A must buy!!

Ok moms! We all know all too well how it is to have a kid that wants to ride on your back or shoulders and how painful it can be! Strains your neck something terrible Right?? Here is the answer you have been looking for!

The Piggyback Rider distributes the weight evenly, and they are strapped to you with a harness so it is also super safe and you will both be comfortable!

It is for kids 2.5 and older and holds 60 pounds!!

Prices range but mainly around $80

you can find it at http://piggybackrider.com/

**Live, Laugh, Love--and ALWAYS kiss me Good night**

Let's talk DAYCARE!!!

I own an In Home Daycare and I am also the mother of a 2 year old. Parents trust me to not only keep their children safe and get them to and from school on time, but also to feed them healthy square meals, to make sure they are not being bullied or being bullies themselves!! But unlike most in home daycare's I offer tutoring for children of all ages, I offer frequent ft days that also teach the kids something along with being fun. But I live in a small town that is out of the way from the "Big Cities" so the number of kids are limited and in my small town there are at least 6 daycare's, all of which are in home as well. Unfortunately for me many have been in business for longer then I have been alive! Or living in this town. So, I may be extremely safe and qualified but I', out voted and over looked and kids are being "watched" not educated or CARED for!! There is a VERY big difference between being cared for and being"watched!!

Even more as a mom I know how picky I am about who I let care for y child, so I know other parents feel the same way and I try to adhere to what they want and need in a daycare provider. The following is excerpts from Parents Magazines Article 'The Child-Care crisis' by Sharlene Johnson You can find the whole article here... http://www.parents.com/baby/childcare/child-care-crisis/

There is nothing more important to a working parent than knowing her child is in a good child-care situation. Good child care often costs more than families can afford. A recent survey of Parents readers who use child care, 84% said that finding affordable, quality care is either a challenge, very hard, or IMPOSSIBLE!! 66% of parents think the lack of access to child care is a serious problem--to which I totally agree!!-- Particularly in this economy, parents face tough choices.

Having a full-time stay-at-home parent simply isn't a reality for most families anymore. 23% of moms and 3% of dads stay home full-time with their kids, according to the latest U.S Census data. Resulting in nearly 11 MILLION children under 5 years of age being in some type of child care each week. Around 40% of those are in the care of grandparents, or other relatives, or friends. 30% of children attend a child-care center, Head start, or preschool, and 15% go to a in-home Daycare.

No one wants to settle for someone who simply will "watch" their kids, given what we know about the amount of brain development and learning that occurs in the early years.

Early Childcare and Education as one concept?? It is important to have loving caregivers who know how to organize the day so that the children are engaged and excited to be there.
Parents would be shocked to realize that there are no federal standards for quality and safety in child care, only a mishmash of inconsistent state laws.

Cost of child care increased twice as fast as the median income of families since 2000--per Child Care Aware of America.-- annual fees range from $3,900 to $15,000 depending on a child's age--Infant care is more expensive. Even when family/friends help with child care you still pay for it. Fuel, travel, time etc. are all spent when you have relatives, friends care for your children. Nothing is free.

Even when couples need 2 incomes it may not be worth it for both partners to work. The pressures are even greater on single-parent families, and the situation is harder for low-income households. $10 Billion per year is spent by state and federal governments for low-income families through the Child care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), but only about 1 out of 6 kids who qualify for assistance receives it and many states have long waiting lists for vouchers. Funding for child care has never been a national priority!

As much as the cost of care varies, so does the quality!! Most states earned a failing grade in the most recent report. 16 states don't require lead teachers in centers to have a high-school diploma, and only 21 states insist that caregivers have any child-development training. A home daycare can have a dozen children and not need a license. Some states exempt those in churches or other religious building from any oversight.

The ratio of adults to children is important (experts recommend at least 1 adult for every 4 babies or 10 pre-schoolers) But numbers are not the key to quality. Kids need to be in an environment that supports all aspects of their development--social,emotional,intellectual, and physical-- Something as simple as responding to a babbling baby can have a profound impact on his language skills. The facility matters too--Children need space to play and explore.

Despite there critical role child-care workers earn little respect and their paycheck is about $21,000 a year! You can have an amazing staff member who is a natural with kids, but she has to quit because she can't afford to pay her bills on her salary! Staff turnover is hard on your children, they become attached to their caregivers and having them change frequently is harmful to their feelings and learning abilities also.

Experts are increasingly concerned about health and safety issues. It is important for staff to be trained in First-Aid as well as CPR along with safe-sleeping practices, and child-abuse prevention. Only 8 states require that caregivers in licensed centers and family child-care homes have a comprehensive background check, including a fingerprint check against state and FBI records, as well as a check of sex-offender and child-abuse registered. Stricter regulations are being implemented but only AFTER a tragedy occurs. Inspections of these facilities should also be regular and MANDATORY!!

The Child Care and Development Block grant hasn't been updated since 1996! There is limited financial help available for middle-income families, who can not qualify for state or federal assistance and even if they receive the grant it barely offsets a small fraction of the fees parents have to pay! As part of his Fiscal Year 2013 budget, President Obama proposed to increase the amount next year to 35% of qualified expenses up to $3,000 for one child and $6,000 for 2 or more children in a family that makes less than $75,000 a year.

Imagine if all the child care centers closed for a week. EVERYTHING would come to a screeching halt! But you don't hear people talking about us as if we are critical to the functions of society.

**Live, Laugh, Love--and ALWAYS kiss me Good night**

I'm Back in Business!!

Well it has been awhile since the last time I posted anything to my blog.

Lucky for me my amazing husband got me a new computer for Christmas so I am back in business!!

Got a lot to get organized and then I will restart all the postings again!! ( I know you are all sooo excited!!)

I hope everyone has an amazing New Years Eve!!

Happy 2013!!

8 Cold remedies we can count on!!!

**Lack of information...that seems to be where we all sit when it comes to home remedies for our kids and ourselves even. But there are ways of getting your child some relief and household staples have been proven to work and believe it or not proven by science and many doctors!!**

1. Sleep:Sleep and immune functions are 1 in the same! Studies have found people who don't get enough sleep are more susceptible to colds! If your child does get sick keep him home from school and turn off the games and T.V. for awhile. Making sure your child gets enough rest may be the most important thing you can do for him when he's sick, Dr.'s emphasize! It may seem like all a Dr. says when your child is sick is "rest and fluids" but that really is the best thing you can do for your child! Your Dr. isn't always being lazy by saying this. If your still concerned there is nothing wrong with getting a 2nd opinion.

2.Vitamin D:Is an important infection fighter, most children dont get enough of it, while many kids are exposed to enough sunlight in the summer to get enough. It is hard to get enough from the sun in the winter time, check your childs vitamin D levels, discuss a supplement with your dr. The AAP recommends 300 IU per day. An eight-ounce glass of milk is about 100 IU.


3.Salt: The International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology found thhis natural anti-inflammatory helps release mucus and ease breathing, as well as sooth sore throats and coughs. For congestion, make a saline rinse with a half to a full teaspoon of salt per pint of warm water, then administer it with a dropper. To treat a sore throat or cough teach your child to gargle with the same warm saltwater solution. if you do not feel comfortable mixing your own saltwater solution at home there are many cheep and easily accessible over the counter saline solutions to be bought in just about any store with medicine for sale!


4.Probiotics: Research suggests the bacteria found in yogurt may help prevent respiratory infections. One study shows kids ages 3-5 who consumed active lactobacillus cultures daily for 6 months during cold season were less likely to get sick and when they did their colds lasted a shorter time!!

**PROBIOTICS--A daily dose of this good bacteria can help you or your kiddo fight off infection!! It also comes in handy for girls little and big a like to use yogurt with live cultures whenever you are prescribed an antibiotic! it will help fight yeast infections and UTI's!

5.Relaxation: This means YOU MOM!!! Parents stress when their children are sick. Meanwhile their icky sicky kiddo is playing away with a minor cough and a snotty nose like nothing is wrong. They often feel better then we do when we are sick. If your child develops a fever or his symptoms seem to worsen, consult your pediatrician; your little guy may have developed a secondary infection (ear or sinus for example) and that will require an antibiotic to get over. When all else fails try to remember that a normal cold will run its course in about a week or so! NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO!!! If you treat it your child will get better, if you dont, your child will get better!!

6.Moist Air: A cool-mist humidifier or a warm vaporizer in your chil's bedroom can help nasal passage and reduces congestion. Remember to keep whichever method you go with out of reach of children and atleast 2 feet off the floor, also check to make sure that you are cleaning the model frequently and refilling it when it is empty or dumping it out when necessary!! You can also steam up your bathroom, it is like a little homemade sauna for your icky sicky kiddo!!!

7.Honey:A study in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine found hone at bedtime was more effective with quieting coughs then any honey flavored cough medicine! The dose of just honey is pretty much the same as that of the over-the-counter cold medicines. 1/2 teaspoon for kids 1-5, 1full teaspoon for kids 6-11 and 2 teaspoons for children 12 and up. Please remember it is unsafe and strongly urged against to give a child under the age of 1 any honey of any kind or dose! It could cause a rare but very serious bacterial illness known as botulism in babies!!

8.Chicken Soup: The go-to get-well meal research shows that chicken soup has anti-inflammatory powers that stimulate the release of mucus,reducing congestion. Who knew a tasty soup was so helpful when you or your kids are sick?!

**Sleep: Getting enough rest when you're fighting a bug of any kind may be the most important thing you or your kiddo can do!!

Benefits of a Healthy Marriage...

A healthy, stale marriage brings long-lasting benefits to men, women, and children regardless of income, race, age or location. The benefits to both partners increase over time as long as the marriage remains healthy.

Happy-Healthy marriage creates:
*Longer life spans
*Less depression and a better ability to handle stress
*Steady employment and household income-up to twice as much as a non married household!
*Couples tend to exercise more often and eat properly
*Serious sicknesses happen less often and when they do occur couples tend to recover faster
*Shorter hospital visits and a less likely hood of needing a nursing home later on in life

Children who grow up in a healthy/happy marriage:
*Tend to live longer as adults and are more likely to reach 85 years of age
*Are less likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as drinking, smoking, or using drugs.
*Are more likely to have a stable marriage in which to raise their own children
*Tend to achieve higher academic success and economic stability as adults
*Are healthier as adults with fewer acute or chronic illnesses.

What is a "Healthy Marriage?"
A relationship that is mutually satisfying, where both spouses have a deep respect for each other and is beneficial to all members of the family. It is a relationship that is committed to ongoing growth, the use of effective communication skills and the use of successful conflict management skills.

This information is from:
The Effects of Marriage on health: A synthesis of Recent Research Evidence by Mathematical Policy Research, Inc.., July 2007
Iowa Department of Human Services
TANF
USDA
yesfoodiowa.gov

Walking Lil Mama!!!

That is right we are finally walking nearly everywhere we are going now!!! We had a really rough time getting here. We found out she is double jointed in her hips so she had to adjust to walking differently then most other kids. But she will grow out of it and I guess we just look to the future and right now i am seeing a little gymnast!!

On another note who else is having a rough time dealing with attitudes and changes in their marriage, and kids, jobs and themselves!!???? Around here my daycare kids have been throwing crazy attitude's all over the place, not minding, not listening, doing the COMPLETE opposite as what they know they are suppose to be doing!!! And as far as husbands go...well lets see here.. mine has had this attitude from hell lately. it comes and goes like a male version of PMS which is SOOOOOOO much worse then women's PMS!!!! I'm not saying that i am totally in the clear here but i am just hoping that as soon as the weather gets warmer and the daylight starts sticking around more each day then moods will stay sunnier too!!

Happy Valentines day all

I want to start off by saying that I think this is the oddest holiday out of all of the other holidays all year long!! I do not understand why there has to be a certain day designated out of the year to tell your loved ones that you love them. Isn't everyday a holiday then??

Anywho i thought i would share some Valentines day tips so you don't break the bank but can still show that special someone you love them!!

1. Make dinner at home TOGETHER!! Turn the lights down low, use a few candles, and even if it is mac-n-cheese it will be special because you will be celebrating your love!!
2. Instead of going out to eat ON Valentines day try going out another night, this will save you from all the balloons,confetti and even more importantly it will save you money!! Go out this weekend instead of tonight!!
3.Don't buy presents,fancy dinners,flowers etc for a few years and then go out of town on a mini vacation with the money you have saved from the years spent at home!!!

Ladies men are EASY!!! They just want a little "lovin" ;) and maybe a video game or alone time with their boys etc.

Men--LADIES ARE HARD!!!!! They expect your to show them all the ways you love them and unfortunately they want you to out do what their friends lovers have done!! Try the usual-Chocolates, flowers and a card that says all the ways you feel without you actually having to say it!! I know men have a hell of a time putting their feelings in to verbal words that is why Hallmark makes it easy on them!! What women really would love is for you to give them a "staycation" You clean the house and watch the kids and make the meals and let them sit in bed all day some saturday!! All my moms out there will agree!!

I hope you all have an amazingly romantic, loving, special Valentines day!!