress they place on college-aspiring high-schoolers.

Even among colleges who still use standardized test scores, the trend is toward the consideration of the “whole package.” In other words, admissions decisions often are based more on a broad array of personal qualities. Standardized tests are no longer the gatekeeper to higher learning like they once were.

How do you feel about standardized tests? Does your child test well? Share your thoughts with us and other ParentLife readers by leaving a comment.
 

Homemade vs. Store-bought Baby Food

In the April 2010 issue of ParentLife, dietitian Beth Bence Reinke explores the pros and cons of homemade baby food and store-bought baby food. Maybe you have decided to make your own baby food, but what foods work best?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends starting iron-fortified rice cereal when your baby is 4 to 6 months old. Then add one new food every 2 to 3 days.
 

For ages 6 to 7 months, these starter foods work well for making easy-to-digest, pureed, homemade baby food:

• Mashed banana (no need to cook)
• Cooked fruits: pears, apples, peaches, apricots, plums
• Cooked vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, butternut squash, green beans
• Cooked meats: turkey, chicken, lamb, beef (no processed meats)

For ages 8 to 12 months consider adding the following foods.

• Cooked, puréed vegetables: broccoli florets, cauliflower, summer squash
• Cooked, puréed legumes like split peas and lentils
• O-shaped oat cereal, teething biscuits
• Cheese and yogurt
• Mashed, cooked egg yolk (not whites, which can be allergenic)
• Chopped table foods like meats, cooked vegetables, fruits and pasta as your baby shows readiness for coarse textures

Wait until your baby is 12 months old to add whole cow’s milk and egg whites. Always follow the advice of your pediatrician for adding new foods to your baby’s diet, especially if allergies run in your family.

Which baby food do you prefer -- store-bought or homemade? We'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Fun Friday Photo -- April 9, 2010

1-year-old Hudson is sporting his "naptime" hairdo! 

Thanks to Stacy F. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

Finding and Doing God's Will

I was sitting by my son's bedside one night saying a bedtime prayer with him. I distinctly remember my oldest son praying for his favorite football team to win the next day! And he added, "If it is Your will" as part of his prayer. It made me wonder if he had heard us pray that way before or if he had often prayed that way. After that, I listened a little more carefully to my son ask about a lot of things and then say, "If it is Your will." So I wondered how much he knew about praying for God's will.

How do you teach your kids what God's will is for their lives? That is such a hard concept even for adults! How can you make this real for kids?

It seems that the time we ask questions about God's will are those times either when we are suffering or have a big decision to make and do not know which way to turn.

This Easter season I am reminded of how Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane for God's will to be done. Jesus always was attentive to God's will, even at the point of facing suffering and death.

The secret to finding God's will is not waiting until difficulty or tragedy strikes but to maintain open communication with God through personal prayer time, reading God's Word, the godly advice of others, and being sensitive to God's voice every day.

A wise person once pointed out that most of God's will for individuals is in the Bible anyway. So the daily things should help us keep on the right track and hear God speak in return.

Easter is a great seaon to talk about God's plan for our lives. God sent Jesus to earth to live, die, and rise again. He longs for every one of us to enter into a relationship with Him that will last for eternity. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that is God's will for every person!

I hope the April issue of ParentLife is an enouragement to you at this time in your life. What are some ways we can even more closely meet your needs as you face the challenges of life as a parent?

The "Perfect" Parent

In the April 2010 issue of ParentLife, Kelley Lammers provided you with tips for helping your perfectionist child in her article "Raising Miss Perfect." But what if you struggle with perfectionism as much as your child does? What can you do? Consider these extra tips.

When the Parent is a Perfectionist Too!

Most parents see themselves in their kids at some time or another. But what if the mirrored trait is not just hair color or artistic ability? What can you do when your are a perfectionist and your child is too?

• Recognize your own issues. If you tend to think that your performance is never good enough, then you have perfectionist traits. You need to realize that your worth is found in your relationship with Christ not your outward appearance.
• Learn from your child. Leigh, a perfectionist mom with a similar son, says, “Watching my perfectionist child makes me realize my good and bad traits and how I may come across to others.”
• Offer compliments not connected to a performance. David, an adult perfectionist, noted that he performs well in hopes to hear positive comments about his abilities. To counteract this mind-set in his son, he says, “I go out of my way to affirm the worth of my child apart from any performed act.”
• Back off! As a perfectionist, allow for your child to make mistakes. Jane, whose daughter is pretty, athletic, and smart, says they are similar in their need for the world to be perfect. She admits, “When I do projects with my child, I have learned not to give my opinions and just let her do it all.”
• Get help when you see your child’s behavior has gone too far. Amie’s daughter makes herself sick worrying. Amie makes certain to talk to her daughter’s teachers and coaches in hopes to minimize the criticism and unusually high expectations.
  

Are you a perfectionist? Is your child a perfectionist? What have you found to be helpful?

Quick Poll--What Is Your Favorite Magazine?

What are your favorite magazines?

I remember my first magazine subscription. As a boy, I loved sports so much, my mom bought me a subscription to Sports Illustrated in one of those fundraiser deals at our school. Every week I received a new magazine in the mail and read it cover to cover (except for the annual special issue that was intercepted and destroyed). I also occasionally read some of the funnier columns from my parents' Readers Digest subscription. We once had a subscription to Time as well. Those were about the only magazines I ever remember reading as a child. My dad voraciously reads the newspaper on a daily basis and did not ever read magazines.

As an adult, I have not had many magazine subscriptions either. Certainly at work, I have checked into every parenting and children's magazine out there to see what others are doing. There are so many parenting titles to choose from.

At home, Christy has a subscription to Real Simple and Southern Living and my mom gave us a subscription to Guideposts. Those are the magazines we see on a monthly basis!

We hope that you will enjoy the April issue of ParentLife. Don't miss the feature and photos of Skillet's John and Korey Cooper and family!

As a parent, I would love to hear what magazines you read — parenting magazines and other lifestyle magazines for fun and enjoyment.  So which magazines do you read?

April Events & Happenings

You and Your Girl with Vicki Courtney

Saturday, April 17
First Baptist Church in Carrollton, Texas

Living Proof Live with Beth Moore

Friday, April 16-Saturday, April 17
Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, FL

 

Awake & Alive Tour

Not only are John and Korey Cooper of the band Skillet on the cover of this month's ParentLife. They are also going on tour this month. The “Awake & Alive Tour” begins April 15th at Scranton, Pennsylvania’s Scranton Cultural Center and then continues through late May. For more more information about the tour as well as concert dates and ticket information, visit www.skillet.com. 

 

One Life Tour

You may remember Jason Barton, frontman of the band 33Miles, from our October 2009 issue. Right now, 33Miles is in the middle of its “One Life Tour.” The tour begin in mid-March, but there is still time to catch a show near you. The tour is partnering with Food For The Hungry to seek aid for earthquake-affected children in Haiti. Concert attendees will have the opportunity to sponsor one of the thousands of children affected by the January 12 disaster. For tickets and information, visit www.33milesonline/tour.

 

iShine Live!

iShine LIVE!, a unique faith-based concert tour designed specifically for the preteen (ages 8 to 14) market, will head back out on the road this spring, hitting more than 20 cities nationwide. iShine LIVE! is a power-packed, high-energy two-hour event that brings together live music performances, a speaker, DJ, dancing, and more! This spring tour will feature performances from Paige Armstrong, The Rubyz, Mission Six, Jamie Grace, and more. Visit www.iShineLive.com for concert dates and locations. And don't miss our feature on single-dad Robert Beeson, founder of iShine Live, coming up in the July 2010 issue of ParentLife.

Know of any other great events in April? Leave a comment and let us know!

 

Fun Friday Photo -- April 2, 2010

Two-year-old Caroline asks, "Would you like some cheese on your burger?"

 Thanks to Candace P. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

April 2010 Blog Giveaway

Did you know that one of our frequent ParentLife writers is also a novelist? Chris Coppernoll has authored six books, including A Beautiful Fall and Providence. His latest book, Screen Play, is earning rave reviews from book critics everywhere! His writing has been described as "Nicholas Sparks with happy endings." Chris wants readers to experience God's presence in the pages of his novels.

We're thrilled that Chris has provided us with 10 copies of Screen Play to give away on the blog this month! Everyone* who posts a comment on our blog during the month of April will automatically be entered to win a free copy of Screen Play. A winner will be drawn randomly on April 30, 2010. So let us hear from you!

For a short glimpse at what the book is about, be sure to watch the book trailer here.

Be sure to stop by Chris's Web site — www.providencebook.com. And don't forget to become a fan of Chris on Facebook.

*LifeWay employees are not eligible for this giveaway. Multiple comments do not increase chances of winning.

Have you read Screen Play (or any of Chris's previous novels)? Tell us what you think?

March 2010 Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Donna Jones — the winner of our March 2010 giveaway! Donna won one free CentriKid camp registration this summer!!

Be sure to stop by later today when we announce our April 2010 giveaway!