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“It is a hard learned lesson that we hope other students and children will realize can happen to them. As parents, friends and educators we have to continue to drive home the message that the internet is not the private and safe place that children think it is.” – Patrick Craven, Director of the Center for Cyber Safety and Education In it, incoming freshmen exchanged sexually inappropriate and racist memes that made light of rape, child abuse and violence against minorities....

These guiding lights were your teen’s allies, and defenders, even after he had made disappointing or bad choices and fallen from grace. They did not blame him or shame him. They put themselves in your teen’s shoes, empathizing and giving him a soft place to fall. When your teen got into trouble or lost his way, they reminded him that he was in trouble because he had made poor choices, because he was confused or afraid – not because he was a bad kid....

Many pregnant people find hospital-based childbirth classes a convenient option to prepare for the birth of their baby. However, it’s important to know the limitations of many childbirth classes that are held in hospitals and alternative programs you may find more helpful. Drawbacks of Hospital Childbirth Classes A hospital-based childbirth class might be the first class you learn about, since doctors will often provide patients information about one during the prenatal period....

Since your body changes as your pregnancy progresses, it can be challenging to pick out clothing that best flatters your growing baby bump. We talked to several personal stylists who emphasize that you can still dress stylishly, whether you’re trying to conceal your bump or show it off. Building Your Maternity Wardrobe When it comes to building your maternity wardrobe, Ashley Capps of AC. Styles encourages her clients to consider different ways to keep their closet functional....

More: The Facts About Infertility The Different Types of Surrogates What does it mean to use a surrogate? Well, first off, that depends. In a traditional surrogate situation, the woman who carries the baby is also biologically the baby’s mother. They may use donor sperm or the sperm of the father to fertilize the egg. However, though the surrogate is biologically the mother of the child, she is not going to raise the baby, or even play a role in the baby’s life....

Today, children are using digital devices more than ever, both for educational and entertainment purposes; they often have to use the internet to do research for schoolwork, stream TV shows and movies, and constantly connect with friends social media sites. For years, many advertisers have been selling junk food targeted at kids by airing commercials during children’s TV shows. What to Know About Marketing and Children To address this growing problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report in 2016 titled, “Tackling Food Marketing to Children in a Digital World: Trans-Disciplinary Perspectives....

Once, older women were told they had very grim prospects of getting pregnant and giving birth to a healthy child. Science has now shown us that this is not necessarily true. Areas of Concern for Women Looking to Conceive After Age 35 Here are some areas of concern for midlife moms. Fertility Fertility is certainly not an issue with every mother over the age of 35. However, everyone, including men, will have a decline in fertility beginning in their thirties....

I confess: I definitely wondered, and still do: How tall will my baby be? More: Why Do Some Women Only Give Birth to Boys or Girls? A Genetic Explanation Since we were just as curious as you, we asked doctors to break down the genes that influence height and how genetics determine how tall or short your kid MIGHT be. How Parents’ Height Impacts Baby “Parental height does have an influence on predicting a child’s height,” summarizes Dr....

More: 9 Surprising Ways You Might Be Over-Parenting Your Child Marie Kondo: Declutter by category instead of by room Parenting Lesson: Keep your focus on the larger values and priorities that are important to your family instead of nitpicking Marie Kondo encourages us to declutter by category - clothes, books, photographs, etc. - instead of organizing one room at a time. So how does that apply to parenting? We need to stop focusing on the little things that go wrong (the rooms) and prioritize our larger values (the categories)....

Imagine having agreed to a child support order established by the state of California. Then your ex moves to Illinois and asks for a child support modification. Which state’s child support laws should be applied?Say your original child support order was established in Kentucky, and you later move your kids to Alabama. Which state’s rules should be followed, the state where the order originated, or the state where the children now live?...

Dealing with the emotions—hoping that perhaps the test was wrong and you could be pregnant (but knowing that you probably aren’t), and worrying that you never will be—can be difficult. Understanding and acknowledging feelings like worry and sadness sparked by a negative pregnancy test can help you cope. Could You Still Be Pregnant? It’s true that a negative pregnancy test doesn’t necessarily mean you did not conceive during this cycle....

If these sorts of scenarios sound familiar to you, you are not alone. It is very common for young children to develop a fear of water — and for parents to feel frustrated and unsure of how to get their kids to overcome these fears. What Causes Childhood Fear of Water? You can blame developmental immaturity in most instances of fear of water in children. Babies don’t always have the awareness of water as something to fear and will usually happily splash away in the bath, lake, ocean, or pool....

It can be confusing, overwhelming, and stressful to decide how to make this important introduction—and when the time is right. But with some planning and consideration, you can help this initial meeting go smoothly. We turned to experts to learn more about how and when to introduce your kids to your new partner, how to plan the meeting, and how to prepare for the emotions that might arise. Consider the Timing First Only you can know when the time is right to introduce your significant other to your kids....

“Quality friendships as a parent remove some of the uncertainty and self-blame that can come with this [parenting] role, moving us closer to a ‘we are in this together’ mindset,” says Caroline Adams, MEd, LPC, a professional counselor and a podcast host with Peanut. It can feel both comforting and validating to have friends who are available to vent or just drink coffee. But if you don’t feel like you have friends like that, it can feel like you are missing out....

Plastic medicine bottles in various sizes, soap bottles, small pop-top juice cans, or small aluminum pie or tart pans Popcorn, rice, dried beans, pennies, and other noise-making items Glue gun or tape Directions

It’s tough to help everyone feel included. There may be days and times when you think the only things your kids have in common is their genes. They may have completely different interests, activities, and personalities that make it tough to help everyone feel included. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help everyone feel like part of the family, despite the age gaps, vast array of interests, and differences in opinions....