What You are to Expect on Your Baby's First Visit to the Pediatrician

Giving birth is every woman's most anticipated event in life. From the moment of conception to hearing your baby's first cry in the delivery room, it is considered a tremendous journey you embarked on. As a newborn baby adds up color to her world, more responsibilities are also given her and her family.

The moment you give birth, you also widen you connection to a lot of entities and sectors concerning your bundle of joy. These are your immediate family, friends and the child's health care provider. Most commonly, we call them pediatricians, doctors who tend for young children ranging from newborn infants, toddlers, and the like.

Your baby's health always comes first, that is a non-negotiable option. Therefore, the very first step you need to take is a visit to your child's pediatrician. What do mothers expect, especially new moms on their first visit to their baby's pediatrician?

Almost always, your first visit is baby-centered. This means that every concern will be focused on the baby's needs and care. A general head-to-toe physical exam will be performed to your child. This is important to evaluate the health of your baby. Your baby would typically go through a physical exam which would eventually be the basis of recommendations as to what further check up your child needs to undergo. The initial findings that doctors may find in your baby would help a lot in a keen follow up of the child's birth. For cases of babies with jaundice, a thorough blood exam helped determine and cured this illness.

Nursing/feeding will be reviewed, weight will be discussed, and if there are problems with nursing, lactation help should be mobilized for the mother.

First and foremost, a necessary registration of your baby in the doctor's office will take place. Filling out forms and bringing insurance information about your child is essential for the first day. Preparation for the baby's insurance coverage should be top priority for the mother. New parents could somehow find it hard to carry on with this process so they need keen attention to this.

Weight and height measurement, as well as the head circumference of the baby is done; the last resort is made to determine the baby's brain growth. Nurses and medical assistants do this and record the measurement in a sheet or baby's book that parents could bring home for their personal reference and guide. In addition to the information about your child, a thorough and complete history of the mother's pregnancy and family history is also recorded and kept.

After making sure of the baby's status, mothers are given the chance to discuss certain things with their baby's pediatricians; you can also bring up topics of how to feed your child, changing diapers, caring and cleaning your baby's cord, circumcision and baby care in general. Your baby's first visit is a great venue to establish rapport with your pediatrician. Some maternal issues which are indirectly concern with the baby's health can also be brought up, issues like post-partum depression, as well as the stress and anxiety that parental responsibility imposes.

Furthermore, you can also discuss your concerns and questions about vaccines, development, daily care, feeding and safety at each visit. Supplementary issues like safety measures connected with infant care may also be tackled during your appointment.

Your Money Milestones - A Guide to Making the 9 Most Important Financial Decisions of Your Life

"Your Money Milestones: A Guide To Making The 9 Most Important Financial Decisions Of Your Life" by Moshe A. Milevsky, PH.D. is not like so many of the personal finance books you find. Milevsky states that he deliberately didn't include the common, and he says tiresome, financial advice you find in so many other places. Advice such as "buy low and sell high" or "live within your financial means." Nor does he include "buy term insurance and invest the difference" or "buy stocks for the long run." He also omits "keep an emergency reserve of three month's salary" and "education pays." Those topics are NOT what this book is about.

I've read many books on personal finance, and I've seen all the above numerous times. Milevsky's "Your Money Milestones" really is different from most of the finance books I've seen. Milevsky does have a PH.D. and he's a university professor. At times that does come through in this book. It reads a bit like an academic text in some parts. This is especially true when using his four guiding principles that are based on addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication.

The book has nice main chapters that focus on nine money milestones in a person's life. Milevsky himself says the number 9 is debatable and subjective. A person may have only 7 or maybe 12 important financial milestones during a lifetime. Milvesky says don't quibble about this number. He decided to write about these nine, and that's what the book is about.

The nine milestones the books focuses on are:

1. Is the long term value of an education worth the short-term cost? Interesting chapter on human capital and how investing in it pays off.

2. What is the point of saving money forever? This chapter discusses smoothing consumption and income.

3. How much debt is too much and how much is too little? The chapter does not tell you to get out of debt, but rather discusses optimal debt management strategies.

4. Are kids investments and can marriages diversity? The chapter looks at a couple of family matters in relation to money.

5. Government tax authorities: partners, adversaries, or bazaar merchants? My favorite chapter. His advice about the looking at the after-tax basis needs to be looked at more than people do, and I agree that we want to make sure our perpetual tax partner (the government) doesn't get more than their fair share of our hard earned cash.

6. Can you eat your house or will it ever pay dividends? Buying a house is often one of the biggest financial decisions for most families. Here are some things to think about that aren't taught in many books.

7. Insurance salesmen and warranty peddlers: are they smooth enough? Good advice on insurance and warranties. Story of the salesman trying to sell him a boat policy when he didn't have a boat made me chuckle, because I've seen similar examples.

8. Portfolio construction: what asset class do you belong to? A few things to think about when investing.

9. Retirement: when is it time to shutter the well and close the mine? Pensions and annuities for your later years are an important consideration.

Each chapter has a short summary of how the mathematical principles apply to the concepts in that chapter. Sometimes I felt it was a bit forced to fit into this model. I'm betting if you love math, you'll connect with the principles. If you hate mate, you won't care for them so much.

What I really like about this book is that it looks at some very important money matters differently from most of the financial books on the shelves. Money and our finances are important. It is a major part of all of our lives, some more than others, but important to all. This book makes you look at some of your biggest financial decisions in a different way, and that thinking is extremely important. You don't have to agree with everything he writes or suggests. But thinking about the topics and issues he raises will be more than just an academic exercise. I believe reading this book and thinking about the concepts Milevsky presents will enable you to make better financial decisions when you reach those milestones in your life.

By Alain Burrese

Make Your Own “Natural Antibiotic Tonic” (Cold & Flu Treatment Recipe)

Cold and Flu season if upon us, and as parents we don’t like to see our little ones sick.  The cold or flu is essentially a viral infection, so antibiotics won’t work. The duration can last from 7-10 days with it peaking at day 3-4.

Infants and children under the age of 6 are more susceptible because their immune systems are not yet fully developed.   On top of that children today are often exposed to many things that can weaken a child’s immune system as well.   These may include too much processed foods, artificial colors, hydrogenated oils, an increase in sugary foods, and by eating foods to which they are sensitive to.

So what is a parent to do?  How do we keep our kids healthy, without the use of harsh over-the-counter drugs and flu shots?!

1.  Avoid refined sugar, sugary drinks (this includes fruit juices,unless juiced at home with organic fruits and veggies, the emphasis on VEGGIES) candies and soda. Cut back on the intake of processed foods, eat as much whole food as possible. DO NOT eat artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners. These depress the immune system, causing  children to become more susceptible to catching a cold or flu.

2. Have them take extra vitamin c and d, this helps to support the immune system. Echinacea is also effective, however be sure to find a glycerin based formula specifically for kids.

3. Homeopathy is highly effective as well. One of the best resources around is a book called “Your Vital Child” by Dr’s Mark and Angela Stengler, both Naturopathic Doctors based out of San Diego, California. I use this book often as a reference to whatever ails my kids.

4. Here’s a recipe for an All-Natural Antibiotic Tonic filled with herbs shown to have antiviral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitical properties:

part fresh chopped garlic
1 part fresh chopped Onion (white is preferred)
1 part fresh grated Ginger Root
1 part fresh grated Horseradish Root
1 part fresh chopped Cayenne Peppers or jalapeño peppers.
Apple Cider Vinegar (Bragg’s Raw is the best choice)

Fill a glass jar 3/4 of the way full with equal parts by volume of the above fresh chopped and grated herbs. Then fill jar to the top with raw apple cider vinegar. Close and shake vigorously
Shake at least once a day for two weeks, and then filter the mixture through a clean piece of cloth, and store it in glass bottles.

 Make sure that when you make this tonic that you shake it every time you walk by it, a minimum of once per day. Remember that all the herbs and vegetables should be fresh (and organically grown if possible). You can use dried herbs, however only in an emergency.

This tonic is extremely powerful because all the ingredients are fresh, so the active ingredients in these herbs are more active.

The dosage is 1 or 2 ounces, two or more times daily.
Swish and swallow. (Don’t dilute with water.)
For ordinary infections, a dose taken 5-6 times a day will deal with most conditions.  It can be used during pregnancies, is safe for children (use smaller doses) and as a food it is completely non-toxic.

Go ahead and make a large batch because  it does not need refrigeration and it lasts indefinitely without any special storage conditions.  I would like to thank The Healthy Herbalist for posting his tonic recipe and keeping us healthy all year long!

I have made this in much smaller batches for my family, if it is too strong for the kids you can always add a small drop of liquid stevia or raw honey to make it easier for them to swallow.   Please note that honey is not recommended for children under one year of age.

Yours in health!
By Leslie Button

Within Your Means , The Genuine Generation Of Power.

Genuine power is generated through patience, understanding and tolerance. It cannot be generated any other way, considering the nature of life and existence with its seeming imperfections. It can be near perfect at best, and totally imperfect at worst. But, make not a single mistake, the genuine generation of power is always possible through this seeming imperfection and near perfection, I will explain how. The famed inventor Thomas Alva Edison said that "success comes always in work clothes and not evening clothes." A friend of mine said that genuine success comes "like a thief in the night." I agree with all this, although it has to be explained less colloquially. Success mostly comes when that "final" failure is reached. I put the word final in quotes because when you quit, there is no chance for success. If you do not quit without any matter to what may happen before the genuine success and have total tolerance for what may happen before the success and have patience with it all and generate understanding, then good and great things happen because of that genuine persistence. Anything is possible through this reality.

Yes, I am saying that through work, although it will take a lot of work, a small weakling can become a strong and heavy football player, although it will take a lot of consistent work, of course. My point with that example is, anything through work, persistence and genuine, smart perseverance is possible. Obstacles make stronger that which can overcome them, like a weak blacksmith can become a strong blacksmith through consistent arm resistance and strength building.

Indeed, power generation is the law, allowing weakness is the genuine exception. As Mark Spitz the Olympic Swimmer said, "we all love to win, but who loves to train." The person that really wants what they want must "love to train." If they do not, they do not really want what they do want. It all starts with a goal and ends with achievement, sure, but there is all the persistence and work in between that goal and achievement, and yes, temporary failure before the final success and all of that achievement.

I will tell you reality and nothing but reality. That is the ultimate mercy and love I can bestow onto you or anyone. Think about it, most people say other than the reality of the situation. This is all the reality of what it comes down to when it comes to success, and nothing else matters. If anything else mattered other than the beginning, the process, the end and the total reality which it all comes down to, I would have kept this article and typed nonsense about, "it is so easy" and "all you have to do." But, I can be nothing but realistic.

By Joshua Clayton

What Do You Think Makes For a Bad Step Parent?

It is no secret that some step parents face being branded wicked and intolerable - whilst some of these accusations are false, there are however some situations where a step parent displays actions and behaviours that are totally wrong. This would therefore justifiably make them a bad step parent.

The step parent may never be the fan of the step children, but at the same time, attempts should be made on the part of the step parent to try to live amicably with the children of their spouse.

So what makes for a bad step parent?

Talking negatively about the other parent

As a step parent, you may have walked into the life of your spouse with background information of what their ex did. Yes, they may have behaved wrongly and broken the heart of your spouse or even abandoned the children. What is wrong for you as a step parent is to now talk about what the birth parent did in front of the children and make a big scene about it.

Whether your step children know about the event that led to the split between their parents or not is not really for you to talk about in front of them.

Bad mouthing the birth parent will never get you in the good books of the children and is a sign of immaturity on your part.

Not taking the time to get to know your step children

In order to form a good relationship, it is important to get to know the children. This, as in any other type of relationship would always take time and some effort on your part.

If you don't make a conscious decision to get to know your step children, then you will not understand each other and the family unit runs the risk of never becoming stable and happy.

A bad step parent will not get to know the step children because they feel that the relationship is between the two adults in the family, but this is far from the truth. Not even attempting to get to know the children is an act of selfishness.

Disciplining your step children

Whilst it is important for all children step or not to be disciplined when the need arises, it is particularly important to leave this for the birth parent to do especially in the early stages of yourrelationship.

The way a step child would react to discipline from you would be different from their biological parent and in most cases could potentially cause problems for you and your spouse if you decide to discipline your step child. It is always better to leave this to your spouse and discuss any matters that you feel has to be dealt with by them.

The decision to discipline your step children should be discussed between you and your spouse - the age of the children would also determine if you would be in a place to discipline them.

Insisting that your step children call you Mom or Dad
This is an absolute no, no! It is not for you to dictate to your step children to call you mom or dad. If you have been involved in their lives for a long time, they may decide to call you mom or dad, but even then, if they don't it is not for you to decide that it is about time they call you that.

In some step parenting homes, the step child will call the step parent mom or dad after they have developed a bond and in some cases if their other birth parent is no longer a large part of their lives.

Your step children not calling you mom or dad does not mean that they will not love you or treat you with respect. The only time it almost comes naturally from a step child is if they are too young to remember their birth parent and almost automatically just start calling you their parent.

Preferential Treatment to Your Own Children

If as a step parent, you are offering preferential treatment to your own children to the detriment of your step children, they may never trust or accept you in their lives. Yes, you love your own biological children and want the best for them - now that you are in a new environment with your spouse and his/her children, it is up to you to treat all the children alike.

If you treat all the children in the family the same way, this will help create a stable unit. Sometimes, even when you are not aware, your step children may be watching your every action to see whether you are treating them the same way as you treat your own children. This may never be outwardly acknowledged or appreciated by them, but be sure that if they pick up any preferential treatment, they will be quick to voice it out.

These are just some examples of bad step parenting.

It is generally acknowledged that the job of a step parent takes hard work, perseverance and patience. By not attempting to make it work with from the onset is a sign that you are a bad step parent.

Is Your Son Your Shadow?

Education is a key factor of life. Education will guide you to your destination. Education will allow you to achieve. Education will be your biggest strength. The definition of education is the resource of knowledge That was delivered to you through living life.

In my opinion there are two sources of education. The first is what you could call 'formal'; they are schools, colleges and universities, where everyone will learn and be educated and will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and later specialise in a particular. The second resource is 'informal'; that which is passed down from your father or mother. In comparison to the first this could be exclusive to you, in some cases your father may not have been educated but nevertheless he has knowledge perhaps from his parents (your grandparents). This second kind of resource is not to be underestimated as the knowledge we learn from through love and support of our parents, and which has been passed down through generations, is also extremely significant.

As we say, 'in your life you will see your tomorrow but you will not see your yesterday again', the mistake you made in the past you will never be able to repair again. What is gone is history, but you will see your yesterday or your past or yourself in your son. This could be difficult to accept, but I did see this in my son. I saw myself in my son as I was twenty years ago. One morning, my son came to our dining room in the morning, he was wearing a white shirt, grey trousers and a black tie. From the steps I could see he was busy on doing up his tie, just like I was doing it. As soon as he came down he sad he was late and he would not sit down for breakfast, he took some sandwiches in his hand and he start walking away, he did it just like I did all those years ago. This is a one of the examples of the glimpses I have seen of myself in my son.

We talk for hours about life, business, communication, faith, responsibility, commitments, care, education, issues, finance, loans, mortgages, value of relationships and many other issues of life. For him this is just good communication with his father and it's also a good relationship for me. I feel like a tutor/teacher with him as my student. I am teaching him classes of life. I am sharing with him all my life knowledge and experience whilst I am supporting and encouraging him in his own life.

Parents play an important part in life even for grown-up children. Teaching, loving and caring for our children will never stop to have an influence. Parents may die but our teaching and our knowledge will remain for ever and be transferred to the new generations to come.

To simply learn and respect and benefit from the knowledge and experience of your parents this is your tax free inherited asset. Do not take it for granted. Benefit from it and pass it on to your children in return. Remember to always love care and support your parents and you will in turn receive this from your own children. This is life.