First off, don’t panic. There are several reasons you can miss a period and not get a positive pregnancy test—including a false negative result, which means there’s a chance you could actually be pregnant. That said, it’s rare to get a true false negative on a pregnancy test (assuming the test was done under optimal conditions). Here are some of the more likely explanations: You are not pregnant, and your period is late for another reason (the most common explanation)....

Effort: Quick and easy – no sewing required Materials: Dark navy blue or black pants Matching button-down shirt (with collar) Policeman’s hat Badge Platform shoes Boa Whistle Instructions: Dress your child as a police officer. Then throw on a few trendy bits: platform shoes and a boa. Blow your whistle at people walking by and say things like, “White pants after Labor Day? That’s a no-no. I’m gonna hafta take you in for that one....

Postpartum depression can affect almost any mother during the first year after her baby is born, whether or not it is her first baby. Changes in hormone levels may be the cause of PPD. It is also thought that feeling tired, stressed, and overwhelmed may contribute to this condition. New dads are often in a good position to recognize the early symptoms of postpartum depression and to offer a lot of help and support, so that a new mom doesn’t get overwhelmed by all of the things that she is expected to do....

Age group: 18-40 months Duration of activity: 10 minutes Materials: 1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup citric acid 1/2 cup cornstarch 2 tablespoons coconut or almond oil 1 tablespoon water Liven up your child’s bath time with these homemade fizzy bath balls. Your toddler can also participate in making them!

Most doctors say that aspirin is fine for most of your pregnancy. You should avoid it in the last month. Tylenol, or an analgesic based on acetaminophen, is also recommended for headaches, but be sure to ask your doctor before taking any medication during pregnancy. When should I call my doctor about a headache? If you are in your second or third trimester and experience a bad headache, or a headache for the first time during your pregnancy, you should contact your doctor....

They’re ideal for kids in upper elementary school and middle school who may be outgrowing other playground games, but still need active play before, during, and after the school day. However, younger kids will enjoy playing them as well. How to Play Gaga Ball Gaga (or ga-ga) ball is a variation on dodgeball that was first played in Israel but has now become popular at camps and schools in the United States, Australia, and elsewhere....

By Date of Will If John Morgan made his will on 17 April 1853, and on 15 July 1853 the will was presented in court for probate, you know that John Morgan died between 17 April 1853 and 15 July 1853. It’s best not to show “died 1853,” but specifically that he “died between 17 April 1853 (date of will) and 15 July 1853 (date will proved).” Be as precise as you can in presenting the information if you have the records to do so....

Education is a partnership; our children benefit from an alliance between school and home. It’s the reason parents join the local parent-teacher organization and dutifully attend back-to school nights. It’s why they volunteer for occasional field trips or special projects that bring them to school for celebrations, career days, or book fests. Many parents remain strangers to their children’s schools. They either don’t feel welcome, are unsure about what kind of involvement is appropriate, or justify their absence by maintaining that the teachers know what is best....

Globe or atlas Reference books What’s cooking? A meal for very important visiting dignitaries from far away, and you and your child have to plan it! First, decide where the visitors hale from by spinning a globe and stopping it with your finger (or by flipping the pages of an atlas or map and arbitrarily pointing to a spot). Whichever city or country your finger lands on will be your travelers’ homeland....

That’s how important your validation is! Eleven Steps of Motherly Reassurance To help portray the proper message, here is what moms should be working on:

What Is Prematurity? It is not what any parent wants. Ever. It is a frightening ride into unknown territory. It is being thrust into the hardest possible parenting struggle before you’ve even met your child. It means a birth surrounded by fear and uncertainty rather than excitement and celebration. It means NOT being together, parent and child. It means NOT holding your baby. It is feeling disconnected from the one person in the entire universe that you’ve been waiting to connect with....

Effort: Easy - no sewing required Materials: Brown oversized T-shirt Brown or black belt Black or brown wrist sweatbands Black, brown, or red head sweatband Instructions: Put the oversized T-shirt on your child. It should fall to his knees. Put on belt at waist to make a tunic. Get some wristbands and a headband from any sports department for his head and wrists. Tips: Do not forget the wristbands; they have to be worn to make the costume work!...

Learning about these other hazards can help you take simple steps to keep your kids safe. Escalators Most parents let their kids ride escalators without giving it a second thought. Unfortunately, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that there were about 11,000 injuries on escalators in 2007, mostly from falls. In addition, there have been at least 77 reports of entrapment — when hands, feet, or shoes (mostly clogs and slide sandals) get trapped in the escalator — since 2006....

For: Kids 8 to 12 Anybody can study history. But it takes an enterprising young historian, like your child, to give scholarly driving tours of your hometown – the way it looked years and years in the past. There are two variations of this activity. In the first, your child studies (using books that are available at the local library) the history of your city or town. Your hometown historian can jot down the buildings, people, and events that happened, as well as the associated dates and years....

A 504 Plan vs. an IEP A 504 plan, which refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, is an attempt to remove barriers and allow students with disabilities to participate freely in both public elementary and secondary education. Like the Americans With Disabilities Act, it seeks to level the playing field so that those students can safely pursue the same opportunities as everyone else. Section 504 states, “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States ....

After 16 weeks, hCG levels remain relatively stable for the remainder of the pregnancy. If you miscarry, your level of hCG will gradually fall, eventually returning to a pre-pregnancy level of zero (or it will become so low that it’s undetectable during testing). Below, we take a closer look at hCG levels after pregnancy loss and how this hormone impacts optimal timing for conception after miscarriage. What Happens If You Take a Pregnancy Test After Miscarriage The exact length of time that it takes for hCG to leave your system after a miscarriage varies, ranging from several days to a few months....