The Internet offers families nearly limitless resources, but we Moms also must beware the potential for inappropriate content. Kids and teens spend a considerable amount of time on the computer for school -- and socializing! – and without boundaries, can explore the Internet more than we’d like.
Now, parental-control software, Net Nanny, offers a solution to help monitor and block computer activity in the home. It prevents adult sites or images and masks profanity with $%@# symbols to address some of the most prominent Internet risks.
Net Nanny allows parents to easily adjust the filter settings for up to 35 categories (for example, alcohol, gambling, intimate apparel, weapons, social networks, and more) so you have full control over the sites your children can access. The software also regulates chat rooms and online games, and sends alerts to parents via instant messaging to let them know about questionable conversations. Any time contact information, location, or personal details appear, parents will be notified to prevent the risk of online predators.
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With the December holidays now a dim memory and the long winter stretched out before us, we Moms know that the January Blues continue to hover on the horizon. From parents worn out from holiday travel and celebrations to toddlers dealing with cabin-fever to teens stressed about the second-half of the school year, January can result in tumultuous times for families.
But with a little thought and creativity, we can kick-start the New Year with excursions, activities, and strategies that can leave the January Blues in the cold. Read on for some of my favorite tips:
Ignore the Weather and Head Outdoors
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The ups and downs of mother-daughter relationships – similar to tracks on a rollercoaster – bring moments of affection, often followed by anger and arguments. While the latter hopefully occurs less frequently than the former, the bumps along the tracks create a unique bond. As author Lisa Scottoline describes it, the fighting only proves that “you raised her to think independently from you, and to voice her own views.” If you find yourself in the mood for a dose of charmingly relatable independent thinking, dive into Scottoline’s newest book Best Friends, Occasional Enemies.
This true tale told by the mother-daughter writing team had me laughing at everyday situations, sympathizing with the tough moments of friction, and overall appreciating my own daughter and the relationship we have formed as friends. For those who have read Scottoline’s mystery novels, this book serves as a behind-the-scenes look into the candid humor and everyday life that allow her to create such real characters that leap off of the pages and into real life.
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 photo credit: WHDH Boston News
This past Monday, a Salem, MA single Mom, angered by and fed up with her five bickering kids, called 911 to send the cops to break up the fighting. Her complaint: their throwing toys and games at each other led her 15-year-old son to punch her 8-year-old daughter in the arm while she was out grocery shopping, and she wanted them both “out of here— I can’t take this anymore.” Cops arrived on the scene, and the son has been summoned to juvenile court on domestic assault and battery charges. No medical attention was needed for the daughter.
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Someone once told me, "when men work and have a family, it's called 'having it all,' but when women work and have a family, it's called 'halving it all.'" Despite the fact that Dads play a more active role in the daily lives of their kids, new research shows that Moms feel the immense pressures of multitasking.
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In a weekly news cycle already crowded with such stories as sexual harassment claims against a presidential candidate, the mounting European debt crisis, and the nation’s stagnating job woes, one story stands out among all others – the alleged child sex abuse scandal at Penn State.
Yes, it involves profoundly disturbing allegations made against Penn State’s former assistant football coach, and reinforces escalating fears among parents everywhere given the entwined trust and vulnerability by our kids with authority figures. In this case, everyone agrees that any sexual abuse should be prosecuted. What has emerged with deep lack of clarity is what culpability extends to anyone with suspicions or evidence of what a perpetrator may be doing and what actions they take based on what they suspect or know.
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Anonymous
Toddler struggles with separation cause many sleepless nights for parents. Torn between leaving a sad child and not giving them the experience of daycare or preschool, thoughts of guilt, concern, and worry preoccupy the minds of parents.
First and foremost, remember that separation anxiety amongst toddlers is normal. It is the rule rather than the exception. The behavior does not reflect parenting styles, but rather displays a normal stage that children go through. Although moms often recognize this fact, nothing removes those feelings of leaving a child upset when it comes time for the dreaded ‘goodbye’.
While nothing completely cures the heartache as your little one grips your leg and cries, there are a few steps you can take to ease the anxiety for both you and your child.
Stick to a schedule
When dropping your child off at daycare, preschool, or a family or friend’s home, try to stick to a schedule. Being dropped off and picked up at the same time each day helps in reassuring children that nothing is out of the ordinary. Coping comes easier when toddlers know what to expect each day.
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He didn’t seem like himself that day. When I smiled and said hello, he answered me, but I didn’t see his usual, ever-ready smile. As we walked out to the parking lot together, I asked him what was wrong. Our friendship had grown through the school year and I could tell he wanted to talk.
He explained how difficult it was to be home with the kids, how his wife didn’t do anything around the house. She even left her dishes at the table and expected him to clear them for her so she could go relax in the living room after a meal. He did all the cooking, cleaning, washing, wiping, carting, shopping and she didn’t seem to appreciate him.
If I closed my eyes, I could have been listening to one of my girlfriends talking about her husband. (With a bit of a deeper voice, of course.)
Wow.
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Anonymous
Ask any Dad you know - having a new baby comes with challenges. Unlike the latest gadget you purchased, new babies do not arrive equipped with an owner’s manual and detailed step-by-step instruction pamphlet. For new Dads feeling lost within the realm of parenting, the Ontario Network Father Involvement Initiative has set out to provide online “cribside assistance” to those in need.
Driven by the passion for the bond between fathers and children, the site delivers information for Dads, by Dads. From a “fuel-consumption” guide for feeding, to a complete Dad’s “tool kit” for the road, the site provides a dose of all things Dad in a manly manner that leaves you feeling competent and prepared for all parenting challenges.
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