Here are this weekend's reading diversions. This week's favourite was " How to Raise Lucky Kids," because its application and its wisdom is universally useful.
Enjoy and have a great weekend!
Talking to Your Children About Divorce
Divorce is painful for every member of the family, but children are especially vulnerable. Even great parents can get caught up in the anger and bitterness, and without knowing it, can say and do things that really hurt their children. Gary Neuman, creator of the Sandcastles Therapy Program, offers these ideas for talking about divorce with children:
Easter may be over, but not our love of eggs. Here's a selection of easygoing recipes that make for great brunch and dinner ideas.
7 Ways to Overcome Disappointment
"We would never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world," wrote Helen Keller. How I wish she were wrong. Disappointments leave us with the unpleasant task of squashing, crushing, and pinching lemons to extract any and all juice. Here, then, are a few of my techniques to turn sour into sweet, to try my best to overcome disappointment.
Should Child Obesity Be Considered Child Abuse?
Some kids are genetically predisposed for obesity. While less than 10 percent of all cases of child obesity are due to known genetic defects, it does happen. Some individuals are deficient (or resistant to) the effects of a protein called leptin. Leptin is what tells our brain that we are full and no longer need to eat. Mice studies prove that mice with leptin defects become obese, sometimes to the point of eating themselves to death! These mice will eat until they become sick... and then they eat some more.
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A Reminder That Drugs Can Harm
The recognition that drugs can cause harm is nothing new. A recent example is the painkiller Vioxx which was found to harm the heart and taken off the market in 2004.
Is Your Facebook Addiction a Sign of Loneliness?
Realize that just because you love Facebook or Twitter doesn't mean you're lonely or an internet addict. But you have to ask yourself what impulse drives your interest in these electronic tools. If it's a desire for connection, you're better off putting down the mouse and going to visit a friend -- or going out and making a new one.
How to Raise 'Lucky' Kids, Part 3
I annoy people with my desire, and ability, to find a silver lining in life's mishaps and misfortunes. "Not everything has an upside!" a friend nearly-shouted at me after I pointed out that her recently deceased great-aunt was no longer suffering.
Restaurant Secrets: 5 Things Your Server Won't Tell You
I should preface this article by saying that overall, most restaurants abide by health regulations and do everything they can to provide their guests with the best experience possible.
What's The Right Age To Take A Child's Cell Phone Away?
"Kids with cell phones are ridiculous," I asserted. "Mine will get it when he needs it -- the same time he gets his driver's license."
Is Technology Making Children More Empathic?
Today, young people see the world in a different way than their parents, who often cannot understand why their children are always glued to their BlackBerries in an orgy of talking, texting and tweeting. While their parents value individualism and privacy, today's youngsters view connectivity, interaction and collaboration as everything. And forget privacy; for them, being out of touch is a cardinal sin.
Is Marriage Good for Your Health?
"Marriage is a healthy estate," Farr concluded. "The single individual is more likely to be wrecked on his voyage than the lives joined together in matrimony."
10 Reasons You Should Be Tested for Vitamin D
The Canadian government has recommended increased Vitamin D intake as part of their flu prevention strategy, including prevention of H1N1 Swine Flu.
What Does 'Organic' Actually Mean?
Animals fed an organic diet were slimmer (yes, skinnier!) than their un-organic fed counterparts because fat cells appear to trap and store the heavy pesticide residues found in un-organic produce.
