Some very competent matrimonial lawyers will tell you from the outset that they do not go to court. They might be very good negotiators, but if your case doesn’t settle, they will recommend another attorney, either in their firm or at another, to take over the case. For some people, that’s fine. Others prefer to have an attorney who will go the distance. Be sure to ask. When you call the lawyer, ask whether there is a fee for the initial consultation....

Here are some things to consider when choosing which type of winter coat or snowsuit will be most convenient for you and work best for your baby and your local weather. Winter Coat or Baby Snowsuit? Baby snowsuits are one of the warmest options available in winter wear. However, snowsuits can be inconvenient for diaper changes or quick trips. Winter coats are much easier to take on and off of your baby, but won’t provide full-body coverage as a baby snowsuit does for extended outdoor activities....

Immediate Aftermath of Miscarriage The falling hormone levels in your body after a miscarriage might magnify your sad feelings into full-blown depression, but this effect should fade within a few weeks. Your feelings may range from sadness to anger to depression. You may feel as if your body failed you, especially if you had wanted the baby for a long time. You may even feel guilty, wondering if something you did caused the miscarriage....

It depends on the couple and how well you know them, but don’t assume that they’ve moved on. In fact, it’s very possible the bereaved thinks about what happened all the time. She may not have acute feelings of sadness every day anymore, but there is no doubt that she’s aware of the upcoming anniversary. So in that regard, you don’t have to worry about being hurtful. You won’t be reminding her of anything she’s not already thinking about....

You can greatly the extend the life of your food — even food that’s already been cooked — by storing it in the freezer. You just need to make sure you’re packaging it right and that you thaw and reheat it fully before eating it again. Here’s some tips on how to safely freeze, thaw, and reheat foods. Freezing Leftovers 101 First off, you want to make sure your freezer temperature remains consistently below 0°F....

Pregnancy does bring some changes to everyone’s diet, even if you are vegetarian. Though the changes may not be as drastic as you or others think they might be for the vast majority of vegetarians who have based their diet on science. What pregnancy does change is your desire to make sure that you are doing everything as well as you can to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy for your baby....

In fact, experiencing feelings of inadequacy from time to time is normal and sometimes could be the catalysts kids need to work harder or make improvements. But there are times when these comparisons and beliefs morph into something more significant that ultimately leads to self-deprecation and low self-worth. When this happens, kids can become stuck in their feelings of inferiority, making it difficult for them to push forward or accomplish their goals....

How to Help Your Child Cope With Rejection Try these tips for helping your child cope: Encourage Your Child to Reflect Social rejection can feel very painful to tweens, probably because it attacks some core psychological needs at this developmental stage. The initial pain of rejection often passes, however, once the child reflects on the situation. Help your child handle rejection by encouraging this self-reflection. Your child might consider two questions:...

The Object of the Game of Hearts Hearts is a trick-taking game where players avoid cards. The objective of the game of Hearts is to have the least amount of points when one player eventually reaches 100 points. Players don’t want to end up with tricks containing hearts cards or the Queen of Spades which are worth points. But they do want to end up with the Jack of Diamonds. How Many Can Play Hearts Three to seven players (four players is the best!...

Besides projecting an air of confidence, you can take a number of other steps that might be effective in easing your toddler’s separation anxiety even before you step out the door: Play peek-a-boo or hide and seek often with your toddler. Games of disappearance and reappearance will help strengthen your child’s grasp of “object constancy.” They provide concrete evidence that you can “go away,” but you will always come back....

Juggling your responsibilities as a mom along with the other duties you have can be challenging. Whether you’re also a spouse, employee, or volunteer in addition to being a mom, it can be hard to fit everything in. Fortunately, the joyful parts of motherhood can help you deal with those times that are more stress than fun. One of the best ways for mothers to reduce stress is to cherish the joy of motherhood—to really enjoy your kids and make the most of all the gifts and benefits that come with being a mother....

If left to their own devices, toddlers will gleefully scout what’s fallen under the sofa (and likely taste it), reach for items that might topple over, and otherwise bounce around the house unaware of any potential dangers. That’s where a safe toddler play area comes in. Direct supervision is ideal, but even when you’re right there, your child can get hurt. Here’s how to keep your toddler safe when you can’t watch closely for a few seconds or you need to make a quick dash to the bathroom....

Though spending months in the prone position does present health challenges, it doesn’t have to lead to excessive weight gain or the feeling that your limbs have turned to jelly. Here are seven ways to stay healthy while on bed rest. Maintaining Healthy Eating Habits Understand Your Caloric Needs Determining your daily calorie requirements is already a challenge when you’re pregnant, and going on bed rest can make this calculation even trickier....

“Self-harming or what we in the mental health world label as Non-Suicidal Self Injurious (NSSI) behaviors are unfortunately very common,” says Dean Aslinia, PhD, LPC, NCC, the associate dean at the University of Phoenix College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Psychology and Human Services. “Research has indicated up to 20% of adolescents engage in these behaviors. While these behaviors tend to start around the age of 13 to 14, broadly speaking the greatest risk comes when the child is old enough to have access to or purchase the means of self-harm....

“Although it seems like a rare occurrence, depending on which studies you read, suicide is the second or third major cause of death in people ages 10 to 24,” says Naomi Angoff Chedd, LMHC, BCBA, LBA, the director of counselor support services at Counslr. “So it is an issue that needs to be addressed urgently and in multiple ways, by both professionals and parents.” One of the best ways to prevent suicide is to talk about it....

Teaching them to be independent can be a bit tricky at times however. Fortunately, these strategies can help them gain freedom and earn more responsibility one small step at a time. Make Your Expectations Known Kids usually try to rise to meet expectations from adults, as long as the expectations are clear and reasonable. If you expect too much, they’re likely to give up. But if your expectations are too low, you won’t challenge them to tackle things they’re capable of learning....

Have a Vision of Being a Stay-At-Home Mom What do you think stay-at-home mom life will be like? Is there something you’re looking forward to doing like being able to bring the kids to the park whenever you want? It’s hard to predict exactly how life will be once you’re home. But if you have a vision it makes this big life change seem more possible. Most likely you’re leaving is to care for your family but there could be other reasons....

If your baby is light-skinned, their eyes are probably still blue and will be in a state of flux until around six months to one year of age. If your baby has darker skin, their eyes are probably brown and will remain so, though they may darken or lighten in the first year. Their vision isn’t as good as their hearing (which is nearly perfect at birth), but it’s about 20/200....

Your Spouse Cheated on You If you found out that your spouse was having an affair, it would probably be one of the worst moments in your life. Some people feel there is no way they could ever forgive their spouse if he or she cheated on them. It’s certainly justifiable to feel that way. But remember, if you cannot eventually forgive your spouse, you will never be able to repair your relationship....