November 2010 Archives
Jodi Skulley-November 30, 2010-
Well, due to underwhelming response on our Black Friday giveaway ... you're all winners! Jodi will be getting in contact with you about your prize preference. Thanks for answering the question!
The winners of our November book giveaways are:
Holly May
Mama Bear
Sarah Stinnett
Kelly @ Miskellany
Julie
Eos Mom
Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect
Kim
Menda
Joyce Grimes
Congratulations to you all as well! We'll be in touch to get your addresses and send on your books. Stay tuned for our December giveaway ...
Jodi Skulley-November 29, 2010-
November is National Adoption Awareness Month. I recently had the privilege to sit down and talk to Mary Beth Chapman about her family's miracle of adoption. Mary Beth provided some practical ideas for ways that every family can support adoption!
Mary Beth Chapman on National Adoption Awareness Month from ParentLife on Vimeo.
Don't miss our January 2011 issue of ParentLife featuring Mary Beth. And ... we'll have even more insight from Mary Beth on the blog in the months to come. Stay tuned!
Does your family feel called to adopt? Tell us your story. If your family is not called to adopt, what are some ways that you have supported other families who are adopting?
Jodi Skulley-November 26, 2010-
Because it's Black Friday and we're trying to save you a little bit of shopping time today, we've decided to give away a whole boatload of fun stuff!
Here's what we have to dole out:
Four copies of the Mark Smeby album Pilgrim Man
One copy each of the children's books A Wish and a Prayer and In My Bath by Beth Bence Reinke
Three copies of The Smart Stepmom by Ron Deal and Laura Petherbridge And 10 random prizes from the ParentLife closet!
To enter, simply leave a comment telling us how you like to do your Christmas shopping: early? last-minute? in January? Does your family have any gift-giving traditions?
Our fellow LifeWay blogs CentriKid and Kids Ministry 101 are also giving away some fun things today, so make sure you go check them out. And don't forget about our November giveaway that ends December 1.
LifeWay employees are not eligible to win. Winners will be decided Tuesday, November 30. USA only, please.
Jodi Skulley--
Preston is happy to be squeaky-clean!
Thanks to Lori M. 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!
Jodi Skulley-November 25, 2010-
Jodi Skulley-November 23, 2010-
We are proud to have Dr. Linda Mintle in ParentLife each month answering questions submitted from readers. To submit a question for Dr. Mintle, e-mail it to parentlife@lifeway.com and include "? for Dr. Mintle" on the subject line. This month we have an extra Q&A from Dr. Mintle we wanted to share.
Q: I have a shy child and want to help her make friends. She tends to cling to my side and not talk to anyone when we meet a new family. Even after several play dates, she is reluctant to leave me and go off with the other children. I see her playmates trying to engage her, but she is very hesitant. Are there things I can do as a parent to help her with shyness?
A: Shyness in children is not uncommon, so don’t panic. Many children are born with a shy temperament and need a little coaxing to engage in new situations or with new friends. Contact with new people is a bit terrifying but in most cases can be overcome. Occasionally we see children who are so anxious that they need treatment from a mental-health provider to work on anxiety. However, given time to adjust to new situations, most children do fine.
There are two areas of your child’s life I would like you to consider. Has she been rejected by other children (teased, singled out, excluded from peers, etc.) or neglected by other kids (ignored, left out of activities, not picked on a team, etc.)? Being rejected or neglected by peers can reinforce shyness and cause a child to withdraw.
As a parent, you can help coach your child to deal with relationship exchanges by teaching her how to forgive others; manage her feelings of hurt, anger, or rejection; defend herself from teasing; make requests to play; and find friends who will be kind.
A key part of this coaching is focusing on how your child thinks about herself. Shy children tend to over-focus on their own feelings and fears and judge themselves too harshly. They have thoughts like, No one will like me or They think I am stupid. And when someone does show interest, shy kids tend to think it had nothing to do with them. The fear of being rejected or embarrassed takes over.
So talk about positive things when meeting someone new or engaging in a group. Ask your child what she might like about engaging in an activity with other children. In new situations, it helps to have one familiar face in a group, so try to find that one friend or person your daughter knows to help ease the adjustment. Shy children want to be social. Finally, as much as we want to rescue our children from discomfort, resist paving the way. Instead, prompt her to make a move and encourage independence. Each success will build and bring confidence.
If your child seems shy and this resonates with you, you may want to check out Nurturing the Shy Child by Drs. Barbara and Gary Markway.
Do you have a shy child? How do you cope and teach?
Jodi Skulley-November 21, 2010-
As you're preparing for the ever-dreaded Christmas card picture, or just a regular fun photo shoot of your kids, here are six tips to help you get beautiful photos that will last a lifetime.
Thanks Monica and Briana of Shoots and Giggles Photography for these photography tips. - Get to know your photographer and create a lasting relationship. We suggest that you research photographers both online and via word-of-mouth. When you find a photographer that suits your style – call them. Emailing is fine, but it is so impersonal. It's important to make sure you "click" with your photographer since you will hopefully be creating a relationship with them over the course of the next few years as your child and family grows.
- Ask your photographer about her level of experience. You need to be aware that photography companies come with all degrees of experience — ranging from your amateur neighbor to the world-renowned photography celebrity. More than likely, you will want someone in-between who fits into your budget, preferably someone with experience and a photography education.
- Be ready to make an investment. When you look for professional photography services, you need to be prepared to invest, and here is what you are investing in: a pro isn’t simply coming to hang out and casually snap some photos; a pro is highly educated in their craft and has taken great time to schedule your session and familiarize themselves with you, your family, and your image goals. They know how to make you feel comfortable, pose you and your family, perfectly light the scene, and make you and your family look amazing.
- Understand the final product (a.k.a. You get what you pay for). Many professional photographers are also simultaneously graphic designers and skilled retouchers. Therefore we are capable of not only capturing your images but also retouching your prints and designing your products. For example, at Shoots & Giggles we do all our post-production ourselves. It is important to ask your photographer about the degree of post processing and TLC your images will receive as that often increases the value and beauty of the images exponentially.
- Disk of Images vs. Fine Art Digital Negatives. Most high-end pro photographers do NOT offer a disk of ALL the images; however, many amateurs and beginners will. Rather than offering a disk of ALL the images, many pro photographers will offer hi-res digital negatives retouched and color corrected a la carte. If you are looking to spend very little and get a disk of untouched beginner-caliber images, working with an amateur or a student might work well for you. However, if you want a lot of "guaranteed-to-be beautiful" shots to choose from, working with a professional is going to be your best option.
- Last but Not Least – Photography is ART! Pros look at each shoot as an opportunity to express themselves creatively and enjoy what they do — that is why we are doing it! The moments you hire us to capture are priceless (and totally adorable), and we truly love every minute of it!
Have you had an amazing photography experience? Or one that, quite frankly, you could do without? My favorite shoot was when my daughter was 3 weeks old. She was a model for two local photographers and they took AMAZING pictures. (This one was my favorite.) Since then we've used two different chains with varying success (mostly due to the moodiness of my drama-queen toddler). — Jessie, Resident PL Blogger
Photo collage used with permission of Shoots and Giggles.
Jessie Weaver-
November 24, 2010-
Having a hard time keeping your little one out of the kitchen while you prepare for tomorrow's festivities? My daughter thinks the oven is her personal playplace, much to my chagrin. Thankfully, we will be spending the holidays with extended family and letting others cook for us (and the baby in my 36-week-pregnant belly rejoices).
Here are some activities for distraction ... I mean, education ...
Thanksgiving door hangers would be a fun addition to the front door even a toddler can help decorate.
Older kids can do a Thanksgiving Day word search. You could have your kids cut out the word search and glue it to sheets of construction or scrapbook paper for any children coming to your Thanksgiving feast. It will give the kids something to do while they wait on the food! Fall or Thanksgiving-themed scrapbook paper would give the word search a festive feel.
Oreo Thanksgiving turkeys are adorable to see, easy to make, and yummy to "gobble" down!
Napkin rings made of paper-towel tubes and scrapbook paper add a festive touch and keep little hands busy gluing while you're basting the bird.
Even toddlers can rub a leaf on newspaper. You can cut them out and then together string them on some twine to hang. Adorable!
Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving craft?
Happy Thanksgiving from the ParentLife staff and Jessie, Resident ParentLife Blogger!
Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.
Jodi Skulley-November 19, 2010-
Getting Our Shoe Boxes Ready ... Have you packed a shoe box yet?
Thanks to Jeff L. 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!
Jodi Skulley-November 18, 2010-
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is extremely common among infants and childrens. The Mayo Clinic says most children have been infected by age 2, whether you know it or not!
A Mayo Clnic article explains:
Signs and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection typically appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. In adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms. These include:
In severe cases
Respiratory syncytial virus can lead to a lower respiratory tract illness such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis — an inflammation of the small airway passages entering the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include:
High fever
Severe cough
Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that's usually heard on breathing out (exhaling)
Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing, which may make the child prefer to sit up rather than lie down
Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis)
Infants are most severely affected by RSV. They may markedly draw in their chest muscles and the skin between their ribs, indicating that they're having trouble breathing, and their breathing may be short, shallow and rapid. They may cough. Or they may show few, if any, signs of a respiratory tract infection, but will eat poorly and be unusually lethargic and irritable.
Most children and adults recover from the illness in eight to 15 days. But in young babies, infants born prematurely, or infants or adults who have chronic heart or lung problems, the virus may cause a more severe — occasionally life-threatening — infection that requires hospitalization.
There is a medication used for RSV prevention, Synagis®. It is specifically used for children younger than 2 who are at high risk for serious RSV. It is not a single injection but must be repeated on a monthly basis during peak RSV season and repeated in subsequent years until the child is no longer at high risk. Those babies most at risk are those who were born prematurely, those less than 6 weeks old, those with congenital heart or chronic lung disease, and those with immune deficiencies.
If you are having a winter baby and have any high-risk history or know your baby may be premature, go ahead and talk to your OB and pediatrician about RSV. It may be difficult to secure insurance coverage for the shots, so you may need to get the ball rolling.
Have you had any experience with RSV?
Jodi Skulley-November 17, 2010-
A challenge for many parents is wanting to help their kids succeed in school but not always knowing how best to do that. When they see a child struggle with homework, where do they start? A math and science tutor for many years and co-founder of the online tutoring service Virtual Nerd, Leo Shmuylovich says parents can do two critical things: observe, then assess what the problem is.
“Parents are in a unique position — they can sit down with their child, one-on-one, and devote extra time at home to understanding their child’s needs. Teachers in a busy classroom don’t always get that opportunity or it can take longer in school to identify the student’s need,” says Shmuylovich.
Shmuylovich offers these suggestions for parents to help overcome a child’s learning struggles.
Problem: Poor Review or Test-taking Skills
If your child is doing well on homework but does poorly on written exams, it could mean she has either poor review or test-taking skills.
Solution: Help your child develop the habit of setting aside time each day to review his work. Create a mock “high stakes” environment each day, during which the student has to solve problems without the help of a textbook or other reference tool. You can easily set this up and then gradually lead your student to do this on his own.
Problem: Misunderstanding a Current Concept
When your child misunderstands a current concept, it can be frustrating. This is the place where you may have the most difficulty helping your child, since the concept may be new to you too.
Solution: Try putting your child in the role of teacher and ask him to explain the concept to you, the “student.” If your child can explain the concept to you well enough, he should be able to handle the related work. You may also want to search online for videos that explain or demonstrate the concept. For example, Virtual Nerd offers several tutorials that explain and help reinforce math and science concepts.
Problem: Not Enough Practice
Some students don't have enough practice with either current or previous concepts, which becomes evident when they tell you they “can’t remember how to do it.”
Solution: It can be tough for you to write out new problems that practice a particular concept for your child. Instead Shmuylovich recommends that you seek out additional practice within the text or ask the teacher for specific worksheets or other practice. Sometimes it really is just a matter of repeated execution (the multiplication table comes to mind, but it's the same for A + B = C).
How do you help your children study without "doing it for them"?
Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.
William Summey-November 16, 2010-
I bought a new book for my preteen today. The only thing is ... it's so good i am going to read it first!
I attended the book signing and reading of The Charlatan's Boy by ParentLife writer, Jonathan Rogers. Jonathan not only signed books but also read the first chapter for the crowd at the new CS Lewis Library at St. Paul Christian Academy and answered a few questions about the book.
You can buy a copy of the book and learn more about Jonathan and the mysterious Feechiefolk at jonathan-rogers.com. You might recognize Jonathan as the author of The Wilderking Trilogy (The Bark of the Bog Owl, The Secret of the Swamp King, and The Way of the Wilderking) — all perfect for your preteen ... and I bet you will love them too!
What are YOU reading right now?
Jodi Skulley-November 15, 2010-
Laurie Hanson — mother of two in Elgin, South Caronlina — had no idea the lemonade stand her 7-year-old daughter started in 2007 would turn into a project that impacts the lives of hundreds of children around the world each year.
This simple lemonade stand and its global impact began when Laurie’s daughter Grace learned about Operation Christmas Child — a global project that hand-delivers millions of gift-filled shoe box to needy kids. Grace wanted to pack 21 boxes; but with the tough economy, her mother Laurie didn’t know how to pay for the toys, school supplies, and hygiene items needed to fill the box.
That’s when they decided to sell lemonade. One Saturday morning, Grace and her friends got up early, put on their homemade aprons and hair bows, and served lemonade at a neighborhood garage sale. In five hours, the girls made 74 dollars, and their efforts were covered by a local news station.
After seeing the kids on TV, a manager of a local grocery store invited them to set up their stand outside his store. That year, Grace and her friends made enough money to double their goal and packed shoe box gifts for 42 kids they had never met.
"We have lemonade stands to help kids all over the world who don't have anything,” said Grace. "I feel good when I imagine the kids opening their boxes of goodies and smiling."
Today, the “Lemonade Gang” — as they are known — is a neighborhood staple. Since 2007, these young kids have raised more than $5,000 and packed more than 330 shoe box gifts for needy kids worldwide. Each year, they hold 3 to 6 lemonade stands, involving 30 kids, at nearby grocery stores and the local Wal-Mart. In the fall, they have a huge shoe box packing party.
This year the Lemonade Gang hopes to pack more than 200 shoe box gifts for Operation Christmas Child. And, they are well on their way to this goal. On Memorial Day weekend, their first lemonade stand of 2010 made close to $1,000.
“Selling lemonade to benefit Operation Christmas Child is a fun and inexpensive way to show your kids they can make a difference in the lives of others,” said Laurie. “It’s an opportunity to show them how to share Christ’s love with others.” This year Operation Christmas Child — the world’s largest Christmas project — plans to hand-deliver 8.2 million shoe box gifts to needy kids in 100 countries
_____
Wow! I am so inspired by what these children have done. Watch the video to see interviews with Laurie Hanson and some of the kids involved.
Remember that this week is National Collection Week for the OCC shoe boxes. As my friend OhAmanda shared this week, this shoe box may be the ONLY present the recipient gets. EVER. I have shed tears over the two shoe boxes I delivered to church this morning for two little preteen girls. I don't think twice before dropping $25 on some clothes for my toddler ... and yet $25 worth of toys and headbands and school supplies might make a difference in a child's life.
A little lemonade can go a long way! --Jessie, Resident Blog Guru
Jodi Skulley-November 12, 2010-
1-year-old Truett sure is a cutie!!
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!
Jessie Weaver-
November 11, 2010-
Our November 2010 issue included an excellent article on eating healthy during the holidays ("Nutritious Celebrations," p. 26) by registered dietician Beth Bence Reinke.
Here, Beth shares some of her favorite resources for getting kids to eat healthy.
These three healthy cookbooks contain numerous recipes that would work for parents and kids to make for parties and holidays:
Web sites:
Nourish Interactive has a special Thanksgiving page with tips for healthy eating, recipes, and advice for involving your kids.
Food Champs : At this site kids can sign in with a screen name (no need to give personal info) and then print out a dozen healthy recipes. They print out with step-by-step instructions and full-color photos of the recipe.
Catherine McCord, the author and chef behind Weelicious, posts recipes near-daily that take advantage of local, fresh foods yet are kid-friendly. She encourages parents to expand their kids' horizons through food!
Do you have a favorite resource for cooking with kids? Please share in the comments!
Jodi Skulley-November 10, 2010-
Does your toddler have problems waking during the night? Here's something extra from our November 2010 Growth Spurts: 1 to 2 Years expert, Vanese Delahoussaye, Ed.D.
Snoring — If your child is waking because of snoring, he may have sleep apnea (pauses in breathing), usually because of enlarged tonsils and adenoids. If your child snores, talk with your pediatrician.
Nightmares — Some children are bothered by nightmares as early as 18 months of age. If your child is awakened by nightmares, he may be scared or afraid to return to sleep. You may need to spend extra time comforting him and allowing some time for him to be ready to get back in bed.
Normal toddler development skills — Some of the normal developmental phases, such as separation anxiety, increased drive for independence, increased physical ability, and development of imagination results in your child realizing his ability to get a response from you.
Secondhand smoke — Exposure to secondhand smoke causes poorer sleep quality and is associated with asthma, sleep apnea, and difficulties falling asleep.
Other causes — Other causes might include fear or anxiety; pain, such as teething or earache; illness; becoming cold; not staying covered; restless leg syndrome; or noise.
To Nap or Not?
An overstimulated, overtired child is less likely to fall asleep quickly and sleep through the night. Routine naps or quiet times during the day also help to prevent dinnertime meltdowns which often lead to an earlier than usual bedtime for an overtired and upset child.
My first thought is always hunger when my 2-year-old wakes in the night. Maybe I'm totally wrong! (But she does often refuse dinner. — Jessie, ParentLife Blog Guru) Do you have a "go-to solution" for night wakings?
Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.
Jessie Weaver-
November 9, 2010-
Here's a little "extra" from our Growth Spurts: Birth to 1 Year article "Ah-Choo!" by Evelyn Hanes, R.N. — something we couldn't quite squeeze in the November issue of ParentLife! The article speaks about when to take your infant to the doctor.
Your doctor’s office is not just for well-child checkups. Most offices have a “sick” area in the waiting room. During the worst of cold/flu/RSV season, they may take you immediately to a treatment room. This helps protect those who are not sick.
If your child is particularly fussy, he may not wait well. Ask for an appointment at the beginning of the day or immediately after the office lunch break for the shortest wait. Come with your biggest supply of patience! Your sanity may depend on a having a well-stocked diaper bag. Bring a couple of favorite toys and books as well as a snack and something to drink. Extra diapers and clothing are always a good idea. And do not forget the pacifier and “blankie” or other comforting object.
Try to keep your baby in your lap. The less he is able to touch toys and surfaces in the waiting room, the less chance he will pick up other germs. If your child does touch anything, keep his hands out of his mouth and wash them thoroughly as soon as possible. If at all possible, do not sit beside anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
It does not take long to realize that babies do not get sick on an appointed schedule. They get sick in the middle of the night or when you are out of town! Even in these inconvenient times, you should still have help readily available. All physician practices have a plan for handling after-hour problems. Find out what your provider’s plan is and do not hesitate to call when you think your child is sick.
Have you struggled with whether to take your infant to the doctor or not? How do you decide?
Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.
Jessie Weaver-
November 8, 2010-
In the November 2010 issue of ParentLife, Kelli Regan wrote about how to create an online photo book. Here are her extended reviews of specific photo sites.
Shutterfly
Shutterfly is the top-rated online photo processing site with consumers and reviewers. Besides photo books, they offer a full line of photographic products like prints, Christmas cards, and gift items like coffee mugs, T-shirts, and more.
Why I Like It:
- Web site is intuitive and remarkably easy to use
- Hundreds of themed templates and backgrounds
- “Simple Paths” feature allows you to create a photo book in minutes
- High-quality output with satisfaction guaranteed
- Plentiful tutorials and online help
- Excellent choice for beginner and advanced users
Mixbook
Launched in 2006, Mixbook is a relative newcomer but has quickly become a top-rated site. Mixbook offers only photo books, so you’ll have to go elsewhere for prints and other photo services.
Why I Like It:
- Easy-to-navigate Web site
- Highly customizable layouts
- Strong online community
- Allows friends to add their own photos and pages to your book.
- Integrates with popular photo storage sites like Flickr, Picasa, Photobucket, and Facebook
- “AutoMix” feature builds a complete photo book in minutes
- Excellent choice for experienced users who want lots of customizable options. (These choices, however, may overwhelm novice photo-book creators.)
Snapfish
Owned by Hewlett-Packard, Snapfish is one of the most popular photo processing Web sites. In recent years they’ve added sizing and binding options and additional customization features to their photo books.
Why I Like It:
- “Express Photo Book” feature auto-fills photos into a complete layout in minutes
- Plentiful theme and embellishment options
- More sizing and cover design options than most other publishers
- Offers a complete line of photo products including personalized board books that feature your little ones
- Good choice for beginners and experienced users. (Advanced users and professionals may want a higher-end provider.)
Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.
Do you have a favorite online site from which to order prints, gift, and photo books?
Jodi Skulley-November 5, 2010-
"Buzz Lightyear" says: "Defending the universe can be exhausting!"
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!
Jessie Weaver-
November 4, 2010-
Theft of children's social security numbers is on the rise, warns Linda Criddle, president of the Safe Internet Alliance and one of the nation's foremost experts on Internet and wireless safety, in a recent blog post. Children's SSNs are highly prized because they have no credit taint. At least 7% of reported SSN thefts target children — and the actual percentage is probably higher, as the theft is often not detected until the child applies for credit.
The repercussions of a damaged credit score can impact a child for life, Ms. Criddle notes. As child victims of i.d. theft seek loans for college, cars, and homes, they may struggle to qualify and be permanently subject to higher interest and mortgage rates.
Criddle offered the following tips and red flags for parents.
Reduce your child's risk of financial ID theft
- Keep Social Security cards locked up. These don't belong in wallets or loose in your home where others may come across them.
- Tightly restrict sharing your child's social security number. You may be asked to provide your child's SSN in many circumstances, such as to enroll them for a sports team, or at your doctor's office. However, you do not need to give their SSN — you can show other evidence of age or information that your health care provider needs for billing.
- Teach your children not to share their SSNs. When they are applying for jobs — at which point they finally do have to share the number — make sure the employer and company are legitimate so the risk of resale is low.
- When creating a bank account for your child, set up only a savings account and make sure there is no overdraft protection included.
- Monitor your child's credit as you do your own. If you wait until you see a red flag, a lot of damage may have occurred, and often you'll see no red flag at all until your child seeks credit. Running a credit report does introduce some risk, but you can mitigate this by freezing their credit. This way, if the very act of checking your child's credit history generated a credit file you have squashed the chances for abuse. Unfreeze their credit when they do seek out a loan.
Red flags indicating that your child's financial ID has been stolen
There is no silver bullet to protect your child from ID theft, but there are some red flags. Be suspicious if:
- Your child receives any unsolicited credit offers in his or her name, or notices from debt collectors.
- Someone who has access to the child’s SSN shows sudden evidence of prosperity.
- You get a notice from the IRS saying the SSN number you used on your tax return (or on their tax return) is a duplicate number.
- Your insurance company denies a claim for your child because they have already covered the procedure.
- The bank notifies you when you go to establish a savings account for your child that an account using that SSN already exists.
- You receive a warrant for a traffic violation for a child without a drivers license.
- Your child is denied government assistance because records show they are already receiving benefits.
- You get a request for a job verification when your child has never had a job.
The Identity Theft Resource Center also has some interesting tips and advice on how to take action if your suspet identity theft.
Have you ever considered the possibility of this occurring? Do you and your family have identity theft protection? Please feel free to share tips in the comments!
Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.
Jessie Weaver-
November 3, 2010-
Hello, my name is Laura, and I'm a homemaker. I'm also a wife, a mom, and a writer. I make most of our food from scratch, grow a large garden, and preserve a good portion of our food for the year. I homeschool our four sons. I have company over regularly. I'm in charge of one of our local health food co-ops. I cut my family's hair.
I also worry too much, yell at my kids sometimes, don't always make time each day to read my Bible, have a messy minivan, and I can't remember how to thread my sewing machine. The chair in my bedroom is covered with clothes that need to be hung up, I can never find a pen, and I haven't taught my youngest son to tie his shoes. I often have overdue library books, my refrigerator needs to be cleaned out, and I'm terrible about returning phone calls.
Some might look at all the great things I do each day and think I have it all together. I beg to differ. Any time I have tried on any of the varieties of Superwoman capes available, none of them seem to fit me right. They're either too tight, too short, too bright, or they're so long that I tripped over it when I try to wear it and fall flat on my face.
Each of us has our own God-given strengths and our human-based weaknesses. What I'm good at, you may not be, and what you're good at I may just have to admire from afar.
Trying to be a Superwoman doesn't work for me. The cape doesn't fit.
How about letting God use us to be the best woman we can be for Him? Now that's a plan that's a one size fits all.
Laura Coppinger is featured in the November 2010 ParentLife on pages 18-21. She writes and shares recipes at HeavenlyHomemakers.com. Here's one of her excellent, "real food" recipes she shared with us!
Apricot Breakfast Bars
© Laura Coppinger
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
¾ cup honey
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1½ cups rolled oats
½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
¼ cup sesame seeds
¾ cup dried apricots
Directions:
Melt butter and honey together. Remove from heat. Pour mixture into a mixing bowl and add baking soda, salt, vanilla, buttermilk, and eggs. Stir in flour, oats, coconut, and sesame seeds until well combined. Cut dried apricots into small bites (I usually cut mine into fourths). Fold apricot pieces into dough.
Bake in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes. When completely cool, cut into 16 bars.
Variation — soaking grains (optional): Mix melted (and cooled) butter, buttermilk (with live cultures), flour, and oats thoroughly in a glass bowl. Cover and leave on the countertop overnight. In the morning, stir in remaining ingredients. Bake as above.
Laura’s Recommended Resources
Tropical Traditions
Weston A. Price Foundation®
Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.
Jessie Weaver-
November 2, 2010-
Win a $10,000 "Green" Nursery!
The Big Bundle of Joy $10,000 Nursery Giveaway, sponsored by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, will award one lucky grand prize winner a suite of certified low-emitting nursery products from manufacturers like Anderson Floors, Bona, Naturepedic®, Shaw Floors, Q Collection Junior™, and Young America by Stanley. The grand prize winner will handpick $10,000 worth of GREENGUARD Certified products from one, some, or all of these manufacturers, allowing for a completely customized nursery.
Five second-place winners will receive a GREENGUARD Certified Naturepedic mattress valued at $400, and 30 third-place winners will receive a GREENGUARD Certified Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaning System.
To enter, visit www.greenguard.org/sweeps, fill out an entry form, and click submit. The contest runs through January 31, 2011.
Sports Authority Move It Challenge
The ‘Sports Authority Move It Challenge’ is a national invention competition designed to uncover exciting new youth-created sporting and backyard games. The national competition kicked off on October 1, 2010 and will run through January 3, 2011 at www.Moveitchallenge.com. A grand prize of $10,000 will be awarded to the winner, with four finalists each receiving $1,000. All finalists will also have the opportunity to nominate the teacher or mentor who was most supportive to their creative process, and each dedicated professional will receive a $500 Sports Authority gift card. Entries will be accepted online or by mail using the official entry form.
It's Shoebox Time!
Each year, Samaritan's Purse collects shoeboxes filled with toys and hygiene items to ship to children in need around the world. National collection week is November 15-22. This article from Threads, LifeWay's Young Adult division, talks about hosting a fun shoebox-packing party! Threads and Operation Christmas Child are also offering a "prize trip" to a group who submits a story about their shoebox-packing party.
Teachers Need Help!
Del Monte Fresh Produce is launching a program to help support kindergarten through 12th grade public school teachers across North and Central America with cash to purchase school supplies and fresh fruit in the “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” campaign. One hundred prizes totaling $1,000 each will be awarded to teachers who get the most votes in the “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” online contest at www.fruits.com.
To be eligible to win, teachers must register for the “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” online contest at www.fruits.com. After teachers register their name and school, they can get all their fans — from parents to students, to friends and family — to vote for them. Ten winners will be selected each Monday for five consecutive weeks in October/November, 2010, for a total of 50 winning teachers North American teachers. Winners are based solely on the number of votes they receive. Winning teachers will receive $750 in cash to purchase school supplies and $250 in Del Monte fresh fruit coupons for classroom snacks and to use in fruit educational activities.
Any other contests or interesting events going on we should know about? We like to keep our readers informed!
Jessie Weaver-
November 1, 2010-
It's November! Do you feel the holidays beginning to breathe their "parumpa-pum-pum" rhythym? With a baby due on December 22nd, I definitely do! Now that we're through a whirlwind week of two birthdays, four grandparents and one aunt visiting, one big birthday bash, and some trunk-or-treating, "baby time" seems even more close. Which means you have about 7 and a half weeks until Christmas!
For our November giveaway, we're doling out TEN fun Christmas books for you and your kids.
Here are the ten books we're giving away:
The Wonder of Christmas by Dandi Daley Mackall
Away in a Manger by Mike Jaroszko
Tonight You Are My Baby (Board Book) by Jeannine Q. Norris
Pocket's Christmas Wish by Ann Bonwill and Russell Julian
The Star of Christmas by Maria T. DiVencenzo Holiday Cupcakes by Annie Rigg
Come to the Table: Food, Fellowship, and a Celebration of God's Bounty by Benita Long
Christmas Cooking with Kids by Annie Rigg
Kids in the Holiday Kitchen by Jessica Strand
Better Home and Gardens' Best of Christmas Ideas
To enter, leave a comment on this post with one of your favorite Christmas books or family traditions. If you'd like, you can also comment which of these books you would like to have the most, and we'll take that into consideration if you are a winner!
Winners will be selected December 1, 2010. LifeWay employees are not eligible to win.
Congratulations to our five giveaway winners! Each will receive a copy of the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids!
The winners are:
Rebecca Powell
Kevin Butler
Wendy Snipes
Laura
Shannon Nelson
We will be in touch with all of you through e-mail. Stay tuned for the November giveaway — you won't want to miss out! And you have until tomorrow to enter the Kenney Truly CordFree Window Coverings giveaway.
