Parenting Tools for Internet Safety -- S Post

The internet is both a wonderful resource and a possible threat. Unfortunately, in world of instantaneous and readily accessible information, it is becoming increasingly important for parents to monitor their child’s internet activity.

Thankfully, there are plenty of parenting tools out there that allow parents to control how their children use the internet without impeding their curiosity and love of learning. Such tools allow you to block out certain inappropriate material while your child can still browse the internet safely and securely.

One of the easiest ways of managing accessible content is by using a content filter, which is essentially a safe web browser. You can choose which websites you deem unsafe for your child to visit, and the browser will block any violent or pornographic content. With your input, the browser can create a black list of sites that your child cannot access. If you’re unsure as to what child-safe websites are available, Quib.ly has put together a list of some great child-safe websites for your use.

Aside from content filters, you may also wish to monitor your child’s browsing history to see what they have been looking at – or attempting to look at. By using the parental controls provided by your internet company, or by installing a monitoring application on your child’s smartphone, you can view their history even if they delete it.

These network controls are available both on a computer and on a smartphone, allowing you to block unsavoury content at all times. Not only do such controls allow you to monitor web usage, but you can also use them to control your child’s internet usage, restrict phone calls and even prevent them from downloading unsuitable applications. All of this can help give you the peace of mind you crave while ensuring your child can enjoy the internet without risk.

Parental controls are a fantastic way of restricting your child’s access to certain applications and websites, and you can even restrict phone calls and texts from unwanted numbers in this way. Check what you can do with your network provider, and soon you’ll be on your way child-proofing the internet in your home.

The internet should be a fun learning environment where children can interact with their peers, research homework and enjoy their time online. By familiarising yourself with child-friendly websites and learning how to use parental controls, you can ensure that your child remains safe and secure online while learning to play, socialise with friends and have fun with learning resources. 

 

Guest Post - Keeping Kids Safe in the Home

Today, I'm lucky enough to have a guest post on keeping kids safe in the home...something I never have to worry about, you know, since I'm always here.

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Staying home alone is an exciting rite of passage for adolescents. It shows them that you recognize they are growing up and maturing, and that you trust their judgment. However, despite being an exciting time for your kids, this can be somewhat of a terrifying time for parents. Sure, you trust them, but it's everyone else that's the problem. What about that troublemaker kid down the street who's been trying to pal around with your son? Or that creepy guy always walking his dog past your house?

As a parent, it's important to show your child that you believe in them, which is why you should give your child a chance to stay home alone and see how it goes. Here are four ways that technology can help you protect your children from afar to preserve your peace of mind:

Find Out What's Going On

Installing a wireless home security system can go a long way to help both you and your kids feel safe and secure when they are home alone. Opt for one with a few small cameras to place outside near the front door, in the back yard and in a frequented common area of the house, such as the kitchen or living room. Many wireless security systems come with online apps that you can access from the Web or your smartphone to view a live feed of your home cameras and see exactly what's going on at home in your absence.

Check In Frequently

How did parents ever let their kids stay home alone without cell phones? Cell phones have become a true lifeline for both kids and parents, facilitating quick check-ins to make sure everything is going alright. Parenting experts at KidsHealth.org advise setting up a schedule to call your kids and have them call you. For instance, if the kids are going home to an empty house after school, have them call you to check in as soon as they arrive so you know they got there safely. Creating a schedule that works for your family can be important in helping you and your kids feel safe and confident about staying home unsupervised.

Screen Calls

Teach your kids to never tell unfamiliar callers that they're home alone. Instead of saying "my parents aren't home," they should say "my parents aren't available to come to the phone right now." Instead, it may be best to instruct your children to screen incoming calls by looking at the caller ID and not answering calls from unfamiliar phone numbers. Consider leaving a list of phone numbers that should be answered next to the phone as a reminder for your kids.

See Who's at the Door

Instruct your child to call you when someone is at the door so that you can remotely view the camera feed online and see who is there. Something as simple as a knock at the door can be scary for a child who's not used to being home by himself. Talk to your kids about how to respond in this situation and let them know the importance of staying calm. Parenting experts at the University of Illinois Extension advise instructing your children not to answer the door unless they know in advance to expect someone dropping by.

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Author Bio:
Gina Waters

A volunteer firefighter, nanny and freelance writer, Gina has been a dedicated serious writer of articles and fiction since her first publication, when she was 18.

 

Guest Post: How to Safely Furnish a Kid's Room

My last guest post had cute ideas for making your kids' rooms trendy, but we can't forget about safety. This week I have a guest post that tackles exactly that.

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One thing is for sure when furnishing a kid’s room – no matter how limited your budget is, safety
must be put first. This is your child we’re talking about. The constructions you put in there should
be sturdy and safe. That should be your first thought when choosing a child’s room interior pieces.

For starters, you have to have in mind that kids don’t think like adults. So, when decorating your child’s room, you have to do it wisely, keeping your kid out of harm’s way by preventing possible dangerous situations that might occur.

Baby Cribs and Beds

• Don’t economize on a crib. Once your baby learns how to stand up, he/she will actively jump in there, so you should have the sturdiest crib you can find.

• If you want your crib to be with a latching mechanism, make sure it is in a place where your baby can’t reach it. Also, when your baby is in the crib, the side of it should be set on the highest position, always.

• When buying a crib, the bars of it should be put very close together. You know how the little ones love to explore the world around them, so they might try to ‘escape’. This may lead to something quite unpleasant – the baby’s head can get caught between the bars.

• As for bunk beds, it is mandatory for the top one to have safety rails on both sides and no child under seven years old should be sleeping in there. The mattress for the top bed should be below the level of the guardrails.

The Changing Table

• Safety strap and a low guardrail is the right thing for a changing table to have.

• An additional tip would be to keep clothes and diapers at hand’s reach near the changing table so that not to leave the baby unattended on there.

Stains and Paints

If you have a wood floor in the child’s room, consider this: it’s better to use urethane based on water instead of polyurethane since the former is not that flammable and is less toxic.

The latex paints that are less toxic and don’t emit so much fumes are the so-called low-VOC ones, so they would be the better choice for the kid’s room as opposed to oil-based paints.

Room Accessories

• If you plan to install some storage hooks, they have to be above or below your kid’s eye level because they are a potential eye-poking threat.

• Small decorative elements are not recommended at all for the child’s room. If you happen to have some, place them somewhere out of reach and be sure that they are safely attached and won’t fall.

A toy chest with a closing mechanism is the better option since it will prevent your child’s fingers from getting pinched.

• Sometimes you have to sacrifice your kid’s room decoration ideas for the sake of safety. Actually,
you always have to do that when it comes to child safety.


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The mission of Grace is to help you create a better home. She enjoys sharing ideas of wholesome
lifestyle for your family. Visit her at Cleanngone.co.uk



 

Guest Post - Keeping Kids Safe in the Home

Well, after yesterday's oversharing, I didn't have it in me for another post (though I have a few I have to write.) Anyway, here's Sam Rose talking about security.

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No parent ever wants to have to think about the prospect of a home invasion or robbery. Unfortunately,
these are realities that must be taken into consideration – especially when it comes to keeping your kids
safe in the house.

Fortunately, there are lots of different ways you can keep your kids safe and, listed below, are just a
few:

1.) Home Security

Home security systems like the ones offered by Securitychoice are known not only for their sophistication but also their level of user-friendliness. These systems offer 24/7 monitoring. This means that no matter when, day or night, if something has triggered the alarm, the security people won’t be out of the loop.

2.) Family Dog

A dog can make a great addition to any family and it’s statistically proven that a dog can actually help
to reduce the stress and anxiety in a household. Dogs can also make great guardians, but only with the
proper training. If you want to look into a guard dog, it’s best to contact your local police for advice on
professional training.

3.) Escape Plan

You should organize a safe area in the unfortunate event of a home invasion. Typically, the best place
for a safe area is the home of neighbors you can trust. Coordinate with your neighbors and make sure
your children know that they have somewhere safe to go if something happens.

4.) New Locks

Whenever you move into an existing house, you should always make sure that the locks are changed.
You’ll also want to change the locks if the home you are moving into has been around for a while. Locks and mechanisms can weaken over time. Plenty of stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s sell DIY locks that are simple enough to install.

5.) Local Law

If you’re really concerned about keeping your kids safe, you should consult the local law. Make a trip
and bring the kids. If anyone is going to have valuable information about keeping kids safe, it’s them.
They might even have some advice for your children as they go about their day.

While none of these can absolutely guarantee anyone’s safety, by following just a few of these tips,
you’ll be taking the necessary steps toward making your home and your kids just a little bit safer.






 

Childproofing Your Home: What You Need to Know

I am lucky enough to have guest blogger Danielle Birch with me today. She gives some great tips on how to childproof your home.

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As a parent, every day you face worries about your child. From the moment they wake up to the moment they go to sleep, you run around after them whilst juggling a million other tasks. This is why it is obviously important to childproof your home. Once you take these preventative actions, it’s one less thing to tick off an ever-growing list of things to do to make sure your child is safe. A great way to make sure you cover all areas is to get down to the level of your child and see what they can see. It will help you spot less obvious areas; keep in mind that children are curious creatures!

Electrical appliances

One of the first areas parents usually look at is plug sockets. This is a given, as children can usually reach these even when they are just crawling so it’s best to get them covered as soon as possible. But there are other electrical appliances that need attention. The wires to your television and any other accessories you have, such as games consoles, need to be hidden away. You’d be amazed at how little it takes for a big television to be pulled down. It’s not just the danger of the objects falling down; the wires themselves pose a hazard. It wouldn’t take long for a curious child to get tangled in the wires, all it takes is a couple of seconds when your back is turned and they could be in serious danger – so all wires must be hidden away.

Doors

We all know that safety gates are extremely important, especially when it comes to stair ways. However, as an extra measure, it’s also a good idea to modify your door hinges. As your child starts to toddle around, they love to copy what other people are doing. So when your rushing through doorways, there’s a good chance your little one will follow. Without modifications, there’s every chance the door will slam on your child’s fingers if they can’t keep up. You can get special hinges which make sure the doors close slowly, making it almost impossible for your child to injure their fingers and toes!

Blinds

When it comes to window blinds, you should check every room in your house to make sure they are safe for children. Blind cords are very hazardous to children, and should be avoided at all costs. Not only are they a choking hazard, but it’s too easy for a child to get caught in those loops. Although you can get hooks to go on your wall to loop the cords round, there are better and safer blinds out there which are a lot less dangerous for your children. Roller blinds are a great option, they don’t have the long loops like vertical blinds do and are great at keeping the light out – essential when we have light evenings and the children can’t get to sleep!

Of course the list could go on when it comes to childproofing, these are just a few of the areas you need to cover. But it’s important not to let it stress you out and not to worry over the slightest scrape your child might get into – accidents will happen. As long as the biggest hazards are sorted, you can relax and know that your whole family can enjoy your home.

 

Tanning Mom

Tanning Mom.

 I'll be totally honest here. When I first saw the video that went along with this story about Patricia Krentcil bringing her five year old to a tanning salon and possibly burning her in one of the booths, I forgot about the story.

I forgot to be outraged.

I laughed. Then I wide-eyed. Then I laughed again.

I've been thinking about the story for a few days now. Until this point in my life, I had no idea about so-called "tanorexia" (a name I don't like at all). Does it exist? Are there chemicals released through the rays aimed at the skin? Is it different from those released within the body from the sun, itself?

What a weird thing.

I originally came here to poke at her calling her critics fat and ugly, but reading the news about it, it seems as if she's only calling one person that, someone she knows, someone who supposedly hates her.

I have people who hate me, too, Patricia. They don't hate me because they're fat and ugly. They hate me because I annoy them, bother them, have done something to them that they have decided is deserving of hate. Their appearance has nothing to do with it.

On that train, should Krentcil's appearance have anything to do with the story of child endangerment?

I know that upon seeing her, my reaction was, duh, guilty. But back up. That's not fair. I drink coffee and alcohol, but my children don't. There are many parents out there with various addictions, mental disorders, phobias and other hardships that work very hard not to pass them to their children or expose their children to their battles. Just because you have a thing, doesn't mean you're passing it off to your children.

Now, Krentcil might be. I don't know. She did, so far as I know, at least bring the child to the salon and had her wait outside the booth. I wouldn't leave my five year old outside a tanning bed. But if it's an addiction well...

Point being, I had my laugh, and it wasn't very right of me.

Patricia Krentcil needs help. Maybe therapy, if she truly is addicted to this, maybe guidance from public services to help her make decisions that won't land her in the news with a butt-of-jokes nickname. Maybe a babysitter so that she can go do this without bringing her kids along.

Whatever she needs, I hope she gets it. And I hope her kids grow up strong and form their own opinions on the hazards of tanning (which are great) compared to the benefits (which are small). And not just tanning, but everything.

To me, this is just another story of moderation is key.

**However, I don't yet believe that she stuck her kid in that tanning bed. If she did, well, she was really, really wrong.

As parents, we have to set the example for our kids. We have to fight our demons on our own time, and seek help if we cannot pull that off alone. It's not weakness, it's strength. It gives the next generation the best possible start.

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Toddler Tricks - 69: Don't Break Christmas

Problem: It's time to break out the holiday spirit, by which I mean decorations, but your young children will obviously break every single item that can be broken. And this will take just minutes, not weeks. Christmas is a dangerous holiday. Trust me, I know. Pine needles prick, glass bulbs shatter, and that creche your grandmother handed down to you that's been in the family for ages is missing the Baby Jesus. Dear God, why, Christmas, why?

Solution: Lots of them. First, fake tree. Seriously. No eyes being poked out is key this holiday season. No crying toddlers with needles sticking out of their curious palms is important to everyone's sanity. Second, and most importantly, plastic bulbs. Keep everything that is glass packed up. Seriously, don't even take them out. Don't do it. I know your hands are itching. I can just put this way up here, you think. Surely nothing will happen to it, and it's tradition. Fight the urge, it will only end in tears. Plastic everything. I know from experience. My first Christmas with the kids, I thought the few glass bulbs I had from family would be okay. Three shattered bulbs and two babies with (thankfully) no cuts or glass swallowed later, I took them off. Don't be like me. You can even use string instead of hooks if you're super worried. I just used the hooks. They're covered in that green rubbery stuff these days, so I figure they're safe enough for three year olds. If yours are two, you might want to consider string.

Now, have the kids help. Have them hang up some of the safest ornaments while you go through and baby check everything else. Of course, at the end of that phase, the tree will look like this:

But you can easily rehang. By the end, you'll have a good-looking tree that's toddler safe. And don't worry. You'll get your Christmas back. Just wait a few years.

Of course, the next morning, my kids woke me up utterly ticked that there were no presents under there, even though I thought I thoroughly explained it to them last night. Be prepared for a few days of that, too.

Toddler Tricks - 52: Teach them for life

Problem: Your children are getting older, and you are doing more and more activities with them that require you all to wander far from your home. What if one gets separated. If they can talk, they're old enough to know to say a few key things to people should they, God forbid, get lost.

Solution: Teach them their name. Their full names. First and last. You can do this by calling them by their full names a few times a day. My husband plays a game with them when he comes home from work, where he'll ask them important questions in the form of a game. They have to come up with the answer, and if they can't, he goes over it with them. The first question on this list is "what is your name." Lilly and Dulce aren't good enough for this game. They need both names.


Problem: A name won't give someone a location or way to reach you, should something happen. It's a start, but if you can get your children to understand that they have an address and a phone number, you'll cut down on the time it takes for them to find you.

Solution: If you have numbers on your mailbox or apartment door, ask the kids to identify them every time you come home. They'll be learning letters and numbers anyway, so they'll get to know that a certain combination equals their address. At least, they'll understand that it's important. Phone numbers are tougher. We haven't been able to get them to memorize an entire phone number yet, but I plan on doing so with songs and games. If they can recite the alphabet song, they can recite a ten-digit phone number. I just have to work on it.  Three is old enough to be helpful in an emergency situation. If your child has a few things she knows to do when she's lost or hurt, that will also give her some power over the situation and may help calm her fears until you can find her again.

All this being said, let's hope they never have to use the knowledge.


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Toddler Tricks - 46: That Jamb Door

Ways to trick your baby:

Problem: I don't know about you, but we have bedroom doors that lock from the inside, allowing for maximum privacy...or providing an accidental baby prison. My husband and I waited too long to fix this. We thought, they won't lock the door. And then one day, the door was locked from the inside, two babies locked within.

Solution: Take the knob off. Reverse the inner knob with the outer knob. You now have a door that cannot be locked from the inside, only from the outside. (It's not recommended that you use the outside lock, by the way. Hah.)

Ways your baby tricks you:

Problem: Now that your child can't lock herself in her room, you're still not safe. As she continues to open and shut the door, you're afraid of little fingers getting caught as it closes with a bang. She can remove doorstops, and things stuck in the door jamb slip down, not to mention that's not good for the frame.

Solution: Buy one of those cheap over-the-door hangers. They never work like they're supposed to and the door may still pinch a finger as it bounces back from the frame, but it will never shut entirely and now you have an extra spot to hang things, too.

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Safety Isn't Always about Convenience

It's a beautiful spring day. You're on your way to the grocery store with your babies in tow. You go to take that well-worn left turn and someone blows through the traffic light. Will your kids survive?

It's a snowy night in late December. You've managed to wrangle your young children into the car to head home from a family holiday dinner. Before you make it off the highway, someone fishtails and skids toward you, unable to stop. Will your family make it out alive?

You're running late on a school day. You toss the kids in the back and gun it for daycare, trying to get to work on time. As you come up over a hill, unexpected sunlight blasts into your line of vision, obscurring the road. You try to slow down, but you've gone to the wrong side of the road in your sunglare blindness. Are your babies safe?

Regulations are put in place for a reason. In the case of carseat rules, the reason is safety. The reason is life.  As I see more and more people up in arms about the new AAP carseat regulations, I wonder if they've forgotten that.

Once you are a parent, you know that in all walks of life, conveniences will be thrown out the window. No more jumping in the shower as soon as you wake up. The kids need you.  No more enjoying a leisurely cup of (hot) coffee before you start your day. The kids need you.  No more sleeping a glorious eight or nine hours at night. Your babies, they need you.  No more hopping in the car at a moment's notice to pick something up or run a quick errand.  It's just one of those things that comes with the territory.

And since we all have to put our children in their protective and useful carseats anyway, what's the big deal about not facing them frontward for another few months? It's safer for your kids. Full stop.  I, for one, fully support these new guidelines.  What could possibly be the reason not to do it? 

The only reasons I've been hearing have to do with convenience.  "My kid wants to look out the window. I'm sick of having to stretch and bend, trying to secure them in backward.  I can't reach them easily when I'm driving.  I want to see their cute little faces. Stop telling me how to parent."

Are any of these complaints valid in the face of an actual car accident?  If facing your children to the rear of the vehicle will spare them from whiplash, injury, or death, isn't it worth it?  No one is telling anyone else how to effectively parent in this situation. They are telling others how to effectively save the lives of their loved ones, to the best of their ability.  How can anyone frown upon that?

While we're at it, let's add in the other safety rules that are inconvenient. Do you take your child's coat off in the car in winter so that the straps are tight and fitted as they are supposed to be?  Do you make sure the five-point harness system connects high on the baby's chest?  Do you straighten and untangle the straps before tying the baby in?  Do you make sure there is no looseness or give in those straps?  Have you checked to make sure the device itself is properly attached to the car?

Car seats and car seat rules aren't there to annoy parents. They're there because babies have died. They're there to prevent your baby from dying.

But, really, whine and cry about it on every social networking site available to you. That's your right. As long as you're following the guidelines, even if you complain about it, at least your children will be safe. And that's what truly matters.

For more information: http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/21/car.seat.guidelines.parenting/


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Phantom Noises

The babies are finally asleep.  It's the middle of the day.  Maybe I can squeeze in that shower I've been wanting to take since yesterday morning.

I turn the hot water knob, water sluices toward the wall, the inviting tap tap tap calling to me well before the water is warm enough.  I ready my towel, brush my hair.  I leave the door open, just in case.  Just in case something happens, I'll be able to hear the babies.  Everything should be just fine, right?  They sleep for at least an hour and a half everyday.  There's nothing in their room they could hurt themselves on.  They're not going to wake up.  Are they?  They're fine.  I'm sure they're fine.

And yet, without fail, the moment I step under the hot stream of shower water, my sigh of relief catches in my throat.

What was that?

Is that a baby crying?  No, it can't be.  They're asleep.  They never wake up.

No, that's a shout.  Are my kids shouting for me?  Did something happen?

I mentally calculate how quickly I can jump out of the shower, wrap a towel around myself and sprint downstairs.  This isn't safe.  I shouldn't be taking a shower.  What if something happened?

I strain my ears, as I reach for the soap.  The problem with this tap tap tapping of the water is I just can't hear anything.  Is that a wail of distress?  Is something wrong?  I should check.

I lather up.  I'm sure everything's fine.  Still, any enjoyment I may have gotten out of what should have been a peaceful, baby-free experience is ruined.  I finish as quickly as I can.  I barely towel dry, sloppily throw on some clothes and race downstairs.

Quiet.  All is quiet.  No one had ever stirred.  I had made the whole thing up.  And it's not just showers.  It can happen as I'm just drifting off to sleep, or if I have to step outside for a moment, or if I get a phone call.  Phantom noises haunt me.

To a large extent, I think this is normal for parents.  Of course we're going to worry about our babies.  They come out completely helpless, and every step they take toward being able to care for themselves is also a step they take toward being able to get into dangerous situations.  The fact that my children have enough balance not to fall off a couch is countered by the fact that, given the opportunity, they'll try to balance on the back of said couch.  The fact that my children can walk well enough to climb up and down stairs with ease is countered by the fact that they'll try to do it with their eyes closed, or they'll try to jump down, or they'll try to climb holding every toy they own in their arms as they totter down.  Every measure of safety is counter-balanced by increased danger.

If we didn't worry a little, we'd most likely be visiting the emergency room a lot.  Toddlers do think they're invincible.

But just because they're not invincible does not mean they're always in peril.  If you seem to be over-anxious much of the time, if you can't enjoy a night out, or an hour away from the children, if you worry at every cry or whine, if you can't clean an upstairs room or run downstairs to change the laundry over because you don't trust the baby monitor, you may be experiencing something more serious than what I've described here. 

If fear is dictating your life, call a professional.  Taking care of your babies means taking care of yourself.  Your babies deserve to be safe and sound.  They also deserve a happy and calm mommy.  It's not bad to be worried, just remember to also worry about yourself.


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Women Stay

Women stay.  Not all women, of course, there are some who break away, who take off despite the risks, who take the first step in liberating themselves from a violent situation and bettering their lives.  But the fact remains that too many (even one is too many, but we're talking thousands, millions, of women) stay in abusive relationships.

Many see no alternative, or the alternative they do see seems even worse than where they are.  Those who have children are in an even more precarious position.  They fear for their children's wellbeing, both while they remain in their relationship and even moreso should they choose to leave.

When you are a parent, your decisions directly affect your children.  For me, that means dealing with excess whining as we board a plane home for the Christmas holiday.  For others, it means being painted into a corner with no way out.

How will a woman with no car, no income, no friends or family, and no shelter be able to provide for her children out on her own?  How will that woman be able to survive in hiding, should her partner choose to look for her, find her, bring her back?  Will her children bear part of 'her punishment' for leaving?  How will she be able to feed them, clothe them, care for them if she's on the run?

It's easy to type this from my warm living room on my laptop as my babies sleep.  When I'm done with this piece, I'll start dinner in the crock pot.  I'll set up our Christmas tree.

Easier still would be for me to simply write: make the call.  Call a shelter, an ambulance, the police, your mother.  Call someone.  Act.  Get out.  This message, while best intended, is completely lacking in empathy.  Women in violent situations cannot just make a call.  Something that seems innocuous - simple - to someone like me, can be a matter of life or death to a woman surrounded by such volatility.

For all I know, that woman's phone is tapped or her computer is keylogged.  Even reading this post could set off a chain reaction of abuse.  And that's assuming she even has access to a phone or a computer.  One doesn't need to be locked in the basement to be held prisoner.

Remember that.  If you are in a violent situation, and you think that it's not bad enough to attempt to get out, if you worry that the consequences of your attempt will make life worse for you and your kids, remember: one doesn't need to be locked in the basement to be held prisoner.

Abuse is rarely as concrete as basement walls.  It permeates.  If you are being abused, it sullies every pocket of every safe space you think you might have in your mind.  Do you think you are good?  Do you think you are good enough?  Do you think he is right?  Do you think you deserve better?  These are the important questions.

More important still:  Do you think your children deserve better?  Because they are worth that shot in the dark.  You are worth that shot in the dark.

And maybe it's not so dark after all.  Of course, that is my entitlement speaking.  It is that dark.  But it is still worth it.  This essay is worthless.  It is rhetoric, it is lip service.  Pretty words on a page do not dial phones.

What we need to do in the face of violence against women is act, not speak.  Speaking is useful only in its capacity to bring about action.  The readers here don't have to donate money, they don't have to hold signs in rallies to promote awareness, they don't have to change their Facebook pictures.  They simply have to think.  If each of us thinks hard enough, I bet we'll each come up with at least one person we know, personally, who is suffering some kind of abuse. We cannot sit idly by and callously tell them to call the people.  We must show them that it can be done.  We must personally illuminate the path for them.  Not for all of them - that is daunting, that is impossible.  For that one person we know.  For her kids.  We must act, not speak.  We must be there for her.  We must help her emerge from the trap of her own esteem and thinking.

One hand outstretched in the darkness is worth a million words on this computer screen.  Call your friend.  Stop by for a visit.  Help her.  She needs you.



(This post is in participation with the One Wee Voice Violence Against Women Campaign.  Please visit Life - Inspired by the Wee Man for more information and links on this issue.)

Toddler Tricks - 5

Ways to trick your baby:

Problem:  If you have toddlers, they are probably tall enough to reach all the drawers in the kitchen (not to mention the oven), and they'll spend endless entertained hours emptying those drawers.  But sometimes the contents of those drawers are dangerous.

Solution:  The obvious solution here is to install a baby safeguard lock, essentially childproofing your drawers and cabinets.  But, read on.

Ways your baby tricks you:

Problem:  In my house, my toddlers have super-strength and easily bent the child safety locks out of position, leaving us with an open drawer full of sharp silverware, complete with a now-broken white plastic hook installed on the front.

Solution:  Get used to putting all sharp and dangerous items far out of baby's reach.  You never know when one of those locks will break, and if you have to lock up the contents of a cabinet, I've learned, you really shouldn't have those objects in the lower cabinets anyway.  Things may look a little messier in your house for a while.  This is our new silverware drawer: the top cabinet over the counter intermingled with the coffee mugs.